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Oh MY.... average.... NOT!!! Cludgie, where is your head!! No way average missus. You look great! And besides to sunbathe, topless, in the UK ... you can't be feeling average!! What a great result! I am loving it, made me chuckle!! Keep up the good work my lovely, those two pesky pounds will be gone in no time =]

Hip, I really am feeling your frustration here... we are very similar!!! My weight loss has slowed to a snails pace and my 'sleeve journey' has been a little difficult on occasions... not with the op but things outside my control that have really impacted on my weight loss ie in Oct I was hospitalised with pneumonia.. that messed my weight loss up for 6 weeks. Then in Jan I had bloods done... hormonal issues that has ended up with HRT Patches for the menopause - OH MAN.. I am just 40!!!! - and needless to say my weight loss has really suffered and slowed to a snails pace. This really got me down a couple of weeks ago... and I am glad to say that I am coming out of it now. Now, that being said... I have flipped over the negative thoughts and am concentrating on the POSITIVE! This time last year I was in a mess. Tired frustrated, frumpy, unhappy, angry with the world and its wife, disappointed with myself, disgusted with myself, hating myself and no confidence or self esteem... you get the picture. Today, I am a happy person... I love my life... I love being able to move and enjoy the fact that my body is doing what I WANT it to... OK the fat is still there, but I am strong again. AT LAST!! You've have already lost 100lb... firstly that is bloody amazing!!!!! And since the time you were sleeved you have lost 17lb in a short period... that too is bloody amazing! Remember, this is phase two for you... the second and final part of your journey. Try to be kind to yourself and remember the good work that you've already done. This stall WILL pass... and so what if it takes a little longer to lose your final weight... you will lose it. Re evaluate your intake and exercise by all means... but also remember how far you have come... don't give up Hip... this is your time to finish what you have started. Good luck! =]

Congrats on your excellent weight loss in just 8mths. You really have done very well. I understand what you say about stalling and wondering if this is the end of the road as I am in a similar boat ... but I do not intend to give up!! I don't think it is the end of the road for you either... You've rec'd a lot of great advise here already! I would defo concentrate on getting more Water in. It ususally helps and if no weight loss it is good for the skin and flushing out the system. I would also try to vary your exercise a little... add a little resistance training, perhaps a few hand weights, sit ups, push ups.. stuff that you could do at home if you aren't ready for the gym...??? If you are starting to feel a little low... go and try on clothes that you were in before the sleeve changed your life!! Put them on and watch them fall to the ground *insert smug grin here* and then pat yourself on the back for a job well done!!!! Keep up the good work... and yey to compliments from strangers...lol =]

Hey Jovigirl, you've already rec'd some good advise and positive comments! Firstly, congrats on taking your health and life back and lsoing an amazing 100lbs... that is just brilliant! You sound sooooo positive and ready to face the rest of your journey head on... and that means just one thing... SUCCESS!!! Your progress to date can only be complimented and you should really bask in yuor own glory! Your dinner looks lovely by the way... just right to me! Lean Protein is defo the way forward! When I first started this and was on solid foods, I had a lot of... 'oh well you're not eating enough, no wonder you're tired' and ' well if you don't eat enough your body will suffer' and ' that little food isn't going to give you all the Vitamins you need' ...bla bla bla! And that was from my parents!! I only told a few close friends but they don't get it either. The other night I was with my friends, and I love them to bits but they just don't 'get it'. They were asking me about my weight loss and I told them that it had really slowed down; they asked me what a typical days food was. I told them, and they focused straight away on my dinner, which when I am in work consists of; 2 tablespoons of tuna with mayo, teaspoon of coleslaw and some lettuce. All in all about 4oz of food. Straight away they said 'oh you are eating too much mayo!' WHAT!! just didn't understand that they extra cals the mayo gives me is what I need to keep going through the afternoon... would they prefer that I wat a Mars bar...lol... I suppose my point is, that it doesn't matter what others say or think. We have to do what is RIGHT for us. If I take the mayo out, the tuna is too dry for my sleeve.... simple!! Good luck on the rest of your journey to goal ... keep us posted! =]

Hiya Janine, congrats on your excellent weight loss to date! You are doing a great job and so far so good. Try not to compare yourself with others as it is a complete head blow. I used to do it all the time and it drove me crazy! You have rec'd some good advise already and I can only echo that. I am a REAL slow loser and I tick all the boxes 95% of the time (the remaining 5% I am just being human!) I am 10mths out now and since christmas I have lost just 14lb but I am still losing and as along as it is slow but sure I will be happy; over the last mth or so it has really got me down, but I have shifted my mindset and my focus is to remain positive and keep doing what I am doing. I just have to have confidence in my self and my sleeve. Patience needs to be my new friend...lol I exercise a lot now... I started exercising at 8weeks post op because I used to love the feeling and I wanted to get that part back into my life. I have achieved that now! I vary my exercise from walking to boxing and different things inbetween. Although I have a fair amount of weight left to go, I can feel the muscle underneath the fat now and that is a great NSV!! I am starting to feel strong again, if that makes sense. It sounds to me that you are doing everything right with your food intake; I agree with the water though... try to drink as much as you can; aim for about 64oz and anything more is a bonus! As far as exercise goes, do what you LIKE and what is comfortable with your body...once you get a taste for it and you start to see the benefits - especially in the way your clothes fit - you can up it and change it to suit your needs. Good luck and let us know how you get on... =]

What a great success, not only with your weight loss, your new job venture.... but your CONFIDENCE!!! Such an inspiring story, makes me realise how my weight has also effect me in the same way!! Well done! =]

Great to hear good-feel stories like yours Brian... congrats on a great 10mths! Am loving the new suit, new lady and the start of a new and healthier life for you... tis what it's all about fella! =]

Juliarh, 122lb. 8mths. OMG!!!!! this is fan-bloody-tastic!!! I am sooooooooooooooo happy for you, really I am!! You are really working your sleeve. You are going to be at goal in no time... how cool is that! (boy, I wish I was in your shoes...lol =]) xx

I have to admitt, I weigh at least once a day! Sometimes once in the morning and once at night... I just can't help myself. I am learning not to let it get me down... and over the last week I am winning. I record my weight once a week, on a Sat or Sunday and I measure myself every 2-3 weeks. I can't ignore the scales, not now. I have to see those numbers to believe that I have lost 59lbs 'cos there are days when I don't feel like it!

Simply, I am thankful for getting my health and fitness back. I still have a fair amount of 'fat' on my body but underneath that is a lot of strong muscle and that feels good!

Well done !! SOunds like that made your day!!! Keep up the good work! =]

Hey Cheri, this is very interesting for me and I have been thinking along these lines for a while. I had my bloods done a couple of mths ago and they read abnormal for the female and male hormones; the doc suspected early menopause as at the time I was 39... I've only just turned 40... I had a lot of the other symptoms to. I was then sent to the menopause clinic where the specialist told me I was peri menopausal as my periods, as sparodic as they are, were still with me. She has perscribed HRT Patches which I started at the beginning of April. That week I lost a pound for the first time in several months. I have lost, since wearing the patches, a total of 4lb which is a lot more than before the patches!! I feel better now, not as moody, tired and snappy... I have more energy and I am not crying as much (lol) and the headaches and hot flashes have all but gone. However, I haven't lost since that 4lb ... the patch has given me two periods, the first being very heavy and long and the second lighter - that is a total of three 'shows' in 5 weeks and that is probably why the scale hasn't moved much? Like you I am no medical professional, but I am learning to read my own body and trying to get into synch with it. Hormones are funny little things that play havoc with us!! I am chuffed that you have discovered why you were losing slowly and removing the IUD sounds to me like it was the right thing to do... do you feel better for it? Congrats on your total weight loss too... you are really near goal now!!

I was told to do resisitant trainig before aerobic activity as it helps warm the body up and then you will burn more fat. But as above, any kind of exercise can only be beneficial. I, personally stick to the stuff I enjoy ... otherwise I get bored and end up do little! Enjoy whatever you choose!! =]

hey girls.... thanks for the comments, and yea I can really see your point Blackberryjuice. I have often looked at the more 'crvy' ladies that oooooze confidence and wish I could be like them! OK... so the tankini seems like a good idea, which bottoms/pants style would you go for? The short style or the knicker stlye... I am thinking a fairly tidy size on the width - thigh to waist - and a medium leg????? I am working on the confidence to just DO IT!! *insert NIKE tick...lol*

Hey Kerry, I hadn't even thought of it like that,.. and in that case it must be a NSV for me...lol!! I was just browsing on the net looking at different options when it dawned on me that all my holiday gear is going to be way to big and that includes my swim wear. I think I might try on a tankini and see how it feels. Thanks ladies for your input! I was gonna ask my hubby, but unfortunately he normally says what 'he thinks' I want to hear when it comes to clothes... and it is usually the wrong thing ...lol... for example, I put a tee shirt on and I suspected it was still a little tight, especailly around the tummy area, when I asked him he said 'No love, it is just a bit short...!!' WHAT is he like. Luckily I found this amusing!!

Ok, so my thoughts are turning to holiday season. We are saving every penny to try and get a family holiday in the sun - looking at Crete (where we met and love) or Rhodes... hot and sunny!! Erm, so I was wondering... Am I small enough to wear a two peice/bikini/tankini?? When did you feel confident enough to shed the one piece?

Well done... glad you are handy with the needle, that could be a life saver...lol!! Hope you enjoy many more NSVs!! Keep up the good work! =]

Hey 1-4-Many... my comment about your weight loss was to simply, try and put a positive twist on your situation... something good for you to focus on whilst you are feeling soooo poorly. It was not meant in any other way and I apologise if it came across as flippant or similar. Indeed the whole point for me to get the sleeve was a way to increase my health, fitness and general well being; add years to my life and make the qaulitity of life good. I can see you went into it for the same reasons. I have and never will respond on this forum with negative comments or any comments that I wouldn't want to receive myself. I hope you feel better and that you are having some relief from how awful you have been feeling.

Jen Jen, A touching story that has serenity to it... I too applaud you for not bashing your surgeon. You sound like you have been through on hell of a tough time over recent years and for you to come here and share must have been a huge desicion for you... thank you. If I have read the tone of your post accurately, I would say that you are one strong and independant lady who will not be beaten. Let us hope this is the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one that will bring you your health and fitness back; and all the pleasure that that brings. Speedy recovery, good luck... let us know how you get on! x

good for you... keep up the good work and you will get the rewards!!! Happy days ... =]

Well done... what a fantastic achievement for you!! I bet you are feeling on top of the world! Congrats and enjoy the training for the next one =]

good for you... two hours a time...wow! That is brilliant. I bet you are really feeling the benefit and toning those thighs and buns up nicely!! =] Isn't it good to be able to exercise, enjoy it and actually feel the benefits... this is definately a part of the 'new me' that I am really enjoying!

I am with you too... this is a great place for support and encouraging words. Lots of great advise from like minded folk who are going through, or have been in our shoes. Fair play to your hubby... mine is the same; don't know what I would do without him!! =]

congrats on hitting onderland.. keep up the good work and keep us posted on your success!!

Hey Hip! I know it is difficult but try to stay positive! The first couple of weeks are about getting better, healing and recovering. At your stage in the game Water is going to be important, try to get in as much as you can. I hit the dreaded three week stall and the same as you, I stayed there for 2 1/2 weeks. This has become my pattern but I am still losing albeit slowly and I am now 10mths out. Over the last couple of weeks I have really struggled mentally with this whole process, but I am getting there now and feeling more positive about myself. It will come off... as yes, extrafluffy said you don't really have that much to lose; you're a 'light weight' ...lol have a look around at other stall posts.. there are a lot of them! It would seem that a lot of us go through this and it is part and parcel of our bodies way of taking time to adjust. take care of yourself and keep us posted... chin up! =]