Bypass2Freedom

Recent NSVs: Being able to walk faster than my boyfriend, to the point that he was out of breath and asked me why I was charging about 😂 I have always been the slowest person when out walking, so that felt good After the above, then just running/jogging a bit in a playful way away from him just because, and then not being out of breath, and actually wanting to jog again 🤣 wtf - old me would have been having a heart attack So I can already fit back into the bath now, but now when I got into the bath last night I was like...has this bath gotten longer?? I genuinely feel small in it now, like who knew it was so roomy?? I BOUGHT A PAIR OF JEANS - I haven't worn jeans for maybe 3-4 years now I think, and when I did wear anything remotely jean-like, it was jeggings, so they had a lot of give. Bought some actual jeans yesterday and I love them

I am super proud of you x

I went through a period of having dizziness & blurred vision in my early days, specifically when getting out of bed in the morning/standing up. Now I just tend to have a bit of dizziness when I stand up too fast. Definitely check with your healthcare provider though, I hope you are okay x

Thank you! I feel blessed that I can actually wear it now. Not that I couldn't before, but I just didn't feel like it was 'me' 😂

I haven't worn this since I bought it, and pretty much a couple of years later, I finally feel confident enough to wear it! Please ignore the dirty mirror & white socks 😱😂

Thanks lovely! Genuinely I don't think there is much of my wardrobe left to wear! I had to get some work clothes yesterday because I only had 1 skirt and 1 set of trousers to wear and they were just falling off me - but UK sizing is awful! I have a skirt in UK 14, a pair of jeans in UK 16 & some smart work trousers in UK 18 - make it make sense 😅 I completely get what you are saying about the body shape being different - it really gets in the way of actually knowing what will fit and when!! That is so funny 🤣🤣 I am glad to hear your vision problems were solved by a good wipe down haha. I still haven't cleaned my mirror!

Thank you so much! ❤️ I think I am going to wear it for an event in November (providing it isn't too baggy by then 😂) x

Looking absolutely stunning! So happy for you! I hope your recovery is speedy!

I finally bit the bullet and bought some new clothes today. I was quite apprehensive as I genuinely didn't know what size I would be, so I had my boyfriend with me who doubles up as my stylist 😂 I went into New Look - which I wouldn't have even dreamt of doing pre-surgery - and just asked him to pick some things for me. He picked 3 coats (I currently have none that fit me, and it is getting cold here in the UK!), a skirt, and a cropped jumper. I was trying to insist that I would need a size UK 18-20 (which is a US 14-16 I think?), but he was adamant that I needed a UK 12-14 (US 8-10?)...I tried them on in the sizes he suggested, and they FIT. I genuinely didn't believe it, like I don't think I have been this size since 2017/18...my brain can't actually see it or even compute with it. Before surgery I was a UK 22, more of a 24 in most things if I am honest. Just can't believe it yet. Does anyone else get like this?! But I am riding a high today, I feel good, and I am still in shock 😂

You are gonna get there before you know it! And congratulations on your loss so far, that is amazing!

Yeah...I really need to clean it 😅 Thing is, I just end up getting distracted by cleaning other things and then it is out of my mind until I look at pictures like this one haha! Time to get the lint roller out 🤣

Thank you so much ❤️

Thank you! I honestly feel like I have bagged up so many clothes! I am surprised I am left with anything 😂 In all honesty, this dress is probably a bit too big, but I don't want to part with it just yet! It is so lovely to hear you have been able to wear some of the things you didn't feel able to previously, and that you feel good about it! As you should!

I am still yet to actually buy the amount of clothes I actually need! I keep finding myself bagging tons of stuff up for the charity shops, and then realising I actually have nothing to wear. I currently have only 1 work-appropriate skirt, and a few tops! I NEED to go shopping 😂

I spoke with my surgeon today about some weird symptoms I have had since surgery. I have only experienced about 3-4 episodes of it since having surgery, but it tends to happen if I haven't eaten for a substantial amount of time (like nothing until 2/3pm). The following happens: shaking light headedness dizziness sweating anxiety palpitations pale presentation of skin weakness disorientation He has suggested that I have reactive hypoglycaemia - has anyone else experienced this? I have heard it is quite common after bariatric surgery

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences & advice - it is nice to see I am not alone in this experience and that it is actually manageable! I will be going to Tesco today just to get some emergency snacks, and I am about to try and eat breakfast 😂 @Arabesque I can't believe that they didn't even help you with that, considering it was on your records too...Apps definitely aren't accessible to everyone either, so the fact they rely on that and also don't even inform people about it is insane!

I am definitely dealing with the same thing at the moment! I think I have just been so used to compliments being a rarity, or when I was bigger I remember the compliments being: "you are pretty for a bigger girl", or "you have such a lovely face" - very easy to read between the lines there! So for people to actually be complimenting & perceiving my body it is a strange experience. Sometimes I don't mind, but for the most part I find it unusual and I don't like being looked at, especially when I can't see any change in myself 😂 Usually I just say thank you and move on, but if someone were to actually say something outwardly offensive to me, I'd probably say something!

@catwoman7 Very good to hear that it has become a rare thing for you to experience now. It does seem I am going to have to put more effort into eating regularly - I struggled with this pre-surgery, and post-surgery it has proven even harder!

@ShoppGirl Thank you for the suggestions, I really appreciate it I haven't actually tried making my own proffee yet - I tend to just buy protein coffee pre-made in cans 😂 Will probably be more cost-effective if I make my own so I will look into that! I shall get the snacks going & alarms set!

Congratulations lovely! I am so happy for you - fingers crossed that it is sooner rather than later! Please do reach out whenever you may need advice or just someone to talk to ❤️

@ShoppGirl I probably should be doing that 😂 I think it is down to lack of preparation, and just not having those hunger signals, especially in the morning! I think I am going to have to buy some emergency snacks so I am not caught out like you say! Eating to a schedule might actually make sense for me too...I need to try and work on that one!!

My boyfriend had quite the same reaction when I said that too! I suppose it does help that they see us with different eyes - they don't have their brains telling them something different entirely! I hope you are okay ❤️

Hey bari family ❤️ I know body dysmorphia is something that is really common in this community, and I did expect it of course, but I am really feeling it at the moment. To preface my feelings I am about to describe, I am PMS-ing so I know a lot of this is probably exacerbated by that! Either way, I have had such a noticable influx of people complimenting me on my weight loss at work this week - it seemed that there was no one mentioning it at all, and now every day this week I have had people come up to me and say/ask things like: "what is your big secret?", "you look amazing", "you're a skinny minny" etc. It hasn't been anything that I have taken offence to at all, but it has come during a week where I have felt so down about my appearance. I'd say this is the first time post-surgery where I have been looking in the mirror and just seen the 'old' me - I genuinely cannot see any loss, even though the scales & my clothes are telling me different. It is so saddening, normal, but sad. Anyway, that is my little reflection done with! What sorts of things did others do to get past this?

Here are some pictures of my before & after (just of my back at the moment as I am most confident posting this!) Before liver reduction diet: Taken just before my holiday about a week ago!: **I know I need a new bra, this one is KNACKERED** And a fun little guest appearance taken today, featuring these denim shorts which pre-surgery would not go over my lower thighs:

Sorry I haven't reached out sooner - glad to hear you are out the other end and you are doing okay ❤️ Congratulations! TMI!: I had to have the pessary when I was in the hospital as I just couldn't poo 😂 It did work but I ended up having this strange explosive bowel movement that had lots of old blood in it - proper freaked me out but a nurse told me it was normal and was just residue blood from the surgery. I wish she had warned me about this prior to it happened so I wasn't so concerned about it, but IF anything like this happens, don't worry too much! But either way, apparently doesn't happen to everyone. Definitely keep away from the scales for a bit as a lot of people find that their weight is a bit higher immediately post-op so just wait until you have healed! My surgeon didn't want me weighing myself until at least 8 weeks pot-surgery (I lasted about 4 weeks 😂) Hope you are well ❤️