NewSetOfCurves

@@barbarahadz1, thank you for the compliment! I found Peter Fisher via realself.com and out of the 3 surgeons I interviewed, he was the one that just won me over. A combination of his online reviews via realself, pictures of his work, his knowledge and patience to take his time with me and explain EVERYTHING, and his willingness to answer ALL my questions just made him stand out. Not to mention that he specialized in post massive weight loss surgery (our loose skin is not equal to a mommy getting a mommy makeover who has never experienced obesity). Hope this helps.

For drinks, minute maid 15 cal juice blends look great in a wine glass.

You can pretend you are drinking Mimosa's!

I remember I had just purchased a new outfit. I purchased it at Lane Bryant. Dark denim jeans with a slight flair. Summer Wedges made of red canvas. A white peasant blouse with red and yellow embroidered detail. Cute hoop earrings. A long necklace. Bangle bracelets. My dark hair fell strait to my waist. I felt like a million bucks. I felt beautiful.

I was at a Sam's Club, purchasing items for the shop when a young man said, "Oh my gosh you are so cute! How far along are you?"

I. Was. DEVASTATED.

However, I smiled at the young man who look at me, expecting a reply with a smile on his face. So, I took a deep breath. Smiled. "I am 5 months."

"Oh! How exciting! I bet it's going to be a boy!"

"I hope so. Thank you. Have a great day, sir."

I walked away. Heart sunken. Confidence flattened. Tears all the way home.

I am so sorry your husband responded to you in such a negative way. It is hard to feel good about oneself or to proceed with ones hopes and desires when you lack the support of your loved ones. To me, our scars tell the story of our journey; one that is filled with our despair, our dreams, our hope, our fight and our accomplishments. Don't let your husbands comments make you feel negative about them or your journey. My spiral thigh lift improved my legs a great deal. They are not perfect and despite how clean I eat or how much I workout, the upper back thighs have had a little bit of cellulite return. However, I love the overall results. If the spiral is going to make you feel better and garner some confidence that you have been lacking, then I hope you continue to pursue it. Good luck to you, @JamieLogical.

@KindaFamiliar...Lol!

It's taken me three years to get here. First year pre and post-op was straight cardio. Starting lifting almost 2 years ago, 2-3 days a week with cardio. Now, I lift 5 days a week, focusing on one body part at a time, 1.5 hour sessions. Cardio has been reduced to 1-2 times a week. I eat "clean" any where from 85%-90% of the time. I do eat the occasional chip or candy, but it is minimal and a treat about once a week. Hard work, but worth it to me. It's taken time, but it has become habit and routine.

You've done an amazing job, keep it up!!!

Thank you @@Daisee68 and @@AmyQwith2!!!

I am glad to pay it forward. So many people on this site--with their candid posts and pictures--really inspired me to move forward with the sleeve and it has completely changed my life for the better. I am so much healthier, happier and confidant. Not one regret! Good luck, girls!

I had the lower body lift (which--as I am sure you know--lifts the outer thigh) in conjunction with the vertical lift. The cut made to lift the outer thigh, is right along the line of an extended Tummy Tuck, so I think it would go right along with your existing scar. The vertical cuts are right along the groin line. I really love my results, but I did go into it knowing that no matter how tight the doctor pulled on those thighs--especially the outer part--I knew that they would relax some. At 7 weeks post op I went on vacation. Walked around a Water park with the kids, hung out on the beach, walked the beach...no problems. My thighs look much better, I love them and I am even going to hit the beach this spring without a cover up for my legs.

Here is a link to the pic that I posted. It shows my thighs. It is not a quality pic, but it is all I have for now.

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/360777-nsv-wearing-a-bikini-with-no-coverup-finally/

As your band size goes down your cup size may go up...

This is very true! I am 34DDD, if I want a looser band fit and go up to a 36, my cup size switches to a DD.

Awe...I completely understand how you feel right now. Week one was "hell" week for me, but you will be up and at it before you know it. This will be just a faded memory, over shadowed by all the awesome successes you are about to venture into. Sip, sip, sip...one day at a time...one step at a time. Keep us posted!

And if that isn't enough, Yoga pants. Think about it.

HAHAHA!!! LOVE IT!!!

You know, if people lose the weight on their own, then power to them. Awesome. It takes commitment and sacrifice and dedication. I truly admire that. Unfortunately, not always, but in most cases those people gain it back. How many times do we see on this forum statements like: "I lost a 100 pounds and gained all back, and then some." They get stuck in that yo-yo dieting--a life of gaining and losing. Which is horrible for our bodies, metabolism and quality of life. Again, for those who take it off, completely change their life style and keep it off, I am in awe of them and super proud of their accomplishment.

However, for many of us that isn't the case. We tried and failed, tried and failed, and we tried and failed again. It is hard to erase a lifetime of habits, even if you're in your twenties. I wish I had taken this step in my twenties. To feel the quality of life that I now feel. The surgery was like a reset: a reset to my metabolism, my taste buds, the quantity I could eat. With that reset, I was better able to unlearn old ugly habits, pick up new healthy habits, and thus change my lifestyle. In essence, the sleeve gave me the opportunity to control the QUANTITY of food I intake. While I--me, myself and I, NOT the sleeve--taught myself QUALITY: the quality of eating a diverse array of healthy foods, the quality of eating small meals every 3 hours, the quality of exercising and activating my body for better performance and endurance. All of those things I DID. NOT the sleeve. The sleeve was the "tool" that got me there.

We do not and should not EVER apologize for that. Not one prescription or method works for all. The "natural" way did not work for us and our very lives, our livelihoods,our quality of life suffered for it. So, let them say they lost it the natural way. Let them compliment themselves or others. Agree with them, because that is awesome and it deserves to be acknowledged. But NEVER forget that our way was just as tedious--if not, more so because of the drastic change and toll the sleeve takes on our lives and body. NEVER forget that the sleeve may have been a jump start, but everything else in between is YOU. It is US. It is our efforts, our trials, our failures, our successes. We did that. Not the sleeve.

So, pick your head up sweetie. Because everyone of us here, knows better. Your efforts are validated. Your journey is validated. Your decision is validated. Don't let ANYONE knock you down.

...okay, stepping off my soap box.

Thanks @@Dub! I value each of your opinions so much. It feels good when someone validates your hard work. Thanks again!

@@glitter eyes and @@careya123, thank you!

@@VSGAnn2014, you flatter me too much, but I REALLY appreciate the compliment! Thank you!!!

@@fernandfj, THANK YOU! Yes, I am super PROUD of my achievements. I eat "clean" 90% of the time and I am devoted to my gym time..tired or not, I am there!

@@nervousnelly719, you can! You literally can and will be here. When you get your sleeve, work it and own it, and you will get to this point. It has taken me 2.5 years and every blood, sweat and tear shed has been worth it! Good luck to you!!!

@@LipstickLady, AHHHHH!!!! THANK YOU! Stop it! No, don't, I love it!!! Lol!!!

@ and @@Inner Surfer Girl, THANK YOU so very much!

Worst: Feeling completely lethargic and useless that first week post-op sleeve surgery.

Best: Being able to wear a bikini!!! And...having people sometimes confuse me as a student (I teach seniors at a high school) despite being almost 20 years their elder!

Yup! My previous size 10.5-11, now I am a 9/9.5!

Last summer I was able to wear 2 piece, but with a coverup. I was still conscious of my tummy and thighs. But after recovering from plastics and working HARD in the gym 5-6 days a week, I can officially say that I will be hitting the beach this spring without a coverup. When I put on my 2 piece and saw my pic, I think I cried and cried for a good 10 minutes. Cried for my experience as an obese person, cried for the struggles of life post-op, cried because I WORKED HARD for this dang it, and I have finally arrived. People...I have FINALLY arrived!

Sorry for the crappy picture! My husband "cleaned it" with something that was not Windex...and I have yet to purchase a full length mirror! Isn't crazy how our past obesity still rules us even after we've shed the weight. Ugh! I am going to go and buy a full length mirror today!

This post warmed my heart. There is nothing more comforting in the world than to have the ones you love, have your back. I am happy for you . Congrats on your success so far, and may it continue!

WOW!!! And CONGRATS!!! I know and understand what a GREAT feeling it is to be in AWE when you realize that you and your daughter are wearing the same size. At the beginning of this school year, when my daughter and I were out shopping, we stopped at the Guess store to buy new jeans. We ended up buying the exact same jeans, at the exact same size; the only difference that mine are regular length and hers are short. I was in ABSOLUTE disbelief.

Anyway, congrats on your AMAZING NSV!!!

One I was honest with because she's a rather big girl and I didn't want to feed her some lie and get her hopes up. The others I said thank you and avoided the question. I don't mind telling overweight people but I don't like telling my skinny friends. I'm not sure why that is but I just don't feel the need to elaborate with them.

You look absolutely WONDERFUL! Congrats on your amazing success!

I understand your willingness to share with overweight people vs. your skinny friends. Although I am an open book about my journey, it is usually those who have not had to battle obesity whom judge us and are not as understanding. They ask questions like, "Well, couldn't you have done that without the surgery?" Versus overweight people who more likely (not always) to understand our decision to go to such extreme measures to lose weight.

Anyway, super proud of you and your success. Keep on rocking that sleeve!!!

Looking good, girl! Congrats on all of your success!!!

WHOOP! WHOOP!

You had me grinning ear-to-ear with this post! GREAT job on your hard work and reaching this amazing NSV! I understand the effort, time and patience it takes to get this point, and I am super proud of you. CONGRATS!!!

I am 5'6" and my surgery weight was 228/230. I am currently a 4/6. My goal was a size 8 because I thought that was a suitable size for my height and a mommy of 4. However, here I am and I have maintained this size for over a year.

Did you have a lot of loose skin? Enough to want a Tummy Tuck or other plastic surgery? I'm hoping mine won't be too bad because I'm starting out at a lower BMI, but maybe that's just wishful thinking.

@@careya123, I did have a tummy tuck, coupled with a lower body lift. I am a mother of 4, plus I was right at the morbidly obese line at my highest weight; so, there was no avoiding the loose skin. I will say that it was ALL SKIN, though. I remained the same size after the swelling went down post plastics.

I truly believe that it is prioritizing and managing your time. Exercise is a priority--whether I want to go or not, I am there 6 times a week. I have a full time day job, I am a mother of 4, but I manage my time and fit it into my daily life. If you love weight lifting, do it, go for it, and go heavy...it will TRANSFORM your body. Get it, girlie! You can do it!

I am 5'6" and my surgery weight was 228/230. I am currently a 4/6. My goal was a size 8 because I thought that was a suitable size for my height and a mommy of 4. However, here I am and I have maintained this size for over a year.