Amylou

Went shopping in a normal (not plus) sized store and even some of their clothing was too big!!
Running into someone I worked with two years ago and they didn't recognize me.

Went shopping in a normal (not plus) sized store and even some of their clothing was too big!!
Running into someone I worked with two years ago and they didn't recognize me.

I used to run hot. Now I run cold. I wear socks to bed, I wear layers under my clothes. I have a space-heater under my desk at work.
Sure don't miss in insulation though!!

Went shopping in a normal (not plus) sized store and even some of their clothing was too big!!
Running into someone I worked with two years ago and they didn't recognize me.

Went shopping in a normal (not plus) sized store and even some of their clothing was too big!!
Running into someone I worked with two years ago and they didn't recognize me.

salad - that's my one food I miss terribly and I just can't do it. I don't know if I just can't grind it up small enough with my teeth or what but I can't enjoy them. And I miss them so much. Cold and crunchy with yummy stuff on it.
Really, I miss cold and crunchy.

Before - October 2014
At 80 pounds lost - currently at 110 pounds lost.

salad - that's my one food I miss terribly and I just can't do it. I don't know if I just can't grind it up small enough with my teeth or what but I can't enjoy them. And I miss them so much. Cold and crunchy with yummy stuff on it.
Really, I miss cold and crunchy.

I'm doing great. I feel great. My numbers are all great - down over 80 pounds since surgery. I'm one pound away from being down 100 pounds since my heaviest weight ever. I am getting all my Protein in, Water in, following the rules to a T. I do seriously struggle with the vitamins/calcium/supplements - I can never remember to take them and when I do, it feels like I'm constantly popping pills.
I've started running. I'm blown away by this but I can run. I can run for 35 minutes straight. I'm not fast nor is it pretty but I can do it and not die. In fact, I feel amazing when I'm done. I don't think I want to be a runner...like in races or anything...but I can do it and it's absolutely blowing my mind.
The other "wow" moment is the inches I've lost in the past year. My initial measurements were taken in November 2014. Since then, I've lost 15 inches around my waist and 8 off my hips. I'm sure my thighs and arms have shrunk but they don't take those measurements. I'm in awe. 15 inches. NO WONDER none of my pre-op pants fit!!!
I can't believe how far I've come in the past 6 months. I cannot wait to see where the next 6 take me.

I'm doing great. I feel great. My numbers are all great - down over 80 pounds since surgery. I'm one pound away from being down 100 pounds since my heaviest weight ever. I am getting all my Protein in, Water in, following the rules to a T. I do seriously struggle with the vitamins/calcium/supplements - I can never remember to take them and when I do, it feels like I'm constantly popping pills.
I've started running. I'm blown away by this but I can run. I can run for 35 minutes straight. I'm not fast nor is it pretty but I can do it and not die. In fact, I feel amazing when I'm done. I don't think I want to be a runner...like in races or anything...but I can do it and it's absolutely blowing my mind.
The other "wow" moment is the inches I've lost in the past year. My initial measurements were taken in November 2014. Since then, I've lost 15 inches around my waist and 8 off my hips. I'm sure my thighs and arms have shrunk but they don't take those measurements. I'm in awe. 15 inches. NO WONDER none of my pre-op pants fit!!!
I can't believe how far I've come in the past 6 months. I cannot wait to see where the next 6 take me.

I'm doing great. I feel great. My numbers are all great - down over 80 pounds since surgery. I'm one pound away from being down 100 pounds since my heaviest weight ever. I am getting all my Protein in, Water in, following the rules to a T. I do seriously struggle with the vitamins/calcium/supplements - I can never remember to take them and when I do, it feels like I'm constantly popping pills.
I've started running. I'm blown away by this but I can run. I can run for 35 minutes straight. I'm not fast nor is it pretty but I can do it and not die. In fact, I feel amazing when I'm done. I don't think I want to be a runner...like in races or anything...but I can do it and it's absolutely blowing my mind.
The other "wow" moment is the inches I've lost in the past year. My initial measurements were taken in November 2014. Since then, I've lost 15 inches around my waist and 8 off my hips. I'm sure my thighs and arms have shrunk but they don't take those measurements. I'm in awe. 15 inches. NO WONDER none of my pre-op pants fit!!!
I can't believe how far I've come in the past 6 months. I cannot wait to see where the next 6 take me.

While I was going through the prep, I only told two people. When I was approved and a surgery date scheduled, I told a few more people, figuring the gossip line would let everyone else know. Not until about 50 loss, did anyone comment. I readily told them I had bariatric surgery. Their first response generally was "I know someone else who had that surgery and they had _____ complications." Now after five months and 80 pounds, I want to discuss my surgery with anyone who has an interest. I want to be an advocate for WLS.
People are going to ask how you are losing so quickly. And as in my case, those who didn't ask, assumed I had cancer or some other bad thing wrong with me. Don't fool yourself by thinking no one is going to notice or ask.
I think the biggest struggle with telling or not telling is the fear of what feedback you are going to get. Most of it will be positive. But then there are uneducated (uneducated in bariatric surgery) people who will say something stupid or hurtful. When this happens, you have one of two choices. You can either allow that stupid/hurtful comment to chip away at your self-esteem or you choose to realize that this person has no clue as to what they are saying. Trying to educate them more than likely will be useless, because they know everything about everything. But you can try. Don't give these negative people the power to make you feel bad about yourself.
The most hurtful thing someone can say to me is that I took the easy way to weight loss. This has only happened once. My response was "I respect your opinion, but you have no idea what you are talking about." And I left it at that. I did not give that person the power to make me feel bad. I put a lot of hard work into my weight loss. My surgery is only a tool.
Generally, when someone belittles you, they are trying to make themselves feel better and more superior to you. They themselves suffer from low self-esteem and the only way they can feel better about themselves is to belittle someone else. This is not your issue, but theirs. Don't allow this to be your issue.
I was married to a bully for 17 years who made me feel I was lower than the grunge build up at the base of the toilet. It took a divorce and five years of counseling before I finally realized that there was nothing wrong with me - it was him all along!
Just don't give away your power to anyone who doesn't deserve it.

Exercise. Lots of Water. Tylenol or a hot bath if it gets really bad. It's the only time I really REALLY miss Advil.

I go twice a week usually... Sometimes three if I'm lucky. Typically though I'm so sore after my Monday workout I can't go until Thursday. It's a very intense workout for the muscles

I love it. Seriously, I'm not a big gym rat but I look forward to my 9 Round workouts!!

Being as I have three little kids and we do have the pukes pass thru our house at least once a year, how does that work when you only have a pouch and not a stomach?
Can I get a free pass on the stomach virus forever??

I have no shortage of hair...so I'm not in danger of balding or anything...but the shower drain could use a break (as could my husband who is the one fixing the drain!!).

I do miss being able to just EAT. it's like why bother eating for me sometimes

FYI - Women are 2 x more likely to have addiction transfer to alcohol after WLS than men. My mom is a recovering alcoholic and she knows many, many women who had WLS and ended up alcoholic after surgery.
Because I know I still have some addiction issues from my food addiction, I am in absolutely no rush to try a drink. I have no desire to go down another addiction to overcome.

I weigh daily - no clothes, preshower.
My nutritionist suggested I put the scale away but I cannot do that. I need to see that number every morning. Celebrate it or curse it, it's part of my day. Either way, it's a motivator to have a good day.

Complications are real...they are...but I think a patients attitude going into surgery can vastly improve the complication slippery slope.
You cannot control everything about this procedure. Be patient with yourself. Follow the doctor's orders down to the letter. Do not do what they tell you not to do. Walk. Drink Water. Drink Water. Drink water. Walk some more. Nap. Most importantly, think positively. If something feels horribly wrong, then get it checked out but seriously, this is major surgery. You're going to hurt. Life is going to be different afterwards. But SOOOO much better.

FYI - Women are 2 x more likely to have addiction transfer to alcohol after WLS than men. My mom is a recovering alcoholic and she knows many, many women who had WLS and ended up alcoholic after surgery.
Because I know I still have some addiction issues from my food addiction, I am in absolutely no rush to try a drink. I have no desire to go down another addiction to overcome.

Complications are real...they are...but I think a patients attitude going into surgery can vastly improve the complication slippery slope.
You cannot control everything about this procedure. Be patient with yourself. Follow the doctor's orders down to the letter. Do not do what they tell you not to do. Walk. Drink Water. Drink Water. Drink water. Walk some more. Nap. Most importantly, think positively. If something feels horribly wrong, then get it checked out but seriously, this is major surgery. You're going to hurt. Life is going to be different afterwards. But SOOOO much better.

Complications are real...they are...but I think a patients attitude going into surgery can vastly improve the complication slippery slope.
You cannot control everything about this procedure. Be patient with yourself. Follow the doctor's orders down to the letter. Do not do what they tell you not to do. Walk. Drink Water. Drink Water. Drink water. Walk some more. Nap. Most importantly, think positively. If something feels horribly wrong, then get it checked out but seriously, this is major surgery. You're going to hurt. Life is going to be different afterwards. But SOOOO much better.

You've been thru major surgery on top of coming to grips with a complete lifestyle change and a shift in hormones. Cut yourself some slack...YES you're going to be emotional!!!
The good news is you're going to see some major positive changes very soon and that should make the entire emotional roller coaster much easier to ride. At least for me, once I was seeing some NSV's happen in my life, it made the grieving process much easier.
Good Luck. You got this!!!