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Hey Brookleen, I've only just realised that this thread was an open invitation... and I wish I had seen and joined it before. Anyway, congrats on a great weight loss so far... I am in the same boat as you in many ways too. I love the idea of being at my surgeon's goal by christmas... that would be the best present ever - apart froma date with the one and only Robbie Willliams...lol!! So, you have my support and encouragement too... good luck let us kick the ass out of the last stretch!! x

Bitties... well said and congrats on an amazing start... at just two mths out you are over half way there... well done and keep up that good work!

OOOO... and I forgot to mention.. I am only a few pounds from being 'overweight' as per that stupid BMI chart... that will be my next 'goal'!! xx

Thanks for the new replies... I really don't feel like an inspiration as I trundle along... and sometime I hold back from posting 'cos I am not at goal yet - especially when others get to goal and exceed it in less time - however, things are slowly changing in my head and I am just feeling more positive. The main reason I am struggling onwards to get rid of as much weight as I can is 'cos of the menopause symptoms I am having. My menopause doc said the more I lose the better long term and my surgeon and GP agreed... the whole reason for this sleeve was to make me healthy and fitter; to have a better quality of life ...so I battle on. Onwards and downwards! Oh and when I wear my new, size 14 dress, I will take a pic and post it...lol =]

Thank you for my lovely comments, I really appreciate the kind words and encouragement... just come back from doing a bit of shopping.... bought a dress on the off chance as it was a bargain... it is a UK size 14 and *drum roll please* it FITS!!! Yey... not only does it fit, but it looks nice too... just looking for some boots to wear with it now...lol... I am really looking forward to that goal post and will, of course, include some updated pics!! Don't hold your breath though, cos I am jogging, not running... HUGS xx

Lila, My lovely sleeve friend... God that surgeon is a right knob head... 9MTHS FFS!!! He wants to take a lil walk into realityville!!! But enough of him... thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot to me. There are soooo many brilliant stories on here, where peeps are lucky enough to have the weight fade away. But I have noticed, of late, that there are a lot of stall posts, which is why I decided to post this and to fly the flag for the 'slow loser army'!! I've always like the saying 'this isn't a sprint but a marathon' ... and with over 100lbs to lose that is so very true! I am at the stage now, where the frustration is minimal and I know, in my heart, that I have done EVERYTHING I can to lose fast, but my body and my hormones don't like it... so I will just rock on, doing what I am doing and get there eventually! You've have done really well with your weight loss... and I know you will be at goal very soon...

So, slow but sure wins the race... I have now lost 70lbs and I am starting to see myself as a success story... I am just 14lbs away from my surgeons goal and 29lb away from my personal goal. My weight loss is still slow, but at 14mths post op it is still moving downwards. I seem to lose a pound a week for 2-3 weeks, then nothing for 2-3 weeks and so on and so forth. There is a 'bounce of 1-3lb inbetween but that doesn't bother me too much. At this rate it is probably going to take me another 4mths to reach my first goal and then another 4mths to reach my final goal. Yes I am in for the long haul!! My clothing size has gone from a UK 22-24 to a UK 16 and a few 14s... that in itself is a bloody great feeling. More recently I am starting to 'feel' better about my weight loss... I am still getting some lovely comments about how 'small' I am, but I know that I am not small yet... I think people see me like this because they were soooo used to seeing me at 238lb and forgot what I looked like at 140lb!! New people I encounter just accept me for me and that is lovely. I don't feel self conscious like I used to, it is there a little, but generally I am ok now. The only problem I have is that my 'bum bone' has no padding and when I do my sit ups and floor work it hurts, but that is a small price to pay for a strong core!!! I continue to do my exercises, my boxing classes and gym work. I also do some floor work at home for toning. I think this is helping my general shape and I have to be honest, I thoroughly enjoy the feeling of exercise. If anyone reading this, old or new to the sleeve is worried that it isn't going to work, or that the stall will last forever, PLEASE have faith in yourself and your sleeve. So what if it takes 2yrs to get to goal? So what if the weight doesn't melt off... it will come off if you stick to your guidelines early out and eat a healthy balanced diet throughtout. I can HONESTLY say that this is the best money that I have ever spent! I look forward to writing a GOAL post in the near future, actually, You will all hear me squeal over the pond when that pesky scale is kind to me... Good luck on all your sleeve journeys and a big THANK YOU to all my sleeve friends that have helped me over the last 70lbs...

Hey! Please try not to worry about those pesky scales... After 6mths my weight loss has slowed down to a snail's pace... but I am still losing. I am 14mths out and my weight is still going down, albeit slowly. I have come to realise that different people will lose at different rates, and that is absolutely fine with me as long as I get to where I want to be, Yes, I have to work at it and take on board good food choices which I do 95% of the time. Regardless of whether I do high or low carb, up or lower my exercise, increase my Water etc my weight loss pace does not change, so now, I stick to the guidelines and wait for my body to get rid of the fat at its own pace. I like to think I am a success story... I'm down 70lb and that is 70% of my excess - my personal goal - and more for my surgeon's goal... Keep doing what you are doing, follow the guidlines and work through each eating phase and you will see a difference. Let your body and mind recover from this major operation and most of all, be kind to yourself! Good luck and keep us posted on your progress...

Yep, I am a mthly measurer too... I find it really useful, especially when the scale isn't moving much!! It is good to see the numbers come down as the clothes feel looser! I am with Diva on this, I take a range of measurements and then, somewhere, there will be a difference!!

Wow, wow, wow ... did I mention the wow factor!! My goodness...you've lost yourself and found someone new!! Bloody amazing... I'm lost for words =]

Congrats to you Foxbins... what a success!! Well done on getting in that pesky normal range!! I can't wait to join you =]

Hey! From the beginning of the year, at approx 6mths post op, my weight loss is averaging at a pound a week... I am ok with that and I've sorta accepted it now. I will get there eventually... I have always been a 'plodder' ..lol Back in school today and I had a lot of comments from the pupils... some of them actually called me 'tiny'... that tickled me as I am nowhere near tiny... the boys wanted to know what exercises I am doing!! What a laugh that is ,,, lill ole me giving advise to 15yr olds about exercise....hahahaaaaa!!

Hey! I am with you on two counts... firstly, our BMIs are very similar... I too am soooo close to just being 'overweight'... and thoroughly looking forward to it, even if it does take me a while to get there... boy, it will be soooo sweet when it comes!! Secondly, I am a teacher and just started back to work after our summer hols... I agree, back in the classroom does give us a good routine to the day. Over the hols I was surprised at how 'good' I was... didn't over indulge ... YAY me!! Let's get this party started...lol =]

Yep... what Looou said!! Good luck and congrats on 50lbs!!

Wondering... This is the exact reason I had the sleeve... might sound a little strange, but ... I want to have a treat now and again!! Don't beat yourself up! The old you isn't back... it was a treat. Nice one... it won't be a regular thing, so just enjoy the moment! Oh, and congrats on your weight loss so far! =]

Well done Tamz, I love the title of your post! Sounds like things are going well for you... keep up the good work!! =]

Hey Jane, have a great holiday, and when you return perhaps a lil more photo whoring via holiday pics??? I go to a boxing gym and it has made a huge difference in my overall muscle tone... it is a great feeling and well worth the effort! You really did boost me this morning... I am going through ups and downs lately - again - do I stay where I am or carry on slogging away for a pound or two a mth? Now though, seeing you looking incredible I am defo gonna keep slogging away and be grateful for those few pounds a month... I want to wear a dress and heels like you and look as good and as confident as you do!! I don't mean to sound cheesy or like I am trying to crawl up your backside (not that I could fit into that tiny butt now...lol) but you really have given me a lot of encouragement and hope today... thank you x

Oh My... JANE!! LOOK AT YOU!! You look absolutely fan-bloody-tastic!! What an amazing transformation... makes me realise that I just have to KEEP GOING! How did you get your arms to be soooo toned??? Share you secrets lady... simply, lush! =]

I agree with the others... bask in the glory of your success and be proud of what you have done/are doing... You should be proud, this losing weight malarky ain't easy, with or without the sleeve!!

Congrats on a job well done Fern... impressive!! And I agree with Raine, you are not 'average'!! =]

Raine, ALL I can say, in my best welsh accent is LUSH!!! What a fabulous day... x

Hey, I am peri menopausal, I had bloods in Jan, 6mths post op and was put onto HRT in Feb... I stayed on them for a short while but the hormones provoked my migraines, and I was swiftly told to take the patch off... currently I am not taking anything. I was better on them as they reduced the flashes and sweats, mood swings etc... All that is back now, plus the irregular periods... it is horroble. Oh and I am just 40..lol... I say, if you need them, take them!!

Hey Mini, I get those pesky night sweats too ... vile aren;t they. I get them day time too but not so bad. I had my bloods done and I am peri menopausal... I was just 39 when they started, about 10mths ago. If they've tested your bloods I am at a loss... but pleased that you are medically 'ok'! Could be the blood sugar thing as others have suggested. My dad has type 2 diabetes and when his blood sugar is low he sweats - might be simialar... not saying that you are diabetic but the low blood sugar thing... God, does that even make sense??? Hope you find an answer soon... hugs from across the pond x

Oh Raine, Not just a difference, but a different PERSON!! WOW... congrats to you! =]

I agree... great question! I will be interested in what the long term goalers have to say... As for me, goal feels a long way away, and an uproad journey to it at that... luckily, I ain't scared of heights or long roads...lol I often dream about being there... but I am not afraid of it! As my weight loss is slow... I think maintance will be ok. My surgeon suggested that I will find it easy 'cos the weight isn't falling off me rapidly!? Dunno, he might have a point! I do know that I simply, can't eat in volume now... and I think that will be my key!