Bypass2Freedom

It seems like only telling a select amount of people is the way to go - something that I will be following from now on. How are you feeling about the prospect of losing so much? I feel so out of body with it all! I know my surgery isn't until May (hopefully), but I feel so impatient and as if this body isn't mine! That makes a lot of sense

Exactly that haha! I joked initially and was like, "yeah that is totally the reason". People are such fun aren't they!

Thank you for your comment. It's definitely the phrase "not having the willpower" that cuts the deepest if I'm honest. It's as if all the struggles I've had during my life with my weight weren't enough! Surgery isn't the easy way out, I know that and I've not even had mine yet. Its absolutely life-altering, and as you say, takes willpower in itself to stick to it afterwards! I will keep the surgery to myself for the most part, it was just such an unexpected comment!

I am keeping it to family and my one close friend at that's it really! Work people are on a need to know basis. I know there will be questions when I'm smaller, but hey no, ain't none of their business!

Oh I'm sure I live rent free in lots of people's heads just because I'm a bigger girl 🤣 The 'logic' of some of these people never fails to astound me. I think at the end of the day, people are always going to have something to say, but their opinions have 0 impact on my life! I just know for sure that when I'm losing weight, there will be something else they have to say! Thank you for your words of wisdom!

I genuinely could not have put it any better than this. I so struggle to articulate what I'm thinking, and I get jumbled up with what I'm saying, but I think I'll just screenshot what you've said and just fire that at people who judge 🤣 I needed to hear this today! Thank you! I will definitely be thinking loudly haha

This is on point! I shall be storing this as a response for the future, as I do not doubt more comments that I haven't asked for will come! Thank you

Haha! I love this comment. Honestly, if she weren't my boyfriend's family, I would have used all manners of vulgar language as a response! I don't know why people just see fat people as easy targets, as if it is their right to inform them that 1) they are indeed fat, 2) they are lazy, but also 3) they should lose weight, but only in a socially acceptable way. Makes my blood boil!

This is very much what I am wanting to do, but I wrongfully assumed I was in a safe space! But hey ho, not everyone will be understanding! It was just so abrupt! It is very true that people who have not been considered 'obese' will not understand the why and the how. My brother who has always been a healthy size gave me a long lecture about how people need to just stop being lazy, and just do it rather than making excuses. If only it were that simple!

Hello Just on this here - surgery is a very personal decision for each person, and my reasons for surgery may not match yours, and that is okay! Surgery would not be recommended or even proceeded with by a surgeon unless it were something that would benefit your health, regardless as to whether or not you're happy with yourself (and it is amazing that you are, we should all love ourselves regardless of our weight!). I'd say that you are better off talking to your GP/surgeon again, be open and honest about your concerns and get some professional advice. Surgery is a big step and it is a life-changing decision, so you need to be sure that it is what you want to do. I am due to have my surgery in May this year, and it is something I used to be so against 2 years ago! But, I know that this is what I need to do for my health and my wellbeing.

Hey all, I am definitely nervous about this if I am honest! I have never been a fan of my body, and although I desperately want to be smaller, I do worry what that will look like. I know it won't match up to how I want it to in my head. I am however going to start saving up for surgery so that I can have a full body lift & probably breast surgery (I am currently a UK 38GG so I KNOW my tiddys are gonna shrink!

I think my moment was when I realised my behaviour had changed. I'd stopped going outside, stopped socialising, was no longer posting selfies (which I am a great lover of doing haha), and I no longer felt comfortable wearing anything other then leggings and a long top. It was as if I had just given up. Once I tapped into this feeling, I realised that I no longer connect with my body as it is, I feel disassociated from it. I then made the decision to get my surgery booked in for this year!

Welcome! I am also a newbie and pre-op! I have my surgery booked for May this year and I am so excited! I have probably gained weight, but I really am reluctant to weigh myself as I know it will push me into a negative mindset. At the moment I am feeling very out-of-body knowing that I'll be having surgery, and come late this year I probably won't even recognise myself! How are you finding things at the moment?

Amazing post I love how supportive you are of your wife, and the fact that it seems to go both ways! It is so important to show up for one another, and see this as not only an individual journey, but one that you are on together. My partner is a serial snacker, and the house is always full of things like cakes, sweets, chocolate & crisps. Everything that is my weakness! I am hoping that when I have had my surgery this year, I will get his support as much as you have given your wife support. Thank you for posting!

Thank you God, it sounds like you have been through a lot, but that is a testament to you that you are here and still fighting, regardless of the horrible things others have put you through. You deserve better than all of that, so I am glad you got out and you have found love for someone else and for yourself. I hope your surgery goes well! x

Thank you! You have put it perfectly - I don't understand how it is still such a stigmatised and poorly understood thing! It is absolutely shattering for people who feel like they are stuck, and I know that I definitely do feel that way! Thank you ❤️ I honestly really appreciate that x

Hello all, I am new here, and I am booked in to have my Gastric Bypass on 14/05/24 in the UK (private). I have been overweight my entire life, and I have never known what it is to be 'skinny' - I feel like this is my first glimpse of freedom in getting the surgery booked. Has anyone got any advice as to how to prepare for the surgery, for example, changing your mindset, things you wish you had done differently etc. I am feeling so impatient! I really can't wait to start this new chapter of my life!

Thank you for your response I think this is definitely something I am going to have to work on - I live right opposite a corner shop and every type of snack is there so it is going to be a challenge!

That is a relief! You have hit the nail on the head with that - unfortunately the world isn't made for people of a bigger size, which is awful! Oh wow - it is interesting to see the differences in what surgeons recommend! I know a lot of people in the UK are a massive fan of protein shakes (myself included), so I shall have to keep an eye on what is recommended! Strawberry and banana smoothies were something my dad always used to make me and I love them! Adding peanut butter to that sounds amazing. Very much so! Thank you

Hey lovely! So I have the following piercings, I will rate them by my personal pain & healing process!: Philtrum - this one was quite a painful facial piercing. Around 8/10. The healing was a little rough, lots of swelling. But by far one of my favourite piercings. Septum - honestly minimal pain on this one! 2/10 when getting it pierced. Healing was a breeze too. I forgot it was there haha! Labret - this one was probably 3/10, healing was quick and quite painless too Conch - pain was more so a 4/10, healing was longer as it is through cartilage but as long as I didn't sleep on my ear it was fine! Tragus - pain again was around a 4/10, but the healing process was a bit fussy. Sometimes flares up with pain if I sleep on it. Venom (double tongue piercing) - this was about a 7/10 getting pierced, but my god, the healing process was awful. I really do not recommend getting this one if you have not had any other piercings before! The healing was a long process, and I couldn't eat anything more than fluids & puree's for weeks until the swelling and pain had gone. It was a lot of pain. But, with all that being said, it is my most favourite piercing out of them all! All I would say is that you should research the piercer you are planning to see, look at reviews and make sure you have a consultation with them if they offer it to see which piercings may work for your anatomy Piercers should use implant grade titanium, preferably internally threaded jewellery But genuinely go for it! I love my piercings and they are such a fun way to express yourself!

This is really lovely to read - congratulations and well done for putting yourself first

That is so disheartening to hear - and unfortunately, it seems to be the mindset of a lot of people. Internalised (and often externalised) fatphobia is a thing. The fact that people feel they have the right to comment on your body whilst we present as bigger is bad enough, but to then also do so to your face retrospectively is horrible. It is one of the things that I am worried about for when I do have surgery, and I am visibly smaller - I know for a fact people will comment in the place I work, and I already feel defensive over future-me! A sort of feeling of: "If you didn't have the time for me when I was bigger, then you don't deserve to know me now I am smaller". I hope you are alright after experiencing this. No one should have to go through that.

That makes a lot of sense - I thankfully only really like no sugar fizzy drinks, but I know they come with their own downsides! I suppose it is about trying things and seeing what your new stomach likes and dislikes!

This is genuinely so encouraging to see - I also have PCOS and the struggle is real! I am so happy for you!