When it seems like I am not losing, or losing too slow. I know why, however, and I know now, understand now more than I ever did - why this surgery is so invaluable.

I have issues with my metabolism that is quickly regulates to whatever calories I am putting in...and it gets very hard to trick it...My sis ter was the same but instead of the furnace banking itself, hers burned red-hot. At one point she ate 4800 callories a day and was still a size 0. We both caught a very bad flu once, I lost 15 lbs and was getting "you gos!", she lost 15 and was in the hospital. I need not trick it anymore - there is no feeling of being desperate to lose before I fail on my diet. I ma waiting out my metabolism, and winning.

I finally decided on the surgery because I had lost just enough weight (from 1/2011 till 10/2011) that they could see the cause of my issues with my stomach – I had a tumor growing in/through/ and progressing out into my abdomen from my stomach. So since I was going to have to have so much removed anyway, and I HAD been looking into one WLS or another for a decade (lol), I decided it was time.

Sleeved 1/2012 – will never go back to what I was, ever.

The fat lady syndrome doesn’t help slow losing, I just have to remember to not let it get me. – I still am not “seeing” myself at the size I was (almost) not the size I am. That isn’t helpful at all!

But I look at my NSV’s – and they are real. Squeezing into a size 12 recently made me dizzy and nauseous…not because I squeezed into the jeans, it occurred to me I could button size 12’s.

I asked a lady I know (as politely as I could, but she is so nice I hope she understood) what size she was, because I was asked by a friend to “find” someone I thought I was the same size as myself, near my height. She is a size 20-22. I am a size 14, squeezing into a 12, and I see myself as a size 20-22.

It's all good, however - I now have the equipment to play this game, and I win.

LOVE the new profile pic, Pookeyism! You have a great smile to share with the world!

I could not agree with you more, how strange it is to have this new body but still see yourself as you once were. I totally do the same thing, all the time. I stared at a pair of size 14 shorts and was convinced they would not go above my thighs or hips, but now I wear them out everywhere. It was the same way on the "way up the scale" when I was going from a 16, to an 18, to a 20 and never felt like I was bigger than I was at an 8. The world was getting smaller, I wasn't getting bigger.

Congratulations not just on the weight loss, but the fabulous positive outlook on the future!

I think perspective hits us all at some point. What started my journey was seeing my reflection in a mirror and not recognizing myself. I couldn't believe that I was that big girl. It shocked me. Well the other day, after getting my hair cut I was shocked then too. But it was the opposite, it was a small person! I'm sure I looked incredibly vain for awhile because I couldn't stop looking at the mirror!

I totally understand too. I'm 16 mo post op, delighted to be under goal, I love getting on the scale and seeing a normal weight, but just dont see that in the mirror!

I too spent a while looking at other women and trying to work out who was my size, invariably I'd ask my DH and the answer would be "you are thinner" to which I'd usually accuse him of lying to flatter me!

I had a real eye opener speaking to 2 of my 'skinny' friends recently, I have longed to be their size so many times, both have been on a ton of diets with me, but they both ultimately succeeded where I failed. In my mind I look at them both and think 10 more lb, and I could look like that.

Well it turns out that we ARE the same size, but I am 18lb, and 7lb lighter than them respectively.

So I clearly am surrounded by evil magic mirrors which stop me seeing what other people see and my promise to myself for 2012 is to be in photos, they seem a little more honest!

Well done everyone on your successes, it will sink in slowly, and enjoy every moment of 'wow is that me?' along the way.

This topic rings SO TRUE for me. I can't judge my size relative to other people. I always think I am larger than they are. I can't tell if a pair of pants will fit me or be too tight - or a blouse. I never felt as "big" as I was before surgery,so I couldn't judge my size then, either

I am making progress, though. I no longer see myself in the mirror and wonder for a brief moment "who is that?". I recognize and like the person I am now. But I haven't yet "calibrated" my head or eyes to my actual size.