coops

thank you all for your kind comments... I really appreciate them. That dress caused me a real dilemma, it was for our school prom; staff and pupils... It took some courage to wear such a bright colour that I would never normally choose. I really want to get rid of the dowdy old me and although I was really nervous to wear it I am glad I did. I had many compliments, even off the pupils, one lad, said 'Woooooo Miss, you are looking well fit!!!' I just laughed it off and told him he was looking handsome! At this stage in my journey my acceptance of my new body is changing... I am starting to feel good about what I have achieved; focusing on the good stuff as opposed to being fixated on the scales and I have to say, this has been a liberating experience. I would like to lose some more, but I will reconsider that in a little while... right now, I am living the pink!!

completely normal... I can have a 3lb bounce in any give 24hr period... doesn't even worry me now, but I remember the first time I noticed it, I FREAKED right out...

OK... so that defo proves a valid point... I like it! The scales suck big time!

I wore a pink dress to my school's prom... would never of done that a year ago!

Thanks Autumn Lily... I've messed up the post again... might get the hang of posting pictures one day... they are really big on my screen... can you see them ok? =]

]Ok, so I am just over a year out now and I've lost a total of 62lb and a total of 31 1/4 inches. That is more than I could ever of dreamt of without my sleeve. I have NEVER lost more than 7lb on ANY diet and exercise programme before. Currently my weight loss has slowed down, so after asking you guys for your thoughts on this, I am gonna 'stop' watching what I eat for a month or so and just get on with it. When my head is clearer I will get back into the groove and see if I can, at least, make my surgeon's goal. In the meantime... here is a little montage of my last year. I hope this works 'cos it took me ages...lol I suppose a NSV at this stage is that I wore a pink dress in public, a year ago I wouldn't have even considered the colour pink!!

Just tell him that Coops said 'JOG ON!'... Easy NO; successful YES! I work hard for each and every pound that I have lost. People with that sort of attitude need to have a little look inward instead of judging other... dickhead!

whoop whoop... this is LUSH! I am loving it, loving it, loving it!!!! What a great feeling... can we see the pics???? xx

. This time around I remembered that issue and employed a therapist to get okay with being noticed before it freaked me out again. I still find it odd that I was so adverse to being noticed by men- I've had no sexual trauma, abuse, etc. in my life. Here's my issue: my sister was always considered the "pretty one" (she's 5'11" and 130 lbs.) while I was the "smart one". My therapist believes I somehow got it into my head that thin women are not smart. Therefore, losing all the weight threatened how I most identified myself. I think she's right. Anyway, I shared all that because I think it's fascinating how such small things lead us to hang on to the comfort of our former size. And, don't even get me started on how losing weight has changed how I'm viewed/treated in the workplace. Amanda Amanda, I am completely and utterly with you in this, as this mindset was very much alive and kicking in my youth!! Perhaps I need to focus on this too... thanks for sharing x

When I was first out and felt hungry I had a drink of Water... still do now, a year out ... in the early days not only is your tummy healing, your body is confused and you mind is in a spin! If it isn't 'meal time' and you get hungry, try a sip or two of water... it might not work for you but it certain;y helped me then and now.... good luck!

Anyway, I wonder if I got so large because I felt comfortable in my big cocoon. Anyone else feel this way too? I feel... "naked" now. Hey Diva... I can understand why men (and women) take a double look... you're beautiful weight or no weight! Your last comment struck a chord with me... I am thinking very similar, I sometimes wonder if my head and body are at war with each other... before, (and now) I was realy bubbly... got a lot of attention 'cos of my humour... I never even thought it would be any other form of attention. As I get smaller, yes there is a difference, and sometimes I don't like it either!! Weird how the mind works... it is such a powerful tool...

Well, it is my one year anniversary today... here are my current numbers... SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal Coops.........238..................... 179..............165............ 14 175..................................-4 Ok... so there it is... another crap weight loss challenge... but at least I get the prize for the slowest loser ... lol!!

You are not a slow loser... 25lb in 7 weeks is bloody brilliant... Sounds like your mam might be wishing it was her who had lost the weight? TRY not to let others get you down... there are going to be negative comments, I've had a few, and yes the ones from our loved ones cut the deepest! But we have to rise above them and remember why we did this... why we chose the sleeve. You haven't got much to lose compared to many - I know! We shouldn't compare - so take it easy... be kind to yourself and keep doing what you are doing. Good luck; chin up and keep coming here to vent as much as you need... this is a great and safe place to sound off! =]

How cool is THAT!! LOVE IT!! =]

Hey Mini... ditto... it is great to have this forum, but you are right, it would be good to chat face to face... You speak such wisdom and are soooo kind... just what i NEEDED... thank you!

Hey Crosswind, I am loving your words of wisdom...I have spent the last 6mths beating myself up about not being a 'good', 'fast', 'successful' loser, and completely lost sight of all the positive factors that the sleeve has given me. I am pleased to say that, a day from my years aniiversary, that has changed and I now realise that what will be will be! I will now, focus on the stuff I can control and enjoy it! Thank you for reminding me to stay sane!!

Thank you ALL for your words of wisdom... this is exactly what I needed to hear; different ideas and perspective because I feel too subjective about this, and hey ... we are all in the same position and I value each and every one of you! It is really tough... but I think I am going to try and 'chill' out a little; sorta semi maintance for a while and see what happens. I love the idea of exercise based goals; in fact my hubby said exactly the same thing. Truth is that is the only part of my body I can 'control', so over the next couple of weeks, I will focus on my boxing, gym work and walking. I am also gonna have a daily goal and concentrate on my fluids and not my food. to put things into perspective... I am 5'2' (so, a short arse!) so 176lb is still 'obese' and my weight is mainly in my middle now. I am mainly a UK size 16 - today I bought a floaty top size 14 and a dress for our school prom that is also a size 14, that is 'cos of the style of the items; trousers and tops a 16 is a good, flattering fit. Oh, I haven't been in this size for about 17 years!! So, yea, I don't think I am finished completely, but mentally I am exhausted and a few weeks 'chill-out' is probably the best way to let my mind relax and stop being so hard on myself! I will keep you posted...lol... It is my year anniversary in two days, so I will get some up to date pics on here too... gotta boost the ole ego somehow...lol! xxx

Now, this is a good question... And I don't really know the answer... I try to change my diet on a regular basis, whilst sticking to the 'rules' ie up cals down cals, alter exercise patterns, drink more Water....etc So in maintance I am not sure how it would be that different. Last time I spoke to my surgeon and he realised that I hadn't lost that much, he did say: 'You will find maintance easy!' I also wonder if it is psychological and I am not sure how to work on that... I can't afford therapy! hmmmm, me needs to think about this!! =]

Hiya Thin, thanks for your input... I have been thinking of you recently, as I remember you saying that you had slowed down too... however you have lost 150lb... woman, that is another person!!!! I think my body is comfortable here and is really resisitant to change... perhaps I just have to sit back and enjoy the ride...?? x

Oh my Foxbins... that is SUCH a good question! My hubby says I should keep going and get to my surgeon's goal... I suppose there is a part of me that is fed up with such a slow lose, but then the other part of me gets excited when I see the scale move a pound or two!!... *sighs*

Yea, this shocked me too... I am 27.8 so therefore 'acceptable' but my BMI is still 32.something... confused or what!! When I look at my tummy it doesn' look acceptable with out clothes on ...lol... perhaps the bod pod thing is the best way to measure?! =]

Hiya Cathie... I haven't had the band, I've been sleeved and it is fab! Life on the other side is only positive and I am a really SLOW loser!! What is POSE? The Protein drinks are ok ... you can get them here, I do have some of the Protein powder and I use a vanilla flavour that I add to coffee it tastes a little like a vanilla latte... but I don't have them that often and I didn't use them post op.. in fact I was a good 4-5 mths out until I tried them. Pre op I had no special diet requirements at all... I was self pay, so I just rocked up to the hospital the night before! After the op there is a very specific plan to follow for the first 4-6 weeks, but I have found out that each and every surgeon is slightly different. I am only 'allowed' to eat 3 times a day with no Snacks, whereas some surgeons prefer 4-6 small meals a day... that will depend on how your surgeon works. I have been out to eat now, and like before I don't really like it... for some reason, I never enjoyed going out for food... I would rather go the the pub and get hammered or go to the cinema!! But when I have eaten out it is not a problem, as post sleeve I can tolerate all foods and I just stop when I am full... it is crap value for money though, so I am reluctant to do it. Life post sleeve is very good... I haven't reached my weight goal yet, or my size goal...lol... but there are many personal goals that I have achieved, my main one being exercise. I am now fit and able to train hard, like I did when I was in my late teens... I feel that I am now in control, which is bloody amazing! Other than a C-section for my second child, I too, has never had a minor op, never mind a major one... I had a text book recovery and no problems what so ever... it sounds drastics, I suppose removing over half of your stomach is drastic, but I would do it all again tomorrow... Honestly, I wouldn't change anything... not for the world! Good luck with your op... where in the UK are you? Keep in touch and let me know how you get on... if there are any more questions, give me a shout =]

Hey fellow sleevers... just thought I would put this out there for some feedback, firstly, if this, in anyway sounds negative... it is NOT meant to be!!! I am just looking for your thoughts and feelings on this. I am a year out now and life is sweet. This is the best thing I have ever done for myself but I feel like I am now at a crossroads. My weight loss is soooo slow it is painful! I know that my fastest and best time has gone and to be honest, since the New Year, things have been really hard and I have had to fight for every pound lost and inch gone! But that is ok... I am a fighter so I get on with it... Now, I am wondering whether to stop fighting... just stop worring and get on with my life without making goal. I am starting to feel like a failure as each mini goal and weight loss challange that I have set myself, I have not achieved. There were other little goals that I set way back, that I also didn't make and this is starting to get to me e.g. When I booked the Take That tickets in October '10 I wanted to be a size 12(UK) for the gig... I didn't make it... I also wanted to be under 11 stone for my 40th birthday in April ... I didn't make it! I don't like FAILURE...lol So, my train of thought is slightly changing now... there is a part of me that would like to shift the rest of this weight... there is a part of me that is completely and utterly happy with how I am today and then there is this little competitive part of me that is desperate to get to about 135lb. I am also curious as to 1, how I will feel at this weight and 2, how I will look, as I haven't been that small since I was about 16yrs old!! what do I do? Continue to fail or stop... Then, my WLS nurse rang me... we discussed my slow weight loss, reasons for etc... she put a new spin on the whole goal idea, she said: 'Goal to me is when you are happy with yourself and you have a good quality of life; not so much about the scale or dress size.' This shocked me because I was expecting a telling off for not getting to goal in the year! In her eyes, I am successful as I have changed my life style and am now healthy and fit! OK, so you're in my shoes... what would you do?

Congratulations... you look bloody amazing... and well done on yout success xxx

Hiya Cathie... yep, I'm in the UK... south Wales! There are a few Brits on here and they are all lovely! But in the minority... that being said, I have only come across positive and support sleeve friends on this site. I am nearly a year out, I was sleeved 4th July 2010 so we are a year and a day apart. If there is anything you want to know give me a shout..=]