Madam Reverie

Eat a stick of celery. It has virtually no calories, is mainly Water and it will give you the crunch you desire. If you're hanging for flavour, sprinkle a tiny amount of salt or stock cube on it. i will in no way condone you risking your pre-diet success with eating 'off plan' and as you're on a liquid diet, your surgeon clearly thinks you need to be. However, if you're going out of your head - there are worse things for you to eat than a stick of plain celery. You have one week to go before the big day (according to your ticker). Don't for the love of god, ruin your chances now. You've come so far. Head down, grit your teeth and tackle this beast. The question on the table is - A moment of weakness which could ruin your chances? Or a mere week and a bits worth of further dedication for a lifetime of success? I know which one I'd choose... Hang in there, honey

Whoop Whoop! Enjoy the taste sensations!

Nicely done, Lady xx

I can eat almost anything. Although.. I suffer with fried stuff and spicy stuff. I didn't have a food funeral per se. All I did, was the night before surgery, I had a bit of pizza, a couple of chicken strippers and a full fat coke. (Before people say 'whooooaaaa' - my surgery was not until 19:00hrs the next day and that was my last bit of food) I thought I was going to mourn lasagne. I certainly did for the first 6 weeks. Then I had some. Without the Pasta. It was delicious. I had three mouthfuls and was done. Served with a bit of salad? I was happy as anything. I, too, am a carb addict. Missing the garlic bread was/is, well, painful. But.. You can still have garlic bread. Just a couple of mouthfuls for the flavour. However, with how little you can fit in and the carb-high it gives you (then the sugar crash and then the obligatory cravings), you realise its just not worth it and you end up lusting after the right stuff anyway. I'm sure that'll change for me when my sleeve loses a bit of its restriction. However, right now, I feel deprived of nothing and I'm elated about that. Don't think that everything is out of reach - it isn't. However, to those of you who LOVE the sliders now (ice cream/chips), you're going to have to be EXTREMELY careful of those in the future. That be where grave danger lies.....

Out of interest and as we're talking about about it... Has anyone here used Minoxidil for their hair loss? I bought 5% Spectral UHP a while back and pre-surgery, in preparation, but have been reading that it accelerates hairloss in the short term, that it works, but the hair is fine and downy and then, as soon as you stop using it, the new hair falls out? Anyone had any experience of this?

I hear ya.. Just bought myself a 'Babyliss Big Hair'.. Hoping that will improve things.. Although, i don't know how a rotating brush with ceramic barrel will be that good for my hair.. But, worth a shot. If it's going to go, it's going to go. Then, it'll be Madam Revs, circa 2007 - Short bobbed hair again... Hurrumpf...

Bring on the lycra! xx

Which month did your hair start falling out and when did the loss slow down?

Feels odd to 'like' a comment about something which can be considered fairly traumatic, but appreciate your candor.

Hello darlings. I know this topic has been 'done to death' but I'd just like to ask a quick question to get some data together for our general consumption, if you would be so kind. For those of you who have been sleeved and experienced some hair loss, would you be able to recount when it started and roughly when it slowed and then stopped? If it stopped? Do you think the 'type of hair' you had/have had anything to do with it? (Fine/thick/average/afro/curly/straight, etc. etc.) Has your hair returned to normal? Or has it been changed (greasy/dry/frizzy)/significantly degraded in thickness/volume as a consequence? Any experiences greatly appreciated. Mwah x

Liz and Miss Mac... My heart breaks for both of you. On reading your stories? My southern man has just offered to come to both your locations and expedite these ..... LOWLIVES... to the swamps. Best place for them. Come on crew, I have no connections myself in Texas (I wish I had), but lets give this lovely lady some employment/residential options, shall we? Tea and sympathy is always appreciated, but lets get something moving, shall we? POSITIVE ACTION!

'Dented'?!.. I am confused. Did she have a lap band previously?

Wonderful to see you again love!!!!!!!!!! Aww, thanks, RJ. Lovely to see you, too! xxx

I posted this on another thread. Don't know whether it'll work (as it's in the UK and might block US internet), but it's a link to a couple of UK channels which are doing My 600lb Life on Demand, Fat Surgeons and other weight related programs. http://really.uktv.co.uk/shows/my-600lb-life/ http://really.uktv.co.uk/shows/fat-surgeons/ http://www.channel4.com/programmes/my-baggy-body/episode-guide

I am on a pill that stops my periods (due to horrid PCOS). I have been sleeved for 4 months. In this time and despite this pill, I have had two periods, both lasting over 17 days (oh yes, it was a joy) ... I have now, just started again... It is getting more than a bit annoying. Particularly as I'm not getting any money back for buying in bulk from lil-lets and the like! Grrrrrr!

A knee-jerk response to that would be - the staples form a total seal on the stomach. If it didn't, stomach acid would leak into the body cavity, causing the infamous 'leak' and all the deadly side effects this entails. Consequently, I would have thought that as it is not a porous seal, with the skin forming a natural seal over it and after time; if an infection within the stomach occurred, it would be like any other infection of that part of the anatomy. Could any infection be exacerbated by the fact there's an 'unnatural' seal there? I reckon for sure, in the first 6 months, but after that the risk would be greatly diminished. So, after the brain-splat, with no scientific back-up on this point, my answer would be 'yes, it could be exacerbated whilst the stomach is still in its healing phase. No, with regards to infections being 'difficult to remove' after the healing phase and no, to it encapsulating an infection because of the seal being 'Water tight' and the stomach healing over it after time anyhow.' Clear as mud!

You're in the dreaded 3 week stall. Search for it under forums and there is a plethora of information to suggest how to buck it. I was in the 3 week stall for nearly 4 weeks. I'm 4 months out and have just got out of another 3 week stall. Its your body calibrating. Up your calorie levels a wee bit, no carbs, lots of water.. voila. It'll move again when your body is ready.

I had a similar moment.. except I thought I'd developed some sort of calcified growth in my pelvic area. In total horror and mild panic, I reached for my partners hand to drag it to the location. With total bemusement, he uttered 'thats your hip bone, baby'. Now, there's an expensive education for you down the toilet! <I do molest myself regularly as a consequence now >

Oh yes indeedy... But this was more with my former partner. Emphasis on the 'former'. The current incumbent met me chunky and has seen me through my surgery and still loves me for who I am. I am lucky. Saying it as it is - I wrecked my former relationship. I was jealous, irrational, had critically low self-esteem, buried myself in my career and basically pushed him away. Although in saying that, he was in no way perfect either and his peccadillo's were more than the average person would be prepared to deal with... All my fears and neuroses became self-fulfilling prophecies. A hard lesson to learn - but I'm glad I learnt it. Your husband loved you then. So much so, he married you. What gives you any reason to think he doesn't still love you? You say he gives you no reason to feel insecure.. Try to remember there are two of you in this together and if everything else (apart from this) is good, you need to perhaps 'think of him' sometimes. Its so easy to get bogged down in the Protein, the appointments, doctors, bariatric nurses. It might prove a healthy distraction from the arguments caused by your insecurities - but it also might, too, get on his nerves a bit in 'another thing to add to the pot' kind of way. I'm not saying you're ignoring him - or even causing excessive discord... But if you're arguing about these things and you're worried about it - and you love him and want to make this transition as smooth as possible? Perhaps try and talk about your insecurities with a counsellor - or your husband. You never know what can happen... Failing that, in the interim and if you're feeling a bit blue about it? Hows about a few date nights for the two of you and enjoying each others company, spoiling each other, whilst leaving the insecurities at home... I wish you the best of luck

I'm 4 months out and I've been stalled for a good couple-three weeks. Moving again today though. All of a sudden - whoosh! Down a kilo! Yippppeee! Hang on in there

Very very groovy indeed. Many congrats, Misty x

I'm now God.... Oh wait, that's my internal dialogue coming out. Okay, I'll go for Obama's job when he leaves it... Oh wait, I'm British. Okay, I'll go for not being 'the work-horse of the team' (as I was once referred at 9pm on a Friday evening whilst still in the office). I'll continue to reach for the stars and feel physically and mentally confident in doing so. That'll do me

I don't bother with Pasta hardly at all. I might have a couple of mouthfuls if its in a lasagne.. Other than that, it just seems like a big waste of space.... Doesn't taste of much and whoomf, it expands and can make you feel crappy... I wouldn't bother, if you're not hankering for it.

<--------- Big cheesy grin

I don't think either of us could get more 'real' if we tried! Watch out world!