Three Months Out

[livingstone 137]

So I was three months out on 1st June - and I feel really really good.

I have a thread somewhere here going through my experience, and the first few posts were pretty hard going because I found the first two weeks really hard. The whole experience with the liquid and puree and mushy diet was awful to be honest.

But right now I feel great. I've lost 65lbs in those three months (down from 292lbs to 227lbs) - I look good in a suit, all my old shirts fit again, I can tie my airplane seatbelt without a problem, I can walk home from the train station after work without being exhausted when I get in the door. I go to the gym a few times a week. I've lost ten inches around my tummy, three inches around my neck.

And most importantly, I eat what I want to. Nothing has been difficult for me to keep down. I know some on here stick rigidly to a specific programme. My surgeon didn't tell me to do that and so I'm not doing that - I mostly watch my calorie intake, and try to keep it below about 1200. I do probably have more carbs than most on here say I should, but it's working for me and I'm not going to stop. I also said at the outset, I wanted this surgery so I could have a normal life, not so that I would end up on a specific diet for the rest of my life.

What I found bizarre is that my restriction doesn't seem to work with chocolate, popcorn or crisps (dangerous territory, I know) - but I find myself being more disciplined about those foods even though my tummy is fine with them. Before surgery, when I left work, I would pop into a shop and buy sweets and crisps for the commute home. Now, even if I am hungry when I leave work, something tells me not to do that, and I wait for dinner instead. I don't know if it's the surgery, or if it's just because I can see results, I am more aware of not putting those results in danger. But either way - I like knowing that even when the restriction doesn't work, I am still more disciplined than I was (but because I eat all the foods I like, I never feel deprived).

My message to anyone struggling in the early stages is that this will all be fine - when I was a week after surgery, I looked at those people saying 'its the best thing I ever did' and thought they were all lunatics, or else that something was going wrong with me. But no - it is tough at the start (really, really tough) but it will get better and you will be glad you did this.

[jane13 2,256]

I have been lucky too with not having major issues with food and recovery. Sounds like you have it going pretty good. I plan to do the same eat smarter and live.

[mallen1895 108]

Living stone that was a great story. Today I am one month postop and it does get better everyday. Two weeks ago I cried everyday thinking why did i do this to myself. I no longer feel that way. Although I would love to have a cheeseburger lol. Maybe on 3 month out

[madferitchick 163]

Fab to hear such a positive update livingstone! It really sounds like u have achieved that 'normal' approach to eating. I'm two weeks post surgery on thurs. So far so good, I'm looking forward to starting purees this week!

[talula 0]

nice update livingstone....i will also be 3 months post op in a couple of days....while i don't have a problem eating what i want, i do realise that is takes me a really long time to finish my meal....are you experiencing something similar????

[newbn1 15]

Wow! Living stone, how inspiring. 6 weeks out and I'm almost where you are. I, too, had those regrets many weeks ago and thought the oft-repeated " best thing I could've done" line was cultish. Still young in this but I am having better, more optimistic days and am so happy that food has lost its lordship over my life.

The changing image in the mirror certainly helps.

[livingstone 137]

Thanks everyone.

I'm down 70lbs as of today, so still really happy with how it's going - I'm going on holiday in six weeks, with lots of walking involved, and I am really excited about it - and hoping I can get down below 210lbs before I go (currently 222 lbs).