kyllfalcon

I have to dress quite professionally at work, and lemme tell ya, it's been expensive AND a big chore staying clothed! I had my surgery in March, and had to buy all new summer things for work, but at least we can dress corporate casual during the summer, so while pricey, it wasn't devastating. Then winter hit our area swiftly, and I found myself with nothing to wear but 3Xs, and I was more like a 12/14 in late October/early November! I had to very quickly amass a professional work wardrobe. I spent a LOT of money, mostly online, as I just did not have time to hit the malls and consignment stores for such large quantities (I live in a very small town so have to go elsewhere to shop brick and mortar stores). Of course, online shopping resulted in lots of returns and reorders, but I got it all done within two weeks. I had to buy everything new from underwear to pajamas to work clothes to casual clothes to outerwear, which of course demanded new shoes and accessories :-) THEN after all that work and expense, and it was a lot of work, not just shopping but making the alterations myself, I quickly lost another pants size and had to buy all new pants, both for work and casual, AGAIN. And I had to make the alterations AGAIN!! I just got finished with the latest set of pants yesterday. Whew!! But I'm at goal and hopefully this will do me for a while. But one thing has helped during the entire process. I chose a central color scheme and stuck to it. So every item in the new wardrobe goes with every other item in the new wardrobe. I vowed never to hide behind black again, so all my pants and shoes are in various shades of browns. My tops are in the best colors for my skin tone, which are the warm colors, such as spice, rust, browns, ivories, orangey reds, peach, coral, yellow greens, and orangey yellows. All my new jewely, purses, and other accessories go with everything. Strange thing to gripe about... having to put together an entire new FLATTERING wardrobe!

I don't make a point not to, but I just never did even before the surgery. However, if I need a sip or two I don't refrain.

I'm at goal. Went from a very stuffed 42DD to a very loose 40D. Going shopping for yet smaller bras, expect to get a 38D. Will add that they don't look too bad for an old gal, but then I did have breast reduction in my very early 30's, so that provided a very long-lasting perkiness. I expected more deflation than occurred, so I am pleasantly surprised.

Yep, there are several ladies on this forum in their 50's and 60's. I was 59 when sleeved in March 2012. Had no complications, lost weight steadily and rapidly without even one stall, and consider it to be the best thing I've ever done for myself. Others will chime in shortly, I'm sure. I was worried that I was too old, but my surgeon took my hands in his, looked me in the eye, and convinced me otherwise. I am forever grateful. Good luck!!

You look lovely! No wonder!!

I have a desk job and took three weeks off. I'm glad I did. I had really foul liquid bowel movements for the entire second and third weeks, and was scared to death to go back to work. However and fortunately, the liquid movements stopped just before I returned to work! There is no restroom on my floor at work, and I would have been in serious trouble!!

Tummy tuck is all I want in plastics. The rest doesn't show clothed, so I can live with it. But that poochy gut... gotta go. Best of luck and show us the results!!

You're doing GREAT!! What a difference!

I'm 59 and never... um.... never... crap, I've done it all. Now what??

I am not a band revision, just went straight with the sleeve. I have had no negatives at all and would do it again in a heartbeat. Having said that, I had realistic expectations as far as lifestyle changes and limitations in how much I would be able to eat. I enjoy food and can eat almost anything, just in smaller quantities. My weight loss was rapid and consistent - never experienced a stall. I am at goal in 9 months, which far exceeded my expectations since I was lower BMI to start with. I thought with less to lose than some it would come off slower. My experience has been tremedously positive.

I was formerly as regular as clockwork, now it's a struggle. They have several kinds of stool softerner. I use a gel stool softener in the morning, another type of tablet softener with a mild laxative property in the evening, and take Fiber supplements as well. I drink as much as I can hold, and eat nuts due to their high fiber content. Constipation can be an ongoing issue, so we just have to learn to deal with it.

What proudgranny said...!

My confessions: I weigh myself every day. I drink coffee every day, but just one large mug in the morning. I now hate the taste of plain Water (loved it before), so i drink iced tea all day long. I eat some sweets without guilt, but I don't allow myself to go overboard. I cannot eat greasy foods. Thank goodness. I want to run up to every heavy person I see and tell them about this surgery, but I don't. I do tell anyone any chance I get though, if I think it will help them or someone else. I don't cry when I see pictures of my fat self, but I get so excited when I see pictures of my skinny self! I stop in my tracks when I approach large plate glass doors or windows, amazed at my own reflection. I feel out of place shopping in the front of the clothing stores! I'm supposed to have to walk for half a mile and ask someone where the Plus size section is located! I think everything everywhere is related to food.

Nine months out, started at BMI of 39-something, almost 40. Originally set my goal at 150, then as I rapidly lost weight, felt that 150 would be just too thin and revised my goal to 160. My surgeon's office agreed with 160 as a good goal for me. Yesterday I had my nine month checkup, and I weighed 166 on my home scale in jammies, 165 on the office scale fully clothed. I am really happy with my current weight. I do have loose skin and a small belly pooch because of it. If I had a tummy tuck, I am certain I would be at 160, but I'm not sure yet if I will take that step. If I do, it will be in a year or so. Meanwhile, I think I have lost to the point I want to be! I fear that instead of my pooch getting smaller, my legs will just get skinnier and my butt will just get flatter! Husband and friends agree, as did the physician's assistant yesterday, it's time to stop losing! I go in Thursday morning for a Base Metabolic Rate to determine how many calories needed per day to maintain current weight. Wow! It has really been a quick and easy journey! I have been so blessed to have sailed through the surgery, to never have hit a stall, to be able to eat almost anything I want and in portions larger than most can eat. I still truly love to cook and serve food, and I still truly enjoy food! Life is just too good! Santa came to see me too! First time in a long time that I don't outweigh Santa!!

A good digital scale.

Don't know how far out the OP is. When I first got off liquids, I ate Wendy's chili a lot.

PDXman, missed seeing you on the forum lately. Nine months out. We had homemade lasagna, green salad, garlic bread. There are only a handful of things I don't eat, and salad and white bread are two of them. I had about half a typical serving of the lasagna, but I indulged in my baked goods several times throughout the day, such as Cookies and pumpkin cream cheese muffins. Oh, and chess pie. I enjoyed all of it immensely. Sent most of the leftovers home with kids. Brought the rest to work today.

Two things: Sick of the embarrasment and shame, hiding from people and social situations Fear of losing my independence. No daughters, just sons, and I'll be damned if they are changing my underpants.

And no hiding from the camera either, eh Gman?

I've not had any success with lettuce and I'm nine months out. I will try shredding it as OTR suggests. I do really miss salad.

I had a strong body odor in general while in ketosis, and particularly from the southern region! It passed.

I regret that lettuce is one of the five things I just can't tolerate. My favorites: anything cheese steamed shrimp pepperoni slices unsalted nuts, dry roast mini meatloaves Gold Peak diet tea cucumbers Peanut Butter

I did nothing at all to my incisions and they are just barely visible.

Dang, your surgeon is strict! I was released from the hospital on full liquids, went to mushies next week, and by third week was eating crackers with tuna salad and pimento cheese. I have had no issues.

I take prescription strength NSAIDS twice a day every day for arthritis, with my surgeon's blessings. I have since about two or three weeks out. That is one of the primary reasons I chose to be sleeved.