Neversaynever

So here's my before picture at my max of 304lbs- 21stone 10 for the uk people

and now my latest picture , 88lbs later!

Good morning May sleevers!

Its all good here. I am still losing although it has slowed down quite dramatically now. Last month I think I lost 2lbs and this month I have lost 3lbs but its still a downward trend so not complaining!
Surprisingly, my skin seems to have retracted quite well, initially my arms and stomach sagged quite a bit but because I am a slow loser, maybe it has caught up with itself.

Hoping we are all doing well, post and let us all know

So here's my before picture at my max of 304lbs- 21stone 10 for the uk people

and now my latest picture , 88lbs later!

Hey don't feel bad about it. Losing 56lbs is still a great achievement!
Just think, how else would you have been able to lose that amount of weight in such a short time, don't beat yourself up

5ft 8 in, size 12 feet, as I lose weight feet are narrowing but getting shorter? Don't think so, some people say they do, IDK about that. Highest W 365+ , surgery weight 319 on September 5th 2018, current W 242 at 6 months, my dream goal/ size is 175 Or Size 15 Junior and that would still be on cusp of overweight/ obese by BMI standards, I will be truly grateful to be below 200 pounds, maybe 195? Spent too many years hating the Frustr8 I was, I will be grateful for what I. CAN ACHEIVE st 73 years old. The last time I was at 195 and yes, it has been years ago, although I looked a large/average it wasn't that,bad for me. I gave up on looking like TinkerBelle and Peter Pan long ago. At 195 I had good defination of my body parts, no snide little kid came up to me and asked " Are you a Lady or Fat?" wanted to tell him to go play in traffic or worse, but after I reach 195 I still want to lose those last 20 pounds it will be my choice, not some arbitrary size someone else set up, and being in control, oh THAT means the world to me. Too much of my life was spent conforming to others standards, not talking back, believing the line Nobody could like me for me, I was just an extention of family members, someone's daughter, wife, mother and that should be my goal in life. Why did I believe that stack of hooey? I was raised to be sunservient, a husband . was my only goal, once you got one, no matter the model, you never let them go, if you were emotionally or even physically battered, you sucked it up for the greater good, as long as bones weren't broken, you wore long sleeves, covered bruises with make up , you were female, it was all you deserved.
Someone on here accused me of desiring martyrdoom, nope, I just didn't realize there was another way to live. And if someone on TV was also battered I was told " See you're not so bad off, you're warm and fed! Yeah and food was my friend and comfort when nothing and no one else was. It was far easier to become a widow than to get a divorce from food!
But I am stronger, albeit older, braver, I can and will stand up in a diminishing size body, and it is my choice finally not somebody elses, and Surprise Surprise most people like ME for ME, not somebody's extention , Frustr8 is really cool on her own , those who don't, well I wish them well on their own journey and trials for like Popeye I Yam what I Yam and it more than suffices in my World!👉😝👈

BMI is so screwed up. I'm down about 150 pounds. I weight 152. (I started over 300). I have not had plastics and would probably lose about 15 from that. However, according to the BMI chart, I'm overweight - I wouldn't be "healthy" (and at the high edge of it) until I hit 140. I know what I look like at 140 and I look stupid. (I'm very busty.)
That being said - I can deadlift 250 pounds, back squat 235 pounds. I'm ranked no. 24 nationally among women aged 50-59 fencing foil and no. 33 nationally among women over 40 fencing foil.
I wear small or medium tops and size 6 pants. I'm a lot of solid muscle and most folks think I weigh 125. BMI does not take into account mass from muscle and that muscle weighs more than fat.
I think I look damn fine right where I am.

Hey don't feel bad about it. Losing 56lbs is still a great achievement!
Just think, how else would you have been able to lose that amount of weight in such a short time, don't beat yourself up

Hi all. Doing good over here. For the most part I'm feeling well, though finding I get dizzy sometimes when going from bending forward to standing up straight (blood pressure is fine though). I stall at times, particularly mid-cycle but weight is still working it's way down. I made it into the 70s (kg) this week with 79.8kg the other day, which puts me just over 2/3 of the way there, with 20kg to go to (optimistic) goal weight of 60kg.

I stick with 1000-1200 calories a day, minimum 75g Protein. I'm not specifically limiting carbs. Most mornings I have a 2/3s of standard serve of rolled oats porridge and find I'm more hungry on the days I don't have this for Breakfast. Morning tea is 2 shots of fresh ground and brewed Decaf coffee (thankyou jura coffee machine!!!) with 200ml hot 1% milk, benefibre (soluble fibre) and a 15g protein serve of peptipro collagen hydrolysate (tasteless beef gelatin-derived supplement, good protein plus supposed to aid in skin elasticity!). lunch is meat and veggies, either leftovers or half a serving of lite n easy (frozen) or youfoodz (fresh) healthy ready-meals (150-225 calories for a half serving). Afternoon tea is often a chobani high-protein yoghurt or a Quest Protein Bar (if I"m out and about) and dinner is fresh meat and veggies. I'll sometimes have a piece of fruit or a few crackers with cheese as a snack too, and a few squares of 80% cocoa dark chocolate. I keep up my fluids with that decaf coffee, 1-2 large decaf teas, a few glasses of Water and a few glasses of chilled brewed fruit tea.

I'm down to an Australian size 14-16 and had to go bathers shopping the other week as we are about to start our very hot dry South Australian summer. I had trouble finding bathers that sat nicely on me as my previously very full large bust is now a very deflated large bust lol.. looking forward to a boob lift in another year or two! Attached is me in the one I decided looked best.

I hope everyone is doing well and getting the love and support they need.

Cheers, Tanya

About three and a half years post sleeve 😁

Hi! I am also from "up north" and loving this whole experience.

I had mine done on the Nhs but it took two long years and lots of hoops to jump through before they said yes.

@Bluebird_
NEVER EVER EVER!! 🤣
you are 3 months PO - in that time i know i didn't experiment with much/hardly anything. I was
"pretty " good, strict with myself! i had to be! By 1 year GOAL/maintenance - i had definitely strayed
a bit. if/when i fluctuated - i got back on board, and lost the few lbs i gained
my first 58 years of my life, i have been the "fat kid". These past years, i've looked and felt great!!
i still look like my "after" pic in my profile. (actually better!! LOL) i'm bad with posting pics with
computer - but i'll try and get a new pic up. Don't be scared of my eventual new pic - i am officially

i remember where i was and where i am now, can't and will never go back!!moral of my story
watch everything you eat/drink - be careful what you eat- bad things that taste great are around
each corner - beware!!! why/how have i stuck to eating right/quantities etc??
i am scared to death of becoming fat again!!!
been there, done that!!
7 years older- but i feel 7+++ years younger (still look as cute as a button!!) 105 lbs less
I am 5'3 tall, but i feel 6' tall!!
kathy

What a blast! You're doing great. Can't wait to see more piccys!!!

Way to go! I'm glad you had a good time. I'm leaving on a cruise next week for my first time since sleeve 8 weeks ago and I'm preparing myself mentally for what I can and cannot eat on board while on holiday.

Well we managed to get a last minute deal to Egypt, and seeing as it was - 6 in the UK and a lovely hot 27 degrees in Egypt, I didn't hesitate!
I was a little worried as the only option for the best price, was all inclusive and it's the first one I have been on since my op last May. We have been away a couple of times since my op but we chose self-catering which made sense.
However! I have been very very good lol and am very proud of myself 😃
My restriction seems to be very tight here, don't know if it's the heat/ guilt/worry of gaining etc but I'm not complaining at all.
It seems I have only been able to make one choice at each meal time and that has been to be good and eat Protein, or eat badly, I don't have room to do both unfortunately 🤣
I have been having eggs in one form or another at Breakfast, meat salads at lunch and then a fish dish at night. The Desserts are to die for but I haven't been able to fit them in!
I am excited to get weighed when I get home next week as this will be the first time I know I won't have put weight on by going all inclusive 😂
All hail the wonderful sleeve...

Well we managed to get a last minute deal to Egypt, and seeing as it was - 6 in the UK and a lovely hot 27 degrees in Egypt, I didn't hesitate!
I was a little worried as the only option for the best price, was all inclusive and it's the first one I have been on since my op last May. We have been away a couple of times since my op but we chose self-catering which made sense.
However! I have been very very good lol and am very proud of myself 😃
My restriction seems to be very tight here, don't know if it's the heat/ guilt/worry of gaining etc but I'm not complaining at all.
It seems I have only been able to make one choice at each meal time and that has been to be good and eat Protein, or eat badly, I don't have room to do both unfortunately 🤣
I have been having eggs in one form or another at Breakfast, meat salads at lunch and then a fish dish at night. The Desserts are to die for but I haven't been able to fit them in!
I am excited to get weighed when I get home next week as this will be the first time I know I won't have put weight on by going all inclusive 😂
All hail the wonderful sleeve...

Well we managed to get a last minute deal to Egypt, and seeing as it was - 6 in the UK and a lovely hot 27 degrees in Egypt, I didn't hesitate!
I was a little worried as the only option for the best price, was all inclusive and it's the first one I have been on since my op last May. We have been away a couple of times since my op but we chose self-catering which made sense.
However! I have been very very good lol and am very proud of myself 😃
My restriction seems to be very tight here, don't know if it's the heat/ guilt/worry of gaining etc but I'm not complaining at all.
It seems I have only been able to make one choice at each meal time and that has been to be good and eat Protein, or eat badly, I don't have room to do both unfortunately 🤣
I have been having eggs in one form or another at Breakfast, meat salads at lunch and then a fish dish at night. The Desserts are to die for but I haven't been able to fit them in!
I am excited to get weighed when I get home next week as this will be the first time I know I won't have put weight on by going all inclusive 😂
All hail the wonderful sleeve...

Good strong, black tea and a bit of milk. Preferably Yorkshire Gold tea.
As a Brit, I know it's the answer to all problems! Well, nearly....

At first, I couldn't see the changes when looking in the mirror but after finding this old picture of me at my very heaviest, I can definitely see a change!

At first, I couldn't see the changes when looking in the mirror but after finding this old picture of me at my very heaviest, I can definitely see a change!

Totally normal!

Here are my month by month stats. I wasn't happy with month 6 but it passed and if you look at my month 5, I also lost 6lbs, I was happy!
Uk here so stones and lbs
May 14th 20.5 surgery weight
June 14th - 18.11 - 22
July 14th - 18.2 - 9
August 14th - 17.8 - 8
September 14th -17.0 - 8
October 14th - 16.8 - 6
November 14th - 16.6 - 2
December 14th - 16.1 - 5
January 14th - 15.10 - 5
- 65lbs so far!

Totally normal!

Here are my month by month stats. I wasn't happy with month 6 but it passed and if you look at my month 5, I also lost 6lbs, I was happy!
Uk here so stones and lbs
May 14th 20.5 surgery weight
June 14th - 18.11 - 22
July 14th - 18.2 - 9
August 14th - 17.8 - 8
September 14th -17.0 - 8
October 14th - 16.8 - 6
November 14th - 16.6 - 2
December 14th - 16.1 - 5
January 14th - 15.10 - 5
- 65lbs so far!

I'm sorry you are struggling and happy you've had an "Aha moment" and posted about it.
I've been saying this from the beginning of my personal WLS journey. If we don't get right in the head, the surgery--which face it, it's not magic bean surgery--is not gonna do all the heavy lifting. We are such crafty, smart, surviving specie(s) haha, that we WILL figure out a way to outsmart our surgery.
What I still hear however is more magical thinking coming out of your mouth. Tomorrow, nothing will be different. You will wake up, resolve to mystically "do better"/"be better" etc, but guaranteed by 3-5pm, you will break and go for the fix. There is NO magic in this process. No WISHFUL thinking.
Unless/until you accept that your success depends on being accountable for your actions, and decide that will make concrete changes that are actionable, you will continue to despair and the beatings will continue until morale improves.
Honestly, the ONLY way to confront this issue we ALL face is to have a great plan. In your case (and in many of our cases, the key to the plan needs to include strategic partners: surgical team (who needs to know you're struggling and doing things you aren't supposed to do, bariatric counselor/therapist, RD), reading books on ending these self-defeating behaviors whatever they may be, making a concrete check list you USE and follow faithfully each day, decide on zero tolerance of going off-your checklisted plan, and being content that it takes time to correct behavior and weight. It also takes a physical plan for exercise.
Then you have to DO YOUR PART. You must log. You must weight foods. You must PLAN. You should maybe think about weighing daily, measuring monthly. Check things off your list.
I doubt seriously that you've stretched your pouch. Most likely, what has happened is that your pouch has matured which carries with it a natural "opening" or relaxing of your tum, which means you "CAN" eat more. It doesn't mean you "SHOULD" eat more. If you go back to your rules and follow them, you should begin to feel your restriction again.
Set your rules!
1. No more than 1 cup of food at a meal by volume.
2. Eat dense, dry, lean Protein first (60-80g per day).
3. Eat al dente or raw veggies.
4. No meat lube, sauce, compound meals that are highly caloric. Keep your food separate! It will hang in your pouch better and provide nutrition without a bunch of added calories you don't need.
5. Cut your carbs to 20-30net carbs (carbs - fiber) per day.
6. Aim for almost zero sugar.
7. Drink your Water (100+ ounces per day.
8. Don't drink your food! No liquid calories.
9. No eating/drinking 15 mins before and 1 hour after
10. Exercise daily. Try for 10K steps each day.
11. Take your supplements.
12. Get a real life support group and attend regularly.
13. Come here and get involved and on the BP Facebook group.
14. Above all--see your doc, RD to get a plan for success. AND get a referral to a bariatric counselor.
15. Consider joining OA.
I wish you success, health, and a good life. I don't mean to beat you while you're down. I'm trying to make sure you don't waste any more of your honeymoon period spinning your wheels and participating in a giant fantasy.

So very normal!

If we think about it like an addict (which most of us are, whether we realize it or not), we are in "withdrawal" after surgery from the carbs, sugar and fat our bodies are used to. So our brains start saying "hold up - where did it all go? Did you forget we like this stuff? Let me remind you!"

Drug addicts call these "using dreams." They can be so real, they will wake up convinced they relapsed. It happens to us too.

So look at it as your brain realizing that it's not getting all the "bad stuff" - not the lettuce, but the fatty things that would go with it - and Celebrate. You may feel like you're going crazy, but you're really going through detox.

~SW: 278 CW: 165~
RNY 1/5/2005
"What got you here won't get you there."

Perhaps this post will help someone who is seeking to do VSG or some form of WLS because I will be honest with you about my journey. It has been 8 months since I had VSG surgery and I have lost only 44 lbs. Up to a month ago I had lost 55 lbs but I have since gained 10 lbs. There are a couple reasons for my weight loss failure and I am just putting them down in writing not so much so that folks can be critical, but more for the folks out there considering this surgery or might just have had it.
I have not been committed to the process of changing bad habits or incorporating exercise into my lifestyle. I must have thought that having VSG was going to magically take away my appetite and food cravings for bad food. Guess what? I was starving the day after surgery! My appetite really never left. So if I did not CHOOSE what to eat and what not to eat, you could pack in tons of calories even in small portions. To cut to the chase, VSG does not work if you are not disciplined with your food choices. That shouldn't be a huge revelation but I actually had a mindset that my stomach would be gone and I would not even want to eat anymore so all the weight would just melt away. It does not happen that way!
I did not follow the instructions and guidelines post surgery about not eating and drinking at the same time. I had been told not to do it, I read that it would stretch your stomach pouch, but I still went ahead and did it. Guess what? My stomach has stretched and I can basically eat a small 'normal' size meal at only 7 months out when it should not be like that this early. Again, not being committed to the process
I am a type II diabetic. The catch 22 is that taking insulin makes you GAIN weight. That is just the nature of insulin and the more insulin you have to take, the more you gain weight. The first 4 months after surgery I was taking hardly any insulin at all but as my stomach expanded and I was able to eat more I had to increase insulin intake. So as a diabetic I'm really supposed to be exercising to compensate for that but cant seem to get this life style discipline into my life. I have a tread mill in the spare room - what is wrong with me!!!!
I am hoping that I can gather the motivation, the inspiration that inner push that I need to develop discipline in my life. i'm almost 50 years old and its really hard changing the way you have lived for so long but there are no short cuts, not even VSG 'saved' me. Sometimes I think the biggest problem and hinderance is just me because discipline does not depend on emotions - discipline is 'just do it' no matter if you 'feel' it or not...………..I NEED this, I need to get this translated from my head knowledge into practical living...….I'm rambling now
I'm hoping my update in the next 3 months will be a very different one in a more successful direction

Guys... Gals... after the LONGEST mother cracking stall ever... I hit my goal of 175. Exceeded it actually :) I weighed in this morning at 172.2!!!!

Hellllll yeah! 2019 is going to be a good year I just know it! I’ll do a more in depth post later with my intake and what not but this is good for now 😊

Happy New Year folks!