Cindi_Augustine

Hi all, I'm a veteran of WLS and a life coach. I had my surgery in Vancouver Canada, and lost 100 lbs. Lately I've noticed that so many wls successes struggle with body changes. I've been pretty lucky myself, as an older married woman I'm okay with some sagging and wrinkles, but I would love to hear from others about what struggles they might have with this issue. You can share here, or message me privately, it would really help me become a more effective coach. And hopefully I can share some tips, too.
Thanks!

Hi all, I'm a veteran of WLS and a life coach. I had my surgery in Vancouver Canada, and lost 100 lbs. Lately I've noticed that so many wls successes struggle with body changes. I've been pretty lucky myself, as an older married woman I'm okay with some sagging and wrinkles, but I would love to hear from others about what struggles they might have with this issue. You can share here, or message me privately, it would really help me become a more effective coach. And hopefully I can share some tips, too.
Thanks!

I think this is a good plan, it's hard to know what weight will end up being the most comfortable and sustainable, especially for us lovely mature ladies who hadn't seen a smaller number in many years. LOL I did find that I had to sacrifice a smoother face and neck for a healthier body but it was worth it. I like your rationale.

I think this is a good plan, it's hard to know what weight will end up being the most comfortable and sustainable, especially for us lovely mature ladies who hadn't seen a smaller number in many years. LOL I did find that I had to sacrifice a smoother face and neck for a healthier body but it was worth it. I like your rationale.

I didn't get it out of medical necessity- the only weight-related condition I have is PCOS. I got it because I've been fat literally as long as I can remember, and I told myself that 2019 would be the year I did something about it once and for all. I had tried sooooo many different things, but I always regained lost weight and then some. So I had surgery 2/6/19, and I am so happy I did. I have a 5 yr old son, which was one of my biggest motivations for getting the surgery to lose the weight, and I can finally run around with him and do stuff with him and not be instantly tired.

There’s no definitive answer to this question. Everyone has a unique body composition made up of muscle mass, bone mass, lean tissue and Water, for example, none of which weigh the same. In reality the scale is a poor indicator of health and ‘fitness’, only a complete body mass composition test can get you a clear picture of how much unnecessary fat your body is carrying. I recommend to my clients that they pick a general weight based on height/weight graphs you can google online and then once you get near that number you and your doctor can make a better decision based on your unique body. Remember, as well, that not all bodies want to be ‘thin’, and you won’t be able to force your body to get to, or stay at, a body weight not natural to you. I know this isn’t news a lot of wls patients want to hear but our biology is extremely complex. Enjoy your journey as a way back to health, enjoy non-scale victories, and don’t let the scale have too much power over you.

There’s no definitive answer to this question. Everyone has a unique body composition made up of muscle mass, bone mass, lean tissue and Water, for example, none of which weigh the same. In reality the scale is a poor indicator of health and ‘fitness’, only a complete body mass composition test can get you a clear picture of how much unnecessary fat your body is carrying. I recommend to my clients that they pick a general weight based on height/weight graphs you can google online and then once you get near that number you and your doctor can make a better decision based on your unique body. Remember, as well, that not all bodies want to be ‘thin’, and you won’t be able to force your body to get to, or stay at, a body weight not natural to you. I know this isn’t news a lot of wls patients want to hear but our biology is extremely complex. Enjoy your journey as a way back to health, enjoy non-scale victories, and don’t let the scale have too much power over you.

There’s no definitive answer to this question. Everyone has a unique body composition made up of muscle mass, bone mass, lean tissue and Water, for example, none of which weigh the same. In reality the scale is a poor indicator of health and ‘fitness’, only a complete body mass composition test can get you a clear picture of how much unnecessary fat your body is carrying. I recommend to my clients that they pick a general weight based on height/weight graphs you can google online and then once you get near that number you and your doctor can make a better decision based on your unique body. Remember, as well, that not all bodies want to be ‘thin’, and you won’t be able to force your body to get to, or stay at, a body weight not natural to you. I know this isn’t news a lot of wls patients want to hear but our biology is extremely complex. Enjoy your journey as a way back to health, enjoy non-scale victories, and don’t let the scale have too much power over you.

This is how the graphs are calculated, you’re right. But I’m 4’10, according this I shouldn’t weigh anything over 100lbs, which in reality would land me in the hospital. At 138, my lowest weigh, I was a size 8, which is considered ‘normal’ for a North American woman. See how those graphs are imperfect?

There’s no definitive answer to this question. Everyone has a unique body composition made up of muscle mass, bone mass, lean tissue and Water, for example, none of which weigh the same. In reality the scale is a poor indicator of health and ‘fitness’, only a complete body mass composition test can get you a clear picture of how much unnecessary fat your body is carrying. I recommend to my clients that they pick a general weight based on height/weight graphs you can google online and then once you get near that number you and your doctor can make a better decision based on your unique body. Remember, as well, that not all bodies want to be ‘thin’, and you won’t be able to force your body to get to, or stay at, a body weight not natural to you. I know this isn’t news a lot of wls patients want to hear but our biology is extremely complex. Enjoy your journey as a way back to health, enjoy non-scale victories, and don’t let the scale have too much power over you.

No, I didn’t think you were defending them, at all. You’re absolutely right that that’s how they’re calculated and for the average person they’re a good starting point to determine approximate weight. Science is way behind in its understanding of metabolism, body composition and its relation to health. I just like to clarify the difficulty in basing success on those charts, as I coach women who often have unhealthy obsessions with the scale. 🙂

Yes, the "hurts to sit on a hard chair" thing. And the knees knocking together when I sleep on my side. Those are so true. It's been a few years now post-op and it's finally gotten better.
I'm also surprised the day after a lot of walking that I get up and feel normal, not all weak and sore. I actually like walking, and will walk extra blocks just for fun instead of taking the bus to the closest stop!! Who knew???

Yes, the "hurts to sit on a hard chair" thing. And the knees knocking together when I sleep on my side. Those are so true. It's been a few years now post-op and it's finally gotten better.
I'm also surprised the day after a lot of walking that I get up and feel normal, not all weak and sore. I actually like walking, and will walk extra blocks just for fun instead of taking the bus to the closest stop!! Who knew???

Yes, the "hurts to sit on a hard chair" thing. And the knees knocking together when I sleep on my side. Those are so true. It's been a few years now post-op and it's finally gotten better.
I'm also surprised the day after a lot of walking that I get up and feel normal, not all weak and sore. I actually like walking, and will walk extra blocks just for fun instead of taking the bus to the closest stop!! Who knew???

Yes, the "hurts to sit on a hard chair" thing. And the knees knocking together when I sleep on my side. Those are so true. It's been a few years now post-op and it's finally gotten better.
I'm also surprised the day after a lot of walking that I get up and feel normal, not all weak and sore. I actually like walking, and will walk extra blocks just for fun instead of taking the bus to the closest stop!! Who knew???

Yes, the "hurts to sit on a hard chair" thing. And the knees knocking together when I sleep on my side. Those are so true. It's been a few years now post-op and it's finally gotten better.
I'm also surprised the day after a lot of walking that I get up and feel normal, not all weak and sore. I actually like walking, and will walk extra blocks just for fun instead of taking the bus to the closest stop!! Who knew???

Body dysmorphia is about as common as rain in my beautiful city of Vancouver, BC. LOL It can often take the brain a long time to accept and interpret what the eyes see in a more honest way. The best way to approach it is to battle it head on.
Try on clothes that actually fit and flatter you, and don't dismiss it when people compliment you. Look in the mirror - REALLY look in the mirror. Don't look away. Make friends with yourself. Rephrase the automatic negative thoughts that enter your head. Our inner voice has a major influence on our perception. If we repeat the negative, bullying, things we've heard from others we'll believe them even more. Don't allow yourself to bully yourself, shut that garbage down as soon as you catch yourself doing it. In time, and with mindful self-care your brain will re-program itself.
Trust me, we've all been there. There IS a way out.

I'm about 6 years out and lost 100 lbs. It was a pretty easy first year for me, as well. Now, I battle a 5 lb regain on a regular basis. Lose it, regain it, lose it, regain it...It's so frustrating. My calorie intake is around 1,200 which shouldn't be enough for the average woman to gain weight, but our bodies are very screwed up by the history of obesity and it seems my brain is always trying hard to get me back up to a weight it thinks is 'normal'. The only way I've succeeded in staying within 8 lbs of my lowest weight is by constant attention to it.
The first 2 years after my weight loss I was really restrictive with carbs and sugar. They just weren't on my diet. Then, I started to relax. started to think, hey normal people can eat a candy bar once in a while, enjoy some pasta...right? Can't I? Nope. It's a constant battle. I slip off the routine and next thing I know I am craving the bad stuff again.
I refuse to lose this battle. I have hope that eventually my brain will re-set itself and I won't be so prone to gain weight just because I have a cheat moment here and then. Meanwhile I fight it like an addiction. I get clean for a few weeks and I slip a bit, and I battle to get clean again. Miserable Merry-Go-Round!
Some days you want to give up, but I head to my closet and try on some of my fantastic clothes, and I get back some resolve. We all fight the battle, everybody in a different way, but knowing your not alone helps. Support groups are GREAT!! Take it from a life coach who facilitated a weight loss surgery support group for a few years.

Body dysmorphia is about as common as rain in my beautiful city of Vancouver, BC. LOL It can often take the brain a long time to accept and interpret what the eyes see in a more honest way. The best way to approach it is to battle it head on.
Try on clothes that actually fit and flatter you, and don't dismiss it when people compliment you. Look in the mirror - REALLY look in the mirror. Don't look away. Make friends with yourself. Rephrase the automatic negative thoughts that enter your head. Our inner voice has a major influence on our perception. If we repeat the negative, bullying, things we've heard from others we'll believe them even more. Don't allow yourself to bully yourself, shut that garbage down as soon as you catch yourself doing it. In time, and with mindful self-care your brain will re-program itself.
Trust me, we've all been there. There IS a way out.

I'm surprised that, as a former fat person, you aren't painfully aware of the sensation of people staring at you and then sniggering. Or the horrible feeling that you've JUST missed catching someone's eye because they look away a second before you made eye contact, and now they're exchanging significant looks with their friends.
It's not actually harmless. Communication isn't just verbal and overt; when you're mocking someone, they usually know you're doing it, even if you haven't walked right up to them and said "you think you're sexy but you're FAT". That's been one of the strangest (and most depressing) discoveries while losing weight: the absence of that feeling that I'm being observed but excluded. I can't tell you how vividly different it is to get on a subway car these days; before, I'd get on a somewhat crowded car and most of the people would treat me like I'd put on an invisibility cloak while a few would openly stare and judge. Now everyone sees me and no one stares, and some even move their bags so I can sit down.
The energy you put out there is a real and palpable thing. If you silently hate someone, they usually know you don't like them. If you silently love someone, they often feel that too. And if you silently laugh at someone or judge them, same deal.

I'm about 6 years out and lost 100 lbs. It was a pretty easy first year for me, as well. Now, I battle a 5 lb regain on a regular basis. Lose it, regain it, lose it, regain it...It's so frustrating. My calorie intake is around 1,200 which shouldn't be enough for the average woman to gain weight, but our bodies are very screwed up by the history of obesity and it seems my brain is always trying hard to get me back up to a weight it thinks is 'normal'. The only way I've succeeded in staying within 8 lbs of my lowest weight is by constant attention to it.
The first 2 years after my weight loss I was really restrictive with carbs and sugar. They just weren't on my diet. Then, I started to relax. started to think, hey normal people can eat a candy bar once in a while, enjoy some pasta...right? Can't I? Nope. It's a constant battle. I slip off the routine and next thing I know I am craving the bad stuff again.
I refuse to lose this battle. I have hope that eventually my brain will re-set itself and I won't be so prone to gain weight just because I have a cheat moment here and then. Meanwhile I fight it like an addiction. I get clean for a few weeks and I slip a bit, and I battle to get clean again. Miserable Merry-Go-Round!
Some days you want to give up, but I head to my closet and try on some of my fantastic clothes, and I get back some resolve. We all fight the battle, everybody in a different way, but knowing your not alone helps. Support groups are GREAT!! Take it from a life coach who facilitated a weight loss surgery support group for a few years.

Body dysmorphia is about as common as rain in my beautiful city of Vancouver, BC. LOL It can often take the brain a long time to accept and interpret what the eyes see in a more honest way. The best way to approach it is to battle it head on.
Try on clothes that actually fit and flatter you, and don't dismiss it when people compliment you. Look in the mirror - REALLY look in the mirror. Don't look away. Make friends with yourself. Rephrase the automatic negative thoughts that enter your head. Our inner voice has a major influence on our perception. If we repeat the negative, bullying, things we've heard from others we'll believe them even more. Don't allow yourself to bully yourself, shut that garbage down as soon as you catch yourself doing it. In time, and with mindful self-care your brain will re-program itself.
Trust me, we've all been there. There IS a way out.

I'm about 6 years out and lost 100 lbs. It was a pretty easy first year for me, as well. Now, I battle a 5 lb regain on a regular basis. Lose it, regain it, lose it, regain it...It's so frustrating. My calorie intake is around 1,200 which shouldn't be enough for the average woman to gain weight, but our bodies are very screwed up by the history of obesity and it seems my brain is always trying hard to get me back up to a weight it thinks is 'normal'. The only way I've succeeded in staying within 8 lbs of my lowest weight is by constant attention to it.
The first 2 years after my weight loss I was really restrictive with carbs and sugar. They just weren't on my diet. Then, I started to relax. started to think, hey normal people can eat a candy bar once in a while, enjoy some pasta...right? Can't I? Nope. It's a constant battle. I slip off the routine and next thing I know I am craving the bad stuff again.
I refuse to lose this battle. I have hope that eventually my brain will re-set itself and I won't be so prone to gain weight just because I have a cheat moment here and then. Meanwhile I fight it like an addiction. I get clean for a few weeks and I slip a bit, and I battle to get clean again. Miserable Merry-Go-Round!
Some days you want to give up, but I head to my closet and try on some of my fantastic clothes, and I get back some resolve. We all fight the battle, everybody in a different way, but knowing your not alone helps. Support groups are GREAT!! Take it from a life coach who facilitated a weight loss surgery support group for a few years.

Body dysmorphia is about as common as rain in my beautiful city of Vancouver, BC. LOL It can often take the brain a long time to accept and interpret what the eyes see in a more honest way. The best way to approach it is to battle it head on.
Try on clothes that actually fit and flatter you, and don't dismiss it when people compliment you. Look in the mirror - REALLY look in the mirror. Don't look away. Make friends with yourself. Rephrase the automatic negative thoughts that enter your head. Our inner voice has a major influence on our perception. If we repeat the negative, bullying, things we've heard from others we'll believe them even more. Don't allow yourself to bully yourself, shut that garbage down as soon as you catch yourself doing it. In time, and with mindful self-care your brain will re-program itself.
Trust me, we've all been there. There IS a way out.

I'm about 6 years out and lost 100 lbs. It was a pretty easy first year for me, as well. Now, I battle a 5 lb regain on a regular basis. Lose it, regain it, lose it, regain it...It's so frustrating. My calorie intake is around 1,200 which shouldn't be enough for the average woman to gain weight, but our bodies are very screwed up by the history of obesity and it seems my brain is always trying hard to get me back up to a weight it thinks is 'normal'. The only way I've succeeded in staying within 8 lbs of my lowest weight is by constant attention to it.
The first 2 years after my weight loss I was really restrictive with carbs and sugar. They just weren't on my diet. Then, I started to relax. started to think, hey normal people can eat a candy bar once in a while, enjoy some pasta...right? Can't I? Nope. It's a constant battle. I slip off the routine and next thing I know I am craving the bad stuff again.
I refuse to lose this battle. I have hope that eventually my brain will re-set itself and I won't be so prone to gain weight just because I have a cheat moment here and then. Meanwhile I fight it like an addiction. I get clean for a few weeks and I slip a bit, and I battle to get clean again. Miserable Merry-Go-Round!
Some days you want to give up, but I head to my closet and try on some of my fantastic clothes, and I get back some resolve. We all fight the battle, everybody in a different way, but knowing your not alone helps. Support groups are GREAT!! Take it from a life coach who facilitated a weight loss surgery support group for a few years.