STLoser

Wow I did not know this. I have liver disease and the numbers are almost down to normal since my surgery. I have been taking biotin, though, and I hope that doesn't cause a problem. I guess I'll stop. It's already in my multivitamin anyway. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Right now I'm in Florida on vacation and this is the smallest I've ever been on a beach. It's SO much easier to walk on the sand and I even RAN on the sand today. I have not gotten short of breath at all. Last year a month before my surgery we went to Orange Beach, AL, and I had to keep stopping for breath every few feet and it was miserable. I was in so much pain too. swear I feel like a teenager again at almost 50! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm mystified by this myself. I weigh 239 right now and last time I was this weight about 17 years ago, I wore a size 20 or 2X. Now I'm consistently fitting into an 18 or XL. I definitely have a different body than I did back then. I was an hourglass. I think I still technically am, but I have lost a ton in my legs and they're where I have the most loose skin even though my belly was huge before my wls. Shorts and pants are all too big in the legs but I can't get a size smaller or they won't fit around the waist and hips. My breasts haven't lost much except band size, which is how I've always been. My cup size is the same. One theory I have is that maybe the loose skin is easier to squish into a smaller size. [emoji2368] Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I like to clean and organize stuff. I also like doing anything creative, like crafts. My favorite thing is painting my nails and doing nail art. And one thing I live for is a nice hot bath. It always relieves my stress! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

My lowest adult weight was 153, many years ago on WW. I am 5'3", so that's still overweight for me, but I looked and felt great. I am curvy, and I don't feel like I was meant to be as tiny as the BMI chart says for my height. The most important thing to me is how I feel. I am not too worried about the number on the scale. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I just got the CUTEST suit on Amazon.. Now, I tend to be flashy and like bright colors, so it may not be for everyone, but I LOVE it, and it covers my belly flap and upper legs which have a ton of loose skin. I love it so much I will buy more when I lose more weight. I have 2 suits from that brand and they are both great. It's a 2 piece with shorts underneath. The brand is Esprlia. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have to say, out of the surgeries I've had (c section, breast reduction, knee arthroscopy, and Loop DS), my gallbladder was the worst. The gas pain really hurt in my shoulder, and just like you said, sneezing and coughing were painful! I sure was glad to have it out and stop having the attacks, but it did hurt more than other surgeries for sure. I didn't have much pain at all from my wls, just nausea. I'm glad you are home and recovering! Sending healing vibes your way. I hope you feel better fast! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

If you're not having to worry about insurance paying, I think you'll have an easier time since your BMI is right at 35, you have high BP, and you're still gaining. I paid out of pocket myself, although my BMI was 70, but I didn't have to jump through any hoops really. I'm sorry you're being treated so badly about your weight at work. That makes me so mad. It shouldn't matter what someone looks like. Society is so superficial. And beauty, imo, isn't a certain size anyway!! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I love swim shorts with a tankini top. The shorts cover my belly and upper legs which are full of loose skin. I always have belly hanging out in regular swim bottoms. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I can tell you a large body impression can cause back problems. Our last few mattresses did not hold up to our weight. My husband is 6'10" and a big guy and when I was almost 400 pounds none of our mattresses lasted more than 2 years without getting large body impressions and we both had back pain. We bought a Big Fig mattress a couple years ago. It's is made for bigger people and it's has been amazing. There are no body impressions even on my husband's side. A good mattress definitely makes a difference! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Oh, yeah, that reminds me! That's the biggest thing I hate about other exercise. I can't stand sweating! With swimming you don't have to worry about that! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

The one thing with me is that I pretty much dressed the same as I always did, but it was a lot harder to find anything cute in a size 32. My dream outfit is just to wear things in smaller sizes and be able to buy things at a variety of places. I'm about an 18/20 now and it's already so much better! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm 10 months out, so that is VERY encouraging Catwoman. [emoji4] Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I don't know if any of you are near St. Louis, MO, but I highly recommend Ann's bra shop! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Yes! I totally get what you're saying. It's so different from other exercise. You feel tired, but so good! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

*less Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Since I started out at 393, I've made my goal weight 200 or mess. I am currently 241. Ideally I'd like to be 150 or 160, which is the lowest I ever was as an adult. I am still in the overweight category even at that weight since I'm short. I can't believe I can ever get there again, so under 200 is my goal, which my surgeon says is very doable. My weight loss has slowed down quite a bit recently, so I do worry I won't get there, but I won't give up. Even this weight is such a huge difference from where I was before. I'd just prefer to get out of the obese category! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I agree with this. I don't know where you live, but see if there is a bra specialty shop in your area that specializes in fittings and mastectomy fittings. In my area there is a great one that I go to. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm so excited! Today I hit 242 pounds which puts me at 150 pounds lost! I still have at least 60 to lose, but I never thought I'd ever be able to lose 150 pounds. I don't even know how I was carrying that much on my 5'3" frame! I feel so much better! I just had to share this! I can't figure out why my before pictures won't post, but I have some "after" even though I still hope to lose a lot more. These pics are from last month. My weight loss has slowed recently and this week I've been struggling mentally with worrying I won't lose anymore, so I was really happy to hit this milestone! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

My feet have always been wide, even when I was a normal sized kid. Before I got really fat I wore an 8.5 wide, but often had to buy 9 or even 10 if I couldn't find wide width. My foot wasn't longer, but the bigger shoe accommodated for the width. At my highest weight I wore a 10W and sometimes and 11. I'm still losing weight, but I'm back down to and 8.5 or 9 now that I've lost 150. My already wide feet got wider when I was bigger and now they're just their normal wide width. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Swimming is my favorite thing! It is not even like exercise to me. I enjoy it so much. I swim as often as I can! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Oh, also, I spent most of my life wearing the wrong bra size.. Until I went to a local specialty shop and got a fitting. It was life changing. You really should consider it. I would suggest not going to places like Victoria's Secret though. They don't know how to properly fit you.. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm 49, soon to be 50. When I was 31 I had a breast reduction because I was HUGE. I was a DD after the reduction, but then when I had my son at 39, they grew back, and now I wear a 40H. I was a 48H prior to wls. I never have lost much weight in my breasts now or in the past. Because of the reduction, which included a lift, my nipples are where they should be, but since I've lost weight, my boobs do feel and look flabbier. Also, most of the tissue is at the side if that makes any sense and I have a lot under my arms. Breast surgery will be my last priority, because my stomach and legs bother me more, but I would consider it if they look too bad. A good bra helps! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Also, my GERD was pretty severe before I was on meds (prior to surgery). It was well controlled with meds though.. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I was also self pay, and with a BMI of 69.9, severely obese. I had originally wanted sleeve and the first surgeon I saw suggested bypass because I had GERD and was so overweight. He got let go because of COVID when the hospital cut staff so I went to a different surgeon at another Healthcare system. That doctor recommended either bypass or Loop Duodenal switch, which is basically a sleeved stomach along with and intestinal bypass. Like the sleeve, it can cause GERD, but I chose it because he said it was the most powerful operation and the one I'd likely lose the most weight with.. Since I was paying out of pocket and could only do it once, I chose Loop DS. It has been 10 months and I have had no GERD symptoms so far. I'm currently weaning off my Protonix, so we will see how it goes, but so far so good. [emoji1696] Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app