Indigo1991

Well, after 3 years on my own following the break up of a 30 year relationship, at the weekend I finally got naked with someone I have lusted after for years.... He didn't run away screaming at my wrinkly, saggy bits. I took my clothes off - ALL OF THEM!!!! And the world didn't end, he didn't laugh and I didn't die of embarrassment. Something for me to add to my list when people ask how my sleeve has changed my life - I can do naked :-))))))) Sorry if is is tmi, but I actually never thought at 52 that I could throw my clothes off with such abandon and without stressing -oh how I love my sleeve!

Had my surgery in April 2013 and my life is unrecognisable from then until now. My mind is unrecognisable never mind my body, lol. I am happy and nothing in life is a problem... Luckily for me that's what keeps me smiling when an acquaintance repeatedly tells mutual friends she is just waiting for me to "pile the weight back on". Hell will be freezing over before I give her the satisfaction of seeing me gain a pound. But what a sad life she must have if taking pleasure in waiting for someone to fail is the highlight of her life. The old me would have fretted about whether she might have a point. The new me says "feck her". And if she ever says it to my face, that's the gist of what I will say to her. Not very sophisticated - but I think it would be very effective in shutting her up once and for all!

So, I unexpectedly bump into my dietician in the supermarket, six months after my final appointment with him. I was really touched at how pleased he was to see me saying "you look amazing" and "you have done so well". What did I say in return? "Do you want to look at what's in my shopping basket?" WTF???? Lol!

Healthychoice2014 Good luck, hope all goes well with the insurance. You asked for suggestions from post sleevers. I am a bit older than you but our starting stats are similar. Can i offer advice rather than suggestions - beginning with whatever happens, be kind to yourself and always remember that, whatever is happening, this too shall pass. I am 18 months out and the world is a great place to be after many years of being morbidly obese. How I feel as a normal sized human being is indescribable -it's like the excitement of waiting for Christmas as a child. Every day holds the prospect of something wonderful happening, And more often than not it does because I am open to it - my weight no longer acts as a barrier between me and the world. I don't hide any more, I go to parties, I go clothes shopping in normal stores, I fit inside the seat in a plane, i show off my legs, I can walk for miles, I am not a sweaty blob - and I can run. The freedom increase with every pound lost. So be nervous, it would be strange if you weren't . But get ready to embrace a new life you probably can't even begin to imagine is possible. I had no idea where this would go when I got sleeved - I just knew I couldn't go on as I was. It's not easy, especially in the early days, so have faith, it gets better. Anyway, nothing worth having is easy.... Best of luck, hang in there when the day comes and you won't look back!

Feedyoureye is so right! Even when you stop losing weight, your body seems to keep doing its thing and continues changing, tightening and moving. I have had the turkey neck thing, but that's settled down. My Shar pei bottom isn't quite so wrinkly. I have saggy sock boobs to my knees (tmi???) - but cosmetics will fix that, along with a tummy tuck to get rid of the excess skin. But none of that changes my mind - no regrets re surgery, not a single one. Being fat was like an anchor on my life but nothing holds me back now.

Thanks RJ, you're not so bad yourself Strange thing is that the longer I have been at my goal weight, the less I care about any bitchy comments. But reality is, they are few and far between. Most people now seem comfortable and accepting of what I look like and what I weigh... Which is great. Because initially, it was all people wanted to talk about! Being happy with myself seems to have given me a waterproof coating where cr*p just slides of me!!!

Andy810 I am 18 months out and have never had a shake. Ever. I decided at the outset that I needed to be able to eat "normal" food as I have a life where eating out is a regular thing. Drinking shakes felt like being on a diet whereas I wanted to acknowledge that I had a new "normal" in relation to food - I didn't want a food substitute, I wanted to make good food choices in the real world. I also saw some people who seemed to rely on shakes way past when they should have done and then struggled to wean themselves off them. I fortified milk (added skimmed milk powder to skimmed milk) to add significantly to my Protein intake without adding carbs. I also added skimmed milk or the powder to Soups in the first few weeks, which gave me additional protein with little effort. Worked for me. Reached my target in about 8 months and I can eat pretty much anything now - just smaller amounts :-)))) But each to their own, I just knew shakes were not for me.... Good luck!

CrazyJaney Thanks! It's the greatest thing about this site - I was inspired by the honesty of those who were using the site when I joined. Just returning the compliment by being honest in the same way they were as what they said helped me a lot... And it seems to help others. Keep doing what you're doing, well done!

Hey, Miss Mac! I would love to do that - but there's probably more fun to be had with her saying what she's saying as everyone knows I had the surgery -except her :-)))) She will eventually be very confused... Jenn1, good for you, using your IL's bad attitude to drive you on to do a good, positive thing is perfect. Good luck in the race! Lipstick, revenge is a dish best served cold - enjoy....

Hi all, thought I would give you a wee update on my post... The Naked Hottie is no more but that's ok. He still has a very important place in my new post-sleeve life... I have been out on a few dates since, but yet to find someone special. But the big news is that I have increasingly become like catnip to younger men! Yes, I am now normal sized, so I dress better. And I like myself, so there's a positive vibe coming from me. But apparently, according to the one who's pursued me for the last few months (ex model cutie), it's my attitude that's doing it - I am fun, interesting and full of life. Who'd have thought it ha ha ha!!! Flattering as it is, I am still resisting as there's younger than me -and there's waaaaaaaay too young. But the smile on my face says it all.... :-))))))

Ooooh, I sympathise, have had the same problem. Yes, it's a lack of fat and muscle in your butt that's the problem. I have almost sorted it through Pilates and targeted and repeated exercise for building muscle in my backside. It takes a bit of time but it does give you some relief. I also sat to one side and with one leg over the other to shift my weight on to one cheek rather than sit directly on my tail for long periods ( we have the strangest conversations on here....) On long haul flights, I also took a little padded sheepskin pad to sit on. It all helped because once your tail gets inflamed, takes a while to calm it down. Might also be worth a chat with your PCP....

You go girl! You deserve to be happy, you've been so through much. :-))))

FedUpWithBeingFat, sorry been off the site for a while - probably too late for an answer - but will give it to you anyway, lol! I did 14 days but not on a liquid diet. It was a food plan designed to shrink my liver... Hope you are already well under way with your weight loss already :-)))

Lots of us, it's pretty normal but the feeling fades as you learn that you aren't working any less hard post-sleeve than you did pre-sleeve. At the risk of rolling out an old line, you and your sleeve are a partnership, one won't work without the other. It isn't doing all the work, even thought you might think that's the case. Trust me, come back in a few months time and tell me if you still feel a bit guilty, lol. And the first person who even hints that you took the easy way out by having surgery to lose weight, you won't let them away with it. becuase that's just not true. It's very early days for you, enjoy them guilt free as the real work is just starting. But you are on the road, best wishes for many more pounds to come off!

Well, just back from a holiday on the beautiful island of Majorca. For the first time since 1990, I wore a swimsuit - IN PUBLIC! No-one stared or made any rude comments but I got a few admiring glances from guys. I swam in the sea and loved it, didn't feel self-conscious at all. I went out in the evening in short dresses with no sleeves and felt like a super model (I know that's stretching it a bit at 52 and being a little shortie but you get the idea!). I even walked along the seafront in a swimsuit and a sarong. And I felt fabulous... Don't think I have had a holiday like it ever before in my life. I just enjoyed what I was doing, wasn't hot or sweaty or worrying about how I looked. Can't believe just how far life has come in only 14 months but it is all good. Love my sleeve :-)))))))

Hey Miss Mac... Went with my son (who kept laughing at me as I paraded around in another new swimsuit) and I flew there... Only 2.5 hours from Edinburgh. Absolutely gorgeous. Off to Milan next month. Now that's a place I wouldn't have considered going to a year ago. Lots of hotties there ha ha ha!!!! Hope all is well with you x

Yes, McButterpants, it's me! Been stupidly busy in recent months, but should be back online a bit more again. Lots happening and all because my confidence is soaring :-) Lol, still laugh at the getting nekkid thing myself. Now doing coffee dates to see if I can meet a nice man although recently I got rejected because I was too full of life for one old codger of 56 :-)))) I couldn't be happier to be thought of being a handful! As for the swimsuit, as I was strutting my stuff on the beach, I thought of all my friends on BP cos I knew you'd understand the significance of doing something that others take for granted. it's a real big deal for those of us who have been big most of our lives. At one point, I was actually doing the happy dance on the balcony of my apartment, laughing and not caring who saw. Changed days from the miserable girl who hid from the world... LindafromFlorida, thank you xxxx

Oh, Vogue, have a big hug from me. Understand exactly what you are saying and no, it makes no sense - but for me, it's like grieving for what was and who you were. When I looked at my before clothes and pics of me wearing them, I cried for a day. I cried for the memories and misery that came flooding back, for the unhappy person I was when I wore the clothes, I cried slightly with fear that I would ever go back and some of it with relief that I will work hard to never be that size again. You're having a moment and you are allowed to after how successful you've been. Think about doing the after pic and post before/after, it will help draw a line. Ramble away, you are not alone :-) x

LL, you look stunning, absolutely amazing transformation. Congratulations, I hope life continues to get better and better - and wtf are you doing asking if you need more clothes - GET SHOPPING, GIRL! You deserve it. And post lots more pics in the new colours, lol x

Yes, with the help of your sleeve, you can learn to do the right thing. I love to eat, still do - but my love of food doesn't control me any more. I eat out three to four times a week and haven't put a pound back on because I now choose what to eat - food doesn't call to me any more because I look and feel so much better I don't want to go back to what I was - and that's what kept me on the straight and narrow. You can do this. I know it may not look like it from where you sit but you can - and you will. But you will only get out what you put in so although the sleeve gives you the tool to work with, you still have to put the effort in. Good luck to you, before you know it, you will be sitting where I am, wondering where the time has gone and admiring what you see in the mirror as you skip around, lol!

Oh missus, sending a big hug from Scotland - but I won't squeeze too hard Despite it all, you are still heading towards goal - 200lbs down having gone through what you have is almost unbelievable. You are one tough woman! Hang in there, this too will pass xx

Sorry for hijacking the thread but this is for MadamPrincess24... It is hard - but it will be so worth it, trust me! You aren't lazy, you just had major surgery (am assuming you had sleeve or bypass)! Your hormones are also going a bit crazy as your body starts to release the fat and that can make you feel down... But don't give up, stick to what you have been told to drink at this stage. Sip, sip, sip! Your stomach is numb so you won't feel it if you are doing any damage by eating solid food. It's also trying to heal so give it a chance. And please cut yourself some slack. Do the best you can - and that means stick with the programme. Give this new life a try... Get up every hour and even if you just walk round and round the house it will help. Of course, it's different and the first few weeks are the worst but the rewards are huge, life changing. You miss food but eventually you will be eating again, just not as much. I am a year out and I make better food choices and eat less. I still enjoy eating and there's little I can't eat - I just choose not to. But I started out exactly where you are... Post when you are feeling down and there are lots of us who will give you support. We have all been where you are - and we survived! You will too, promise :-)))))

Moving and walking. If you allowed to get up and about, start walking, ever hour if you can... Good luck and congratulations!!!!

We could be sisters separated at birth our stats are so similar - sadly I would have to be the older sister :-) Thanks, my hair had been my pride and joy but lost about half its volume during the shedding period. Started growing back at about six months (it just started falling out more slowly, lol) and the pic was taken at about 10 months. Good luck, you are almost there!

I am so technically illiterate, I can't get the pics on this post the right way up. But if you visit my gallery on my profile, have put up some "before" pics. Never seen before outwith my family. I am actually quite shocked to see myself... had forgotten just how big I was. But I am not there any more :-))))) Life is soooooo good... if you are struggling, I hope it shows that everything and anything is possible...