jess9395

I'll be the voice of the other side. I am over two years out and still don't use them. My stomach loudly protests if I do. So this is another of those things that varies from person to person.

Syntrax matrix. I especially like the mint cookie and the peanut butter cookie

I'm more than two years out lost 135lbs and have maintained for over a year. I still follow the diet 90% of the time. I have occasional treats and such but some stuff (sodas, bread, rice, etc) I have given up permanenty

https://www.embracescartherapy.com It's only very recently been available for purchase yourself instead of going through a doctor. I had to go to my surgeons office once every 7-10 days for about six weeks so they could put it on. It's really tricky to get the tension right and occasionally they'd mess up and if they messed up they ate the cost of it which was nice. But I'm sure with some practice and assistance you could put it on at home!

My tastes of rice were all accidental, things I didn't realize it was in (like a burrito bowl). Didn't take more than a dozen grains to let me know it was NOT for me anymore!

You have to use it as soon as the incisions close, but Embrace scad therapy works to lessen the tension on the incision and is the only thing with strong science behind it (though silicone seems to do well anecdotally). I used the Embrace and am seven months out and some of my scars are already almost invisible

Goal at a year and maintaining almost 15 months so far

Costco works too!

Lost 135 in almost exactly a year. Have kept it off for 15 months so far!

I'm with @@Babbs I don't mind any of them, I appreciate it all! I've never felt anything was meant with other than the best intentions. I don't mind the "how much have you lost" part or anything at all!

Most docs want you at a stable weight (goal preferably) before plastics so that's the number to keep in mind. Some insurance companies even require that. I had mine exactly six months and two weeks after I hit goal. I started interviewing doctors about two months before that and I visited and interviewed five doctors.

Interesting! Would be interesting to see if it holds true for bariatric patients because we metabolize things differently, but interesting. Did they control for calorie intake variables? (I.e.--were the calorie counts consistent between groups and did that total include the alcohol calories). It's hard to read on my phone so maybe you know offhand. I will try and read on my real computer tomorrow.

I had the same 5, they used the same holes.

It's probably simply because there are many more people in the first boat than the second. There are some on here that post about that struggle though. Most of us just have no clue how to help and support because we haven't been there. I do agree you should probably seek some professional help--doc, dietician, therapist. Good luck to you wth your struggles!!!

Jess you look so great. We had similar bodies before and now after as well. You look wonderful and I love the professional photos- how fun to do that!!! The professional photos were a nice bonus...my surgeons medical group paid for them to use me for advertising! Quite a change for me as I kept my surgery close to the chest at the beginning but shared more as time went on. Now my photo is in all the binders they give out to patients and things like that.

Takes your mind a LONG time to catch up!!!! I'm over two years out, at goal for over a year and eight months post plastics and I still feel "big" sometimes at 5'7" 135lbs and a size 4. Keep taking pictures and comparing! I can't speak to the intimacy part hopefully someone can... Hormones are def messed up for a while but I was post menopause ask didn't experience it the same way

Love this thanks for posting! Nice to see someone speaking the clear honest truth about it. I admit I clicked expecting to find someone touting Vitamins and creams and was ready to point out that age, genetics, how much you've gained and yoyo'd was more to "blame" and that exercise didn't really tighten skin it just filled out what was underneath. So glad to read that she said exactly that!

Sadly the fitness posts here get the least attention. I started the couch to 5k program at six weeks post op the day I was cleared for full activity. I've worked my way up from complete non runner to marathoner. So basically I was cleared for full cardio at six weeks. I don't do weights, I do yoga instead and added that in at the same time. So since I was just learning it was a natural gradual progression as far as demand on my body. I tried body pump classes and Zumba at about three months out, but they didn't "stick" for me... But my guess is as an instructor you know how to modify based on how your body feels so I bet starting at six weeks back to what you love would be fine! Your base level was clearly much higher than mine to start. Sorry I haven't tried any of the program's you mention so I can't speak to them, but hopefully others will chime in!

I had one I didn't know about repaired and it didn't seem to affect anything. I had a quick surgery (less than an hour) and an easy recovery

I can't do rice either, not a bit of it, and I'm over two years out. And my taste buds have definitely changed in many ways, but spicey isn't one of them! I love spicey!

Ok here are mine:

Oh and thanks for the chicken tip, but now you have sent my mind elsewhere, LOL!

Dang I miss all the good stuff Anyhow yeah what everyone said--don't listen to the naysayers. Hang in there!

I still see "Wait for the real post..Kindle issues" Waiting with baited breath!

Do the same thing you did to lose it the first time! And wow, I'm jealous! Three ten day vacations and a cruise?!?! Fun! You can do this, get back to basics and use the tool you've got.