Lisa821

That is so awesome! And you're right, its only the beginning. Just wait until even you dont recognize you in a reflection in a mirror! You will say " who is that smoking hot woman?". Then u will realize it's YOU!

Littlebits- thanks! I will be praying for that June sleeve for you!

Thank you hun! You look beautiful too! Sexy ! What a difference 50+ pounds makes huh?

Before and after pics. Never thought I'd feel proud to post pictures of myself. Love my sleeve! I added more pics to my albums too that give weights, dates and pounds lost.

I am looking forward to my next shopping trip. Never thought I would utter those words. I've started to get my old hourglass figure back and I actually don't feel like I would care if I never lost another pound. I'm 33 pounds from goal but its my goal so I could change it. This is such a great gift that I gave to myself. Worth every penny and worth all the rough times during the postop healing process. I love my sleeve.

Recently I posted about being anxious when shopping for clothes. Well I finally went out, tried on clothes and bought some! It was actually fun because I wasn't disappointed as in my past. I'm down 57lbs now and have gone from a size 20 to size 14 in jeans. From XL to mostly medium tops. Some large tops depends on the brand. I will post some pics later, wearing my new clothes. Even I can say I look good. Now I just need some heel boots. Guess I'll just HAVE to go shopping again. Lol! Thanks to everyone for listening to me vent about my shopping anxiety and always being here for me! Big hugs!!

I know exactly what you're saying!! I'm just over 4 months postop and down 55lbs. I thought I wore my chub nicely but maybe not. I'm 5'6" and was 235#. In just the last month people have been "freaking out" about my weight loss, especially one friend who hadn't seen me in a month. A couple people have even called me the "S" word (skinny). I was thinking, "OMG, I must have looked large and in charge?" but then my sister set me straight. She thinks the pattern of my weight loss was that a little was coming off of everywhere then all of a sudden my waistline and butt shrunk fast. Sis says that I went from a thick middle to an hour glass in a short time, which is hard to miss. Yes, she is my sis and wouldn't want me to feel bad but I also know if I asked for the truth she will give it to me straight. I've seen other people lose weight in different patterns too. In fact, one guy I know only lost weight around his trunk leaving his extremities pretty much the same. He was bummed out when doing his measurements on his biceps but shocked about the six inches off his waisline. Anyways, there are my thoughts on this. You're not over thinking it. It's human nature to be curious about they way others see us. Plus it's really interesting to compare that to how we see ourselves. You look smoking hot!! Keep up the good work!

Oy!! I put on my scrubs this morning for work and they literally look like I'm wearing someone else's clothes. I really need to shop. I don't have time tonight or tomorrow but Saturday is MY day. I just have to get over this anxiety and get clothes that look good. I've got the string on my scrub top cinched up to the max, looks kinda dorky. However, that's better than looking like I'm wearing a tent. This is helping to motivate me to get over the anxiety of being disappointed at the store. I've always had a problem with feeling I wasn't worthy of new clothes but now I have better self esteem so I'm not only worthy, it has become a MUST! Thanks for being here for me and letting me vent when I need to.

YAY!!! CONGRATS!! IT'S GONNA CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

LOL! Naked!! That is funny, I love it!

I'm a nurse too and was having those same thoughts as I worked on the Med/Surg floor. So I get it! Good for you for seeing that it's your turn now. Congrats on your BS in Nursing! Way to go!! It's a TON of work and you did it! I'm glad that I had the sleeve, it has changed my life. Good luck in all that you do!

Resale shops!! Yes...we have two of them in my area. I went there and got great deals on clothes for my kids. I never thought of that for me. Sometimes they even have things that were NEVER worn. For the last 10 years I've bought the same brand of jeans because I got sick of trying to buy them in "regular" stores and they never fit right. I held most of my weight in my back side. The jeans I have now, that are too big, are size 20-22. The one pair of scrubs I did finally buy were size L and I had been buying XL(which were a hair tight). That was about a month ago and I've lost 12 pounds since then. My scrubs tops are so big that I'm ready to sell or give them away. Most of them are XL. I'm going to make it a goal to find time to go shopping this weekend and buy a couple things. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm also going to check out those websites that you suggested. Thanks for the tips!

Thanks Joiebean! It always helps to know you're not alone in your stress. That's so cool that you guessed the size too big. I would like that to happen to me. Right now my jeans fit a little big when they a straight out of the dryer but after about an hour of wearing them, they are falling off. I hate having to yank them up every couple minutes. I also have the baggy thing going on in the front and back. Looks so weird and wrong. My yoga pants that I sleep in are so big that I rotate inside them when I roll over in bed. Kinda funny actually. I probably need a much smaller bra too. This is so weird. I like it but yet it gives me the creeps. I really thing I need a whole new wardrobe. Because I'm only 4 months postop, I could lose more so I won't buy everything but maybe a pair of jeans, couple shirts and bras? I really don't want to spend too much money but there's always the clearance racks. Thanks for your support and friendly words of wisdom. I will keep you posted.

I'm almost four months postop and have lost 54 pounds and lots of inches. My clothes are ridiculously big. I need to buy new clothes but I feel overwhelmed with anxiety when I think about shopping. What is with that?? I've always hated shopping but I think that's because it was ALWAYS a disappointment. Nothing every looked good, couldn't wear the cute trendy clothes that the skinny girls were wearing and my size kept going up up up. Perhaps I'm anxious about being disappointed in some way? Maybe my new size won't be as small as I would like it to be? Oh I don't know....I DO know that I am full of anxiety just posting about it. However, I did force myself to buy one new pair of scrubs about a months ago but I'm getting sick of washing them so often. I still wear my old ones but I'm drowning in them...I look ridiculous. Anyone else feel this kind of anxiety? Maybe if I talk this through with my friends(you guys), I will gain the courage to go try on some clothes? Ugh I actually feel nauseous...what a weirdo huh? LOL! Thanks for listening!

I agree that time and vitamins are the key. If you read my old posts I was exhausted around the same time too. This Friday I will be four months postop and I'm really feeling alot more energy. I wouldn't say I'm full of energy but definately much much better. My doctor has also given me 50,000iu of Vit D3 twice a week for three months and last week I finished the three months, had my Vit D tested and it's within the normal range again. I also took my daily chewable multivitamins and B12 religiously. It worked for me. It's also a good idea to report your fatigue to your doctor to get their opinion.

I am sorry that you are going through this. All that prep just to get that kind of news. I went through something similar. I was lead to believe that I would be approved as well but after four months of jumping through hoops, missed time at work for appts and high hopes, I was denied. In the end my insurance company denied payment on those appts, psych eval and dietician appts. Therefore about $900 in bills that I'm still paying on. I figure they will get their money slowly since they were so misleading. However, last November I decided to go to Mexico and pay for the VSG. I'm glad I did. I'm down 54 pounds and I'm very happy with my results. It would have been nice not to have an extra $900 to pay though. I've accepted it and shifted my focus to getting healthy with my new sleeve. I don't have back pain anymore, I sleep better, I breathe better and don't have depression like I did before. Hang in there and go through the appeals process. Some insurance companies just deny everyone's request and make them fight for it as a policy. Keep posting, we're here for you.

What a genetic awakening! It's so true. In the land of excess my chubby gene is a hinderance but in the places you mentioned, I'd be the lucky one. I bet you would like a book called "Spontaneous Evolution" by Bruce Lipton. If you like to read, check it out...he has other books too. I was in Jamaica earlier this month and couldn't help notice that most of the Jamaican people I saw were quite thin. Then all of a sudden I saw a Jamaican man who was overweight, I couldn't help wonder about the genetics of the Jamaican people. I'm kind of nerd like that though. LOL!

For years I cursed my genetic pool because almost everyone in my family, even extended family, is overweight. Sure we have the occasional "freak" that is skinny no matter what they eat. (My family knows I'm kidding when I call them a freak). But I also need to praise my genes because my abdominal skin is shrinking nicely. I've lost 53# in just shy of 4 months. I had an honest roll of abdomen chub just below the belly button. I must tell you that I've had 4 kids so I didn't have much hope for my tummy roll. However, the roll is gone and the skin has shrunk up nicely. It's not flat but it looks far better than I ever thought possible. When I started this journey I started saving up for plastic surgery. I just "knew" I would need a tummy tuck, thigh lift, breast lift and to get my bat wings clipped. Just under four months postop and I am thinking I won't need a tummy tuck. What a revelation! I'm not looking to be a swim suit model so who cares about a completed flat tummy, right? I also think I could live with flabby thighs. Although my thigh skin is loose, it doesn't effect my walk or interfere with exercise. Now my breasts are a WHOLE OTHER STORY! I breast fed all four of my kids and knew they were a lost cost a long time ago, LOL! It's just nice to realize that my genes were not ALL bad. My genes also gave me a long thin neck....even when I was really heavy....and young looking skin on my face...miracle cuz I used to get a nuclear tan when I was a teenager. Thanks for letting me share. Big Hugs!

I'm an RN and I agree with the others. Please go get evaluated. It's better to find dehydration sooner than later. I am also someone who doesn't like just straight water. I like Xyience, the zero sugar kind, in flavors like Mango Guava or Cran Razz. They contain caffeine so consult your doctor before trying them. My pcp said they are fine for me. They taste great cold. Minimal carbination. I sip on a can (they are big cans) all day at work. I just pour some over ice throughout the day, keep the can in the breakroom fridge and it works for me. They contain B vitamins, which is a bonus. Remember to ask your doctors before drinking them because of the caffeine content.

I totally have to try this....sounds interesting. I need to get more protein in.

I am so happy for you! You are doing sooooooo great! Keep up the good work!

This is great!!!! I just realized this for myself too. I find that I cross my legs all the time now. LOL!

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! I am so happy for you. I'm sure you feel great. I'm down 53 pounds and I truly would be happy if I never lost even one more pound.

AWWWWWESOME!!