ms.sss

walking & swimming!

meh. boredom comes and goes. if I remember correctly, at 1.5 yrs post op, I was just eating whatever, to the point of semi-fullness (I was very conscious of not getting too full cuz I knew would just end up barfing and that was not what I wanted to do). fortunately for me, I just so happen at the the time to be on salad binge...so yeah. I think that the issue most people get into are the ongoing attempts to make eating more fun and exciting. more satisfying, more yummy etc. and I think this is what got us into the obese/super obese/morbid obese categories. I know it all yeah, yeah, do this, do that, but honestly , the bottom line is you/me/we need to change our relationship with food. if we are constantly chasing that feel good eating moment, we are destined to end up where we started. find something else to satisfy that hole. or better yet, figure out why you have that hole to fill in the first place. but again, who am I to tell you what you need to do...only you can figure that out. good luck! ❤️ p.s. I am 7.5 years post op (omg crazy!) and I have maintained below goal weight this entire time. I eat whatever I want, but in very small quantaties (compared to a "normie"), and I exercise like a crazy/dedicated person, lol. not because I have to, but because I actually enjoy it, go figure. Height 5"1"; Starting weight 235lbs, Goal Weight 127lbs (achieved 7 months post op), Current Weight 105 lbs.

i dunno bout you guys but its been non stop eating and drinking for the past 10 days for me and mine. i've got waaay to many pics of food i could post, so i'll just settle for a pic of this monstrosity i'm about to dig into (after i finish my mimosa of course.) its a banana-nutella-brownie waffle with vanilla bean ice cream. it funny cuz now that its front of me i have already lost interest, go figure. am already thinking i should just order another mimosa.... hope everyone enjoyed/is enjoying/will enjoy this holiday season! xoxo

it's been a while, but i think my butt started hurting around month 3-4 and it was no longer an issue by 1.5-ish years post op what i understand NOW, its a result of a couple factors... tldr; its your posture; try sitting up straighter. when we were larger our front heavy stomachs naturally make our lower back arch (== bad posture) also when we were obese, our hip flexors were working overtime to support our larger frame, so they are TIGHT. after we lose the weight, this tightness still remains, but with nothing to actually hold up anymore, so we feel it more and componsate by rounding our back (== bad posture) fast forward to being smaller in such a small amount of time our bodies didn't have the opportunity to adjust as fast as our weight loss, and basically we have the posture bone structure/infrastructre of a much bigger person....we end up being really slouchy. the pain you are feeling is you sitting on your tail bone/coccyx from being slouchy. and you shouldn't be sitting on your tailbone...you should be sitting on your sit (sitz) bones. soooooo...try sitting up straighter. point your pelvis downward, not forward (so your weight is on your stiz not coccyx) stack your shoulders over your hips. keep both feet flat on the floor, with knees slightly higher than hips (use a stool if necessary) its not easy, it takes effort and will probably hurt your lower back more than your tailbone in the short term (if so, use a lumbar pillow until you build the strength). but its just for a little while until it becomes muscle memory. to help this along, stretch out your hip flexors regulary, and do some exercises to strengthen your lower back. good luck!

k, may not be the best food choice for some, but it was the best for me, omg: Guacamole with 2 chunks of deep fried pork belly and house made tortilla chips. probably one the top 5 things i've eaten this year. soooo yum. I ate the smaller pork belly on the left, about 1/3 the gauc and maybe 10 at most of the chips. i'll guess maybe 600-700 calories for what actually went into my stomach (i don't track my food like a crazy person anymore, but i think i can guess relatively accurately...) i also had an order of 3 tacos, but i didn't bother eating it cuz i wanted all my stomach real estate for this. again, YUM.

yep, we all messed up as some point. and yep, we are all fine. unless you are on the floor heaving atm, then you too will be fine. file this experience for the future and remember to check labels, if that is what you want to do. this whole process is about learning and adapting to what works for you so that you can get to where you want to be. now you know to check if you are having sugar free or not. good luck!

i realize its easy for me to say because i'm 7+ years out, but the one thing i wish i could somehow impart (successfully) to all those starting this process is that: THERE ARE NO RULES. we are all so different and what works for one person may or not make work for another. based on what i have seen and read over the years, the folks who are successful IN THE LONG TERM are those who are able to ADAPT. they change their behaviour based on their own current environment, not what it was like for them before, or what they think or were told it should be. these "successful" folks understand that things change, and that there are ups and downs and they don't spiral in the throes of it all. for this upcoming thanksgiving, IF you can, just listen to your body. if it can eat more, AND you really want to, then go ahead. if you can't, then don't. you will learn quickly what you can handle and how you feel after ingesting whatever you thought you could. remember how you felt and how your body responded and put this knowledge towards future situations. you are still early in the game. pay attention to what works and what doesn't and you'll be better armed for the future. remember: you WILL eff up. we all do/did. take it as a learning experience and keep on keeping on. good luck!

gonna contribute to my own thread, lol. I feel like the list is long for all the awesome things that WLS has set into motion, but if i had to choose the one single thing that epitomizes all that WLS has led me to achieve, it would be: unadulterated confidence. shedding the weight with the help of WLS allowed me to let go of my insecurities regarding my appearance so that could be all that i could be. i am no longer afraid nor shy nor wary nor hesitant to do anything and everything. i am basically how i was before i became obese times 100. this confidence in myself inadvertently improved my relationships with others. i am more patient, forgiving and fun. because i've let go of expectations from those around me as i honestly believe i can handle anything that comes my way. i am willing to try anything and everything and am having the time of my life exploring and discovering new things, places, people. and of course, im effing HAWT. It's weird because i was pretty HAWT back in the day before obesity, but for some reason i still remember feeling insecure and wanting back then. but not now. i'm HAWT and i know it, and i love it. I'm in my fifties and i am in the best shape of my life. I actually enjoy exercise and activity and seek it out. my weight loss allowed me to do a 180 away from diabetes and heart disease (i was per-diabetic and on medication for high cholesterol and high blood pressure 7 years ago but not anymore). my skin is fabulous (haven't had a pimple in 7 years!); my hair is thick and curly; i look amazing in anything, even a paper bag; mr. is more than satisfied with sexy times. i have energy for days. my stress levels are the lowest in recent memory if not ever in my adult life. live is good. scratch that, life is GREAT. how's that for bragging. **mic drop/**

everyone and their mother ALWAYS say DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS, and yet it is in our nature to do so, unfortunately. with that said, an 8.5kg loss in 5 weeks is really good. like, i mean, have you ever lost 8.5kg in 5 weeks before? and if you did, have you ever KEPT IT OFF? you are doing great. you WILL lose the weight if you keep on keeping on. TRY not to worry about the speed of it all, and focus on the fact that you are on a downward trend. and eventually, IF you keep on keeping on, you will get to where you where you need to be. so many folks on here stress about the speed of things. i promise you, if you stay the course, you will get there. may as well make the path there enjoyable by just giving yourself grace and time. some get there in 6 months, others get there in 2 years. either way, GETTING THERE is the goal, no matter how long it takes. good luck! ❤️

weight loss is much more affected by diet than exercise habits. regular exercise is good for overall health, body contouring and general feel-goodness, but its your diet that will ultimately dictate your rate of loss. make sure that your input (food intake) is always below your output (exercise efforts) and you will lose weight. note that if you are looking to build muscle or generate more heart health, that is a different story with different recommendations. but you specifically asked about weight loss, so.

For a change of pace from the threads about annoyances, irks, disappointments, fears, etc as a result our WLS, how about we keep a line open to remind ourselves all the AWESOME things that we have experienced, discovered and learned because of our WLS and the aftermath of it?? I have found that a lot of posts are skewed towards the negative 'round these parts, as generally those who are having problems or issues take the time to post, while those who are having a grand ole time don't because they don't seem to need the support and generally just drop off the boards. So maybe lets have a space here to remind those new to the process or in the throes of it that things CAN actually be really great. That yeah, it can be difficult at times, but it can also be really, really, AWESOME. No humble bragging, nor saying something is a "good" bad thing to have, just FULL ON, UNAPOLOGETIC BRAGGING and TOTAL CELEBRATION of all things that have enriched your life because of what WLS put into motion. Tag. You're it.

i used My Fitness Pal as well, but the paid version (the paid version allows timestamps and macro details). i did the paid version during weight loss phase and then went to the free version several months after hitting goal as i felt no longer needed the extra functionalities. stopped using it all together maybe around year 3 or 4 as i was able to go on autopilot by then. i'm 7 yrs out.

what where you expecting to lose, out of curiosity? (cuz 8.5kg in 5 weeks is pretty good, honestly.)

as part of the demographic who has very limited stomach real estate, i am pretty picky about what i put in that stomach. i don't have a lot of room, so i make a pretty good effort to make sure whatever i put in there was worth eating. im not one of those who eat just to give myself fuel, i eat to taste yum stuff and enjoy what i'm eating. with that said, i don't do buffets. in my opinion, way too much food that isn't really very good in the first place...its more about quantity than quality, right? i prefer to eat small bites of many (well cooked/conceived) things (tasting menus, dim sum, omakase, tapas, sharing menus, going to eat with large groups of friends/family so i can taste everyone's stuff, ordering a whole lotta apps to share vs. a regular 3-4 course meal. its true, my way of eating is probably more expensive, and "wasteful" in other's eyes, but i long ago resigned myself that i am not going to eat unenjoyable things just for the sake of eating. i'm going to enjoy what i eat, or im not going to eat at all (which is also a strategy i often employ...i'll go out to eat or parties and choose to just drink cuz i'm not interested in eating any of the food offerings). with that said, i do eat my fair amount of what many would consider junky and/or unhealthy. but i also eat yummy nutritious/healthy things as well. and it works for me. i'm 7 years out and i have stayed firmly below goal weight this entire time. In fact, i'm probably a little on the underweight side at the moment cuz i just came back from vacation (aside: i seem to always lose weight on vacay since wls...weird)...but i know i'll gain go back to my "regular" weight eventually, so it's all good. i do do some sort of dedicated exercise for AT LEAST an hour a day, mostly 2 hours a day, and sometimes 3-4 hrs a day. so i'm sure that helps counter my eating habits/drinking habits. sorry, i realize this was a really long post, lol. i'm feeling chatty today, ha!

if i remember correctly, i started feeling unreasonably cold around 1 month post op. and i think i was probably down 30-ish or so lbs since my 2 week pre-op diet (meaning i lost about 30-ish lbs in 6 weeks). this cold lasted for a couple years. i was always the only one wearing a sweater or a ridiculous number of layers or b*itching about how cold was wherever i went. the freezer aisle at the grocery store was my nemesis. then it got a little better, in the sense i would finally actually feel too warm sometimes and have to actually TAKE OFF my sweater (gasp! lol). i think i still run colder than most around me..as i speak im wearing a t-shirt, hoodie and joggers and socks and moccasins while Mr. is only wearing a pair of shorts.

i've been eating a version of this sandwich (well, more like a salad on a slice of toast lol) for the past 3 days. first, because its sooooooo good, and second because i made a whole jar of the green goddess dressing that i want to use up before it goes bad. the dressing is so delish: fresh basil, chives, taragon, lemon juice, garlic, greek yogurt and anchovies blitzed in a food processor. the recipe said to use some good mayo, but i didn't have any, so. anyway me and Mr. shared this work of art for breakfast, so yum. whole grain toast, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, fresh mozzerella, avocado, pickled onions, the aforementioned dressing, seasoned with black pepper and sumac. OH, and i added a heaping tablespoon of this bacon jam i made to add calories (also delish and easy to make: crispy bacon, carmelized onions and shallots, brown sugar, maple syrup, chili pepper simmered until jammy...YUMMMMM)

yep, yep, yep. I am 7 years out and i (unintentionally) just lost 5 lbs. in the past 3 weeks. Nothing says you can't lose weight except your actions. Granted, it may be harder for some people (who have obstacles stacked against them - age, genetics, mental/physical health, etc.) than others. Calories IN < Calories OUT = Loss of Body Mass. That's just science. again, yep, yep, yep. also, exercise makes you feel good. and when you FEEL good, you DO good.

i had a while lotta "skinny" clothes in varying sizes i kept from when i was smaller, so i cycled through those for the first 1-3 months. by the time i was ready to buy new clothes, i was able to buy "regular" sizes. i did have to buy new undies and bras like after the first month tho. as i kept dropping, i had to keep buying, so yeah, it does get expensive. but i love shopping and new clothes so...lol. i'd say buy a couple nice items every new size you get to just so you have something that FITS. you don't have to get a whole new wardrobe. pro tip: leggings + boyfriend shirts, wrap dresses, anything non-tailored or snug will last you longer. p.s. don't be surprised: you'll probably have to buy new shoes cuz your feet will shrink.

hoping you looking down on a pair of lovely arms this morning! let us know how you are ;)

ugh. i learned early in my WLS experience to take the things my "team" advised me with a grain of salt (i'm looking at you nurses, NUTs and dieticians in MY program, YMMV). It was obvious even in my pre-surgery appointments that they were reading from a script and dispensing a one-size-fits-all solution. um, i am not the same size as the lovely lady next to me, nor are we the same age, have the same metabolic makeup, genetics, weight history, mental state, etc, etc. i basically discovered what worked for me via trial and error - always letting them know what i was doing, and always being low-key scolded for doing so. ASIDE: On top of that they would also marvel at my weight loss as i progressed, so wtf, really. but i get it, they see hundreds of us a week, in 15 min increments, its difficult to give personalized attention. if i wanted personalized attention, i'd been better off hiring private assistance. but i didn't, so i went to my mandatory appts and just smiled and nodded. sorry you left that appt feeling sh*tty. she was looking at a number not at you. from what i have seen of you on here over the years, you are doing/have done marvellously. you've lost 200 lbs and maintaining. you've navigated up to now with no saltiness, you've displayed patience are not a huge stresser nor display huge anxiety, you provide helpful and encouraging advice to others kindly and funny ways, plus you look HAWT in that pink dress. was she out of line? maybe. do her words make you any less marvellous? hecks, no.

1) i didn't weigh myself for like a month (busy, was away, etc) and when i finally did, i was basically the same weight as my last recorded weight. i now bub myself the Maintenance Master, lol. 2) i totally did an un-assisted, no-wall backup, kick-to-headstand the other day and am super proud. 3) going on vacay for 2.5 weeks soon and ALL my clothes are so small that they all fit in a single carry-on. 4) Mr. carried me up the stairs (baby-style, not fireman-style, lol) last week cuz i was hammered...and told me the next morning it was as easy as carrying an ACTUAL baby lololzzzz. 5) and finally, the best WIN, in my opinion: i feel great, i love life, and i am up for anything.

yep. i'm like 5'1" (shrunk from 5'2") and 105 lbs. ...and I am a size Medium in the awesome dress my DIL got for me from Japan. ...meanwhile XXS is still kinda big on me in one of my fave retail stores in my neck of the (Canadian) woods: Zara. so yeah, don't put too much significance on the size tag of your clothes. stick to what your tape measure says!

track when you can, don't stress when you can't (or just don't want to). some is better than nothing. nothing is better than stress, ha! the ultimate goal is to handle all of this on auto-pilot, sans stress. enjoy your trip!

short answer: yes, stairs were doable for me with little to no pain so long as i hunched over. long answer: anything that involved me straightening out my abdomen or otherwise engaging my abdominals was "challenging" (think: getting up from a laying down or sitting position, twisting my torso, like in reaching to put on my seatbelt, sneezing or coughing, etc). i took pain meds while in the hospital (one day) but didnt even bother to fill my Rx for when i went home. i may have taken a regular tylenol or two, but that was it. my pain was not the end of the world, but definitely involved some effort and deep breathing. and probably lasted less than a week, if i remember correctly (my surgery was back in 2018). in the grand scheme of things, the recovery pain was a tiny, uneventful, minuscule blip of it all, and honestly would gladly go through it all again a gazillion times over for everything i got out of it. good luck! ❤️

my heart rate went way down as well. i was probably at resting heart rate of 80-90 when i was super morbid obese (BMI 43)...and if i walked up a single flight of stairs it probably shot up to 140! dont know for sure as i never measured, but it sure felt like it!! anyway about 3 weeks post wls, my resting heart dropped to like 40-50 for about 7 or months or so (if i remember correctly). while i wasnt tired or drained-feeling...quite the contrary, actually i was energizer bunny energized, i was prone to mild fainting if i got up too quickly. since then (about 6 years ago!) my resting heart rate has pretty much been at around 60 (give or take a couple beats). not sure if it was just a coincidence, but low heart rate condition started its upward trend to where i am now around about the time i started the transition into maintenance. ??‍♀️ p.s. btw, my doc was at no point concerned, and all my labs always came back satisfactorily. p.p.s. just checked..at 61 but i did just eat butter and toast.. p.p.p.s ok, just asked my husband if an HRV 27 is good or bad and he said its low for my activity level despite my age (i..e., not good) oopsies.