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This is something I've been considering myself. I always thought I need to be at my goal of 160 before I considered it, but I'm at 179 now and there does seem to be an awful lot of skin down there. I don't think mine would be as much as 15lbs, but I'm no expert! I'm thinking about at least consulting a surgeon to price it up etc. Be interested to know other people's experiences

Guys, Thanks for all your lovely comments. You're all so kind. You had me almost welling up! Couldn't have done it without all the support found here on this forum. As regards how I did it, I guess I can only say that for the first time in my life I've been good to myself instead of treating my body badly. I just eat plenty of high Protein foods and veggies, with the odd Protein shake to add to that too. I try to keep on having lots of Water and taking my Vitamins. I low carbed it earlier in my journey, but have increased them slightly now. I still don't cook/order things like potatoes, Pasta and rice though as they really make me uncomfortably full. I've tracked my food on MyFitnessPal since the early days through the app and the site and I've found this really helps. On the exercise front, I walk EVERYWHERE and have done from early out of surgery. I used to catch the bus for a 100m walk. Now I walk miles and miles every day to work, to go meet friends, to get my shopping etc... Anything to save a fare! It's a great way to get moving. I go to the gym every now and then. I've also recently taken up a bit of running and am aiming for a 5K in March. The best advice I can give is just keep going. The journey can be rough but the pay off is so amazing. Love, Lex

Hey guys, Just thought I'd give an update on the weekend of my one year surgi-versary. I've lost 122lbs since surgery and 188lbs in total. Without a doubt, the best year of my life so far :smile1: Lex x :smile1:

Hi guys, Hope you're all doing well. I just thought I'd post some recent photos of myself now I've reached the wonderful one-derland! I'm currently 198lbs, down from a heaviest of 376lbs. I lost 66lbs with a gastric balloon before getting my sleeve in February 2011 at a weight of 310lbs. I'm so happy with my loss on the sleeve of 112lbs in ten months. :smile1: I'm down from a US size 32 to a US size 12 (UK size 16). I honestly haven't been this size since I was like 14 years old! At ten months out, things do sometimes seem to be getting harder. The weight loss is still coming but has slowed and I've contended with being able to eat more and the odd stall, not to mention people telling me I've 'lost enough weight now'. No way. I'm not stopping til I get to my goal of 160lbs and a healthy weight. I'm not going to settle for being kept in the 'fat friend zone' any more! Have a nice weekend, Lex

So glad other people are having this problem. I thought it was just me! Reading your posts has really helped. I was starting to second guess myself and what I believe is right for me. I'm sick of people telling me I "don't have another 50lbs to lose" and that I'd be "skin and bones" if I did. Once again, these comments all come from people at healthy weights. And that's all I want for myself: to be a healthy weight. I'm tall and my goal weight of 160lbs will only JUST be within the healthy weight range for my height. I could understand the concern if I was telling people that I wanted to be 120lbs at 5'8 but I'm not! I suppose I should take some of it as a compliment because people think I'm like 20 to 30lbs less than I actually am. The way I look at it is I know me better than anyone else. I know what's good for my health. Despite my family telling me I'm "a big girl" and I don't need to lose any more weight, I know that I'm actually not. I was never one of those people who got fat and round equally all over. My weight hung off me in big rolls and really stood out: an indicator that actually I don't have a naturally curvy frame. I was just fat! All I've ever wanted is to be a normal weight. I've never, ever been done it even as a child so it's frustrating that people want to stand in the way of that. To the OP - just do you. You didn't go through all of this to hold back because of other people's issues. As a side note, I just realised I have no overweight friends. I guess I always shied away from fellow overweight people because their issues hit just too close to home for me. Go figure! x

I use soy in my protein shakes, but couldn't imagine drinking it on it's own. It has a REALLY weird strong flavour. It's nothing like normal milk. It's sort of... beany? LOL, I can't even describe it. But it's all good when blended up with the shake flavourings!

I notoriously have no sense of style, but I've transformed from being that 'dress for comfort' girl to the type of woman who won't go out unless I'm wearing jewellery, a full face of make up and well-fitted clothes! Never thought that'd happen. I've experimented with a few different styles (now the options are open to me) but am settling into a more 'classic' smart casual look I guess. I'm quickly learning what styles flatter me. I'm a slave to v-necks and skinny jeans! Also, I wore a dress for the first time since I was a child last week. Me: in a dress! And instead of feeling uncomfortable, I absolutely loved it. Who knew there was a girly girl in here all along?! You all will have so much fun with it. Though there have been some faux pas already let me tell you. Easy to get carried away just because it fits!

In an instant. For me, there was only one place I was going without this surgery and it wasn't going to end well.

Hey, Not wanting to get drawn into anything, but thought I'd share my experiences. I used to love those McDonald's caramel sundaes. I got one at about 5 months out from surgery, just for a taste more than anything. After just a few spoonfuls it made me feel pretty queasy. It was way too sweet and sickly tasting and didn't sit well on my stomach at all. This is coming from someone with a pretty 'hardy' sleeve too! I think it's because I was tough on myself at the beginning about not eating anything remotely 'bad' for me, so when I do come to try junk food Snacks that I used to eat by the bucketload, I really notice how sweet or greasy or fatty they taste. I think the longer you stay away from something, the more you lose the taste for it, and I believe this is especially true with the sensitivity of the sleeve. I just thought I'd give my two cents' worth for you to consider going forward with your journey. Enjoy the glory weight loss days! PS. I really wouldn't worry about not getting your calories in so soon out. I could hardly get in any calories at all for weeks and weeks afterwards, as much as I tried. I think most people on here will tell you the same thing too. I'm 7 months out now and I still struggle sometimes to get above 1,000 a day. It didn't impede my weight loss or health in any way. Just concentrate on making yourself feel well and doing the best for you.

You didn't fail - you just hit a road bump! And let me tell you, I've been hitting them all week. I just ate way too much ice cream that I didn't even want but it was just calling out to me and then it made me feel like crap afterwards. I guess we learn from these things. It makes me want to make sure I put the damn stuff in the garbage before I'm tempted next time! You with me? I'm looking on towards a new week of no sugar and no white carbs to get back to where I need to be. x

I had this too. Disappeared after a couple of months. I was convinced it was a divot from where the missing piece of stomach had been!

I got a bra on the day after surgery as I HATE that feeling of having boobs flopping around. I had an incision on the high sternum too, but this was well covered and small so the front of the bra rested on it and caused no pain at all. Having my boobs resting on my stomach loose was WAY worse. This is total TMI, but when I first got out of bed a few hours post surgery I had nothing on but a gown and I had to lift them off of my stomach (what with all the sweat and blood stains) to even get standing. It was so much more painful!

I've been militant on getting 75 to 80+ protein a day, but still my hair loss started at about three months and continues to this day. Sometimes whole handfuls just come out. I lose a lot when brushing and washing. I've always had thick hair and been a 'shedder' but this is unreal. I've recently started on Biotin, but I guess it's just one of those things. As long as I don't get a bald spot, I can ride it out for now!

Can totally relate to this and I agree, it's so, SO weird! I'm a lot further from goal than most but I just can't comprehend it. I've only just come out of the mindset of "Why is that guy staring at me? What's his problem? ******!" and now I'm like, ohhh, maybe they're staring for NICE reasons! It's super weird to be one of those girls who thinks everyone is just nice and accommodating all the time because they look 'normal'. I'm used to people looking at me in disgust and making rude comments as I pass! And now I don't feel as embarrassed when I'm checking someone out and they notice. I'm not ashamed to maintain eye contact and even smile sometimes now as I feel like their reaction won't be one of total disgust even if they're not interested. Any ways about it, it feels nice to be known as something other than the funny one or 'oh, but you have a nice face', even if that makes me sound a bit shallow. It's always a well-needed ego boost

Don't worry - this is completely normal for some. I honestly didn't feel up to much at all until about 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. I was honestly expecting to be up and running about after a couple of days from all the "surgery is a breeze" stories I read about the internet! I talked to someone at my surgery group and he admitted he also had 'kitten strength' for weeks after. I'm sure it'll all start to click as you start to get better over the next week or so.

Hi there, I live in the UK and it's a little different here. Both procedures were free on the National Health Service (although they have only started offering and supporting WLS procedures recently and I waited almost 3 years!)

Thanks for all the replies. So glad to hear this is a common thing and people can relate. Thought I was going insane! I can totally relate to the trying on new clothes thing - when I first went to buy some new clothes, I thought it'd dropped maybe a couple of sizes. Turned out I'd dropped SEVEN sizes. You just don't realise until something like that happens, I think. It's interesting that someone mentioned about being able to cope correlating with when you put the weight on. I can kind of believe that. I've been fat all my life. I was probably 6 or 7 when I was last at a normal weight (I'm 28 now). I've NEVER lived my adult life as a person of a normal weight, so it's almost like becoming a whole new person. It's like I'm being given a second chance at my adulthood and I'm like a fish out of water! The good thing is now my friends cut me no slack now I'm just a bit overweight. I have no excuse any more. I'm not 200 to 250lbs heavier than them any more so I don't have any excuse when it comes to trying new things or keeping up with them in terms of exercise etc. Not that I mind. I love being able to do things that everyone else can do now. I think it'll be a while before I step into a room and not think I'm not the largest person there, but I'm working on it.

To be honest, I didn't rate the balloon that much. Although I did lose a good few pounds on it, at least 20lbs of those were on pre-op diets for the sleeve at the start of this year. Besides the initial nausea of having a bag of saline shoved into your tummy, the balloon doesn't offer much restriction at all. I could basically 'eat around it' (bad, I know). I could still eat whole pizzas, burgers, chips, all sorts of junk. The sleeve has made me much more focused, change my eating habits for good and dedicate myself to making it work. The restriction of the sleeve is like nothing else I've tried and I'm loving it! I am thankful that I had to have the balloon (surgeon's requirement) to kick start my weight loss and improve mobility etc, but it's not a long term solution like the sleeve is. It's just like another diet that I feel is doomed to fail once it's taken out, really. Haha, funny you should say that - I was actually carded on Sunday! Though I do think it was a bit of a sympathy ID because I was with a friend who looks pretty young and we were at Glee Live which was full of teenagers, but not bad for a country where the legal drinking age is 18! But nice of you to say so because I'm so concious that I look old and wrinkly now I've lost weight in my face.

Hi all, Thought I'd boost my current bad mood by posting a new before and during pic. I had my surgery on 4 February 2011 when I was at 310lb. I had my first weight loss procedure (gastric balloon) almost a year ago at my highest at 376lbs. Here I am today at 231lbs! Just 71lbs to go until goal...

I suppose this is kind of a weird question. Anyone out there further along and perhaps at their goal weight, do you still 'think fat'? It's strange. I remember clearly how it felt to be nearly 400lbs. It was horrible. I could barely move. I was constantly miserable and barely left the house. Now I'm nearly 140lbs lighter. I have nothing but energy. I actually enjoy going out in the sun, going for walks and to the gym. Still a long way to go weight loss wise, but getting around is so much easier. People are always complimenting me on how well I look. I know my body's changed for the better in so many ways... but deep down, I sometimes still feel like that 376lb girl. I find myself scooting over on bus seats to give the person next to me room when there's actually enough now. I have no sense of how much I weigh in comparison to other people. I still look at big people and smile as I know how tough it is, but now it must look like I'm being rude and staring because they're larger than me. I was talking to my brother about our upcoming trip to Florida and I was expressing concerns about which rides I'll fit on and he was just like, "Everything. I don't think you realise how much weight you've lost!" It's not something that really affects me, but I suppose I just thought all the head self-image stuff would sort itself alongside the weight loss. I guess not! Sometimes I guess I just look down at all the loose skin and the big belly still to go and get myself down as I start to worry it'll never go and I'll never be a healthy weight and I'll still look fat at my goal weight. It's something I'm still working on. Just wondering if anyone else can relate!

How far out from surgery you are what percentage have you lost? Just over three and a half months out of sleeve surgery. From my day of sleeve surgery weight, I have lost 42% of my excess weight. (From highest weight, have lost 60% of my excess weight). How many times a day are you eating? Four times - I eat Breakfast, lunch, snack when I get in from work and dinner. I also drink a Protein shake and a diluted juice with flaxseeds in, but they don't really count as meals. What is the amount of normal food (non liquid) you are now able to get down? Don't know exact weights - but a typical dinner for me is around 60g of fish and a few broccoli florets topped off with some gravy. That's my biggest meal of the day and is really filling. Can't get anywhere on carbs still! What kind of supplements are you taking? Types and Brands I take a supermarket branded Multivitamin, an Iron tablet and two Calcium tablets as I'm trying to cut out dairy as much as possible. How much protein are you supposed to be getting and how much are you actually getting in daily and what are your sources of protein (brands of shakes etc), I haven't been given any set goals on protein or anything from my hospital, but I've got a self-imposed goal of at least 60 grams a day regardless. At the moment, I'm hitting around 90 grams. Main sources for me are soy milk, vegetarian soy sausages and soy bacon, flaxseeds, broccoli, a little bit of fish and houmous. I also do a Nutrisport 90+ Protein Shake (with half soy, half water) to top off the protein. How much Water you are actually getting down each day Two litres without fail. (70 oz). Sometimes also added is the odd cup of tea or extra glass of water that I don't count in from my four bottles of water that I don't stop until I've drained every day :-) What is your exercise routine, type of exercise, and how often. I walk part of the way to and from work every day, which is around 40 minutes total. On the weekends, I usually get in one or two big walks - around 5 or 6 miles as standard over a couple of hours. I take any opportunity to walk everywhere and save a bus fare these days - to the supermarket, to go shopping, to visit friends etc. How is your energy level? At the moment, really good. Some times I feel a bit drained if I haven't been strict with my nutrition or have exercised too much on too little calories, but generally great. I feel raring to go the majority of the time right now!

Definitely the right attitude to have, girls! I'm with ya. One of my favourite quotes that keeps me going is, "Why would you choose failure when success is an option?" I'm working on living by that! I read something on Twitter this morning that said, "Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday." So true! Every day is a new day. We all constantly have our falls but we've gotta get back up. x PS. Just re-reading your first post, I kept thinking of the line in The Godfather when he's like, "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." Maybe we sleevers would be better off doing the opposite, haha

It's not whether you fall, IT'S WHETHER YOU GET UP.