sarahcc

No problem at all and you're not being too nosy My excess skin is not as bad as I thought it would be, but it's not NOTHING, either. My stomach is surprisingly flat (no apron or anything like that), and my thighs are holding up pretty well. My breasts are ok, but I do notice some loose skin there. I have a slight pouch of skin in my pelvic area, but nothing like I thought it would be. The worst is, as many will tell you, in my arms. I always had chubby arms, even when I was in great shape and 125/130lbs, I thought my arms were thick. So they are not looking too great, and that would be the only area I would ever consider getting plastic surgery to fix. I want to give it a couple years to try and bounce back on it's own. But there are no other areas I think are bad enough to consider surgery. Overall I'm pretty happy with it!

OMG! I mean this in the absolute best way possible - but age is NOT just an excuse, it's a fact. I'm 25 years old! My body should basically be at it's peak right now. I have metabolism and hormones working in my favor. And if I'm being honest, I also work 60+ hours a week, I have a 4 year old daughter and a 7 year old son. I don't exercise, but I am BUSY. Don't be jealous! 42lbs is a LOT to lose in 6 months, and I'm guessing it's about 50lbs more than you would have lost without the surgery! (I assume you'd keep gaining, like I DEFINITELY would have, which is why I said 50, heh.) I am excited for you, and you should be too! I appreciate all the support too Thank you!

Good luck and TAKE IT EASY! I swear, that is the best advice no one ever gave me. Even here on this forum, it seems like sometimes people take the "diet" approach and take it to an extreme. There is no judgement from me, it's just not what works for me. Had that worked, I would have done it instead of having surgery. I needed a support tool to help me, and I needed to RELAX. That's what's worked for me.

Started at about 241, 5'1" and surgery on 4/19/12. Weigh 168 today.

5'1, started at 241, no-pre op weight loss either. Now at 4.25 months out, I am at 172. Nearly 70 lbs lost

Hi All, I know how much I enjoy photo updates of others so I try to oblige as well. Unfortunately I'm a little late... sorry about that! Here's my info: Starting/surgery weight: 241 (I was probably higher in the attached before pictures... I had lost a bit before I started the WLS journey... so I would guess at least 250) Starting sizes: 18-20 pants, XXL tops, 40D bra. Current weight: 181-183 (It's that time of the month so I'm not sure where I'm gonna land, heh.) Current sizes: 12-14 pants, L tops, 36C/D bra. 1st Goal: Get to under 200 2nd Goal: Weigh less than my husband (about 190) 3rd Goal: Get to single digit pant size (8-9) 4th Goal: Weigh 140lbs, the weight I was when I got pregnant with my first child. Final Goal: Not sure... probably 120-130. Height: 5'1 Surgery Date: 4/19/12 Things have been going great. I've started bike riding again, which felt amazing. When I was in high school (about 8 years ago) I used to bike a 13 mile trail 5x weekly. I have SO much more energy at work and at home. My increased confidence has made me more aware of what I want and what I deserve out of life. People treat me differently, which offended me at first but I think it's my personality that has really inspired the different behaviors, not my weight loss. At least that's what I choose to believe. And I've said in other posts that if I can do this, anyone can. That is the truth without question. I had no pre-op diet save a 24 hour fasting before surgery. I have a very, very loose post-op diet compared to some. I started soft solids 8 days post-op, and today I can eat anything in very small portions. I stall when I don't get enough calories in. I also just stall sometimes, no matter what I do. It's ok, I've learned to accept it. I got into the unfortunate habit of weighing myself daily and I need to get out of that, because when I see the occasional 1-2lb gain I flip out. Even though I know it will come off within the next day or two, usually plus some. The weight WILL come off. It's a matter of patience and healthy choices, not dieting. I'm a firm believer. I'll also add for anyone pre-op that, at least in my experience, now that my intake is very limited, my body CRAVES healthy food more than any other time in my life, even when I was very athletic. My restriction is also, oddly enough, much more forgiving with fruits and vegetables. I can eat as much as anyone else with regard to those as long as I pace myself. I ate an entire plate of raw broccoli, cauliflower, celery and carrots last week at work. I know some surgeons caution away from fibrous veggies like that but mine was accepting and encouraging of it from about month 2 so I incorporate it as often as possible. I haven't craved a cheeseburger since I had surgery, and I was a Five Guys fanatic pre-op. My one guilty pleasure is pizza, but even that is very rare. Food like that just doesn't sit well anymore and when eating like that is so much of a chore, you just choose something else instead, most of the time. Seriously, when I eat crap, I can FEEL the energy my body spends processing it. It is literally exhausting for me. Anyway, I hope that helps and gives everyone some hope if you are new to the experience or are recently post-op and feeling hopeless. Here are some pics! (obviously you can see which two are Before pics... the side:side in the grey sweatshirt is my 40lbs gone comparison. The purple hoodie is about 60lbs gone, or where I'm at today!) Have an amazing day everyone, thanks for all the continued support!! Sarah

So I'll just tell you what my surgeon told me - absolutely nothing against those who require a liquid diet from their patients. My surgeon said it's unnecessary and that it's too stressful and hard on the body than for the results it delivers. He also discourages Protein supplements because he believes they are too high in sugar and/or artificial sweetners. I realize he's very unusual compared to a lot of surgeons here, specifically the ones in Mexico. He did encourage high Proteins and low carbs to shrink the liver, but he still put starch into my diet. For the record, my surgeon is the director of the surgery/trauma program, as well as a professor at the medical college of WI. I had surgery at an amazing, state of the art hospital and on his staff were his NP's, a dietician, a psychiatrist, and others that I worked with for about 6 months. His program is very reputable. So I am certain that there is no right or wrong, it's just about how your surgeon operates...no pun intended!

Thank you!! I appreciate the compliment :)

Thank you so much!! Yes it's pretty exciting. He is one of those guys who has a hard time (well, HAD a hard time until he turned 30, hehe) keeping weight on and could easily drop 10lbs in a week if he wanted to, so we had a *cough*notso*cough* friendly competition with losses and he kept me within a pound of him for quite some time, but I've taken quite a lead now and I doubt he has the willpower to catch up I've spent a lot of time looking at My Body Gallery and I realize goals 3 & 4 may end up being transposed, so we'll see. I've dropped a lot of weight but my backside is still rather huge :-P

Cheri I believe it's their restrictions on sugar and sweeteners that make them un supportive of protein shakes. To be fair, my restriction is nowhere near as tight as some folks. I can eat an egg omelet comfortably albeit sloooowly. If I was more diligent about eating ONLY protein until I was meeting my goal, I could do it without shakes. My problem is really more discipline than anything. I know my surgeons diet plan is very different from the normal especially on this board but it is closely monitored and from what I can tell I have had success so far. :-) So to add to all the great advice already given I'll add my two cents : whatever your surgeon plans for you is right for you, and that trust in your team will take you far!

No I struggle with protein since my surgeons office strongly discourages supplementing with shakes. Water is easier but I am a coffee addict so I know I can't have it unless I am good on water. Congrats on the loss! Amazing how different it feels!

Thank you! I'm a whopping 5'1 so for me, my starting weight of 241 was considered morbidly obese. I will say I lose in fits, not steady like some folks. I stalled badly twice.... Once at about 210 and again at 197. Then I went from 197 to 191 in less than a week. Now I'm stuck again but it's only been a few days and it's my time of the month so I try to be forgiving. Honestly getting in enough calories with healthy foods is my key. I strive for 700–1000 a day. I can't speak for anyone else but that's what has worked for me.

My goal is to get to 170 by labor day. I'm 191 now so I should be able to since I'm only 2.5 months out. Hoping!!

Not sure if mine is abnormal but... I am about 2.5 months post op and I've lost 50lbs. I did not have any true restrictions on my post op diet. No liquid phase and only 8 days pureed. Every since then it's been healthy choices and everything in tiny portions. This was all at the guidance of my surgeon and nutritionist. I don't watch my carbs, only fat and sugar. That being said, bread isn't the most comfortable thing and I rarely eat it anyway. The only thing I can contribute to my loss is that due to not pre op diet, I really didn't lose any weight before surgery. That and I'm 25 and in otherwise good health... So that's working in my favor I guess. Time will tell but it's only going to get better from here!

Cheri I feel like we are so similar... Starting weight, outlook on food and nutrition etc... I have to say that I have only noticed two food items that make me sick 2.5 months post op. Tortillas and hot dogs of any kind. I can and do eat raw veggies, eggs, bread, spices but for some reason, I am completely unable to do a tortilla, and I think the hot dog is a texture thing. Too firm.

My surgeon warned me away from caffeine, but I have it anyway :-x I get why they discourage it (it's a diuretic and dehydrates you when it's hard enough getting liquids in anyway) but I don't have a problem staying hydrated and without coffee I would have to be committed!

My starting BMI was 45.5 as I'm 5"1 and was 241 to start. Since surgery on 4/19 I'm down to 193 and BMI 36.5

I started iced /hot coffee with cream and sweetener at about 2 months post op shortly after returning to work. For me I was sooo constipated so it helped with that. I think its really just about keeping your water intake up since caffeine is a diuretic.

I'm 5'1 and I had surgery at 241, and have no idea where I was at my highest, but it was well above that. I'm 2 months out tomorrow and am down to 197 today. My first goal was to get under 200, and my next goal is to get to 140. We'll see what happens after that, because I haven't been smaller than that since I had my two kids, so not sure what post-baby body is like, exactly. So I'm not going to make any goals past that since a lot is unknown!