coops

Woweeee....what a transformation... can I be cheeky??? Looks like you need to get some smaller clothes, even your current clothes are hanging off you!! What a great job! And congrat for getting off those meds too... well done! =]

Hiya Newgirl, My surgeon said the first two years are the most important... but I honestly can't see why we shouldn't lose after that time frame. Ok, so the first 6mths are the most noticable and the fastest (for most) and, yes, many reach goal in a year or so. For me though, that didn't happen and I am14mths out and 14lb shy of my surgeons goal and about 30lbs shy of my ultimate OMG goal! For the past 6mths or so I have been losing around 2-4lb a month and that is fine. As long as the scale is going down I really don't care how long it takes me now. I have stopped beating myself up about it and started to enjoy my new 'self'. Not sure it that helps...lol... but I do know, that as long as you use your sleeve to its full advantage you will get to goal.. good luck and let me know how you get on =]

Buttom your lip and size 10s... that is another double NSV...lol... looking forward to the pics x

Hey Raine... that feeling has to be better than the pesky scale moving! Congrats my friend, you are doing a brilliant job! x

WOW... fab pictures, you are soooo pretty and slim... I love your hair too... congrats on a good job!!! =]

Raine, I love your NSV threads... and this one is no different! You gotta love the compliments and seeing 'the light'... well, that is pure brilliant!!

OMG... Irene, coming from you that is the best compliment ever.. thank you!! It is times like this when I wish I lived near to you 'cos I would give you such a big Cooper 'Cwtch' (welsh for hug!!) xx

Hiya all... At my boxing gym there is a lot of talk about kettle bells and the great results they give. Just wondering if anyone has tried them and how good they are? I've looked into buying some with the DVD and the initial out lay, I feel, is a little pricey... but worth it if they are as good as I've heard. Thoughts....

What a great question... and some fab responses so far... will be interesting to see what else comes up. For me, the sleeve has simply given me my life back. It has afford me the opportunity not only to look better but to FEEL GOOD... and I can honestly say, I haven't felt like this for many, many years. I was luck enough not to have any serious health matters, but I know they were just around the corner ... I am now hoping not to see them at all! I just have this zest for life again... a hunger to do 'stuff' to live again... and I know that might sound a little corny but it is true. I am not ashamed any more and I don't want to hid myself and my personality away... I have to say, life is really good now! Ellie4me, Try not to be nervous of your operation... you will be in good hands I am sure, and believe me, the positive certainly out weigh the negatives... Good luck!

WOW... what an amazing transformation Missus... I can't believe that it is a year... where has that time gone eh? Congrats to you for getting to a good place in such a short time... and you look absolutely fab!! I gotta be honest here, you've really kept me going and cheered me along in the 'dark mths'... thank you and well done for doing such an amazing job... xx

Thank you for the reply.... very interesting I must say and something that I will defo look into! As, I am sure many others will now...

So, slow but sure wins the race... I have now lost 70lbs and I am starting to see myself as a success story... I am just 14lbs away from my surgeons goal and 29lb away from my personal goal. My weight loss is still slow, but at 14mths post op it is still moving downwards. I seem to lose a pound a week for 2-3 weeks, then nothing for 2-3 weeks and so on and so forth. There is a 'bounce of 1-3lb inbetween but that doesn't bother me too much. At this rate it is probably going to take me another 4mths to reach my first goal and then another 4mths to reach my final goal. Yes I am in for the long haul!! My clothing size has gone from a UK 22-24 to a UK 16 and a few 14s... that in itself is a bloody great feeling. More recently I am starting to 'feel' better about my weight loss... I am still getting some lovely comments about how 'small' I am, but I know that I am not small yet... I think people see me like this because they were soooo used to seeing me at 238lb and forgot what I looked like at 140lb!! New people I encounter just accept me for me and that is lovely. I don't feel self conscious like I used to, it is there a little, but generally I am ok now. The only problem I have is that my 'bum bone' has no padding and when I do my sit ups and floor work it hurts, but that is a small price to pay for a strong core!!! I continue to do my exercises, my boxing classes and gym work. I also do some floor work at home for toning. I think this is helping my general shape and I have to be honest, I thoroughly enjoy the feeling of exercise. If anyone reading this, old or new to the sleeve is worried that it isn't going to work, or that the stall will last forever, PLEASE have faith in yourself and your sleeve. So what if it takes 2yrs to get to goal? So what if the weight doesn't melt off... it will come off if you stick to your guidelines early out and eat a healthy balanced diet throughtout. I can HONESTLY say that this is the best money that I have ever spent! I look forward to writing a GOAL post in the near future, actually, You will all hear me squeal over the pond when that pesky scale is kind to me... Good luck on all your sleeve journeys and a big THANK YOU to all my sleeve friends that have helped me over the last 70lbs...

Hey Twostepsback... I did the 5 day pouch thing at the beginning of the year. I lost a pound doing it - which is pretty good for me ... lol - but that aside, I found that it really helped me get back in touch with my sleeve and the restriction I have, so, for that it was worth it. Try not to sweat over the last couple of weeks... you are human and we are all allowed to make a mistake along the way. You are ONLY 8lbs away from goal and that is sooooo worth celebrating...and look how much you have lost. Go back a year and think about what it was like 81lbs heavier... then, get out some old clothes, put them on and watch them fall to the ground. Good feeling eh? Pat yourself on the back for a job well done and enjoy your next Soup...lol... You will sooooo get to goal because you have the conviction to reflect and see where you are going 'wrong' (actually, wrong is the wrong word, but you know what I mean!). Good luck on the last lap of your marathon! =]

Mini... Congratulations ... what a fantastic gift! Wishing you lots of many. many happy days ahead!! x

Hey M2Gs ... I truly don't believe that I can't lose all my weight now... and am more than happy to plod along! Yes, sure it would have been nice to do it in double quick time, but pn reflection, my head wouldn't have coped with that. Emotionally and mentally I am now in a much better place! My surgeon said that the first 2 years is the 'window of opportunity' so that has taken a bit of pressure away. You have done sooooo well and I know you will continue to do so... we are both in this for the long haul and we have that determination that will see us to the winning line. Boy that is gonna be one hell of a party!! hugs

This has really struck a chord with me... I am 14mts post op and to be honest, only recently have I started to feel more positive about my weight loss. In the past it was definately a way of protecting myself against others, especailly those who I didn't want near me... I used it as a guard because I didn't want any attention; of anyone. I could hid behind it and it was safe. Now, without the majority of it, I feel better in myself because I feel healthy and fitter. I am starting to shed the emotional fat too... weird isn't it? Our minds are strange things... Congrats on getting past the half way marker, keep up the good work. I have read here that it does take a while for the head to catch up with the body!!

Congrats on your brilliant weight loss to date.. I agree with all the comments above! You could try the pouch test, I did it at the beginning of the year and although I didn't lose much weight (a pound, surprise surprise) it did get me 'back in touch' with my sleeve. I also think that upping your Water is a good suggestion too... This is a temporary thing, I am sure and it might just be your body's way of having a 'whiff' and getting in balance again? Good luck with the last stretch

Thank you all sooooo much for your comments, they really have made me smile. It is good to have this place, to 'chew the fat' with others who know exactly where I am coming from. Non-sleevers and those who don't know about my surgery don't really understand the frustration of slow weight loss when you have a tiny tummy and eat around 1000 cals a day!! I have had some lovely comments recently and they help to keep me positive... and I must say that I am, at last, starting to believe peeps when they say I am looking good. A lot of peeps don't believe me when I tell them what size I am or what I weigh... that is a good feeling too... mind, perhaps that explains why I am down on myself so much 'cos I don't see that smaller me that often... I am working on that!!

Woooo... noo way are you anywhere near 59! You look amazing! x

I too started walking as soon as I could, probably 2 weeks... I then 'progressed' to the Wii fit... I really enjoyed doing that for many mths and slowly incorportated going to the free gym in work, where I went on the cycle, treadmill, rowing machine and free weights... I have to admit, that I am loving my work outs at the moment, especially going to the boxing gym!

90lb in 28weeks is truly brilliant!! Well done you and congrats on goal! =]

Congrats on your wedding and your weight loss... those pics are amazing... wish my tummy looked as good as yours. You defo deserve to wear that bikini and enjoy it!! Fantastic =]

Fern, Looks like it may have worked... your having a laugh... it has DEFO worked!! You look fantastic... I am loving your arms, so toned and no batwings.... WINNER!! Congrats on a great success... you should defo post on the before and after thread!! =]

I am 14mths post op... I count cals 'now and again' to keep a check on myself, but I don't do it daily... I did in the early days but it got a lil obessive...lol. My last check, about 5 weeks ago, was between 800 and 1100 cals a day.