music1618

It really depends on several factors. Age, genetics, skin type. I am 33 and have lost 117. I started at 256. I do have some extra skin in my breasts and tummy, but it is not noticeable by anyone but myself. I made sure to get into the gym as soon as I could. I kept active as I lost the weight. Work on those problem areas while in the gym.

He is right it does get better. It took me about 6 months to really be able to get all my protein in. I was also horribly nauseated for the first few months. My doc gave me several meds to help. Please make sure you tell your doc all your symptoms and ask for relief. As for the diahrrea I am not much help or encouragement. I have had that for the entire year and will be going for testing in two weeks. It would get better and then bad again. Please don't wait as long as I did to get help.

I would agree that this is more than likely head hunger. At 4 weeks your body is still asking itself what happened to me. I try to eat every two hours, but I am a year post op. always check with your doc as you will soon learn every doc is different.

So I have good news and bad news. Good news this is 100% normal and will go away. Bad news - it may take a little while for it to go away. I regretted the decision for about three months post op, and then I was fitting into smaller pants and the compliments started rolling in. I also started feeling myself again after about three months. Stay in close contact with your doctor as they are there to support you through this. Trust me they have heard it all and know how to help. I am a year post op and it is the best decision I have ever made. Just hang in there - this whole process is a roller coaster ride and you will learn so much about yourself. I learned I was stronger than I thought I was mentally and physically.

I have had RA for ten years. I am a little over a year post op and have lost about 117. I have noticed a significant decrease in my pain and joint swelling. I was on 20mg of prednisone pre op and I am now down to 2.5mg. Trying to get off of it completely, but each time I begin to wean myself off my hip flares up. My surgeon said that if you are used to taking certain meds before the surgery after surgery you should be ok. However everyone is different. Make sure you discuss the surgery with your arthritis doc and that your surgeon is on the same page with your arthritis doc.

Also try double pasteurized egg whites. You can add them to any drink and it does not change the flavor of the drink. One pump is 3G of protein. I will take a power aid and add 5 pumps which turns a 0g protein drink to a 15g protein drink.

I was always told that the most accurate weight was first thing in the morning after you pee. You are supposed to weight yourself in your birthday suit and it will give you the most accurate weight. As the day goes on you weight more because of water and gravity. Also at the doctor you are being weighted with your clothes and shoes on.

I wanted to see if Dallas/ ft worth people would like to maybe have a local pen pal program or meet and greet. If interested send me an email Music1618@yahoo.com Samantha

I really change my breakfasts up everyday. They range from toast with Peanut Butter, Cereal with fruit, yogurt, there are some Breakfast crackers that are good, Protein shake. I don't do well with plain eggs. They sit real heavy in my pouch. It is my fault though I tried to advance too quickly after surgery and scrambled eggs are not tasty going in reverse.

It depends on your activity. I try to get 100-130 gras of protein a day. However I am weight training right now for the police academy test. Your body can only absorb about 30grams per serving at a time of shakes. You absorb all the protein in whole food protein (meat,eggs, etc). Remember though every doctor is different so please check with your nut tomorrow.

My doc said if you restrict everything for the rest of your life you will lose your mind. Eat things in moderation. I have lost 117lbs and eat what ever I want.

We all fall into that trap. We eat what our pouches allow and ultimately choose wrong items from time to time. When I hit that stage I looked at my goals sheet I made pre op. I had not hit them all yet and that helped me refocus. I also found that when I stray from my daily routine I snack more. Today I overslept and I did not take my lunch. Today I ate bad. Worst thing you can do right now is beat yourself up over it. Get refocused and you will succeed. Personal note I just went through this and I jut had to remember I had not reached all my goals. Then I had to put on my big girl panties and do what was right. Hang in there you can do it!!!!

Mine look smaller, but they are still a D cup. I started off as a 42f. I told hubby before the surgery better get your play time in with them now because if I don't lose them after rny I will be getting them surgically removed. I would be really happy with a C cup. I will still need plastic surgery on them because at 33 they should not hang to my belly button. They look like sad old Water balloons. Thank god for good bras that put them back where they are supposed to be.

At this stage just make sure you are getting in your liquids. The last thing you want to get is dehydrated. Get a kids sippy cup and just keep sipping all day long. As for the Protein remember that a Protein shake counts for liquid and protein. Just keep trying more and more things and you will find something that tastes good. Trust me this phase passes and things will work out. I am sure you will soon have regret if you have joy already. It is normal to go through this and it will pass. Hang in there!!!

It was one year ago that I had my surgery. Wow what an amazing year. I am down 117lbs. I went from a size 22 to a size 2. I play soccer 5 nights a week. In two weeks I am trying out for the police academy. My hubby and I are like newlyweds again and I LOVE going clothes shopping. I am almost off steroids and my RA is 100% better. . This was all possible because of this wonderful surgery. It has taken me through this amazing journey and I have grown so much as a person. I think I am a better wife, friend and coworker. It is really hard to get my smile off my face. I saw my surgeon Monday and he said I was doing fantastic. If you are struggling please don't give up. Everything will get better and you will love your new life.

Take a deep breath. When you wake up your life will be so different. Think of all the things you want to do when you are skinny. You dreams and goals are reachable!!! Just take a deep breath!

I did not get it either. Music1618@yahoo.com

You can also get double pasteurized egg whites and turn anything into a protein drink. You don't taste it at all. Most vitamin shops should sell them. Make sure you do not buy the egg whites in the grocery store they are made for cooking. They also make chocolate egg white milk and it tastes ok.

I agree with doodle. I would hold off on the strong acid of lines and hot sauce. However I love having lime I. My water and I have read it is good for you. You might try a little in your water to see. As for cravings - I can't get enough Asian food, and seem to be able to tolerate spicer things.

I just saw on another post how many weeks out you are. At 7 weeks post op you body is still throwing a temper tantrum. I am guessing from your username that you have 4 kids. So think back to the terrible twos - kiddos get mad when they don't get what they want. Your body is the same way. 8 weeks ago you gave into your body and let it have what it wanted. Now you can't and it says fine I will hold onto everything you eat and drink. Just give it time to heal and calm down and the weight will come off. Remember this is a marathon not a sprint. I also try to remind people to look at other indicators that you are losing weight. Try not to get so wrapped up in the scale and lbs lost. Pre surgery I did not like getting on the scale. I measured my weight by how much of my feet I could see in the shower. When my feet disappeared I took action and had the surgery. When my scale and I are having an argument now I go back to looking at my feet. I can proudly say now I can see at least half of my feet. It helps me see the changes and reminds me that lbs are just a number!

I am a year post op and I will say this is a journey that takes you on a wild ride. I have grown so much as a person. I learned so much about myself. Although the core of myself has not changed my outlook on life and beliefs have changed. Dreams that I never thought I could reach are suddenly within my grasp. Some people can not handle those changes. I have not lost any friends, but my interactions with people are different. You will begin to notice that people treat you differently when you lose your weight. I have a coworker I have issues with now and I do believe it is because of the weight loss. She is overweight herself, and every chance she gets she tells me I am too skinny. At first this really got to me, but now I realize it is her way of dealing with her own issues. She has said many times that she is happy to be fat, and figures if she is going to die she might as well go out with a cheese burger fries and a candy bar. I have also realized that we as overweight people fit a role in people's lives. We are the fat ones of the group, and when you change that outward appearance we can no longer fit into that role. You are no longer the fat one, now you are the one who has confidence and love life and are going for your goals. Sometimes that is hard for people to understand and accept. Now husbands are different. My marriage has strengthened from this experience and after reading many posts I realize I am lucky. Before my surgery my husband and I had long talks about it and all the changes that were to come. I was open and honest with him about everything. I told him that always felt he would sabotage my weight loss efforts by buying junk food and telling me to just ignore it and have will power. As many of us know that is tough to do. About 1 month post op my husband bought a chocolate cream pie. He came home and said he bought something for me. He proudly said I knew it would be soft and you would enjoy it. Now typically I would get mad but keep it to myself. I went to the bedroom and thought about it - came to the conclusion he needed to understand. I told him this is not what I needed and I felt like he wanted to keep me fat. Well at the end of the talk he confessed he bought the pie for himself, but did not want to admit it. He said he wanted sweets at night. We compromised by him buying things that would not tempt me - he bought coconut pies instead. I know I have said a lot, but my bottom line is this talk to your loved ones at length and be open and honest with them. This is a life changing surgery - both mentally and physically.