Tonna

So I am 14 weeks Post op, and things are going great. However, I have had several stalls, which get discouraging. I will go 2-3 weeks and not lose a pound, and then drop 5 lbs in one week! So weird how the body works. When I am feeling disappointed in the slow weight loss, I do side by side photo comparisons of before and after. Here is one that lifted my spirits today. When you see yourself every day, you don't always see the huge changes that are taking place. Don't always count on the scale to show you your victories! Use photos and body measurements as well. You will need them at times when the scale is not moving.

Hey sleevers, how y'all doing?
Here's a 2 month update from me.
(btw, I watermark all my images so no one can steal them. I recommend everyone does this for their wls photos!!)

Hi sleevers!!!!
I had my surgery on January 08/18.... so far 52lbs down!!!
Feeling great, my hair is falling a lot but am fine with that!!! Hope u guys are happy with your sleeve


Instagram: itsgretchen

Ok, so my son shares this picture of me and him from about 2 years ago last week. Out of the blue when were talking and he's fidgeting with his phone he says, "Damn, you have to see this!" Right off the bat I'm thinking what's wrong? He shows me the pic and then texts a screenshot to me. Ever since then I can't get out of my mind that I don't believe I'm as small as I am now. I mean I can fit in the same size clothes as my 18 year old son. It's very emotional to look at myself in the old picture...
I don't want to sound crazy or sound like I'm ungrateful for the results I've had. I know there's a lot of people out there who would love to be in the position I'm in and I hope they are just as successful. I'm so much healthier and able to enjoy life.
Has this happened to anyone else? Where your mind hasn't caught up to where your body is? What do you do about it?
 
VSG 10/11/17 HW = 360 SW = 292 CW = 228.8 GW = 220 (6'5")

Have had a few things on my mind about the process I'm going through, don't quite know how to explain, but am going to attempt to, because I think others might relate.
food has changed. And I don't say that like some badge of victory. I say it with a little bit of anxiety and a little bit of grief.
Everything still *tastes* like it used to....but the effect of food has changed significantly in my life. (and even my physiology) And my preferences for foods have certainly changed.
I really LOVED food. Sort of akin to maybe how a homebrewist loves beer. It was my go-to to relax. It made a bad day more bearable. It took the edge off emotionally difficult situations. It was a source of joy and comfort.
Back when I was doing my 6 month diet...I still loved food. I still had my little food love affair celebrations. Every Friday, I'd budget my calories and splurge on a glazed donut. (yes, I know this is pure poison)...but it was a wonderful treat, and I really enjoyed that donut I'd earned by being good all week. With a big cup of premium coffee. And I was losing weight, so why not?
I told myself I'd still do this once in a while...obviously I can't eat a whole donut....but I thought....maybe one of these days I'll get a donut and cut off a little quarter of it...let hubby eat the rest...and still have my little donut reward for a job well done.
Now here's the weird part.
I've found myself standing in front of the same donut case...looking at those damned glazed donuts....several weeks in a row now...and I can't get myself to buy one. Not because I think I'm going to screw anything up hopelessly...I won't. Not because I feel I couldn't control the quantity...I know I could. I just feel sad looking at the donuts. Just this weird grief of knowing it wouldn't feel the same if I ate it.
And this is what I'm finding hard to describe...
It's like the beer homebrew guy...who would really like like a beer....opening up beer after beer...only to find they all taste like ice tea. I mean...sure, ice tea is great...it's wet, you can drink it and not be thirsty. But what you wanted doesn't exist anymore.
Food no longer affords me a coping mechanism. And I'm not sure how to feel about that. Part of me is delighted...because I know THAT is the root problem...food shouldn't be a coping mechanism. Food shouldn't be a love affair. That's a big part of why I got fat.
But the other part of me feels a little freaked out by this. Like...damn, what do I use now as a coping mechanism? I can totally understand how crossover addictions happen. And while I don't think I'm really at risk for one because I'm expressing all of this to my support people and trying to come up with some other good ideas for coping mechanisms......I understand the danger, now. I think being aware and talking about it helps a lot. I'm avoiding alcohol and other substances that could potentially be problematic, too....at least until I feel like i've got this all figured out and have settled in feeling more comfortable about it.
But yeah....this? This was unexpected.
My husband said last night.....OK, for a long time you were trying to make a lifestyle change and you equated all of these fantastic outcomes to that someday mythical lifestyle change.....but now that you have made the lifestyle changes you're noticing the reality isn't exactly what you thought it would be. And that's the thing about any major endeavor, there will be surprises, both positive and negative. I think you're doing great, and doing a great job of taking it all in stride. Keep talking to me.
I think I'll keep him.
No regrets about the surgery...I'm overall increadibly happy. Just trying to describe something that I really didn't see coming.

Big debate on if you can stretch your sleeve....Very few surgery revisions are done...Enough said.
I am three years. Yes, I can hold more food volume. But it's not like pre surgery. When I go back to weight loss mode to maintain my weight......
I log my food. I eat Protein first. I eat all the veggies with each meal to the point where I feel full. I cut carbs and sugar (they leave me craving them more)
Stalls and plateaus happen. It's part of the process. Keep plugging away at your plan to get the scale moving again. If you are having a large shall see the link below on how to break it.
https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/#comment-3952027
Grazing...If you find yourself eating more frequent meals. If you find yourself eating way more calorie to take you out of weight loss. Then evaluate what you are doing, Go back to basics.

Parties don't bother me. I can socialize without eating the food. It's the restaurants that I'm uncomfortable in. I used to eat out 3-4 times a week and now I avoid restaurants. Went out last week to Celebrate my adult sons birthday with family in a restaurant. I told him to order two dishes that he likes since he would be taking them home. I took a few nibbles of one of the dishes and had it packed for him to take home. I prefer to stay home and eat alone these days.

No magical reset, but your progress is not bad. It slows down quite a bit after the first month of two. What worked for me as I get the cravings is talking about it and sticking to a habit with what I eat. Ohh and always eat your Protein first.

HW 309
SW. 274
CW. 217
GW 190
Surgery 09/25/17

10 lbs to GW -- Lifetime to health goals!

I've been photographing people since high school (yearbook) and I can say that most people's belief in their lack of photogenic goodness is all in their heads. Yes, some people photograph better than others. But that's likely due the shape of their head/face/eyes and the lighting they are in. Also, I find that people who hate having their picture taken almost always find a way to sabotage the photo by making a strange face or scowling or whatever, which further reinforces their belief.
A few tips:
Be confident. Want to take the picture, want to look good in it. Your confidence will make the picture better. Be aware of different kinds of lighting and how it affects your face. I know for me, natural light is best, and if I can, I always face a window to get a nice, even light on my face. Harsh lighting or low light is generally not good for me, since the shadows emphasize all the bad stuff, so I avoid taking pictures then (but follow advice #1 not to spoil any that might be taken). You must have one side (or more) that you feel is more photogenic than the others (or not as bad as the others) - and this is NOT the back of your head! Try taking photos with that side, and be aware of it when others are taking your picture too. I hate my profile, especially the left side, so try always to be facing forward for any kind of portrait. However, that tends to be opposite for most other people. Take photos with your head/chin in different positions (slightly up, slightly down, slightly to the side) and see what's most flattering. Since you've lost a significant amount of weight you may not need fear the double chin anymore by lowering your chin for portraits. Cell phones have wide angle lenses on them which really distort faces. You can use that to your advantage my taking a photo from slightly above your head (with your chin pointing down and eyes looking up towards the phone) - it will give you a much narrower face. However, if you want a more natural looking picture, try using a camera with a lens between 85-135mm in focal length - this is generally the range favoured by portrait photographers (85 and 105 are usually the gold standards). I'm not sure exactly what your situation is (you taking the photo, or someone taking the photo of you), but I hope you find something useful here.

My confidence is way up since losing about 80 lbs, but I still feel like a deer in headlights in front of a camera. I've been avoiding them for so long I have no idea how to look good in photos! I guess this means I am not photogenic, but there must be something I can do to get a flattering photo of myself.
I have only one picture taken with my 6 year old, and none with my toddler. I would really like to take some pictures with them. Any tips?
TIA!

60pounds down!
40 more to go!!!