charlies.angel

Putting my wedding ring back on
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Look at the bright side. 1) it came back up before all those calories took up residence, and 2), it came up in the shower, so you didn't have far to go to remedy the situation.

Never argue with a drunk. It's not worth the energy or blood pressure. I'm sorry that this happened during what should have been a celebratory time. Did he leave marks? Take pictures. Make a police report and back this up.
Make the new year the best one ever! Living well is the best revenge.

Left pic, Christmas 2015
Right pic, Christmas 2016
RNY, 3/14/16

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I'm new to the forum, but had to share here. My husband is my biggest supporter and I have only told my mom. My mom has had the lap band, so she at least understands. I don't feel like answering to anyone about what I choose to do. I'm a yo-yo with my weight so when I lose, it won't be a surprise to most. Keeping it off will be the surprise
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Just say you had surgery
And follow up immediately with "it was the alternative to dying"
It usually stops it right there
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OMG I wouldn't trade it for anything. Everything is easier now that I'm not lugging the weight of a whole other person around everyday. I cavort with my grandkids, I work on our farm, I can walk around for hours on tours with my girlfriends without pain or fatigue, I have become my husband's trophy wife, I can shop in regular stores and look fabulous in whatever I put on, I am off all of my previous medications and now only pop Vitamins.
Sure, I have loose skin and saggy boobs, I can't get my money's worth at all you can eat buffets, and I do have to be mindful of what I eat and drink, but it's all worth it to feel this great. I'd say things "normalized" around 2-3 years out. This is when I had reached goal and learned what it took to maintain. The last 3 years have just been spent living my new normal.

I'm only telling my husband and if I didn't need a driver to and from the hospital, I wouldn't have told him. He is cool with me having the surgery (sleeve). This is a very personal mission to me and there's only room for one person in the saddle.
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Only my husband knows. People are too critical and I don't care for anyone's negativity.
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lol at ad in the paper ????????????

I had surgery in August of 2015 and to this date the only ones who know about it are my doctors, husband, and parents (who are incredibly supportive). It's a personal matter I chose to keep private. When I'm asked how I lost so much weight I tell them it's from biking, tracking my meals on MyFitnessPal, and making better choices, which is the truth (just not the full truth). I'm very at peace with this decision.

PS- everyone's journey is is different. I joined this group for support, never even thinking that I would be frowned upon bc of my lower than 40 BMI. I really hope that is not the case.

My surgery date is Jan 13th. BMI 33. Have gained 50 pounds in two years. I am getting the sleeve because it is a game changer period. Friend at work got the sleeve in Aug and is down 80 pounds. I'm sick of yoyo dieting and frankly I don't care who cares. Some know I am getting sleeved, most don't. Congrats to all the low BMIers who want to prevent becoming a 35 plus BMI. I am getting my sleeve done by Dr. Jose Rodriguez in Juarez. The same Dr who did my friends sleeve.
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Hi everyone!
@@Angelica Marti, sorry for the belated response -- holidays & I'm not around here much anymore.
I'm doing well! The one area I really haven't stepped up my game on is exercise -- that's (obviously) totally on me, and I hope that I'm able to restructure my days and approach things differently in this next phase because I know it'll make all the difference, in so many ways. I am in sort of the final major stretch of losing, and I know that exercise will be a crucial part of that -- as well as a key part of maintaining.
I weighed 183 at my consult on July 28 (surgery was August 11; my surgery day weigh-in was artificially low on a hospital scale that was, I believe, poorly calibrated, so I don't count it). I weigh 130 now, so I've lost 53 pounds. I saw a 129 on Christmas morning and was over the moon, but I indulged a LOT in the last few days and it popped back up. It's silly, but back in November I set a mini-goal of getting into the 120s by Jan 1. I hope I didn't do too much damage over the last few days and that I'm able to get back there -- again, I know it's arbitrary but it makes a mental difference to me, and each set of ten that I enter gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Right now I am 5 pounds above my original goal weight of 125. I set that goal weight about 7 pounds higher than my actual goal weight -- that is, the weight that I was for many years before this gain started. I was worried at the beginning that if I set a goal of getting back to that weight (118ish), I might be setting myself up for failure and disappointment. I'm older now, I don't know how my body has changed...so I set a goal that I knew I'd feel okay at, if not totally "the old me." Now that most of the weight has come off, and I feel in control -- even when I slip up, like over Christmas, I still feel like it's my decision, and one I can back off from -- I feel like of course I can lose 10 or 12 more pounds if I put my mind and body to it. (BIG IF!!!). I have a small frame, and small increments on the scale mean major differences in my size -- I can't get into any of my "old weight" clothes yet, including those I could get into easily when I was 10 pounds lighter. Everyone's body is different. I'd love to get back into some of those, especially my work clothes.
A good friend of mine is going to be sleeved on Jan 5; she has about 90-100 lbs to lose, and we've been talking a lot about pre-op and post-op. I've been surprised to realize how far away that feels to me now, and how I really rarely think about my sleeve anymore. There are things I do differently now, like take smaller portions and try to aim for Protein. In my experience, the bad-for-me choices I've made have always, without exception, been on days when I failed to obey the "protein first; stay hydrated" rule(s). Always. If I focus on Protein, which is not hard to do, and I keep drinking that Water or Powerade zero or whatever it is, I'm not going to be interested in overeating later. But if I forget to eat or drink during the day, my body goes into an unhealthy craving mode later. So I definitely recommend sticking to the basic principles about protein. But those general limitations that are such a big deal in the beginning -- things you can't eat at all, things you can't eat comfortably, etc etc etc...that's just gone, and I don't think about it. I had these big worries about how I would have to think so much about food all the time for the rest of my life and worry about what would work and what wouldnt...it just hasn't been the case for me.
The two most dramatic changes for me, post-sleeve, have been
1) a sense of control over what I put in my body and, therefore, whether I lose or maintain or gain back some weight. Before my surgery I just felt...like I was on this runaway train and was hopeless about it. I now feel like sure, I'm far from perfect, but it's within my control and when I make silly food choices, it doesn't mean The End.
2) My approach to the world around me. For so long, when I was gaining and when I was at my heaviest, I just didn't see anyone I didn't have to see. I was uncomfortable, physically, moving around, and I also hated the reactions I got from people who hadn't seen me awhile. Many people asked if I was sick, if I had been tested for serious diseases (bc I'd gained so much), and others just looked at me with shock. I realize that's on them, not on me, but I HATED it. Combined with my physical discomfort, it led to extreme isolation, both personally and professionally, and that was terrible. THAT has completely gone away. Sure I'm not at my ideal weight, but obviously at this weight I have no problem being seen, interacting professionally, going to social things when I feel like it (I am not terribly social to begin with, but it was a drastic, drastic difference, those years I was socially avoidant).
For those reasons, for me the sleeve has been a miracle. I absolutely see how people "cheat the sleeve" by grazing, which will allow you to eat as many calories as you want over the course of the day. It's not magic. But as people here say all the time, it's such a powerful tool. There is *no way* I otherwise would have lost 50+ pounds in 4.5 months (since surgery date) or 5 months (to the day! since my consult date). I'm eager to focus again after a few silly holiday eating days, and to push through these 10-12 pounds. Then, the real project will begin: maintaining. That's the long haul, and that's something I can't speak to yet. But since it's such a strong weight loss tool, I'm hopeful that it will provide the same kind of strength in the maintenance phases. I know there will be ups and downs -- but I just don't know yet what those will be.
About judgment and criticism: I just deleted a VERY long section on this issue. But really, it's been said many times before and I'll say it again -- I really dislike the judgment people get about their weight and how to handle it, especially on a site like this, where we all have struggles and where our weight has affected our lives to a degree where we are either contemplating or have had surgery to help deal with it. I don't like trendy phrases like "safe space," but really, this should be one. I wish people wouldn't criticize people's reasons for wanting or needing these surgeries. And that for people who DO judge, when they see threads that clearly state "for low BMI" or "for those with 50 pounds to lose" or whatever, they just stay away and let the people who can support each other continue to do so -- regardless of the size or BMI or stage of the journey those supportive posters may be on at that time.
Good luck to everyone here!

PS- everyone's journey is is different. I joined this group for support, never even thinking that I would be frowned upon bc of my lower than 40 BMI. I really hope that is not the case.

PS- everyone's journey is is different. I joined this group for support, never even thinking that I would be frowned upon bc of my lower than 40 BMI. I really hope that is not the case.

You have no idea how hard it is for us with lower Bmi. I believe it is just as hard, and just as easy to put the pounds back on. We just have less pounds, however the struggle is the same. Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum and I am pre op. Just starting my journey. Does anyone have tips to help me prepare for this life change? I know surgery is still 6 months down the line but I'm super excited and nervous and want to be as prepared as I can
thanks everyone.!!!
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Yep I'm afraid it will be denied. I don't know what's worse waiting on a date or the possibility I could be denied. My surgeons office sounds really confident. I wish I was.
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Yeah sounds like that is your case. I have a bmi of 41 with no cormibids so over 6 months I have only lost 6 pounds. I say if you dont have sleep apnea then get your BMI to 40 and start over!

i'm 50. i've only been sleeved for a little over 4 weeks. I've had to make changes in my life and i will never eat the same again. Would i have the surgery again with what I know now? I'd have it without question.
I've proven in the past that I can take off 50 pounds with just a bit of effort. Problem is, it always comes back. The sleeve gives me a fighting chance this time.

I'm 41 (pushing 42) and I needed to lose at least 100 lbs. I've lost 90 in 8 months. It's the best gift I EVER gave myself. I don't regret the surgery or the power it has given me to control what I eat. I have my life back.

My presurgery weight was 260 now I'm at 138
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My surgery weight was 235 and my goal weight was 150. I surpassed that and got down to 143 where I've been maintaining within a few pounds for over a year now. My surgery was in August of 2014.