jintycb

If you live in the UK you don't need to go as far as Mexico with a low BMI. I had mine done in Belgium with a BMI of 35.9. Google ECFS and you can get all the info on who I went through for my surgery. Good luck.

Oh dear, caught red handed!!!! Practice clothes for ballet dancers (retired and past their best or otherwise) include a pair of comfy (translate as tatty) sweatpants, teamed with a matching (equally scruffy and tatty) tee and you get the picture. Underneath this odd assortment of rag bag relics there is likely to be a dancer clothed in shimmering Lycra. However, in my case, and using my advancing years as an excuse, you will probably find the latest in thermal underwear in place of Lycra. Come on, a person has to keep one's bits warm whilst exercising. So you see, you were nearly right about the piece of thread but it is what is hanging off the practice clothes, not what is practiced in. So you see, I was just trying to trick you into you posting a picture of yourself flashing your plums. Moral of the story? Never trust us older women. We are incorrigible and ever so slightly wicked!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell you what KindaFamiliar, when you do pose in said flouro mankini, you have got to post the pic on this site. If you do, I shall have a pic in my practice clothes on the barre and I shall post that. Basically, if you show me yours I'll show you mine!!!!!!!!!

I also regret not having taken the plunge sooner. I had a few hours of real pain the night of my surgery (I nearly regretted having it done) and I felt like death warmed up the following day but that was it. I was up and wandering around the town the next day, drinking water, tea and apple juice every time I had a sit down to rest, and I haven't looked back since. I've been lucky insofar as I can eat anything with no ill effects but I put that down to eating natural, home cooked food with no additives. I haven't felt this healthy in years. Love it.

Go girl go!!!! You look terrific. I love seeing just what us sleevers can achieve and I love the NSVs that happen along our journeys. I threw a new pair of jeans out today-not because they were too tight but because they were the most uncomfortable things that I've covered my arse with for ages. They were cheap and that is what I have been used to buying for the last few years. No longer my friends. I shall be buying better quality clothes for my better quality body and enjoying the feel of them. I WON'T be buying a bikini (too ancient darlings) but I have foolishly promised a friend that I will start going to ballet classes again with her (I trained at the Royal Ballet School and danced for many years when in my prime) and I am determined that I shall wear a leotard again. Bit more poundage to come off before I sally forth to the barre but will post a pic when I do. Isn't life wonderful with a sleeve. Yay!!!!!!!!! I am a very happy bunny.

Another slow loser here. I am now just under four months post sleeve. The funny thing is though, when I look at the whole big picture of my weight loss I am AMAZED!!!! I started at 203lbs and am down to 162lbs. I recently had a three week stall but things got moving again scale wise a week ago. However, during the stall, my body obviously had a good old sort out and my shape changed and unneeded inches left various parts of my anatomy. I didn't have a say in any of the design ideas at all and just kept walking the dogs and getting my exercise. I'm back wearing jeans again and I threw out all my tracksuit pants the other day. I'm loving this journey and accept that as the weight crept on then it's OK if it creeps off. Keep reading the posts on this site and you won't go far wrong. We're all on the same journey.

I'm in the UK so we have different brands but I really didn't like the flavoured varieties of protein powder so went online and discovered unflavoured whey. I now concoct my own shakes and they keep beautifully in the fridge for several days. If you make them extra thick then when you want a serving just dollop a couple of tablespoons in a shaker, top up with skimmed milk or icy cold water and hey presto-a shake of your choice. I throw in all sorts of things, fruit, skimmed milk powder-whatever takes my fancy and I can sweeten them to how I like them. I have discovered a great cheat and that is to use a tiny bit of Nesquick (milkshake powder for kids) to give them extra taste and a tiny bit of sweetness. It is real sugar in the Nesquick but over the whole mixture it is almost negligible and I hate the taste of artificial sweeteners. I have been known to have the odd squirt of Agave nectar in some recipes. I have also discovered that if I make a batch of thick Horlicks malted milk shake, I can add boiling water to a dollop of that at night and I get a great bedtime drink and I get some protein that stops me getting the midnight munchies. Get the blender going and start playing and it's amazing what you can produce. You also have zero chemicals which can only be good for our very precious little tummies.

Whooopeeee!!!! Just been on my scales and I've managed to get rid of 4lbs this week. Over the moon. Shall try the new jeans that I bought in the sale on today. They were a wee bit too tight ten days ago but now, hopefully........... I admit to an indulgence with these ones-a US brand 'Not Your Daughter's Jeans' that friends rave about but that are expensive. However, this eagle eyed thrift bitch (me) spotted that they had been reduced from £135 to £45 so just had to have them. Makes a change for me. As a dumpy dame I bought most of my stuff in Primark, which for those who haven't heard of it, is a wonderfully cheap chain that we in the UK love. Their knickers knock some really expensive ones into a cocked hat for comfort and durability. I've also managed to get my beautiful Frye boots (hardly worn eBay) that were too tight on the leg, on at last. Just got to lose a bit more on the calves to get into the most beautiful new lime green and fuscia cowboy boots from a very expensive shop on the King's Road in London called R Soles (charity shop buy for £35 instead of about their original cost of about £300). All these little victories just make me grin. Loving it. On another plus of my WLS, my neighbour and chum who I used to go to Weight Watchers with has asked if we can sit down tomorrow so that I can give her all the details of my surgery, surgeon etc as she has decided, from watching me gradually taking up less of this planet, that she is going for a sleeve. She, like me, has lost her 'stop' button when it comes to food and she has had enough. I shall introduce her to this site and pass on your book my Queen. Think more tea is needed now so I'm going to try to get past the two dogs and two cats who are lying by my side on the bed (c'mon, it's Sunday, I don't get up before nine today). Long walk later-bliss. Life is so much better and physically easier now. Just shows, you're never too old to have surgery and regain your lost fitness. Love it!

I do hope that you are firmly ensconced somewhere comfortable and armed with a small tinkly bell to summon your nearest and dearest when required! Trust that the surgery went well and you recover quickly from it. You sound as though you are pleased with the results and as we know, good results are our goal, whatever the surgery is, be it plastic or bariatric. It's now just over 14 weeks since I was sleeved and I'm still a very happy punter. I'm losing slowly but surely, with 37lbs having gone so far. It's weigh in morning tomorrow so we shall see what the scales say then. It's not been all plain sailing with a fairly long stall scale wise. However, my shape changed fairly dramatically during the stall so I'm not complaining. I've given up wearing track suit pants and am now in jeans that I haven't worn for at least two years so this one small goal me means such a lot. I am experimenting with recipes and quite often enjoying the results as is my own nearest and dearest. I am still walking the dogs, even on a day like today where the rain didn't stop for the two hours that I was out. We were all very wet!! I reckon there are times when I swear that two little doggy faces look like smacked bottoms because I can walk sooooo much further nowadays. Certainly on miserable days like today they would rather be curled up in the warm and dry. Think other half is worrying about my improving fitness affecting our bank balance. I can traipse round the shops for so much longer now that I am shedding weight and we all know that a changing body shape means changing out wardrobe. That means spending money on new clothes. He needn't worry too much as I'm not going to buy that much at the moment. I fully intend emerging like a butterfly when we hit the summer. Meanwhile, I shall stay focused on just doing all the right things to keep the fat flowing away from me and appreciating every ounce lost. Oh well, more chores to do. Keep well oh Queen. Much love x

I love BP for all that I have learned since my surgery last year. I've been sticking close to a thread about stalling and it is really helping me see one through. However, there appears to be a bunch of air headed hits who are having their own little private conversation about pre-op diets!!!!!!! WTF do they think there are so many options for postings and info? So you don't clutter up threads that are a lifeline to people with your gossipy drivel!!!!!!!! Right, I've probably upset loads of people but I needed to let rip. Shall shut up now............

I've had my Shine for a couple of weeks and love it. I bought mine from Amazon UK and at the same time bought a really solid stainless steel wristband for it but from a totally different manufacturer but who again was on the Amazon site. It's really secure and looks quite stylish. Love my Shine and just getting really used to the app now. Haven't swum in it yet but it has coped with showering and washing up with no problems.

Just weighed myself on my weekly visit onto my scales. Stuck-again.....grrrrrrrrrrrr. I have been in a long, drawn out stall for about a month ad the odd lb has gone but that's it. My shape though has changed drastically and all my jeans are too big as I'm down two sizes since my surgery 21 Oct '15. I started off with a fairly low BMI (35.9) so I'm more than aware that I'm not going to have huge losses in a short space of time. I'm down 35lbs since surgery date, I'm walking 3-5 miles a day, I'm sticking to the healthiest diet ever with protein and water being consumed in the correct quantities. I feel WONDERFUL. I'm on the second part of my weight loss journey to lose the next 30-40 lbs so was really pleased to read above that the last 20-30lbs can be a challenge. I am loving this journey and loving the comments from friends about how good I'm looking. I'm embracing my stall but I still want to SCREAM at my scales and tell them to MOVE!!!!!!!!

That reminds me of the comment a couple of years ago from one of my best friends. Having been to Weight Watchers and lost a bit (not that much) weight she came out with 'I'm getting my old friend back'. Thanks pal! Thought friends were friends were friends whatever shape they were/are/become. That's why I didn't tell her I was having my sleeve done. A very level headed mutual friend told her after I'd had the op which must have given her food for thought, and when she called me she kept her opinions to herself and shut her trap. I knew that if I had told her before my surgery she would have told me all the negatives about gastric sleeves that she had 'heard' about. Funny how some people know so much about a subject that in reality they know absolutely sod all about!!!!!! Grrrrrrrrr.

I have had one negative comment from GPs at my surgery. Before I waddled off to Belgium to have surgery I informed one of the GPs who knows me well of what I was about to do. He suggested that instead of surgery I try 'portion control'. I was tempted to point out to him that it was my idea of 'portion control' that had got me to the point of needing surgery to control my weight! Last week I saw my own GP who was great and just asked me how I had gone about the whole thing. He was really pleased for me. As I had the op done abroad I had my stitches taken out at my surgery by the practice nurse. She is all for bariatric surgery-her husband is a bariatric consultant!! I am going to cost the NHS less money in the future as I am not going to have all the co-morbidities of being overweight dealt with, and paid for, by them. Surely, WLS makes economic sense and shouldn't be seen by the NHS as a last ditch attempt to solve an individual's obesity problem?

Brilliant! I'll email you later and give you my number.

Just spotted this thread and know that there hasn't been a post on it for a while but I would love to meet up with some more sleevers. I am now three months post op and so glad that I've had the surgery. I'm in Kingston-upon-Thames and my email is jinty123@gmail.com

Yum! I'm going to try this as I LOVE sushi.

To make the roasted cauliflower all you need to do is to get one plastic food bag and put the following into it. 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast 1 teaspoon garlic granules 1 teaspoon mixed herbs 1 teaspoon hot paprika or cayenne pepper Salt and ground black pepper 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (or whatever other oil you like) shake in the bag until well mixed. Break a whole cauliflower into florets and chuck it into the bag with the oil and herb mixture. Shake it until the cauliflower is well covered then tip the lot onto a non-stick baking tray. Put it into the oven (450f) and cook until slightly crispy on the outside and just al denote when you poke it with a knife. Quantities are approximate as I rarely measure anything and just tweak things till they taste right. Enjoy x

Well guys, this thread is so comforting for me to read. I started off with a BMI of 35.9 W203lbs on my surgery date of 21Oct '15 and am now at 30.1 BMI W169lbs. So that means I've lost 34lbs of useless flab in 13 weeks. Slow and steady is suiting me although fast and furious would be pretty good for a change! I have more or less stalled but am doing everything more or less as I should be. If I stop and really think about how far I've come since I was sleeved I should be patting myself on the back. I feel fitter than I have for years, my clothes are getting looser by the day and I'm already thinking ahead to when I start to chuck out stuff that gets too baggy. I'm not buying anything as my weight goes down as I've got all the clothes that I collected on the way up over the past 10 years (yep, I hoard). That means I've got loads to wear. Granted, I might not look like something out of the latest edition of Vogue. When I get to goal I am going to have soooo much fun shopping for beautiful, well fitting clothes instead of the tents that have been my standard uniform for the last few years. I want to get rid of another 30lbs so apart from walking the dogs every day I'm about to start swimming again.

I have just discovered, through posts on this site, nutritional yeast. It is a miracle flavouring ingredient for jaded post op palates-well in my case anyway. Even my husband wolfed down the roasted cauliflower that I made last night and went back for seconds and he is not a veg fan at all. Type 'nutritional yeast' into the search box on this site and have a look at some of the posts. Google it too and there are loads of great recipes. It is fat free and just so yummy.

Morning Sleever54. Just weighed myself and I've stalled again! I had a stall for about three weeks, lost a few lbs and am back in a stall again! Like you, the inches are going, but the scale is staying put. I'm doing loads of walking, eating all my protein, bit low on the water this week but being in the UK loads of cups of tea!!! My dogs are exhausted, their legs are getting shorter and THEIR waistlines are looking great. I'm not going to get myself into a state as everyone who knows what I have been up to surgery wise have noticed the difference in how I look. I'm nearly 13 weeks post op so much the same as you. Just hang in there. Just imagine all that lard and suet that has been hanging around on your frame is now disappearing but you are building beautiful, lean, sleek muscle. By the way, a row I had at weight watchers about fat and muscle weighing the same-it's crap. I'm a butcher's daughter and know that volume for volume the lean flesh weighs sooooo much more than the fat. So, whilst our fat volume is decreasing our lean mass is increasing. As everyone says, embrace the stall.

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Yes of course, just tell me how to do it!!!!!!!

Stumbled across these posts last night and I have been out and bought nutritional yeast today. Yum!!!!! I made fat free turkey meatloaf and roasted cauliflower with a crust made from garlic granules, cayenne, mixed herbs, black pepper, nutritional yeast and a bit of olive oil to glue it all together. Shoved it all in a plastic food bag, added the cauliflower florets and gave the whole lot a good shake. Tipped it all into a baking tray, into a fairly hot oven and hey presto-bliss. My husband who can eat crap and still stay slim and fit LOVED it. Yay. Got veg down his throat and healthy protein from the turkey loaf. I'm now hooked on nutritional yeast and it's magical food enhancing properties. Will be experimenting more tomorrow.

Good luck to you fellow fifties. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to medical science that they came up with a simple and effective solution to my weight problem. That's not to say that there isn't a lot of work for me to do but the fact that I can't stuff myself on a regular basis is nothing short of amazing. Before surgery I can't remember the last time I felt full. Now, I have a wonderful 'stop' button. You'll soon have yours and I hope you love it as much as I do.