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So, one day you look in the mirror post-op, and you notice you're LOSING WEIGHT!



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How do you feel?

I just got approved, and surgery is on June 30th. I feel like is this really happening? Anyways, I just want to know how you guys felt when you randomly looked in the mirror one day and you notice that you're actually losing weight, and you don't recognize yourself anymore! Tell me all about it, I'm all ears!

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I'm not there yet. I've lost over 30 lbs. but since I started out so fat, I still don't see it.

On the flip side, my energy level is through the roof, my mood is improved, and all my clothes fit better. Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most!

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That's exciting, I truly can't wait for that! My impatience that will probably get the best of me though.

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I didn't see any major changes in the mirror for awhile. I started out pretty big for a short chick, so it took a lot for me to "see" big changes. I saw changes in my face, no double chin with about 30 pounds gone, my cheeks were thinner, etc.

The first time I really saw a "skinny" person was once I got close to goal which was 120lbs lost from my highest. It finally clicked for me.

Still to this day, I reach for L and XL shirts, even though I typically wear a small. I still reach for 10s and 12s even though I wear a 4-6. I still go for baggy, hiding clothes, even though I don't have a lot to hide. I'm not sure when my 270lb brain will catch up with my 123lb body.

I wouldn't buy clothes until my current size was practically falling off me. But, I felt great shopping for normal sized clothes. I am much more critical of my appearance now than I was when I was fat. Every little dimple, wrinkle, imperfection is noted, and I nitpick myself. It's a mental battle, but I'm learning to relish all the little things. Ya know fitting into any restaurant booth, flying comfortable with room in the seat on each side of my thighs, walking around the mall for hours and not hurting or huffing puffing. Those are the things that make all the other stuff worth it.

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I didn't see any major changes in the mirror for awhile. I started out pretty big for a short chick, so it took a lot for me to "see" big changes. I saw changes in my face, no double chin with about 30 pounds gone, my cheeks were thinner, etc.

This is actually the thing I'm looking for the most. Underneath all the flab, I think that my face has a nice bone structure. Once my cheeks are thinner and my chin is tighter... I'm looking forward to that!

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This is actually the thing I'm looking for the most. Underneath all the flab, I think that my face has a nice bone structure. Once my cheeks are thinner and my chin is tighter... I'm looking forward to that!

LOL my face went from round to oval. I had no idea I had a naturally oval shaped face once the fat was gone. All of the hairstyles for round faces are so not as flattering on oval faces and vice versa. Ohhhhh the problems we deal with when we're skinny LOL.

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Well, the hairstyle thing -- not so much of a problem for me :thumbup:

But yeah, uncovering my face's "real" shape... definitely want that. This may sound stupid or vain, but there's been times I've looked at myself in the mirror and pulled my chin taut so that I could see what I looked like ... with cheekbones!

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Well, the hairstyle thing -- not so much of a problem for me :thumbup:

But yeah, uncovering my face's "real" shape... definitely want that. This may sound stupid or vain, but there's been times I've looked at myself in the mirror and pulled my chin taut so that I could see what I looked like ... with cheekbones!

Ummm, not any worse than me stuffing my bra with one of my husband's sock to try to remember what my boobs looked like Pre-op. . . Or, that I flatten out my baby fat roll on my stomach, turn sideways to imagine what I would look like without it.

Oh yea, I got an eye exam a month ago, and still haven't picked out frames. I've been to 7 different frame places here, and all I see is an old lady. That's vain.

Calva - I'm sorry if it seems like we're hijacking your topic. I think this is a great topic to think about and discuss because honestly, it's brought a lot of things out that a lot of us didn't think about pre-op.

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Well actually, I think that happened for me today. My husband and I took our boys to get summer hair cuts (they were looking a bit shaggy) and I had to take a call for work so I stepped outside. As I'm talking on the phone, I see a "skinny person" in the reflection on the window and then realized it was my OWN reflection. I didn't really recognize that person. It was kind of odd. I was happy, but it was surreal. Fat mind in a thin body.

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I can't wait till I do not have a double chin and look thin.

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Hi all - I'm nowhere near that yet! But I am feeling good 3 weeks out and have started swimming again after work. I can feel a difference in my clothes but still a long way to go.

Why I'm posting though is that I am beginning to believe I might be a normal sized person one day in the not too distant future and I'm really curious to find out what sort of figure I'll have once the layers of blubber have melted LOL!

I love this site by the way - it is always so helpful and people are so great!

Lyn xx

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Im not quite to skinny yet, but I can see a change when I look in the mirror. Mainly when I put on clothes that fit like sausage casings before :thumbup:. It is so satisfying to see changes however small they may be. Some days I feel like myself from long ago. Today I feel a little "fluffier" than usual! But it's okay, tomorrow is a new day!

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I keep touching the area under my chin and down my throat because the fat is gone and it feels so different...and I hardly recognize my own hands and wrists! But I think the best thing is crossing my legs. It's so easy now. And the other day I was sitting on the grass "indian-style" and it was quite comfortable for a change. Oh the little things.

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How do you feel?

I just got approved, and surgery is on June 30th. I feel like is this really happening? Anyways, I just want to know how you guys felt when you randomly looked in the mirror one day and you notice that you're actually losing weight, and you don't recognize yourself anymore! Tell me all about it, I'm all ears!

HA! I'm still waiting for that day! I feel i still look the same after losing about 110 lbs! Go figure?

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Yep, i am having my surgery on June 5th and so i can't wait to know the same feeling....my friend had the bypass and she saying the samething, that in her mind she is still a big person and shops that way too...i guess it is something that we will all go thru probably...

Tiffykins, you have done remarkable well, as you all have thus far, but i was wondering what kind of exercise routine did or do you have that you lost so much weight, even more than your goal and how long it took you to reach your goal?....i am hoping to lose about 115-120lbs and would like for it to happen in the first year...i live in such a small town, i can't wait for ppl to start noticing!! I know that maybe a lil vain, but i have waited so long for this moment! Good luck to everyone!!!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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