You look beautiful...congratulations!

This made me LOL!!

20 Months Post Sleevie Wonder and 3 Months Post Plastics

I so enjoyed the photos in the early stages so I’m paying it forward. I could have never imagined I’d be putting bikini pics on the internet previously.

I’m loving life. I don’t find maintenance to be difficult. Every day is a choice on how you chose to take care of your body. I’ve got a lot of time and quite frankly money invested in mine – and I take pretty good care of it. At 36, I feel this new found freedom that was previously never within reach. If you are on the fence, just do it.

July 15th, 2012 - 3 Months Post Plastics








Screaming "LOUD" dress for the Beach

You look beautiful! Congrats. You had your sleeve on my bday - that makes it even more special.

I do benefiber 3x day now. I've had lots of issues with regularity. I've tried probiotics, laxatives...you name it. I ended up with a blockage in my intestines (I was literally full of sheeeeeet). It was so painful and I ended up in the ER. I faithfully take fiber every single day now and fingers crossed - it seems to work.

You look beautiful. And a bikini with no plastics.......aarrrgh......I'm headed to Mexico next month to be bikini ready.

At 15 months post op, I hit 100 lb loss!  That’s the equivalent of my 12 yr old son that I was carrying around on my frame.  I’m 10 lbs below my goal.  My current weight is 134 lbs; I’m 5’ 6” and wear a size 4.  I have plastics scheduled next month on April 17^th and I’m very excited about being bikini ready this summer.

I visit this board from time to time and I see the posts from recent surgeries, some posts of frustration due to stalls and others just learning along the way. 

There are a couple of things that I want you to know:

It will not happen overnight.  I lost the 1^st 50 lbs in about 4 ½ months and the other 50 lbs took an additional 11 months.  I never really stalled, just lost slow but steady and I think that is better on your body.

I lost weight on a 1200 calorie daily diet.  My diet consisted of all foods, including carbs.  The sleeve is what you make of it and I did (and still do) make smart choices.  I had to eat in a way that I know I can maintain for life and I feel comfortable.  For maintenance, I'm trying to increase to 1600-1800 calories and it's not the easiest task.

You will lose hair!  I lost about ½ the volume of my hair and I didn’t have a ton to start with, but relax…you will not go bald.  Your protein, vitamins, etc.; these things are important, but you will more than likely still lose hair.  Just know, that it does grow back.

Your food volume does increase over time.  This doesn’t mean you have stretched your sleeve.   I’m at a point where I really should not lose any more weight and need to increase my daily calories to just maintain and stop losing.  I don’t want a lot of junk in my diet, so I enjoy that I can eat more and get my daily calories.  It also makes me feel somewhat “normal”.  Nothing quite makes you stand out like when your toddler/small child out eats you.

I do think attitude plays a part in your progress.  I you feel like you are failing or are constantly comparing yourself to others; it can take a toll on you.  Enjoy yourself along the way.  Enjoy the progress you have already made and will continue to make.  I no longer weigh daily and I’m trying to enjoy this new “skinny” life and not focus so much on food and the loss or gain.  I eat right (most of the time), I exercise and I get my water and vitamins in.  Looking back on all those times pre sleeve that I failed at weight loss; I now know that I just made it too hard.  For me,  it never was the type of foods I ate as much as the volume was the problem.  I both punished and rewarded myself with food.  I will be 36 this month and I feel like for the first time, I have a healthy relationship with food.

Now some photo whoring!  Our 1^st EVER family photos.  Previously I never would take family photos because mama was fat and I didn’t want to be in the pictures. 

But first - the embarrassing Pre-Op


That baby is 5 now and has hair!


A photo with the whole family - I am incredibly blessed





Size 2 jeans!

Lookin good Sleeve Sister!

Congrats!

Thank You!  Down 98 lbs.

You most certainly can see a huge difference and you look wonderful!

Looking smashing! You have done amazing and have so much to be proud of.

Cutie Patootie!