LindsayT

As we approach our ONE YEAR anniversaries, how's it going? I surpassed my goal by 8 lbs for a total of 130 lbs lost! That number BLOWS my mind. I had my body composition test on Monday and they were very happy with the results. I haven't lost any fat free body mass since month 3, meaning I haven't lost any muscle in 9 months. I also am sitting at 18% body fat, which is insane. When I started I had 50% body fat. This has been such an amazing experience, and as I've said so many times, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'm so excited to hear about everyone's progress.

Thank you! Loose skin is so different for everyone. For me, it's there, but manageable. If I were to elect for surgery, I'd do my arms and breasts. The boobs... Gone. Gone. Gone. But everywhere has been touched in some way with loose skin in various degrees. My husband has been so incredibly supportive and don't mind it .. or so he says. It easily hides under clothes and if I need a bit extra support, I wear a tummy control body suit. Here's a couple other pictures. I'm on the right in the light grey dress. The green tank top pictures are from January 1 and I've lost more since then. I hope this helps ease some anxieties concerning surgery. But keep in mind loose skin varies greatly between people. And the amount you loose varies greatly based on how closely you follow your program. Wishing you all the best!

Being kind to myself. All the physical things like fitting in seats, standing, clothes... All FANTASTIC! It is such a wonderful feeling to be able to do all the things that were challenging before. But being kind to myself. Remembering all my body has been through when I was at my heaviest, how I got there, my decision to change my like, and the journey to where I am now. What a story! I look in the mirror now and see a woman who got her life back and I owe it to her be kind. Does she like the saggy skin and no boobs? No, but they tell a story of overcoming and personal redemption. I'm kind to her on bad days when all she wants is chips and brownies. I'm kind to her when she gains a couple pounds. And I celebrate with her when she loses those couple pounds and gets back on track. My weirdest non scale victory is to love the woman staring back at me despite everything else.

I have hit my goal of 140 the end of February a d went into maintenance. I have since lost 4 more lbs, down to 136. I know there will be fluctuations and I'm okay with that. But I'm still consistently losing (3lbs in last 10 days). I've upped my calorie intake and still... What's going on? I don't want to lose much more, I'm already a size 2, but I don't want to overdo it either for the sake of not losing.

If all else fails, maybe speak with a bariatric nutritionist for some advice. They'd be able to give you tailored suggestions. Good luck!

I ended up going to my GI doc and he gave me a prescription to help me go. I have to use this in addition to Miralax. Constipation has been a HUGE issue. The prescription works really well for me. If OTC medicine doesn't work, maybe a chat with your primary doc, surgeon, or a GI doctor would benefit you. Also, make sure you're eating enough fiber and drinking lots of hydrating fluids.

If I have bread with a meal, it not very big, maybe a half to quarter piece. Rice and pasta, about a quarter cup. I like brown rice and whole wheat (or protein pasta) pasta for the extra nutrition. Are you drinking a lot of calories? Maybe that's contributing to not eating more than 2 meals. Whatever you eat, just get in your protein goals and fiber, and make sure to stay at your calorie goal.

Don't get back into junk and empty calories... that'll snowball fast. Compensate with healthy fats complex carbs, and the occasional treat. I like to add the occasional bread, pasta,or rice to a meal if I want more. But that's after I eat my healthy stuff first. If you're going to the gym, maybe more protein.

Yes! I have ZERO regrets

Ugh... The hunger is coming back. What can I do?!!!

Thanks everyone. The hunger is not a welcome feeling after almost a year of making myself eat. My one year is May 1 and I'll have a body composition test at that time. I'm curious where I land. I re-weighed myself this morning in my birthday suit and I was 133. On a crazy note, at 131 I'll have lost half my starting weight... Basically, my current weight lost. 😳

I have been losing, but not much. I'm down to 134 this morning after eating a bunch the last few days. I was holding steady between 135-137 for a while. It's hard to get out of the diet mindset,but I also do want to get back into bad habits.

For me, I stalled often, but lost pretty steady. I didn't have weeks long stalls. I would stall for 4-5 days, then lose about a pound a day for 3-4 days, then stall again. This was my norm from the start. I still averaged about 10lbs a month. I'm not sure how or why I lost like this. I do know I wasn't super restrictive in what I ate, just how much I ate of certain things, like bread, sweets, or favorite eats. Though, for some, completely staying away from temptation foods is a must. Having control over what you eat is the key to making this work. And giving yourself grace for the meal, or day, that wasn't the best eating choices. Use this losing time to learn control over food (in a healthy way), learn a new way of eating, learn to get your body moving in some form or fashion (I walk, clean my house, and do life), and learn to be in tune with your body in every area and nurture what it's asking (food (be reasonable), movement, rest, spiritual ECT). Everything I've mentioned, my nutritionist, surgeon, and therapist are on board with and support. I'm not trying to be weird with sharing my journey, but that's what I did/do.

You got this! ☺️

You can kinda see the flow in my graph for the year. Looking at each month individually it's shown more clearly.

I've slowed down, finally. I averaged about 9-10lbs a month right from the start. I would stalled for 3 or 4 days, loose a pound a day for several days, then stall again. That was pretty much the whole 10.5 months and 126lbs. I did lose 15lbs during the pre-op diet that I'm including in this.

Before 262 lbs size 18 After 136 lbs size 2 I haven't had any plastic surgery done. There is some saggy skin and my breasts are.. well, ladies you know. But otherwise, I am 150% happy with the results I am so thankful for the opportunity to have had this procedure. It has completely changed my life! The various photos in the mirror 😂

You could add milk to it and maybe more of the ranch mix if needed to adjust the flavor. The original recipe is great for a veggie dip.

Great points. I don't have a lot of extra skin, so this doesn't really apply. I'd say, if I removed all that I have 2 or 3 lbs max. At my 1 year mark, in May, they will do a body composition test; so I'll know more then as to my muscle mass. My last test in November, I was right where they wanted me and hadn't lost any muscle since my 3 months test. I definitely don't have much fat left, just a bit on my thighs. This is why I'm concerned. My goal was 140. I've gotten down to 135, and bounced back to 136-137. I was concerned because I lost 4 lbs in a week after I started upping my calories to stop losing. Maybe my body was excited for the increase and lost more fat 🤷‍♀️

Is dry skin normal?

Thank you for sharing your story. There is a lot of truth to it for sure.

We really didn't know each other that well then, so I don't think they would have said anything when I was overweight... In fact nobody did. I've even had people tell me that they didn't notice that I was over weight. Weird. And I guess, sure. I have friends who are overweight and I don't "see" it because I love and care for them. The problem for me, is I carry what weight I have very well and look way smaller than my weight suggests, which might spur the comments. I also dress myself in a way that makes me appear smaller, so 🤷‍♀️ I've included the most recent picture. My jeans are a 2 and my shirt is a small

Thanks, everyone! Let me ask, how'd you handle the comments of "You're too skinny?" I get that from several people and it's infuriating. They are older and I respect them, so I don't want to give a mean comment. Oh, and the stares and jealous looks. In my mind I tell myself, "if your (talking to them in my head 🤷‍♀️) weight were that big and issue to you, then do something about it. That's all I did." An 126 lb weight loss in less than a year is massive change but the comments and looks...so isolating sometimes. Thankfully, another friend of mine has had the surgery as well, so I can talk through it with her. But what really iced my cake is she doesn't get the same stares and comments from the same group we run in. Unless, I'm reading too much into it. People who didn't know me from before look at me or comment me like a "normal" person. For example, I was at the doctor's office yesterday and we were discussing a dose change for a medication, and he said, "for people of healthy weight, such as yourself... " I just want to video it and play on repeat. Sorry, my passive aggressive fell out 😂

I've been eating my recommended calories for maintenance, but still losing. I'm hoping it's just my body is just settling in. I feel good. I look good. I just don't wait to get any smaller. I'm about a 22 BMI, rn.

Down 122lbs and 7 jean sizes