Well, it's been a year. I can't believe it's been a year. I will say that the year AFTER being sleeved went SO MUCH FASTER than the 7 months that I had wait while, jumping through insurance requirements to HAVE the sleeve. All that time waiting and dreaming and hoping that this would finally be the tool that I need to lose weight AND keep it off.

If you are pre-surgery, know this:

The sleeve has been everything that it promises. I never in my LIFE would have been satisfied with eating such small portions. To try and diet like this without the reinforcement of a surgically-induced smaller stomach would just be pure torture. I'm also a lucky sleever who never experiences true hunger. I never had to take a PPI and that did not change after surgery. I have never once vomitted my food back up (my advice is to always underfill your sleeve!) not even when I was still recovering from anethesia. I generally do not have any food that disagrees with me, but I do eat a pretty clean diet. I can tolerate bread, Pasta, rice & potatoes but really limit these foods because more carbs for me = less weight lost.

By eating about 5-6 small meals a day consisting mainly of Protein, I can easily accomplish 90-100g of protein daily (no shakes and no bars...I do have them on occassion but then it usually bumps me to 120+g of protein). I drink about 80-100oz of Water daily and take all my recommended Vitamins. I follow the rule of protein first, anything else will have to fit after I've had my protein. Most of my meal sizes are still between 3-5oz. I rarely go over 5oz at one meal. I also exercise almost every single day and sometimes twice a day. YEP! I do Cuves 5x a week, my treadmill/weight workout 3 times a week, exercise classes at my local rec center that are 1 hour long and range from high intensity classes where I'm sore the next day to low impact classes like water aerobics. I also ride my bike on occassion and walk whenever I get a chance.

I feel 10 years younger and my only regret is that I didn't do this surgery sooner. But I choose to live my life with no regrets, so honestly I can say that if I had this surgery 20 years ago, I'm not sure that I would have appreciated how good it feels to finally be free from the obesity monster. I'm done having kids (and have the stretch marks to prove it) and I can truly say that having this surgery was at the right time/place in my life for such a monumental change. Also my husband decided to be sleeved and he is 7 months post-op, and has lost over -60lbs. We are both committed to a longer, healthier, and happier life.

All I have left of the years of being morbidly obese are the photos. So with that, enjoy my comparisons...don't forget I'm not done or at goal yet...I plan to be here in another year saying that I'm AT GOAL and living life to the fullest in my new body!

Wow! You look wonderful!! I really like the way you put the pics together with similar poses in before/after shots. You can really see the difference!! Congratulations on your year!

You look great, thanks for sharing.

Thank you for sharing your pics and journey. One year out - it seems so far away now. It is so good to read your story and know I will get there!

Your pics are fabulous. So nice to have the side by side comparisons to see how far you've come! And you look so beautiful, radiant, happy, and healthy!

Lynda

What a lovely message and great inspirational post to those of us still worried and dithering re our surgeries. I hope I have some of your good fortune and I hope yours and your husband's will continue.

Thanks

You didn't mention having any plastic surgery. Did you have any? If not, any plans to have any?

I have not had any plastics. My surgeon is encouraging me too, he thinks my arms/legs look great but that I should have the tummy done. Sigh. I'm just soooooo not ready for that yet. After I get closer to goal and stay there for a good long time, maybe I will consider it. But for now, I'm not planning on plastics...yet!

Thank you all for the VERY kind words, it's SO nice to come here and have everyone "get it."

Of course I *wish* I was at goal, but it just going to take some time getting there. As long as the scale keeps going down in the right direction, then I'm okay with that!

WOW!!!!!!! Thank you so much for posting! It is always awesome to hear from people who are past the year mark like you are, it really helps us newbie sleevers be confident that we made the right decision!

awesome job!!!!! very inspiring thanks for posting....

WOW! You look soooo awesome! You look so pretty! You have done an AMAZING job! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!! Hugs my sleeve sister.

You look amazing!!! Congrats on your success! You will make it to goal!!!!

WOW wow wow! Almost there, but look (LOOK) how far you've come!! Thanks for the low-down on your journey and routines; you are an inspiration!!!! CONGRATULATIONS WOOT WOOT

awesome!! I am SO happy for you. I love your attitude and your confidence...a true transformation inside and out... beautiful.

Erika

Thank you SO much for sharing your story! I am reinspired and motivated by your exercise routine alone!! :-)

You are a great success story - I hope mine is similar to yours 10 months from now!

Jen xoxoxo

Oh my, your message to pre-sleevers is so helpful and inspiring. Your pics actually made me cry. How awsome they are. You look terrific! Thank you so much. It really gives me hope. Your a beautiful woman!

I CAN NOT WAIT TO BE SLEEVED!!