Havent been here in a while

My pc has been acting up and I havent been here in a while.I have really missed the words of wisdom and stories you guys share.I am now 5 weeks post op down 82.5 pounds(so far).I have to force myself to exercise I am still so lazy.My question is how long or much weight did you lose before you felt or saw the difference I think I look the same and I know I feel the same because I need to exercise to strengthen my heart

Wow Danielle!  Your weightloss is amazing.  I remember losing 40lbs by 6 weeks.  My mom had given me a gym membership for Christmas and I remember that I set it up to be activated when I was 3 months post op.  At the house I had a stationary bike so little by little I was spending more time on it.  But I can not tell you enough that the first year is your window of opportunity.  Take advantage and exercise - do your cardio - this is when you will have the most weight loss.  Just start out slow.  You will get stronger.  Best of luck to you.

Carey

For me, it took quite some time to notice.  My family and co-workers noticed within weeks, but I'm a bit more critical of myself.

I had my surg in Nov so all my clothes were big and bulky winter wear.  My pants were a 28-30, strechy, yuckies, and I wore them until they fell off, but that took months to happen.  If I remember correctly I'd say I was down about where you are, 85 or so lbs., when I noticed.

It sounds like your doing great!  I'm sure you will see changes very soon.

Edie

It didnt hit me until recently, probably around the same amount loss as you are at right now. What really helped was to see two pictures of myself side by side that really showed the difference. I also got a few new outfits that fit me and that helped as well.

To be honest, I still don't SEE any difference in my size, but I sure do feel it.  I am sometimes disappointed when I look in the mirror because I feel like I am tiny, but when I see myself I think I look the same as always.  So I am relying on how I feel instead of how I look as a measure for success.

Hi Danielle,
Being over 2 years post-op, I still see myself as a fat person.  The years of obesity changes our thinking and the surgery doesn't fix that part.  I still put way too much food on my plate, still look at plus size clothes when shopping, and sometimes I still try to find the closest parking space. Even though I have lost more than half of myself, I often don't see me as a thin person.  The only time it hits home that I am small is when I put on those size 10 jeans and they fit.  I lost my first 85 pounds within 8 months.  In total, I have lost 160 pounds.  I play with about 5-9 pounds all the time, so I am leveling out at around 155-160.  I'll take that.

As far as exercise is concerned, due to the progressing arthritis in my back, and the newest diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, the only real exercise I can tolerate without pain is walking.  I can go a couple of hours before my hips tell me to stop.  I can't do the exercises I need to do in order to get my upper abdomen smaller....they really hurt my back.  The plastics took away the lower abdominal skin, but the upper is an issue.  I am 2 sizes larger above my waist than I am at the hips.  I have to wear low-rise jeans because anything that goes above that area just rolls back down to my hips anyways.

I do see the difference in the mirror but it's hard to comprehend sometimes.  The mental picture of myself doesn't match what my eyes are seeing.

I have lost 25 since surgery 57 before.I am still wearing the same clothes other than  a pair of regular jeans I just started wearing.Maybe because everything was tight before and elastic..I have worked out twice this week the treadmill and the bikes.My boss and I are planning to go three times weekly.I am hoping to go jogging by spring.It may be a long shot but I didnt come this far to back down now.Thanks for all the replies...