No games, just facts! The bariactric surgery stories and where you stand...

Starting it off. I had gastric bypass surgery a little over a year ago. I've lost over 100lbs. I've had some really difficult stages. I'm a stress eater. I'm determined to never go back to where I began... So, I'll start there, at the beginning. I started off at 273lbs. I didn't even realize how badly I had come to look and feel. I was really nervous about having the gastric bypass surgery done, as I watched videos on youtube seeing the skin left, the stories of hair loss, etc. It was a scary prospect. I have children and decided that I needed to do better in the health department in order to be able to be there for them. I was really nervous, especially when they told me that I had to go on a liquid diet for 7 days! Boy was I grateful, though, that it wasn't 10...lol. I didn't think I could do it! Surprised myself! My first accomplishment! Yay! Along with the gastric bypass, I also had a hiatal hernia. The day of surgery came and went... I listened. My doctor wanted me walking the next day and boy did I walk! I was so determined! I was losing weight at a really good pace! Then, we moved to TN! The scale wouldn't move! I was so upset! Once we moved, it took me about 6 months to lose 30 additional pounds! Last week, I met with the bariatric surgeons here in TN. I learned something, that I didn't know. I was so upset going into my appointment. I hadn't reached the goal weight that the nutritionist and I had come up with at our meeting, which was 150lbs. I had only gotten to 157lbs and was very upset with all of it! I had already rejoined a gym and everything trying to make that scale move! What I didn't know, was that I was already considered a "success"... The doctor here said that when they do a bariatric surgery, they hope for you to lose 70-80% of your body fat. I didn't even know how to calculate that, but he told me that I was at 81%. I'm happy that I'm at a point where they consider me a success. I'm not happy with me, yet. I guess there's always that possibility that I never will be... They say that some people lose until 18 months after the surgery. I plan to test that... I've decided that for the first time I can remember that I want to be on the weight chart for my height and body frame. After reading that if your wrist measures 6", that you're a small frame, I've decided that I need to get down to around 133lbs. I've also been told that many people gain between 20 and 50lbs back. Taking that into account, I have a long way to still go... I will keep you updated every so often on my progress or lack thereof. Now, back to the skin issue. YES, IT IS AN ISSUE! HOWEVER, after seeing the nutritionist here in TN this week, she assured me with exercise, I will reduce that. I'm trying. I have a long way to go to my goal and a long road to maintain it, once it's reached. I pray that God keeps you safe on your journeys and helps to keep you strong, when you fall short on your own... Ask questions and if I have an answer, I will give it. If I don't, I'll try to find it for you!

First off, I also have CFS. I also have always had an issue with depression and anxiety. You will lose weight again! You can't give up. That's the most important thing. I'm 46yrs old. I'm not going to say it's easy, but you will do it. I rejoined a gym almost two months ago, when I was at that period where it was soooo hard to lose. I religiously go to classes two days a week and yes, I actually do the classes. I love the trainer I have. I was honest with her on my situation and where I wanted to get to. She pushes me. I'm not going to say that I LOVE exercise, because I don't. I do love the my trainer and really like the people that are in the group. That's more important than the gym you sign up with. If you like the people, they will help keep you focused and on track. Congrats on your baby! New life and world there! That will also be a wonderful and challenging part of your new life! I don't do just protein. I was just watching carbs, but when I saw the nutritionist, she told me that she wants me to watch the calories instead. So, she sent me here... I do stress eat. She said that part of that is because I'm not getting enough carbs in my regular diet... So, don't go by carbs! I'm going to see how it goes. As of tomorrow, I have a regular doctor appointment and will update my weight from her scale... Good luck. Let me know if you need support. I am here! P.S. I have the dumping syndrome as well, when I eat too much. I try to focus on chewing each bite a lot so my brain has more time to know I'm full before I get to that point. Plus, the new nutritionist told me that chewing your food to a soft consistency before you swallow will help with that symptom. If you put in here the weight you want to get to and how much you want to lose per week (the nutritionist recommended 1/2 pound a week at the most), then it will tell you the calories you can have each day. I set mine higher than 1/2 pound a week yesterday, though... I want to kind of reboot the weight loss and then I'll lower it back down to the 1/2 pound per week... Good luck!