Raine

So happy for you Lisa! I can feel your smile all the way over here

Cludgie! You are amazing! Compliments are a wonderful wonderful thing. I know what you mean about not recognizing yourself, sometimes I just stare at myself and wonder. I look different but the same but different lol. This IS one wild and crazy ride and I'm not getting off until I'm damn good and ready! Congratulations, my friend.

First off, congratulations on your success! I just posted about this same exact issue and I've decided to ask myself some questions: Am I comfortable with me? (thanks to everyone for helping me with this!) 1) size wise: yes 2) weight wise: no 3) body visual: no 4) health numbers: almost 5) eating habits: almost - I still see where I can easily "fall off the wagon" As you see, I only answered yes to one of 5 and that answered my question. Are you comfortable with where you are? Only you know this, not hubby, not friends, and not family, just you. Good luck and congratulations again.

Thanks for all the input, guys. Your opinions mean a lot to me because you are living what I am going through too. When I ask people who know me well they think I am fine where I am at. Of course they do, LOL, they remember when I was morbidly obese and compare between then and now. Some even argued that I didn't need the surgery. I am going to continue fighting the good fight . Anewme is 100% right too, because we can gain if we are not careful, its in our make up. I proved that when I tried to quit smoking. We have to watch everything. When I don't have to watch everything is when I will be happy. I also realized too, that posing the question was in essance the answer to my question: If I have doubts then I need to continue on until I am doubt free. I need to be 100% happy with most things about me, my health, my body and especially my eating habits. In reality, like thinoneday has stated, my body will probably make that decision for me and when its happy where its at, then I will stop losing. So the deciding factor is a little bit of what EVERYONE has said ... Am I comfortable with where I am at: 1) size wise: yes 2) weight wise: no 3) body visual: no 4) health numbers: almost 5) eating habits: almost - I still see where I can easily "fall off the wagon" I think those are the 5 questions to ask when looking for the answer. I only said "yes" to one of five. Not good enough in my own eyes if I'm going to be honest about it. Oh btw, have I said how much I love you guys??? If I have never said it, I will say it now, I LOVE YOU ALL! You are all my sanity (and my hubby's) through out this whole process. Thank you so much for everything you have given me.

Amazing transformation! Congratulations on your success!

My company is switching over to UHC from Aetna. Good to know. Thanks for looking into this guys!

or perhaps, its that the skin isn't as stretched and thin so the needle has to go through more of it. Not an MD or expert but both what Thomas said and what I think does sound logical.

Thanks so much! Oh boy do I have skin LOL. My highest weight ever was 280+. When I hit the 280 mark I refused to get on the scale again for a long long time and I know I went up from there too. I'm sure 5-10lbs is skin but there is still fat in there too. Yes, sleeve4me, you are an 11 junior then LOL

Double WOOT! or is it quadruple? Either way, great job and you have a beautiful family! P.S. Now that is a smile that I loved seeing, your kids light up your face

I have been wanting to do this for a very long time. Problem: Bad bad knees. Today, I thought screw it, I'm going to try anyway and I did. Did 2 reps of week 1 day 1 and my knee almost gave out as in POP see you later allegator. I almost gave up then I thought I am not going to give up, not ever, I modified it to my needs and did Power Walking instead of jogging. Less impact on my joints and my knees are not as angry with me. I actually think I Power Walk faster than I jog too. My goal is to power walk the entire Turkey Trot here in Charlotte.

Its different for everyone. I was in the hospital for 5 days, kinda glad too, because a) they have stronger pain meds than they prescribe for home that first week you are weak and hurting, better to have professionals take care of you. When I got home, of course it was much better day by day but better safe then sorry. Hope she is feeling better soon.

You look so great Congratulations on the success so far!

You and me both, sleeve sister! But I don't think they are going to come on a postcard lol. I think we are both grateful for our success with the sleeve as is everyone in here, but I think when we look at ourselves (especially w/o clothes on) we see the imperfections and our mind thinks fat. My brain still has to catch up to my eyes. I am in the size 6 stretch skinny jeans and size 8 dress pants but you know what? I want more or is it less LOL? I want to be a size where no matter what I wear or don't wear, I don't see a fat girl pretending to be skinny. I want to get to a point where all I see is me and nothing more or what could be less, if that makes sense. When I get there then I know I am done. In the mean time, I am going to keep fighting the good fight. For the past 2 months I have been trying not to stress over weight loss on the scale and it has helped me tremendously. I will keep moving towards 155lbs and see what happens when I get there or if I stop before that number. P.S post a pic of your new winter coat, cant wait to see it

Mmmm yummy, uh yeah, that ice cream cone looks delicious hehehe. OK at least one has a smile, thank you You look amazing my friend, truly amazing and your boy is ADORABLE!

You will not need them again, nuf said

It took me all the way up to surgery to get the support of one of my friends. Keep in mind she was never over weight and doesn't understand what we go through. I am not one for visitors in the hospital, so I told everyone that was even thinking of coming to see me other than my husband and my son that I didn't want to see anyone. I didn't see her till 2 or 3 weeks after surgery and she gave me a gift, a vest that I have been drooling over that she wears in a size 10. She put the receipt in and said she knows that I will get smaller than that and if I wanted to, to get a smaller one. It took her till after the surgery and I was out of the woods to come around. ((((((((((HUGS))))))))) there's your hug, we all need one ever so often. Your aunt will come around, just giver her time.

I am stoked about the size 6 and let me say, I have NEVER in all my life been a size 6. haha I keep wanting to type 16 instead of 6 how freaking weird is that LOL. If I am going to be 100% honest, I think my decision on this will be to keep doing what I am doing and in the end I think I will know. You are all right, I have to be comfortable with what I see and how I feel. I feel amazing and I am starting to really like what I am seeing in the mirror too, hence all the photo whoreing hahahah, but I don't feel I am there yet. Thanks everyone for all your support during this whole journey, its a crazy ride but I am not getting off just yet.

Yesterday, I posted about these 11S junior size jeans that fit me. I was absolutely on cloud nine! Many people told me yesterday that 11S is a really small size in reg sized jeans. Ok, how much smaller could the number be? I mean seriously right? I think it was early this week that I posted on something Pasquini was talking about and mentioned that I was going to get my very first pair of skinny jeans to go with a new pair of boots I just bought. I was so happy about the boots because there is no zipper on them and they just slid right over my calf. I bought the jeans today. Are you ready for this people???? I got a size 6 and they fit like a glove! Initially my personal goal was 140lbs, doc said no way that 155lbs is really what I should do, that my frame is too large for 140. Ok, I amended my goal to 155lb no problem. But you all know this well, we go from one goal to another until you find a place where you are happy. At one point I said I wanted my goal to be a size 6 jeans. I guess I am at goal, right? There is where lies the problem, as happy as I am in being a size 6, I am 171lbs which is 16lbs from the weight goal. Do I keep going? Do I stop and try and maintain? When do you know when enough is enough? Do not get me wrong, I AM OVER THE MOON about reaching this goal, truly I am

Keep fighting the good fight! Stalls be damned LOL

Amazing job! You look great and I can tell you feel fantastic too!

Its hard not to stress it and I feel your pain. We were only sleeved a week apart. You have to try different things that work for you. I tried so many different eating methods to find my right one. I am not even sure I have found the right one but my body keeps changing and the pounds are going away slowly but surely. Just to put it in perspective here are my numbers: Start of journey June 2010 (240) to pre op diet April 13, 2011 (206): -34 Pre-op to Surgery April 27, 2011: -13 May 27: -15 June 27: +3 July 27: +5 (tried quitting smoking AGAIN....as you see your sleeve is a tool and you CAN gain weight) August 27: -7 September 27: -6 October 14: -2 I still have 2 weeks left until the 27th and I am sure I'll lose at least another 2lbs or hopefully more! But I am now looking at it as a work in progress. In the beginning I was comparing myself with everyone and then I realized why I did this in the first place, to get healthy and that is exactly what I have done. Its hard, I know, to not focus on the what is NOT happening, but try and see all of what IS happening in your life now that you have 57lbs gone!

I feel your accomplishments and I am so happy for you. The head thing is something that takes time to get used to. I am still in awe of it all. Congratulations! BTW, I am in love with your husband, just saying

Thanks, EVERYONE! I am still smiling and stealing glances of myself in every freaking reflective surface! HAHAHAHA @ Coops: GO WALES!!!!!!

Congratulations! Its a hard road but you are helping pave the way to inspire everyone else that is contemplating doing this to save their lives.

Great job ... and it just gets better from here.