Veronica.N

I want to bring up the wonders of Avocado! I was surprised that I had gone from a close to 40DD to a 34DD after 120+ pound weight loss! I got measured several times because I thought it was impossible for me to not at least go down to a D. My breasts have surely 'thinned' out, but I wouldn't say they're empty sacks. My cousin told me maybe it's because I ate a lot of avocado. I usually have it twice a week or so...which I guess isn't a crazy amount, but maybe more so than people who aren't used to eating it. She had also lost a lot of weight but completely lost her breasts. The avocado is the only thing we really did differently, and I looked it up.

And yes...Avocado actually does help preserve and promote breast size.
http://www.md-health.com/How-To-Increase-Breast-Size.html
Just search avocado breast growth, and you'll see tons of articles on it. So there is still hope, even for those who think they have lost their boobs for good. Lots of good boob foods in the article, not just avocados Check it out!

Hi Cherrytree!

I think the best thing is just to keep active during your weight loss! I've lost over 120lbs, and have some saggy skin, but I consider it minor compared to some other photos I've seen of others who have lost 100+.
I really didn't become super active until about 1/2 way through my weight loss journey, so I think if I would have started earlier, I probably would have had a better result. Youth also plays a factor. I don't know how old you are, but I'm 27, and I'm sure that helped plenty.
My other tips are:
- Make sure to strength train while working out, it helps tighten skin.
- Drink A LOT of Water. Water also helps tighten skin.
- Avocado is a great food to eat to maintain healthy breasts.
- Use skin tightening/age defying cream. I use Hempz Age Defying Herbal Body Moisturizer,
Though I'm sure there are better products out there. This is just what's easily available and affordable for me
- Wear form fitting clothes
I've never heard of someone having a saggy vagina from weight loss But I do have the typical other sagginess. Mostly in the legs, belly, breast and underarms.
Just from working out, I feel confident now to show off my calves and arms. My belly is almost flat except for a little bit of sagginess above my belly button. My inner thighs still have quite a bit of sag though I half expected it, only because I was always bigger on the bottom than the top. My breast are actually looking OK. They look less 'filled', but they look natural. I think having the muscle I have now underneath REALLY helps. Thank you push ups !
My cousin also pointed out to me that my love of Avocado has probably also helped me preserve my breasts. At my heaviest I was a tight 38DD (should have been 40...but didn't want to admit it lol). I am STILL a DD, but now a 34 I've gotten measured several times because I still couldn't believe it. Avocado is the best!!
Good luck to you Cherry! It'll be a long journey, but once you get where you want to be, you'll know it was so worth it

I want to bring up the wonders of Avocado! I was surprised that I had gone from a close to 40DD to a 34DD after 120+ pound weight loss! I got measured several times because I thought it was impossible for me to not at least go down to a D. My breasts have surely 'thinned' out, but I wouldn't say they're empty sacks. My cousin told me maybe it's because I ate a lot of avocado. I usually have it twice a week or so...which I guess isn't a crazy amount, but maybe more so than people who aren't used to eating it. She had also lost a lot of weight but completely lost her breasts. The avocado is the only thing we really did differently, and I looked it up.

And yes...Avocado actually does help preserve and promote breast size.
http://www.md-health.com/How-To-Increase-Breast-Size.html
Just search avocado breast growth, and you'll see tons of articles on it. So there is still hope, even for those who think they have lost their boobs for good. Lots of good boob foods in the article, not just avocados Check it out!

I have that too! It's SOOO aggravating! Mine has gone down though doing abdominal exercise and putting on firming lotion, as well as generally losing weight and gaining muscle.

Pretty much any restaurant you go to will have a healthy menu, and if it doesn't I simply ask for a box ahead of time and put half of it to go. Out of sight, out of mind Nothing wrong with treating yourself! You just have to know how much you can handle so you don't feel bad afterward.

I don't care about other people too. People who know I have the band or not know that I take a long time to chew. It's my thing. I told them it helped me lose weight, and everyone believes me

I want to bring up the wonders of Avocado! I was surprised that I had gone from a close to 40DD to a 34DD after 120+ pound weight loss! I got measured several times because I thought it was impossible for me to not at least go down to a D. My breasts have surely 'thinned' out, but I wouldn't say they're empty sacks. My cousin told me maybe it's because I ate a lot of avocado. I usually have it twice a week or so...which I guess isn't a crazy amount, but maybe more so than people who aren't used to eating it. She had also lost a lot of weight but completely lost her breasts. The avocado is the only thing we really did differently, and I looked it up.

And yes...Avocado actually does help preserve and promote breast size.
http://www.md-health.com/How-To-Increase-Breast-Size.html
Just search avocado breast growth, and you'll see tons of articles on it. So there is still hope, even for those who think they have lost their boobs for good. Lots of good boob foods in the article, not just avocados Check it out!

Well said dawalsh!
I mean, honestly, if you think about it, most 'normal' people really do watch what they eat. There are those few exceptions of people who can eat whatever they want and don't gain a pound, but most of them struggle with health issues, body image issues, etc, just like we do/did. Weight is all about a balance, and unfortunately at one point in our lives we lost that balance. We just have to do what everyone else does and focus on our balance of food, exercise, etc.

What HealthyNewMe said is what my dietitian said too unfortunately...Steph you and I probably had very similar journeys since we had the same starting weight. My goal though has always been to be 145, which is the 'normal' weight for my height.
I work out about 5 times a week, intensive workouts and I can maintain my weight even with eating garbage. My husband and I usually lose about 1-2 lbs a week (we're both bandsters btw), but that's while eating healthily throughout the week, cheating a bit on the weekends (maybe 2-3 meals) here and there and sticking to our workouts. This past month we ate garbage non stop because he was going through midterms, and I was having a pretty stressful time at work so we were eating out almost everynight. I'm glad to say that within those 3+ weeks we were eating garbage, we maintained our weight. And I'm talking pizza hut, doughnuts, you name it. We ate it LOL. I mean, obviously our portions were much smaller than pre surgery, but still, it's pretty bad for us. I think I had like 4 slices of thin crust pizza in a sitting and he had 6. I still have no idea how we did it. We usually eat organic, raw foods LOL so we were pretty ashamed. Been back on the bandwagon for 8 days now! Hope to go back to losing instead of maintaining

Steph, unfortunately we will NEVER be thin and enjoy that many calories a day unless you're working out like a horse. On my workout days, I can assure you that I will easily intake 1600 calories a day, but my workouts are very intense. If I didn't have a band, I'm sure I wouldn't be maintaining, even WITH the workouts. It doesn't matter if you have a band or lost the weight naturally, we will still have this issue where it will be harder to to lose and maintain weight than someone else our own size, weight and height. I know how unfair it is, and I struggled with this after my nutritionist told me, but I've come to terms with it. I'd rather eat smaller portions and be where I am now than where I was before.
You can always have the band taken out, or unfill it completely, but at this point, I know if I did I would sky rocket to the way I was before. I've made the lifestyle changes, but being able to realize I'm full after eating a normal portion of food was something I had never experienced before. I would worry less about eating large amounts of food compared to just having good quality food. Believe it or not, what you are eating probably is a NORMAL amount of food. You shouldn't strive to overeat like everyone else does in a restaurant. What you're doing is great, and you should be proud of yourself!

BTW, if you're comfortable with your current fill, I don't think you should have a problem with choking in public. I've never had that sensation in public, but I always chew, chew, chew. I know sometimes it's hard when you're with friends and they want to talk to you, but I've grown a custom to it. Even my friends who don't know I'm banded know that I take a long time to chew, and respect that. I'm not going to hurt myself as to not be rude. I either cover my mouth and say what I have to say, or put up my finger in a 'one moment' gesture. They get it. No one has changed how they interact with me. I take a while to eat, and I chew a lot. I say that it's part of my weight loss strategy (not a lie!), and no one questions me about it They're all cool with it.

Sounds awesome! Hubby and I will try to make it

What HealthyNewMe said is what my dietitian said too unfortunately...Steph you and I probably had very similar journeys since we had the same starting weight. My goal though has always been to be 145, which is the 'normal' weight for my height.
I work out about 5 times a week, intensive workouts and I can maintain my weight even with eating garbage. My husband and I usually lose about 1-2 lbs a week (we're both bandsters btw), but that's while eating healthily throughout the week, cheating a bit on the weekends (maybe 2-3 meals) here and there and sticking to our workouts. This past month we ate garbage non stop because he was going through midterms, and I was having a pretty stressful time at work so we were eating out almost everynight. I'm glad to say that within those 3+ weeks we were eating garbage, we maintained our weight. And I'm talking pizza hut, doughnuts, you name it. We ate it LOL. I mean, obviously our portions were much smaller than pre surgery, but still, it's pretty bad for us. I think I had like 4 slices of thin crust pizza in a sitting and he had 6. I still have no idea how we did it. We usually eat organic, raw foods LOL so we were pretty ashamed. Been back on the bandwagon for 8 days now! Hope to go back to losing instead of maintaining

Thanks so much 2muchfun! I still have to update my after! I'm about 20~25 lbs heavier in that photo
And yeah, sometimes I just lurk around and post once in a blue moon
Also, going to second on that pressure cooker! They work wonders

What HealthyNewMe said is what my dietitian said too unfortunately...Steph you and I probably had very similar journeys since we had the same starting weight. My goal though has always been to be 145, which is the 'normal' weight for my height.
I work out about 5 times a week, intensive workouts and I can maintain my weight even with eating garbage. My husband and I usually lose about 1-2 lbs a week (we're both bandsters btw), but that's while eating healthily throughout the week, cheating a bit on the weekends (maybe 2-3 meals) here and there and sticking to our workouts. This past month we ate garbage non stop because he was going through midterms, and I was having a pretty stressful time at work so we were eating out almost everynight. I'm glad to say that within those 3+ weeks we were eating garbage, we maintained our weight. And I'm talking pizza hut, doughnuts, you name it. We ate it LOL. I mean, obviously our portions were much smaller than pre surgery, but still, it's pretty bad for us. I think I had like 4 slices of thin crust pizza in a sitting and he had 6. I still have no idea how we did it. We usually eat organic, raw foods LOL so we were pretty ashamed. Been back on the bandwagon for 8 days now! Hope to go back to losing instead of maintaining

I'm pretty surprised by some of the responses. Even foods that my doc told me I might have trouble eating (like chicken breast, breads, etc) I can eat. It might not be the most pleasant experience, but I can sure eat it! I do avoid chicken breast, but sometimes I do want to to eat that piece of bread or enjoy a pancake
I make sure to never have any super dry lean ground beef. I know it's it's not as healthy, but I'm eating much less of it, so I think that's just fine. I have beef all the time. I order burgers without Buns at restaurants, I buy thin steaks and chop it up into small pieces. I've never had any problems with beef. I've had my band now for 2 years and almost 8 months and I've only gotten seriously stuck, to the point of throwing up only once...and that was towards the beginning of my journey There is a learning process with the band

They key is to just always chew, eat slowly and enjoy. I've lost over 120lbs, so don't get discouraged! The band was the best choice I ever made And I happily say that I usually enjoy hamburger meat at least once a week I just love it too much!

I'm pretty surprised by some of the responses. Even foods that my doc told me I might have trouble eating (like chicken breast, breads, etc) I can eat. It might not be the most pleasant experience, but I can sure eat it! I do avoid chicken breast, but sometimes I do want to to eat that piece of bread or enjoy a pancake
I make sure to never have any super dry lean ground beef. I know it's it's not as healthy, but I'm eating much less of it, so I think that's just fine. I have beef all the time. I order burgers without Buns at restaurants, I buy thin steaks and chop it up into small pieces. I've never had any problems with beef. I've had my band now for 2 years and almost 8 months and I've only gotten seriously stuck, to the point of throwing up only once...and that was towards the beginning of my journey There is a learning process with the band

They key is to just always chew, eat slowly and enjoy. I've lost over 120lbs, so don't get discouraged! The band was the best choice I ever made And I happily say that I usually enjoy hamburger meat at least once a week I just love it too much!

I'm so late Hun, how have you been I'm doing ok think I will puff my last puff today which I should have had weeks ago I'm having the sleeve.

There are lots of ways to help with the munchies!
I probably would avoid smoking while you're healing just because you don't want to put your stomach through anything crazy in case you DO overeat.

I tend to look go for easy to make, filling, low call foods when I have the munchies. Most of the time you just want flavor in your mouth or something to much on, it doesn't have to be doritos lol!
I actually like making one of the recipes from my pre-op surgery (with a small twist) which was a chicken broth Soup. 1 Bullion cube, spices of your choice (I use all natural adobo, paprika, a pinch of salt, a dot of olive oil, boil and stir). It's barely any calories (maybe 10-15 cal?), and when you are high it tastes like it came from a restaurant.
Another thing I like to do is baby carrots or celery with hummus or some Peanut Butter, just make sure to portion out while still sober

I also like taking frozen fruits and throwing into my blender to make gelato The #1 thing is to make sure you make smart choices before you smoke and if you're with friends explain your situation, and ask them to help you out if they catch you over eating. I've also written letters to my high self while sober As long as you're responsible before hand, you should be fine

There are lots of ways to help with the munchies!
I probably would avoid smoking while you're healing just because you don't want to put your stomach through anything crazy in case you DO overeat.

I tend to look go for easy to make, filling, low call foods when I have the munchies. Most of the time you just want flavor in your mouth or something to much on, it doesn't have to be doritos lol!
I actually like making one of the recipes from my pre-op surgery (with a small twist) which was a chicken broth Soup. 1 Bullion cube, spices of your choice (I use all natural adobo, paprika, a pinch of salt, a dot of olive oil, boil and stir). It's barely any calories (maybe 10-15 cal?), and when you are high it tastes like it came from a restaurant.
Another thing I like to do is baby carrots or celery with hummus or some Peanut Butter, just make sure to portion out while still sober

I also like taking frozen fruits and throwing into my blender to make gelato The #1 thing is to make sure you make smart choices before you smoke and if you're with friends explain your situation, and ask them to help you out if they catch you over eating. I've also written letters to my high self while sober As long as you're responsible before hand, you should be fine

I'm 26, live in Queens, my husband and I are about 2 years post op. I've lost about 100, hubby's lost about 120, and we still got 50 more pounds to go each!
There's a lot of us here in NYC, wish there was a meetup event or something for all of us to hang out at :/ We could all swap surgery stories, recipes, give food and exercise tips, etc.