Ava324

First pic was taken Christmas Eve, two weeks after surgery. After I'd already lost 14 lbs pre-op and still on liquids..
Second pic from yesterday - taken by our personal trainer after a very sweaty session. Now I'm just 17 lbs away from goal. Hubby hasn't had surgery, but he's lost 65 lbs of his own. So proud! We run our first 5K today.

This is my first time posting pics, so I hope it works..
The first picture breaks my freaking heart. I'm so sad for myself... Hiding a double chin behind a kitten. I look unbearably miserable.
But on a positive note, I have to give a big shout-out to my supportive hubby. He's dieted (larger portions lol) and exercised with me. I couldn't enjoy the success and attitude I've had without him by my side. He starts with a personal trainer of his own today, and I'm bursting with pride. He's lost 50+ lbs already, and we're both feeling great.
    

First pic was taken Christmas Eve, two weeks after surgery. After I'd already lost 14 lbs pre-op and still on liquids..
Second pic from yesterday - taken by our personal trainer after a very sweaty session. Now I'm just 17 lbs away from goal. Hubby hasn't had surgery, but he's lost 65 lbs of his own. So proud! We run our first 5K today.

This is my first time posting pics, so I hope it works..
The first picture breaks my freaking heart. I'm so sad for myself... Hiding a double chin behind a kitten. I look unbearably miserable.
But on a positive note, I have to give a big shout-out to my supportive hubby. He's dieted (larger portions lol) and exercised with me. I couldn't enjoy the success and attitude I've had without him by my side. He starts with a personal trainer of his own today, and I'm bursting with pride. He's lost 50+ lbs already, and we're both feeling great.
    

First day of personal training: I got so red faced, sweaty, and out of breath, that my trainer kept checking my heart rate to make sure I was okay.
Today: He kept checking my heart rate because I was breezing through the cardio routine. He was super impressed with my progress and had to amp things up.

This is my first time posting pics, so I hope it works..
The first picture breaks my freaking heart. I'm so sad for myself... Hiding a double chin behind a kitten. I look unbearably miserable.
But on a positive note, I have to give a big shout-out to my supportive hubby. He's dieted (larger portions lol) and exercised with me. I couldn't enjoy the success and attitude I've had without him by my side. He starts with a personal trainer of his own today, and I'm bursting with pride. He's lost 50+ lbs already, and we're both feeling great.
    

This is my first time posting pics, so I hope it works..
The first picture breaks my freaking heart. I'm so sad for myself... Hiding a double chin behind a kitten. I look unbearably miserable.
But on a positive note, I have to give a big shout-out to my supportive hubby. He's dieted (larger portions lol) and exercised with me. I couldn't enjoy the success and attitude I've had without him by my side. He starts with a personal trainer of his own today, and I'm bursting with pride. He's lost 50+ lbs already, and we're both feeling great.
    

This is my first time posting pics, so I hope it works..
The first picture breaks my freaking heart. I'm so sad for myself... Hiding a double chin behind a kitten. I look unbearably miserable.
But on a positive note, I have to give a big shout-out to my supportive hubby. He's dieted (larger portions lol) and exercised with me. I couldn't enjoy the success and attitude I've had without him by my side. He starts with a personal trainer of his own today, and I'm bursting with pride. He's lost 50+ lbs already, and we're both feeling great.
    

First pic was taken Christmas Eve, two weeks after surgery. After I'd already lost 14 lbs pre-op and still on liquids..
Second pic from yesterday - taken by our personal trainer after a very sweaty session. Now I'm just 17 lbs away from goal. Hubby hasn't had surgery, but he's lost 65 lbs of his own. So proud! We run our first 5K today.

This is my first time posting pics, so I hope it works..
The first picture breaks my freaking heart. I'm so sad for myself... Hiding a double chin behind a kitten. I look unbearably miserable.
But on a positive note, I have to give a big shout-out to my supportive hubby. He's dieted (larger portions lol) and exercised with me. I couldn't enjoy the success and attitude I've had without him by my side. He starts with a personal trainer of his own today, and I'm bursting with pride. He's lost 50+ lbs already, and we're both feeling great.
    

April 20, 2013 I attended my cousin's Catholic wedding. This meant kneeling. I knelt for maybe 15 minutes, and it was excruciating. 2 weeks later I was still in pain and had to see a doctor and get x-rays. Turns out I had a floating patella, and me knee-cap was off its track. The podiatrist said I needed physical therapy, and if that didn't resolve the issue, possibly surgery. At 25 years old! My body and joints were starting to fail under my weight. I had high blood pressure, Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome, and was prediabeitc. I felt trapped on a terrible unhealthy track, and now surgery was in my immanent future. Something had to derail me, and if surgery was in my future, I decided on one that addressed my underlying problems.
My co-morbidities are all resolved, I exercise 5 days a week, I've reached my goal, and I'm looking ahead to a vibrant future.

This makes sense to me. I've come across research recommending shorter meal times. My sleeve has a full "tell" that I try to obey. Some people get hiccups, and I get a gurgle. That's usually my stopping point, and it's around the 20 min mark.

This is my first time posting pics, so I hope it works..
The first picture breaks my freaking heart. I'm so sad for myself... Hiding a double chin behind a kitten. I look unbearably miserable.
But on a positive note, I have to give a big shout-out to my supportive hubby. He's dieted (larger portions lol) and exercised with me. I couldn't enjoy the success and attitude I've had without him by my side. He starts with a personal trainer of his own today, and I'm bursting with pride. He's lost 50+ lbs already, and we're both feeling great.
    

This is my first time posting pics, so I hope it works..
The first picture breaks my freaking heart. I'm so sad for myself... Hiding a double chin behind a kitten. I look unbearably miserable.
But on a positive note, I have to give a big shout-out to my supportive hubby. He's dieted (larger portions lol) and exercised with me. I couldn't enjoy the success and attitude I've had without him by my side. He starts with a personal trainer of his own today, and I'm bursting with pride. He's lost 50+ lbs already, and we're both feeling great.
    

First pic was taken Christmas Eve, two weeks after surgery. After I'd already lost 14 lbs pre-op and still on liquids..
Second pic from yesterday - taken by our personal trainer after a very sweaty session. Now I'm just 17 lbs away from goal. Hubby hasn't had surgery, but he's lost 65 lbs of his own. So proud! We run our first 5K today.

You look incredible, and so very happy! Congrats.

First pic was taken Christmas Eve, two weeks after surgery. After I'd already lost 14 lbs pre-op and still on liquids..
Second pic from yesterday - taken by our personal trainer after a very sweaty session. Now I'm just 17 lbs away from goal. Hubby hasn't had surgery, but he's lost 65 lbs of his own. So proud! We run our first 5K today.

145 again this week. Thanks, Susan!

This is my first time posting pics, so I hope it works..
The first picture breaks my freaking heart. I'm so sad for myself... Hiding a double chin behind a kitten. I look unbearably miserable.
But on a positive note, I have to give a big shout-out to my supportive hubby. He's dieted (larger portions lol) and exercised with me. I couldn't enjoy the success and attitude I've had without him by my side. He starts with a personal trainer of his own today, and I'm bursting with pride. He's lost 50+ lbs already, and we're both feeling great.
    

145 yesterday. Thanks!

Best advise would be to follow your doctors orders (meticulously - it helps get you in the right mindset), track every single day, and set small goals. Make a list of why you thought about this in the first place and reference it - often!
As for the hair thing..yes, that sucks but it is only temporary. Mine started around 3-4 months and stopped a bit after 6. I had a friend on "bald spot" patrol but it never got that far. I did start Biotin from day one and would recommend that.
In the beginning (and some holidays) I still have that "but this is so freaking delicious and I am annoyed I cannot eat more" feeling, but once you get past a certain point in your loss, that becomes less of a priority. Now if I want something enough, I take it for leftovers.
Best of luck to you!

So I was in the exact same boat as you. I had never really felt full and exams of that I ate ENORMOUS portions. I would have to eat like thanksgiving style I even feel satisfied. Yes, head hunger is a real thing but for the first time your body lets you know when you are full. Like truly, no shit, do not eat anymore. I was not perfect through this process and more than once I pushed it and spent the next 30 minutes laying on the floor waiting for the feeling to pass, and let me tell you, it certainly taught me not to do that again (or avoid what I did).
You hear this a lot on these forums, but honestly the sleeve is only a tool, it does not work miracles. You have to measure and TRACK (I use myfitnesspal every single day - no excuse - if I ate it, it gets recorded - to include the too many glasses of wine night or too many Christmas cookies).
It is scary and of course you'll go through moments of doubt, but once you start seeing even small victories - mine was being able to shop in a normal store, wearing a 14 again, getting past a previous weight hurdle (215), etc, - it is SUPER motivating.
Best thing I've EVER done for myself good luck to you!!

CW 147
GW 139

April 20, 2013 I attended my cousin's Catholic wedding. This meant kneeling. I knelt for maybe 15 minutes, and it was excruciating. 2 weeks later I was still in pain and had to see a doctor and get x-rays. Turns out I had a floating patella, and me knee-cap was off its track. The podiatrist said I needed physical therapy, and if that didn't resolve the issue, possibly surgery. At 25 years old! My body and joints were starting to fail under my weight. I had high blood pressure, Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome, and was prediabeitc. I felt trapped on a terrible unhealthy track, and now surgery was in my immanent future. Something had to derail me, and if surgery was in my future, I decided on one that addressed my underlying problems.
My co-morbidities are all resolved, I exercise 5 days a week, I've reached my goal, and I'm looking ahead to a vibrant future.

I hit my goal Thursday of last week, which was also the day after my one-year surgiversary. !!!
The waiting was worth it! Sunday, I got my first tattoo for the occasion. I'd eyed the design for years. The outline is white ink, so the pinkness will dissipate once healed. Love love love it.