nowatgoal

Sunday I became the Mrs. to my best friend! The day was everything I could ever want thanks to my VSG surgery 8 months ago. I was able to hold my head up high, have energy for the days events, and actually feel like a pretty bride instead of an embarrassed-about-my-weight bride. My new husband deserves the best me I can give him and I feel like this surgery is allowing me to offer that. Thank you to all the people on this forum who have shared their experiences, offered support, and cheered for me along the way. Oh Happy Day!!!

Hope you all don't mind my posting something that might not fall under a "success story" or "NSV"... but I just can't help but want to share! I have been with my significant other, Mike, for nearly a year now. He is the most wonderful man, and we've talked about getting married some time in the near future. The other night, Mike, and I took his four young boys on a Polar Express train. I don't know if you all are familiar with the story, but it's one of my favorites. They have an old train near Flagstaff, AZ, that you can take. All the children wear their pj's and bathrobes and they serve hot cocoa and Cookies. Well, as we're chugging along, Santa makes his way down the train giving the children sleigh bells. After he passes us, we have the four boys curled on our laps and Mike brings out a tiny box and says Santa left this for me. He opens the box and says "My dearest Sara, will you marry me?" I asked each boy what I should say and they yelled "YES!". So... I'm officially engaged! And the thought of wearing a wedding dress and not being embarrassed by my weight or pictures is just icing on the cake!

Thank you EVERYONE for the wonderful words of congratulations!

Sandy, thank you for this message! I did exactly the same thing: came on here, watched youtube videos... and there are certain people that I'll always feel thankful to because they helped inspire me to take the sleeve leap. It really warmed my heart when I read that you felt that way about me. We're paying it forward now! Hugs to you too!

I'll never forget the day I learned about VSG and came on this forum to research it. Now, nearly 8 months to the day from my surgery - I hit my final goal!!! 140 pounds!!! That's nearly 100 lbs. down from my highest weight of 238. It feels great to see that number on the scale, but even better to know that I will never, ever, be fat again! The first thing I wanted to do when I saw that I hit goal was to get on here and tell all of you. Thank you, everyone, for giving me a place to share in my joy (and for being there when I wasn't as joyous).

Avocados are packed full of vitamins and I think they meet the 'mushies' requirement perfectly if they are ripe. I love them. They can be a bit high in calories but at this point, you're only going to be able to eat a small amount so don't worry about the calories. If it were me, I'd enjoy.

Now that's a good comeback!

I think knowing this was for real sank in in spirts... Each time I would lose another 10 lbs. and saw the scale starting with a new number: 200, 190, 180, 170... my hubby-to-be would say to me "you will NEVER see that number again" because he knew that I had lost the weight over and over and it always came back. That was my biggest fear and it felt so good to hear him say that every time. I was losing the weight for the last time. It becomes more real each day because there isn't a day that has gone by where I haven't realized that I'm in some sort of situation that in the past my weight would have bothered me. I am reminded to be thankful every single day because of something weight related. My mind's eye still has to catch up with what I see in the mirror. I have a touch of body dismorphia and it's hard for me to see what I really look like. I'll often ask if I look about the same size as this woman or that woman because I can't picture it yet. It's all still becoming real but I have a confidence now about the fact that I will never be overweight again. It's wonderful to know deep inside that I have a tool for life that is going to help me when I need it. Wow, that was a bit of a jumbled ramble... hope something made sense.

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

I'm very concerned about you. I looked at a previous post you made that mentioned you have cholesterol levels in the mid 300's and your insulin levels are dangerously low. With extremely low blood sugar levels and then passing out after eating, it seems there is something very wrong. I don't mean to scare you, but I do want to be honest about that fact that I think you need to get to a doctor TODAY. Please keep us updated. I'll be sending you good thoughts that you are getting the medical interventions needed and are feeling better soon.

I've drank coffee my entire life (starting from childhood with cafe-con-leche's). I quit cold turkey when I did my two week diet and between the coffee and no carbs I had an unbelievable headache for 5 full days. It was torture. I was worried about making sure my stomach was healed and so I didn't start drinking it again until about 3 months post op. I really missed my warm, wake-up drink and am back to drinking one cup of regular coffee each morning. As Lissa put it, it also helps to keep me regular. If I'm really in the mood for a second cup (maybe once a week) I make it decaf so I'm limiting the caffeine I'm taking in. When I started back on coffee, my hubby-to-be surprised me with a Keurig one cup coffee brewer which works wonderfully! I love it.

Hi Sleeve Twin! I remember talking with you right before surgery about having the same surgery date... doesn't that seem like a lifetime ago? Thank you for the nice comments! So, a day in the life? Okey-dokey. Well, I start each day by weighing myself. Today, I was thrilled because I have now lost a total of 100 lbs. from my highest weight. It is a landmark day. I've had many of those along the way. Little landmarks to strive towards and then a little celebration when they are reached. Helps to keep me motivated. Food: I eat at least 5-6 times a day, but little amounts each time. I started doing this early on because of the restriction and needing to break up each meal into two parts. I consume between 800-1200 calories a day with Proteins being the big priority. I don't count calories but with all the diets I've been on in my life, I know how many calories things have so I can mentally keep a tally. I have not always been good about fluids so I'm forcing myself to carry my big jug around with me. That's helped. I had to go back to a very low carb diet this past week to finally get the last few pounds off. It's worked like a charm because I've dropped nearly 4 lbs. this week. Exercise: I'm not a fan of exercise, especially at the gym, BUT I love to walk and hike so that's what I do. It took me a long time to get to the point where I had the energy (since my calories were so low at first). Now, I walk and hike at least 4 times a week. My walks are at a fast pace and average about 30 min. a day. My hikes are where I push myself. I have a 5 mile hike I do often. It has a good elevation gain and I try to go as fast as I can. It's really helped to tone things up and give me back the muscle I lost when I was too weak to exercise. You've done an amazing job with your sleeve! I'm sure what I've shared is nothing new to you. Sending you a hug!

I was 44 when I had the surgery and my highest weight was similar to your weight. Today, I hit the 100 lbs. lost mark and it's amazing to know that I am no longer carrying around the equivalent of a whole extra person. I was very nervous the few days before surgery. I had done so much research, read every thread on here, and knew I was making the right decision. But, it's still major surgery, so being anxious is normal. Some good advice I was given: Walk early and often after surgery to help move the gas in your system. Sip, sip, sip as soon as your doctor okays Fluid. Don't let yourself get dehydrated (a big problem with sleevers). Take your Vitamins when you're cleared to do so. Listen to your body and don't ignore things that "don't seem right". Get on this forum and don't be shy about asking questions. There's an amazing amount of knowledgeable people that are very good about answering questions.

The dizzy-feel-like-your-going-to-faint-upon-standing thing has been a major issue for me, especially the first few months after surgery. And as some have already said, I've noticed it's directly related to my blood pressure and my carb intake (ketosis). When I'm really cutting my carbs and my BP is low, I'll go through a few weeks of this and during that time I have learned to get up slowly and hold on to something. I think it's great advice to get your labs done.

Woke up to all these wonderful congratulations! And my smile got even bigger when I found I was actually BELOW my final goal weight this morning! Sipping my coffee and tearing up (yes, tears and smiles at the same time). I LOVE YOU Sleeve Sisters and Brothers!

Thank you so much, everyone! I knew this was the place to celebrate!

You look incredible! What an amazing transformation. Congratulations!

Wow, you're looking amazing! And congratulations on your engagement! (I'm marrying the love of my life in less than two weeks!)

I'm impressed that you are going to take care of yourself with or without your husband's support. It can be difficult to swim up stream but it seems you know deep down that this will ultimately be a good thing in spite of other's misgivings. Hopefully, when you've had the surgery and there's no turning back, hubby will get on board. The weight will drop off very quickly at first and that might shake things up a bit for him as he sees such immediate results. This forum has been a tremendous source of support so I hope, if you're ever feeling alone in your journey, that you post and let us be there for you. Here's to MAY 29TH!

Catracks - it sure seems to me like the people on this forum do a lot better than the, as you appropriately put it, "silly statistics" would have you think.

I love this!!! I completely agree - you go girl! You're sunshine is beaming through my computer screen.

You look AMAZING!!! You were so pretty to begin with and now you're looking stunning! Congratulations. Isn't life so much easier in so many ways?! I'm sure you are inspiring countless people on the forums.

So excited for you! It sounds like it's going to be an experience of a lifetime! Whoohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you are spot on to reevaluate your goal. I'll share my "goal story". You are a teensie bit taller than I am (I'm just barely 5'7) and when I first was trying to set a goal I wasn't sure what to make it. I remember just before my surgery, I came on here and asked how people were setting their goals because my doctor never gave me one. As a small boned person, using the BMI chart, I ended up with 3 goals: First - 150 - I knew I'd be happy at this weight and figured it was a good point at which I could evaluate how I felt and then decide if I wanted to take any more off. Second - 140 - this was a weight I had been before and knew I was really happy with this size and I thought it might be a good second goal depending on how I felt at 150. Third - 130 - this was a dream goal weight and not one I ever really thought I'd shoot for but thought maybe with the surgery I might someday reach this. When I finally got to 150, I knew my body was not done losing. I was not able to take in enough calories to maintain 150 and knew it would be easy to keep losing so I decided to shoot for my second goal. Today, I reached 140 and I definitely feel like I could maintain this weight without trouble. My body seems to have leveled off and I'm very happy with how I look. I'm wearing a size 4-6 in bottoms and smalls in tops. I don't feel the need to lose any more so I will ignore my third goal of 130. I can see myself losing a few more pounds and giving myself a little buffer but I'm not "trying" to lose at this point. I think it's nice that my body naturally leveled off at this weight because it means I don't have to fight to stay here. I've dieted my entire teenage/adult life and I don't want to feel like I have to diet any more in order to stay a certain weight.

We would SO get along... LOL