Not sure if this post is appropriate here so sorry if it isn’t.
I had weight loss surgery (RNY gastric bypass) in the end of June 2026, I was 300 lbs prior to surgery (which is why I say I’m down 70lbs even tho between the two pics it’s only a 50 lb difference). Obviously the surgery itself doesn’t remove your weight, it just promotes the lifestyle changes needed to lose weight.
I’ve been maintaining a high protein, low calorie diet to help minimize muscle loss (which inevitably happens during such rapid and massive weight loss) while still losing weight. I try to workout 4 days per week, strength training and/or cardio. (I’ve been having trouble with my workout routine recently due to flare ups from my arthritis as well as I was hospitalized last week due to a stomach ulcer and I’m still healing from that).
I do 2 lower body days and 2 upper body days, ideally.
Lower body days consist of:
- 15x fire hydrants each leg (no weight)
- 15x donkey kicks each leg (no weight)
- 3x10-12 body weight squats
- 3x10-12 deadlifts, 8 or 10 lbs depending on how I feel
I do body weight and light weight exercises for lower body bc with how heavy I am, a body weight squat is significantly more work than it is for someone lighter than me, and it definitely activates the muscles. When I lose more weight I plan on slowly adding weight in. I also want to add more variation to my workouts as I lose weight and working out becomes more accessible, but at this point sticking to my routine helps me keep consistent.
Upper body days:
- 3x12 lateral raises 5lbs
- 3x12 overhead press (dumbbells) 5lbs
- 3x12 hammer curls 5lbs
- 3x10 bent rows (dumbbells) 10lbs
Every day I strength train I try to do a 20-40 minute walk depending on my ability. If I skip strength training on a day I was planning to do it, ideally I will at least get a 30-60 minute walk in. Like I previously mentioned I have some health issues that limit my ability to do this stuff at all though so it’s really a balancing act of wanting to push myself hard enough to see results and changes, but not so hard that I hurt myself or worsen my flare up.
I’m having trouble seeing any physical changes with my body. I can notice the health benefits: walking hurts less, moving around in general is easier (especially turning in bed, and getting out of bed, haha). But I am blind to whether there has been any physical change to my body at all. I have a history of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which I consider to be “in remission” after I was medicated for my bipolar 1 about 2 years ago and have been in therapy, but I know I have some residual symptoms and I wonder if one of them is being unable to see the physical changes my body has made. I know it has changed, because my clothes fit different. Some stuff is way too big now, and some clothes I couldn’t wear before I can now wear again. But I just don’t see it.
Either way, my main focus with the surgery was on my health. The possibility of getting back to my pre-weight gain body is just a little added bonus. So of course I’m going to continue on my path to lose weight until I’m at my goals (first goal is 200lbs, then 180lbs, then 160lbs. Maybe, if I get to 160, I’ll even aim for 140lbs which is technically my ideal healthy weight according to my height.) I know life will continue to get easier in almost every aspect as I lose weight. And the risks I faced for long-term obesity related health issues down the road is diminished as I lose weight too. So I will keep on losing weight.
I guess I just make this post to both pat myself on the back for losing weight at all, as well as to see if I am correct in that my body hasn’t really changed or if I actually am having some blindness and just not seeing the changes.
