HappygoSusan

Of all days - in a hurry this morning. . . forgot my cell phone at home... I get home, notice I missed a call - voice mail from my surgeons office - they received verbal approval! Calling to schedule my pre-op tomorrrow! Let the fun begin!!! Yay!!!!

160.6
Susan

"Happy tears" I should have said in the title......
So I had my sleeve surgery in Sept of 2013 and reached my initial goal pretty quickly, maybe in 10 months. Then I realized that my "dream goal" was within reach. So I pushed a little further and eventually reached my "dream goal" of 125 pounds, which is about 155 pounds lost. It's been a crazy journey and I couldn't have done it without entering therapy with an amazing therapist to deal with my "food issues" which really aren't "food issues" if you know what I mean.
Anyway, I was approved about 6 weeks ago for a abdominoplasty & panniculectomy and a quick week and a half or so later was in surgery. It's been a struggle since then because I don't think I was quite prepared for the difficult recovery. Or maybe I just wanted it so badly I dismissed what I was hearing. Anyway. All is good now.
I had my 1-month post-op check up yesterday and my surgeon cleared me to start running again (YAY...not that I feel that I could yet...but...YAY) and said he was super pleased with how my incision was healing. Up until this point I had dermabond tape over my incision and I had to keep it "dressed" (covered in bandages and taped up) with binder on top. Everytime I showered or changed my dressing I made it a point not to look in the mirror because I kind of wanted a big reveal, you know? So at the appointment he removed everything and said I was good to go. Side note: I will still wear my binder for a bit longer because he had a LOT of ab muscle repair to do and I still feel pretty weak and just weird in there because sometimes I can feel the internal stitches poking a bit according to him, "because I'm so thin"....which is SO strange to hear someone say about me. Weirdest ever.
Anyway....so I rushed home, ran up to my bedroom to the full length mirror, took off my clothes and stood in the mirror crying my eyes out. It's so freaking amazing not to have all of that extra hanging skin there reminding me of who I used to be, and how I used to basically abuse myself with food. I couldn't believe it was me I was looking at. Totally overcome with emotion. I will always have a faint scar, and I'm glad because I never want to completely forget where I was lest I go back, but what a mental change for me to have that "excess baggage" gone. For the first time I "feel" thin.
I'm not brave enough to post before/after pics yet. I want the scar to heal a bit more. The surgeon said he take the 'after" pic at the 3 month appointment, so maybe then I'll post them. But for now..... I'll let you all have a peek at my new little belly button. It used to be a freaking canyon.....seriously..... Just this alone is such a confidence booster and change.
this whole journey has just been freaking amazing and now i need to figure out how just to maintain. No losing, no gaining.....just stay put.

CW 162
GW 155
Susan

I'm in.
Susan

159
Susan

My mama always said, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all". We are human, we are imperfect & after WLS, we are constantly learning. Be kind, be gentle or be quiet.

159
Susan

@@DreamingAzure
It is good you are recognizing where your motive is coming from. That, in and of itself, is maturity in action. And a person NEEDS to be mature to handle WLS.
I don't know why you have not WLS yet, and I don't need to know. BUT, I may say this: if you aren't IN the canoe, you are NOT able to paddle. Same with WLS. If you haven't had it, you don't know what people who HAVE had it go through, thus you are NOT able to judge the journey OR the outcome.
Many of us have NO IDEA what sizes or types of undergarments or clothing to wear after WLS, we just want to look good. Everyone has different tastes and ideas of what looks good. And there are MANY cultures that have differing styles of clothes. So instead of looking at the CLOTHES, look at the JOY in the FACE of her/him wearing the clothes. THERE you will find the REAL beauty!!!!!

Well Fellas...I SURVIVED!!!! Let me be clear that I did a nice brisk walk/jog vs running! Lol!!! 54 minutes...but I got it done damn it!!! My daughter had a great time which is what I cared about most. Thanks for all the support because it was much needed! I think I'm ready for another one now that I've caught my breath!!!!

158
Susan

156
Susan

Post op day 3 of abdomnioplasty and couldn't be more happy!

Where is everyone?
I managed another day! It's been hard to say no to some things, but I try to stay mindful of the fact that I was only kidding myself before by allowing myself to give in to certain foods!
I ran errands extra early, 3 mile walk by the canal, then walked 18 holes of golf.
Today is the 2nd day of forcing myself on the scale. It read higher today that yesterday! Weird.
Going to keep this up! All my shorts are a bit too snug!

I was wearing size 18 women's jeans before surgery. I easily wore size 14 jeans today!! I decided to try them on cause my others were getting too loose to wear, fully expecting them not to button. Excited!! Haven't been able to wear them in several years.

I've gotten behind on this site. I follow too many threads!! It took three hours to catch up tonight.
I'm in a great place today. NSETBEx and I settled on a few current issues like tuition for the kids, contributions toward current expenses and legal fees. It's a start. God smiled on me and gave me peace going in to the courthouse. I'm not afraid of him anymore. I also woke up Monday with the 11 pound gain gone plus a bonus pound gone. That did wonders for my confidence.
Monday was huge. It was the first time I faced or spoke to him in nine months. I have not felt this free and strong in well over a year.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. You were with me and it made a big difference.

When ur boobs can fold :-)

Hello all my name is Jennifer I'm from connecticut I was sleeved on December 17,2014 one week before Xmas and I'll never do it again before a major holiday start of process was November 2013 I weighed 459 started nutrition classes Feb of 2014 and had surgery that Dec it's been real hard to say the least today I weigh 320 I've dropped 2 pant sizes 1 shoe size and 4 shirt sizes my Boobs were a 54 Dd DOWN to a 48D the hardest part of surgery afterwards was all the gas floating around that hurt bad so it forced me to walk so I'd burp or pass gas to get it out. .. I spent 3dys in hospital it was filled with warm welcoming nurses kind supportive drs and staff that came in 3 to 4 times a day and motivated me to get up and do some laps around the hall. .. honestly after surgery I wasn't even hungry at ALL they gave me Water and glucerna JUST for hospital stay not for home and no lie it was 2 Oz at a time I started off with a medicine measures full I'd have to get it down in an hr ... I'll write more tomorrow I'm Fallin asleep. ..

156.6
Susan

156.6
Susan

165
I officially hit 100 pounds lost!!

I know you said you don't care for the Soup, but my fAvorite thing is to order the wonton Soup, minus the wonton, so it's just broth with some green onions and an extra plate. Then i sample a bite or two of whatever my husband or daughter is having. The portions are way too big at our favorite place, even when we go during lunch. Last week I had pork with vegetables(made spicy) and a bite or two of lo mein.
Susan

@@2babutterfly, we are all rooting for that scale to drop into the 1's!!!
My plan is solid. I probably won't be on here until Wednesday. Carry on, Warriors! I've got me some Neil Diamond tonight!

Just a quick updated, I did my weekly weigh-in and I've lost 5lbs! So the careful eating and exercise is working. Thanks to EVERYONE for their support. I love this forum!

The main issue is that if you drink while eating, the Water mixes with the food and flushes through your stomach more quickly and therefor you won't feel full as long and will be able to eat much more. It's basically a way of bypassing your restriction, making it easier for you to eat more food.< /p>
Drinking before eating can allegedly fill you up and make you eat less, and therefore not get ENOUGH food, but I find that theory to be pretty much BS, because I watched my post-op leak test and saw how fast liquid moved through my stomach. It was through in a matter of seconds, so the rule of not drinking for 20+ minutes before eating just seems like a surefire way to NOT get enough liquids in. I drink right up to the time I start eating.
Drinking after eating will just make you overfull and uncomfortable. If your stomach is full of food, there's nowhere for the liquid to go and it'll just sit on top of the food and possibly get backed up into your esophagus, which is NOT good.
But as I said, drinking WHILE eating is the most dangerous. Because when the food mixes with liquid to become a more apple-sauce like consistently, it passes through more quickly and makes it easier to eat more, defeating the whole purpose of the restriction.