I've lost 120lbs. AMA

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Thought it might be interesting to some.

Obvious question - how?!

I don't really have a question but just wanted to say well done ❤️ that's an amazing achievement xxx

I second how! I have 60 to lose op could do with some inspiration! Well done huge achievement!

In how long?

Did you use weight loss injections?

Edited to add: sorry, on its own that sounded judgy. 120lbs is incredible, well done!

Congratulations that’s a large loss-how do you feel?

I lost over 200lbs via a gastric sleeve and it’s been life changing in the best possible way

Coming upto 4 years.

I had a gastric sleeve in 2021 after 10 years of yoyoing the same few stone then gaining more.

I did, yes.

I didn't take it as judgey. It's a legitimate and sustainable way to lose.

Congratulations! How long did it take?

It's highs and lows to be honest. It's a big change.

What are the biggest pros and cons of a gastric sleeve?

For me there haven't been any cons to be honest. It's all been positive.

I guess the only 'con' I can point out is I can't stuff my face and chocolate makes me very ill now but in the context of someone who was vastly overweight that goes more onto my 'pro' list as its really stopped me going back to bad habits.

Pros? It worked, I lost the weight. I can't over eat anymore. It makes me be present everyday with my food, I can't mindless eat.

I have to take a vitamin everyday, but a lot of people do that anyway.

Oh a massive con is my body/skin after weightloss but I lost it over 4 years so I don't think that is directly down to the sleeve but just weightloss in general :(

Well done, that's amazing

do you still eat out? Do you just order a starter or a children's portion?

do you have a lot of excess skin and can it be seen under clothes or swimming costume?

have you started doing any new things that you couldn't do when you were bigger, like theme parks or a new sport?

Well done, OP. Do you feel that people treat you differently now?

Yes. I get a starter or I get a main and bring a tub so I can have it for supper or lunch the next day.

I do have skin but you can't see it under clothes really but I do have an apron of skin on my stomach with lots of stretchmarks marks. Top of my thighs are very wrinkly.
And my boobs are...well fucked really.

I haven't started doing any new things but it's such a wright off my shoulders that I don't have to consider my weight constantly. I could book theme park tickets without a 2nd thought now, whereas before I would be concerned about not fitting in things.

I think they do. People are just generally a bit nicer and men add words like sweetheart/darling/love to conversations now.

I've lost a lot of shame too. I can walk down the road now and fancy a pasty and eat it without feeling judged.

I can identify with feeling less shame.

I think a lot of it is internal but there were definitely disapproving looks etc

I have felt terrible about myself for years because of my weight. I am so grateful for semaglutide. People talk about it stopping the "food chatter" but for me it also stopped at least some of the shame chatter. Feel like I am derailing your AMA now, so will stop, but good for you OP.

Im surprised it took that long. That's just 30lbs a year unless you lost most in the first few months?
Do you miss not being able to eat a big meal? I remember being pregnant at Christmas and feeling a bit nauseous and really resenting not being able to eat my favourite meal of the year!
Do you have to eat little and often to get enough calories?
Can you get it removed? Would you ever?

Well done OP - that's a huge life change and I'm glad you can do more without worrying.

Do you feel that you can regard your body neutrally now, or do you feel that some of the body image issues around the weight now transferred to your skin? I ask because of the way you described it earlier.

I think stretch marks/creepy skin can have rather a lovely, delicate look and feel to them, actually!

I can't get it removed as it's not a band. They cut off 85% of my stomach and binned it 🤣
It's not reversible.

And no I don't miss not being ablento eat big meals because I overate for 20 years. I've had enough big meals for a lifetime.

I lost the vast majority in the first year.
Then a slow loss over the next year.

Then my progress naturally stopped and I maintained at a BMI of 29 for a year and couldn't lose anymore.

Mounjaro helped me lose the last 35lbs

I hope this doesn't come across as flippant or judgmental as it's not meant like that. Would there have been any way you could have taken drastic steps (whatever they might be!) to prevent the weight gain in the first place rather than have to deal with it afterwards?

I know how easy it is to sleepwalk into just keep gaining weight (obviously I don't know how long it's been an issue for you).
Anyway well done, you have no doubt reduced the chances of a lot of health risks.

Do you see yourself as slim or is your mind still fat ?

do you enjoy being slim or does it feel fake

I ask because I lost to a couple of stone with a temporary solution ( gastric balloon) and my brain didn’t feel slimmer and it felt unreal