enigmachik

I didn't tell anyone. I knew what I wanted to do and didn't want to give anyone a chance to negatively influence me.

I just said a prayer for you. May you have peace and all go well! Let us know how you're doing afterwards!

I know it's unnerving, but it will stop. I promise. Hang in there!! Mine was falling out for a couple of months despite the fact that I got all my Protein, plenty of Water, took all my Vitamins etc. It did freak me out, but it didn't last that long. The hair grows back.

I've often thought about this... and I wonder if it's the change in us that makes it seem like people around us are treating us differently. I'm a firm believer in whatever you put out to the world is what you're going to get back. Even at my heaviest I looked the world in the face (didn't walk with my head down trying to be invisible) - always had men holding doors for me, would get a smile back from someone if I sent one their way (male or female), and would chat with whoever was standing next to me in line. I just think if you act like a shrinking violet, that is how you'll be treated. With new-found confidence we may take more chances and open up more - and the world will treat you accordingly.

Just my little two cents...

Perhaps there is some truth to that if you never were a shrinking violet, but I am the type of person that always tries not to be noticed. You can see that I don't even have my real pic on here. I am a wallflower. As a bigger person, I tried not to be noticed and I never was noticed. Now as a smaller person, I STILL always try not to be noticed. I have not gotten some new-found confidence. I don't stand taller. I don't act any different than I used to. And guess what? I get noticed ALL the time now. I get spoken to, smiled at, doors held open for me etc...I'm telling you, my behavior has not changed. The only thing that changed is my physical appearance. It's disconcerting to me that suddenly I am worth the extra attention that I wasn't worth before.

Yes, I've noticed and it bothers me too. It amazes me how fat people are treated like they're invisible. I am still the same person. If I'm worth a hello or a held door now, I was worth it 75 lbs ago too.

5+ lbs a week is NOT a slow loss. It is an extremely rapid loss. I know we want the weight to disappear overnight, but it just doesn't work like that. What I wouldn't give to lose 5 lbs a week!!

EAS CarbAdvantage only has 2g carbs and it's very tasty.

I had issues the first few weeks. I couldn't eat anything with sugar, fake sugar, or lactose without getting horrible dizziness, shakes, nausea, diarrhea etc...However, it cleared up before three months post-op and I have been able to eat anything and everything since without any issues.

I also have the problem that regular Vitamins make me sick. Like, literally throwing up within minutes of taking them, sick. Most (not all) gummy vitamins I can tolerate without getting sick. My doctor told me to just stick with the Gummy vitamins. He said he normally doesn't recommend them because they aren't complete, but that in my case taking them was better than taking nothing. I also try to eat really clean, nutritionally dense foods in addition to them. So far my vitamin/mineral levels have been fine. Good luck!!

I walked up and down stairs on the very day of my surgery. I was walking a little slowly, but really didn't have any issues with it.

Try doing a search for this in the topic search. I know I've seen something similar to this posted a couple of times in the past. I seem to recall that one girl discovered it was a B Vitamin shortage that was causing it.

You might want to go to the doctor and get your Vitamin levels checked out. If you have no energy, you are probably deficient in some essential nutrient. Once you figure out what that is, you can focus on getting more foods that contain that into your diet. Good luck!!

Generally with Mexico it can happen very quickly; much quicker than in the US. For me, it was six weeks from my first inquiry to the surgery date. I could have done it sooner than that, but I had to arrange for the time off from work.

Just because you failed doesn't mean everyone else will, "fair warning"

Who said I failed? I've been around the boards for awhile and have read many a thread pertaining to this very issue. You have two posts, but thanks for setting me straight.

I second the PB2 suggestion. It's awesome to add to any shake or smoothy!!

Sorry, it was kind of a debbie downer post. I wasn't trying to dampen your excitement. It IS very awesome to be satisfied with only a few bites! I was just trying to inject some reality because in the first few months many many people feel they have conquered their love affair with food, but very often when they are further out and can eat more food...especially when you become aware of your slider foods...you realize that your love affair will rear it's ugly head again if you aren't very conscious about keeping it in check. I say it because knowledge is power. Knowing it will help you to conquer it. but yes, being satisfied with only a few bites is a wonderful thing!!

There's a good chance your love affair will be rekindled at some point. Fair warning.

I had this happen a few times in the early weeks. It stopped around six or eight weeks post-op and I have not had any issues since (I'm 9 months out now).

I don't know anyone going at that time, but I just wanted to encourage you that you will do just fine on your own and you will quickly make friends with those that get sleeved with you. Good luck!!

If this doctor was serious you should get a new doctor. You've lost an average of over 5lbs a week! What I wouldn't give to have losses like that. You have done fantastic and you deserve a doctor who will support you. You have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to feel bad about. Keep it up!!

Yep, I'm using MFP too

1- Have you had any major complications from the surgery? No complications

2- How long were you on restrictions from lifting? I was restricted for 6 weeks. I work a desk job, so I only had to take a week off from work.

3- How long were you in the hospital after surgery? Two days.

4- What did you tell friends and coworkers? Nothing. I didn't tell a soul about the surgery. I didn't feel like hearing anything negative about it.

5- Do you have any regrets about having the surgery? No, not at all! Best decision I ever made for my health and happiness!

Bonus Question - Yes, I did experience some hair loss for several weeks around 4 to 5 months post-op. It was really unnerving to me when it started falling out in fistfuls. However, as obvious as it was to me, it was not noticeable to anyone else and after a few weeks it stopped. I took my Vitamins including Iron and Biotin regularly and that didn't stop the hair from falling out, but it may have reduced the extent/duration of it.

I do not regret the surgery one bit! If I could have had it 15 years ago, I would have! From what I've seen on these boards, there are two categories of people who regret the surgery: the small percentage that had complications, and those who are less than three months out. With those that had complications, it is completely understandable that they would regret the surgery. You have to weigh whether the risk of the surgery is worth it to you for the chance at a new life. For the vast majority of us, the answer is yes! For those that are just coming out of the gate, they may have temporary regret of the surgery, but it is not the surgery they are regretting, it's the recovery and/or lifestyle change. Most of these people end up very happy with their sleeve once they are fully healed. Whenever you read a post where someone is complaining or indicating regret, I suggest you try to find out how far out they are from the surgery. Chances are, they are still within the first few weeks. The recovery is hard on some people, but for 99% of us, it is worth it.

Personally I would not set a pounds lost goal because the amount of weight you lose in any given period of time is up to your body and not completely within your control.

Instead, I would set goals that are within your control. For example, make a goal that between now and June 1st you will reach your Water and Protein goals every day. Or between now and then you will exercise at least four days a week or you won't go over "x" amount of carbs or you'll do 30 minutes of walking a day etc... Set goals that are a challenge to you, but are within your control.

When you set a weight goal, you run the risk of being disappointed if you miss it by a small amount even if you did everything right as far as macros and exercise goes. When you pick goals within your control, the weight loss will come as a benefit of being healthy and you set yourself up for success! Good Luck!!

Friend. I'd rather spend 120 calories on a half cup of edamame, than 200 calories on a Protein Bar full of sugar and additives.