Bypass2Freedom

You look bloody amazing!! I definitely feel that way at the moment but I am running out of workout gear that fits me! Need some recommendation for some squat-proof leggings!

Prior to weight loss surgery, I could barely walk 5 minutes without stopping from the pain. I think the last time I actually tried jogging was with my mum when I was about 17, so like 11 years ago! And back then it was this Couch to 5k app so you would walk for a few mins, and then jog for 30 seconds and boy did that almost kill me off! Anyway, I was in the gym today on my lunch break, and I always do 20 mins of cardio on the treadmill after my weights workout. I do 5 minutes at a 12 incline, and then lower it by 4 every 5 mins, and increase the speed (hopefully that makes sense). So during the last 5 mins of cardio, the gym was empty, not a soul apart from me, so I decided to do something I was too scared to do with others there. I put the speed up so that I was jogging...full-blown jogging. At first I just expected my lungs to give out like they would previously, but they didn't...I was breathing fine, I was not in pain, and I realised I can do this! I did the last 5 minutes at that pace, and I left with only a little bit of a sweat on, and no pain in my legs or lungs. I just called my dad to tell him because I think this is perhaps the first time in this journey I have felt like I love my body, and I love what it is capable of. My NSV, that I didn't even know was on my NSV list ❤️

Thanks again everyone for all the advice ❤️ After some thinking & a chat with my bariatric team, I have set a new goal!

So I am about 0.2lbs away from my goal weight, which I have always had in mind as my "1st goal weight". Kind of like, if I get there then that is amazing...I didn't 100% believe I could ever get here if that makes sense 🤣 My question to others is: did you have a "secret/second goal weight" in mind? And if so, did it vary much from your 1st one? I want (for some inexplicable reason) my BMI to be in a 'healthy' range, which requires another loss of about 2 stone, which I think part of me wants to go for. Overall though, I am feeling happy - not just because of a number on the scale!

@Spinoza I think that is one thing I was definitely thinking about - at 9 months post-op, is my body done losing? Probably not! (I hope not anyway!) BMI is definitely a crappy way of measuring people, but I think in my head to have gone from literally my BMI being off the chart 🤣to then showing 'healthy', that is a massive win! I am happy where I am at currently, I don't dislike myself which is also a win haha. Also would be nice to go to my GP for a headache or a tummy ache, or something unrelated, and for them not to be like "oh have you tried losing weight" 🤣

Hey all ❤️ Thank you for all of the responses - I am definitely seeing a trend that it is best to go with how you feel, rather than by the BMI (which is something I keep telling myself anyway). I am quite a goal-focused person, so I feel that having a goalpost will help me to achieve what I think I need to achieve. Either way, I am moderately happy with where I am at now - I think I'd like to lose a little more though!

SO I had the wonderful experience of having my IUD (hormonal coil), removed & replaced yesterday. Knowing how painful it was being fitted the first time, and having not experienced having it replaced before, I decided to take 2 30mg codeine/500mg paracetamol tablets, as pain relief for women during such procedures really is just forgotten about. I'd eaten some protein stick things too. Pre-surgery I'd taken these tablets fine, no side effects, but OMFG, as I was sitting in the waiting area before my procedure it hit me like a brick **** house. I was sweating, nauseous, my stomach was cramping and pain was radiating into my back, I felt spacy and woozy and I was clearly very pale in my face and lips as the nurse went to get me a sick bowl 🤣 Needless to say, instead of actually giving me pain relief, it actually made the entire experience so much worse 🤣 I will not be taking them again! Does anyone else have any experiences with medication effecting them differently? Note to add: this medication was given to me by my surgeon for post-surgery!

We all deserve a little love 💗

I have been getting tattooed since I was 18 (so for 10 years now!), and I consider myself to be decently covered, but I have only had 1 tattoo since having surgery and it was so much more painful! My prep pre-surgery for a tattoo would be coming into the session armed with sugary snacks, but of course I can't do that now. I have a whole chest piece booked in for April, and I was wondering if anyone has any tips for preparing for a tattoo in a bariatric friendly way?

Just to echo what @Arabesque has said really - little and often with drinking water! Don't be too worried if you aren't meeting your water/protein goals early on, your body is recovering and it will take a while to get used to it all! Just take it slow and within your comfortabilities, and you will get there No need to put any pressure on yourself this early on. Pain meds are something you should have been sent home with as stated above, just see how you go and if you ned them. I was sent home with co-codamol and I didn't need it in the end, but everyone is different! Remember to just try and get up every now and then and take a little walk around the house if you can, just to help with the gas pain. Best of luck ❤️

I did my 2nd LBT class yesterday and it was easier than last time which was good! Still too scared to try BodyAttack 🤣🤣

Can't wait to follow your journey!

Anyone else treat themselves recently?!

Congratulations! Looking fabulous!

As some of you may know, I have been trying to go to classes and upping my exercise in general. I did an LBT class on Monday, and yesterday I decided to do a BodyBalance class. It was harder than expected - I am definitely not flexible 🤣 I also found that as it was my first time ever doing yoga-type exercises, it was taking me a while to figure out what to do! It was good though, at the end of the 45 minutes my body felt relaxed and I could feel that a lot of tension had left me. The final piece the instructor did was a relaxation, where we all just lie down and she turns off the light, and there is nice calm music on, and you just relax your body...and I just started crying! I have no idea why this happened, but I felt like a right muppet 🤣 I might go back, I just need to prepare myself for that end bit haha. Anyone else experienced something like this?

I admittedly switched to protein water! I find that the shakes are just odd tasting 🤣🤣 As others have said, they aren't really necessary unless you are struggling to hit your protein goals (which happens!). I mostly only drink my protein water when I am working out, or if I have forgotten breakfast (which unfortunately happens more than I care to admit).

I think so long as you have a handle on how you may react if those scales don't budge or go up, then it is entirely up to you how and when you weigh yourself. I am in the same boat as you in terms of ADHD brain telling me I need to weigh everyday, but it is having quite a negative effect on me at present! The scales just haven't moved (apart from up 2lbs and then back down those same 2lbs) for about 1.5 weeks now. My surgeon hates scales, and has told me just to throw them out as the number is unimportant 🤣 I am actually trying to get my partner to hide them from me so I only weigh myself 1-2 times a month...lets hope that works!

Thank you so much for your lovely message ❤️ Really amazing to hear about your journey too - so happy you have found your passion for it! I actually did a LBT class on Monday (am still aching), and I have also signed up for a Body Pump class - my colleague keeps trying to convince me to come to BodyAttack but it sounds terrifying and I worry I won't keep up!

So I went to the gym again at lunch time today, and it is my cardio day. 40 mins on the treadmill, and I decided to try jogging again, managed about 15/18 minutes in total at a faster pace today!

Absolutely amazing! Congratulations on your progress & happy birthday!! xxx

Just to echo what @SpartanMaker has said in developing a habit - I only started going to the gym a few months back, after pressuring and guilting myself into not going to the gym since the start of my weight loss journey. I just started with going once a week, doing a short full-body workout, and then from there I sort of just fell into it once I realised my body was capable, and I wasn't in pain with it! I think my brain was putting it off so much because I was relating it back to my experiences with exercise when I was 100+ lbs heavier! Needless to say, it was painful and I hated it. Just take baby steps, and find what works for you, even just a short walk to clear your head (which may help with the mental health too), and go from there. Wishing you all the best ❤️ You have smashed it so far, you will smash this too!

I love this! Seems like that whim took you far, and even better is that it was to places that your previous self wouldn't have even imagined you could do. Really proud of you.

As someone who also has PCOS, my periods have never been normal (maybe 3 a year!), but since having the surgery they've been regular - like every month, pretty much the same time - which was a shock!

Thank you for sharing your experience! What a journey that has been! And to be honest, you would need to be eating more to balance out the amount of calories you use when you exercise! Amazing achievement though - really inspiring. How did you find the Stairmaster? I really want to try it but I am terrified haha

@SpartanMaker Thank you for explaining that I think what I will do is similar to what I have done with my incline walking - I will introduce the jogging in the last 5 minutes of every cardio workout, and then gradually increase the incline/speed over a longer period of time, just to make sure I am going at a pace that my body can handle!