Wallenmm
I'm someone that has always struggled with weight- I've never been "fit" or even remotely at a healthy weight. I've been body shamed and bullied and faced those disapproving looks all my life. After trying pretty much all the diets and only successful at losing then putting more on, I decided to do gastric bypass.
At start, November 2016, I was at my highest weight of 311 pounds. Working with the nutritionist for several months before, I got down to 282 the morning of surgery. I dont really have an end "goal". I really don't know what weight I "should be". I know I was a size 20 in my senior year of high school, and it won't take much longer until I am there again, and that makes me both very happy and very sad. Just sad that this is the state I have been in for 45 years.
At 1 month post surgery, I'm down about 20 pounds, maybe a bit more. I was at the "blah stage", I guess, where my energy is minimal and I'm a bit depressed, but I tell myself this is just temporary.
2 months out, I'm down 31 pounds post surgery, 60 total. I can say I'm not quite as tired all the time, which is a relief. No great bounds of engergy, but at least not dead tired all the time.
4 months out and down 82 total. I do have more energy, which is good. I don't feel like I am losing as fast as I want to, but I still struggle with getting in enough water too, and I know that helps. BUT I didn't put it on over night, so if it's going in the right direction, that should be good enough. I did drop from a 3X shirt to able to fit most 1X. Pants are 26 to a 22 or maybe 20, depending on the pant. WOOT!
5 months out and down 91 total. :-) I'm doing much better at getting in my water, as I can have larger sips now and that helps a LOT. I'm guessing I can wear a size 18, but haven't tested that theory because seriously! Buying clothes all the time is expensive! hahaha. I'm so happy with my tool, and with the knowledge I've gained.
6 months out and down 98 total. Sigh. Seems I'm slowing down a lot now, as it was a real struggle getting here. I really wanted to be at 100# down by 6 months, but that didn't happen. I hope I'm not "done".
Month 7 was good to me, and I lost another 10 pounds! I'm very excited about that. I am getting closer and closer to ONEderland, and I'm really pumped for that. My last doc appointment they said to aim for 200# as a weight post surgery, but you know I have to at least get to 199! I really don't have a goal number. If I got to 199 and stayed there, I would be fine with that, even though I would still be considered "overweight". I'm wearing a XL shirt now, down from 3X, and still haven't gone clothes shopping to see pant size. I know the 20s are too big. I might be close to a 16, but probably not there quite yet. Maybe that's my goal-- size 16. IDK. All I know is that I have more energy than I've had in too many years to remember. We had a major snowfall here a couple weeks back and I shoveled for 2.5 HOURS. About 1.5-2 FEET of very wet, heavy snow, and I was able to do it. Couldn't do that last year! OR the year before that, or the year before that, or........ Making progress one day at a time!
Month 8 and still doing well, with a loss of 8 pounds! I'm feeling pretty good for sure. I really need to get motivated to get to the gym though. The surgery doesn't help to fix your bad habits, like laziness! I am trying to walk more and IF we ever get spring around here (it's 39 degrees and snowing) I hope to get outside and walk more. I usually get 60 minutes of walking in- some days more and currently weekends less. I've started walking down the stairs (up hurts my ankle from a past failed surgery), and since I work on the 5th floor, that helps too. I have noticed I'm slipping more into my bad habits, and that scares me. Snacks! I want evening snacks. I try to not make them too bad though- last night I had (6) of those cheese whisps. 39 cal, 2.6 fat, 3.4 protein. I could be doing worse I guess! BUT still. I don't want to fail, and don't want to set myself up for failure. My last doc appointment happened early this month, and my bloodwork was great. Woo Hoo! She suggested a target weight of 180. I'm currently 195, so I think that's probably reasonable. I dont want to get TOO thin. I will still be considered "overweight" at 180, but if I feel good and feel I look good, then I dont really care what the BMI charts say. Again, one day at a time. For reference, I was wearing a tight 26 work pant and am now down to a 16. Old Navy jeans are a 14!! 14!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For top, I was wearing a 3X and now wear a XL or L, depending on the top. I was a size 20 in high school.
Month 9! My weight loss has definiely showed down, but I'm also doing more walking, so maybe it's that I'm adding muscle. I feel good though, and am fairly happy at my current weight, which is 189-190, depending on the day. So 5# lost this last month. I'll take it! It's in the right direction. I had an event recently and bought a form fitting elegant dress for the first time ever- It looked AMAZING!
Month 10, and I have reached what my doctor suggested-- 180 pounds. I"m pretty happy with where I am at this weight. I'm wearing a size 14 pant and a size large shirt. WOOP! I pull clothes out of the dryer and think "who do these belong to?", and then remember they are mine! Looks like month 10 was a loss of 10 pounds. Awesome. I just did a clothing trip to the Salvation Army and GoodWill because I realized I had absolutely nothing to wear in warm weather. Last year at this time, I was 100 pounds heavier! So hard to believe.
Month 11, and at 173 pounds. I have bumped up my calorie intake slightly, but know my body will ultimately decide where I need to be. I had my year appointment this month (a little early since surgery was in Aug), and they said they expect a loss of 60-80% of excess body fat. I've lost 84%. Overachiever! hahaha Feeling good and just so happy I made this decision. Pretty shocked I"ve lost another 7 pounds this month, but I'll take it!
ONE YEAR! 167 pounds, so 6 pounds lost this month. I wasn't good about getting my walking in this month, so sort of surprised I"ve lost so much. So hard to believe this new me! I"m really happy with everything except I no longer have a butt! hahahaha. Well, that and the girls are even flatter and hang further down~! I am considering a breast reduction since I am still a 36I, even following all the weight loss. I was hoping to get smaller than that so I could purchase bras at a normal store versus on-line. Oh well, at least with a reduction I can also get them put up where they belong! Doing good, feeling good and just sad I didn't do this earlier. BUT maybe it wasn't meant to be then, you know?
Month 13, and 160 pounds, so 7 pounds lost this month. I'm really kinda done with the weight loss thing! I am now trying to figure out how to STOP losing weight. I know that sounds crazy, but I really dont want to lose more. I am trying to figure out how to eat MORE so I dont lose further. My only issue at the moment really is my bariatric multi has started causing very bad nausea, and I had to switch to something else for a while. I really want to take a bari specific one though, so need to do some more research. Anyway, I guess that's it for now. Hopefully at month 14 I just say I maintained!
March 2019: 1 year 7 months. I'm pretty much maintaining (I THINK.. down 2 pounds last I looked) at 150 pounds. I did a 6 week exercise challenge and managed to maintain my weight while my body fat went from 29.4 to 25.4 %. Felt good to accomplish that and still maintain the weight, as I absolutely dont want to loose one pound more. I really stress about it, because I feel like I'm skin and bones now. I know people say to enjoy the skinny as by 3 years out you will have put some back on. I try to remember that, but when the scale goes down a couple pounds, I just worry. I never thought this would be my worry!!
About Me
Before & After
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