PollyEster

It’s been 10 years .... I am healthier now and got more energy to spend with my children! With 5 kids ages from 28 to 9 is very exhausting but rewarding! Losing all the weight made me live longer for them. This is the best decision I have ever made in my life! To all of you who are in this journey.... congratulations! You are doing great!

18-month difference between these two photos.
I was sleeved on 10/30 at 268 lbs. I’m now 160...down from a sz 20 to a 6/8 and feel amazing!
Best decision ever!

Lifes good....

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I can’t wait to be able to post before and after pics. All of you are inspirational.

The photo that kick-started my motivation VS current. I'm about 2.5 years post-WLS and about 14 months post-skin removal surgery.

I’m almost 4 years out, had sleeve done. I’m down 122lbs and maintaining well. I still have cravings that I have to fight. I make sure to get my Water, Protein and Vitamins in everyday.

Ah, silence...the hallmark of yummy food...

I'm also still frustrated with my body and I can't think of a person I know (be it a woman or a man) who isn't to some degree. It runs rampant in our society.
One has to learn to live with imperfections and limitations.

OMG, the pictures look awesome, LOL.
🤤

Carnitas for lunch today sprinkled with lime juice.

More salad...i know, i know, getting repetitive. I’ll make sure my next salad posting looks a little different, lol
Romaine & vinaigrette , carrots, cucumbers, baked chicken breast, feta, seedless grapes, spicy roast peanuts & chilli garlic condiment.
402 calories (the feta and peanuts upped the calorie counts this time...but sooo yum, so sooo worth it 😉)
...am eating as we speak, so dunno where i’ll end up...

In her essay, Gay described the decision to have bariatric surgery as "the last straw", clearly a pragmatic choice shaped by a lifetime of cultural and personal indignities and abuses. Her exquisite honesty is balm for a crude world, and a lesson in humanity.
Attitudes and decisions about weight, body image, and health are profoundly personal, but burdened and fraught. Many people make the arrogant assumption that they have a vote in what obese strangers – particularly women – decide to do (or not do) with their bodies, something Gay herself doesn’t subscribe to. She's never condemned the choices of other women, advocates for (and fully embodies) having painfully honest conversations, and makes it abundantly clear that she has "nothing but empathy for anyone who decides on weight loss surgery... or not."
Weight management, including bariatric surgery, is a complex, multifactorial decision, just as obesity is a complex, multifactorial disease. It should begin and end with respect for the individual, with the goal of improving health – nothing more, nothing less.
It was the right decision for me at the right time in my life, but I fully identify with the ambivalence, the resentment, the resistance to surrendering, and the replacement of one set of anxieties with another – and this is without the unimaginable, colossal pressure of worrying about publicly betraying fat positivity.

Honestly I'm on the fence with this one. I've seen unhealthy eating and/or exercise behavior promoted often enough on WLS boards or weight loss boards in general.
Support groups, be it one IRL or an online one can be very helpful. However, they can also be highly toxic environments. People seeking support should be aware of their own inner reactions and act accordingly. I for sure do.
Ever seen how the reactions to these posts are? Way too often plain smug, arrogant and downright insensitive. Who would want to talk about struggling and regain in such an environment? Not me.

Qualifications on paper are nice, but wouldn't want anyone cutting me without hands on experience...and a lot of it!

Girlfriend IMHO
Go with a surgeon who has flawlessly performed hundreds of DS (not none)
Otherwise both RNY & VSG are comparable UNLESS you already have heartburn/GERD (go with RNY in that case)
Good Luck ❤

You have difficult decisions to make and it’s completely understandable that you’re obsessing about all of it – how could you not? I, too, am a strong advocate of the “think a million times, cut once” philosophy.
With regard to being a pioneer patient, from extensive research conducted prior to my own bariatric surgery, and as a medical scientist, please allow me to offer an assessment: no surgeon would select a ultra-low or even low-volume surgeon for him-/herself or his/her relatives for any surgery.
The correlation between high volume and quality of surgical outcomes is empirically well documented, meaning that the outcome of every surgical procedure is directly dependent on the number of operations performed at a given hospital as well as by the designated surgeon. In other words, the higher the number of operations of a specific type a surgeon performs, the more likely optimum treatment results and low complication rates are achieved. This fact is supported by a large volume* of studies and meta-analyses that have been conducted, peer-reviewed, and published between 1979 and 2019.
Because of comorbidities and lower cardiopulmonary reserve thresholds, bariatric patients are often high risk patients. In complex procedures like bariatric surgery – and particularly with riskier procedures such as RYGB, BPD/DS, and SIPS – it is worth paying extra attention to the correlation of procedure-specific skills of the surgeon and the complication rate.
Since you’re several months away from surgery, I’d encourage you to keep researching extensively, and talk with as many people as possible who have recently had DS and VSG, and particularly those who are at least 5 years out from both surgeries. I hope that by the time you reach a final decision, you’re able to do so with clarity and a sense of ease. Wishing you all the very best!
******
*A small sampling of available data includes:
1. Zevin B, Aggarwal R, Grantcharov TP: Volume-outcome association in bariatric surgery: a systematic review. Ann Surg 2012;256:60-67.
2. Nguyen NT, Paya M, Stevens CM, Mavandadi S, Zainabadi K, Wilson SE: The relationship between hospital volume and outcome in bariatric surgery at academic medical centers. Ann Surg 2004;240:586-593; discussion 593-594.
3. Birkmeyer NJ, Dimick JB, Share D, Hawasli A, English WJ, Genaw J, Finks JF, Carlin AM, Birkmeyer JD; Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative: Hospital complication rates with bariatric surgery in Michigan. JAMA 2010;304:435-442.
4. Birkmeyer JD, Finks JF, O'Reilly A, Oerline M, Carlin AM, Nunn AR, Dimick J, Banerjee M, Birkmeyer NJ; Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative: Surgical skill and complication rates after bariatric surgery. N Engl J Med 2013;369:1434-1442.
5. Chowdhury MM, Dagash H, Pierro A: A systematic review of the impact of volume of surgery and specialization on patient outcome. Br J Surg 2007;94:145-161.
6. Luft HS, Bunker JP, Enthoven AC: Should operations be regionalized? The empirical relation between surgical volume and mortality. N Engl J Med 1979;301:1364-1369.
7. Birkmeyer JD, Siewers AE, Finlayson EVA, Stukel TA, Lucas FE, Batista I, Welch HG, Wennberg DE: Hospital volume and sugical mortality in the United States. N Engl J 2002;346:1128-1137.
8. Amato L, Colais P, Davoli M, Ferroni E, Fusco D, Minocci S, Moirano F, Sciatella P, Vecchi S, Ventura M, Perucci CA: Volume and health outcomes: evidence from systematic reviews and from evaluation of Italian hospital data (Article in Italian). Epidemiol Prev 2013;37(suppl 2):1-100.
9. Pieper D, Mathes T, Neugebauer EAM, Eikermann M: State of evidence on the relationship between high-volume hospitals and outcomes in surgery: a systematic review of systematic reviews. J Am Coll Surg 2013;216:1015-1025.
10. Al-Sahaf M, Lim E: The association between surgical volume, survival and quality of care. J Thorac Dis 2015;7(suppl 2):152-155.
11. Maruthappu M, Duclos A, Lipsitz RS, Orgill D, Carty MJ: Surgical learning curves and operative efficiency: a cross-specialty observational study. BMJ Open 2015;5:e006679.
12. Schrag D, Panageas KS, Riedel E, Cramer LD, Guillem JG, Bach PB, Begg CB: Hospital and surgeon procedure volume as predictors of outcome following GI resection. Ann Surg 2002;236:583-592.

Yesterday was Canada Day. There were no public celebrations because of the pandemic, but we spent most of the day with friends who are part of our small social bubble. I brought a picnic-style lunch for everyone: vegan banh mi with oil-free cannellini bean miso mayo in coconut wraps, green salad with oil-free blueberry vinaigrette, and various flavours of smoothies. We ate grilled peaches with orange blossom Water, pistachios, and tofu ricotta for dessert.
Most of my friends are foodies, and a few are chefs. A vegan chef made dinner, so it was fairly spectacular: kale Caesar salad with roasted chickpea croutons, smashed roasted potatoes with garlic avocado aioli (I skipped this), and black bean, mushroom and walnut burgers with caramelized onions and roasted Tomato chutney (sugarless) on raw dehydrated onion and mixed seed (pepitas, sunflower seeds, flax seed, psyllium husk) zero carb Buns. Dinner was lovely, but I enjoyed not having to make it even more. We ended the day with homemade raw vegan coconut ice cream bars (sans caramel; I only had one bite). Whew!
Even though I still can't -- and don't want to -- eat much, participating in a food-focused social gathering was exhausting. This formerly well-worn neural superhighway of mine has been "road closed / detour" since surgery, and will remain that way save for one or two days per year, at most.

The amount, and speed, of weight loss in the first six months after bariatric surgery is mainly determined by genes, so one person's results are in no way predictive of anyone else's. There are gender-specific differences in weight loss that you'll also likely benefit from.
Genetic expression, however, is dependent upon environment, so we can all help our DNA along after surgery -- and for the rest of our lives -- by following key evidence-based bariatric rules such as no liquids 30 mins before or after meals, staying hydrated, practicing Portion Control, mindful eating, Protein first veggies second, chewing food extremely well before swallowing, not slipping back into old eating behaviours and food habits, reading labels if you eat packaged foodstuffs, getting in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity per week, getting enough sleep, and taking all of the required Vitamin and mineral supplements.
Wishing you well with your surgery!

I began the WLS process 16 months ago at 292lbs. I lost 50 lbs during the 6 month wait for surgery by following a 1100 kcal/day whole-foods plant based lifestyle (which I'd already been following for over 6 years), and exercising at least 150 minutes per week (beginning with daily yoga and simply walking as far as I could each day, slowly working up to 10,000 steps/day and adding weight training, cycling, hill hiking, and indoor rowing). After surgery, I reached my goal weight in 7 months, and am continuing to lose rapidly without the slow-down that is commonly experienced at the 6 month mark. Currently, I have lost not only 100% of my EBW, but 58% of my entire body weight. I now expect to reach the weight I was in high school, 112-114 lbs, and to maintain long-term in the 115-120lb range.
The rapid loss window after surgery is finite: only about 6 months. How much weight one loses in those 6 months is primarily determined by genes, but all gene expression is dependent upon environmental variables, so I did everything I possibly could to maximize loss during that time. For me that meant: Protein first veggies second; eating only nutrient-dense whole, clean, plant-based foods (meaning no processed or packaged foods, no animal products, no nutrient-poor foods); staying hydrated; waiting 30 mins before and 45 mins after drinking to eat; consuming no more than 600-800 kcal/day; practicing portion control; being mindful while eating and chewing food extremely well before swallowing; no snacking or grazing or emotional eating; weighing and tracking all food; taking all of the required Vitamin and mineral supplements; weighing myself daily; using a fitness tracker and logging all exercise; exercising upwards of 15 hours per week (because I really enjoy it; I never had to force myself); meditation; taking good care of my emotional and mental health, and sleeping 8 hours minimum per night.
I still do every single one of these things, except now I eat more (not too much, but enough to healthfully support my activity levels) and exercise more (upwards of 25 hours per week training for eventual distance cycling and triathlon events, as well as many other sports including weight training and squash especially). Though it's all just my regular, everyday, normal life now, I'm still only 8.5 months out from surgery, so it’s all relatively effortless. I'm fully committed to doing all of these things for the rest of my life, however. I will *never* forget how disabled I was -- how limited I was, and how limited my life was -- because of morbid obesity.
Edited to add: According to several bariatric experts that I've spoken with, the "honeymoon stage" basically ends when people resume some or all of their old habits: making poor food choices, eating too much, not exercising, and not following evidence-based best practices for long-term weight loss and maintenance (based on observing 5 and 10 year outcomes for hundreds of thousands of bariatric patients). Obesity is a disease and WLS is a treatment, not a cure. If you have heart disease and undergo a triple bypass but start eating burgers and fries again 6 months after surgery, you’re still going to die of heart disease because you’re not addressing the underlying cause of disease unless you change your diet and lifestyle.
50%-60% average weight loss after VSG is just that, an average. So if you don't want to end up with average results over either the short or long term, then definitely do not do what the average person does. Use the first year after surgery to entrench yourself in an entirely new way of eating and moving your body (including weight bearing exercises to build muscle), regularly examining what's working and what isn't, and adjusting or pivoting as needed over time to continue seeing the desired results.

The amount, and speed, of weight loss in the first six months after bariatric surgery is mainly determined by genes, so one person's results are in no way predictive of anyone else's. There are gender-specific differences in weight loss that you'll also likely benefit from.
Genetic expression, however, is dependent upon environment, so we can all help our DNA along after surgery -- and for the rest of our lives -- by following key evidence-based bariatric rules such as no liquids 30 mins before or after meals, staying hydrated, practicing Portion Control, mindful eating, Protein first veggies second, chewing food extremely well before swallowing, not slipping back into old eating behaviours and food habits, reading labels if you eat packaged foodstuffs, getting in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity per week, getting enough sleep, and taking all of the required Vitamin and mineral supplements.
Wishing you well with your surgery!

Yesterday was Canada Day. There were no public celebrations because of the pandemic, but we spent most of the day with friends who are part of our small social bubble. I brought a picnic-style lunch for everyone: vegan banh mi with oil-free cannellini bean miso mayo in coconut wraps, green salad with oil-free blueberry vinaigrette, and various flavours of smoothies. We ate grilled peaches with orange blossom Water, pistachios, and tofu ricotta for dessert.
Most of my friends are foodies, and a few are chefs. A vegan chef made dinner, so it was fairly spectacular: kale Caesar salad with roasted chickpea croutons, smashed roasted potatoes with garlic avocado aioli (I skipped this), and black bean, mushroom and walnut burgers with caramelized onions and roasted Tomato chutney (sugarless) on raw dehydrated onion and mixed seed (pepitas, sunflower seeds, flax seed, psyllium husk) zero carb Buns. Dinner was lovely, but I enjoyed not having to make it even more. We ended the day with homemade raw vegan coconut ice cream bars (sans caramel; I only had one bite). Whew!
Even though I still can't -- and don't want to -- eat much, participating in a food-focused social gathering was exhausting. This formerly well-worn neural superhighway of mine has been "road closed / detour" since surgery, and will remain that way save for one or two days per year, at most.

The amount, and speed, of weight loss in the first six months after bariatric surgery is mainly determined by genes, so one person's results are in no way predictive of anyone else's. There are gender-specific differences in weight loss that you'll also likely benefit from.
Genetic expression, however, is dependent upon environment, so we can all help our DNA along after surgery -- and for the rest of our lives -- by following key evidence-based bariatric rules such as no liquids 30 mins before or after meals, staying hydrated, practicing Portion Control, mindful eating, Protein first veggies second, chewing food extremely well before swallowing, not slipping back into old eating behaviours and food habits, reading labels if you eat packaged foodstuffs, getting in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity per week, getting enough sleep, and taking all of the required Vitamin and mineral supplements.
Wishing you well with your surgery!

Yesterday was Canada Day. There were no public celebrations because of the pandemic, but we spent most of the day with friends who are part of our small social bubble. I brought a picnic-style lunch for everyone: vegan banh mi with oil-free cannellini bean miso mayo in coconut wraps, green salad with oil-free blueberry vinaigrette, and various flavours of smoothies. We ate grilled peaches with orange blossom Water, pistachios, and tofu ricotta for dessert.
Most of my friends are foodies, and a few are chefs. A vegan chef made dinner, so it was fairly spectacular: kale Caesar salad with roasted chickpea croutons, smashed roasted potatoes with garlic avocado aioli (I skipped this), and black bean, mushroom and walnut burgers with caramelized onions and roasted Tomato chutney (sugarless) on raw dehydrated onion and mixed seed (pepitas, sunflower seeds, flax seed, psyllium husk) zero carb Buns. Dinner was lovely, but I enjoyed not having to make it even more. We ended the day with homemade raw vegan coconut ice cream bars (sans caramel; I only had one bite). Whew!
Even though I still can't -- and don't want to -- eat much, participating in a food-focused social gathering was exhausting. This formerly well-worn neural superhighway of mine has been "road closed / detour" since surgery, and will remain that way save for one or two days per year, at most.

After bariatric surgery 👍👍👍👍:
Before bariatric surgery 😂😂😂😂: