muzical1

I wore shorts in public for the first time in years! Yes!!!

I wish I understood the depth of life change this has been. Probably would have still done it, but it's taking a while to realize food will never have the same meaning again.

I wish I understood the depth of life change this has been. Probably would have still done it, but it's taking a while to realize food will never have the same meaning again.

These pics are NOT easy to share because I have No make-up on and tons of loose skin and wrinkles, hence the the Yikes in my title! All that being said, I couldn't be happier and healthier. Last Summer I was wearing a size 22 swimsuit and the one I have on in the pic is a size 10, so YAY! Having had gastric bypass has truly saved my life. I was a slow but steady loser (can't exercise much due to a chronic nerve condition) and only have a few more pounds to go. These last 10 lbs. are the hardest. Being obese for 30 years took it's toll on me but I'm so happy now that I refuse to dwell in the past. Advice for those just starting out ... Take "Before" pics and measure yourself!!! Here are my stats:
54 years young
5' 2" tall
HW 285
SW 260
CW 138
GW 130
Inches Lost
chest: 12"
above waist: 21"
waist (@@belly button): 18"
below waist (apron): 19"
hips: 15"
thighs: 8"
knees: 3"
arms: 6"

Wow! What a difference a year makes! I have been thinking about this day all week. One year... What a ride!
Here are some stats: I am 1.1 pound away from being "normal" BMI; I am down 147.8 pounds total (121 pounds of that since surgery); I have lost 83.5 inches (18 inches off my hips ALONE / 12 inches off EACH thigh!); pants size down from loose 28 to 12 or 14; dress size down from 24 or 26 to a size 12.
Some of the best NSV's: Buckling airplane seatbelt and not having bruises on my thighs from the plane seat arms; ability to get up and down off the floor so easily; my clothes have stopped falling off hangers; ability to fit in a "normal" robe when I go to a spa or even the doctor; crossing my legs; not sweating all the time; diabetes in remission and no diabetes meds; off cholesterol meds; ability to mow my own lawn without being so exhausted I had to lay down for hours afterwards. I know there are more....
How did I do it? Perseverance. Seriously one bite at a time. I ate poorly or too much, I got right back up and did better next meal - not tomorrow, not next Monday.
My keys to success: Therapy and logging my food daily and having occasional checkups with my NUT. (It is good to have someone look over my food logs and say "careful on that, or try more of this"). I really think therapy though is my number one tool. I had some breakthroughs just this week in how I saw food and will continue to see this therapist for AT least another year if not longer. Oh and I cannot forget the support I received from friends and family. Were it not for those cheering me on and yet still staying out of my business (i.e. not constantly saying "should you be eating that"), I do not think I would have been so successful. And of course this incredible website. Without the advice and the ability to rant and read others experiences here, I would never have been able to do this!
What do I eat: deli turkey, cheese, blackberries, blueberries, apples, tuna, pork tenderloin, lean ground beef (less than once per week), turkey sausage, turkey pepperoni, LOTS AND LOTS of chicken (grilled, boiled, fajita style, rotisserie, baked, roasted, etc etc), cucumbers, avocado, green olives, mushrooms, onions, occasional slice of bread (a few times a week), triscuit crackers (limiting myself to 2 or 3 at a time), did I say cheese LOTS and LOTS of cheese. I still have 1 Protein Shake per day (30g protein) to make sure I get to my Protein goals. I eat around 100 - 120g protein per day / 60-80g carbs / 45-55g fat - total calories 1100-1300. (I have been averaging closer to 1000 this last 2 weeks and I need to be sure t get those calories UP because I am ready to stop losing weight.) I cook for myself, so it is much easier to manage I am sure than others who cook for families.
What didn't change: I am not one of those people that have SO much energy they cannot stand it. Nope. I am still a fairly lazy person. I hate that I am but it is true. I watch too much tv still and I still don't enjoy exercising really (and don't do it as often as I should). (I mostly walk and it is nice to know that I can go on a 2 mile walk without a lot of effort but I don't get that HIGH from exercising some talk about.) I want to be healthier and I will keep working on that part but I will never be a marathon runner or CrossFitter, etc. I still struggle with making food choices. The struggle is much easier than it used to be (most things don't even cross my mind to eat anymore) but I still crave salty Snacks. I give in sometimes but I am working on the addiction part of that. Not because you cannot have salty snacks but because it is an ADDICTION for me.
And yes - I have loose skin. LOTS of it. My butt and boobs took the worst hit. You cannot see it when I am dressed and it isn't as bad as I thought it might be, but I am going to have it fixed. I am planning my first of plastics for this fall. I took money out of my 401K to pay for it. I do not need to be perfect, but I want to be able to wear sleeveless shirts and some shorts without being uncomfortable and I need my butt and thighs to be reshaped so I can fit in pants (which are tough to buy right now).
I had some struggles in the beginning - I had a stricture which we didn't figure out until 3 months post-op so I was constantly vomiting. I stayed nauseas until 6 months post-op. The Constipation is probably the very worst part and it has only really resolved in the last couple of months as I have started to incorporate more Fiber in my diet. (It is tough to get fiber in the beginning.) I thought I was a SLOW loser (average 10-12 pounds per month). I know now that isn't slow. It is just right.
My best advice to people starting this journey - DO IT! Seriously - just do it. Just work the program. Use the tools - all of them - therapy, logging, NUT, restriction, Vitamins, exercise. STOP comparing yourself to others!! It will derail you! (PLUS I just don't buy into the "I lost 40 pounds my first month") This is your journey. No one else's. Everyone's journey is different and comparing yourself to others is defeating mentally. GO SEE A THERAPIST! Please... accept that you have a food "issue". I will buy that some of you don't but let's be honest, the overwhelming majority of us have food "issues" and until you face that fact, you cannot learn how to start to move past it. HANG IN THERE - just keep moving forward. You are going to be stunned when you look back a year from now...
My journey is not over. The hardest part is just beginning - Maintenance. I have lost weight before but never kept it off, so this is the real test. Can I do this for the rest of my life? I truly hope so. I have a great head start by having developed some great new habits and faced some of my food addiction issues that I allowed to derail me in the past. I have some big changes in my life coming up job-wise and it is going to take discipline to make it work. I will keep seeing my therapist and keep my eye on the prize!

I wish I understood the depth of life change this has been. Probably would have still done it, but it's taking a while to realize food will never have the same meaning again.

I wish I understood the depth of life change this has been. Probably would have still done it, but it's taking a while to realize food will never have the same meaning again.

It sucks so bad. Avoid sugar and fat combos. Avoid sweets. Avoid eating too much at one time. Dairy does it to me every time.
Sorry you're experiencing this. For me it's an almost daily struggle.

Rather than being sacs filled with saline or liquid/jelly silicone they are solid silicone gel the texture of a gummy bear

Nothing! I was given an IV before being wheeled to surgery. I was out after that until I woke up in recovery. Didn't feel bad at all.

At that stage the only side affect of surgery was fatigue. I didn't feel like I had surgery otherwise. After a month or so reality kicked in and I had difficulty transitioning to puréed and solids. Be grateful your first few weeks aren't so bad and follow your plan. I'm 6 months out now and my life has been radically changed for the better and I'm almost down 80lbs.

I remember them rolling me out of the room to head to surgery and being told I was about to get something to relax me in my IV. I was a goner right after that and next thing I know I was being rolled right in to my hospital room. I guess I woke up in recovery and don't remember it. I remember immediately feeling good .

Congratulations!!! You rock!

At that stage the only side affect of surgery was fatigue. I didn't feel like I had surgery otherwise. After a month or so reality kicked in and I had difficulty transitioning to puréed and solids. Be grateful your first few weeks aren't so bad and follow your plan. I'm 6 months out now and my life has been radically changed for the better and I'm almost down 80lbs.

Thanks for the reply! Well maybe I'm feeling like you were initially. In that case, I am grateful. The reality of it hasn't really kicked for me yet. I'm almost afraid and yet still excited to see what the next couple of months will be like for me! Congrats on your weight loss and blessings as you continue on your journey!

Im 6 weeks post op. I reached down this morning and felt a disturbing lump. Im thinking cancer, cyst, Im scared to death. Upon further investigation I have an identical lump on the other side too. Feeling stupid but thrilled when I realize that I actually have hip bones! Its been so long since I felt them I forgot they were even there. Gastric sleeve is the BEST.

Collar bones!! I can see and feel my collarbones for the first time in almost 18 yrs!!

When your ex best friend who you've known for your entire life, sees you after a year and asked you if you are related to YOURSELF! That happened today. I only burst out laughing and told her it was me and I had lost weight.

When you weigh less than the weight on your driver's license - which you lied about in the first place!

When you all of a sudden panic that there are these bumps on your chest, but realize it's just your collarbone!

First I need to stick up for the engineer types...I've been married to an engineer for 25 years and I know this type very well and although they think differently than those of us without those marvelous brains, they are usually just being honest, a trait I have come to treasure. They can also be sincere, loving, tender, and have the ability to think unconventionally as well. And they are hugely responsible and trustworthy.
All of that above though is just stereo typing and everyone is different and deserves a chance to show who they really are.
I thought it was interesting that you felt you wanted to share your very personal story so soon. We all have secrets and having this surgery to me is something I would share with someone after I had gotten to know them, but then that's me. But it sounds like you really weren't interested from the beginning; it the guy you are hot about asked you to sushi, would you have shared it with him right away? Just curious.

Hell no! It's never easy, never will be. It's like being an alcoholic and quitting drinking, it's a life long achievement to eat properly and exercise. Some have it easier at first and no matter what they eat, the weight falls off, then 5 or 6 years down the road they learned nothing and it all creeps back on! But, it can be as easy as you make it by making eating right and exercise a habit!

I always have Greek yogurt with berries or a Protein Shake for breakfast. I like to begin with Protein to help me meet my daily intake goal.

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Hey BariatricPal Members!
Happy New Year! BariatricPal wishes each of our members a happy and healthy year. We hope 2016 is a year you meet all your goals, whether they include getting weight loss surgery, hitting goal weight, or maintaining your loss. Here’s what we have in this newsletter to get you motivated and ready to go.

A New Year’s Message from BariatricPal Time to Buckle Down: Here’s How Make Those Resolutions Last All Year!
So take a look through the newsletter, then spend a few minutes to set your resolutions. It may help to come to the forums to talk about your goals and whatever else is on your mind! Then you may want to head out the door for a quick walk for a great start to the New Year. Happy New Year!

Sincerely,
Alex Brecher
Founder, BariatricPal

A New Year’s Message from BariatricPal
We want to wish all our members a happy and healthy New Year! We hope 2016 will be a year that sees you come closer to achieving your dreams. We hope BariatricPal will be an important part of your weight loss surgery support system as you work towards your goals, whether they are to look into weight loss surgery, lose weight, or maintain goal weight.

A Quick Look Back at 2015
2015 was a busy year for BariatricPal! The forums have been blossoming. We have a weekly VIP Member Challenge going on. As a community, we hit a total weight loss of 3 million pounds!

We also opened The BariatricPal Store! This had been in the works for a while, and it is a thrill to be able to support the weight loss surgery community through supplying healthy foods and supplements. Check the store often to see what’s on sale, and see our blog for the latest store news, recipes, and discounts.

More to Come in 2016!
We always have more projects up our sleeve. We expect 2016 to be filled with growth and exciting new developments for BariatricPal, so stay tuned! We know none of this is possible without your support, so a huge Thank You to all our members!

Insure Nutrition
We are always thrilled to welcome a new newsletter sponsor into the BariatricPal family, and this month, Insure Nutrition is giving us the pleasure of doing just that. Our latest sponsor, Insure Nutrition, is an online company that specializes in getting health insurance coverage for nutritional supplements. Its Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition products includes Premier Protein shakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors and OptiSource High Protein drinks in caramel and strawberry flavors. Checking if you are eligible is easy. Insure Nutrition encourages you to use its online form to find out if you qualify.

Our sponsors help make BariatricPal newsletters and other services possible. We encourage you show your thanks by considering them first for your bariatric needs.

Unjury and Opurity
BariatricPal is proud and excited to announce two new sponsors for our newsletters. The new sponsors are Unjury, a supplier of wonderful tasting, highest quality protein supplements, and Opurity (from the makers of UNJURY), highest purity Vitamin supplements for bariatric surgery patients. Their support lets us keep BariatricPal newsletters coming to you each month.

Unjury was founded by a master’s degree dietitian who has been helping patients since 1974. It is committed your health. You know the importance of getting enough protein after weight loss surgery, but you also know that meeting your protein goals can be challenging. Unjury makes your task not just easier but actually enjoyable. Product flavors include Chocolate Splendor, Chocolate Classic, Vanilla, Strawberry Sorbet, chicken Soup Flavor, and Unflavored. These ready-to-use protein powders come in single-serve and multi-serve containers, and contain high-quality whey protein to keep you full and nourished.

Launched in 2007, opurity is dedicated to using the purest ingredients in its supplements. Opurity Bariatric Multivitamins have two unique big advantages:

First, each Multivitamin requires only one tablet per day*. Second, Opurity is so dedicated to quality that it is unique in using no ingredients from China.

Choose from chewable orange-berry multivitamins for gastric bypass and gastric sleeve patients or for lap-band patients.Opurity also sells chewable Calcium, Vitamin D and folic acid/vitamin B-12 chewables. All supplements come with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed. They return policy is: “Yes you can return it.”

Support from Unjury and Opurity helps us continue to bring you the services you enjoy on BariatricPal, so please support these two brands! When looking for your bariatric surgery supplements, first visit Unjury.com and Opurity.com. Purchasing from these companies helps support BariatricPal. Thanks to Unjury and Opurity for your generous sponsorship, and thanks to BariatricPal members who support our partnership!

*You still need calcium and sublingual B-12.

Time to Buckle Down: Here’s How
It’s the New Year! That means the parties stop, the holiday treats disappear, and the stores advertise healthy foods for weight loss. Breathe a sigh of relief as the holiday food goes away!

Easier to Focus

There’s a good chance you slipped up a little during the holidays and need to get back on track. Even if you were perfectly disciplined, you may appreciate going back to your regular life. It’s easier stick to your everyday routine when there aren’t as many distractions.

Go with a Sensible Plan

For most WLS patients, a detox or fad diet isn’t the way to go. The most effective is to go back to the basics, cliché as that sounds.

Focus on lean Proteins and fill up on vegetables. Drink a lot of Water.< /li> Eat slowly. Plan ahead. Measure your portions and log every bite.
Make a Few Resolutions
Remember to make them controllable, feasible, and clear. Here are some examples of better and less good resolutions.

Controllable: “I will log every bite of food and stick to my 1,200 calories a day.” Not controllable: “I will lose 2 pounds every week.” You can’t control what the scale says, but you can control what and how much you eat. Feasible: “I will work out 5 days a week, leaving myself 2 days to recharge.” Not feasible: “I will work out every day.” What happens if you get sick, need a little extra sleep, or need to take a friend to the doctor? Did you fail at your resolution? Clear: “I will have fish three times a week.” Not clear: “I will eat more fish.” How do you know if you’re following your resolution if your goal is to eat “more” fish? How much is “more?”
Set the Stage for Success
Regardless of your specific resolutions, you’ll make more progress in your weight loss surgery journey if you set up your environment to help you succeed.

Clear out your kitchen – pumpkin pie, egg nog, and Christmas Cookies should be nowhere to be found. Restock it with nutritious foods you need. It should be packed with lean proteins, such as chicken, fat-free dairy products, tuna, eggs, and Beans. There should be fresh vegetables and fruit, plus frozen and canned ones to do in a pinch. Round it out with some whole grains such as oatmeal, and healthy fats such as nuts and olive oil. Get your kitchen scale and measuring cups out of storage and put them in a prominent place. Check the gym schedule, get out your workout clothes, and lace up your walking shoes so you’re ready to get out the door for some exercise.
There are some extra steps you can take to make progress easier this year. For example, if you’re still gathering information on weight loss surgery and trying to choose a surgeon, make a list of surgeons’ phone numbers and questions so you’re ready at a moment’s notice to make the necessary calls.
Make Those Resolutions Last All Year!
This year, make it easier to keep your New Year’s Resolutions with a subscription to your weight loss products from The BariatricPal Store.

Choose your favorite Protein Bars, shakes, and smoothies, bariatric Vitamins, instant meals, and great-tasting Snacks. You’ll be reminded to focus on your goals every time you receive a delicious delivery from The BariatricPal Store!

Just select “Subscribe and Save” on eligible products.

Receive your products every 1, 2, or 3 months (your choice). Choose the quantity you want to receive. Get an automatic 10% discount on your subscription items.
When your healthy meals are delivered year-round, there’s no need to go off your meal plan. You save time and can be confident of being nourished while you lose weight.

That’s what we have for this newsletter. We wish you the best in your weight loss surgery journey in 2016, and hope you’ll keep sharing your goals and progress with us on the forums. Again, Happy New Year!

I was tempted by everything edible at that point after surgery. Can't imagine doing that during the holiday with all the food tempting me. You're lucky you didn't have any physical issues - I had/have when I'm off program. But just wake up tomorrow and start again. Everyday we learn how to live differently. It's a process. Stalls happen so don't fret.