MichiganChic

Yeah, so do I. I went back to work this week and my legs are really swollen. I still feel like my belly is a little swollen, and I can see it in my back, too. I imagine I will be one of those people who stays swollen for a year. Hope it gets better for you!

I think that's a great question. For me, once I made up my mind to have surgery, I wasn't afraid. However, I made it my business to eat everything I wanted in the two months I waited for surgery. Then I was ready to move on, and I never looked back. Very rarely I find myself wishing (for a second) that I could eat more, but in reality I'm so glad I can't. I'm free from the misery of constant overeating. I feel liberated from that and my fat body that was so self-limiting.

@@Georgia I also love that flat feeling, and I miss it. But my blood pressure was never really high, just swollen feet and ankles from being so fat. When I lost the weight, my swelling got much better, but not totally resolved, but my blood pressure would be 80/50, so had to stop them. I'm still not over it, lol. Really, I love that I don't need prescription meds, but it would be good if I could just use that sometimes. @@Ms skinniness 700 is a great fast day. Sometimes we just have to do the best we can and be glad about it. I do know what you mean about getting tired of watching your weight. I get like that sometimes, too. It's tiring counting calories and carbs and thinking about it and restricting your intake. Once in a while I just need a break. I could also eat an entire grilled cheese, and it kind of makes me sad/mad. I didn't do anything to stretch my stomach, it's just the way it is. sometimes I think I want a tune-up! However, I cant eat everything else I would have before, so I'm still better off. So one thing I noticed today at lunch is that after detoxing from carbs and sugar and decreasing my intake a couple of days, my restriction seemed greater today. I found that to be encouraging!

@@CowgirlJane YOU are inspirational, too! Love this group - and happy to be a part of it. I agree, it is important to keep all of this in perspective, and remember that we have succeeded and are truly more normal than ever. I think one of the reasons for me that I start to panic with a gain is because it's been a slippery slope for me in the past. I lost, and then felt powerless to stop regain. I would watch the pounds pile back on, and for whatever reason, just couldn't get control back. I always fear I'm one carb or cheeseburger or slice of cake or pound away from that cycle. I think I just don't trust myself yet. Not sure if I ever will. A lifetime of obesity and the associated misery is just hard for me to shake. It's a price I'm happy to pay if it helps keep me at a normal weight. I do allow myself a little freedom now and then, and I don't beat myself up for the associated gain, but I do react quickly when it happens. So anyway, for moment, 5:2 seems to be working for me. I came in at 502 calories yesterday, and I think I haven't eaten that low since during my first year post op. I was surprised that it wasn't hard too for me! The weekend is coming, so that's always the biggest challenge for me! I lost 10 pounds this week, which I know was water (remember I'm in post plastics swell hell, still) but I know that the low carbs and calories allowed me to release some of that water. I think I still have another 5-10 pounds, though I don't know for sure. My lowest weight was 161, then I had to stop taking a diuretic last August, immediately gained 15 pounds, lost 10, had plastics twice, and have been fighting this edema ever since. Be glad you are not me when it comes to water weight, lol! Have a great day, and stay warm. It's sub zero and snowy in Michigan. Also be glad you are not me for that

Nicely done - both the video and your weight loss. Congratulations!

Absolutely. And if your doc is offended, run. I didn't have to ask, either. My doc discloses his in his seminar.

I also have a goal of 155, but I think I'd love to see the 140s. Just to see how it looks, if nothing else. I haven't been there since the 80s when I was in my 20s. I think I look and feel pretty good in the lower 160s, but I'm never sure if that's not just an excuse to call it good enough. It's where my body wants to stay, and it was the same before I got morbidly obese. 160 was where I mostly was, and would go up or down 20 pounds, depending on how hard I dieted and exercised. I'm going to play it by ear. I think 155 would give me a little wiggle room. Anyway, had a pretty decent day yesterday, probably lower than it should have been for a non-fast day, at 750 calories. I was busy and not that hungry, so I took advantage of that. Today is going to be an actual fast day, and for me, that's around 600 calories. I feel better getting off the carbs, and while I still have a lot of visible swelling, I've dropped some more water this week. Such a relief! I felt like all of my skin was too tight for my body! Have a wonderful day, ladies!

You'll be ready for summer! You are lucky you don't need all the extensive work I did!

I have the same problem. I had lower body lift and brachioplasty in August, and never did lose all the swelling.Then three weeks ago I had thighplasty and breast lift. I gained about 15 pounds in 2 days, and I'm still up about 5. My ankles are huge at the end of every day and I find it to be miserable. I keep thinking I'm the only person who has 12 pounds cut off and my weight increases! However, I'm still not sad

It's totally worth it. I did have quite a bit of pain and even more swelling, but the pain didn't last that long. I do it again, for sure.

That looks good. where do you get the gluten free meatballs?

Yay! So glad to hear you had a good experience! Do you know when it will be? What are you having in your first procedure? I had 2 procedures so far, and I'm probably going to have a little minor tweaking done. I was really a mess before, and I am really happy with what I had done. My body is far from perfect, but it is greatly improved. It's a very exciting time for you - can't wait to see your transformation!

Wow, interesting! I didn't have to have that, but it would be kind of fun to see.

I couldn't do it. I used to be able to lose when I was younger, but never could keep it off. As I hit my 40s, I was unable to lose even a few pounds. I was hungry all the time, and dieting was miserable and totally non-productive for me. I really struggled with the decision to have the sleeve, thinking there was something wrong with me and it wouldn't work. I was really miserable at my highest weight, which I maintained for years. Once I had the surgery, I finally understood. For me, surgery gave me a fighting chance at weight loss and health. Compared to what it was like before, this is so much easier. At two years post op, the sleeve helps, but it's me doing the work. However, I learned a lot about my body and what it takes for me to lose. I know I have to eat about 900 calories a day to lose. That explains why it would take months to lose 10 pounds on weight watchers. Even if I had known, I wouldn't have been able to do that before surgery. Now I can maintain on around 1200-1300, which is "diet" for most people. So, only you will know it it's right for you. For me it was, but you need to decide if the risk is worth the benefit. Good luck.

Had a pretty good day yesterday, and came in under 1000. It's been a long time since I did that, so I'm feeling in control! Such a good feeling after feeling out of control for the past couple of weeks. I dropped a couple more pounds of water, and I can still see plenty of water on me, so its really hard to know my true weight. I sure hope the calorie and carb restriction, along with the sub-zero temperature helps to get rid of all this post plastics swelling. Have a great day ladies, wishing you all success!

Yep, that's how we do it. Congratulations on your loss, and getting back on track. It's a life long battle, for sure!

I had the same experience with eggs. I'm 2 years out, and I can everything now with no problem - except eggs. Maybe it's because I remember them feeling like a rock in my stomach, but I don't eat them now. It was the first food I tried, and it scared me because I thought everything would do that, but it's only eggs.

I had a successful day yesterday, as my first fast day. I came in at right around 600 calories. Since it was my first day back to work and I went to my monthly bariatric support group meeting, I was gone all day, making it much easier to accomplish. I plan to fast again on Thursday. Not sure how many calories to aim for on non-fast days. Any advice, anyone? I'm thinking 900-1100, and I'll do some research, but just wondered what others have found to be effective. I know I'm going struggle on the weekend, so keeping it low through the week is probably in my best interest. I maintained for the last year or so by keeping calories low through the week to accommodate a little higher on weekends. However....I'm going to really make every effort to stay low on weekends, too, until I get down where I want to be. There - I just talked myself right into behaving

All beautiful dogs! So sorry for your loss.....it's never easy. I love my pets like that, too. They are family. I still miss my little Shih Tzu Rosie, who has been gone almost 8 years. I agree, we'll see them in heaven.

I'd get a third opinion. Also, look at some of the work they've done. I've had lots of plastics in the past 4 months, and I had the lower body lift, so no abdominal scars. I also had breast lift, brachioplasty, and thighplasty, so that's a LOT of scars. I'm happy with it, but I don't love all the scars. I'm glad to not have one up the center of my belly. However, it's a trade off I'd make for better results, if needed.

I am also ready to begin the 5:2, ladies. I am up about 15 pounds from my lowest. I had two plastic procedures in 2014 that resulted in full body contouring and the removal of 12 pounds of skin and fat, yet my weight never changed! Some of it's still swelling post plastics, some is extra water from stopping a diuretic I had been on, and some of it is from the extra calories I had over the holidays because I "needed" it for healing. Pretty sure I didn't need quite all of those calories. I'm hoping to finally get to goal this year! Here's to a our collective, continued success in 2015!

Looking good!

I had an abdominoplasty, and it was extremely painful - and totally worth it, to me. I was well medicated, had a pain pump, and still had a hard time moving for about 2 weeks. The sleeve surgery didn't compare to that. However, I also had a butt lift and brachioplasty at the same time, and I was miserable in general. I remember wishing I could escape my body. But that pain fades and you are left with much better skin! Again, totally worth it!

I didn't tell many people at all. Since it was a pretty rapid and huge transformation, everyone wanted to know how I was doing it. I always told them diet and exercise. I felt like they would watch every bite I put in my mouth for the rest of my life, though that may or may not have been true. I may not have given them enough credit, but I just don't want to be the topic of anyone's conversation. Now, at two years out, I know that some people just assume I had WLS, and they are not judging me. My point is, people think what they want and make assumptions no matter what we do.

Great job! You look great!