AvaFern

Haha, I took your post as it was intended- to be funny.

I try really hard to get in a few runs a week and a few trips to boxing class, however after plastics I was forced to take time off from exercise and I found that I can maintain under goal without really working out as much as I had been. The result is that I am now lazy and do not workout anywhere near as often as I used to. I workout now because it makes me happy and relieves stress, not because I am furiously sweating my way to a certain size.

Sometimes I miss food, especially on holidays. I haven't had a burger in years, and wow, one would really taste good. Yesterday I had a few Cookies over the course of the day, a small turkey sandwich, some watermelon, and some shrimp. Outside of the cookies it wasn't a bad day and this morning when I pulled on my size 0 jeans, I was ok with the trade-off between food and being thin. You can eat normal food again in the future, but maybe you won't want to. That should cheer you up a bit.

I didn't develop lactose intolerance as much as I developed an intolerance of sugars and fats, which includes milk fat. So, while I can drink skim milk, I can't drink any milk that has fat in it. I'm usually fine with yogurts, but I can't eat eggs. It's odd what your sleeve does or doesn't end up liking. It may just be that your stomach is trying to adjust to what you're eating and since most of what you're consuming is liquid, some diarrhea has resulted. Hope you feel better!

Does a tummy tuck help reduce the waist area? Yes, at least it did for me. I no longer had to account for my stomach pooch, so the tummy tuck knocked a few inches and then my posterior body lift got rid of the rest. How much weight did you lose due to having the tummy tuck? I went into surgery at 153 and at my next plastics procedure which was 3 months later I was 148. I also ate really healthily after surgery and walked a lot, so if I had to guess, maybe my TT got rid of 2-3 pounds. I also had a breast lift and augment and lipo in a few areas during the same surgery so it's hard to tell. Did you go down a pant size? Sort of. I was wearing an 8-10 in jeans before that surgery, then I was a 6-8 after my second surgery, and now I'm a 0-2 after my third surgery. I'd say the posterior body lift made the biggest difference in pants sizes cuz my big butt wasn't in the way anymore, but the TT allows me to wear clothing that I couldn't before because no my stomach is flat. How many days was the pain miserable? 0. I did not have any truly miserable pain during my TT and boob job surgery. I took drugs for 3 days post-op then needed nothing after that. How far after the surgery did the swelling go down and you could see results? I looked like a stuffed sausage for a solid month, but around 6-8 weeks I could really see the results and most of the swelling had gone down. How far out until you saw final results? I am now 10 months post-op and I would say my final TT results were probably visible around 3 months. I think at that point most of the swelling was gone and I felt fully healed. I weigh 145 and I plan on being at least 135 when I get it. I was 153 after my first surgery and I am now 126...I notice no difference that resulted from losing an extra 27 pounds. If you are within 15% of your goal, you're safe to have the procedure and not experience any adverse aesthetic results.

I am almost 2 years post-op and maintaining under goal and there are still times where I feel like a busted can of biscuits (saw that on a poster and it made me laugh). I gained a little bit this week, so even though technically I'm not fat, I woke up, got on the scale, and cried myself a little river because 129 is quite the heffer compared to my usual 126. I feel like I will probably always see myself as the fat girl, which is why I weigh everyday because I have a solid piece of information that proves that no matter how bad I feel, a woman in the 120's is not fat.

I do! I've had to take the test a few times for work and school things. I am INTJ...all day long, lol.

Straws- because at almost 2 years post-op I still don't like drinking without a straw MyFitnessPal- keeps me accountable Scales- I use two of them every morning- it's a constant reminder that it is very easy to get fat again BariatricPal- I usually check in here about once a day while I'm at my desk working Plastic Baggies, Small Dishes- Instead of eating anything right from the container, I always portion things out in bags or little tupperware dishes

@@Maddiee I met my boyfriend on Tinder too! Lol, he was the only guy that I actually went on a date with and he stuck around for months before we ever progressed to anything that most other people on Tinder are looking for the first meet-up. I didn't realize Tinder was a hook-up app until well past the point that he and I had started talking. Goes to show you can meet someone anywhere, lol.

So...I wrote you a long post about how I met my boyfriend online and how everyone gets rejected online, but I erased it because ultimately it's boring and something you may not care about. Best advice...go read the book "Why Men Love B*tch*s" and then the other book "Why Men Marry B*tch*s". Contrary to what it sounds like from the title, the book is all about putting yourself first when it comes to dating and how a man has no interest in a woman that chases him. And before the men reading this have a fit...read the book first before you judge!! In your case, if you're initiating all of the texts, then he's just not that into you (also a book worth reading). If a man is not willing to chase you, then he doesn't want you. Give yourself the respect you deserve and let the man come after you. Men like a chase...let them have it. I get that this is a bit old school, but it's true. I've dated a lot...mostly in college when I was thin and hot (now I'm just older (31) and thin, but not so hot, lol), and universally I have found that if you're the one doing the chasing, the relationship is never going to work. Be sweet, be honest and sincere, but don't ever be a doormat. Have your own life and a man worthy of your time will be happy to text you first almost every time. Good luck!

Congrats!!

I didn't have one after the sleeve, but it was really nice to have after an abdominoplasty. In hindsight, I think it might have been nice to have after sleeve surgery just because it makes your stomach feel all secure. I wore my binder after both my abdominoplasty and my posterior body lift and I ended up keeping it on longer than I needed just because it made me feel better. Because your procedure is laparscopic and the muscles and skin aren't being pulled apart in the same way as a tummytuck, you don't really need one...but it might be nice to have. They're around $8 at the drug store.

I had this feeling the first few weeks whenever I tried to drink anything without a straw. Drinking with a straw limited the feeling, but foods for a few weeks also made that weird feeling. It felt a lot like swallowing rocks...I could feel it chunking its way all the way down through my chest. It went away in a few weeks although if I drink Water too quickly now, like after a workout, I can still feel a little bit of that feeling in my chest area. Eat slowly, drink slowly or with a straw, and it will probably go away in a few weeks- at least it did for me.

I had a few outfits that were my "skinny" outfits- things that I knew I should be able to fit in because I had fit in them before. I didn't really buy new outfits until I was about a size too big for them, this way I was motivated to fit into them. Amusingly enough, I am now too small for a lot of the skinny outfits that I had picked out. I would say if you see something that is a great deal and you think it will motivate you, then go for it, but ultimately I found that guessing what might look good on me was not very successful until I was pretty close to the point the outfit would fit.

I had three plastic surgeries, largely because my first one (tummy tuck and boobs) was SO AWESOME. Yes, that did deserve capital letters, lol. I had no major issues with this surgery- you're sore for a few days but in 6-8 weeks you are back to normal, the swelling is gone, and you have this fantastic flat tummy. Over the course of about 7 months I had my arms, thighs, boobs, stomach, and back/butt done and while I love all of my results, the tummy tuck is far and away the one I still love everytime I look in the mirror. It is 100% worth it to have the plastics procedures done after weight loss.

@qnz234 Your ticker says that you're 110 pounds- maybe people are looking at you because they think you're hot! That being said, I think I will always feel that way. I always said that a woman in the 120's could never be called fat, so while I jump around from 126-129, I should certainly qualify as being in the 120's. Nonetheless, there are days I go in my closet and the size 2 is a little snug, or the 0 won't close the way it did a few days ago and instead of thinking, well damn, my size 0 is snug, I must be bloated, I think...OMG I am getting fat again. I don't really see people looking at me in public, although I will say, that there are plenty of times when I am out and I see a great looking girl and I'm like, WOW, why can't I look like that? This weekend I was at a bar with a friend and this woman walked in who had this fantastic butt. I wanted to take her to my plastic surgeon and be like...see this butt, make mine like hers. So, if she happened to catch me looking at her, I would say to her...I swear I'm not checking you out or thinking mean things about you, but your figure is amazing and I would love to look like you. Maybe the people looking at you are also having similar thoughts? Everyone has insecurities- not just us.

I also use MyFitnessPal....love it!

127- thank-you!

I can understand that issue. My sleeve hates food that has any butter, oil, fats, or sugar in it, so I'm always nervous about eating out. It gets to the point that I end up making myself sick because I'm so nervous about getting sick! For the most part, I just order something that looks least likely to have anything bad in it and then I eat really slowly, so as soon as it starts making me sick, I've only eaten a bit of it, I can stop eating, and have plenty of time to get to the restroom.

If you only have 18 pounds until goal, you're already eligible for self-pay plastics. You should be within 15% of your goal weight before plastics. I was 153 when I had my first plastics procedure and I'm now bouncing 1-2 pounds around 126 a little under a year and 3 plastic surgeries later. My first surgery was an abdominoplasty and the results were so fantastic that it actually motivated me to keep losing. The last few pounds are hard, but if your goal weight is only 18 pounds more, then you can consider your plastic surgery consults now. That may give you the extra burst of motivation you need to knock out those last few pounds. Good luck!

In hindsight, I did have some GI issues the night after my swallow test. I had it the second day of the three days I was in the hospital and I distinctly remember having such a violent poop in the middle of the night that someone in the hallway outside my room heard my disgusting pooping noises and laughed their butt off. I was high and sick and fairly miserable so at the time I didn't care, but hahaha, it is a funny memory now!

I am almost 2 years out and I want to eat food too! Lol, I think everyone feels the way you do when they are at your point in the journey. Time passes and before you know it you will be eating normal food again. I've maintained under my goal for about 3 months now and while for the most part I can eat what I want, I often choose not to simply because I like being skinny marginally more than I like cake...marginally being the key word. It's ok to be frustrated and emotional, if we didn't have an emotional challenge with food I don't think most of us would have gotten to the point where we had to have 80% of our stomach cut out. Chin up, buttercup...it will get better.

What if the surgery goes perfectly, you lose all of the weight you want to, and you easily maintain below goal weight for the rest of your life? Every time you think of something bad, also think of a good "what if". It's totally normal to be worried and stressed and scared...all of us were. Just remember, almost every person on this board will tell you that the surgery was worth it, so statistically, there's a pretty good shot you will feel the same way in a few months. Good luck to you!

Ugh, I hear ya on the cottage cheese thighs. I have always had cellulite on my thighs and despite both and inner and outer thigh lift, I still have cellulite on my thighs. It seems to be largely genetics and outside of toning as much as possible, it seems like there isn't a lot you can do about it.

Everyone else is right- it's because there is concern for clots. That being said, people have surgery every day who are on birth control so the risk is pretty slim. Also, not all forms of birth control carry the risk. I'm on depo, so since it is not an oral contraceptive, it is not contraindicated for the surgery. If you're worried about getting pregnant, maybe try one of the forms of birth control (ring, shot, patch, etc) that isn't an oral contraceptive and then you're both protecting against babies but also not increasing your risk for clot.