what's the difference? New to the lightweight board

Hello, welcome and congrats on your date!!!

I've found this site and this forums very helpfull and supporting. As the other's say, I'd get alot of "your not that big" (257 at my highest and 237 pre surgery) but now, seven months later, I can't even believe the difference.

Tonight my 14 year old daughter had a friend over, that has only seen me once, a year ago. She thought my daughter was pulling a prank on her saying I was her mom!!! She didn't even recognize me

Anyways, I just smile and say I got the surgery for health reason's which is very true. At a BMI of 37.5 I had and was taking pills for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, sleep apnea, tachycardia, as well as joint pain and a few other things. Seven months and 65lbs later, I'm off all of those meds (and CPAP) except for Metaformin which I'm down to once a day (instead of 3) and 1/2 pill of my high cholesterol (instead of 2/day).

I'm in a size 10 pants, something I haven't been for 20+ years!!! I'm 43, and had my first baby at 20 (three total) so have major stretch marks. My lower abs have the flabby skin, and I have bat wings, but I'd rather have those then all the health problems.

I also find that I started to loose quickly, but have now stalled, losing maybe 5lbs in the last 2 months or so. I'm not as active as I should be, so that's pro bally my problem.

The biggest difference I have found though, is someone who had surgery a month before me, but had more to loose has already lost 100+lbs, and same with someone who had surgery a few weeks after me,- the same thing. *shrugs* it can be depressing, but I've come along ways in seven months and it's all about what you HAVE done, and not what you haven't!

I must add that I find this forum to be much more positive as well.  There are more folks on the RNY forum and I have found when I have had a question about something I am experiencing (and asking if it is "normal" or not) I get a quick reply...but I find the support and fellowship at this board to be much more to my liking (and style).  I also need to STOP looking at others that have lost way more than I have (but weighed way more than I did starting out) as "equals".  They ARE going to lose quicker, and I can get totally wrapped up in the "hey, we had surgery the same date and look at that" WAY to easy. 

I am very tall (5'10") and had lots of people tell me "hey, you can do it, you are not that big", but I am so happy to say that just under 1 month out I am off all but one of my medications, and feeling better than I have in a long, long time.  I am so grateful for the ability to say that, and for the support and kindness of this board!!!

Hi! And welcome.

I love my RNY, and I love being a LW RNY.  My recovery was rather slow, not complicated, but slow - I felt pretty yucko for about 6 weeks, but after that, I have been feeling amazingly!  

I started at around 231 and by 180 (which happened in a matter of weeks) I was looking and feeling pretty amazingly.  By 168 I was no longer obese, which actually has a physiological benefit - the body just feels differently - and by 156 my energy was through the roof.  I exercise for the joy of it now (can't believe that's actually true!) and look like a normal person.  Not like a fat person who's now a smaller fat.  

I think that's the great thing about being a LW and having WLS.  As Gina said, you can lose weight and really reach a normal BMI and lifestyle.  

Good luck with your journey!

I went from 200ish to 110 in my early 20's through a starvation and excessive excercise diet, my skin bounced back very well and the only loose skin I had was on my stomach and I had a tummy tuck to tighten it up.

Fast forward 20 years and at 42 I had RNY and went from 240 to 124 (still with a bit to go) and I have NOT tightened up like I did before.  My inner thighs are like crepe paper when I'm standing, my butt skin kind of wrinkles like a 90 year old lady! LOL  My tummy is okay when I'm standing up straight but if I lean over it's wrinkly.   BUT you know what, I don't care! :0)

I would much rather be wrinkly (which can be hidden under clothes) than morbidly obese, dying before my time and in pain every day.  :))  Sure some days it get's me down, but then I think of the alternative.  
I have VERY dry skin, I always have so that may have affected my skins lack of elasticity.  You may be lucky and your skin my bounce back really well.  :)

Yasmeen