Crystal Woods

I want to check in with my May 2012 sleeve buddies. Where y'all at? How are you doing? 2 more months to our big 1 year surgiversary!
My stats:
5'7. Starting weight: 338
DOS (5-18-12): 288
Current weight: 195
Total lost: 143 pounds.
From a jeans size 30 to a size 11/12, tops 30/32 to a LG!
Corset trunkplasty is planned for 1 week after my surgiversary. Plastic surgeon estimates 15-18 pounds of skin & fat will come off my stomach alone & will take me from a 12/14 to a 6/8.
This is the best decision I've ever made for myself!

But smaller maybe? I can't tell lol. And I'm not very photogenic. The first is at 388 lbs the other is at 292. And I'm 5 months out.

I still don't see a difference in a mirror but I can see them in pictures and the way clothes fit.
I was sleeved on 12/20 and was 385 and am 309 today. 76lbs and counting! Hoping to lose around another 90-100 lbs, but ill take 76 in a little more then 2 months. Love my sleeve!

Good luck and congrats! I am so jealous. I want a TT and Boobs so bad. I have lost 108 and I am so thankful but its depressing with my clothes off. I can hide it with my clothes on.

Pole dancing. I've always wanted to take the classes but knew I was too big for the pole. I heard it is a phenomenal exercise, it may look easy but it isn't.

You look amazing! Great job rocking your sleeve!

I am 5'0" tall. My start weight was 228. Current weight 121. My goal weight is 110.

Go for it!

Start....
Weight 228
Height 5'0"
Clothing size 18/20
Shoe size 8
Current
Weight 121
Height 5'0"
Clothing size 4
Shoe size 7
Goal
Weight 110
Height 5'0"
Clothing size 0 or 2

I currently weigh 119. My goal is 110 but I am not really pushing it since I am wearing a size 2/3 and xsmall tops. People tell me I am tiny but I will never be able to see that. However I can honestly say that for the first time in my life my thighs do not rub. My jeans and other pants used to always have the worn spots on the inside thighs from the friction. Even when I weighed 120 in high school my legs rubbed. I don't know why but they are smaller now.

I definitely think this is part of the journey that no one really talks about. I am sooooooooo going through this right now. I hate my stomach - the excess skin is revolting to me. My husband thinks I am nuts & I should "just be happy with where you are now" ... but he can't do it for me - I have to come to that point. If I can't, I need to find a way to surgically "fix" it.

I struggled with this very thing for several months after I went below goal, and to an extent, I still look at myself even in a size 2 and hate what I see.
I really don't think I will ever be 100% content with my body. I do plan on plastic surgery, but that will not fix my head. I know that having full, round breasts again will make me feel feminine, but it's not going to completely fix the way I view myself.
I've been below goal for a year now. My body is still changing on a monthly basis even though my weight is the same. I'm not sure if I'll ever like what I see when I'm naked. I do know I look amazing in clothes, but that doesn't help much when I get out of the shower and am reminded that my body is a weird shape now, my breasts are just skin bags, and my inner thighs are super wrinkly and flabby.
I still wouldn't go back to weighing 270lbs for anything, and I'm working on accepting that the body I have is a grim reminder of all the punishment I put it through for so many years of being morbidly obese.

Oh my god the visuals on that made me ill lol.

I didn't go through what I went through to look at myself in the mirror like, "um gross, you look like somebody put you through a taffy-pull..."

I don't get to come on to VST very often, but I thought I'd stop by and share my success thus far.
My name is Britnee. I'm 23 and have an almost 3 year old daughter. Her and school are my priorities. While making my daughter my main priority, I realized that something had to be done about my weight. I wanted to stick around for her. I've been her only constant since the day she was born, so I want her to have me around for many many years into the future.
Anyways, I started the process in Aug '12. I had surgery on Oct. 10th, 2012. I have one of those special insurances that doesn't expect 6 months of weigh-ins.
My HW was 316.
My GW is 175 (then 130).
My CW is 252.
I have lost 63 lbs in the last three months. That is amazing! I work out daily. Doing a number of things that include: walking, Zumba, Wii Fit, and recently took up running.
This is the best decison I've ever made!
I have more energy to keep up with my daughter, I am happier, and last but certainly NOT least, I am HEALTHIER! I love life. <3
Here are some progression pictures.

Kendra, everyone should be able to post their stories and not be berated for doing so. This is their experience with the sleeve and while it is very uncommon, it is a risk. People researching the sleeve should know this and be totally informed. While you are stating your opinion, the OP also has the right to state theirs.
Everybody's life stories are different. Some people are completely content being morbidly obese. Some people have tried dozens of weightloss options failing them miserably (me). We all have our reasons to either have surgery or try other means to live a healthier life. "Normal" people are usually ignorant of these struggles. I know my wife was and I am quite happy that she is ignorant of these struggles. I wouldn't wish them on anyone.

I go to good will and get 2 pair of jeans at a time. I wear them till they don't stay on!
Then I spend an hour fishing threw them all and pick the 2 cutest jeans... sometimes I'm lucky and find designer jeans in my size!
And they are already comfy and broke in! LoL

Good luck and congrats! I am so jealous. I want a TT and Boobs so bad. I have lost 108 and I am so thankful but its depressing with my clothes off. I can hide it with my clothes on.

I was sleeved on may 1st 2012. and on January 2nd. I had my body lift and breast lift with augmentation. I am the happiest camper!!!! Totally worth it! go for it you guys!!!!!!!

Here's my opinion of lunchables: Way expensive for low-quality food... throw a piece of meat into a zip lock bag with a cheese stick and save a bunch of money.

High Weight 228
Current Weight 120

Had procedure May 10 2012 I've lost 48kg to date. Best thing I've done in years!!

Yes, Butterthebean, my VSG directions were very similar. It just kind of stinks but knowing it will increase the possibility of healing quicker than I will certainly put up with it! Today was much better than yesterday as it seems to be the pattern. My friend that has been coming during the day and helping me had a job interview today so I actually was on my own the whole day for the first time since surgery. I did fine with no problems. I can get up and down from bed with little pain now. It still hurts doing it but the stomach is less soar and I've got the technique down on how to position my body and how to pull up on the headboard to lift myself up and lower myself down. I found that it's just much easier to stand up while eating. Sitting just hurts the stomach and it feels like I might split a stitch or something. I just stand at the breakfast bar leaning over of course. It's also better because the food goes down easier. The binders really restrict food passage especially sitting down. The nurse emailed me today telling me that I can now start taking the drain tube Fluid measurements twice a day instead of three times. That means that the drainage has reduced enough that I don't have to keep as close track of it. YaY! Drain tube removal is just around the corner. The best part of the day is changing your clothes in the morning. After wearing them and sleeping in them all night your body actually aches from the binders being in the same place so long. It feels so good to remove them and put them back on. Since I'm in bed 90%of the day I just wear sweat pants and a cammy that is long enough to pull down to the top of the thighs. You really want your shirt to be that long so you can wear the binders without them rubbing you raw or giving you blisters. I have to wear two "3 panel" type binders and one has to be wrapped around the groin area and the other overlaps the bottom one and goes up under the ribs. With all the stretching your stomach is very numb so the binders can give you blisters without you even knowing it. The day after surgery you can take off the gauze or bandages. There is paper tape covering the incision. So that the binders don't rub the incision raw or open I use 2 thick generic maxi pads. I wear the sticky sides out so they stick to my cammi and hold
the pads in place. Their a lot cheaper and fit just perfect. Well, another day down and one more day closer to a bikini swimsuit this summer!

High Weight 228
Current Weight 120