JupiterinVirgo

Thank you so much for cheering me on! I don't live near my family, and I don't know a lot of people where I am so I don't hear as many acknowledgments as it would take to shift my mind into recognition. Then someone takes a picture of me and I'm like, "holy crap!"

We live in a culture of hidden shame. Having weight-loss surgery is nothing to be ashamed of. Being fat is nothing to be ashamed of. Like your friend, and like many people on this website, I dieted many many times, and I was successful many times. But not permanently successful, and so I decided to make a permanent alteration to my physical anatomy that would help me not only lose the weight, but keep it off. I wish I did this a lot of years ago. I am amazed at how effective the surgery is. But it is a sacrifice. I think most people on this website would tell you that it was worth it to them. But it is a commitment. It cannot be undone. But don't let the shame from our culture stop you, if in your inner self you know that this is the right thing for you.

Losing a lot of weight can be psycho-spiritually profound! Many people on this journey find out that they have become more them selves, not less. More confident, more comfortable, more welcome, more active, more brazen, bolder. The process of losing weight, can definitely change your perception. But the core of who you are, that will not change. If in the core of who you are you are badly hurt, or unhappy, that will still have to be addressed. If in the core of who you are, you are joyful and content, you might find out that you can hold even more joy and even more contentment once there is not so much weight between you your self and the rest of the world. There is nothing to worry about. It can be a beautiful and organic process, but it is a process of transformation so there are bound to be shifts in your perception.

It took me a full 10 days to feel well enough to even consider working. And that was just about the pain. The fatigue went on for months. If you have a non-desk job, I would suggest two weeks off.

It is wise to pay attention, and to notice our little aches and pains. Most of us, however, have the tendency to let our minds run off like wild horses from that moment of noticing into far and unlikely destinations that probably we will not land in. Be proactive but don't be worried. Losing so much weight so fast is so stressful on the body, and it's going to groan and creek occasionally. Give it a good clean water. Eat gently. And find some kind of practice that helps you cope with stress. I have a feeling you're going to be just fine. <3

Seeing all of these before, during and after photos is so inspiring, so amazing! When I was still working up the courage to have the surgery, it was your successes that gave me the faith to go through with it, and I truly have no regrets. I am only five months out from surgery, and I don't know how much weight I've lost. I'm sure that it is at least 80 to 100 pounds, I'm a find out at my surgeons in a couple weeks. But I couldn't help but wish to join in the fun! So here are some progress pics…

I am very seriously considering having this done in Mexico. Not just because it's more reasonably priced, but because what little bits and pieces I've heard about it it seems that the care in Mexico was better than in the United States-or rather, you get the care that you have to pay 100 grand for here for like 10 K. How was it down there? Matt ask for more information about where it went and who your doctor was? If it's too personal I completely understand. Thank you so much for commenting.

Thank you Daisy! I will totally check that out. I'm under growing my clothes like crazy and it's getting really pricey

I have so many nice dresses that I bought from torrid. Most of them are size 26/28, or a torrid 4. I also have several that are a 22/24 or a torrid 3. I have some other brands as well in the same sizes. Probably $1000 worth of clothes. Stuff that's hard to find in those sizes. So if anyone is interested inviting some really cute dresses second-hand, they are up for grabs for $25 apiece plus shipping, with a few exceptions of more expensive brands and clothes. This household has smokers and pets.

I'm still losing weight, but at this rate by the time I hit one year post surgery I should be ready. I have always had very large breasts. I have worn cup sizes as high as H. My breasts have become so flat after losing almost 100 pounds. They are still large but they hang, and look like pancakes from the side. Plastic surgery was just not something that was accessible to me before, but this is been on my mind a lot lately. Terrifying as it seems, I feel that I really need and want my breasts lifted when I get to my goal weight of 175 pounds. Can anybody guide me on where to begin? I would love so much to hear stories of successful breast lifts from women who have lost a lot of weight and who had very large breasts when they were heavy. It's hard to imagine that they can do anything, but supposedly they can. Would you share your stories with me?

Thank you I really appreciate everybody's comments. I'm going to post some new pictures soon. It's so weird how your brain doesn't catch up in real time-at least mine doesn't. I can't tell how much weight I've lost until someone takes a picture of me.

So much yay. Also, almond meal or almond flour is a great option!

The BMI chart is very outdated, was created with bad science by insurance companies, who are trying to predict mortality in order to profit from the losses of others. It never ceases to amaze me how antiquated Western medicine remains, and how much Unquestioning faith most people have in it. When your body is comfortable with its weight, it will stop shedding it. Bodies are not uniformly manufactured products. Every single one is unique and individual. The right weight for you is the weight at which you feel healthy and strong. BMI charts are not the end all, be all, of weight loss. Personally, I think they are ridiculous.

I drink with meals, but it means less food at a time, and mindfulness. Because overdoing one or the other means puking.

Saturday, just a few days ago, was the first time I sat down on the hard edge and felt my bones. I was completely shocked. LOL… And you're right, it hurts a bit.

I think that's a great thing. I am five months postop and I do not weigh myself. Not once a day, not once a week, not even once a month. I get Wade when I go to the surgeons office, and the rest of the time I track my Weight loss with non-scale victories. My clothes are literally falling off my body, compliments from people who haven't seen me in a few weeks or months or so, and my own felt sense of the boundaries of my body getting smaller. I decided to do this from the beginning because I didn't want life after surgery to feel like a diet, because every diet I've ever been on has either failed me or otherwise been on sustainable. That is why I needed the surgery to begin with. Since weight-loss surgery is a permanent alterations have the anatomy, it's the long ball Game that really counts. I do not need to know what I weigh from day to day. I just need to see a steady decline in my weight over time, and I am definitely definitely seeing that.

It is that aspect of permanence that appeals to most of us who have had the surgery, I think. I cannot say how many times I have thought to myself, this is not a diet I can just go off. I permanently changed my anatomy. And then I feel a rush of relief, because I know that it means that even if I have a bad day, but I fall into an old habit temporarily, it does not derail my long-term goals. Before I had the surgery, if I made a weight-loss effort and screwed up at some point, that was usually the end. And, in the beginning it most certainly feels like a very artificially imposed relationship with food, but as time goes on it's feels a little more natural, and it's not as bad as it seems like it's going to be right after surgery LOL. I think it is also important to remember that the bariatric gospel given by most bariatric surgical offices, is not the end all, be all of weight loss, and some of those rules might not be appropriate for you personally. To me, it is not sustainable to follow thousand was the day on how to eat and what to eat and all that jazz. I don't do it. And my weight-loss has been extremely successful so far. I do what's right for me. I can eat and drink together as long as I pace myself properly. I can use a straw without any problems. There are still a lot of foods that are very uncomfortable for me to eat, but I find I sold them have an appetite anyway. But it is a sacrifice, about that you actually correct. And you do have to be sure and profoundly OK with the sacrifice you are making in exchange for a golden opportunity to improve the quality of your life over the long term.

Ty

My weight loss journey has definitely shown me very clearly that much of the advice offered by Western medical professionals after sleeve surgery is outdated by at least 20 years, much of that is based on initial studies that were not connected to other studies over a long period of time. That is, their data is incomplete and not integrated with other data, newer data, and data that comes from other areas, including nutritional and food-based approaches that are well documented, well used, and well studied from all over the world that lead to not only the balance of weight, but the balance of all systems in the physical body with the use of food, supplements and other holistic approaches that take into account the individual body, not just some overgeneralized partial study taken 30 years ago. The most powerful and simple advice from my experience, is to attuned to what your personal body needs, and not blindly follow the bariatric gospel, which is very very outdated.

The last five months has most certainly been a roller coaster. It has felt harrowing at times. I under estimated the profound effect that losing weight would have on me. It is an intense process, staying present with my quickly changing body. Things, things I have been hiding away under a lot of weight for many years rise to the surface to be processed as my fat cells break open on my body shrinks. Sadness I've held in my belly. Rage I wrapped around my hips. Grief that has laid heavy upon my chest. The peak of mountains in the landscape of my body just starting to show, formally submerged in a sea of fat. Instances of sudden ecstatic joy. Glitches, and translating what I see in the mirror into what I remember of myself. The delay in processing real time changes in my body. Yesterday, my family came to visit me. I hadn't seen some of them in a couple of months. They went on anon over hours of time and how astonish they were at my weight loss. They insisted on photographing me. And when I looked at the picture, that was the first time I actually saw that my body is starting to look like now. So I wanted to share.

Let me state plainly end up front that I do not regret this surgery at all. I wish I could have done this for myself much sooner. But, it is a sacrifice. And you need to be OK with that before you do it I think. Weight-loss surgery is not like dieting; the changes to your body are permanent. Since surgery, my biggest challenges have been the discomfort of eating many foods. I notice it is much more important to pay close attention to the signals of my body, which are no longer Austin glaringly obvious. Because the part of your stomach that makes hunger hormones is removed, after the first few weeks it is very easy to stop thinking about eating almost all together. For me, I no longer eat for pleasure. Eating is a task I must complete to take care of my body. If most of your social functions revolve around large meals, that can be a challenge. Although I simply move my focus to my company, to the fullness of the experience of being with people I enjoy or love, instead of focusing on the food. It is also and adjustment as you lose weight, noticing your body getting smaller, you're clothes falling off or sagging, The softness of your body increasing, etc. I'm sure there are a lot of other things people find challenging besides what I have mentioned, but those are bits and pieces from my own journey. At the end of the day, I truly have no regrets about this but I most certainly i'm aware of this great change I have made every single day. Oh, and hair loss is a common complaint. But a temporary element

Right after surgery your calorie intake is very low, and most people are very tired. I was so exhausted at times in those first few weeks that I actually got stuck in my car waiting for my energy to return enough for me to drive home from the store. You have to really pay close attention to your body after surgery. Not only are you taking him a lot less calories, but your body is using a lot more energy to repair itself from the surgery. Even after the immediate weeks following surgery, I was tired often on for months to the point where I needed to take naps in the middle of the day. Things began to level out a bit around three months out for me.

There is a misconception that fizzy drinks can cause the sleeve to stretch but that is not true. What is true, is that most carbonated beverages are incredibly bad for you and your waistline, including if not a specially diet sodas. That said, there are chemical free low calorie sparkling beverages that will not hurt your weight-loss efforts or your stomach.

You may have to time travel to the 1920s to find bathing suits with sleeves and pants

Some of my favorite staple foods, which change I find overtime based on what my body wants have included: Organic or non-GMO project certified yogurts-the higher Protein the better. I always put granola and/or berries in my yogurt. Nuts: cashews, walnuts, almonds Cheese: high-end, grass fed, snobby cheeses LOL The occasional Protein Bar. Fruit: bananas, berries, oranges, pomegranate seeds, pears, apples Occasionally, some soft cooked meat coffee with Protein powder.