GirthyGirl

I am honest with people who ask and honest with people who don't ask. lol I am not embarrassed or ashamed that WLS was the final route I chose. Anyone who is judgemental can F right off. Luckily I really haven't had anyone be anything other than supportive.

We will be handing out candy at my house. I just don’t eat any of it. As long as I don’t have that first piece I’m fine. It’s not a temptation for me. But if I take one bite all bets are off.

I was 47 when I had my sleeve and I just turned 50. I do wish I had done it sooner but honestly I wasn’t ready. I think I did it at the perfect time for me.

I was sleeved 01/27/16 and lost 140 lbs.

I don't have any regrets. I am in a place I never thought I would be in. However, there are times I miss the person I used to be. Maybe not the person but the way I used to eat. Without thinking about it. Eating whatever I wanted, how much I wanted. Those kinds of things. Those moments are few and far between and I don't want to go back to that life. But i do think about it sometimes.

I hope everything went well and you are a candidate.

Congratulations! You look amazing!

I was starving the entire pre-op diet. You're lucky you only have to do it 1 week. I had to do it 2 weeks with the same restrictions! Not gonna lie, it was awful. The only thing that got me through was why I was doing it.

Does your nutritionist respond to emails? If so I would send her an email asking if it is okay to consume 100 grams of Protein a day. Then you will have it in writing to refer to.

Honestly, I don't remember. It was right after my birthday and I had spent the week pigging out. I felt so fat and disgusting. I don't think there was any one thing I can point to other than I wasn't able to get myself under control.

I hope you are feeling better and the gas pain has resolved. I didn't have any pain when I was sleeved but I did with my cholecystectomy. That lasted a couple of days IIRC.

I don't chew my food like I should. I eat carbs and the occasional sweet. And I don't beat myself up about any of it.

Best of luck! I was sleeved in January of 2016 and I remember the time leading up to it well.

Thank you for sharing! I'm just passed the halfway mark for my weight loss but I'm already about 90% sure I'll need/want an arm lift. I love seeing such great results like yours especially since it's the most visible skin removal surgery I expect to need. Congrats on all of your weight loss and success with your first round of plastics!

Thank you so much! If I only had a choice of one procedure it would definitely be the brachioplasty. It's hard to disguise the loose skin on the arms. It has made a world of difference in my self esteem. I'm so glad I had it done.

Congrats on your weight loss and being halfway there! That is a great accomplishment.

Does insurance pay for That kind of surgery?

Generally insurances will not pay for anything they consider cosmetic.

ssflbelle

I will be having a breast reduction and lift in May. Tummy Tuck is scheduled for July. At this point that's.

That is terrible you have been waiting so long for the biopsy! Praying that goes well and you can have your procedure soon.

You will get there being comfortable shopping for new clothes. The reduction will make things fit differently so waiting to buy new clothes may be a good idea.

It's been two weeks now and things are going really well! I am still having a little pain on my sides where the drains were. My arms feel great which is funny because that's what I thought was going to hurt. Right now they are measuring 13.25". Not sure if that will go down any more but if it doesn't I am so thrilled with it! I will be going to a bariatric reunion on Thursday that is put on by one of my local hospitals. I will be wearing something sleeveless and for the first time will not be embarrassed to do so. I'll take a couple pictures and post them at the end of the week to show where I am at.

I am 5' 6" and trying to visualize what I will look like at 180 and what size I will be. I have lost so much weight yet I am afraid to even go into a clothing store. You would thinking it would be exciting going to the store to buy new clothing but it terrifies me. I never felt good about shopping and always had a fight with my Mom and would start crying in the fitting room as nothing would fit me correctly. In fact I haven't been in a store to buy clothing in over 30 years. I always bought two of the largest size I could find in the catalog and make it into one. I don't have my Mom with me any more and have no fashion sense so I wouldn't even know where to begin with new clothing or how much to buy as I still have 42 pounds to lose. Having come from 10X I don't want to still be in the x's and feel I will be. Am I crazy or what? I have sewn in my clothing 3 times already and have to do it again. I was hoping to buy clothing after the excess skin was removed from my breast, arms and belly but the first of those surgeries was canceled. I guess I will be taking in my clothes again. Have you Girthygirl and everyone else bought new clothing in new sizes before you got to your goal? If you didn't fit into the size you were expecting, how did you feel? How did you know what to buy?

I used to hate shopping too. It was never a matter of finding something that looked the best on me. It was finding the least horrible thing. Now I love shopping! I am currently a size 10/12. I don't see myself getting lower than a 10 and that is perfectly fine with me. I started at a 26/28 so sometimes I still can't believe I am where I am.

I think when you are used to not being able to wear fashionable styles it makes it difficult to change your mindset. I look at some of the cute things that are out there and don't even bother trying them on. For one thing I am older and I'm not sure I can pull it off. I also don't want to be one of those people you look at and think, "She should not be wearing that". I would occasionally buy jeans 1 size smaller but that was about it as far as goal clothes went. I didn't want to buy to much as I didn't know where I was going to end up.

You have lost sooooo much weight ssflbelle! You should be so proud of yourself! If you don't know what size you currently are, and don't feel comfortable shopping in the misses department, maybe go to a plus size store and start with the biggest size they carry and work your way down. That makes it easier than trying to figure it out and then being dissapointed when has been a horrible experience for you. I bet you will be surprised how big they will be on you. It is disappointing to try something on and it is to tight but I would just tell myself I would be there one day.

I wish you nothing but continued success and we are all pulling for you! Sometimes it's harder to lose the mental weight then it is to lose the physical weight.

I had mine the day before you did. I am still not where I want to be. I am trying to get to 180. which is about another 42 pounds fro me. May I ask Girthygirl how tall are you?

Sure. I am 5'4''. 180 was my goal weight also.

Congrats!! You're inspiring me! We're the same size and I'd like to get my arms done and breasts lifted. Do you mind saying how long it's been since you had your Bariatric surgery? Mine was 6/30/16, and I'd be surprised if I lose anymore weight. I'm feeling pretty good where I am.

Thank you! I had my surgery on 01/27/16. I am satisfied at the weight I'm at. I am only losing about 1 pound a month now so will start working on maintaining.

Wow girthygirl! 2 days post op and your arms look like that? You heal really well as they look fantastic. Those scars sure are thin and doesn't look red or swollen at all. Congratulations on the weight loss and the 1st Excess skin removal surgery. I hope all your surgeries go as well as this one did.
I have lost over 280 pounds and have so much excess skin it is unbelievable. My bat wings go all the way to my wrists. However I was told they do not cut below the elbow with this surgery. I gather they will pull the wrist skin up to the elbow. The bat wings will probably be my 3rd surgery. I was scheduled to have my 1st one on March 21st but it was cancelled 13 hours before the surgery. It was suppose to be excess breast skin removal and a FNG. However I am now waiting for a biopsy and the results. Who knows when the surgery will be. I was pretty disappointed as the excess breast skin goes down to my belly button. I have a lot of back pain because of 4 herniated discs. Even though all this tummy, breast and arm excess skin weighs less than the fat it hasn't cut down on my back pain. My back surgeon wants all the excess skin removed before he will do any surgery on the discs. So it looks like I will still have to use the electric mobility device for another year or two as within 5 minutes of walking I am in so much pain it takes my breath away.
Please keep us informed as to how you are doing. Would love to send you a friends request so we can keep in touch, hope you will accept it.

I too have breasts that reach my navel. I'm so sorry to hear that your surgery has to be postponed. How disappointing! You'll be in my prayers that everything will turn out okay. Living with constant pain is so difficult. It really wears you down.

Please send me a friend request. I would love to keep in touch!

Here are a couple of pictures from yesterday. They're not that great but you get the idea. I was two days post op.  

Awesome so happy for you! I need the surgery, I actually see the surgeon for the 1st time next week & I'm already worrying about how much it's going to hurt lol!

I actually have very little pain. More discomfort. I'm surprised how easy it's been so far!

All in all I'm feeling really good! Haven't taken any more pain meds since last night.

I went in for my post op and saw my new arms for the first time. I love them! What a difference! I will try and get some pictures this evening. My doctor took the drains out and cleared me to go back to work when I want. So happy right now!

Congratulations! I wish for you a speedy and uncomplicated recovery!

Thank you!

It is done! I already feel like a different person. I will take some pictures in a few days. Not sure how much tissue he removed. I don't even remember him coming into my room after let alone what he said. lol. I'll ask him at my first post op appointment.