NeonRaven8919

Same here! Overweight all my life. The only reason I had the surgery at 35 (5 months ago) was because the NHS here in the UK finally approved me for the surgery. They don't cover Wegovy etc for weight loss so this was my only option. I wish I had started the process of getting approved sooner, but it wasn't until I lost my mother and step-father within a year of each other (my stepfather died at age 62 from pneumonia and liver disease that certainly was aggravated by his extreme weight, and my mother died almost year later age 67 from a perforated bowel that they couldn't repair because of her gastric bypass ten years before). While I knew the risks, I knew I didn't want to go that young so I was going to take my health more seriously. I'm glad I did it and have no regrets.

Yes this is normal. Your stomach isn't producing as much ghrelin which is the hormone that tell us we are hungry. So your body is sending signals to the brain that you aren't hungry.

Oh I wanted to add, the people on Reddit are not always telling the truth, they post for points. We all know that one person who, when they find out we want to have surgery, will tell us about their friend's sister's husband's great-niece's dog who had the surgery and lost an oz and then put on 300lbs so it was a waste of time, or they have a vague story that they heard and "i know someone who had the surgery and they died 6 months later" and you find out, yes the died 6 months later because they were in car accident so it was unrelated. Some people tell you this because they are genuinely scared about someone they love going through a major surgery and all surgeries carry risks, and some people tell you this because they don't want you to lose weight and make positive changes for your health because they don't have the excuse to not improve themselves. They won't be able to say "At least I'm not as fat as NeonRaven". The best advice to take is from people who have had the surgery themselves and not someone who knows someone or heard about a guy who....

Yes, in a heart beat. I wish I had been able to do it years ago. I'm 75 lbs down and couldn't have lost the weight any other way.

Yes, I echo this. My uncle had to have a bypass because he had oesophageal cancer and extreme reflux as a result. He had insurance cover it.

Congratulations! I've never been in this situation, but I just wanted to say congratulations!

Good Point! I've already lost 75lbs and even if I added up all the time I lost weight on previous diet attempts it wouldn't equal this much. Since posting this 3 days ago, I've already lost the 3 lbs I gained know I have less to lose each time is helping me get back on track. I've already come this far!

It's my 5 month anniversary from surgery. It's not been a good month. I'm trying to find a new job because I'm miserable to at my current one. I find that old habits are starting to slip in. I've gained a kilo in this month alone. I'm still heading in the right direction, and I'm kicking the old habits back out. I've not been as vigilant as I should have been. I just need to remember that I'm still better off now than I was 5 months ago and keep looking forward.

Thank you! Yes, it's been a rough month but I'm definitely doing much better than 6 months ago! I still feel better physically than I did before the weight loss. I've always been overweight too. I still feel really happy that I'm a size 16 (UK) when I haven't been since I was 16 years old! Just got to keep looking at my progress overall!

Congratulations! You've done so well! I've loved seeing all your progress pics!

Today, I'm officially under 200lbs! only by half a lb but I'm counting it! I did a little weight conversion and had to remeasure due to disbelief! After gaining and losing the same kilo for the last three weeks, I'm so happy!

I set my goal at "healthy" BMI. (60kg or 132lbs) I realise BMI isn't really the best indicator of overall health or even healthy weight, but it's a good starting point. But to be honest, I never even really believed that I would lose any weight at all, it was just a Hail Mary pass that I thought I would talk to my GP about and to my amazement, it's working! I was a size 24UK (US 20) 7 months ago and just thought I was going to keep getting bigger. 7 months later, I'm a size 16UK (US 12) and went from 122 kg (270lbs) to 87kg (193 lbs) I never though this would be possible. I've hit so many goals I never even set! I still have that arbitrary number goal because my GP seems to have BMI tattooed on his brain and the number matters to him, but I'm just going to go along for the ride and see where I end up and where my body is comfortable maintaining!

The noises my gut makes! It's so loud! If I'm full, it's noisy. If I'm hungry, it's noisy! Is that a home intruder or my stomach? Who knows? And I echo the always cold part. Also, it hurts to sit for long periods like I used to! Bonier backside.

I'm tattooed myself. Just my saggy arms and one on my leg. I have no advice, but I'm commenting so I can follow this. I would imagine just make sure you are hydrated, well-rested and take more breaks if blood sugar and such dips? Interesting topic! Hopefully someone more experienced will chime in!

I have another one. I live in North London, UK. The North Alps some call it as there is a lot of hills. Some incredibly steep. Well, I cycled up one of these hills today. 6 months ago, I could only go halfway and had to stop. 7% gradient average, about 265ft. And I did it! I know it's an ebike and that might be "cheating" but I still couldn't do this 6 months ago.

This is probably the weirdest one yet. But I'm certain it's because of my weight loss. In my dreams, I've never been able to run. I always go faster by doing like a wheelbarrow type walk on my hands. But yesterday, I was dreaming and I was full on running. I think it's a mental thing to show I'm finally free of the weight and the expectations. But in actual physical milestones, I'm on the 5th hole in my watchband instead of the third when I had the surgery, and the 4th about 2 months ago.

I had to laugh react becaue, while I'm sorry to hear you're struggling, this descriptionis made me laugh! I had the same issue post op. They gave me lactulose liquid and told me to take it every night but it didn't really do much. Until it did! I honestly thought it would never stop! And then suddenly, I was down about 5kg (10lbs). Seriously. This is normal.

Exactly! That's how it was for me. I knew today was the day and nothing stopped me! It's really good that you're keeping up with the walking!

Outside the US, you don't have to sneak anything into the movies, you just walk in with snacks.

I recommend cycling! Mostly because I'm obsessed and I want to share my obsession, but also it's a method of transportation/form of exercise/easy to get into if you are out of practice. You could also cycle at the gym. Also, I really love doing pilates and yoga. You can do it in your own home, you just need a mat and a youtube video.

I cancelled my gym membership in the month I had my surgery since I wasn't going to be able to exercise for 6 weeks after the surgery and I would be away for another 4 weeks and Christmas was coming up and didn't want to waste the money (month to month membership). I need to get back into the gym, but I've not been in months so I'm going back to complete novice stage. But I have been cycling so that's at least something. I want to make going to the gym a habit again. I haven't renewed my membership yet because it will be too crowded with all they "new year, new me" types who use the gym in January for two weeks and then never again.

Panadeine Forte (Australian) is a combined over the counter med but the dose is 500mg paracetamol and 30mg codeine. That's what we get over the counter here in the UK to. The same does anyway. I got straight 30mg codeine after my operation. I was just told to take every 4 hours as needed. I didn't need any after day 1. It's so odd how doses are different for everyone.

This is interesting. NSAIDS (and the occasionally opioid as they prescribed after my op) are the only medications that have worked for getting rid of pain for me. Acetaminophen (aka paracetamol, Tylenol, *insert regional name here) has worked for fever for me, but never pain. I've been dreading ever needing a pain killer (and I've got nerve pain from a broken tooth). I will look into this for the odd one-off pain.

It's my 3 month anniversary since the surgery. Not much weight loss this month, but with Christmas I did a lot better than I though I would. I managed to lose about a pound and been gaining and losing that pound all month. But considering that this time last year I would have gained a lot more, I'm happy so far. In three months though, I've managed to go from a size 24 UK to a size 16 UK. What a difference three months has made.

Hi! If you're having surgery in October of 2024, join here! It's nice to have support and we can all follow and support each other together! My Surgery Date (Sleeve) is 7th of October. Starting weight is 122.5kg (270lbs) As far as I know, that's the highest I've ever been. Weight loss since starting pre-op diet: 10.4 kg (22.9 lbs) Weight loss on Surgery Date: TBD Let's do this!