Babbs

I had a few mixed drinks during my weight loss phase just on special occasions, because I didn't want it interfering with my progress. Now over 2 years out, I drink very rarely, and when I do its usually a light mixed drink like vodka and cranberry. I used to love craft beer, but any more than a sip or two makes me feel so bloated

Yes, I think you would do swimmingly with a bariatric surgery! The reason I say that? I was a lot like you. Up and down 30-50 pounds my entire adult life. Champion dieter! And believe me, it wasn't an easy effort. I have the metabolism of a koala. I would go years overweight when I was younger, saying at least I was "healthy fat" (no such thing in my opinion). Until like you'd said, I was in my late 40's and wasn't. Blood pressure through the roof, blood sugar through the roof, and put on medications. No thanks! I don't want to die in my 50's and 60's like my parents did. My husband, who had the bypass 8 years earlier and was basically the poster child for the surgery, finally said "Why don't you have weight loss surgery?" I had surgery August 22, 2014 and haven't looked back. I was a model patient, stuck to my plan 90-95% during my weight loss phase and kept my eye on the prize! Although it took me a bit longer than most, I came close (92) to losing 100 pounds before my weight loss stopped on it's own at around 15 months post op. But that put me at 143 pounds, a size 6 and right at a "normal" BMI. I'm proud to say as of this morning, I am 144 a year later. I hover from 143-145 most of the time. I have changed my whole lifestyle. I eat clean, non processed food 90-95% of the time, and when I do indulge, I feel ZERO guilt because I know I'm on the straight and narrow this time and will go right back to it. I have also been steadily exercising for 2 years. A new record! And I kind of actually like it, too! Are things perfect? Hell no! I still struggle with emotional issues. Being thinner didn't take my depression or anxiety away. When I need a "tune up", I see a therapist. I would highly suggest you find one you like and begin therapy even before your journey. There are many emotional aspects to this that do come up that are really unexpected and can sabotage us. I see it all the time in the forums. If you can get a handle on them with some kind of support, even if it's not therapy, you're ahead of the game. Long story short, you've got the discipline I had to do this. I can see it. I say make sure you research so you can completely understand all this life changing surgery entails, and go for it. As for not being able to lose weight because of PCOS or other medical reasons, the surgery seems to magically work for those people, too. You get what you put into it basically. Good Luck!

And when you're posting on a public forum, you can't ask people to answer the way you'de like them to so your fee fees don't get hurt.

Yes, pre op is different than newly post op. I think when people get the most judgy is when you're 5 days post op and eating pork chops, Swedish Fish, steak etc. Then it's a matter of being concerned someone is going to physically hurt themselves. I personally could care less if someone "cheats" pre op (as long as it's not going to interfere with the safety of their surgery) and further out post op. They only have themselves to answer to, anyway. Besides, as someone very wise on this forum once said, it's not cheating, it's a CHOICE.

At 2+ years out, I still have days where I feel like a bottomless pit, and days when I have to force 3-5 bites of something. I think it's normal, but get checked out just to be sure there isn't a problem. If there's not, enjoy it! It offsets the bottomless pit days

Expect a stall with your weight loss in the next couple weeks, but don't freak out when it happens. It's normal, and your body is just taking a break from your awesome losses you've had. You should start feeling better as each day goes by and you get that trapped gas out. Glad things are going so well for you otherwise!

You are in the dreaded three week stall that 99% of us went through. In my opinion, there isn't squat you can do about it but ride it out. Your body is in complete control right now, and will be for several months. Further out from surgery? That's when there are things you can do to help stalls along like increasing calories and lowering carbs. This is the time you concentrate on Protein and fluids and just healing up. Go with the flow for now and let it happen. Its not Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. It's major surgery along with a lifestyle change that takes time to ease into. The weight will come off at your body's own pace. Promise.

My arms and my stomach.

Depends on so many things! Age, how much you need to lose, how long you've been obese, or whether you exercise during weight loss. I worked hard to minimize it the best I could with exercise because I'm a bit older, but only had about 95-100 to lose. I did well on my arms and legs, but my stomach is shot. Only surgery will fix it. But I hide it well in clothes

I was barley a 40 BMI the day I went into surgery. It took me a year to lose 85 pounds to get to my goal of 150, and continued to lose for several more months until I stopped at 143. So steady, but definitely on the slower side. But I'm also a bit older, so that may have been part of it too. Try not to get too caught up in comparing your weight loss rate with others. As soon as I let that go, it made the process so much easier and enjoyable. The next thing I knew, I was where I wanted to be and doing maintenence. Now maintaining my weight for a year, how fast or slow I lost it doesn't matter at all.

4 months with the insurance required 3 month diet and other testing.

Are you pre op?

@@BigViffer My hubby is like you are. He helps a lot around the house. He's also a very "get it done now" type of guy, too, so anything handy I need done gets done quickly and efficiently. Everytime I've been out of commission, he's taken awesome care of me and the kids. I'm so very lucky. Maybe that's why we've been married for almost 28 years

It adds up, doesn't it? I would say there were days I was eating 3,000+ calories when I would eat junk like that. Sometimes it was fast food for breakfast, lunch and dinner! UGH. Can you imagine that now?? I sure can't.

No, competition is not the key. Whether we live or die should NOT be a capitalistic venture. When that happens, people die because they can't afford to go to the doctor or can't afford insurance at all. Over 1 million people have died since 1993 because they were not insured or under insured. It's time we as a nation took profit out of the equation of people's health and well being and offered universal healthcare, so every single person, rich, poor, or in between has a chance to live a happy, healthy life.

This is false.

If you're going through insurance, there won't be anythung 'speedy" about the process. They will more than likely have some hoops you'll have to jump through, which can take many months sometimes. Don't worry about sagging stuff. You'll feel so fabulous, it's not going to matter much. Besides, that's what surgery or good shapewear is for.

This is what happens when health insurance is a for profit industry Maybe someday the US will get on the board and go single payer or universal like the rest of the industrialized countries. But I'm not holding my breath.

I'm not sure what posts you're seeing where people are 'with it'? I see post after post of people who are unsure, confused scared and frustrated. We all were at first, and still are at times! Everyone is different, but honestly, whether or not you succeed is 100% mental. You are going to go through all the feelings I listed above, but the key is finding ways of overcoming them to keep moving forward. Research, listen to others who have been there, get professional therapy or join a support group. Try different things until you feel you're doing what works. Learn to adapt, and adapt in order to learn. Find not what works for everyone else, but what works for YOU. Don't get hung up on what's "right" or "wrong". Learn to FORGIVE yourself for the many mistakes you're going to make. I find the people who struggle get stuck in one of those emotional traps and can't figure out how to move forward, or are not willing to. Do whatever it takes to figure out how to be successful, and you will be. Like learning to ride a bike, you'll be wobbly and may fall a few times at first, but once you get the hang of it, you just keep peddling until you get to where you wanna go!

I went from a size 16/18 (235)to a 6 (145) in about 13 months. I've been maintaining a size 6 for over a year.

Cookies are what we call 'slider' foods. They aren't very dense, and break up into tiny little crumbs. The result? We can eat more of them. That's why the number one rule of these surgeries is Protein, protein, protein. It fills us up, keeps us satisfied, and helps with weight loss because it takes work to digest. Less chance you'll eat 8 cookies with a bunch of chicken breast in there As you well know now, it's on us to make the right choices, the sleeve won't do it for us. I know this is cliche, but it is just a tool, not a barrier.

The work table. Does anyone else have a random table at work food collects on? Someone brought in donuts or bagels or its someones bday so there's cake, or leftovers from a team lunch. It's always full of something! I just love sitting next to it. Haha. The absolute WORST. And why do they have to have donuts at EVERY meeting??

I never expected anyone to stop eating what they wanted because of my surgery. We will constantly be around temptations....holidays, party's, work functions, movies theaters, restaurants, vacations etc. Even though it sucks, it's good to work those will power muscles

I.....I don't even know what to say anymore.