Yahoo

Picked up won ton broth at the grocery store - was cool they sold it as broth with a recipe on the box if you want to add ingredients for the Soup

OMG yes… growing up my family used to say “you can’t really help it, you’re big boned” and my Dad would apologize “I’m sorry honey, I gave you my stalky frame and big bones”
”you’re a bull in a glass shop”
my mom would say “yes honey you’re overweight, but you have such a beautiful face!”
the pity, the excuses on my behalf… the consolation prize. The silver lining. I’m so done with it and the years of internalized self hate.
thank goodness for therapists.

My dad would always tell me we're "built for comfort, not for speed" lol.

I am having surgery on the 20th. Starting week two of liquid diet. Excited and nervous and feeling both ready and completely unprepared

Was traveling home yesterday and spent a few hours in the airport. Brought out the laptop to do some work. About a half hour into it I realized I was actually using my laptop on my LAP for the first time. I have a lap!!!

If it is not too difficult or stressful for you, I say go and enjoy yourself but drink your Protein prior and enjoy sipping on your teas, broths, etc while they eat and you all socialize. I am on day 10 of 14 and took my son to dinner for his birthday last week with family and did exactly that and was so glad that I went and enjoyed myself. It didn't bother me at all nor anyone else as they understood (many of whom I didn't feel the need to explain the full situation but simply if asked why I wasn't eating I explained I had an upcoming medical procedure and was on a very limited diet. No questions asked. Enjoy yourself! You can't stop living! This is only the beginning of life-long changes when we will not be able to eat as others do. Good luck and be strong. This is your life, live it! ❣️

We have special concerns as smaller people; I often feel like my weight loss success doesn't sound as impressive when I compare myself to people taller than me (A lot of people on this forum have lost more than you and I started out weighing!). So be careful with that, don't compare yourself.
I get fun size, travel size, micro person, the whole spectrum LOL. I used to hate being short but I can't change it so I try to have a good sense of humor about it.

Another one for me: Last year, I bought a shirt for a friend. I wasn't sure if he would wear a medium or large (he's super skinny), so I bought one of each. He wanted the large, so I shoved the medium in the back of my closet and forgot about it until yesterday when I was cleaning out my closet. I came across that medium shirt and put it on and it fit perfectly! It's a men's medium -- I wear a woman's large -- but still... I fit into a shirt that's too small for my skinny friend! I used to wear a men's 3XL because a woman's 3XL was usually too small!

Successful endoscopy today! Start liquids on Saturday for bypass on the 20th. I am Persian and that is the day before New Year

Successful endoscopy today! Start liquids on Saturday for bypass on the 20th. I am Persian and that is the day before New Year

I'm so sorry you are struggling so. It is not easy! I am on day 7 today so feel you!
Try relaxing, distracting yourself by staying busy with things you enjoy besides food, drinking your shakes on a schedule 3- 4 daily and constantly drinking your low/non caloric drinks (broth, non decaf/ herbal tea or coffee, crystal light, sugar free sports drinks, Protein Water, ) As well as sugar free Popsicles (and anything else allowed on your program.
Increasing activity/walking can also help. Split this into several mini walks.
And don't hesitate to reach out to your friend, family and your dietitian/program support for additional help and tips. Don't be frightened to ask for help. This is a difficult process and you are not the first or last to be finding it such a struggle. Have faith in yourself. You CAN do this! We all need the support of others! Please help yourself and do what you've done here and ask for more support from thise directly involved with you today and who can impact you short term. Good luck. Praying for your strength, patience and SUCCESS!

Scheduled for March 24th!

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Regarding medications, I take 30 different medications or supplements per day and really don't have any issues taking them at this point. I obviously don't do them all at once, but it's not like I take them one at a time either. Right now, it's roughly five to seven at a time, spread throughout the day.
I was pretty challenging the first few weeks to get everything in because at that point, I was having to take maybe one or two at a time. I'd say I did that for 3-4 weeks, and slowly started upping the amount I take at once. I'm hopeful I'll eventually get to just twice a day (because some of my meds are BID), but that may be a bit longer still.

No dumb questions here. It’s all new & strange to us all in the beginning.
I get my roots done every 4 weeks & was no different before or after surgery. Had it done a couple of days before surgery & again 4 weeks later. Can’t do anything to stop that Hair loss if it happens to you. It’s just your normal hair loss cycle accelerated. Your new hair is still growing just at it’s usual rate. The supplements, shampoos, etc. don’t seem to change a thing. Doesn’t matter whether you take them or not the hair loss tends to last about three months.
Can’t do anything about the loose skin either. Too many factors beyond our control dictate how much you’ll have: age, genetics, how much weight you lose, how long you carried your weight, etc. There’s always surgery to remove it if you choose.
Whether you’ll need a walking stick or aid is personal. I didn’t. Didn’t use a binder either. Slept on my side in bed from my surgery too. Didn’t have trouble getting up or down - was careful & went slowly just in case. But we’re all different.
Speak with you surgery in regards to what activities you can start/resume & when. It may be 4 weeks until you can start cycling, yoga, etc.as they may pull at your internal stitches while you are still healing. There are lots of seated exercises you can do in the beginning but walking is best.
Check with your surgeon & your prescribing doctors about your meds too. Some surgeons prefer you not to swallow meds for a few weeks so you may have to look for alternatives or other means if taking them if that’s what you’re told. I was swallowing meds in hospital. Wasn’t easy at first as I had a bit of swelling but it was fine by day 3 or 4. I spread when I took mine through out the day (but I didn’t have many to tape).
All the best.

I have been working to normalize talking about WLS among my friends and family. I even went so far as to start a daily post counting down to my surgery day, educating them on the process I'm following, my emotional journey. Each day I hit on a different topic that might resonate. Sometimes people don't realize how hurtful words can be. I think I'm in the minority of folks when I say I will have no issue sharing my experiences.
So far it's been nothing but positive feedback, but if/when someone asks me why I took the 'easy' way out - I will ask them why they took the easy way out of being a decent human being by asking judgemental questions.

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!

Generally, "No thank you" but only because I'm a curmudgeon and don't care to share my spouse time with others, nor does my spouse.
Really, after the first 2-3 months I could order just about anything and play with it on my plate while eating a few bites and no one would comment. But let's face it, I was effervescant. Before that I wasn't up to playing with people.
Good luck,
Tek

I agree with most everyone that there is little you can do about stretched and ripped (let's get real) skin.
However, don't accept that you must pay for tummy-tucks or anything else. My insurance paid for my abdominoplasty (tummy-tuck), and had approved my thighs had I continued. I wasn't worried about my arms, but I could have made similar cases and had insurance pay.
Remember: "Reconstructive." Start documenting rashes, back pain, infections, etc. and your plastic surgery becomes a "reconstructive" surgery rather than a cosmetic one. Because mine were reconstructive mine were 100% paid by my insurance.
Good luck,
Tek

I don't think it matters if you lose it quickly or slowly. If there's a difference, it's probably negligible, because stretched out skin is stretched out skin. It might not get that stretched out if someone is 20 lbs overweight, but at 100 lbs or more, a lot of the skin just isn't going to bounce back. I wouldn't try to intentionally slow down my weight loss. You want to lose as much as you can during the first 12-18 months, when you're in the "honeymoon" period, because it gets a lot harder after that. Of course, follow your clinic's plan and don't starve yourself, either. You want to stay healthy.
the cost depends on how much you have done, and again where and by whom. I had a face/neck lift, but I don't think most people do. But then, I'm also in my 60s, which was another factor in choosing to get one. Lower body lift or Tummy Tuck (tummy tuck is just the front part - lower body lift is both front and back) is the most common surgery people get- so if you just get that, it'd be a lot less than $60,000. Quotes I was getting for my lower body lift (which as I said is usually more than the tummy tuck since they do both front and back) were $16,000-$21,000. But I also had mine done in Chicago, so I was playing Chicago prices. And I chose well-known surgeons for my consults. But that surgery was also five years ago - so I'm not sure what people are paying these days. But at least that gives you an idea.

Yes. Lol. And they like to order out food bc they all have jobs now. This will be my real test

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im almost 6 months out and my hair just started thinning now.
I take bioten daily and collegen a few times a week (when I remember it)
Talk to your hair stylist, and I would avoid dying your hair for atleast 6 months if not a year after surgery to give it time to do its thing.

Hello and congrats on your surgery date. If you have any questions, ask away, none are silly
I had my hair dyed pre surgery. I had my bottom length hair cut twice. My long straight, hair made me look so much balder. Once to shoulder length then a very necessary pixie cut. I have lost hair at other times of my life when going through surgery so did not bother to try expensive treatments. I read others say nothing stopped the shedding so that was good enough for me
I was already using a stick so continued with it for a while. Walking is recommended by everyone. I love it still.
Try and keep people at a distance in the last two weeks, especially school children. I know this advice is a waste but its the only way you can be sure of no virus cropping up the last week before surgery.
I bought a thermos cup to keep my drinks warm. My stomach would not tolerate cold drinks.
Like Hair loss, skin sagging after surgery is a matter of age, weight and genetics. I believe the chemists who have nothing to do with the cosmetic industry. They say nothing helps your skin regain its shape after loosing a ton of weight if you are a certain age and your skin has no elasticity left.

No questions are dumb!
Dyeing hair/roots: You can dye your hair before surgery, but it's important to avoid harsh chemicals and hair treatments close to the surgery date as they can affect the healing process. Walking post-surgery: If your doctor recommends it, you can use walking sticks to assist you in walking. Non-weight bearing exercises: It's best to consult with your doctor to know what kind of exercises are safe for you after surgery. COVID, flu, tetanus: It's important to follow the recommended guidelines and get vaccinated for COVID-19, flu, and tetanus if you have not done so. Kitchen things: A hand blender can be used for puréeing food.

Regarding hair dying, get it done before surgery. It was recommended that I wait a few months after surgery to dye it again because the dye itself would not take as well to my hair post surgery. My stylist said the same thing because her mom had the sleeve and experienced that issue.
The cut itself I don't think really makes a difference in the Hair loss. I have been lucky in that I haven't lost much hair.

March 2. It’s my birthday and this is my present to myself!!