Smanky

My paranoia about the wounds in my stomach and new intestine join had me taking super gentle sips of allowed liquid after surgery. I could definitely feel it going down. That paranoia stayed with me right through to about the fourth month, well after my incisions would have been completely healed. Move around as much as your body allows to help get rid of the gas. I did laps around the wards as often as I could to get mine to shift.

So make 181/size 14 your initial goal weight. This is what my surgeon gave me - a goal weight of about 80kg which would have me wearing an AU size 14 (US size 10). In the past I had gotten down to where I could fit into a large size 12 (US size 8), so instead of 80kg, I made my goal 75kg. I had been close to there before, so I could picture it. When you hit the more familiar intitial goal, then make a new one that's closer to the one suggested to you, and so on. When you're at the start of the process it does feel unattainable and like you'll never get there. I expect this is a universal feeling, especially when there's so much weight to lose (I've literally lost an entire person). But it does come off, and one day you'll weigh yourself and be staring at your goal weight on the scale and needing someone to pinch you. I've passed goal and am about to fit into a size I have not touched since I was a kid. Madness! I'd have absolutely lost that bet, yet here I am. TL:DR - Don't let the length of the process intimidate you, there are so many mini victories along the way. In 12 months time, you'll be living what you may right now have trouble visualising.

I would find the risk of impulse swallowing too great to try chewing solid food before the plan gives that green light. It's only a few weeks, for what it's worth. Maybe try bone broth and beef clear soup if it's the flavour you're craving?

Yeah, I'm unlikely to be able to afford skin removal surgery. I'll try saving and see how I go, as I'd certainly take that option if it was available to me, but I'm also realistic and refuse to hang my contentment on a surgery that may or may not happen. I like myself just fine now, loose skin and all! Sure, I could probably escape on a strong gust of wind like a sugar-glider, but I'm calling that my superpower. ?

Yeah, we're pretty much stuck with the loose skin. I keep my sense of humour about it, and stick to high-waisted undies and jeans/pants. Can't do much about my crepey arm skin, especially in summer, but they thankfully don't bother me. I find dressing myself post-goal is a lot of "smoke and mirrors", with a healthy dose of "eh, I don't care" for the bits I can't hide.

I had the same surgery as you, I lost slowly, stalled frequently and am still losing beyond my goal. Here's the thing though - don't compare youself to others, expect stalls and stay off the scale. You're losing fine. I know it can be frustrating, but you have to reign in the big expectations because your body will lose they way it needs to lose. For some of us, that means a slower rate, and that's ok. If you stick to your plan you'll be a success story of your own.

We all have, which is why for most of us, this was our last remaining option. I can't add anything to what Catwoman said, but just know that we've all been there. Most of us hit rock-bottom before opting for surgery, I know I sure did, physically and emotionally. I liken my surgery to having a co-pilot, or "the adult in the room", or my latest favourite analogy: the monkey that sits on my shoulder and slaps me upside the head any time I think I may wander off my plan. It works! I absolutely love my shoulder-monkey, which has successfully stopped the single main reason I always failed: self-sabotage.

Coming back to this topic, because now I've started getting the "don't lose any more weight!" and "you're not going to lose any more are you?" comments from people. Super awesome. They never would have dared say "you need to lose weight!" when I was morbidly obese, but now that I'm a normal BMI (not underweight - normal) suddenly it's ok to comment. ? I know there's a bunch of factors going on there, it's a rich tapestry of psychology to unpack etc etc, but it's interesting to see how you escape one type of social scrutiny only to wander into a different one.

Ah yes, the "big boned" classic! I truly believed it myself for most of my life. Looking at my body now, I can see that I have broad shoulders, but my bones look pretty standard-issue to me.

I will never understand this bizarre notion people seem to have that an "easy way out" for weight loss is a bad thing even if it did exist. Like... why does it need to be a struggle to be ok? Do we need weight loss to be some epic f***ing crawl across a flaming desert of despair to be acceptable to people who aren't involved? Does my head in. Makes me inclined to answer "my own hard work" when asked how I lost so much weight. It's not anyone's business anyway. Also: you look AMAZING! Seriously. And that top you're wearing is gorgeous on you!

I'm prone to ulcers - got one a couple of months out of surgery when I went off Pantoprazole, so my surgeon promptly put me back on Pantoprazole. Ulcers will resolve with the medication.

Yes to this one too! The bench stools at the airport that are bolted into the floor, with a metal back that I never used to sit in (I'd stand at the bench instead) are now super roomy and I could plop a child on my lap and still fit. No-Longer-Fearing-Chairs is honestly one of the enduring NSV high-points. ?‍♀️

Yes! I had a blue handbag in storage which, even with the strap extended as long as it could, would sit waaaay too close to my armpit pre-surgery. Now it sits at my hip. The downside is that it's spent SO long in storage the faux leather is starting to disintegrate. The NSV that got away!

I struggled to eat in the early months post-op and couldn't stomach the godawful protein shakes (and still can't ?). I got my protein in through protein-fortified soy milk (matcha lattes!), protein water (a godsend because it also counts towards your water intake and I still rely on it today to get my daily protein up), and whatever solid protein food I could manage to eat. I was barely eating 1/4-1/2 a cup of food 3 times a day for the longest time, so the protein water and soy milk really helped. If you eat dairy, try some protein fortified yoghurt. Ultimately though, ask your dietician/nutritionist, as they're the experts and will be able to guide you. Talk to your surgeon about the burning feeling and get on top of that! I develop ulcers fairly easily, and they're no fun, so something may be going on there.

Also never stopped eating good food - I just eat small portions and am satisfied with that. I still get excited about food, still love cooking, still love going out to eat. Only difference is the quantity I eat, and I no longer feel guilt afterwards. I find that lack of guilt because I'm not gorging myself completely liberating. Pre-surgery I didn't slow down to actually enjoy anything I was eating. It's the reverse now - I finally have a good relationship with food. I can stop and actually appreciate the flavours and the skill that went into making it, without making myself ill from eating too much of it. I think folks really latch onto this idea that post-surgery eating is punitive, but it isn't. It may feel like it when you're in those first months of the plan, but that's temporary while everything heals.

Distract yourself when it inevitably starts getting hard! The pre-op diet is honestly the worst bit, but it's thankfully only short, even if it doesn't feel like it!

Best advice I can give is: Remember it's major surgery and it'll likely be a painful recovery. Took me two weeks to stop hurting, but it did stop. Be patient and kind to yourself, remember it's gentle-steps, and let yourself heal. Keep your eyes on the prize. If you're feeling overwhelmed, breathe and remember why you're doing this. If you're getting in your head or your feelings, try distracting yourself with books/tv/podcasts and gentle walks. Browse the web and make lists of the things you want to do when you hit milestones. Stay off the scale for the first month. Seriously. Fluid retention from all the liquids that are pumped into you at the hospital take a while to go away, and people seem to expect immediate results. The weight will drop off, but stalling is normal. Again - patience and be kind to yourself! You'll be hitting milestones before you know it.

I was definitely in the high pain camp after my bypass, but I also had a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time which likely made post-op pain worse. That said, even with the hernia pain, I've dealt with far worse (hi tibial plateau fracture! You were definitely a level 10!), and the post-op pain relief kept it all manageable. Took a good two weeks for the "hit by a truck" or "gut punched by a team of heavyweights" feeling to subside, but I was pretty zen about it because I knew it would eventually improve. I had some nausea post-op, but the drugs kept it in check. Everyone's experience is their own, however, so you'll never know until you're there how much or how little pain/nausea you'll have. Best thing to remember is it's temporary. As Catwoman said, the bypass post-op food plan is pretty similar to the sleeve, with the exception of the supplements. I hope it sorts out your Gastroparesis! Amazing transformation, BTW!

Yes! And not just wearing it, but wrapping it around yourself. At my previous slimmest, I could just get into his jeans, now they fall off me! ?

Something that recently hit me: I am noticeably smaller than my partner. I'm not the big woman with a skinny guy anymore, I'm officially the little spoon. It's such uncharted territory, and I love that I'm getting to experience it!

I would be nervous too, it's major surgery and requires good pain management afterwards. Why are they doing it as outpatient? What's their post-surgery care protocol? How will they manage your pain, nausea and post-op care?

Around October last year I fractured my tibial plateau badly, along with damage to my ACL, PCL and meniscus and was bed-ridden in a locked leg brace for seven weeks. I was over a year post-op at the time, so weight loss was way slower and the chances of me snacking over my calorie limit was high, particularly with the boredom of forced bed rest. Still dropped two kilograms over that time, despite thinking that I was for sure going to put a bit back on. At ten weeks, your surgery will still be at its strongest, so if you stick to the plan you'll be fine. Sore, but fine. (I also broke a rib just before Christmas. I'm apparently collecting broken bones now ?)

As others have mentioned, the sleeve is cheaper and also a quicker surgery to do versus the RNY. The Mini Bypass (Omega Loop) that I got is also a quicker surgery to perform since there's one less intestinal join, but with similar benefits to the RNY. I had originally wanted the sleeve, but because of my pre-existing GERD, my surgeon advised me away from the sleeve and recommended the bypass instead. I am very happy with the choice and the results, and only regret not doing this sooner. Recovery for the mini bypass was a few weeks, but I had a hiatal hernia repair done at the same time, so I had a double whammy of pain. First two weeks were pretty rough. But honestly, recovery was pretty smooth all things considered! The main downside of the bypass is the lifelong supplements, but it's a part of my routine and as much as I dislike having to take a handful of pills every evening, it's only a small inconvenience.

You're looking absolutely fantastic. Well done!

Genuine question for those who can't stand "surgery is a tool". What alternative description would you suggest?