MichiganChic

Great story Apparently you've raised sweet girls with your cute self! Let's see how that dress looks!

I choose the pic I want, and make sure it is saved to a location on my computer, and I can get to it easily. Then I open a post, and choose "more reply options" at the bottom. A new screen opens, and below the text box where you type is a big paper clip. Click on attach files and go find the picture you saved, then attach it. When you are done, click add reply.

Hey, is anyone still around?? It's been three years for us. I'd love to hear how everyone is doing!

When I first started, my goal was about 185, which was a reasonable expectation based on surgeon's averages. Then, as I started losing, and the weight was just falling off and I saw others achieve a normal BMI, I changed it to 145. Then, as time went on and the weight stopped coming off, no matter what I did, I changed it to 155. I have never actually hit that number, and at three years out it's a lofty goal in the back of my mind. Now my real goal is to maintain my loss. The number on the scale still matters to me, but less than it used to. I am a smallish, normal sized woman, and thanks to plastics, I don't look like I've ever been overweight. That's success beyond my wildest dreams. That's a long answer to say you may have to be flexible.

@@fat_free I was just like you at 18 months out. I posted here a thread call Am I fat? because I just really struggled with the number on the scale. I had some crazy all or nothing sort of mentality that made me think a BMI that was in the overweight range was equal to a fat me. In truth, I still really hate that my BMI isn't a normal range. However, I've seen some newer BMI charts that have a higher normal range for my age. Either way, I'm pretty sure a size 8 or medium isn't fat. It took me a long time, a lot of discussion, and time to come to peace with my final weight, and also to enjoy my success. I don't think I had body dysmorphia exactly, because what I saw in the mirror was probably an accurate reflection. What I couldn't reconcile was that BMI number - like maybe I had dysmorphia because I didn't see a fat person even when the number said I was fat. It helps to have others - especially strangers - confirm our new normal size!

Congratulations on your continued success. You look wonderful. I have to agree with you, I also thought the first year was pretty easy. The second year, still easy, but a little more challenging. I also agree that maintenance is not too exciting. I am so impressed with your ability to maintain your weight during this time of extreme stress. I'm sorry for your loss, and the pain it causes. The fact that you are not relapsing into what I assume (from personal experience) is previous habits of self destructive eating says a lot about you and your commitment to yourself. Thanks for an inspirational post!

Good for you!! Congratulations on your success! You might look smaller than you think. We are about the same size, and I also get told that. I can tell you, at three years out, it does not get old hearing it!! Even more gratifying is when strangers innocently comment on it. I was in a furniture store the other day, and the sales lady said something like "you are a small woman" in reference to what size furniture to buy. For some reason when I weighed 325 pounds, people thought I was tall, too, lol!

Regarding the ugly shirts - gravitating toward them is somewhat of a fight. I used to wear a LOT of twin sets. They were not necessarily ugly. In fact, they were nice colors, good quality sweater sets, and they fit well. But my kids would make fun of me a little because it was my signature look. I STILL have to force myself not to buy them. However, I will admit I have a much hipper version of them, now. I realized I have a couple. Instead of the boxy short sleeve crew neck pullover with matching boxy button up long sleeve sweater, I have form fitting lacy tanks with stylish, fitted sweaters with nice detail. I don't have many though, because it is just too much like I used to dress!

Yep, that's a great feeling. It doesn't get old. Another thing that's new - everything in my closet fits. I used to have lots of clothes, but only about 20% would fit at any given time. Now, I keep accumulating more clothes, all the same size! So I have about the same amount of items, but they are ALL stylish, and all fit. When I lost weight and got into small sizes, I made a rule that I would never wear an ugly shirt again

Yes, I am saying the same thing. I don't care that it's not perfect - I wear it anyway. I call it my old lady bikini (Not sure why that pic loaded sideways)

You might want to do some research. You might also want a second opinion. If I were in your shoes, I'd be doing those things, and also considering RNY as a viable solution. I had a high BMI, and probably should have had RNY, but I didn't want all the malabsorption. I don't think I would have considered the DS. For me, the long term risks and unpleasant side effects weren't worth it. I didn't have comorbidities, so that factored into my decision to go with the sleeve. I've been pleased with the outcome. You do have a lot to consider! Remember that physicians opinions are that - opinions. Not that they are not valuable and based on knowledge, but sometimes it's a good idea to consult more than one.

I had the 360, and that does provide some lift to the outer thighs. No help for the inner thighs, though. I had a vertical thigh lift, and that helped a lot. My legs were just awful, and while they are immensely better, they are still far from great. I still rock a bikini, anyway!

My scar is horizontal only, but all the way around since I had a 360 lift. I wore the binder a couple of weeks, I think. I didn't put anything on my scars and they are mostly invisible at about 14 months postop. I have a couple of areas in the back that separated and took months to heal, and those areas are red and wide.

@@Mom26 so very sorry to hear this. As a mother of young adults, I can only imagine how devastating that news is. You and your family are in my prayers.

They could be saying worse things

Thanks, Kathy, so sweet of you! @@Alex Brecher has a way of making a girl sound interesting

LOL. It's not a disorder - unless you react badly to it. It's information. I have weighed daily for 3 years, and I go so far as to graph it! It's a bit of a game to me, and it keeps me focused. I've read that one habit of successful maintenance includes weighing daily. We all need to do whatever it takes to keep us successful. I've changed my thinking about lots of things as I've learned more. Maybe you are changing yours? Carry on.

I lost proportionately, but it was most noticeable in my face and upper body because I was very bottom heavy. I measured monthly, and ultimately lost 20 inches on my hips alone!

The last 10-15 I lost came off over about 3-4 months, much slower than the first 130 pounds I lost. I would have liked to have lost another 10, but it never came off, no matter what I did.

Absolutely one of the best posts for one year I've read! Congratulations on your success. You look wonderful!

I think successful maintenance is different for everyone. I wish what Bellabloom is saying could be true for me, but it is NOT. I am one who has to count every bite, and track them all. My required caloric intake requirement is far less than you might think it should be. I am on a permanent diet, and that's MY reality. That doesn't mean I never loosen up a little, because I do - and track it all. I do not suffer because of it, it's just what I have to do to maintain. It's worth it to me. To make a generalization that doing so implies pending failure is a little bit of a narrow view, and I imagine I'm not alone.

@@latido you sound like me. I lost 145 pounds in 14 months and no more will come off. There is nothing I can do, short of malnutrition, ad I'm not doing it. I am healthy in my size 8, and good with that. That was a very hard thing for me to come to grips with. I wanted a normal BMI, but I finally figured out there is way more to life and weight loss/management than that. I had lots of plastics, and it was very, very painful and totally worth it! I would do it all again. I would spend every dime and have that pain again to get rid of that skin. I am thrilled with my results. At 53, I look better than I did 30 years ago, the last time I was thin. Wait...I've never been this thin! Anyway, I look at it like this - short term pain for long term gain. Even if I do manage to drop a few more pounds - you are right. It's not enough to worry about. I think a 10-15% change is OK. One thing for sure - having that surgery keeps me motivated. I can FEEL it when I overeat a little, and I am uncomfortable if I gain a couple of pounds. You can bounce a quarter off my belly!! I say do it!!

@@CowgirlJane not sure how I missed this, but I am here to second and confirm your observations from a personal perspective. I have also found it to be quite disheartening to work my way to half my previous size, only find myself not as fit as I expected. I was a person who never let my weight slow me down, in terms of activity or career or family. I didn't have to let obesity beat me in that way. Or so I thought. Now I have come to two revelations: 1) Obesity absolutely beat me down and I wasn't as active as I thought and 2) I can't undo years of damage caused by all that added weight. As I lost weight I steadily became more and more active. I joined a running club, and dreamed of competing in events with friends and family. But within the first 6 months, my knee started hurting so bad I started getting injections. Eventually, I just stopped trying because the aching and throbbing would keep me awake all night. I need a total knee replacement but I'm not ready for that just yet. Most types of activity cause pain, including Water activities and bicycling. I wear a fit bit, and when I get near 10000 steps, I ache for a few days. Talk about disappointing!! So yes, the damage is done. I am (mostly) at peace with my weight, but these physical limitations have prevented me from exercising off those last few pounds. It forces me to be extra strict with my diet, all day, every day, in order to continue to maintain my weight. So sorry to hear about the post surgical implant issue! I sure understand when you reference your plan, and that wasn't part of it. Ain't nobody got time for that! Wishing you a speedy recovery.

I would not do it. The fact that it is even a question you are asking says that you are not ready. You are entitled to your privacy. The topic of "lied" to protect your PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION has been beaten to death on the forums, so I won't dig into that one any deeper. I was very much like you. I told very few people. I didn't want to be fodder for anyone's conversation. I didn't want people to watch what I ate. I didn't want them to wait for me to regain or fail, which I thought was a real possibility. I am three years out now, and my mindset has shifted over time. I don't talk about it or announce it, and when people ask how I lost weight (rare these days) I usually say diet and exercise. But if people know I had WLS, I don't care so much. I don't worry about what they will think, all the way from why I withheld that information, to how much I lost, to the plastic surgery I had, to the daily struggles I have now. Not sure why I had a mind shift, but I even volunteered to do the seminar for my surgeon this month. I figure if I can help a few people, I'm glad about it. But I wouldn't have been ready for that two years ago. For me, this level of acceptance is part of my story.

I was wondering the same thing.