LilMissDiva Irene

@@SandyM - Yes, toning will make you smaller. Gaining muscle makes you burn fat a lot easier and I believe that is the major reason I got so small. @RJ'S/beginning - ABSOLUTELY! There's nothing wrong with working to become the best you can but it's equally important not to make an mentally unhealthy obsession about it. Work toward health and be the best you can! A lot of times though as super obese people we have an unhealthy mental image and thought about health and fitness too, which isn't good either. We think that it's impossible to dream to be that person. The more we work toward health and fitness we start to realize we really did have what it took to be that person. I suppose since I've gotten mental help for such issues I don't even think about taking it too far, but I cannot let my life experiences lead the way to others who haven't.

@@Mrs.RRn yes I had to fix the question because many were reading it literally which, why wouldn't they? Lol I had to think of a way to put it that it was playing in my mind. I meant no harm at all in what I was asking! I'm sorry it came out that way.

@@beeteroo yes that is exactly my point... I never thought I could get as small as I did. I was extremely healthy and even more happy. I was athletic, I ate really good healthy food (no I never ever starved myself), stayed well hydrated... it just came off. That is the size I'm supposed to be. Some think it's way too small of a size, but hey... it's my size. That said, my usual size I could get either a 2 or a 4 at other places. Sizes vary - but like I said the premise of this thread is to say don't count yourself out when you really aren't finished. I could lose another 10 Lbs and still be considered a healthy weight and body fat. It's in the cards too. It's not easy to imagine being a "skinny girl", but the fact is at our all true healthy weights we really are. And it's okay to want that for ourselves.

Let me clarify: when I said "skinny" I didn't mean boney, gaunt looking - I simply meant smaller than your goal. No, there's really nothing wrong with striving for more of a goal than just being healthy, in my opinion. We've all had some kind of obesity related issue, so it's okay to want to look in the mirror and say "Wow! I look great!" Stay true, always.

@RJ'S/beginning ohhh I'm so looking forward to when I can get my skin taken off. I might have to stalk you for a little while, hope that doesn't bother you. I'm scared too, so I feel you on that - but I'm more scared of not doing it!

@@☠carolinagirl☠ well sexy is even better so CHEERS!

@@B-52 good point! My body fat with my pics I just posted was 18%. I still could have lost a little more weight but for my age and sex I was well within healthy limits, but I was still overweight on the BMI scale. I don't tell everyone not to use the BMI scale though because it can easily become an excuse not to reach your full potential.

@@Trever I never made it to a "normal" BMI. I still could have lost more weight and been well within healthy weight limits. I think, speaking for myself that it's almost like I couldn't imagine myself being so small, like it wasn't possible... but it very much IS.

Being skinny =/= not curvy. I was skinny and still curvy too. Don't automatically think that simply because you are a tiny size that it means you won't have femininity! It's one of those lies I always told myself as an excuse to not try. This is my heaviest before photo (the only one I have!) and I was a size 28W and shirt size 4X: This is my smallest which was an XS and those are the Size 0 jeans. I was still very curvy! Never count yourself out if you don't even know how you will turn out!

liquid diet post op? Did your surgeon supply you with a post op plan? Follow it exactly! It works for both healing and losing weight. Usually the first few days to a week are Clear liquids. You can do broths, Isopure (dilute it, your tastebuds might be sensitive) Water, ice chips, sugar free Jello... things like that. When you hit the full liquid stage you can start using Protein shakes. Do them thinned out a bit until you're used to them. Yes any flavor is fine, particularly choose bariatric Protein Shakes. They are specially formulated for our needs post op. I suggest keeping your sugars to no more than 3-5g per serving. I do no more than 8g but I am years out from surgery. Your stomach will be extremely sensitive post op, and you may experience some dumping on anything too high in sugar. It's a pretty miserable experience, so try to avoid it at all costs! From here on for life you will always want to check the Nutrition Facts on anything you eat. Good luck to you! You will do great, and the butterflies are normal and fantastic.

I know this has to be on everyone's mind, their final results. I did get very, very small post op VSG. I got down to a size 0... though my goal was only to get to a size 8. I said I'd be happy to be out of the double-digit pants (a very far cry from my largest size 28W!!) and honestly never imagined even getting that small. But I did and I blew right past a size 8. I kept telling myself that I never wanted to get too skinny, but I won't lie - the smaller I got the more I liked it. It's no secret I've gained some back, but now that I'm back on track I know I won't mind getting back into my size 0's again. In fact I have them hanging up outside my closet ready to be re-worn. I'm not that far away, time passes and pounds melt away. How do you feel about getting "skinny"? Do you want to? It's okay to be open about it, we're all thinking the same things believe it or not. No matter which surgery we've individually had, we do all share majority of the same shames and struggles as each other.

Hi @@ssbills as long as you follow the post op rules, you WILL lose the weight. They really do work. Keeping your sugar in check will also help keep the cravings away. Don't do it, and you will be fine. Also, check out my do's and don't in my signature line. Good luck to you!

Holy tiny Moly! Great success and may you continue down your road of health and happiness! Cheers!!

ha at the time my older daughter took that picture i was just about to Yell at them for driving me insane.. she caught me just as i turned around to scream,, i mean share loving supportive words.. Haha!!! That's so funny!

@@Sboulie just as @@nerms suggested it's okay to have a tattoo before surgery, just make sure it's at least several weeks prior. I'm having a revision surgery on July 9th and I just had one done. I wanted to make sure it was completely healed and no risk of post infection so I wouldn't affect my surgery date. I do suggest that considering placement a factor. Get it in a place that as your body shrinks or any possible skin removal surgeries in the very long future (don't automatically say you will never do it, but MANY change their minds as the years go by) won't be affected by your new art piece. Good luck! Looking forward to seeing your post!

I want to purchase one, but I'm not sure which one I should get! Lap band, sleeve or bypass! Haha!!

@@intelirish I knew I seen a lot of "understanding" in your face picture!

@@proudgrammy you are a fun, hip and very slender proud grammy. And gracias mi amiga - you're very awesome.

One more thing to remember - save ONE pair of your largest clothing. But, toss everything else. It will be a blessed day that you can fit 2 legs in one pant leg. Enjoy the ride and know that this painful moment will be wrapped around a thousand happy, joyful ones when you compare yourself from then to now.

And no argument from me on that one! I used to sip pineapple juice for that.

I'm sure there are many more surgeons who are for it or against it, but the mainstay has always been majority are against this. I've had a lap band and drinking and eating at the same time never worked for me then either. It is always an individual choice however, just as long as everyone realizes doing this practice can hurt you either physically or hurt weight loss efforts and/or maintenance when that comes about.

Have fun for all of us!

@@2muchfun all WLS have this rule. Band, sleeve and bypass. The pouch procedures is because the water flushes the food out of the pouch much faster. The sleeve because it will liquefy the food inside the sleeve and of course water passes much faster than solid food. It's a lot like slider foods.

I caution sampling drinking while eating personally. It make me very physically sick to do it, so not everyone can sip and drink while eating without consequence. If you find that you can drink and eat at the same time then just use your better judgments and not do it all the time. It is something that can become a bad habit and will work against you once the years go by.

@@jlt6187 your whole life is going to change, forever. This journey is in no way temporary. Spicy food even causes some people acid reflux and discomfort, you may never be able to eat that ever again (you'd just have to sample it). What I'm trying to say is, you have to make the ultimate choice. What's more important? Getting your health and life back, or eating Thai foods and drinking Water with your meals. No way am I trying to sound harsh, but it's just the facts when it comes to WLS. Nothing you read about your procedure should be taken as temporary. It's for life.