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I was shopping yesterday, looking in the clearance section for clothing, and a saleswoman stopped me and said, “Are you shopping for yourself? Because if so, those clothes won’t fit you. You need to shop over on that side of the store,” and she pointed me away from plus sizes to regular and petite sizes. She was right. I’m a size 10-12 now, but I keep forgetting! 😊

Do you know why? A FYI- since we now produce minimal stomach a code we can't,digest it. It would be like passing chunks of chalk. Well,maybe not THAT extreme but you get the point.Try my little buddy instead, less than $10 at Wal-Mart, it's a liquid called Wellesse, tastes like melted orange push-up sherbert if you can remember back to kid-hood. And it is try blue Calcium Citrate, I take it twice a day.🍶

I had a mommy make-over (152 lbs 10 years after lap-band) and 6 months later started gaining weight really fast (gained 60 lbs within 4 months which is why I’m back on the Bariactric site), got tested and I was IN menopause at 48. I read that surgery can push you in to it. I having a revision done on Tuesday and I’m scared to death it won’t work as well thanks to the hormone/surgery thing.

When I was a child, they called me chubby. Yet I modeled in NYC for boutiques during buying season. Hated it but did it because it made the same adults who called me chubby happy. As a teen I was under weight, same adults told me I was beautiful but suggested I lose a few. They wanted me to do pageants because we had Miss NJ’s and Miss Teenage America Runner Up’s in our family. But not my bag and by then my self esteem was shattered, my body image a mess. In my 20’s I was a swimsuit model in Miami. The very same adults said I was too fat for the job (the agency booked me regularly and got me paid on time though, right). In my mid-late 20’s, I became a TV model by accident. Was finally a fairly normal weight...just a little underweight. Wasn’t even looking for the job. Worked behind the camera, happily. They came to me. Right away, the adults in my life said I needed to lose 25 lbs because I was too big for TV. Natch, I I did just that. Because after all of this outside chatter, my inside eye had no idea what “too fat” looked like. I only really know that I wasn’t chubby as a child or too fat on TV by looking at photos or video from back then. This is the struggle so many people face. I was only overweight for a 10 year period but I lived as a fat person inside my head for my entire life. On the outside, people saw me as beautiful, I suppose. But it was completely wasted on me. I KNOW I got treated differently, got special privileges and leaway...but, again, it was wasted because I was, in my head—and always will be—the fat, funny friend. In one respect I am thankful for this disease. It has made me a kinder, more careful mother and a more empathic human. But, it sucks the life out of my brain.

Hello. Just joined this group today. I had my bypass on 8/1 and am feeling a different kind of pain today. It is a tightness and pain around the main incision (not the incision itself), but only when I move or bend. If I am sitting still, I feel fine. Is this normal? Thanks for any insight.

I think the forum you were looking for is called "The Lounge". My first car (in '75) was a gold '72 Chevy Vega. Ran great but had to keep a case of oil in the trunk. It didn't burn oil; the oil just kind of "fell out". Put in about a can a week. Didn't have to buy the good stuff, it wasn't going to be in there long anyway. After several wrecks, the car was various colors and I still loved it. One final wreck did it in. None of the wrecks were my fault, although I concede that I wasn't good at avoiding them. Move on to a '70 boring-brown Chevy Impala. My Dad decided he wanted a little more metal around his driving-challenged daughter. Gawd, it was awful! I'd never had trouble with the Vega stalling (it was a stick), but the damned Impala stalled everywhere! It's favorite spot was in the middle of large intersections. After about 10 minutes, the car would restart and you were back in business. When that one finally died, I had to drive my Dad's Chrysler Imperial for a while. It "floated" down the road like a tank on water! I went to high school in a little tiny town and if that big-@ss Chrysler was coming down the street, everyone else had to pull onto the shoulder! I drove this for about 6 months. This was the only car I drove with A/C until I was about 22. I live in Texas! Next up was a brand new Mazda GLC! I think I was around 18 at the time, so maybe 1979? It had a lot of hail damage so my dad got it for about $2,500. I don't remember exactly. It had a CHOKE! First and only car I've ever driven that had a choke! I drove that one all through college, it was a great little car. Yeah, it got wrecked, too. I got t-boned in an intersection when someone ran a red light. Looking back on it, thank heavens my Dad had been part-owner of a service station earlier in his life. It appears that keeping wheels under me was nearly a full-time occupation. He never complained. Once I was working full-time, I bought: 1981 Datsun 210 - meh, got me around. Hit a telephone pole in the rain. Yeah, that one was my fault. 1986 Toyota Celica - my baby rocketship. Loved it. Wrecked twice. Once when a van ran a stop sign and I couldn't avoid them (I already admitted that this is not my strong suit). The second time, my future husband was driving and we were at a FULL STOP when a pizza delivery guy rear-ended us going 55 mph.(Probably faster, he told the cops 55) 1990 Honda Accord. Meh - it worked. 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager-I was pregnant with our twins and we needed a vehicle that could hold 4 carseats since our two older kids were 3 and 18 months. I really liked the vehicle although it was a maintenance nightmare. 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager - still liked the vehicle, still maintenance problems. 2006 Honda Odyssey - thought our maintenance issues were over! HAH! Turns out that was a lemon year for Hondas. I kept going back to the dealership because something wasn't "right" with the transmission and we were only getting about 12 mpg. Finally, after nearly 3 years, there was a recall on the rear wheel bearings on that model year. When they fixed that, the car drove fine and my mileage went up to 20 mpg! All together, I think it got brought back to the dealership for at least 4 separate recalls. 2016 Hyundai Tucson - I hated giving up the space in the Odyssey but my husband insisted I get a car with better mileage. Sadly, when I test drove the car there was no need to crank up the A/C to high. Turns out, the vehicle is desperately underpowed to handle jack-rabbit traffic with the A/C on full. There is an incredible delay in engine power. Really terrifying. So, fortunately, I changed to a job with a shorter commute and stay off the highways as much as I can, at least at rush hour. Well, that's my auto-biography!

Hi my surgery date is Aug.22 10 days away.

I had mine over winter break from school. Bypass 2 days before break and back to work after break about 10 days later. Was perfect but could’ve done sooner if I had to. Was a good time to do it for me- when we return it was a short week too!

My last meeting with the PA and nutritionist (my third of four), she said if I can lose 20 pounds between now and then, I can have my surgery the week of Thanksgiving. More specifically, if I'm down 8 pounds by our next meeting (9/5), she'll actually schedule it. Since the surgeon said in June I only had to get to "15 pounds down [from SW] by 9/5" (I'm ahead of schedule for that!), and in July the PA said "if you lose 6 more pounds by our August meeting we'll schedule your surgery in September" (and I did, and they didn't--the surgeon had changed his mind and decided to stick with his initial "lose 10% before the surgery" demand), I'm trying not to hold my breath too hard. But I'm holding up my end of the deal, anyway. I've started a low-fat ketogenic diet (I'm following the Ideal Protein protocol, but with alternative products... partially because it's less expensive than doing it for real, but mostly because I hated going into their offices and being weighed every week; I have my own scale, and lots of IP's "nutritionists" are just chiropractors, anyway). So far it's probably all water weight that'll come back pretty much immediately as soon as I drink some fruit juice, but I'm down 5 pounds this week. It's a low-cal enough diet that I'll be able to lose a real 1.5-2.5 pounds per week for the next couple of months (more early on, less as I get closer to November), which should guarantee my spot in November. I'm really anxious, though, because like I said, it'll take very little carbohydrate for me to gain back the water weight. I'm worried that the liquid diet, that last week, might contain too many carbs, and the surgeon won't listen to me and will throw me out for "gaining weight" when I didn't, really. I'm also worried that the anesthesiologist will refuse to work with me if I'm in ketosis at the time of surgery--it's not that different, but it's different enough that they have to watch some extra gauges, as I understand it. So, I have a few questions for my next appointment, I guess! Anyway, hi, other hopefully-November folks!

Love seeing all this pictures and seeing how each,of you have changed. If I had known you are your heaviest I sure wouldn't have recognized you now. In 2019 I hope myself to have such a change. A lot to work on after my September 5 2018 RnY but If you can do it, I will too.

It takes 10 weeks for the stomach to heal. The longer you can stay home to rest and heal the better for your overall health. I am 4 weeks out and now able to avoid a nap, but then I am also 70. :-). Having said all that, go back when your doctor clears you to go back to work. When you DO return, try to go back on a Wednesday or Thursday to make it a short week. Those first couple days will be exhausting. Hopefully you won't have complications that delay your return plans. Just be sensilble about it.

This was my last piece of work I had done over 10 years ago when I wasn't so big bellied. Only got it started though. My artist who is a good friend of mine had a relapse (clean for 16 years) and wound up having a stroke. Outline, shading and just a touch of color. Sad thing is he did not have completed artwork because it was in his head and he wanted to get it done on me. He's not capable of finishing it and I have no idea what he intended for the finished product to look like. I know artists do not like finishing other artists work but maybe I'll look into it after I hit my goal? This is my Phoenix .

I’m just 6 months post op and I went from a size 11 Wide to a 10 regular. It’s good that I’m not restricted to the Wide sizes as there’s a bigger variety of shoes I can now choose from.

Me at my heaviest - size 20 and me today - size 10. Enjoying the journey. 77 pounds lost, 44 to go to reach goal!

I understand your fears - I had similar ones. But today, now 5 months post-op, I can say without any reservation that this was the best decision I've ever made in my life. Here's me at my highest - and today. From a size 20 to a size 10. I still have work to do, but all of my labs are normal, I'm out of the obese category, I can walk, bike, run, swim (even look good in a bathing suit!), Just know the first few weeks are going to be tough. I've had both laproscopic gall bladder removal and a C-section. My recovery from GB was somewhere in the middle. Not as tough as C-section, but a bit harder than gall bladder removal. I went back to work after a week (telework in my pjs) - and back to my full days by week 2. I walked every day and followed my surgeon's/nutritionists directions exactly as written. No variation. To date I've lost 77 pounds (44 to go!)

Hey I've been looking for a place to post this, I almost put it in the post surgery 💩forum but I am still before surgery and I want to kinda whine, I am on Day#10 of a whole month liver-shrink diet. I am having 💩problems to be honest. My Stoll doesn't like leaving me, Oh it isn't what I would call constipation, I always heard that way hard textured and this isn't hard. I'm on 1000 calorie,100 gram protein,70 grams carb diet. Maybe it's that my colon muscles are 72 years old, maybe it isn't as firm as it once was and my muscles can't get a Firm hold, but it aches and I have sit there for not all spectacular results. The last few days I've resorted to Miralax, maybe a little help? My preconceived notion was I would have diarrhea , nope hasn't happened, am I worrying for nothing? I had more defecation fun when I was eating at will, but I do want and need this surgery. Is this common?

Hi all, September 3rd date for me. Looking forward to it - feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves as it gets closer! Only 10 days until the milk diet begins... good luck to everyone!

Forget eating - If you do not have co-morbidity factors then put fishing weights in your pockets next time that you go the Doctor. They are small and you can gain 10 pounds overnight

I’m a licensed cosmetologist and almost 9 months post op myself. I colored my hair the entire time I was experiencing hair loss. Honestly, go to a salon and have it done so they can use a lower volume developer versus buying a box and doing it yourself. Depending on what you want to do and where your color is now, they should be able to use 10 or 20 volume. All box color is 40 volume, has a higher percentage of peroxide in it, because it’s a “one size fits all” and can be unnecessarily harsh on your hair. Also, invest in an olaplex treatment while you’re at the salon. It helps protect your hair from the damage of coloring it. I went from silver to purple to blonde post op, using Olaplex. My hair feels healthy, just thinner.

So - I'm 57. I was 55 when I had my surgery. I'm in the midst of menopause, I've had two kids both by c-section and was a nationally competitive athlete in my teens. I look amazing clothed. I know I will never see 125 ever again. Just not happening. I also know I'm never going to see 20% body fat (which is what I was at then) because my physiology as a menopausal woman who has birthed two children will not allow that. I know that plastics will tighten and lift the tummy and the girls. My bigger issue is my arms. Have you talked with a plastic surgeon who is familiar with bariatric patients? My guy works with the team at the hospital I had my surgery at - his opinion is that thigh lifts are risky because of wound healing issues. Granted - you've lost only about half of what I have. At my highest (I wouldn't get on the scale) looking at photos now I realize I was over 300 pounds so I'm down about 150 pounds. I'd like to lose another 5-10, but if I don't, I'm ok with that. You really need to talk to a plastic surgeon about what is possible for your body.

I was born weighing 10 and 1/2 lbs and was always big lol. My highest was 280 and lowest 140 which I was happy with. I had my surgery 4 almost 5 years ago and I have not gone back to my prior weight

I only had like 10 pills, so I only took them when I absolutely needed to, which, really was only when I had issues sleeping.

When you say dye - meaning what? Darker, highlights, blonder, what? Darker hair will make your scalp show more if you have a fair complexion? Highlights - 2 colors might hide scalp peek-through better. While dye won't necessarily ruin your stressed locks, don't do drastic changes more than 2 shades difference - more than that takes stronger peroxide that will dry it out and make it prone to breakage. I would cut it shorter, not a pixie or anything, just shorter, maybe layers to plump up volume. I did a body wave, and highlights - not at the same time - it helps hide peek-through. It is growing in, fine baby hairs at hairline now at 10 months out the loss has stopped.

The OP's surgeon is incredibly ill informed. First "bulking" in the bodybuilding context is more about eating lots than it is a specific weight training regime. Obviously after WLS "bulking" is just not going to be possible. Second, everyone (other than steroid users) loses muscle mass when they loose a significant amount of weight -- its just reality. Third, weight training (especially with weights as heavy as possible) is the best way to minimize loss of muscle mass. Despite fairly intense weight training I've lost at least twenty pounds of lean body mass since my surgery. This isn't a bad thing since I've lost far more fat. More importantly I would have lost significantly more muscle if I hadn't been lifting. Bottom line is that after WLS no one is going to be gaining muscle. This is true for guys and even more true for women. The best case scenario is that after a person's weight has stabilized they may, with a lot of hard work over a long period of time, manage to regain some muscle mass. However, without steroids (or Testosterone Replacement Therapy for guys AKA legal steroids), these gains are unlikely to exceed 5 to 10 pounds for women and 10 to 20 pounds for men. But that's enough to make a huge difference.

With a desk job usually 7-10 days are enough..