haylee_d

I'm bearing my soul and body here. I couldn't be more proud of how my body has changed. I've lost exactly 70 pounds since my surgery. Today marks exactly 24 weeks ( 6 months ) since my VSG surgery. There's good, bad and ugly about VSG. A lot of days, I cried and wondered why in the hell I had this surgery, and what in the hell ive done to myself. Throughout this process, I haven't been able to REALLY see the changes. In my mind, I always see a 268 pound fat girl. Granted, I have seen the changes, seen the smaller clothes sizes, but still struggled with my self image in my head. But today that all changed.... I realized today as I was getting dressed that I had on the same exact underwear as the day I took my pre-surgery pictures. Then I realized that today marked 6 months since surgery. So, i decided to take pictures. I haven't taken pictures in this process because of the absolute shame and disgust I feel towards myself. Shame and disgust are understatement words for how I feel about myself. Until today... Today, I feel proud. For the first time, I can honestly say that I don't see "that fat girl" in the mirror anymore. It may not be pretty, it will never be perfect, but it's mine, and today I'm owning it, and FINALLY for once in my LIFE, I'm feeling proud. It's NOT an easy decision to post these photos of me in my underwear. I feel absolutely vulnerable and exposed. Please be kind. It took all the courage I could muster to do this. The current pictures are not the best quality but the best I could take of myself at the moment. All you new VSG-ers, stay the course and have faith. If you have body image issues as I do, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and you are not alone in the dark! Much love from me to you all! [emoji173]️[emoji173]️[emoji173]️ DOS: 12/13/16 HW: 268 SW: 256.6 CW: 186.4

Thank you!!

Thanks! I'm trying. They say baby steps... apparently I skipped that and joined a marathon! [emoji849] [emoji23]

Thank you! I wish you success and hope you look better than me!

I'm sorry I didn't answer your question right. How often I "work out" depends on my schedule and what exactly I'm doing. Here's a little about me. I coach soccer and I have a farm. My daughter plays soccer. My son plays All Stars baseball, so we are traveling a lot right now.............. On days that I coach soccer, I don't work out at the gym that day because that's 2 hours that I'm drilling, dribbling and kicking balls. I'm not a sideline coach. [emoji23] I coach on Mondays and Thursdays and our games are on Sundays. The season just ended. Thank the Lord! So, Mondays and Thursdays will now be replaced with gym time. No gym on sundays due to baseball. Every morning, I do farm work. Feeding, watering, cleaning stalls, mending fences, etc. I will shovel manure while racing the clock for some fun "cardio". It can really be a workout! **** is heavy! [emoji23] On baseball days, I do nothing but just drive, cheer on my son and his team, and breathe.... Well,.... I may yell at a Ref or two. [emoji23] All other available days, I go to the gym. Nothing I do is consistent or repetitive. I swap up my workouts a lot. Whatever I feel like at the moment needs to be done. I mostly lift weights at the gym,since I get a lot of cardio at home/soccer and because I don't have weights at home. But I do like to get on the Eliptical, so I will skip weights and do that sometimes. It's really just sporadic and chaotic for me. I have no routine. Just whatever I can do for the moment, that's what I do. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] And don't get me wrong.... I have lazy days, too. [emoji15][emoji52][emoji849][emoji23]

Thank you!

Lol! It's not really. I can grab and pull the skin, but I am blessed that it is not a loose as some others. I'm sure the more weight I lose, the looser and flabbier it will be. But, I just focus on cardio for the fat burning, drinking my water which supposedly helps with skin elasticity. And I try to squeeze in some abdominal workouts every week, but I'm not religious about it. [emoji23]

Thank you!!

Interesting choice of words. Healing! That is the word. I have felt the healing start. The wounds are still there, but I can feel the healing relief happening. Absolute tears when I read your comment! Thank you for your words! [emoji173]️

Thank you so much. Definitely was an eye opener today, and I was glad to finally be able to see. I hope that others who feel as I do can find some comfort in knowing that they are not alone.

I hope so! It's definitely a tough road, one that we've all traveled. But the rewards are worthwhile and the journey is only beginning.

Absolutely. It was a tough post to write and display, but I hope it was inspiration for someone else. And thank you!

So sweet! But I'm definitely no hero. I just hope I was able to help someone today who has been struggling with body image regardless of the weight loss.

And the story has just begun! Thank you!

Thank you! I'm feeling a little proud finally! I'm more proud of all the people who have reached out to me through this post!

Thank you! I'm trying! [emoji23]

Y'all seriously have me in tears! I am so appreciative of all the sweet posts! Y'all just don't even know what it means! [emoji173]️[emoji173]️[emoji173]️

I have the mirena and I have two HEAVY periods EVERY month since surgery, 12/13/16. I've been told it's because your fat stores hormones and when you start losing, the stored hormones in the fat flood into your bloodstream, causing the excess and heavy periods, along with a myriad of other symptoms (acne, growing hair, etc). I've been told that over time, your body will balance itself out.... just no telling when that will be because everyone is different. Hang in there! Hugs! [emoji847]

Hang in there! I am 6 months post-op today, and JUST came out of a 7 WEEK STALL! This will pass and you will watch that scale continue to go down with amazement. Stay the course, do your part in this journey. It gets discouraging along the way. Just remember there will be many many bumps in the road, but victory is oh so sweet! Make sure to keep up with your vitamins, water, protein, diet and exercise. Everything will happen as it is supposed to. Just keep doing your part. Sending love and encouragement to you! [emoji173]️

@@Ssze1109 I really do feel great! Thanks so much! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

7 weeks post op tomorrow. Hit a stall around week 2 post op, and was stalled for almost 3 weeks. Since breaking through the stall, the pounds have been coming off day by day. I know it will come to a screeching halt again soon, but I'm so proud, I just had to share. And, I just want to offer a little encouragement to the newbies who may be in a stall....Hang in there!!! Don't let it get the best of you! You WILL start losing again! It's a process that's unique to each individual. We aren't guaranteed smooth sailing, but stay the course, and you will reach your destination. ❤️️ HW: 263 on 06/16/16 SW: 256 on 12/13/16 CW: 226 on 01/30/17 GW: 175 TBD Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@DisneyMom2El Stalls and gains from fluids are the pits!! May I offer a little bit of a bright side?? If we hadn't have had this surgery, those 5 pounds would be fat and not Fluid. You are not being irrational at all! Gains, especially when stalling, are a huge bummer. And it's soooo easy to feel defeated. And you have a right to feel that way! That's right sister, just keep chugging! You will lose more. One day soon, you will step on those scales and squeal with delight! I'm glad we are on the losing side! I never want to go back to where I was ever again! Congrats to you, love and hang in there! Message me sometime if you need to vent! ❤️️ Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@lacylou I initially felt bad for posting this. It probably seems like bragging, and I didn't want anyone to feel that I was rubbing it in. And thank you! I've been feeling good this week, finally! I was wondering when I would start feeling better in general. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@hermione53 Fantastic, love! Keep up the good work! ❤️️ Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Fantastic, love! ❤️ Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App