Good Morning. Do we change?

What were you like immediately pre-op and how have you changed post-op the closer you get to goal or after you've achieved it?
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I was depressed, reclusive and in constant pain. I'm still an introvert for the most part but I'm not in constant pain any more. Not depressed any more either. WLS is the best thing I've done for myself in a long, long, long time.

Y'all have a good week. Those of you that are cleaning up after the storm, remember to stay hydrated and to take your vitamins and have your protein.

--gina

I was tired and sore all the time.  I was very limited in what I could do on a daily basis and how much I could get around.  Personality, I  don't think I was much different. 

These days, I get around pretty good, expecially since my joint injection seems to have kicked in on my knee.  I spend more time outside and playing with my ponies.  Even riding some. My energy level is so much better.   the heat this summer hasn't bothered me like in the past.   I do spend more time thinking about and planning what is going into my mouth but the foods aren't  extremely different than they were before, the amounts are.

I hurt, I was exhausted. I thought about.... was my fat hidden? ALOT :(

I always thought of excuses to skip parties, concerts, etc....

I pretended to be happy go lucky most of the time.

Today I am confident again, I still deal with depression (weight has nothing to do with it), I LOVE to go out and dance with my friends, I feel sexy for my hubby, I am still mostly an introvert but the extrovert part of me is happy too.

Having my confidence back has been life changing...and fitting into cute clothes doesn't hurt either! :)

 `I hardly ever accepted invitations  .  Its amazing i still got invited at ALL   right .....    .  When i DID go ANYWHERE  .. and i mean to the STORE ..

Id try on   ten outfits  to make sure what i was  wearing " hid "   my fat .   So  I was always  disappointed and feeling inadequate and fat .     I wore too much jelwery to compensate for feeling matronly   because I was  over-large .   

 My hair was too blonde  .

My style  was  too " CLASSIC "  (read " OLD "  for m y age ... because of my size ... 

I guess I was  a walking  billboard for insecurity   writ large !!   Lol  !  

On the OTHER side  Id get SICK  of  all this submission  to impossible standards  and  just kick  ass  in hiking boots  rollerblades and on sailboats ... but that was very HARD  on my lungs  too  ....  

more than anything elsethe diabetes  was throwing me fora COMPLETE loop health wise  ...  as was the  worsening asthma  because of my increasing BULK ... 

I hurt, was out of breath when I moved, angry and moody.

The physical changes were expected.  I move easily.  I even go up and down my stairs with no problems.  I have VERY smelly poop!

The emotional changes have been more remarkable.  I am far less moody, I handle stress so much better (good thing since there is so much of it here). I am a zillion times more confident.  And I speak up for myself now.  I laugh more. I enjoy life more.

I'll take smelly poop and this life anyday!

janet

I too hurt a lot, got tired walking easily, felt bad about my size and wondered what others thought.  I didn't feel good about myself at all.

Post-op - much more confidence in myself, how I look and I think it shows in my day-to-day life.  I smile easily at other people.

Oh - and had a few NSV's while in the VA area from people I didn't even know.  I had a dress I bought from Kohls I wore one day and had 3 differnet people tell me how nice it was and I looked great in it.  One lady was almost beside herself telling me I looked fabulous.  It was a little different.... lol... haven't had that in quite awhile.  Guess I'll wear that dress more often - LOL. 

Well now Jody - I'd like to see that dress also!!!  Please post us a picture....
Linda

Linda - what's funny is the dress is quite conservative.  Fits loosely and has a corded type belt.  I'll see if I can get a picture. 

I was humiliated by my weight and didn't want people to see me.  I dreaded going to my children's school functions because I was so embarassed by my weight.  I was tired all the time, sad and miserable.

I still have low self esteem when it comes to the opposite sex but that could be due to my divorce and not just weight and am overly cautious in the dating process.  I am proud of my maintenance and feel confident in attending my children's school events.  I hold my head high and walk in with confidence. 

I still wear a lot of black--because I love black but I am wearing heels, skirts and dresses far more.  I love being able to dress cute and my style has definitely changed. 

I was pretty reclusive unless DH made me go to something.  I hated being around many people.
My joints hurt like everyone elses.  I hated taking the Diabetes meds and sticking my fingers(one of the main reasons I had WLS).

I feel so much more confident in everything.  I get out and around people so much more than I ever did in the past.  I love my Zumba class.  Never every would I have went to a group exercise class.  I might have tried in my own home by myself.  I love the class and the atmosphere of being around others in the class.  I have found a true love for exercise that I have never had in my life.  I love to walk/jog and really enjoy doing the 5K's.  I'm still Obsessive/compulsive - so exercise is my new obsession!!

I really love that I can now get in the floor and play with my DGD's and can get back up without crawling to something to help me get back up off the floor!!

I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!

Linda