coops

Yea, unfortunately, women can be mean and jealous! I don't like this aspect of our kind!! I have too have experienced this first hand ... I've told the story before, but I will tell again (now I find it amusing). Just after my sleeve - nearly 2 yrs ago - a friend of mine saw how I was losing weight. She had just had a baby and was caring extra weight. OUt of the blue, like so many other stories, she became a diet and exerise 'expert'. She worked out 7 days a week and hardly ate a thing - her mother had her two kids for her to do this btw. She kept telling me how many inches she was losing, howmany pounds she had lost and what size she was. This would be followed by a half hearted question about my own weight loss. She knew about my sleeve. She used me as competition. She couldn't stand the thoought of me being smaller than her... I have ALWAYS been the biggest in our friendship group. She even gave me her clothes that were 'too big' for her, these included several maternity trousers. She explained this by stating that: 'I know your problem area is your tummy, so these are perfect!' Implying that I looked pregnant! Anyway, fast forward two years... here I am currently maintaining at my 72lb weight loss and I fit nicely into a UK14. My friend however, has put a lot of weight back on and is now a good 14lbs if not more heavier than me and at least one clothing size bigger. I have not said ANYTHING about her weight gain. I have been tempted to pay back her back handed compliments, but I am being the bigger -metaphorically of course - person! Try to ignore comments with negative undertones and outright negative elements... this is your experience. This is your time to get healthy, fit and happy.... bugger everyone else!! Good luck to you ... =]

Cantbelieve ... I am 23mths out now and I have been on her for pretty much the whole time - wish I had found this place before my sleeve date! This really is my support network... it is a great place to come and read posts; take notice or not! I have made good cyber friends on here, and if distance wasn't an issue (I'm in the UK) then I know I would have had a coffee with these people. If you have any questions, just ask... anything you want to discuss... go for it! I agree with the others, if you get negative responses just ignore it - I suppose it is the law of averages that someone will post something you don't like. I have only had two expereinces of this - the first one was directed to me where my words were sorta twisted - and as Lissa said, I was defended by other members who 'knew' me! More recently I read a post that wasn't directed at me personally but I didn't like it, so I ignored it... if that makes sense. Just think, this time next year, you will be helping someone else who is 5 weeks out... each and every one of us who are active on this forum have a wealth of experience to add regardless of how far into the sleeve journey we are. Good luck and keep us updated on your progress... =]

I just love this... an external reminder of the new you! Great idea and it looks great!

Fern, interesting post... I am not at goal yet, but I am fighting my way there and still trying! So, although I can honestly say that the bad habits I used to have aren't with me, they do show their ugly head now and again... they pop up for a day or two and I have to fight them away. However, I can completely relate to your injury issues. SInce having my sleeve, I have done my best to get fit, strong and healthy and in that process I have damaged my back/groin area that has now rendered me unable to train. I am going to physio to try and sort the problem out but I am finding the lack of exercise beyond frustrating. I haven't trained for nearly a month, put on top of that no weight loss for 7 mths and I am finding myself wondering 'what is the point'. I have recognised that this is my old mindset and I have to remind myself that I have done well and I have made a huge difference to my health! But yea, it is a strange place for me at the moment. I have said it before, but I feel that my body and my mind are battling each other and my body is definately winning by maintaing this weight - my head reacts by getting frustrated and cross as I am still 'obese' on the BMI scale and after all this effort and weight loss that hurts 'emotionally'! But, to answer your question 'why did I get this surgery?' For me it was a permanent commitment to ME; a commitment that can not be undone - that means that for the rest of my life (and hopefully and longer and happier one) I have to be aware of my diet and health. I'll be looking forward to reading other responses...

In the early days I felt very similar, although I wasn't really hungry, I thought of food - the lack of it - often. I made myself get 'busy'. I couldn't do much so I would play scrabble on facebook or read to keep my brain focused on something else. I would also lift hand weights when I was watching telly... distraction is the best way to get around it! Good luck =]

Wishes, you look amazing... congrats on a fab transformation in just 9mths!

Hey Tiff... It really is good to hear from you, and now I understand why you haven't been around! All the best for this pregnancy, sounds like you're getting your butt kicked! You take plenty of care of yourself and enjoy your blossoming family... love and best wishes from across the pond! x

At nearly 23mths out and the same weight for over 6mths, I really am getting that dreaded feeling of being 'done' and with 14-28lbs left to goal, I don't like it at all... I would LOVE to see my scale move instead of bounce around. I am really pleased that you broke through you stall because you are right, they get you down big time... I am desperately fighting not to go to that place at the moment, so your words are encouraging! Thanks for posting =]

They sound about right to me... I didn't stall or plateau at 6mths, but things really slowed down and since Oct I've been stuck bouncing between 164-169lbs regardless of what I do. I was this weight for a long time many years ago too... funny how the body works. In my case, my body and mind are out of sync as I don't feel that I am at the 'right' weight at the moment and I can physically see that there is more fat left to get rid of. However, regardless of what I do, nothing is shifting at the moment! Hopefully one day soon, my body will realise that it doesn't need these extra pounds and get rid of them!

need2change, sounds silly doesn't it... when I was newly sleeved my nose would run or I would sneeze when I was full... my husband who is not a sleever has always had a runny nose when he is full but we only realised the correlation once I was sleeved!!

Hey CT Fats, glas you've popped back! At 22mths+ I can eat between 6-9oz of food and that, is very similar to what I could eat at 8mths - so over the last year nothing much has changed with my restriction... sounds to me like you are 'there'! Congrats on an amazing weight loss and getting to goal, that is a brilliant achievement - you've lost another person! Oh and congrats on the wedding plans too... will this be a photo opportunity?? =] Let us know how maintance goes!

Congrats on the plastic adventure, and thank you for posting the post op info... I for one am really interested in all three of your surgeries as they too are my 'problem areas'. Would be interested in the weight of the skin removed too...and I am also looking forward to your pics =]

Thank you for your replies... I was with my doc last week, and I had bloods taken Friday morning... I didn't mention the Water retention... derrr... there was a lot of other stuff we dicussed and I simply forgot. I am on HRT Patches... would they affect me in this way... I've been on them since the beg of Jan, and it is the last 2-3 weeks that I have noticed that the bloatedness has got worse and the swelling is truly obvious. I will defo mention it when I go back for my blood results!

Helloah fellow sleevers, So, once again I am looking for words of wisdom from my sleeve family! I am really suffering with Water retention at the moment... something I haven't had since before my sleeve, nearly two years ago! It is that bad, my weight has increased and I am at the top and occasionally over my comfortable bounce range. The bloated feeling is not only in my stomach area, but my ankles have also started to swell and I have even had imprints from my sock style slippers in the evening. My wedding ring, a usual indicator, is ok... not as loose as it used to be but not tight either. The bloatedness (if that is a word, but you know what I mean) is generally from the waist down. We are having a hot spell here after many, many months of cold and rainy weather - so that might be a factor. I am drinking approx 1 1/2 litres of water plus other fluids such as tea with milk a day... should I increase the water somehow? - I struggle getting water in. So, my question is; how do I comabt this and get rid of it? Any suggestions, as always, will be greatly appreciated cos this just doesn't 'feel' right. Thanks in advance!

This is such a personal thing... what might be ok for one, maybe a nightmare for another. I haven't lost 100lb - I've lost 70+lb and am nearing my two year marker. Loosing 100lb would take me to my ultimate goal. I don't 'need' plastics to function physcially... my excess skin doesn't give me any issues as such. But mentally I absolutely hate it with a passion - especially around my stomach area. If I could afford it, I would get it removed tomorrow... however, I can't afford it and I am trying to 'deal with it'! In saying that, it is better empty than full as my overall health is more important than saggy skin.

gatacous, congratulations on your success... I am nearly two years out and although not at 'goal' I am happy so far with the weight loss and life style change that I have had. I am in an extremly long stall - no weight loss since Oct - any handy hints on how to get rid of the last 14-28lbs? (I am ticking al the boxes 90-95% of the time) One thing this stall has told me is that maintance, for me, will not be an issue....lol... how are you finding maintance?

Wheetsin, I really don't know what to suggest or to say - lots of great posts already. But, I just want you to know that, as useless as it may seem, I am sending positive vibes across the pond to you. Keep ticking the boxes ... hopefully you will see results sooner than later

I think I might buy some berries...

I know it is all relative, and I know that it is YOUR loose skin... but, and it is a big BUT... your skin tone looks fantastic and the loose skin doesn't really look loose! BBJ, you look sooooo damn good! I a agree with everyone else... what I would do to have your loose skin! Be proud my friend, 'cos you really are a super sleever... I love your posts and your pics! =]

I really think that the ulitmate goal is not only to own a bikini, but to weare one... Diva! You've reached that ultimate goal! Seriously, you look fan-bloody-tastic! x

WOW... what a difference... you're tiny!! Congrats on a great job! =]

crosswind... that is brillaint! Size 8... what a dream! Good for you! Here's wishing those last 20 go away pretty quick! =]

Oilsooner, I am 22 mths out and I can a very similar amount to what I could at 8mths or so... perhaps a lil more if I tried, but like Foxbins, I don't try. My typical meal will weight - yes, I occasionally weigh my food to stay on track - between 6-8oz depending on the type of food it is. So to answer your question... you are nearly at you max restriction, and by the sounds of it, that is a good place for you! Congrats on a jpb well done to date!

Superb transformation Lissa... congrats! =]

M2G... I've said it before and I'll say it again... you are and you look amazing! Such a wonderful person who deserves every single inch of success... these picture are fantastic! You've been such a good friend to me and I am so proud of you and the way you've changed your life... you look so much younger and happier! WE WILL get rid of the last pesky pounds... don't forget, we are in this togther! Congratulations, not only for being such a massive inspiration to me and other, but also to achieving a healthy, happy and positive YOU! Hugs from across the pond my sleeve sista! x