BelgianGuy

There aren't that many Europeans on here. I guess my nationality isn't much of a mystery

Legs and arms are ok so far, I did my best with biking and swimming, but for the belly skin it's another story, I don't have that much excess skin but it's there! I think you can't run away from it

After 4 years of (almost) nothing dating-wise and having my self-confidence completely shattered by my only ex-girlfriend (3years and a half of relationship), I have remet a girl again at my university (had to skip it half a year due to health and depression stuffs), she was surprised to see me since I had gone without giving anyone much news and that I barely ever checked my facebook stuffs. So basically, she added me on facebook on the very same day and talked to me on a daily basis, at first I was not answering much but she would always try to restart the conversation with questions, or jokes or pictures or gifs. I hadn't received this much messages in a while so yeah I chatted more and more and she invited me to some events I unfortunately could not attend to, making more and more hints she would like to see me. At one point, she invited me to some halloween party, on that day I had to go back to university for some exam (it's 50minutes away by train, Belgium is a small country so many students don't actually live on campus but travel from home to uni every day), so yeah I accepted her invitation even though I only just knew her and none of her friends. The party went on well, my bad, I got a bit drunk on red wine (stomach regrets in the morning) and so was she. Everyone was pissed off, only her and I were still in acceptable conditions and she absolutely wanted to go to some club, I drunkenly told her I hated those and hated dancing (I am a joyful fella am I not), but she still dragged me there and after a while she kissed me and it went on for a while before we went back to her place and fell asleep like garbage because of the tiredness (studying for the exam almost all night+alcohol). Anyway, I had to leave really early in the morning because I promised a friend I would help him move out, so I went away before she awoke and later during the day she called me to say she was sorry she was a bit drunk and that she didn't even hear me leaving. Of course, what happened didn't leave me cold (don't know if it's a thing to say in English, my bad) and in the conversation I asked her if we could see each other in a while again, she said yes but that she also said she was not usually as demonstrative as she had been (but she also stated she really enjoyed the whole party) and that it could be nice to get to know each other better. So I went back next Friday, we were just the two of us, and it was indeed way more quiet, we went to the cinema, walked around and had a drink and nice talks, the evening ended and we parted ways also knowing I would not see her for a while since she had a placement for university nearby the German border and that she would have a lot of work to do. So far so good, we still talked on facebook and agreed to meet up on a Friday again to an art expo in Brussels. But of course, two days before the expo, she didn't reply much anymore (which I can understand because placements in Belgian high schools are no fun and you get shit tons of work, I have been through there) and cancelled the plan in the morning claiming indeed she had much work to do. I tried to take some news, asking if help was needed with her work, but I only get some small sentences back and "seen", so I didn't send anything anymore and didn't receive anything either for a few days now. Of course she is probably overflooded with work, but she already was when she was talking to me a lot and it leaves me kinda sad wondering what I did wrong or if there is actually anything wrong with me or why you would give someone attention and then just ignore the shit out of them. I kinda am sad/angry with myself at the moment because I had been an emotional wreck for a long time: the death of my dad when I was 16 from a very long brain cancer followed by a very bad break up with my ex alongside with financial difficulties because my mom lost her job with three kids in charge and massive gain weight has made me as a very closed and cynical person always using self-deprecating humor. And now that I am fit again and that people actually tell me I look "handsome", that I look like a new person, that I got back on track with studies and that I am looking for work, I truly thought my confidence was back on again. But that such a silly event (two dates and no more answers must've happened to tons of people) is actually able to open some emotional wounds so easily and makes question myself so badly leads me to wonder if dating is actually made for me. I wish I was not overreacting so much and I also wish I didn't write an actual book about my life on a bariatric surgery forum but the whole thing actually kinda haunts me and right now. I actually wish I didn't take a step outside of my shell. Congrats to anyone that was able to go through this uncoherent mess (English is not my native language ) of raw emotions, don't know what else to add... Cheers everyone.

I waited around 3months out for a glass of wine, and have just stuck to this alcohol. I have had three beers (in holidays in the Baltic Countries) and it took me ages to sip them down and didn't feel that great. I usually have one or two glasses of wine with friends during the weekend though.

Winter is back and I must say I haven't felt this cold in years! This might be the only downside from weightloss but damn I am freezing all the time.

Haha, thank you I guess

Thank you very much Lisa

So this was me, circa November 2015, picture taken against my will by a friend, he sent this to me this morning, had no clue it existed. And this is me this morning. I have lost 105pounds so far.

Hi there! I am 24yo myself and even though my family has been very helpful, it was very difficult the very first weeks. I would almost leave the dinner table out of anger twice a week because it would just be so painful and awful to eat. But it will be better, I have had my sleeve since February 2016 and now I basically lead a pretty good life. My BMI is down to 23, I feel healthy and physically and mentally free of all the restraints I had when I was obese: no more running out of breath, no more CPAP to sleep with, no more disgusted looks or hints that I should lose weight (now it's actually the rather opposite), my self-esteem has gone up and I dare to do simple things that ashamed before like eating in public, going to the beach or even take a seat in a train or the bus (I might have been pretty paranoid). So yeah, tough beginnings, but you will see, it will get better!

I already loved biking before my surgery, but now I love it even more! Today, I biked around 40kilometers (approx 25miles), it's not much but I try to bike around 25 to 30 km three times a week, and it feels pretty cool. I am living in the countryside, so I get nicely paved roads and also dirt roads normally used for tractors and such stuff. Biking feels really nice, and mixing it with swimming once a week has sure helped me a lot with my weightloss and my not so abundant skin excess. Cheers everyone.

It took me around six months! Starting weight was around 271lbs.

After a bit less than seven months I have lost ... 43 kilos (95pounds) and reached my goal weight! So yeah, my surgeon was quite amazed when he saw me last week for a check-up! I am pretty glad to be honest I even dared to go to the beach and actually be shirtless, this hadn't happen in years!

So yeah this is basically how I looked like (4-5kilos before my heaviest weight), I don't have much pictures since I hated being in them (still not a big fan though) and it's actually one of the only I have got from that dreaded period. And this is me this morning, so far I have lost 38kilos (83,7pounds) since February 25th, not that bad Cheers everyone. (PS: did not realize you guys would see how I titled my pics, so yeah sorry 'bout that).

I also hated to eat in public when I was obese, now it does not bother me anymore (even if I am not "thin" yet). After a few days in Italy and the warm weather that has finally it my country, I am glad to say I can handle hot temperatures now! I also have been getting loads of "compliments" from people I know telling how great I look now, that my face has completely changed. Last but not least, I also bought some L shirts and shorts, a nice change from my 3XL shirts! Been feeling pretty nice lately, what a change!

I am really happy, after a new sleeping test, I could finally give back my CPAP machine! After a weight loss of 33kilos (around 73pounds), no more sleep apneas! Wow that is great, I am really glad! No more changing my mask everymonth because it's too big and finally normal sleep without this awful machine!

Constipation is awful, I drink almost 2 liters of water per day, but damn now I am stuck with a nasty external hemorroid. It hurts like hell, worst side effect of my sleeve so far, damn I hate it.

Three months and a half post op, I would say: - Constipation. - The "hypotension" problems I had the first two weeks. - God damn CPAP machine that I can't wait to get rid of (unrelated to the surgery but I really hate this machine). - The acid reflux that I have sometimes. For the rest, it's been good, so far I've lost 64pounds (29kgs), so kinda happy!

Ever since my surgery, my CPAP leaves me with such a dry mouth! They gave me a humidifier but the thing uses loads of distilled Water and it gives me the feeling I am sleeping in a god damn aquarium. I leave my CPAP on the ground though, as indicated by my "sleep doctor" but water condensate in the tube and sometimes I even feel drops falling on my nose and/or mouth. Hopefully I'll be able to give it back soon...

If you really want to exercise, you should walk or swim, I think it's a bit early for hitting the gym. Good luck.

@AussiGirl81 Thank you And yes I have the same problem, I had never use pounds ouces, miles, etc before this forum, so google is great help

I know it's early to Celebrate (or is it?) or maybe not enough to create a whole topic, but this might motivate people peeking through the endless pages of the forums! So I'm officially three months (and two days) out of my surgery, and I have lost 27kgs, which translates to 59,5248 pounds according to google! I am really glad I did this surgery for it has already changed many aspects of my life, it has taught me that life's pleasures do not only revolve around eating/drinking. I know the "path" is still veeery long and that it will not always be easy, but so far I am really pleased with the results. Of course I strictly follow my surgeon/doctors advice and I also do loads of sports : I swim twice a week (1,6 miles each time) and I go mountainbiking two to three times a week (depends on the amount of rain my place receives), around 20miles each time. Cheers everyone, and thanks to people that have been helpful on the forums !

Went to buy some new clothes since I looked like a ghost floating around old rags, and I was amazed I could fit in sweat shirts/shirts and jeans that looked ridiculously tiny to me. Kinda nice!

For those interested: almost three months and a half post-op, I sometimes enjoy a bit of weed with some friends, happens like twice a month. I tried one month post-op and it went well (sometimes vaporizer, sometimes from a joint). It feels nice, I just keep some cool Water on the side, but weed has never caused me munchies, just thirst. I had a glass of wine two weeks ago as well, I took my time and sipped it slowly, also had water on the side in case of unwanted dehydratation. Nothing else to add, you guys be the judge of yourselves.

Almost three months out, and as soon as I feel like burping, I know I am done, if I trespass this point, it'll feel like someone decided to drop concrete in my stomach, I've crossed it only two times and I felt like sh*t afterwards.

My whole family is "in shape" except for... my mom (well she is now) and one of my two sisters. My mom had a lapband which went wrong and was revised to a gastric sleeve. She was thus quite supportive and was even the first one to talk to me about the gastric sleeve when she saw I was getting dangerously desesperate with myself and my health troubles. Everyone in my family was supportive of this decision, one of my grandpa wasn't too glad about it, but now he cheers when he sees how much I've lost. So all good!