Bypass2Freedom

I think the crux of it is that with my fertility issues and the high unlikelihood that I will be in a position to even have a child until my mid-late 30's, do I really want to put off having surgery that'll give me that final boost of confidence and allow me to enjoy my body whilst I can? Ugh I don't know!

I know I am probably far off from having any form of skin removal, as I have been advised that my weight needs to be stable for at least 6 months before I can look into that kind of surgery, and where I am almost 10 months post-op, I don't think that'll be happening anytime soon! Regardless, I feel the need to start thinking about it now. I am 29 this year, I have PCOS and was previously told I needed to have a baby before I was 27 otherwise my chances of conceiving were very low. I am not in a position (financially or emotionally) where I want children right now, nor in a relationship where I want to have them either. I may want children in my future, but that could be years and years away and I don't know if my biological clock will be long gone by then. I have always liked the idea of adopting too. My question is: what were people's thoughts around pregnancy and plastics? How did you tackle it if this were an issue for you? My current focus is my health and my weight loss, and subsequently my full journey through plastics, not a child...but I know in a consultation I will be asked about this.

Just try not to compare yourself to what others are doing, and just take things at a pace you are comfortable with ❤️ It is a massive life change and it'll take time to get used to that - I am definitely still learning! x

Hey sweet, I think what you are experiencing is something we all go/continue to go through! Although I still don't feel hungry very often, I crave certain tastes if that makes sense! I have found with a balance of healthy and high protein foods, I can still enjoy a treat every so often, as I know one thing that used to completely derail me was not allowing myself to indulge every now and then - it is now just about changing what we indulge in! Honestly it does get easier and easier to manage as time goes on, and you are doing amazingly already! x

Congratulations on your journey so far, you are doing amazingly well and looking so good!

I can't comment for everyone, but my experience wasn't the best in the first few months, but I do put this down to a lack of fibre & water intake. Since I have been drinking 2.5L of water a day, and eating more things that have fibre 7 eating kiwis etc, it hasn't been a problem really! Everyone is different - some people find that they don't even need to poop quite as often as they aren't eating as much (I am still a regular once a day gal 🤣) but your body will be guided by what suits it! Just keep up with your fluids, and if you notice you haven't had a bowel movement in a few days (and if this is abnormal for you) maybe get something to help it move along!

Just to reiterate what everyone else has said really! Little to no nausea, gas pain was the worst but that soon wears off with some light walking, and constipation is a b***h! 🤣 Deal with that before it gets bad, take it from me!

My weight loss Instagram handle is the same as mine on here!

You are definitely not alone in all of this lovely. I have gone through that (still am) feeling of missing foods, and missing eating like I did! I think it was the familiarity and comfort that came with eating whatever I wanted, often to excess. It was my coping mechanism! It can feel very lonely and disorientating after surgery when that crutch is gone. My experience now where I can eat more, is that I still allow myself a 'treat', with is often some form of food that I am craving in terms of flavour if that makes sense! Like I will have a hot dog for dinner one evening, because I know that is isn't something I do with any kind of frequency! You can and will find new things you enjoy, and honestly, not having that control that food had over me previously has been a blessing. You're still early doors, but you will get there ❤️

So I am about 0.2lbs away from my goal weight, which I have always had in mind as my "1st goal weight". Kind of like, if I get there then that is amazing...I didn't 100% believe I could ever get here if that makes sense 🤣 My question to others is: did you have a "secret/second goal weight" in mind? And if so, did it vary much from your 1st one? I want (for some inexplicable reason) my BMI to be in a 'healthy' range, which requires another loss of about 2 stone, which I think part of me wants to go for. Overall though, I am feeling happy - not just because of a number on the scale!

Anyone else treat themselves recently?!

Hello & welcome! Wishing you all the best on your journey, and we are all here to support you!

Definitely contact your surgeon and make note of what colour the blood is. I had blood in my stool on and off for many months post-surgery, but it was down to severe constipation. Blood was red, and there was splatters of blood in the water etc caused by fissures, which can be normal when constipated and you tear essentially. Make sure you are drinking enough water as this will help with constipation, milled linseed (2 tsp a day), and kiwis are also good for this. That is if it is constipation you are struggling with! Either way, please do contact a professional.

You look bloody amazing!! I definitely feel that way at the moment but I am running out of workout gear that fits me! Need some recommendation for some squat-proof leggings!

Prior to weight loss surgery, I could barely walk 5 minutes without stopping from the pain. I think the last time I actually tried jogging was with my mum when I was about 17, so like 11 years ago! And back then it was this Couch to 5k app so you would walk for a few mins, and then jog for 30 seconds and boy did that almost kill me off! Anyway, I was in the gym today on my lunch break, and I always do 20 mins of cardio on the treadmill after my weights workout. I do 5 minutes at a 12 incline, and then lower it by 4 every 5 mins, and increase the speed (hopefully that makes sense). So during the last 5 mins of cardio, the gym was empty, not a soul apart from me, so I decided to do something I was too scared to do with others there. I put the speed up so that I was jogging...full-blown jogging. At first I just expected my lungs to give out like they would previously, but they didn't...I was breathing fine, I was not in pain, and I realised I can do this! I did the last 5 minutes at that pace, and I left with only a little bit of a sweat on, and no pain in my legs or lungs. I just called my dad to tell him because I think this is perhaps the first time in this journey I have felt like I love my body, and I love what it is capable of. My NSV, that I didn't even know was on my NSV list ❤️

Thanks again everyone for all the advice ❤️ After some thinking & a chat with my bariatric team, I have set a new goal!

@Spinoza I think that is one thing I was definitely thinking about - at 9 months post-op, is my body done losing? Probably not! (I hope not anyway!) BMI is definitely a crappy way of measuring people, but I think in my head to have gone from literally my BMI being off the chart 🤣to then showing 'healthy', that is a massive win! I am happy where I am at currently, I don't dislike myself which is also a win haha. Also would be nice to go to my GP for a headache or a tummy ache, or something unrelated, and for them not to be like "oh have you tried losing weight" 🤣

Hey all ❤️ Thank you for all of the responses - I am definitely seeing a trend that it is best to go with how you feel, rather than by the BMI (which is something I keep telling myself anyway). I am quite a goal-focused person, so I feel that having a goalpost will help me to achieve what I think I need to achieve. Either way, I am moderately happy with where I am at now - I think I'd like to lose a little more though!

SO I had the wonderful experience of having my IUD (hormonal coil), removed & replaced yesterday. Knowing how painful it was being fitted the first time, and having not experienced having it replaced before, I decided to take 2 30mg codeine/500mg paracetamol tablets, as pain relief for women during such procedures really is just forgotten about. I'd eaten some protein stick things too. Pre-surgery I'd taken these tablets fine, no side effects, but OMFG, as I was sitting in the waiting area before my procedure it hit me like a brick **** house. I was sweating, nauseous, my stomach was cramping and pain was radiating into my back, I felt spacy and woozy and I was clearly very pale in my face and lips as the nurse went to get me a sick bowl 🤣 Needless to say, instead of actually giving me pain relief, it actually made the entire experience so much worse 🤣 I will not be taking them again! Does anyone else have any experiences with medication effecting them differently? Note to add: this medication was given to me by my surgeon for post-surgery!

We all deserve a little love 💗

Just to echo what @Arabesque has said really - little and often with drinking water! Don't be too worried if you aren't meeting your water/protein goals early on, your body is recovering and it will take a while to get used to it all! Just take it slow and within your comfortabilities, and you will get there No need to put any pressure on yourself this early on. Pain meds are something you should have been sent home with as stated above, just see how you go and if you ned them. I was sent home with co-codamol and I didn't need it in the end, but everyone is different! Remember to just try and get up every now and then and take a little walk around the house if you can, just to help with the gas pain. Best of luck ❤️

I did my 2nd LBT class yesterday and it was easier than last time which was good! Still too scared to try BodyAttack 🤣🤣

Can't wait to follow your journey!

Congratulations! Looking fabulous!

As some of you may know, I have been trying to go to classes and upping my exercise in general. I did an LBT class on Monday, and yesterday I decided to do a BodyBalance class. It was harder than expected - I am definitely not flexible 🤣 I also found that as it was my first time ever doing yoga-type exercises, it was taking me a while to figure out what to do! It was good though, at the end of the 45 minutes my body felt relaxed and I could feel that a lot of tension had left me. The final piece the instructor did was a relaxation, where we all just lie down and she turns off the light, and there is nice calm music on, and you just relax your body...and I just started crying! I have no idea why this happened, but I felt like a right muppet 🤣 I might go back, I just need to prepare myself for that end bit haha. Anyone else experienced something like this?