kgb

When we lose weight, and especially as rapidly as we do, the hormones that have been stored in our fat cells are suddenly released - and LOTS of it. I was all over the place during that time... I was such a moody ******!! LOL - anyway you're going through a very normal process. No worries!! :wink1:
On the flipside now though, my cycles are super normal... more normal than I ever remember and I'm on an even keel. So, it balances itself out eventually.

Yep. It's those hormones a raging. Once you lose weight, they start flowing the way they're supposed to. Every time I start losing, I chase my hubby around the house like a crazy woman. I can't wait for that to kick in again!!

Its not a magic pill. Its not "amazing results overnight!" We've all tried those things and they don't work. This WORKS. You're 3 weeks out - you're at that point where your body is adjusting to the changes. You're also possibly about at a time of the month. A woman's body weight can fluctuate double digits during a day because of excess Water.
Are you taking in enough liquids? That's a real factor as to whether or not you retain Water.
Yes - toss the scale out the window (open it first ) Please don't weigh yourself for 10 days - see what happens. Just don't put all your energy into what a piece of metal with a 3 dollar battery in it has to say!

Sounds yummy! I can't have bread, Pasta, potatoes, Beans, rice and such until I lose 75% of my excess body weight. I'm close to 35% now.

How wonderful! Best of luck! You're on your way! Wheeeeeeee!

at going on 3 years out, i think back and wish i would have known the following things; the fatigue, the weakness, the severe hairloss, malabsorption, and the occasional swelling where you can't fit anything in all day except liquids. But you know what, I'd much rather have all those complications and be thin and happy, then be fat and unhappy. Now just to come off track a bit, i heard yesterday on the radio that more and more men are becoming "chubby chasers" That made me even happier because i now know that maybe there won't be the chance of getting "hit on" as much. . . I realllyyyy , realllllyyyyy hate that!

How much work I had to do after surgery to learn new eating habits. Sleeve FORCES you to have good habits.
Also I should not to expected to be "normal" soon after surgery. I consider myself to be tough bird. Ignorantly compared VSG to shoulder surgery where I thought in six weeks, I might be back to semi "normal." Reality was it took me six months to learn habits and feel normal.
Never said I was smart. I love my sleeve and have no regrets. But, it was a journey to goal.

How emotionally engaging, draining, tumultuous and all those other words that describe an emotional rollercoaster... this journey can be!!! That's been my biggest surprise.. BUT, I don't regret a thing!!!

I think the biggest thing for me post op was the fatigue. I never heard anyone mention this and even asked lots of people post about their energy and everyone said they could build a sky scraper the next day!! LOL Well not exactly but you get the idea.
My first four months I was knocked on my butt tired and it was really hard for me to get anything done. I felt like I was in a fog all the time.
However, today that is all gone and I now DO have more energy than I ever had in my life. So, they weren't being dishonest - I guess I was just didn't get responses from others who experienced what I did.
Good luck!!

So I just finished my second half marathon and I've noticed something consist with each race. About half way through, my body seems like it completely depletes of any energy stored. I don't seem to be able to store enough energy to keep me powered, my legs begin to cramp and my toes stand straight up. I don't feel like its fluids because I'm pretty well hydrated and I'm drinking both Water and electrolytes on the course.
Has any one got tips or ideas what is going on? I don't seem to have these with my sprint triathlons, which are shorter distances (at least on the running and swimming side). I'm wondering if my inability to consume enough calories because of the VSG will prevent me from running these half marathons all the way. I end up having to walk in the last 5-6 miles, which goes against my 'overly' competitive nature.
Thoughts?

So I had my pre op today with Dr Fedorka @ Kaiser So Cal. He scheduled me for suregery on Monday Feb 13th 3pm!! In 6 days!!! I guess there was a cancellation otherwise it would've been 2/23/12.
Funny thing is my surgery will be at the hospital I was born at . It was a new begininng then and it'll be a new one now, 37yrs later. I'm extremely excited, but very nervous about the surgery it's self. I've never had surgery before and the last time I was in a hospital was when I had my son 19yrs ago. ha ha
So we'll see how it goes I'm staying prayed up about it. It is very encouraging to read all the stories and expierences on this website. There is so much information and encouragement for everyone. Although I do not post often I'll be sure to do more going forward.
My stats...5'6 1/2 305lbs tdy but not for long =)

I'm not much of a cook, but this was super-easy and yummy...
Ingredients:
1/4 piece of Flatout flat bread (I used Italian herb) -- pita would probably also work well
1 egg
2 slices of Swiss cheese
1/4 avocado
salt & pepper to taste
1. cook the egg over well, preferably in a non-stick pan so you don't need oil
2. dice the avocado -- I made ~ 6 large chunks, but smaller would work, too
3. on the flat bread, place 2 slices of cheese (side by side), diced avocado, and salt & pepper
4. Put the cooked egg on one side of the flat bread, then fold over other side of the bread to make a sandwich
5. lightly toast the sandwich on both sides in the same non-stick pan -- until the cheese has melted enough to hold it together
6. enjoy (probably for 2 meals)!
UPDATE on 2/8/12: I just made this sandwich again, but I added some cooked spinach with the egg. I also used provolone cheese instead of swiss this time around. It was even better!
UPDATE on 2/12/12: I made another variation today, this time with a couple of slices of smoked salmon. Also very good.

A good firm girdle will help. I lost 70 pounds with my last pregnancy. My lower stomach deflated enough that it hang down, but with the girdle it was fine. You just have to arrange everything straight in there to make it look the best. You'll figure it out. It's not all going to fall off overnight, so you'll have some time to experiment with what you like. Wal-Mart has plenty of variety for a beginner. They sell up to a size 3x. That should be about the time you will start wanting to wear on. Happy shopping

Interesting article:
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21459
What Is the Scientific Evidence for Citrate?
One form of citrate supplement, potassium citrate, was approved by the FDA in 1985 for the prevention of two kinds of kidney stones: Calcium stones (including calcium oxalate stones) and uric acid stones.
In a 3-year, double-blind study of 57 people with a history of calcium stones and low urinary citrate levels, those given potassium citrate developed fewer kidney stones than they had previously. In comparison, the group given placebo had no change in their rate of stone formation.12
Potassium-magnesium citrate was studied in a 3-year trial involving 64 participants with a history of calcium oxalate stones.13 During the study, new stones formed in only 12.9% of those taking the potassium-magnesium citrate supplement, compared to 63.6% of those taking placebo. Benefits have been seen in other small studies as well.56,60
Citrate is available in the form of calcium citrate. Besides increasing citrate in the urine, this supplement has the advantage of being a readily absorbed form of calcium for those seeking to increase their calcium intake for other health reasons.14 However, calcium citrate has not yet been studied as a preventive for kidney stones.

I just saw my PCP for the first time since being sleeved. He learned of my kidney stone problems and then he asked about my Vitamins. He told me to drink lemonade and no sodas and it would help and he was explaining why and said the word citrate. I said, as in calcium citrate? I take that! He told me to stop taking the citrate kind of calcium! He said to chew a couple of tums instead because people prone to have kidney stones want to avoid CITRATE. It forms kidney stones!!!! Who knew? So I am going to take Viactiv or tums from now on. He also wanted me to take a Vitamin D tablet daily. He said that was more important anyway. Just thought I would share the info. Tammi

I am 1 week post op and was wondering if anyone knows of any skin creams/lotions that help with skin tightening/firming? I know excercise and lots of Water helps, but I just wondered if there is something I could start applying to my skin everyday that would help at all? I have over 200 pounds to lose, so anything that can assist with sagging will be appreciated Maybe they are just wives tales, but I've heard Vitamin E and various other vitamin enriched lotions help.

I'll jump in here, I like these daily menu threads (lots of good ideas!)
B - 1/4 c southwestern egg beater omelette with 1 oz canadian bacon, a sliced mushroom, a little diced Tomato and 1/2 oz 2% shredded cheese
L - leftover chicken & mushrooms in garlic white wine sauce (about 4 oz total) and some sliced cucumber/tomato
afternoon snack - 1 oz 2% sliced sharp cheddar cheese
D - more leftover chicken & mushrooms in garlic white wine sauce (about 3 oz) and half a small baked potato with a little butter and light sour cream
Snack - half a peeled apple and a piece of leftover bacon

I would have to say doing artwork is my new addiction. Before, I'd get home and sit in front of the TV all day but now I feel more productive. I still need to get in the habit of walking when I get home but I'm always too tired.

I wish it were sex :biggrin5: but it seems to be shoes.

Everyone is different but I find myself doing more physical things outdoors that I have not been able to do in years. I have become a gym rat to try and get into the best shape of my life. I am trying to get away from a lot of the things that contributed to me becoming obese in the first place such as sitting in the house watching TV or at the computer all day. I am trying to spend much more time doing anything that is physical that my weight prevented me from doing before. Now that I have all of this new found energy, it is a blast to work in the yard, the garage and any other projects I can come up with.
Now as far as an addiction, I would have to say shopping. I love bargin shopping and now that I wear a size large instead of a 4x, it opens up a whole new world to me. I hated shopping before so this is kind of a surprise that I enjoy this so much.
I was not there and do not know the context of what was said about replacing the eating addiction with another addiction but I will tell you this, there are many healthy addictions you can have, they do not all have to be bad. I am a little obsessed with being healthy now, I figure if I went through WLS, I got a second lease on life. I eat healthy now and do not drink alcohol or put anything in my body that does not have nutritional value. I will be the first to admit that I am a little overboard on this but I feel so much better and there is absolutely no way I ever will slip back to my old bad habits.

I was a crafter before but it's been really helpful to me post-op. If I crochet or something while I'm eating, I am able to eat much slower. If I don't keep my hands busy it's too easy to reach for that fork sooner than I should between bites.
I really thought I'd become a shop-a-holic because I LOVE shopping but so far I've been pretty hesitant to buy new clothes because I'm still shrinking. I'll have to really watch it when I get to goal and have to buy new everything!

I hope you have good providence!

I am hoping that some of you that are completely healed can describe the hunger or non-hunger feelings you have now? Like if you eat a few too many bites of food does it feel like over eating on thanksgiving? If you don't eat do you feel dizzy? Do you forget to eat?
Thanks!

I was and am very lucky. I had the Cheif surgeon at my facility and could not have been in better hands!! I followed his advice to the letter. Lost tons of weight pre-op, which I believe made my surgery and recovery MUCH MUCH smoother!! I went back to work in 7 days!
My only regret is that they did not have this surgery when I was much younger! I am 36 and would love to have about 1/2 of my life back!
Kelly

Thanks. Im still getting used to this, and its just up and down right now. Ive talked to a lot of ppl who were where im at.. And after a few mos and being on solid food they were good to go. So im tryin to get there.. Just hard. Thanks for ur understanding