Meryline

WOW, you look amazing! CONGRATULATIONS on all the blessings of your accomplishments! You've done an incredible job of your part on your journey and are an inspiration to others.

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Finally time for my 6 months before and after pictures.
I have lost over 90 lbs.
A week ago I completed a Nordic Walking half marathon.
I have prevented a second back surgery, and life is pretty good.
I have under 15 lbs until I have a normal BMI. I started at 42.

Finally time for my 6 months before and after pictures.
I have lost over 90 lbs.
A week ago I completed a Nordic Walking half marathon.
I have prevented a second back surgery, and life is pretty good.
I have under 15 lbs until I have a normal BMI. I started at 42.

Finally time for my 6 months before and after pictures.
I have lost over 90 lbs.
A week ago I completed a Nordic Walking half marathon.
I have prevented a second back surgery, and life is pretty good.
I have under 15 lbs until I have a normal BMI. I started at 42.

Finally time for my 6 months before and after pictures.
I have lost over 90 lbs.
A week ago I completed a Nordic Walking half marathon.
I have prevented a second back surgery, and life is pretty good.
I have under 15 lbs until I have a normal BMI. I started at 42.

Finally time for my 6 months before and after pictures.
I have lost over 90 lbs.
A week ago I completed a Nordic Walking half marathon.
I have prevented a second back surgery, and life is pretty good.
I have under 15 lbs until I have a normal BMI. I started at 42.

Completely normal to gain weight right after surgery. It's fluids they pump you full of in the hospital as well as, you just had major surgery. Stay away from the scale for a few weeks to let your body settle.

I was told I should walk a lot, but was cleared for all types of exercise at 3 weeks. Remember you have wounds on the inside as well, and they need to heal. Max amount of weight to lift before the 3 weeks was 10 lbs. You might feel great, but it's a huge change for your body.

I'm striving to get back there. I was a competitive swimmer for years. I still train with a trainer 3 times a week, swimming up towards 7-10k a week. We just started back after summer break.

December 2015 I had my first back surgery. I could hardly walk, and was heavily medicated with opioids to get through the day. Surgery was a success, until I had a relaps at the same place not even a year later. Long story short. I had 2 nerve blockages that worked for a while, but in the end, my surgeon said I needed to be operated on again.
We decided to wait and see if the wls would help my back. The pictures below are from March of this year, only 7 days after my wls, and from Saturday.
The herniation has been reduced to almost nothing, the spine covering the nerve is almost nothing, all due to loosing almost 90 lbs.
I see my neurosurgeon on Monday, but both I and my physical therapist are sure I won't be having the surgery I'm booked for on October 3rd.
If that is not a success story, I don't know what is.

I'm striving to get back there. I was a competitive swimmer for years. I still train with a trainer 3 times a week, swimming up towards 7-10k a week. We just started back after summer break.

My surgeon never talked to me about a goal weight or a target weight. I picked normal BMI as my goal. I have 18 lbs to go at almost 6 months out from surgery. Anything after that I look at as bonus.
Side note: I had my bodyfat tested, and according to the people who did the test I only need to loose another 6-7 lbs of fat to reach a point where my body would stay happy. I have been able to contain a lot of muscles during this weight loss phase.

December 2015 I had my first back surgery. I could hardly walk, and was heavily medicated with opioids to get through the day. Surgery was a success, until I had a relaps at the same place not even a year later. Long story short. I had 2 nerve blockages that worked for a while, but in the end, my surgeon said I needed to be operated on again.
We decided to wait and see if the wls would help my back. The pictures below are from March of this year, only 7 days after my wls, and from Saturday.
The herniation has been reduced to almost nothing, the spine covering the nerve is almost nothing, all due to loosing almost 90 lbs.
I see my neurosurgeon on Monday, but both I and my physical therapist are sure I won't be having the surgery I'm booked for on October 3rd.
If that is not a success story, I don't know what is.

December 2015 I had my first back surgery. I could hardly walk, and was heavily medicated with opioids to get through the day. Surgery was a success, until I had a relaps at the same place not even a year later. Long story short. I had 2 nerve blockages that worked for a while, but in the end, my surgeon said I needed to be operated on again.
We decided to wait and see if the wls would help my back. The pictures below are from March of this year, only 7 days after my wls, and from Saturday.
The herniation has been reduced to almost nothing, the spine covering the nerve is almost nothing, all due to loosing almost 90 lbs.
I see my neurosurgeon on Monday, but both I and my physical therapist are sure I won't be having the surgery I'm booked for on October 3rd.
If that is not a success story, I don't know what is.

December 2015 I had my first back surgery. I could hardly walk, and was heavily medicated with opioids to get through the day. Surgery was a success, until I had a relaps at the same place not even a year later. Long story short. I had 2 nerve blockages that worked for a while, but in the end, my surgeon said I needed to be operated on again.
We decided to wait and see if the wls would help my back. The pictures below are from March of this year, only 7 days after my wls, and from Saturday.
The herniation has been reduced to almost nothing, the spine covering the nerve is almost nothing, all due to loosing almost 90 lbs.
I see my neurosurgeon on Monday, but both I and my physical therapist are sure I won't be having the surgery I'm booked for on October 3rd.
If that is not a success story, I don't know what is.

This is AMAZING!!!
I'm so happy for you! Can't wait for your 6 month external photos when you feel up to it
My hubby also has lower spine pain (not as severe a problem as yours was though)... and he's lost 35lbs and has felt some improvement. I'll share these pictures with him and hope it motivates him to keep going (he was about 80- 90lbs overweight as well).

December 2015 I had my first back surgery. I could hardly walk, and was heavily medicated with opioids to get through the day. Surgery was a success, until I had a relaps at the same place not even a year later. Long story short. I had 2 nerve blockages that worked for a while, but in the end, my surgeon said I needed to be operated on again.
We decided to wait and see if the wls would help my back. The pictures below are from March of this year, only 7 days after my wls, and from Saturday.
The herniation has been reduced to almost nothing, the spine covering the nerve is almost nothing, all due to loosing almost 90 lbs.
I see my neurosurgeon on Monday, but both I and my physical therapist are sure I won't be having the surgery I'm booked for on October 3rd.
If that is not a success story, I don't know what is.

Congrats surgery twin. You look amazing. Awesome job!
I'm waiting another week to post mine. It's not the right time of the month to be taking pictures

Congrats surgery twin. You look amazing. Awesome job!
I'm waiting another week to post mine. It's not the right time of the month to be taking pictures

I'm now a few days short of six months postop. Down a total of 86lbs. (305 to 219).
First photo was day of surgery. I had already lost 16lbs on preop diet.
Second photo is today.
Third photo is my face at highest weight before preop diet.
My pants are size 14 (brand runs large). Top vest is a large. Undershirt is a tight medium.

Pre op they told me to loose 3-5 kg, how I did it was up to me. Post up, for the first 6 weeks I was told to limit fat to 15g pr 100g and sugar to 8g pr 100g due to the risk of dumping. After that, I got cleared to eat anything I wanted. Trial and error to see what I could tolerate. Ice cream is a no go. The sugar/fat combination is just too high. But full fat cheese on it's own is not a problem.

Ok, let's separate out the different time frames.
6 or more months preop: As referenced above, it's to keep calories in check and get some weight loss started. If you can control caloric consumption while eating fat, I don't see a problem with it.
Liver shrink diet: Needs to be a low fat AND low carbohydrate to be sure that liver has shrunken sufficiently to make a safe procedure.
Postop: Back to keeping calories in check. Ideal weight loss happens somewhere between 800-1200 calories for the year or two after surgery. The first couple months postop it's almost impossible to get "too many" calories. After that, you have to start watching.

I didn't start as high as you but I suggest you keep losing. You really want to be as low as possible. Even though I am flabby and loose there is still fat attached to this skin. True loose skin is just empty skin. You will get the best results the lower your weight because they can only remove so much without sending you into shock.

I know excess skin is terrible to deal with. I live with it every day. Still each day I am under 200 pounds I see more and more rebounding and improvements. Originally I wanted to go for surgery asap but now I think I might bottom out on weight and wait at 6 months h from then. I hate the idea of living with this skin that much longer but I am actually seeing the logic in it. Also I still don't quite have my BMI lowith enough for plastics anyway.

I know it sucks but try to get at least to 30 BMI before surgery.

Why are you on your weight loss surgery journey? Why are you considering Weight Loss Surgery, or why did you get it? You want to lose weight, of course. Go a step further: why do you want to lose weight, and what else can you get from your Weight Loss Surgery? There are all kinds of gains you can make in your new healthy lifestyle. These are a few.


Freedom from Medical Chains
Medical benefits are probably most closely related to weight loss, but they are still worth noting as a “side” benefit of Weight Loss Surgery. As you lose weight, you may have improvements in blood sugar control, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. You may have less joint and back pain. You may have fewer trips to the doctor, and be able to take fewer medications.
Better Sleep
Never underestimate the power of sleep! Losing weight can help you sleep more deeply so you feel better all day, every day. Your sleep can improve as you feel more comfortable in bed, and if you had sleep apnea that goes away or diminishes with weight loss. Just think how good life could be if you did not have to did not have to use a CPAP machine!
New food Finds
Strange but true…there is a whole food world aside from burgers, burritos, fries, and Bagels. Who knew that you might end up loving to start your day with oatmeal cottage cheese Protein pancakes? Your favorite snack could turn out to be kale chips with parmesan. dinner might be roasted cauliflower with grilled salmon – something you might never have considered when your go-to was mac and cheese from a box.
Sure, you might miss a few foods, but you might notice that you are loving all kinds of new health foods, and the way they make you feel. On top of it, eating slowly can help you savor each bite and enjoy the textures and flavors more.
Saving Money
Saving money probably was not your main reason for considering weight loss surgery, especially if your insurance is not footing the bill. Still, Weight Loss Surgery could be a financial gain in the long run as you consider some potential savings.
Lower medical bills for doctors’ visits, prescription medications, and complications such as complications of diabetes. Fewer sick days taken from work. Lower food bills as you eat less and potentially eat more homemade food. Fewer “extras,” such as higher prices of plus-sized clothing or needing to reserve two seats on a plane. More Meaningful Relationships
Were your relationships built around food before Weight Loss Surgery? Did you consider your friends your best eating buddies, with each of your meetings at a restaurant or each other’s houses for a (unhealthy) meal? Weight loss surgery frees you up to explore other interests. Deepen your relationships with your friends as you walk together or meet at museums or other sights instead of depending on food to bring you together. And, if you do meet for a meal or snack, feel good knowing you can focus on the conversation as you eat slowly.
Confidence
Ultimately, weight loss surgery is for you, and you can benefit inside as you look better on the outside. You can gain confidence from your new looks, maybe as you fit into clothes you love, or you see a few muscles popping out. Confidence also comes from your achievements. If you can do something as hard as going through Weight Loss Surgery and sticking to all those healthy lifestyle changes, you can do pretty much anything you set your mind to.
Energy
Energy is a wonderful thing, but it may be in short supply when you are carrying around extra pounds. Lose a few, and you might feel your endurance explode. You can keep up with your kids, enjoy a day at the mall or beach, and go on vacations. Getting through the work day can be easier. Life is better all around when you have energy.
Bariatric surgery is a weight loss tool, and it is so much more. Use it properly, and you can make great gains in many areas of your life. Part 2 of the series – to be published soon – will discuss ways to get what you deserve – maximum gains from Weight Loss Surgery!

What the heck is "mindful eating" anyway? It might sound like some hippie thing, but it backed by real science. You'll be losing weight and feeling great again, all while enjoying food to the fullest. Check it out here!


Mindfulness basically just means paying attention to something - without judgment.
Mindful eating is paying attention to your food, and to your appetite cues - again, without judgment (that's the hard part!).
Dieting vs. Mindful Eating:
Diet =
Weight gain: 95% of people who diet will regain the weight they lost within 5 years. 2/3 of those people will regain more than they lost, ultimately resulting in overall weight gain. All about willpower and rigidity. Relies on external cues. Restrictive and depriving. Food & body are the enemy. Mindful Eating =
Weight loss: Studies show that mindful eating programs result in weight loss, fewer calories consumed, lower fat intake and increased self-confidence (Timmerman et al., 2012) All about trust and acceptance. Relies on internal appetite cues. Permissive and satisfying. Food & body are the ally. Which would you prefer? For me, I'd much rather give mindful eating a shot. Especially since dieting was what led up to most people having bariatric surgery in the first place.
Step-by-step how to eat mindfully:
Pick a calm and quiet place to sit down and eat. Check in with your hunger. Are you physically hungry? If not, wait until later when you are hungry. The food will be much more satisfying if you enter the experience hungry. Choose a food that will be satisfying. Give yourself permission to eat that food without judgment (toward the food or yourself) or guilt. Use all of your senses - look at the food, touch the food, smell the food, taste the food, feel it in your mouth, move it around and notice the way the texture and taste changes as you chew. Chew slowly and thoroughly. As you swallow, feel the food going down your esophagus and into your stomach. Notice how the food feels in your stomach. Ask yourself if you want more. If so, take another bite and repeat until you feel satisfied. At the end, take a moment to express gratitude for the experience, for the food, and for your body. Carry the awareness of mindful attention to other areas of your life - you'll be shocked at what a big difference this makes! Be patient with yourself. The practice of mindful eating is just that - a practice. Your mind and attention will wander, you will inevitably catch yourself judging yourself or the food. That's ok - it's normal. Just notice it, and return your attention to the experience.
Practice this as often as you are able. Of course, it's not possible to eat mindfully 100% of the time, so don't be rigid with it.
As you get more skilled at mindful eating, it will become more effortless and second nature.
See, I told you this wasn't just for hippies! Mindful eating is very doable for all of us. We just have to make the conscious decision to do it. Paying attention to our food and our bodies allows us to get infinite more pleasure out of life.
Give it a shot and let me know what you think. Share your experience in the comments below.
What was it like to pay close attention to the taste and texture of the food?
What was it like to refrain from judgment about yourself for eating the food?
What surprised you about mindful eating?