makemyownluck

OK. Here's mah stats: November 2012: weight 459 Surgery 5/2/13: weight 417 8/3/13 - 3 mo post op: weight 359. That's a total of 100 lbs down from my highest weight!! I lost 42lbs in 6 mo pre-op and have lost 58lbs in 3 months post op. LIFE IS GOOD! Here are some pics. I don't have a lot of "before" shots to choose from, because I didn't like to take pics when I was that heavy. I see a major difference and look so forward to seeing all the changes in store for me!

you GUYSSSSS... THANK YOU for all the lovely compliments. As a fat girl, I always heard "but you have such a pretty face" and thought it was a backhanded compliment. But as i've gotten older, I realized I DO have a pretty face.. and now I'm glad the rest of my body is starting to match. THANK YOU all soso much - I'll post more pics as I go along. and Laura - YOU'RE MAKING ME BLUSH!

thanks for all the support, cool people. I posted a new entry with pics, if yall wanna see: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/89919-100-lbs-down-with-pics/

you look great. and your daughter is adorable!

but of course you may ask! started 459, currently 359.

I'll admit I cheated on mine. I waited until day 11, though. Three days before surgery, a coworker brought me some tamales her aunt made. She didn't know my surgery plan, so she really didn't know what she was putting in my lap. I literally could NOT fight the temptation (her tamales are AMAZINGGGG), I took them home with the intention of freezing them, but ended up eating one. And then about an hour later, I had a 2nd one. It was like i couldn't help myself. They were so good. I was so hungry. eating the first one woke my tummy up!! I felt awful and contemplated throwing up, but didn't. I decided to own my mistake, take it, move on. No need to give myself another eating disorder (bulimia) out of guilt when it really wasn't the end of the world. Surgery went fine, and now I'm 3 months out, 58lbs down. We're all human. To those who keep their will power on the pre-op diet, More power to you. I caved just that one time, but that's all it takes to officially be a cheater. That said, I wouldn't change it!

It's natural to be nervous. Let it keep you focused on the future. The changes are considerable, but honestly, post op life feels completely natural to me. I'm 3 months out and have lost 58lbs in 3 months. I'm exactly 100lbs down from my highest weight in November 2012. It took me 6 months to lose 42lbs pre op, which included a lot of suffering through depriving myself of food and pushing myself on exercise.Now post op, I've lost 58lbs in 3 months and I never feel deprived. I can eat what I want, just a LOT less. I have to REMIND myself to eat all the time, especially if I have a busy day. And when I'm lazy at home, I'm not grazing constantly. Food is THE LAST thing on my mind. In my experience, it's all felt very natural. And I love it. I love it when people ask "Oh, is that all you're eating?" YES. Yes it is. And I'll enjoy it and be happy with just these few bites... and as far as exercising post op - i do it, but not religiously. I feel more desire to be active now that I've lost weight - so I go walking with a friend a few times a week or I do crunches and leg lifts on the couch when I'm watching TV. None of it feels like effort to live this life... you're going to be so happy - just know the first few days after surgery are the worst and it ONLY gets BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER. Good luck!

You look fantastic! Love the cute dresses too!

Made this today, thought I would share! You can add in other goodies as your diet allows - I would like to try it with different veggie/cheese combinations! Mini crustless quiche makes: 4 servings ingredients: 4 slices of prosciutto, very thinly sliced! 4 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese 1 slice american cheese (2% or skim milk cheese would be best) 1 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese salt and pepper to taste (I also put in a bit of garlic powder - optional) *note: prosciutto is very salty on its own and you do not need much added salt in this recipe. In fact, you might want to skip salt altogether and just salt the finished product if it's needed instructions: spray 4 ramekins with cooking spray in the bottom of each ramekin, loosely pile one slice of prosciutto in each ramekin in a medium bowl, beat the 4 eggs and ricotta cheese together, season with salt and pepper to taste. pour mixture evenly over the prosciutto in the ramekins. tear apart and distribute bits of the american cheese among all 4 ramekins and top with parmesan cheese and one last bit of fresh cracked black pepper. Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 13-15m or until toothpick comes out clear. Allow to rest for a couple of minutes. They should pop right out of the ramekin since you sprayed them first! per My Fitness Pal: per 1 serving: 148 calories 8.4g fat (you could cut this down if you use egg whites) 1.4g carbs 13.2 g protein

Post-op life has been incredible so far. Even when I was in the hospital right after surgery, I was so positive. I was so thankful to the nurses, doctors and hospital staff - and I told them so endlessly - that many of them told me that I was the sweetest patient they'd had in a long time. Why? Because I was so thankful to be alive, to be doing okay (in pain, but no complications), to have them helping me, to know that IT WAS DONE... I just couldn't help but want to thank each of them so much for being there to help me through the hardest part (first few days post op). It was wonderful. Through all the pain and discomfort, I was guided by the idea that this is exactly what I wanted. I was exactly where I wanted to be. It was only gonna get BETTER from there. And it has. SO MUCH!!!! So, last Thursday was my 12 weeks post op. My stats: High weight: 459 Surgery date: 417 Today: 370. In 11 more lbs, I'll be at 100lbs down. And my high weight is from November 2012, so in LESS THAN A YEAR (cuz I know 11lbs will be coming off soon) I will have lost 100lbs. This surgery is my miracle. And I am an agnostic cynic who doesn't really believe in miracles. At my highest weight, it was impossible for me to have any sense of fashion or feeling cute in clothes. All my pants had to be ordered online and were usually somewhat ill-fitting. Almost all my clothes were bought from catalogs because plus size store tops were just too snug, even in the highest size. About 6 yrs ago was the last time I was able to buy pants at a store. Tops were okay, but jeans/pants were too small. Well, now just about everything I have is way too big. So, I started pulling clothes out of "the archives" a few weeks ago. I had held on to some of my nicer work clothes from Lane Bryant from about 5-6 yrs ago when I could still fit in them. Now, even those are all getting too big. The smallest size I remember being in my adult life is 26/28 and 12 weeks post op IT'S TOO BIG. I still find it so hard to believe! Well, I went clothes shopping this weekend. I waltzed into the Lane Bryant outlet and grabbed a pair of 28 jeans thinking "I'm sure all my old clothes are stretched out/worn in. So we'll see just how much more I have to lose before these brand new ones will fit", guessing that I'd get them pulled up but would have trouble buttoning them. Wrong. More like "Um, Miss, can you get me a 26?" A 26!!!!! And yes, I realize this is still big. I have a long way to go still, but just the idea of buying something in a store - something smaller than I would have bought even 5 years ago - it blows my mind!!! I got a bunch of cute tops in size 22/24 - and by the end of summer THOSE will be too big because they are already just a tiny bit big in the shoulder area. Anyway, aside from the clothes shopping (which I always LOVED back when I could actually shop in stores, so it kinda made me giddy to be able to do it again!) - I also have some NSVs. I've started parking on the 3rd floor in the parking garage at work. I was on the 2nd and would take the stairs every day. There are 5 floors, so I want to work my way up. Not sure how long it will take, but I just want to be able to do it! I can cross my legs at the knee. My thighs are still so huge (UGH), but small enough that I can cross my legs, and I was NEVER really able to do that comfortably in my LIFE. I moved my seat up in my car about 2 inches. Never thought that would be something I'd have to do because I'm almost 6 ft tall, but without my gut (well, with LESS of a gut) I felt a mile away from the steering wheel! I no longer fear any chair. Sometimes arms with chairs were just too tight and I couldn't sit in them. Now, I don't have that problem. Next challenge - sitting in a booth at a restaurant! this last one may sound snarky - but I have an overweight friend who's been acting a lil jealous of me lately because my weight loss is getting noticeable. I'm REALLLY close (if not already there, really), to being smaller than her. I've ALWAYS been the biggest friend. Always. I know that may sound petty - but I am just so sick of being the fattest person in my family, at work, in the store, of my friends - I have always been the fattest person... and now - I'm not! however that comes across, there is something about that fact that makes me proud of what I've accomplished! And last but not least - I met a guy. He's a really good one, too - so far. I haven't shared all my secrets with him or anything, it's still really new. But I do thoroughly enjoy him and want to see where this could go. It's got some potential! I haven't had the confidence to date in YEARS, and I go on this one blind date and am lucky enough to meet a really great guy. Another miracle? I dunno. Maybe I've been overdue for some miracles in my life! lol Anyway, that's about all I got to share at this point. Hope everyone else is doing well out there, too! <3 <3

I had mine on May 2, 2013. Been about 12 wks. In doing wonderfully!! Recovery was easy and I've been doing great. I've lost 47 lbs since surgery and 89lbs total since I started last year with pre-op diet/exercise. I live on the east side near Phillips park/east aurora high school. ID be happy to meet up and talk if you have any questions or want a walking buddy! shoot me a private message if you want!

I'm posting this in The powder Room - but men are more than welcome to read/comment. First of all - I'm 10.5 wks out from surgery. Total of 86lbs down, 44lbs down since surgery. Still have about 180lbs to go... OK, so I met a man. I haven't dated in forever. FOREVER. Too self-conscious. But I started to feel pretty cute lately since I'm fitting in smaller clothes and getting compliments, so I rejoined POF and met a guy. We've had a few dates. I like him. A lot. I haven't told him about surgery, but I have told him about becoming more active and losing weight. He's actually doing the same, he says he wants to lose about 50 more lbs... don't know what he started at, and don't know if he's had surgery (I mean, maybe he did, it's not like I want to tell him about surgery, either...) Problem is, I'm terrified to get naked in front of anyone. While I'm feeling flirty and cute and confident when wearing a good bra and jeans that make my @ss look great, I really don't like what's going on under the clothes. I'm all lumpy, my scars are still bright pink/red (against my super pale complexion it's quite noticeable) and everything's saggin. Now I have a tendency to be a little harder on myself than I need to be, so I'll say my knees down/ chest up area is looking nice - but the belly and upper thigh area is a fright. How do I overcome this self-image and allow myself to be naked in front of this man? I can tell from our make out sessions that he's quite patient, so I know he's gonna be the type to take his time exploring the entire land that is "Moi". Part of me is really (really, really, really) looking forward to that, but at least 25% of me is dreading it so much that my skin crawls just thinking about it. I am horribly, completely and totally insecure when it comes to my body - it's just not cute. :\ Does anyone have any wise wisdom to share or a good slap in the face that might help me get through this? I don't think sharing my insecurities with him is really a good idea, I don't want to scare him off because I like him...

GET SOME!!!! lol that's great! I want to get a bike soon, too! Have fun! Scrape up them knees - it's all about BATTLE SCARS!

I'm from IL! I live in Aurora. I went to Rush University in Chicago - Dr. Luu, tho. So no info to share about your doc or hospital. Good luck!!! When's the big day?

I have the same issues. I'm 11-12 wks post op and losing slowly. Everything seriously looks like it's "deflating". Still there, just less full and sagging more now. I've heard the advice on this site multiple times to wait til you're at goal for a year before doing it because things DO tighten up a bit on there own if you work at it. Depending on the severity, however, many times exercise alone isn't going to get you the results you really want - not when you've had that pouch your whole life. I already know I'll need some surgery to remove the skin. I've had my big belly since I was a kid too, so it won't likely just go away from losing weight. Probably not what you wanna hear, but everyone really is different, so it's possible that it will go away for you! I'm wishing us both luck on that, hon! I'm doing what I can with using firming lotions, keeping hydrated and exercising. But I think surgery is ultimately in my distant future... I'll take the advice to be a year at goal first just so I'm as firm as I can get in the end.

I hear you, honey. I do. And I apologize if I snapped as well, but we all have insecurities on here, right? I understand the intentions of your original post now that I re-read it. Agree that if the only reason you do ANYTHING is for a man, it's a bad reason to do it! Especially something like surgery! But that said, this surgery is life changing in just about every possible way. Including the love life! Happiness, for me, is attainable even if I stay single forever. I can't deny, tho, that there is a definite part of me that wants to be in a relationship, possibly married, if and when I find the right man to do it with. Here's to hoping I find him and that he loves every part of me, including my scars, stretch marks and skinnnnn. Cuz included with my flaws is a good hearted person with a Beeeeyooootiful face to kiss. PLEASE do! Can't wait to hear! Good luck!!!

There are a million reasons to have this surgery, and none of them are wrong. In this life, our only destiny is to find our happiness and I wasn't finding it at 459lbs. I wasn't truly and completely happy with anything. So yes, I had this surgery to change my life. I had this to improve my health, my mood, my complexion, my wardrobe, my attitude, my love life, my E V E R Y T H I N G. It wasn't one reason. It was a million. And one of them WAS to get the attention of a good man so I can have the life I want. Period. I will never feel guilty for what I want and how I'm gonna try to get it - not ever - because I know I'm a good person with good intentions who deserves good things. Regardless of the reasons, we're all in the exact same boat here. We've GOT to stop shaming people on this site because that's NOT what we're here for! (at least I'm not) I hope you have a fantastic time on your date too, and good luck! My date was good! We went out to eat and I had the perfect opportunity to tell him about surgery, but I lost my nerve. I do still really like this guy, but I decided that for me - I need to slow down. Just in general. I want to like this guy for who he is, not for the idea of what I think he could be. I don't know him well enough to know if I can tell him my secrets... but I do wanna stick around and find out if he's worth sharing with! PM if you want. We can gossip about our dates.

I had mine out years before being sleeved and haven't had any digestive problems after either surgery. It is actually becoming more routine to do it at the same time - but your surgeon will do an ultrasound on your gall bladder first to see if you have any stones forming. Stones can form and be asymptomatic, but then you rapidly lose weight and they can become lodged in the bile duct and cause pain. So if you have the u/s and there are no stones, I see no need to remove it. The medication post-op will help prevent problems. Best advice for anyone: Talk to your surgeon - they know best!

I actually see both of your points. I mean, obviously I'm still big, but like I said, in clothes, I'm looking GOOD for a "big girl". I KNOW he's attracted. I've been thinking about it and I think this is a good test of how serious this guy is. I just never really tested guys before, so I feel like it will be more awkward if I continue to wait to tell him. Now I'm looking forward to it, to see his reaction. I want this guy to be the guy, and this is actually a way to find out if he is who I think he is... WISH ME LUCK! date night tomorrow...

I so dread telling him about surgery. I realize that I need to know sooner or later if this is a deal breaker for him, but I like him and don't want this to make him run away!

Oh, and if you tell them you are nervous, they will give you something. They will give you something anyway, but if you tell them, you'll get it sooner rather than right before you go in for surgery. Ask them for a scope patch also - it prevents nausea. I didn't have any issues with feeling nauseous after surgery and I thank the patch for that! The anesthesiologist can get you the scope patch - just ask!

I slept about 2 hours the night before surgery -- and I ended up sleeping through most of my hospital stay afterward to make up for it! Good luck, the hard part is right around the corner, but it get easier every single day. <3

LOVE premier - super jealous that you have the resealable kind because my local Costco just has the pull tops that aren't resealable. That said, the chocolate is fantastic. I have some vanilla ones to mix with other things - but they are a little too sweet for my taste on their own. However, mixed with some fresh berries, or peanut butter, or SF Chai powder, they taste great. Same cal/protein content as the chocolate. I've been using these since pre-op, my NUT gives them 2 thumbs up!

First of all, CONGRATS on finding a good man who makes you feel special. I am 10 wks post op and I just met someone who makes me feel special and I'm having the same roadblock. However, my man doesn't know that I had surgery - I literally JUST met him and haven't told him about it yet. But I want to. Now, I'm thinking of waiting to sleep with him because I do feel that special connection, like this is a really genuinely good man that I want to hold onto and not jump into bed with so fast. But part of me wonders how much of that is true and how much is just me not wanting to be naked in front of him. Because I'm having the same sagging issues and I do NOT feel attractive with my clothes off - AT ALL. So I'll put this back on you and maybe ask your advice on how to bring up surgery with him, if I should or whatever insight you may have as someone who HAS shared your surgical history with your partner. And maybe some advice that others give you will be helpful to me as well. I talked about this with a girlfriend of mine who gave me some really wise advice: "It's not about your body. If it was, he would have slept with you on the first date. He's dating you because he's into you, he wants to express himself physically now. You should let him do that." GOOD LUCK, honey. <3

I'm sharing this because it's on my mind... I'm not trying to come off as a complainer, so please don't reply with a lecture... My scale goal is 200 lbs away. I'm not sure I'll make it to that goal, but it's the weight I need to be "normal" BMI. When I started in November 2012, my goal was 282lbs away, so I have made good progress. I'm so glad to have made progress!! I'm 9 wks post op and starting to feel the blues. I just want to be an "after" already... I feel like this is going so slowly. I have been taking pictures every month and I finally uploaded them to my computer from my phone so I could look at the difference. If I put them up in random order, you wouldn't even be able to tell the difference. I'm so big that losing 82lbs doesn't even show! I'm so grateful to be losing, don't get me wrong... I know it will take time, etc. but it's just hard to stay patient. And beyond that, it just makes me sad that I allowed myself to weigh so much in the first place. My BFF who has also been my photographer told me I was looking good today. I told her I felt so gross and looked a mess, and she simply replied, "You're so hard on yourself." It was so honest of her to say that - and so true. I am hard on myself. Even the slight changes that have happened I can see as a flaw... part of me is also grateful to not lose so quickly because I know my body is a wreck and will only get worse with weight loss... but I just don't know why I focus on that! The negative! I'm at a low point. I am being hard on myself. It's just hard for me to accept that my body may never ever be beautiful in my eyes...but I'll keep working on it. And yes, i've considered therapy for this, but idk. It's really difficult to actually talk about... out loud...