MoreganK

I used Dr. Todd Worley he works out of Methodist Willowbrook, and I can't recommend him enough. He is the definition of a perfect doctor. He has been there 100% of the way however I needed him. He and his staff have been just fantastic.

Walking down the hall way to my desk, our IT guy is walking behind me and says, "If you lose anymore weight, one day your clothes are gonna just fall right off!" He is referencing my now too big size 16s I keep wearing anyway. I smile, "And say I know. I need to go shopping. I have 40 more pounds to go before I'm done." As he turns down his row, he smirks, "Twig!" I laugh, and am torn between thinking, "ME!? A Twig!? What!? What. What?" and simply, "Thank you, for such a great compliment!"
I am struggling a lot with percetion. I am struggling to see my new self. When I lookin the mirror, am I smaller? Yes, am I still chubby, and all I see is that chub? Yes. My boyfriend makes me feel small. He wraps his arms around me so tight now, its a wonderful feeling and I love it. When he hugged me the other day, I whispered, "This makes me feel small." He whispered back, "Thats because you are small." My brother in law hugged me on Thanksgiving, and yelled out, "Look at that! My arms go all the way around little girl!" I was flying high from happiness and embarassment.
I'm now comfortably in as size 14 down from 20/22s. After this size, I'm entering into terriory I've not known as an adult, and frankly I'm excited and scared. My goal is to wear a size 10/11. I love being smaller, don't get me wrong. But, I most of the time still don't think that I am. I still think and feel most of the time, that I'm still size 20 me. I'm still ashamed and embarassed or worried that I look awful. My jeans are baggy, my coat is too big. My shoe size is smaller for heaven's sake... why can't I see and accept that I am smaller!? I'm less 75 pounds of me. Thats the size of a child!
Recently, a coworker of mine, who knew I was getting surgery showed me a photo he took of me the day before my surgery. I didn't even recognize her. I was like, "That is me?" That person doesn't even register as me anymore.
I'm exactly 7 months post op in two days. I've lost 75 pounds from my highest weight recorded in Febuary of 2011.
Any of you struggle with this? What helped?
Here is my before from my coworker, one I took the morning of surgery, and a picture I took just 2 weeks ago. This is the first time I've done a side by side.....

Wow, 90!? I've been struggling some days with the 60 my doc and nut recommend. I think at this stage you can't get too much, just because its hard for us to eat much. I try to hit between 60-80 grams a day.

YES! Exactly, the weight I have been stuck at for the last 3 months now, is a weight that is a "happy weight" for my body. I was here for several years, and seem to be having a tough time pushing past it. Its my fault though. I won't blame anyone but me. I have been really distracted getting ready to move, and getting my wedding together that I've slipped off the hustle wagon and haven't been doing my workouts. I still watch what I eat, but, since I'm in my last 37/40 pounds of weight loss (with PCOS), I'm struggling! I'm sure once I kick my butt again, the scale will start moving.

This is what I need to do. I need to re-kick out of my daily intake bad carbs, and now that I've learned the lesson, NEVER let the in my mouth again. Post-op I did really well, until Christmas came 6 months later, and I "allowed" myself to have a few bites here and there of some of my Mom's annual Christmas Desserts... then it was, a bite here, half a sandwich there, suddenly I eat bad carbs daily. I have PCOS... I KNOW this is really bad for me, yet it’s easy so I go with it. I have been struggling to kick the sugar/carb craving again for the last couple of months. I have cut down on my bad carbs, but I need them to be totally eradicated from my diet forever. I'm a year and half out, I've lost 65 (because I've gained back 12) and I'm 45 from goal. I'm VERY angry at myself for sliding backwards.
This Boot Camp diet seems like a good way to work on this. I'm going to be smart about it though. My plan (so close to Christmas) is too start on December 26th. I know me. I know that I will just give in on Christmas Day again, and repeat the cycle. I'm not going to expect mental militant me to be successful by setting myself up for temptation on the very day that ruined me a year ago.
Thanks so very much for posting this!! It feel totally doable!

This is what I need to do. I need to re-kick out of my daily intake bad carbs, and now that I've learned the lesson, NEVER let the in my mouth again. Post-op I did really well, until Christmas came 6 months later, and I "allowed" myself to have a few bites here and there of some of my Mom's annual Christmas Desserts... then it was, a bite here, half a sandwich there, suddenly I eat bad carbs daily. I have PCOS... I KNOW this is really bad for me, yet it’s easy so I go with it. I have been struggling to kick the sugar/carb craving again for the last couple of months. I have cut down on my bad carbs, but I need them to be totally eradicated from my diet forever. I'm a year and half out, I've lost 65 (because I've gained back 12) and I'm 45 from goal. I'm VERY angry at myself for sliding backwards.
This Boot Camp diet seems like a good way to work on this. I'm going to be smart about it though. My plan (so close to Christmas) is too start on December 26th. I know me. I know that I will just give in on Christmas Day again, and repeat the cycle. I'm not going to expect mental militant me to be successful by setting myself up for temptation on the very day that ruined me a year ago.
Thanks so very much for posting this!! It feel totally doable!

Remember with this diet, you can have any green veggie, not just salad veggies. That does not include corn. We're going for low carb here. Cauliflower is allowed as well.
If anyone wants more variety, google the induction diet of Atkins and see if it differs.

I am trying this Daisy, I've gone seriously off the rails recently. My Dad died and wine and chocolate have become staple foods for the last 2 months I'm ashamed to say. I need a kick in the rear and hope this will help me get back on track.

A lot of people are talking about the 5 day pouch test to get back on track. I personally think that is a bad idea.
There is no reason to be hungry and miserable like you would be on the first 2 days of the 5 day pouch diet which consists of going back to liquids, I believe for 2 days.
This is the diet I use when I need to get back on track after a bad day ,or weekend, or vacation:
BOOTCAMP:
For 5 STRICT DAYS I will eat only:
Proteins: Seafoods, Poultry and eggs, Dairies, nuts/seeds, including a small amount of Peanut Butter.

Veggies: Green only. salad with vinegar and oil dressing
Fruits: None. fruit juice none
Breads/Cereals/ Rice/ Noodles/ Pasta/ Other Carbs: None.
Fluids: between 64 to 128 oz of Water (not coffee)
Protein drinks (RTD or Powder).
Avoid: Sugar and Sodium
You will lose weight after 5 days and the carb cravings should be gone , unless you mangaged to eat some carbs during this time

It is my hope people will try this who are even thinking of the 5 day pouch test.
Most people say they gain back whatever they lose on the pouch test as soon as they're eating normal food.< /p>

Yep. I'm your poster girl for PCOS! But, this surgery is changing that! Since surgery I've been having monthly, normal visits from Tom (Time of the Month). My insulin levels came back normal at my 6 month blood work, I was so totally excited! First time I've ever not been classified as pre-diabetic! My testosterone levels are normal (at 3 months post-op).
Have to be SUPER careful now. I really want to hit goal, and be there for at least 6 months before we try for a kiddo!

Yep. I'm your poster girl for PCOS! But, this surgery is changing that! Since surgery I've been having monthly, normal visits from Tom (Time of the Month). My insulin levels came back normal at my 6 month blood work, I was so totally excited! First time I've ever not been classified as pre-diabetic! My testosterone levels are normal (at 3 months post-op).
Have to be SUPER careful now. I really want to hit goal, and be there for at least 6 months before we try for a kiddo!

I have just posted my before and my during photo on my new blog post here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/blog/1579/entry-4562-struggles/.
I'm sad I don't see more of a difference. Of course, I think my during picture I should have taken with my arm down. I should try and take another one tonight. I think my face is where I see the most difference.

I have to second Dr. Todd Worley! He is absolutely an amazing doctor. I have not a single negative thing to say about him, or his staff!

Do you mind if I ask how tall you are? I ask because our starting weight is similar and your current weight is my goal. And 20 more? You look fabulous!!

Oh... and when I say make an offer.. I really mean it. I'll probably say yes.

I have just posted my before and my during photo on my new blog post here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/blog/1579/entry-4562-struggles/.
I'm sad I don't see more of a difference. Of course, I think my during picture I should have taken with my arm down. I should try and take another one tonight. I think my face is where I see the most difference.

I stopped seeing my scars when my stomach/chest hair grew back. Being the fairer sex, I'm guessing you are at a disadvantage here. I've heard and read that Vitamin E helps. When looking closer, I really noticed that mine had pretty much faded by 1 year post op. I'm sure there are other factors such as age, skin tone, size of scars, etc. I wouldn't worry too much about it and recommend that you go forward with that two piece plan for the summer.

Have you considered a lift instead? This may be the route I go in a couple years. I'm not quite to goal yet, and I'm looking to have kids... so, before I do any rearranging of saggy bits, I want to be done with the kiddo thing.
Gonna follow this thread for sure, since I'm in research mode myself.

No. My doctor said that ibuprofen is really hard on your sleeve. He said Tylonel or similar store brand only. I haven't tried anything else since surgery.

YES! Exactly, the weight I have been stuck at for the last 3 months now, is a weight that is a "happy weight" for my body. I was here for several years, and seem to be having a tough time pushing past it. Its my fault though. I won't blame anyone but me. I have been really distracted getting ready to move, and getting my wedding together that I've slipped off the hustle wagon and haven't been doing my workouts. I still watch what I eat, but, since I'm in my last 37/40 pounds of weight loss (with PCOS), I'm struggling! I'm sure once I kick my butt again, the scale will start moving.

I am one month out and have been the same weight for a week (dropped 18 lbs in the first 3 weeks) I also feel like my pants are getting loser, but the scale is not moving. I have decided to weigh once a week. Don't want numbers messing with my mind.

ME too!!!! approved today! surgery april 15!

The first few days are the hardest. Don't give up! Do ANYTHING to distract yourself from thinking about food, dieting, eating. Go for a walk, clean the house, learn a hobby, go walk the mall, get lost on Pinterest, shop for pretty smelly things, window shop at a store you can't wait to buy smaller clothes in, get your nails done... do ANYTHING to distract yourself.

***HIGH FIVE***
I think the best advice is.... there could be bumps.. no there will be bumps in the road in the beginning. The first 3-4 months post-op tend to be the hardest as you go through, healing, and then learning about the new you. One of the best things I did, was follwed the advice of a book I read written by a bypass patient. She said to write two letters to yourself. One for the days/week right after surgery that moment when "buyer's remorse" kicks in. It should remind you why you did this surgery, how you feel at your current weight, what inspires you to lose weight, etc. Then the second is for yourself 6 months from now, when you might start giving up, or letting old habits creep in. Remind yourself of your struggles, and to stay on course for the long haul. Be honest with yourself. No one has to see or know these letters exsist, or you can do what I did. Gave them to my boyfreind in sealed envelopes. I told him if I got to a low place, and needed it, to give me my letters. Its amazing what pure honesty with yourself reminds you.