TinDE

Hope not! I’m 60 and having my arms, thighs, and LBL Next month!

I recommend strongly looking into Marena brand compression garments when you get drains out…it was a lifesaver for me. And let me know how the thigh lift goes when you get a bit further out, I’m interested in that!

Hope not! I’m 60 and having my arms, thighs, and LBL Next month!

I am in a marena girdle right now. Great quality and fits much better than the one my surgeon gave me. I am taller with a long torso and I was having trouble getting one to cover all my areas of swelling. I bought mine used off of poshmark for a big savings. I got the one that has hooks and zippers up to braline and short length legs. I just ordered a second one so I don’t have to rush to wash this one each night. I had a fleur de lis, arm lift, and breast lift.

The BariatricPal Store carries the Premium Abdominal binder for Bariatric and Plastic Surgery by Deroyal at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/premium-abdominal-binder-for-bariatric-and-plastic-surgery-by-deroyal. I didn't use one after either of my weight loss surgeries. Still, patients tell me that it makes a HUGE difference.

You can always ask the surgeon if they will sell you an extra one. That way when you figure out how to adjust it just right the other one will be the same fit. You can always just call their office and see if that will be an issue but I can’t imagine it would be.

I also used the compression garments they gave me, for all of my plastics. You will wake up wearing it.

I had skin removal surgery years ago after loosing 140 lbs. They gave me a abdomen binder at the hospital.
They also gave me one after my bypass recently.

Hope not! I’m 60 and having my arms, thighs, and LBL Next month!

I'm 59 and had the RNY last Monday.

I created a blog entry with the same content below here, but I feel like no one ever reads BP blogs, so am posting in the forums for good measure. Sorry for the dupes! Also sorry this is so long!
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It's been 3 years, y’all.
I’m a 5’2” female and was 235 lbs & 45 yrs old at the start of the 2 wk liquid diet.< br /> Didn’t lose any weight prior. I was on high cholesterol and blood pressure meds, diagnosed with fatty liver, pre-diabetic, peed every 20-30 mins, and snored like a freight train (so said Mr.)
Day of sleeve surgery: 223.2 lbs
No recovery issues, but I became dumper on sugar (still am). I got off my meds, eliminated liver and diabetic diagnoses within a month. I can hold my pee like a superhero (including not having to go once during a 9 hr flight pre-covid!), and I sleep so silently that Mr. admitted to checking on me during the night in the beginning to check if I was even alive.
I ate VERY little during weight loss phase compared to most, but it worked for ME…I didn’t suffer any medical/nutritional issues nor any angst throughout.
I tracked everything I ate/drank, weighed myself every morning and took my measurements every Wednesday (I STILL track and weigh daily - its just habit now -, but no longer take my measurements regularly)
Reached goal of 127 lbs 7 months after surgery. I had zero stalls.
I had a Tummy Tuck, arm lift and breast lift at 14 months post op.
Lowest weight: 109 lbs (this was a month or so after plastics, but quickly gained back to 115-ish)
I’ve basically been 115-ish +/- 5 lbs since a couple months into maintenance.
Weight this morning: 116.0 lbs even.
Happy place is below 120 and/or that my clothes still fit, LOL.
These days I exercise semi-regularly, running minimum 5km 2-3 times a week supplemented with the occasional 20-30 min strength training sessions at home (I continue to hate strength training exercises but consider it a necessary evil), and various other for-fun cardio activities. Part of me wanted to get back to higher exercise levels so I can get the “fitter” look I had back then, but I long ago reconciled myself with the fact that I don’t want it THAT badly. Maybe someday I may change my mind, but I’m cool with it for now.
I average 1800-2000 cals a day. I drink alcohol and carbonated Water on the regular, use straws, chew gum, drink coffee, and eat popcorn, fried foods and carbs. I love Desserts. At 3 years out, my restriction is still in effect and could probably eat about 1-1.5 cups of food in volume at one sitting before I need to tap out: some things I can eat more of (salads) than others (dense Protein & fluffy bread). I will barf if I eat too much or too fast.
I have energy for days, and am more than satisfied with how I look and feel. Life is good.
Had my 3 year follow up last week and I continue to be the picture of health, and my surgeon asked again if I wanted to be on a poster. Ummmm, no thanks.
Regrets? ABSOLUTELY ZERO. Well, except maybe that I didn’t get a v-shaped tummy tuck incision vs the straight line one that I got. Just means that I can’t wear higher cut bikini bottoms without my scar showing (see the last pic in the collage below). But I mean, really, I’m just nit-picking at this point.
This forum has been a constant in my life for the past 3 years, and I’ve made some great connections and some actual REAL friends. Its really nice to engage with others who know what the eff you are talking about, even if its just about food porn and clothes sometimes, lol.
Hugs and Congrats to those who made it to the other side with me, and Hugs and Good Luck to those on their way.

I know logically 2 pounds a week is great! And I know that a few “extra” calories a day isn’t going to make me gain back 70 pounds overnight. But some days I’m just not feeling logical. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I get it!! I had the same thing happen. Went to pull out my boots for the fall. Tried them on and could fit my fist in there. I always wanted to wear a pair of boots that had room between my calf and the boot. Unfortunately the ones I have don't stay up....but it was pretty exciting!!!

I get it!! I had the same thing happen. Went to pull out my boots for the fall. Tried them on and could fit my fist in there. I always wanted to wear a pair of boots that had room between my calf and the boot. Unfortunately the ones I have don't stay up....but it was pretty exciting!!!

My clinic has not had a dietitian/nutritionist on staff for months now (part of the Great Resignation, I guess). So they've been contracting with people, and I finally had had enough of it.
She asked what I have been eating. I track religiously, down to the teaspoon of mustard (which probably isn't necessary, but...). So I told her. It came to about 850 calories. She absolutely lost her mind, whipped out a booklet, and told me I'm to be eating no more than 1/3 cup of food five times a day. I pointed out that I run or work out literally every day, that I am going back to a pretty physical outdoor job, that I'm losing weight steadily, and that eating this amount gives me the energy I need.
I asked how I was supposed to get the Protein goal the surgeon gave me (80-100 g a day) on that little food, and she told me to stop being difficult, that I was obviously going to just gain it all back (lol, on 850 cal a day, lol lol lol), that too much sodium would spike my blood pressure and heart rate (lol, it was 114/74 during intake with a resting heart rate of 54), etc., etc.
So I fired her. At the top of my lungs. Which meant that a bunch of other people came running and there was kind of a scene.
I don't care. I asked a friend who's had VSG who she uses for a NUT and she recommended her folks, so I signed up there and will be given macros to meet by someone who has experience with athletes who've undergone bariatric surgery. I'm not going to be wedged into a one-size-fits-all kind of thing because she's reading from some Nth-generation copy of some manual.

I feel the same, same argument in my head.

I've never felt so seen. Seriously. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, I find myself convinced I'm going to, I don't know, eat an extra 200 calories and suddenly be back in the Big and Fat Men's store. I am trying to find someone to help me navigate this.
Add to this that even though I am thrilled by the weight loss, it does come with its own annoyances. [CENSORED], I wanted to wear this particular outfit and it looks like a tent on me! Ugh, will this skin resolve on its own? For fox sake, will I ever be able to shop anywhere but the Goodwill and Ross Dress For Less? (I'm cheap—I don't want to buy clothes I'll only wear for a month or two unless they're seconds.)

I agree with what’s been said so far. One tip: you shouldn’t weigh every day, especially when those .5-2 lb gains take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. I know they did for me……in the old pre-VSG diet days (Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss, Atkins, Keto, etc etc), I would weigh myself daily, sometimes even more often. I weigh now once weekly on the day of my surgery (Thursday), and it’s a relief not to be shackled to the scale!

I'm 4 weeks PO and have the exact same internal argument all day every day. Weeks 1 & 2 I lost 6lbs each, week 3 was barely 2lbs and I pitched a fit. Its been really helpful to read the stories and experiences of other folks though, it helps me remember that everyone is different, everyone goes at their own pace, and all of the WTF moments are completely normal. I'm really focusing on my mental health as well, working on my relationship with food and my body, etc. Because it is such a mind game, regardless of what the scale says, I want to be HEALTHY, including internally. Just know, you're absolutely not alone!

It is normal to be thinking like you are. I think most of us do the same thing. It looks like you lost most of the easy weight before surgery. Many of us lose a bunch in the preop diet and the rest of the easy stuff in the first month post op then it slows down considerably. After my 3 week stall which lasted 2.5 weeks I am back to losing about 4 or 5 pounds a week. I anticipate that slowing down considerably as I pass 2 months post op. I obsess over weight from day to day and I know I shouldn't be looking at it every day but I do anyway. I find if I UNDER EAT then my body holds on to the weight a little more, like I am going into starvation preservation internally. I upped my calorie intake from 750-800 to 850-900 and it seems like the weight is coming off again. I tinker with things when I slow down to see if I can get it going again. The nutritionist is good about giving ideas on what to try.

a two-lb a week loss is pretty common after the first month or so. So you're doing fine!

This whole process really screws with your mind. I'm 10 weeks out. This is what goes on in my head constantly. I lost 50 pounds before surgery and "only" 25 since. Woot! I lost 75 pounds total. I'm "only" losing two pounds a week. OMG I'm losing TWO pounds a week!! I don't feel like I look like I lost 70 pounds. Oh wow! My belt went from one notch to 5!! I feel the restriction. I don't feel the restriction. Maybe I'm eating too much and stretched out my pouch. I gained a half pound in one day...must be Water. I gained a half pound in one day...I'm going to have to go back to my old clothes! I gained a half pound? I probably look exactly as I did day 1. What if this doesn't work? I ruined my life. I'm so glad I had this surgery. I'd never be able to continue losing weight and keep it off.......and repeat.

I get it!! I had the same thing happen. Went to pull out my boots for the fall. Tried them on and could fit my fist in there. I always wanted to wear a pair of boots that had room between my calf and the boot. Unfortunately the ones I have don't stay up....but it was pretty exciting!!!

I get it!! I had the same thing happen. Went to pull out my boots for the fall. Tried them on and could fit my fist in there. I always wanted to wear a pair of boots that had room between my calf and the boot. Unfortunately the ones I have don't stay up....but it was pretty exciting!!!

This whole process really screws with your mind. I'm 10 weeks out. This is what goes on in my head constantly. I lost 50 pounds before surgery and "only" 25 since. Woot! I lost 75 pounds total. I'm "only" losing two pounds a week. OMG I'm losing TWO pounds a week!! I don't feel like I look like I lost 70 pounds. Oh wow! My belt went from one notch to 5!! I feel the restriction. I don't feel the restriction. Maybe I'm eating too much and stretched out my pouch. I gained a half pound in one day...must be Water. I gained a half pound in one day...I'm going to have to go back to my old clothes! I gained a half pound? I probably look exactly as I did day 1. What if this doesn't work? I ruined my life. I'm so glad I had this surgery. I'd never be able to continue losing weight and keep it off.......and repeat.