scgal

My highest was 282 Im down to 245. This pic is my before, my one month and my current two months.

I really appreciate your post! I am also over 50 and knew having the sleeve was not going to be a "miracle cure". I've battled my weight for 30 years and have gotten so discouraged at losing at a snail's pace, just to put it right back on the minute I had a "normal" meal. I've gained weight on 1200 calorie Dr. prescribed diet!! I've learned so much about my body in the past few months, and I will have to work this sleeve like crazy to get rid of the pounds...then I will have to deal with the maintenance issue. I am eating a clean diet of mainly protein and fresh veggies with extremely low carbs and no sugar. I feel so much better knowing that I am not alone in this!

Well you have friends now. We may not be able to lend an actual shoulder or hug but we certainly are here for you 24 hours a day.
I happen to be blessed with a very supporting family but they are all normal weights and have been all their lives. They can only support me to an extent because they have no real idea what I am going through. That is why I really love this site. Everyone is on the same journey and they share their trials and tribulations.
Take comfort in knowing that we are all here for you.
Shae

It's been 1yr 8 mos since I was sleeved and I thought it was time I let everyone know how my life has changed since having the sleeve done.
I'm at a comfortable weight, I fluctuate between 146 & 148 pounds. I wear a size 8 to 10 (from a 3X). I have loose skin everywhere, but it has tightened up somewhat.
The major things that have changed for me..
1) Self-confidence. My weight is not the 1st thing people see when they look at me now. I am no longer embarrassed by how I look.
2) Strength. I have always been a little bit of a tomboy and I have been doing a lot of physical work and playing that I was NOT able to do in the years before the surgery. My arms are truly buff! I love to make a muscle! I feel like I'm in my 40's again!
3) sleep Apnea. Gone. No more machine. I sleep like a baby!
4) Clothes shopping. I can go in any store and find something in my size. Small thing but SO NICE!!! Now it is a treat to get new clothes! I can where my younger sisters clothes now. She was always the skinny one. Now she's worried I'll have a smaller butt than hers!!!
5) Sex. Positions I was not able to do before. Need I say more?
6) Knee pain. Much better now. Probably 90% improvement. I can run down stairs now.
Downside?
1) I still have to take my antacid every day. But that may be exacerbated because I drink too much coffee.
2) I miss the way I used to be able to drink Water. I could down 8 ounces in a few gulps. I still can't try to make food or water go down quickly.
3) I still can't drink much carbonated stuff. I miss Pepsi a little, but I can still sip at it.
4) I can't think of any more downside things. That says a lot.
You haven't heard much from me because I'm just busy living my life! All of the post-surgery discomforts and liquid diets are behind me. I still have NSV's all of the time. I am absolutely delighted with my life since the sleeve.
The picture is from the summer. My hubby and I spent a lot of time working outside and on hot days, I would just wear a sports bra. Lookin' good!

I can say we all have the same enjoyments hahaha, well here are mine:
- As stated being able to wipe the rear end is super duper easier, even peeing is so not a pain anymore
- getting compliments from people that havent seen me since before my surgery
- all my neighbors look at me with amazement, and that feeling is GREATTTT!
- being able to get out the car w/o my belling hitting the damn horn, after seeing the movie norbit I was totally embarrassed with that
- Sex is definitely better, its now a workout and what I mean workout, able to be in more positions and enjoying it so much I dont want to be done so fast hahahaha
- not being looked at like an E.T of some sort like I fell out from the sky
- little kids not looking at me and them whispering to their parents "mom why is he so big?"
- I notice women actually notice me walking by now, im cracking necks hahahaha
- not being scared to get into anyones car anymore, whenever me and friends would take rides I never wanted to go in, b/c I didnt want to be the factor of anyone else not fitting or looking like im stuck in the seat.
- love the fact I no longer have to sit in the front seat of a car
- when going out to a club, I never let any female dance on me b/c Mr Peter was very hidden and I didnt want the female to look at me and say "hey where is Mr Peter at?" al thought now its not that bad for i do have that little fat pouch on top of it that I hate.
- Mr Peter has a few more inches on him which is a huge plus!
- now I know I wont die of a heart attack in 2-3 years
- I can actually taste my food and eat AND feel great after that meal
- not being diabetes prone
- i can see my collar bone now
- ability to cross my legs when I want to
- putting on my socks and sneakers with ease
- shopping for clothing is amazing, I can actually say I enjoy it now
- best of all is meeting new people at the seminars I attend, theyre all awesome and all you guys here are truly amazing<<< this for me is the best of all!

Waking up every morning with a sh** eating grin and realizing it WASN'T a dream!!!
Oh, so much more... !

Hey guys. Well I had a VG done about 3 years ago. I had always been a chubby guy and always hated my body. I spent 4 years of college avoiding the Water and I hate the beach. It was pretty depressing when spring came around and they opened the campus pool which is beautiful. It quickly got populated with my fellow fraternity friends showing off their awesome bodies and my dear sorority friends doing the same. I couldn't go, I was so ashamed and embarrassed I hated it.
Being gay is also a big issue. The gay community is so looks based and there was no way a chub can have a healthy successful dating life without dating another bigger guy. I am an emotional eater, I know this. My entire family is fat but my little brother. It is almost embarrassing to see family pics. At the peak of my depression (junior year of college) I was at 238 pounds. I am only 5ft 8. I also have a big head, I drank a lot of beer and ate horribly. I almost never wanted to work out. I have always been a leader and in leadership positions and people stopped taking me in consideration for future roles because of my weight problem. I lost an election to become president of my fraternity because I did not look "presidential". It was bad.
After I came out to my amazing buddhist therapist, I lost a ton of weight. By exercising and diet. I got down to 190-195. I felt great, but I was still chubby to date. I was not there yet. I graduated and started a job that got me traveling a lot. Although I developed a gym culture and I was working out, it was never enough. And the moment I was on the road, forget about it. Work days from 6am to midnight. It was just bad. So I went back up to 216. Being out of college I did not have that much money so I had to look at overseas options for it. I got my surgery done in Mexico for about 12k.
The surgery went great, the hospital was beautiful and the doctor is a pro. (He has done hundreds of patients). I struggled a lot at the beginning, adapting to the diet. In 6 months I went down to 180, in 9 months 175. I have never been able to go down to my oh-so-desired 165lbs. But I am ok with it. I circle around 170-175 (depends on my diet and exercise) and body fat is at 25%. I am still self conscious of my body as I think it is skinny but flabby and I work out but I don't think I do it enough. I have been dating but I am still not where I want to be. Being able to look fashionable and stylish is the biggest reward I have gotten out of this experience. I never thought I would be able to.