bellabloom

I'm really glad you posted this topic. It is a great one. My first reaction is to say success to me is about being able to wear anything I want and look awesome!! Clothes are a major love for me. I like the attention I get from the opposite sex, compliments from other women, my ex husband eating his heart out every time he sees me. Haha. That's awesome!! But that's all really surface stuff. It feels good but it's not the real indicator of success. I don't think I've reached what success means for me in spite of being at my goal weight. I still haven't gotten into a steady exercise routine. That's a huge goal for me. I won't feel really successful until I'm not so scared of weight gain. I still need more time to remain at a stable weight. I'm trying to figure out a long term pattern of eating where I don't have to worry so much about very thing I ate every day. Success to me will mean staying at this weight and also not having to obsess over food. Having a stronger fit body and being very active are really important to me. I have some malnutrition issues to correct still and I want my hair to grow back. Success to me means real physical health and emotional stability.

I would really like this to be my success as well!

I don't know why any doctor would do that. You can lose as much weight as you want, it's totally in your power and you should set your goal at what you truly want and do your best to get there. I promise you it's possible!!! This surgery is a wonderful tool.

Thanksgiving was pretty hard for me. I ate past my comfort level and had some dumping issues at dinner. I've never cared much for that holiday. I always used to overeat and be so uncomfortable. I'm still so worried about falling back into old habits and trying to figure out maintaining that having this holiday now really stressed me out. Anyway at least it's over and luckily my fat ex husband are all the leftovers haha.

HAHAHAHAAHAA!!! You're so funny!! I have been meaning to make a post about my underarm problems as well!! I can't get a clean shave!! Shaving my knees is dangerous as well, they are too angular. And don't even get me started on boney butt pain. I have real trouble sitting on hard chairs for any long amount of time. I used to fear breaking chairs- now I fear them breaking my butt!! When I was overweight I felt like the only large person in the world. Now I realize the opposite is true and I'm in the minority. I can't shop at old navy, target, banana republic or the gap anymore. The sizes are too big because they run large as it is. I'm a size 2/4 and find myself shopping in teenager stores because women sizes aren't small enough. I wish I had been kinder to myself when I was overweight. at least I did have a GREAT butt back then with a built in cushion!

Well. I wouldn't because it so soon after and you should rest. And God forbid you have any complications. I was in the hospital 4 days just with a normal surgery. It's major surgery. Some people bounce back faster than others. I would just play it by ear if I were you. If it's mellow and you can rest I'll bet you'll be up for it

Oh my goodness. Keep us posted please. My thoughts are with you.

Oh sweetheart I am very empathetic for you. This surgery is HARD!! It's emotional on so many levels. It's the awareness that gets you after that you've made a huge change and its permanent. You've changed your body and your life. Your way of life! It's giving up food as a coping mechanism. That is so hard. And after surgery your so tired and weak and you just have nothing to do, so that's a time one would want to eat! It's a rough transition. Also your on opiates for a few and those mess with emotions. And physically exhausted and food deprived!! Hormones go crazy. Your body is having withdrawals from sugar. My advice is to take some really deep breathes. Take a hot bath, call friends, cry. Let yourself cry all you want. You've done a wonderful thing for yourself. Most people who have this surgery go through some emotional upheaval both right after and throughout the process. I promise you I did!!! I've been a wreck MANY times this year. You're not alone and this will pass. Hang in there and get some much needed rest. We are here for you in BP whenever you need to talk.

I wish that were true. I need it on my stomach and I think my chin. But I'm not freaking out about it. I'll make it happen once money permits. The fact is I feel like who the heck cares!! I'm so lucky to have the body I have now and I'm happy with the way I look. I'm not perfect but I'm not in my 20s, I am mother and I don't need to be perfect. Its a whole package deal.

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You admit you are overeating. Personally I blame overeating on carbs and sugar. I agree that going back to low carb is what you need to reduce those and increase your satiety. I believe low carb/ tracking calories is the best combo. Also, focusing on exercise could now could be a good idea! If you do want to eat more it will give you some wiggle room.

I agree. It's not a road you want to go down.

You have lost a lot of weight in just 4 weeks!! It does take some time. Just keep doing what your doing because it is happening!! 2 pounds a week is a realistic goal.

Wow!!!!! This whole page is amazing!!

It's amazing how it's so easy to feel hurt like we would have before we lost weight. I think a lot of us were treated badly and have some post traumatic stress because of it. Also the lasting insecurities from having been overweight in a very superficial world. It's not easy. The other day I went to the movies with my kids and their dad. He used to abuse me terribly over my weight. Now keep in mind, I'm underweight and struggling with anorexia. I actually decide I'm going to try and eat- I get the kids popcorn and candy and me a hot dog. I sit down and he looks over and goes "AND you got a hot dog?" and looks at me in disgust. I sat there sick to my stomach and couldn't eat my hotdog for 20 minutes. Some people are jerks and they are used to treating us a certain way. It's up to us to put up boundaries.

You poor thing. That woman is a true bitch. Report her! And I'm sure you're beautiful loose skin or not and you should be proud of yourself!!

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Yes. I've already had a reversal. I have a sleeve now. I have scar tissue from the reversal right in the middle of my sleeve causing it to tighten into a stricture. I'm meeting with my bariatric surgeon Friday to discuss another dialation. I thought maybe I could do this without it but I don't think that's possible so another surgery is in my future.

I had gastric bypass and developed complications. I had an awful surgeon. He never told me exactly what he thought was wrong. I was in excruciating pain and couldn't eat or drink. He said he thought one of my intestines wasn't functioning. He reversed my gastric bypass and converted it to a sleeve. The pain went away. After that I switched surgeons and my new surgeon said my gastric bypass probably didn't need to be reversed, that is was an issue with my intestine being too short. Anyway, that's what happened. I'm a rare case.

... This is my face. I'm not ready to stop losing!!! I feel like a kid who is getting her favorite toy taken away. I LOVE losing. It makes me feel good. It makes me feel safe and productive. If I'm going down, I'm not going up right? Right??? Sigh. My doctor told me today I'm the Ally Mcbeal of wls patients. That my weight is already 15 below ideal. That his tanita scale wants me to gain 10 pounds. That I have virtually no fat left at 19% body fat and I'm all muscle. He doesn't want me to lose any more weight. Not even a pound. Poooooooooo Felt like I was bargaining. "Cmoooooon just 3 more little pounds! Please, cmooooon!" Hahaha. I don't know if I should be thrilled to have the success I do or be worried about myself. Honestly it's a lot harder than I thought to give up active loss. It's like a security blanket. My doctor said I'm currently a very healthy, verrrrrry slender woman. If I stay this weight for the rest of my life, perfect. If I lose anymore I'm going to look sunken, but right now I look healthy and just very thin. He's right I know. It's time to stop. It's hard to figure out calories now. He told me my bmr is 1335 calories. I think if I eat that much I'll continue to lose. He said I would gain if I ate more and I'm just shaking my head because I'm eating 1700 and still losing. I'm nervous all of a sudden ill gain. Wish I knew the magic number to eat. Just trying to take it one day at a time.

I'm not a good example of healthful losing. I'm malnourished and quite I'll at the moment. I have bradycardia, anemia, low blood pressure and poss kidney issues. I've lost weight so quickly because I had a stricture/ complications for 9 out of the 12 months since surgery. I wasn't able to eat anything solid. After I was able, I've counted calories religiously and stayed away from sweets and junk food- but I'm also terrified of eating and gaining to a crazy degree. I'm still learning how to eat right for my new body and find balance. So I can't give advice on this one. But I wish you the best of luck!!

I drink carbonation. It really helps sooth my stomach. I don't do it everyday, probably more like three days a week. Go for it! In moderation of course.

I've had both bypass (12-4-14) and sleeve (03-16-15). Cause I'm that lucky. I have a sleeve now.

Well I'm sleeved and I dump like crazy. It isn't true that sleeve patients don't dump. Sadly for me. And ice cream and dairy are the worst. Anyone who has a significant portion of their stomach removed can dump. I didn't mean to be a downer. It's just you read about so many people devastated about not losing enough weight or regaining and they ask why? Why? Well... Ice cream and sweets are not weight loss friendly. Or WLS friendly.

Gosh I wish I could find a therapist that deals with bariatric patients!! The closest I've come is the nutritionist at my bariatric office. I'm dealing with my eating disorder therapist but it's hard as they specialize in emotional aspects rather than physical. And for me it's a combo. I'm seeing my bariatric surgeon. He thinks I still have a stricture. I hope I don't have any other issues!! I've already had 5 surgeries this year. Another dialation sounds so miserable to me. But I don't have a choice. I'm so tired of this all. I'm just feeling like the worst bariatric patient ever ????