TheMoxieMama

4 oz curried salmon pâté (w/raisins and cranberries) and raw kale
Before and when restriction hit  
VSG2017 HW 249 SW 238 CW 167

💜💚Congratulations💚💜

BOTH Dr. Dana AND @Sophie7713 ROCK!
So happy that you are happy ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Congratulations 2Bsmaller! How are you doing? Are you happy with your results? Were you pleased with your surgeon? Where are you swelling? Do share a picture of the new you! ;]
Four months out now - I really have not dealt with much swelling at all accept in the first two weeks. My surgeon enlisted two policies that she believes reduces swelling from day one. She kept the drains in until no more fluids accumulated. Some do not use drains. For me, that was 10 days. And, I was asked to wear the compression garments full time for as long as I could stand them thus, protecting the incisions and the contouring process. She actually had to tell me to take them off now worried about indentations in my skin! Haha. I grew quite fond of this suit of armor (while many hated it)! I felt safe, comfy and compact in it while the healing took place. Suffice to say, I wore it probably 10 + weeks out or more. With the COVID on set, my last follow-up appointment was cancelled and plan to re-schedule soon. I believe wearing the garments helped the scars in their quality recovery, too. You would never know the nipples were re-attached on the new perky breasts. Scaring just is not that noticeable to me at all. I will talk with her to see if we should address my loose neck skin - but that maybe just an age thing (61) and best left natural? Not sure. I did carry a lot of extra weight in my face with a predominant double chin.
Will you engage in further plastics?

My go to shake is fairlife nutrition plan. It tastes the best (to me).

I love your style! Great colors and shapes. Especially love the purple top/black Adidas joggers, and the melon colored dress with the leather belt. Lovely pix of the Water lily pond and sunset. What part of Florida are you in? I'm a NY State transplant to VA; I've been here for 16 years.
I'm still pre-op, working my way through all the specialist appts. I have three more to go over the next month; fingers crossed. I suppose I should take some before pix soon. I've lost 15 pounds since I started the whole process.

Pre-op, I used Premier Protein and ensure, and like them both just fine.
Post-op, I discovered Fairlife Core Power and OMG, it's the best thing ever! I discovered it at Wawa, and now I get it from Amazon by the case!

Hello, all! I haven't posted in a while but I'm back (for now, hahaha). I had RNY in January 2019 and I'm sitting around 274. I've lost about 145 pounds since the surgery but I've been in a weird headspace about it since I'm not yet at goal. I think I put myself in maintenance and have gone back to basics in terms of lowering my caloric intake, watching my macros, and making sure I get at least 64 oz of Fluid in. Hopefully I hit goal by the time my 2 year surgiversary rolls around, but until then, I'm celebrating all of the small victories.
The best ones to date? I had a doctor's appointment today and the arm cuff fit around my upper arm! And my blood pressure was great, well within normal ranges! I was able to fit in the chair that you sit in to give blood. Being able to let that arm down and have ample space to get situated felt unreal. I told my doctor that I wanted to start TTC next year and he told me that he didn't see any issue with me trying. I could've cried when he told me that. All I've ever wanted was to be a mom and that was my reason for getting surgery; to be healthy enough to become a mother and be able to raise my kids into adulthood. I'm also getting rid of clothes that I'd been saving because I couldn't fit them before surgery and they're now too big.
All of that to say, don't let the number on the scale discourage you! It may not be moving the way you want it to, but you are so much more than the number on the scale and the changes you're making will impact your life in ways the scale won't/can't reflect.

Had my RNY gastric bypass 2 days ago. I’m home and other sore I’m doing pretty good. Hang in there everyone your time is coming and it will be worth the wait in the end. Best of luck to everyone!

Haha, I meant that I am using the absolute least amount of weight to exercise (i.e., my body weight, lol).
I agree, there is TONNES of skill and strength involved for many body-weight exercises/poses (just not the ones I can currently execute!). That tiger bend push up is crazy.
This one in particular (eight-angle pose/astavakrasana), I have been working on for the past 2 months now. Mr. has been helping me "train" to complete it. I can only barely hook my right leg over my bicep at this point (I've given up on the left leg...that side of me is just not bendy enough right now), and lift maybe half of one butt cheek off the ground, so it's still months in the making...
The fact that Mr. can do it effortlessly is the fire that makes me determined to do this one day...

Cute outfits! I’ll play too.

I’ll start!

I’m channeling my inner Elle Woods today 😂

I lost 100 pounds in the first 6 months! Unbelievable, really. What I gained was also unbelievable - a whole new life! No shortness of breath with exercise, no asthma, no GERD, sleep apnea resolved, no joint pain, so much energy! Able to get down on the floor and GET UP AGAIN! Down 12 clothing sizes - WOW! Being one of the smaller people in the room instead of the biggest. The list goes on and on. It is a new world for me and I am so excited for you!

I was posing all goofy for a friend and when she showed me the picture I was shocked! I knew everyone was TELLING me I was so skinny but this picture blows my mind! Its like my face was photoshopped on someone else's body! Look at those skinny legs!! 😱

I love this thread. It is always so inspiring. I realized I haven't posted here for awhile. I hit goal a week ago. CW 139.

I am one year out and down 103 pounds still have 30 to go for my goal weight but loving the journey!!! Everyone looks fantastic best decision of my life.

Little update on me everyone's looking great xx
I'm nearly 10 months post op, 93 lb (42 kg) lost so far, still have 28 lb (15 kg) to lose but I'm getting there with sweat and hard work
My stats : Height - 5'9" (1.76 m), SW - 287 lb (130 kg) , CW - 194 lb (88kg)
TW - 165 lb (75 kg)
Can't believe I'm posting a picture of me in that state. The before picture was 3 days after my surgery, when I got home

Unfortunately the media is whipping everyone up into a "The Sky is falling..!" scenario. Yes, this is a critical event and everyone needs to pay attention but the CDC is the "subject matter experts" on this one, we don't need the talking heads from our news media to provide us with their opinions, seems everyone in the news is now a viral infection expert. I wish they would simply REPORT the news, don't try to create it.
People are getting the idea that they will be locked in their homes for weeks and need to stock up on basic supplies. I saw a guy last week at SAMS Club with 10 large 24-roll packs, either this guy has a LARGE family or he has other "issues" that we will not discuss on this forum
Stay informed, stay safe...

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MyFitnessPal has been my savior during my pre-op journey!

I'm on day 13 of the pre-op diet and believe me it gets easier after around day five (still sucks though). Luckily, I'm allowed cream type Soups so at least there's that. Hang in there and make your remaining days count!

Wanted to share some 8 month progress pics. I am a former college football player turned desk jobber that really lost my way. I decided to be sleeved after going to doc and BP was scary high. Father had heart attack in early 40’s and I was on track to beat him. Wanted to be around for my kids. Started at 6’2, 360lbs. Initial goal weight of 200lb Currently at 220, but really beginning to like what I see in the mirror. Fell in love with the gym. I know I’m in the honeymoon period (8 months in) but this has really given me a new lease on life.

This is a long post. I promise there won’t be many like this. My hope is that my story will help inspire someone that is on the fence. My story is about some really good decisions I’ve made including marrying my wife. I submit to you that our respective journeys are about decisions and commitment to a process. The surgery fixes the physical for a period of time, but it does not work on your brain. The short and sweet version:
HW: 602 lbs I very rarely admit to this.
SW: 552 lbs
CW: 260 lbs
Total weight loss: 342 lbs
On this day 2 years ago, I made one of the best decisions of my life. At the time, I had no idea how great I was going to feel or the new experiences I was going to enjoy. All I knew was that I was about to turn 50, and I came to the realization I had to make a change. I always told others, that you can’t do the same thing over and over and expect different results. That was my a-ha moment prior to the surgery. I decided I was going to undergo weight loss surgery. I decided I was “all in” on this process. The day I went to initially meet with my surgeon, I stepped on the scale and weighed 602 lbs. It was hard to look at. Every part of my body hurt... my knees, my back, my ankles, etc. Almost impossible to walk. To put it into perspective, I could barely walk for a couple of minutes without pain or having my heart beating heavily. The good thing was I had normal BP, sugar, cholesterol, etc. I can’t even explain my mental state. I had slowly withdrawn from almost all aspects of living. I am the by-product of losing weight successfully and then gaining it back with interest. I could always lose 75-100 lbs on my own. But since I had a lot more than that to lose, I would eventually hit a wall and revert to my bad habits. I initially wanted to have VSG surgery because it was less invasive and quite frankly I was scared of surgery. Although my surgeon recommended RNY, he left it up to me. I researched a lot and decided RNY. I asked soooo many questions. I spoke with people that underwent surgery. I also decided that I was going to pay out of pocket for the surgery. I felt it was an investment in me. I also didn’t want to chicken out during the insurance process as other times. From my initial consult to surgery day (about 60 days), I lost 50 lbs. 27 of those were during the liquid diet. And no, I did not cheat once during the liquid phase. Was I scared about surgery? Absolutely. But I also understood, statistically, men of my weight do not live long lives. My surgery weight was 552 lbs. I was blessed to go through the surgery without complications. The 1st 6 months out, I focused on the nutrition aspects. The only physical activity I tried was Water aerobics. At about the 6 month, I weighed in at 425 lbs. I felt things were beginning to slow up. I decided to hire a personal trainer. My first conversation with him was that I knew I needed to exercise for my health but there’s no way I could ever have the passion for going to the gym like him and others. My first goal was to walk a 5K. I accomplished that 6 months after. It took me 1.5 hours to finish. But I did it. What an incredible feeling. Today, I do that on a daily basis. Both walking and jogging. I have never felt this good during my adult life. I have embraced this new lifestyle and now look forward to working out. During these unprecedented times we are facing, I have found alternatives to going to the gym and refuse to allow the situation to dictate my life. Today, I stand at 260 lbs. This is the lowest weight I’ve been since high school. It’s important to build the right team. To my wife, my surgeon, my primary physician, and my trainer.......THANK YOU. I would not have been able to achieve these results without your support, encouragement, and advice. I also look at my own level of commitment during this journey. As I said, I hope that my story helps others.

-Highest weight was over 250 lbs (I stopped weighing myself after that)
-Lowest weight 140
-Currently, I fluctuate between 150-155
-I exercise 5-6 days a week. MOSTLY weight lifting. I lift heavy weight (meaning: I rep until I hit failure, between 8-12 reps; if I can lift it more that 12 times, I go up in weight). Very little cardio, maybe 10-15 minutes before or after a workout. Sometimes none.
-Food: I track my macros and calories. I make sure to hit my Protein goals everyday (so important for muscle growth/maintenance), and my carbs vs fats will fluctuate based on my activity. Higher carbs on intense workout days, lower carbs on off days or low activity days. So, calories stay the same, protein stays the same, how many carbs or fats varies based on activity.

Biggest Lesson Learned:
In your first year of guaranteed weight loss, take the time to change your habits & lifestyle. THIS HAS TO BE A LIFESTYLE CHANGE! Get rid of the trigger foods. Most of those trigger foods are sliders! As your stomach stretches and you get passed that year mark those sliders will slide right past your sleeve much easier than your Proteins & veggies. Those slider foods become your “grazing” food, too. Then, before you know it, despite your restriction, you’ve grazed your way into a calorie surplus and you’re no longer losing & start gaining. Plan 5-6 meals a day so that you feed your metabolism and you are never starving & risking over eating.

Also: EXERCISE. Incorporate that exercise. Go for that walk. Bike ride. Treadmill. Weights. SOMETHING. Tired, not tired, make exercise a habit and JUST. DO. IT. I mean this literally: SUCK IT UP & DO IT. You might just find—later down the road—something that you enjoy and become passionate about. This was my experience with powerlifting 2 years post-op.