Allie ALii

Today i was thrift shopping with my mom and i was like i need new jeans asap, the ones i was wearing were hanging in my butt and legs really big and ugly, so i saw some really cute skinny jeans in size 9 and i was like aww :/ they are 9, i don't wear that size, then i said ok lets see if maybe they will fit some day, so i just grab them and meassure them against me and they look like they will fit, so i said i'll just take them and they will fit me eventually and when i got home i tried them and omg they fit and they look good really thight and i love them, it feels so good to not be pulling my pants up every second.
I was a size 16 the day of my surgery and i'm a size 9 today and i still have more lbs left to goal!
I love my sleeve <3 :wub:

Today i was thrift shopping with my mom and i was like i need new jeans asap, the ones i was wearing were hanging in my butt and legs really big and ugly, so i saw some really cute skinny jeans in size 9 and i was like aww :/ they are 9, i don't wear that size, then i said ok lets see if maybe they will fit some day, so i just grab them and meassure them against me and they look like they will fit, so i said i'll just take them and they will fit me eventually and when i got home i tried them and omg they fit and they look good really thight and i love them, it feels so good to not be pulling my pants up every second.
I was a size 16 the day of my surgery and i'm a size 9 today and i still have more lbs left to goal!
I love my sleeve <3 :wub:

go for it!
this is your life and you deserve to live it the best possible way
and being fat is no fun
i was a lower bmi myself and people told me the same things
"you don't need something that drastic"
"you are not THAT fat"
but i did it because i didn't want to wait to be even more fat or worst to be sick
i was perfectly healthy pre op and i want to remain that way
now people tell me
'' omg you look so good''
'' have you lost like 20 pounds?'' and i'm like more like 60 and they say ''really? that much? that's a lot! you are done right? am like no, i want to get to my goal weight and they say ''so, you want to get really skinny?'' hell yes i want to be skinny!
nobody nows what it is to be me, but me, so i choose to do what makes sence to me and what makes me happy
i wish i knew sooner and dit it years ago!

i use fage 0% as a substitute for mayo, cream and dressing, i just put some lemmon pepper, garlic salt or any seasonig and it is yummy!

Thank you everyone for your replies. I know in my heart this is the right decision, and I'm so glad to hear that even those who have been through this would still do it again. Thanks for all the support!

go for it!
this is your life and you deserve to live it the best possible way
and being fat is no fun
i was a lower bmi myself and people told me the same things
"you don't need something that drastic"
"you are not THAT fat"
but i did it because i didn't want to wait to be even more fat or worst to be sick
i was perfectly healthy pre op and i want to remain that way
now people tell me
'' omg you look so good''
'' have you lost like 20 pounds?'' and i'm like more like 60 and they say ''really? that much? that's a lot! you are done right? am like no, i want to get to my goal weight and they say ''so, you want to get really skinny?'' hell yes i want to be skinny!
nobody nows what it is to be me, but me, so i choose to do what makes sence to me and what makes me happy
i wish i knew sooner and dit it years ago!

go for it!
this is your life and you deserve to live it the best possible way
and being fat is no fun
i was a lower bmi myself and people told me the same things
"you don't need something that drastic"
"you are not THAT fat"
but i did it because i didn't want to wait to be even more fat or worst to be sick
i was perfectly healthy pre op and i want to remain that way
now people tell me
'' omg you look so good''
'' have you lost like 20 pounds?'' and i'm like more like 60 and they say ''really? that much? that's a lot! you are done right? am like no, i want to get to my goal weight and they say ''so, you want to get really skinny?'' hell yes i want to be skinny!
nobody nows what it is to be me, but me, so i choose to do what makes sence to me and what makes me happy
i wish i knew sooner and dit it years ago!

i had my dr.'s appointment yesterday and he is super happy about my progress and i even gained muscle yay!
i go to the gym 3-5 times a week i do pilates, yoga and weights and i feel so much better, i can do a lot more things now
friends are starting to call me skinny (i know i'm not, but it feels so good haha)
and today a neighbor told me ''omg! you have lost a lot of weight, you look so beautiful''
i love my sleeve <3

i had my dr.'s appointment yesterday and he is super happy about my progress and i even gained muscle yay!
i go to the gym 3-5 times a week i do pilates, yoga and weights and i feel so much better, i can do a lot more things now
friends are starting to call me skinny (i know i'm not, but it feels so good haha)
and today a neighbor told me ''omg! you have lost a lot of weight, you look so beautiful''
i love my sleeve <3

I think I've done ok - I'm now at the halfway mark, 60 pounds lost, 60 pounds to go.

I was sleeved Feb. 3. Day of surgery I weighed 215.....today I'm 155.
60 pounds gone. I've started to change my work outs. I've stalled the past 10 days. Hoping the change will jump start my weight.....I'm 25 pounds away from my goal weight!!!!

I had my surgery feb 22 2012 I was 211.4 my weight now is 158 I want to get to 140 do only 18 more pounds to go....good luck to all and congrats to all of the weight loss.... It's been a journey but I'm happy to be where I am and I feel good in my skin. :-)
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well...started at 354 and now at 269....85# since feb 27th....yahoo....and it's that TOM so no loss this week.....ugggg..I swim in Water arobics 3 x's a week....

My starting weight was 354 and I was sleeved on 2/27/12 in Mexico....I am currently 276.2 as of this morning....yahoo I am down from size 28-30 to now a 22-20, yeeha! I am loving it, my knees feel great my body feels great! I'm so much happier!

Hey everyone!!! I was sleeved Feb 9, starting weight 284 and as of yesterday I am 227.. 56 lbs that have totally changed my life .. Looking forward in the coming months.. I do exercise also 5 times a week n out of those 5 days 2 t with a trainer.

I was sleeved on 20 Feb, and weighed in at 293lb
Today I weigh 229lb. That's 64lb that I am not going to see again. Life has returned to a new kind of normal after surgery. I say new, because I now go to the gym 3 times a week and walk everyday, both activities that I have never done before!

I am right on the cusp of Feb/Mar since my surgery was 2/28. It is really working great for me. I have lost 56 lbs. The big difference is exercising every day and keeping a food diary and the weight falls off. If I don't log food then I gain I am very happy with the results!!

Started at 349 and a size 30. Down to 285 and size 20!! Very excited. Long way to go, but feeling terrific!!

I was 211 now 165 down to size 10.... And moving
Sent from my iPhone using VST

Bought size 16 pants today! Down from size 22, surgery date 2/7/12. scale has stalled but clothes sizes still going down. I need to get better with my exercise so I can get those 26 lbs gone and reach onderland. I can't wait to fly next week to see what a difference it makes in the airplane seat!

i like the pure Protein bars, i get them at Walmart

I have lost 95 lbs as well, and I have not loose skin, although a few wrinkles on my abdomen. I could care less, its not like I will show my abdomen to anyone besides my boyfriend-- and he thinks I am beautiful no matter what. Luckily my butt, thighs and arms look pretty damn good!

check out & subscribe as i share my journey though this whole process i recently put a few updates on there :wub:
http://www.youtube.com/user/skinnycupcake13/videos

Okay... I can hardly believe that it's been 6 months already!!! Seems like only yesterday I couldn't fit into a booth at Texas Roadhouse, but it's actually been over 17 months... Feels like I was just complaining about how my dumb insurance company requires 6 month medically supervised diet... but that's been 12 months ago.. and then I met my Sleevina...
The past 6 months have been the most mentally engaging 26 and a half weeks of my life!!! It's been a challenge to get up each day and not be consumed by the RULES, but respecting them and not looking at them as BAD... but as parameters and boundaries that keep my Sleevina working optimally.... So, this journey is definitely not for the faint at heart or those who are seeking to somehow become whole after losing weight.. Wholeness comes from knowing yourself, outside of physical parameters and having the strength to work hard and change the things that aren't "meshing" with the real you.. Anyway.. here are my stats since I started this journey...
HW: 384
CW: 314
Clothing sizes:
Highest: 30/32-4X in everything
Current 20/22 - 1X (I still struggle to purchase them!!)
Pre-surgery Shoe Size: 11WW
Current: 10W
Bra Size
Pre- 48 DD
Current- 42D
Exercise Level:
Pre- Nonexistent due to back injury and poor left side dorsiflexion
Post- aqua aerobics, stationery bike, (ELLIPTICAL.. go figure), lots of walking
Greatest SUCCESS to date:
I'm mentoring 2 young ladies that I met recently..One was sleeved 3 weeks ago, the other had RNY 5 weeks ago.. I get an opportunity to share my ups and downs, give encouragement and advice, PLUS receive it!! Through it all, I don't have any regrets...
Yesterday while biking away in the gym, this guy walks up to me and tells me I have enviable legs and calves... I laughed and said thanks... I wanted to say, please move so I can finish my workout.. This is an NSV because I love men and he was kind of cute.. but I wanted to finish strong and he was being a distraction!!! That's a huge step for me... I'm determined to put on blinders to all distractions, negativity, unhealthy weights (people, mindsets, attitudes, etc) and baggage that seeks to impede my journey towards my goals...They're not worth the time, energy and effort!! BUT I AM WORTH IT!!!
If you are at goals and in maintenance, congrats.. If you are still on the journey to goal, congrats and don't lose sight of it... remember everyday you get closer, if you make the right decisions...if you are a NEWBIE, welcome!!! Trust me it gets better!! And if you are comtemplating getting sleeved, don't hesitate.. but prepare to have your life totally altered in ways you can't imagine...Remember, you have to know that you are worth whatever dollar amount it costs, however long the pre-op diet it, and whatever fiery hoop you have to jump through... Get all the facts, but don't sell yourself and your loved ones short.. Yes, my life has changed, yes... I had to leave some people behind.. but, I found myself again!!! And I have to say... she's pretty darn cool!!! I like me a lot!!
I haven't dropped a huge amount of weight (in pounds), but I have left a HUGE amount of disgust, low-confidence, defeat and many other things synonomous with CRAP along the way...
A few Tina-isms:
Your journey is yours!!! You can't expect it to be exactly like someone else's...
Don't compare yourself to anyone else.. Compare yourself to YOU!!.. Look at old pics, keep track of your measurements, do a side by side comparison... trust me, you'll see the difference
Enjoy your journey!!! If you do it grudgingly, the smallest excuse is all you'll need not to work out, not to drink Water, not to refrain from high calorie, but delicious stuff that slows/stalls your progress
Find an activity that you LOVE to do.. I LOVE aqua aerobics... I don't see it as excercise (although Jenna the Beast works the HECK out of me!!)... it's fun, burns lots of calories and helps tone the whole body
Affirm yourself!! Positive self affirmations work wonders when you are struggling to finish that last mile or last 5 minutes of a workout.. Yes, hearing it from others is good.. but say something good about yourself.
Extend the same love, support, grace, mercy and consideration to yourself, as you lavish on others.. You're human too right??
Don't make excuses, MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!

First let me say I feel fabulous! I've lost over 70 pounds in just over 5 months. I went from a 22 to a very comfy 12. The road has not been easy and for all you newbies...here is my list of amazing highs...and of not so sunshiny lows.
Disclaimer: This is my experience...it may not be yours.

It will be uncomfortable for a few days post op
I was not hungry for weeks after surgery
I was scared to eat or drink and I didn’t drink enough...thus Constipation and weakness
I didn't feel normal for about 6 weeks. I needed naps and I took them
The weight literally falls off...seriously I was looking for pools of fat in bed when I woke up in the morning
I hit the 4 week stall and it lasted two weeks. Expect it and don't stress
On day three, I had a massive freak out…seriously threw a four year old fit…pissed off my stomach was gone.
No one noticed for months and that irritated me.
EVERYONE notices now and it's all they want to talk about.
Don’t tell anyone you are going to Mexico to have your stomach cut off unless you trust them completely.
I threw up alot...just slime mostly...while I was learning my new tummy. It will scare you and if you are like me…it will happen a lot when you transition to solid foods.
food addiction does not magically go away...if you have a problem before..you will still have it. I think about food all the time, but I finally have a way to resist it. I am a sugar addict. I never crave carbs, but I crave sugar like a mad woman.
Going out to dinner is awkward. I hate watching people eat
Put the lotion on the skin! My skin got really dry.
I’ve lost half my hair at 4.5 months post op. Mine came out in chunks. Freaked me out! Our Golden Retriever and I are in a competition for shedding. It will be ok. Take your Vitamins and buy Nioxin. It doesn’t help my Hair loss, but I feel like I am at least doing something about it.
Don’t take a powerful laxative when you are constipated…especially before your child’s school performance. It may say “See results in 2-4 hours” but it means 30 mins and then you’re stuck on a mini toilet with both legs numb, crying to everything holy to save you.
Shopping is amazing! I still feel like people are looking at me like I don’t belong there…but that’s all in my head.
My shoes no longer fit. they are too wide now!
Your pre WLS Spanx will look huge in a couple months
Trust me…put some Granola bars in your glove box and a few packs of mixed nuts. Sometimes your hungry and there is nothing that you can eat.
Handy meals from the market or gas station when you didn’t plan ahead. Single string cheese, an apple, mixed nuts, readymade hard boiled eggs, The inside of California rolls- no rice, campbells Soup at hand or ready made Soup in a coffee cup.
Handy items at fast food places that sit ok on my tummy include: Taco Bells refried Beans or the inside of a chicken taco. Wendys chili, McDonalds oatmeal, McDonalds yogurt parfait
I feel guilty in front of my heavier friends. I always try to wear a sweatshirt so I don’t rub the weight loss in their faces.
You get drunk really fast...like a half glass of wine. Be careful...it sneaks up on you...and before you know it, you’re waiting for your hubby to pick you up...from less than a glass. Its crazy. I don't really even try anymore to drink.
I crave raw fish, cooked fish, broiled fish, grilled fish...any fish really and it feels amazing on my tummy.
I cant eat steak
I love that I have collar bones
I update my Facebook pictures and secretly love the compliments
I own a woman's North Face now
I can buy bras at Victoria's secret
I pack all my food for work in snack bags and the little tupperware containers for salad dressing.
I can still have M&M's...its just like 9...instead of the king size bags
Take heartburn medicine everyday...don’t wait until you get heartburn.
Buy stock in Maalox
You can have a full meal at Costco- samples + WLS = Cheap Date!
Food Portion jokes get really old
Fast food burgers makes me want to vomit.
At 5 months...salad is wonderful. I can eat about a cup of greens...which takes me a while and I feel a tiny bit normal.
Post-op, If you can swing it, buy a Vita-Mix blender and make your own soup. Canned soup was nasty right after surgery. Freeze them in 4oz canning jars. It will be two servings.
Quit Smoking before surgery. I waited and it slowed my healing. It also gave me terrible heartburn. I am 5 weeks smoke free
You don't have to "confess" you had WLS. It's ok to say thank you for the compliment and not feel guilty. I'm just now starting to accept that I had a little something to do with this insane loss. I tell people when they ask now how I lost the weight, that i exercise and use Portion Control.< br /> People will treat you different. Salesladies ask if I need assistance, men hold open doors and the skinny girls at work talk to me now. It's shallow and pisses me off, but it's nice to not be invisible anymore.
WLS is very difficult. For me, it’s not physical, but the mental. Sometimes I just want a cheesecake like before. It goes away very quickly, but it still comes and goes. Sometimes I get angry at my sleeve because I can’t eat something I see others eating. Most of the time I have to hide my expression when I see people shovel food in the way I used to. It’s shocking to see when you’re on the other side of WLS. I used to inhale my food like a tiny food thief was going to come in and take it away from me.
You will have to say no to your family when they all want to go to a Chinese buffet. I’m still not ready to walk in and be near a buffet.
It feels awesome to give your clothes away, however, do not offer them to your heavier friends. It’s insensitive and they won’t return your calls for a week.
Last one...I played laser tag this past weekend with a bunch of 9 year old boys. It was soooo Much fun!!!

Please feel free to add any other thoughts or tips...