Just got the my date today, Sept. 21st - I'm excited and nervous all at once! Having a date makes this whole journey so real. Up to now I was just following instructions and now it like... WOW, this really is happening NOW!

I was in a stall just before Thanksgiving. I went to visit my son, his wife and new baby. We all stayed at his in-laws' house (not part of the original plan). I didn't feel like there were alot of allowable food options.... and they are Italian. I was getting carbs offered to me constantly. I did okay, though. I got back and hadn't gained, but more importantly, it seemed to break the stall. As soon as I got back on track, the scale started moving and hasn't stopped.

I have been doing good. I can tolerate all foods so far. I am down 60 pounds in total. I feel great and wish I would have done this year's ago! The surgery has definately helped me curb my old eating habits. I have had a couple of sweets. But I have them and move on getting right back on my eating plan. Life is great!

I am doing well, I am down 50 lbs since surgery on 9/28. Feeling good and haven't had any issues other then remembering to make myself slow down when I eat my two or three ounces of food. ????

Reree6898 I still sometimes eat too quickly too. Small tummy sure let's you know doesn't it?

Well I'm behind you guys quite a bit as I'm still on pureed foods. Coming up on 4 weeks since surgery on Thursday. 1 more week of purees then I is back on solids yo!

I still feel my stomach is too small to be effective at keeping me alive in the long term but hey ho. We'll see how it pans out!

Since starting in September I'm 98lbs down. This is quite exciting. I'm sitting here typing this message in new everything bar my shoes and socks. I had a great knicker bonfire the other day. Very satisfying.

The other day I got some new pyjama bottoms and was pleasantly surprised to find my waist measurement put me as large.... not xx large not xL just L.

Been to a few Christmas nights out with mates who haven't seen me in months. One of them nearly fainted when she saw me. I still see tubby tubby des in the mirror most mornings but there's definitely a new guy waving back at me every now and then. 12 more kilograms (27lbs) and I will no longer be obese. Hopefully will be 2 finger saluting goodbye to that particular adjective for good soon.

All told I'm pretty happy here in ireland. Will be back on solids from Christmas eve which is marvellous and I'm swathed in new clothes. Friends have been giving me gift vouchers for Christmas in local clothes shops which would never have been any use to me before.

So that's me. Working hard and getting payoffs here. Hope everyone else is feeling fine and festive.

Lotsa love

Des x

Non obese person nearing completion.

Oh Des!

That's wonderful. What a great present to yourself this year.

Reree6898 I still sometimes eat too quickly too. Small tummy sure let's you know doesn't it?

Yes it certainly does, and it's not a good feeling.

Good job Desmond! It sounds like you are enjoying life on the other side as well. Just this morning I dropped off 3 bags of way too big clothes to our local donation bin. I am loving this! Thanks for keeping us posted!

Wow! All the stories of your journeys are amazing and inspiring! I too am down 50lbs since I started my journey, with at least 50lbs more to go. We will make it through this holiday season with flying colors! 2016 watch out we are coming in strong!!

Great job ANewMe9/21! I agree we have great things in store for 2016! We got thus!

Truly tis the season to be jolly! A toast to lower bmi and higher quality of life!

Edited December 15, 201510 yr by Desmond Longbottom

So is anyone seeing any major hair loss yet? I haven't yet but hit my 3 month point next week and am wondering if that is my next "challenge"!

Tcrehm,no hair loss. I had my surgery Sept 24th. So next week marks my 3 month post op. Here's hoping none of us experiences that!

Sleeved 28 Sept, down 66lbs ????????

No hair loss here either, hopefully I skip that part.

hey all.

Thought it was time to check in for the week. Seeing as it's the week that's in it i wanted to share some of the stuff that i've been up to pre christmas. Christmas eve I will be five weeks post surgery and hopefully back in the realm of solid foods. Food and I have kind of become a strange bedfellow. I still have to work on my reasons for eating as i still crave the "enjoyment" and "Comfort" that food brings. However that is a niggle that i am sure I will Iron out.

In other news i have completely changed my perspective as regards christmas shopping. I used to love going out and buying other people things. I never really thought about myself as i was certain that almost no shops stocked clothes in my size...... I hated clothes shopping for myself. Boy has that changed. I wandered around Dublin on Saturday loving every thing I saw in front of me and relishing in the fact that not only did everything i try on fit me i also had to find a smaller size in some of them. That has literally never happened to me...... ever......

I was also pleasantly surprised at how much energy i had afterwards. Normally if i was walking around all day i would be very drained. However even after a full twelve hours tramping around shops carrying stuff for mum as is my usual christmas tradition/chore I was fresh as the proverbial daisy.

So that's the skinny. I'm now 0.1 of a pound off 100lbs down. yup that's 99.9lbs of weightless since August. My BMI is gone from 46. something to 33.1. Right now of course i am still obese but those days are happily numbered. I'm having an enormous "hey guess what! Des is no longer obese party" when i finally get it down to 29.9.

So what about everyone else how are your stats going? Is this christmas looking very different for you guys? Mine will be my most different since i spent it on the beach in cambodia 2 years ago. Might go back there with my rocking new bod next christmas actually.... maybe you guys might join me. They have that plankton in the Water that glows when you swipe your hand through it.

Anyway that's the lot for now. Thanks for reading and may your christmas be the merriest and brightest you've ever experienced.

Des x

Edited December 21, 201510 yr by Desmond Longbottom