minaleigh

I was once a DD, now I think I'm a B or C (have yet to get measured, I just wear some really old bras). I look almost flat-chested. I definitely need a bra with padding! I'm hoping once I'm at goal, my boobs won't look so small when/if my thunder thighs and humongo-hips are gone!

To be honest, I have no idea. I'm sure there's at least ONE doctor that would. Personally, mine only would if you had a BMI higher than 40, or 35 if you had comordibities. I have a BMI of 30 now and I couldn't imagine getting the surgery where I'm at. I'm not sure how tall you are, but I'm 5'7" so my weight might be distributed a little better. I also have PCOS and hypothyroidism.

You're right! Hmm....

Darla, they put me in what is called a twilight sleep. You're fully awake, but you're not aware of it at all. Apparently I couldn't shut up. I told my mom she missed out on an opportunity to ask me some deep, dark questions!

I'm not full in your requirements, but my highest was 289. Day of surgery was 273. Now I'm about 196, so 93 pounds down total, 77 since surgery. Oh, and I'm 5'7" if it matters.

Phone Comfy comfy comfy (and oversized!) pajama pants. Luckily it was winter. Robe so I wouldn't be... *ahem*... exposed in the gown. Slippers for all that walking I had to do. Toothbrush and toothpaste. Your mouth feels so gross after doing leak tests, dry mouth, possible vomiting... Hairbrush so I didn't look like a scary beast. Didn't bring a computer. Was too drugged up to care!

I feel so bad. Okay, I joined two dating sites, match.com and okcupid (which was recommended by a friend). You see, I've been overweight since I was 9. My teenage years were spent alone at home, unless I had extracurricular activities, and not out and about like normal teenagers. I've had two (maybe) boyfriends: One in junior high and freshman year of high school. I don't really count him since we acted more like friends than anything. He's my best friend now. The other I met online. We started out as friends but eventually he asked me out. Thing is, he lived in California when I lived in Illinois. We met once when he flew to see me graduate. We broke up right before I was flying out to see him because I found out he was cheating on me. Let's just say he doesn't count either. Now to the real point of this post... Problem is that even though I've had two guys in my life... I've never been on a date! I'm so socially awkward, it's scary. I feel so over my head. Well, I started talking to this one guy from the site. We're going to the movies on Tuesday. But also... he's big. I feel so bad... He seems nice, if a bit needy, but he seems... unhealthy? I just didn't have the heart or confidence to say no. It's not like I have real experience when it comes to dating. But that's why I feel so bad! I am being shallow! I am acting the same way others did when they saw me. No one wanted to date "the fat girl." No one gave me a chance because of my weight. I am being a total hypocrite.

Thanks for the advice and stories guys! I never was going to back out. Thing is, he told me he's never had a girlfriend and he's been very clingy... I just feel like I shouldn't have to settle just because of my previous size. Sure, I know I'm not going to get a hunky, man-of-my-dreams guy the first time. I'd have to say my ideal guy would be tall (at least 3 inches taller than me would be nice!) and average. Some of my friends are into big guys, but I'm just not... Even when I was heavier I wasn't, but I'm not into over-muscled guys either. I'm still going to give him a chance. I'll just see how it goes.

I was just searching for a topic just like this! I can totally relate. I am a shy person, and used the old trick of holding your purse or a pillow over your stomach while sitting down in front of other people (heck, I STILL do it subconsciously), but I still didn't see myself as obese as I was. Sure, I always dogged on myself (because let's face it, it doesn't hurt so much if you're the first one joking about your weight) but I still walked around like I was almost normal. I was looking through old pictures from a year and a half ago, probably at my highest weight. Dear lord, how did I not notice?! Why was I wearing that?! Why did nobody tell me?! I just can't believe I let myself get that big. I also can't believe I'm 75 pounds down and still in the "obese" range. Size 14 and M/L shirts and I'm... obese? Will I look at pictures of me at this point, thinking I'm looking pretty good right now, only to groan and still not believing I thought I looked okay at this size?

I had it really bad! *GROSS ALERT* I would even wake up from a dead sleep to throw up all the saliva that ran down my throat while I was sleeping. I had to carry around a hospital barf bag for the first two months. Now it only happens if I eat just one bite too many. It gets better, I promise.

Same with me emlefe. I'm only 22 but have been overweight/obese since I was 9. My blood pressure was textbook perfect, no high cholesterol, and even though my mom swore up and down I was diabetic, I wasn't.

Anorexic and bulimic, maybe, but healthily skinny? No!

I have PCOS am 7.5 months out. My facial hair is still there, but I feel it's not as dark. My periods are still really heavy but they're more regular.

How fun! I think we all need days like that. And love the crown.

Apples. Well, at least with their peels. Makes my stomach gurgly and angry. They don't even give any sort of sensation of fullness for me. I wouldn't say that I've become lactose intolerant, but I can't drink milk like I used to. One, it makes me VERY full. A glass of milk might as well be a meal for me. Two, because it just makes my stomach not sit right. It makes it gurgle and generally unhappy with me.

I've had the same problem the past two weeks. Got down to 197 as my lowest, but slowly crept back up to 199 over the course of the week. All of a sudden, popped back on the scale and it said 201! I never wanted to be in the 200s ever again! Funny thing is, after the 201 reading, I had a nightmare that I gained until I got to 248. It's not my highest weight, but I never want to go back! In my dream, I was wearing the clothes I can wear now, and they were ripping and falling off because they got too tight! It was horrid. Luckily, I got back down to 199 again, though I'm hoping to get down to another low! Edit: It's not my TOM either. I have been drinking TONS of Water (when it gets to over 105 degrees, you tend to get thirsty!) but haven't been eating much because I've been focused on work and school. Maybe that's why?

Well, I had an interesting experience at work tonight. I work in a movie theatre and tonight I was in concessions. I've recently reached onederland, and have been told by multiple people that I don't look like I weigh that much (I think it's because my top half is so much smaller than my thunder thighs). This is a male customer, I'd say mid-20s. Anyways, here's the conversation... I'll warn ya, it's a long one lol. Me: Hello, how can I help you today? Customer: Yes, what does your medium drink look like? Me: *I show him the medium* Customer: Sheesh, that's massive. Okay, how about the small? Me: *I show him the small* Customer: Yeah, that'll do. Though that small is anyone else's large. It's probably why America is so fat. Me: Yeah, the sizes are a bit ridiculous. Before we were bought out, the old medium was the size of the new small. Customer: It's still way too big. I'm from Canada and I've never seen so many massive people. (Now, I typically don't spout off my weight loss to random people, only to friends and family who ask. I just felt the need to call this guy out...) Me: Yeah, I've lost about 90 pounds so I kind of get what you're saying. Customer: Oh, good for you! You're helping to solve America's weight problem. I'm from Canada, so I'm not used to seeing so many fat people. That was pretty much it. Now, I did my research and it seems that, yes, one in three American adults are obese. BUT, one in four Canadian adults are, too. I'm not sure where he was living, but it seems like the country as a whole isn't too far behind. I was pretty speechless after the backwards compliment. Is it an NSV that someone felt comfortable enough to talk to me about "the horrors of obesity" as if I was, dare I say, normal-sized? I'm inclined to believe that if I was still at my previous weight, this customer would either A) not have come to my register, since there were two other cashiers at the time, or B ) not have mentioned this at all. He seemed very high and mighty, so maybe there's a third option of C) still would have talked about it, but it probably would have turned into an impromptu lecture about my "evil, gluttonous ways." He didn't even look sheepish after I told him I was a former fatty. Apparently, this guy was all about Canada. I went up to the box office to fill some paperwork out, and I mentioned this guy. The person up there was like, "Did he have long, blonde hair? Did he mention he was from Canada?" Apparently, when she asked him for his ID to see an R-rated movie, he said, "Seriously? I'm from Canada. Where's YOUR ID?" Good times were had. P.S. No disrespect to you Canadian sleevers. I know not all are like this.

I've had this same problem for months. I would stand up and a few seconds later, my vision would blur slightly and there would be dark edges all around my periphery. I would also stumble into things and have to hold on to the counter or a wall. I went to two different doctors and one couldn't find out anything wrong, except that my blood pressure drops when I stand up. Since this has never happened before, the other doctor suspects it's because of the all of the changes and weight loss that my body just isn't used to. I agree about the potassium thing, as well as Iron. I feel better and it happens less when I take a multi-Vitamin.

*waves* Hey! Yeah, we were pretty crazy the past two nights. Sold out shows to all the Magic Mike times! Never seen so many women in one place at one time. And you think the popcorn smell is bad, imagine working with it! Lol.

I'm 22, so I'm not THAT far off. Here is the Teen forums. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/31-teens/ I'm not sure how active it is, but you could always pop in there. I've seen some 18, 19, even 16 year olds on here. Welcome to the forums!

Congrats! I wish I only had 74 pounds to lose, because I would have been at goal by now! I originally made my goal 170 as well. Then I thought, "No, if I'm going to do this, I'm going all the way!" Lol. You'll get it in no time. You've already done this much in two months!

I had the sleeve last November. I'm 22 and in college as well. It was a little hard at first because I had some issues but now I almost feel normal. It's weird sometimes because some people comment about how little I'm eating, especially when I go out with my friends. I never was a drinker before surgery, so it wasn't particularly hard to give up alcohol. Though, I have to admit that when I went down to New Orleans (I was more than 6 months post-op), I did have a (read: ONE) daiquiri while in a bar on Bourbon Street. How could I not fully enjoy the New Orleans experience? Granted I was way buzzed and giddy after just one and it took me an hour to drink it, but hey, at least I found out that if I want a drink every now and then, it's not going to kill me. That has been the only drink I've had since surgery. Let me know if you want to talk or have any questions!