Raine

Ever hear the saying "Damned if you do, damned if you don't"? Yeah, this is THAT situation. I still have a little bit to go before goal but I get that too, "you need to stop losing weight" "you're getting too skinny" Skinny? Really? I agree that sometimes they can't really "see" you this way and think something has GOT to be wrong because they are so used to seeing you obese. That is their problem, not mine. Obese women hate me now, one woman in my office won't even talk to me anymore, I think they think I betrayed them in a way, and skinny women see us as a threat. Again, their problem, not mine LOL. I also wonder where anyone gets the gall to talk about my weight without me mentioning it? They wouldn't talk about it to me when I was fat, what makes them think its ok when I am "skinny"? Other than a family member I have never been told "You are getting too fat". Ignorance should be painful, not bliss my friends.

Lou, your pics are beautiful! You have come such a long way and it shows. Congratulations on your sucess and many more to come. I hope you enjoyed the feast!

It's been a long time since I've posted anything here. I just had to share this with you all... I went to Target today to buy a new pair of workout pants. I left the store with a size EXTRA SMALL. I wore a freakin Size 28 W pants when I first started my weight loss journey.
Just so you know... it IS POSSIBLE!!! Keep your eyes on the prize, because even at 15 Months out I'm still making the magic happen.
Much Love, Xoxo

:smile1: Its hard to believe I'm already fitting these! I still have another session to do and a lot of swelling to go down. I'm super happy!!! Thanks lovely ladies!!
I will be HAPPY to post pics. Just not right now, I don't wanna scare anyone. LOL!!!

So, AT 16MTHS POST OP, I have reached my original size goal... UK14! was this size when I got married ( but 14-18lb lighter!) 17 years ago And, I am really pleased to be here.
I still want the scale to say my goal too... and who knows, that might result in a smaller size clothes.
I am a UK 14 in trousers - gotta be careful with the cut/style; dresses; tops and jumpers; skirts and training clothes!
I have had a hard couple of weeks with the scale bouncing around so this really has cheered me up... here are my latest pics

Have I ever been a small in anything! Ever! Even when I was a kid I wasn't a small
I needed workout pants for the winter to keep me wam and toasty on my walks, especially considering how cold I always get now. I went to target and got the cheapy ones for 7.49 a pair, Hanes, and I had to get a small! I tried on the mediums and they were too big. Kinda made my head spin a little bit but also made me smile big. Got 4 pairs hahaha I love seeing that little "s" and not the "XXL".

I 44 and yes I am a slow loser too I know it gets seriously discouraging when you see the numbers not move as fast as others but the "everyone loses differently" is really a true statement. I have lost 70lbs so far. Mind you that is 70 from last year. I lost 34lbs during my Dr's apptments to pre op that was from June 2010 to April 2011. Then pre op I lost 16lbs. So you can do the math and see that is only 20lbs since my surgery. I am 6 months post op now and I am 15lbs away from my weight goal but I have made so many of my other goals that I am at peace with the weight loss to date. If I didn't have the sleeve, all that weight that I lost pre op would be winding its way back with a vengence right about now. With it, I have been able to lose 20 more. Keep fighting the good fight and you will get there.

I had just finished shopping at Walmart and was heading out the door. As I approached the older greeter, I noticed he was talking to some guy. I could hear what they were saying.
The guy talking to the greeter started staring at me, and as I walked by, his head followed me. He was saying, "I should work here, so I can check out all of the good-looking women."
It was very cheesy, and I was not interested in any way shape or form, but I thought it was hilarious, and I loved the attention. I am now turning heads of strangers! It has been a while since that happened.

Ahhh, so many.
I agree with the earlier poster - No more CPAP tops the list.
Getting rid of clothes I can no longer wear - especially the second and third round!
Seeing my collar bone, and hip bone and etc.
Swimming 110 lengths straight through!
Seeming my tummy conCAVE instead of conVEX!
Buying clothes off the rack.
Not being able to buy clothes off the rack because they're all 1X and larger (geez we're a fat nation).
Splitting an appetizer with the wife and then having to take some home for 1 or 2 more meals.
Sitting in a restaurant booth without my belly hitting.
Sitting in a restaurant booth in the same side as my small wife and not having the table pushed out so far she can't reach (on booths the table isn't anchored).
Not going to buffet restaurants any more because you know it's a waste of money.
Sliding out of the car and realizing you didn't have to tilt the steering wheel OR pull the seat back.
Getting IN the car after not doing the above and wondering why the wheel doesn't need tilting or seat moved forward.
Seeing how fat people you formally were thin really are.
Not having your pants pockets pouch out like a fish mouth cause their so freakin' tight
Not gasping for air and laying down to button your pants
Fastening up my motorcycle boots and have them rattle around on my calves, despite the fact they are as tight as I can make them.
Not having people recognize me, then not having them not believe it's me.
Actually taking time to eat rather than shoveling it in as fast as I can.
Actually TASTING food for like FOREVER!
Agree with the poster above, knocking bones with your partner is painful as well as funny.
Not having glasses plow a groove through the fat pads on your face
Actually realizing you HAVE cheekbones
Not having the toilet make creaking sounds when you sit on it

Third Place: fitting into a size 6 jeans from old navy! So far I have gone from an 18 to 6
Second Place: being able to walk for miles without missing a beat, last summer I could barely walk to the store without being out of breath and feeling like I was going to die.
First Place: My diabeties going into remission, I was on 4 pills a day and bordering on going back on insulin shots to keep it under control.

I still hate to get my picture taken.
Here I am around Thanksgiving 2010, size 52 pants, XXX shirt - both are tight

And here I am today 11 months later ~170 lighter. Size 38 pants and Large shirt - and both are baggy:

The sleeve WORKS!

KELLY! OMG, WTG, HOLY GOAL BATMAN! Congratulations!!! I am so happy for you, I can't wipe this smile off of my face. I wait with baited breath to see your pics.

Yahoo! About two weeks before my six month surgiversary I am NORMAL! I've gone from morbidly obese (254 at start of pre-op diet on Feb. 15) to merely obese (Was 222 on day of surgery and down to 216 two weeks after surgery), to merely overweight (185 at about 2.5 months out) to today: 51/2 months and I'm NORMAL!
I am so stoked! Just one pound more and I'm in the Century Club. And only 20 lbs. to goal, which will put me at a BMI of 21.8., squarely in the middle of the normal range and will let me bounce up and down 5 lbs. and not be too thin or too fat for my taste.
I can feel such a difference in my health and energy levels! I am off all blood pressure and cholesterol meds. I no longer snore (per hubby :-). My knees, feet, and ankles rarely bother me. I have noticed in the last couple of weeks that my gait has changed. There is more spring in my step with nearly 100 lbs. gone. Instead of plodding, I bounce a bit as I walk now. And my sinuses don't stuff up as much. I think the extra weight on my face pressed against them.
As for the difference in my looks, people don't recognize me. My Mom had a hard time finding me in a store because she was looking for the bigger me. People react differently to me because I am thinner (rant on this later!). I enjoy squeezing in for a tight hug from hubby, trying on clothes, sitting in chairs with arms, tying my shoes, taking a bath in my newly roomy tub, and keeping up in exercise classes instead of paying a personal trainer. At the beginning of my journey, I wore size 22 jeans and a 3 X shirt. I now wear size 8 or 10 jeans and a small or medium top.
My mind is still catching up with the new me. Although I often see the same me in the mirror, I know the change is astounding. When I write my weight, I have a tendency to forget I'm in the 150s. I still think of myself at 180 or 170. And my clothes look too tiny to fit me.
I can eat small amounts of any food I have tried, except milk, cottage cheese, and ice cream. I'm still afraid to see if I can tolerate milk now almost six months out, but I think I will try soon.
I am tracking my calories, Protein and fluids every day and taking all supplements recommended for my plan. I get at least 60 grams of protein, 64 oz. of Fluid per day and average between 700 and 900 calories per day.
Greasy and overly sweet foods upset my tummy if I eat more than a few bites of them, so I generally only have a couple of bites of them when I eat them. For example, on Halloween, I had about a cup of popcorn popped in oil (no added butter), two and half fun-size candies, and a hotdog with chili, no bun. That was over the course of the evening and probably the biggest splurge I have had since the surgery. I didn't feel good later that evening and still felt a little off the next morning.
I returned to having coffee after my three month checkup. But post-op I have a soy latte with two shots of espresso instead of my pre-op fav of a couple cups of french press or two shot of espresso straight up. I haven't started drinking alcohol again, but I plan to following my six month checkup. I plan to start with port.
I am exercising 5-6 days per week. Two 45 minute walks at a fast pace, two 1-hour group workout classes, one 30 minute session with my trainer, and one other activity, such as a bike ride, walk, or yoga class.
I do have days were I want to eat only bad stuff and I don't want to exercise. For the most part, I power through, but sometimes I don't. It's a journey and a struggle. I'm still terrified I won't be successful long term so I search out stories of people who have successfully kept the weight off for more than two years. They are out there!
Thanks to all who have shared your journey for inspiring me to begin and continue the best thing I have ever done for my health and my looks.
Edited: is my face red! I thought I was going to hit normal BMI at 155.5, but I now see when updating my ticker, I'm still overweight till I get to 154. So this post is 1 lbs. early. I will join the Century Club and hit normal BMI at the same time. The thoughts and sentiments are the same, just a little early. Oops!!
Lynda

You look fantastic! We are less than a week apart, sleeve sister! and we work for the same company, what are the odds??? LOL Great job so far and keep up the good fight.

Well it has been just over 8 months since I was sleeved. I cannot believe how much weight I have lost! As of today I have lost exactly 100 lbs since the beginning of my 2 week liquid diet...down to the ounce! That puts me 10 lbs below my goal and sitting at 140.8 lbs! I went from wearing a tight 20 size and 1x shirt down to a 4/6 and size small! I did my measurements a few days ago and has lost a grand total of 100 3/4 inches off my body!! NEVER did I picture myself wearing these sizes. I was always very size goal oriented. I really just wanted to wear a size 8 and a large so it amazes me just what the sleeve has done for me :smile1: Even with all the initial issues I am SO glad I had the sleeve done.
Thank you all for all the support you have shown over these last few months and a huge thank you to those that really laid it all out there for me a week before my surgery when I was ready to chicken out!
       

Hi all my weight loss sugery friends!! wanted to pop on and say hello to all my 6mo + peeps see how you all are doing. i was sleeved 4/21/11 in san deigo starting weight day of surgery 206 size 18/20 today i am 148 10/12 I feel so much better i still have a ways to go being I am 4'11 I need to be around 115 but I am happy to be at this weight , it has been a long time since i have been here. Thank you for all you support this journey has been ruff but you all keep me saine , Also wanted to ask you all about scar treatment I am very light complected and my scrs are still PINK ?? so any advise, has anyone used scargaurd?? any way her is some before and afters I know I love to see everyone elses..LOL The first 3 are hallowween weekend the last one is before and after at 3 months.

OMG Raine you are the Bomb girl !! soo funny i just did my 6 month post too then i saw yours!!! on another note... " i work for wfhm" funny huh!!! You are a superstar chica I love it !!

Gosh where has the time gone???? It's crazy to think that 6 months ago today, I had the VSG!!! and It's the greatest thing in the WORLD!! I'm down a total of 80 pounds as of today!!! :purplebananna: I'm so close to Onederland and was hoping to be there by today, but hey I'll get there!!! I weighted in today at 203...I started at 282 and since surgery have lost a total of 65 pounds..It has been a struggle the past couple of months, but I knew that would happen. I think that I need to eat more, I don't think that 3 small meals a day is doing enough for me and some days I only drink about 40 ounces of Water..so I'm trying to up both and gonns see if that helps..
I hope everyone else is doing great!!!
Thanks for reading!!

Hi Everyone!
My 6 month surgiversary was on October 27th! I wanted to really think about what I was going to write up because you all have been such a wealth of knowledge and inspiration and support that I don’t know how I could have gotten where I am today without each and every one of you. I feel like I know all of you personally LOL. My hubby actually said "You act like these people are your close personal friends." one day when I was talking about somebody’s struggle and how I felt for her. Truth be told, this is such a personal journey that without all of you it would be so hard to do, I feel like I'm not alone and that is an awesome feeling.
I am 15lbs away from my weight goal. HOLY COW! It is almost surreal to me to be this close. I don't think I have weighed 155 since I was about 11 or 12, maybe younger. I still get caught up in the whole why am I losing so slowly etc etc. In the beginning I would compare my weight loss with everyone else’s. Not a healthy thing to do, but we all do it, even though we know that everyone’s body loses differently. I will get there when I get there, but be sure I will get there.
My body seems to like hanging out in ranges for about 2-3 months at a time. I was in the 180-189 for almost 3 months up and down, up and down, then one day bam, 179. Now I am in between 170-176 for the last 2 months. I've only hit the 170 mark 2x but hey I hit it! I haven't hit 177-179 for a month so that seems to be gone forever now J. I think somewhere within the next 2 weeks or so I'll hit 169. It’s how my body likes to lose so hell I'll do it how it likes it. Do I have a choice? hahaha, um nope.
Here is my journey in NSV’s stats to date:
Co-Morbidities: T2 Diabetes in remission A1C from 11.5 to 5.5 at last blood work. Blood Pressure from 180/90-100 to normal with one pill a day now. Tryglicerides from the 1000's to 450 without medication now only taking 2 pills a day for this. Cholesterol 236 from around 400.
Pills: from 20 a day to 3 a day
Energy level: from 0 to 10 LOL Last Summer I could barely walk to the store, less than 1/2 a mile away without getting winded and feeling like I was going to collapse. Today I can walk several miles, 7 being my top so far, without missing a beat. I can do an hour of hard core kickboxing and power lifting classes and think “That’s all?” at the end of the class J.
Clothes: Dress pants from a tight size 18 (probably should have bought the 20's but I just couldn't do it) to 8-10. Jeans from size 18 to size 6, 11 juniors. Dress shirts 2XL to L. Casual shirts 1XL/2XL to L. Dresses from 20 to 10. Winter Coat: 18 to 8 (just bought it today!!!). Shoes from tight 10 -10 ½ (rare finds on that) to a comfy size 10 and some 9 ½’s.
So thank you all for everything you have given me. Yes, I have the support of my family and most of my friends, but they don’t “know” what I am going through and don’t understand like you guys do. This would have been a lot tougher without all of your support and friendships.

I have different restriction at different times. If I wait to eat til lunch time, I can get in a 1/4 a sandwich. If I eat at Breakfast then at lunch I can eat almost the whole sandwich. Some nights I can barely eat but then other nights I feel like a bottomless pit. You may have over done it with the treats. I know LilMissDiva has some serious issues after eating anykind of sugar. So maybe thats it. Listen to your sleeve. Go on liquids for a day or so and then start eating again and see what that does.

I was never more happy when I became overweight! LOL. I don't put much stock in the BMI chart but damn it does feel good!

It feels like a lifetime ago that I made this post. I truly cried this morning because today, I tried the vest on and it fit! I can't wait to show her! I feel amazing.
Posted May 8, 2011 - 7:45 PM
Let me start by saying that a friend of mine has this vest she wears that I LOVE! I keep telling her she needs to give it to me. Doesnt matter tht she is a size 6/8 an I am a size 18/20 on top, I still want it lol. Of course she always tells me no you cant have it!
Well today we had a shopping date, and it was the first time seeing her since my surgery on the 27th. She hands me a bag and tells me to look... inside is a brand new vest size 10. She said she knows that eventually I will fit into it but left the receipt and tags just in case I want to get a smaller size.
I love her! She was not a huge supporter of the surgery in the begining because she was afraid for me. Now, I don't think there is a bigger show of support that she could have shown me.
Just thought I would share.
Raine

Third Place: fitting into a size 6 jeans from old navy! So far I have gone from an 18 to 6
Second Place: being able to walk for miles without missing a beat, last summer I could barely walk to the store without being out of breath and feeling like I was going to die.
First Place: My diabeties going into remission, I was on 4 pills a day and bordering on going back on insulin shots to keep it under control.

Hi Guys!
Well of course my Winter coat from last year, size 18, is way too big on me now so I went to my favorite thrift store, The Assistance League, alot of the money goes to help under privledged school kids in Charlotte for school uniforms, supplies and such. They have gotten a lot of stuff from me lately lol. I dropped off my coat and picked up a new one. SIZE 8 COAT!!!! I've mentioned before how I have big shoulders so I was not looking forward to coat shopping because more times than not, it will fit in the shoulders then is too big everywhere else and visa versa :/ Well karma was on my side because it fit perfectly EVERYWHERE! And to top it off, I paid 14 bucks for it, along with a sweater vest, sweater hoody w/belt and a pair of dress pants for 4 bucks each. :smile1: I love thrift stores. Just thought I would share!

Hi Everyone!
My 6 month surgiversary was on October 27th! I wanted to really think about what I was going to write up because you all have been such a wealth of knowledge and inspiration and support that I don’t know how I could have gotten where I am today without each and every one of you. I feel like I know all of you personally LOL. My hubby actually said "You act like these people are your close personal friends." one day when I was talking about somebody’s struggle and how I felt for her. Truth be told, this is such a personal journey that without all of you it would be so hard to do, I feel like I'm not alone and that is an awesome feeling.
I am 15lbs away from my weight goal. HOLY COW! It is almost surreal to me to be this close. I don't think I have weighed 155 since I was about 11 or 12, maybe younger. I still get caught up in the whole why am I losing so slowly etc etc. In the beginning I would compare my weight loss with everyone else’s. Not a healthy thing to do, but we all do it, even though we know that everyone’s body loses differently. I will get there when I get there, but be sure I will get there.
My body seems to like hanging out in ranges for about 2-3 months at a time. I was in the 180-189 for almost 3 months up and down, up and down, then one day bam, 179. Now I am in between 170-176 for the last 2 months. I've only hit the 170 mark 2x but hey I hit it! I haven't hit 177-179 for a month so that seems to be gone forever now J. I think somewhere within the next 2 weeks or so I'll hit 169. It’s how my body likes to lose so hell I'll do it how it likes it. Do I have a choice? hahaha, um nope.
Here is my journey in NSV’s stats to date:
Co-Morbidities: T2 Diabetes in remission A1C from 11.5 to 5.5 at last blood work. Blood Pressure from 180/90-100 to normal with one pill a day now. Tryglicerides from the 1000's to 450 without medication now only taking 2 pills a day for this. Cholesterol 236 from around 400.
Pills: from 20 a day to 3 a day
Energy level: from 0 to 10 LOL Last Summer I could barely walk to the store, less than 1/2 a mile away without getting winded and feeling like I was going to collapse. Today I can walk several miles, 7 being my top so far, without missing a beat. I can do an hour of hard core kickboxing and power lifting classes and think “That’s all?” at the end of the class J.
Clothes: Dress pants from a tight size 18 (probably should have bought the 20's but I just couldn't do it) to 8-10. Jeans from size 18 to size 6, 11 juniors. Dress shirts 2XL to L. Casual shirts 1XL/2XL to L. Dresses from 20 to 10. Winter Coat: 18 to 8 (just bought it today!!!). Shoes from tight 10 -10 ½ (rare finds on that) to a comfy size 10 and some 9 ½’s.
So thank you all for everything you have given me. Yes, I have the support of my family and most of my friends, but they don’t “know” what I am going through and don’t understand like you guys do. This would have been a lot tougher without all of your support and friendships.