Question:
When do you notice a differnce in your appearance?
Hey guys, just a couple questions....for starters, when you begin to lose weight is it true that the weight usually comes more off the upper half of you rather than the lower half? Also, how much did you lose, before "YOU" started to notice a difference? I'm 5'9, 325lbs, and I carry most of my weight in my stomache, and thighs...and I guess I'm just scared that if I don't see results fast enough, I'll get discouraged. Has this happened to anyone else? Thanks :) — Jennifer M. (posted on December 3, 2001)
December 3, 2001
Well, I've lost almost 80 lbs and I'm 2.5 months post-op. I started at 361
and I carried most of my weight in my stomach, face and butt. Not to say I
wasn't big all over, but that's where I was biggest. I'd say somewhere
around 60 lbs I started to notice looser clothing. But, my stomach looked
pretty much the same. Yesterday I was on the scale and I did a double take
at my side-view image in the mirror. I was shocked! I've lost a lot in my
stomach. With an average fitting shirt, it doesn't look like I have a
stomach. But, seeing myself without a shirt, I still have a lot of skin
:0( . My arms are still pretty big, although I have a lot of skin there
so I have noticed that shirts fit, but are still tight around my arms.
And, my butt is much smaller...YEAH! I used to have this "ledge"
that would protude out of my lower back and then start on my big bubble
but; but it's so much smaller, if not gone althogether. As for lower
body...I haven't really noticed much in my legs; but I have noticed my
birkenstock buckle shoes have had to go to the last available hole (where
they used to be within the first two), and I seem to be getting ankles.
Rest assured that your body will rid the weight where "it"
believes it needs to start first. If it's your stomach rather than the
legs-great! If it's your legs and not your face-great! At least you'll be
losing. Luck to you.
— Kristin R.
December 3, 2001
Be sure to take your measurements before the surgery. Sometimes you will
lose inches without losing pounds and sometimes you will lose pounds
without losing inches. It helps to keep track of both. I had a mini-plateau
from the third week to the sixth week and was very discouraged. Then I went
down two sizes in a week! Also be sure to wear clothes that actually fit as
often as possible. If you are like most of us and hide in loose fitting
clothing, you may not be able to see the difference as soon as you would if
you wore clothing that fit.<p>Good luck to you. You will do great!
— ctyst
December 3, 2001
Jennifer, I noticed the difference pretty fast! I've got an extensive
profile and also a pretty comprehensive photos page. I am 11 weeks out and
down 65 lbs and 56.25", from a start of 310 at 5'3". Here's my
<a href="http://www.jewelyam.com"
target="_blank">photo page</a> and you can click on my
name to go to my profile.
— Julia M.
December 3, 2001
I noticed my looser clothing but really didnt see the difference untill I
looked at acurrent photo of myself. I STILL dont see what otherssee, but
watching that scalefall is GREAT. It will give you a nice natural high!!!
Do take your measurements, I loose inches faster when on a plateau.
— bob-haller
December 3, 2001
After laying on the hospital mattress covered with plastic, the binder
around me that was spandex and the plastic wraps on my legs, I was sweating
like crazy at the hospital.
As soon as I got home from the hospital I was admiring my ankles, no
swelling. I noticed the weight loss in my legs/feet first. My husband
noticed it in my face first. I think I avoiding looking in mirrors for so
long but I was used to seeing my legs when I layed in the recliner so thats
what I noticed first. The best part of wls is while keeping the protein up
and limiting carbs your body burns up the fat. I look better at the weight
I am now ( down 75lbs) than when I weighed it before. I am losing the fat
pads wonderfully. I'm sooooooo greatful for this surgery.
— Helen B.
December 3, 2001
After laying on the hospital mattress covered with plastic, the binder
around me that was spandex and the plastic wraps on my legs, I was sweating
like crazy at the hospital.
As soon as I got home from the hospital I was admiring my ankles, no
swelling. I noticed the weight loss in my legs/feet first. My husband
noticed it in my face first. I think I avoiding looking in mirrors for so
long but I was used to seeing my legs when I layed in the recliner so thats
what I noticed first. The best part of wls is while keeping the protein up
and limiting carbs your body burns up the fat. I look better at the weight
I am now ( down 75lbs) than when I weighed it before. I am losing the fat
pads wonderfully. I'm sooooooo greatful for this surgery.
— Helen B.
December 3, 2001
I could tell a difference in my face first...the first 3 weeks I lost
33lbs. I am 5 mos post op and have lost over 85lbs and have gone down from
a size 32 to a size 20!!! I am 5'9" and my starting weight was
341lbs!
— Sharon E.
December 3, 2001
I started out as 5'9" and 335 before surgery. I'm two months post-op
as of today (-59 pounds), and I first noticed my weight loss about two
weeks after surgery. Honestly, I think Kristin Ritter and I could be
twins! The first thing I noticed was that "ledge" thing above my
butt disappearing. Then I noticed my butt going. It's funny now, because
if I sit on a hard chair, my butt bones hurt! lol I'm also noticing my
ankles and feet getting smaller (I, too, have had to adjust the buckles on
my Birkenstocks to the last hole), and my ankles just basically look
thinner. My stomach has SERIOUSLY shrunk, as well as my face (hey...only
one double chin now instead of too! hehe) and my shoulders. I'm juuuuust
starting to see collar bones where there previously were none. :) When I
look at myself, sometimes it's hard to tell I've lost weight at all, but
man oh man, when I compare before and after pictures of myself, I swear I
look like a new person, and it's only been two months! When other people
comment on my weight loss, they say they can see it mostly in my face/upper
torso. Where I really can't tell that I've lost too much weight is in my
thighs. Maybe a teensy bit, but I really want to start seeing it there
more. It seems like the fat/skin there is a little looser than it was
before, so maybe I am losing there and just can't tell. I also want to
start seeing it in my hands (I want my knuckles to pop out, dang it!) I
guess all that will come in good time. :)
— Emily W.
December 3, 2001
I didn't notice (in the mirror) that I lost weight til just the other day.
I'm 2 months post-op. However with that said I did notice first that my
underware was riding after about a week. LOL. Then I noticed things like
being able to reach places I couldn't before etc. I weighed 439 when I had
surgery and weigh 370 now. My friends and family kept telling me how much I
have lost and how good I am looking but I didn't see or believe it. It is a
great feeling to realize your losing. We all spent so much time in denial
about how big we actually looked, that it takes a bit to try to turn that
arround.
— sherri W.
December 3, 2001
I'm 4 1/2 months post, down 93 pounds. First thing I noticed was the edema
in my ankles was gone. Then it was my underwear. At approximately 5 weeks
post, I went out and bought new underwear. Now I see it in my face,
mostly. My face is starting to look really thin. I look in the mirror,
and I still see the same old bulges I always had, but smaller. I went from
a 28W to a 20W in size.
— Dee P.
December 3, 2001
I first noticed the edema in my feet and ankles was gone by about 6 or 7
days post-op. Then, at around 2 weeks post-op I noticed my face looked
thinner, my jowels weren't so jowelly (LOL). Now at 4 weeks post-op, I
have dropped one size in my tops, slacks and shoes. My underware fits and
covers my navel and I can reach my behind. I started at 330# and I am
5'5". Today I am 294#. Also, my tummy doesn't hit the bottom of my
stearing wheel anymore either. I can't wait to see more changes. This is
so exciting. Like a buttefly imerging from a cacoon, we all are awaiting
our transformations into the beautiful people we are becoming.
— Susan M.
December 4, 2001
BACK FAT!!!!! it's funny, but that's the first thing I personally noticed.
I started at 298 down to 188. It is still there, gut wow is the
transformation amazing. I notice bones that I never knew existed. It's
great...
— Kristina P.
December 6, 2001
I lost 40 pounds before ANYONE noticed I had lost weight. Bummer. However
once I got to around a 100 pound loss, people notice when I lose only five
pounds. ;) I seem to lose most of my weight up on the top first so I'm
alittle lop sided. Hope I start losing more below the belt soon.
— Danmark
Click Here to Return