lzucks

Now I want to exercise , but...

I got rid of my “big clothes” because I made the decision to get rid or my “big” life. It was incredibly freeing to uncover the new slender person underneath. She dresses well, takes care of herself and others, and thoroughly enjoys life. The old clothes wouldn’t fit her body or her personality.

Yes, I have some loose skin, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. I am 64 years old and I lost all my weight in 7 months and looked pretty saggy, but it has actually tightened up in the past 5 months. I lived in continual pain before surgery. I cannot remember a minute that I did not have back, knee, hip, and foot pain. I already had one knee replacement and was becoming more immobile from pain in the un-operated knee. It was due to be done very soon. Since losing the first 50 pounds, I have had NO PAIN! NONE! My un-operated knee has actually expanded in the joint space, whereas before it was bone on bone. I walk, hike, swim, and bike with no pain.
I also got the doctor's blessing to discontinue my C-PAP, as my extreme sleep apnea is GONE, as is my asthma, GERD, and high blood pressure. My blood sugar, HDL and triglycerides and all normal now. I didn't get any fungal infections in my skin folds last summer! My thighs don't rub together now, so no chaffing when I wear a dress. I can ride my mule, get off the floor by myself, and keep up with my grand kids. I could go on and on and on about how my life has changed since WLS. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself.
A little loose skin? Really? Who cares? Not me. I have my life and health back and loose skin is such a small price to pay for all I have gained. People tell me all the time how good I look, and that I look younger, even with loose skin.

once you lose the weight, you'll wonder why you wasted even one brain cell worrying about loose skin. I would take loose skin ANY DAY over weighing my former 373 lbs. ANY FREAKING DAY!!!

💚CONGRATULATIONS💚
we are going to need a proper fashion show in honor of your Surgiversary, its a very special day

I absolutely agree.
I'd like to add that there is nothing wrong with the female/human body. It's a normal, natural thing. The idea of what one should/shouldn't do or wear are just social constructs, and they change over time. Plus, pssssst - look up Jane Fonda's body painting spread. And, I'd like to add that showing her body has NEVER been a problem for her. And it shouldn't be. I have a ton of respect for people with the confidence and self love to do what they want like that.
This brings up something that has been on my mind with the "ideal" discussion. A bit of background: I was super obese my entire adult life. Either dieting or feeling ashamed because I wasn't dieting and "should" have been. While having an "ideal" is a fun exercise, it's really not something I'm serious about.
My work right now is not changing my body into what I think I want it to be, and never being satisfied with it, to learning to love who I am now while still doing the stuff I love (I actually love weightlifting and running).
Of course within that is a balance, I'm going to have plastics in a couple of years to reconstruct my stomach (and probably my boobs). But I don't want to keep chasing some major ideal. I want some peace, and I want to model that to my students.
I know that we all have our own goals and our own wants. That's great and awesome and part of what makes us all unique and such a fun group. These are just some thoughts I'm having as I process what it means to choose to be in maintenance.

Love the rowing machine. I mix it up with the treadmill and elliptical to get some variety in my cardio. My program is ok with carbonated sugar free drinks as long as they don’t make you uncomfortable. I’m a year and a half post-op and haven’t tried it yet...

Annual party

Why would you drink Gatorade with sugar when there is Gatorade Zero? I don’t want to tell you what to do but you may want to reconsider drinking ANY drinks with sugar if you’re serious about losing weight and being healthy.

Why would you drink Gatorade with sugar when there is Gatorade Zero? I don’t want to tell you what to do but you may want to reconsider drinking ANY drinks with sugar if you’re serious about losing weight and being healthy.

Why would you drink Gatorade with sugar when there is Gatorade Zero? I don’t want to tell you what to do but you may want to reconsider drinking ANY drinks with sugar if you’re serious about losing weight and being healthy.

Why would you drink Gatorade with sugar when there is Gatorade Zero? I don’t want to tell you what to do but you may want to reconsider drinking ANY drinks with sugar if you’re serious about losing weight and being healthy.

I think its because generally, the weight loss sort of triggers a confidence thing in you and you begin to realize your worth, which in turn makes you more likely to reject those who don't.

Where do I start???? I got my knee replacement when I was only in my 50's because I couldn't walk bone-on-bone anymore. My other knee was in the same shape shortly after and another replacement was in the making. There was virtually no joint space left. My mobility was severely limited. I couldn't stand for prolonged periods and just walking 1/4 mile was nearly impossible.
100+ pounds gone - TA DA! NO MORE PAIN!!!!!!! My un-operated knee has NO PAIN!!!! Xrays show that the joint space has greatly expanded with all the weight off. I am now training for my 2nd triathlon, and completed a 52 mile bicycle race in November. I am also training now toward a rim-to-rim (in one day - 24 miles) Grand Canyon hike - the bucket list item of all bucket lists! As part of that, I am hiking segments of the 830 mile Arizona Trail. I hope to complete all the segments in the next year.
So did taking off 113 pounds make a difference in my pain? WHAT PAIN????? My knees don't hurt, my back doesn't hurt, my feet don't hurt. I am getting a little flair up of some bursitis in one hip, but that is because of training, not extra weight.
I have my life back! I only wish I had done it sooner!

Seems crazy high. They should negotiate with you significantly since you’re paying mostly out of pocket.

Seems crazy high. They should negotiate with you significantly since you’re paying mostly out of pocket.

I've had several colonoscopies through the years--this is just the first after my RNY. I probably should call my bariatric surgeon's office to see if there is anything in the prep peculiar to bypass patients.
Izucks, the prep sheet I have has the same directions as the one you posted.

YES!!! Most importantly i feel amazing. No doubt about it.

@jg7979 hang in there. I am 16 months post op, maintaining my weight loss and the comments have slowed to a trickle. No one said anything at my family Christmas get-together, which was fine by me!

I’m so sorry you’re being treated like this. I would agree with others that you don’t want someone like this in your life. I’d also suggest a therapist to help you with moving on. I wish you all the best.

I’m so sorry you’re being treated like this. I would agree with others that you don’t want someone like this in your life. I’d also suggest a therapist to help you with moving on. I wish you all the best.

Thursday, I went in y daughter’s room and found a pair of jeans that I could wear (she’s 19 and has been smaller than me!) and my friend said they were still a little baggy!! #winning

It took a few months to even out, but my full trigger is in my throat - I literally feel like I’m hitting capacity. It means I can have pretty much one more bite (if I really want it) then I’m done. If I try more than that, it’s right in the edge of regurgitation.
What’s most remarkable to me is that other people have a “full signal” from birth. No wonder average weight people get frustrated and tell overweight people they should just stop eating - for them it’s not just a natural feeling, it’s UNNATURAL to keep eating past that trigger. As it is for me now. So they just think overweight people are uncontrollable gluttons who perversely eat past capacity even though it’s hurting them.
Very odd to realize that what I used to think of as casual cruelty (“well if you don’t want to be fat just STOP!”) is actually more like someone getting irritated that another person can’t differentiate blue from green, and assuming that person is just being stupid or stubborn, that they WON’T admit there’s a difference between the colors. But neither party realizes that it’s possible to be color blind.

@jg7979 hang in there. I am 16 months post op, maintaining my weight loss and the comments have slowed to a trickle. No one said anything at my family Christmas get-together, which was fine by me!

Look on the bright side, the "calories don't count during the holidays" people are gonna die before you.