Luna Girl

Since I am now halfway between my heavy weight and my goal weight, I thought I'd show myself. I lost 26 lbs. on my own, then 9 lbs. on the pre-op diet, and 41 lbs. so far since surgery (five weeks ago). I only "see" the changes when I look at before-and-after pictures. I'm starting to see what I'll look like further along and I ain't mad about it.

76 lbs. down, 76 to go.

I am down to 130lbs (-70lbs) at 7 months post op! I've gone from a size 12 to 2 and expect to be in maintenance now. Weight loss has definitely flatted out, but I am SO happy with where I'm at now. If I can keep myself at the current weight, I'd be a happy camper! How are you doing?!

I am 4 months post op gastric bypass and I don’t recognize myself I can’t believe I’ve lost 85lbs this surgery has saved my life and even through the ups and downs I wouldn’t change it for anything

I know I just posted recently, but I had another NSV today!
I was at the gas station & didn't need to open my door to reach down to open the fuel door. I read this NSV on here from other posters before & remembered knowing exactly what they meant.
It is so nice to be noticing all these little things now.

Congratulations! You look fantastic at any age 😍

Holy Moly it’s been a year this month! I have attached a photo and it’s actually hard to look at! I have some work to do yet and I have moved my goal weight around so I am not done yet but what a ride If I can do it at 50 anyone can !

This is going to sound so weird...
...but I can tie my shoes in the centre now, by leaning over my leg and having one hand on each side of my leg. (You know, like normies tie shoes.)
Also, I was picking up an order at the same time as a bunch of people and I overheard one of the employees say to the other, "This one is for that guy." So I turned and the other employee said, "This one?" and the first employee said, "No, the big guy."

I have also noticed that I can reach down and pick up something that falls on the floor! Even in heels! I had fallen when I was large trying to pick something up in the middle of a parking lot and was unable to stand on my own. (So embarrassing!!) After that, I would NOT bend down to pick something up, unless there was something to hold on to and get up again. Now, terror does not strike my heart when I drop something and have to pick it up. Yay me!
And by the way, these non-scale victories are great! It's not ALL about the scale!

I can cross my legs with ease!!! phew!
Also, this weekend I flew in a very old WWII plane. Allegedly this was a 2 seater (open cockpit) but I had to sit sort of sideways to fit. 6 months ago, I would have been embarrassed that I had to squeeze thinking the reason would be because I was too big (and I prob wouldn't have fit) but, now I know I am healthy and was not embarrassed at all- just a little squished.
Other weird NSV: underwear is too big! to the point of unwearable. lol.

I have a few NSV's to share!😁
Yesterday, I went to a restaurant that I went to before surgery. We sat outside in patio chairs, and I had no problem sitting in the chair, the arms of the chair were not cutting into the sides of my thighs. (I still don't trust those plastic white ones, though.)
Also, yesterday, a neighbor asked if I lost weight & said I looked great. It was surprising to hear from someone who doesn't know about my surgery. It was also the first time I heard anything from someone who didn't know.
Today, I tried on the bridesmaid dress I will be wearing for my brother's wedding in April. At the end of September, I ordered a size 16 even though I couldn't quite zip it, hoping that by April it would fit, or possibly need to be taken in. Well, it zipped with a little room!
Another NSV is my shirts are getting very baggy on me. I am trying to hold off on buying lots of clothes in between sizes, but every time I wear something lately, I feel like it may be the last time. (Although, I guess this isn't really a weird NSV🤷‍♀️)
BTW- I love reading everyone's NSV's and can relate to so many of them. It is so nice to hear about other's progress & really start seeing some of my own. 🤗

Not sure what to think about this but before WLS, my eyelids were always puffy and I thought maybe someday, I would get an eye lift to open up my eyes more. 71lbs later, my eye lids are no longer puffy and my eyes look open and bright! Lashes are easy to curl and makeup goes on with no issues!!
Guess if our feet can lose weight, so can our eye lids!! 😁

My husband and kids can close their arms around me, this is thenfirst time in my childrens lives they have ever been able to do that. I can run. I can cross my legs! I find myself doing this even in the car! 😂

My recently I bought 2 pairs of leggings at target from the womens department... NOT the plus size wall, the actual Womens section. Yes they are a 2x from the womens department But they arent a 2xl from the plus size section which is bigger. I felt so proud 👏 🥲 🥰.

I went to Lab Corp for a blood draw and I could finally sit in one of their waiting room chairs.
Pre-surgery, I had to stand up because I didn't fit in the chairs (I looked like a muffin trying to wedge itself into a thimble).

I can workout without peeing myself [emoji15] I used to pee myself just going down stairs. I would have to run go pee before I went anywhere, run to the bathroom in the middle of grocery shopping because I had to pee. No longer an issue. I can even run 3 miles without having to pee! It's great.

But also, no more sleep apnea, I can wear SHOES that I haven't been able to wear in years (who knew we gained weight in our feet!?), my feet don't ache anymore, and I'm not ruled by food anymore.

Sent from my SM-N976V using BariatricPal mobile app

Although I've been sewing since I was in 8th grade, I signed up for a class at a local sewing shop. We are all making the same top. We are using a "multi-size" pattern. It was interesting hearing others discuss what size they needed to cut their pattern even if it was a large size because I know 3 years ago I never would of told anyone what size I was! This time I was the smallest person in the room and had no problem discussing my size! That was definitely a NSV for me!

I can finally fit in the chair from ikea in my living room for the first time. I have always taken the couch and my husband sits In that chair or in the bar stool at the island. Small victories.

Cannot say it any better than Arabesque! Congratulation GreenTealael! ❤️

Congratulations @GreenTealael. You’ve been one of my inspirational forum members. I’ve very much admired your honesty & attitude when you share your experiences. Plus the non judgemental & positive advice you’ve given. I’ve certainly appreciated your support & feedback. Thank you. ❤️

It has been 4yrs since my (initial) WLS.
Within that time I made great new friends, found love, had a revision, lost a parent, witnessed a pandemic from one of it’s epicenters, had plastics, had new additions to my extended family, relocated, had one child graduate from high school and more.
Almost none of these things were weight related but somehow everything else in my life seemed easier to focus on without worrying about weight.
My weight has been stable since I hit goal a few years ago with only minor fluctuations.
I’m proud to say I will always identify as a WLS patient. I thought I wouldn’t feel like one years out but I find I am consciously honoring this lifestyle in the majority of my choices.
I’m grateful we have this forum and I’m especially grateful to everyone in the WLS community that make it a positive and supportive environment to thrive in.

These pictures are amazing! Everyone has done such a super job!

i did a comparison picture today. 4 stone down. 15 weeks post op. Weight is still shifting 2-3lbs per week without much effort!

I cried…. I don’t recognise myself in the photo before.. why did I pretend that i was happy with my weight for so long before I was honest and said something needs to change. I cried because I feel sad for the lady on the left…

I’m sure you all know what I mean xx

From 1 month lost op to 6 months post op. I am 130 lbs down from my start weight and 110lbs down from my day of surgery weight. AND 153 lbs down from my highest weight. I am still struggling with all this change, it is hard to believe the way I look. Then when I stalled I was so upset and afraid until my hubby pointed out that while I stalled on the scale I was winning in other places. My face was changing, he could wrap his arms around me and he had to hold higher up on his forarm to close completely around me. My arms are smaller, I have more stamina and strength. Thank God for his support, helping me to be strong and keep going.

I started at 339 at 5’10. Sleeved last November. Best case scenarios for me showed me getting to above 200, 230, around that range. I’m currently at 170 and I’m still losing.

Statistics are just numbers. You’re a person, so you control if you do better or worse.

5'3"
HW - 207lbs
SW - 203lbs
6mos - 131lbs
Goal weight - 125lbs -- but I feel like I'll surpass that...I still have major restrictions and no real hunger.
I have started strength training. Hoping to drop another 10-15 lbs of fat, but gain 5-10lbs of muscle.

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.

This is such an interesting observation. I have never regretted it since the day after the surgery. I learned about it in Jan. 2020 and had my surgery in March 2020. For me, it was the fact that my metabolic symptoms were getting worse, and I was nearly the age when my dad got diabetes, and he seems pretty miserable now. Maybe you are right. The people who think about it longer may still be less sure about their decision, even after they've made it.

Nevertheless, I do want to tell the OP and the other posters who are feeling regrets - for me, the painful/uncomfortable physical effects and some of the negative emotions (like feeling left out and feeling like a failure that you had to do this) were still very strong over the first ~9 months - but they are much better now. I don't feel pain when I swallow even Water too fast; I rarely feel faint and need to lie down after meals. Also - at first you have rapidly changing hormone levels from fat-soluble hormones being released as you lose weight, and this WILL affect your emotions. In a year or too, you will likely start to feel better physically - much better than you do now, but also better than your old body did to at a year or two out.
I'm 1.5 years out, and generally very happy with my decision, but I am still getting used to my own body and my new life. I still sometimes feel partly like an alien in a new world. That is a rough process. It takes time.

Emotionally, it's normal to mourn when you undergo a major life change. The old you IS dead. There is no going back. Change is always hard, and that causes anxiety because you don't know yet how it will turn out. And while you hope that the future you will be healthier than the old you, of course you're also having trouble envisioning how happy that future will be. Certainly some of the pleasures the old you enjoyed have been lessened. Of course you'd rather be fat and happy, than slim and miserable! I would too.

Let yourself mourn that. Sadness is a real, natural, normal feeling. Feel it.

But don't forget to put some effort into the new you also. Right now you're taking a LOT less pleasure in food. But don't let yourself just wallow in depression forever. (Unless you can't help it - then seek outside help.) Think about having some new experiences and finding new pleasures. Or, perhaps think about if maybe there's something really painful in your life that you've been using food to avoid - perhaps there is a better way to solve that problem. Then, later, when most likely some of that pleasure in food returns, you'll be in a better place.

I actually take much more pleasure in food now because I don't feel guilty and out of control around it, and the new changes in behavior have finally become habit. I can just focus on actually enjoying the flavor of food, not to mention the satisfying journey between anticipation and completion, hunger and fullness. I was always so hungry before - I never felt 'full' - I always just felt 'uncomfortable'.

Also, there will be people who actually do feel worse in the long term. If that happens to you, seek out a therapist, or a particularly good friend, whatever you need to be able to talk about it. Feel free to send me a message if you need to talk. I may not regret this particular decision, but have certainly been other changes in my life that were irreversibly negative.