AZBlackhawk

Haven't taken a whole body picture since surgery, but here's a face side by side. One on right is 5 weeks post RNY. One on left is a few weeks before surgery.

Don't delete! You look amazing! Be proud!!!

I'm 5'3". In April when my first appt with surgeon was, I was at 252. I lost weight pre surgery and was 231 a week before surgery. I am now 5 weeks post RNY, and I weigh 198! I urge you not to compare to other people though. I was worried about whether I was losing enough after 3 weeks, and that's the advice I got. My surgeon says women lose a few pounds, then go several days without loss and then lose a few more, and so on. This has been the case for me. Surgery is driving your weight loss. Do what your team recommends and you'll do great. My goal is about 120 I think... That's a healthy BMI. I could probably go even lower, but we will see how 120 looks and feels!

Really- best decision ever to have this surgery! It is hard sometimes, especially in the beginning. But all worth it. I'm 5 weeks post RNY and it's getting easier timing my water and meals, which was hard in the beginning. Good luck!! You will do great!!

My surgeons team says to eat for 20 minutes. I cannot always practice mindful eating, where I am ONLY eating and doing nothing else. I work and type or get up and down for my kids, while eating. Taking dime size bites (sometimes I take a little larger bites without problem), if I only spent 20 minutes eating, I'd only eat an ounce of food. If I get distracted, I may go 25-30 minutes with a meal. What is your ritual? How long are the meals where you are eating? And what size bites do you take? I'm a little over a month out.

I have kids and a husband be for dinner we all eat healthy. I make kids lunches and they do get chips or a treat sometimes. Also, we still have ice cream in the house for a treat for them. Everything in moderation is still good for them. I used to be SO tempted by ice cream and would tell myself, pre-surgery, that I was buying ice cream for their treat... Only to eat it myself. Pre surgery I would eat cookies and chips or whatever. I "had" to... I craved the stuff... I thought about those Oreos I would have when I was at work during the day!! immediately after RNY on 6/26 this year, I lost all cravings. I do sometimes smell things they eat but still don't crave it and am not in the least bit tempted. Min fact, I made chocolate chip cookies with my kids this weekend. They smelled and looked good. Not tempted what so ever.

I was told to drink 8 oz per hour. Sometimes I am able to drink more. I think if it hurts or is uncomfortable when you drink too much, your body will tell you. Magen I was in the hospital after RNY, I was afraid if I had too much too fast I'd rip my pouch. I even asked my surgeon and he said, just sip and you'll be fine. It seems like other people in here have had swallow studies and watched the liquids go straight down and out of the pouch. Not sure how long thin liquids really stay in your pouch.

Absolutely! Your face looks thinner and less bloated. Good for you- 29 pounds!! Way to go!!

My NUT said they aren't good for us. I don't think there is data on how much is absorbed? Not sure. Sure would be easier!

I'm a month out. Usually 2-3 oz per meal. I have shakes too and depending on the day and shake, I can drink around 8 oz.

I agree. I had a Facebook friend who had surgery but after watching the show and seeing, wait, people actually do this surgery and what it entails, I made the decision to have surgery. Without the show, I'd still be morbidly obese!

I'm supposed to wait 6 weeks. I don't really want to go back to caffeine, though. I've been drinking decaf and I'm good with that. This from someone who would drink 3 large, creamer filled cups of coffee in the morning to wake up then have a soda at lunch, pre surgery. Plus Starbucks once in a while when I was stressed, or had to get away from work, or just wanted something sweet, or to celebrate....you get the point!!

I had RNY. I could have gone back after a week or so if I had a sedentary job. I work in a hospital so it's lots of walking and standing. I went back after two weeks. I was totally fine. I was getting bored at home.

I was feeling pretty good for a few days after surgery, but on day 5, I crashed. I took a hard nap for 4-5 hours. I think it was drinking clear liquids only and trying to walk and move a lot. Maybe I wasn't letting myself rest enough the first few days but day 5 was rough for me!! Once I could have a protein shake and eat a little food I was so much better.

I haven't told anyone at work, although they oknew I was having surgery. Most people didn't even ask what type of surgery. A few people did and I just said I've had a few surgeries before and this is just another one. When a gal at work told me I look great and asked me how much I've lost, I told her the total I've lost since April, which is pre op weight loss too! My in laws know because my mother in less came to help after surgery, so that whole side of family knows bc she is a talker. Other than my husband and a few friends, it's just me. I would tell people if it came up or if someone struggling asked me. But not otherwise right now.

Wasn't it delicious!! I know my first soft solid meal was amazing!!!

I'm only a little less than a month out from surgery but have lost 43 pounds total (pre and post surgery). My old clothes don't fit! Good problem and luckily I do have sizes below from before I gained all the weight. I'm cleaning out my closet. I am scared to throw away my old, too big, clothes. I'll put them in a big box and store them, but why? I don't think I will or want to gain weight back once this is all through, but what if?? what did you do? Donate clothes? Save them in a box, hopefully to never use again? If you totally got rid of them, when did you do it?

As I'm losing weight and feeling great, I was hoping that working out will rid me of my muffin top, so in the future, I would not require a panniculectmy. Anyone out there that didn't have a bunch of loose skin hanging down after all the weight loss? any advice for how to get rid of that loose skin from the belly without surgery? 🙏🏽

You just had surgery!! The first week is about hydration. I've been to my post op class after one week and a one month post op class. People there were still having hard times meeting protein. You will get there. I'm supposed to eat 3 meals and use 1-3 snacks-which are protein shakes, to get the protein in. The snacks are only supposed to be 100 calories so if a shake is 170 cal, drink half a shake. No way would I meet protein requirements without shakes. Also, protein requirements are 65-80 g protien.

Hi! Good for you to start this journey!! I didn't tell many people, because I didn't want people to be negative. I told one of my best friends from childhood, and she told me how her aunt had a lap band years ago and it didn't work... Blah...blah...blah. My mother in law was supportive but just had questions. I didn't even tell my husband until I had the appointment with the surgeon, after all my research and my online class. I have to say, people think WLS is drastic. Well, when I was 30, I had a preventive bilateral mastectomy because I found out I had the breast cancer mutation after my 32 year old sister was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. People thought that was drastic. It saved my life. 4 years later, I had my ovaries removed, again, to prevent cancer. I did all those surgeries to make myself healthy and try to keep cancer away from my body, but I was obese. I went from overweight to obese to "morbidly" obese. I knew my weight could cause so many problems. Cancer, stroke, heart attack, etc. I had to do this for me. For my kids who I want to see grow up. I was tired of being tired. I was tired of eating a whole row of Oreos, knowing it was bad for me, thinking how I am clogging my arteries but unable to stop. I don't crave that stuff anymore. As for taste, mine hasn't changed. Bariatric Eating has good shakes, Inspire. They are thin and mix pretty well. I had been using premier protien and they are good but I'm just tired of them and they seem so thick to me now. Dont let others people's views get you down. You are brave and amazing for taking this step. It's a tool. Not a fix. You have to embrace the journey. Good luck.

I felt the same way. Like why am I taking this drastic step? "I've lost weight before, I can do it again and this time, I'll just stick with it. " Then I think about the obese people I see in the hospitals where I work. I do not want a stroke, or heart attack, or the need for oxygen, or to need a caregiver at 60 yes because I cannot move well. I do not want all the diseases that come with morbid obesity. I want to be around for my kids. i needed this surgery as a jumpstart, a tool in my healthy journey. I thought of WLS as an "easy way out" like so many other people until I started looking into it. I thought I should be able to do it with diet and exercise. I am one month post RNY. I can tell you, if I hadn't had it and had been on a "diet", there were so many times that I would have had ice cream because it was national ice cream day, had a sugary Starbucks drink because I was stressed, or eaten the Cheetos just because. WLS, is a tool, one that is helping me make good choices and change my habits for good. I'm feeling so good going to the gym. Feeling so good getting rid of old clothes. Of course you can do it. I think having a stroke, heart attack, or the plethora of problems diabetes gives you- is more drastic and life altering, in a bad way! Good luck on your decision!

Good for you! You won't regret it. You may have some doubts early on, was this the right decision, etc... But not for long. Your health and drive will improve!! Good luck!😎

You should call your surgeon's office. If you can't even keep liquids down you could get dehydrated and being only 4 weeks out-call!

I didn't do Optifast but I've done Medifast and Nutrasystem in the past. I know with some of these products the type of protein can cause gastro discomfort. On Nutrasystem, I was constantly passing gas. It could also be the artificial sweeteners in there. Sorry for your discomfort!

We are surgery buddies! My RNY was on 6/26 also. I'm down 20 pounds today. I lost 23 pre op so 43 total. It also took me several days to loose the water weight from surgery. My surgery weight was 227 and after surgery I was 235. Its not a sprint, it's a marathon. I have to keep telling myself this. I thought weight would come off like 10 pounds a week! It's slower, but I still feel so much better than pre op!