Amber07

Thanks guys!

This site has changed a ton since I was last on here! It looks good! My surgery date was October 11, 2010, and I've lost 127 pounds. Ideally, I'd like to lose about 90 more. I'm so grateful for everyone that helped me along this journey, this has 100%-absolutely been the best thing that I've ever done for myself. I'm getting married in 4 months, and I'm 1 size away from my "wedding date goal", so that makes me pretty happy. One thing that I do have to admit, is that I'm a little disappointed when I look in the mirror. I don't see a girl whose lost 127 pounds, I just see a bunch of skin. 3 months after I had the surgery, my insurance premium went from 400 a month-to 1200 a month, so I no longer have health insurance, and haven't seen the doc in about a year. In June, I will have health insurance again through my fiance. I guess it's just a bit disappointing, feeling so big still, but eventually I'm hoping the 90 more pounds will come off (I'm working on it) and I can have the cosmetic surgery to take the skin off. One question that I have for you guys, is what is a good full-liquid diet to go on for a week? I think I need a little kick in the butt, to get back to my old-new self, who worked out, wrote in her food diary, and cared about what she ate. With the wedding coming up, I'll have to admit that I just eat whatever, whenenver. I've been so busy lately, that I don't even hesitate stopping for a cheesburger, which now that I sit here and think about it, should be absolutely disgusting to me, I never want to get back to where I was again. So...any suggestions about the full-liquid diet? I'm starting working out again tonight, and am back to 64oz of water, as of Saturday. I'll also be showing up a lot more here, I think I need this friendly support from people who have been through what I have. Good luck to you all, you're in my thoughts and prayers.

This site has changed a ton since I was last on here! It looks good! My surgery date was October 11, 2010, and I've lost 127 pounds. Ideally, I'd like to lose about 90 more. I'm so grateful for everyone that helped me along this journey, this has 100%-absolutely been the best thing that I've ever done for myself. I'm getting married in 4 months, and I'm 1 size away from my "wedding date goal", so that makes me pretty happy. One thing that I do have to admit, is that I'm a little disappointed when I look in the mirror. I don't see a girl whose lost 127 pounds, I just see a bunch of skin. 3 months after I had the surgery, my insurance premium went from 400 a month-to 1200 a month, so I no longer have health insurance, and haven't seen the doc in about a year. In June, I will have health insurance again through my fiance. I guess it's just a bit disappointing, feeling so big still, but eventually I'm hoping the 90 more pounds will come off (I'm working on it) and I can have the cosmetic surgery to take the skin off. One question that I have for you guys, is what is a good full-liquid diet to go on for a week? I think I need a little kick in the butt, to get back to my old-new self, who worked out, wrote in her food diary, and cared about what she ate. With the wedding coming up, I'll have to admit that I just eat whatever, whenenver. I've been so busy lately, that I don't even hesitate stopping for a cheesburger, which now that I sit here and think about it, should be absolutely disgusting to me, I never want to get back to where I was again. So...any suggestions about the full-liquid diet? I'm starting working out again tonight, and am back to 64oz of water, as of Saturday. I'll also be showing up a lot more here, I think I need this friendly support from people who have been through what I have. Good luck to you all, you're in my thoughts and prayers. Amber

Ladies, My hair is falling out like crazy. I have EXTREMELY thick hair though, and LOTS of it. So you'd never know. But, it's breaking half way down AND falling out at the follicle. Anywho, it's almost summer and my hair is DARK. So, can I go get it bleached? My hairdresser says no, cuz it's falling out so rapidly. But I need someone to say YES! and tell me why. So figure out a way to tell me yes, lie if you have to! hahaha!!

yes, I do have have a regret about surgery. I regret not doing it earlier. I was always so worried about what people would think of me if I had the surgery. Now that I've had the surgery, I realize, this is my body, my life. People thought I was just some fat girl anyway, which that's not ALL i was, but that's all they saw. People are going to have opinions about you even if you weight 100 pounds and look perfect. Make the decision for you, and you only. Good luck.

Thanks guys. Since I've heard from you guys, I've started taking the women's one a day and the biotin, everyday. I'm back on my protein shakes, and making healthier snack choices, just had some celery with peanut butter. You guys are so supportive and helpful. You made me feel like I wasn't alone, and that I really could do this. Went to weigh in today, first time since surgery that I've hit a plateu. Next week will be better. Thanks guys!

Hi Everyone, It's been so long since I've checked in. I recently was FINALLY accepted to the local college of Business at a major university near me, so I've been getting all of those things in order, along with buying a house since surgery, and all types of other things going on, I haven't been posting here or taking care of myself... I guess this post will be a bit of a release for me, I'll tell you guys what I've been doing wrong, I know I'm doing so many things wrong, and I do feel like a piece of crap for it. I should be doing much better, I'm hoping for some input and advice. For one, I eat awful. Well not awful, but it's pretty much back to the way it was pre-op, just in much, much smaller sizes. I have cut out fast food though, I very very rarely will get fast food, but I will eat take out. I've been on no "diet" per say, though. I eat what I want, when I want it, in moderation. I feel bad about it, because before surgery I was told that after surgery, I'd be this crazy health nut who just wanted to get so healthy! Not the case..I'm not a health nut, but I'm not a fast food greasy food junky like I used to be. I'm somewhere in the middle now. I'm trying to get back on track, it's just hard to tell myself, hey, don't eat that greasy piece of chicken, when I just lost 5 pounds last week. I'm losing still, and losing quite a bit in my opinion. I cane easily say that I've lost between 2-5 pounds every week with no change, and am still continuing to do so. So, I guess it's just hard for me to say, Amber, you need to eat better, go on this diet, when I'm losing weight without it. But I do know that I'm taking advantage of my tool, and not using it properly, or at least that's how I feel. Protein, protein, protein-I hate that word now. I don't get mine in, again, I'm doing bad at using this tool. I eat as much protein as I can, but I'm not tracking it. But again, I'm not managing it, but I don't feel down and out, I feel wonderful. I can tell I'm not getting enough though I think, because i'm having an insane amount of hair loss. My last thing would be Vitamins. I lost my insurance right after surgery. That's a story in itself...my premium was $200 a month before surgery, then all of the sudden it was $661 a month after surgery. I tried to fight it, no luck, so now I'm without insurance. Anywho, before I decided to cancel my insurance, my surgeon gave me this huge blood work prescirption, 12 viles of blood. Everything came back good except for my Iron, folic acid, and Vitamin D. Well, the surgeon sent me to pcp to read the tests. My pcp gave me iron, folic acid, Vitamin D and instructed me to take them for 2 months, until my levels came back up. I did that. And now he's saying I don't need to take these vitamins anymore, when I talked to him on the phone. So as of now, I'm taking no vitamins at all. I feel like I'm my own doctor though, even though I know that's no excuse. I had to call my doctor to tell him I wanted that blood work done, then I had to call my other doctor to read it, I feel like my pcp should have said WOAH AMBER! you are doing these things wrong, you need to get back on track, and take these vitamins. But that didn't happen. He seemed like it was no big deal, take these for 3 months, and you'll be fine. So all in all, in my opinion, I'm not doing this tool any justice. I'm being a slacker. So I guess what I could use from you all, is what vitamins are you taking? I'll put myself on a vitamin regamient, and stick to it, since I can't afford to see my doctor right now (and even if I did, I think it'd be a waste of my money). Also, no one can answer this one for me either....what happens if I don't get my protein in? Obviously hair loss but what else? My brother, whose a doctor said 80mg (which is what my nut told me to get in) is too much because I didn't have a malabsobative procedure. He said bear minimum would be 30, which I think I get that in. Who knows what I believe though, everyone else tells me something different. Now with all of that being said, about how everything is going wrong, let me tell you guys what's going right. I've lost 90 pounds in 6 months. I feel great. I move like I've never moved before. I go on walks, and I enjoy it. I go to the mall and shop for hours with my mom, and I don't have to stop for breaks. I love going down to the dock now with my fiancee, just to walk around. I would NEVER have gone for a walk before as something fun to do. We go to garage sales and walk up and down the blocks like it's our jobs. I move around the house much faster and with much more ease, I can clean the house for HOURS and not be tired. My seatbelt fits, and it fits with SLACK! I'm down 10 sizes, I never would have thought that I'd be this size, I haven't since my freshman year of high school, now I'm about to be a college senior. My face looks so different, sometimes I look at my jeans and go...no way! those are not mine! but, yes they are, and they look darn good. I'm happy with how things are working out, I'm living life as a "normal" 21 year old. Yeah! Sure! I'll go bowling for 5 hours, or go to the college gym and work out with you! I'd be glad to! Just saying those things, makes me feel "normal" instead of just this person trapped in a huge body. I'm happy, I really am, I just don't know how long my body will continue to let me slide by, and keep not taking care of myself. I realize that with posting this, I may get some, "hate mail", saying how I'm irresponsible tool that I've been given. If you feel the need to tell me that, that's fine, but do know that I've beat myself up quite a bit over it.

I'm new at this, too, so I won't be TOO much help...but...I found two new great things that I love, and my nut said were good. --Turkey Sausage-by Ekrich-it's got 8-10 grams of Protein per serving, low in carbs-I cut it up in tiny pieces and just throw it in a pan -- I take cooked ham-lots of protein too, the lunch meat kind, and spread chive and onion cream cheese on it, and roll it up, the cream cheese has a few grams of protein, not too many carbs Hope I was a little bit of help! Oh, also, watermelon and cucumber seem to go down well-but if you don't like the carbs in the watermelon, that's understandable. My nut said that it was okay, but now I'm wondering if it's worth it.

Hi all! I'm approx one month out-one month and ...three days! I lost 32 pounds the first two weeks and gained 2 pounds the last two weeks. I'm a little discouraged, to say the least. I will assume it's one of these "stalls" and keep trucking...you guys are such good encouragers!<..that's not a word. Anywho, I was wondering if I could ask a favor of some of you experts...let me tell you what I ate today...and you give me some advice? I would be so grateful! Breakfast 4inch piece of turkey sausage-it's sort of shaped like kielbasa (8 grams protein) 1 tablespoon of peanut butter-(5 grams protein) a few bites of watermelon (i didn't eat that in one sitting-it was spread out throughout the morning) Snack 6 pork rinds-(8 grams protein) a few bites of cucumber lunch 3 ham roll ups-(14 grams protein) Snack 1/3 cup of no sugar added ice cream dinner chicken thigh (10 grams protein) 1/3 cup of spaghetti squash (1 gram protein) (ate those two things separately, too much at once) plus a couple glasses of ice Water and a glass of crystal light I would appreciate any input!

Hi Kim You made it! You're one month out! (I NEVER thought I'd get here, I'm one month out, too. ) Anywho, yes, I'm one month out too, and my nut said that I could go to eating anything at this point, just try to lay off the carbs and don't eat nuts or red meat until 6 months out. So, I've been eating everything. I'm not sure what you "can" eat, like what your nut suggests, but I like to take a piece of ham and put cream cheese and a chive in the middle, a mozzarella string cheese stick, no sugar added apple sauce, sugar free pudding and jello, cream of broccoli soup-the healthy request one, pieces of lunch meat, egg salad, chicken salad, turkey sausage-it's very soft, turkey hot dogs, and watermelon. That stuff-some of it anyways, is high protein, low carb. Obviously the watermelon and apple sauce have some carbs in them, but they go down fine and my nut said they were okay. Good luck!

Should I be getting? My doctor says 70-89 but that's for sleeve patients AND bypass patients. Which, this is odd to me, because I thought bypass patients needed more because some of theirs isn't get absorbed. Anyone care to share how many their doc is telling them is enough per day? Thanks!!

Hey guys, I'm three weeks post-op, on the pureed diet. I've been eating chicken salad and scrambled eggs for a week now. Any other suggestions? I've looked on the recipes portion, and can't find anything. I bought some ground turkey today....and ideas? Thanks!!

Hello all, I had my surgery on October 11th, so I'm a little more than 2 weeks out. I went to my post-op appt and told them that I wasn't getting in much food or much fluids-that both just seemed appalling to me. I'm really really trying to get in a lot of Water now, I don't want to be dehydrated. I'm lucky if I'm able to get in a Protein drank and a protein carbmaster yogurt. Very lucky. Usually I just get in the Protein Drink. Any advice? Or should I just suck it up and eat eat eat? Thanks all!

I'm so sorry to hear about your struggle, I'm surprised that I can relate in almost every single aspect of your post, I haven't heard of many people who had such a hard time as us, but some people may just not be sharing that part of it. Anywho, don't you just love hubby right now? Like you, my cycle started as soon as I got home...this man is God sent. I didn't give him enough credit, I didn't think he could do it, but when it came down to it...he did. He didn't complain, didn't comment, just did it. How wonderful he is. Also, I can relate about the sleeping, I'm dosing off constantly, but I cannot for the life of me get comfy in my bed, and this chair is comfy, but not for sleeping. I just get in the bed, and try to fall asleep asap so I don't have to think about how uncomfortable I am. I had 3 surgeries at once, very unexpected, so I would imagine that's why I'm still problematic this far out of surgery. As far as the burping thing, it seems like when I take too many sips of Water at a time, like...7 instead of 3, that I belch, it seems like if I DONT belch after lots of water intake, my tummy starts to hurt. I had a really hard time with my bm and passing gas as well. They gave me laxatives and extra strength gas x in the hospital, maybe you could try that? I felt much better after those two things happened, it even made my incisions feel better it seemed because there wasn't so much air around them. I must have missed something though...why do you have staples? Also, I've heard of people with drains but I didn't get any-so no advice there, but good luck to you! Good luck to you and I hope you start feelin better!!! HUGS

Thanks for the kind words all. I am sleeping about 4 hours through out the day, I'm hoping this is normal-I'm tired and can't think of anything else to do so...a nap it is. I see my surgeon on Friday, I'm hoping that I can hold out until then to call him. I'm getting these weird pain sores in my legs, my hubby thinks they are from keeping my legs propped up in the same place all of the time, cuz that's where the pain is. He keeps saying, ur gonna get dehydrated, and get cramps in ur legs (he's right, I do get cramps when in my legs when not dehydrated) however, i feel like telling him to SHUT UP! ( but will not because he's been nothing but amazing,) it's hard for non-sleevers to understand how hard it is to get that liquid in, i'm trying though, 1/8oz at a time lol. Hope all is well, Amber