Fluffnomore

I'm 8 months out and my boobs have not gone down in size, though my band has. So, I was a 36-38 GG or H when I started, and now I'm a (tight) 34 GG or H. I also sport bruised kneecaps when I let the girls out of captivity and walk around the house.

I'm 8 months out and my boobs have not gone down in size, though my band has. So, I was a 36-38 GG or H when I started, and now I'm a (tight) 34 GG or H. I also sport bruised kneecaps when I let the girls out of captivity and walk around the house.

42DD to a 36D looooooooong. When I bend over, they look like stretched out tube socks. It's not pretty. That said, I look great in clothes as I was a size 20 and am now a size 6/8. I really don't give a flying fook what my boobs look like when I am bent over braless.

What everyone has to remember, and it is incredibly hard to, the doctor works for you! You pay them by paying your premiums or by paying them out of pocket. I had a doctor that hummed and huh'ed about getting me into the WLS program when I finally told her it was that or I go to another doctor, her tone changed greatly. People forget that they do have a say in what goes on and what they want. I have become very vocal with my doctors about how I want to handle my healthcare and why I want this or that. Yes there is a process and procedure to follow but dont let anyone stop you due to their personal opinion on surgery. Never be afraid to be an advocate for yourself!! For every doctor that says no, there are 20 more that will say yes! I hope this helps and doesnt come off as preachy, its so not meant that way! I hope you find so much happiness and success!!!

I'm 8 months out, and I do remember feeling tired of everything at 6 weeks out. I didn't have some of the physical issues, but I was still on full liquids at that point and it felt like it would never end. Remember too that you are probably releasing hormones as you lose weight and an emotional roller coaster is par for the course.
I go out to eat regularly, and I eat regularly. Just a lot less than I used to. But the good part is that it does come back, somewhat. I do not feel like a freak at restaurants (I used to), I just get a to-go box. So much of what you are upset about is temporary. There's a light at the end of the tunnel!

This is one of those crazy things. I think when we see what everyone is doing here it can skew how we feel about our own successes. At my last appointment (around 6-7 months post-op) the PA told me that as far as the practice is concerned, I am now a success story, with just about 70% of my excess weight loss to get to their goal of 160. My personal goal is to get as low as I can go, but at almost 9 months now, the weight is really moving slowly. Everything people say is true: my body still shifts around, my life is 100% better and healthier, I can't believe what I can do physically, and for the MOST part I am enjoying the way I look. My personal goal is 150; my stretch goal is 143 (100 pounds.) Will I get there? I don't know…I hope so. Right now it's a constant dance of figuring out what kind of workouts work for my body and make me feel good. Experimenting with what and how I eat. Trying to be patient when the scale doesn't do exactly what I think it should be doing. I think that is because a lot of what we believe, we still base on "conventional" wisdom, and that doesn't really cut it anymore. For example, keeping my calories steady and burning 3500 extra calories in a week does not automatically lead to a pound of weight loss. We want to quantify and be in control, and I'm squarely in the phase where I have to just do the right thing and trust.

It's a trip, isn't it?

Its strange. I had a lot of trouble with this knee issue over last few days (quite painful at times), when just doing normal stuff. Then I did a new sprint run variation yesterday afternoon (10 segments of 3 min increments one after another (1 min 6.5 mph, 1 min 7.5 mph and 1 min 8.5 mph)) before moving onto a body weight strength workout (about an hour). My knee kind of whined a little on the first 3 min segment and then started feeling better as I did more segments. By the time I finished the running, knee felt strong as ever and no more lock ups or other knee annoyances when doing normal things non exercise related; in other words, just walking around. Weird huh? Do you think my knee was just slightly out of alignment and the running fixed it? Maybe loose cartilage moved so not rubbing. I hope it stays pain free! I really enjoy running (fast) and hope my knees last many more years.

Be careful on personal trainers... too many of them have been watching "biggest loser" and think having you run stairs is no problem...
I was cleared for the gym about 6 weeks post op - but walking was okay before then.
I did easy walking and then joined Water aerobics. Water aerobics was amazing because it protects your joints but as you get fitter you can push harder and harder. After I lost about 80 pounds I moved more to other types of exercise but it was a great way to get going when I didn't want to walk outside in the winter.

Also, you're probably only on weight restrictions for 6 weeks or so (depending on your doctor) so you could easily ramp up now with walking and then make an appointment when you're cleared to have a trainer or PT work with you once you're cleared. Good luck!

I'm Pollyanna but I don't have much I would change, if anything. I have felt intuitively all along that what is important for me is to find a balance that doesn't leave me feeling consistently deprived or on a mission, because my personality is such that eventually I would rebel. The hardest thing is to keep perspective now and try to stay out of the whole "I wish I had done THIS differently, because my weight loss would be better" game, and remember that it is a long term thing. Honestly, when I take a giant step back I can see that I've been active, I've been consistent and I have been successful. Maybe not as successful as others, and I may not yet have reached my goal, but there is a huge difference in my life already. In some ways, isn't that the point?

This is one of those crazy things. I think when we see what everyone is doing here it can skew how we feel about our own successes. At my last appointment (around 6-7 months post-op) the PA told me that as far as the practice is concerned, I am now a success story, with just about 70% of my excess weight loss to get to their goal of 160. My personal goal is to get as low as I can go, but at almost 9 months now, the weight is really moving slowly. Everything people say is true: my body still shifts around, my life is 100% better and healthier, I can't believe what I can do physically, and for the MOST part I am enjoying the way I look. My personal goal is 150; my stretch goal is 143 (100 pounds.) Will I get there? I don't know…I hope so. Right now it's a constant dance of figuring out what kind of workouts work for my body and make me feel good. Experimenting with what and how I eat. Trying to be patient when the scale doesn't do exactly what I think it should be doing. I think that is because a lot of what we believe, we still base on "conventional" wisdom, and that doesn't really cut it anymore. For example, keeping my calories steady and burning 3500 extra calories in a week does not automatically lead to a pound of weight loss. We want to quantify and be in control, and I'm squarely in the phase where I have to just do the right thing and trust.

It's a trip, isn't it?

It was in the context of retelling the tale of me weighing a bale of hay. It was only 60# but apparently I didn't look like I had complete mastery over said bale...Haha
Anyway it is a strange thing for someone to refer to me as small or tiny. I looked at photos of women of same height and weight to try to readjust my brain.....as I still see"a woman of substance" in the mirror. I don't think I have excess fat anymore but it is hard for the brain to see myself as smaller sized when I have always been bigger.

I am now officially the lightest weight I've ever been in my adult life... The last time I weighed 219 was 10 years ago. Excuse me while I have a moment.

I'm going to echo what Lipstick Lady said. I had a picture perfect recovery and I really believe the reason for that is that I started doing CrossFit about 3.5 months before the surgery. As a result, I had some muscle tone and abdominal strength and a nice goal to work toward once I was out of surgery (getting back into it.)
CrossFit is not for everyone…but walking or swimming might be. I also completely approve of the knitting. It's much harder to eat or drink when you have two knitting needles in your hands and yarn you don't want to mess up. With cheeto dust, or whatever. LOL.

I'm 8 months out, and I do remember feeling tired of everything at 6 weeks out. I didn't have some of the physical issues, but I was still on full liquids at that point and it felt like it would never end. Remember too that you are probably releasing hormones as you lose weight and an emotional roller coaster is par for the course.
I go out to eat regularly, and I eat regularly. Just a lot less than I used to. But the good part is that it does come back, somewhat. I do not feel like a freak at restaurants (I used to), I just get a to-go box. So much of what you are upset about is temporary. There's a light at the end of the tunnel!

If change were not possible, not a single one of us on this planet would have any reason to adopt or replace any positive habits.
Yes, I have a sleeve. I can still choose to sit on my couch and eat ice cream all day long.
I was having this discussion with two other sleevers about accelerating weight loss by either ramping up the cardio and eliminating weight lifting, or doing a 12-week on, 12-week off program with heavy weight lifting (I do CrossFit now.) At the end of a long debate about what would work better, we all had to laugh. This would have been a non-conversation a year ago. It would have been, "Hm, wonder if I should have a third margarita with my quesadilla."

Yeah, the conventional wisdom is that you probably shouldn't go too crazy stocking up, as there might be flavors you like now but can't stand later, or vice versa. Most of the web sites have options where you can buy samples; I think you can do this at GNC and to a lesser extent Whole Foods too.

If change were not possible, not a single one of us on this planet would have any reason to adopt or replace any positive habits.
Yes, I have a sleeve. I can still choose to sit on my couch and eat ice cream all day long.
I was having this discussion with two other sleevers about accelerating weight loss by either ramping up the cardio and eliminating weight lifting, or doing a 12-week on, 12-week off program with heavy weight lifting (I do CrossFit now.) At the end of a long debate about what would work better, we all had to laugh. This would have been a non-conversation a year ago. It would have been, "Hm, wonder if I should have a third margarita with my quesadilla."

When you figure that out, let the rest of us know the secret.

Right, that old quote about insanity, doing the same thing and expecting different results, is so true. But very few of us (especially really successful WLS patients) are actually doing the same things we were prior to surgery.
You can only meet people (or choose not to meet them) where they are. You need to just "do you" and they'll come along or not. This is your new normal and it doesn't really matter. After you've been at goal and running for 5 years, no one is going to remember you doing anything differently.

If change were not possible, not a single one of us on this planet would have any reason to adopt or replace any positive habits.
Yes, I have a sleeve. I can still choose to sit on my couch and eat ice cream all day long.
I was having this discussion with two other sleevers about accelerating weight loss by either ramping up the cardio and eliminating weight lifting, or doing a 12-week on, 12-week off program with heavy weight lifting (I do CrossFit now.) At the end of a long debate about what would work better, we all had to laugh. This would have been a non-conversation a year ago. It would have been, "Hm, wonder if I should have a third margarita with my quesadilla."

If change were not possible, not a single one of us on this planet would have any reason to adopt or replace any positive habits.
Yes, I have a sleeve. I can still choose to sit on my couch and eat ice cream all day long.
I was having this discussion with two other sleevers about accelerating weight loss by either ramping up the cardio and eliminating weight lifting, or doing a 12-week on, 12-week off program with heavy weight lifting (I do CrossFit now.) At the end of a long debate about what would work better, we all had to laugh. This would have been a non-conversation a year ago. It would have been, "Hm, wonder if I should have a third margarita with my quesadilla."

Most people don't notice. They are too wrapped up in their own stuff to notice.

Right, that old quote about insanity, doing the same thing and expecting different results, is so true. But very few of us (especially really successful WLS patients) are actually doing the same things we were prior to surgery.
You can only meet people (or choose not to meet them) where they are. You need to just "do you" and they'll come along or not. This is your new normal and it doesn't really matter. After you've been at goal and running for 5 years, no one is going to remember you doing anything differently.

I think that is what a lot of people don't understand. Sure, surgery gave me an awesome tool to accelerate weight loss, but it is still totally possible to binge eat, and eat complete junk..... Being and remaining successful and healthy requires a change of behavior, not just a change in size of stomach.
And last time I checked, it wasn't my sleeve that was getting me up at 5am to go train for a marathon...you know? lol