coops

Hiya Meg, The ice cube thing is a good idea... not sure if I could do it in class, but defo at home. Did you find that when the flushes were with you it effected your weight loss? I did well last week but got a bounce up this week =[ It is soooo frustrating when I know that I am not eating more than 1200 cals a day. I'm thinking of really dropping the carbs again for a week or two... but in the past, it hasn't really showed a significant weight loss for me.... I'm in a bit of a pickle as of what to do! I am also wondering if I should just take some time out and just maintain for a while, but then I really want to get to goal... Oh I don't know...lol!

Thank you for that... I am willing to try anything Meg, to be honest. I am starting to hate them... the severe ones really leave me feeling drained too... did that happen to you?

Seriously Diva... you are such an amazing and determind woman... As much as I try, I just don't seem to be making progress right now!! I will keep fighting, I was born fighting....lol.... but LOOK at your achievements in such a short space of time. Honestly, if I had the money, I would have my whole bloody body sorted, sucked and nipped to get to goal!! Yep, I am that desperate now! xx

Ok, so you might or might not remember that back at the beginning of the year I had bloods done, after seeing my doc about my irregular mthlies and hot flushes and they showed that my hormone levels were out of synch... that I am peri menopausal (hadn't turned 40 then)... I was put on HRT Patches but taken off them after 7 weeks due to severe migraines. My menopause doc said that there was nothing further she could do for me; advised me to lose more weight and gave me an 'open appointment' for a year if I needed to go back to see her. Anyway,my mthlies have gone awol again and over the last two weeks the symtoms are back with avengance... and it is getting me down! The hot flushes are not only uncomfortable, but embarrasing. Imagine standing infront of 30 teenagers ( I am a high school teacher) when all of a sudden you feel like someone has plugged you into the power mains; my face goes beetroot in colour and I have sweat all over my face. I have had the kids in my class ask me if I am ok?! NIGHTMARE... what do I say...? I also had an interview today in school - an external body came in - and I had a severe flush whilst talking with the man... really embarrasing! Also over the last couple of weeks, I am starting to get really moody and tearful again too... I hate this feeling. yesterday in work, I could of quiet easily of ripped someone's face off... not like me at all! I am normally upbeat and lighthearted in work. ( I do get stressed at home mind...lol) I know, from the last time, that this will cause me a problem with my weight loss... I was getting to a stage where I was happy with 2-5lb a mth... starting to feel like a success and feeling better about myself and my health. I know that this week I will see a small gain ... and the feelings of frustrations are starting to come back too! I sooooooo want to get to my surgeon's goal by christmas... but that is getting really close now and I fear that it won't happen for me. What am I to do? Any words of wisdom, advise or encouragment will be received, as always, with pleasure... Sorry for the vent!

OMG... what an achievement... i am sooo pleased for you! You really have done yourself very proud indeed. Congrats on that BMI... it still feels like a dream to me. What DOES it feel like. And 100lb lost, that is bloody amazing! Congrats again! =]

Not sure if you have done this or not... measurements? When you start to exercise and burn fat, as you are doing, you might find that your weight stays the same or bounces around a few pounds up and down but you are actually getting smaller. Muscle, although weighs the same as fat, takes less space under the skin. I might be that you are now smaller than you were before the exercise??? I know this has happened to me. I went on a 7 week stall and lost three inches...

Hey Diva, thanks for the update... glad you are doing well and seeing results soooo soon! I agree with M2G, come May this will be a distant memory and having those swimsuit pins will be so worth it! Have to be honest here, I am a tad envious of you my sleeve friend. Looking forward to seeing progress pics! Hugs x

Het Sleeve4me.. What can I say that hasn't been said already! I love these pics... and I agree... beautiful before and after! x

Looking good there Sleeve of Steel... and moments away from onederland !! Keep up the good work!

Julie .. that is bloody brilliant... I am about a pound or two away... can't wait to join you! Congrats! =]

I agree with the other posts... before you under go any more surgery, try the tips suggested. If you still have good restriction, then I think you could get near your goal with the sleeve. Track your food for a couple of 'normal days' first; cals, carbs Protein and fluids. This will give you a base line to work from. You can then make an educated adjustment to your intake and see what happens. Good luck... let us know what you decide

Hey Lynda... Yep... my face was certainly a pciture!! I got on and off 4 times... even thought about changing the batteries...lol! I rushed and told my hubby, who was well impressed too... he had been saying all week that I look smaller, but me being me just thought he was being polite! This just gives me the thirst to get to my surgeon's goal now. I really hope that I will hit it for christmas! What a pressie that would be...

Hey Kathy, I just thought I would pop a note on here... Try not to worry about being a 'slow loser' ,,, the sleeve is a brillant tool that will help you. Before my sleeve, I tried EVERYTHING I could to lose weight... you name it I tried it, bought it, got the tee-shirt... you know what I mean. Today, I weighed in at my lowest since 1996! I borke throught the 12 stone marker and I am now 11 stone 10lb or 164lb. Honestly, I couldn't have done this without my sleeve. Over the last 6 weeks I have bounced up and down the same 3lbs ...I have not changed my diet or exercise but my body has just decided to get rid of some fat. I am nearly 16mths out and still losing... I will get to goal, or at least my surgeon's goal... I will rethink when I get there... I am 10lb away. i just want you to know that it is doable... that even if the scale seems to be your enemy, it will eventually become your friend. But in the mean time, please don't let it dictate how you feel. At 8wks post op, you are still 'new' and you body is still a little shocked at the changes. It will happen for you... Keep your chin up and keep doing what you are doing; follow the post op programme and get plenty of fluids All the best...

what a brilliant feeling... you keep telling and telling... 'cos you deserve to be proud! Well done Helen the cat!! You've defo go the cream! =]

Thanks Newgirl... over the last 7mths I seem to lose 2-3lb a mth, so this was quite thrilling for me to wake up to this morning...lol... I realise that this weight will probably stay with me now for a couple of weeks, then, hopefully, I will drop another 2-3 lb. As long as it keeps coming off, I don't mind! Oh and I forgot to mention that I am now UNDER 12 stone... the first time since 1996!!!

I thought I would post an update... I am still fighting the good fight to get to goal... and this week my efforts have been rewarded by the scales. I have lost 4lbs this week at nearly 16mths out. The last time I lost 4lbs in one week was in Oct last year, when I was just 17wks out!!! I know, this isn't gonna last... but I have to say, it has put a smile on my face and a spring in my step. I really do think I am going to make my surgeon's goal at least! And I am sooooo close of getting out of the obese BMI range I can taste it! I suppose what I am trying to say is that if you are losing at a snails pace... stick with it. Take each and every pound with pleasure. Remember fellow slow losers... slow but sure wins the race!

Mina, I can relate directly yo this... a lady that I work with has said to me more than once... 'Oh Coops, if you lose anymore weight you will look like a bobble head!' Now, this is from a woman who is TINY!! She wears a size UK8... anyway, the last time she said it to me I replied. 'Oh now don't say that 'cos you are my role model!' Follwed by a little chuckle. Needless to say, she hasn't comment on my size since and I HAVE lost more weight! I refuse to let others negative comments affect me and my sense of self. I know what is right for me... and I feel that you do too. You just keep going as you are... you've done such a great job and I know you are looking great! Oh, on a foot note... I would give anything to have my pearshape back...lol... my weight is now in the middle and I am defo an apple!! Keep up the good work Mina! =]

At nearly 16mths out, I still find two small poached eggs on a piece of wholemeal or multi grain toast REALLY filling... not sure if that helps? I also agree with Diva, green veggies are filling too... I love mange tout and aspargus ... but I also enjoy lightly fried - with soya sauce and olive oil - red onions! These really compliment any meats and fish and really do leave me feeling satisfied for a long time. Good luck!

You look great... so much younger too... WOW! WHat a transformation, where will the extra 50+lb come from though???

Hey Cludgie... Congrats on being normal! I know where you are coming from... when is enough enough? I think there are more factors to it than just numbers... how you feel in yourself, your clothes and how healthy you are will, for me, be a indicator in the 'end' of this whole process. Honestly, I think for your height, you are probably very near goal.... but you have to walk in your shoes. I know it is difficult, but try not to dwell on the bits that you see that you don't like ( for me it is belly fat and the lose skin in that area) and try to look at all the benefits that losing 71lbs has given you. Put a pair of pre sleeve trousers on and watch them fall to the floor!! Try to look at the whole picture and you massive achievements over the last 9mths! Let me know what you decision is... good luck my lovely! =]

Hey lizsmile, 56lb in 4mths is brilliant! When I was at 4mths I had lost 30lb and I was thrilled to bits, so I think you are doing really well. In the last 2mths you have lost 9lb per mth, which is over 2lbs a week ... that is pretty much spot on! Try to look at the bigger picture and not mth to mth, although I appreciate that is hard work! Just keep on doing what you are doing, as to me it sounds just right. You are over half way to goal!! Keep up the good work and good luck... =]

Hey! At 6 weeks post op I felt the same... remember, you are consuming very little right now, so it might not be lack of motivation as such, more lack of energy??? Give yourself some more time... perhaps start with a little walk, gradually increase the distance and speed and see how you feel. That is what I did when I was ready but it was more around the 2mth marker... I also did wii fit, found that very useful in the early days! Good luck!

Mera, I am now 15mths out and it is very different to the early stages... I understand completely when you talk about social eating and eating enough to be healthy. From about 6mths onwards, most, myself included, are able to eat much more... and therefore there is 'space' for veggies and fruits that you might not be able to get in now. This, I am sure will help with your worries. The body is a very resiliant machine and can cope with a lot of things. Honestly, I am sure you are doing fine... and it sounds like you are really upbeat and positive person. I wish I had a little of your self esteem if I am honest. This is an area that I struggle with more than getting my Protein in....lol... but I working on it, slowly. Stick with it and do what you have to do... you've made a great start! =]

Congrats on a great 3.5mths... you're doing a fine job there. I am soooo with you on the inbetween size thing... total pain in the backside!! Still, like you I ain't complaining... I would rather be between a UK 14-16 than a UK 22-24!! Keep up the good work! =]

I am loving this.... you looked beautiful before the sleeve, and I agree with the others, you look stunning now... congrats on a brillaint NSV!!