IvyLeagueNP

Im so excited Im finally down 100 lbs !!! This is a great feeling ))

The power of forgiveness is amazing. Holding a grudge is toxic and takes away from your quality of life.
I am a mother to 2 sons in their early 20s. There are.many things I wish I had done better as a parent but one thing I did right was raise them to be grateful. I love that world view.
As a practical matter, on way to not be so bothered by all this is to not live there.

Well I cannot believe it has been 6 months since my surgery. So much has changed.
First I just want to say I was hoping to reach a 100lbs lost by this date but I did not. I am oh so close and still I find myself happy with what I have accomplished. I want to share all that has changed for me in the past 6 months.
- I am down 91lbs, and have lost a total of 60 inches from my arms, legs, bust waist, buttocks, thighs and calfs!! I have gone from a 30/32 top to a 18/20 or XL sometimes, bottoms were a very tight 28 to a an 18. Those are just my stats here are some NSV's that I am so proud of.......
1.) I am an ACTIVE participant in my life once again, this was the main reason I had this surgery!!
2.) I have more energy than ever, and just can't seem to sleep forever anymore
3.) I can run for short periods on the treadmill, still working on this one
4.) I fit in any and all booths that I have sat in anywhere I go now.....no more fear that I won't fit
5.) I have choices in clothing, choices, choices and more choices!!!
6.) I can wear my necklaces
7.) I can ride my bike
8.) My daughter can get her arms all the way around me for a hug
9.) I feel even more confident than I did before
10.) I can bend, cross my legs, get up off the floor, etc.
11.) When going thru a crowded store or venue and I am following my 16yr old daughter I know can pretty much fit thru spaces she can without trouble, where before I would always have to go around another way. lol
12.) I can buy shoes, all different kinds of shoes and wear them without my feet hurting. I love my converse but they have no support, but I can wear them now, Love it!
13.) I can fit in the airplane seats
14.) I logged between 18,000-22,000 steps daily on vacation to Disneyland in March..... CRAZY!!!!
15.) I have inspired my mom and she is doing great with her weight loss
16.) I have gone from a 30/32 top to a 18/20 or XL sometimes, bottoms were a very tight 28 to a an 18
17.) I can shave and lotion so much easier now
18.) Someone wanted to know if my daughter was my sister or my daughter, I will take that as I look younger now
19.) I love seeing muscles where before I couldn't
20.) I still don't love the gym, but it is part of my life now and I do feel better after I go
21.) I don't find out till tomorrow at my check up but I am pretty sure all my numbers will be better
22.) I can feel and SEE my clavicles, not sure why but I love this
23.) I do not hide or shy away from pictures
24.) I love that my skin has improved too
25.) I CANNOT wait to see what the next 6 months bring me!!
I know that I am at a weight where people will begin their journey, but coming from my highest recorded weight of 324 and my starting weight of 314, I am amazed at the changes and what this body can do. It's hard to imagine what it will be able to do once I get to 175 or maybe even lower.
I'm sorry this is so long, but I wanted to put down everything so I can print it out and add it to my book, so I can look back at it in another 6 months. I also know from my past experience that posts like this really helped me in the beginning and before my surgery.
Me and my hubby are going to Celebrate today with a bike ride. It's a beautiful day here in Tucson and we are going to enjoy it! I have a pair of beautiful Clark wedges just sitting here waiting for me to hit my 100lb loss and then I can wear them!! My daughter is holding them hostage till I do. LOL
Tomorrow I have my 6 month check in with my surgeon and I cannot wait to see how all my blood work came back. We will also be discussing getting my ventral hernia (it's on my lower right side of abdomen) removed. Herman has to go. He is protruding now and causing me some pain.
Thanks to all who made it this far in reading this long a@@ post, Thanks to all of you who have helped me out along the way wether you realize it or not. This website has been so helpful I can't explain it. You never know when your words might inspire or help so everyone keep posting, keep asking questions, and keep keeping on!!!
Here's to the next 6 months of this beautiful life of mine, it's not always easy, it's not always fun, but it's MINE and I am loving every minute of it.
I have attached a pic my docs office took me before surgery, the one in the mirror was taken just the other day (I was showing my daughter I was wearing the new shirt I bought) and then a side by side of my face from the day of surgery to a pic from our March vacation. I am sorry if they are sideways, I don't know why they do that.

Today is my surgery anniversary. So glad I made this decision for myself!

Started at 265. Sleeved at 254. Hit my goal of 154 after 7 1/2 months. And at 9 months post-op, I just hit my stretch goal of 148 this morning. My only remaining weight-loss goal now is to "touch" 145. Don't need to stay there, but 120 pounds down is a nice round number. And then comes the biggest (and hardest) goal of all..... Remain below 150 – forever! Can I do it? I definitely know how to lose the weight, the question is, do I know how to keep it off? That remains to be seen, but I've developed some strategies that seem to be working so far. I have to say, though, that aside from the first two weeks after surgery, this entire journey has been a blast! I've loved watching the scale go down and achieving each milestone, loved how I look and feel, loved fitting into nice clothes, loved all the compliments, even loved the exercise, and especially loved that diabetes, apnea, asthma, cholesterol, blood pressure, and achy joints are no longer factors in my life. And how'd I do it? Simply by following the rules of my program to a tee. And that's my biggest recommendation for others on this path. The rules are there for a reason – follow them! I appreciate all of the support and encouragement from this Forum and others, and wish all of you nothing but success in your journey to good health!!! If you have any questions about my program, send me a message and I'll try to give you a thoughtful answer.
-Rog-

Hello all!
So I had my real first OMG moment.
I went dress shopping for a wedding I'm in, left picture is 2 weeks after surgery, jan 19th and right picture was today! April 12th.
Same dress but 5 sizes smaller.
84 pounds down from
December 27th 2015.
I was blown away by the side by sides. I can't stop looking and smiling at this picture!! This is, by far, the best thing I have ever done for myself. Today...I'm very proud! ????????

Gastric bypass surgery 3-5-15
Starting weight- 249
Surgery weight- 228
Current weight- 204
Goal weight- 145

I'm 7 months out and down 70 pounds as of this morning!! 

HW 239.5
SW 225
CW 145
Surgery 4/7/14

Day of surgery.
Today! 2 weeks will be 6 months post op and I'm down 100 pounds!!!

This was early Jan...UNBESLEEVEABLE

Sleeved 6 jan 15 first two photos are most recent last two are before surgery

Before @ 238lbs




6 Months Post Op @ 167lbs

I am four months post op and couldn't be happier with this lifestyle change . This is my 4 moths post op pic

I'm so excited to finally get to post on this thread!!! My surgery was on December 11th. I've lost 62 lbs since surgery but 100 lbs overall!! I still have 115 lbs to go but I'm halfway there now!

Surgery was May 19 of 2014. I'm down over 120 pounds and loving life! I followed the rules exactly for the first 5 months. Ate what I was told to eat, walked each day, ect. Now I'm a little more relaxed with the rules. I still go to the gym a few times a week and eat small portions and try to get a lot of Protein but I'll have a beer once in a while and I do eat carbs.
This has been a long hard journey but I can't even put into words how much surgery has changed my life for the better. I can't wait to see what's in store for my future.

I'm almost 3 months out (12/30/14). Today, I got on the scale and I am officially UNDER 200 pounds!!! I can't remember the last time I've seen under 200. I started the process at 257, my BMI was 41. I am more than HALFWAY to my goal!!
Up to this point, I have tried really hard sticking to the foods suggested by my surgeon. I am trying to keep each meal around 200 calories with minimal snacking. I'm drinking 64 ounces of Water each day. I would still like to improve on increasing my Protein. I'm getting about 50-60g/day. I would also like to improve my exercise. I was in the gym 4x/week. But I've been slacking on that and I need to get back in there.
Just so excited I wanted to share with everyone! To those who have stalled...keep at it. You'll get there!

Hello! I was sleeved 12/26 so I'm almost 3 months out although it feels like forever ago. I was scrolling through some old pictures and found one from 2.5 years ago... Probably close to the heaviest I've been. I started the process in June of last year at 369lbs. The day of surgery I was 330 and today I am 281. I'm not sure the last time I saw that weight but I am in total amazement that I am under 300! Heres the before and after for reference.

Don't give up! You can do it!
Here is my story:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ivan-lendl-motivated-mississippi-man-lose-150-pounds/story?id=29732379

I understand your frustration... On the upside, since your sleep apnea is mild it will most likely go away with weight loss!

Wow! This thread is soooooo true! I work in a place filled with women. They had "dieting" competitions where they would weigh in every Monday. I was probably the heaviest in the office and I would have NEVER participated in that one.....because it was actually a contest to see who didn't gain the most. It was kind of funny. I then chose to forego WLS and I did tell them. Yes I know BIG MISTAKE there was all kinds of talk. Some really insulting. When people would ask how much I lost I would tell them....I am not telling you because I have heard some pretty rude comments. That would usually shut them up. Last week someone actually asked how much I weigh. I told them I am not going to tell you that. She then said well how much did you lose? I said I am not telling you that either. I have had so many compliments outside of work. However inside work there are only two women that have give pm me compliments. I truly believe it's jealousy. I have one co worker that brags about going to fitness class and then eats everything under the sun. I don't say anything at all. She says look how lose my clothes are. (They are not loose). I am friends with them on Facebook, again I know big mistake. Well today is my anniversary. I dug out my wedding dress and posted a picture on FB. THEN that same co worker posts a random.... SMH. LOL. I pretty much know what that means. Sorry for the rant but yes working relationships change, drastically!
Here is the pic that started the crap. What was really cool was that my daughter posted that the dress looked big on me, and actually it is too big for me, I had to pin it up.  

:-) still some to go, but ive come so far!

My husband, 16 yr old daughter and my mom flew from Tucson to California to go to Disneyland over my daughters spring break, we just got home yesterday. This morning I get up and get on the scale to find I am down 2lbs and loving life.
When we booked this vacation I was only two months post op and wondering how I would handle the challenges I might face being away from my routine and home. Well at 5 months and two weeks out I was fine, absolutely fine.
A few NSV's I celebrated along the way, (1.) I fit in the airplane seat NO extender needed, no oozing onto the person next to me (2.) was able to use my own tray table, laid down flat and didn't rest on my belly at all (3.) walked and walked and walked for four days straight, clocking an average of 20,000 to 22,000 steps daily, with no foot pain (4.) fit on every ride I went on (5.) wore a matching shirt with my daughter one day (will post a pic) and the family another day, was never able to do this because of my size (5.) wore a sleeveless top one day and shorts another day and was comfortable in both
I planned ahead and brought my unflavored Protein for my morning Decaf tea and my Quest bars for one meal during the day to make sure to get in my protein everyday. I was able to find options for meals without any trouble. Had a few bites of treats here and there. I made sure to get enough liquids in also, it was in the 90's a few days we were there.
Overall we had a blast and I was okay, realize this is my new normal and I like it. I was so happy also that when I got up this morning after being gone for 6 days I had lost 2 pounds. Woo Hoo! I think all the walking helped a lot.
So just remember this new way of life is doable, I didn't feel restricted at all. With planning ahead and being prepared I successfully had a wonderful vacation!!!
I have to apologize in advance for my pics being on their sides, they look the right way on my computer but then when I attach them to my post they always go sideways??

I started my 6 months of nutritionist visits in December. My weight has stayed the same... Which for me I'm happy with as I was on a 40 lb gaining spree over the last year.
I am not required to lose any (some insurances do). My BMI is at 40 and I don't have any comorbidities, so if I lost I could be denied surgery. I've battled w my weight since 3rd grade. Lost weight plenty of times before only to gain it back. I want this surgery as I know it will help me with Portion Control.
I am focusing on drinking enough Water every day, Vitamins, getting the recommended Protein, measuring/weighing, food journaling and being active, no soda, not drinking before/with/after meals... All the things you need to do post VSG.