KayEL

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

I'm going to try and keep this from being too long, but there's so much to say!!! First I'll start with my newest NSVs.

I'm officially in a size 18 clothes (from my original size 30), size 10 shoes (from my original size 11), size 6 1/2 ring (from my original size 10), 18" chain on a necklace (from my original 24" chain), and 2x jacket (from my original 4-5x). I can now comfortably fit on a massage table without fear of it creaking or breaking. I can now ride a bike because I'm within the weight limit. I now am able to hit my favorite thrift stores and walk out with seriously cute clothes that look nice, sit well on me, and actually fit comfortably!! My asthma is almost completely gone (I only have it when I get super sick now instead of all the time). My blood work came back and my hormone levels are almost in the normal range (I have PCOS) and my cysts that completely COVERED both ovaries are totally gone (without having taken any meds or done any hormone therapies!!) I did a 6 mile hike this past weekend with my son. I am completely pain free and am able to go full on beast mode with my workouts again. I can go up 5 flights of stairs before I need to stop and rest.

Now for my new chapter in life and old dreams becoming new again.

So years ago, I wanted to become a nurse. I completed all of the academics with a 4.0, aced all the labs, but couldn't do any of the clinicals because I couldn't do all the walking, I was 400 pounds, and my health/joints/back were way too bad. So I gave up on it. Then about 2 years later, I thought "well, maybe I can be a medical assistant. Surely THAT'S not as hard" and once again, I couldn't do the externship because I couldn't do the physical stuff. So I went into other areas for work, ballooned up to 421 pounds, worked remotely, and made good money. I loved what i did, but there was always a part of me that regretted not being able to go into the medical field. That was my heart's desire. So fast forward to now. I'm between jobs and miserable. I had to stop working because of all my complications from my first surgery. Now that I've been cleared, I can't get hired anywhere. So I decided that now is a great time to go back to my dream of working in the medical field. So on Sept 5th, I start school to become a certified pediatric oncology medical assistant. Most of my previous credits transfer over, so I only have about 6 months of academics to do and then the externship. Then I sit for my certification exam and then I get to finally FINALLY do what I've always wanted to do. By my 46th birthday next June, I should be right where I want to be, doing what I want to do, and hopefully at my goal weight.

I'm sitting here in tears as I type this, because I thought this was something I would never see happen. I resigned myself to being morbidly obese, extremely unhealthy, and needing a cane to get around. I may not be at my goal weight (the weight comes off a lot slower with a revision, and also as your bmi gets smaller and you get closer to your goal) but I believe eventually I'll get there. But the things this surgery is giving to me, the dreams I can live out, the health and wellness and years of my life I'm getting back..... it was all worth it. The complications, the uncertainty, the pain and healing and stalls.... all completely worth it. We all start this journey wanting the numbers on the scale to go down. But there's SO MUCH MORE this surgery gives you. I will never, ever regret my decision. Never.

I only lost 5 lbs by my first post appointment 7 days out. I’m 17 days out now. I know I’ve lost more based on the way my clothes fit but I haven’t weighed myself yet. Waiting for my phase change appt next week.

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

Eating the right things is more important than anything else.
That dumb saying, "nothing tastes as good as being skinny" totally true, because there isn't one food I miss enough to mess this up.
And I should have done this sooner.

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

I did full liquids for 10 days (was supposed to be 2 weeks but I couldn't take it anymore). Then I went to mushy foods like hummus, avocado, etc... I did that for a week. Then I just went to soft foods for about 2 weeks and then went to regular foods. For both surgeries. My nutritionist said as long as I went really slow and listened to my body, it was fine. No 2 plans are the same, and no 2 bodies respond the same.

Thank you Kathy. For me food has always been about culture. My family would fry and add bacon to everything. We make a fresh vegetable and add bacon. Trick myself into thinking it was healthy cause it was a vegetable. I went shopping to prepare for my puréed stage and made sure to buy low sodium and salt alternative. I’m really committed to a lifestyle change. I know it won’t be easy because I’ve eaten unhealthy most of my life, but I’m willing to put in the work.

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

Congratulations Kay.
As you've learned, the scale is not necessary to appreciate what you've lost. And gained.
I was too large (by far) to fit on a home scale, so weighing at home simply was not possible. So, all my milestones were not on the scale. As it turned out, even at my monthly appointments when I could weigh in my surgeon was not interested in my weight loss. His questions were about my health, my happiness, and my well being. He never brought up weight loss unless I did it.
Good luck,
Tek

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

Thank you Kathy. For me food has always been about culture. My family would fry and add bacon to everything. We make a fresh vegetable and add bacon. Trick myself into thinking it was healthy cause it was a vegetable. I went shopping to prepare for my puréed stage and made sure to buy low sodium and salt alternative. I’m really committed to a lifestyle change. I know it won’t be easy because I’ve eaten unhealthy most of my life, but I’m willing to put in the work.

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

Thank you Kathy. For me food has always been about culture. My family would fry and add bacon to everything. We make a fresh vegetable and add bacon. Trick myself into thinking it was healthy cause it was a vegetable. I went shopping to prepare for my puréed stage and made sure to buy low sodium and salt alternative. I’m really committed to a lifestyle change. I know it won’t be easy because I’ve eaten unhealthy most of my life, but I’m willing to put in the work.

So, I am 17 days post op. I haven’t weighed myself since my first post op appointment. Surgery was 8/2 and post op was 8/7. Waiting for my phase change appointment next week when they weigh me. I just wanted to share the changes I’ve seen in my health in such a short time. I had annoying eczema on my elbows. That has completely healed. No more elbow itching. My ankles and feet are no longer swollen after my walk and the sciatic nerve that has been bothering me since March doesn’t exist. I know for a lot of us, maybe, I don’t want to offend anyone and assume, losing weight has been key. For me it has always been my health and increased energy. I am a black woman and most of the people on my mothers side of the family have diabetes. I’m terrified of getting diabetes, which prompted me to look into weight lose surgery. I feel great. The weight lost is an added bonus. My husband keeps telling me I have a fresh start, I recognize that. I am so excited about eating to live and not living to eat. Now, I can’t wait to get rid of these HBP pills.

Kay

What a great report !!!! I'm a slow loser,so I've been looking at the "non-scale victories" . Like you - my health has improved so much since this surgery - it's amazing !!! I was on the verge of diabetes,too ... now it's in the rear view mirror Congratulations to you !!!!! I hope you have many more years of good health !

Thank you Kathy. For me food has always been about culture. My family would fry and add bacon to everything. We make a fresh vegetable and add bacon. Trick myself into thinking it was healthy cause it was a vegetable. I went shopping to prepare for my puréed stage and made sure to buy low sodium and salt alternative. I’m really committed to a lifestyle change. I know it won’t be easy because I’ve eaten unhealthy most of my life, but I’m willing to put in the work.

I am now 4 days post op. No pain and no nausea. I walked a lot the night after the surgery and the morning before I left the hospital. I didn’t experience the gas pains I read a lot about. Two days out and I was able to walk a mile. I enjoy walking. I’m not hungry at all but I miss real food. Forcing myself to drink water and these protein drinks. They tasted better when I didn’t have to drink them. I bought chicken broth to use with the protein soups, that seems to help a bit with the taste. Otherwise, already I’ve noticed a change in the way my clothes are fitting me. I have not gotten on the scale yet. My plan is to wait until my first phase change, which is 8/22.

I am now 4 days post op. No pain and no nausea. I walked a lot the night after the surgery and the morning before I left the hospital. I didn’t experience the gas pains I read a lot about. Two days out and I was able to walk a mile. I enjoy walking. I’m not hungry at all but I miss real food. Forcing myself to drink water and these protein drinks. They tasted better when I didn’t have to drink them. I bought chicken broth to use with the protein soups, that seems to help a bit with the taste. Otherwise, already I’ve noticed a change in the way my clothes are fitting me. I have not gotten on the scale yet. My plan is to wait until my first phase change, which is 8/22.

I am now 4 days post op. No pain and no nausea. I walked a lot the night after the surgery and the morning before I left the hospital. I didn’t experience the gas pains I read a lot about. Two days out and I was able to walk a mile. I enjoy walking. I’m not hungry at all but I miss real food. Forcing myself to drink water and these protein drinks. They tasted better when I didn’t have to drink them. I bought chicken broth to use with the protein soups, that seems to help a bit with the taste. Otherwise, already I’ve noticed a change in the way my clothes are fitting me. I have not gotten on the scale yet. My plan is to wait until my first phase change, which is 8/22.