panda

Thank you for sharing this I am certainly starting this tomorrow! I have been out of control sadly...

111 pounds gone FOREVER! I am 10 pounds passed my original "goal"! I have NEVER felt so amazing & am so in love with the new me!
HOWEVER, there is one VERY BIG problem-- I am now a SHOPAHOLIC hahaha! My hubby has decided to pull the purse strings a little tighter, because I seem to get carried away! This is coming from the girl who HATED, & I mean HATED to shop! I would get anxiety and usually cry in the dressing rooms! There was actually a few times that my husband would come into the dressing rooms to try to encourage me & keep me in good spirits- NOW, he refused to come shopping with me because I fall in love with everything I try on LOL! He says "i'm not needed for moral support anymore" & he is right! AHHH, what a FABULOUS year!
Start weight- 249.8
CURRENT- 139.0
Start BMI- 48.6
CURRENT- 27.1

So as I have been losing weight I update it on my ticker. I slowly watch as it has been moving down the BMI scale: 33, 32, 31, 30 and now today when I updated it....................................29.8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM NOW OVERWEIGHT!!!!!! I can't tell you the last time I was just overweight.
This is a monumentous occassion. I think I deserve a bubble bath!!!
Thanks for listening.

Haven't you realized that EVERYONE knows what's best for us!?!?! Haha

Awesome costume great job! You look great!

Yay!!!!! *happy dance*

I started at an 18-2o and today I'm in 6's so tell your mom she is right. They won't fit, they'll be too big!!!
Sent from my iPhone using VST

I finally made a profile on Plenty of Fish and met a keeper But I have also learned a few things along the way.....and here is a list:
you have to have a full body shot, most men are very visual and if they aren't attracted to you they won't put the effort into getting to know you.
you cannot "talk yourself into" a guy....you are either attracted to him or you aren't.
and a huge reminder to all the women, don't get so wrapped up in trying to do all the right things so he will call again....a man that is truly into you will pretty much snap to attention whenever you walk into the room. I never in a million years I would find that and yet he still does it.....look for that! we all deserve it.
I am still almost 40lbs overweight, my boobs have gone away but my butt is going to hang on until the end of time.....and he doesn't see any of it. To him I am beautiful, and for me after almost 3 months I'm actually starting to believe it.
Keep looking, but look for what YOU want, not what you can be for someone else.

It will happen when you LEAST expect it. You wait and see. You are going to meet someone and be so in love!!!

up your calories. that should work. you might be in starvation mode if you only get 700cal and burning up calories.

May 2012 at 254 pds had my surgery June 28, 2012 and now October 24, 2012 188 pds

So 82 pounds and 7 1/2 months later, I just played hide and seek with my 6 & 2 year old. Woo-hoo!

Welcome! The site is great, full of very supportive people! Wishing you the best of luck on your journey!!!

Hi,I can almost do that now at 7 months out.They say we will still get to a point where we are going to wish we could eat less..lol
Dont worry,the eating really is fine if you just learn to really taste and treasure what you can eat.

Hello Gee and Panda'! Was thinking about you guys! Happy belated 8 month surgeryversary. So happy that you are both getting so close to goal. My doc says I've reached my goal (when i was at 160lbs). I'm at 150lbs now and I feel like a brand new person. My biggest non scale victory was picking out bikinis for the summer. The last time I wore a bikini I was seven years old. So, my hair is still falling out. I've read that this can be normal, but still, it frustrates me. I still drink a Protein Shake a day. I exercise by playing on two tennis teams a month. I always take the stairs when I am running around all day at the hospital! I love that I can walk into a social event and complete strangers stop me and tell me that I look beautiful. I love the person that I have transformed into and it shows - I am glowing - and people notice! Little do they know my lifetime struggle of what it took for me to finally be the person I am today. I am so grateful for the sleeve. I am so grateful for our unconditional support
Have a great day,
Ter

Gasp!!! I'm sitting on my couch with my legs crossed comfortabley My left leg on my right leg!!! Wow!! Had to share!!!!

Yay I was looking for this! I was thinking I wouldn't reach this goal but I've passed it I started the challenge at 245 and am down to 225 today

Here is a pic of my face at the end of last March. Here is my face today. I have lost around 78 pounds. I hardly recognize me! lol. Just having a feel good moment.
 

I was 308lbs and 5'4" when I had surgery on October 8, 2010. The surgery was a breeze and I am right where I want to be now 17 months later! I got down to 168 pounds then got a SURPRISE positive pregnancy test!! My DH and I are thrilled and I'm now 5 months preggo!! My OBGYN did several blood tests/ultrasounds and discovered I no longer fit the criteria for PCOS! My blood pressure is staying at 80/55 (used to be 150/95) and i feel super healthy now! I have gained only 8 lbs during pregnancy which my OB is fine with as long as my choices are healthy and are at least 1800 calories a day. It's a struggle sometimes but the health of the baby is more important than anything!! Before pregnancy I was walking about 10 miles per week and doing Zumba 2x per week! Zumba was my go to exercise as it is a blast and works your butt off!! Can't wait to get back to it!! Good luck with your journey!! Hopefully your road takes you exactly where you want to go also!!

Wow huge difference! Way to go!! Keep up the good work!

I never thought I'd be happy to say this, but I'm now OVERWEIGHT, and that's a good thing! BMI started at 36, now 29.4! Bye-Bye obesity! The journey continues...next stop Normal Weightville

It's always harder to see ourselves in comparison to other people. I hope to be in your shoes trying to load up with carbs to maintain my weight. I too am fearful of eating too much because I'm not sure I'm ready to stop loosing weight. LOL

Ok here I sit eating a granola bar, carb loading on purpose! I'm below goal, and really dont want to lose anymore!! Its funny in a ironic, surreal way. I alway envied small people, even skinny guys because I would have taken that over where I had always lived as the fat guy. Yet, here I am truely concerned and stressed about losing more. I feel like my loss was a fantastic success, 8 months 273lbs to 158; 311 at my heavest. I stayed hyper focused, underate my sleave, became a runner, worked hard and journaled every crumb that went into my mouth. It worked. I didnt end up with any crossover addictions. Or so i thought, lol. Oh, sure im not eating dirt, or drinking gas, or growing out my toe nails to 12in like the people on strange addictions last night, however, as I am trying to stop losing (i should say I have been mostly stable for the last 5 weeks-ish) I still cant order my cappuchino with anything orher than splenda, and I stress about anything calorie dense. It's like being addicted to the idea of needing to lose weight. When you have been trying for 25 years its a hard habit to release.
I think I understand what anorexics go through, in that im 5'8 158-164 depending on when I weigh, and still cant see myself as thin. This weekend my girlfriend looks at me and says are those your new skinny jeans? I smile an say yes, to which she say wow, are they like a 34? Now I should have been elated being that 8 months ago I was in a 54, but I was like... "What!? Ugh, dont even talk to me now. They are 30's!!!! I wear a 32 normally. 34's fall off without a belt, are you saying I look fat? " she just laughed at me and said "sheesh, I so know how men feel now!". Kissed me and told me I looked great, while I feigned distain.
But here's the thing I thought, see I still dont look small! And at the same time my friends that wear a 32-34 dont look big.
Not sure what my point is today just getting some of this outta my head.
Dont get me wrong i love my new self!!! Just so strange.....

Hello fellow sleevers,
just thought I would start a thread for all those who want to get to goal in 2012, regardless of where we are in the process.
I posted it the 'Slow Loser' thread, because that is what I am!! (I am not complaining by the way, just pleased to be a loser...lol)
For me to get there, I know that at 18mths out I need to be strict, accountable and have support from those in the same 'place', who understand that the sleeve isn't a miracle but a tool.
I have done well so far, but the weight hasn't 'melted' off me and since 6mths post op I have had to fight for each and every pound. At first it made me a little bitter, frustrated and I started to get into a 'dark place' about it, now the scale victory tastes sooooo sweet!
I have taken the month of December 'off'... I needed to rest from the constant worry of food, cals, Water, carbs and protein... my head was spinning and I was starting to feel very frustrated and overwhelmed at not being at goal again. I needed time out!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas period and I have eaten what I wanted and when I wanted it; this includes ALL foods, no food was off limit and I let my sleeve do its job! The quantity was low but I still enjoyed every mouthful. Interestingly, I found that my cravings were satisified very quickly... 1 or 2 biscuits/sweets, and so on, hit the spot, instead of 5,6,7,... you get the picture. Subconscious damage limitation? I don't know but I like it!
I have learnt a lot by doing this. I now know that I can eat a little more if I 'try'... I know that I can enjoy food again without feeling guilty and I know that food doesn't have to be the enemy. So, with all that, what was the outcome? Yep, I have gained 2lbs above my personal bounce! Oops!
I am not, in the slightest, worried about this because I KNOW what is the cause... sugar and salt! And this time, I am sure it will come off as quick as it went on!
So, what is the plan?
Per my surgeon's instructions: I am going back to basics... yep that ole one...lol
3 meals a day - no snacking.
Weighing my meals between 6-8oz depending on what is on the plate.
Protein first, followed by veggies.
Plenty of water.
A limit of 1000 cals a day.
Continue with my exercise - boxing twice a week, gym in work 1-2 times a week (depending on work load) and walking my dog (just over a 2 mile circuit). The exercise is the only thing that I have stuck to in December... I actually enjoy it now!!

As a side note, and I ain't sure if my American friends can get this, but here in the Uk, on SKY there are a few fitness channels. I have recorded some aerobic workouts that are really good... they're free and can be done at home... this is saving me some money on classes and DVDs and if I don't like the workout I can delete and look for another!! Bonus!!
Ok, who is ready to join me on the final stretch to goal... hope on board and enjoy the ride my friends...

you don't want to know!