Madison

I started this topic to keep track of my success with VSG surgery while having severe PCOS (all the bad symptoms including excess hair, Hair loss, bad periods, cramps, pain in ovaries, mood swings). I noticed that there isn't too many information on the VSG experience with PCOS, so I thought I'd post this publicly for future sleevers curious about what to expect.
8 weeks post-op (10 weeks "dieting" if you include pre-op) my period seems to have normalized. I think this is due to the weight loss (55 lbs) but mostly to all the exercise I did. I started walking daily for 30-60 mins 2 weeks before the surgery, and kept it up afterwards. After a few weeks, I lowered it to 4-5 times a week.
The first 3-4 weeks after the surgery, I actually had pain in my ovaries (probably cysts). Eventually this went way.
2 weeks after the pre-op diet (and a day after my surgery) I noticed that a majority of my mood swings were gone. It felt like the unsteady cloud in my mind had finally been cleared. I attribute this to all the exercise and lack of carbs. I've noticed that the white sugary carbs have very negative effects with my PCOS. My weight loss so far has matched others (and even exceeded non-PCOSers!) but I notice it stalling if I have bread/pasta. I limit myself to half a serving of toast/whole wheat wrap and one serving of either crackers/pasta/potato per day. I usually have less but never more.
When I have my period, I don't get horrible PMS like before.
I have an appointment for laser hair removal next week, I will keep you updated on the experience/success. My past experience with American Laser Center was a waste of time and money with no results, so I am trying a different clinic.
This is strictly my experience and it will vary among us, but I truly think that the activity is what's really pushing me towards greater success. It's hard but anything helps. I will post more under this topic in the upcoming weeks to let you know of further progress!

Hello everyone! I received some messages from "lurkers" that don't comment but are curious about updates. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while...but my life has been so busy in a GOOD way.
I don't know where to start, because as I look over my past posts it doesn't even sound like the same person. It's been so long since I posted because I've been so active with my "new" life.
I have to reiterate this for everyone who might be reading this (I used to silently lurk on WLS/PCOS forums for a long time)...I had possibly the worst case scenario for PCOS. Extreme hair loss and excess body hair (required shaving 1-2 times a day and still wasn't smooth).
I'm not that way anymore. I'm going to tell you something that my fellow PCOS sisters will be shocked by: I'm on a weeklong trip, and didn't bring a razor for the first time in my life.
My results were astounding.
-150 lbs lost so far. I can shop in normal-sized stores.
-Excess skin not as much as an issue I feared it would be.
-Social life much more active, confidence level at incredible highs!
-Mood swings rarely occur, and are nowhere near as noticeable as pre-weight loss.
-Rarely get pain in ovaries.
-I still don't get my period, but my doctor is certain it's from the extreme weight loss because my labwork looks PERFECT.
-I still have the Vitamin D deficiency that comes with PCOS, but that is taken care of with a daily Celebrate Protein shake and sun exposure.
-I lost a LOT of hair after surgery. It is very thin and I have cried a lot over it. I don't have any bald spots, but I had such thick hair before it's very traumatizing to see it so bare and thin. However, it looks healthy and shiny. I'm VERY glad that I decided to keep it long and not cut it, because it looks beautiful now.
-Facial/body hair. For body hair, I started sugaring which keeps me hairfree for 3-4 weeks. I just had my fifth laser hair removal appointment and I no longer have facial hair. This is the biggie that most of us PCOS'ers are concerned about. I don't need to shave everyday, and I don't need to wear foundation anymore to cover the bumps/stubble. I have a light shave every few days, but even then it's not necessary and only out of paranoia. The laser type used on me was a pulsed diode. I went to a dermatologist center. I MUST STRESS THIS. American Laser Clinic is a giant scam and I regret wasting my time/money there. A real dermatologist gave me great results at a much cheaper cost.
I owe a lot of my success to extreme activity and very careful nutrition plan.
That's all I can think of for now. I will update again in a few months. If you have any questions, please message me!

I'm almost 3 months post-op and feel a HUGE difference!
Updates:
-My weight loss actually EXCEEDS my non-PCOS sleeve friends. I really attribute this to all the Protein I've been having. I've been very strict about only having Proteins, with certain fruits/veggies and maybe whole grains as a treat. I've also been swimming 4 times a week and boxing once a week.
-I don't have those crazy mood swings I had pre-op.
-My period seems more normal. it's not always on schedule, but I'm no longer "spotting" in between (TMI I know )
-I don't have any pain in my ovaries.
-hair loss: Last year, I had huge bouts of massive Hair loss. Nothing helped except reducing stress and taking a bunch of Vitamins. Right now, I feel a few more strands falling out, but nothing extreme. My hair looks very shiny and healthy, better than it did before surgery.
-The most important thing : THE EXCESSIVE HAIR has almost been resolved!!! This doesn't have to do with the surgery, but with the Dermatologist I went to. I went to American Laser Centers for a YEAR and didn't see any results, honestly I think they're a scam! I went to this particular dermatologist just ONCE and 2-3 weeks later I no longer have to shave everyday. The stubbly dots are mostly gone. Let me tell you, my excess hair was EXTREME. She said my results were the best possible due to my pale skin and dark hair. So if you tried laser without success, go to an actual dermatologist to try a different type of laser. At my next laser appointment, I will ask her what type she used so you can try it out to see if it works for you. I am so extremely pleased and grateful for these results. I can actually go swimming without makeup! I would have never gone out without make up/shaving everyday before laser treatment. The procedure itself actually hurt A LOT and it took my face 5-10 days to heal. I only started seeing results 2 weeks after, but they were unbelievably worth it.
As someone with severe PCOS (which meds like Spiro and Byetta coudln't help), I can honestly say there is great hope for a cure!!!
That's it for now. I hope this is helping anyone interested in doing the surgery. It was the best decision of my life, just make sure you do the best you can! Please message me if you have any questions.

I started this topic to keep track of my success with VSG surgery while having severe PCOS (all the bad symptoms including excess hair, Hair loss, bad periods, cramps, pain in ovaries, mood swings). I noticed that there isn't too many information on the VSG experience with PCOS, so I thought I'd post this publicly for future sleevers curious about what to expect.
8 weeks post-op (10 weeks "dieting" if you include pre-op) my period seems to have normalized. I think this is due to the weight loss (55 lbs) but mostly to all the exercise I did. I started walking daily for 30-60 mins 2 weeks before the surgery, and kept it up afterwards. After a few weeks, I lowered it to 4-5 times a week.
The first 3-4 weeks after the surgery, I actually had pain in my ovaries (probably cysts). Eventually this went way.
2 weeks after the pre-op diet (and a day after my surgery) I noticed that a majority of my mood swings were gone. It felt like the unsteady cloud in my mind had finally been cleared. I attribute this to all the exercise and lack of carbs. I've noticed that the white sugary carbs have very negative effects with my PCOS. My weight loss so far has matched others (and even exceeded non-PCOSers!) but I notice it stalling if I have bread/pasta. I limit myself to half a serving of toast/whole wheat wrap and one serving of either crackers/pasta/potato per day. I usually have less but never more.
When I have my period, I don't get horrible PMS like before.
I have an appointment for laser hair removal next week, I will keep you updated on the experience/success. My past experience with American Laser Center was a waste of time and money with no results, so I am trying a different clinic.
This is strictly my experience and it will vary among us, but I truly think that the activity is what's really pushing me towards greater success. It's hard but anything helps. I will post more under this topic in the upcoming weeks to let you know of further progress!

I started this topic to keep track of my success with VSG surgery while having severe PCOS (all the bad symptoms including excess hair, Hair loss, bad periods, cramps, pain in ovaries, mood swings). I noticed that there isn't too many information on the VSG experience with PCOS, so I thought I'd post this publicly for future sleevers curious about what to expect.
8 weeks post-op (10 weeks "dieting" if you include pre-op) my period seems to have normalized. I think this is due to the weight loss (55 lbs) but mostly to all the exercise I did. I started walking daily for 30-60 mins 2 weeks before the surgery, and kept it up afterwards. After a few weeks, I lowered it to 4-5 times a week.
The first 3-4 weeks after the surgery, I actually had pain in my ovaries (probably cysts). Eventually this went way.
2 weeks after the pre-op diet (and a day after my surgery) I noticed that a majority of my mood swings were gone. It felt like the unsteady cloud in my mind had finally been cleared. I attribute this to all the exercise and lack of carbs. I've noticed that the white sugary carbs have very negative effects with my PCOS. My weight loss so far has matched others (and even exceeded non-PCOSers!) but I notice it stalling if I have bread/pasta. I limit myself to half a serving of toast/whole wheat wrap and one serving of either crackers/pasta/potato per day. I usually have less but never more.
When I have my period, I don't get horrible PMS like before.
I have an appointment for laser hair removal next week, I will keep you updated on the experience/success. My past experience with American Laser Center was a waste of time and money with no results, so I am trying a different clinic.
This is strictly my experience and it will vary among us, but I truly think that the activity is what's really pushing me towards greater success. It's hard but anything helps. I will post more under this topic in the upcoming weeks to let you know of further progress!

I'm sorry I haven't been on these forums in forever!
I kept promising to come back here and post an update but I'm just so busy with my "new" life. I just can't believe how much things have changed.
It's been 1.5 years. A little over 170 lbs lost.
For the first time in my entire life, I'm in the "one-derland!" From 360 to 190 lbs. I can shop in trendy "normal" stores at the mall and no longer fit into the smaller sizes at some of the plus size stores I've grown attached to.
Started as a size 32-34 and now a size 12-14. I would be wearing mostly 10's were it not for all the loose skin that I have. Went to a lot of plastic surgeon consultations, and they say I am carrying about 8-12 lbs of excess skin. Don't let the fear of saggy skin scare you away from this surgery - i absolutely hate the way it looks but I hide it very well! Wearing things like Spanx, tights, and leotards (really pretty ones are available for cheap on amazon.com) help conceal the loose skin.
Some added benefits of weight loss were that size of my fingers and feet shrunk as well. I didn't realize I would have to buy new shoes! Not like that's a bad thing
I had a lot of extreme hair loss. It got so bad that I regretted doing the surgery for a while. 6-12 months post op was the worst. But I am recovering because it's gotten thicker, healthier, and people have been complimenting me on it again (my hair used to be my fashion statement when I was ashamed of my body).
It may be hard to hear this, but believe me when I say this is true: I no longer deal with facial hair. I remember desperately reading through the pcos-related forums before committing to this surgery and wondering if my hair problem would ever go away. It did, but it was a result of laser and not just weight loss alone. Make sure to follow-up with laser hair removal appointments (now I touch up every 3 months for $75). It barely hurts anymore and is just a quick 20 minute session. I started doing my chest as well, and got some great results. I really encourage anyone battling with this to visit a qualified dermatologist. You don't need to regulate your hormones to get the results I did.
My weight has been stable. No regain so far!
I haven't had my period in over 8 months, my doctor says that is due to the extreme weight loss. All my labwork, including pressure, pulse, cholesterol, insulin is better than average now. I do heavy strength training three times a week and cardio three times a week with one day off. I have built a lot of muscle and that really helps with the appearance of saggy skin.
My advice:
-Don't fall back into the cycle of having sugar/fat/soda. I briefly slipped over the holidays and it took a tremendous amount of work/willpower to work my way back on track.
-Do both aerobic and anaerobic exercise.
-Get a good prenatal Multivitamin to make up for all the nutrients we may be lacking.
-For hairiness: laser hair removal and epilating became my best friends.
-Don't let the excess skin bother you or scare you out of doing the surgery.
I wish you all the best of luck, sending out a lot of love and support. Please message me if you have any specific questions, I am planning on checking back a lot more frequently!

I started this topic to keep track of my success with VSG surgery while having severe PCOS (all the bad symptoms including excess hair, Hair loss, bad periods, cramps, pain in ovaries, mood swings). I noticed that there isn't too many information on the VSG experience with PCOS, so I thought I'd post this publicly for future sleevers curious about what to expect.
8 weeks post-op (10 weeks "dieting" if you include pre-op) my period seems to have normalized. I think this is due to the weight loss (55 lbs) but mostly to all the exercise I did. I started walking daily for 30-60 mins 2 weeks before the surgery, and kept it up afterwards. After a few weeks, I lowered it to 4-5 times a week.
The first 3-4 weeks after the surgery, I actually had pain in my ovaries (probably cysts). Eventually this went way.
2 weeks after the pre-op diet (and a day after my surgery) I noticed that a majority of my mood swings were gone. It felt like the unsteady cloud in my mind had finally been cleared. I attribute this to all the exercise and lack of carbs. I've noticed that the white sugary carbs have very negative effects with my PCOS. My weight loss so far has matched others (and even exceeded non-PCOSers!) but I notice it stalling if I have bread/pasta. I limit myself to half a serving of toast/whole wheat wrap and one serving of either crackers/pasta/potato per day. I usually have less but never more.
When I have my period, I don't get horrible PMS like before.
I have an appointment for laser hair removal next week, I will keep you updated on the experience/success. My past experience with American Laser Center was a waste of time and money with no results, so I am trying a different clinic.
This is strictly my experience and it will vary among us, but I truly think that the activity is what's really pushing me towards greater success. It's hard but anything helps. I will post more under this topic in the upcoming weeks to let you know of further progress!

Thank you all for reading and participating! PCOS is a really emotional subject and not a lot of people come out to discuss it frankly. I forgot to mention that I was also no longer insulin resistant very soon after the surgery! I think it has a lot to do with eliminating junky foods high in carbs/sugar. I'm so happy for all of you, I know it's scary but you will have so much success! I've been waiting a long time for a solution to these problems and I'm still in shock that I'm vastly improving. I encourage anyone with questions to message us! Congratulations on your pregnancies, I'm happy it's still very possible to have children with PCOS!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I'm sorry I haven't been on these forums in forever!
I kept promising to come back here and post an update but I'm just so busy with my "new" life. I just can't believe how much things have changed.
It's been 1.5 years. A little over 170 lbs lost.
For the first time in my entire life, I'm in the "one-derland!" From 360 to 190 lbs. I can shop in trendy "normal" stores at the mall and no longer fit into the smaller sizes at some of the plus size stores I've grown attached to.
Started as a size 32-34 and now a size 12-14. I would be wearing mostly 10's were it not for all the loose skin that I have. Went to a lot of plastic surgeon consultations, and they say I am carrying about 8-12 lbs of excess skin. Don't let the fear of saggy skin scare you away from this surgery - i absolutely hate the way it looks but I hide it very well! Wearing things like Spanx, tights, and leotards (really pretty ones are available for cheap on amazon.com) help conceal the loose skin.
Some added benefits of weight loss were that size of my fingers and feet shrunk as well. I didn't realize I would have to buy new shoes! Not like that's a bad thing
I had a lot of extreme hair loss. It got so bad that I regretted doing the surgery for a while. 6-12 months post op was the worst. But I am recovering because it's gotten thicker, healthier, and people have been complimenting me on it again (my hair used to be my fashion statement when I was ashamed of my body).
It may be hard to hear this, but believe me when I say this is true: I no longer deal with facial hair. I remember desperately reading through the pcos-related forums before committing to this surgery and wondering if my hair problem would ever go away. It did, but it was a result of laser and not just weight loss alone. Make sure to follow-up with laser hair removal appointments (now I touch up every 3 months for $75). It barely hurts anymore and is just a quick 20 minute session. I started doing my chest as well, and got some great results. I really encourage anyone battling with this to visit a qualified dermatologist. You don't need to regulate your hormones to get the results I did.
My weight has been stable. No regain so far!
I haven't had my period in over 8 months, my doctor says that is due to the extreme weight loss. All my labwork, including pressure, pulse, cholesterol, insulin is better than average now. I do heavy strength training three times a week and cardio three times a week with one day off. I have built a lot of muscle and that really helps with the appearance of saggy skin.
My advice:
-Don't fall back into the cycle of having sugar/fat/soda. I briefly slipped over the holidays and it took a tremendous amount of work/willpower to work my way back on track.
-Do both aerobic and anaerobic exercise.
-Get a good prenatal Multivitamin to make up for all the nutrients we may be lacking.
-For hairiness: laser hair removal and epilating became my best friends.
-Don't let the excess skin bother you or scare you out of doing the surgery.
I wish you all the best of luck, sending out a lot of love and support. Please message me if you have any specific questions, I am planning on checking back a lot more frequently!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

So inspirational. Thank you for posting these. You look stunning! I think you're going to really have fun this summer!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!

I haven't been on these forums in so long!!! A lot of life changes/busy schedule kept me away but I have to come back to share good news with all of the amazing online friends who have been there for me throughout this entire journey.
1.5 Year Post-Op Stats:
Highest Weight: Around 360
Current Weight: 190
Biggest Size: 34 / XXXL
Current Size: 12 / L
The topic title is "Forever21" because I've never been able to shop at that store for pretty and cheap-y clothes my entire life though desperately wanting to - and now it's become a staple of my college wardrobe.
I can't believe I'm under 200 lbs. I didn't think I would be so successful since I have PCOS. I haven't had any complications from the surgery, with the exception of hair loss (which seems to be recovering) and brief bouts of acid reflux (not significant enough to be a concern).
My life? Well, I'm doing things i never dared to dream about. Shopping, traveling, dating, exploring, and enjoying. I'm still not used to the positive male attention. Sometimes I freak about that I can "fit" into places and buckle plane seatbelts and stuff. Just enjoying life and living it the way I've always longed to. I am so grateful that I did this. I beg anyone who is hesitant or has fears of doing this surgery to come to me with questions, I will answer any.
But I must be completely honest and state that I do not, in any way, believe that the surgery is entirely or even mainly responsible for my success. It truly is just a "tool." I have put in a lot of hard work into getting the results I have. It takes a lot of serious time and dedication.
Funny mini-success:
-A guy I used to know asked me out, not realizing that he knew me back when I was over 300 lbs. He would not believe that it was actually me until I showed him my ID. Man, was he embarrassed!
You don't realize how truly overweight you were until you notice that new people you meet just accept you as "one of them" and not their one super morbidly obese friend. It's weird being part of the gym crowd. It's weird dating fitness enthusiasts and realizing they wouldn't have given the old me a second look. It's weird getting comments like "oh you wouldn't understand, you're not fat." Really, really weird. Making new friends and having them never know that I was (and on the inside, still feel like) super morbidly obese. I feel like I sometimes need to "come out of the closet" and confess this to them!
I still don't recognize myself in pictures/video, but in a good way. Sometimes I feel like the world/my reflection is trying to trick me into thinking that I'm average-sized, because I can't believe that I'm no longer so overweight.
I've been thinking seriously and I believe these are the most important steps to take in order to make the best use of this surgery and to hopefully get similar or better results than I have:
-Start a simple walking regimen at least two weeks before the surgery, and keep it up afterwards.
-Weight train. I'm serious. Don't put it in your "to do later" list. Start doing it now because the strength and muscle building will seriously burn fat and make your loose skin look SO much better.
-Take good Multivitamins.
-Don't ever get back on the cycle of eating sugary/fatty foods because it will be very hard to stop.
-DON'T cheat on your pre-op diet. Prove to yourself how serious you are about this.
-Avoid smoking/alcohol.
Some concerns/negatives:
-The Hair loss (somewhat resolved) now that my weight has stabilized. No weight gain so far.
-I no longer feel the same amount of restriction. I still can barely eat a fraction of what I used to, but now I can have a small salad, a meal of 4 oz Protein + side, and a tiny dessert. Basically, I can fit in the minimum amount that a healthy eater should be having. But it's no longer just 1/2 a cup of cottage cheese!
-It is still a little uncomfortable to have fizzy drinks.
I'm so happy with my life right now. I feel like people give me more respect and listen to what I say, which can actually be frustrating at times. People treat me immensely better, and although it feels good, I feel sad that it took all this weight loss for it to happen. I'm talking giving me free stuff, opening doors, going out of their way to do things for me. Why the hell am I getting special treatment? It still feels similar to unfair treatment I got from being obese, only now it is positive. I go out of my way now to treat everyone with equal respect and courtesy.
Update: I'm looking into getting surgery to remove a lot of the excess skin that I have. Thank you for all of the support in the past few years - I hope to have more great updates in the future!