1st WOW!

One of the massage instructors where I work looked at me kind of strangely yesterday and said, "Ruth, I can see your clavicle!" At first I thought, 'OMG, my WHAT's showing?!?!' and looked down! Then thought, 'what's a clavicle'? For those who are also confused, it's your collarbone. Many people have been telling me my weight loss is showing, but I haven't been able to see it yet, which is really frustrating and depressing at times. My panni is hanging lower than ever, but I haven't felt that that was a positive. Yes, shirts have gotten baggier, but not my pants. Other post ops who were around my weight or heavier at their surgeries, have told me that they couldn't 'see' a loss until around a 100 pound loss or so themselves. I know it takes awhile for our heads to catch up to our bodies... we all think that we will be the ONE that WLS doesn't work for... and that other people will notice before we do, as we are our own worst critics. That said, the last four months have been very very hard emotionally for me. Ok, now for the WOW part.... Since my colleague made that clavicle statement, last night after my shower I decided to looked at myself for a long time in the mirror. I mean really looked! Guess what? I have shoulders!!!!!! OMG!! Shoulders!! I haven't seen them in probably 20 years! YAY!! BTW, I was 4 months post op on Wednesday, which was also my monthly weigh in. I am down 51 pounds since surgery.... 74 pounds total!! I think I have lost it all in my upper half though. What's THAT about?! Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming. Huggs, Ruth

Hello Ruth, Congratulations on your wow moment and your weight loss!!! Best wishes on your journey. Take care and have a great day, (((hugs))) Diana

congratulations, ruth! i'm so glad you are starting to be able to see the changes. i know it took me a long time to see what others seemed to be able to see. i know what you mean about losing in the upper half of the body! my collarbones and shoulders actually look kinda bony at this point, but i have so much skin and sag lower -- well, my stomach, butt and thighs are just incredibly bizzare looking! i think my thighs have just slid right down and only my knees are holding them up! oh well, i feel GREAT...and i'll just keep my clothes on! keep up the great work! deb -248

You Go Ruth, Seeing a shoulder how cool is that. I am very happy for you. As for the mention of your clavicale isnt that also part of a wing? Look at it like this you are spreading your wings and starting to fly. Annie

Hi Twinnee!!! Wow!!! You have a Clavicle..sounds like some kind of new medication or something. I'm with you on the upper-part of the bod "melting" to the lower half and staying there! It's fun to have smaller sized tops though huh? I was wearing 4x shirts for so long. They were so hard to find when I'd look around for new tops. I am so happy to be wearing a 2x now..and it feels kinda roomy....I can't even phathom wearing a large or medium!!! Do you feel like people (the folks who know you had the surgery) are staring at you all the time..watching what you eat..and kinda waiting to actually see the weight"poof-off"?? I went to a dinner with our church's women's group. We sat in a round table of about 8 seats. Boy, did I have the eyes on me! I had about a teaspoon of each item on my plate...and I ate like a skinny person..you know, pushed around my food, trying to find the protein in a piece of lazanga. Finally a lady who knew I had the surgery spoke up and asked me how I have been feeling since my surgery. Of course, that led to the discussion that I had the gastric by-pass. I tried to be gracious and matter-of-fact. It's strange how the heavier women that were sitting there were so shocked..they just staired at me and didn't have much to say after that. I was careful not to brag. I just answered the questions simply. Later on one of the ladies came up to me and told me that she didn't know...but she didn't think a person who had wls was allowed to eat real food. I assured her that this was not a magical cure..just a tool. I totally felt like a freak of nature. Well, hurray for your Wow moment girl..you have arrived! Hugs, Ginger...your wls Twinnee!

Hey Ruth, Girl you scared me for a minute there. Thought you had a feminine article showing or something with the clavicle remark showing lol. I also havent ever seen to many bones. Tanja swears there under there somewhere and I will one day see them but until then I just feel insulation mostly lol... And about the panni, just do like me I stick boobs and panni in my shoes at the same time lol... Talk about going south for the winter? I think they are heading that way to for spring and summer lol.... You have done so great!! Keep up the good work and when I get that clavicle thingy ill let ya know lol.... Hugs Marge

Well done, Ruth! Don't poke anyone's eye out now that your clavicle is sticking out! I'm pretty sure I have bones, and hope to see them soneday! Kix

Hey Ruthie ... WOW!!! I know you're a happy camper right now!! As for losing in your upper half ... it sounds like you're doing as I did ... it all came off from my scalp down to my waist in the first months. I didn't really start to SEE much difference (there WAS difference, just not enough for me!!) below the waist until the last 4-5 months. My cousin and I have a theory on this ... we call it "packed" fat ... denser than the kind of fat above the waist, and therefore slower to come off. Of course we say it's "denser" because we've sat on it so many years ! At any rate, it worked the same for her and me. I'm seeing changes in my legs now too, although it's rather horrifying to see now much skin I'm going to be left with. Look at my progress pics and you'll see what I mean by it SEEMING as if it was all coming off above my waist. Remember ... you're 4 months out ... with so much time ahead of you. You're going to be seeing things soon that are going to be constant WOW moments. (((hugs))) Myra

i thought about surgery at least 2 years before make a final decision to have it. i remember waking up in icu thinking to myself - what have i done? after that, i moved on and haven't regretted it since. all my labs are great, i've lost 91 lbs. even though you have the surgery and lose a weight, you still have to work at keeping if off. i guess i am blessed, i can eat just about anything in moderation and not get sick. that can be good and it can be bad! i enjoy buying clothes and i'm always receiving compliments on how good i look. i can walk with friends and i'm not the first one to poop out! this is a personal decision that you have to make and only you can make it! you need support from your family and friends. good luck!! sherry

Ruth, I so related to your post...I remember when I first saw my shoulders and clavicle! It had been years for me too! I'm so proud of you! Keep up the great work! Lori 384/245/168