allmyjoy

Whatever goal you're shooting for, make sure to subtract five pounds if you're planning to party like it's 1999 on New Year's Eve.

Ok, I'm in. I'm also in the Halloween contest. I would like to be 135 (goal) or a size 6 by December 31st, whichever comes 1st. I'm 166.6 so 31.6 lbs to go in 3 1/2 months. I think I can do it. I'm also training for a half marathon so my fitness goal is also to run 10 miles without stopping and at least a 12 minute mile. I'm only up to 4 1/2 miles at 13 minutes. I have a ways to go. If i keep running tge weight should hopefully come off.
Good luck everyone!!!

Thanks for this post....I know this is so wrong but my main concern wasn't that they are gonna cut out half my stomach, but that I will lose my hair! For so many years my hair was the only thing I had going for me, and to lose all that would be devastating...lol...I know it sounds rediculous! But once you lose your hair does it ever come back?

Yes, it freaked me out too but it wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. I started at 4 months and it pretty much slowed to normal Hair loss at 6 1/2 months. Hopefully your hair loss will be minimal. The way I look at it , small price to pay to have my life back. I feel freaking fantastic, my relationship with my husband is back, I can do stuff with my kids now, shop anywhere I want...woo hoo! Best of luck to you!

I understand what you mean. I'm sorry if I came off rude as well. Its just that weight and numbers are so relative, when taken out of context, it may not seem like much.
Like 240 on a 6'0" man looks noooothing like 240 on a 5'4" woman.

That's rude. I'm around that weight and I'm MORBIDLY OBESE. Yea I'm short but whatever. We all need help.... it doesn't matter if you only need to lose 20 lbs or 2000 lbs, we shouldn't judge.

Start April 1st---257 Surgery day May 1st---240. & today 180....I haven't exercised much. I can eat most everything...no chicken or beef! Doesn't sit well! I feel like I've done well...I dont get hungry...my goal is 160 so 20 more lbs...second goal is my high school weight of 139...it's been four and a half months since surgery...and down 60 lbs and 77 since preop! Good luck!

Not true. When people are battling co-morbities along with their weight, the need is there. Everyone has their own struggles. I have seen people on here that were under 200 and had vsg

Have your 11y/o rotf laughing cause your underwear is now saggy & baggy.....you might a gastric sleeve patient.
Your hubby gets excited because every time you bend over, your boobs fall out of your bra that is now too big..you might be a gastric sleeve patient..
Are walking down the hall carrying laundry and your pants hit the floor because they are way too big, you might be a gastric sleeve patient.
Take a shower in the morning and look down and think there is a small mammal in there with you and then realize its just where your hair is falling out...you might be a gastric sleeve patient..
Please continue to add your own experiences!

I went the other day to a local thrift shop. Figured I would start looking for things in various sizes since things come & go so fast in thrift shops. I can never find anything when I need it. Just planning ahead for my journey.
Anywhoo I also have a daughter so I figured I would take a look to see if there was anything for her. I was looking though a basket of shorts & a lady says to me as im digging though .....Those are size 0 & 1's......really i wouldnt have guessed by holding them up. I just ignored her & proceeded to look onto the table. Again she walks right up to me & said the clothes are arranged by size. The bigger ones are down there. (Even those wouldnt have fit)
At this point I could have really made a scene. I just politely told her that I do have a daughter that does were a size 0 so I know what im looking for.
It never seems to amaze me how someone can think they are helping me with comments like that & the tone she used.
Maybe this is the reason I try not to leave the house. Here I was having an exciting day getting things ready for my new life & she ruined it.

I'm sorry if this comes off as a brag post but I'm just so dang excited!
I came across a picture of myself from last Christmas (only 8 months ago!) that blew my mind. I don't remember EVER looking like that! Here's that picture along with one I took this past weekend. Please excuse my deranged smile, I was excited that that shirt fit me. Haha. -137 pounds!
 

Don't panic guys, I had my sleeve done on the 10th May 2012 & have lost 30kg, you best get use to these plateaus because they happen often! The longest plateau I had was 4weeks & it drove me insane! Stick with it because before you know it 1 morning you'll suddenly start seeing the weight move again. The 1 thing I notice that even though my weight doesn't move during those times my size however does so be guided buy your pants.

I'm 5'5" and at my first post op appointment my doctor asked me what my goal was. I said I wasn't sure and he had my goal listed at 185. I started at 243.6. He based this off the norm or literature or something else, but I asked him to change it and so he did. My dr goal is 155, but my personal goal is 135. I think he just wanted me to succeed so he wouldn't go lower. Maybe he just doesn't realize how motivated I am to succeed. I'm 5 mos out and right at 170. His little goal of 155 has only made me determined to blow right on past it and reach mine at 135. Like the others have said this is a tool and it's what you make of it. Turn that disappointment into fuel for the fire lit within you. You can lose whatever you set your mind to with the sleeve. I'm convinced.

Hi there. I think that the best thign to remember is that the sleeve is a tool, a great one but it's only a tool - we are responsible for the outcome. So if you want to lose more and are dedicated to change, then you will achieve it. The way I look at it (and I wanna lose around 200 pounds) is that the sleeve just gives me the chance to make the changes I've tried to make in the past but were impossible to maintain without the tool. Good luck and it's always nice to be the "outlier" when presented with the "statistics" of our weight loss capacity...

Nah, I'm with LT on this. If I could have just said no, I am never eating certain foods again, then I wouldn't have needed this surgery. I could have and should have been able to do it on willpower if that were the case. I am a foodie, I thoroughly enjoy food. I did so to an excess. I got the sleeve so I can continue to enjoy the foods I like, but in moderation. I have not and will not give up anything, sorry. The majority of the time, I try to make healthy choices, but if I want something, I eat it. My sleeve prevents me from overdoing it like I did in the past and I love it.
So, yeah, I am one of those everything in moderation kind of gals.
Sent from my iPad using VST

So my hubby and my daughters went into Kmart to buy something. After they went in I realized that I needed something. I went in and got the thing I needed. I was at the register paying for my stuff when my hubby and kiddos came up to the register across from me. I saw my hubby look over at me, at which time I thought he realized that it was me. He looked me up from the feet to the top.....and then came across my face and then shook his head.
He didn't realize that it was me at all. When he did his face had this shocked and embarressed look on it. He laughed and said, "I just got caught checking out my own wife....haha!"
I thought it was pretty cool that I am skinny (and sexy) enough for my own hubby to check me out
Love it!!!!

1. I confess my attitude has totally changed confidence level is off the charts
2. I confess I am afraid to eat off plan in fear I will sabotage my own success
3. I confess I can't wait to loose another 50 lbs
4. I confess I will be glad when I can enjoy a glass of Moscato. It will probably be around the holidays...giving me time to drop 50 more
5. I confess having surgery was the best decision I made for my life

Yes. Yes. And yes. I may be mourning my clothes more than food.

hello my name is Jason and Im an alchoholic, no wait. wrong web site, yes I lust for the baconader at wendy and a giant Dr Pepper and snickers and fried fish and popcorn ect. but PEOPLE that is the food that made our jea ns tight and our t shirts tight and underwear tight and I can only speak for myself, but I refuse to go back to that.

I guess if I could term it dieting if I really wanted to, but it doesn't feel like dieting. I eat my Proteins first, veggies second and try to limit simple carbs, especially sugar. I try to get in 60-80 grams of Protein a day. So I am following a guideline. I will have a bite of dessert once in a while if we are out to eat and someone orders something. I have an occassional piece of chocolate (a square, not a whole bar) When I was dieting, I cheated and would fall off the wagon completely if that happened. Now if I have the occassional piece of chocolate, I don't consider it a cheat and I don't have any desire or ability to go on a bender with food afterward. I feel no need to follow a certain menu or diet plan, I just stick to the guidelines and it is working. It is the ONLY time I have made an effort to lose weight where I have actually enjoyed the journey!!

Well.. As sometimes happens, I had this post all typed out and then I lost it. Ain’t that the pits? :-/
I could call these progress shots, or I could call these goal shots as I am 9 lbs away and I am so happy that I feel like I am already a success story, Even though occasionally I still see “Fat Heather” in the mirror, I see her less and less with every passing day. I am only a week and a half away from my surgiversary and I think these are the first “progress pics” I have posted.
Let’s start with the stats.
I started this journey:
Weighing: 302.4 lbs
Wearing: Size 24W pants, 2X shirts
Waist: 50"
I am currently:
Weighing: 164.4 lbs
Wearing: Size 10 pants, M shirts (I think with a tuck I could wear an 8)
Waist: 25"
I have lost 5 ft. total from my bust, waist, and hips alone. I still have a nice, ample 34DD bust and my waist is 25 inches. I am so proud of this, let me tell you.
I also started married and am now divorced. Funny how that happens.
Anyway, enough jabbering before the pictures, but after I will share some NSVs I posted in another thread so maybe stick around to read those?
I guess I should start with those dreaded befores.. The first few in the dark bar are from either late July or early August of 2011 and the last is from September 2nd, 2011 with my sleeve sister on sleeve day.
Before:



Now for the afters (these are WAAAAY more fun!):
August 20th, 2012 (164.4 lbs)

August 4th, 2012 (Idk.. Maybe 170?)


Father's Day 2012 (183 lbs!)


About 25 lbs ago, I was carried around piggy back for the first time since childhood... All around my house. It was the most amazing feeling ever!

21 lbs ago, I got the courage to post the bathing suit picture 2 up on FACEBOOK!!
I can shop for panties and bras at VS..
I think I look my age more now (26), I think.
I wear my 4 and 5" heels with EASE!!

I can sit on my BF's lap and not ever worry about hurting him.

I have freaking defined collarbones! Not the scary kind, but defined and I love them.

I fit into EVERY chair, usually with room to set my purse next to me.. This is sometimes not the case.

I think by the time I hit goal and have my plastics, my measurements will be very, VERY close to 36-25-36.

Men ask for my number in bars and clubs.

I get carded more often.

Doors are opened more often.

I am 110% more confident at work.
Well, (in the words of Forrest, Forrest Gump) That's all I have to say about that! Thank you for reading and viewing and (possibly) commenting.
xxoo
Heather (GemInTheRough, soon to be JustAGem)

Flirting is just that....flirting. There are no strings attached in flirting. At best you have made someone feel better at worse you may offend them. Under no circumstance should anyone take flirting as a commitment. I was single for a long time and had morphed into a big flirt, it is something that I have come to enjoy. I've made tons of friends via flirting, just because I flirt does not mean I'm romantically interested.

This may be stupid, but I have been married for 11 years and I have no clue where to start and have almost forgotten how to flirt! A friend and I went to a concert a few weeks ago and a guy said Hi! I said hi and kept on walking! She was like you DO know he was flirting! No I did NOT know! Lol. I am so used to being the 'fat girl' for years now that I have forgotten what it was like before I started gaining weight! Any advice!?

104 lbs