Jenny12

I'm 28 and 5'2 and my starting weight was 206. I am 8 months post op. I'm at 137 now, and trust me losing too much isn't going to be an issue!! You will be able to eat much more as time goes on.

I started at 206 and am 11 months out, and today I weigh 116. I'm satisfied with my rate of loss. Things really slowed down for me around month 5 and 6, and I had to recommit myself.

My surgeon has allowed straws since the beginning. They do not stretch your stomach nor do carbonated drinks. If you have excess air in there, you burp.

To the OP, I think a lot of it is genetics. This is just my opinion, but I think there are a LOT of WLS people who do in fact look pretty bad when it's all said and done. Sure, that's better than being super morbidly obese and unhealthy on the verge of death. But.... That also doesn't change the fact that not everyone looks good after such drastic weight loss. They may think they do....but.......hehehe. Like I said, it's better than the alternative. That's why there is plastic surgery I guess. I find the most obvious places to really particularly look bad on a lot of WLS patients is their face.

I'm 5'2" and my starting weight was 206. I reached my goal weight (125 pounds) in 10 months. I'm 13 months post op now and this morning I weighed 115. I only have a very small amount of saggy skin on my upper thighs and upper arms, but not bad at all. If I actually worked out for a couple months, it probably wouldn't be an issue at all. It's pretty minor in my opinion. My stomach is actually flat with no sag. In clothes, you can't tell I have lost any weight. best of luck on your journey!

I was a diet coke addict before surgery, and I'm a diet coke addict after surgery. I gave it up in the early stages of post op, maybe 3 months if that. I have been drinking it ever since with no issues. I admire all of you who kicked the habit! It hasn't hindered my weight loss efforts in the slightest, and although it may not be good for me, I figure I could be doing a lot worse if this is the worst indulgence I have. Haha. Cheers (as I hold up my glass!)

I take Lo Loestrin Fe and I stopped one week prior to surgery and started back a week or two after surgery. No hinder to my weight loss at all. I also wouldn't say it helped it. I only had one stall at around 5 months and it was my own fault, not BC, but after that it was smooth sailing and the pounds have melted off.

I love beef curry! I make a "skinny" version in my crockpot and it is delicious. I hated beef before surgery (especially steak), and now I crave it!
Here is my lunch. I picked off the onions and roasted red peppers. I ate about half, and I also used no dressing. Another weird thing since surgery: I don't like dressing on my salads. I added a little extra feta cheese instead. I'm about 11 months out.

I'm in Nashville.

I love beef curry! I make a "skinny" version in my crockpot and it is delicious. I hated beef before surgery (especially steak), and now I crave it!
Here is my lunch. I picked off the onions and roasted red peppers. I ate about half, and I also used no dressing. Another weird thing since surgery: I don't like dressing on my salads. I added a little extra feta cheese instead. I'm about 11 months out.

I love beef curry! I make a "skinny" version in my crockpot and it is delicious. I hated beef before surgery (especially steak), and now I crave it!
Here is my lunch. I picked off the onions and roasted red peppers. I ate about half, and I also used no dressing. Another weird thing since surgery: I don't like dressing on my salads. I added a little extra feta cheese instead. I'm about 11 months out.

The only thing I regret about my surgery is what I paid out of pocket for it. $17,500. Now that I am 7 months post op and get a better glimpse of how things are now that I an in the real world, I would not pay more than $7,000 for the surgery. It is not worth more than that in my opinion. But if your insurance pays, that's great.

I love beef curry! I make a "skinny" version in my crockpot and it is delicious. I hated beef before surgery (especially steak), and now I crave it!
Here is my lunch. I picked off the onions and roasted red peppers. I ate about half, and I also used no dressing. Another weird thing since surgery: I don't like dressing on my salads. I added a little extra feta cheese instead. I'm about 11 months out.

Hi everyone! I don't come around as much as I used to (Or should!!!), but I wanted to pop in and post an update on how I am doing. I am about 18 months post op. My highest weight was 206, and my lowest weight was 112. I reached goal of 125 lbs about 10 months after surgery, but I continued to lose. I have regained a little (I needed to, my butt disappeared). I'm at about 118-119 lbs right now. I'm wearing a size 2 in most brands. I wish I could say that I know the road ahead looks easy, but it doesn't at all. I will have to kick and fight my way ahead if I want to maintain this weight. I don't really rely on "restriction" much anymore. I can't eat as much as I could before surgery, but believe me, I can still put the food away! Just takes a little longer. since I was trying to regain a little, I wasn't watching my intake as much, and am pretty shocked sometimes at the amount I can eat. I did recently (two months ago) come off of my birth control (May get back on it), but I notice my appetite is pretty intense right before my period and I'm also able to eat more during this time (less restriction). Not sure why, but it is noticeable. Junk food is so easy to eat. So easy. And actually all food is pretty easy for me...I never had any issues eating anything. To this day I can eat bread and Pasta without a second thought. Nothing makes me sick. I haven't weighed my portions in a while, I'm at a point where I can eyeball things. If I were to guess, I'd say I can eat 8 ounces Protein and a side. But I get hungry very quickly. Usually within an hour I am hungry again, regardless of what I eat. It must go through my system so much faster than before surgery. Because even before surgery, my last meal stayed with me longer than it does now. The full feeling I have now isn't the same feeling as it was right after surgery or even at a year post op. Instead of a really painful pressure, like not a single bite more will fit, it's now kind of like just a normal full feeling similar to before surgery (but of course I reach that feeling sooner now). I'm not sure if it's because I've learned to stop eating at the right time, but I think it's more that my stomach has relaxed a lot and this is just how it is now. I do miss the painful restriction feeling. I'm still glad I chose to have the surgery. It wasn't easy but it's been rewarding and at the end of the day I can't sit down and eat an entire large pizza anymore, and I think that's a very great thing. I hope you all are doing well!! - jenny

Hi everyone! I don't come around as much as I used to (Or should!!!), but I wanted to pop in and post an update on how I am doing. I am about 18 months post op. My highest weight was 206, and my lowest weight was 112. I reached goal of 125 lbs about 10 months after surgery, but I continued to lose. I have regained a little (I needed to, my butt disappeared). I'm at about 118-119 lbs right now. I'm wearing a size 2 in most brands. I wish I could say that I know the road ahead looks easy, but it doesn't at all. I will have to kick and fight my way ahead if I want to maintain this weight. I don't really rely on "restriction" much anymore. I can't eat as much as I could before surgery, but believe me, I can still put the food away! Just takes a little longer. since I was trying to regain a little, I wasn't watching my intake as much, and am pretty shocked sometimes at the amount I can eat. I did recently (two months ago) come off of my birth control (May get back on it), but I notice my appetite is pretty intense right before my period and I'm also able to eat more during this time (less restriction). Not sure why, but it is noticeable. Junk food is so easy to eat. So easy. And actually all food is pretty easy for me...I never had any issues eating anything. To this day I can eat bread and Pasta without a second thought. Nothing makes me sick. I haven't weighed my portions in a while, I'm at a point where I can eyeball things. If I were to guess, I'd say I can eat 8 ounces Protein and a side. But I get hungry very quickly. Usually within an hour I am hungry again, regardless of what I eat. It must go through my system so much faster than before surgery. Because even before surgery, my last meal stayed with me longer than it does now. The full feeling I have now isn't the same feeling as it was right after surgery or even at a year post op. Instead of a really painful pressure, like not a single bite more will fit, it's now kind of like just a normal full feeling similar to before surgery (but of course I reach that feeling sooner now). I'm not sure if it's because I've learned to stop eating at the right time, but I think it's more that my stomach has relaxed a lot and this is just how it is now. I do miss the painful restriction feeling. I'm still glad I chose to have the surgery. It wasn't easy but it's been rewarding and at the end of the day I can't sit down and eat an entire large pizza anymore, and I think that's a very great thing. I hope you all are doing well!! - jenny

Hi everyone! I don't come around as much as I used to (Or should!!!), but I wanted to pop in and post an update on how I am doing. I am about 18 months post op. My highest weight was 206, and my lowest weight was 112. I reached goal of 125 lbs about 10 months after surgery, but I continued to lose. I have regained a little (I needed to, my butt disappeared). I'm at about 118-119 lbs right now. I'm wearing a size 2 in most brands. I wish I could say that I know the road ahead looks easy, but it doesn't at all. I will have to kick and fight my way ahead if I want to maintain this weight. I don't really rely on "restriction" much anymore. I can't eat as much as I could before surgery, but believe me, I can still put the food away! Just takes a little longer. since I was trying to regain a little, I wasn't watching my intake as much, and am pretty shocked sometimes at the amount I can eat. I did recently (two months ago) come off of my birth control (May get back on it), but I notice my appetite is pretty intense right before my period and I'm also able to eat more during this time (less restriction). Not sure why, but it is noticeable. Junk food is so easy to eat. So easy. And actually all food is pretty easy for me...I never had any issues eating anything. To this day I can eat bread and Pasta without a second thought. Nothing makes me sick. I haven't weighed my portions in a while, I'm at a point where I can eyeball things. If I were to guess, I'd say I can eat 8 ounces Protein and a side. But I get hungry very quickly. Usually within an hour I am hungry again, regardless of what I eat. It must go through my system so much faster than before surgery. Because even before surgery, my last meal stayed with me longer than it does now. The full feeling I have now isn't the same feeling as it was right after surgery or even at a year post op. Instead of a really painful pressure, like not a single bite more will fit, it's now kind of like just a normal full feeling similar to before surgery (but of course I reach that feeling sooner now). I'm not sure if it's because I've learned to stop eating at the right time, but I think it's more that my stomach has relaxed a lot and this is just how it is now. I do miss the painful restriction feeling. I'm still glad I chose to have the surgery. It wasn't easy but it's been rewarding and at the end of the day I can't sit down and eat an entire large pizza anymore, and I think that's a very great thing. I hope you all are doing well!! - jenny

Hi everyone! I don't come around as much as I used to (Or should!!!), but I wanted to pop in and post an update on how I am doing. I am about 18 months post op. My highest weight was 206, and my lowest weight was 112. I reached goal of 125 lbs about 10 months after surgery, but I continued to lose. I have regained a little (I needed to, my butt disappeared). I'm at about 118-119 lbs right now. I'm wearing a size 2 in most brands. I wish I could say that I know the road ahead looks easy, but it doesn't at all. I will have to kick and fight my way ahead if I want to maintain this weight. I don't really rely on "restriction" much anymore. I can't eat as much as I could before surgery, but believe me, I can still put the food away! Just takes a little longer. since I was trying to regain a little, I wasn't watching my intake as much, and am pretty shocked sometimes at the amount I can eat. I did recently (two months ago) come off of my birth control (May get back on it), but I notice my appetite is pretty intense right before my period and I'm also able to eat more during this time (less restriction). Not sure why, but it is noticeable. Junk food is so easy to eat. So easy. And actually all food is pretty easy for me...I never had any issues eating anything. To this day I can eat bread and Pasta without a second thought. Nothing makes me sick. I haven't weighed my portions in a while, I'm at a point where I can eyeball things. If I were to guess, I'd say I can eat 8 ounces Protein and a side. But I get hungry very quickly. Usually within an hour I am hungry again, regardless of what I eat. It must go through my system so much faster than before surgery. Because even before surgery, my last meal stayed with me longer than it does now. The full feeling I have now isn't the same feeling as it was right after surgery or even at a year post op. Instead of a really painful pressure, like not a single bite more will fit, it's now kind of like just a normal full feeling similar to before surgery (but of course I reach that feeling sooner now). I'm not sure if it's because I've learned to stop eating at the right time, but I think it's more that my stomach has relaxed a lot and this is just how it is now. I do miss the painful restriction feeling. I'm still glad I chose to have the surgery. It wasn't easy but it's been rewarding and at the end of the day I can't sit down and eat an entire large pizza anymore, and I think that's a very great thing. I hope you all are doing well!! - jenny

Hi everyone! I don't come around as much as I used to (Or should!!!), but I wanted to pop in and post an update on how I am doing. I am about 18 months post op. My highest weight was 206, and my lowest weight was 112. I reached goal of 125 lbs about 10 months after surgery, but I continued to lose. I have regained a little (I needed to, my butt disappeared). I'm at about 118-119 lbs right now. I'm wearing a size 2 in most brands. I wish I could say that I know the road ahead looks easy, but it doesn't at all. I will have to kick and fight my way ahead if I want to maintain this weight. I don't really rely on "restriction" much anymore. I can't eat as much as I could before surgery, but believe me, I can still put the food away! Just takes a little longer. since I was trying to regain a little, I wasn't watching my intake as much, and am pretty shocked sometimes at the amount I can eat. I did recently (two months ago) come off of my birth control (May get back on it), but I notice my appetite is pretty intense right before my period and I'm also able to eat more during this time (less restriction). Not sure why, but it is noticeable. Junk food is so easy to eat. So easy. And actually all food is pretty easy for me...I never had any issues eating anything. To this day I can eat bread and Pasta without a second thought. Nothing makes me sick. I haven't weighed my portions in a while, I'm at a point where I can eyeball things. If I were to guess, I'd say I can eat 8 ounces Protein and a side. But I get hungry very quickly. Usually within an hour I am hungry again, regardless of what I eat. It must go through my system so much faster than before surgery. Because even before surgery, my last meal stayed with me longer than it does now. The full feeling I have now isn't the same feeling as it was right after surgery or even at a year post op. Instead of a really painful pressure, like not a single bite more will fit, it's now kind of like just a normal full feeling similar to before surgery (but of course I reach that feeling sooner now). I'm not sure if it's because I've learned to stop eating at the right time, but I think it's more that my stomach has relaxed a lot and this is just how it is now. I do miss the painful restriction feeling. I'm still glad I chose to have the surgery. It wasn't easy but it's been rewarding and at the end of the day I can't sit down and eat an entire large pizza anymore, and I think that's a very great thing. I hope you all are doing well!! - jenny

Hi everyone! I don't come around as much as I used to (Or should!!!), but I wanted to pop in and post an update on how I am doing. I am about 18 months post op. My highest weight was 206, and my lowest weight was 112. I reached goal of 125 lbs about 10 months after surgery, but I continued to lose. I have regained a little (I needed to, my butt disappeared). I'm at about 118-119 lbs right now. I'm wearing a size 2 in most brands. I wish I could say that I know the road ahead looks easy, but it doesn't at all. I will have to kick and fight my way ahead if I want to maintain this weight. I don't really rely on "restriction" much anymore. I can't eat as much as I could before surgery, but believe me, I can still put the food away! Just takes a little longer. since I was trying to regain a little, I wasn't watching my intake as much, and am pretty shocked sometimes at the amount I can eat. I did recently (two months ago) come off of my birth control (May get back on it), but I notice my appetite is pretty intense right before my period and I'm also able to eat more during this time (less restriction). Not sure why, but it is noticeable. Junk food is so easy to eat. So easy. And actually all food is pretty easy for me...I never had any issues eating anything. To this day I can eat bread and Pasta without a second thought. Nothing makes me sick. I haven't weighed my portions in a while, I'm at a point where I can eyeball things. If I were to guess, I'd say I can eat 8 ounces Protein and a side. But I get hungry very quickly. Usually within an hour I am hungry again, regardless of what I eat. It must go through my system so much faster than before surgery. Because even before surgery, my last meal stayed with me longer than it does now. The full feeling I have now isn't the same feeling as it was right after surgery or even at a year post op. Instead of a really painful pressure, like not a single bite more will fit, it's now kind of like just a normal full feeling similar to before surgery (but of course I reach that feeling sooner now). I'm not sure if it's because I've learned to stop eating at the right time, but I think it's more that my stomach has relaxed a lot and this is just how it is now. I do miss the painful restriction feeling. I'm still glad I chose to have the surgery. It wasn't easy but it's been rewarding and at the end of the day I can't sit down and eat an entire large pizza anymore, and I think that's a very great thing. I hope you all are doing well!! - jenny

Hi everyone! I don't come around as much as I used to (Or should!!!), but I wanted to pop in and post an update on how I am doing. I am about 18 months post op. My highest weight was 206, and my lowest weight was 112. I reached goal of 125 lbs about 10 months after surgery, but I continued to lose. I have regained a little (I needed to, my butt disappeared). I'm at about 118-119 lbs right now. I'm wearing a size 2 in most brands. I wish I could say that I know the road ahead looks easy, but it doesn't at all. I will have to kick and fight my way ahead if I want to maintain this weight. I don't really rely on "restriction" much anymore. I can't eat as much as I could before surgery, but believe me, I can still put the food away! Just takes a little longer. since I was trying to regain a little, I wasn't watching my intake as much, and am pretty shocked sometimes at the amount I can eat. I did recently (two months ago) come off of my birth control (May get back on it), but I notice my appetite is pretty intense right before my period and I'm also able to eat more during this time (less restriction). Not sure why, but it is noticeable. Junk food is so easy to eat. So easy. And actually all food is pretty easy for me...I never had any issues eating anything. To this day I can eat bread and Pasta without a second thought. Nothing makes me sick. I haven't weighed my portions in a while, I'm at a point where I can eyeball things. If I were to guess, I'd say I can eat 8 ounces Protein and a side. But I get hungry very quickly. Usually within an hour I am hungry again, regardless of what I eat. It must go through my system so much faster than before surgery. Because even before surgery, my last meal stayed with me longer than it does now. The full feeling I have now isn't the same feeling as it was right after surgery or even at a year post op. Instead of a really painful pressure, like not a single bite more will fit, it's now kind of like just a normal full feeling similar to before surgery (but of course I reach that feeling sooner now). I'm not sure if it's because I've learned to stop eating at the right time, but I think it's more that my stomach has relaxed a lot and this is just how it is now. I do miss the painful restriction feeling. I'm still glad I chose to have the surgery. It wasn't easy but it's been rewarding and at the end of the day I can't sit down and eat an entire large pizza anymore, and I think that's a very great thing. I hope you all are doing well!! - jenny

Hi everyone! I don't come around as much as I used to (Or should!!!), but I wanted to pop in and post an update on how I am doing. I am about 18 months post op. My highest weight was 206, and my lowest weight was 112. I reached goal of 125 lbs about 10 months after surgery, but I continued to lose. I have regained a little (I needed to, my butt disappeared). I'm at about 118-119 lbs right now. I'm wearing a size 2 in most brands. I wish I could say that I know the road ahead looks easy, but it doesn't at all. I will have to kick and fight my way ahead if I want to maintain this weight. I don't really rely on "restriction" much anymore. I can't eat as much as I could before surgery, but believe me, I can still put the food away! Just takes a little longer. since I was trying to regain a little, I wasn't watching my intake as much, and am pretty shocked sometimes at the amount I can eat. I did recently (two months ago) come off of my birth control (May get back on it), but I notice my appetite is pretty intense right before my period and I'm also able to eat more during this time (less restriction). Not sure why, but it is noticeable. Junk food is so easy to eat. So easy. And actually all food is pretty easy for me...I never had any issues eating anything. To this day I can eat bread and Pasta without a second thought. Nothing makes me sick. I haven't weighed my portions in a while, I'm at a point where I can eyeball things. If I were to guess, I'd say I can eat 8 ounces Protein and a side. But I get hungry very quickly. Usually within an hour I am hungry again, regardless of what I eat. It must go through my system so much faster than before surgery. Because even before surgery, my last meal stayed with me longer than it does now. The full feeling I have now isn't the same feeling as it was right after surgery or even at a year post op. Instead of a really painful pressure, like not a single bite more will fit, it's now kind of like just a normal full feeling similar to before surgery (but of course I reach that feeling sooner now). I'm not sure if it's because I've learned to stop eating at the right time, but I think it's more that my stomach has relaxed a lot and this is just how it is now. I do miss the painful restriction feeling. I'm still glad I chose to have the surgery. It wasn't easy but it's been rewarding and at the end of the day I can't sit down and eat an entire large pizza anymore, and I think that's a very great thing. I hope you all are doing well!! - jenny

Hi everyone! I don't come around as much as I used to (Or should!!!), but I wanted to pop in and post an update on how I am doing. I am about 18 months post op. My highest weight was 206, and my lowest weight was 112. I reached goal of 125 lbs about 10 months after surgery, but I continued to lose. I have regained a little (I needed to, my butt disappeared). I'm at about 118-119 lbs right now. I'm wearing a size 2 in most brands. I wish I could say that I know the road ahead looks easy, but it doesn't at all. I will have to kick and fight my way ahead if I want to maintain this weight. I don't really rely on "restriction" much anymore. I can't eat as much as I could before surgery, but believe me, I can still put the food away! Just takes a little longer. since I was trying to regain a little, I wasn't watching my intake as much, and am pretty shocked sometimes at the amount I can eat. I did recently (two months ago) come off of my birth control (May get back on it), but I notice my appetite is pretty intense right before my period and I'm also able to eat more during this time (less restriction). Not sure why, but it is noticeable. Junk food is so easy to eat. So easy. And actually all food is pretty easy for me...I never had any issues eating anything. To this day I can eat bread and Pasta without a second thought. Nothing makes me sick. I haven't weighed my portions in a while, I'm at a point where I can eyeball things. If I were to guess, I'd say I can eat 8 ounces Protein and a side. But I get hungry very quickly. Usually within an hour I am hungry again, regardless of what I eat. It must go through my system so much faster than before surgery. Because even before surgery, my last meal stayed with me longer than it does now. The full feeling I have now isn't the same feeling as it was right after surgery or even at a year post op. Instead of a really painful pressure, like not a single bite more will fit, it's now kind of like just a normal full feeling similar to before surgery (but of course I reach that feeling sooner now). I'm not sure if it's because I've learned to stop eating at the right time, but I think it's more that my stomach has relaxed a lot and this is just how it is now. I do miss the painful restriction feeling. I'm still glad I chose to have the surgery. It wasn't easy but it's been rewarding and at the end of the day I can't sit down and eat an entire large pizza anymore, and I think that's a very great thing. I hope you all are doing well!! - jenny

I love beef curry! I make a "skinny" version in my crockpot and it is delicious. I hated beef before surgery (especially steak), and now I crave it!
Here is my lunch. I picked off the onions and roasted red peppers. I ate about half, and I also used no dressing. Another weird thing since surgery: I don't like dressing on my salads. I added a little extra feta cheese instead. I'm about 11 months out.

I love beef curry! I make a "skinny" version in my crockpot and it is delicious. I hated beef before surgery (especially steak), and now I crave it!
Here is my lunch. I picked off the onions and roasted red peppers. I ate about half, and I also used no dressing. Another weird thing since surgery: I don't like dressing on my salads. I added a little extra feta cheese instead. I'm about 11 months out.

Hi Stephi. Sorry you're having a hard time. When I was about 5 months out I hit my first and only "stall" or "plateau" or whatever you'd like to call it. I noticed my restriction wasn't as strong suddenly and my appetite for bad foods had increased, and I was giving in to the cravings more than I should. This lasted about a month for me. I was sure it was over, that I was done losing weight and I would be one of those people who failed. I simply decided that wasn't going to be the case. I didn't pay to have my stomach surgically removed to half ass this, and neither did you. So you just have to find a way to recommit yourself. You're gonna have to go within yourself, however corny that sounds, and find some new strength to finish the job you've started. For me, I went right back to liquids only for two weeks. Protein Shakes. It was HARD. But I detoxed off of those bad foods, and I got familiar with what my new "looser" restriction was, and I carried on. I finished losing every single bit of my weight because I somehow was strong enough to go back to shakes for two weeks to restart the process. Now I drink zero shakes, but it was crucial for me at that crossroad. Best of luck!