Post Ops ---Could you picture yourself as you are now?

The first thing I'm finding is that I can walk from one end of my house to the other without being winded.  I seriously think I would have been dead within a year if I hadn't had RNY back on 11-16-2000.  I'm quite different than a lot of the men here in that I grew up SKINNY.  I didn't start gaining weight until I got engaged and then put on at least 10 lbs a year every year until the mid 90's where I put on 100 lbs in one year.  Ouch!! I have both physical and mental problems that are not due to my weight but they do affect my desire and ability to exercise.  I can't walk without a cane or rollator (like a walker on wheels) and even then I don't go very far.  But, even with that, my progress far exceeds anything I could have hoped for.  I really didn't expect to be alive today, so I like my wife's favorite Paula Deen quote, "it's a good day when you wake up on the right side of the dirt."

Good question. My answer? No. Like someone who can barely see, who has never even tried on glasses, Then suddenly getting perfect vision, I had no idea how much different life could be. Everything is easier. (for me) The world is designed for normal sized people.  At 385+, nothing seemed to work well. But at 180?  Clothes actually fit.  Belts do keep pants in place without being tugged at all day.  Shirt tails stay tucked. Shoes are comfortable and support feet.  Chairs are comfortable and easy to get in and out of.  Car seats are perfect.  Airline seats are roomy.  Restaurant Booths are perfect sized. Exercise is easy, Air Conditioning keeps me from sweating, And so on, and so on, and so on….. It’s like the whole world changed, not me….. I’m coming up on 5 years Post-Op this summer, And still, I daily have instances of- “OH! That’s what that’s really like!” “This is what this is supposed to be like!!” The world is pretty good. Now, that said, If someone is looking to WLS to change the non-physical aspects of the world? How people treat one another, relationships, self esteem, etc…? They may be just as amazed at how much is left unchanged by weight-loss. Advice from Yoda- You will find only what you bring in. Best Wishes- Dx

 

never thought about it except to fantasize about buying clothes off the rack. if i could just do that then i would be happy. i had no idea i would respond at my age and weight to lifting. i've lifted most of my life but it's just muscle under fat if you get heavy. i really didn't think it would come back but it did. so like others, it's beyond my expectations. i never in a million years thought i would have a 32" waist. so the whole thing was very cool. it's very easy to look in the mirror and pick out your faults though. you still see the fat first only if you let yourself go there. so try to see the improvment and not beat yourself up because you're not perfect. try to always see the thinner you and be happy about it. way to easy to be hard on ourselves again only this time because we have excess fat or look lumpy or any host of reasons. please don't fall into that trap. keep a pair of your big pants for a reminder of how far you've come and get those before pics big time! that should make you happy when you feel you aren't getting anywhere. just a heads up.....lol....carbonblob

Short answer, NO. It is a different life that I live now. I still see myself as fat in my head but the fact is, I am out 14 months, down 185# and weigh 182.5, yep I lost more than I NOW WEIGH! I went from tight 56 pants and 3-4x shirts to 34 pants and m-l shirts! My compact car has gotten HUGE inside, where there only used to be about 4" between my belly and the steering wheel, there is now a good 12 or 13"!  My back does not hurt any more, nore do my feet, knees, hips. I don't need my CPAP machine anymore, nore do I need high blood pressure pills, in fact my B/P is on the very LOW side of normal! I can walk up 5 flights of stairs without slowing down though I will be huffing and puffing a little bit when I get up there but I am over that and back to normal breathing within just a few minutes!  Could I possibly know what life would be like, NO WAY, IT IS MUCH BETTER THAT I WOULD HAVE EVER GUESSED!!!

Yes, very surprised.  I, like many had felt, would fail and regain the weight.  Or just drop alittle and still look huge.  I was wrong.  I have said along with others, "enjoy the ride".  The FART moments (like WOW moments on the Main Board), will come one after another.  They will be little things to many normal weight people, but very big to you.  You have to go up to old friends and family and reintroduce yourself to them...They just didn't reconigize you.  Neighbors are wondering if my wife having an affair because that normal weight guy is always hanging around their home (they better be talking about me!!).  You will start to see and feel bones in your body that you have not felt since you were a kid.  Your thinking "Yeh this might happen", but when it really does, you have to be able to handle it.  Having good looking women greeting you and sizing you up, rather than giving you that extra space!!  Having women making eye contact with you is another one.  Do this for your health, but be ready for a life changing experience.  Brian

This has been an excellent thread for me!  I'm already having FART moments at 5 weeks out and they do seem to happen almost every day.  Like trying on 3x shirts and they fit already.  Or getting to the last notch in a belt I was drilling holes in to make it fit.  I wasn't expecting that for at least a month or two!  I'm already down from a 52 to a 46 Jeans size.  I'm loving it.  Reading your stories really makes me think.  There's a lot to "process" with this much change going on inside my body and I need to honor that.  The biggest FART of all so far is realizing that I am not lazy or weak.  This tool has shown me that I can succeed and that my obesity is metabolic and I can now overcome it.   I walk up to three miles a day now (that's my furthest).  Six weeks ago I was using a cane from all the pain (that's gone now).  My CPAP is starting to feel like it will blow my head off!  I'm flying in a couple of weeks and I know I will fit, albeit uncomfortably, into the seat.  No more worry about not even being able to squeeze in, let alone asking for an extension. When I think of the benefits I already have, let alone the avalanche yet to come, the work I have ahead of me is a whole lot more manageable! CB

Eventhough I posted earlier I want to say "I wish we were all in the same room right now I'de like to meet each one of you." I'm not the most warm and fuzzy person except with my grandchildren but this thread makes me feel that we've all acomplished something together even though we don't each other from a big red apple. Good Luck Guys!!

All, Thanks for your input on this.  Sorry I haven't been here to post since Friday, but I really do appreciate everyone's input.  (Was lucky enough to be sitting in the snow at Lambeau Field on Saturday!) I am trying to journal along the way so I'll have something to look back at after the fact.   I have a consultation with the surgeon scheduled for tomorrow, so hopefully I'll know more then. Thanks again!