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So, I am having my butt skin and leg skin removed in 2020. I had a breast reduction in 2017. I went from a 48H to a 42D. 8lbs of boob was removed. After weight loss, I am now a 34B. But my boobs are empty. There is NO volume at all. It's basically just skin. Because the breast reduction included a lift, they aren't droopy, but if I bend over they look like skinny pregnant dog nipples. I had a LOT of back pain from my large breasts. I hate boobs. I kind of just want the excess skin removed, but that would make me 100% flat-chested. I am nervous to get implants because of the percentage that need to be swapped out after 10-15 years. I don't really want to have more surgeries in the future. But I also don't really want to have NO boobs. So I was THINKING of B cup saline implants. I don't know! I was SO happy to have my breast reduction, it seems weird to put boob back in. I also had a full nipple graft so I am not even sure if they can do another lift or implants??? The blood supply to my nipples is tenuous as is. BUT, ever since my breast reduction my left nipple sticks out pretty far so it would be kind of neat to remove them both and get those hyperrealistic tattoos instead, lol. Anyways - do I go flat-chested, stick with my somehow perky yet "skinny" boobs, or get very small implants to add volume? DECISIONS DECISIONS

I didn't measure my arms until the trainer did it this past Monday, which would have been 5 weeks post-op. My last measurements were from June though so I don't really know exactly how much was taken off. My arms are 6" smaller than they were in June (16" to 10") and my waist is 8" smaller (36" to 28"). I still think my arms look droopy, though, and it is really bothering me. Two people have mentioned that they still look like bat wings. But clearly a lot was removed. The trainer and surgeon both said to chill out (LOL) and to work on bulking and toning my triceps and biceps and the surgeon was adamant about not taking off too much so it looked unnatural. But I am still going to whine about it. I'm still in garments at least another 3 weeks minimum. I haven't been emotional, other than my tantrums about my arms not being EXACTLY super sleek. But really I have NO muscle definition. I just started 3lb weights on Monday so... with time I will get there. SIGH. IMPATIENT.

Surgery: gastric Sleeve SD: 8/21/19 HW: 315 SW: 280 CW: 216 GW: 165 When I look in the mirror, I don’t see the weight loss at all. When I see the photos of others on this site, I am floored and find it hard to believe they ever had a weight issue. The only way I can physically tell that I am losing weight is the enormity of my old clothes. I am going from blouses I never wore because they were too tight to the same blouses I can’t wear because they’re too big. I have exactly three pairs of pants that fit me but I refuse to buy new clothes until I get closer to my goal weight. I want to thank all of you who have posted photos. You are all my inspirations.

Haha. So look. People are different. Right? And the mistake most of us make is assuming that other people see the world through the same filter or lens as our own. Right? And when we observe someone we think in terms of the filter and value as it relates to our belief system. So you look at the way I interact with food and nutrition from YOUR perspective and it just feels like a craptastic amount of work, effort, and feels like it's living in penury. I on the other hand have 20+ years of knowledge about this stuff and most of it is autopilot. I was MO for a variety of reasons including making poor food choices/behaviors. But also because of medical and genetic reasons...you know, like most of us. For me, I don't feel like I'm skimping on a single day. I adore my food! Both the good choices and the bad! I'm not 100% perfect on any given day. But I do try. So it's not onerous. It's a pleasure. And because this works for me, there is comfort in the knowing. And I'm not the only one who does this. Over almost 2 1/2 years in this world, I noticed that THE most successful vets - without exception - are the ones who do not try to wing it. And who do not buy into the dual myths of restriction and malabsorption. They apply their knowledge. The follow a format. And the know how much they weigh each day, what they consumed, and how much exercise they did. I decided long ago, that if I was gonna cut out 80% of my tum and reroute feet of intestine, I was in it to win it. I didn't want the scenic tour- been there done that. I wanted to TCB as quickly as humanly and safely possible. And I did. Now I can spare a few fun times each week that keep me excited and looking forward to M-Thurs on plan TCB living doing the things that will promote DEEP health in the long run! I'm so deprived. In Texas the day after Christmas is usually Mexican food. So I decided to make a taco with leftover 90/10 hamburger that I drain the fat off of cuz if I eat too much fat at a meal I feel miserable. I'm in the process of eating this right now. It's about 2 cups of salady food and about 2oz of protein in it. I will show you afters. I will have that at my next meal--probably afternoon snack. Now doesn't that look like an, "Oh, poor me, I'm so oppressed meal?" Who WOULDN't want to eat this way given half a choice? Ok, done for this meal. Here are the leftovers for AS: And here's how the whole thing shakes out in MFP. I save it as a Meal, then next time I eat it, I will just go pull it up and see what was in it and replicate it. Then I just select that meal and the size that I eat and enter into a meal slot. Takes about 2 seconds to do once it's saved. So my lunch was about 200 cals and I go 18g of protein in with less than 10g of whole carb. Not bad, could be better cuz I do aim for 1g of protein per 10 calories.

I won’t go into details, I did once on this sight. Suffice it to say, it took me four years to get my surgery. It was an emotional roller coaster and I won’t lie there were many tears of frustration. The two years prior to my surgery, I lost 35 pounds on my own with diet and exercise. Since my surgery in August 2019, I have lost another 64 pounds. Most of that from the four weeks on a liquid diet before and after my surgery. Maybe because it took so long, really appreciate the wonder this surgery has brought to my life. I always considered my inability to lose weight and keep it off my biggest failure in life. For the first time in my life, I feel like I will not only lose the weight but be able to maintain the weight loss. Where exercise was always a challenge, it had just become part of my daily life now and I have finally come to realize what huge portions of food I had been eating. I am trying to lose one more pound by the end of the year because if I do, will go into 2020, a hundred pounds lighter than my heaviest weight!

It depends on the day. Haha. In the early days, I ate 4-6 times per day. Now days I do a complicated rotation. It's the way I maintain my weight. This morning I was 129.4lbs--a Christmas Miracle I'm waiting to see if it sticks or not! If it does yay, if it doesn't I won't be devastated). But I'm at the bottom of a maintenance window I would not be sad to reduce by another 5 lbs to my BDG Goal = Barbie Dream Girl Goal. So it's business as usual for a Thursday for me = Meal 1: B1 - 3 protein lattes with 1oz of Premier Protein + 7 drops Vitacost Liquid Stevia + Decaff + ground cinnamon 1 cup tea (green decaff tea + Earl Grey decaff tea + 1 shot of unfiltered ACV + 1 lemon wedge + cayenne + ground cinnamon) Meal 2 (optional): B2 - I will either eat around 10-11 or I will skip if not hungry. Meal 3: L-Big Ass Salad (1 1/2-2c of salad + 2-3oz dense lean protein + 2-3tbsp Zero Cal Dressing + 1 serving healthy fat (I will eat this until full. Sometimes it's the whole thing and sometimes I finish the balance as my afternoon snack) OR Turkey Cheese Rollup with raw greens and veggies OR Green Soup OR Green Smoothie with fiber OR Can of Sardines and Raw Veggies Meal 4 (optional and regulated by hunger): AS-Either leftovers from lunch OR cup of Herb OX no sodium broth + baby greens + mushrooms OR 1 hardboiled egg OR 3-5 oz of raw veggies + 1/4c fat free Greek Yogurt Dip (Tzaziki, Ranch, Onion, Asian) Meal 5: D-3oz protein + 1-2oz veg + 1oz avo/1oz tom + 1 serving healthy fat or extra cheese Meal 6 (optional and regulated by hunger): BS-usually a decaff + 1oz Premier Protein OR 1-2oz underripe GS Apple or pear + 1tbsp nut butter OR 14g walnuts or almonds OR 1 square 90% Lindt Chocolate + 14g walnuts or almonds

I am having a bone density scan today. I don't have an issues/family history. I am in my 40's, 10 months post op and want to get a base line. I figure if there are no issues then I will ask for one in a few years once i'm close to 50 and then maybe repeat every 4-5 years if it still shows no issues just to be safe. I thought it was interesting that they said I couldn't take any calcium supplements for 24 hours before the scan so I skipped my vitamin and calcium supplements. I stood on a scale at the gym and I am curious if the % muscle etc. will be comparable or way off.

Day 10: Still waiting. 😓😓😓😓😓😓😓😓😓

My guidelines are 3 oz of protein with 1 oz vegetable for lunch and dinner (as FluffyChix says below, by volume), and a green smoothie for breakfast (but very little fruit), supplementing with up to two protein shakes to get enough protein. Dr. Duc C. Vuong on YouTube says when able, try to make the veg at either lunch or dinner a small salad cut into very small bites - haven't gotten to the point of trying it yet and imagine it's more than 1 oz.. He says to watch the protein amount - too much is just as bad as too little and it depends on how active we are and if we did anything extra such as go on a long, hard hike. He also cautions against relying on protein shakes and to pick high protein foods for meals. I've been following his advice and taking very small bites, then chewing at least 20 times before swallowing - essentially making everything into a soft food. So far, so good. Apparently everything must be moist. He says patients "push their sleeve" one extra bite per meal, so to be mindful of stopping when satisfied and to question each bite "Do I need this?" There's debate as to whether or not it actually can stretch, but he says the body adjusts to tolerate more food and has seen patients back up to eating a large plate of food at a time and it's junk food - and regain the weight. Bear in mind I'm new - only got mine on Dec. 2, 2019. But so far, so good. I've learned a great deal from Dr. Vuong - more than from my nutritionist in the program.

When I first had my RNY I only weighed when I went to my doctors office, which is what my team ask of all there post op patients until they have seen the doctor for there first follow up. Then after they encourage there post ops to only weight 1x a week on the same day and around the same time. I have adapted the 1x a week weigh in for myself. I don’t have any stress over seeing that number on my scale anymore. If I don’t lose and maintain I can deal with that. I have not had any gains in my 10 months post op.

I had Gastric Sleeve Surgery on March 5 2019. I had been doing great. Losing from 335 to 234, I am back up to 250 and scared, Has this happened to anyone? I did incorporate social drinking back into my diet. I just don't want old habits/ways of coping to sneak up on me. Also, I needed to increase my protein so started drinking high protein coffee in the morning but its about 100 calories plus 36 for the almond milk, mistake even though 15 grams of protein? What tricks did you use to get back on track? Thank you

It’s also important for you to know that not everyone ends up looking haggard at all. I still look many years younger than my age. Even when I achieved below my goal weight, there was no haggardness. As a matter of fact, I started getting compliments that I looked even more years younger than my age. It also depends on how you lose the weight. Getting more than 86 oz of fluids (mostly water) and 90 grams of protein daily will help your body to heal correctly. It can be a struggle but it is also possible. I’m a living witness. I also worked out 5 to 6 days a week, cardio and weight training (when I was released to start working out). I lost over 160 lbs in 10 months. You can do it!!

Welcome aboard Clasa of 2020, we are about to graduate from 2019 and into a new lifestyle of health, wealth and whatever we can imagine. I'm nervous, excited and ready.

Yes, that's me in front of the town square Christmas tree. It was like hurry up hubby before someone see's me!!! Haha. The vivacious and friendly shoppe owner is Gabriel Vhabae @ 904-497-7716. Here's the store front window for easy reference. Day 10? Maybe P-day?

I am on day 6 of a 10 day clear liquid diet. It sucks, but will hopefully be worth it in the long run!

I also received a tummy tuck with lipo suction to my flanks (love handles) on Dec. 11, 2019. I'm doing well. The first week was rough. So much pain! In the past, had four c-sections and by the third day I was off all pain meds. --Not with this surgery! However, I'm very satisfied with the results and feel after losing 80 pounds that this was very needed.

Hi!! I am looking for someone to be support buddies with on this life changing journey. My doctor recommended it to me! So if anyone is interested I would love to share ideas worries stress success And hard points!! I am having surgery January 14 Height 5’8” Highest weight 326 Current weight 277 Goal weight 155

10 days post-OP and I'm terrified of a stall. Didn't realize it was a thing at the early phases. Uh oh Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

hey guys! I had my surgery on Tuesday December 17! I’m so glad I did it. I’m so thankful that things came out well and I’m on the other side. What my doctor did, seems so foreign to me right about now. I’m focused on this new opportunity God has given me and I’m so grateful. 1 week post op and I have lost 10 pounds! Crazy since I started with a BMI of 35. I have been walking a lot, and following my surgeons instructions to the T. I’m still in liquids until I see him next week but I’m doing well. I thought Christmas Eve would be hard with all the food around but nope. I put my protein shake in a glass and enjoyed it while my family had dinner. ❤️love this tool. ❤️❤️💕

This is my first post on the forum. My surgery day is 1/10/2020 at Stanford ValleyCare in Pleasanton, California. My surgeon is Dr. Estakhri and I will have a gastric sleeve. Pre-op visit will be on 01/02/2020. I originally was at Stanford in Palo Alto but there office was so hard to communicate with and for 3 months we went round and round just trying to get a test submitted. I thought it wouldn’t be for another year and then my other doctor referred my to Dr. Estakhri and their office has been wonderful! I’m trying to prepare and figure out what shakes and protein I can have on hand. I can’t tolerate whey at all so that’s a challenge.

Maintenance : 5'2" / 1yr PO Sleeve / ??? lbs (last weight in 115.0 lbs on Dec 18th) ---------------------------------------- Monday, Dec. 23 ---------------------------------------- 4:00pm - salad w/ vinaigrette + 1/2 oz cheddar + 1.5 oz roast beef 6:30pm - 1 oz chicharron + 2 Kinder Advent Calendar Mini Eggs 8:00pm - salad w/ vinaigrette + 1.5 tsp grated parm + 4.5 oz pan fried chicken breast Totals: 554 cals - 55g Protein - 18g NET carbs - 33g fat ---------------------------------------- Yesterday, Tuesday, Dec. 24 Kicking off xmas-party-palooza with Xmas Eve dinner at my my mom's place with her side of the family. Spent most of the time being made fun of for my old-lady shuffle w/ my borrowed cane. Family. 🙄 Let the indulgence begin! ---------------------------------------- 10:00am - coffee-cayenne w/ stevia 12:30pm - 1/4 cup greek yogurt + blueberries +1/2 fl oz pumpkin seeds 6:00pm - 2 oz turkey breast + 1/4 cup stuffing + 1/8 cup roasted butternut squash + 2 tbsp gravy + 3 shrimps + 5 baby carrots + 1 tbsp blue cheese dip + 4 cucumber slices + 1/2 tbsp artichoke dip + 1/2 slice pumpkin pie + 1 tbsp whipped cream 9:00pm - 5 regular potato chips + 1/4 chocolate chip cookie + 3 red pepper spears + 1 tbsp blue cheese dip + 1 Lindor Dark Chocolate Truffle 12:30am - 1/2 Portuguese Custard Tart Totals: 1160 cals - 46g Protein - 114g NET carbs - 55g fat

I had surgery on 10 December I’ve had trouble getting enough liquids down when I’m sleeping at night things come back up and it chokes me through the night has anyone experienced that