minaleigh

Hey all!

I used to visit this board a lot, well, when it was verticalsleevetalk. Life caught up with me so I wasn't able to come online much. Just wanted to give everyone an update!

I had my surgery November 21, 2011, so it's been a little over two years. Highest weight was around 289, surgery weight was 273. Proud to say I'm 160 pounds!

The following pictures show how far I've come and they're from my graduations. First one was high school, and I think I weighed about 250. Second was community college graduation and I was about 280. Third one is from university graduation, which was 3 days ago!

I'm posting this so people can further believe that this does work! Just have to keep faith in yourself!

I'm currently 23 (will be 24 next month!) and I was sleeved back in November 2011, when I was 22. I have lost a total of 130 pounds and am ten pounds, more or less, away from goal!

Top left picture is from sophomore year in high school, in 2006. I was probably between 230 and 250 pounds. Bottom left is in college, 2010 I think. This was around my heaviest, around 285.

Bottom right was in April (before obvious haircut, haha) and top right was in May. I was around 175 then. Since the bottom right photo I've lost about 10 more pounds and am now fluctuating between 161 and 165. I haven't gotten around to doing another full shot since then, and this is the collage I used to post my progress on my Facebook so I've been lazy, lol.

All in all, I have lost 128 pounds.

Hey all, I used to be fairly active on here but life has kept me busy! I'm not at goal yet (I'm still about 30 pounds away) but I just wanted to give an update plus some pics!

Some NSVs:

Can shave without it being a contortionist act.

Those annoyingly tight squeezes in between two not completely pushed in chairs? Don't really bother me!

I now look at a pair of pants or a shirt and think, "Oh geez, that's definitely not going to fit," and it does!

I don't feel as subconscious at work, as if people are looking down on me because of my weight.

Lost a whole shoe size and can now wear even more cute shoes! Having a size 10 shoe wasn't very fun.

Can shop in the "normal" section in clothing stores! No more x's in my labels! Basically can't wear anything from Lane Bryant.

Got the confidence to join a dating site (I'm not really a bar scene kind of gal) and have been dating the most amazing man for 6 months now.

Went from a ring size of 8-9, and am now a 5 1/2-6!

Sometimes my work involves going up and down stairs a lot while being quick about it. I don't get out of breath doing it!

Not as much knee or hip pain (hurt my knee when I was younger, and the added weight made it worse).

Started out in the morbidly obese BMI range, and am now safely in the overweight range.

Never had much trouble in booths, it was movie theater seats that gave me problems. I wasn't very comfortable if I was seeing a movie with someone else, and with being so pear shaped, the arm rests dug into my legs and hips. Not anymore!

I started out at 289 pounds. I remember being so depressed that I knew I couldn't let myself get to 300, by any means necessary. I was a size 24-26 pant and size 2x shirt.

I am now between 179-181, so a 110 pound total loss so far. I'm in a 12-14 pant, and M-L shirt (both depend greatly on cut and brand).

My goal is to be 150, a single digit number pant (would love size 6, but will take 8 since I think my thighs and hips have a mind of their own!), and S-M shirt size. I also just want to be in the normal BMI range (even if it's at the top) and healthy.

Here are some pic updates. I think I look pretty good for still being considered overweight.

My surgery was on a Monday and I only had to do a liquid diet for that weekend before, Friday to Sunday.

I put scarzone, which is like mederma but cheaper, on mine for a few months. Now, at 8.5 months out, I can't even really see where they are except for one, which surprisingly was the smallest one! I was showing someone my scars who asked about them and I almost couldn't find them!

That's interesting! As of right now, I apparently belong in Barbados. And here I've been told many, many times that the United States is the absolute fattest country (it's still one of the worst, don't get me wrong) when there are several above us, and most of those are in the Caribbean! At my target goal, I would belong in Jordan.

That's really cool, thanks for sharing! So far, the only problem I've had is after I personalized my model, I tried playing around with the goal weight, but she looks the same at 100 pounds or 150 pounds. Not sure if my computer is just acting up.

Now if only it could take my inevitable excess skin into account... lol.

I'm sorry to hear about your son's teacher, Jane.

"Have you been you sick?"

"Are you okay?"

"Have you been feeling well?"

A lot of people would probably be either offended or put off by these questions. Not this gal! I went to the movies with a friend I hadn't seen since before my surgery and have lost about 80 pounds since she had last seen me. As we were sitting into our seats, she asked me if I had gotten sick and was feeling okay. Now, I actually took it as a compliment! Is that weird? I mean, I didn't take it that she thought I looked sick, just that I appear so skinny compared to before that the only explanation was that I had fallen ill!

Yeah... I AM weird.... Hmm...

I've been wondering this myself! I'm drinking a lot more Water than I used to, but yet it still comes out darker than when I was drinking soda all the time! Hope someone has an explanation for it.

I did a bit before, not loudly but I did. Now I have no idea! I went on vacation with my friend in May and he didn't complain about me snoring. Doesn't mean he just wasn't saying anything though.

I'm struggling with the same issue right now. I was 175 when I met my husband and back then I think I looked just fine. No bikini material but just fine. (Of course I didn't think so then). Anyway- I REALLY struggle with think I can even get to 150 but I, like you, have decided to make that my goal. 150 or 155. Realistic for 5'7''?

Most definitely realistic! I'm 5'7" as well. My friend said I would look anorexic at that weight because I'm "so tall." Well, I guess I'm tall compared to her who's 5'3".... I have to remind her that 159 is the highest normal BMI weight for someone my height, so 150 isn't THAT crazy!

I suppose if my body stopped at 170, I would be content. But damn, do I wish to be in the normal range!

For some reason, my doctor never gave me a goal weight. His office just asked what MY goal was. At first I said 170 because even though that would still be in the overweight range, I couldn't imagine being any lower. Then after some inner debate, I decided to change it to 150. Hey, if I'm doing this thing, might as well go all the way, right?

I know that removing part of one's stomach is not a new procedure but it's fairly new in the weight loss surgery world. I doubt you'll find someone on here who's had the sleeve for more than ten years. The band and gastric bypass is older.

I've always been easy to bruise, but after surgery I'll have no less than two bruises on my legs at any given time! I get most of them from work, but I don't do anything that would give me a bruise, let alone ones that last for more than a week!

I am an h now....I'd kill for some pert little b's.....

Ha, I WISH mine were pert! I think they're still a C cup, but my boobs have always been deflated looking.

I was once a DD, now I think I'm a B or C (have yet to get measured, I just wear some really old bras). I look almost flat-chested. I definitely need a bra with padding!

I'm hoping once I'm at goal, my boobs won't look so small when/if my thunder thighs and humongo-hips are gone!

To be honest, I have no idea. I'm sure there's at least ONE doctor that would. Personally, mine only would if you had a BMI higher than 40, or 35 if you had comordibities. I have a BMI of 30 now and I couldn't imagine getting the surgery where I'm at. I'm not sure how tall you are, but I'm 5'7" so my weight might be distributed a little better. I also have PCOS and hypothyroidism.

You're right! Hmm....

Darla, they put me in what is called a twilight sleep. You're fully awake, but you're not aware of it at all. Apparently I couldn't shut up. I told my mom she missed out on an opportunity to ask me some deep, dark questions!

I'm not full in your requirements, but my highest was 289. Day of surgery was 273. Now I'm about 196, so 93 pounds down total, 77 since surgery. Oh, and I'm 5'7" if it matters.

Phone

Comfy comfy comfy (and oversized!) pajama pants. Luckily it was winter.

Robe so I wouldn't be... *ahem*... exposed in the gown.

Slippers for all that walking I had to do.

Toothbrush and toothpaste. Your mouth feels so gross after doing leak tests, dry mouth, possible vomiting...

Hairbrush so I didn't look like a scary beast.

Didn't bring a computer. Was too drugged up to care!

Thanks for the advice and stories guys! I never was going to back out. Thing is, he told me he's never had a girlfriend and he's been very clingy...

I just feel like I shouldn't have to settle just because of my previous size. Sure, I know I'm not going to get a hunky, man-of-my-dreams guy the first time. I'd have to say my ideal guy would be tall (at least 3 inches taller than me would be nice!) and average. Some of my friends are into big guys, but I'm just not... Even when I was heavier I wasn't, but I'm not into over-muscled guys either.

I'm still going to give him a chance. I'll just see how it goes.

I feel so bad. Okay, I joined two dating sites, match.com and okcupid (which was recommended by a friend). You see, I've been overweight since I was 9. My teenage years were spent alone at home, unless I had extracurricular activities, and not out and about like normal teenagers.

I've had two (maybe) boyfriends:

One in junior high and freshman year of high school. I don't really count him since we acted more like friends than anything. He's my best friend now.

The other I met online. We started out as friends but eventually he asked me out. Thing is, he lived in California when I lived in Illinois. We met once when he flew to see me graduate. We broke up right before I was flying out to see him because I found out he was cheating on me. Let's just say he doesn't count either.

Now to the real point of this post...

Problem is that even though I've had two guys in my life... I've never been on a date! I'm so socially awkward, it's scary. I feel so over my head. Well, I started talking to this one guy from the site. We're going to the movies on Tuesday. But also... he's big. I feel so bad... He seems nice, if a bit needy, but he seems... unhealthy? I just didn't have the heart or confidence to say no. It's not like I have real experience when it comes to dating. But that's why I feel so bad! I am being shallow! I am acting the same way others did when they saw me. No one wanted to date "the fat girl." No one gave me a chance because of my weight.

I am being a total hypocrite.