RHCD

I haven’t talked about it at all on social media even when the comments started coming in about why I looked drastically different. I belong to a body positive group and it’s too hard to articulate in writing all the reasons I did this that aren’t about being physically smaller. I had plenty of confidence and felt beautiful before my sleeve but I know I’m in the minority. I took guidance from a close friend who had dramatic weight loss with out surgery who didn’t post her transformation on social media. Not because either of us are ashamed. Now in person I talk about it but there was a small group (The Mr and a few select friends but no family) who knew ahead of my surgery. Afterwards I’ll talk about it pretty freely because going from a size 24 down to a ten in under a year is dramatic. I literally don’t look the same. I knew ahead of time who I could trust with telling. The supportive folks vs the not.

So I’m at my one year and I did most of my exercise via walking. And honestly it wasn’t until the 6+ week that I even had the energy to deal with walking and didn’t get real distance/time until well past 12 weeks. I have yet to go to a “gym.” I’m back at my yoga studio that I was at at 300lbs+. I now go several times a week with yoga and cardio classes. You’re doing fine. Don’t beat yourself if not perfect.

I had a shot at about 12 weeks post sleeve. (I was traveling and it was a group celebration thing). It instantly hit me. Like insta drunk I could see the world shift and feel it hit my blood stream. After that it’s been a few schooners or less that I don’t finish here and there. I wasn’t a big drinker before and even less now. I’m not a drinker

My other half broke his ankle and couldn’t drive during the time I had initially scheduled. Pushed me out about 6 weeks. So not insurance related but one of those life laughed at my plan...

Yep! I keep thinking I can’t have had this be this “easy”. Other than my gallbladder emergency surgery at month 5 it’s been fairly straightforward. Follow the plan and tweak where it ya need to. Don’t get me wrong plenty of hard moments of figuring things out but not anywhere near some of the side effects you read about. In fact when people start thinking about a sleeve and ask for my input I tell them I’m so far on the right side of the standard deviation that holding me up as normal is setting them selves up for heart ache.

Yep! 10ish months out and omg always so cold. I was a chilly person before now it’s just comical because I always have a heavy warm scarf just in case. This is on top of multi layers. Btw fleece lined leggings are amazing.

I stopped somewhere around the 12 week mark. I had a two week international trip and knew there was no way I could find something especially since anything dairy based caused me issues. Honestly I struggled with them because of my intolerance to dairy (particularly whey and it’s counterparts) despite trying several styles. As a smoothie they’d take me so long to finish that’d it throw off my meal timing and water intake.

So the 6-8 weeks included meeting with initial surgeon, then a nutritionist, a psychologist and a physiologist. I also had to do bloodwork. This was all over the time between thanksgiving and New Years so part of the delay was just the normal trying to schedule things year end rush.

First appt was right after thanksgiving with about 6-8 weeks of approval appts. Then I could have scheduled it within a month after that but choose 2 because of some stuff going on I wanted to wait after. Then the Mr broke his ankle and couldn’t drive so I choose to push it back another month until he was functional. All told just about 5 months

Starting out I wanted to at least be the avg loss which put me in the 220s. Anything beyond that was way to hard for my brain to wrap around. Once there then it was can I get into straight sizes and under 200. I’m now in theory 20 lbs to the not overweight per BMI chart. At 185 my team and I are so happy that our goal has changed from a pure weight number to a fat to muscle percentage that will likely put me over a bit in the 170s... I’m consistently in 12/10s and mediums. At this point it’s going to be where can I land that is where I look/ feel healthy and maintain it.

I got thru my rapid loss phase with some wrap dresses and tops from eShakti . I could wear them for 8-10 size changes. I also would only buy the bare minimum for a season. I will say that at some point I was feeling very frumpy at the 50 lbs loss mark and went shopping. It was glorious and I’d even buy too tight cause I knew in a few weeks it wouldn’t be.

Yep I was 1 week shy of my 41st.

So I’m the person who the night after my surgery every time I actually fell asleep my O2 would fall too low and all the alarms would go off. Loudly. So I got like no sleep until I got home and could sleep on my side. Then there was my gallbladder fun at four months. I cried in my surgeons office because of the pain and frustration of trying to get diagnosed and a plan...

I had mine on a Thursday we by back working from home the following Thursday and Friday. I’m so glad I had those two extra work from home days. I probably should have taken more time as I was just exhausted. No pain just exhaustion.

Corn or flour tortilla? At six months I can totally eat a corn tortilla based enchilada. Flour not so much. The first few month I had lots of meals with retried beans, some ground meat, cheese, avocado and salsa. It’s still one of my go to easy meals. And by lots I mean frequent not so much on the volume.

I routinely saw and heard the same stat. Which is weird as at 6 months I’m below that stat. Still loosing slowly (it’s like someone put the breaks on) but now the hard part is starting for me where it’s not just coming off. I have to make (or get really close) my protein, fluids and exercise goals to see the scale move. I can see the scale not move because I choose to have tortilla chips with dinner. Or I sat on my butt instead of walking (stupid video games). Or I drank fluids too close to eating and then ate more than I should.. Or I didn’t drink enough water for the day. Or is it that time of the month where I’m going to stall no matter but once I’m done the scale drops... I have to be honest with myself on my decisions. Six months ago when they asked me my goals I said under 200? Maybe 185? Under 170 seems crazy. And I’m knocking on 200, down a 100 and feel fabulous. If I stopped here or came back here I think I’d be okay. However I’m 1% away from dropping from obese to overweight and boy do I want that. I almost can wear all non plus clothing and it’s driving me mad that I’m so close. So I go on my long walks and use the recumbent, I drink more water and tea, I really focus on protein and limit my non fruit/veggie carbs. Am I perfect? So very much not nor am I trying to be.

This is a life changing decision that takes time to wrap your brain around. Nothing wrong with wanting to try another path. It took me about 5 years where I was trying the idea on and thinking thru it. I talked to friends and people who had lost 100 lbs with straight diet and exercise, who’d had a lap band the revision to sleeve, plus a couple of normal sleeve. All were honest with me on their struggles, setbacks and what choices they make every day. I’m only at month 6 and the things to stay away from were already not part of my regular diet pre surgery. I don’t really drink alcohol or soda but giving up apple cider now that’s been hard this fall. I’m still wrapping my head around baking and sweets cause I love to bake. Take your time to be sure this is truly what you want.

Honestly when I had this convo with my team I was like under 200? Maybe 185 or 175 or even 165. All were acceptable for them as I was starting over 300? For me my BMI chart puts me at 160 and under for “healthy.” The only time I’ve ever been that weight was when I was a teenager working at a camp. I really can’t imaging my life there nor how I would look. I come from stocky builds. I’m sitting at 205 and in that weird in between clothing size where I can wear some larges, in normal size jeans but also find certain cuts put me back in plus. For me I want to be able to walk all day with out pain. I want to be able to go into normal stores and find plenty of things I can wear. I want to travel and not be the fat American.

The people I told before hand were a very select group. If I caught wind of any negativity I usually nipped it with “ if being at a healthy weight was just sheer will power, determination and motivation I’d be there but it’s not for me - I need more help”. Those who I knew were negative I just didn’t tell until after it was done (and I’ve already got I’m so jealous comments)... can’t win with them. I love this board because I can find someone who is or has been in a similar place at any time. Supportive and tough love when I need it.

Honestly not that much. Wayyy less than cauliflower pizza crust. The pesto helped too as it’s a strong flavor. I also made sure I ate a bite with something else (the squash, mushrooms, chèvre or chicken). And to be honest I had like maybe 5 of them in my entire meal as my focus was more chicken and veggies.

Last night I tried cauliflower gnocchi and it so hit my gnocchi craving. It was the Trader Joe’s frozen gnocchi. I added cooked chicken breast some pesto, delicate squash and mushroom all topped with some fresh chèvre. I’m finally a convert to sheet tray cooking. Granted I now have enough food for like 6 meals but it was so tasty. I’ll take a pic for when I dive into the left overs...

This is why I gave lots of containers for left overs and I also freeze portions. Now I just need to eat h even though I get bored...

Ohh I like this one... other than clothes and shoes I bought myself a custom made leather purse/bag. I’d hoped to do it for my 100 lb loss but actually went a little early (98ish). When I get closer to goal I’ll have my eyes on a leather jacket. There might also be jewelry. Non material I’ve got some trips planned. I’ve done Spa days too for incremental goals.

Sleeve here. Had my surgery at 11:30 am but my clinic (not hospital) required you drink 36 oz of fluid overnight and could use the facilities on your own. Overnight they also had me do laps around the nurses station to help with moving the gas out. Plus the IV fluids and pain meds helped a ton. I think I had like 4 or 5 bags of fluids. This was way harder on me than my gallbladder removal or sinus surgery which both were a morning and head home in the eve type.

Honestly I’m still trying to figure out left over situation. I throw a lot more food out then I used to. That’s even with multi days of left overs... Especially fruits and veggies because I keep wanting to eat a lot of these or think I’m going to freeze em to do something with later.