Hi everyone ????

I'm a newbie (almost, I've posted a couple of times before but have been a lurker for quite a while) and thought I'd use this as a place to track my journey.

I'm pre op at the moment. I've been thinking about getting the sleeve on and off for the past few years. I'm in the uk so it's not that common to have wls, altho getting more so. A friend of mine got sleeved 4 years ago and at the time I thought she was crazy. However, another 4 years of trying to do it by myself and I've decided it's right for me.

I've been overweight my whole life. I was 'tubby' as a child but continued to get bigger as I reached teenage years. My life has been a series of failed diets. Some more successful than others, I've lost as much as 6 stone a few times, only to regain it. For the past 7 years I've been fluctuating between 280lbs and fighting to get down to 260lbs, at one point a few years ago I got to 248lbs but then crept back up.

Even when I'm not actively on a diet I'm constantly focussed on food, what I ought to be eating, feeling bad for what I am eating etc. If I get in the 'zone' on a diet I do really well...until something changes like I go on holiday or take a break for christmas, and then I just can't get back in the swing of it and gain it all back. It drives me crazy as when I am losing I always feel so good, physically and mentally. It's a well trodden path most people on here know all too well I'm sure.

My weight affects every part of my life. Most notably my self esteem and confidence but there is nothing I do that my weight doesn't blight in some way. I have a four year old daughter who is my world. She has some additional needs but that's not really relevant. I just want to be able to have fun with her and be here and able to support her as long as possible. Although I don't outwardly acknowledge it my weight affects my health. My knees hurt at times, my back too sometimes. I don't have diabetes etc but I'm sure it's only a matter of time if I don't change something. Generally getting about can be damn hard work at this weight and I'm always getting hot and sweaty. I have pcos and found it hard to conceive. I don't know if we will ever decide to have another child, but I know I won't ever choose to unless I lose weight.

So anyway, I have decided to take active control. I have my surgeon appt and pre op tests on 14 may. I am hoping for surgery on 28 may. I am self funding, I've not tried the nhs but just want to get on and do this. I'm scared of the surgery as I've never had a general anaesthetic. I did have a c section though and coped well with that. I'm scared of recovery and complications too, but I'm also excited to start this process and take control. Failure is not an option this time.

I'm currently on holiday in Florida: we come every April. For the first ever time I needed a seat belt extension on the aeroplane. I've also avoided some theme parks for fear of not fitting in the ride restraints, despite loving rollercoasters etc. all this has cemented my decision. Everytime I come on holiday I vow that it will be the last time I come away being so fat, and that as soon as I get home I will commit to changing things and loosing weight. I have at times fantasized about being able to unzip my 'fat suit'. Well this time, it's going to happen. I am realistic and as prepared as I believe I can be for a tough journey and lots of hard work, but with the right tool (my sleeve) I'm determined to take my fat suit off for good ????

I'm in the UK too. I paid privately and had my op on 3rd September 2015.

Doing OK so far. Have lost 33lbs in total, and did my first Parkrun on Saturday.( I walked the whole 5k and was the last to finish) Still, I'm being positive and using the "This girl can " mantra........

" I may be slow, but I'm lapping everybody sitting on the couch!"

Oh, and I kept it secret too. Only my husband ( and children), my mum and my best friend know. I told work I was having "abdominal surgery" .

If anyone comments on how little I'm eating now, I tell them I was told I was at high risk of developing diabetes, and was strongly advised to lose weight. It helps a bit that I lost 3 stone myself 2 years ago (and put it all on again????)

Good luck.

Hi no milk today where abouts are you. I'm in Pembrokeshire paid privately . Haven't found anyone remotely near me yet . Had my op 16 July this year so plodding on slowly but surely . This is a great website

I'm a secret sleeves too @@inkie and @@nomilktoday ! Told my family and best friend and that's it. I have quite a wide circle of friends and work colleagues who I meet regularly for coffee/lunch/dinner and I was concerned about how I'd manage socially. I can honestly say it's been totally fine though! I avoided doing much for he first month but have since carried on as usual with no issues and no one suspects a thing. They comment on how good I look but I think they'd be shocked if I told them about my surgery! The fact they see me eating healthily and know I am seeing a personal trainer men's that's what they attribute my weight loss to, which is true anyway. I've become a pro at eating my Protein and moving the Rey if food around my plate etc so it looks half eaten!

I've had another stall this week which means I've only lost 7lb in the last month which is a bit disappointing, particularly as its in this time I have started at the gym with my personal trainer. I'm trying to focus on this being a marathon not sprint though and that there isn't a deadline to meet! My surgeon said he wanted me to lose 6 stone by my 6 month appointment but I'm not going to manage that but I'm happy with my progress so am trying not to worry what he will say!!

I was thinking of setting up a uk sleevers facebook secret page, would you lot be interested? It might be good for support etc?

I was thinking of setting up a uk sleevers facebook secret page, would you lot be interested? It might be good for support etc?

Yes great idea!

I was thinking of setting up a uk sleevers facebook secret page, would you lot be interested? It might be good for support etc?

Yes great idea!

Just tried to set it up, I need to add someone to the group when I set it up, I'm confuzzled already, lol! If anyone wants to be added, private message me with your name & I can add you, I think that'll work?!

I've set it up! Uk sleevers unite! I added my partner to start it, I'll delete him once people have been added I've made it secret, so just pm me your name or email address & I'll add you xx

Have messaged you inkie

Inkie, I have just had an e mail saying I am not allowed to use the private message system????

Any ideas how I can join your FB group?

Can you message me?

Does anyone have an idea how. I can be allowed to send a message

Sorry

Have just joined then left the Facebook group

I'm not vey experienced with Facebook, and I'm scared other people will see if I post on it.

I REALLY want to keep this information private

Good luck, folks

I'll stay on Bariatric Pal as I have a pseudonym.

I was five months out of surgery yesterday and as of this morning I have lost 71lb since pre op and 59 since surgery. My weight loss seems to have really slowed, half a stone a month for the last two months. But I'll take it, it's better than going in the other direction. The slower loss does aloe coincide with my starting with a personal trainer. I am doing a lot of strength training and so building muscle and a such I'm guessing that may be affecting the weight loss a bit. Importantly I feel well though and there is no denying how much better i look.

The slower weight loss is frustrating and I have worried that what if this is it and I don't go any further. But this week I have lost 3lb again so I am pleased the scale has moved!

I have had a few moments of frustration for want of a better word. Hard to explain but just felt kind of tired of not being able to throw caution to the wind and just eat! And what that tells me...,I still have to be ever vigilant and also the sleeve is working! It's at this point in the last I would have just fallen off the diet wagon and started working my way back up to the top of the scales. The fact this is a lifestyle rather than a diet means there is no wagon to fall off! And yesterday I had a lovely day out with my family, we ate out and I enjoyed what I had without feeling deprived.

I see my surgeon in a month and he wanted me to lose 84lbs in the six months after surgery! I have lost 59lb and I know I won't lose anywhere near 25lb in the next month so I won't be hitting his target. I am annoyed he even set the target to be honest as I don't deal with my own failure well, and in the past it would result in me eating! Anyway, I am ignoring it! It's his target, not mine!

Well done on your weight loss and your upbeat mood ! Totally agree about the target weight just go at your own speed and you will get there . It's 15 weeks today for me and I've lost over 4 stone and I feel great . The sleeve certainly lets me know if I am eating too much . If I am away from home I do my best to make a healthy choice and to date no alcohol has passed my lips !

Well I certainly don't want to speak too soon, but I *think* and certainly hope that the hair loss is slowing down a bit! It is still coming out, but it's not quite so bad when I wash my hair and similarly when I brush it there's a bit less. I just really hope it continues to slow down and the regrowth speeds up!

I'm down another 2lb this week so a total of 75lb now. I had a weird thing today, I was talking to my best friend and we were talking about weight, diets etc and I told her what I weigh and what I used to weigh Before surgery! I don't know what came over me, I have never shared that info with anyone! I said that too her, and she said I must feel ok sharing it with her as I have no intention of ever going back there!! Kinda made sense :-)

I am loving the gym! I see my personal trainer twice a week and my general fitness and ability is coming on in huge steps which is fab! I generally feel so so much better :-)

I have my six month blood tests and follow up with my consultant in a few weeks so that'll be interesting. I want to know what my body fat and muscle percentages are, I hope my muscle has increased due to my gym work and that my fat has seriously reduced!!

I am sat in the car park outside the hospital having just seen my surgeon for my 6 month check.

I am down a total of 79lbs. Bmi is 34 instead of 48. Body fat has reduced by 14% and muscle has increased by 14%. All is well and I'm very pleased :-)

hair loss has slowed and regrowth is coming in. Loose skin is on the increase, I was prepared for that and will address it once I am done losing!

I hope in the next 6 months to lose another 3 stone. That will take me to a bmi within the overweight range. That isn't my ultimate goal but I am also not too hung up about being within a normal bmi as I am doing weights and that is affecting my loss on the scales but shows clearly in my clothes.

Hope everyone else is well and doing ok :-)