cludgie

Finally lost my first lb in a month today, which felt Good, then updated my ticker and realised I am now just 5lb from goal, which felt GREAT, and that my BMI is now in the low 24's which felt REALLY GREAT, and then it hit me, I'm in the 150's, which sounds like a normal, and really reasonable weight, and that felt AMAZING!!!! So so pleased and I still LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!!!!

Coops - that is fantastic, I wish I could also get to that point!! Chin up mate - you are doing brilliantly - be proud! xx

I am with you on this, my year anniversary will be 5th January, and my goal has always been to be at my weight goal by christmas. I've had a 3.5lb re-gain (no idea why!), and have now stalled here since halloween, I really could just weep. I have tried varying my food, eating more, eating less, cutting carbs, adding carbs, eating different things at different times and NOTHING has changed. So I've decided to go back to liquid only for a couple of weeks, and hope that will get things moving. I just feel like I've plodded around in a big circle though, this time last year I was doing my liquid pre-op, and looking forward to getting off the 'diet' band waggon, and now a year later I'm back on it!

I hate to sound long in the tooth, but I guess all of us on here as life long dieters have developed a mixture of scepticism (nothing else worked -why should this?), and low self image (I've messed up every other form of weight loss, eventually I must mess this up too), which have been ingrained and reinforced our whole lives, sometimes for me certainly, the biggest chalenge is my stomach was sleeved, but my mind wasn't. Good luck on the journey x

Fingers x'd it passes quickly for you. x

This is really interesting, I have a REALLY sweet tooth, so have had a LOT of sweetner my entire life to help cut calories, and although I still have 4 sweetners in my coffee (yes most peole wretch at that too), I have to be really careful about the brand now, there is a commonly used type of sweetner (not sure which one) because it makes me so ill. I have given away a small fortune in Protein shakes which make me feel like I'm possibly dying! Not nice, but a small price to pay!

Yes, both sound normal, acid was my main post op struggle, so the sooner you can get a prescription to deal with that the better. Fingers x'd for you. x

In my experience, yes, and yes. I hit my first looong and frustrating stall at a couple of months out, and sadly have frequent stalls and fluctuations! It is so upsetting, and I'm also in the middle of a horrid stall (3.5lb gain, and no loss since halloween), and it never gets easier when the scale stops responding despite your best efforts. What I can say from experience though is that even if its a slower journey than you hoped (not that you are going slow in my honest opinion, I'd only lost about 30lb by your stage post op), you will find you wake up one day and realise you have achieved things you never thought possible (for me it was getting to a normal bmi, and realising I am trying to lose weight now because I want to, not because medically I have to), and it'll hit you like a brick just how worthwhile your sleeve has been. Also, I beleve I read somewhere on here that hormones can be stored in body fat, and so as we burn that at am unusual rate, we can have hormonal issues because we are releasing more into our bodies inadvertantly. Hope that helps, and good luck, you will always find support on this site, especially when the journey is getting tough. x

Oh coops, so glad you found a good style for you, I totally feel your pain with the first pair though, I am always stuck between sizes! I tend to always wear, compression stuff too as it gives a smoother outline, my wardrobe essentials are a couple of elasticated body suits from M&S, and an elasticated under-dress from la senza. I think they were around £20 each, but I feel under dressed without one now, so worth every penny to me. xx

I completely agree with everyone, other people can struggle to watch the changes, the thing I wasnt prepared for was that some people think its a great idea until it actually works, but get threatened by the reality. I know I have always been the fat friend, amqd in some of my social groups that is kind of my role, so I can see why others struggle when that changes, I just tipped the status quo! I guess all we can do is seek out the company of those who wont be venemous! xx

I totally agee with Diva, I seemed to make a lot of mistakes initially, eating too quickly, eating too much, eating the wrong things for my stage of healing etcetc etc. Everyone's journey is different so what works for one may aggravate another person, it is all trial and error, but it gets better, and becomes second nature eventually. Good luck finding what works for you, and try not to worry, that stage isn't always fun, but it really is short lived in the grand sceme of things!

Wow, what a wonderful journey - well done, and good luck with those last few lbs to goal xx

Sn.............start weight........current..........goal......lbs to goal Cludgie......235.....................163...............163........0!!!!! I finally (after 9 months) hit a challenge goal. To celebrate my husband and I are going on date night, and I just bought a fitted black mini dress for the occasion - eeek!!!!!

Well 2 days ago, and 9 months post op I finally hit a "normal" BMI of 24.8 - Yay! I have been longing to see that number for so long, and it just seems insane to actually be there, but I found a massive peak of euphoria for a few minutes, and then found the old voice of "well its still not good enough!" creeping back in. So to echo another thread, how do you know enough is enough? I have 10lb to what on paper is my "dream" goal, and its is reasonable - at 5'8 154lb is a sensible weight, but I can't see it being enough. Does anyone else feel like this? I am incredibly grateful to be a WLS success, however there is still a pshychological itch to scratch somewhere!

I completely agree, today I hit 164lb, and a normal bmi for my height, and although that feels good, it is pretty much undone when i look at myself, there still seems to be so much to do. My ultimate goal would be another 10lb, but I can already see that wont be enough! I sometimes wonder if it is just because i am so used to dieting and fretting about my weight that my perspective is skewed, and if that is the case will I ever reach a point of satisfaction? Ah well, I am sure we'll all find out soon enough! Good luck xx

Cludgie.........235............164............163.........1 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!! Just 1lb to go in 1 week, really no idea if I can do this, but giving it my all! To be honest that extra lb will be the cherry on the cake for me, today I hit a "normal" BMI, when I told my DH that I'd achieved it he said "well done on getting back to that BMI, baby I am really proud of you" I didn't have the heart to tell him that this is the first time in our 13 year relationship that I have been this weight, so its something new for both of us! God luck for the final week of the challenge folks!!

Cludgie.........235............164............163.........1 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!! Just 1lb to go in 1 week, really no idea if I can do this, but giving it my all! To be honest that extra lb will be the cherry on the cake for me, today I hit a "normal" BMI, when I told my DH that I'd achieved it he said "well done on getting back to that BMI, baby I am really proud of you" I didn't have the heart to tell him that this is the first time in our 13 year relationship that I have been this weight, so its something new for both of us! God luck for the final week of the challenge folks!!

Brilliant!

Yep, that milestone made me cry, nothing feels better! Well done

Cludgie.........235............165............163.........2 Been stalling like mad, then down 1lb today, so hope I can make halloween goal, but I am really not sure if I will!

Well, its been a tough time again recently (sorry I know I am usually either boasting or moaning on here!), and I've been pretty tough on myself over a lot of things, so I was in much need of a bit of cheering up. Today I have been overwelmed by compliments, and people seeking my advice on weight loss because of my "success" (I am very aware of the last 12lb, and my many flaws, but other people aren't seeing that). Firstly I was shopping, and an old friend saw me from a distance, but wasnt close enough to say hi, but she took the time to e-mail me, to say how well I looked, within 10 minutes another old friend e-mailed to say she'd seen my facebook picture, and needed my advice on weight loss because I was obviously doing well, and then when I got to work THREE seperate colleagues commented on my weight loss, and basically asked when I was going to stop, one even said that every monday morning she waits to see how much further I have wasted away!! I of course just mumbled and blushed a bit, but Gosh it felt good!!! Its funny because I don't recognise myself at all any more, I've just reviewed my day 0, 2 month, 3 month, 6 month and 9 month progress pics, and I don't recognise me in any of them, I look bigger than I ever felt in the first 3 pics, and thinner than I feel in the second 2 - this is a very strange journey, but I quite like it!

I love that "All of a sudden one day you won't recognize yourself in the mirror and you'll realize you saved your life!!!" perfectly put! Total inspiration - thank you!

Looking Fabulous - well done!

Amazing! Well done!

Hey Raine, your post is spookily well timed for me. I recently dropped a dress size, but have dropped little weight ( I am 5ft 8, and 166lb), I am still 12lb from my original "dream" goal, although I am certain that it wont be quite enough when I get there (I am 15lb from a 6 stone loss, which sounds better to me). Today I bought my new winter coat which is a uk 10, or a US 6, which is snug, but fastens and looks good. Nine months ago, pre-op my deam size was Uk 14, I am now 2 sizes smaller than that, but see so much further to go, however I just do not know what is realistic, or sensible! I mean seriously I am in us size 6/7 and all I see is how fat I still am, and how far I have to go still. I am grateful, but do wonder if I will ever feel that enough is enough!?!? I guess I am also seeking answers on a postcard please!!