suejersey

Wondering about flax seeds. How do you use them? Miralax a couple times a week helps me.

I am the opposite of above poster, unfortunately. I am also 8 months out and have zero libido. It is scary how zero it is. Thinking maybe I need to talk to my doctor about it at least for my husband's sake.

I am 8 months out and still only have a bowel movement about once per week. I usually have to use miralax a couple of days and then I go. I get all my drink in and am trying to up the veggies and fruit and eat as much fiber things as possible but I can't seem to go more than once a week. No discomfort, though and so my doctor said not to worry but try the miralax and that definitely helps.

Now that I am 8 months out and have lost a significant amount of weight I have a new problem. Flippity floppity girl parts. My boobs actually make a flapping sound if I run or jump with out a bra on. I can literally fold them in half! And the hooha has been known to make the flapping sound a few times as well. Everything is so sagging. It'd be sad if it wasn't so funny. anybody else?

Hi! I am also self employed. I do transcription. I took about 4 or 5 entire days off (including surgery and overnight in the hospital) I got back to work slowly with a few hours a day and building up. I did take naps in the afternoon (which is a nice perk of working from home for myself LOL) but I was back to work, albeit part time after 4 or 5 days. I would say I was more tired for about 3 weeks, but after 7 days or so I was back to a full work load (worked around my naps, et cetera) HTH

I think a lot of people have thinning hair, but it is not a given that it will happen. I get my Protein, I take Biotin and I have still thinned A LOT. I am 8 months out and have heard months 6 - 9 are the worst. So hopefully I am nearing the end. They say it does grow back. In the meantime I got an adorable (if I say so myself) pixie cut that I would NEVER have considered before losing the weight I have. In the long run, having a healthy body is more important than hair, and it will grow back! Good luck to your wife in her decision!

Unfortunately no suggestions but here to commiserate! I already have thinner hair it is getting to the point where I am afraid of literal bald spots, not just thinning. I am 8 months out, a lot of people say months 6 - 9 are the worst. So I am hoping it stops soon!

You aren't going to feel the sense of restriction from liquids. Once you get to solids you will be drastically reduced in the amount you can take in. And then over time you will increase your calories to an amount that will maintain your weight loss (if you work the sleeve the way it is supposed to be used) Don't worry about how you feel right now. I am 8 months out and have upped my calories to approximately 800 a day and I can have anywhere from 2 - 3 ounces of Protein at a meal with maybe two - 4 bites of vegetable. So after approximately 7 months of solids I still can't have that much at a time, and you will be the same. I easily drink 64 ounces per day in addition to the food (not within 30 minutes before or after food). Your stats look very similar to mine at your stage. Just keep following your doctor and NUTs instructions and try not to worry! You'll do great.

I think it is very common to feel that way. I remember being apprehensive about moving on to the next phase that somehow I would be the only person in the world that wouldn't lose weight if I did. LOL! Take it slow, but follow your doctor and NUTs recommendations, it works! I am 8 months out and just upped my calories in the last month and I am still nervous about it, that it will stall my weight loss but I am actually finding the opposite, now that I have upped the calories (and the exercise) I am still losing at a steady pace. So don't let your mind psych you out. Take your time transitioning, but transition. You will do great!

DOS 278 Sleeved 10/11/12 down 93 pounds.

Thigh lift is one of the things I am thinking I may need or want. I am curious if you can't sit that means you are always either standing up or laying down for six weeks?

Yep. What an accomplishment, right?!

I am 7 pounds away from losing 100 pounds. I have said all along that I wanted to do something big for losing 100. My ideas were get a tattoo or get my nose pierced. My dilemma is - my parents and a number of others are against the tattoo. I was all for it - an infinity sign with my daughter's names in it and a "100" dangling off it to show 100 pounds lost forever. But now I am not so sure. When I am 65 am I still going to be happy with it, et cetera....(I am 47 as of tomorrow) What I really, really want is to get my nose pierced. Tiny diamond stud. I think it is beautiful and I, in my opnion, have a petite, cute nose. My HUSBAND is against it and so are my kids. And I am sure just about everyone else would be, too. I was almost to the point of like, too bad, it is what I want and should be my decision but I don't know if I can do it if it will be hurtful (embarrassing) to my family. So then I thought perhaps I would have my engagement ring redone - it needs to be resized and many years ago I lost a side stone and we just put in a cubic zirconia instead of a real diamond so I could get that replaced with a diamond and maybe a new setting. I like the idea but I don't love it. I thought I was going to be out of my mind with happiness once I got to 100 pounds but I don't know maybe I should just do nothing and save the money to put towards getting a boob and arm lift. Now that everything is sagging it kind of has me sad. What did you all do for hitting that big milestone or for hitting goal?

I do zumba or some type of dance cardio two days a week, one day 60 minutes on the treadmill at fat burn setting and two days weight training - one is a class using light weights and one is machines. On the day I do machines I do the hour of treadmill as well. So I basically do 4 days per week 1 hour - 2 cardio, 1 fat burn and 2 weight training.

Looking great! Congraulations!

DOS 278 CW 186 Total loss 92 pounds 11,5 pounds per month Coming into the home stretch and I know things are going to slow down. I have been super happy with my progress but now I am getting a little impatient to be done 25 - 30 pounds left.

I exercise 4 days per week for about 50 - 60 minutes. 2 days I do a zumba or dance aerobic class, 1 day treadmill for 60 minutes and 30 minutes of weights and 1 day 60 minute weights class. So basically 3 days cardio, 2 days weights (one day I do both cardio and weights)

I know that I want to get to a weight that I an MAINTAIN without struggling. I feel like if I get to what my BMI says I should be and I can't maintain it then I will feel like a failure. I set my goal for 165 - 20 pounds more than when I got married 20 years ago. In looking at the BMI chart that accounts for age my high end would be 154. Once I get to 165 I will see from there how I feel and look. I have always been "curvy" and want to maintain that. I like the look for some "meat on the bones." But I may try to get into the 150's which TO ME would be perfection. Whether I am in the BMI range or not isn't my goal. If my cholesterol is good, my blood work is good, I am exercising and have a strong heart muscle the number isn't as important. No matter what I have lengthened my life by taking off so much weight and starting to exercise regularly.

I use miralax when things "slow" down. I am almost 8 months out now and still only go once or twice per week. I drink all my water and try to get as much fiber as I can, but still things are slow, so the Miralax makes up the difference. it goes in my water (flavored water) and you don't notice it at all.

Looking at everyone's pictures it makes me realize what this surgery has done for all of us. The smiles on faces, the confidence in taking pictures, you can see life truly starting again in all of you. We have been given a wonderful gift in gastric sleeve surgery. Now our job is to cherish and nurture that gift and take EXCELLENT care of our bodies! Congratulations to you all! We are blessed!

It's interesting that you bring this up because I notice that lately I have been more anxious and I can't figure out why. There really is no reason. I have OCD and have been on Paxil for about 15 years. In thinking about it I wonder if the anxiety is the anticipation with the weight loss, the heavy focus on it that is causing it. I do find that I am more irritable if I get hungry. I notice it especially before dinner. If I eat too late I don't necessarily feel super hungry but am totally on edge. Just wanted to throw that out there. Not sure it is helpful but wanted you to know you're not alone and perhaps something to consider.

I am pretty good about logging. I do miss a day here and there. I am suejersey

I am 7 1/2 months out and am still losing. I did add "serious" exercise in the last month so I am upping my Protein and calories to have the energy to do more intense exercise and that has helped the weight loss to continue. Prior to intense exercise I was eating 600 - 700 calories minimum 60 grams protein. Now with exercise 4 days a week (zumba, sh'bam, treadmill, weight training) I am shooting for 800 calories and 80 gramsof protein. I was actually starting to slow down on my weight loss at 6 months because my body needed more calories, protein. So when I kicked up the exercise and the calories I started losing again. To reach my goal I have 23 pounds, but I think I am going to go for another 10 after I reach that goal. So don't be worried that weight loss is going to stop at 6 months out or once you reach a certain number of calories. I think once you reach a certain point and you see weight loss slowing, then just change it up a bit with more/different exercise and make sure you are getting ENOUGH calories! You're doing great!

Don't get in the habit of weighing every day it will be frustrating and a roller coaster. Try to hold out for once a week, same day, same time. And believe me, you can do this, you WILL do this! Your body is figuring it out. Just follow the rules and you will be amazed where you are in six months!

Updating: DOS 10/11/12 278 Weight at Setting of Goal 220 CW 5/23/13 190 Goal for 6/21/13 190 Made my goal and now I am going to be very aggressive and shoot for that 180 by first day of summer. Now that I am 7 1/2 months out things are slowing down so I don't know if I will make 180 but having a goal that may be hard to reach will just push me harder!