Crick

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

I had zero change in my tastes. Now, I try not to eat many sweets or processed foods - but I didn’t have any aversions to the things I liked before nor did I start liking anything that I didn’t like before (broccoli I’m looking at you - still makes me want to gag when I even smell it). Now, tolerating things in my system - that has been a slightly different story. I had some Greek food and had a little tzatziki sauce on the meat (which I had had the meat plain no issue) - that did NOT sit well in my system. But my tastes didn’t change - the Protein Shakes I liked before I still liked and when I transitioned to regular foods - the stuff that tasted good before still tastes good. I was so worried about my favorite fajitas and salsa - now what used to be a meal is 4-5 meals and I don’t eat the tortillas but it still tastes wonderful.

Spinach stuffed chicken breasts. This was a new recipe to me and very good! I ate about half of the top one.

So I lost a lot of weight on my own before I consulted with the surgeon for the first time (around 50 lbs). Between my consult and the day of surgery (about 10 or 11 weeks later) I lost another 20 lbs. My BMI the day of surgery was around 37. I’ve lost over 40 lbs since surgery 10 weeks ago and my BMI is currently a 29. I did go to that calculator and it estimated my weight at 1 year to be about 17 lbs less than where I am today - so know that is just an estimate and dependent on many other factors.

Today - almost 18 months out - I met my first goal: over 200 lbs lost, and joining the double digits club (in kg... of course 🙂 ).
99 kilos today (218 lbs), lost 204 lbs from my top weight. Feeling good!

Friends, it's a (life) long process, hang in there and have fun with it. Never mind the small ups and downs, look for the trends.

One of my neighbors (96 years young!) is recovering from surgery. Baked some Peanut Butter blossoms and chocolate Andes Chip Cookies to help cheer her up!

One of my neighbors (96 years young!) is recovering from surgery. Baked some Peanut Butter blossoms and chocolate Andes Chip Cookies to help cheer her up!

One of my neighbors (96 years young!) is recovering from surgery. Baked some Peanut Butter blossoms and chocolate Andes Chip Cookies to help cheer her up!

One of my neighbors (96 years young!) is recovering from surgery. Baked some Peanut Butter blossoms and chocolate Andes Chip Cookies to help cheer her up!

So I started working out with a trainer at 2.5 months post-op (would have started at 2 months but wanted to wait until I was fully vaccinated). I am doing both cardio and weight training and I will tell you that has been a huge part of my success. I am up to 1200-1300 calories a day now (9.5 months post op) but I am usually working out 7-8 hours a week (strength training 3-4 times a week, cardio on the other days). I am doing my next “bod pod” scan Friday but I did one when I started with the trainer and 1 in mid-July. From end of March to mid-July I lost 35 lbs on the scale, but it was really 41.5 lbs of fat as I gained 6.6 lbs of muscle. I know I am going to need plastic surgery but at least I am seeing the benefits of doing the weight training. As you can see from my progress, this certainly hasn’t inhibited my weight loss. And bonus - the more muscle you have, the more effective your body is at burning calories. So it’s a win-win.

One of my neighbors (96 years young!) is recovering from surgery. Baked some Peanut Butter blossoms and chocolate Andes Chip Cookies to help cheer her up!

So I started working out with a trainer at 2.5 months post-op (would have started at 2 months but wanted to wait until I was fully vaccinated). I am doing both cardio and weight training and I will tell you that has been a huge part of my success. I am up to 1200-1300 calories a day now (9.5 months post op) but I am usually working out 7-8 hours a week (strength training 3-4 times a week, cardio on the other days). I am doing my next “bod pod” scan Friday but I did one when I started with the trainer and 1 in mid-July. From end of March to mid-July I lost 35 lbs on the scale, but it was really 41.5 lbs of fat as I gained 6.6 lbs of muscle. I know I am going to need plastic surgery but at least I am seeing the benefits of doing the weight training. As you can see from my progress, this certainly hasn’t inhibited my weight loss. And bonus - the more muscle you have, the more effective your body is at burning calories. So it’s a win-win.

So I started working out with a trainer at 2.5 months post-op (would have started at 2 months but wanted to wait until I was fully vaccinated). I am doing both cardio and weight training and I will tell you that has been a huge part of my success. I am up to 1200-1300 calories a day now (9.5 months post op) but I am usually working out 7-8 hours a week (strength training 3-4 times a week, cardio on the other days). I am doing my next “bod pod” scan Friday but I did one when I started with the trainer and 1 in mid-July. From end of March to mid-July I lost 35 lbs on the scale, but it was really 41.5 lbs of fat as I gained 6.6 lbs of muscle. I know I am going to need plastic surgery but at least I am seeing the benefits of doing the weight training. As you can see from my progress, this certainly hasn’t inhibited my weight loss. And bonus - the more muscle you have, the more effective your body is at burning calories. So it’s a win-win.

"I'm finding my inner child. Turns out, he/she's a lot skinnier than I thought he/she was."

These things...
Even if you've never had a weight issue or weight loss surgery, you can't lose weight in one specific place. And, it does look like what you've got there is just loose skin. And... when you are wearing a shirt it doesn't show at all.
But I think you may have to learn to live with the comments for the time being unfortunately until as @Arabesque said, people come to learn what you look like now and replace the old you with the new you in their minds.
I also want to add that I hope I am as successful as you are!! You're an inspiration!

Long after everyone else had quit making comments about my weight I had one person that just would't stop. Every time I saw her she would say things like "you've gotten too thin, you need to quit losing weight, how much more are you going to lose etc..." I finally told her if she didn't stop commenting on my weight I was going to consider it harassment and go to management. She has stopped. If anyone else makes a random comment I just say "this is the size I'm supposed to be." I was 112 lbs when I graduated college and I have a couple people at work that remember when I was that size so I'm fine where I am.
Congratulations on your weight loss!

Oh, the unsolicited advice & sometimes hurtful comments. People do get over it & as @ms.sss sud it becomes old news. Now I just get comments about how good I look 😉.
When you first loose the weight it is a bit of a shock to others & yourself. They (& you) have a picture of you in their heads & it dues to align anymore. Like they can’t recognise you anymore. It takes time to get used to how you look being so much slimmer & for that fat image to be replaced. Also you will find that once your weight stabilises your remaining fat seems to resettle around your body. At first it seemed I had lost my hour glass shape & I had no butt at all. Now, my waist is definitely there again & I have a little booty but my weight has not changed. If you are working on toning you’ll likely notice the resettling more. And don’t forget either that muscle weighs more than fat.
As @ms.sss also said your weight will be lower if you have skin removal. So it is something to take into consideration. I think you may even find that the abdominal fat you see is really just loose skin. I didn’t go down the skin removal path as I don’t have much loose skin. (It doesn’t impede me in any way & isn’t noticeable even in fitted body con clothes.) There are a lot of factors that influence how much loose skin you end up with: highest weight, how long you were overweight, age, gender, genetics, weight gain & loss history, etc. So you can never really compare what you look like with others. Though we’re human & we can’t always stop ourselves doing that. 😉
I always say you have to find a weight you are happy with, are healthy at & can maintain without having to make too restrictive sacrifices that limit how you enjoy your life. Only you know what weight that is.
Congrats on your weight loss. You’re looking amazing.

First congrats on the weight loss! You've done fabulously!
I learned myself that everyone and their mothers believe that they should be dispensing advice to you about your body and eating habits. During weight loss phase, especially as I was nearing goal, soooooo many people would tell, ask, DEMAND that i cease losing weight immediately or even to gain some back. Ugh.
I became very skilled at stealthily changing the subject (usually about them because people love talking about themselves). I didn't bother arguing or explaining because I knew it wouldn't change their attitude anyway, and any response from me would just extend the unwanted conversation longer.
I'm 3 years out now and NOBODY talks about my weight loss any more, its old news. Whats interesting is that I actually weigh less now than at the times when they were all "concerned" about my weight loss. I do look less gaunt now (thanks, carbs) but I think its because they had enough time to get used to it and it was no longer jarring to see me so different looking in so short a time span.
If changing the subject doesn't work, you can be honest and ask them to stop, be brutally honest and demand that they stop, or go nuclear and just lose it so they will be too afraid to bring it up again, lol. OR, you can just give them what they want...which is to tell them that they are right: "Yes, you are right. I am too thin. I will make an appointment with my doc. Thanks for looking out for me".
P.S. on another note, you can't really spot-lose weight. If you want to lose more weight on your belly, be prepared to lose the proportionate amount of weight everywhere else. also keep in mind that plastics will take a few to several pounds off you. I have read of others on here who lose 8-15 lbs of "material" after plastics.
Good Luck! ❤️

I think you look perfect! What's left is just loose skin.
btw - it's VERY common to regain about 10% of your lost weight during year 2 or 3, so I would not worry about being too thin right now. I think you look great! I purposely went a little below my goal because I knew the rebound was really common - and yep, it happened to me!! (lost 235 lbs - gained 20 lbs in year 3)

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!
----------------------
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.

Clothing? Oh no, not for at-home weigh ins. Same and time of the week, yes, but the only thing I am wearing is a smile. 🤪

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

I actually got a new passport this summer for that very reason - even though now I am about 15 lbs lighter than that pic - it at least looks somewhat like me! I didn’t want to get somewhere and have any issues. And I had to renew my global entry so it just worked to go ahead and get a new one.

Just another onederland post. 198.4 this morning on the seven month anniversary of my surgery date. 140 down total. Feeling great, no longer obese, and 33.4 lbs from goal!