coops

So, I suppose you could add an extra 120-140lbs of weight loss... or extra baggage to your ticker! A true friend wouldn't use you to cover thier own insecurties! I have encountered similar, and it is such a horrible feeling. Just remember, this is no reflection on you... these are her issues, not yours, so let her deal with them! Congrats on a great weight loss by the way!

Yey... you can add any sound track that you want to.... thought it would make you laugh... and I am glad it did! Although these issues aren't funny, my coping skill is defo humour - I think being British, and more importantly Welsh has something to do with it...lol... Let the 'gun show' commence and get that pesky dragon!! x

Dorrie, the next time you feel this way, and know, for sure, that you are not hungry... imagine me in my full boxing kit - slaying that dragon! Giving it what for... yelling at it to JOG ON! And if that doesn't work, well at least you've had a good laugh! Hugs my friend! x

Great thread... and I for one feel that I am defo a slow loser... but a loser none the less! I am days away from my 2yr anniversary and still not at goal - need to shed between 14-24lbs - and I haven't lost a pound for over 8mths! (I am on HRT tablets and I feel that this might have something to do with this stall from hell!) I've tried everything...and I mean everything, but my body doesn't want to play ball and is in total opposition to my head!! Although this is really frustrating, as I would love to be at goal and feel that I am 100% successful, not 74% successful, I realise that I am now a lot healthier and fitter than I was two years ago. Another thing this stall has taught me is that I am not afraid of maintance ... sitting at this weight has sort of relaxed my mind that I am able to maintain the loss that I have achieved. I am sure that one day the scale will move... it has to eventually, right? And besides, there is no expiry date to the sleeve. You never know... I might get the record for 'the longest time to hit goal' ...lol! We just have to keep doing what we are doing and remember that we are not defined by a number or an antiquated BMI chart (hmmm, I still don't want to be obese mind!), but instead we are individuals who should only measure our success by ourselves and no one else! Slow but sure wins the race my friends...

What can I add that hasn't been said... you look great! Full of confidence and happy, not forgetting healthy! Good for you on getting that bikini body out... if I looked as good as you, I would do the same! =]

Seriously!! That, my friend, says it all... you could make yourself two new ones from the old ones... you are sooo small!! Have a great holiday! x

Lissa, I have definately changed shape... I was a typical pear all through my teens and early twenties... then on came to extra weight, but I was still an overall pear. Now, I am defo an apple... I don't like it either ... lol... I don't like how my tummy hangs! There is still a little fat there, but the skin has just given up, I too would be at least a size smaller if it was gone, just gotta save up for a TT!!

You've lost yourself... and some! Congrats! You look so slight now! Good luck with the transition into maintance, not that you will need it as you sound positive and ready for the next phase! Well Done you! =]

Congrats on a losing 120lbs and maintaing... I am nearly two years out too! This is a great post, especially for the newbies... and for us old hands too! How did you find the transition to maintance - I am not at goal yet, but doing everything I can to get there... my body is not co-operating with my mind...lol!

I say go for it... the transformation is about your body... not everyone who loses 100lb and then some can run like you do!! You've worked so hard to gain your fitness... you deserve it! I say go for it... I agree with Nancy, the sleeve is a tool and how we chose to use it is individual... good luck! x

Just as a side note... there is no expiry date to the sleeve either... so that means, if like me with no weight loss since Oct last year, there is still hope! I am two years out next month and not at goal. Frustrating doesn't even come near it! But, I am ticking the boxes and doing the right things but my body is absolutely refusing to play ball... but with my sleeve, I am hoping that eventually I will get rid if the last bit of me that I don't want... I suppose what I am saying is that there is always hope with the sleeve as it is a great tool and has gotten me fit and healthy. I just want to sprinkle the fairy dust on me now and get me finished!!

You really have had some great responses and suggestions. I completely agree with Oregondaisy. I am nearly two years out and more recently I have gone back to eating very much like I did when my sleeve was 'new'... I am finding that my sleeve is tighter now too. I really want to get to goal, well, at least my surgeon's goal and I am just 10lbs away... so eating like a new sleever, I thought, was a good idea... it seems to be doing the job after 6mths of bouncing around all over the place I am back to my all time low if 164... just need it to go down a little further now! Remember, there is no expiry date on your sleeve, it is with you for life! Well done on a good job so far, and good luck in getting the last bit of you gone =]

I'm just impressed with the bikini top... you gooooo!!! x

Yep! Every doc is different... when I was in hopsital, about 4 days post op they gave me a milky coffee; ok it was weak but it was coffee. I am not a big coffee drinker and I can tolerate either cafine or decafe. I have no problems with it. Everyone is different and each sleeve is different too... I am very lucky as my sleeve will tolerate all foods and liquids with very few dramas!

Terry... you have lost ME!!! WOW... thank you for posting your story. What an amazing transformation. It really does sound like you have turned your health and your life around. I love the fact that you and you wife are bothe benefitting ...lol... and feel closer, that is such an uplifting side to weight loss. Congratulations! and good luck on the last part of your transformation; I am sure that this post will be very encouraging to those new into their sleeve lives and those who are in the research stages.

ILKrista, there is nothing wrong with kicking back and having some time out of this rollercoaster ride! Don't beat yourself up over a few extra calories... you did what you had to do... good for you! As far as being a failure... erm, NO WAY!! Look at what you have already achieved... my goodness, you are bloody amazing! You've already lost a small person... and just those last pesky 20 left to goal...well, my lovely, you can sooooo do this. I think you have done the right thing by popping on here, reflecting on the last couple of weeks/mths (?) and now it seems that you are ready to move forward. I think this is a blip in the road, not a road block! Good luck with the last part of your transformation. Please don't think yourself a failure... I promise you, you are not! =]

Hey, In the first two mths I lost 24lbs... some do that in the first two weeks... it then slowed down; perhaps a pound or two each week. The most I lost was 4lbs in a week, but this was rare! At about 2mths I exercised a lot... gym 3x weekly, walked my dog daily ranging from 2.5 miles 20 4.5 miles. I did zumba and different exercise classes... in Feb of last year I started training in a boxing gym too... so even though my weight loss was slow, I was still able to get really fit an dloved every minute of it. I am having physio at the moment for a badback/groin, so I am unable to anything but walk right now and I miss it like hell!! One thing I did notice though, is that if I train too much the scale stops moving completely!! But I think that is just me and my awkward body!! =]

Hiya, I am nearly two years out now. My surgeon set me a goal of losing 6 stone - 84lb and I have an ultimate goal to be under 10 stone or under 140lb. I have lost 74lb, and I am doing all I can to get to my surgeon's goal, at least. I have gone from a UK 22-24 to a comfortable UK14 (my original goal size) and have been in this size since around Feb, but I did notice that even when the scale wasn't moving, I was getting smaller and changing shape. I have been a really slow loser throughout the whole process... but prior to the sleeve, I have NEVER lost more than 7lbs on any given diet, and believe me I have tried them ALL - as most of us have. This has by far been the best thing that I have ever done to get my life and health back. I have to say I have been through many, many stalls... very frustrating but they are what they are. I am currently in one now... and have been since Oct. I attribute this to a number of things, but mainly starting a new course of HRT. I will keep trying though, there is some 'fat' left on me. On the topic of skin... yea, I am one of the unfortunate ones... I have horrible sagging skin around my tummy and the ole girls are pathetic now! I have got bat wings, but they could be a lot worse (they could be a lot better too...lol). My face, neck, butt and legs are ok though. I would love a TT and a boob job but it is finding the money! Not sure if that helps you... any questions, just ask! =]

I am nearly two years out... for my surgeon's goal weight I have lost 88% with a 10-14lbs to go to goal. For my personal goal weight I have lost 74% with a 24-28lb left to go. Not too shabby...lol! But I haven't finished yet! I am determined to get to at least my surgeon's goal one way or another...lol. Like rootman, I don't 'look' my weight, or so I have been told! Like most others, I have a bounce range that I am happy with. Good luck with your sleeve journey =]

Oh, and Sharon, you have such a calming voice... is was lovely to 'hear' your story as well as see it! x

Yey for the photos ... Sharon your smile says it all for me! You look truly beautiful... congrats! x

What a great story and inspiration to all us sleevers; it just magnifies my theory that there is no expiry date to the sleeve! Thanks for sharing your mother's story... =]

You are not THAT big... the word 'that' is the problem for me. I agree, it is a back handed insult and one I have received many times. it is good to hear that I am not alone feeling offended by this sort of statement; in the past I thought it was me being paranoid and my low self esteem beating me up!

Fern, thanks for making me smile... I have just had this mental image of me whizzing around my house on my belly!!! But seriously, I think swimming is a great idea. I have physio tomorrow and I was going to ask her about swimming and other gym ideas. Very similar to you, when it is 'good' it is very good but when it goes - bloody hell I'm in agony!! I'll let you know what she says =] 30k walking is some distance, just brillant. I think walking is one of the best exercises - good on you my friend!

I am now 23 mths out... not at goal and I would still give my sleeve 10/10! Even though I haven't reached my goal weight goal yet, I have reached my personal size goal of a UK14. Yes I have more to lose, but what will be will be and I will continue to try because with the sleeve there is no expiry date. It really has transformed my life regardless of what the scale says. I too wish I could have done this many years ago. I was one of the lucky ones in many ways, no pre op problems, and good clean recovery and no complications. I moved through each food stage with minimum discomfort and I am now able to eat anything without problems. The bascially means that I can now feel 'normal'. In saying that, this is my personal experience and we are all different... many have issues post op; some issues can be dealth with relatively easily, others are more serious. You have to do what is right for you... go with your instinct! Good luck with your decision =]