The Gals' Room

I'm in a contest to be on the cover of Triathlete magazine. To enter I shared my story about how WLS and exercising, specifically triathlons have made me more fit, and I'm happy to say I've made it to phase 1, the top 20! Please vote for me, Julie S., so that I can make it to phase 2. You can vote on all your devices, (desktops, iPads, and your cell phones). Thank you. Voting ends in Monday February 1, 2016. http://triathlon.com...-1-women_127517 Here is the essay I submitted: In August 2011, I had weight-loss surgery. Like many, I had tried to lose weight on my own with diet and exercise, but I wasn’t successful. After the surgery, was it easy to lose weight? Ye…

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Hi ladies. I'm 36 years old and am 2 weeks out so unable to have sex with the hubs yet. My surgeon said for me to wait until I'm a month out. But I've been trying to figure out what a good birth control would be. I have PCOS so I've never been pregnant and have never had to use birth control. I know losing weight can cause women to become fertile and the doc doesn't want me getting pregnant for 2 years. I will make an appointment with my gyno next week, but I wanted personal opinions on birth control options. I'm really scared of any type because of the hormones but I have to use something and he hates condoms (I do too actually). Thanks in advance!

Hi Ladies! I may be putting the cart before the horse, since I have my sleeve surgery in 10 days, but I am trying to plan for afterward. As you all lost your weight and had the excess skin to hide, what shapewear (i.e. Spanx, Maidenform, etc.) did you find most effective in holding it in? Did you buy the whole body style, cami, girdle type for bottom? Is Firm hold better or a smoother? Thanks to everyone for your suggestions!

I am coming up on my 1 year in March and have lost 77 lbs so far. the dr wants me to be at 155-160 per BMI chart. here is the thing, I haven't lost anything since I hit 175 two months ago. my bone structure isn't meant for 155. I have a body, even though now much slimmer, of a line backer. my dad calls me the Russian beat farmer, but I blame him, since his entire family looks like this. pants, no matter what, except jeggings, fit funny. my hips, and I can feel the bones won't let size 8 up, but my legs need it. when I put on 10s it looks like I am wearing my ex husbands pants. anyone else have this issue?

If your thighs were so fat, you had a fat roll at the top of your thigh, as you lot did that fat roll ever smooth out, or did it just turn into hanging skin?

I'm hoping someone else out there understands how I feel. Since my banding, I went from a size 18 to a size 10 (still have flab up top so maybe went from XLtop to L). Anyway...I'm feeling very good about being a size 10 jeans. I mean, I dont remember the last time I was a 10...I'm not kidding. I remember ten years ago when my sister got married I was a 14. So anyway, I've always had issues with self esteem. And I've been feeling good recently...taking care of myself and my looks. But still cannot get guys interested in me. And then I started thinking...ok so I might feel skinnier but in reality, I'm still "fat" by society's standards. You know? And I know, I shouldn't …

I may have posted somewhere before that I've never had a boyfriend... well now I do! And he loves my sleeve! He's a pretty fit and muscular guy so he likes to eat a lot, meaning finish all my meals. "This is amazing, I get half your cheeseburger all the time!" too funny Just thought I would share that not every guy is going to be judgmental, some will love it for the silliest of reasons.

Hi, I was going to just post this to the end of my "elusive onederland" thread, but I couldn't figure out how to add the picture? The only way I know how is to start a new thread because it has the "attach file" feature. So my patience paid off and as of today, exactly 39 weeks and 1 day since my first appointment and 19 weeks and 3 days since my surgery I have hit ONEDERLAND! I guess I thought it would be more magical.... Don't get me wrong, it's AWESOME, but I still have more work ahead. I haven't been under 200lbs since I was a TEENAGER and that was a while ago. Thanks everyone for all the encouragement and kind words since starting my journey.

I have had a rash on my breast on-and-off for awhile now, even before surgery. I saw another post that said something about it being from yeast - but I don't understand how that works. I thought a yeast infection affected the vaginal area. Is that what the breast rash is from, a yeast infection?? In terms of the breast rash, I thought it was just dry skin. I have a post-op appointment tomorrow, should I show the doctor?? I have gotten them several times!!! Help - sometimes it itches pretty badly!!!

OK I had RNY surgery back in October of this year, after having my band removed. When I lost my weight with the band my drive went through the roof so I was expecting the same thing to happen after this surgery (I gained my weight back). Before surgery my drive was normal, and the hot flashes were gone because i was wearing a hormone patch. Now, 45 pounds down, my hormones are nowhere to be found, and my drive is MIA as well! The patch no longer works. This sucks! I will see my Dr. next week. Any one had a similar experience and if so what did you do? Thanks!

Hello! The San Francisco/Bay Area WLS Meetup Group would like to extend an invitation to the Bariatric Pal community. On Saturday 12/5/15 we are hosting our 3rd Annual Holiday Celebration & Clothing Exchange! The theme of the event this year is CELEBRATING WITH SELF-CARE! The cost is $20 to attend and includes participation in the clothing exchange (optional), light appetizers/drinks, and lots of holiday cheer! In addition, chair massages and relaxation acupuncture will be available to all who attend! This is a casual and fun opportunity to meet some new people and Celebrate your accomplishments in 2015! It's also an opportunity to clean …

Hello everyone. I'm still in the pre-op stage, but I'm curious as to how the African American ladies have dealt with the inevitable hair loss. Any and all suggestions are welcomed.

I have lost about 50 pounds and have been going to the gym several times a week. One of the exercises that I have enjoyed and been encouraged to pursue by my personal trainer is jumping rope. I've apparently got a good rhythm and it's an excellent exercise so... The problem lately has been that my belly is flopping around as I jump and has actually been kind of painful at times. Is there anything out there like a sports bra for the belly? I feel silly asking but I don't know if I'll be able to continue with jumping rope/jumping jacks, etc if it's going to be painful like this. Thanks in advance!

Okay Ladies, I am freaking out slightly. Today is my 3 week surgerversary. About 3 days post-op, I started my period. It wasn't fun, but what could I do? It lasted about 5 days. On yesterday, I started feeling cramps in my stomach, only to go to the bathroom and see that I was bleeding again! It has not been 20 days, let alone 28 days. Today, I am passing huge blood clots. I have been to the bathroom at least 6 times in the past hour because I can feel them trying to pass. My periods were very irregular pre-surgery. Should I be concerned or is this just my body responding to the weight loss? Thanks for your help!

At what point did you finally get fed up enough to make a change in your life and do WLS? My breaking point was when I had an opportunity to go rappelling down a tower used to train the Army how to fast rope out of helicopters. I am scared to death of heights. But with the encouragement of some great instructors at the Air Assault school I rappelled down the rope that was several stories off the ground. Talk about having a 'I feel like a bad ass' moment. I didn't realize that anyone was taking pictures of this event. So months later I showed up to a work function that I was being recognized at. My parents even came for the luncheon. When I walked in there were a bu…

I just wish I was losing in my stomach instead of my butt. Guess I should stop feeling so frustrated about the scale because I am obviously getting smaller. I had to share with you guys because very few people in my life know about the surgery and my hubby said he wanted a picture to validate my claim.

**TMI Disclaimer** My VSG surgery is 4 weeks away. According to my calendar and what my body is going through now, my expected menstrual cycle should happen on or before the day of surgery---and I JUST realized this today. It's been messing with my head all day because I want to have this surgery done so bad but I feel like I need to reschedule... my flow is pretty heavy and I just think it would be so messy to deal with on top of having surgery. I shed a tear or two talking to my husband about it because it's embarrassing to even think about...my surgeon is a male and I would hate for him or anyone to know that I'm having my period. My husband told me I was silly f…

I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been obese for a long time. I am in my late fifties, and my question is kind of crazy for my age: What is my "style"? I used to have cute clothes, when I was thinner, but I'm much older now. As a heavy person, I've done my best to dress attractively and with style. But three factors have led me to not love the clothes I've worn for the last many years. First, feeling so bad about myself has taken away my desire to dress well. I guess I've felt that very little I could do made me look really cute or attractive. Even when I was happy and confident with an outfit, I'd always second-guess myself. Or see a dreaded photo or …

Hello ladies! I had my RNY almost 4 months ago and I've lost almost 70 pounds since then. Part of the reason I chose RNY is because it has been shown to reduce the symptoms of PCOS more than any other weight loss surgery, and the thought of my awful symptoms reducing is incredibly appealing to me. My question here today is 3-fold: Did any of you with PCOS notice a change in your symptoms for the better or worse? How far out were you when these changes began? Did your PCOS affect your weight loss in any way? I've had two periods and one really weird spotting incident since surgery. Both periods have been painful beyond anything I've experienced. I woke up this morn…

Hey ladies, I'm sure this is a long shot but I'm looking for an OBGYN in the Orlando area that is familiar with WLS. My current doctor does not agree with the surgery and I'm kind of over her negativity. If you’re not from Orlando but have had a similar experience I would love to hear how you handled it, I'm not even sure what questions to ask when I call around. I have PCOS and some fertility issues due to my weight. My insurance should be approving my surgery in November if all goes well and I'm just trying to find the right doctor before I start this journey. Any help would be appreciated!

I have been over weight my entire life. consequently (or not, not sure), my periods have always been sporadic to non-existent. The last say seven years, I get a period maybe 2 times a year and it's for 2 days or so. I used to use tampons and it was no big deal. Honestly, I kinda liked not having to deal with it. I have always had the cramps and pms all year long though. So this last year as my weight hit an all time high, I can no longer maneuver enough to use a tampon. But no biggie as I don't really get periods right? WRONG.... this last week has been interesting. Sooo, I am 8 days into my pre-op diet and the last 3 days my period has made an appearance. M…

My sister is getting married April 30 2016 and I'm her matron of honor. The dress she chose takes 15 weeks to come in. I'm currently a size 24 but scheduled to be sleeved on December 14th. I'm unsure on what size I should order. I need to order it soon because I know I'll need it altered either way. I just don't want to order it too big. The dress is very comfortable and stretchy -mesh material. I was thinking of going with a size 20 or 18. What do y'all think? I'd greatly appreciate your suggestions!

60 lbs down and my beloved Cacique bras just ride up my back... the straps don't even tighten enough to not fall off my shoulders, and the band is too loose. Got 2 new ones, just basic black and mocha.... Cant wait for better support! Better yet, I got the one for 50% off and an extra 20% off the total for using my e-mail! I miss my collection of pretty bras, but my niece has most of them now.... along with most of my prior wardrobe. It is a NSV that these huge things are shrinking along with my body!

Ok so i'm still big and I've been this big or bigger quite a long time, however the nearly 50lb loss has apparently made me a tiny bit less invisible to the opposite gender. And quite frankly rather than being complimented by it it's freaking me out and making me feel uncomfortable especially since i'm married. Which is sooooo weird to me since i spent my teens and early twenties being a bit of a flirt, I had always been a man's woman if that's a thing, i'm in IT, i love fishing and martial arts etc and when i used to be younger and much slimmer i a stream of boyfriends and flings as well as always having close male friends. BUT I've now a married mum with 3 young kids …

Hi! I'm new here and 7 weeks post op. My husband and close friends are worried about how negative I've become after surgery. I have been miserable after surgery trying to juggle new tummy (had a stricture and had that fixed 2 days ago), new job, hubby's new job, kids, house....been overwhelmed and very emotional. Are mood swings part of after surgery life? Is wanting to cry a lot? Is this normal? My doctor says it is just my hormones changing and it will get better. Anyone else moody like this and took medication? Or began to see a counselor? I'm not depressed just very very emotional. Thanks in advance!

Girls, So it seems since I've lost quite a bit of weight ... that now I cramp like mad ... I very rarely cramped before the weight loss ... and if I did ... could take the magic Midol ... But now .... no more Midol ... So what is your magic cure for the cramp that wants to make me double over in pain ? Have to suffer in silence here at work ... At home I can whine and lay down ... But ... no here I thank you ladies !

I find all these pins I would like to try but wonder if they work... Vaseline on lashes to make them grow? Coconut oil in your hair to make it softer? Removing unwanted hair with coffee grounds? Oil pulling for better oral hygiene and overall health? Mixing hydrogen peroxide and baking soda with your toothpaste for whiter teeth? Have you tried any of them and have you had any luck?

Hi there, Any thoughts on Estrogen and weight loss, appetite signals, etc.? I am banded and just recently started on an Estrogen Ring (yes,I have two foreign objects in my body, lol). I have been feeling a lot of restriction and wonder if this could be related to the ring. It also triggered a period after seven months. I sort of don't mind that as I'd like to get another 10-15 pounds off prior to true menopause as I think it's harder to lose weight after that (I'm 54 and surely getting there). Thanks for any input and happy Sunday all.

Unfortunately I have stress incontinence. When I sneeze or cough I leak. I'm wearing poise pads to catch my accidents. I'm also 49 and have had 3 children. If I wait too long after I feel the urge to go to the bathroom I can have a little accident. Has anyone else had this and then after surgery it has gotten better? I need to lose over 100 lbs. I'm just hoping this is one of the things that gets better.

I know this has been discussed before, but most of it seems to be on assurance that our hair will grow back. I am more interested in what you did while it was coming out (besides panic as we all do ????). I already had thinning hair on top so as soon as I realized mine was starting to come out (@ 3 1/2 months) I went down to a local wig shop to discuss toppers. I was really surprised, the topper the stylist helped me pick a great one made of human hair. I then took it to my personal stylist and she matched it to my hair. So far it has been awesome and unless I tell someone they can't tell I am wearing it. I just hope my hair loss doesn't get to the point where the topp…

Due to my weight pre op I had not been getting my special monthly visitor. Well this morning, surprise! It's back, and it's back with attitude. While I'm happy to be back to "normal" in that department, I did enjoy not having to deal with this monthly nuisance.

Okay so i have been bleeding sence ive had surgery, it is mostly light like a normal period would be most of the time but lately it has turned really thick, brighter red n color, with huge dark blood lookin clots just coming out even when im in the shower, im not really sure this is a surgery probem or not, but i was just wondering if any of yall have had abnormal bleeding sence surgery? Idk what is going on at the point but im sick of bleeding!!!

I have been on birth control pills continuously for many years. I never get my period. However, I'm now on day eight of my period, even though I'm still taking BC pills. What. The. Heck? I know the weight loss releases estrogen, and it can really do a doosey on us hormonally, but my body is acting as if I'm not even taking BC pills. Do you think I'm more fertile now? Should I use backup BC?

I thought this would be posted in the woman's only forum. Sorry.

The powder Room wouldn't let me make a post, so I'll try this here. Are there any brands of panties that are actually pretty on a person with a panni (apron)? Finally found a bra style I like. But I never, ever have been able to find panties that look nice on my body, 100 pounds ago or now. I'm years away from plastics, if ever. Any recommendations, ladies?

Quick question ladies?? is it only me that when is that time of the month I'm less hungry after surgery? does it happen to others? I wonder!l It wasn't like that before surgery

This is a question, and i'm not even sure i'm posting it in the correct place, so if I am I apologize in advance. I had the sleeve on 9/23. I haven't had any issues up until this last week. I'm completely exhausted, I'm having a hard time getting my Protein and fluids in, I constantly have the shakes (which I think might be the protein issue), I have a sore place just under my right breast, and I feel nauseated ALL the time. I'm also incredibly irritable and emotional. I feel like i'm going crazy!!! Has anyone else experienced this? Can anyone give some advice on how to manage all of this? My weight also keeps fluctuating, I keep trying to tell myself not to thin…

I am just about to head out to buy new bra's. I was 44 DD before I started the 2 week liver reduction diet and 3 weeks ago I bought a new bra which is 40DD but now it's hanging off me both in size and cup size. I don't want to keep buying bra's every few weeks so I am going to look at the bra strap extenders .. .. Has anyone used these? Any other suggestions? How many sizes did you go down until you got to goal?

My cravings have been nuts the past week and a half. They jumped to an uber intensity on Tuesday when I did a shoot where I was surrounded by every possible dessert in the world. I'm almost 8 months out from surgery and I can confidently say that I've never had cravings like this. I feel like I'm PMSing - I have minor cramps, am super irritable, and I'm having serious chocolate cravings - but because my hormones are so out of whack I can't say for sure. I was told that WLS patients may have crazy periods, sometimes twice a month, but my experience has been the exact opposite. I'm two weeks late. Again. But that doesn't seemed to have stopped the PMS. I'm also obsessively …

I am currently pre-op and I get a lot of facial hair on my chin and upper lip. For me it is a medically diagnosed hormone imbalance and was wondering does anyone else have this that has already had surgery? Did surgery affect it at all? Did it make it better or worse? Thanks

Im in the start of my 3rd of 6 months pre-op. I want to start taking some of the suppletments I will HAVE to take later. Mainly because now Im starting to eat how I would afterwards. Can someone help me with taking what I need to without having to take a million pills? Thanks!!

I have been excited about having WLS since I made the decision about a month ago. My consultation was original scheduled for mid-September and it was moved up to next week. I am still on schedule for surgery in November. I have been reading almost everything I can get my hands on about WLS including these boards. I have been looking at a lot of before and after photos on Instagram which help give me a lot of hope and inspiration. This morning, I woke up even more excited about how I know my life will change, including being able to tie my shoes to buying normal-sized clothes. It hit me today that I'm even excited about dating and having sex again. There, I wrote it. Y…

Hi Ladies, OK my surgery date is October 5, 2015 (yeah!) and my wedding date is December 5, 2015 - exactly 2 months!! I'm having a revision from the band to the bypass. I realize that the dress I have now will have to be scrapped as I will probably lose too much as it is full of beads and appliques - way too expensive to pay the seamstress to re-do...but I will need to find another wedding dress soon! How much could I potentially lose if following all the rules? I understand that weight loss varies depending on so much. My BMI is at 38 now. I understand that the loss might not be as fast the 2nd time and with a lower BMI. Any thoughts or experiences? I didn't h…

Hi there, I had the sleeve in 8/13 and lost an average of 10 pounds per month. After 9 months and nearly 100 pounds down, I had the Mirena (hormonal) IUD placed. My loss stopped immediately. I've had it in for a year now, and the loss stalled despite becoming a runner, sticking to the diet, etc. All of the literature says that the IUD does not cause weight loss or gain, but some googling shows a lot of anecdotal evidence that it sure can. I'm trying to get info from other sleevers that may have had IUDs placed after surgery - how did it affect you?? I have one friend in this situation that continued to lose, but I'm just at a loss and honestly struggling with having …

I have no sex drive. Zip. Zilch. Nada. I like it when I do get convinced to have it, but otherwise I could just as well leave it alone. This is a source of stress in our marriage, as my husband would like to have sex daily. We have sex maybe once every few months. Has anyone had surgery and found that that helped you gain back your sex drive? I don't think it's a self-esteem issue. I have no problem with showing off my body inside my house (in the summer, we run around almost naked, to save money on electricty). I think it's my psych drugs, for some parts anyway.

My fiancee dated skinny women for the longest time before he "came out" of the closet for truly preferring big women. And that's when he found me, his first and only certifiably obese woman. I am 5'2" and 204 pounds, with plenty of curves for him. But he wants me to be healthy and wants us to be together until we are old, no matter what my size. He loves me and will support my weight lost no matter what. I have a whatever will be will be kind of attitude. Who knows what the future holds? Question is, any of you ladies out there whose SO liked you big (bigger the better) and lost interest once the weight came off? Thank you!

Does anyone else find themselves continuing to buy clothes that are too big? I always think they look ok in the dressing room....but when I get home I realize I should have gotten a smaller size. Am I just used to baggy clothes? It seems strange to wear tighter clothes. I started out a 24 and am buying 18's but probably need 16's. How do I get outside of my own head?

So I'm 26 now I recently sleeved, and this topic is WLS related. But since there are a lot of women here who are/were overweight and struggling with their weight, I thought I would ask a question about MEN. Can anyone relate to this problem? I have been everwight since I were a child and this really affected my confidence. I'm still kind of a pretty-face girl, and men do hit on me from time to time (not that often, but it does happen). And yet i usually reject them right away, even when there is a certain physical attraction. I just assume they are approaching me cause the think I'm an easy target - 'obviously a chabby girl won't miss that kind of opportunity' kind of t…

I'm sure that this has been asked before, and I apologize if it has. This is for the ladies that have an IUD and didn't have periods prior to your surgery thanks to our little friend. I had my IUD placed in 2011 and lived 4+ years virtually period free. Honestly the best time of my life, lol. In July I began my 2 week post-op diet and come day of surgery started spotting, but only for a day. Yesterday I spotted again. Did anyone notice that following their surgery that their period returned or perhaps spotted monthly? Did it stay or did it stop altogether like prior to surgery? I'm really hoping that this is only temporary and that it goes away. I have really en…