Gagsy

I joined the gym recently Nevin following one of those "Couch to 5K" podcasts which aims to get a person literally from being a couch potato to running 5K non-stop. Yesterday I managed to (lightly) jog 5 minutes without stopping once. I don't even think as a child I ever jogged as long as I did so I am so happy with myself.

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I booked 2 weeks off, was told by a nurse that I really needed 3. When surgery came I actually felt good to go by around 10 days. I was just lucky though I think. Had a really good quick recovery. Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm 3 months post op and currently my hair is falling out. I had the same problem several years ago when my nan assed away. I dealt with her death well I assumed and then a few months after had the hair loss came. So I personally do not put it down to lack of protein, more the trauma we suffer as a result of major surgery. My surgeon warned me about it even before he knew I was veggie. My hair has grown back before so I'm totally chill about it this time round. For the positives I've had from my surgery I can easily accept this one negative. Good luck.

3 months after surgery and mine is coming out in bundles currently. I knew this was a danger though. And to be honest I've had alopecia before a few months after my nan died. I got over that so I'm really not to bothered this time round. I know stressing about it will just make it worse and it's a small price to pay in my opinion for the amazing health boosts I am experiencing after surgery. It'll grow back Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

Not so much before and after, but definitely before and in progress Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

I couldn't resist taking a photo the other day, my first since I had surgery in January. I was surprised to realise how fortunate it was that I was wearing the same top (note the paint mark on the front) that I was wearing for my pre op photo back in December. I have a long long way to go but damn it feels so good to me looking at these two photos side by side. Last week was my first week not losing a pound - I know why. It was my birthday and my sister in laws a few days later, so cake moments were had. But it didn't feel great on the scales later when I hadn't lost a thing. I know this is part of the game so all I can do is look at photos like this, note how many more belt loops I am into and just carry on. So far so good this week

I treated myself to a Fitbit Flex the other day for my Birthday. I love it so much. Tracks my sleep as well which I love and gives me hourly reminders to move a bit. Big help for my desk job.

Well during my first attempt at surgery for a gastric sleeve my lung collapsed as soon as I was given anaesthetic. The surgical team had to induce a coma on me and stick me in a intenstive care unit to find out what was up with me. Turns out I had a shadow on my lung which was caused by a case of pnemonia I had no idea I had caught. I was in the right environment for my lung to collapse. I was well looked after and as soon as my shadow went (after a good dose of strong antibiotics) I was rebooked for surgery. So it may not seem like a near death experience but I do consider myself very lucky - because if I was in a car accident or something and needed life saving surgery, the same thing would have just happened and the surgeons then would probably not have been able to save me. I must admit though when I did go down for surgery the second time I was nervous at hell about it happening again. All went well though

Once I got back onto solids I was unaware of my limit and had a couple of moments where I just had that one mouthful too much and I felt sick for hours. My mouth would become all wet like I wanted to vomit, I felt dizzy, I felt a lot of pain in my stomach. It sucked but it helped me realise what my new limit for food was quickly. Now I eat till I feel that fullness coming and stop. So it was worth it in the long run.

My armchair became my best friend over my first week recovery. By the second week I could sleep in my bed, not very comfortably but it still beat being in the damned hospital!

Total trial and error. I feel quite lucky that I can pretty much handle any food I try. Only thing that upsets me is milk and cream. I think that is actually more mental anyway to be honest due to just having cream of soups in the hospital after surgery. By my second cup of mushroom soup I felt sick and I haven't been able to enjoy milk/cream ever since.

God no, and I quit before I was even out of the puree stage. I should add that the only thing I have struggled with since surgery is milk and cream. No idea why, I just feel a bit sick at the texture. I can't tell you how depressing that is due to my love of drinking 2-3 cups of tea in the morning. It is a shame though as it was something I intended to do before surgery, I wanted to carry on having a shake for breakfast. I have my chia seeds though that I love with soya milk and some cocoa powder. Not the same protein wise though

Nearly 4 months since surgery and pretty much all of my non scale victories have been clothes related and that is fine for me. I'm able to do up two coats that before I couldn't do up and they're not tight on me when done up which is great. All my clothes are baggy on me, I'm wearing jeans I haven't worn in years, its great. Besides clothes, my general health I know is much more improved. I can walk a lot further now and while after a long walk my feet will still ache (I am big after all) I no longer get back pains which is a massive boost to my walking regime. I think this is my most important victory.

Wow, this is impression and exactly what I needed to see. My starting weight is more in keeping with yours and my goal weight is actually higher than I know some people's starting weights are, so it can be a little discouraging sometimes reading stories from those people. I need to know that for someone my size it is possible to get there. I feel that looking at you, you look incredible, I bet you feel incredible too. I can't wait to get there myself.

I can't wait to start binning all my old clothes which is weird to say as I'm sure a hoarder! I am avoiding it though until I'm practically on my last pair of jeans. Belts are great, love them and I'm kinda fine rocking baggy. Been doing it all my life. I am looking forward though to splashing out on a few summery items, nothing fancy, just a few smaller tees and capris so I can really enjoy my walking in the warmer weather. Can't be going aroud in big old baggy jeans then.

I used to be a proper night owl myself before I got a full time job and this created so many (more) problems with my diet as I'd not only eat a full meal at dinner but I'd have something large again around midnight when hunger kicked in and snacks up till I slept at like 5am. Then the first thing I'd do when I'd wake up? Make a massive breakfast. Speaking to your dietitian is important. They won't try to make you feel ashamed (that is what self-loathing and depression is for - been there) but they will give you tips and help on how to overcome this situation you've found yourself in again. My own personal advice is to aim for a normal sleeping structure again, I can't stress how important this is for your body and wellbeing. Although I still suffer from depression (and the most crippling self hatred) I know getting a good nights sleep and being awake for the early morning has had a positive effect on my life. I don't know your personal situation but if you're not looking for a job then please find a daytime hobby. Something that will help give you a structure, even if its just to walk a dog. Find something you can get up for. These things happen though. Before work today I visited a supermarket and stocked up on low fat grazing snacks and one bag of sweet popcorn cause I felt the cravings for it. I ate the whole bag of popcorn throughout my working day and half a bag of chilli flavoured rice crackers. This was between my breakfast and lunch still and my daily orange. To combat this pigging out I will 100% not buy the popcorn again and I will most likely bring the crackers home where I am actually less likely to snack and just bring portions of the crackers into work each day. I need to keep it out of sight to keep it out of mind and by sight I mean not in the same building as me, cause I will seek it! If you're the one who does your own food shopping (if not speak to your dad about your needs) then don't get the beef jerky, get smaller wholemeal loaves of bread, low fat cheese, no ice cream, no carbs with your takeaway. Do whatever steps you can to not stock the home up with bad templations, cause I've learnt while the hunger goes after surgery the cravings don't. So we got to protect ourselves. Good luck.

Adore the posing. Keep it up, you're looking fab mom Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

How do you do it? I used to always be well hydrated but having surgery has actually had a negative effect on my drinking habits. I'm just not thirsty anymore and drinking water feels like a chore now more than ever. Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

Dropping clothes sizes is better for me than anything, even beats the scales. I've suffered all my life needing the bigger clothes and to move down feels amazing, like FINALLY. Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm 2 months post surgery and let me just tell you there are times when I really miss pigging out. Anytime someone mentions pizza a little voice in my head reminds me that I won't be able to polish off a full large pizza to myself anymore. I know though that this voice will go. The surgery is a tool for helping but out brains have had years of bad eating habits and they don't go away overnight. You just have to enjoy what little you do eat and in time it won't feel weird at all. Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

That's great, congratulations! I feel a similar feeling to you when it comes to food now. I realised that I actually think about good more AFTER surgery but in totally OK with that, I get why. Thinking about food more means I'm looking up more recipes which I'm keen to try and create. It's given me more excitement over food even if I'm consuming much less of it. My relationship to food has really changed for the better. Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

Congratulations, you're human! We all stumble, but as you know it's how you respond to the stumble that counts. Good luck Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

My general overall health is the best non scaled victory to me. I have so much more energy now and my back doesn't hurt when I'm out walking now. Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

It's everyone's personal choice, whatever you discuss make sure it's right for you. I'm very open about my surgery. Most people I find are very curious about the surgery and I never tire answering questions about it. If they are secretly judging that is their problem, not mine. Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app