BeanieSprouts

I was looking at pictures I took of myself last year and I couldn't believe how much of a difference there was in my face! I always feel like my face never changed because I have loose skin on my neck and chin, but WOW.

Welcome!!! I'm so excited to see you've decided to pursue options in regards to weight loss and surgery!
I know how upsetting weight loss (or the lack thereof) can be! I think everyone here can relate to that, that's why we chose surgery!!
One of the first things I did was look at all the food I was restricting myself from eating, all the "bad" foods and think about why they were bad for me and why I binged on them anyway. What I came away with was that I was ashamed of wanting them, so I would only eat them when I was alone. It took a serious, moral inventory of myself where I tried to figure out my cravings and WHY I want those things before I even thought about dieting again. This is NOT something that you can quit, this is the first step to the rest of your life!
The second thing was I looked at all those "bad" foods and decided they weren't bad, I wasn't bad for wanting them, but that they didn't serve the purpose I was currently using food for. Everyone has binged ice cream when they're sad, expecting yourself to never react like that again is unrealistic. But severing that shame tied to it, that you haven't failed because you ate a slice of pizza at a birthday party, is really what's helped keep me on track.
If you need ANYTHING please message me!

Welcome!!! I'm so excited to see you've decided to pursue options in regards to weight loss and surgery!
I know how upsetting weight loss (or the lack thereof) can be! I think everyone here can relate to that, that's why we chose surgery!!
One of the first things I did was look at all the food I was restricting myself from eating, all the "bad" foods and think about why they were bad for me and why I binged on them anyway. What I came away with was that I was ashamed of wanting them, so I would only eat them when I was alone. It took a serious, moral inventory of myself where I tried to figure out my cravings and WHY I want those things before I even thought about dieting again. This is NOT something that you can quit, this is the first step to the rest of your life!
The second thing was I looked at all those "bad" foods and decided they weren't bad, I wasn't bad for wanting them, but that they didn't serve the purpose I was currently using food for. Everyone has binged ice cream when they're sad, expecting yourself to never react like that again is unrealistic. But severing that shame tied to it, that you haven't failed because you ate a slice of pizza at a birthday party, is really what's helped keep me on track.
If you need ANYTHING please message me!

I was looking at pictures I took of myself last year and I couldn't believe how much of a difference there was in my face! I always feel like my face never changed because I have loose skin on my neck and chin, but WOW.

I was looking at pictures I took of myself last year and I couldn't believe how much of a difference there was in my face! I always feel like my face never changed because I have loose skin on my neck and chin, but WOW.

Camping and hiking, for sure!! I also really love bonfires, just ones that don't involve food because the idea of a bear coming to find me isn't fun. I grew up in an area where there were bears like...everywhere. So it's always been an actual concern. lol.

HAPPY MAY Y'ALL!!!
I started my goals early yesterday, until I decided that I would try a mango for the first time since surgery and proceeded to...just...throw up. 😵 I have a very picky sleeve (Tiny Tum, like Tiny Tim....get it? My brothers thought it was VERY funny) so that's not unusual, but not exactly the way I wanted to start the 14th month after surgery. lol.
Each time I get sick, I go right back to basics. So today it's just Protein Shakes, Jello and MAYBE a yogurt if I feel up to it tomorrow. I try and be gentle on myself because these things happen and the last thing Tiny Tum needs is me shoving 3 oz of chicken down my throat. lol.
I also did 15 minutes of yoga, which I got the clear from my physical therapist for just on Friday. I hurt my hip in late March and they said "NO EXERCISE. NO WALKING NO YOGA" So getting back into it, I know I'm not going to be where I was. At least I'm not the 28-year-old doing PT with the old biddies who hurt their hips too, tho. (not that I have anything against old biddies, I self-identify as an old biddy myself. Gimme the housecoats and roller sets.)

I'm joining!!!
Current Weight: 224 lbs BMI 37
Surgical Status: 13 months post op Gastric Sleeve
Personal Goals:
Do at least 15 minutes of yoga on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week. Focus on my Protein, including lean protein sources and shakes. Find one good thing about each day that is NOT weight related in any way. (example: "Wow I saw so many pretty flowers on my walk" not "Wow I lost so much weight by walking!")

Happy Friday!!!!
Yesterday was a bit of a bust on the yoga front, I had a psych appointment and got some pretty upsetting news about a friend. So yesterday I wallowed in self-pity and impulse purchased stickers from Walmart, target AND cvs to make myself feel better.
So, tonight I'm going to yoga before going to see La Llorona tonight with friends. And tomorrow is a concert my chosen brother and I are taking a road trip to Boston to go see. I'm very excited; the last time I saw the band I was at my heaviest weight. One of their songs from the last album says "nothing will change if you never choose", and that's what I wrote on all my pre-op paperwork to motivate myself. So getting to see them again with their new album, with my new lifestyle is super exciting. (it's Mariana's Trench if anyone cares. lol)
Yesterday I also hit my Protein goals and actually never felt sick once, so that's awesome! Still being gentle with myself, still focusing on softer food since I threw up the other day. Everyone's art looks awesome!

Happy Friday!!!!
Yesterday was a bit of a bust on the yoga front, I had a psych appointment and got some pretty upsetting news about a friend. So yesterday I wallowed in self-pity and impulse purchased stickers from Walmart, target AND cvs to make myself feel better.
So, tonight I'm going to yoga before going to see La Llorona tonight with friends. And tomorrow is a concert my chosen brother and I are taking a road trip to Boston to go see. I'm very excited; the last time I saw the band I was at my heaviest weight. One of their songs from the last album says "nothing will change if you never choose", and that's what I wrote on all my pre-op paperwork to motivate myself. So getting to see them again with their new album, with my new lifestyle is super exciting. (it's Mariana's Trench if anyone cares. lol)
Yesterday I also hit my Protein goals and actually never felt sick once, so that's awesome! Still being gentle with myself, still focusing on softer food since I threw up the other day. Everyone's art looks awesome!

Camping and hiking, for sure!! I also really love bonfires, just ones that don't involve food because the idea of a bear coming to find me isn't fun. I grew up in an area where there were bears like...everywhere. So it's always been an actual concern. lol.

Happy Friday!!!!
Yesterday was a bit of a bust on the yoga front, I had a psych appointment and got some pretty upsetting news about a friend. So yesterday I wallowed in self-pity and impulse purchased stickers from Walmart, target AND cvs to make myself feel better.
So, tonight I'm going to yoga before going to see La Llorona tonight with friends. And tomorrow is a concert my chosen brother and I are taking a road trip to Boston to go see. I'm very excited; the last time I saw the band I was at my heaviest weight. One of their songs from the last album says "nothing will change if you never choose", and that's what I wrote on all my pre-op paperwork to motivate myself. So getting to see them again with their new album, with my new lifestyle is super exciting. (it's Mariana's Trench if anyone cares. lol)
Yesterday I also hit my Protein goals and actually never felt sick once, so that's awesome! Still being gentle with myself, still focusing on softer food since I threw up the other day. Everyone's art looks awesome!

I've had severe depression, anxiety and ADHD for pretty much my whole life. It's fairly well controlled now, but I did notice a drop in mood after surgery. My therapist and psych had a pretty good idea of why, and I didn't need to up any of my medications because of it.
We qualify for this surgery for a reason. They do not approve people who have healthy, normal relationships with food for this surgery. And even if they did, the severe restriction and recovery that comes with the surgery is enough to make anyone feel self-conscious, upset and other'd. An entire coping mechanism for stress is gone; food.
Take each day at a time. Don't worry that you'll 'be/feel like this forever', don't focus on what you'll feel like tomorrow or the next day. Focus on the here and now. If you're feeling depressed, think. Did you have enough Water? Protein? Have you seen the sun, been outside, talked to a human being? If none of that's helped, take a shower, put on fresh clothes, watch silly animal videos.
You've mentioned your friend passed recently and I'm so sorry to here that. I think these things can help, even if you weren't having surgery. You can do this, and when you come out the other side all the struggling will be worth it. Your friend would be very proud of you. ❤️

Happy Friday!!!!
Yesterday was a bit of a bust on the yoga front, I had a psych appointment and got some pretty upsetting news about a friend. So yesterday I wallowed in self-pity and impulse purchased stickers from Walmart, target AND cvs to make myself feel better.
So, tonight I'm going to yoga before going to see La Llorona tonight with friends. And tomorrow is a concert my chosen brother and I are taking a road trip to Boston to go see. I'm very excited; the last time I saw the band I was at my heaviest weight. One of their songs from the last album says "nothing will change if you never choose", and that's what I wrote on all my pre-op paperwork to motivate myself. So getting to see them again with their new album, with my new lifestyle is super exciting. (it's Mariana's Trench if anyone cares. lol)
Yesterday I also hit my Protein goals and actually never felt sick once, so that's awesome! Still being gentle with myself, still focusing on softer food since I threw up the other day. Everyone's art looks awesome!

Happy Friday!!!!
Yesterday was a bit of a bust on the yoga front, I had a psych appointment and got some pretty upsetting news about a friend. So yesterday I wallowed in self-pity and impulse purchased stickers from Walmart, target AND cvs to make myself feel better.
So, tonight I'm going to yoga before going to see La Llorona tonight with friends. And tomorrow is a concert my chosen brother and I are taking a road trip to Boston to go see. I'm very excited; the last time I saw the band I was at my heaviest weight. One of their songs from the last album says "nothing will change if you never choose", and that's what I wrote on all my pre-op paperwork to motivate myself. So getting to see them again with their new album, with my new lifestyle is super exciting. (it's Mariana's Trench if anyone cares. lol)
Yesterday I also hit my Protein goals and actually never felt sick once, so that's awesome! Still being gentle with myself, still focusing on softer food since I threw up the other day. Everyone's art looks awesome!

Happy Friday!!!!
Yesterday was a bit of a bust on the yoga front, I had a psych appointment and got some pretty upsetting news about a friend. So yesterday I wallowed in self-pity and impulse purchased stickers from Walmart, target AND cvs to make myself feel better.
So, tonight I'm going to yoga before going to see La Llorona tonight with friends. And tomorrow is a concert my chosen brother and I are taking a road trip to Boston to go see. I'm very excited; the last time I saw the band I was at my heaviest weight. One of their songs from the last album says "nothing will change if you never choose", and that's what I wrote on all my pre-op paperwork to motivate myself. So getting to see them again with their new album, with my new lifestyle is super exciting. (it's Mariana's Trench if anyone cares. lol)
Yesterday I also hit my Protein goals and actually never felt sick once, so that's awesome! Still being gentle with myself, still focusing on softer food since I threw up the other day. Everyone's art looks awesome!

I was looking at pictures I took of myself last year and I couldn't believe how much of a difference there was in my face! I always feel like my face never changed because I have loose skin on my neck and chin, but WOW.

Having surgery next Tuesday May 7th, 2019

I’m a queer-identifying transman. I’m considering getting surgery, specifically sleeve.

I was looking at pictures I took of myself last year and I couldn't believe how much of a difference there was in my face! I always feel like my face never changed because I have loose skin on my neck and chin, but WOW.

I was looking at pictures I took of myself last year and I couldn't believe how much of a difference there was in my face! I always feel like my face never changed because I have loose skin on my neck and chin, but WOW.

Camping and hiking, for sure!! I also really love bonfires, just ones that don't involve food because the idea of a bear coming to find me isn't fun. I grew up in an area where there were bears like...everywhere. So it's always been an actual concern. lol.

Camping and hiking, for sure!! I also really love bonfires, just ones that don't involve food because the idea of a bear coming to find me isn't fun. I grew up in an area where there were bears like...everywhere. So it's always been an actual concern. lol.

I wasn't on blood thinners either before or after surgery, but I bruise like a hot-house orchid now! lol. I was carrying groceries up the hill to my apartment and my arm looks like I was assaulted by a very large army of polly-pocket sized people. I have bruises the size of golf-balls on my shins from walking into stuff. I'm not very graceful, and it's showing!!

I've had severe depression, anxiety and ADHD for pretty much my whole life. It's fairly well controlled now, but I did notice a drop in mood after surgery. My therapist and psych had a pretty good idea of why, and I didn't need to up any of my medications because of it.
We qualify for this surgery for a reason. They do not approve people who have healthy, normal relationships with food for this surgery. And even if they did, the severe restriction and recovery that comes with the surgery is enough to make anyone feel self-conscious, upset and other'd. An entire coping mechanism for stress is gone; food.
Take each day at a time. Don't worry that you'll 'be/feel like this forever', don't focus on what you'll feel like tomorrow or the next day. Focus on the here and now. If you're feeling depressed, think. Did you have enough Water? Protein? Have you seen the sun, been outside, talked to a human being? If none of that's helped, take a shower, put on fresh clothes, watch silly animal videos.
You've mentioned your friend passed recently and I'm so sorry to here that. I think these things can help, even if you weren't having surgery. You can do this, and when you come out the other side all the struggling will be worth it. Your friend would be very proud of you. ❤️