Bypass2Freedom

I know that things slow down, and I am not necessarily feeing low about this, but I just wanted to see what others experiences were with when their weight loss started to slow down & then stop. I am 7 months post-op tomorrow, and I am still losing, but it is definitely at a slower rate than the first 3-4 months (which is of course to be expected). My surgeon said you can keep losing weight anywhere up until 16-18 months post-op: does this resonate with anyone?

So I stayed in hospital after my op for 2 nights which is quite common - I could have only stayed in for 1 night but I was a little bit dehydrated. I had an IV which gave me paracetamol and if pain was ever too much (it rarely was, they gave me some co-codamol). I was sent home with co-codamol and to be honest I didn't take it once - just rest up as much as you can after your op and you should be okay!

Always feel free to reach out! Well done on your loss so far!

What you are experiencing are very normal worries - I think we all would have had some form of concern or anxiety leading up to the surgery! Just my personal experience, I started talking about surgery YEARS before I even booked a consultation with a surgeon. I am talking like 3 years worth of "umming" about whether or not I should go for it, and subsequently talking myself out of it. I would berate myself saying that I should be able to do it the natural way, I should be strong enough and surgery is risky etc, but I think I was just making excuses for myself really! I'd tried to lose weight since I was a teenager to no avail, and I honestly wish I had just had the surgery sooner! It was my first operation as an adult, so I was definitely scared of the pain and of the whole experience itself but honestly, it was all manageable and it didn't last long! You'd be so surprised how quickly you get used to your new way of living - and genuinely this forum has been an amazing place to just not feel so alone in your experiences. So, ultimately, think about the pros and cons for each potential decision and make sure it is the right one for you. You've got this!

Yeah it is definitely normal for it to slow - and a good thing to remind us of the priorities when it comes to eating etc! Definitely good prep for the future I can see how that is a thing - I definitely weigh myself far far less than I used to in the earlier day of surgery, but I still find myself on that scale maybe 3-4 times per week! I need to perhaps take a step back and get the tape measure out instead and just weigh in once a month as you say!

I am hoping I still have a while left of losing! My initial goal is to get to 12 stone, which is just about 17 lbs to go I think...12 stone was the lowest I had ever weighed in my adult life when I was at university, though I didn't stay that weight for long before I ballooned to 20st+! Then I have a new goal set for after that, maybe 10 stone IF I can get there, but we will see. I'd like to see how I feel back at that 1st goal! I like the way you are looking at it though - the fact that really our bodies have a lot of control over this, and the rate of losing and where it is comfy. It is probably time I start respecting my body rather than forcing it (and sometimes failing) to do what I want 😅 Thank you for the reassurance ❤️

Thank you for reminding me of how far I have come so far I definitely will keep on track - one good thing about being Autistic is that I find it almost impossible to deviate from the "rules", so I still haven't had sugar or fizzy or anything I was told I initially couldn't have 😂 I am too scared I think 🤔 You've come so far though, and you haven't given up which is honestly inspiring!

It is definitely that feeling! It really has slowed down, and don't get me wrong, fully expected & accepted! I am still going to the gym and still eating well etc (though definitely need to drink more water) - It just feels like I am so close to my 1st goal yet so far away 😂 Thank you for your advice though, and sharing your experience - it is really insightful ❤️ I will definitely have a look at that!

This! I am also feeling a little bit of hunger here at there - my stomach is still not rumbling at all, but I feel a slight pang of "hmm I need to eat" and then it seems to disappear 😂 I have lost a total of 1lbs since Friday last week, so I will take that as a win haha! So desperate to get into that 12 stone bracket!

A well nourished female 😂 I have never heard that one before!

So I received this "compliment" (??) today, twice within the space of about 15 minutes by two separate people. In my head I am trying to understand exactly what they mean by it because in my brain it is a negative - but also very strange for me to comprehend given that I am not even at my 1st goal. Anyone else had experience with this?

It's so annoying! I am definitely still losing (I hope) I'm about 7 months post bypass so I hopefully should keep losing slowly now. Im still not at my goal and I think I'm in a small stall! 😤 I think I'll probably sell it on vinted eventually and then get a smaller size! Thank you!

Some new clothes from Killstar - ordered the dress a little too big and the skirt a bit too small! Working out sizing is hard 😂

Congratulations on your success so far! I completely empathise with the surreal feeling - it is almost like a weird out-of-body experience! I can answer a couple of your questions, obviously not the one about maintenance as I am only like 7-odd months post bypass now I think! I believe I have lost almost 100lbs now (45kg, 7 stone), and in the initial first 5 months I was really struggling to go to the gym so I wasn't very active. I have started going to the gym now and I am really enjoying it, not seeing as fast-paced weight loss currently, but that could be because of muscle gaining at the gym and normal stalling! I think my biggest challenge/lesson has been listening to my new stomach now. Understanding when it is full, and also looking at food differently - I just see it as fuel now, rather than thinking about it 24/7 which has been hard. It has also been a challenge to actually accept that I am smaller now - I still instinctively reach for my old clothing size in shops (UK 22-24), and am genuinely shocked when it is too big, or when something I see as "tiny" fits me. The changing the mind is a long haul lesson I believe! All the best for you on this journey x

It is so interesting to see that in one way or another, this seems to happen to all of us! I would be so intrigued to get a male perspective of someone who has also had bariatric surgery, just to see if this resonates with them! Unfortunately, so many people think they have a right to comment on our bodies, even if they think they are doing so in a kind way. But I do think people are right when they say it is others perception of us that makes them say things such as "you're wasting away" - they aren't used to seeing us at a smaller weight!

@BigSue I think you are definitely right there - it always astounds me how something that sounds so negative is actually intended as a good thing. The idea of 'wasting away' has such strong connotations of being unhealthily thin, yet because it denotes thinness it is seen as a positive 🤔 Thank you for the context & explanation though, I think being Autistic makes me wonder these things and ponder the meaning!

Wasn't sure if now was the best time to make this, but I see others making this kind of thread the month before their surgery date so I thought why not! It feels surreal even saying I am having surgery next month! Mine is booked on for 14/05/24 - who else will be having theirs in May? A few questions just to get us started: 1) Are you nervous about anything? If so, what? - just in the hope that any veterans can give advice or if we can help each other. Anxiety is normal! 2) What have you prepared/plan to prepare for your hospital bag? 3) What are you most excited about? I look forward to hearing from you all ❤️

I really empathise with this - I am quite open about my journey anyway, and find that people are just genuinely curious and I haven't - yet - had anyone be negative about the fact I've had surgery, they just have lots of questions and I am more than happy to talk about it!

So both my boyfriend and my mum have commented on my posture recently - completely valid - but I just didn't realise how bad my posture is! I don't know about anyone else, but when I was at my heaviest I just always walked around with a slump - sometimes without realising it. Maybe just to make myself smaller. But now I have lost a significant amount, I feel more confident, but I am still slouching when I walk and it is definitely noticeable! Any tips on how to hold myself better? 😂

So I have been reminding myself daily to engage my core, loosen my shoulders back etc and it is working slowly but surely - I am noticing less pain in my back now when actually standing correctly. I just need to keep reminding myself not to slouch! Thank you for the advice everyone!

So prior to surgery I tasked myself with writing a letter to the "future me". I wrote this letter and then sealed it up so that I could open it 6 months post-op and reflect. I thought I'd share it with you all to give some inspo, and just because I value being open about my journey with you all ❤️ I wrote this letter on the 20th December 2023, with my surgery scheduled for the 14th May 2024. Some of this letter may be triggering for others (mentions of sexual assault/abuse), so please don't read on if you aren't able to. I also highly recommend for people to do the same pre-surgery. Reading this letter has been really cathartic for me, especially at a time where my weight loss is slowing down a little. So, here it is, my letter to myself: To me, I hope that you have found your own form of genuine happiness. To try and picture how life is for you now is impossible. I'm currently at work, my back is in pain, I am overly conscious of my body - my stomach and chin in particular. I hope that you aren't worrying about any of those things anymore. Remember feeling so painfully aware of your body, about how nothing quite fits you anymore? I pray life is better for you now. I want you to have a whole new quality of life. No more holding yourself back. Say yes to things that scare you. Go on a paddle boat. Go to go-ape. Do something terrifying. I hope that your mental wounds are beginning to heal. All those times you were cheated on and mentally & physically abused by your ex because of your weight. You didn't deserve that. Not one bit. Your worth is not, and never was, defined by how much you weigh. Please don't get stuck on the numbers. I know this has probably been one of the hardest experiences for you, and I know you have probably had to re-learn everything, but you deserve this. You are so, so deserving. Reflect back on the past: Nan calling you 'podgy' in a top you was excited to wear when you was 13, but you never wore it again after that. Growing fast and being bigger than most people in school. Always yo-yoing from diet to diet. None of it worked. Punishing yourself didn't work. But now look at what you have achieved. YOU did this. No one else. Be proud. I hope, more than anything else, that you have finally found out who you are. That girl inside, behind all the weight, waiting for freedom. I can't wait to meet her x

Absolutely stunning before & after!

I've recently started going to the gym again! I was trying to go in my early post-surgery days but I just didn't have the motivation! I have noticed though, since losing 6 stone, I am now happier to go to the gym. My body actually feels capable and ready to go, and I don't ache from doing the minimum. I have been doing some light weights during a full body workout, and I do 20 mins of cardio on the treadmill on those days too, and today I have just implemented a 45 min cardio day!

It is so difficult to stop! I didn't even realise how bad my posture was until recently - definitely to do with the tummy slowly disappearing! Funnily enough I have asked my boyfriend & mum to remind me if I am slouching, but yeah I am just getting frustrated with myself!