TooFluffy

jc2008, it could be that at her high weight, you don't look "that" big too her. People lose perspective sometimes, when their own weight is very high. Just a thought.

Mine is I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash. It has served me well for many decades - never fails to lift my spirits.

Remix- New Kids on the Block its all about a girl who's making big changes in her life. Love it.

Aww thanks TooFluffy hopefully very soon can't wait to read it

Yay! Can't wait until I can make a post just like this!

It's my dream to shop at Victoria's Secret!

I'd rather have loose skin and be healthy, than have gorgeous skin in a fat and unhealthy body. Also, the loose skin can be hidden under the right kinds of clothes, but the fat cannot. In addition, the only people who ever see the loose skin are me and my significant other. Everyone can see my fat.

I understand the irritation. Yes I DO feel better.. my knees don't hurt anymore.. but I don't feel like that's what most people mean by the comment.. I feel like they are talking more emotional... like before I should have been feeling all sorry for myself and ashamed because of my size... It's almost like they assumed that because I was 360 pounds, I must have loathed myself... uh, I felt about myself pretty much the same as I do now, only now I do it with less knee pain. I've always been active and accepting of my body.. I wasn't always the fattest person in the room and I definitely wasn't the fattest person in Walmart, but I was ALWAYS the fattest person on the hiking trail or at the mountain summit.. Fattest by about 100 pounds. Did I feel bad or ashamed about that? Nope.... and I think a lot of people have a hard time wrapping their minds around that.. They feel like I SHOULD have felt disgusting and full of self loathing.

I've been using either unjury vanilla or nectar vanilla. I them add about a TBS or two of SF pudding mix for a variety of flavors. Tonight, I had a vanilla mixed with SF cheesecake pudding in and sprinkled in some SF cherry Jello mix for Cherry Cheesecake... AWESOME! banana is great as well.

Had a nsv and a sv today. XL fitted shirts fit great and I broke the 250 mark today when I woke up to 247 on the scale. I love my sleeve!!!

I think losing 80 pounds on your own is quite an accomplishment, and one you should be very proud of. The sleeve is just a tool, you still have to do the work. You very well could continue as you are, keep losing and be just as happy. It is a personal decision and what is best for one may not be best for all.
The major difference is after you are sleeved a few ounces fill you, phyiscally satisfies you in a way that just restricting your diet will never do. Also, the area of your stomach that is removed is a producer of the appetite/hunger hormone ghrelin. This is not to say you'll never feel hunger, many do feel traditional hunger again. I'm 7 months out and still do not feel hunger, thankfully. It makes for a much easier time while losing weight for me.
I tried every diet/pill/gimick known to man for 20 plus years, nothing stuck. I went to an endocronologist and was found to have a painfully slow metabolism. Dieting was always going to be in my life and it was always going to be a struggle.
The restriction from the sleeve is completely different than simply restricting your diet on your own. If you follow your nutritionists plan, get in your Protein & Water, you won't have the physical reprocussions of a calorie deficit diet.
There are "rules" to follow - and you can read a ton of information on that here. It is a great idea to scour the posts here, you will get a very wide view of people's experiences.
No two people are alike, and as I said what is right for one may not be right for all. You have to think about what is best for you. You have to give yourself some credit for all you have lost so far. It will not happen overnight, with or without the sleeve. You have folks here who know what you are going through.
Search the forum for topics you have questions on.
BEst of luck in whatever you decide!

I'm trying to find a doctor that accepts Anthem. I'm from Indiana but would travel! All the place here have a policy of 3-6 months or longer! No doctors will just take my insurance and do it! There are a few requirements but nothing that could be done with the month.

I hope so!!! I am ready!

Actually I just found out today I get to see LK!!! I can do bowel prep the day prior and just remain onclear liquids the day of LK! Yes!!!

Oh, and go scuba diving without needing 20lbs of weight to get down, or feeling like a whale squeezing into my rash guard!

I can't wait to be able to:
Go to a theme park and not worry about fitting on the rides.
Cross my legs.
Play in the floor with grandkids, then be able to get up!
Fly on an airplane without worrying if I'm going to need a seatbelt extender.
Run in a 5k or half marathon.
Paint my toes comfortably.

Having the capillaries in my legs burst while on vacation to Disney World with my family. I was in pain nonstop, on what was an otherwise amazing trip. I'll be half the person I was before I get back to see the mouse!

I'm a Hoosier myself! Currently living in LaPorte. Im going through Methodist Hospital Center for Bariatric Surgery in Merrillville. I have my first appt Aug 12. I'm really excited to get the ball rolling on what I'm sure will be a difficult journey, but I know the end result will be well worth it. Can't wait until the day I can finally get back on a roller coaster, fit comfortably in a seat at the ball park, or even sit comfortably on a long flight.

I hope this doesn't come across as frivolous, but I can't help but think about some of these things.
In addition to getting healthy, I can't wait to:
have my husband's arms reach all the way around me
play on the floor with the grandkids
cross my legs
climb stairs without huffing and puffing
tie my shoes without cutting off my own oxygen
sit in a regular lawn chair
shop for clothes in the misses dept.
sit in a booth
dance without worrying what I look like
buy any Bracelet in the case
buy something other than perfume at Victoria's Secret
plus many, many more!
What are some everyday activities you look forward to?

Besides all the health benefits:
I want to finally wear a pair of Levi jeans, its been 13 yrs since I've worn any jeans.
To not HAVE to wear elastic waistbanded clothing.
To cross my legs wo holding it in place with my hand.
Wear heels.
Buy a colorful wardrobe bc now its blk, gray, or full of dark patterns to camo my fat.
To run, if possible, bc I have bad knees, I pray this helps.
To wear a maxi dress wo looking pregnant.
To STOP having to wear exercise or spandex clothing as daily wear but only to exercise in.
Start going places w my family nd not be embarrassed, esp at Water parks where I usually take the pics instead of beingin them...plain ole ready to start living!! Gla nd God bless our journeys!!

hiking without the feeling of an oncoming heart attack! LOL
Run with my daughters
Feel good about myself

"Looking for a better partner"...AMEN to that...lol!!!!