Neversaynever

Hi everyone!
I technically hit 6 months 2 days ago, but whatever Wednesdays suck so boo. Anyways, I am 6 months into my new life, and good lord is it a new life. I am a new person for sure. One year ago to the day I had been sobbing in my room because my size 24s would barely button. I know without a doubt that I was over 300lbs, but the sight of a scale had anxiety clogging my throat. I decided that day something would change. I went out and dropped 2k on an elliptical and resolved to "fix this ridiculousness immediately."
Fast forward to February of 2018, and I was frustrated as all hell. Killing myself on the elliptical every freaking day and I was sitting at 292 and not moving. It wasn't enough. It was never enough, because this wasn't the first time I had gotten fed up and resolved to change. I went online and booked myself an appointment for March 15 for a WLS consultation. I think the stress and anxiety over that appointment helped me drop a few lbs, but I weighed in at just under 288 for my very first weigh in, and the first day of my new life. I reworked everything about my diet, cut out the crap and worked studiously with the nutritionist. I was scheduled for surgery on May 14th, weighing in at 260lbs.
Fast forward six months later, and I am sitting here at 184 (Darn you sweet potato wedges and the 2lb gain this morning because of you! But you were so worth it). I am OVER 100lbs down from where I began 2018. I am 76lbs down from my surgery weight. But numbers are really not my major accomplishments. Or at least, not those numbers.
What are my important numbers?
2.5: The number of miles I can run without stopping to walk. I will be running my second 5k Thanksgiving Morning.
12: The size freaking pants I am wearing! I am NOT plus size anymore. This is huge for me. I've been in plus size clothes for the majority of my children's (8 and 5) lives and now I am not. I am below average size for the american woman.
7: The number of sizes I have dropped. I don't know why, but I feel like that's a big deal. I dropped SEVEN sizes in less than a YEAR. Total Mind F**k.
3: The number of days per week I take my kids on a hike/walk in the neighborhood. Given this is weather permitting, but I am always out with my kids now, doing the things I couldn't before. Whether it's riding on the bike trail, doing laps around the pond, or mini-hikes through the state forest, or even exploring the small woods behind our house- We are doing it. Every weekend and many times during the week if we can.
1 Million: The percentage displaying how much better I feel about myself, and about my health.
and lastly,
0: The number of regrets I have for deciding to have this surgery.
So that aside, whats my day to day like? Well here it is! (Work week, weekends are less regimented but usually are where I focus my heavier workouts)
4:30am: I wake up and drink a cup of coffee (8oz) mixed with half a bottle of caramel or chocolate Premier Protein RTD drink. This is the start to my day, every day. I then go for my run or do my weight lifting/exercise regimen. During the week it's usually only a two mile run. I also go to OTF once a week, but that's usually on weekends. Wednesday is my OFF day because F**K Wednesdays.
6am: I make a shake and drink it during my 1.5 - 2 hour commute. Yes 6 months out I still drink a shake. I do this because I make my own shakes and they are super good and I ALWAYS feel way more energetic when I have them. I have a huge selection of shakes I make, but they typically will consist of greek yogurt or cottage cheese, almond milk, Protein Powder, and either sweet or more savory items. I pack as much nutritional punch as I can into that shake. I even have holiday ones (My peppermint mocha shake is delicious!)
10am: I will usually have a small snack. Honestly it really varies. Sometimes it will be a fruit, but it's usually something more cheese based. I love cheese. So a babybell cheese, string cheese, or even my newest obsession Sargento breaks.
12pm: Lunch always varies, but I am usually good for about 2.5oz of food. I know it sounds super small, and at times I can eat more but I usually try not to since I don't need it. I tend to eat smaller frequent meals. Again this varies, but one thing I eat a lot is turkey salad. Roast turkey with greek yogurt and a FEW dried cranberries, salt, pepper and paprika and I am good to go.
2pm: Coffee #2! Actually I drink so much coffee, but luckily it's almost all Decaf. This coffee is a staple because well I have routine issues and just need it. It makes me happy. If I am having a rough day energy wise I'll add some PP in like my first coffee, but I seldom need the added Protein. In fact I take in too much protein honestly. I'm working on it with my nutritionist.
3pm: This is usually my sweet snack. I make my own seven layer bars that I will sometimes eat, but if not it will be some sort of sweet. I will often eat some sort of fruit, yogurt, or whatever floats my boat. If I eat chocolate, I eat dark. It's my preference anyways.
6pm: Dinner time! This is my last meal of the day. I almost never eat anything after this since I go to bed around 9am because I am secretly an old person LOL. Dinners as you can imagine vary a ton as well, but I eat predominately white meat. Not that red meat is bad, but my husband had a heart attack back in April so we limit the amount of red meat in the house. Despite changing taste buds I hate fish just as much post surgery as I did before it. I was bummed by this but whatever. We eat lots of turkey and chicken. Because my diet is pretty healthy, I do tend to be a bit more lax about dinner but that is just me. I will still opt for a healthier option a majority, but I still make a mean homemade chicken pot pie so I splurge every now and then
Overall my calories range from 1100-1400 depending on how heavy my workouts are, and the time of the month because YES that makes a difference. I get in about 85-100g of protein (too much I know, I'm sort of working on it sort of. I made routines post surgery when you had to focus focus focus on building protein and I sort of overdid it. I mean I STILL drink protein waters because I'm weird. I drink about 100oz of water/fluid (This includes the DECAF coffees, I don't count caffeinated coffee in my Fluid intake and will drink a bit more Water if I have caffeine). Honestly any less than that and I really really feel awful. Keeping hydrated literally means the difference between going for that run, or lying in the fetal position on my bed with a Migraine. I don't respond well to my migraine meds post surgery. If I only got in say 70oz of water a day for 3 days straight, I'd be bedraggled with dark circles, and fighting a headache. My body likes water. A lot.
I take my Vitamins mostly daily. The BIG vitamins I do... it's the Calcium ones I don't always take. I don't know why, but they always make me feel super super thirsty after taking them. My one a day does too, but not nearly as bad and they are more important. I LOVE my B12 I feel like it makes a huge difference so I always take that one. I'd say I take the calcium one 5 out of 7 days. I would say I'm working on that too... but I'm really not. NOT because I don't think it's important, but because I am a stubborn idiot and my teeth are probably paying for it :(. Maybe that will be my resolution for 2019...
So that's me in a nutshell I think? Hair loss sucks but I have alopecia so that's not new. Saggy skin is definitely a thing. Mine isn't TOO bad, but it's definitely there. I mean I've had two kids and been fat so I wasn't expecting any less. My ass ran away though. That's kind of sad. I've tweaked my workouts a bit in hopes of coaxing it back but who knows if that will work LOL.
Oh and lastly I wanted to talk stalls. Holy lord do I stall. My body is kind of ridiculous. Each month I kid you not I will not move at all, then bam I'll lose a ton of weight. My body likes to stall...gain... then wooooosh drop 5lbs overnight. So don't let stalls discourage you. It's a thing. They happen. And if your eating right and exercising the weight will continue to drop until you reach your happy place. Don't get discouraged. I personally treat each stall like a good friend. Because that stall always means my clothes are going to get a bit looser So I welcome good old Mr. Stall ❤️
P.S. Running makes your legs look fabulous. My thunder thighs no longer go BOOM. In fact they look kind of... sexy... in my running pants
P.S.S. My feet AND head shrunk too! Went down a full size in shoes (may go down to a 9.5 too since my 10s feel a bit slippery) and all my pre-surgery wigs are sooooooo big. Who knew I had so much fat on my head...
Okay Piccy time (I know 90% of newbies will skip straight to that because that's totally what I did LOL)
June-September 2017: I was probably about 295-305 in these pictures (Kind of hurts to look at them now to be honest.)

October 2018: I was at a conference and getting ready to run down to the gym. (The bulge in the sweater is a water bottle, I know it looks super weird haha! I was about 190lbs.

And lastly, this is me TODAY at 184!

So the summary of this post... Life is effing amazing, and you can achieve WONDERFUL results if you are committed. I attribute my success to the dedication to BE a better, healthier version of myself and also a STRONGER version of myself. I can lift weights at the gym with the fit folks and NOT look out of place Such a good feeling. I even get a little smug when I notice my lifting form is better than the pretty boy who likes to offer me "advice"

Yes I started having cocktails again about 1 month post surgery. No issues. Was told that with the weight loss I would feel the effects of alcohol faster. I haven't found that to be the case. Since my stomach can't handle as much liquid I now order doubles.

I am a little late with this but here's my christmas dinner. Obviously I was way over exaggerating how much I thought I could eat lol but I did eat it later on for tea.

I am a little late with this but here's my christmas dinner. Obviously I was way over exaggerating how much I thought I could eat lol but I did eat it later on for tea.

I am a little late with this but here's my christmas dinner. Obviously I was way over exaggerating how much I thought I could eat lol but I did eat it later on for tea.

Your sense of smell, taste, and appetite will be wonky for weeks or months to come. I had a bypass over 6 months ago, and I am still sensitive to most foods. If you've ever experienced morning sickness during pregnancy and the acute response to certain smells (the smell of steamed rice sent me head-first to the toilet) you'll better understand what I mean.
I don't know if a sleeve procedure is worse or about the same, but since we are all individuals... it probably doesn't matter which procedure you had. Hang in there. Hopefully, things will even out so you are less sensitive to ordinary smells.

Its a good job in my opinion that we do have those regular posters to help out with all the new peoples questions, I appreciate the time they take to help. They certainly helped me when I had a wobble!

Its a good job in my opinion that we do have those regular posters to help out with all the new peoples questions, I appreciate the time they take to help. They certainly helped me when I had a wobble!

I come and go. I think a lot of it has to do with the regurgitation of the same old posts. They are new to the newbies, but for people 6+ months out it gets old. And me personally, I'm not exactly a vet at 8 months out, so its not like I can give some sage advise to them. What was very useful in the beginning becomes less useful. That is why I like seeing certain posts that address different points in the WLS journey. It gives you a reason to keep checking in.

Its a good job in my opinion that we do have those regular posters to help out with all the new peoples questions, I appreciate the time they take to help. They certainly helped me when I had a wobble!

I don't have the ❤🔥but I do have the feeling of food sitting there in bottom of esophagus and/ or Precious Pouch, 4 months post, stricture and ulcerations confirmed, on TPN because of insufficent Protein levels for healing. Dr Noria keeps stating on my EGJs my esophagus looks notmal, I am supposed to be taking either a Protein Shake, or Soup once a day at least, rather a token meal, nothing appeals, not much tastes good, satisfies or doesn't hurt, But dog-gone it, I am commited to heal, to feel better, and finally be all well. I am red-headed, strong-willed, and won't Give Up!😜👍👼

Its a good job in my opinion that we do have those regular posters to help out with all the new peoples questions, I appreciate the time they take to help. They certainly helped me when I had a wobble!

Remember you cannot take care of others if you do not take care of yourself. I too have been struggling. I just posted a sign on my desk that says. "You matter, take care of yourself." This is reminding me that my health and wellbeing is important. I then went back to all of the reading material that prepped me for surgery. I did the Protein and Water for a week and then back to my original post surgery eating plan. I'm keeping it simple and packing all of my food and Snacks the night before. Even on high stress days, I can only eat what is in my bag. If I need to stress eat, I grab almonds or another protein. It's not easy, but I am worth it and so are you.

I turned 50 about 2 months after my surgery. I can't tell you if it came off slower than someone younger than me but what I do know is it came off faster and more consistently than any other diet I have been on.
Best of luck on your journey!

Could be slower,could be sustained longer, but at 50+.60+70+ we are no longer required to be sprinters, besides in bifocals it's hard to run anyway. I plan to be a successful 🐢 turtle one foot in front,of the other🐾easing down the path to Good Health.
Own Roadway
Own rate of Speed
Own Life to Live
Own Victory to win
And I am going to do it, wave as I amble by, cause you will see me THERE😛🐢😛

I am a year and half out and cannot tolerate any meat. I can eat a few shrimp and they stay down ok. I basically live on Protein Shakes, BariatricPal hot cocoa and cottage cheese. 😂

Try as you may, there are some people that don't understand. What you have to settle in your own mind is:
Is it your fault really or merely a fault in them?

After suffering for 12 years with a horrible band experience, I was sleeved in May 2018. I started the process in Jan 2018. By the time my May 17th surgery/revision date came, I’d struggled down to a 30 BMI. My husb of not quite 2 years kept asking if I really needed the revision. Regularly suggested maybe they should just remove the band and get out. He never knew me at 260lbs. He never saw me bigger than the 209 I blossomed to after our marriage (so I knew his questions were innocent in nature).
Your husband sounds a bit different. It’s understandable. It’s a frightening time for him. He’s about to have his life change too. The woman he’s married to is about to transform. You will! Completely and totally. In so many ways. He knows this. Can you imagine how he feels? Don’t let him shake you, though. Have empathy but keep YOUR compass straight!
As far as age goes, i’m 54 now. I was almost at the mid-point of 53 when I had surgery. It’s been a breeze. Age means nothing. Your lower BMI will be helpful. I was at goal quickly. I am well below what I ever imagined.
Even with a 3.8 pound holiday gain, i’m Right in the middle of the recommended weight for my height. My surgeon said if I wanted to gain a few more he’s fine with it. If I want to maintain this, perfect. He doesn’t recommend losing anymore. Think about that!!! It has been 20 years since a doctor told me they don’t recommend I lose another pound!
THIS COULD SO EASILY BE YOU IN SEVERAL MONTHS!
❤️👍🏻🤷🏼‍♀️

Bumping this in case any newbies out there find this helpful

It's just an impression of course but I have a feeling that this kind of pep-talk is very appealing to people who are currently "in the groove" with high motivation going on and who're doing great at the moment anyway.
So it might not (only) depend on personality but it might also depend on the circumstances one is currently in.