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First and foremost, I'm not going to preach abstinence, we are all adults and can make our own decisions. For me, apparently, I'm not an adult enough to be responsible. I've let alcohol take over, I drink daily and I've gained weight back. My spiral started around 4 years ago and has progressed steadily. Until recently, I was in control. I could drink and be ok. I would get drunk and know what happened the next day. Now however, I will get drunk and can't remember a thing. The next day I have massive brain fog, can't concentrate, can't orate correctly, I feel like crap, have the shakes etc. To be clear, I never leave my house and drive. I worry however that it could come to that. My weight is making my back problem even more painful. My clothes are tight, I'm depressed, and it's just awful. I feel like it's groundhogs day every day. I say I'm going to stop and I last a few days and then I slip back. However today I've made a decision to stop drinking entirely. I'm done. I'm not drinking ever again. I clearly can't control my self. I'm an addict with food and now alcohol. Much like food did, booze will ruin my life if I continue. I'm going to join AA and clean my life up yet again. Writing this is a first step for me. I'm not looking for pity, or to be chastised. I need to be self shamed and admit what I am. I'm an alcoholic. However, I can change this, I will change this. I will be healthier soon, it will be hard but I'm going to get there. So please, be careful with alcohol. We all spent a lot of time and money to say nothing of the physical and mental pain we've been through, don't throw it away. Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using BariatricPal mobile app

A nice, positive week last week 🙂 Weight gain - gone with a couple of extra pounds thrown in for good measure. Our anniversary dinner was lovely. As autumn has hit with a vengeance (non-stop rain and cold 🙄) the dress I was going to wear was relegated back to the wardrobe so I bought a smaller sized top and IT FIT!! I was so pleased. I was able to wear a nice set of underwear, a skirt I couldn’t get over either my stomach or my arse a couple of months ago and a smaller top and dressy jacket. I’ll be honest, it felt wonderful to be in smaller sizes and not feel that I was trussed up like a chicken in clothing that was too tight or something that didn’t really suit me. I didn’t even have to wear pully-in control knickers - the shock!!😮 I called the Bariatric admin on Friday, just to enquire about the MDT etc and was told that it was around a 3 month wait to go to the MDT. This should be around the beginning of December. At least I know now so can stop wondering. I will just carry on with what I’m doing presently and wait for the next steps on the WLS journey 🙂 Went back to the gym today and really enjoyed it. I upped my levels and really felt the difference. Will see if I can get out of bed without crying tomorrow, just to make sure I didn’t overdo it! Hope everyone has a wonderful week! Onwards & Downwards 🥳

I was going through my album, and while trying to lose weight I had favourited a few of my pictures for inspiration to get back to what I was. I was in the best shape after having my first child, see below photos from (2016/2017). My highest weight at 90 kgs/198 lbs (a few days before my VSG in December 2023) My post-op journey has all been about restriction and not being able to eat enough. It took me time to slowly build my stamina and muscle tone back. I have definition in my abs and my legs and arms are toned. I am 13 kilos/29 lbs lighter than my “before” fit (but it doesn't much show because muscles ha!), I am at an all time low in terms of weight but I feel absolutely fantastic. Hopefully can build kore muscle once I stabilize. My “fit” after:

"friends" of mine used to call me "skinny b*tch". and when i was all heeey! they said it was a compliment. no, B*TCH, "b*tch" is not a compliment. they don't say that to me anymore (at least not to my face, ha!)

Hello all! After seeing all the responses on the post topic " What do you wish you should of done before surgery" it got me wondering what Do You Have Planned or What have you done since having had your surgery that you used to reward yourself, or thought you'd never be able to do prior to surgery that either you can now or have added to your will do list that you thought "if only"....? I'm curious about what we've put off doing beforehand or what you couldn't do before losing the weight and have added it to your " bucket list". Life is short and I want to read how you're going to enjoy it now! I'm looking for inspiration. I look forward to living vicariously through you! I'll start: * I used to train and show hunt seat and dressage, I just started back up! * I used to sail and scuba. Next year I will be adding it to my plans. * I purchased a professional bow and I'm having a friend who's been scouted for the Olympics teach me! * I've added ballroom dance to my list. * I'm back to my daily yoga. * I've got some vacations on the schedule to Hawaii and Spain to visit some old friends! Its just a start, so many amazing things to do now.

5 years ago today I had my VSG. The last 5 years has been full of ups and downs, but overall my life is so greatly improved. I’m typing this while sitting on a plane, I’ve got a good 16” of extra space on my seatbelt. No more extenders for me! I’ve gotten in to cycling, can ride my road or mountain bike for miles. I can shop in any store and pick super cute clothes. I can wear high heels again. I got rid of my CPAP and BP meds. I’m no longer pre-diabetic. While I was one of the statistical divorces post WLS, I now have a wonderful supportive guy in my life. I’m happy & healthy and so glad I made the decision to have WLS!

I’m drawing a line under last week and moving swiftly on! Emotions were all over the place, pains were getting to unbearable levels and eating sensibly went by the by. 2.5lbs up on my lowest (it could have been so much worse 😮) Just putting it down to experience and carrying on. My clothing is fitting better and I’ve managed to wear a ring that I’ve not been able to get on my finger for quite some time so the NSV are continuing, which are all positives. Hope everyone has a great start to their week 🙂 Onwards and Downwards!

Sorry to butt in as I'm only a little over 10 months post GS but I feel I can share a little of what I'm doing to maintain. I reached my initial goal 3 months post op and continued to lose until about 9 months post op, went much below goal weight and stabilized (I think as I've been the same weight with one +- 1KG fluctuation for 1.5 months). I lost weight very rapidly and the weird thing is, during weight loss I never tracked, I would only check my calorie intake once every 2-3 weeks to see where I'm sitting at but the whole theme was barely eating to survive and insane restriction. Now that I've stabilized I track my intake 3-4 times a week to know where I am at and what daily average intake is. There are non hungry days where I don't bother to track (plus weekends) and days where I'm ravenous and I make sure I track to know. I have also picked up the habit of weighing myself at least a few times a week, sometimes daily or twice a day (during weight loss I weighed once a week only), now at maintenance I weigh more often and only because I never did pre WLS and my weight kept creeping up and I refused to face reality (if I didn't know then it didn't happen). I also believe that what gets measured gets managed. I cook most of my food and eat out about twice a week, I prioritize protein 90% of the time and eat fairly well. I get in at least 140 grams of protein a day but I also don't deprive myself of anything. I eat bread, rice, pasta ,dessert and everything else really, just not in substantial portions and usually after I've gotten my protein in. I workout a lot. Always have and always will and I believe this has been a huge factor in my success so far. I built back all the muscle I lost and I believe my muscles are allowing me to eat much more without worrying about weight gain (I eat between 1500-1900 calories a day, depending on how hungry I am). I walk between 8k-10k steps a day too. Lastly, I have worked out a wriggle room for myself, If I do gain a little of weight then it is no big deal, it does not distress me and I will deal with it when/if it happens. I try my best everyday and I accept that I am not perfect nor do I set unrealistic standards for myself. I also believe maintenance is a mindset shift as much as it's a physical adjustment. Portion control, constant check-ins, daily movement are great habits to build, but also liberating ourselves of food fear and relinquishing the all or nothing sentiment.

I think it takes our minds some time to catch up to the changes in our bodies, especially when the change has been so quick and you have been distracted by all the new eating rules and weight loss. You also had your holiday to focus on too. Now there are no real distractions and the changes have hit you. I know when I lost weight previously, it didn’t feel ‘real’ - ?? I felt like I was observing someone else from afar. I know it doesn’t make sense - I was the one dieting, I was the one working out, I was the one weighing and measuring but it’s honestly how I felt. I certainly didn’t feel that, once I had hit target, that I would stay thinner and that would be that. I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop, as they say! Comments from others can add to the problem, especially when your mind is playing tricks on you and you’re struggling to come to terms with a different ‘you’. I hate the backhanded ‘compliment’ because it just strikes me as bitchy when there is no need. It generally means that the person giving it is jealous or miffed at what you have achieved. Well screw them, that’s their problem, not yours. You certainly don’t owe anyone an explanation of how and why. 💜

I had many questions. He told me i can work out now (yay!!!!). He said i can incorporate certain foods but mashed potatoes & sweet potatoes is a no go. So cooked veggies and chicken shall be my next go to. But i’m 181 today! Officially 36lbs down. He encouraged me that i was at the right pace because my starting weight wasnt so high — if i lost alot immediatley, he’d be concerned. On the table, i didnt realize i was 195😨. So yeah, he said im on the right track and i’d meet my goal of 160 probably in september or october. The good news? I can work out to keep active & busy