I have lost 50 pounds and I am now in Onederland which is wonderful. I receive numerous compliments daily on how awesome I am looking. I do notice it when I look in the mirror, but problem is, I still see a fat person. When I was wearing a 20w, I would think how awesome it would be if I could just get into a size 16. Well, I am now in a size 16 and now I am thinking...if I could just get into a size 10, I would be satisfied. My goal weight was 170...now I am thinking that is not low enough.

Does this thinking ever stop. Will I ever be satisfied with where my weight is at?

I am just wondering when you veteran sleevers KNEW that you had reached your ultimate goal.

I understand how you feel! I am 9 lbs away from a normal BMI and still kind of feel like I did at 271. Its a hard journey and I also wonder if I will ever be satisfied.

I've found that it helps to have pictures taken. I used to always cringe inside when someone flashed a camera in my direction. Now, however, I think it really helps my mind grasp that my body really HAS changed.

It's hard to change our internal view of how we "look". When I was a teenager, I lost 115 pounds on Nutrisystem. I really never did feel a "normal" size, even though I was down to a 10/12.

We just came back from a vacation in Puerto Rico. I've never felt SO GOOD wearing shorts and a tee shirt. I'm just into size 18, but wow! I know I'm not skinny, but in looking at the photos, I know I am looking healthier. And it was really odd to realize that I wasn't the largest gal in our group. (It was a work trip for the hubs and 60 other of his co-workers and their spouses.)

Anyhow, photos do help. It's kind of a wake up slap to your brain that you HAVE changed!!

I've found that it helps to have pictures taken. I used to always cringe inside when someone flashed a camera in my direction. Now' date=' however, I think it really helps my mind grasp that my body really HAS changed.

It's hard to change our internal view of how we "look". When I was a teenager, I lost 115 pounds on Nutrisystem. I really never did feel a "normal" size, even though I was down to a 10/12.

We just came back from a vacation in Puerto Rico. I've never felt SO GOOD wearing shorts and a tee shirt. I'm just into size 18, but wow! I know I'm not skinny, but in looking at the photos, I know I am looking healthier. And it was really odd to realize that I wasn't the largest gal in our group. (It was a work trip for the hubs and 60 other of his co-workers and their spouses.)

Anyhow, photos do help. It's kind of a wake up slap to your brain that you HAVE changed!! [/quote']

Too funny I have a good friend who just returned is it with ABB?

I'm 13 months out started at bmi of ~38 a tight 16. I'm 15 below my surgeon's goal and my bmi is 21. I wear some 4s and any six fits and some are baggy. I still feel very much the same. I keep lowering my goal. I think there are a few things going on and the first is I have been in weight loss mode for so long it really scares me to think in terms if maintaining and not losing. So I act like I'd like to lose a couple more. So it's fear making me not as happy with my weight.

I can tell I'm smaller and much bonier but can't switch out of weight loss mode. I tell my self a six really isn't what a six used to be and I'm just finding vanity sizing even though every one fits. It just mental. So no I'm still not satisfied as I'm afraid if I was I'd gain it back like every other time.

I have found that being satisfied with the kind of person I am has a lot to do with being satisfied with my weight. Granted, when I was at my fattest it was pretty hard to be happy. It was like being in prison. When I was given the gift of the sleeve my expectations of a future rose high and my opinion of myself grew as well. I was proud of my courage and I felt God smiling at me.

Now that I am at goal I know that I will never be "perfect". I don't believe that Mattel is in search of a model for a new version of the Ken doll so that does not distress me. I have a bit of sag in my belly area but I am fully functional for all that I want to do. To me the sag is just a battle scar, it reminds me how God helped me win a battle. The Gman is happy with Gman and so is Mrs. Gman.

<briefly off topic>

Too funny I have a good friend who just returned is it with ABB?

He works in the corporate office of Butler Machinery. There's another huge group down there this week and yet another group going next week. I envy his boss and the boss' wife -- staying down there for THREE weeks!!

<okay, back to the topic!!!>

I am amazed when I hold up a pair of pants, capris, shorts and think "I will never fit my big butt into these"... and then they fit. I tend to think of these as Harry Potter clothes. You know, they look so much smaller on the outside, but have lots of room on the inside.