NewSetOfCurves

@@KindaFamiliar, I fixed it and I REALLY cannot wait to see your picture!!!

@@KindaFamiliar, sorry for the typo!!!

@@jintycb, I REALLY like you! You have brought quite a smile to my face with your responses. I can't wait to see your Leotard post or @@KindaFamiliar 's post in his flouro green mankini!!!

AT GOAL!!!! Hit 145 one year, 3 months and 4 days post-op! Surgery Date: June 18th, 2013 Height: 5' 6.5" Starting Weight: 248 DOS Weight: 228 (-20 lbs) Year 2013 Month 1, July 18th: 206 (-22 lbs) Month 2, August 18th: 196 (-10 lbs) Month 3, September 18th: 182 (-14 lbs) Month 4, October 18th: 178 (-4 lbs) Month 5, November 18th: 172 (-6 lbs) Month 6, December 18th: 167 (-5 lbs) Year 2014 Month 7, January 18th: 163 (-4 lbs) Month 8, February 18th: 159 (-4 lbs) Month 9, March 18th: 157 (-2lbs) Month 10, April 18th: 153 (-4lbs) Month 13, September 22, 2014: 145 (-8 pounds @@Goal!!!) Total Weight Loss: 103 lbs Year 2015 Month 32, February 18th: 155 pounds (+10) Note: I am now 2 sizes smaller than I was at goal, weighing 145. Since the time I hit goal until now, I have dropped fat and acquired more muscle.

@@barbarahadz1, thank you for the compliment! I found Peter Fisher via realself.com and out of the 3 surgeons I interviewed, he was the one that just won me over. A combination of his online reviews via realself, pictures of his work, his knowledge and patience to take his time with me and explain EVERYTHING, and his willingness to answer ALL my questions just made him stand out. Not to mention that he specialized in post massive weight loss surgery (our loose skin is not equal to a mommy getting a mommy makeover who has never experienced obesity). Hope this helps.

You can pretend you are drinking Mimosa's!

I remember I had just purchased a new outfit. I purchased it at Lane Bryant. Dark denim jeans with a slight flair. Summer Wedges made of red canvas. A white peasant blouse with red and yellow embroidered detail. Cute hoop earrings. A long necklace. Bangle bracelets. My dark hair fell strait to my waist. I felt like a million bucks. I felt beautiful. I was at a Sam's Club, purchasing items for the shop when a young man said, "Oh my gosh you are so cute! How far along are you?" I. Was. DEVASTATED. However, I smiled at the young man who look at me, expecting a reply with a smile on his face. So, I took a deep breath. Smiled. "I am 5 months." "Oh! How exciting! I bet it's going to be a boy!" "I hope so. Thank you. Have a great day, sir." I walked away. Heart sunken. Confidence flattened. Tears all the way home.

I am so sorry your husband responded to you in such a negative way. It is hard to feel good about oneself or to proceed with ones hopes and desires when you lack the support of your loved ones. To me, our scars tell the story of our journey; one that is filled with our despair, our dreams, our hope, our fight and our accomplishments. Don't let your husbands comments make you feel negative about them or your journey. My spiral thigh lift improved my legs a great deal. They are not perfect and despite how clean I eat or how much I workout, the upper back thighs have had a little bit of cellulite return. However, I love the overall results. If the spiral is going to make you feel better and garner some confidence that you have been lacking, then I hope you continue to pursue it. Good luck to you, @JamieLogical.

@KindaFamiliar...Lol! It's taken me three years to get here. First year pre and post-op was straight cardio. Starting lifting almost 2 years ago, 2-3 days a week with cardio. Now, I lift 5 days a week, focusing on one body part at a time, 1.5 hour sessions. Cardio has been reduced to 1-2 times a week. I eat "clean" any where from 85%-90% of the time. I do eat the occasional chip or candy, but it is minimal and a treat about once a week. Hard work, but worth it to me. It's taken time, but it has become habit and routine. You've done an amazing job, keep it up!!!

Thank you @@Daisee68 and @@AmyQwith2!!! I am glad to pay it forward. So many people on this site--with their candid posts and pictures--really inspired me to move forward with the sleeve and it has completely changed my life for the better. I am so much healthier, happier and confidant. Not one regret! Good luck, girls!

I had the lower body lift (which--as I am sure you know--lifts the outer thigh) in conjunction with the vertical lift. The cut made to lift the outer thigh, is right along the line of an extended tummy tuck, so I think it would go right along with your existing scar. The vertical cuts are right along the groin line. I really love my results, but I did go into it knowing that no matter how tight the doctor pulled on those thighs--especially the outer part--I knew that they would relax some. At 7 weeks post op I went on vacation. Walked around a Water park with the kids, hung out on the beach, walked the beach...no problems. My thighs look much better, I love them and I am even going to hit the beach this spring without a cover up for my legs. Here is a link to the pic that I posted. It shows my thighs. It is not a quality pic, but it is all I have for now. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/360777-nsv-wearing-a-bikini-with-no-coverup-finally/

This is very true! I am 34DDD, if I want a looser band fit and go up to a 36, my cup size switches to a DD.

Awe...I completely understand how you feel right now. Week one was "hell" week for me, but you will be up and at it before you know it. This will be just a faded memory, over shadowed by all the awesome successes you are about to venture into. Sip, sip, sip...one day at a time...one step at a time. Keep us posted!

HAHAHA!!! LOVE IT!!!

You know, if people lose the weight on their own, then power to them. Awesome. It takes commitment and sacrifice and dedication. I truly admire that. Unfortunately, not always, but in most cases those people gain it back. How many times do we see on this forum statements like: "I lost a 100 pounds and gained all back, and then some." They get stuck in that yo-yo dieting--a life of gaining and losing. Which is horrible for our bodies, metabolism and quality of life. Again, for those who take it off, completely change their life style and keep it off, I am in awe of them and super proud of their accomplishment. However, for many of us that isn't the case. We tried and failed, tried and failed, and we tried and failed again. It is hard to erase a lifetime of habits, even if you're in your twenties. I wish I had taken this step in my twenties. To feel the quality of life that I now feel. The surgery was like a reset: a reset to my metabolism, my taste buds, the quantity I could eat. With that reset, I was better able to unlearn old ugly habits, pick up new healthy habits, and thus change my lifestyle. In essence, the sleeve gave me the opportunity to control the QUANTITY of food I intake. While I--me, myself and I, NOT the sleeve--taught myself QUALITY: the quality of eating a diverse array of healthy foods, the quality of eating small meals every 3 hours, the quality of exercising and activating my body for better performance and endurance. All of those things I DID. NOT the sleeve. The sleeve was the "tool" that got me there. We do not and should not EVER apologize for that. Not one prescription or method works for all. The "natural" way did not work for us and our very lives, our livelihoods,our quality of life suffered for it. So, let them say they lost it the natural way. Let them compliment themselves or others. Agree with them, because that is awesome and it deserves to be acknowledged. But NEVER forget that our way was just as tedious--if not, more so because of the drastic change and toll the sleeve takes on our lives and body. NEVER forget that the sleeve may have been a jump start, but everything else in between is YOU. It is US. It is our efforts, our trials, our failures, our successes. We did that. Not the sleeve. So, pick your head up sweetie. Because everyone of us here, knows better. Your efforts are validated. Your journey is validated. Your decision is validated. Don't let ANYONE knock you down. ...okay, stepping off my soap box.

Thanks @@Dub! I value each of your opinions so much. It feels good when someone validates your hard work. Thanks again!

@@glitter eyes and @@careya123, thank you! @@VSGAnn2014, you flatter me too much, but I REALLY appreciate the compliment! Thank you!!!

@@fernandfj, THANK YOU! Yes, I am super PROUD of my achievements. I eat "clean" 90% of the time and I am devoted to my gym time..tired or not, I am there! @@nervousnelly719, you can! You literally can and will be here. When you get your sleeve, work it and own it, and you will get to this point. It has taken me 2.5 years and every blood, sweat and tear shed has been worth it! Good luck to you!!! @@LipstickLady, AHHHHH!!!! THANK YOU! Stop it! No, don't, I love it!!! Lol!!! @ and @@Inner Surfer Girl, THANK YOU so very much!

Worst: Feeling completely lethargic and useless that first week post-op sleeve surgery. Best: Being able to wear a bikini!!! And...having people sometimes confuse me as a student (I teach seniors at a high school) despite being almost 20 years their elder!