NeonOwl

Even before I put surgery as an option I quit cheat days cause for me cheat days turn into cheat week chips and other processed food is so addictive that one bite is enough to derail me. instead, I found new healthy ways to eat and I try to focus on that

IMG_0001.mp4I'm meeting with a sports registered dietician who understands bariatric patients next week about just this. I'm down about 140 pounds and I've taken my body fat from about 50% to 30% (which is pretty good for a 57 year old mother of two). However, what I'm learning from working with two personal trainers is that to really build muscle mass and replace fat, you need to add carbs (I know - it goes against everything we think) but as I understand the metabolics of it, if you do not have enough carbs in your diet your body cannibalizes muscle for energy rather than the fat. But I have been frustrated with finding the right balance of carbs to make this happen without going down the slippery slope because they are crack to me.
Timing of Protein and carbs around your workout is important as well. You should have some kind of protein within an hour after a workout (usually I go for one of those Muscle Milk kind of things at about 30 grams and 200 calories) and Fiber rich carbs an hour or so before and starchy carbs and hour or two after.
I say this from the standpoint of someone who is 5'3" and now 152. I am a nationally ranked foil fencer in my age group (started fencing after surgery) and I fence 6-7 hours a week and am in the gym doing a crossfit-type class with olympic lifting 3 hours a week, Pilates 1 hour a week and agility/speed/other strength at least one other hour a week.
I spoke with my bariatric nutrition team (all really great RDs) and no one there had experience with feeding a post-bariatric athlete. It took a lot of phone calls, but I found someone who is in my health plan so I can have her visits covered. You may want to speak with your team.
DO NOT EAT ALL OF WHAT YOU BURN! Some of what you burn yes - but not all.
Here's a video of me doing a clean and split jerk from about a week ago. Weight is low (55 pounds) but I'm still learning technique. Did I ever thing I'd be able to do this? Nope. ( Back Squat 215, Deadlift 195, Front Squat 165 - current body weight 152).
IMG_0001.mp4

You have a big job of mentally reframing what is "good" food. I agree with the others that you will be able to have those foods again, in limited portions, but the bigger job is to start training your brain to love the healthy foods and start despising the unhealthy ones. Ice cream and simple carbs are the seducers that got you into trouble in the first place. You have to start thinking about them in term of what they actually do to your long term health. An exercise of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) in overcoming addictive behaviors is to make a list of all the benefits of healthy foods (lower cholesterol, lower glucose levels, lower BP, weight loss, anti-oxidants, Vitamins, etc) and a list of the bad things unhealthy foods will do (increased weight, BP, glucose, lipids, depression, loss of quality of life, higher rate of heart attack, cancer ,and stroke, decreased longevity, etc.) If you practice this daily, your brain really will start to "re-wire" to seek out a delicious food choice rather than a poor one, and you will have increased endorphin release by making the choice. Healthy choices are part of the lifestyle changes you agree to tackle when you agree to WLS. Don't obsess on the ice cream. You'll have it again, eventually. But use this first year to make the lifestyle changes and rewire your thought patterns so the sweets and treats will never take you down again.
PS: Another thought. Before surgery, I cannot count the number of times i would pray, "Please, God, I'll give up anything if You can just help me get this weight off." Then I had surgery and the weight came off. I am dead serious in saying that if I NEVER can have a bite of ice cream or sugar again, it is a sacrifice worth every single day of being a normal weight and having my life back. The fact is that you have to be willing to give up the junk if you want the health. You can't keep flirting with the food that made you fat in the first place. You can't have it both ways. Until you really hardwire the healthy habits and healthy food, don't put yourself in the way of temptation by entertaining thoughts of the junk food.

I am coming up on my first year post op date, and have completed a sprint triathlon and a 52 mile bike race. Am currently training for my second tri and a rim-to-rim (in one day - 24 miles) Grand Canyon hike. I am also going to try a 100 mile bike race at the end of year. I am also whole food plant based and I am loving it. I have so much energy and I NEVER get sore, even after long workouts. (I am not allowed to run, as I've had a knee replacement and my ortho wants it to last as long as possible, so distance biking and hiking are my sports of choice.) Anyway, I am totally sold now on plant based, whole food eating. No processed foods of any kind allowed. I just made up a batch of granola for the week, and will be having some lentil/potato/tempeh stuffed peppers for dinner, with sweet potato and fresh broccoli from my organic garden. So yummy!!!!!
It is so good to hear from other WLS patients who are doing endurance sports as part of their new lives!

"...data in both animal models and humans suggest that the effects of artificial sweeteners may contribute to metabolic syndrome and the obesity epidemic. Artificial sweeteners appear to change the host microbiome, lead to decreased satiety, and alter glucose homeostasis, and are associated with increased caloric consumption and weight gain."
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29159583/
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I'm almost 13 years out and absolutely love my band! I've had my band since March 2008. I lost the majority of my weight in the first 6-9 months (from 200lbs down to 140lbs, i'm only 5'2") and managed to stay within a maintenance range for the past 12+ years, which included 2 pregnancies and a my fair share of fluctuations along the way. In the past year i have made some more habit changes that led me to drop another 20ish pounds leaving me at about 120-125lbs at 5'2".
It's hard to see so many people suffering from complications with their bands, but i know that that has been the reality for many. I worry sometimes that even after 13 great years complication-free, that something could just go wrong! Honestly my biggest worry is that if something went wrong, i would no longer qualify for a revision surgery because i am at goal. I don't want to think about what it would be like without this tool!
I used to post a lot in the beginning of my journey, but recently came back. So often it feels like i'm on this journey all alone, but being here makes me realize that's not the case.
It makes me so happy to hear from some veterans (and to actually be one this time around). Please keep posting and i will try to do the same!

You did the right thing. I've been WFPB on and off for about 4 years. On a very strict WFPB diet, I've been able to lose up to 95lbs, but have not been able to maintain it over time. I just kept having to eat less and less, and exercise more and more, and eventually got to a point where I was at 600 calories a day, was starving all the time, barely had the energy to get through my day, and finally was actually gaining weight whenever I went over 600 calories because my metabolism had slowed down so much. I'm having VSG next month, if it isn't cancelled yet again because coronavirus.
What PollyEster said about the science of obesity is correct from everything I've read - and I've read a LOT over the past 5-6 years. Have a look at this article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/health/biggest-loser-weight-loss.html

That's just marketing, for the most part.
You're very welcome, and I'm genuinely thrilled for you, AZhiker. To my way of thinking, it doesn’t matter a whit what people look like after WLS; the only issues of consequence are physical and mental health, lowered risk of disease and premature death, weight maintenance, vitality, energy, and overall well-being.
Following a WFPB diet for several years prior to WLS, I was able to lose over 50lbs on several occasions, and almost 100lbs once, but of course was unable to maintain those losses. For a morbidly obese person, a WFPB diet, like any dieting in an of itself, leads to weight gain, stress + increased cortisol levels, slowed metabolism + having to eat ever less food in order to lose weight, bouts of overeating (the common mammalian response to starvation), and eventual regression back to your set point. Until scientists find the elusive reset button for body weight (if there even is one), WLS is the best bet for obese/MO people.
As an aside, I have several overweight (but decidedly not obese or MO) friends and family members who were inspired by the dramatic changes I experienced after going WFPB, and decided to give it a try themselves. Every one of them lost the weight, and those who remained WFPB (all but two) have maintained their losses to this day.

Morbid obesity is a life sentence without surgical intervention. Despite endless debate about the relative value of different approaches — in every scientific head-to-head comparison, diet plans that provide the same exercise and calories through different types of food lead to similar weight loss and regain within similar timeframes. The science could not be clearer: there is no diet that overrides the basic complex biological reality of obesity. Bariatric surgery is currently the only way to permanently alter your genetics, reset your defended weight or set point, lower your metabolism, and alter the pathways and production of brain and gut hormones such as PPY, GLP-1, CRF, CCK, NPY, leptin, ghrelin, dopamine, cortisol, etc.
*Edited to add that I regret squandering several years of optimal health and well-being by attempting overcome biology and evolution with a WFPB diet, instead of just having WLS. Good on you for not doing that! WLS got you to where you are now, and WFPB will keep you there for life.

One doesn't know for sure of course because there is always a fraction of people that lose excess weight and maintain with non-surgical methods, but most likely not. The odds were against you big time with that much weight to lose.

I was WFPB for years before being sleeved, am still WFPB, and will remain WFPB for the rest of my life. For me, a WFPB diet has been as instrumental in improving my health and well-being as having WLS: before going plant-based, I had extremely high CRP, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, was pre-diabetic, had severe IBS and allergies, was exhausted all the time and had zero energy, and was depressed. Within a few months of going plant-based every single one of these health issues reversed, I got off statins, I lost weight, my sleep improved, and I felt fantastic and had more energy than I had in years. Since being sleeved, my labs are perfect, I have enjoyed an astonishing rate of weight loss, have even *more* energy than before, and continue to enjoy even lower CRP, cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels.
It's highly unusual for WFPB eaters to experience GI issues after transitioning. Fibre is present in all unprocessed plant foods in high amounts. Fibre what makes up the structure of the plant, and the more of it you eat, the more you access all of its benefits. While you may have more gas than usual during the first few weeks if you don’t prepare your Beans properly (by pre-soaking, rinsing well before cooking, and either pressure-cooking or boiling with added kombu until fully cooked to break down the sugars that cause flatulence), eating a plant-based diet improves the health of your gut so you are better able to absorb the nutrients from food that support your immune system and reduce inflammation. The increased fibre lowers cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar, and it’s the best medicine for optimal bowel management. In fact, many people who had IBS prior to going plant-based find that they no longer have IBS, myself included.
You could go cold turkey, or start out by eliminating meats while cutting back on dairy. There are no specific foods to either focus on or avoid, other than incorporating more of the flavours and textures you like most into your diet each day. In addition to plenty of fresh fruits and veggies each day, incorporate a wide variety of beans, lentils, legumes, pulses, seeds, and nuts, as well as seitan, tofu, tempeh, nutritional yeast, whole grains and sprouted whole grains (buckwheat, teff, amaranth, quinoa, farro, spelt, etc.), wild rice, hemp hearts, chia seeds, spirulina, nut butters and nut milks (homemade when possible), spices, herbs and other natural flavourings, minimal added oils, green smoothies, etc. Supplement with faux meats once in awhile for variety and pleasure, always checking the ingredient list and trying to consume the least highly processed varieties (i.e. soy curls). You do NOT have to worry that you won't get enough Protein or enough of the "right" kinds of it: protein "combining" was never medically or scientifically legitimate and was discredited almost as soon as it first appeared over 50 years ago (for a very brief overview see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_combining).
In my opinion, WFPB eating really is the anti-diet: you can eat a lot of delicious food, never feel hungry, never gain weight, and enjoy remarkable physical and mental health benefits. More important than opinion and personal experience, however, is evidence-based nutrition. A few good places to start learning include:
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: https://www.pcrm.org/news/exam-room-podcast/vegan-after-weight-loss-surgery and 21 Day Vegan Kickstart https://kickstart.pcrm.org/en
Dr. Garth Davis (bariatric surgeon): http://proteinaholic.com/lifestyle-first-and-always/ and http://proteinaholic.com/
Dr. Matthew Weiner(bariatric surgeon): https://www.youtube.com/user/DrMatthewWeiner and https://www.poundofcureweightloss.com/
Plant Trainers: https://www.planttrainers.com/eating-plant-based-after-weight-loss-surgery-ptp082/
And:
If you’re neither a reader nor inclined toward research, it would definitely be worthwhile to invest in an online visit or three with a WFPB bariatric nutritionist to fine-tune your new diet to meet your individual health needs and taste preferences. Another option, though not inexpensive, is the online plant-based nutrition course from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies at Cornell. It's a superb resource for anyone, especially those new to a WFPB lifestyle.

I made the switch about 6 months ago and I feel great. My Protein, Calcium, and Iron levels are fine, as are all my Vitamins .... except that pesky Vitamin D. The best part is that my cholesterol dropped 70 points! I am now at 153 - the lowest ever for cholesterol for me. My HDL, LDL, and triglycerides are phenomenal. Even losing all my weight did not alter those numbers much, but giving up the animal based foods sure did.
I have lots of energy, recover quickly after workouts, and NEVER get sore anymore, even from very strenuous activities. Inflammatory markers are down, and I really do feel great. I can eat as much as I want and do not have any problem maintaining my weight.
I have now decided that I will have a very limited amount of animal products once a week - some egg or chicken from my own homegrown flock. I know where the food came from, what it was fed, and how it was treated. This gives me a little more flexibility with the family Sunday meal or going out.
I love the whole food plant based way of eating. I focus on incorporating as many superfoods into my daily meal plan as possible. There is no junk. I know it is healthy and right for me, and it has been a great adventure exploring new foods and recipes.

I'm almost 13 years out from lap band and going strong! I've had my band since March 2008. I've been maintenance maintaining for the past 12+ years (which included 2 pregnancies and a my fair share of fluctuations along the way).
In the past year i have made some more habit changes that have included a change to a Plant Based diet, that led me to drop another 20ish pounds leaving me at about 120-125lbs at 5'2".
I spent so much of my journey never seeming to have room for veggies and always spending too much time grazing. These days, i eat meals filled with veggies, fruits and grains. I eat healthier meals than ever before and i don't feel the need to graze. I eat Protein first...i just get my protein from plants!!!
I am so overjoyed to have some others to share this with from the perspective of a bariatric patient!

Plant Protein is just as ‘complete” as animal protein. The idea that plant Proteins are “incomplete”, necessitating some sort of “protein combining”, was based on a 1971 fad diet called “Diet for a Small Planet” by Francis Lappe. “Protein combining” was debunked DECADES ago, yet for some people this myth remains pervasive despite 49 years of medical and scientific nutrition evidence to the contrary.
All of the essential amino acids humans need are structurally identical regardless of the source, so in terms of getting enough protein, it doesn’t matter if amino acids come from animal or plant protein. But protein isn’t consumed in isolation, since all plant and animal foods contain essential nutrients in addition to protein. And the other nutrients that you’re consuming – or not, depending on whether you eat animal or plant protein – is where the serious health implications lie.
Plant protein is packed with fibre, antioxidants, and thousands of protective phytonutrients. Animal protein has absolutely no fibre, antioxidants, or phytonutrients whatsoever. Plant proteins contain no saturated fat and cholesterol. All animal foods (including “lean” meats like chicken, salmon, turkey, etc.) contain saturated fat and cholesterol. We don’t need to consume any saturated fat and cholesterol, since our bodies naturally produce all the cholesterol required for physiologic functions. Eating saturated fat and cholesterol causes atherosclerosis (the accumulation of excess cholesterol in the lining of our vessels) and significantly increases the risk of heart disease, currently the number one cause of death in developed countries. People eating a plant-based diet devoid of animal products have significantly less risk of developing heart disease, and several studies have found that a plant-based diet can even reverse atherosclerosis. Plant protein causes no increase in insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Animal proteins cause our bodies to produce higher levels of the hormone IGF-1, which stimulates cell division and growth in both healthy and cancer cells (higher circulating levels of IGF-1 result in increased cancer risk, proliferation, and malignancy.) Plant protein causes no increase in trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Animal proteins increase circulating levels of TMAO, which injures the lining of blood vessels, creates inflammation, and enables the formation of cholesterol plaques in blood vessels. Plant protein causes no increase in phosphorus or fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). Animal proteins contain high levels of phosphorus, and when we consume a lot of phosphorus, the body reacts by producing high levels of the hormone FGF23 to normalize phosphorus levels. FGF23 injures the lining of blood vessels, creates inflammation, and enables the formation of cholesterol plaques in blood vessels, and is directly associated with heart attacks, sudden death, and heart failure. Plant protein causes no increase in bone health problems. Animal proteins have higher concentrations of sulfur-containing amino acids, which can induce a subtle state of acidosis when metabolized, causing our bodies use to compensate by leaching Calcium from our bones to help neutralize the increased acidity. Studies have demonstrated that populations with higher dairy consumption, or higher consumption of animal protein in general, have a higher incidence of bone fractures. You probably conducted a lot of research to determine which type of 1 or 2 hour bariatric surgery would allow you a healthier and longer life. Conduct even more research to determine if what you eat every day for the rest of your life after surgery is going to increase your health and longevity, or increase disease and shorten your life. Everything we put in our mouth either increases longevity by decreasing the development of disease and illness, or contributes to premature death by increasing the development of disease and illness.
Dozens upon dozens of peer-reviewed studies confirm that people on plant-based whole food diets (meaning whole minimally processed plant-based foods, and no processed foods) are at significantly lower risk of many diseases including cancers, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obesity.
So get your protein from plants whenever possible to maintain your weight loss for life and become as healthy as possible. Eating vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, tofu, whole grains, and other plant-based sources of protein is a win for your health and the health of the planet.

Thank you PollyEster for that response!!! What she said!
And also thank you to Patricia Campana for a great response as well and for recommending Chuck Carroll's podcast! Can't wait to check it out!!

Can't neglect to thank PollyEster for starting this thread with awesome info!!! I'd love to hear more about your own journey!

DeletedMember, i felt the same way!!!
I'm almost 13 years out and absolutely love my band! I've had my band since March 2008. I lost the majority of my weight in the first 6-9 months (from 200lbs down to 140lbs, i'm only 5'2") and managed to stay within a maintenance range for the past 12+ years, which included 2 pregnancies and a my fair share of fluctuations along the way.
In the past year i have made some more habit changes that have included a change to a Plant Based diet, that led me to drop another 20ish pounds leaving me at about 120-125lbs at 5'2". My husband and my father both were dealing with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (AIC scores of almost 9!!) which lead me to start researching, which led me to DR. GREGER and How Not To Die. it changed my life, and i hope someday it will change theirs.
While my dad has been resistant regarding making this kind of change, i couldn't go back to eating the way i was eating knowing what i now knew about a plant based lifestyle. The changes for me and my husband have been incredible.
I am so overjoyed to have some others to share this with from the perspective of a bariatric patient!
PS...MotoZen, you are TOTALLY setting yourself up for SUCCESS with this positive change! So impressed. Wishing you the best on your journey!

Holy Cow! I haven't been on Bariatric Pal in couple of years (or more). One of the big reasons I dropped off the online forums is that I had adopted a WFPB diet, and not only was that completely out of line with the mainstream WLS thinking, but I didn't even like to hint about it as I would get extremely negative feedback. Imagine my shock when I logged back in to Bariatirc Pal today to see a vegan forum with a WFPB post. My mind was blown to say the least, LOL.

Wow, thanks for putting this together! 😀 It is SO helpful, just what I was looking for! 🤩 I'm in a holding pattern with surgery due to covid-19, but have transitioned to a WFPB diet in preparation for a lifetime of health and weight maintenance after surgery. I've already lost 40 lbs since transitioning, and have more energy and feel better than I have in decades. Can't wait to reap all the benefits of WLS combined with this WFPB life!

A list of resources for pre- and post-surgery bariatric patients interested in a whole food plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle. Let's build up this list into a comprehensive resource, and keep it updated. Please add your own tested-and-approved recommendations.
Processed Foods and Ultra-Processed Foodstuffs Nutrition Database
An open source (read: imperfect but continually evolving), collaborative, global food products database (there's also an app) that anyone can use to make better food choices. Assigns all processed foods a Nutri-Score grade from A to E in terms of nutritional quality, and ranks processed and ultra-processed foodstuffs by NOVA group levels (1 for minimally processed up to 4 for ultra-processed): https://world.openfoodfacts.org/ Plant-Based Nutrition Studies
Cornell University Distance (entirely online) Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies: www.nutritionstudies.org Whole Food Plant-Based Diet Guide (the basics): https://nutritionstudies.org/whole-food-plant-based-diet-guide/ Plant-Based Sports Nutrition: Expert Fueling Strategies for Training, Recovery, and Performance by D. Enette Larson-Meyer The Healthspan Solution by Julieanna Hever and Ray Cronise Plant-Based Nutrition by Julieanna Hever and Ray Cronise Julieanna Hever, M.S., R.D., C.P.T. (plant-based dietitian) website: www.plantbaseddietitian.com Plant-Based Nutrition Books
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure by Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. M.D. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger M.D. How Not to Diet: The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss by Michael Greger M.D. Proteinaholic: How Our Obsession with meat Is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It by Garth Davis M.D. The China Study by T. Colin Campbell M.D. Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition by T. Colin Campbell The Campbell Plan by T. Colin Campbell The China Study Solution: The Simple Way to Lose Weight and Reverse Illness, Using a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet by Thomas Campbell Healthy Eating, Healthy World: Unleashing the Power of Plant-Based Nutrition by J. Morris Hicks Eat for Life: The Breakthrough Nutrient-Rich Program for Longevity, Disease Reversal, and Sustained Weight Loss by Joel Fuhrman M.D. The End of Dieting: How to Live for Life by Joel Fuhrman M.D. The End of Heart Disease: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body's Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Fasting and Eating for Health: A Medical Doctor's Program for Conquering Disease by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Nutritarian Handbook & ANDI Food Scoring Guide by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Your Body in Balance: The New Science of Food, Hormones, and Health by Neal Barnard M.D. Power Foods for the Brain by Neal Barnard M.D. Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight by Neal Barnard M.D. Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight by Neal Barnard M.D Breaking the Food Seduction by Neal Barnard M.D The Blue Zones, Second Edition: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner Plant-Based Nutrition Cookbooks
Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moscowitz and Terry Hope Romero All cookbooks by Terry Hope Romero All cookbooks by Isa Chandra Moscowitz Thrive Foods by Brendan Brazier No Meat Athlete Cookbook by Matt Frazier Plant Strong by Rip Esselstyn Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn The Plant-Power Way by Rich Roll The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook by Ann Crile Esselstyn and Jane Esselstyn The Plant Based Diet for Beginners by Gabriel Miller The PlantPure Nation Cookbook by Kim Campbell and T. Colin Campbell The PlantPure Kitchen Cookbook by Kim Campbell and T. Colin Campbell The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook by Neal Barnard The China Study Cookbook by Leanne Campbell Eat to Live Cookbooks by Joel Fuhrman The Buddhist Chef by Jean-Philippe Cyr My New Roots Cookbooks by Sarah Britton Oh She Glows Cookbooks by Angela Liddon Minimalist Baker’s Cookbooks by Dana Shultz Love Real Food by Kathryne Taylor The First Mess Cookbook by Laura Wright Forks Over Knives Flavor by Darshana Thacker The Blue Zones Kitchen by Dan Buettner Vegan 100 by Gaz Oakley Clean Food by Terry Walters How Not To Die Cookbook Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbooks China Study Cookbooks Forks Over Knives Cookbooks Thug Kitchen Cookbooks Plant-Based Whole Food Cooking Blogs (recipes)
www.nomeatathlete.com www.loveandlemons.com www.mynewroots.org www.ohsheglows.com www.thefirstmess.com www.veganricha.com www.plantstrong.com www.minimalistbaker.com www.halfbakedharvest.com www.veganyackattack.com www.dreenaburton.com www.thugkitchen.com www.theppk.com www.deliciouslyella.com

Some of the ones I've tried and liked are:

Pre-surgery, I never dared to imagine that I'd eventually weigh less after surgery than I did in high school, but at almost 11 months post-op, I'm tiny and do see myself as thin now.
I also am finding that I deeply appreciate my loose skin (which is not too bad at all considering the amount of weight I've lost), perceiving it as a battle wound, perhaps even something to feel proud of in the way some women who've had a mastectomy are proud of their scars.
I can honestly say I love the way I look. But more than this, I love the way I feel: strong, fit, healthy, and physically able to do anything I set my mind to. I ♥ VSG.