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Fab, well done!

- My last 3 birthdays (before, during and after) - My first fun run last week @ 3lb below goal - Morning of my surgery

A much needed topic! Not bad for recent NSVs; *I did my first fun run yesterday * I bought, and fit in a pair of uk 10 (us size 6) jeans - ok so they are stretchy ones, but still... * My neighbor of 9 years saw me at a work do, and after talking for 10 minutes finally realised who I was (her mum tells me she got home and asked " what happened to Claire???") lol * My DH and I had a major fall out yesterday (not good), about a female colleague of his who stalks after him Grr, HOWEVER when we calmed down enough to talk, he apologised, and said he thought I'd know she could never mean anything to me, because he has never looked at anyone else, and thought I might believe in myself now I have achieved such a personal transformation! *I have a photo of my daughter and I, in which I look THIN, seriously, wtf? Not even average, thin! Never expected that in a million years!! I totally <3 my sleeve xx

Ok, so here in the Uk we have a charity called sport relief, and one of their national events is a mile long fun run (tiny, I know). Mid week I decided I had to do it, so my 8 yo and I signed up thursday, yesterday my DH and 4yo son decided to walk it, and make it a family event, and today we did it!! I know its a tiny step, but puffing and panting across that finish line hand in hand with my daughter was the greatest feeling!! 11 mins 50 sec is hardly athletic, but we did it, and in sporting terms it is [ATTACH]2700[/ATTACH] the only thing I've completed in all of my 32 years! My daughter and I are going to put our names down for a 5k in june, I've been invited by a friend to do another in August, and our local half marathon is September - dare I dream that big??

Sorry for the weird photo placement, adding from my phone! :/

Ok, I am having THE most awful pain when I sit down, and think it is where my once very padded behind has gone, and left the bones at the bottom of my spine exposed (I am not complaining). My problem is I cant sit comfortably for long enough to even watch a tv show without having pain, so I have to sit in the most bizzarre positions! Please tell me its not only me (top tips on getting comfy also warmly welcomed)

Hi, I am on my phone, so cant attach to this thread, but I've gone from 235 to 151, and am 5'8, so will give you a rough idea -I did a recent before/after post called my last 3 birthdays, I'll try to get on my pc in the morning to link the image.

Well I've never been overly busty, and 83lb later I have a drawer full of VERY padded bras! Last fitting I was a 36c, although I'm actually somewhere between a b and a c cup, however they have dropped a good chunk, although I am small enough to go bra-less it makes me look bottom heavy and gaunt on top. I'd not consider a boob job, big bras are good enough at boosting what I've got, but if I had the money I'd go for a tummy tuck and some contouring lipo to even things out. Good luck discovering your new shape!

My mantras only come out when I am running, and it tends to be my most immediate goal, for a while it was "size 10 jeans", tonight it was "10 stone 11". I mutter it with every step until my run is done.

I just turned 32, and had my sleeve at 30 and 3/4, Turning 30 was a big awakening for me, it marked a point in time where over 50% of my life had been consumed by failed diets, and enough was enough! I like to think I'm improving with age!

Hi folks, I'm intreagued as to how we all weigh in. Basically I am longing to get to the 6 stone loss marker, and this morning my scale is flickering between that weight, and two tenths of a pound over that weight. So I want to Celebrate, but feel a bit of a cheat. My question is do you guys A: Count the lowest weight if thr scale can't quite decide, or B: Wait until it is official and a bit more weight has dropped? Ta x

Catracks - I love your system, .2 of a lb would be rounded down yippee!!

Thanks folks, I am just soooo desperate to get to that marker! x

I had vsg 14 months ago, I have lost 83lb, my goal was to lose 81lb. I am 5'8, I was 235, I am now 152, I am happy here, but am considering attempting to get closer to 140 to give me a 'safety zone'.

I think most of us get that. I'm just below goal right now, and still expect to see high numbers on the scale every morning, we have had years of training in 'thinking fat', tiny tummies, and smaller waists don't re-train our minds. In fact my scale weighs in stone and lbs, and I am so used to the higher number being how many stone I am, that my mind still swaps the number round because that is the way it has always been!! You will succeed, and the great thing about the sleeve is it works weather you trust it or not!

Hey supermom, and joycelyn, my prayers are with you both. I lost my dad in 2006, and he hated me being overweight, it took me another 4 years after he died to make this journey, I regret that he never saw me succeed, and be healthier. I don't need to know either of your dads to know how much of a gift it is for them to have seen you grasping the opportunity to get healthier. Big hugs xx

I'm still pondering this after 3 months at goal, have bought lots of clothes, but can't find that special celebratory outfit yet!!

Do you get Marks and Spencer in the US? If so they do seamless lycra body suits which are AMAZING! I literally live in them.

Welcome back, I'm sure you'll do wonderfully this time around, I truly believe we know when the time is right for us x

Hey folks, I know you'll probably not believe it 100%, but at some point you will step on the scale, and like a bolt from the blue you will be at goal - I promise you! I had loads of horrid stalls, and for a long time would only lose weight 1 week in every 4 (stupid hormones!!). I never truly believed this could work for me, but even if it is slow and steady - YOU WILL WIN THIS! I think with WLS we anticipate super fast results, if you had done 2 months of weight watchers, you'd be delighted with say a 10lb loss, but because some people will lose 30/40lb in a month on these boards, we diminish our own achievements if it is less than that. Celebrate every day in which you feel healthier, every time you have to tighten a belt another notch, every time someone surprises you with a complement. If you take the time to absorb them, those things can sustain you when the scale is stubborn, and one day soon you'll; step on the scale and dance like a crazy person because of the number being so small, and you'll be sorting the laundry and wonder whose those tiny jeans are, before realising they are yours - AND THEY FIT! And you'll be clothes shopping and realise there is no point rummaging at the back of the rail, because your little size is right up by the front, and you'll do something reckless and fun without even stopping to think if your weight should stop you (like playing on the kiddie swings at the park!). And you'll realise you are 'there'! You absolutely WILL do all of these things, and most of them will happen when you are nowhere near your scale. Good luck on your journies, and celebrate every step that you can! xx

I had my surgery wednesday, came out of hospital thursday, we went sight seeing (walked miles, getting on and off trams etc) durin the day, then travelled home to the uk from europe (7 hour train ride) in the evening on the friday, was back at work and 100% fine by the monday, so had 3 working days off including op day. Good luck x

Now I feel like I am neglecting my poor sleeve.because I have assigned neither a name or gender! I'll get pondering!

Well I finally plucked up the courage to join a face to face bariatric support group yesterday, and it was great!! Most people were pre-op, so I got a few slightly puzzled looks when I walked in, but when I explained who I was and why I was there someone said to me "Thank you so much for joining us, you are what we all want to become". In my logical mind I know I am at goal, but I was so shocked to hear it. I'll definitely stick with the group, I'm hoping it will start to help me cut through some of the psychological issues! Thanks for listening x

Finally figured out how to use Picasa, so have created a collage of; my 30th (pre-op, but not yet at my biggest) , my 31st (2months post op), and my 32nd last week (at goal). I'm thinking it might be true about women and fine wine getting better with age you know!

Thanks folks, I'm hoping to have a lot more birthdays, and intend for them to just keep getting better!