Molly23

Looks like you've been working hard! Congrats you look amazing!

Thank you! I'll definitely be dancing for joy once I get under 200! And when I hit goal! I'm so glad I got the sleeve!

Thank you! I did have a stall right around the 3-4 week mark for about 2 weeks. Just had to keep reminding myself that my body needs to adjust as much as I do. It was frustrating but I stuck to the diet plan and it started dropping again sure enough. Most weeks I've lost 2lbs a week which I think is a really good pace. I had another stall around 4 months for about two weeks again. I keep feeling like another one is coming but I just have to wait and see. If you do have a stall try not to panic or get too frustrated. As long as you're doing your part the scale will catch up. My nutritionist said the losses will be more like stairs rather than a steady slope. Also it helps to only weigh yourself once a week. There are natural daily fluctuations that can be discouraging if you weigh too often. Best of luck with your sleeve!!

Thank you! I had the sleeve surgery on 4/20/17. I'm definitely eager to reach my goal but trying to be patient with the process also!

Thank you!

Thank you! I'm just trying to follow the plan. I was pretty excited because I fit into a size L shirt for the first time since around middle school.

You look fantastic! I love your mermaid dress & diamond tattoo!!

Pic on the left was December 2016. Pic on the right was today 9/9/17. Surgery Date: 4/20/17 HW: 311 SW: 276 CW: 218

Thank you!!

I had surgery on April 20, 2017 and I've lost 93 lbs. I find that looking in the mirror it can be hard to really see how much progress I've made. I went shopping today and got to take a pic in a full length mirror. I was so excited when I put it side by side with my before picture! I still have 50-60 to lose but I just love where this journey has brought me so far. I'm so happy I have this safe space to share different experiences.

We have similar stats! I'm about 18 weeks out and 18 lbs from ONE-derland and it seems unbelievable. Congrats on doing such a great job this far! I can only imagine that 1** on the scale will be there before we know it! It definitely helps motivate me to keep on track! Love reading stories like yours! It's always an inspiration to see someone so dedicated!

I had very mild sleep apnea before surgery. The doctor said I had about 7-8 occurrences per hour and the norm is 5. He wasn't concerned other than the fact that I was having surgery. He didn't require that I get a CPAP abut did say it could help eliminate complications to use until after surgery. I stopped using it about a week after surgery because I couldn't sleep. I saw him 2 weeks post op and he said I could return the CPAP. The doctor wanted to schedule another sleep study but insurance didn't approve the full amount, most likely because it was the second one this year. They said I would have a $400 co-pay so I declined doing it. I'm not waking up during the night so I'm assuming that the apnea has gotten better since losing 93lbs. It it all depends on how severe the apnea is, how much excess weight you still have, how you carry your weight and any other medical conditions that might be related. I definitely think another sleep study will give you a better idea of where you stand. Just find out if you should wait until you're closer to goal because it might give you a better chance of the apnea being resolved. If you need multiple tests you may need to pay out of pocket depending on your insurance. Best of luck!

I'm just over 4 months out and I feel like I've been doing fairly well so far. I'm down 93lbs from my highest weight. Down about 60 since surgery day. The last couple of days though I don't even feel like eating. I made myself have something at my normal meal times since I know I need protein. I'm wondering if anyone else has had phases when they don't have any appetite? Just having my protein shake this morning made me really hate the fact that I need to eat. Which of course I know isn't rational. I've come a long way and have really started feeling like the priority for food is to fuel my body. This is new though. I'm sure it'll pass like every other bump during this process. Just curious about anyone else's experiences. Thanks!

I rode in a pedi-cab yesterday! I didn't even think twice about it when my friend mentioned wanting to take it to our destination. I'm down 89lbs from my highest weight and back then I would have felt too guilty and embarrassed to even consider getting into a pedi-cab. When I realized that it just felt like such a relief not to think about it and just go with the flow of things!

My nutritionist required no coffee (regular or decaf) and no caffeinated tea for 3 months. I started drinking coffee as soon as I was cleared for it. Just no cream or sugar. I just have it with soy milk. I have noticed that cold brew is a lot easier on my stomach. When coffee is brewed with hot water it speeds up brewing but also draws the acid out of the coffee. Cold brewing takes longer and doesn't use high temperatures so it's much smoother. It's great considering adding acid to the sleeve can cause a lot of irritation. I'm a bit of a coffee snob and I've found great cold brews in the refrigerated section. My favorite is Stok unsweetened. Super smooth flavor! Definitely check with your surgical team to see what they say but I would absolutely recommend staying away from it for at least a few months.

Thank you for sharing! I'm just passed the halfway mark for my weight loss but I'm already about 90% sure I'll need/want an arm lift. I love seeing such great results like yours especially since it's the most visible skin removal surgery I expect to need. Congrats on all of your weight loss and success with your first round of plastics!

Congrats on hitting goal!! You look incredible!! I love your outfits!! You're an inspiration to kick up my workouts! Thank you for sharing!

I brought a toothbrush, toothpaste, underwear, loose pants and a no seem sports bra and extra loose tshirt. I was super bloated from the CO2 in surgery so I was glad I sized up on the tshirt so it wasn't snug on my incisions. I also brought a couple tampons and pads. My nurse warned me that many times surgery can cause the start of a period and I was lucky enough to have that happen so I was glad to have things ready post surgery. I've heard hospital pads are a little thick. I also brought some slip on/mule sneakers but I suppose flip flops would work as well. Also I brought wet wipes and deodorant. I didn't get to shower in the hospital so it helped me feel better to freshen up a bit. I packed a bunch of other stuff but I think the rest stayed in my bag. Best wishes for your surgery! Hope all goes well!

After showering I use Palmer's firming coca butter. I'm hoping that it will help limit any sagging skin but I'm not sure it will actually work for that. At least it's moisturizing. I also use Mederma at least 3 nights a week before bed. My scars have faded significantly and I'm 4 months out. Hopefully by the 1 year mark they won't be noticeable. My NP highly recommended using Mederma. She also said it is more efficient on new scars so it's best to start using it as soon as you get cleared to put something on your scars.

Thank you! I was sleeved on 4/20/17. I guess I expected it to be a little harder and I didn't anticipate the mental changes that would come along with it. I know they remove the portion of the stomach that creates the hunger hormone but I think that part of it has had more of an impact then I expected. I don't really have cravings now at all I'm really just eating for nutrition/protein. Before if I had a craving I would obsess about it until I had that thing. Some times I'll want something specific but if I don't have it I just move on. That aspect has been easier then I thought. I've just been so used to struggling with my weight for 20 years that I was scared of messing this up too. I'm just thankful that I took the step to get the sleeve. It's completely normal to be nervous before surgery. I was terrified up until they started the anestesia meds. Just focus on the benefits and how much it will improve your health. I hope all goes well in your surgery!

Sleeved on April 20, 2017 and I wouldn't take it back for anything! I had seriously cold feet and even considered backing out the morning of surgery. Thankful I didn't because I'm now down 84lbs since my highest weight. My favorite moments so far: I no longer need to shop in plus sizes I actually fit in one of those tiny swings at an amusement park! My chronic ankle pain is no longer a daily issue No more CPAP machine Lowered my blood pressure meds I don't feel as anxious about being in public Ultimately surgery has made me feel so much more hopeful about my future and it's been a long time since I've felt that way.

For me the pain was pretty persistent. Felt a bit like period cramps x10 but over the whole stomach not just the lower abs. Holding a pillow over my tummy to add some pressure helped ease some discomfort. I took my pain meds for 5 days and Tylenol for another 4-5 days. It wasn't unbearable most of the time but very uncomfortable for the first week. The part I liked least about the pain is I had no idea if I was getting full while I was eating yogurt or drinking protein shakes. The only signals I was getting from my tummy were pain and nothing else. If you tolerate pain well I think you'll be just fine. And if you have a lot of pain that's what the meds are for! Use them as needed/directed.

Congrats!! Must feel incredible! It's a huge inspiration to hear your story! I can't wait to get there. You look incredible!!

Thank you! It was definitely a great realization! Congrats on your success as well! You'll be there before you know it!