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@AJKMMC15 You look fabulous. So toned and fit! We have about the same stats. If you don't mind me asking, what size are you wearing now? I totally understand if you don't want to answer or prefer to PM me. I'm having a hard time with my body image and have been trying to hunt for someone whose stats are similar. I am currently wearing a size 6 in Old Navy and Levi's jeans, but those are getting baggy.

That's fantastic! You look great. Thank you so much for your service.

Keep up the good work @xoxococojay! Looking phenomenal!

FEP Blue user here and their requirement was 3 months in 2016. I don't believe that's changed. I'd definitely give them a call or contact them via secure messaging on the FEP Blue portal. They are infinitely helpful. As the previous poster said, what your surgeon requires may be a different thing.

@Nichole Edwards You came to a message board asking for opinions and that's what you got. I don't know you and consequently, you don't know me either. I can only give my thoughts based on what you've shared. A message board and text words can't possibly encompass all aspects of your relationship. Sometimes the best support comes in the form of honesty; it's not always rainbows and unicorns. I can't do my due dilligence without being honest and pointing out that the main issue is your insecurity. YOU are terrified...and YOU admit you are being selfish in THIS situation. I'm not assuming that's all aspects of your life, but I absolutely own that I am pointing to the aspect you did share. Your last response, in my opinion, is very telling about your level of honesty with yourself on this issue.

I'm going to be blunt because I don't feel like anyone is really adressing what's going on here. Grow up or walk away. You're selfish and immature. I think you hit the real issue with the sentence "I'm scared he will change and I won't like the new him. " and then proceeded to cover it up in concerns for him being in pain and struggling. I'm sure you don't want to see him in pain or struggling, but let's call this what it is. What you're really afraid of is that he will change and won't like the same old you. If you can't get over that or work on that ASAP, then you need to get out of this relationship and let him do what he needs to do because this is not about YOU. How dare you hold someone back from the possibility of a healither life because you "can't handle it" and are insecure. In my opinion, marriage is the last thing you need if you can't cut to the chase and admit that you're not supportive because you want this to be about you.

@ebe44 Mine hasn't gone away entirely, but it's far less noticeable and easier to manage since surgery for sure.

I am/was a pretty text book case of PCOS and had a hysterectomy and one ovary removed at 34. I also had severe endometriosis, an extreme case of adenomyosis, and a good amount of fibroids. I'm 42 now. I am now almost 8 months post op vsg and have had the following PCOS related issues clear up: Blood sugar is no longer abnormal, so no more insulin resistence Cholesterol is now normal Blood pressure is now normal I don't have near the dark hair/facial hair problem like I did before I no longer have the dark skin patches common to PCOS on my neck, armpits, or groin My remaining ovary has not been troublesome Hormones much more stable, even with the crazy hormone stuff that comes with VSG weight loss in the first few months If there's something specific you'd like to know what I didn't answer, please ask. I know my case is a little different since I had a hysterectomy and don't have periods but I still have PCOS.

I also went with the sleeve because it aligned with my needs to treat side effects of PCOS better than RNY, it was less invasive, and I wasn't keen on having my digestive system rerouted. I don't think there's anything wrong with RNY, I just felt that the sleeve would help me accomplish what I needed to with less "cutting".

@Heather I I am in the same boat at 7 months out. The scale just stopped but I am definitely more toned. I also am now able to get into size 6 Levis and Old Navy jeans comfortably. I go to the gym 4/5 nights a week and do cardio and weights. I've been doing that since being cleared post-op. My doctor said if I stopped at this weight (165) and maintained that he would be more than happy as he feels I am in a great place for my height and build. I was a low BMIer and lost a little slow. I would really like to get to the original goal of 150. But if I stop here and don't have a bounce back up as some folks do, I would be ok with that too. I am certain going to the gym has helped tone my chest so that the loss in cup size hasn't resulted in anything too saggy, as well as other areas too. But now I am struggling with the calorie intake vs. what I burn as i have a hard time getting in more than 700-800 calories a day. Usually I average about 600.

@Travelher I was a DDD/E and had surgery 8/30/16. Out of nowhere in the last two months, I went down to a D. It can still happen for you. @_Kate_ You look fantastic!

@bv33 First and foremost, I hope you realize in the very core of your being that your size is not connected to the goodness of your heart and the type of person you are. I know you can probably agree with that, but I hope you really FEEL it and KNOW it. You are worthy of love and good things! I just wanted to let you know we have some similar issues. I am in my early 40s and 6 months post-op. I had some doubts too, but am glad I did this. I have PCOS and and as you know, it really can take a toll on your body. Almost all of my weight issues and subsequent co-morbidites were related to PCOS. Since surgery, my BP is good, I no longer use a sleep apnea machine, and I am not in fear of insulin resistance. No more metformin! I had very thick hair. So thick, that I would have to have it thinned a great deal about every 6 weeks. I started losing hair around the 3 month mark but it hasn't been a big deal. It's now more like a "normal" head of hair and it not noticeable to anyone besides me and my hairdresser. This is only temporary and it will grow back. My skin has held up suprisingly well. I am heavily tattoed and so far everything looks as it should. I have days that I think I look older, but I had those same days when I was heavier. I was a DDD/E and definitely a candidate for reduction. I have gone down to a D, but don't feel that I am super saggy. Not hauling around all that weight around feels different (and good!). I do have some saggy skin here and there but it's not something I worry about or even think about during the course of a normal day. I can't say enough about how the overall quiality of my life has improved. I hope you wil take an equal amount of time to think about the reasons you DO want to do the surgery. Best wishes to you on coming to a decision that is right for YOU!

When you can't understand why it's uncomfortable to sit in your usual chair and realize it is because you are now balancing on your bony butt. When you can no longer eyeball your clothing size at the store.

This may seem a little odd, but I am so excited that I now have room for 2 dogs and me in my craft room chair. They like to sit on my lap and now I can get them both up here at the same time.

I completely understand what you are trying to say. I was a cider and beer drinker and loved going to festivals and tastings. I can only make it through 1/4th of a glass of cider now, and though I rarely drink it now, I do enjoy trying a sample of a new cider. You definitely can still use your steins for other liquids or maybe even have a beautiful display of steins. My husband has a sizeable collection of steins from living in Germany, but doesn't drink beer regularly as his is a diabetic. He still uses them for other things and we have a really cool display in the wet bar he built as well. Let that guilt go! Hopefully you will be able to return to brewing some day as it sounds like you are very passionate about it. Best of luck to you on your approval and continued weight loss journey.

You look fantastic. Keep up the good work. I noticed a slow down at 5 months. I stall, then a few pounds fall off, then I stall again for awhile. I do notice loss in inches/clothing sizes during the stalls. Upping my protein helped and going to the gym regularly really helped me too. Even just walking on the treadmill helped.

I stick with thrift store for jeans and most tops. I did buy one pair of Denizen jeans at Target on sale because I could not find my size at the thrift store, and really needed a new pair badly. I limit buying to 3 pairs of a size. Bras are another story. I was a 38 DDD/E. I thought they weren't going anywhere until one day around the 3.5 month mark, they were just gone. I am now down to a D but have held up well because I have dense tissue. My advice on bras is go get fitted. Then go somewhere like TJ Maxx or Ross and find a nice bra. It's not worth it for me to wear cheap bras. I will go to almost no end for a good sports bra. I have a reconstructed shoulder with muscle that is pleated at my sternum, so I absolutely have to have good support regardless of size.

I hadn't thought about a goal gift, but maybe I should. I am fairly well covered with ink, 75% of my back is covered with a maneki-neko (lucky cat) sitting in a lotus with baby lucky cats, some smaller pieces on the upper back, inner ankle, and working on sleeves on both arms. Left forearm is 100% covered, upper is 50%. Right forearm is 50% covered with upper 100%. Two diffferent artists for each arm. Both artists have been pleased with how everything is holding up (yay for the gym) but want to wait until I am in maintenance to get back to work on large pieces. I'd love to get a chest piece but now that I have a little less meat, the appeal is fading. I can sit well, but knowing that numbing cream is involved and it will wear off scares me. Believe it or not, I have a very, very, very normal job working in analysis and have been with the same company for over 20 years. If I have long sleeves on, you'd never guess what's under there. A cruise sounds like a great goal gift. I've done Panama Canal and Carribean, so Alaska might be something to consider.

I'm almost 6 months out and the amount depends on the density of the meat for me. I can do about 2.5 ounces of steak, 2.0 ounces of chicken, 2.5-3.0 ounces of fish. Crab legs are super easy for me to get down, so I'm estimating a little over 3 ounces. If I get vegetables down, it's maybe 3 tablespoons at most as I try to concentrate on the Protein. I can also do a whole link sausage (like a bratwurst) if I take my time and nibble, leave it, then come back to it.

@hmm33502 You are just gorgeous! As are you @anewmeja! I am only 5.5. months out and 60 pounds down from my starting weight. I'm 42 and have always looked younger, but have phases during my loss where I feel I look downright ancient. I think it is most noticeable around the creases of my nose and mouth and the two creases on my forehead. Other days, it's fine. I am interested to see what happens at the year and 2-year mark. I had ridiculously thick hair prior to surgery, in spite of PCOS, and it has thinned to what would be considered a "normal" weight, so that's fine by me. I don't have to go get it thinned every few weeks. I'm 5'7" and my doctor has my goal weight set at 150. I don't know how I feel about that sitting at 171 currently. I don't know if my mind hasn't quite caught up and it's still shocking to me or if I've let the reaction of others get in my head. I can't imagine what i'm going to look like at 160, let alone if I make it to 150. I can wear an 8 in Levi Denizen Jeans, but those are getting baggy.

BMI 35, high BP, high cholesterol, sleep apnea. I haven't had blood work done, so I don't know about cholesterol yet. My blood pressure was down to normal within a few weeks post-op. Sleep apnea was no longer a problem within the first 2 weeks. I've also noticed that I haven't had issues with plantar fasciatis since the surgery. I also have had less joint pain.

I use an app called Fitness 22. They have several free training plans that I think would help. I get bored at the gym easily, so I am always looking for plans so I know what I am doing going in and don't get sidetracked.

Hi. I was sleeved August 30th. I was a lower BMI sleever with PCOS, high BP & cholesterol, and sleep apnea. My highest weight ever was 243 awhile before my initial consult. SW - 236 CW - 174 GW - 150 I feel like the last month and a half has gone slow, even though I've lost 20 pounds between November 8th and today (2/5/17). I think I have that perception because my doctors told me to stop weighing myself daily. I also think I am a little freaked out that goal is only 25 pounds away and I just want to hurry up and get there. I can definitely tell that I am still losing inches even when the scale doesn't move. I have been going to the gym 4-5 days a week. I track my food. I've had problems with trying to take in calories so I don't blaze up everything I eat when I work out. My biggest issue right now is trying to comprehend what I see versus the vision I have of myself in my mind.

@@MissKay Are the Glamorise ones true to bra size or do you find they fit differently?

I was also a big fan of LB jeans. My new favorites (and I feel are very comparable) are the Denizen by Levis that is exclusive to Target. They also are frequently on sale. I do alot of thrift store shopping for the higher end brands since I am still losing weight. I love, love, love Rock & Republic, Seven, and Citizens of Humanity (rare score but I do find them). I also like Lucky, but don't seem to find those in my size too often.