Rainbow_Warrior

I know what you mean.
I bought discounted end-of-season WINTER clothes (on very low-priced special pricing) at the end of the last Australian winter (July-August, 2018) ... 3XL and 2XL garments ... down from two years ago when I was 9XL/8XL sizing.
As the autumn is having colder nights and much cooler mornings now in late April 2019, I am pulling this stuff out of the drawers to begin wearing it AND THEY ARE "SWIMMING" ON ME in most instances.
I have dawdled to lose only about 12kg (26 pounds) in the last nine months but my upper body is more muscular.
And yet, despite the seeming waste of the money, I'm pleased with the extra NSV feel of fat lower down being replaced by muscle higher up.
My exercise physiologist says that my body's centre of gravity has moved UPWARDS 19mm in 9 months but that my sense of balance (which was 'terrible' before my weight-loss surgery is now "borderline excellent".

I know what you mean.
I bought discounted end-of-season WINTER clothes (on very low-priced special pricing) at the end of the last Australian winter (July-August, 2018) ... 3XL and 2XL garments ... down from two years ago when I was 9XL/8XL sizing.
As the autumn is having colder nights and much cooler mornings now in late April 2019, I am pulling this stuff out of the drawers to begin wearing it AND THEY ARE "SWIMMING" ON ME in most instances.
I have dawdled to lose only about 12kg (26 pounds) in the last nine months but my upper body is more muscular.
And yet, despite the seeming waste of the money, I'm pleased with the extra NSV feel of fat lower down being replaced by muscle higher up.
My exercise physiologist says that my body's centre of gravity has moved UPWARDS 19mm in 9 months but that my sense of balance (which was 'terrible' before my weight-loss surgery is now "borderline excellent".

I know what you mean.
I bought discounted end-of-season WINTER clothes (on very low-priced special pricing) at the end of the last Australian winter (July-August, 2018) ... 3XL and 2XL garments ... down from two years ago when I was 9XL/8XL sizing.
As the autumn is having colder nights and much cooler mornings now in late April 2019, I am pulling this stuff out of the drawers to begin wearing it AND THEY ARE "SWIMMING" ON ME in most instances.
I have dawdled to lose only about 12kg (26 pounds) in the last nine months but my upper body is more muscular.
And yet, despite the seeming waste of the money, I'm pleased with the extra NSV feel of fat lower down being replaced by muscle higher up.
My exercise physiologist says that my body's centre of gravity has moved UPWARDS 19mm in 9 months but that my sense of balance (which was 'terrible' before my weight-loss surgery is now "borderline excellent".

I know what you mean.
I bought discounted end-of-season WINTER clothes (on very low-priced special pricing) at the end of the last Australian winter (July-August, 2018) ... 3XL and 2XL garments ... down from two years ago when I was 9XL/8XL sizing.
As the autumn is having colder nights and much cooler mornings now in late April 2019, I am pulling this stuff out of the drawers to begin wearing it AND THEY ARE "SWIMMING" ON ME in most instances.
I have dawdled to lose only about 12kg (26 pounds) in the last nine months but my upper body is more muscular.
And yet, despite the seeming waste of the money, I'm pleased with the extra NSV feel of fat lower down being replaced by muscle higher up.
My exercise physiologist says that my body's centre of gravity has moved UPWARDS 19mm in 9 months but that my sense of balance (which was 'terrible' before my weight-loss surgery is now "borderline excellent".

Yes ... I had "bath sheets" [a.k.a. giant towels] that at 400+ pounds would barely go around me. And now, 17.5 months post-VSG, I can wear a standard towel around me.
Nice feeling.

Yes ... I had "bath sheets" [a.k.a. giant towels] that at 400+ pounds would barely go around me. And now, 17.5 months post-VSG, I can wear a standard towel around me.
Nice feeling.

Yes ... I had "bath sheets" [a.k.a. giant towels] that at 400+ pounds would barely go around me. And now, 17.5 months post-VSG, I can wear a standard towel around me.
Nice feeling.

Yes ... I had "bath sheets" [a.k.a. giant towels] that at 400+ pounds would barely go around me. And now, 17.5 months post-VSG, I can wear a standard towel around me.
Nice feeling.

Yes ... I had "bath sheets" [a.k.a. giant towels] that at 400+ pounds would barely go around me. And now, 17.5 months post-VSG, I can wear a standard towel around me.
Nice feeling.

Yes ... I had "bath sheets" [a.k.a. giant towels] that at 400+ pounds would barely go around me. And now, 17.5 months post-VSG, I can wear a standard towel around me.
Nice feeling.

My best man, 10 years younger than me, had this op 14 days ago.
His surgeon said that, "international evidence is that you may not lose quite as much as other forms of bariatric surgery but you will have better healing, lesser risk of complications and a shorter recovery time."
He added, "whereas others of your relative mass of 190 kg and height of 1.91 metres (BMI 51) could expect to lose 50%-55% of their body mass, your likelihood, ON CURRENT EVIDENCE, is that after 18 months you might have only lost 43%-48% of your body mass. There exists a likelihood of a greater chance of failure or diet recidivism too ... typically about 8%-10% more people than with other WLS."
Jason expressed to me that if he could get under 115kg (BMI 31), he'd be excited by the extra mobility alone. And further success in reaching 100kg (BMI 27.5) would be utter joy.

Yes ... almost exactly my (male) experience.
* Down to just one medication now ... apixaban/Eloquis ... and that won't change any time soon
* My knees and ankles appreciate that I've shed more than a third of my mass/weight in 52 weeks
* Yep ... the bath-sheet is too big now when it would not quite go around me 15 months ago. A regular-sized towel is enough to dry me adequately after a bath or shower or time in the pool.
* Aeroplane and bus seats have room left-over
* My driving position in the car is not cramped by my obesity like 12-25 months ago. My seat belt is NOT all the way extended as in the past.
* My shirts/tops are down from Australian 8XL/9XL (USA 5XL) to 2XL/XL (USA XL). Ditto underpants ... from 7XL to 2XL now.
* My slacks/trousers are down from 177cm/172cm [about 70 inches] waist to 122cm/117cm range [about 45 inches]
I gave away 19 shopping bags of "super big" clothes and 22 pairs of slacks/trousers to the charity shop in the last few months.
Once the plastic surgeon removes my excess skin before xmas 2019, I expect to shed another two to three pants sizes.
I also noticed that my feet lose weight/width proportionately with my upper body. I no longer need 4E shoe widths. I can get by with E or 2E in leather shoes and regular joggers/trainers/tennis-shoes.

My wife died in 2011 and it was a sad day when I had to remove my wedding ring because it got to tight to wear. Just last week I was able to put it back on. I've also been able to move the car seat closer to the wheel. At work I can fit into any of the safety harnesses when using power equipment rather than the biggest harness, and my weekly grocery bill has dropped significantly.

MMM ... I just threw out 19 bags of clothing between 4XL and 9XL.
Very pleasing feeling.
This comes on top of the 22 pairs of dress trousers and casual slacks I sent to charity earlier on in 2018.
I also parted with some very over-sized tailored shirts from 2009-2016 purchases.

This is a factor.
It's so true.
As an obese man, the humid summers on the Australian coast were horrible on many, many days. Coming into summer now with our spring temps of 25C to 32C (77F to 90F) with humidity 70% to 95%, I am much better off. My regime of lots of daily swimming and "no perspiration left to give" is better.
But, oh, the mild winters we have here with daytime temps of 16C to 20C (61F to 68F) after overnights of 6C to 11C (43F to 52F) left me quite cold getting up to swim each morning. I've never felt cold more than a couple of dozen times in thirty years before last winter (June-August here in the southern hemisphere). This winter was my worst ... I felt cold on FIVE or MORE days per week regularly and for the first time since my childhood, I needed extra night blankets. I even bought and electric blanket and an electric throw rug to try to hold back my personal cold.
The youtube videos and the weight loss surgery forums were MOSTLY pretty clear about this feature of post-WLS.

Yes ... a lovely feeling.
I have been able to buy a handful of items off the rack since May this year and I will be looking forward to more in the new year ... my winter clothes will need an upgrade ...
Winter clothes here (Australia) are required mid June to mid August (daytimes) and late May to mid-September (evenings).

Yes ... the dreaded seat belt extension on aircraft.
I think that I am in range of the regular seat belt now.
Asking for the extension always felt majorly embarrassing for me.

Yeah ... nice to have to tighten the band or to put more holes in a belt.
I also like that my business shirts are "swimming" on me ... very loose ... and the necks are so loose ... 5cm (two inches) or more too large now.

This is a factor.
It's so true.
As an obese man, the humid summers on the Australian coast were horrible on many, many days. Coming into summer now with our spring temps of 25C to 32C (77F to 90F) with humidity 70% to 95%, I am much better off. My regime of lots of daily swimming and "no perspiration left to give" is better.
But, oh, the mild winters we have here with daytime temps of 16C to 20C (61F to 68F) after overnights of 6C to 11C (43F to 52F) left me quite cold getting up to swim each morning. I've never felt cold more than a couple of dozen times in thirty years before last winter (June-August here in the southern hemisphere). This winter was my worst ... I felt cold on FIVE or MORE days per week regularly and for the first time since my childhood, I needed extra night blankets. I even bought and electric blanket and an electric throw rug to try to hold back my personal cold.
The youtube videos and the weight loss surgery forums were MOSTLY pretty clear about this feature of post-WLS.

Correct.
Even when one feels like not going, just getting there is part of the process. I have had a lot of days (like today, Saturday 20th Oct at nearly 10am) where I really don't feel like kicking off my morning in the pool. But, if I just get in the car and drive the 8 km to the pool, it will be getting the routine started.
The other thing is, I can feel like 5h1t some days and really think I don't want to swim, but just getting in the pool and doing that first lap or two sparks the right mindset within three to five minutes.
You are so right about right time of day ... I prefer 5:30am to 9:00am on weekdays but, on Saturday, with the pool so cluttered with learn-to-swim classes near opening time, I often prefer early afternoon. And, Sundays 7am-10am is excellent at my swim centre.
You remarked, too, about speaking with the front desk people. I'd say the same thing about the regulars in the pool too. I have a rapport or friendship with quite a number of weekday morning swimmers and a nodding acquaintanceship with others. People will remark next day if they haven't seen you the day before. (I had to stay home to let a plumber in last Monday so I swam from 11am-1:30pm instead and, when I went to the pool on Tuesday, at least seven or eight regulars sought an explanation or asked if I'd been unwell.)
And, of course, if you feel hurt/pain/strain, just take it slowly or modify your workout or do a different exercise that day. I have been known to wade chest-deep for 2 hours or more if I have muscle-strain or muscle-tiredness from a long session the previous day.

I find less of a problem ... or FEWER problems.
I'm just choosy about where I eat out.
I have also learned to take a number (usually 3 or 4) ziplock bags to bring home uneaten food. I sometimes remember to put a so-called "chinese" container into my carry bag when I go out.
All this helps me have a second AND/OR third chance to eat some purchased restaurant/cafe meals.
But, nine times out of ten, I know where I am going and I either know the menu or have looked it up on line and have a contingency plan for what I will order or what I will ask for.
For my interstate trip, I will make a carry card that says I am "Dr Exxe's" patient with a "special condition" and make it look official to hand out to any officious looking "maitre de" or "floor manager". <GRIN>

For me, almost any food.
Nothing known yet that I can't eat after one year.
I drink "shiploads" more Water.
My meals these days fit in a bowl or a side plate.
If I eat out, I make sure I take a couple of ziplock bags or a tight-lidded "chinese" container. I inevitably cannot eat a main meal in one go any more.
I usually order an entree only if the choices are suitable.

Yeah ... nice to have to tighten the band or to put more holes in a belt.
I also like that my business shirts are "swimming" on me ... very loose ... and the necks are so loose ... 5cm (two inches) or more too large now.

Yes ... the dreaded seat belt extension on aircraft.
I think that I am in range of the regular seat belt now.
Asking for the extension always felt majorly embarrassing for me.

I find that the crockpot (a.k.a. bench-top slow-cooker) is great.
I can toss in a range of medium to high fibre vegetables and a few 40 gram home-shaped meat-balls and cook them overnight and divide them into small and medium meal-lots.
Some are casserole consistency while others tend to be more like Soups.
I can usually aim to have 10-15 serves done overnight about once every two weeks.