NewBeginningsForMe2012

Hi all! I'm 55 years old and was sleeved on Nov. 6, 2012. I lost 45 pounds in the 6 month pre-sleeve diet, and have lost another 51 pounds since I was sleeved 18 weeks ago. My start weight was 285 pounds, and I'm 5"3" tall. I wore a PLUS size 26 W pants, and a PLUS size 3-X tops. I now wear a size 16 regular pants, and a large shirt. I feel so much better, and can do so much more! I have 39 pounds to go, but have hit a stall at 189 pounds for about a week now. They say it's normal, and we all hit stalls. I hope it doesn't last to long. I have lost over 45" all over my body, and all my blood work this passed month was PERFECT! No more high B.P. or meds to take for it, great blood sugar levels, great cholesterol, even my kidneys are working perfect now! My doctor doesn't even know why that is, but she's thrilled about it! LOL No more acid re-flux, and all my joints are feeling better too. For my work outs I do Zumba 2 on our Wii, and I love it! I burn over 600 calories in a 48 minute work out, and it's FUN! In the spring, summer, and fall I go for walks with our dogs, and ride my 5 speed cruiser bike with my husband. This will be my first summer in over 25 years to buy, and WEAR a bathing suit. I'm looking forward to summer for a change! It's not always been easy, but it's SO WORTH IT! Kathy

I know just what you mean! I'm going through the same thing. When I sit in my chair in my minds eye I'm still 285 pounds! When I look in the mirror I see a smaller, thinner me, but it still freaks me out to see the new me! I was at least a size 24 W for the passed 25 years, and was up to a 26/28 when I started to lose weight this passed April. I have lost 96 pounds so far counting the 50 pounds I lost the 6 months before my sleeve, and the 46 pounds I have lost in the 4 months since my sleeve. I'm only 6 pounds from my next goal of reaching 100 pounds off. Everyday I still think, when will the weight stop coming off? When will I start to gain again like I did after all the many times I lost in the passed?

Feeling pretty good about myself today, and very chipper! It's my 3 month anniversary since being sleeved. Our 35 year old son was over this passed weekend, and says, "Gee mom, every time I see you there is less of you to see"! Then he'll do the voice from the Wizard Of OZ The Wicked Witch of the West, and say, "I'm melting, I'm melting, what a world, what a world"! LOL He just stares at me some times and say's "Man, mom, I can't believe how different you look"! He tells me I'm getting so skinny, and look so good! I wish I could see what he see's when I look in the mirror. I think because I was so big for so long, that I still have an image in my head of the BIG ME! I was a size 26 W, and weighted 285 pounds at my biggest. I have not weighted what I weight now since the early 1990's! I made it to ONEderland this passed weekend, and weighted 197 pounds, and wear a size 16. I started this weight loss journey last April with the 6 month pre diet, and then sleeved on November 6, 2012. It seems so strange to me to get out some of my clothes from last summer, and put them on, and they are HUGE on me! LOL I still have about 50 pounds to lose yet, but think I'll be there in the next 5 months at the rate I'm losing. I just got Zumba 2 for our Wii this passed weekend, and started doing that today. What a work out! It was a 20 minute work out for my first work out, and HOLY COW, it IS a great work out for sure! I would highly suggest you trying it. It was fun, but made me sweat, raised my heart rate pretty good, and works your whole body. I think it will help me tone up all my flabby areas. The inches are falling off too! I just have to work on my SELF IMAGE! I want to see what others see when they look at me, the new thinner me. I'm so glad I got sleeved, and this journey was not an easy road! I can't wait until this summer to wear shorts, and even a bathing suit for the first time in many,many years! The best part though will be, being able to keep up with our grand kids, and having fun doing things with them this summer that I couldn't do before! My next goal is to reach 100 pounds off, and I'm only 12 pounds away from that! I'll blog again when I get there! Happy losing everyone. ♥

Gina, don't worry it WILL get better! I'm 55 and had my sleeve on Nov 6, 2012, and am 3 months out now. I had a rough time in the beginning too. I had two hernias fixed at the same time, and I have Celiac, so can't eat any gluten. I thought in the first few weeks, did I make a mistake, because I felt like crap! All I can tell you is hang in there it will get a little better each day! I have lost a total of 89 pounds now counting my 6 month before diet I lost 50 pounds, and counting 39 pounds post sleeve! I can't wait until this summer to be able to do so many more things than I use to do! Keep on, keeping on!