Smanky

Still trying to get there

Lifes good....

Thank you so much Activeurit. You are so sweet! I got some more pictures with no filters and no makeup! You are beautiful not just because of your looks but because of how hard you worked in being healthy! Thank you Activeurit! You are awesome!

It’s been 10 years .... I am healthier now and got more energy to spend with my children! With 5 kids ages from 28 to 9 is very exhausting but rewarding! Losing all the weight made me live longer for them. This is the best decision I have ever made in my life! To all of you who are in this journey.... congratulations! You are doing great!

update for you all almost two years out and feeling great
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It's good to know we'll be done on the same day. Great resource for both us. I'm busy slugging down soda every minute of every day And yes, Spotify always!

334lbs to 180lbs

395lbs now 185lbs

Saved my life...

I just posted this in another similar thread but this one seems more current. First picture is a few months pre-op when I was 296lbs and the second picture was a few months ago (about 4 years post op) at 165. The third one is from just a couple days ago. I am at 160lbs now, 5’8” and 28 years old.

I had my Gastric Bypass surgery in August 2019, surgery was a breeze but have suffered with sickness and nausea for the last year but due to Covid haven’t been able to see my surgeon. Was prescribed Odensetron which helps somewhat. But regardless of the sickness and not being able to keep foods down I do not regret having it done at all. Have lost over 140lbs . Before and after pics attached

RNY 2/13/19, 5’8”
HW: 339. BMI 52. Size 32W
SW: 305. 46. 28W
CW: 183 28. 14-16
GW: 185. 28

2016 vs. 2021. I'm in better shape than I was in my 30's.

So glad I saw this—because this is the route I intend to take. (I already CrossFit, so have a whole bucket list of CF-related things I want to do once my weight isn't the limiting factor.) My coach does also program "functional bodybuilding" which I will be following to try and shore up the (inevitable) loose skin.

You both look AH MAY ZING.

Yes, after day 3 it has been easier. I mean i still dream about food, but at least I'm not miserable lol. One week down and I am down 15.2 pounds!

*applauds wildly* Both transformations are ah-mazing and serious goals! I just need plague-related things here to settle down so the gyms can re-open, because as soon as post-op allows, I will be out of the gate like a dog at the beach.

Mine's in 8 days too, Leslie, and likewise, my nerves are starting to kick in. I'm also not afraid of the surgery, I think it's the life change after. A big life change and a big change being made to my body itself. It's no small thing! The food-addict bit of my brain is having a little last-gasp flail knowing things won't be the same ever again, but it's thankfully being drowned out by the rest of mind that's so very ready for this.
I'm picking triumphant, upbeat songs on spotify and playing them on repeat. Along with keeping busy, it helps!

Mine's in 8 days too, Leslie, and likewise, my nerves are starting to kick in. I'm also not afraid of the surgery, I think it's the life change after. A big life change and a big change being made to my body itself. It's no small thing! The food-addict bit of my brain is having a little last-gasp flail knowing things won't be the same ever again, but it's thankfully being drowned out by the rest of mind that's so very ready for this.
I'm picking triumphant, upbeat songs on spotify and playing them on repeat. Along with keeping busy, it helps!

Plant Protein is just as ‘complete” as animal protein. The idea that plant Proteins are “incomplete”, necessitating some sort of “protein combining”, was based on a 1971 fad diet called “Diet for a Small Planet” by Francis Lappe. “Protein combining” was debunked DECADES ago, yet for some people this myth remains pervasive despite 49 years of medical and scientific nutrition evidence to the contrary.
All of the essential amino acids humans need are structurally identical regardless of the source, so in terms of getting enough protein, it doesn’t matter if amino acids come from animal or plant protein. But protein isn’t consumed in isolation, since all plant and animal foods contain essential nutrients in addition to protein. And the other nutrients that you’re consuming – or not, depending on whether you eat animal or plant protein – is where the serious health implications lie.
Plant protein is packed with fibre, antioxidants, and thousands of protective phytonutrients. Animal protein has absolutely no fibre, antioxidants, or phytonutrients whatsoever. Plant proteins contain no saturated fat and cholesterol. All animal foods (including “lean” meats like chicken, salmon, turkey, etc.) contain saturated fat and cholesterol. We don’t need to consume any saturated fat and cholesterol, since our bodies naturally produce all the cholesterol required for physiologic functions. Eating saturated fat and cholesterol causes atherosclerosis (the accumulation of excess cholesterol in the lining of our vessels) and significantly increases the risk of heart disease, currently the number one cause of death in developed countries. People eating a plant-based diet devoid of animal products have significantly less risk of developing heart disease, and several studies have found that a plant-based diet can even reverse atherosclerosis. Plant protein causes no increase in insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Animal proteins cause our bodies to produce higher levels of the hormone IGF-1, which stimulates cell division and growth in both healthy and cancer cells (higher circulating levels of IGF-1 result in increased cancer risk, proliferation, and malignancy.) Plant protein causes no increase in trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Animal proteins increase circulating levels of TMAO, which injures the lining of blood vessels, creates inflammation, and enables the formation of cholesterol plaques in blood vessels. Plant protein causes no increase in phosphorus or fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). Animal proteins contain high levels of phosphorus, and when we consume a lot of phosphorus, the body reacts by producing high levels of the hormone FGF23 to normalize phosphorus levels. FGF23 injures the lining of blood vessels, creates inflammation, and enables the formation of cholesterol plaques in blood vessels, and is directly associated with heart attacks, sudden death, and heart failure. Plant protein causes no increase in bone health problems. Animal proteins have higher concentrations of sulfur-containing amino acids, which can induce a subtle state of acidosis when metabolized, causing our bodies use to compensate by leaching Calcium from our bones to help neutralize the increased acidity. Studies have demonstrated that populations with higher dairy consumption, or higher consumption of animal protein in general, have a higher incidence of bone fractures. You probably conducted a lot of research to determine which type of 1 or 2 hour bariatric surgery would allow you a healthier and longer life. Conduct even more research to determine if what you eat every day for the rest of your life after surgery is going to increase your health and longevity, or increase disease and shorten your life. Everything we put in our mouth either increases longevity by decreasing the development of disease and illness, or contributes to premature death by increasing the development of disease and illness.
Dozens upon dozens of peer-reviewed studies confirm that people on plant-based whole food diets (meaning whole minimally processed plant-based foods, and no processed foods) are at significantly lower risk of many diseases including cancers, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obesity.
So get your protein from plants whenever possible to maintain your weight loss for life and become as healthy as possible. Eating vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, tofu, whole grains, and other plant-based sources of protein is a win for your health and the health of the planet.

I see this is an old post and I hope after these years you have figured out that there just was such bad advice and not enough information on being vegan after WLS. First of all being vegan is an ethical choice and we should never be killing animals for our tastes. There is enough scientific evidence that a whole food plant diet is the healthiest option. There is no problem getting enough Protein and our society is obsessed with protein. People are thriving on this lifestyle after WLS and I am one since 2012. If you haven't already check out Dr. Garth Davis. Dr. Neal Barnard at PCRM also has a podcast by Chuck Carroll the weight loss champion who had WLS and is vegan. He is such an inspiration

Same, same. I have "Tarantella Nova" on full blast so I can dance around to it and shake off the doubt. (Yes, my musical taste is eclectic, but I love Mimmo Cavallaro.)

I hear you! Keeping busy is a need when the adrenaline kicks in. Good luck and godspeed! 💪

Hi Leslie, welcome to BP. I have been on the emotional rollercoaster (my surgery is in... uh... 36 hours) and it is totally normal. But honestly, finding this site has been a lifeline for me, I would almost certainly have chickened out otherwise.

FutureSylph, I'm so sorry. I hope they can reschedule you somewhere else. That's what my surgeon did when the hospital I was initially going to had to cancel all non-emergency electives. Crossing my fingers for you.
I'm on the 22nd. Ten days away. Starting to feel the anxiety knocking, so I'm distracting myself. It's not the surgery itself, I've had two surgeries so far in my life, so I'm not a "nervous flyer". Until now, my WLS has been a bit abstract, and as I head into the final week of pre-op, it's getting super real. Never done anything so life-altering as this, so I've got that "holy crap I'm really doing this" feeling, like I'm getting strapped into the roller-coaster and only just noticed how high it is.

Hi all, today is my 1 year anniversary.
I am down 57 lbs, and all my issues have resolved. I feel completely healthy with absolutely no eating or "exiting issues" anymore.
I still weight train 3 times per week and run 5 kms 2 times per week. AMAZING that I can do this.
This is the best i have felt since I was teenager. Best decision I ever made!