NewSetOfCurves

Yup! My previous size 10.5-11, now I am a 9/9.5!

This post warmed my heart. There is nothing more comforting in the world than to have the ones you love, have your back. I am happy for you . Congrats on your success so far, and may it continue!

WOW!!! And CONGRATS!!! I know and understand what a GREAT feeling it is to be in AWE when you realize that you and your daughter are wearing the same size. At the beginning of this school year, when my daughter and I were out shopping, we stopped at the Guess store to buy new jeans. We ended up buying the exact same jeans, at the exact same size; the only difference that mine are regular length and hers are short. I was in ABSOLUTE disbelief. Anyway, congrats on your AMAZING NSV!!!

You look absolutely WONDERFUL! Congrats on your amazing success! I understand your willingness to share with overweight people vs. your skinny friends. Although I am an open book about my journey, it is usually those who have not had to battle obesity whom judge us and are not as understanding. They ask questions like, "Well, couldn't you have done that without the surgery?" Versus overweight people who more likely (not always) to understand our decision to go to such extreme measures to lose weight. Anyway, super proud of you and your success. Keep on rocking that sleeve!!!

Looking good, girl! Congrats on all of your success!!!

WHOOP! WHOOP! You had me grinning ear-to-ear with this post! GREAT job on your hard work and reaching this amazing NSV! I understand the effort, time and patience it takes to get this point, and I am super proud of you. CONGRATS!!!

Did you have a lot of loose skin? Enough to want a tummy tuck or other plastic surgery? I'm hoping mine won't be too bad because I'm starting out at a lower BMI, but maybe that's just wishful thinking. @@careya123, I did have a tummy tuck, coupled with a lower body lift. I am a mother of 4, plus I was right at the morbidly obese line at my highest weight; so, there was no avoiding the loose skin. I will say that it was ALL SKIN, though. I remained the same size after the swelling went down post plastics.

I truly believe that it is prioritizing and managing your time. Exercise is a priority--whether I want to go or not, I am there 6 times a week. I have a full time day job, I am a mother of 4, but I manage my time and fit it into my daily life. If you love weight lifting, do it, go for it, and go heavy...it will TRANSFORM your body. Get it, girlie! You can do it!

I am 5'6" and my surgery weight was 228/230. I am currently a 4/6. My goal was a size 8 because I thought that was a suitable size for my height and a mommy of 4. However, here I am and I have maintained this size for over a year.

LOL! I tried to search it...no luck!!!

Exactly @@LipstickLady!!!

@@Daisee68, Thank you for the compliment. I am very dedicated to my weight lifting program. I did not have my arms done, but I do have loose skin in my upper arms, however you cannot tell with my arm extended like that. I am trying to build muscle to fill in the loose skin. You do have follow-ups. 2 Weeks post-op you have to go in to remove drains. He worked with me very well via email and phone (he gives out his cell phone number and responds at ALL hours). Often, if I had an issue (for me, it was just excessive swelling), he would call in a prescription for me and I would not have to make the drive. I saw him again at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. Honestly, if you are not having any problems, you could send him pics and wait until your 3 month or 6 month post-op appointments. Not much was done at those appointments other than picture taking and discussions over issues or concerns. My family would not allow me to go to Mexico. For all of the things I had done, I spent an extra 5K here in the states (based on the quotes I received from Mexico). For my family, that extra was worth avoiding any unexpected situations. I am not knocking Mexico plastics. Many people have great results and great experiences. However, in my situation, my family--especially my husband--were the ones who were really paranoid about that prospect. You should email him and ask how he would propose working with you via long distance. His email is: drpfisher@yahoo.com I hope this helps. And I want to just add that plastics helped me feel like I finally crossed that finish line with my weight loss journey. Although, eating healthy and remaining active will be a life long pursuit, I really do feel complete. Whatever you decide, good luck to you! And congrats on making it to this point!

@@JamieLogical, I agree that it is an inconvenience for family. I am very fortunate that I have such a tight nit family that is very supportive, loving, and did not make feel like I was an inconvenience. And, my husband has seen me birth all four of our children. I am not ashamed or embarrassed of my husband helping me in the manner that he did. For those planning on major plastics, make sure that you have a plan in place. Either a recovery center, willing family help (if you are comfortable), or hired help. The tummy tucks, body lifts and leg lifts are especially taxing. Edit: I also want to note that I was fortunate to have had the handicap potty chair and walker on hand (they were my grandmother's) and were not expenses that I had to incur. The recliner chair was an expense that I could afford, but it is not necessary. Plenty of people manage without one.

I have to agree with @JamieLogical. The pain from the TT is overwhelming, but SOOOO WORTH IT!!! I had a TT coupled with a full body lift. I did not feel any discomfort from my breast augmentation, other than the fact that they were HUGE with the swelling; and very little discomfort from my spiral lift. The girly bits in the nether region would swell, but the doctor said that was totally normal and it was not painful. It took almost 3 weeks for me to walk straight. I used a walker for the first week and my husband bought me a recliner with a lift (I've seen posts where people talked about renting these), that way I did not have to engage my abs when getting up or sitting down. I also had one of those handicap chairs that you can place over the potty (if you remove the bowel). The heightened potty chair really helped me avoid having to engage my abs when having to go to the restroom. My husband would help me in the shower and help me with my dressings. While he was at work, my mom, mother-in-law, and a close cousin would rotate and come over to help with things around the house while I was sitting in my lift/recliner chair, recovering. After the 3rd week--before the week was even up, actually--I really did not need help anymore. I was still moving around slowly, but I could manage on my own. Swelling--or the "Swell Hell", as I called it--is frustrating. The first week (obviously) is the worst, but it lasts a good three months before you see a major decrease. By the 6 month most of the swelling is gone other than flare-ups here and there. He said those "flare-ups" are pretty common up to the first year. I will say that I did go on vacation 7 weeks post-op. We took the kids on a mini beach vacation, we even enjoyed a Water park. I was able to keep up and no one would be the wiser that I had recently undergone a major 9 hour surgery. I even got to sport a bikini! Rocked it even with the swelling. My tummy was flat and smooth and I felt like a million bucks! It really is worth it. Worth the pain, discomfort, and even your having to rely on others. It is a small amount of time to pay for the years of joy and happiness your new figure will bring you. Good luck! Keep us posted!

@@Daisee68, I think it is doable! You stay two nights, in the hospital. You leave with some serious drugs in your system. So, you will most likely sleep the whole way back. My husband filled my pain medication prescription while I was still in the hospital. Whoever is traveling with you could do the same for you, and you could take you next dose on the road. The hospital that Dr. Fisher operates at, has single recovery suites that have a "room within a room" to house whomever is staying with you. That way they can sleep through the night and rest, and not have to endure the comings and goings of the nursing staff throughout the night. I had a two hour drive home and I slept through it. When I arrived home, I went right back to sleep (those meds are pretty awesome). I want to add that the hospital was AWESOME! GREAT staff, and my husband meals were included! He did not have to leave to eat. They had a huge menu to select from, It was not some prescribed meal, you actually got to choose from a menu what you wanted, restaurant style, from french toast to hamburgers. His "room" even included his own television.

Oh, he will get it and he will have a new found "appreciation" once the procedure is done. That was my experience anyway. Like you, my husband was on board and supportive, but always added that I did not have to go through with anything because he loved me just the way I was. Well, at times I wish I had never had the girls made up (um, not really) because he NEVER leaves them alone . Anyway, I am 8 months post plastics. I had a lower body lift (which is a 360 degree lift, and it includes a tummy tuck, hip flaps and butt flaps), a spiral thigh lift and breast augmentation for around 21K in San Antonio, TX with Dr. Peter Fisher. The recovery was tedious and rough, but it was worth it. I would do it again in a heart beat because I LOVE my results. *I am on my way out the door, but I will come back and edit and add info that I think is important to prepare for post-op.

Welcome Claire! I completely understand wanting to just survive the recovery phase. Especially those first couple of weeks! I too could give a wink about weight or meds immediately post-op, I just wanted to concentrate on getting some kind of nutrition in my body so I didn't feel so weak. I'm sorry that you're suffering from a cold. I can only imagine how much more frustrating and taxing it is on your recovery process. However, like all things in life, the cold will pass, your recovery will come and you will be well on your way to success. This site is a great place to come and ask questions, read others experiences and just have conversations in general about the sleeve. I hope your recovery is quick and that quickly and positively adjust to this new life style. Good luck to you!

You should try looking up Monokini. It is a one piece with the benefit of a bikini, covering up the belly button while showing off everything else. You could add a skirt or swim shorts if you are insecure about your legs.

The trapped air in the shoulder was a nuisance for me as well. Heating pads in those achy areas helped alleviate it. I recall using one for my tummy and one for my back. I cannot pin point when it exactly went away, but I was 2-3 weeks out. I remember that I began walking/running (very slowly) at the track around week four. At that point I felt the shoulder pain (well, at the point not pain, but more of a feeling of pressure) every time a ran. That lasted a couple of weeks. The good news...it WILL go away! I love your optimism. Most people are not this optimistic at one week post-op (I called it my hell week). Keep it up and congratulations on coming over to the sleeved side!!!

I do not know the correlation with arthritis, but I do know a few things about sugar--both natural and processed. First of all, sugar--in all forms--is a simple carbohydrate that the body converts into glucose and uses for energy. Each gram offers 4 calories of energy. Simple carbohydrates are very quickly broken by your body. But the effect on the body and your overall health depends on the type of sugar you’re eating, either natural or refined. How the body metabolizes the sugar in fruit and milk differs from how it metabolizes the refined sugar added to processed foods. The body breaks down refined sugar rapidly, causing insulin and blood sugar levels to skyrocket. Because refined sugar is digested quickly, you don’t feel full after you’re done eating, no matter how many calories you consumed. The Fiber in fruit slows down metabolism, as fruit in the gut expands to make you feel full. However, once the sugar passes through the stomach and reaches the small intestine, it doesn’t matter if it came from an apple or a soft drink. If your activity level is not "active" enough to utilize those as a form of energy, your body will convert them into either fat or glycogen, the storage form of glucose that’s used for quick energy. It doesn’t matter if it’s junk food or fruit. The same goes for simple or starchy carbs (like white bread, Pasta or starchy veggies). When not used as fuel for the body--because the body already has a lot of sugar built up in its system due to excess consumption, then what is digested will form into fat or glycogen. Sources: http://www.cancercenter.com/discussions/blog/natural-vs-refined-sugars-whats-the-difference/ http://www.livestrong.com/article/492804-refined-vs-natural-sugars/

I think that compliments are all about perspective. People's perceptions are their realities; and ​their realities and perceptions can be greatly influenced by ones confidence, lack of confidence or feelings. If someone is extremely self conscience, embarrassed or ashamed of their starting or highest weight, then yes, they will be offended by someone asking, "How much did you lose?" That is already a very sore topic that they perhaps have not come to terms or forgiven themselves about, so they are offended by it or they just don't feel comfortable sharing. And, personally, I think that is okay; there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I also believe that people's insecurities lead them to believe that they are being judged, because they negatively judge themselves and assume others are doing the same. What I think is not okay, is when you take those inner feelings of turmoil and self consciousness out on the "asker" or "complimenter," especially if they meant well. You can respond in various ways: I've lost enough to feel great. I am not comfortable sharing, but I appreciate that you noticed my weight loss. A good amount. Thank you. And then you can redirect the conversation. My BMI was at the lower end of the qualifying spectrum--39. At my lowest weight post surgery, I weighed 140; which totaled to 110 pounds lost. Currently, I weigh anywhere between 150-155. However, the weight gain has been muscle mass and I have remained the same size. People have and continue to ask me all sorts of questions. I have been--and always will be--honest about my surgery and my numbers. I think my honesty and lack of feeling offended by questions comes from the fact that I am EXTREMELY proud of my journey--and that is not saying that people whom are conscientious are not extremely proud. People's opinions or judgments--if they have any--don't matter to me anymore because I do not need their validation. I feel very validated on my own because I know how hard I have worked. One thing I always tell people, and have shared on here countless times, is that the sleeve gave me QUANTITY control, but I taught myself about QUALITY control. They sleeve DOES NOT choose the food I put in it and it does not control my activity level. I do all of that. And at the end of the day, the numbers are arbitrary. The way I FEEL is what is important. Also, I hope that my story might inspire someone else's life. Even if they hear it 2nd or 3rd hand, because it was someone's story that inspired me and motivated me to take this path.

Black and white!!!

I am sorry you hare having to endure this. I cannot imagine the hurt and the betrayal that you feel. There is some great advice in this thread. All I want to add is that the sleeve gives us QUANTITY control. That's it. The rest is all you. The QUALITY of food you consume is all you. The exercise. The change in your life style. IT IS ALL YOU. You can use that to defend yourself and your decision, if that's what you want to do. But I agree with @Pillar2butterfly; you do not owe her anything. If anything, you can use that tidbit to further validate what you have accomplished on your own; not what the sleeve accomplished, but what you accomplished.

Ingredients 1 cup raw organic sprouted almonds - soaked overnight (this step reduces the level of phytates- here is a good tutorial) 4 cups pure filtered Water vanilla bean (optional) dates, honey or stevia (optional) Instructions Soak almonds for at least 12 hours in pure water with ½ tsp sea salt. This is an important step as it breaks down the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors and cultures beneficial enzymes in the almonds. (side note: soaking nuts should be done before eating them as well. Soak nuts in salt water for 12 hours, rinse them, and dry in oven on lowest heat. See tutorial above.) Rinse almonds well. Mix almonds with pure water in blender or Vitamix. Blend several minutes until smooth and creamy. (Warning: mixture will expand some, so make sure your blender is not full before starting it) Strain mixture into a large bowl through a sprout bag, cheese cloth or kitchen towel. Put mixture back into blender with vanilla, soaked dates, or other sweetener. Pour into glass jar or pitcher and store in fridge for up to one week. Notes Save the pulp of the almonds, put on cookie sheet and dehydrate in oven on lowest heat until completely dry. Run through blender or food processor to make almond flour, which can be used in recipes in place of flour. http://wellnessmama.com/366/organic-almond-milk-recipe/

@@ladytrucker1961, RIGHT ON!!! 10 years out,,,that is just simply AMAZING!