knitty

Firstly, this ...

My ideal mass for my height is about 74kg (the red line on the graph). The graph charts about 25 years.
There's the yo-yo effect over and over (the thick blue line). Lose a lot; gain it and some extra; repeat; repeat; repeat.
I ate when happy, when sad, whenever ... but I would peter out eventually from work stress, change of role, new worksite ... whatever.
I tried 11 months of a supervising dietitian and a 26 days per month swimming program.
In the end, joint pain ... knees and ankles from carrying around more than twice my ideal mass.
Then, the very last consideration ... I turned 61 and the cut-off for bariatric surgery is 65. It was now or an early death.
Seven grandchildren need me around. I'm well insured. I can afford the 'gap' payment and the extras required.
I'm trading cash for a chance to enjoy a slimmer, longer future.

I have been overweight for as long as I could remember. Like most of us here, I would go on crazy diets, or severely restricting diets and lose some weight, but I would get sick and then fall back into old habits. Every time I would work out and get into a good pattern, I would end up sick as well. I had an extremely hard time giving birth with my son and had Hellp syndrome. Finally, I lost all the weight from that and was under 200 pounds for the first time in 10 years. I started to get chest pains and was told to stop exercising until they figured it out. The weight crept back on even though I was eating in moderation. Finally, they determined nothing was wrong with my heart. The past time, I joined the Y and I ended up in the hospital with pleurisy. They gave me dilaudid for the pain and it caused a vasovagal reaction and I went into cardiac arrest and died for 3 minutes. I found out through this experience that I have lupus, hashimotos thyroiditis, and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Pretty much a syndrome of autoimmune diseases. I was told that I would never be able to lose the amount of weight that I needed to naturally. So weight loss surgery was suggested and I got into a great program that takes it very seriously and considers it a lifelong lifestyle change. I read a lot of books and blogs and vlogs and posts on here. Finally, while I know due to my thyroid I may never hit my goal weight, I will be a lot healthier and my joints will feel a lot better. Surgery is tomorrow and I am so excited to start this new journey.

Your strength in all parts of your life is awesome! Congratulations..

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Thank you for your responses. I wish I knew the key to a quick recovery other than do what your MD says, which I plan on doing!! We went ahead and cancelled the festival tickets - it was outdoor music, food and bourbon festival, so not exactly my post op protocol! I am amazed at all of your numbers!! Can't wait to join you!

My surgery went well! I was in a bit of pain overnight because I developed a Migraine probably due to the anesthesia. I just wanted to sleep when I got home. I have an 8 ounce cup so I am focusing on drinking one per hour. I hear it will get easier after day 3. Hang in there July 17th sleevers We got this!

So I did it!!!
When I was banded my doctor said the average person losses between 40-50 pounds. I thought that was fantastic! I was 255 pounds and the thought of loosing 50 pounds was amazing.
But it after I got the surgery I decided that I wanted to go all the way. I wanted to lose everything. It's been 9 1/2 years and I am 103 pounds!! I went from a size 22 to a size 0, from a 2x to a XXS. I went from, 'Sorry nothing fits you in this store because you're too big.' to 'Sorry nothing fits you in this store because you're too small.' I went from 52% body fat to 13% body fat.
Am I happy? It took me a long time to be happy to be honest. I fought happiness every step of the way. I thought that I didn't deserve to be successful and thin. I stil had a mental image of my former self so it was a challenge accepting the new image in the mirror. It took a long time but I have accepted myself as I am now. I'm no longer afraid of being thin. (I was very afraid of becoming thin when I started this process. I used my fat to protect myself from the world. I felt safe being overweight- not happy, but safe.) But today I am very safe, because I am strong and accomplished! I realize now I worked hard for this outcome.
For the the record I lost the weight walking every day, portion sizes, cutting out bread and sugar That's it, that's all. I have maintained the weight all this time doing the same things: I eat small meals and Snacks often, and I drink tons of Water. I never skip exercising either. I get up everyday at 5:30 and hit the road. It's not complicated, it just takes dedication.
I didn't post this sooner because I have been waiting to see if this was just a fluke. Was I going to go back to my old ways in a few years? Plus for the past couple of years the feedback that I have received hasn't always been positive. Most people tell me to eat more instead of congratulations. Some people think that I have an eating disorder and they say really nasty things to me. But I figure those are the people that said nasty things about me when I was bigger; it's just that they said it behind my back instead of to my face. When you go from the biggest personin the room to the smallest person in the room things can get a little weird for other people, sometimes they flip out. I was the fat friend and the fat family member. I made people feel better about themselves. 'Oh, at least I'm not as bad off as Amy. Whew!' Where is their touch point now?
But now I feel strong enough to post because damn it I worked really hard to accomplish my goal. I keep working hard to maintain it. I'm the one who passes up on the cake, Cookies, and ice cream. I am the one who is up at the crack of dawn to exercise. I deserve to be proud of my accomplishments now. I did it! Yes, I reached my goal and more importantly I have been maintaining it for years. I did what I first thought was impossible.
If you've done it too, then great job! If you're reading this for inspiration then please know this: I fell on my face so many times. I cheated and sabotaged myself but I always kept on trying. I never gave up. It was not easy. I used every support tool there was to get this done. I just kept being honest with myself and I kept going. I found the easiest thing to do for me and then just stuck with it. I also leaned a lot on my husband and daughter. Use everything you have to to get this done. You are worth it!

July 20 surgery

55.4lbs gone!
Started at 250lbs & 5'8
I'm down to 194.6. Would like to hit 170 and then decide from there if I'd like to go any farther.
Couldn't be happier though! All of the stalls are so worth it.

I can't believe it! I've reached my goal of 125lbs lost and feel like a new person! This was by far the best decision I ever made!
Sleeved on 8/14/16
Starting weight: 295lbs
Goal weight: 170lbs
Current weight: 170lbs
Left photo: pre-sleeve taken in July 2016
Middle photo: 4 months post op
Right photo: 11 months post op taken today

Started today... Surgery 7/24..so far so good..!

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Good luck to you! 👍👍👍👍

Started today... Surgery 7/24..so far so good..!

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All good thoughts.. This is your time! You go girl! Xx

All good thoughts.. This is your time! You go girl! Xx

Today is the day!!!! Leaving for the hospital in 1 hr!!! 11:00am surgery. I am some what calm which surprises me. I had my husband take my before pictures just now. I am keeping good healing thoughts for all today's sleevers a uncomplicated and swift surgery and a minimally painful recovery today!!!

Had my panillectomy surgery yesterday morning. All went well. sore this morning but glad its over. I haven't had a flat tummy in ,many years.. Bob was great first thing he said to me when I came back to recovery is
"You are so beautiful".. My daughter came to help so she and Bob spent some quality care while I was in surgery. She had to go get RXs done after . She is a awesome girl (I am partial).. Bob already got on me this morning, said I was doing too much he doesn't me some comfort foods this morning. I had talked to the physian assistant about it yesterday, I know I will be on Facebook this am so I need a nap already . liz glad you are recovering and Cory is also a good guy and I am happy he is there with you . getting ready for my morning nap. Take Care

July 24 here! Excited and scared!

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WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern

Thank you for compiling this list of July sleevers. It is awesome to see and feel that you are not alone in this process. You are such a STAR.

I changed my date but I'm not sure how I did it.....bless my heart! Lol

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Fantastic! We do have the same surgery date . I wish you the best in this new upcoming life change journey. I am so ready for a positive change in my life. Not only am I'm looking forward to dropping #'s but I hope to put my diabetes and high blood pressure in remission. Let's keep in touch on our WLS progress. Congrats and best wishes.

If there are any 60 & over sleevers scheduled in July I would love to connect with you. I believe support is essential to success!

Looks like July is a busy month!!!! Good luck on your surgeries. I am both excited & scared but I am reading everything I can about it. I am a true foodie & gourmet cook so this will be a challenge for me so I am taking it one day at a time. My dream was to eventually retire and write cookbooks ....now they will be bariatric cookbooks!! food is not my enemy, my choices were bad. I now have to eat to live & be happy, not live to eat!!! July 10 I start my journey but I am grateful that I can share my experiences with others that have chosen this path. July 10 is coming fast!!!!

In New Zealand. Hope it goes well for yiu. Start on 4th.....
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Wow, you are doing great! My surgery is also June 21st and hope I stay as driven to succeed as you have obviously been.