ChaoticBliss

What a great affirmation! Congratulations on all your success and staying positive. Staying positive is always the hardest part. I am two years sleeved and have not hit goal. Hovered 12 lbs away but that's as close as I have gotten. I am not giving up either!Thank you for sharing. ????

What a huge milestone! So proud for you ????

@@FedUpwithBeingFat I have been very fortunate with not getting too many questions. I eat smaller portions of course but friends and extended family don't notice. In fact because I eat every two to three hours people joke that I am always eating and lost weight anyway. What they don't understand is my portions are much smaller than the norm. My kids notice most but I laugh it off and tell them I am not going to starve. I always carry a to go box from every restaurant and no one thinks anything of it. When they ask me I just explain exercise and portion control. I also did a lot of self help reading on normal eating and acknowledging why I eat, sometimes I mention that. The sleeve was a tool to accomplish my goals, but it was those other things also that helped me succeed. I also have not faced as many questions because I was a serial yoyo'er so losing weight was not as surprising s the keeping it off will be. I haven't regretted my decision not to tell anyone one bit. My husband and these forums have been great support system. Good luck with your surgery!

I had my surgery on Wednesday and went back to work the following Tuesday without any problems. Assuming no complications, you should be fine. Good luck on your surgery!

I completely understand. We didn't tell our children either. In our case as a blended family, there are ex's who would have no right to comment but would certainly do so from everything like money or their opinions however skewed ... to 4 sets of parents wit lots of different viewpoints. It was just so much simpler to keep it between us and not put anyone in a position that they felt they had to keep a secret. I wish I could tell my best friend, and I could, but it's a heavy responsibility to put on her to "not tell anyone". Mums just the word around here.

Two years ago , I took my kids to a Waterpark. I was overweight but I went on all the rides. I remember the stairs causing me to be out of breath but the rides were fine and we had a nice time. A year later, more weight, another "better" water park, I am not even comfortable in the specially ordered swimsuit I ordered for the trip. I have embarrassing moments with tubes and slides but I went for my children, not my self image. I am days away from surgery. Another year later, 60 pounds down, another Waterpark, I feel great. I notice that the stairs don't even cause me to be out of breath, the slides are fun and I have very few problems with tubes. I make it across the "Lilly pad rope" challenge and my 13 year old son is like " aww mom I didn't even get to see you wipe out" while I could tell he was proud I made it across. My older teenage daughters were not embarrassed to walk around the park with their "beautiful" mom. This is not the experience from prior years. This is what VSG has done for me. This is what I have done. This is really enjoying my life as their mom! Water parks included. ????

My new motto is "imperfect perfection". What we see on Tv and in magazines is not real most or the time anyway. I try to get past my own head and realize that I am the most imperfect perfect me and that is what I aspire to be. My own mother is 5'11 and never weighed more than 135lbs and she still has a tummy and her thighs spread when she sits and my 5'6 frame is just now fine for me. We all have our mental battles and some hurdles are harder to overcome than others. I am only 13 months out, but I still have problems seeing the me that is now. I still see the pre surgery me. I try to focus on how much healthier I am, how I can climb two flights of stairs and hardly notice, how I have the energy to live the life I want. That is what matters. It isn't always easy, but these ideas help keep me on the right track. Good luck to you

Just amazing. You are so fit and healthy! Great work, keep it up!

Wow! Amazing job you two. My husband has been all in with me also without surgery. It is so helpful to do it together. My hubby lost some for awhile, but stress is bringing it back. All we can do is keep on trying and working together. You guys are an inspiration, keep up the good work.

You look amazing! I so wish I could have done this when I was younger. I am just thankful to turn 40 at my high school weight . Take care of yourself and enjoy this new you!

You look great! Congratulations on goal, that has got to feel good.

Lookin' great! Keep up the good work! I love my sleeve too

Wow-o! You look amazing!

I am 1 year out. I can easily eat 8 ounces. That's 3-4 ounces of protein, the rest are veggies and some simple carbs. I feel like I finally eat a"normal" plate. I am satisfied and content. Those times when something tastes just amazing, I take home leftovers and look forward to the next time, or I tell myself I can always come back and have it again. I have a long healthy life to enjoy all the wonderful food that will come into it. That helps me not feel like I am missing out on that one singular meal.

What a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing it so eloquently. My mental struggle is of course ongoing, but this has been the best tool for redefining myself both mentally and physically. I wish everyone the same success, even if their road takes them a different way to get there.

It is very circumstantial for me. I find I can drink almost all the time, even during meals, though I abstain due to the nutritional and digestive time necessary after eating. I can drink all the way up to time to eat, but on some occasions depending on what I eat, I do have to wait to drink. I am a year out, I can eat or drink anything, without issue.

My doctor did not give me a "goal weight" at all. I think his inferred goal post was "normal" on the BMI chart. My personal goal is only slightly below that, just wiggle room below. Ultimately, the goal is to be healthier and be comfortable in your own skin. I think other than that a number doesn't even matter. Good luck to you

Woohoo! Congratulations. You look amazing, what great work! This has been an amazing year and adventure for all of us.

Oh my goodness. I am so sorry you are having to go through all this. Sending prayers your way.

Go you!!! Great job. ????

Wow! Great work. You exude confidence in your after photo. A picture speaks a thousand words. ????

Awesome job! You look beautiful and I can tell you feel great too!

Wow! It looks like you had an amazing year! Congratulations ????

Congratulations and great work!

I am not sure what happened on my other post... But, here are my before and afters almost exactly one year to the day.