fourmonthspreop

I wish someone told me how constipated I'd be and how that's normal. I'm like 5 months out and still can't go regularly most days because of the high protein diet. I pop stool softeners like it's candy lol Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

You don't owe anyone an explanation. I stick to telling people I feel it'd be important for them to know which is virtually no one haha. I told my immediate family and my best friends, that's it. I told my boss I was having digestion issues and needed surgery. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Some recent nsv's - Not having the shower curtain stick to my body while showering - Not being sweaty in 100 degree weather -In fact I find I am washing my clothes less because I dont sweat at all - Weird but I had bad body odor around my breasts when I was heaviest because I sweated so much there and now I don't have that issue at all -my calves fit into high boots -I can wear most women's XLs and Ls (before I was an xxxl+) -I can go thrifting now. Nothing fit me before at most thrift stores but I can easily find clothes in the large and xl racks. - my friends telling me that I don't need to use a plus size dating app anymore lol and meeting a guy off of the app who asked me why I was using a plus size dating app [emoji854] Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

I know this is posted on here time and time again but I'm so frustrated. I'm getting ready for a cross country move. I really imagined that by this time I'd be in the 230s. I have stalled out for the last 3 or 4 weeks and am so frustrated about it. I keep going in between 248 and 251. I don't know if this is maintenance because im only a bit over 4 months post op from gastric bypass. I have definitely increased my calories but am eating in a deficit. My BMR is around 1900 and I'm eating in between 1000 and 1300 a day plus exercise. I have been slacking in water and have not been having protein shakes at all because I'm getting a decent amount through solid food and don't want the extra cals. How do I get past this? I'm going to stay off the scale until the end of next week but I'm still feeling really down and bad about myself. I feel like a disgusting fat mess honestly. I haven't had these feelings since pre op and I just need to vent about it. I was experiencing a period of mania a week ago for a good 2 weeks straight (I'm bipolar) and missed some of my meds. I think I might be crashing and going through a depressive state. It's not super bad but the weight loss stall is making me have a lot of negative self image and feelings of failure. Should I just get back on liquids for a week or something? I'm losing my mind and getting depressed as hell. I'm taking my meds regularly again. I really only missed like 3 or 4 days and I take a small dosage. So I'm hoping to even back out soon but the stall is messing with my brain and confidence. What do you do? Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Definitely! I've been really good about keeping on track with my meds lately. Taking it day by day. Really just making sure I cross off my protein and water for the day and workout. I broke my stall as of the last time I checked. I've actually dropped about 8 more lbs since moving. I am trying to have faith and confidence in myself that as long as I'm doing things right, the weight comes off. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

I think you can only add it from the website. Not the app. At least not android users Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Without insurance, there isn't really a long wait. They moreso want you to be ready for it so it's kind of in your control without insurance. I think it's different depending on where you're at and how you present to them during the initial consultation. I was not given a weight loss goal or timeframe but I was also told some people are, it just depends. I came into my consultation incredibly depressed and recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder which is why my preparation was more about the mental health stuff. I was told to seek counseling because I have an eating disorder (which I was already doing), 3 months of nutrition visits, and pass a psych eval. Once I got that done, they approved me for the EKG, endoscopy, and pre-op bloodwork. They basically said once I complete those (plus establishing care with a primary care doc), I was good to schedule my surgery. I prolonged it for 3 months extra and did extra nutrition because I was still deep into counseling and wanted to make sure my mind was right before jumping into it. So my first visit was in July 2021 I believe and I had my surgery on February 14 2022 in short.

My arm flab for reference Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Check out Dr. Dietrich at Advent Health Bariatric. Incredible program, state of the art facilities and holistic approach to weight loss. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

I did Advent tampa with dietrich. Highly recommend. Sooooo state of the art in surgery, hospital stay, medicine. Very holistic approach to weight loss. They want you to get your mind right along with your eating habits and understand there's a mind body connection in morbid obesity. Dr D very cleverly placed my incisions so one of completely out of sight. He's incredibly thorough, kind, and caring. I felt listened to the whole time by everyone. I paid out of pocket because my insurance didn't cover it. Costs over 25k for everything (Dr visits, blood work, mental health, endoscopy, ekg, hospital stay, surgery, nutritionist) and came with free appointments up to 90 days post op. Loved the experience. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Just wanted to update here, I broke my stall. Stepped on the scale today since writing the first post here. Am at 243 now. I feel okay about it. I am going to stay off the scale until next month because mentally, I am having a hard time facing the numbers and feeling okay with my progress and the way my body looks. There's a lot of self-hatred I need to undo and the scale is not helping me with that. Thanks for all your kind wishes and praise. I know we're all on different stages of this journey and it's never easy. I truly get so much from posting on this form and it's definitely changed my surgery journey for the better. Hope everyone is well xx

Hey! Glad to hear from everyone. I had my surgery Feb 14 and have lost about 66 lbs post OP and total weight loss 97 lbs in both pre and post op phases. I am feeling very mehh mentally. I was stalled out for a long time in the 250s but I recently broke the stall which is great but physically I really don't like how I look. I'm having a very hard time embracing the weight loss because my body still looks the same as it did at 340 lbs, just a smaller version now with loose and droopy skin. I cannot stop thinking about getting my arms done because I have huge loose upper arms with saggy droopy skin. It's 100+ degrees here and I refuse to wear short sleeve shirts never mind tank tops because I am so self-conscious about my arms. I am wearing long sleeve shirts and button-ups for now. I tried a girdle to suck me in but it just makes the loose skin on my armpit/back stick out and looks HORRIBLE. I am honestly having a really hard time accepting myself. I look in the mirror and still see a huge person and the fact that I'm not at my weight loss goal really adds to it. I'm also losing my hair and my front hair line is so thinned out, if my hair gets oily there's a bald spot on the left front side that is almost impossible to cover up. I just feel so ugly. I am trying to wash my hair less (because the majority of it falls out in the shower), brush it incredibly gently, and sleep on a silk pillowcase but I'm not sure there's much else to do about hair loss, just let the thing run its course and it is supposed to come back within a year. Dying my hair dark, dark brown helps it look fuller. Physically I feel better but still deal with crunching knee pain, I think that's just from having no cartilage in the knee and needs a medical intervention beyond weight loss. The knee pain overall has improved but there's no cartilage in my right knee and it still gets very painful. On the bright side I can run and run up stairs without getting out of breath. I don't sweat unless I'm doing something very strenuous too to the intense heat and long sleeves doesn't bother me too much because I don't really get that hot. I am only allowing weigh-ins once a month from here on out because I was obsessive about it and the number makes me incredibly depressed. I am not concerned about my diet or my movement - I follow what I'm supposed to be doing well so there's no sense in stepping on the scale every day. And the last two times I've checked the number went down from my previous stall. All the loose skin, lumps, nothing is flat or smooth and I'm still in my 20's, haven't had kids and am just so upset I did this to myself. I am obviously very happy about the weight loss but it's like now that a lot of weight has come off, I am now mentally dealing with the shame and regret I feel in letting myself get as heavy as I was. In the moment, I didn't think about it because I was so disconnected from my body - I always thought it's not that bad but now that I see how much my body has changed, I feel ashamed of myself. I am really working on "owning" my body at this point. I want to have a plastics consultation to see when and how they'd be willing to operate on me but until then, I just need to realize what's changed for the better. I just wish the body dysmorphia and self-hatred would go away but as everyone says, it doesn't. You still have to put the work in and that's my main priority right now. Anyway, sorry I am kind of venting here. Thanks if you made it this far. I'm incredibly interested to hear how everyone is doing too, physically, mentally, etc.

Hopefully that's it! I've been so active and barely eating but I am not getting on that scale because it has so much control over my mood. I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and maybe in a couple of weeks I'll check but I'm slowly realizing how much power the number has over me and how I need that to not be a thing because I am sick of hating myself. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Ommgg I'm not at my goal weight yet but I feel this. The biggest thing is how my heart literally races, my face turns red and I shake when I need to get on an airplane. I've learned by traveling a lot recently that seat belts fit with room but in my mind I still feel like that 340 lb person waiting to be embarrassed to find out the seat belt won't fit or barely closes. When I tell you my heart RACES still, it's crazy. I wonder when it won't be such an anxiety provoking moment. I also have body dysmorphia and still feel like I'm at my heaviest most days. It's a big long mental journey too. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

It's possible! I have a small bicep muscle showing now when i flex which was not there before. I just want the number to drop though ughhhh to be less than 250 lbs a girl can dream LOL Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

I dont measure myself but I have like small goal clothes I try on periodically that are always looser when I do. I do feel though my body hasn't changed much in fact the last 3 weeks....mostly I look in the mirror and still see a 340 lb girl. Physically though I feel a lot better, ive had a surplus of energy but with the bipolar depression, mentally i have been just wanting to sleep all day thr past week. But i get up and down off the ground with ease, can run without getting out of breath, can do stairs without getting out of breath, and my knee pain is a lot better although the past week it's been flaring up which is causing me pain and discomfort. I know Physically I'm a lot better off but when that number doesn't change, I get really low and filled with despair. I need to adjust my thinking and be more accepting that the journey isn't linear. I wish my brain wasn't so messed up. Gratitude and greatfulness is everything. I am trying so hard to internalize that. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

That's true, stalls are just terrible. I am feeling so disconnected from my weight loss journey because the number doesn't move every day or every two days anymore. I am going to contact my dietician if I don't get below 245 in 2 weeks or possibly next week if I choose to weigh myself again. Idk I need to come up with some strategy. I've lost 60 lbs post op about, 30 pre op. I do get nervous because my surgeon said you can expect to lose 100 lbs, what if this is it? Mann, I'd be upset. But yeah, I will be patient and keep making good decisions, getting my water in the best I can and protein. Thank you.

That definitely makes me want to contact them. That's interesting. I know there are these like "resets" you can do but I haven't heard much in the way of efficacy about them. I really do love my dietician, I should just send her a message. I guess lately I've felt disconnected from my bariatric journey because of the stall. Maybe the honeymoon phase is wearing off or I am just depressed. I don't know. What an odd experience but I'm glad I have a place here where we're all familiar with it. Thank you for your kind words.

I appreciate it, thanks! Just to be clear, I've lost about 60 lbs in 4 months since my surgery. I lost 30 before my gastric bypass. I will definitely try to focus on the positives but as you know it can be such a frustrating experience when it's a huge goal in your life. Hopefully, this gets better!

Yeah, I guess this is my first real stall. None of them have lasted more than 2 weeks. I do find odd things like a pair of jeans that didn't fit me at 235 lbs in the past fit me now at 250. I don't understand that. The number can be so devious to me. I just wish it didn't make me depressed. I need to find a way to detach my value from my weight. I have been doing pretty heavy exercise, running again and lifting weights at the gym in fact this weight loss stall seemed to have started when I started the heavy exercise. Exercise has definitely increased my appetite. I'm in between a rock and a hard place because I want to be fit and build muscle but I don't want to feel hungry. I will call my dietician if this lasts longer than 2 more weeks.

Straws actually helped me stay hydrated in the beginning and still do. I guess I gulp with force so without a straw I get painful gas in my esophagus. It's different for everyone. My program told me not to use them and then I told my doctor they actually help me get water down and she was like oh cool then keep using them! Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Dumping is totally random but as a rule of thumb I try to avoid foods with more than 10-12 grams of added sugar. It's worked so far! If the portion was really small there mightve not been enough sugar or fat to trigger it. Like for example, I can take a small bite of something sugary and be fine. I've only dumped once after eating French fries and some bread with honey butter..it was likely due to all the fat I was consuming and the sweet butter put me over the edge. Terrible experience because I have an hour and a half card ride after with some friends and had to pretend I wasn't about to die LOL I'd say you're lucky, don't push it or you can I guess if you want to learn your limits although I truly feel it's random and it's best to avoid large quantities of sugar and fats. But im a believer in occasional treats so don't deprive yourself! Glad you could enjoy it. My doctor always says "what worked today, might not work tomorrow. Proceed with caution" Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

91 lbs gone! 61 of those lbs lost in the post op phase. 4 months and 8 days since my bypass in FEB. Still lumpy but feeling so much better. I finally am at the point where I have too much energy and dont know what to do with myself half the time...started working out a lot. If you want to share and had your surgery feb 2022, show me some before and afters! Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

I seem to be in a cycle of losing and gaining the same 3 lbs. I keep going in between 250 and 248. I am also about 4 months post op. Is a 4 month stall normal? I thought I broke 250 but it goes in between those 3 numbers probably for 3 weeks now I think or more idk... I'm going to be honest I'm not meeting my protein goals or hydration goals. Trying very hard with water but protein I am.not getting enough. I am still in a major calorie deficit and started vigorous exercise recently. I'm frustrated but all I can do is stay off the scale, stay in my deficit and keep working to reach my protein and water goal. Uhh but it is the most frustrating thing ever. I want to get to 200 so badly. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi! I'm in the market for some compression pieces, specifically for my lower stomach. I have a hanging apron belly and while everything else is slimming out, I still deal with some serious lower stomach protrusion through tight jeans or even loose pants. It looks fine from the front but from the side, there's like a mound on my lower abdomen, it's so upsetting 😠 My stomach is getting droopy like a deflated beach ball. I have some compression underwear that work well on cleaning up the lines a bit but I'm wondering if there are any compression garments for your lower stomach that really gets rid of that FUPA look if you know what I mean, seriously flattens things out, not just holds everything in place. If so, send me links, store names, suggestions, anything! Thanks!