Aussiegirl

Timely topic for me to see
I believe people do treat me better/differently now I am average looking (still carrying a bit but nothing like before). Sometimes I struggle with this and other times I just roll with the punches.
Part of the change also is due to the change in the way I treat my self. I have more self confidence and am alot happier in who I am and where my life is going (for the most part).
Not a day goes by where I am not told by someone how great i look etc. This is flattering but thankfully they werent walking up to me before telling me how bad I looked.
Most people that meet me now, cant comprehend that I was ever as big as I was, which is nice too.
Ok ramble much....
My point (or 2c) is that it doesnt matter how other people treat you now, the most important thing is how you treat yourself. Others will treat you the same way.

That's awesome, congrats!

Before - Somewhere above 241
Last week - 205'ish (pink shirt)
Today - 199 (all 5'1 of me, heh)
I'm SO excited!!

I was in a training class for three days this week. At the first, we had to write some things down about ourselves to use in the "icebreaker" "get to know each other" time of the class. Once of the questions I had to answer was "what is your favorite food"? This stopped me cold. I really had a hard time answering the question. Before surgery, I could have answered this is a nanosecond. Now, I really had to think about it - and the foods I thought about writing down were totally different.
Post Surgery
A fresh, raw snap pea - nice and cold - and one that is full in its shell.
A perfectly grilled scalllop or two
Broiled salmon over a green salad
Sauteed mushrooms
Garden ripe tomatoe
Moo Goo Gai Pan
Crab Cakes
Baked Sweet Potatoe

Pre Surgery
Brownies
Ice Cream
Chocolate Cake
Lasagne
Pasta Primavera
Barbequed Ribs
Moo Goo Gai Pan
Scalloped Potatoes

This might be the best NSV ever. My tastes have changed and my portion sizes are radically different.
Love my sleeve!

I bought a pair of $5 skinny jeans in size 12 (Aussie which is about a 10 US) over the weekend as an item to grow into....maybe. well this morning I tried them on, just to see how close they were..and shock horror and happiness they fit, snug but wearable...yeha!!!!
This is probably the biggest victory to date. Pre surgery starting at a 26/28 my goal size was a 14. I never saw or wanted to be tiny, I like curves just in the right places not bulges like before...so I am happy to get here atleast on the bottom....my tops still are a 16/18 and my boobs may stop me ever getting to a 14 as they have not shrunk much at all.
Man I feel cute, curvy and sexy today...ye me

I bought a pair of $5 skinny jeans in size 12 (Aussie which is about a 10 US) over the weekend as an item to grow into....maybe. well this morning I tried them on, just to see how close they were..and shock horror and happiness they fit, snug but wearable...yeha!!!!
This is probably the biggest victory to date. Pre surgery starting at a 26/28 my goal size was a 14. I never saw or wanted to be tiny, I like curves just in the right places not bulges like before...so I am happy to get here atleast on the bottom....my tops still are a 16/18 and my boobs may stop me ever getting to a 14 as they have not shrunk much at all.
Man I feel cute, curvy and sexy today...ye me

I bought a pair of $5 skinny jeans in size 12 (Aussie which is about a 10 US) over the weekend as an item to grow into....maybe. well this morning I tried them on, just to see how close they were..and shock horror and happiness they fit, snug but wearable...yeha!!!!
This is probably the biggest victory to date. Pre surgery starting at a 26/28 my goal size was a 14. I never saw or wanted to be tiny, I like curves just in the right places not bulges like before...so I am happy to get here atleast on the bottom....my tops still are a 16/18 and my boobs may stop me ever getting to a 14 as they have not shrunk much at all.
Man I feel cute, curvy and sexy today...ye me

I bought a pair of $5 skinny jeans in size 12 (Aussie which is about a 10 US) over the weekend as an item to grow into....maybe. well this morning I tried them on, just to see how close they were..and shock horror and happiness they fit, snug but wearable...yeha!!!!
This is probably the biggest victory to date. Pre surgery starting at a 26/28 my goal size was a 14. I never saw or wanted to be tiny, I like curves just in the right places not bulges like before...so I am happy to get here atleast on the bottom....my tops still are a 16/18 and my boobs may stop me ever getting to a 14 as they have not shrunk much at all.
Man I feel cute, curvy and sexy today...ye me

I bought a pair of $5 skinny jeans in size 12 (Aussie which is about a 10 US) over the weekend as an item to grow into....maybe. well this morning I tried them on, just to see how close they were..and shock horror and happiness they fit, snug but wearable...yeha!!!!
This is probably the biggest victory to date. Pre surgery starting at a 26/28 my goal size was a 14. I never saw or wanted to be tiny, I like curves just in the right places not bulges like before...so I am happy to get here atleast on the bottom....my tops still are a 16/18 and my boobs may stop me ever getting to a 14 as they have not shrunk much at all.
Man I feel cute, curvy and sexy today...ye me

I bought a pair of $5 skinny jeans in size 12 (Aussie which is about a 10 US) over the weekend as an item to grow into....maybe. well this morning I tried them on, just to see how close they were..and shock horror and happiness they fit, snug but wearable...yeha!!!!
This is probably the biggest victory to date. Pre surgery starting at a 26/28 my goal size was a 14. I never saw or wanted to be tiny, I like curves just in the right places not bulges like before...so I am happy to get here atleast on the bottom....my tops still are a 16/18 and my boobs may stop me ever getting to a 14 as they have not shrunk much at all.
Man I feel cute, curvy and sexy today...ye me

I am 36 too. I will let the pics speak for t hemselves. Sometimes I feel I look younger and other times I feel I look older, but I do always look happier
Me @ 330+ pounds


Me last weekend at just on 200 pounds

I hear ya!!
It sucks being single and having all this "stuff" going on.
Atleast there is my battery operated friend TMI lol

9 months post-op. Kind of hard to believe, but at this point. I have to just say I am very thankful I have my sleeve. For me, everything is normal. I eat what I want and when I want. I almost always eat Protein first. I have a glass of wine (or three) when I want to. Only word of warning is to not skip your vites. I had low Iron last blood work, and I am really trying hard to get it back up! Anemia sucks.
I am still losing weight and well on my way to hitting my goal of 120 pounds, and only 3.6 lbs from my surgeon's goal of 140. I think I can lose the next 23.6 pounds by my 1 year surgiversary, but I know I am going to have to up the exercise if I really want it. I lose about 6 to 7 lbs a month right now.
There have been so many scale and non-scale victories. I don't even know what to say. I wear a size small and a size 6 jeans (from a XL and 24). I don't even think about when I walk into a room if I am the fattest in there. I have soooo much room in the lecture hall seats... I can sit Indian-style! It just really makes me happy to walk across campus and not be winded and huffing and puffing, trying to catch my breath.
It really meant a lot to me to see pictures of different stages post-op so I wanna make sure I post mine.
Highest Weight: 271
Surgery Weight: 230
Current Weight: 143.6
*Weight Loss by Month*
Month 1: 16.0
Month 2: 11.6
Month 3: 6.0
Month 4: 11.0
Month 5: 11.6
Month 6: 4.0
Month 7: 12.4
Month 8: 6.4
Month 9: 7.4
Also, I just want to say. I am not the fastest loser by any means. I have lost 86.4 pounds since surgery. Everything else pre-op. Don't get discouraged. The loss will happen.

I go up and down with my capacity as my time of the month nears, too. I swear that darn sleeve relaxes when I have PMS!!
Look - half a sandwich and a hard boiled egg is NOTHING compared to what you would have eaten a year ago. I'm going to say something you might not like but I really want to help you. I think you're scared that you don't have the self control to eat "normally" and that you want the sleeve to do it all for you. On one hand, you're in luck. That sleeve might expand enough to fit a whole sandwich (sans crust, of course) but it's not going to fit a whole pizza or a value meal from McDonald's again. It's unlikely you're going to expand much at all from this point onward.
Part of this process is learning to eat normally. We need to view food as vital, as nourishing and as energy instead of as a source of comfort or something to feel guilty about. Around 18 months out I noticed an increased capacity (FINALLY!) and did the same thing - I freaked a little bit. But what was I freaked about? I was finally able to eat TWO eggs scrambled with cheese instead of only one. Big whoop!
You are not losing control. You are in control. There will come a point when you need to eat more in order to maintain your energy and your goal weight. Slowly learning how to do it without scaring yourself, losing control or seeing a gain on the scale is an important part of the process. This is what nobody talks about when they talk about surgery! Dealing with the mental aspect of the surgery is the most important thing you can do for yourself. Your stomach didn't make you overweight - something in your head did. Figure it out. Limiting yourself too severely because you're afraid eating will cause a gain is an eating disorder just as surely as overeating in the past was a disorder.
If you aren't already, track your calories. Sometimes I get a lot of comfort from seeing numbers in the same ballpark each day and knowing that I'm eating the right amount of food even when I feel like I'm overdoing things.
Good luck,
~Cheri

Whoo hoo! I totally get what you are saying! Huge NSV! Celebrate!!!!

This journey is definitely a learning experience and I keep learning and seeing new possibilities.
Having what I would say is a less than great day at work, frustration, moodiness (me and others), TOM and just feeling like things are not in the best place.
So this morning, I felt the need for a pick me up...went for the chocolate (alcohol would have been preferable but it was 10am), had 2 bites and that was enough to take the edge for a bit. Not wanting to succumb to the food hunger, had a tea and went to the gym to work out some frustration...a healthier way to deal with stress.
Anyway at the gym, i tried (have been slightly attempting for a while) to do a sit up. I have never done a sit up (i dont even remember doing this as a kid). And all of a sudden I COULD!!!! It felt easy and simple, like i should have been doing it for years....my body just decided that it could.....score, definitely a fist pump, blog moment ))))))
For lots of people the action of doing a sit up is nothing but to me it is huge!! And it another one of my physical goals that I have achieved.
FYI I am stalled right now with another 30 or so pounds to go...but when I have these kinds of wins, the weight doesnt seem as important.

This journey is definitely a learning experience and I keep learning and seeing new possibilities.
Having what I would say is a less than great day at work, frustration, moodiness (me and others), TOM and just feeling like things are not in the best place.
So this morning, I felt the need for a pick me up...went for the chocolate (alcohol would have been preferable but it was 10am), had 2 bites and that was enough to take the edge for a bit. Not wanting to succumb to the food hunger, had a tea and went to the gym to work out some frustration...a healthier way to deal with stress.
Anyway at the gym, i tried (have been slightly attempting for a while) to do a sit up. I have never done a sit up (i dont even remember doing this as a kid). And all of a sudden I COULD!!!! It felt easy and simple, like i should have been doing it for years....my body just decided that it could.....score, definitely a fist pump, blog moment ))))))
For lots of people the action of doing a sit up is nothing but to me it is huge!! And it another one of my physical goals that I have achieved.
FYI I am stalled right now with another 30 or so pounds to go...but when I have these kinds of wins, the weight doesnt seem as important.

tonibugg, they will come and really quite frequently, the trick is realise them and be proud of yourself for them

Congratulations! I certainly can't wait for these days!

This journey is definitely a learning experience and I keep learning and seeing new possibilities.
Having what I would say is a less than great day at work, frustration, moodiness (me and others), TOM and just feeling like things are not in the best place.
So this morning, I felt the need for a pick me up...went for the chocolate (alcohol would have been preferable but it was 10am), had 2 bites and that was enough to take the edge for a bit. Not wanting to succumb to the food hunger, had a tea and went to the gym to work out some frustration...a healthier way to deal with stress.
Anyway at the gym, i tried (have been slightly attempting for a while) to do a sit up. I have never done a sit up (i dont even remember doing this as a kid). And all of a sudden I COULD!!!! It felt easy and simple, like i should have been doing it for years....my body just decided that it could.....score, definitely a fist pump, blog moment ))))))
For lots of people the action of doing a sit up is nothing but to me it is huge!! And it another one of my physical goals that I have achieved.
FYI I am stalled right now with another 30 or so pounds to go...but when I have these kinds of wins, the weight doesnt seem as important.

I hear ya, I lived on food porn the first few weeks post op...

I hear ya, I lived on food porn the first few weeks post op...

Well here I am 21 months post op. I am so thankful to God for my sleevie, words can not express.

Highest weight 234, lowest 144...I am 148 today and that's with tom lol. I am a perfect size 6 (actually even have some 4's)...if I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!

Here's some before and after pics

I hear ya, I lived on food porn the first few weeks post op...

Welcome to VST!
Like many have said, the pre-op diet was difficult for me. But in all honesty it was all the indecision and fear that lead up to the surgery that was the worst for me.
On the back end, I am not even sure what I was so afraid of, but I had a lot of fear of this post-op life, couldnt imagine the change, fear of lossing my crutch (food).
I wish you luck with your decision./