I'm new to sharing this with a large group of people. I privately made the decision to have the surgery back in April. Only a handful of friends knew and my family. I honestly felt like I don't wanna have to explain my decision to anyone. My younger brother (who is a personal trainer) handled it the worst. He made me feel awful about it and couldn't understand why I just couldn't eat healthy and work out. To give you a better understanding of y situation when I was 17 I was diagnosed with pcos and type 2 diabetes. I was told I'd only ever have a 2% chance of having kids. In a split second I made the decision to give up card and in just 6 months I lost 70lbs. When I was 19 I met my now husband. We are out a lot.... I gained all of the weight back my ha1c went back up the cysts grew back and I was back at square one. Giving up carbs completely no longer felt like a realistic option. So for 6 years I tried everything. If lose a little then gain it back. It was an awful cycle. Last year we went on our honeymoon. We went to the Mayan ruins in Belize. There was a beautiful temple that we could climb. I choose not to because I knew between my sugar dropping and my weight there was no way I was gonna make it. I let my weight consume my every thought. I lived in sweat pants and tshirts. I also am a teacher. I teacher special needs children and it is super important to keep up with them. At 248lbs I felt like I was just taking up space in people's lives. I have a whole list of things I want to do that I've always said I can't because of my weight. So that's how I came to the decision to get surgery. I'm 26, I was tired of living my life wishing I could do all these things I wanted to start living. On August 16 2013 I had surgery. Since then I have lost 37 lbs. I still eat very very small portions and it is mostly meat and cheese. My calorie intake never exceeds 700 so I am always always tired. Where my two largest incisions are still gets sore from time to time so I don't do much strenuous activity. The weight is clearly coming off but not so much in my stomach area which is where I carry most of it. So when I look in the mirror I dot see much of a change. I get really down on myself, but I keep reminding myself this was the right choice and soon enough I will get to start doing those things on my "when I'm not fat " list. Honestly hands down best decision I've made in my whole life

I was just sleeved 3 days ago...im 53 i weigh 259 as of today ..lost 12 ilbs on pre-op...im border line diabetic n high blood pressure...thats why i did it ..i come from a large in shape family...and havent even told them i did this...they would not understand...im not sure im happy about my desion right now either...i cant get all the drinks in...i get a gurggling whenever i do drink n it hurts.....i so hope i will be happy in the end ...good luck to you on your journey...

My first week after surgery I was wishing I didn't do it very every single day. Getting my fluids in was torture, but I promise u it will pass and ull be ok. I downloaded the app idrated to help track my water and it has saved me on many days. Good luck and I wish u a speedy recovery

Congratulations on your 37 pound weight loss so far. Don't worry so much that it doesn't show yet. In yo-yo dieting I have found that for me, I need to lose 50 pounds for anyone to notice. And don't let your brother the fit nut beat you up emotionally. It was your decision to make, and if that is what it takes to get you healthy, you did no harm. Your health problems aren't the same as his. Just brush him off like a fly on your nose. I have lost 17 pounds so far on my pre-op diet. When I went in for my first surgeons visit, I had lost 1 1/2 inches around my neck, 2" around my ribs, and NOTHING around my 53" belly - still the freakin' same. My doctor explained that it is like the belly becomes its own living breathing organ that breeds inflammation and imbalance. The sleeve helps to correct that and in time the fat in the belly has to go along with the rest of it.......so just be patient...in a year you will be able to encourage other people to do what it takes to get their health and happiness back.

Congratulations on your 37 pound weight loss so far. Don't worry so much that it doesn't show yet. In yo-yo dieting I have found that for me' date=' I need to lose 50 pounds for anyone to notice. And don't let your brother the fit nut beat you up emotionally. It was your decision to make, and if that is what it takes to get you healthy, you did no harm. Your health problems aren't the same as his. Just brush him off like a fly on your nose. I have lost 17 pounds so far on my pre-op diet. When I went in for my first surgeons visit, I had lost 1 1/2 inches around my neck, 2" around my ribs, and NOTHING around my 53" belly - still the freakin' same. My doctor explained that it is like the belly becomes its own living breathing organ that breeds inflammation and imbalance. The sleeve helps to correct that and in time the fat in the belly has to go along with the rest of it.......so just be patient...in a year you will be able to encourage other people to do what it takes to get their health and happiness back.[/quote']

Thank you so much for the reassurance

I was sleeved on 8/19 and my post op loss has been slower than yours. I too felt like I couldn't "see" the loss (since my clothes aren't falling off me thanks to my stubborn hips and thighs). That is until the past few days when I decided to take pictures and compare them to my pre op pictures. There is a definite difference. Not as drastic as I would like, but I'm sure my stubborn areas will get with the program at some point. I think the same goes for you and your trouble spots

I was sleeved on 8/19 and my post op loss has been slower than yours. I too felt like I couldn't "see" the loss (since my clothes aren't falling off me thanks to my stubborn hips and thighs). That is until the past few days when I decided to take pictures and compare them to my pre op pictures. There is a definite difference. Not as drastic as I would like' date=' but I'm sure my stubborn areas will get with the program at some point. I think the same goes for you and your trouble spots[/quote']

When I took a picture an put them side by side I could see the difference, but my pants aren't falling off either so I think that's why I'm discouraged :/

When I took a picture an put them side by side I could see the difference' date=' but my pants aren't falling off either so I think that's why I'm discouraged :/[/quote']

Which is good yes--discernible proof of progress! Lol it sounds like we're in the same boat and the loss in our lower body is disproportionate to that of the upper body (fingers, breasts, neck, ect) . But it's coming !

Hello sleevers! I'm in the same situation with the weight coming off, but I feel different now! I feel hope!! I too see the change in pictures, Thank God I took those before pictures as bad as they were. I was sleeved 8/21, actually I am a revision from band to sleeve and was told to expect slower weight gain, but I refuse to! I am a winner no matter what it looks like! I expect my body to line up, and not to control me. A positive mind set does help!!! Stick with the proteins and move, it has to come off!