The Candidate

One step closer to surgery. Congrats!

I am definitely a different person since surgery. And I have also experienced a better understanding of patience. It wasn't achieved just after surgery though, because it began to build over the entire year of the approval qualification for the surgery. WLS didn't just change my outward appearance, it also awakened and expanded my sense of self worth, allowing me, for the first time, to turn that compassion inward. What I was able to let go of was my own internal critic.
It also showed me that I wasn't alone. Being the only fat person in my immediate family caused a very isolated lifelong pain that I was never able to adequately explain to my thin family. And It wasn't until I began my research on WLS that I finally realized how many other people out there were going through the exact same thing. It was an immediate raw and palpable connection.
I would say that I've always been, or I've certainly have strived to be, compassionate. The biggest difference is that now I'm working on spreading that compassion to include everyone in my life who has ever bullied or ridiculed me about my weight, from childhood to adulthood. As well as the ones that now treat me kinder based entirely on my outer appearance. As much as I endeavored to lose the weight I also want to rewrite these bitter memories, but this time with my own ending.
As much as you shrink on the outside, you rise on the inside, which makes for an incredibly positive life changing experience.

Many people find that they become more patient when they go through certain life events. Life changes such as becoming a parent and going through a serious illness can make you change your perspective on what really matters in life, and what doesn’t. You may notice that you become more focused on the important things in life, such as health and family, and more patient about the things that just aren’t important, such as long lines at the grocery store or getting a red light on the way to work.
Weight loss surgery is definitely a life changing event, and it can change your perspective. It requires you to focus on your health and how your new lifestyle meshes with your established life. It can also try your patience, as you are sure to see when you hit a plateau or do not lose weight as fast as you had hoped!
As you progress through the weight loss surgery journey, have you noticed any change in your perspective? Are you able to stay more focused on what matters, while adapting more of a “let it go” attitude towards the little things? Or are you the type of person who gets more bothered about the little things as a way to make sure you do not get too anxious about the big things? Share your thoughts and observations!

The first month or so is the time when cravings and head hunger are at their peak. I remember I had to fast forward whenever fast food commercials aired. My body wasn't a fan of how quickly I was losing weight so it brought out the big guns, heightening my sense of smell, sight and taste. I was the human equivalent of Pavlov's dog, all but salivating over my trigger foods (pizza, Big Macs and so on, even though I knew inside I wasn't actually hungry. Instead I had been conditioned, after decades of eating anything and everything I wanted.
It was hard sometimes, I'll admit, but I made it without succumbing once. Then I discovered after awhile that those cravings and head hunger began to lessen, loosening their power over me. And now at 14 months out, they aren't even noticeable anymore.
Hang in there and stay strong because there is light at the end of the WLS tunnel.

I had surgery on 9/22...
Well Im not really hungry but boy as we drive by these restaurants I am getting hungry...
Anyone have any tips?
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I started my journey back in October 2014 and am approaching my two year surgiversary. Highest weight was 302. Surgery weight 280 and current weight 180. For the past few years I have been taking headshots monthly here are a few of them 

Every day should bring a small amount of improvement, although it might not be readily apparent to you right now. But before you know it you'll begin feeling more like yourself. You're going to be tired for quite awhile though.
Follow your post op instructions, get plenty of rest, and you'll be fine. Good luck!

A roundabout victory over high blood pressure! Definitely worth celebrating!

Well, here's a new one for me. I was unable to donate platelets today because my blood pressure is too low. The woman at the Blood Center said this is the first time in 30 years that she's ever had to defer someone for LOW blood pressure. Considering that 2 years ago my blood pressure was continuing to rise despite the meds I was taking to lower it, I'll call it a victory even though I really wanted to donate today.
I am coming back next week to try donating again, with strict instructions to booze it up the night before, eat a bunch of salty foods, don't exercise that morning, and guzzle two cups of coffee before my appointment. My, how my life has changed. ????

It is exciting. Not all life changing moments are so easy to define, but this one definitely is. Your life is about to change is so many positive ways.
I'm very happy for you and best of wishes!

You look lovely and the height of perfect health! Congrats! You are what all of us aspire to achieve. Happy 3 year mark!

Glad to hear that it all got straightened out in the end. Congrats!

I finally convinced my doctors office to check on the status since I was getting nowhere fast. After 5 weeks the nurse hadn't even looked at my file. She spoke to a nurse supervisor and I had my approval within 4 hours. Looking at November 15th as my surgery date. November 1st if there is a cancellation. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I start my liquid diet tomorrow and I have my pre-op appointment today at 4. I'm actually getting less nervous and more excited the closer it gets!

As hard as it is to accept when it's happening to you, it is normal. It sounds like you're doing everything right, so you'll just need to be patient and allow your body the time it needs to adjust.
Stay away from the scale for awhile. There are things happening in your body that have nothing to do with the numbers right now.
Hang in there!

This is the perfect time to pamper and remind yourself that you are worth this! Great idea!

A lot of things change when you become a post op. Sometimes you might feel a little lost too. But the further out you get the more you'll start to understand with how your new body works. Spending time here on the forums, YouTube, and searching for other WLS blogs helps a lot to fill in the blanks. Best of luck!

Congrats! Those first months are wonderfully magical. You will have many more celebration days coming your way. WLS is for me, the closest thing out there to the fountain of youth. You expect to feel better, but you're completely overwhelmed by how it will positivity affect so many other aspects of your life: your mobility, stamina, confidence, belief in yourself and so many others.
WLS isn't just a cold sterile procedure. It's your life 2.0 reboot and a second chance to get it right this time around.
It's just going to get better and better!

I just hit 199 today! I am 9 weeks out from surgery and down 46 lbs! I am feeling awesome!!! Just thought I would share....
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Not related to this post, but I just wanted to say: Wow! Congrats on how very far you've come. That's amazing! ????

Today is exactly one month since I had WLS. I don't normally weigh in mid week (I weigh in and do my measurements on Monday mornings) but since it has been a month since my surgery I weighed myself.
I started my journey at my all time heaviest 280lbs. During the preop diet I lost 13lbs so on the morning of my surgery I was 267lbs.
Today I weighed in at 240.2lbs.
I am down 40lbs!!!!!!
I'm finding my way through the new diet and feeling more confident by the day!

9 days post op lost 18.6 lbs. Woohoo!!!!
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Glad to hear you're feeling better. ????

I installed an iOS app call T-Zero that'll do a countdown.
Yes, I created a countdown until the 27th.
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