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  1. #1
    Gastric Sleeve Member
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    02/14/2017
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    Dr. Louisiana valenzuela
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    Default Body image after weight loss?

    A successful sleever, brought up in another post that she still hadn't changed her perception of her body, even though she had had lost the weight. For those of you who have lost weight, how long does it take for our minds to catch up to our new body?



  2. Gastric Sleeve Surgery With Weight Loss Agents
  3. #2
    Gastric Sleeve Member Kindle's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    12/20/2013
    Surgeon
    Ariel Ortiz & Arturo Martinez
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    I had the opposite problem....I never saw myself as fat. Even in the mirror, even as my 22W jeans and 2XL tops got too tight. I always felt like a thin person inside. But seeing photographs of myself always shocked me....who the hell is that fat chick? Especially pictures where I was with other people I considered obese and there I was, bigger than they were!!! So after losing 100 pounds, my body finally matches my self image. Actually, it's better than my self image. I always catch myself admiring my hot bod in any reflective surface I walk by. And for the first time in my life I'm buying clothes that show off my figure rather than cover it up.

    Sorry I can't really answer your question, just thought I'd share that perception can run both ways.



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  5. #3
    Gastric Sleeve Member Terribj's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    03/19/2014
    Surgeon
    Dr Balette
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    Nov 2013
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    I still see myself fat. My clothes look huge (sz 8 from a sz 22). When I meet new people I wonder if they will treat me different because of my size...being fat. My husband has been helpful in pointing out people that are my same size and it starts to sink in.
    After being overweight for 40 years it doesn't go away overnight or on your own. Talk to someone if you can't get past it.


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  7. #4
    Gastric Sleeve Member Christie13's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Christie
    Surgery date
    11/03/2016
    Surgeon
    Dr. Wright
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    Nov 2016
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    09-12-2019 04:13 PM
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    I am not at goal. But I will say that I already find myself looking in the mirror a lot to admire how far I have come. I am so happy with my results so far. So I really think it depends on the person. And I saw myself as fat when I was fat...but probably not as fat as I really was. I can see now in the pictures that I was fatter than I realized. So while I knew I was overweight....I never saw myself as obese....which I clearly was.



  8. #5
    Gastric Sleeve Member Shirl's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Shirl
    Surgery date
    05/17/2016
    Surgeon
    Dr. Sergey Lyass
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    SoCal and Central Texas
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    I had an amazing coworker who inspired me to love myself despite how big or small I was. I feel extremely blessed that I can look in the mirror and be proud of the womYn starting back at me. I did the Sleeve Gastrectomy not because I despise myself or did not like the way I looked (I had the opposite of body dysmorphia, I thought I was a pretty hot mess! Lol!) but I had surgery because I loved myself enough to not let my health take a detrimental turn.

    I am very happy I made this choice everyday!

    When I run into people I haven't seen for a while, and they tell me I look amazing, depending on the person I will say... glad you finally noticed because I always felt amazing!
    HW: 245lbs (11/15); SW: 226lbs (5/17/16) - Height: 5'6"

    Post-Op Weight:
    M1: 211.3 (-14.7)
    M2: 203 (-8.3)
    M3: 196.5 (-6.5)
    M4: 191.5 (-5)
    M5: 186.3 (-5.2)
    M6: (?)
    M7: (?)
    M8: 179.4 (-6.9)
    M9: 177.1 (-2.3)
    M10: 174 (-3.1)
    M11: 171.5 (-2.5)
    M12: 171 (-.5)
    Y1.1: 170 (-1)

    "Today is another day to get it right!"






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  10. Gastric Sleeve Surgery With Weight Loss Agents
  11. #6
    Gastric Sleeve Member ACE's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    09/13/2011
    Surgeon
    Rothchild
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    Aug 2011
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    Colorado
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    I'm over 5 years out and my mind is still not caught up to my new body. Body image seems to be the hardest part of this whole journey. I have found for me I have to look in the mirror often and I take lots of pictures of my new self so that I have to see the reality of this new body because in my head I still have many times where i feel just as big as I was in 2007 (478 lbs)
    "Its Not Hard Its Just New!"
    Transforming from caterpillar to butterfly to phoenix!


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  13. #7
    Gastric Sleeve Member
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    shaw
    Surgery date
    11/18/2015
    Surgeon
    Dr. assad
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    Feb 2016
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    10-31-2018 06:24 PM
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    I wish i could answer that for you im a year and 2 months in i know im small..im planning doing a full make over were not who we use to be..hope that helped



  14. #8
    Gastric Sleeve Member jamma's Avatar
    I have not had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    10/26/2016
    Surgeon
    Taiwan Kim
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    Sep 2016
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    08-02-2019 07:10 AM
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    Skaneateles, NY
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    I have also not lost all the weight yet, but really I have the same mindset as Kindle. I think it kept me from doing the surgery for so long. I never felt I looked that bad. I explained away the pre-diabetic blood tests by thinking I'd been eating wrong for a couple of days, high blood pressure was "white coat syndrome" clothes not fitting were designers' problems or my poor laundry skills. Now, I continue to have the same issue and think I'm SOOOO much thinner than I actually am. To counteract this, I am having my husband take pictures of me in every new outfit so I can see reality--that I still have quite a way to go. Another hint was that, outside of my family, not one person has said I didn't need to lose the weight, everyone is so interested and supportive of my continuing on my journey. Body image is a weird thing.



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  16. #9
    Gastric Sleeve Member Kindle's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    12/20/2013
    Surgeon
    Ariel Ortiz & Arturo Martinez
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    Jul 2013
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    Quote Originally Posted by jamma View Post
    I have also not lost all the weight yet, but really I have the same mindset as Kindle. I think it kept me from doing the surgery for so long. I never felt I looked that bad. I explained away the pre-diabetic blood tests by thinking I'd been eating wrong for a couple of days, high blood pressure was "white coat syndrome" clothes not fitting were designers' problems or my poor laundry skills. Now, I continue to have the same issue and think I'm SOOOO much thinner than I actually am. To counteract this, I am having my husband take pictures of me in every new outfit so I can see reality--that I still have quite a way to go. Another hint was that, outside of my family, not one person has said I didn't need to lose the weight, everyone is so interested and supportive of my continuing on my journey. Body image is a weird thing.
    LOL. You and I have the same rationale skills when it comes to explaining our size.

    Pictures have always been the best way for me to really see ME. My sister insisted I journal my weight loss with photos. So glad she did and those before photos are my number one motivator to keep on track.



  17. #10
    Gastric Sleeve Member Ann2's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Ann2
    Surgery date
    08/18/2014
    Surgeon
    n.a.
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    Oct 2013
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    Missouri
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    LOL! I can't answer your question because 2.5 years post-op I'm sometimes still astonished at how I look after losing 100 pounds and weighing 135.

    Of course, these days I'm a lot more used to having a BMI of 22.5 (normal range) than I was when I first arrived at this weight. Time does help. But to tell the truth I haven't yet OD'ed looking at my profile in the mirror because it's all so -- DIFFERENT! I mean, my shoulders are actually wider than my ass. And my clothing sizes are single digits. The styles I wear these days are a lot more Debbie Harry than the Church Lady. I'm not even close to being "used to it" yet.

    Yes, losing a lot of weight was the major reason for these changes. But I've also spent more than two years walking farther, faster and more often and doing aquarobics (pushing those monster styrofoam barbells underwater builds upper body muscles) and turning into a yoga freak. As a result my body continues to change in ways that make me look fitter and, I gotta say it, not half bad.

    Frankly, I don't see any of this as a problem. It's just fun to me.



    Consult: 235 lbs
    My and doc's preop diet: 216 -19 lbs
    M1 postop 205 -30
    M2 193 -42
    M3 184 -51
    M4 174 -61
    M5 167 -68
    M6 162 -73
    M7 156 -79
    M8 151 -84
    M9 148 -87
    M10 146 -89
    M11 144 -91
    M12 143 -92
    M13 142 -93
    M14 140 -95
    M15 139 -96
    M16 137 -98
    M17 135 -100

    First Surgiversary post

    Second Surgiversary post

    Third Surgiversary post

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  19. #11
    Gastric Sleeve Member ghost_ryder's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Greg
    Surgery date
    08/23/2016
    Surgeon
    Dr Doyle
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    11-26-2018 07:18 AM
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    Maryland
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    The first time I saw a picture after surgery was when this guy saw the changes. I then get a peek every morning in the mirror after my shower to remind me how far I have left to go. But if I compare where I came from to where I am now in such a short time it is amazing. We see our flaws like no one else does because we are afraid of returning to the aches and pains and sadness that we did not know we had until we felt like we do now.



    HW - 341 - June 1
    SW - 319 - 8/23 (-22)
    1mn - 286 - Sept 23 (-33) -total 55
    2mn - 274 - Oct 23 (-12) -total 67
    3mn - 263 - Nov 23 (-11) -total 78
    6mn - 238 - Feb 23(-25) - total 103
    9mn - 230 - May 23 (-8) - Total 111
    10mn - 226 - June 23 (-4) Total 115
    11mn - 226 - July 23 (0) Total 115

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  21. #12
    sraebaer
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    Not sure if "fat brain" will ever leave me, and it's been over three years. I know I am no longer fat. I know I am a regular sized person. But I still do things I did when I was fat, like always look for an aisle seat at church, movies, an airplane, the symphony, etc. I don't need an aisle seat, I fit in any seat.

    I signed up for a Biggest Loser contest at school until my daughter said, "Mom, you're crazy! You're small!" I dropped out.

    I keep thinking I should lose 10 more pounds, despite the fact that I have weighed exactly the same (normal BMI) for years. My body is probably where it wants to be. But I guess I still don't see myself as "thin." And I'm probably not thin, just normal-sized. Mind games.

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  23. #13
    Gastric Sleeve Member Cherub's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    Quote Originally Posted by ghost_ryder View Post
    The first time I saw a picture after surgery was when this guy saw the changes. I then get a peek every morning in the mirror after my shower to remind me how far I have left to go. But if I compare where I came from to where I am now in such a short time it is amazing. We see our flaws like no one else does because we are afraid of returning to the aches and pains and sadness that we did not know we had until we felt like we do now.
    Ghost_Ryder, I love the way you express yourself. It really rings true.



    361 lbs-Highest weight at the start of the sleeve research
    350 lbs-Weight at 1st Surgeon Visit
    340 lbs-Weight at pre op 3days prior to surgery (having lost 10 lbs on pre op diet)
    324 lbs- Day 14
    312 lbs -Day 27
    304 lbs- Day 37
    299 lbs- Day 44
    293 lbs- Day 62
    286 lbs- Day 73
    280 lbs- Day 86
    273 lbs- Day 107
    261 lbs- Day 141
    251 lbs 6mo
    242 lbs 7mo
    235 lbs 10mo

  24. #14
    Gastric Sleeve Member Pam G's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Pam
    Surgery date
    05/27/2016
    Surgeon
    Dr Ponce de Leon
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    Feb 2016
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    02-22-2024 08:48 AM
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    I need to get a full size long mirror. I can only see myself from my shoulders up! It might help. I've pretty much avoided full length mirrors for decades.




    HW: 275
    PreOp: 268 5/12/16

    SW: 258. 5/27/2016
    10 w: 225. Goal 1
    12 w: 222.
    14 w: 216.
    4 m: 215
    5 m: 205
    22: 199.4 10/30 Goal 2
    24: 196
    6 mo: 191
    7 m: 193
    8 m: 184
    9 m: 180 2/3/17. Goal 3
    10 m: 179
    11 m: 171
    48: 170
    1 yr: 166.6. 5/27/17
    13 m: 165.8
    5 y,10 m: 215
    7 yrs: 230


    Revised Goal : 200
    "Bonus" Goal: 180

  25. #15
    Gastric Sleeve Member Sarcastic_Bard's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    12/29/2015
    Surgeon
    Dr. Vierra
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    Feb 2016
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    01-23-2018 01:50 PM
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    Maine
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    Default Re: Body image after weight loss?

    I still sometimes have issues when I still feel very fat. I have hung up my clothes before and stopped, holding up a pair of pants 20 sizes smaller than what I wore over a year ago, and sometimes still think "why did I buy this? I can't possibly fit in this". I have also confused loose skin with fat before which caused some anxiety. There is a full length mirror in the bathroom at my work and sometimes I will take a quick picture of myself; those pictures seem to really show me how I actually look compared to how I sometimes feel I look. I don't feel this way all the time; mostly I'm just happy and energetic and feel great. It's just...every now and then I feel like I didn't do enough, didn't try harder, still look so unhealthy. I'm working on that.

    I've also gotten overwhelmed in stores before and had to leave. Not because of body image anxiety, but the sudden realization that literally every single thing in the store was in my size. After so many years of having to shop at two plus size stores only, it can be a little overwhelming to suddenly have what seems like a million choices in clothes.



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