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I've done that! I hate throwing out or getting rid of perfectly good clothes so I have bins of clothes of different sizes. I've been going through them every few weeks to see what fits now. Especially since it seems like I'm going through sizes pretty quick. I'll wear a pair of jeans that fit well then wear them again 2 weeks later and they're loose. I did go buy a couple shirts just to celebrate some. I didn't buy jeans because to me they're too expensive to buy something that I probably won't fit in in a month or so. 😂

Hi April Sleevers, I had a fun victory moment during the weekend. I've lost weight, but had not really made any adjustments to the clothes that I was wearing. In many postings on this site, they encourage you not to spend much money on clothes during this process because, depending on how much weight you are loosing, you might have to keep replacing clothes. Im going through this process with a focus on improving my health versus racing for a reduction in my weight numbers. I had not really thought about clothes size changes much until I was looking for something in my closet and looked at "the other side" which is where I have tucked away smaller size clothes that I could no longer fit but was hopeful that one day I could wear again. Everyone has that section in your closet or drawers, right? Hahahaha. 😉Well, this weekend I perused that section in my closet and drawers and found some clothes that are one size smaller than my current size that fit nicely. I made a big pile and washed a couple loads of laundry. I reorganized my drawers and closet to include these one size smaller clothes that I can now include in my regular wardrobe. It felt very validating. They are all summer clothes so its perfect timing. And, it was nice to reminisce about earlier times with those clothes. And even better, I did not have to spend any money! 🤗 I have a few clothing items that are two sizes smaller. I just left them tucked away for later during this process. 🙂 Anyone else go shopping in your closets or drawers so far during this process? I'm at the 7 week mark.

I was told no skins or seeds for a while too. Hard for your healing tummy to digest. Banana should be fine but check first. Make sure you blend & strain your smoothie before drinking to ensure there are no fibrous or lumpy bits.

I started eating both fairly early out, but I don't think we were supposed to have skins or seeds for the first month or so - so that precluded berries. I'd check with your clinic and see what they say. It's been a few years since I had surgery (although I do remember we had to wait on berries for awhile)

yea I don't think titanium does. I know titanium doesn't set off MRI machines, either (I've been in a billion research studies where I had to have MRIs - some after I had gastric bypass surgery, so I would have had the staples). I know most/all surgical staples are made of titanium, so those supposedly won't set anything off. The only thing I can think of is the surgical clips I have in my abdomen - maybe they aren't titanium? I'm not sure - but something sets it off every time (or at least those really sensitive scanners where you hold your arms up in the air). It's weird that the loose skin set it off, too - but it did - and I've heard of many others who've had the same issue. anyway, good idea on TSA pre-check - I'll look into that for sure!!

Oh the brachioplasty is upper arm skin removal and the fleur de lis is abdominoplasty. Both are under plastic surgery. I got the duodenal switch 10 years ago and finally got the skin removal

Follow your plan. This is important because your plan has been designed to aid healing. Remember there’s a lot of stitches & staples holding your tummy together & you don’t want to risk putting strain or pressure on your tummy before it’s fully healed. Listen to your body. It will tell you what you can or can’t do or eat yet. Things are going to be different but you’ll get used to the changes & how your body may react. It’s not a competition. You’ll lose at the rate that’s right for you. You will lose some hair. Can’t stop it because it’s how your body reacts to the surgery & the reduced food intake. It’s just an acceleration of your natural hair loss cycle. The hair loss will stop. Your new hair is still growing in but just at its usual rate which is why your hair may look thin for a while until it catches up. You will have stalls along the way. It’s just your body taking a breath to catch up with the changes. They may last a week or up to three but they do stop & you’ll start losing again. You will experience constipation. Often a lot of constipation. Include some soluble (non swelling) fibre in your diet & have some stool softeners on hand. You may experience a temporary change in your taste buds. Some also find their sense of smell becomes more sensitive for a while. Some foods may suddenly become disgusting because of their taste or smell. Some people find binders useful post surgery as a support while healing. It’s an individual thing. I didn’t use one. Now the bad news - there is little you can do to stop or reduce the chances of having loose skin. It’s why so many have plastic surgery to remove it. The loose skin is a result of your fat stretching out your skin. Think of a hair band that’s been stretched out from lots of use & is loose. Ain’t nothing goes to make that band as tight as it was when it was new. How much loose skin you have depends upon factors like age, gender, how long you’ve been at your highest weight, etc. if you’re young & still have a lot of natural skin elasticity you likely won’t have as much as someone older like me. Don’t mean to scare you just wanted you not to be surprised if these things do happen. While they are common experiences, it seems they are things that many medical teams don’t tell their patients to expect. They can be quite scary when they occur if you don’t know they can. Good luck.

btw - I was looking forward to not having to deal with the loose skin setting the scanners off after I had plastic surgery (because oddly, that DOES set it off for some of us), but I STILL beep, even though all the excess skin is gone. I don't know what it is. I know surgical staples don't (they're made of titanium, which MRI machines don't pick up - so maybe that's why airport scanners don't, either), but maybe the clips I have in my abdomen from plastic surgery do - I'm not sure. But for whatever reason, I still beep. Grrrr. P.S. earlier in the weight loss phase I didn't beep - because I didn't have all the loose skin then. But I DID have the staples then - so they aren't what sets it off.

Thank you love!!!! I have bought me some compression socks, a binder, and compression arm sleeves so when I do go walking and start to loose weight I want have loose skin

no. Oddly, loose skin sometimes does (at least on those really sensitive scanners)

First of all, I want to share some stats/background. I am 47 years old (46 at time of WLS). I was 264 at my highest weight, which is also my weight before starting the pre-op diet. I was a plus size 20-22 in jeans, and a 2X in tops. My surgery date was 7/6/20. I reached my chosen goal weight of 150 on 2/26/21. My current weight is 132. I wear a S/XS in tops and a 0 or 2 in most pants/jeans. I am pretty tall at 5’8”. My bra size went from 40DD to a 34B. I love my new body, being the fittest in my adult life, and being healthy. With that being said, I really miss having boobs. The loose skin on my butt folds uncomfortably under my tailbone when I sit or lay down. My tummy flops around unless I am wearing something tight or with compression. My legs are very saggy. I am scheduled for plastic surgery in Mexico on 5/29. I am going to get a belt lipectomy (360 tummy tuck), with butt lift, a breast lift, and breast augmentation. I am hopeful the belt lipectomy and time will make a thigh lift unnecessary in the future, but we will see. I really do not want the scars. My arms have a bit of loose skin, but not enough to make an arm lift necessary, IMO. I chose Mexico for price and proximity. I know Florida is better priced for plastic surgery than most, if not all, of the rest of the US, but I really do not want to travel that far (Nevada). I will be going alone and I will be there for 6 days. When I get home, I have my family to help take care of me, including my wound care nurse husband. I am super excited for this next step in my weight loss process and honestly can’t wait to have boobs again! 😀 I have added some pics of pre-WLS (yikes😞), and now, pre-plastics. I will post more as I as go, including after photos. 😀😀

I agree with @Arabesque. Get a good, professional bra fitting. I never thought I would get breast augmentation, but I get my new boobs in less than a week. I went from a 40DD to an empty, deflated, 34B. It is shocking to go from having fairly large breasts to empty sacks of skin hanging from my chest. If I only get a lift, once they take out the extra skin, I will be an A cup. I want some curves back, so breast augmentation for me.

I struggled to maintain too @HealthyLifeStyle. I did look drawn in that year I kept loosing but since I stabilised about 6 months ago I look fine. Things do shift about. I’m a little shorter than you (5’3”) and my bmi sits just under 19 and I’m not bony. Sure I can feel my bones but my shoulders aren’t sunken & nor do I have deep hollows under my collarbones (signs of being underweight). I have a smaller frame so I can carry my lower weight better. If you have a larger frame, you may look slimmer than your weight indicates. Give it time. It can be hard to come to terms with how we look being slim. It’s body dysmorphia. I think a lot of us would put our hand up & say yep I’m still sometimes surprised by how I look in the mirror or they can be surprised when someone describes us as slim or small (who? me?). (I don’t really like ‘skinny’. It can have negative connotations or raise negative responses.) Sorry, @FutureSylph your post has been hijacked a little - it often happens. Best advice: 1 - fellow your plan. There are lots of different ones but stick to what you were given. You can negotiate with your surgeon & dietician as you progress. 2 - go at your pace. It’s not a race. You may lose quickly, you may lose slowly. You may struggle at times on the way but you’ll get there. 3 - listen to your body. It will tell you pretty darn quickly if it’s happy or not. It can be pretty fussy at first & may not tolerate one day what it did the day before. Give it a break & then try again in a week or so. 4 - what worked for me or someone else may not work for you. Still give any suggestions a go or research them to see if they might. 5 - take time to decide what foods you do want to reintroduce into your life & what you don’t when you reach maintenance. Consider portion size, frequency of eating or if there’s an healthier alternative for foods you do want to reintroduce. Good luck.

I started at 5'3 and 320 pounds over BMI of 58 - I didn't go in to get weighed until I lost 10 lbs on my own! After 10 years, I am now 65 years old and am about 5'2" lost over 140 pounds and weigh 172 to 175. My BMI is (adjusted for age) 31. I am still considered overweight/obese. But this is as low in weight as I seem to be able to maintain and be healthy - My doctors are pleased. I am active and healthy ! I know, for some, this may not seem like a "VICTORY" - and I have been criticized even HERE for not losing more weight. I am more than thrilled with my results. I am as excited about buying size 14/16 petite clothing as someone buying size 2 clothing. (Well, I think I am as thrilled !!) I have zero desire to have plastic surgery to remove the extra skin - I have had enough surgeries to not want any more. I am over the moon thrilled with keeping it off and with my results. DO YOU.

Everybody should always aim to drink 2litres/64oz of water a day. We’re more than half water & should replenish it frequently. You need more in hotter climates, if you exercise & perspire a lot or if you drink lots of caffeinated drinks (they dehydrate you). When you feel thirsty you are actually already well on the path to dehydration. We were told your urine should be straw colour & the lighter the better. I drink about 1500 ml but also consume water rich fruit & lettuce (lots of it) every day which ups my consumption. I truely pee all day & all night. Before surgery I used to drink at least 2litres but there was a lot more of me then. Your skin & brain function improve & your blood is pumped around your body more easily all by keeping your fluid levels up. Actually all your organs function better. (Back in the early 90s in Australia we began encouraging children to have bottles of water on their desks & to drink all day long to aid brain function & improve general health. It’s became a big societal change. People carry water with them everywhere now. Should have bought shares in water bottling & refillable bottle companies back then. 😉) If I’m not well hydrated I have trouble swallowing food & develop choking phlegm in my throat & often dry retch now. My blood pressure drops & I feel weak.

Be tough and follow the plan. At one month I was still on puree 6 ,,3 oz meals. 3 of them being protien way isolate shakes. I am almost 2 months out and lost 40 lbs. Now loosing about pound a day. But I measure everything and really watch what I eat. I even stop although I can eat more. Good luck. Stick with the plan. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

It took a whole week of me taking it every day for it to finally work. My doc said even if it makes it too loose to not stop taking it. So what did I do...stopped for only one day because I had diarrhea the day before. Well guess what. I didn't poop for 2 days after that and now I am constipated again even though I have been taking it for the past 3 days. Stupid on my part not to listen to the doc. Ugghhh!

Neither my surgeon nor dietician gave me calorie goals to follow while losing. They did recommend 1/4 cup of food from purée stage slowly increasing as I was able to eat more as long as it was low fat, low sugar, low carb. I wasn’t eating 300 calories in that first month. I remember my surgeon drawing a picture of a side plate, then drawing a circle of protein & a circle of vegetables & saying that’s about how much I’d be eating at goal. He also outlined the size in my palm. He was pretty right. I was told a daily goal 60g of protein & then slowly add vegetables & fruit to my eating as I progressed. I saw my dietician every two weeks for almost a year (COVID ended it) where we discussed what I had added to my diet & what I thought I’d try next. I can go back to her at anytime. It took me about a year to find the sweet spot in maintenance & to stop losing. I’m really not active so I maintain my weight through calorie control though I don’t religiously measure & count calories except when I add new foods or do random checks to ensure I’m not slipping. I keep to about 1200 calories give or take. Awareness of portion size & nutritional value of what I eat are my key considerations. I prepare most of my food so I have control over the ingredients & how it’s cooked. I eat protein (average 60g from meat, seafood & dairy), vegetables, fruit & whole/multi grains (some crackers as a snack & rolled oats). No processed carbs & I avoid as much sugar, sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners as I possibly can. No fast food in my life & I’ve had takeaway three times since surgery (braised chicken & cashews & skinned steamed gyoza). No carbonated drinks except for tonic, soda or sparkling water. I don’t allow high sugar or high fat food in my house - if it’s not there I can’t eat it. If I have people over, they take home the leftovers of foods I don’t eat now for the same reason. It may sound restrictive but it’s working for me & I really don’t miss anything. There are some things I can’t eat or don’t enjoy anymore because my tummy doesn’t tolerate them. I used to eat a lot of avocado but now it tastes off & the texture is strange. Mashed potatoes & pasta (including plant ones) sit heavily in my tummy & I don’t enjoy alcohol as much. My hunger only came back earlier this year but I still have days I’m not really hungry (like yesterday & today) so I try to eat to routine so I don’t miss meals. If I’m going out for dinner, I’ll drop a snack to allow for what I might eat at the restaurant. In the past, I wouldn’t weigh myself if I thought I’d put on weight - if I couldn’t see an actual number on the scales I could convince myself I hadn’t gained. So I weigh myself almost every day. I have a fluctuation window of about 1kg (2.2lbs). If it sits on or close to the max for a couple of days in a row, I review my diet & make slight adjustments: drop a snack, reduce a portion size. Sometimes it’s just fluid or constipation but I find I know my body a lot better now & I make allowances for that. My medical team would like me to put on a couple of kilos but I’m happy where I am. But who knows what the future will bring. I certainly eat way more frequently than I ever did before surgery and also more than I used to eat: 3 meals & 3-4 snacks. I think I have a metabolism that is finally working again. There are so many different eating plans you can follow to lose or maintain. You’ve just got to find what works for you & how you want to live & enjoy your life. Finding a good dietician & therapist who are experienced with bariatric patients is a good place to start. Good luck finding your path. Sorry it’s so long.

I finally showed my before and after photos on facebook. I was very, very scared. I had told a lot of people - but some didn't know. I had never EVER showed a full body picture like that. From the side at that! Anyways, on the left: I was a miserable 369lbs. SUPER unhealthy, probably headed to death. I doubt very seriously I could make it past 400. My body would probably just give out. I was already struggling to breathe doing simple tasks/walking up stairs. ANYWHO, the right was a shot taken by my beautiful momsicle on Mother's Day just last weekend. Ignore my "suns in the eyes" face. I am over 120lbs lost from February 27th, 2020 to now. I finally am under 250lbs and I am just floored. Of course, I won't lie. It's been a struggle. Currently, my biggest challenge has and still is - dumping. In the beginning, for the first 8 months, I threw up every. single. day. I realized ice cream, fried foods, steak - out of the question. Buffets were a waste. Most every meal I got out, was a waste. It made people feel bad at first because I would stop eating after 3 bites. I had to constantly remind people that I didn't mind if they ate! I got accepted into nursing school and reverted back to some old habits. Sugary coffees (which made me dump like HELL), chicken nuggets, fries...Anything I could stuff in my mouth "on the go". I would pay the price, but I wasn't puking after every single meal. So I thought I was in the clear. Earlier this year, I started to have tremendous abdominal pain. Spasms that took my breath away. After numerous tests, it was concluded that I had severe IBS with constipation and diarrhea. After talking to my NP at the weight loss place, we decided to try more plant-based alternatives. I'll admit, I was skeptical and very upset because this girl LOVES a nice juicy steak! But, I have noticed my symptoms are near non-existence when I eat beans, (wild) rice, whole grains, some fruits, and almost any veggie. I take it light with caffeine as that is a trigger, but I do still consume some. Suffice to say, this has been the hardest battle I have ever fought in my entire life. I continue to fight it. I continue to struggle with choices about food. I've learned to not limit myself completely. If I want a cookie, I'll eat half. I don't starve myself. I just don't overindulge like I used to. It seems to be working as I have lost a ton of weight. I plateau, but it's going. I just want to be an advocate for anyone considering the surgery and will answer ANY questions! I want to also be your cheerleader if you have already had the surgery. I can't promise it won't be hard, but I will promise it will be worth it to look at yourself in the mirror and have self-esteem again! I am actually OK with people taking full body pictures now! Insane! I am waiting for my weight to be stable to get skin surgery, but baby steps! #AMA

Wow I’ve never poached salmon either. I hate the skin or any fishy taste. Salmon is my fav fish too. I usually bake it or grill it on a cedar plank. I may try poaching in milk or wine as @greentealael said!

Speaking of fish skin...picked this up at Costco this morning. I haven't had this particular brand before, but i've had the flavour...YUM. It's crazy high in calories, so probably not for those in weight loss phase:

When I was in 8th grade I had to start thinking about what high school classes I wanted to take. I was in band in middle school and the next logical step was marching band for high school. I was so nervous: could I actually memorize 18 minutes of music AND march around a field?? As a plus sized teen??? All while keeping up with my Advanced Placement classes? A thought came to me and it’s changed my life ever since: If 200+ other students (we had a large band) could do it, then why the hell couldn’t I too do it?? I’m smart, I’m capable, I can at least try. By senior year I was the band’s captain. That thinking has gotten me through my Masters degree and a great salaried job, because I realized “hell, I could do it too!” listen, your fears are 100% valid. Most, if not all of us, have experienced the yo-yo dieting, the inability to stick to diets, the failing and trying and failing again. It’s not specific to you! and others’ success is not specific to THEM. I just got my surgery approved this morning and I’m nervous too, because it’s going to be HARD. But I had to pick my hard. The diet is hard, surgery feels drastic and hard. Exercising SUCKS and is hard. The mourning period is super hard (going through it now, see my previous posts lol). But you know what else is hard? Navigating life as a fat woman in America. Dating with confidence. Fitting into a booth. Dealing with medical anti-fat bias. Being compared to thinner friends colleagues or relatives. SHOPPING ugh. I have to pick what type of “hard” makes it all worth it. I could stay fat and that hard life won’t get easier. Or I could do this life-changing surgery and feel that “hard” get easier and easier as time goes on. My stomach is quite large and my face looks fine and wrinkle free now but I’m also terrified of wrinkles and loose skin (I’m 34 and though I’m young to many, I’m not immune to aging especially now.) But it’s either deal with the skin or the fat for me. I choose skin. best of luck to you!! Have courage. Don’t doom-scroll, looking for negative experiences (trust me, I’m a doom scroller and it delayed me for a few years, 50 lbs ago.) Instead read through all the great success stories on this forum. It’s what’s gotten me through! My surgery is July 9th.

I was almost 54 when I had my surgery. Yes, I have some loose skin. And like @catwoman7, you can’t really see it when I’m dressed ... except for that wee pooch at my waist but I am slouching a little for effect in the pxt on the left below 😉. Like @STLoser I happily carry my loose skin: I worked hard to lose my weight & I continue to work at maintaining. The loose skin reminds me every day to stay my course. When you first lose weight you could look drawn but I found my remaining fat seemed to resettle once in maintenance & I looked better. Increasing my calories & adding some whole/multi grain carbs to my diet helped. You won’t look as you did before. Then your features were likely distorted by the weight you carried. My face was a round blob. People said I looked younger because the fat filled out any wrinkles I had. When you lose weight you’ll see your cheekbones again, your neck will be thinner & look longer. You’ll have fewer chins. My eyelids aren’t as hooded & my face is oval with a strong jawline now. And people still say I look younger than my age. If you need support to understand & battle your addiction, seek a therapist who has experience with bariatric patients. Many do seek help with success. Though you may find, that like @Jaelzion, your desire for sugar/sweet is muted after surgery & you can manage it without the support of therapy. I made a conscious decision to avoid or restrict certain foods in my diet. They were my danger foods - not cravings but foods I enjoyed a lot & often that were calorie heavy. It was my choice to avoid them or restrict the frequency I eat them. Do I miss these foods - not really. Some people can eat their old favourites without issue but they do it in moderation. You’ll work out what works for you that’s sustainable. Understanding what a recommended portion size is a big learning as is the difference between a portion & the size we get served. Most serving sizes are 2 & 3 times what we should be eating to maintain a healthy weight. I eat about the recommended portion size for most foods now or a little less. For example I can almost eat two eggs, about 100g of meat, a cup of vegetables, a small bunch of grapes, etc. Some days will be harder than others. You’ll learn new things about yourself & your body. There’ll be days you’ll question your decision but the surgery is so worth it. If you’re willing & ready to make the changes to take full advantage of it, you’ll be successful & be able to enjoy your life to the fullest. Good luck. PS - You look fabulous @STLoser. Love the lip gloss colour too.

Oh. Cool. Somehow I got these pictures to post.. Now I took the first pic to see if I liked that color lip gloss on me lol. That's why I have no other makeup on. As you can see, I have some bags under my eyes (they run in my family), and they are more prominent since I lost weight. I can also see lines under my eyes that weren't there before, but overall, I don't think it's too bad considering I've lost almost 150 pounds. I don't know how it will look when I get to goal though..that's another 60 or so. It's hard to see my loose neck skin here, but it's there. The other 2 pics are from last month. I try to take a picture of my progress every month. With clothes on, it's not really obvious that I have loose skin on my thighs or stomach. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Yeah, it makes me so mad that people criticize us for being overweight, then shame us for getting surgery! That's why I'm gonna wear any loose skin I have with pride until I decide to fix it or not. You can't win with some people! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app