WLS-Before/After Pics (An Honest Journey)

LexThaSongbyrd

http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/990264/albums/ 120841/Before.After.jpg

I am 28 yrs. old. I had surgery (vertical sleeve gastrectomy aka "the sleeve") on 3/13/2012.

This is my honest journey...my thought process has not always been right...I've made bad decisions but I have also had great success thus far. So I want to share my journey. All of our experiences are different. I will admit the bad, not to justify or encourage the same actions in another person, but to be transparent in what I have done/gone through.

My highest weight I ever remember seeing was 231 but I could've weighed more at any point! When I started the process June 2011, I was 226lbs, size 18/20. I am 4'10". BMI was like a 47, morbidly obese of course. I had high blood pressure, diabetes and sleep apnea. I did NOT excercise. I hate to excercise. I honestly ate whatever I wanted during my 6 month program. I had the mindset to get it all in while I could. I clearly wasn't looking at it as a life changing experience that I should have engaged in so that after surgery it would be a breeze to get to goal and be healthy. I wanted surgery to get rid of my comorbities, not b/c I wanted to be skinny. I never had an issue with being plus size. If i didn't have health issues, i probably would've never looked into surgery. But anyway, I just wanted to enjoy all my favorites in as much quantity as possbile before the physical limitations would take over. I got down to 223 during the 6 months ( I don't know how lol). When I started my two week liquid diet, I was miserable the first week. I went off on my friends b/c they had a gathering one night at my house and ordered pizza and wings. They would not let me have not one bit. I was pissed and went off on them. They laughed me out and kept it moving (great friends! lol) I cheated one time that week by myself and got some Popeyes. I scarfed down 3 wings and fries. I felt so sick afterward, I threw it all up. I was good the rest of time thereafter! Day of surgery, I was 210lbs. They day I went home, I had gone back up to 215lbs from water weight in the hospital. I transitioned smoothly through each stage when I got home. I didn't add foods before I was supposed to. I think I did pretty good with that. However, I hated protein. I'm sure I didn't get in nearly as many grams as I should have during the first few months. However, the weight came off, not extrememly fast, but steadily. I tried to get in the gym a few times each week. I even walked every day during my lunch at work.

Getting into the 4th month, I definitely got comfortable...complacement...lazy. I was burned out in the gym. Started to hate it, had no desire to be there! And now at 7 months out, I haven't been back. I know...horrible, quite sad. I need motivation to start loving to work out. I now need to tone b/c I've become a slimmer person with a muffin top and hanging skin on my back that just doesn't belong. That could have probably been prevented had I stayed in the gym. I have resorted back to some of my fav snacks. I never wanted to feel deprived and I make excuses that it's ok in small quantity ever so often. That could be true with great discipline. But with some sliders, I can just keep on going and going...not a good look!

Some of the good things I think I do well...I try to do protein first every day whether it be chicken, fish, beef or pork. Veggies make me too full quickly, especially lettuce. I eat Greek Yogurt every single day (love it with suguar free syrups, splenda, and strawberries). I do not drink my calories, only water for me (any type of calorie/sugar/carb free mixture). I barely do any breads/pasta/rice. My only carb issues are when I can't deny myself a salty snack of cheetos/white cheddar popcorn or a bite of a snickers! So, outside of that, I think I keep my carbs in a good place...not quite 40 or below but no where near 100 or more. I have no desire to stop at fast food places. (I used to eat fast food everyday, literally!) I still do my daily lunch time walk (about 2 miles in 45 minutes). Calories are kept between 700-1000, depending on the day.

Things I want to change...be more active, working out, toning, reduce grazing and carb loaded snacks, be more on top of taking vitamins daily, and experiement with cooking more high protein meals.

I'm down to 147.5, size 9, BMI is still obese. I'm not even overweight yet! SMH

When I look in the mirror, I see a difference. But I don't feel different. I am still plus size in my head. I don't know if that will every change. My goal is to be 125, size 6. My fam and friends say I must stop loosing so I won't look crazy/sick. They think I should just maintain now. But I want to loose at least 23 more lbs. They don't understand.

I will never be at a place where I have a skinny mind and feel I have arrived. This is mental/emotional/spiritual and everything all at the same time. Just like with any struggle or addiction, the stages of change include relapse. The chance of relapse is the greatest during maintenance, which is why the daily support/outlet of a site such as this is invaluable. I love the motivation and great ideas to be found. I pray we all have a forward moving journey of success, lessons learned and great health!

Farmerj2000

Great job

NurseandMom1981

Love your honesty. We all fail from time to time thats what makes us human! Keep pushing yourself and you will do great!

disasterman

Thanks for sharing. Great story and great progress!

LexThaSongbyrd

thanks for posting the pic for me @Farmerj!

Every_Woman

Thank you for posting your honest story. You certainly look younger now. I hope you are having fun.
I find it interesting that your family thinks that you will be "sick" looking if you are 4'10" and 125. It is amazing how different cultural norms can be.

LexThaSongbyrd

Thank you for posting your honest story. You certainly look younger now. I hope you are having fun.
I find it interesting that your family thinks that you will be "sick" looking if you are 4'10" and 125. It is amazing how different cultural norms can be.

so true! can't speak for all but it's common to "want" to be PHAT! LOL

katseguin

I think you look gorgeous!! and so much younger. congratulations:)

youcandooeet

You probably feel so awesome! I'm so happy for you.

Don't listen to what your friends say, especially if they're not in a healthy weight range or don't value fitness. If you want to be a normal weight for your height, do it. You'll be healthier and probably happier. Especially if you get some muscle!

Try taking a boot camp or a weight training group class to make it more fun! Maybe take some zumba! You'll find something that works for you. Working out doesn't have to be running on a treadmill and situps!

Great job and best wishes on getting to your end goal!

briannadunn

Thank you for posting your honest story. You certainly look younger now. I hope you are having fun.
I find it interesting that your family thinks that you will be "sick" looking if you are 4'10" and 125. It is amazing how different cultural norms can be.

so true! can't speak for all but it's common to "want" to be PHAT! LOL

please please please ignore them, you lose as much as you want and ignore their jealous comments, my own Mother says that I shouldn't lose lower than 164 of course It is ok for her to be 145 and she is taller than me, keep up the great work.

monivovo

I just read your story and I am so moved. You are so honest (and a great writer, by the way!!).

Your info re: the sleeve interested me -- see, I enrolled into the bariatric program at my hospital TWICE to have the the sleeve surgery. I quit the first time - wasn't willing/ready to "give up the food I like". In fact I did 10 days of the 14 day liquid diet prior to surgery (to lower fat around the liver, right?) and I quit, that was the second attempt. I was in a terribly unhappy relationship and I have recently divorced and I am starting to feel more free and clear.

I am proud of you that you did the surgery. I remember hearing that it greatly reduces diabetes risk and for that alone, you r are wise. In my opinion, it was an act of self love that you did the surgery. It sounds like you know your stuff - and that you know what you want. I know the post I read of yours is a little dated, I just want you to know that I hope you did what you wanted to do and lost more weight if that is what you truly wanted. Your pictures are amazing to see. You were beautiful in your before pic, and beautiful, fit-looking and happier seeming in your after pic.

You are a true inspiration to me. I started MFP 4/8/13 at 296 and since lost 11 lbs...I really like MFP. My sister and I joined our local YMCA and joined a class called "Move It to Lose It". It is the hardest thing I have ever done, but it has created in me a sense of having to be accountable (to my sister, to the trainer and to the other 8 people in the class). I am the heaviest in the class and everyone is so supportive.

We go twice a week to the class and then we go two more times a week, for a total of 4 visits a week. Could you join a Y? they are so great and low key, not flashy and the people are so cool there. You could swim, do the machines and weights.

It has been working for me -- and I do not dread dread dread!! exercise anymore. It has lifted my spirits. We swim one day, do weights another day, machines/treadmill another and weights another. In fact, today I played basketball (just shot hoops, not an actual game) but it was such a blast and I burned almost 400 calories having fun!

I hope you can find something like this too. I pray for your continued success and I thank you for sharing your story. Again, you are an inspiration!

Take good care and friend me if you want!

Monica from Chicago

MissE4410

You're a knock out! You look so much younger! By like 20-30 years! And more confident which is even more beautiful:) I know it doeant matter what others think but you look happy and healthy at your current weight so anything more should just be toning. Honestly you totally inspired me:) Thanks for sharing!!