I've been much more of a lurker here and am now that today is my day one pre-op (surgery 1/15/14), I'm sure I'm going to need to be here much more often and regularly.

Now for my question. For the past ~10 years, I've fluctuated around the 250lb. mark. Having become more sedentary the past few years, I'm now in the 315 range. I wish I wouldn't have gained those 60+ pounds but it is what it is and now I'm holding myself accountable and will soon have a tool to help me. In some ways, I feel the same exact way now that I'm over 300lbs. as I did when I was 250lbs. (at least I think I do). I'm scared that I won't feel successful after a 50lb. loss.

I'm hoping to hear from others about what does 50lbs. lost feel like. Maybe I need to think about my loss in weight in how I feel or what I can do physically that I couldn't do before instead of looking at a number. Did 50lbs lost make a huge difference for you?

I have lost about 44 pounds so far. Although I don't always see or feel a huge difference, I was dragging a 40 pound bucket of Rid Ice around the other day, marveling that over the summer I was literally dragging the equivalent of a 40 pound bucket of Rid Ice around, on my body, every day. I couldn't believe it.

Here are things that don't hurt anymore: my ankles and my knees. I can jump rope without having to stop because my legs/knees/ankles can't take the pounding. My husband insists that I am more energetic. The stairs are not daunting anymore. Those are the biggest differences right now.

It is the difference between a size 18/20 and a size 12. People don't look at me with pity anymore. Feels great

I've lost 58 so far.

I sleep better. I don't sweat like I used too. I don't accidentally potty a little when I sneeze or cough. I am no longer driven by food anymore. I am driven by getting things done now. My kids are so proud of me. My husband gushes to me in private about how well I've done and how happy n proud he is that I've worked so hard to get this far.

My mom won't stop bragging to anyone that will listen about how hard I've worked.

It feels like I am now wearing stuff that's 3 sizes smaller than before the 58 pounds.

Edited January 1, 201412 yr by gomekast

I am at 43 pounds lost so far...almost 50. I feel a huge physical difference, but he mental/emotion issues are still there.

While I don't necessarily feel like I'm taking up less space in the universe, I can see physical changes. The steering wheel of my car feels farther away because my belly isn't getting in the way. I can see a huge difference in my face - it's not as bloated as it was 43 pounds ago. I can walk for 3 miles with relative ease and no pain - something that hasn't happened in a really long time.

Interestingly, the mental changes haven't quite happened yet...I still feel like the fat girl when crossing a room, trying to figure out a way to get from Point A to Point B without hitting someone with my a$$ when I walk by. I still identify myself with the fatter me - my insecurities are still very much there. The mental aspect is much harder to overcome.

Congrats on beginning your journey! The pre-op diet sucked for me in the beginning, but got better by about day 5. Decaf green tea was my savior. Stay strong and committed and you'll get thru it. January 15th will be here before you know it!

Thanks for the replies, keep them coming. It's great to hear that the number is going down, but it's the physical changes that are occurring that are making it feel "real". I think I will and have already thought about the fact that the emotional side of this will be a much slower change. I have so much to lose, in numbers, but there is so much I will gain from the loss.

Congrats on beginning your journey! The pre-op diet sucked for me in the beginning, but got better by about day 5. Decaf green tea was my savior. Stay strong and committed and you'll get thru it. January 15th will be here before you know it!

Thanks! I'm excited and nervous on my first day. The anticipation of waiting and prepping my body for two weeks will be an ordeal for me, I'm sure. I've read a lot of the stories and truths to these two weeks and I'm dreading the first week the most. Even getting up to this point was filled with anticipation. I talked through my "last supper" although I didn't actually have one. I kept coming up with food or drinks that I would miss or "needed" to have right then before the pre-op diet started, but I kept thinking to myself that it was food. It's not a memory or experience that I would relish or think about five years from now. I won that tiny battle, and I know I have many more to come.

I love sweet iced tea and hot tea, so I need to get my hands on some decaffeinated tea. Do you have any suggestions for a sweetener that tastes natural and is safe?

Well, I've lost 30 pounds so far. I cannot imagine carrying 3 ten-pound bags of potatoes strapped around my waist all day. No wonder I could barely walk. 50 pounds lost will feel even better.

I'm under 50.. But let me tell ya.. My world is changing by the day.

It is marvelous. Truly marvelous.

See you on the losers bench x

I use Splenda - I caution using a lot, however. I find if I have a lot of Splenda it actually triggers my hunger. If I don't use a lot of it, I'm OK. I don't like a lot of the other sweeteners that are out there like Stevia, but that's just me. I purchased a lot of Torani sugar free syrups to add to the shakes because they will get old! Those syrups are made with Splenda.

I had food funerals before surgery - a lot of them. They got old, though, and I ended up starting my pre-op diet a day early because I was sick about thinking about it.

Funny story after my two week pre-op diet. I had a mandatory meeting at my surgeon's office the day before surgery. They review what happens during the day of surgery and you meet with the doctor and they take some tests. At the end of the meeting our patient coordinator said, "Go out and have a great meal tonight. No restrictions other than no all you can eat buffets and limit red meat." Seriously? We thought it was a joke, but it wasn't. Now the decision - now that everything is legal, what do I want? We chose macaroni Grill because we don't have one in the town I live it. My husband and I had a fabulous dinner. We had appetizers, we had bread (something I had not had in 4 weeks) and we even had dessert. But what surprised me was, I didn't eat that much. I didn't gorge myself. I took a few bites of everything and was completely satisfied. We had a great time and talked and enjoyed each other's company while sharing a great meal. I will cherish that meal - not because it was great food, but because I feel like that personified how eating out should be...

I'm under 50.. But let me tell ya.. My world is changing by the day.

It is marvelous. Truly marvelous.

See you on the losers bench x

I agree, you are marvelous!!!!!!

I'm under 50.. But let me tell ya.. My world is changing by the day.

It is marvelous. Truly marvelous.

See you on the losers bench x

I agree, you are marvelous!!!!!!

Aww, darlin', thank you. As are you, sweetheart. As are you x