Allie589

Yes! Can you believe it’s almost been a year?!!!! Wow! I’ll weigh in at the bariatric office on the 7th, which is my anniversary! I don’t have a scale at home so I have no idea where I am but at last weigh in I’m down 80. I’m still 27 lbs from goal but now that I’m older and had a couple of kids (twins), I’m wearing the same size I wore at a lighter weight so I think it’s all just different? I’m going to make myself post before and after Picts one year apart. You guys have been such amazing support!!! Here’s to us, August 2017 sisters and brothers!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was sleeved last August and I have to say, the two week pre op diet was the hardest part of the whole process! Honestly, I slept as much as possible bc if I was sleeping, I wasn’t focused on how hungry and miserable I was. The only thing that kept me going was knowing this was to shrink my liver otherwise, I probably would’ve failed. Hang in there!!! It is the hardest part! And let me tell you, it’ll be sooooooo worth it!!! Holding your hand through this whole process!

I think it’s still going on. My doctor said it should start slowing down. I have noticed a ton of new growth though. It sucks. Sucks. But it doesn’t happen to everyone!

Thank you for the kind words. I still struggle bc I felt like such a ding-dong after posting Picts. Still so insecure about having people purposely look at me. But thank you for being so sweet. Yeah, the social anxiety piece was the main driver. It was no way to live!

Thank you! Gotta tell you, the craziest part of this journey has been allowing myself to enjoy my success bc I’m so terrified of failure, especially now that I feel so much better. My social anxiety has gone away and I’m actually kinda digging not wanting to be invisible anymore. My loss has definitely slowed down and I wasn’t lucky enough to be spared from hair loss. I actually didn’t use any creams. I honestly didn’t even think about it. Here are some pics of me. The one in the tank top was the night before surgery. Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 180 on 5/3/18 5'7" GW: 150

I have to say, as I’m almost 9 months out, my scars are barely visible. I had no idea they wld be so small and have faded so well. Grant it, they seemed huge and red at first but honestly, you’ll be super impressed with how small and barely noticeable they are. Honestly, I don’t know if anyone wld even notice unless I drew attention to them. Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 180 on 5/3/18 5'7" GW: 150

You are NOT a massive failure! Just bc we have this new physical tool doesn’t mean our nutty heads will catch up as quickly as a 1 hour surgery. We have had a lifetime of diet mentality of fearing failure by one quick mistake, like a donut when on Atkins or going over our WW points and feeling like “oh well, fell of the wagon again.” I do the same thing, this self sabotage behavior when so close to a goal and feeling so good. First, which is so much easier said than done, we need to give ourselves a break. Focus on being how awesome it is that we are being proactive in trying to heal ourselves. We took a major first step. We worked our butts off to jump through all the hoops to get us this surgery which is a HUGE win in itself. We did it! We got this far! Now we need to focus on our heads. I go to support groups for this surgery and see a therapist. It’s so, SO hard. You have done so well! Look how far you’ve come. So we may slip and make bad choices but, today is a new day. I am here, holding your hand with you. I get it, understand how you feel way too well! You, we, NONE OF US are failures! We are winners bc we have actively decided to relearn a new way of relating to food and our lifestyles, and it won’t happen overnight. We have this! Sending you hugs! I am right there with you! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 180 on 5/3/18 5'7" GW: 150

You’ve got this!!! Focus on rest and healing! [emoji173]️ Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 180 on 5/3/18 5'7" GW: 150

You look incredible!!!! Wow!!!! Congratulations!! [emoji173]️[emoji173]️[emoji173]️[emoji471][emoji471] Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 180 on 5/3/18 5'7" GW: 150

We eat out all the time and the appetizer menu is my friend! My husband and I plan what we order bc, though he is thin, he has had a tendency to eat all his food and then all my leftovers so now I order smaller. I love my leftovers, as do my kids, but I order so much smaller since he started eating basically two entrees. He has gained about 20 lbs since my surgery! Now we are better about ordering. When we go out with people who don’t know I’ve had surgery and don’t want them to know, I pick enough at my plate that only one person has said something. I replied with, “I had a stomach bug a few days ago so I’m being super careful.” I love the chicken lettuce wraps at PF Chang’s and Cheesecake Factory. I still order my favorite HUGE beef burrito at the Mexican place and enjoy it over 3 days vs one sitting. I can only eat about a one to two inch piece for a meal so my kids love my leftover burrito too! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

Yay you!!!!! That’s awesome!!! I haven’t worn shorts since 1998 when I backpacked through Europe post college graduation and I was thin! Ugh! I did, however, purchase a skirt last week! I’m not dreading our super hot summers here in Silicon Valley bc I can wear skirts now and not the ones from the big girl Store! I was able to get one from Anne Taylor in an 8! Omg! I still can’t believe it’s true!! The feeling of not dreading the hot summer is so freeing!! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

No guilt! Celebrate that you can now eat just enough bread vs the entire loaf in one sitting. I know it’s easier said than done but allow yourself to sit down, chew the bread slowly and enjoy it. We are all still so stuck in this lifetime of “diet mentality” where we were always failing. I’m trying so hard to flip my mindset too. Celebrate how we are working towards a healthy relationship with food! I’m holding your hand through the whole thing! And way to go on the steps! Awesome!!!! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

I buy those too. My kids love them! They also help me when I want something sweet. Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

I too feel that way. I think it must have a lot to do with what we are putting in our bodies-we are so hyperaware now bc we have to be. I’m also working out with weights now and I think that has a lot to do with it. Congrats on a fabulous loss!!! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

Yay you!!!! Enjoy your holiday and make sure to take Lots of pictures with you in them!! Whereabouts in the states are you visiting? Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

It’s so inspiring, how well all of our brother and sister sleevers are doing! Yay us!! I am on spring break in Arizona with my whole family (siblings and all their kids, including my insanely fit sister in law) and for the first time in YEARS, I put a swim suit on. My kids are so excited. It’s hard still but I am pushing through and am trying to really enjoy myself. I want to be in my kids’ memories of being interactive and not just sitting and watching. Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

It is bizarre to explain! I stupidly said something to one of my gym friends about how I am struggling with shopping since my weight loss and she turned to my other friend and said, “I wish I had that problem!” and laughed. I felt so discounted. It is so real though. I can’t wrap my head around all of this, and it is really hard to put into words that actually make sense. Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

Wow! What an incredible weight loss! Congrats! We shld go shopping together! You by chance live in the Bay Area?? I prefer to go totally solo on a weekday evening and just try on. I’ve had luck at Macy’s and Kohl’s. Where I am having my major struggle now is with short sleeved shirts. About to head it to Arizona for spring break and it’s 90 degrees!! I finally wrapped my head around fall/winter clothes (actually fit into tall boots! They zipped over my calves!) but the warm weather clothing is giving me major, major anxiety. We can do this!! I’m there with you in spirit! Go get some new clothes!!! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

Anyone else struggling with wrapping your head around your weight loss?? I’m so used to failing in this dept that I have not allowed myself to enjoy this feeling-I know what it’s like to feel good and then fail and lose the good feeling. Shopping is a double edged sword, I love it and hate it at the same time. I’m dealing with this total mind f#%* which I wasn’t expecting at all. Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

I don’t remember exactly how long-was sleeved in August-but it will. It may take a couple weeks bc your body is adjusting and you’re still full of post surgery fluids, swollen from all that they did and medications. I do remember post c-section, after 2 weeks I saw a huge difference and felt normal at 6 weeks. Hang in there!! It’s gonna be so worth it before you know it!! Congratulations on having your surgery! It has been the best choice I have ever made! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

Ugh! I am so sorry you feel lousy. It will get better!! Pain meds, especially on an empty stomach, can cause major nausea. You can ask your md for anti nausea meds-zofran was my best friend during my pregnancy, post c-section and post sleeve. I slept a lot my first two weeks. You will feel better, i promise! Good old homemade chicken broth saved me those two weeks. Sending you lots of love and support! [emoji173]️ Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

Yay!!! Has it sunk in yet?! Must feel so surreal and amazing and just crazy all at the same time! Yay you! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

I recently was at a doctor’s apt, totally unrelated to my sleeve, but I was telling the nurse, who is on the heavy side, that I had the surgery when we were going over all the typical new patient intake forms. To that she responded, “cheater!” and then laughed. I decided not to take it personally bc clearly there’s major ignorance there, but, omg, how insensitive! And to say that to a patient in a medical office?!! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150

Ugh, weight watchers. I have joined it so may times over the years, it’s embarrassing. I drove by it the other day and I happily said, out loud too, never again! My goal is a healthy relationship with foods, eating the appropriate amount of real, clean food. I hated how WW always pushed fat free cheese and artificial stuff. Saying no more to weight watchers was actually a very cathartic moment for me. My bariatric support group and this site are where it’s at for me now! No more counting points, EVER! Sleeved 8/7/17 HW: 256 SW: 248 CW: 188 on 3/7/18 5'7" GW: 150