elsie77

Broke the 80lb mark today, almost at 250 (which opens up a whole new world of ladders I can safely climb!). I didn’t think I looked that different until I did this side by side, probably the first time since surgery I’ve really looked at pics of me “before.” Even though I’m not at my goal I’m just dumbfounded at the change to be honest. FYI I never once wore that shirt, it was a 3xl and assumed it would fit, so it’s been hanging sadly in my closet ever since. I tried on a size large regular shirt and it fit!!! Crazy, not even in high school could I have done that. I’m tall so I will still probably need to get some new clothes from a big and tall store but at least I’ll only be there for half of that. As every says, wish I did this years ago.

I weighed in at 321 on my surgery day and today I weighed in at 221. So I'm officially down 100 pounds since surgery and have just 41 more left to lose! 😊

395lbs now 185lbs

Not sure how giving a positive recommendation can be considered ‘fans taking it too far’. I don’t know what you hold against him, but the ‘hero-worshipping’ you refer to might be from reading multiple positive reviews from people living a better life as a result of having surgery with Dr. Chris. During my research I didn’t find as much good feedback on any other European surgeon. You are entitled to your opinion obviously but please don’t bad mouth a surgeon you haven’t actually met or had an experience with.
Best of luck with your research and your journey.

Hi GenevaCH, I was revising from a band so this was the surgeons recommendation. I couldn’t go with sleeve as the band leaves scar tissue so the pouch is left bigger as a result. I didn’t even think of the RNY to be honest. The same surgeon put my band in and I trusted his opinion 100%. (But I did do my own research). He said it gave his patients the best lifestyle in terms of socializing etc. It was also cheaper than the RNY. And the fact that it’s reversible also played a big part. This is the group I went with: www.belgiumsurgeryservices.com

Not Eastern Europe but I highly recommend Dr. Chris DeBruyne in Belgium. I had MGB with him in January and I’m down nearly 60lbs already. There have been no complications and everything has been easier than I ever imagined. I had a lapband removed at the same time. Any questions, feel free to ask.

This WHOLE ENTIRE POST IRKS ME. Funny how, a person who has been Obese, has the audacity to get on WLS Forum to ridicule people on their journey. You are still in your honeymoon phase of your surgery and Good For You, that you lost your excess weight, and Good For You that you had the "mental stamina" to achieve your goals and Good For You that you are "healthy and skinny". But without your WLS surgery, would you be able to stand on your high horse and scream down to the people who were once in the same boat about their struggles? This Forum, from what I know, is to help people on their journey; good, bad or indifferent. I personally, like the authenticity of posts, where people are brave enough to admit their struggles and downfalls. At least, they are willing to admit their faults and seek help. You never know what post can help somebody with the same issue. Everyone that has gone through a WLS are well aware that this road is NOT easy. This community already receives, judgement, criticisms and ridicule from other people. It's just a hard pill to swallow when its one of our "own".

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.

Hey! Long time no see. I know I was here a lot right before and after surgery asking lots of questions but work got the better of me and I've switched jobs and just haven't had the time. However, I wanted to check back in and let everyone know how I was doing. Recap of my stats below.
HW: 353 (measured but I'm sure I was in the 370's before)
SW: 327 - Surgery Date 10/22/19
CW: 204
GW: 190?
Yup - 123 pounds down since surgery and I'm still losing. My original goal was 210 so I would be overweight and not obese (by BMI) but after doing research and realizing that most people hit a low number and then settle about 10-15 pounds up from that I'm now shooting for 190 or below by my 1 year anniversary so I can hopefully settle long term around 200.
I've gone from a 3XL shirt and size 50 pant to a L or M in shirt and size 34 pant as of last week! The pandemic and quarantine has actually helped me - I've taken up running and I've almost got my 5k time under 30 mins! I used to take 30 mins to walk 2 miles (which was still a fast pace).
No complications and it seems there's nothing I can't tolerate food wise. I'm back on coffee without issue and dairy and red meats pose no problem. I've had pizza, Pasta, rice and more post-op - just in smaller servings and AFTER I eat my Protein.
Tips? Do your research! I'm amazed at some of the questions - both on here and on a FB group. I swear some gastric sleeve surgeons and groups just herd people in and teach them nothing! Water and protein from day 1 - focus on getting them in. My water intake is around 128 oz daily, sometimes more. It helps a TON. Simple is best - don't over complicate things trying to get protein in. I'm lucky that I don't mind eating the same thing day after day so that's kinda what I plan out.
I'm here for any questions anyone may have! Thanks!

Had my band to MGB on 14th Jan. Doing great. Down about 20lb from surgery date. Have had no issues at all, never an issue getting Water down. 2 weeks liquid and nearly finished 2 weeks blended. It’s been easier than I thought, especially compared to eating with the band. Only thing I worry about is the amount I can eat already. As I went from band to bypass the surgeon had to leave a bigger pouch. I feel I can eat a lot and be hungry again quite quickly. Hopefully this will change when I move to more solid food. I’m surprised I feel hungry quite a bit, and not just head hunger.

I just made 1 year out of sleeve surgery still a work in process

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.

Still trying to get there

Just broke 3 week stall & scaled moved! HW 286 SW 245 CW 173

Im no longer just alive, im actually living now. This was an experience ill never forget and i cant wait to go again. This has always been one of my goals but i was too heavy to do it. Making dreams become reality. Im loving this whole process.

I wanted to share a "time lapse" of pictures of my transformation over the past 3 years 7/2017 - 5/2020. I have lost weight, exercised and I have my life back and I am living it again. All of us are here to fight this demon and I wanted to show my pictures as encouragement to show it can happen. Will I be a size 2? Probably not, but I am happier than ever with my life and myself. I am currently pursuing removing my stomach skin with my original surgeon due to recurrent abdominal and navel infections. We shall see what the insurance says about it all.
💗

This is a picture taken about a month before my surgery

Why do people continue to read his comments let alone react to them...

It was a damm JOKE. Sarcasm! Don’t claim to be an expert. This isn’t the first time you’ve come across in a snarky know it all way. I’ve seen it. Don’t act like you’ll never have/think of pizza or ice cream or a damm cookie. It’s life. You’re not an expert or you wouldn’t be here with us. This isn’t my first rodeo ... I was joking with someone who had a recipe I never heard of. I also meant that I can’t have ricotta. Why is that bad to prep myself before hand to a newer way of life moving forward from a sleeve.

I started off at 315 pounds in October of 2017. I list 35 pounds in almost two years on my own before surgery. In August 2019, I had gastric sleeve surgery and have lost another 90 pounds so that I am down a total of 125 pounds. I only have the two headshots but can’t get over the difference. (I used to avoid getting my picture taken). I lost a second chin and discovered my clavicle. I have gone from a 3X to a L in clothes.
My only regret is that I didn’t have the surgery sooner. The second picture is from my 6th month follow up and I was at 205 at the time. I am averaging about 5 pounds a month weight loss.

Ok y’all are so nice I’ll throw my goal pic in. This is a Large shirt. I’m about 10 pounds away from it. This is my goal. To confidently buy Large shirts and stay in 34 inch jeans. Happy Friday Y’all!!!

#SpaceX ready to fly to the sky

My original surgery time was suppose to be the around the end of March. Like many others I was postponed until further notice. On April 25th I started having horrible abdominal pain. It got so bad that I ended up going to the emergency room late that evening. Well due to having some of my pre-op testing already done (in January) I had found out that my gallbladder was in what the nurse referred to as “yucky conditions” and she was surprised that I wasn’t having any pain then. So after a quick google search the only thing I could assume was wrong was I was having a gallbladder attack! I had never experienced anything like it before, it was awful!
So, while in the emergency room I found out that my Bariatric surgeon was the on-call surgeon for the night and he said wanted to see me in his office on Tuesday (April 28). So the ER doc prescribed me antibiotics and pain medicine and sent me on my way. On Tuesday my husband takes me to see my surgeon and we discuss taking out the gallbladder. When my husband says that he should just go ahead and do my surgery AND take out my gallbladder at the same time. When my surgeon says that he would like to do it that way but gastric bypass is considered an “elective surgery” and he can’t do that. So my husband says he just doesn’t see why I would have to go under anesthesia twice when it wasn’t really necessary. So my surgeon makes some calls and tells me that he has been approved to do both the gallbladder removal AND the gastric bypass because the president of surgery doesn’t find it necessary to undergo anesthesia more than one time if it could be avoided! So they finished my pre-op testing and schedule me for next Thursday May 14th. The only thing that could stand in the way was my H Pylori test....I’ve been waiting to hear my results from that for a week. Well I just got my results today and I am cleared for surgery!! I AM HAVING MY SURGERY NEXT THURSDAY!!!! I am feeling so many different things right now....I am definitely scared and nervous...but more than anything I’m excited!

This week marks 1 year post op and I am down 112lbs and holding pretty steady. I lost 100lbs the first 6 months and it was too easy. I knew it would not go on forever like that and to enjoy it while it lasted. The past 6 months things have been much more of a grind. Im still not at goal weight but I am happier with myself. To be completely honest I did this without any regular exercise, im not proud of this but I think its important. I know I would be at the goal weight if I were exercising. I removed all obstacles that I thought were in the way but Im still not doing it. Weight loss chart below to give everyone an idea what the rate of loss looks like. I think my results are fairly typical.

Day 4 of my 14 day quarantine. Bring in the golden tan