duckydoom

Down 120!!!!

So yeah this is basically how I looked like (4-5kilos before my heaviest weight), I don't have much pictures since I hated being in them (still not a big fan though) and it's actually one of the only I have got from that dreaded period. And this is me this morning, so far I have lost 38kilos (83,7pounds) since February 25th, not that bad
Cheers everyone.
(PS: did not realize you guys would see how I titled my pics, so yeah sorry 'bout that).

I am not sure if I am adding these pictures correctly but I thought maybe it was time to show my progress. I am disabled and have used an electric mobility device since 1994. Now a days I am able to walk with 1 cane for about 5 minutes before pain sets in. Plus I am riding a tricycle 7 miles a day. I am very pleased with all of my weight loss. The 145 pounds I lost on my own and the additional 108 I have lost since the first meeting with my surgeon and the 3 procedure surgery he did in Jan of this year.
The pictures are My highest weight 497 pounds. Last June when I first saw the surgeon 352 pound.
Day before surgery 315 which was Jan 26th
This Sunday July 10th 244. Total lost 253 pounds.

I have just hit 103 lbs down and am about 10 1/2 months out. I feel like I have been a slow loser compared to a lot of folks but mainly because I had a 2 1/2 month stall around the 7 month mark and just started losing again. I was hoping to further down with being this close to being a year out, but I am still incredibly proud of my progress so far and beyond thankful for the opportunity to receive this tool.
Here was a face to face transformation at the 90 lb down mark:

And here is a side by side from the morning of my surgery to my 100 lb down mark wearing the same exact shirt. It's amazing how much longer the shirt looks when it isn't stretched over that tummy!

Yikes. First bathing suit of the year. Bbq tonight with friends. I'm actually excited about it.

This pic isn't even my highest/heaviest, so hard to find a full body shot. Highest recorded 320, Starting 275, Surgery 256, Current 165. Gastric bypass 1/15/15. Best decision ever!

Thanks Marie! I'm lucky in the waist area. Almost makes up for the icky legs I got lol.

Your story is amazing! You did so well, and to have gotten yourself in such great shape with four kids?!?! That's awesome!

My heart hurts for you that at every turn your efforts have been twisted into something sordid and gossiped about. I'm so glad you and your husband found your way back to each other despite adversity.

Bless you and your family. Thank you for sharing.

This is my journey. You may judge me by it, but maybe you can relate to some of it, or maybe it's going to shock you. Either way hopefully something in my story will help you; hopefully you will see that it's not just being overweight that is the hard part; that WLS is not the “easy” way to go and that this decision affects every part of your life.


This is my journey. You may judge me by it, but maybe you can relate to some of it, or maybe it's going to shock you. Either way hopefully something in my story will help you; hopefully you will see that it's not just being overweight that is the hard part; that WLS is not the “easy” way to go and that this decision affects every part of your life.
Life is never perfect; if I could go back, I would tell myself that with losing the weight and transforming into the person I wanted to be comes a whole new set of problems.
I am 34 years old, fairly healthy; I started my wweight loss journey in 2013. I had tried working out, boot camps, over-the-counter medication, weight loss plans and books. Nothing seemed to work for me. I had been married at that point for 13 years, have four beautiful healthy children, and had been pregnant nine times. My body had taken a beating and at only 5'2" tall, the excess weight made me feel like a blimp. I was always hungry. I would eat my meal, and then finish my children's meal as well. It's not that I ate badly, I just ate a LOT.
I decided that I wanted more information on the lap band, but knew that my health insurance had certain steps I had to take before they'd even consider that a possibility. I met with the nutritionist, and we sat down and made a plan. I went on two different prescriptions. One was an appetite suppressant, and the other was an antidepressant with a side effect of decreased appetite. When after a few months of taking medication, going to Boot Camp and logging all of my efforts- did not seem to have much effect on my weight; my nutritionist ran some blood work and decided that I met the criteria for weight-loss surgery.
I was shocked; I did not think for one second that I was heavy enough to qualify for weight-loss surgery. At my heaviest, I weighed 204 pounds. That may not seem like a lot to you, but remember I'm only 5'2"(I'll include some photos so you can see for yourself). My health insurance required that I attend mandatory classes once a week for three months before covering the surgery. These classes taught me how to eat, what to expect, vitamin intake etc. after and before surgery.
I was very excited about the surgery. Right away after starting the classes I decided that the lap band was not for me and that I would go for the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. I thought that it would not only help my eating, but be a permanent change vs. something that has a shorter lifespan (lap-band for example).
I was an active person, but I could've out eaten a lot of people. I was not the first in my family to have the surgery either, six people in my family and close friends had the same procedure done and I knew what to expect going in to it. To my surprise though, I did not get the support what I expected from the family. Suddenly they were anti-surgery, and telling me that I did not need it and that I would regret it. It confused me because I had seen them successful with it and yet they did not want the same for me. Secretly I felt that it was jealousy, or fear that I would suddenly be skinny and then they would feel competitive with me for some odd reason. Everyone was so used to me being a chubby housewife; they didn't need to feel insecure around me. I understood it to the point, I wouldn't feel comfortable going out or being in a bathing suit around super skinny person either, but this was my family. They had no reason to feel insecure around me; we weren't in any sort of competition.
Surgery day came, and I was ready and excited. It was relatively smooth for me, no complications, no excessive pain. The one thing I can say is that everything was too sweet for me for the few months following surgery. My car air freshener was too sweet I felt sick smelling it; all the protein drinks and bars were too sweet. I ended up buying unflavored protein and adding it to my soups and broths, etc. Also, immediately following surgery I was very thirsty. My mouth was always dry and I craved the ability to drink gulps of water, but couldn't. I'd have pain from even drinking one ounce of water too fast, and if I drank cold fluids, I would have that same pain so I stuck to room temperature. I did however find relief in munching on the crunchy ice that I found at my local gas station. It kept my mouth moist and gave me relief.
When the weight started coming off, I couldn't help but smile. I got so used to watching it coming off daily that when it started to slow down a bit I got scared. I realized that my working out had to increase. No longer would the regular walks around the block be enough. That's when I got into a gym that I actually liked. I did not feel insecure there, it was not full of people that I thought were judging me, and it was something that I have actually stuck with now for over a year. I fell in love with Zumba, I fell in love with the staff and felt that I was supported by the people at the gym. I started working out daily and working out hard. I started seeing a difference in my body structure; my stomach muscles were getting defined and my arm muscles were showing. It was very important to me not to have excess skin if I could help it, so I worked really hard and pushed myself at the gym even to the point of throwing up. I had not thrown up from working out before, this was new to me; but it felt great. It felt great to post pictures of my progress and have people comment about my “six-pack”. Was this really me?
Part of my motivation came from social media. Letting friends know I was at the gym, kept me going to the gym. They motivated me. It held me accountable. I also started getting messages from friends that wanted to know more about WLS. I wasn't hiding it, and was sharing my journey. I would post pictures of my progress. I felt proud of my hard work and people wanted to see how I was progressing. That was where some problems started to arise in my marriage. My husband didn't want pictures posted that showed my stomach. He was thinking of them in a way I wasn't.
A problem I did not expect, was having to buy new clothes pretty much weekly. Every week my jeans would be looser and not fit me right, and after losing the weight the last thing you want to do is look heavier than you actually are. I was going shopping buying new clothes smaller and smaller each week, and I was excited that I could actually shop at stores that I never could walk into in the past. When I could fit into a size “0” I almost fainted. It was a proud moment for me. I was thin, but healthy. My doctor checked me regularly and I had muscle tone.
Strangely though, I noticed people starting to treat me a little bit different. Certain family members were very cold towards me suddenly, and pulling away from me and becoming more distant. It felt as though I was getting judged, people thinking that I was losing too much weight, or dressing differently and becoming more “sexy” in my attire. I didn't feel this way though, I felt like I was finally able to dress in style versus dress in overweight sweaters that came down below my waist and loose cut jeans. That was always my thing wearing shirts or sweaters that came down and hung below my waist, made me feel like he was hiding my stomach for some reason. LOL, as if it actually hid the fact that I was fat.
As the people around me started to change, I started to see my marriage for what it was. Not that it was bad, but there were things that I was trying to turn a blind eye to that I no longer feel I needed to. I suddenly felt like I was worth something, and that I didn't need to be turning a blind eye to anything. I felt that I deserved to be happy, and with that in mind so did he. I gained confidence; not that I changed, but I was able to be me for once and not feel worthless. I had felt like I could not live without him, that I couldn't survive. I was codependent and with the weight dropping off I suddenly felt like I could do anything I set my mind to. I felt like if I wasn't happy, I needed to make myself happy and not depend on anyone else to do so. I started to express my needs for more in our marriage and he was so used to our “routine” that he didn't hear me or take me seriously.
People started telling me that I was changing; people started thinking that losing the weight was turning me into a different person. They blamed my decisions on the weight loss, versus just finally standing up for myself. I felt confident enough to go out and dance, confident enough to go have a drink with a friend and not feel like a fat blimp.
My husband had gone through the surgery, and I had seen him lose weight. Our reactions to each other's weight loss were quite different though. When he lost the weight, I wanted to lose weight as well and started working out more and more. But for him, when I lost the weight he got more and more jealous and insecure about himself. Suddenly in his mind I was having affairs, or wanting to be with other people because I was losing weight. Arguments became more and more frequent, and it ended with him becoming cold and pulling away from me more and more. I wanted more in my marriage. I wanted affection, love and an emotional connection.
Everyone around me (besides select few) started talking about me negatively. I was either too skinny, or making bad decisions. It was shocking to me, because they were so used to me doing nothing for myself and staying home while they all went out, that the minute I decided that I wanted one night a week for myself, they could not handle it. Looking back at it all, I realize now that I was expecting my husband to be happy in our marriage, when I was not happy with myself. I feel that in order for you to be happy in your life, you must be happy with yourself. How can I expect him to be happy with me, if I wasn’t?
One night my husband and I got into an argument. I was pouring my emotions out to him and as expected, he just sat and watch TV and when I was done telling him that I needed him to be there emotionally, he told me he did not give a f$&@ and to just go hire an attorney. That was it for me. Something clicked and I just thought to myself, I can do this on my own. I don't want to cry myself to sleep. I want to feel loved. I'm beautiful and smart and I should be with someone who loves me, not with someone because it's routine. So I hired an attorney and so began my “new life”.
Now this is not going to go as you'd think. My husband and I are still together, and happier than ever. But the journey isn't something that I expected.
We separated. He was shocked. I had actually gone through with it. Drawn up and signed papers. Served him and discussed custody. It got ugly and he couldn't see where this came from besides the weight loss. So that's what he told people. Suddenly I had people talking to me about the surgery and divorce statistics. I received emails of the news reports on the surgery and divorce, and people kept telling me that I was making a bad decision. What did they know? They did not realize the lies that were told or things that happened behind closed doors at my house. On the outside we seemed like the perfect marriage, but they didn't know the pain inside. Of course it was easy for them to blame the weight loss, but I don't. I still don't to this day. I do think however that it did give me confidence in myself, and helped me to believe in myself and feel that I had some sort of worth.
While we were separated, I went to out with my friends. Once a week I would have a night out. I would let loose and have fun. Sure, I got hit on, but that wasn't where my mind was. It felt strange to me to have a man approach me, and many times I looked at my friends to rescue me from these moments.
Suddenly I noticed friends and family looking and treating me differently. Friends were now choosing sides. I even had a family member spying on me and relaying all to my husband. People that I thought loved me, didn't bother to a check in with me, but judged me instead.
During this time I kept working out, kept eating right and kept up on my blood work ordered by my doctor to check my progress. My body was transforming into the body I'd always dreamed of. The more weight I lost, the more of my breast size I lost. I went from a DD to a small B cup. The excess skin that I had was on my Breast and my stomach. Sure when I stood up you could see my stomach muscles, but when I sat or bent over, the skin would hang and wrinkle up. I needed plastic surgery. I expected it though, so that wasn't a shock. The price tag was though. I am going to need $14,000 to get my breasts and stomach done. I'm hoping to get the procedure in the next few months. My inner thighs are another area that I have excess skin. There is a surgery for that, but I have decided against it (for now).
I throw up more than usual. I think though that it's because I use my limits. I have a food addiction; it's hard to just take a small bite, even when you know you feel full. My solution when eating out is to box most of my meals right when I get them.
Another side effect I was now going through was hair loss. I noticed it falling out more and more. It was thin and straw like. I started taking hair vitamins, but it kept getting worse. I decided that wearing a wig was a solution that I could afford and one that would not harm what little hair I had left. I loved them too. I'd never had long hair and it looked amazing. Of course the minute I started wearing the wig, people started talking more and more. Those that cared enough to hear my reason, understood it; but family just thought it was me changing from the surgery yet again.
I just couldn't win. Every step I took was judged and every step I took to make me feel good about myself was interpreted as me wanting to be single or making bad decisions.
My husband and I were going to counseling, we were having date nights and trying to talk about things that had been hidden for years (yes, secrets came out). We were trying to talk with the kids and let them know we were working on making our marriage work.
The minute we knew something changed and that we were falling back in love with each other, was the minute all of my thoughts on the family were confirmed. When we announced that we were staying together, certain people in the family showed their true colors. They were in fact jealous. I was even told that I looked like a “crack whore”. Really? So losing weight, standing up for yourself and what you believe in and being happy was suddenly a behavior I was to be apologizing for and me being a healthier version of me made me a drug addict?
So when I was fat, I was fat and put down. Now that I'm skinny, I'm too skinny for their liking? Again, I can't win.
My husband realized I needed him and his support. He began to see things for what it was with the family. He finally saw how I was treated and took a stand himself. We realized that outside influences were interfering with our happiness and we decided to pull away and focus on OUR family and not others.
I've learned that people project their anger, insecurities and unhappiness on those around them that are happy.
I've learned that I should have known I was worth something before the weight loss and if I had maybe it wouldn't have been such an easy target for the people around me.
I've learned that if I'm happy with myself, it doesn't matter what anyone else says.
I've learned how to eat right, enjoy working out and take pride in my health.
I've learned that with confidence comes insecurities in those around me and that I need to reassure those closest to me that I was still me.
I took boudoir pictures for my husband’s 40th birthday. I never thought I could do it, but I did and it was an amazing experience. It was empowering for me. I felt proud of my hard work. I felt sexy. When I saw the pictures, I cried. It didn't feel real. Didn't feel like I could ever look that beautiful. Then again, maybe I always was?
My journey is mine. Maybe some of it you'll relate to, or maybe not. But I felt it should be told.

I would hardly call once a week an addiction? So someone who has a glass of wine or a beer once a week is addicted? Your ignorance and prejudice about Marijuana is showing....

Im 11 days post-op. Soft food stage.
I feel energy is low understandably since im not taking in as much. I feel i am still finding my way with food like what goes down easily and what doesn't . yogurts and banana are good, egg not so much. I don't feel hungry either ! its quite strange. Water and liquid intake is a struggle, i need to work on it.

I wanted to write about my experience with a lower bmi because while I am about 50 lbs overweight 182 5 ft 4 inches - I haven't seen too many posts that describe the surgery with this kind of weight loss. It took me a long time to decide to do this but I kept gaining and have a history of family members who get very very obese after their 40s. I am on the same track.
Anyway I am getting sleeve may 13. flyint to texas bc I actually have a friend who is a surgeon that does this. I feel good about that and I am staying with another friend.
I have 10 days and started the first day of a soft diet which is various soft Proteins, shakes, cottage cheese, eggs. I was basically good but ate too much. My goal today was just to get used to no carbs. I have had a splitting headache from giving up the caffiene but I am taking liquid tylenol and that helps a bit.
I was nervous about this but feeling better about it now and committed to doing this. Ill write about my experience so someone else in the future can decide if this makes sense for them. Ever since I decided to do this surgery I felt like I had control over my body for the first time in a long time. I also had smoked which I stopped. And started drinking tons of Water. Never could do that before.
So the surgery has instigated a number of great behaviors. all good. And this forum is key because people are so supportive. I really appreciate it.

I'm vegan. I don't count my calories or protein, but I feel great. I'm actually getting into macrobiotics without the meat.

we all have food problems, that is why we are here. feel free to express yourself. Few of us will be will condemn. I have lost and gained 100's of pounds over my history. I have tried many diets, this however, is lasting and a new way of life. Best wishes. Slow and steady wins the race. Karen

If I were in your shoes, I'd have the band fixed. It's already worked for you so why mess with you know works?
Small side note: Gastric bypass isn't a guarantee of weight loss anymore than the band is. A friend of mine had gastric bypass a month after I had lap band. She's only lost about 20 pounds whereas I've lost over 100.

Hello everyone I'm new to this forum and so far I have enjoyed reading ya posts.
My name is Julissa, I'm a 39 type2 uncontrolled diabetic, wife and mother of 2 girl. I had looked into have WLS 2 years ago, when I was only on diabetic pills and then missed one Dr appt and I didn't want to start the 6 month process again so i stop going???’. Today I'm still on diabetic pills and insuli. now I have new insurance and only have a 4 month process and in half way there. So with all that I should be looking at a late September October surgical date. ???ƒ
Thanks for all the support in advance.........

I am so ready for this mentally and physically.
I am just getting excited and a bit anxious. I have no idea how life will be thin, it is going to be strange to me. I have never been thin, it is kinda like my weight has been a barrier for me. I'm excited to see how different things will be professionally, and in the "art scene" (I am a part time artist). I wonder if I will be taken more seriously.
Has anyone else delt with this.
I have to take a deep breath during the day to level myself down from thinking and just enjoy the ride.

MY partner is getting the band too. She's been telling EVERYONE. Her family, her coworkers everyone. I asked her to keep mine to herself but she is not doing such a good job. I told my partner and one of my good friends only that i was considering it. I work with a bunch of small-minded gossips so I'm planning on telling my work only that I'm having surgery. I've already started to lose weight on my own so hopefully it wont be too much of a stretch. There are 2-3 people here that have had WLS and I know because everyone gossips not because they told me. So that cemented my decision to keep the news out of work!!

The less you tell the better at least that's my experience. I told my husband and mother only

I'm new to this site and I am extremely excited that I'm scheduled for my lap band surgery this tuesday on the 31st I'm a little nervous but I know its gonna b okay

Well, today is July 25th. I'm being banded on July 27th. Less than 24 hours to go until my big BAND day! I'm very excited and can't stop smiling. I'm really not nervous, and I'm taking this as a good sign.
I've really had very little trouble with my pre op diet. Two weeks on the liquid protein has been very doable. I've lost just over 15lbs. Very happy about that. I always knew that I ate too many carbs and not enough protein. It seemed that no matter how much I tried to count calories, it's been very hard for me to lose any weight. The fact that I have dropped 15lbs in less than two weeks is almost a miracle. I know now that I really need to focus on protein and low carbs in order for me to be successful. I have thought longingly of my beloved pastas these past days, but they have not been a friend to me. My new love will be fish, chicken, lean moist meats, high protein, low fat dairy, veggies. But most of all I want my new love to be myself. I have hated myself for far too long. I've neglected myself and forgotten to ever put my needs first.
I have a funny story to tell. I have 2 small dogs: chihuahua and a yorkie. My two babies, always at my feet or on my lap. Before I started my protein fast I bought some high end dog food. Some very good wet and some very nourishing dry. Now I have always cooked for these two little munchkins, along with every other living thing that comes through my door. I feed everyone, that's what I do. BTW, that's changing, a bit. So, I put down their food, regular dog food, just what they should have always been eating. They both take a sniff and walk away. But, they are watching me, " yeah , right Mom, now wheres our real food?" So I say to them, " Listen up you two, new rules,, you'll either be eating your new food or I'll be planting you both in my flower bed, your choice." I swear, they were both listening to me like dogs do, turning their heads this way and that. So, Bailey, the yorkie, he walks over to his plate and starts right in eating. I about fell over. It took Coco a little longer, but she ended up eating hers too. It was the funniest thing. I swear they understood just what I was saying. Too funny. Taught me a lesson. ASK and you shall recieve.

the liquid diet before and after is very important. the pre helps shrink your liver. if it is too fatty, the surgeon may not operate. so its best not to (divert off the course when the surgeon gives you instructions). if you have surgery and give in to eating before you are suppose to, you could put yourself in danger. this surgery wont help you lose weight unless you adhere to the rules. and the pre and post op's are hard. its a mental thing mostly.
eating fatty foods to make you feel better is what made people gain weight and need weight loss surgery to begin with.
if you are in pain, i would advise asking your doctor about it.

Make a committment to follow the program your doctor has given you until you lose your weight. This is non negotiable.
Do the best you can. You will have good days and bad days(for me sometimes is was weeks). The good will out number the bad and there will eventually be success. While you are doing this adjust what works best for you. If you really don't like to do things a certain way eventually you will fail. Adjust your life style so the band works for you. I have a major sweet tooth. So I use a lot of sugar free recipies to satisfy my sweet tooth, therefore I don't feel deprived. I consider exercise a four letter word. So I park a good distance from the stores. I do a lot of reaching in my kitchen. Items are placed at on a high shelf. What I learned in my journey is eventually the honeymoon phase is over and reality sets in. Do you remember how everyday when you woke up you were going to diet etc, etc. and then another failed weight loss day? How many times were you very successful on a diet only to gain all the weight back and more. Well the band does a beautiful job of restricting your eating and making you feel full sooner. Being the intelligent human beings we are, trust me when I say you can learn to eat around the band. So don't try and be perfect. I think this is the surest way to fail. Just take it one day at a time. Do the best you can and don't try and be someone you aren't. You can learn to stop eating fattening, sugary, salty, gooey foods. There are excellent substitutions out there. Mabey it won't be quite as gooey, salty, and sugary, but by habit you will learn to love them . I still have the fat brain mentality I was born with, but I learned to do these simple changes and they worked for me. This is my reality. Hope this helps.

OMG OMG OMG~~~!!!!!! I stepped on the scale this morning and guess what!!???!!! I weighed in the 130s for the first time since high school (20 years ago)!!!! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! it's surreal and too good to be true. I LOVE MY BAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!