empresspam
13 years - Thank you Dr. Paya
May 17, 2020
What a difference 3 years makes! 3 years ago I was stuck at 174 lbs and wondering if I had undone my WLS. I completed the 5 day pouch test, refocused on following my nutritional rules and now I am down to 152 lbs. and still losing. This year I will turn 72 years old, I feel healthier than I did in my 50's and my future for retirement looks rosey.
9 years
Jun 28, 2016
I can't believe next month will be 9 years since I had my WLS. My lowest weight was 153 lbs then I gained 20 lbs and have been stuck at 174 for the last few years.
I started the 5 day pouch test this week with the goal of resetting my pouch and get back to WLS basics. My next goal is to find a support group to attend, I have not attended any support groups in the last 5 years not a good thing. I have started to visit the online forums always good to know I am not alone.
Has it really been 4 years
Jul 28, 2011
2 1/2-Year Update
Dec 28, 2009
2 ½ years since my WLS, I can hardly believe it has been that long. I’ve had ups and downs but have not regained any weight. I am not as small as I’d like to be but I am at a good weight.
I started my third year in the hospital with a small bowel obstruction, I thought it was a complication of my WLS but discovered that it was the adhesions from my 1989 hysterectomy. One good thing about my hospitalization was that I returned from the hospital at a weight of 155. I had been trying for 6 months to get my weight below 160 with no success, since the surgery my weight have remained below 160 and I have started to lose the last 10 lbs that I’d like to lose.
The one area where I have slacked off is my exercise. I started off the first of the year keeping to my routine but after starting my new job in March my hours changed and I have not been able to find new times that work for me (I know that is just another excuse).
Dressed I like my looks but I still have body image problems, my upper arms look horrible to me with the loose skin and I still have a problem wearing short sleeve tops. I have thought about surgery to remove the loose skin but I think I’m too old to go through more operations.
One Year Surgiversary
Jul 27, 2008
End of 1st Year
So much has changed in this year, not just my weight but how I think and behave. I have lost 110 lbs going from 274 down to 164. My doctor’s goal was 190lbs, which I achieved at 6 months, my own goal of 150lbs is still 16 lbs away, but I am still working toward it. In the last month I have changed my vitamins and calcium based on my recent lab results. My doctor feels that Bariatric Advantage vitamins and calcium lozenges are the best and I should switch from Centrum MV and Citrucel Chewy Bites to the Bariatric Advantages brand. I had tried BA Calcium before and hated them but this time I tried the Cinnamon and Cherry lozenges, they were OK, and instead of the BA capsule I started the chewable and I have been able to take both with no problems. I have also gone back to drinking protein drinks. My nutrition wanted me to back off the protein drinks and get all my protein from food but that is not working well and my doctor does not feel that it was a good idea; he would like me to continue protein drinks just like my MVI and calcium. I still have trouble seeing myself as smaller, I still look for loose fitting clothes, and I have to try on different sizes to see that I actually can wear a smaller size. My biggest problem has been bras, at 59, I do not expect to have perky breast but with the weight lost mine are saggy and droopy and I have been having a hard time finding the right bra that provides support and make clothes look good. I went from a 46C to somewhere between a 36B-C. My thighs and upper arms are not areas that I want to display either but I am still undecided if I want to have plastic surgery done. My stomach is relatively OK not too saggy and not a lot of hanging skin but the inner thighs-ugh saggy with dimples everywhere. My other vanity area is my face and neck when I was heavier my face was so big and round that no lines were seen now I have the (‘s around my mouth and a wrinkly neck. Oh the beauty of aging!! I participate on several on-line support sites but I have not found a support group in my area with meeting that I can attend with my work schedule. I have heard about a Saturday afternoon support group about 25 miles away that I am going to try to attend. In the last month, I have lost and gained the same 2 lbs so in addition to writing everything down in my food journal and increasing my exercise I think I may benefit from attending support meetings. Stats
| Beginning | Pre Op | 3 Months Post Op | 6 Month Post Op | 9 Month Post Op | 12 Month Post Op | |
| Date | Apr-06 | Jul-07 | Oct-07 | Jan-08 | Apr-08 | Jul-08 |
| Weight | 274 | 265 | 212 | 189 | 171 | 164 |
| Bust | 47 | 45 | 41 | 39 | 37.5 | 38 |
| Waist | 47 | 47 | 39.5 | 37 | 34.5 | 34 |
| Hips | 56 | 55 | 49 | 45 | 42 | 40.5 |
| Thighs | 30 | 30 | 27 | 24.75 | 23.5 | 21.75 |
| Neck | 16.5 | 15.75 | 14.5 | 13.75 | 13.5 | 13.25 |
| Upper Arms | 19.25 | 18.5 | 17 | 16.25 | 15.5 | 15 |
| Dress Size | 26 | 24 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
Six Month Anniversary
Jan 26, 2008
Six months-so much has changed in that time. I feel so much better, I didn't think that I'd every feel this good again. I am walking up and down stairs without pain or shortness of breath and I have not had to use my cane since surgery.
My eating habits have completely changed, I don't buy anything without checking the fat and carb count first. Before everything I ate had some kind of sauce or mayonnaise on it now just looking at anything with lots of sauce looks disgusting and even putting a little mayonnaise in my tuna makes my new stomach hurt.
But the biggest changes have been in how I look, and my attitude about dieting and healthy eating. I don't think in term of dieting anymore just eating right according to my nutritionist's guidelines
At the start of my journey I weighed in at 274 lbs and on the day of my surgery I arrived at the hospital weighing 265 lbs and wearing a size 26 dress. Today I weigh 189lbs (1 lb below my doctors goal) and size 14 fit perfectly. Before WLS I'd go out of my way to find an elevator now I always look for the stairs first. I even look forward to taking my vitamins which is something I dreaded at the start of this journey
Although I am at my doctor's weight goal I have not reached my desired goal and for the next six months I will be working toward losing another 30lbs to reach my desired goal and maintaining and expanding the new healthier habits I've gained (oh yeah and growing my hair back)
End of year 5 months post op
Dec 31, 2007
For the first time in years I'm not starting the year off with a resolution to start a weight loss and exercie program.
I feel so good about myself, I am walking more than I have in years. I look for ways to add activity to my day. I invested in a recumbent exercise bike and have been increasing the time I spend on it. Hurrah for exercise!
I have gone down 5 dress sizes- preop I was wearing size 24W-26W (and the 26 pants were getting tight) now I wearing 14W's that are little loose and regular 16 pants that fit just right.
I am so happy that I had WLS
Past the Three Month Mark
Nov 11, 2007
| Beginning | Pre Op | 3 Months Post Op | |
| Weight | 274 | 265 | 212 |
| Bust | 47 | 45 | 41 |
| Waist | 47 | 47 | 39.5 |
| Hips | 56 | 55 | 49 |
| Thighs | 30 | 30 | 27 |
| Neck | 16.5 | 15.75 | 14.5 |
| Wrist | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Upper Arms | 19.25 | 18.5 | 17 |
| Dress Size | 26 | 24 | 18 |
I think my biggest challenge in the next few months is not feeling discouraged as I look at the sagging skin on my upper arms, thighs and stomach.
Two Months-WOW
Oct 06, 2007
I celebrated my two month anniversery and I can not begin to tell you how many things have changed for me. I still have ups and down with certain food but I am able to eat out if I order carefully and divide my food before I start to eat. I have to really work to get all my protein in and anything sweet plays havic with my new pouch.
Before WLS I was unable to walk up stairs and became tired just walking to my car. I had not been able to shop at a mall in 3 years, my shopping, including groceries, was all done online. Today I enjoy walking through the mall and shopping for my weekly groceries.
One of my WOW moments happened at work, I was at a meeting and we had to go to another department to conduct an audit as the entire management team headed out pass the elevator headed for the stairs one of my co-worker turned and said "Do you want me to wait for the elevator with you?" it felt so good to say "No I can take the stairs down" I was able to stay with the group with no stopping to rest or being short of breathe.
My next WOW moment came when I started to try on clothes that had been packed away. When my pants started to fall off my waist I decided to see if I could fit into some of my smaller clothes that I had packed away. I thought they might be one or two loose dresses that I might be able to fit in. On the day of surgery I was wearing size woman's sizes 24-26. I started trying on dresses and they were too big then I put on a pair pants size 20 and they were too big. It was a WOW this is really working keep it up Pam.
My stats
Highest weight 274
Day of surgery 265
Sept 27 (2 months post op) 221
Eight weeks out
Sep 22, 2007
The past few weeks have been trying and educational, I was so sick some days that I felt like I wanted to just stay in bed and cover my head. I went through days when I could not eat anything, looking at food made me sick and when I tried to eat I would get sick and have to lay down. I could not drink my protein drinks or water without gaging. Then on day near the end of my seventh week things just got better, I could eat without getting sick, I could drink water and unsweetened drinks. I also discovered that I could not tolerate any sweet tasting drinks-crystal light is too sweet for me now I have to make it with double the amount of water. I still get a little nauseated when I see too much food on my plate but I'm getting good at seperating the amount I will eat and pushing the rest to the other side of the plate.
My WOW moment for this period was throwing away my size 26 pants and pulling out the 20's from the old clothes box. One thing I'm still trying to decide if I like is the decrease in my breast size, it seems that my breast are shrinking faster than my hips or thighs, it would be nice if they all decresed at the same rate.
Highest weight 274
Day of Surgery 264
Today 224
WLS was the best thing I could have done for me!!!
About Me
Before & After
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