BubbleSam

People don't understand what it's like to actually be thinking and deciding to make this life changing decision. My father was nasty to me for months telling me how I just needed to diet and exercise. Mean while he was bringing junk food in the house everyday. My aunt told me stories about people dying and being so unhappy. How can we live off of 1/2 a cup of food per meal.... it's more like how can you live off excess food... you don't you get to where we have all been and then have health issues and depression. You are going to do amazing and don't let anyone make you second guess yourself or make you feel bad. Getting this surgery is the best thing I could have done and I just wish I had done it sooner. My dad told my mom the other day he is SO HAPPY I DIDN'T LISTEN TO HIM. My aunt is so happy with how well I am doing. My coworkers are starting to ask questions and I just shrug them off and say hard work... which it is and don't think it isn't. I can't wait to hear how well you do! Best of luck and remember walk walk walk... I can't say that enough. HW: 303 SW: 277 5/3/17 CW: 239

Thank you guys! It means a lot to me. [emoji4]

I started this journey June of 2016. After switching surgeons and starting the process over in December I finally had my surgery on May 3rd 2017. I am so thankful I did my research and decided to go with my surgeon Dr. Rossidis. He truly is amazing and I am just so happy with how everything went. I am down a total of 59 lbs since January with my highest weight being 303. I knew I was overweight but I didn't see how my body really looked until I have done photo comparing. I still have a hard time seeing it in the mirror and I know it's still early but I am hoping my brain will catch up with my body sooner rather than later. I find myself asking all the time if I look okay or if something really does fit me well. I workout 4-6 times a week and I have to say I absolutely love working out now. It's my escape from everything else that is going on it life. I don't have cravings anymore and I actually have to make myself eat enough.... I never thought I would forget to eat. But I have and now I make sure I have a reminder in my phone to tell me to eat. My fitness pal is a life saver and I track all of my food in there... sometimes I miss but no one is perfect. I haven't told many people about my surgery and the ones that do know are supportive for the most part. I have to say I am so happy I made this decision for me and no one else. My family that saw me in February was amazed to see how much I have changed and I think that they are happy for me but at the same time not... my family loves to eat and for the most part all overweight. I spent a whole week with them for a vacation and they couldn't understand why I was going for runs and I didn't eat nearly as much as them. I actually lost a lbs on vacation and I have never done that. I am so proud of myself and have to keep myself positive with this journey and not let anyone bring me down. If I keep doing what I am supposed to do I can't do anything else but be successful. My aunt actually said to me you know in February you were still beautiful even though you were so big because you were just so confident. I know she didn't mean it in a bad way but it just made me feel like I guess I shouldn't have felt confident at 300 lbs. I thought I looked beautiful then and now I look at those photos and I can't believe I let myself get to that point. The photo I am posting shows me on the right at about 297 in February 2017 for my cousins wedding. The left is me last week on vacation July 2017. Photos show everything and it makes me see how far I have come and how far I have to go. [emoji847] oh and I am almost in a size 18!!! I was a size 26 [emoji15] HW: 303 SW: 277 CW: 244

I started working out at week 3 but stopped and started walking again about week 6. I had stopped losing weight but it was because my body was still trying to heal and was confused as to what was happening. The first couple weeks you get such little calories and then working out burns those plus more and it makes your body hold on to all the fat because it thinks it's starving. When I started walking and worked on my intake goals my weight has started to drop again. I just started working out about a week or so ago and my weight is continuing to drop. It might also be different for you but they say 6-8 weeks out for working out. HW:303 SW: 277 CW: 256.8 Surgery Date 5/3/17

I like the diet cranberry drinks. They have pomegranate, grape, cherry and some other flavors. I have a 30 oz tumbler that I put half of the juice and half water with ice. It's great since water itself is tough to get down for me. I used to love water and it's just not the same. I wouldn't go near soda if I was you. They say it stretches your stomach which defeats the purpose of the surgery. I watched this one person's video and she drank soda and now she is able to eat so much more and she has to be super careful now so she doesn't gain all of the weight back. Plus I think soda makes you not feel as good... or at least that's how it made me feel. Best of luck on your journey!

Congrats!!!! You will do great!!! Don't forget to walk as much as you can!!!

I completely agree! That is awesome that you were able to stay on track and still be satisfied. I had 2 small bites of cake and I was good. A lot of people from my support group I go to say as long as you only have a bite or two it's okay. This whole journey I feel like is making a new relationship with food. [emoji847]

I am 6 weeks post op and in the soft food stage. Friday night was my first time going out with my entire family. My nephew just turned 17 so dinner and cake is the party. I have to say I did very well and didn't have much issue with everyone eating what I used to. I have to say I was beside myself with how much they all ate and it made me really see how out of control I was when I was able to eat whatever I wanted. It was such an eye opener for me.... 3-4 baskets of chips and salsa, fries on top of fries, burgers, fried chicken and then cake... I have to say I thought I would miss that or feel left out. That was not the case, in fact I loved my dish I got from the lighter menu and put almost all of it away in a to go box when it was served. I was stuffed from my 4 bites and couldn't have been happier. Watching my whole family eat everything else made me want to try to make them realize the choices they were making... considering they are all over weight as well.... though they are mostly supportive of me and my journey they don't have the same outlook or understanding of how food got us to this point in our lives.... I seem to be the only one changing and I guess that's ok... I just wish they would try to make better choices to get healthy too. I want my family to be healthy and happy.... but I can only be responsible for myself.

You look amazing!!! Thank you for sharing! I am a little over a month out and I am so looking forward to do a post like this in a year! I can't wait to see the transformation! HW: 303 SW: 277 CW: 258.8

I was sleeved on 5/3 and I stalled on week 2 and 3. It was beyond frustrating so I know what you mean. If you get your protein and water in and walk it will start to come off. The body is trying to heal and it's going through a change. It's trying to keep the fat.... I wasn't eating enough and I was doing too much exercise.... I am only doing walks and getting everything else is and my body is starting to realize this is the new normal and it's okay. You will get there! Keep doing what your supposed to and you will be seeing progress in no time!

That's exactly how I was too! I did find a protein powder that I love and it's cinnamon swirl. If I put 2 scoops in with a little bit of ice and a cup of non-fat milk I get about 4-5 meals (4 oz) out of it and it equals the 60 grams we need. Before I added the second scoop I was only getting maybe 30-40 grams.

I am not sure how to tag the original person you responded to....

I'm 8 days out and am thankful I am doing well. I have to say the best thing I did was make myself walk A LOT. It's the only way to get the gas out and to be honest even though I had to make myself do it I really only felt good when I was walking. It will get better but the first week is rough. I am pretty much back to my normal self. My surgeon told me to walk walk walk and he was so happy, every time he visited me I was up and doing laps around the unit with my IV pole.

So today I am a week and 1 day out of surgery. I have been doing well except I was falling short on my protein goal. Well today I reached about 70 grams! I also got a little over my 24 oz of fluid oh and I got in over 10,000 steps! I also saw my surgeon today and he was very happy with how I'm doing. [emoji847]

You will do great!!! I'm so excited for you! I can't wait to hear how you are doing!?