Tara A

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

Both surgery have risks. I went with the full bypass bc I my start weight was 355 and my Surgeon said I'd have more success with the bypass over the sleeve. My sister-in-law had the sleeve around the same time I had my surgery. I have lost 210 lbs 5 years post surgery and she lost around 100 lbs. Both successful but she has started to put back on weight now and I have maintained. I will say however, I have never stopped drinking my protein as a meal replacement for breakfast. That is not the case for her.

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

Seven months post surgery. Down 60

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

Everyone's journey is different. You will hear all kinds of stories form different people. I'm almost 5 years post op and I can tell you I eat what ever I want. It does take time to process certain foods the first few months to a year. But you will be able to eat. I had no problem with ground beef/ turkey ect. Steak took a little time to bring back in. Even now I only eat it once in a while. My biggest issue was with lettuce* go figure. You will eat less but you will not be deprived at all. Your body lets you know when to stop. Listen to your body. My start weight was 355lb and I'm 140lb today! This surgery is not for everyone but it was the best decision I ever made for myself. It will be a transition and you will feel regret but it passes very quickly when you start seeing your progress and adapting to your life style change. Eat slowly, listen to your body and the biggest key to success....drink your protein (get creative with it). 5 years out and I still drink my protein in my coffee every morning as a meal replacement for breakfast. Good luck to you! You got this!!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

Yes! You made the right decision! Everyone has this exact moment you are experiencing now! You will be able to eat again. You will enjoy food. I'm 5 years post and I eat anything I want. It will take time. Focus on the positives and the end game! This feeling of regret only last a few weeks and then your focus will shift to introducing new food, portion sizes and most important your weight loss. Get creative with your protein. Make it a large part of your life. It's an extremely important part of your success. I'm 5 years post surgery and still drink my protein. If you are a coffee drinker.. and some Vanilla ensure or the like to your coffee. It will bring you comfort and fill you up. For me, I focused less on what I wasn't able to eat and more on what I could eat that gave me the most satisfaction. You can sip on coffee for hours. you can only eat a few bites of eggs. Soups were another big thing for me in the beginning. Why? Bc I could get down more and didn't feel deprived. If I felt like I wanted something sweet. I'd suck on an orange wedge. Try different things to take your mind off the negatives.. they will pass. You will be able to eat and enjoy food again! Start weight was 355 and I'm 140 now.

I will be 8 weeks out tomorrow and I have not thrown up yet other than right after surgery. But i have eaten a bite or two to many and it hurts like hell but im still learning my new tummy {I had the sleeve) and its limits. I didnt eat much red meat before surgery so no biggie for me but i honestly tolerate tuna or other fish better than any meat. Again Im still a newbie post op. I wish i could have done this weight loss with diet and exercise but once you get a certain overweight exercise is hard especially since I have severe arthritis. Since post op Im moving better - been grumpy the past few days I have no idea why - but honestly Id take never eating meat over being obese any day of the week. Its a big change for sure! But its worth it. I am down 35 pounds as of today! 
i threw up the first 3 days post op but this is pretty common but not everyone does this.

My sister is 25 years out bypass and her daughter is out 2-3 years bypass they never throw up. 

SW: 227
Todays weight: 192
VS surgery: 12/22/2022
Total Loss 35 pounds

Everyone's journey is different. You will hear all kinds of stories form different people. I'm almost 5 years post op and I can tell you I eat what ever I want. It does take time to process certain foods the first few months to a year. But you will be able to eat. I had no problem with ground beef/ turkey ect. Steak took a little time to bring back in. Even now I only eat it once in a while. My biggest issue was with lettuce* go figure. You will eat less but you will not be deprived at all. Your body lets you know when to stop. Listen to your body. My start weight was 355lb and I'm 140lb today! This surgery is not for everyone but it was the best decision I ever made for myself. It will be a transition and you will feel regret but it passes very quickly when you start seeing your progress and adapting to your life style change. Eat slowly, listen to your body and the biggest key to success....drink your protein (get creative with it). 5 years out and I still drink my protein in my coffee every morning as a meal replacement for breakfast. Good luck to you! You got this!!

355 to 150 at 4.5 years post surgery. I've lost another 10 lbs since this pic too!

Before n after

In the first photo I went from my surgery weight of 208lbs to 156lbs. In the second photo I went from my highest weight, 223lbs to 159lbs.
I am currently 154lbs but I’m waiting until I’m in the 140s before I take anymore photos.
All of these progress photos are amazing and inspiring!

Been a while since I checked in. A friend of mine said, "You know, if you do a French tuck*, you can show off those belt buckles of yours. You're slim enough now."
I am not convinced this is the style for me (feels like I wasn't paying attention after pulling my pants up and accidentally buttoned them around my shirt), but damn if it didn't feel nice to actually be able to do it. So here I am, another almost 40 lbs. down, 39 to go. Three quarters of the way to goal.

* French tuck - you tuck in the front but not the back. I know no French people who do this, but maybe it's named after Tan France instead of France France.

Congrats!!!!?
You look great too!!