Gundy

Had a few over the long weekend.

Wore a dress for a wedding for the first time in 12 years and it was a smidge to big.

I’m also at the omg I need tops that aren’t totally baggy stage. Ended up buying a few in size 14/16. I was floored.

It was also the first time I’d seen any family since my surgery. I haven’t told anyone who I don’t live near and got total support. Mentally I knew that was going to happen but it was still a huge thing for me to be up front about.

I cleared out nine bags of clothing. Most of it things I didn’t like, but I just bought because it fit. Kept a few fat clothes so I can show my progress. A few dresses I was sad to go, and I kept a fancy dress I will have altered for Christmas.
HW 255
SW 234 5/9/18
CW 197.5

On a business trip, went to a rooftop bar with coworkers. One of the guys finds the stairs and heads on up, and we're following, and on the fourth flight my (very slim) coworker stops to catch her breath and I realize: I'm not panting at all. I'm not sweating, I'm not needing a break, I can very easily walk up another flight to the roof bar and won't need any time to recover or ANYTHING.
And I'm doing it in 4 inch platforms.

I have been clothes shopping for my upcoming holiday this week - I got in to a ‘medium’ in Gap, and shopped in the regular (not plus ladies) section in TK Maxx (which is the UK version of TJ Maxx) - I still can’t quite get my head around shopping for normal sized clothes - it’s been 23 years and I feel overwhelmed I have so much choice!

I'm comfortable wearing leggings out and about, running errands and such. I used to only wear them around the house, and maybe to 7-11!

A friend at work asked me what I was doing with my old clothes. She knew a woman at her church whose husband had just left her and their 3 kids. Showed up at their apartment one day when she wasn't there and cleaned it out. Only thing he left was the sofa; probably couldn't fit it in the moving truck. What an sh!t.
Anyway, she was a stay-at-home mom, had to find a job pronto, and had not much more than the clothes on their backs. Yes, he took it all. Anyway, my co-worker's church has donated furniture and lots of clothing for the kids because that's all the mom asked for. But my friend realized that the mom had nothing, especially to wear to work. And she was about my "old" size 2X-3X.
Point of the story-I had this pile of clothes in the corner of my closet that I was procrastinating taking to Goodwill that have now found a new home. While I was packing them up, I went through and pulled maybe another 15 tops off the hangers and added them to the pile. I ended up sending her about 30-35 tops, 4 pairs of slacks, misc yoga pants for sleeping in, and a gorgeous winter coat. I was really feeling bad about donating the coat to Goodwill. I bought it about a year ago on clearance for around $80 - London Fog, royal blue wool coat with a hood. I didn't often buy "treat" clothes for myself. However, last winter was so mild I never wore it. I felt so happy to send this beautiful coat to someone who really needs it. Still has the $220 price tag on it!
It brings joy to my heart that this woman's church was so overwhelmingly loving to her at her time of need, and that I could be a little part of it.

I walked 45 minutes and 1.8miles at one go yesterday. First time to walk that long without stopping in almost 18 years.

This may sound dumb, but simply not having to hide in loose, black clothes. I actually feel comfortable wearing colors again!

I'm only 2 weeks post op, but for the last 2 days have noticed that my clothes for work are just too big to look professional. Started digging in that section of my closet that I've been saving because "one day I'll be able to wear it again."
It's so nice re-discovering your clothes again. Also nice when your clothes aren't so tight that it's hard to sit/breath.
Today had someone in my office go out of their way to come tell me how great I'm looking.

Off 3 diabetes medications.
Knees don't hurt as bad.
Wrapping a regular sized towel completely around me.
Fitting in a plane seat
Disney World
Size 12 clothing down from 26
Zipping regular calf boots. I've probably bought 6 pair this winter. I'm waiting on over the knee boots from Macy's now.
My 5 year old can put her arms around me.
Not using the elevator at work.


HW 330
SW 292
CW 185
GW below 200

This week, my kid took off running across the park area near his after school care... and I ran after him and caught him. He was as delighted as I was. I don't think he had ever seen me run.

I had surgery on 11/29 and I’m trying to not focus too much on the numbers on the scale or on my clothes.
My non scale victories since 11/29
Had to have a spacer put on my wedding ring
I’m wearing a coat I haven’t worn in 2 yrs
I got rid of my pre-surgery work uniforms
I’ve cleaned my closet twice already
What are your non scale victories?!

I had to take off my wedding rings and bought silicone ones a size smaller. I bought boots that actually go up my calves.


HW: 282.2
SW: 255.4
CW: 226

I parked in a tight parking space and was still able to squeeze out of my door, without touching the car next to me. In the past I would not have been able to get out of my car.

This is one of the tips I give people... and its honest real advice.
I personally wouldn't share with people, unless you know they will be 100% supportive. It is nerve wracking already and you need nothing but positivity. Plus it’s a lot of pressure from people who know you've had WLS, versus people who think you are on the weight loss track. People think that the weight is going to melt off after surgery, and sometimes it doesn't. You don't want the extra judgment. Don’t engage people with people who say “WLS is too dramatic” or “You could just diet and lose the weight” or “You aren’t big enough for surgery” or “It’s the easy way out”. SCREW THOSE PEOPLE, they don’t know. They will never know how triumphant our victory will be.
I'm so glad I didn't share with my coworkers, because, they would have been the type to say "You took the easy way out". Now instead, they come to *me* for advice on how to lose weight. They feel guilty when they eat cheeseburgers for lunch, and apologize, as if, it offends me.
My point is... be selective. And ultimately, not to be blunt... but settle on a *I don't give a f*ck what you think* attitude.

Dude. You had half of one of your internal organs removed. You're a f***ing bada$$.

Hi Lisa,

All is not lost. Your sleeve isn’t ruined.

Start turning this around by focusing on getting 60 grams of Protein a day and no calorie fluids. If you can’t follow the no drinking before and after meals, start the no drinking for 30 minutes after meals.

Since your food is your therapy right now, you need something to take its place. Taking a walk, a hobby or volunteering, etc.

Please take care of yourself!

Hi Lisa,

All is not lost. Your sleeve isn’t ruined.

Start turning this around by focusing on getting 60 grams of Protein a day and no calorie fluids. If you can’t follow the no drinking before and after meals, start the no drinking for 30 minutes after meals.

Since your food is your therapy right now, you need something to take its place. Taking a walk, a hobby or volunteering, etc.

Please take care of yourself!

I did take nutritional classes before surgery but she basically talked about calories carbs Protein and measurements I never really got instructions on how to eat and what to eat until I left the hospital with a few paper handouts everything that I have learned has been in the last 30 days over Googling on my phone some of this stuff is blowing me away how I have been eating and the things that I'm not supposed to be doing I'm learning all on the internet and buy my phone such as bariatric pal I have done a 190 turn around and have been trying to follow the rules and learn everything I can about how to eat I am still very green and learning I am one month and 1 week post-op I have had to go back and kind of restart and I'm trying to learn as I go what to eat how to eat and how much to eat this hasn't been easy at all it seems as though I have a stomach made out of steel!!! It seems as though I can eat anything and everything nothing has made me sick in any kind of way if I overeat which is a lot more than I would say normal I do get a small pain in my stomach but other than that nothing has really bothered me of course I don't eat like that anymore and push myself I am trying to follow the rules

Sent from my SM-J327T1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Wow! Just Wow, Mike! We see you entered your Hottie mode! Hahaha


HW: 225
SW: 214 (5/2/2018)
CW: 208
GW: 145

You figured out Wendy's Secret Chili,recipe? Dang you're an even smarter friend than I thought and I had already counted you pretty smart!😛👍

Ugh. This. My least favorite is becoming I had surgery two weeks ago and I haven’t lost fifty pounds! What’s the matter with me!
I guess I just felt so cruddy the first few weeks post op it didn’t even cross my mind to weigh myself and worry about it so soon.

A new one
I had surgery X amount of years ago, I haven't been following what I'm supposed to do, I don't talk to my PCP or Surgical Team, I'm gaining weight, I'm not exercising or tracking my intakes, I don't know what's wrong... HELP ME PLEASE....

Just... really?

Hi Bajan,

Given your diabetes, none of these foods seem appropriate for you or any Bariatric patient for that matter! How could you not be hungry with these high carb foods messing with your blood sugar. The diet shows so little Protein, no wonder you’re famished. If you can’t handle solid meat, eat tuna, canned chicken, rotisserie chicken or hamburger.

It is so important that you change the types of food you eat. I would suggest a Keto diet to get you back on track.

Hi Bajan,

I apologize. After reading one post, I respond, and then read another and respond again. I just read about your autism, struggles, and depression. If you had opened with your history, people would have been kinder and more understanding! Myself included. I haven’t walked in your shoes. We all need to remember kindness and compassion and seeking to understand.

It must be really hard to find foods that will keep you satiated given the intolerance for solid meat. Two things, tuna with light mayo or Salad Dressing OR Wendy’s chili (or a homemade version) were the items that saved me from starving. My NUT joked with me that she will look at the food diaries of post surgery patients and has to tell them that they can’t have chili for Breakfast, lunch and dinner!