Indigo1991

Lynda Thanks, I appreciate it. I now have an image in my head of a row of little bottoms on a bench, can't believe mine's going to fit on it :-)))))) Was pleased for you achieving your own goal over Christmas, just shows what we can do when we put our minds - and sleeves - to it. It's an attitude I intend to stick with as I maintain. Happy New Year and continued success to you in 2014!

Thanks for the kind words - like you, I followed and watched the sleevers who went ahead of me and I am so grateful to them for sharing their stories. That's what encouraged and inspired me, so very happy if I can now do the same for you. Will keep watching how you're doing, get in touch any time. Here's to a successful 2014!

Kathy Thanks for the good wishes - and you are right about it being a bit of an anti-climax. I am thrilled skinny - literally! - to be at this weight. But I have spent a lifetime trying everything to lose weight, with nothing ever working so I think I am a bit stunned to here. But my sleeve and me have got along and got on with the job in hand - and it was a success. And, yes, the hard work continues, this is just the end of the beginning Thanks for your support and encouragement fro the start. Appreciate it... X

Ha ha, you are right. I have only worn trousers for 20 plus years. It's like having a new toy ))))

So, this is me hitting my goal at the weekend - and I have legs for the first time in years! Woo hoo!

Only you know if you can afford to lose any more weight. According to the tables, the weight range for med frames at 5'7 is 133-144 but that doesn't take into account age and other factors. I am 5'2" and hit my target of 140 at the weekend. That puts me at the top end of the large frame weight for my height - but I look pretty small and am wearing a UK 10/12. People have said to me to stop now but my nut agreed I could lose another 5lbs to be comfortably within the normal BMI range. But he also said to do it 1lb at a time so that I can judge when to stop before I look too thin. However, I also intend to do plastics next year and the surgeon has asked me to give him 4-5lbs to play with. So, the reality is that I intend to now maintain knowing that the other surgery will take care of the last few remaining pounds. Best advice is to talk to your nut and work with him or her. Congratulations, hope those last couple of,pounds melt away!

Your stomach is swollen for a few weeks, then it's pretty tight so swallowing big gulps just isn't possible without discomfort or overfilling it too quickly. I am 8 months out and am back to being able to drink pretty much as before - but I don't cos I am now in the habit of taking mouthfuls then letting it go down. But it's nice to have a big drink now and then :-)

McB, does he have a single brother, lol???? Wow, what a guy, you seem like a great match :-)

You've had lots of great advice for you to follow. But until I was sleeved, I didn't appreciate the basic fact behind the need to drink at the levels we do is that a lack of water - even before you become dehydrated - slows down your metabolism and leads to your body trying to conserve energy. That means trying to hang on to fat stores. Well hydrated and your body works to its maximum on fat burning... So drink up, water = weight loss!!!!

And thank you for those kind words... the feeling is mutual x

You go, RJ! You can do it!!!! And you better believe it :-)))))))

McB, think you put your finger on it - I am at peace possibly for the first time ever in my life. At peace with the world but, more importantly, with myself. As for the getting naked, am still smiling about that - and live in hope of doing WAY more of it in 2014.... x

Think you are right, but that last pound has been the hardest to lose, lol! Here's to great 2014 for you!

Thanks and congratulations to you for taking the big step and getting sleeved. Take it one day at a time and suddenly you'll be where I am! Good luck!

Lmao! Thank you for those wise words, Mme Rev, may use them elsewhere lol!!! xxx

Awwww, thank you! I won't slip from the forum, need to keep up with how you are all doing :-)

Thanks! Don't worry, I have worked hard to get a balance in my eating but I am not complacent :-))))

Thank you! Yes, the day at the garbage dump when I got lifted off my feet trying to put bags of clothes in the recycle container is etched on my memory! Good luck to you, you don't have far to go, all the best in 2014!

Yesterday, I hit 140lbs for the first time in many years - and because I am still there today, I am claiming it as hitting my target, lol! I have now revised it down by another 5lbs but I think that those will go when I have my cosmetics done in 2014. So I have achieved what I set out to do on 26 April when I was sleeved. Pre and post op, I have lost 83.5lbs, a number I used to look at and never really believe I could lose that. At 5'2", with two comorbidities and others looming, my sleeve was really my last throw of the dice to sort a life long problem and restore my health. But I am surprised that I am not doing the wildly happy dance or calling up everyone I know to tell them. So i've been thinking - why not? Partly, it's because I have had the compliments on the way about my weight loss and don't feel like stating the bleedin' obvious in case it sets off everyone on the "ooh, don't lose any more" commentary (which has started). (Maybe I don't want someone to unwittingly do down what I have achieved with a careless comment...) Partly, it's because it's really the beginning not the end of this journey - now I have to maintain. Partly it's because my doctor told me last week that I was to be applauded for saving my own life. That was quite a statement that drove home to me the significance of what I have done. But the biggest reason why I think I am not leaping around is that I did this for me - and for me alone. No one told me to, for the first time in my life I was selfish, paid for the surgery without discussing it with anyone and put me first. So I know inside what I have achieved because I know the pain, pleasure and the crazy roller coaster ride I have gone through to get here. I know of the doubts, the fear and tears on the way. I know the highs and the lows, the dark days - and the good days. Of the support and friendship on this site that kept my head above the Water even if the people responding didn't realise the good they were doing. My thanks to each and every one of you. I have been fully present every step of the way, I haven't run away, I have lived it and I don't think anyone who hasn't been sleeved can fully appreciate this journey. For the first time in my life, I am going to do something different - I am going to give myself a pat on the back, mean it and accept it graciously. Well done Jacqui, you are a success, the rest of your life lies ahead - and there are now no excuses for not living it to the full :-)))))) Here's to a an amazing 2014 for us all x

Thanks! He says he's aiming for a D cup as he thinks I would feel as if I had been butchered if the girls were any smaller. Happy with that cos at least my boobs will be solid and where they should be ))))

Lol, thanks!!! Can't quite believe it myself :-)))) Have now reset my target by another 7 lbs (which isn't showing on my ticker) but think a lot of that will be achieved by cosmetics. But I am thrilled to be here in 8 months, I LOVE my sleeve, lol

My new habits: * I make time to eat breakfast every day * I now always have good varied food in the house that I can eat - and no foods that I don't want to eat * I try to eat like my naturally thin friends - food isn't on their minds all day every day. They view food as fuel, yes to be enjoyed but not at the centre of their world. So I don't weigh every day, I don't log my food intake or my calories - but I know exactly what my daily food intake should look like, what it should comprise of and that's what I aim for. Likewise, I know what my Fluid intake should look like and aim for that. I do not want food to control me any more, so I need to have control but on my terms... * I eat mindfully - even on my own, I sit at a table, use a small plate, eat slowly and with no tv or distraction. * I have stopped beating myself up. I don't need to keep reliving the past like I need to be punished for getting fat. I was fat, I have done something about it and whilst I need to be aware that putting weight on is a possibility, I don't intend to live in fear of that for the rest of my life. I just intend to live!!! * I put my needs up there alongside my duties. I am important and if I don't believe that and look after me, who will??? These won't necessarily work for everyone but today I hit my goal after 8 months, so they work for me :-)))))

According to my ex- husband, I was always right ???? x

Think you will be ok, 15lbs loss shows you're on the right road! Being calm is a great asset when you get sleeved because things will happen, like stalls, and you need to be calm and patient....

I posted exactly the same thing earlier - someone asked why I had thrown away my old clothes, was I so sure I wouldn't put on weight. I was almost 8 months out and it had never occurred to me I might do that so sure was I of my commitment to my sleeve. I wobbled for a few days then got a grip. Our success or failure lies only in our hands. Ignore the inner critic who will now have come to the surface because of that friend's comment. You have a choice of how to respond to her comments - cave in, agree and give up before you start or let it go and focus on what lies ahead, not behind you. I know you can do this, you are committed to change and are ready. Good luck, hope it goes well and keep on this forum, there will always be support for you. X