Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

before/after magazine article



Recommended Posts

A local magazine did an article on my weight loss journey and I thought maybe it would encourage those of you thinking about a VSG. It is the best decision I ever made!

Transformaion_AmyDownsPagelayout.pdf

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What a transformation! You look incredible. Tell us how you are maintaining and what you are eating now. Are you staying within what window of weight?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow! What an awesome story! Congrats on a amazing transformation...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I pretty much can eat anything (darn) with no problems. I get full faster than "normal" people but in an hour I can do the whole thing again. Too much sugar will make me feel icky but it takes a lot of sugar to get me there. Dense foods like chicken breast will fill up my pouch. I try to eat protien centered meals and tend to be very good during the week days and then on weekends it ends up being a free for all. I hope honestly is okay on this board? Anyway, I don't want to end up 355 again so that is why I am here to reign it back in and use my tool to ensure a healthy life continues.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Very inspiring and honest! Thanks so much for sharing. I'm only 12 days post op and just beginning this journey. I know I have alot of learning ahead of me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Fantastic article Amy. Thanks for sharing! I just took up cycling myself, in an effort to find an exercise I can enjoy. :-) So far so good!

Thanks again!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

jersey girl - that is exactly how I found cycling. My weight loss had slowed and I wanted something that would be fun. It is fun!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What an awesome story. I completely understand where you're coming from re: weekends. It's something I really have to focus on to make sure I don't lose it all (or should I say gain?). Congrats on the article and the journey. It truly is an inspiration.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I hope you will join us in the Veteran's section of VST......I'd love to hear more from a fellow veteran..... :P

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, I want to join the vetern's forum but I can't until I have 100 posts. Hey this counts as one, right?! LOL

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, I want to join the vetern's forum but I can't until I have 100 posts. Hey this counts as one, right?! LOL

You are a veteran too me. You had surgery in 2008 and that more than qualifies you as a veteran too me. Go ahead and join us, newbies still post there and they are very new. So please join us! You are a veteran.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×