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Cheri, It is always a pleasure to read your posts... congrats on a job well done! You look absolutely amazing!! x

M2G.... LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!! A dramatic difference ... well done on a perfect 9mths and I am sure those 15lbs will go... you are doing it all right and ticking the right boxes... impressive stuff!! Well done you.... hugs from across the pond! =]

My Mini friend.... Double YIPEEEEE ... good for you my lovely... looks like it was a blip in the matrix after all... we are actually having some nice weather here, so I have been mindful to make sure I get my Water in plus some... I would LOVE to be 127... good for you! x

Ermmmm, I think you need a new outfit! Congrats on a good job! You look like a new woman! =]

OMG... check you out!! I am completely in awe here,,, I am soooo impressed words don't cover it. But, Thin do share... is it the Atkins induction you are doing 'cos I wanna join you! x

When I first started training again, I started on a stationary bike... once I lost some weight and got fitter, I found I was bored just sat there and it didn't really motivate me... I also used wii fit too... that was better because there is a range of exercises that suited my mood and energy levels... it is also a lot of fun! Could that be an option? The kettle bell is a really good idea... I am looking into it a bit at the moment 'cos I've been told that it is a great work out for all fitness ranges. A good, cheap fat burner is the skipping rope. I started going to a boxing gym back in March and we use the ropes after our warm up... one minute on the rope then some floor work; sit ups, push ups, crunches, mountain climbers etc. You could try that? It is hard work but you can modify it to suit yourself... you hubby could train with you. When you are on the rope, he could be doing the floor work, then swap. Help motivate each other? Just some ideas that aren't that costly?! =]

Fan-bloody-tastic.... way to go you... Hope the foot is better soooooon =]

Wow... fantastic pics... what a difference... well done on your 6mths success!

HIya Playfair, I was sleeved in Bridgend S. Wales... and was self pay too... I did approach my doc to go through the NHS, but apart from being morbidly obese I was perfectly fit and well! For how long that would have stayed is another matter... There are a fair few Brits on here... Chilo, Cludgie, Yorkshire Ange, Jane are a few.... all successful. I know two other welsh sleevers, they don't post here, but have been helpful to me via the phone and FB. I haven't told many peeps about my op, I felt that I didn't want to justify myself to anyone or be judeged... I am pleased about that decision now 'cos I have been a real slow loser and more recently come to a virtual stand still. I am just on the cusp of getting back in the saddle after a while of semi maintance. I have an appointment with my surgeon next week, so I need to ak him for some advise re getting things moving again. In saying that, I am pleased with my weight loss and hoq my quality of life has increased for the better. This is a great site... a lot of info and support to be had here... I come on here regularly still (I am just over a year out) and it really does help when I need somewhere to vent or advise from peeps who are going through the same thing. Stay in touch... and let me know how you get on! =]

Amanda, half way there is such a good feeling, isn't it!! Congrats on both NSVs... it is a sign of good things to come!!

Well done playfair... fairplay!!! See what I did there...lol... sorry, couldn't resist! I'm in the UK too... just over the border in sunny Wales! There are a few Brits around. Good luck with your continuing weight loss... great to be obese ain't it...hahaaaa... I am now aiming to be just overweight!!! Shout if you have any questions... =]

OMG... THIN.... YOU gooooooo!!! Wow is all I can say, and YEY!! You have actually given me some hope that my journey isn't over too... how long did you 'diet' for before you reaped the rewards? I've been doing semi maintance for about three weeks... and I think in another week or so I'll be ready mentally to try again! Any handy hints would be appreciated... but, in the meantime.... WELL DONE YOU! =]

Well Done Brian... You're pics tell the physical story and you look happy, fit and healthy! You've done an amazing job and it is touching and inspiring to read. I can understand why your children are happy to see skinny daddy smile! Good luck with going into maintance... which looks like it is just around the corner for you... and good luck with the rest of your life and new lady! If there are any tips you would share... what would they be? =]

The pleasure is all mine... my mini friend!! xx

Hey Globetrotter, Congrats on a year out and an amazing weightloss to date. I am on the same page re goal and year anniversary... my body has just stopped losing, regardless of what I eat! The last three weeks I have gone into 'semi maintance' frame of mind because I wanted to take away the pressure, frustration and disappointment of not being at goal a year after surgery... I haven't lost and I haven't gained a pound since that day... the same as when I was counting carbs, tracking cals and being extremely vigilant in what went into my mouth. DOn't get me wrong... I am not having a massive 'pig out' - as that would be impossible - but I am eating what I want three times a day! I think I will get back in the grove soon though... I feel a lot more positive and I hope my body will play ball a little more... our amounts to goal weights are very similar. I wish you the very best in the final stretch... good luck and good health. Oh and as a foot note... you are not a fat person now... enjoy it! =]

I can understand why you are confused... I would be too ( actually, my body confuses me on a daily basis)... could you go back to basics for a week... see what happens? What about Water? Are you drinking enough, especially if it is hot with you at the moment. I think you might be right on with the swelling... when we get hot weather ( which isn't that often) or when I go on hols to a hot place, I find that I retain water and swell a little... well, enough to feel uncomfortable! Honestly, Mini... I really don't think this is a problem for you, more like a blip in the matrix... a learning curve of maintance... let us know how things pan out. Chin up.... hugs from across the pond! =]

Hey... Firstly, congrats on making the move... I think that is shows a great deal of courage and determination on your behalf... well done! You have mad a fantastic start! As regards the comments, they might be well intended? But my advise would be to follow what YOUR body says... if it isn't giving you any signs to stop then don't. Take each day one at a time and see how your body reacts. From experience, my body tells me when I need to slow down and when I need to push myself. Good luck on the rest of your journey... =]

A great job, by both of you... It really does sound like you have a great quality of life now, especially with your physical activity... I love how you have transformed your garden to match the new you!! Keep up the good work...! =]

Hiya Sharon, best thing about being this size... there are a few things to be honest. On the vanity side of it, I can tolerate my image in the mirror and in photos now, before it was horrible and I hated it. It is also nice to be able to wear clothes from a 'normal' size range, not the outsized places where the prices are double. I have recently had some fab bargains... in saying that I am still a size 16UK so there are a few more inches left to go, espcially around the stomach area. Physically, the best thing is to be able to move!! I enjoy my boxing classes, gym sessions and walking now. Whereas before, I hated it 'cos it was uncomfortable and I my body couldn't do what my brain wanted it to! My biggest surprise... that is a good one! The biggest thing, is that a year out I still have a good restriction and my relationship with food has changed. I didn't have issues with it before, I wasn't an emotional eater... I just didn't eat very well. I made bad food choices. Now, I don't like to eat processed foods or ready meals... I prefer to eat fresh foods and I am slowly learning how to cook! The other thing that surprises me are the comments I get, both negative and positive. I used to get strung out by negative comments... now I can brush them off. Before, in the beginning when my weight loss first became visible, I did't like the positive comments or the attention. Now, I just say thanks and it is job done! Like I have mentioned before, I am just gonna get on with it now and stop stressing about the 'what ifs' and 'I should weigh x amount'... that has also been a surprise to me because in the first instance I was sooooo desperate to get to goal by now! I am just grateful that I have a good quality of health, fitness and life back... and that is me still being 'obese' ... lol... We'll just see what happens! Congrats on your weight loss to date... you are doing an excellent job... how are you finding the smaller you? ] =]

yey.... thanks to Diva I managed to put the pics in a proper time line... just one typo this time...lol!

Amanda, what a difference... you are looking GREAT!! I love your list too... keep up the good work! =]

You could always try the 5 day pouch test, I did it at the beg of the year. I didn't lose a huge amount of weight, but it was good as it helped me focus on the restriction and food choices. It might be worth a shot? Just type it into your search engine for details. Also going back to basics would be a good idea... weighing your food, logging your carbs and cals... just for a couple of weeks to make sure you are on the right lines. I would defo ditch the sweets, at least until you see the scale move. Another thing... do you drink plenty of Water? I know that if I don't I feel hungry/empty more... it really helps me to stop snacking too. Just a few suggestions... let us know what you decide.

I have a friend who is similar... perhaps not as curt, but the undertones are the same... fortunately she isn't my boss. She asked me how much weight I had recently lost, this usually leads into her telling me about how much she has lost, blablabla... but I knew what was coming. I simply replied 'Oh, nothing! I've stopped weighing and measuring now... To be honest, I don't know if I want to lose anymore!' She was gutted! I purposefully said that to stop the competition that I felt she had put on us. I don't like competition of this nature, so as far as she is concerned... I am at goal!! It was the only way I could get back in control... dunno if it would work for you?

Hey Meggie... I am WELSH!!! lol x

Hey! I have been battling with this for many months now... only recently I have realised that I am smaller.. a lot smaller... but it took best part of a year. I remember when I was first sleeved and the preceeding months, reading topics about how long it takes for the head to catch up with the body. I must admit, it is true... for some reason, the ole grey cells are reluctant to realise exactly what is happening. You're 4mths out and lost an incredible amount of weight... try to focus on the positive stuff and not the negative... ok, ok, ok, that is easier said than done... you will start to feel the difference soon... even if it is in spits and spats. Keep up your good work and congratulate yourself on a daily basis! Oh, and by the way, we were exactly the same weight on the date of surgery!! =]