ColieCallwell

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.

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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).

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 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

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

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.

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!

OK, click bait title..... I admit it......but I do enjoy looking at myself in the mirror these day. Down 80lbs...started working out late in the game but can tell I've added some muscle mass as well. Proud of my progress. Gastric sleeve for the win a year from today! Trying to squeeze out another 5-10lbs for my 25 year anniversary so I can prance around in front of my hot wife in my swim suit on our anniversary cruise! For all those sitting on the sidelines, jump in. My experience has been awesome!



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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 am looking forward to seeing old friends! I'd been too ashamed because my weight had gotten so high, I didn't want to see anyone I used to know. I'm going home for Thanksgiving and have already reached out to people to meet and catch up. Can't wait!

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I am looking forward to seeing old friends! I'd been too ashamed because my weight had gotten so high, I didn't want to see anyone I used to know. I'm going home for Thanksgiving and have already reached out to people to meet and catch up. Can't wait!

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I am looking forward to seeing old friends! I'd been too ashamed because my weight had gotten so high, I didn't want to see anyone I used to know. I'm going home for Thanksgiving and have already reached out to people to meet and catch up. Can't wait!

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I am looking forward to seeing old friends! I'd been too ashamed because my weight had gotten so high, I didn't want to see anyone I used to know. I'm going home for Thanksgiving and have already reached out to people to meet and catch up. Can't wait!

Sent from my SM-N976V using BariatricPal mobile app

I am looking forward to seeing old friends! I'd been too ashamed because my weight had gotten so high, I didn't want to see anyone I used to know. I'm going home for Thanksgiving and have already reached out to people to meet and catch up. Can't wait!

Sent from my SM-N976V using BariatricPal mobile app

It is so hard to give advice when every surgeon has a different plan! 1200 calories a day so soon out from surgery seems high. I think they want you getting your Protein to mitigate side effects (hair falling out, no energy, not looking "good"). My surgeon's office had me on pureeds til I was 9 weeks out, and emphasized just doing shakes if meals were too much. Last week, I had my 2 month appointment and was told I should be getting 80g of protein through Protein Shakes alone, (and the protein HAS to be Bariatric Advantage or Unjury - yuck, no Isopure which I can actually tolerate), and 120g of total protein daily. Well, I frickin hate the protein shakes, and I was doing really good getting in 80g from real food, (and the office was quite pleased with the weight I've lost so far). My nutritionist said 500 to 700 calories a day was good, not to focus on macros, just to focus on getting my protein. Because those shakes are so high in calories and carbs, if I drink protein shakes, my calories are closer to 900 per day and my carbs are close to 100g (which seems very high). So I'm just going back to what I was doing.

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I know what you mean about CPAP machine I've been on mine for a long time and cant wait to come off it

Finding casual blouses that fit right and don’t look like a tent. I hated the shirts I used to wear….they are getting better now that I am a little smaller…..can’t wait to see how the tops fit when I get closer to my goal.

Not being scared of having my picture taken or looking in the mirror. 😱😖
We actually just had a family photo shoot for our Christmas cards, and I wasn't horrified by most of them (a few bad angles or positions😝). 😄😂

It’s been 2 months since I had surgery..at 5e first month the best news I received was that my A1C was at prediabetic #. I was at 7.8% a1c before surgery, 25 days after surgery my A1c went down to 5.8%. I’m also looking forward to the summer 2022 where I can finally wear a 2 piece bikini and have a somewhat even tan. Every summer I end up looking like an Oreo cookie, dark legs, dark back and arms and extremely pale midsection.

I look forward to SHOPPING! I absolutely love it and haven’t been able to for years. Especially looking forward to buying some really nice pairs of tall boots 😁

Well, I WAS looking forward to enjoying exercise, but I somehow think I may just be a slug no matter what size I am. I am looking forward to being able to move easily around spaces and not have to plan out my route depending on where chairs/tables/etc are (like when you get seated at the back of a restaurant).
And of course, I am looking forward to wearing "normal" sized clothes!

It is so hard to give advice when every surgeon has a different plan! 1200 calories a day so soon out from surgery seems high. I think they want you getting your Protein to mitigate side effects (hair falling out, no energy, not looking "good"). My surgeon's office had me on pureeds til I was 9 weeks out, and emphasized just doing shakes if meals were too much. Last week, I had my 2 month appointment and was told I should be getting 80g of protein through Protein Shakes alone, (and the protein HAS to be Bariatric Advantage or Unjury - yuck, no Isopure which I can actually tolerate), and 120g of total protein daily. Well, I frickin hate the protein shakes, and I was doing really good getting in 80g from real food, (and the office was quite pleased with the weight I've lost so far). My nutritionist said 500 to 700 calories a day was good, not to focus on macros, just to focus on getting my protein. Because those shakes are so high in calories and carbs, if I drink protein shakes, my calories are closer to 900 per day and my carbs are close to 100g (which seems very high). So I'm just going back to what I was doing.

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I was never a scale person......🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣, clearly because I became clinically obese and getting sicker each year before my Gastric Bypass.
I do weigh myself each day but I am not obsessed by it but it is good to measure progress which keeps me focused on my target weight goal and by getting off my meds & CPAP completely & forever.
See as a tool, one of many in your toolbox to get healthy vs a device of shame.

I think I may have been an alcoholic before surgery, on top of having a food addiction. I'm only 2 mos post sleeve surgery, and have loved not being tied to having to have a drink every night after work. I'm terrified that if I take one drink, it will turn into a daily issue again. I also worry about my liver, without the proper anatomy to properly process alcohol, what damage would that do. I'm just going to opt for trying not to drink alcohol again.

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Are you making sure you're meeting your Protein and hydration goals? My surgeon didn't give me calorie goals, just protein goals...and to up my protein intake if I'm working out. Also, I notice that I lose less quickly when I'm working out. I think because perhaps fat is being replaced with muscle. Have you tried doing measurements instead? Sometimes when I don't lose weight, I still lose inches.

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