ms.sss

this is pretty much it. i lost weight at a consistent rate until i made efforts to stop (i lost roughly 10 lbs a month from months 2-7...and while months 1&2 had larger drops, they were not indicative of my average rate of loss). i lost another 10-15 lbs after that over about 4-5 months trying to figure out how much exactly i needed to eat to keep me at a constant weight without gaining nor losing (which honestly is harder than losing weight man) i finally sorta stabilized at 115-120 for the next 4 years. basically i stopped losing weight when i started eating enough calories to sustain me and my lifestyle choices. now here's kicker: i am now 6 years post op and recently lost about 10 lbs in 2-ish months, again because i was/am eating less than i am expending. so i guess i'm saying it doesn't matter how far out you are, you can still lose weight if you are at a caloric deficit for YOU and YOUR lifestyle. ...and the only (easy) way you can really determine if you are in fact in a caloric deficit is if you track your intake and compare to your weight/body composition (which you'll have to track too) over time. but i get it, this is not for everyone...just offering a strategy that has worked for ME all these years.

you are ready when you are ready. it took me 2 extra years and 2 (self-inflicted) surgery postponement/cancellations until i finally bit the bullet and had it done. oh and i even gained an extra 35 lbs during those indecisive years for good measure. only u can decide if ur ready. i will offer a suggestion though...maybe go though with the process to the official approval step (if u get one) and just postpone ur surgery date instead of cancelling altogether. this way if u do decide to go through with it, you don't have to start at the beginning. also, *raises hand* i am 5'2" as well! this is what weight loss looked like on MY 5'2" frame. (the collage below is from my first year progress pics plus a couple pics after my plastics and 2nd & 3rd yr anniversaries. i am 6+ yrs out now, and pretty much look the same as my last pic...but i do weigh about 10lbs less today)

ok here's a weird one lol. went to yoga, pilates, nail appt, botox appt, then grocery shopping this morning/afternoon. i didn't eat before i left (which is normal), then came home around 3:30pm still on an empty stomach (not so normal)...and only realized i was STARVING when i finally got home omg. it was slim pickings in the fridge/pantry and was too hungry to order out, so just threw together what was available: 1 avocado, 3 tbsp of 4-day old cannedtuna with mayo (yikes), chilli oil & ginger-scallion sauce. 511 cals for it all. spoiler alert: it wasn't very appetizing. ate like 2/3? (basically until i wasn't hungry anymore). and was done. kinda wish i just waited and ordered something yummier. feels/felt like such a waste of stomach real estate, ugh. oh well. at least im not starving anymore.

ok here's a weird one lol. went to yoga, pilates, nail appt, botox appt, then grocery shopping this morning/afternoon. i didn't eat before i left (which is normal), then came home around 3:30pm still on an empty stomach (not so normal)...and only realized i was STARVING when i finally got home omg. it was slim pickings in the fridge/pantry and was too hungry to order out, so just threw together what was available: 1 avocado, 3 tbsp of 4-day old cannedtuna with mayo (yikes), chilli oil & ginger-scallion sauce. 511 cals for it all. spoiler alert: it wasn't very appetizing. ate like 2/3? (basically until i wasn't hungry anymore). and was done. kinda wish i just waited and ordered something yummier. feels/felt like such a waste of stomach real estate, ugh. oh well. at least im not starving anymore.

hmmmm...i was diagnosed with fatter liver maybe a year or so before my wls. it was basically reversed by the time i had my 3 month post-op follow-up. honestly though, i don't really know how "bad" i had it - im sure my doc told me but i probably wasn't paying attention - in any case, i didn't even notice any ill effects from it when i did have it. sorry...i realize that wasn't really much help.

breastmilk??

so here's my take on it: its all about relativity others have been so used to your bigger size for so long that when you change that long-held view is such a short amount of time, its jarring and surprising to them. compared to your previous morbid obese self, your regular overweight size seems tiny...despite the fact that on paper you are actually indeed overweight. i started at 235 lbs, and when i got to 150 lbs 5 months later, everyone around me were calling anorexic or starved human or cancer patient or every kind of slightly uncomfortable comment you can think of. but i mean, i was still overweight and like 25 lbs from goal. geez, man. now 6+ years later, i am 105 lbs (and well below my initial goal weight) and no one even bats an eyelash...and this is 45 lbs less than when they were all worried for my existence! its ridiculous because *i* actually think i'm the thin side these days and everyone else just keeps telling me i look awesome (which i do, but still...lololololzzzzz 😂😂😂) long story short...the only opinion that matters is YOURS. nod and pat the head of others who have something to say and just keep on truckin'. good luck! ❤️

ummm....HR!!!!

i HEART your stepmother and sister!!!

Excellent Point!!!! Lots of us who were/are obese seem to have the habit of chasing the "full" feeling. As @NickelChip alludes to, we would be waaaaaaay better served to think of the cue to stop eating as "no longer hungry" vs. "i'm stuffed and done now"

½ an everything bagel with about ½ a cup of tuna salad (tuna, ceasar dressing, sour cream, green onions, cilantro and spices) 270 calories...ate it all!

1/2 a three cheese quesadilla with a heaping tablespoon of sour cream (and a side of curious kitty!) 291calories ate it all!

lunch! ½ a bagel with cream cheese, smoked salmon, avocado, onion and sumac. 599 calories, ate it all!!

was not exactly in the same situation as u, but here's my anecdotal input nonetheless: i had a breast reduction way back in 2006 i was 34 and was only starting to get overweight (probably maybe 150-160 lbs back then) but had ginormous boobs. best decision ever. my back no longer hurt, i stopped hunching forward, my bras didn't leave railroad tracks on my shoulders, no mote safety pins to keep my shirt closed...all of it! yay! had wls in 2018 (boobs ginormous again as i was then 235 lbs). a year later at 115 lbs, i had a breast lift - kinda like a breast reduction ? but more skin removal vs tissue removal - and again, best decision ever! this time though, it was more for aesthetics. but still a good reason to get one! long story short, the breast reduction in 2006 improved quality of life. the breast lift in 2019 improved how i looked naked. keep in mind though they are different procedures, one is usually covered by insurance while the other is considered a cosmetic procedure and is usually self pay. after u lose the weight, will you still be considered a candidate for a reduction? who knows...maybe, maybe not. personally, (and im just a stranger on the internet so what do i know??) if the large boobs bring suffering to a point that its affecting quality of life, get em done if u have the means and resources to do so. life is soooo much better when aren't in pain all the time.

not american, so no thanksgiving pics to share, but here are some thingsn i've prepared/eaten the last week or so (NOTE: i'm currently in an effort to gain weight - the horrors! lol - so my food choices may be a little off-the-bariatirc-norm...) 1) bbq pork and seasoned rice one-pot-rice-cooker-meal. my portion: 266 cals...ate almost all of it 2) homemade chilli topped with cilantro and feta cheese, home focaccia and sliced avocado sprinkled with sumac: 599 calories for whats shown. ate everything except the foccacia (too chewy for me!!...mr ate it instead) 3) more of my homemade chili, some cheddar cheese, more cilantro, and some Tostido's Hint of Lime Tortilla chips (my fave!!!) 276 cals...ate it all! 4) homemade guacamole with the above mentioned focaccia that i slow toasted to make crisps with cheddar & cilantro & sour cream: 370 cals...ate all except 2 the focaccia crisps. 5) homemade crispy pork belly...omg THE. BEST. CRISPY. PORK. BELLY. EV-AH!!! this pic is of the entire slab. i had roughly 1/2 cup volume of it. ate it all!! 250 calories! 6) junky snacks: - 2 walkers mini shortbread cookies + 1 chocolate : 123 calories - 2 walkers mini shortbread cookies + 3 sour keys candies 103 calories yep, ate all it ta-da!

not american, so no thanksgiving pics to share, but here are some thingsn i've prepared/eaten the last week or so (NOTE: i'm currently in an effort to gain weight - the horrors! lol - so my food choices may be a little off-the-bariatirc-norm...) 1) bbq pork and seasoned rice one-pot-rice-cooker-meal. my portion: 266 cals...ate almost all of it 2) homemade chilli topped with cilantro and feta cheese, home focaccia and sliced avocado sprinkled with sumac: 599 calories for whats shown. ate everything except the foccacia (too chewy for me!!...mr ate it instead) 3) more of my homemade chili, some cheddar cheese, more cilantro, and some Tostido's Hint of Lime Tortilla chips (my fave!!!) 276 cals...ate it all! 4) homemade guacamole with the above mentioned focaccia that i slow toasted to make crisps with cheddar & cilantro & sour cream: 370 cals...ate all except 2 the focaccia crisps. 5) homemade crispy pork belly...omg THE. BEST. CRISPY. PORK. BELLY. EV-AH!!! this pic is of the entire slab. i had roughly 1/2 cup volume of it. ate it all!! 250 calories! 6) junky snacks: - 2 walkers mini shortbread cookies + 1 chocolate : 123 calories - 2 walkers mini shortbread cookies + 3 sour keys candies 103 calories yep, ate all it ta-da!

you know, actually i have...but not to become an actual instructor, but just to attend one of those 1-2 month long yoga instructor crash courses in an exotic location...i mean 300 hours of yoga in Bali??? sign me up!! lol

lol no, not at all i am just a ridiculous exercise addict these days. started in the summer and now i just can't seem to stop...i actually feel BAD (mentally and physically) if i don't do SOMETHING every day. i am paying the price though...my body just feels worn out every day now when i'm at rest. the only thing that makes the pain and achiness go away is more exercise. its a vicious cycle honestly. the weight loss is not on purpose. i got myself braces in September, and my total annoyance of having to clean my teeth after every single time that i eat something, has effectively stopped me from snacking. so i'm eating less overall and its showing on the scale (and my abs! lol). i started adding an afternoon protein shake about 2 weeks ago and gained back 2-ish lbs....(two weeks ago i was down 13 lbs, today i'm down just down 11 lbs since september) BUT...i have to say that i actually kinda like that i lost that bit of weight (how's that for body image issues?!?!). but i also know i need to eat more for health's sake.

yes! i loved my little arm compression shrug (looks like you have the same one as i had!) i found that it helped with the incessant itch too. if i remember correctly, i think wore mine as far as 7 months after surgery (same with my faja...i just felt better all squished in, ha!) TMI: Mr. also seemed to develop a fetish with me in the faja - which may or may not have contributed to the length of time i continued to wear it..., but i digress...lolollzzzz...😂😂😂

235 lbs vs. 105 lbs p.s. i've got a moisturizing face mask on on the 2018 pic, ha!

i live in workout clothes. and because i get all nice and sweaty in them every day (sometimes 2-3 times a day), i wash them ALOT. decided to take one last pic in these particular pants (my fave ones!) as they are getting tossed as they are all stretched out and are no longer super fitting...they fall down during class, especially as they get wetter with all the sweat! p.s. i also wanted to narcissistically show off my abs in their full glory as they are all sticky-outy and hard cuz i literally just came back from class where we did 5 sets of Hundreds (thats five hundred total pilates crunches omg...not even sure our instructor should be making us do this many, but i digress). in any case, all our abs will look bikini worthy for the next few hours, ha! wish i was on vacation somewhere... p.s.s. full disclosure: part of the sticky-outy-ness of said abs is cuz i recently dropped 10-ish lbs and the lack of fat makes the underlying muscle look more defined...so i cant take all the credit.

then i wanted something crunchy. a bowl of Harvest Cheddar SunChips: 190 calories, ate it all!

lunch/first meal of day: SALAD! 337 cals for all of it, ate what i ate, Mr. ate the rest.