RHCD

It finally happened! I’ve been doing intermittent fasting, tracking everything I eat on MFP and being more conscious of how much I’m eating, and I’ve been moving/walking/jogging more. I’m so excited to see the scale moving in general after two months of stagnation, but even more excited to be UNDER 200 LBS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!

Yay!!!! 198.8!!!!!! Wooohoooo!!!!

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.

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.

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.

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...

You're good, don't worry. And definitely don't take things like tone on a messageboard personally - it's just a side effect of messageboard dynamics when you're dealing with an embedded community on a personally invested topic. Your first conversation is someone else's thirtieth about the same thing, and what they see as brevity or wisdom comes across as harshness or condescension, etc. It's really no one's fault, it's just how this particularly imperfect form of communication gums up.
Even when people really ARE being dicks, just brush it off. There is literally nothing worth fighting about on a messageboard, and usually the fight's actually about face/reputation anyhow, which is hilariously irrelevant on an anonymous/alias-ridden site. Not worth getting exhausted over, just shrug and move on.

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.

I am finally starting to see some losses again. Just wanted to encourage those who may be stalling or feeling like why did I even do this?! I started at 301 and lost 60lbs before surgery, averaging about 10lbs per month by eating Keto. I had surgery first week of September and lost 25lbs in September. I struggled a lot with reflux and was re-hospitalized for 2 days and struggled to keep even sips of water down. This was (mostly) remedied by Rx nexium. I still struggle some. It’s a major learning curve! In October I only lost 2.6lbs...for the whole month! Dietician said I wasn’t eating enough and my metabolism was quitting on me. It’s just taken me this long to figure out how and whT to eat. Still learning! Today on November 6 I’ve already lost 3.2lbs this month. So I think my body was in shock in October and I wasn’t consuming enough. I’m excited about November and have to remember that with 25lbs in September I’m still on track to average 10lbs/month like I did before surgery. I know this will change as I get smaller but I have to keep reminding myself I WILL GET SMALLER! I’m at 215 today and looking forward to onederland!

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...

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

It can and does work! Best wishes on your upcoming surgery. I was so excited to have this done and looking back it doesn't even seem real. I couldn't be happier. There are struggles and challenges for sure. I've had some health issues pop up, but dealt with them all as they occurred. My biggest issue hag probably been iron deficient anemia but this can be controlled if you can take the iron. I cannot and I have to be diligent with my diet, but doable.

I think the best part is you can't give up. I had a weird pattern of weight loss where I'd lose for a week and stall for three. Very frustrating but in those the stalled weeks my clothes would become too big and my body changed. In a previous life I would get frustrated by the effort and lack of loss and I'd give up the effort since it didn't appear to be working. I'm so thankful for my sleeve today.

Hi. I was sleeved 01/28/2012 so coming up on seven years. I was 238 at my first appointment (5'6 female) and 219 the day of surgery. I was 39 and wanted to lose by my fortieth. I was down to 129 within a year. I am currently 114 but at year five I bounced back up to 160. I have been holding steady now under 120 for about six months.
It was a huge adjustment the first year for sure. I was cooking for my family a lot and had two kids. We entertained almost weekly and had a very active social life. Everything was centered around food and alcohol which I now was trying to avoid. Eating out felt line a punishment watching everybody else eat. But I just kept ordering and eating the way I was supposed to because my life was getting so much better. I could do things I didn't want to do when I was heavier. Eventually I actually craved the proper foods. I couldn't believe the mental and physical changes.
Now I am very content with all the changes I have made and no longer feel cheated when others eat. I swim everyday and love shopping for cute clothes. My relationships got so much better and I have been unbelievably happier. My compulsion to overeat disappeared and life became enjoyable instead of something to endure.
Do I wish I had done it sooner? Sure, but I needed to hit my emotional bottom and figure out why I ate compulsively first. I don't think I had the determination to do it correctly before that time.
It was the best decision I've personally made. I love my life, my stronger, fitter capable body and the freedom from my weight that was literally weighing me down and holding me hostage in my own body.
Today I embrace and love my life. I eat to live and choose healthy options. This works and has been such a gift. It's not easy the first year, but it's so worth it in the end.
I still have a lot of restriction and it reminds me not so gently when I overdo it. I rarely do because I know how to eat for my sleeve now. Good luck to the rest of the forty somethings. So far this has been the best decade of my life! Good luck.

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.

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.

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 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.