CrazyJaney

I had major hair loss in month 3,4,5 but has stopped (thankfully). Lots of new regrowth. I was worried it would never stop. I took Bioten starting 2 month pre op and continue today.

OA is overeaters anonymous. I don't go to meetings but some of the principles in a 12 step program are so very helpful. I did a ton of soul searching preop. I basically got down to the deep and dirty of just how, a seemingly intelligent person can get to 325+ pounds. Obesity and chemical dependency are rampant in my family. I really had to examine the why's. I highly encourage a 6 month preop phase for this alone. I was suppose to only do a 3 month one but had a scheduling snafu that moved it out 6 months. That was a blessing in disguise. I was very impatient too. My preop diet was basically the same as post op except I are about 1600 Cals a day. I also went on BP meds with a diuretic at the same time. That probably helped with the preop weight loss. I was in rough shape preop. Just miserable. 28 pounds felt good but not as awesome as 103. Any weight loss before is beneficial. I didn't do perfect though. I had plenty of good funerals throughout, which in hindsight were unnecessary. I can eat almost anything. But cravings are seriously diminished now. I'm one of the lucky ones who have far less physical hunger post op. I still get hungry but sooooo much easier to handle. I no longer feel panicked when hungry. I am perimenapaisal do that is some of the hormone issues. Most women our age have some issues with hormones due to estrogen storage in fat cells. Not all of my issues are weight loss related and I'm sure it's very individual on the changes that occur. Ask away! Personal message me with questions. Very glad to help. I could never have gotten through without this site!

Gosh - I don't think my journey is all that different than most of the successful people here. If I sit and reflect on it, probably the NUMBER ONE thing that has made a difference is I surrendered my ego about food and my ability to control it without "help". I don't go to OA and have not worked with a couselor BUT I have done a ton of reading and soul searching and spent a TON of time on this webstie preop and post op. The only way to go into this successfully (in my opinion) to to be "all in". The emotional side matters. Like everyone else, I have had some success with diets but not long standing. I could minimize my obesity with all kinds of rationales. It took some life changing events in my marriage and my own deterioration of my health at 45 to take this head on. Failure at 45 is not an option. I have a disabled husband and two kids (16 and 9 years old). I have NO OTHER option but success. SO, in knowing that, I invested my everything into this. I looked at how others were successful and followed suit. I am NOT perfect but I am consistent and accountable. The way to win this: 1) Track everything - even on bad days. This is my #1. Without it, I fail. I also weight EVERY DAY. You will see some very succesful people being against this. It is data/feedback that I need to know where I am. It's like checking in with myself. The stalls are tough when you weigh every day. But the succes is SWEET! I know what I am doing every day works. I have emotionally embraced the stalls - to understand that they are normal and a way for your body to adjust. I didn't get to that place emotionally until recently but I think I am fnally at peace with knowing the scale won't always move. 2) Protein first, every meal. Total of 60-80 grams a protein every day. It's all about choices. 3) Carbs. I have a love/hate relationship with them. I have surrendered my powerlessness over pizza. Truly it is a trigger food. I have fallen off the wagon post op with pizza. But I have identified it and turned it around - in part because of tracking. Try to average about 50 carbs or less a day. There are different schools of thought on carbs. At least once a week I DONT track or care about carbs and I think it help reset me metabolism. By carbs - I don't mean sugar. Sugar is reserved for small BITES (and I mean only bites) of Desserts on special occassions. CARBS are my downfall and I have to respect that weakness. 4) Portion control is hugely important. I meansured and weighed everything in the beginning. Still do to some degree. Tracking and portion control are RETRAINING tools - your brain HAS got to learn what real portion sizes are. 300 pound brains DO NOT understand portions - we just don't. Brain has got to be retrained. IT's not as hard as it sounds. The sleeve makes portion size much easier to handle. 5) Stay active. Like anyone who has been obese most of their life, my body had been abused. It's HARD to become addicted to exercise. I am not there yet. My body feels great, until my joints start to remind me that I have abused the hell out of them. But - and I highly recommend - Water aerobics helped me lose weight pre op and in the first few months post op. I have graduated to speed walking and machine weights and I am struglling with an ankle injury now. BUT - at 222.0 pounds, activites of daily living are monumentally easier, thus I stay active. For example, I park farther away in parking lots, I don't avoid walking, I can manage a full day of activity without exhaustion. I have a teenager in marching band - we travel for contests and go to all the football games. I was miserable last fall at 300+ pounds trying to keep up with all that. This year, I have been sooooo involved and active and right in the middle of it - Activity is the way you keep this off - even the little stuff matters. I use a Fitbit. It's also important "data" that keeps me honest. 6) Keep calories low. I didn't believe I could live on 800-1200 calories a day. But I do. Average about 1000 calories a day now but some days are 800. I am very satiated if I eat well. I rarely ever feel like I am sacrificing or being restricted. I eat a little of everything with protein at every meal. I guess those are my keys to success. IT's DATA that keeps me focused and honest. Much like others who post on here - data keeps them focused and honest. I stay involved with this community to keep myself reminded that this is a long term, "forever" fight and does not just end at a goal. Recently, at almost 6 months post, I went home to MI for a family event. I didn't track. I ate carbs of all kinds. I gained 6 pounds in a week. Granted some of that was because I was about to have my first period in 5 months - but - it was a huge wake up call for how "new normal" works. New normal means I can't look away from this. The good news is, I had a period, I immediately identified the cause, I started tracking every morsel, and it fell off in a few days. I have the tools to be successful. I can eat ANYTHING I want but how much is up to me. My BMI is about 35-36 right now. I still have 50-60 pounds to be at a "goal" of 155-165. I am very pear shaped so my upper body looks "goalish" right now but my legs have a way to go. I have lymphedema of both legs so I have swelling that is tricky to get rid of. My legs will never be normal. Even at goal. So I don't really know where this ends. It doesn't end in me in a bikini at 47 - I do know that. I know the end will definitly involve an appointment in a plastic surgeons office - I hope! Regardless, I am certainly on track to better health. Good luck to you! I appleciate the opportunity to reflect. Every few months I have to sit down and process this. I feel so incredibly blessed to do so!

I started Bioten about 3 months preop. I lost a ton of hair in post op month 3, 4, and 5. I have taken the Bioten all along. I added Fish Oil in about month 2 post op because my skin and hair had become so dry. Now, at 6 months post, skin and hair are recovery nicely. I still take both though. I had very thick hair to begin with, thought I was prepared for hair loss, but it was still shocking. Glad it seems to have passed. It's been worth every lost hair (and that's a lot). As far as Bioten goes, I do the highest strength (10,000 I think). I don't know what the dose is for Fish Oil, but I just take one at night.

You have such a great point! I've lost 101 with 55-60 to go. I fit in 18 Curvy jeans so I bought 18 curvy, trouser pants at Lane B. Wore them twice and they are falling off. Size 16 in that style fits better. I have walked out of Kohls twice without trying on and had to take back because stiff is too big. Good problems to have but I totally agree you have to take time to try on. Also, try the next size down just to be sure it doesn't fit. My brain is having a hard time thinking it can wear regular tops/jackets. I keep picking XL and they are too big.

Docs advice needed for sure. As a nurse, I would think it could be: anemia (iron), low potassium, chronic dehydration, or about 10 other things! Get checked out soon! Hope you feel better soon!

I'm 5'6 and started out at 325 (297 day if surgery). I am 6 months out and have lost a total of 101. I wrote all this down so I went back and looked. I did my first closet purge about 3 months post op and 55 gone. Things were rapidly falling off. I could get into an 18 but it wasn't exactly pretty. All my clothes were falling off. I purged clothes again at about 80 pounds and 95 pounds. I'm very pear shaped so I'm much smaller in top. It's hard to predict. I lost inches even when I was stalled. Go to Target/kohls. I bought a couple maxi sundresses that fit no matter what size I am which I wear when I'm transitioning from one size to next. Good luck and have fun!!

I'd say a shake in 45 min at 2 weeks is normal. You might not feel restriction yet because if fluids but also because the areas healing in stomach may still be numb. Don't push it. Sip and aim for fluid goals and as much protein as you can. The first time you eat refried beans of mushy/puréed, you'll probably feel some discomfort. Sounds about right though.

Oh sister! If you only knew how much better you will feel, how FREE you will feel, you would hand him a suitcase and help him pack. I don't want to minimize the pain of heartache. I know it hurts. He is a control freak to try to keep you from a HEALTHIER life. I have a supportive husband but we have issues. This surgery, and weight loss has been the best thing I've ever done. Yes, I think it's made him feel a but left out from "life" but I won't sit back and let life pass me by! He either sits here or goes with me. So far, he's gone with. You have no idea how absurd this whole thought process will seem in a year. You are so deserving of being healthy! I sure wish you peace and healing through this. Sending you encouragement - you are so much stronger than you know!

I tried it at about 6 weeks out. Did ok, little painful. Easier to handle at 3 months. Now at 6 months, I love the chopped salad kits (I add turkey, cheese, etc). The chopped lettuce is perfect to chew up smaller. Sometimes it sits a little "stiffly" (if that's a word) but it so satisfies a need to crunch! As long as I add some protein, it's good to go. I'm probably rare in that I tolerate most things. I have only "slimed" once (omlette) and had dumping only once (fruo-fruo drink with ice cream in it - only had a few sips). I stick to protein first and count everything. I'm so thankful I can still do salads.

I'm 6.5 months out and just hit my 100 pound mark. It's a awesome feeling. But I can't tell you how many stalls I've been through - too many to count. My progress graph on MFP is a sharp downward graph, but all along there is evidence of stalls. Most frustrating damn things ever! Good news is that you're perfectly normal. 20 is a perfect start. You're on your way!

Camaro I hit my 100 pound lost this week too! Whoop!

This is still one of my all time favorite threads! More so now that I've experienced the skin changes that 97 pounds can bring. It's humbling, but I feel too good to worry. I have always been inspired by you!

I agree with calling doc but I also had a really sore, painful back the first week. I think it was muscle pain from anesthesia, being guarded from pain (tense muscles) and probably just gas. The heating pad was my best pain - right in the middle of my shoulder blades. But, no thread on this site can replace what your doc says. Let us know what you find out.

6 months post op VSG yesterday. 95 gone, 65 left to go. I'm still a work in process. Weight loss has slowed down, only 7 gone in the last month. Seem to be fighting for each pound now. Started at 325 so I've still got more to go but I sure feel better. Pictures DO help encourage me (for all you contemplating or pre-op). I'm so thankful for the excellent program at Vanderbilt University and for my awesome friends and family who have supported me. Just signed up for my first 5K in December. Time to take exercise seriously.

Went shopping at Target because clothes are cheap and I still have a long way to go... BUT - went last night and completely bypassed the plus size section. Had to remind myself that nothing in that section would fit! Bought a cute maxi skirt and top in regular sizes, fits great! Such a great feeling!

Congrats! I'm green with envy! I'm at 94 lost just before my 6 month mark. I had hoped to be at 100 for my 6 month visit (23rd). Still, much to celebrate! You look awesome!!!!!

Welcome! Just want to encourage you that what you're feeling is so normal! I started the journey a year ago. I weighed 325 in the office last August. It's starling and baffling and degrading. But - you are on the right road! I lost 28 preop over 6 months. You'll get there. You're doing exactly what you need to do to get there. I did 1400-1600 cal, low carb and water aerobics. Just stay the course. I has surgery in March. I'm down 94 total. Life is good. I wish I'd had done this sooner! Good luck.

I had surgery in March. I quit a week preop and I seriously thought I had the flu. It was not fun. Not telling you that to scare you, just want you to be prepared. I DO recommend doing it preop. If I had had those symptoms immediately post op, I'd have been even more miserable. I got through it with decaf tea (hot) and decaf Protein coffee. It was doable but I won't lie, pretty impressive. The worst was day 2-3 then it was mild withdrawal and over by day 5. I started drinking it again at 1 month post op but mostly I stayed with hot tea for a few months. Now I have 1-2 cups French Roast with half and half in am and discovered Starbucks iced coffee+milk which has 50 calories and 5 carbs (light blue top) for afternoon pick me up. I try to limit the Iced coffee to only a few times a week because 1) it's expensive 2) bothers my reflux 3) don't want to go back to a raging habit. I still love that first cup in the morning. My doc is good with all of it, just need to limit due to reflux. Good luck and try not to worry. This is hands down the best thing I've ever done. Those rough days seem like a blip on the radar, seems like eons ago. I'm down 90 pounds. Life is good and worth every temporary discomfort.

CGJ is my hero. Just amazing!!!!

I'm 5.5 months and just came out of a difficult stall. It last 3 weeks. I seemed to gain and lose the same 3 pounds for a month. So very frustrating. In back to losing again. But it's definitly getting harder.

I hit a long stall (3-4 weeks) at 1 month and again at 5 months. I also know I retain fluid big time when I'm PMSing. The thing is, I'm not having periods, just cyclical pms. Haven't had one since April or May. My face breaks out, I'm moody and the scale just stands still, even without an actual period. As soon as symptoms go always, weight falls off. I've done nothing but keep doing what I need to do. I've lost 92 since last August. 28 preop. The rest since surgery in March. All this despite stalls that made me want to cry. Point is, stay the course and it will budge, eventually.

I had a really tough stall at 3 weeks and at 5 months. I mean REALLY frustrating. There is no solution except to keep doing what you're doing. Also, vary up what you eat. I'd eat some carbs but stay in my calorie range and it sometimes seems to boost my metabolism again. If only do that 1-2 days a week. But overall, I've lost 90 pounds (62 post op) in 5.5 months, even with stalls. I lost 28 pre op but I count it all. A year ago I weighed 325. Hard to believe. Just stay the course. You've got a great tool for success. Unfortunately, we have to be patient and wait for it. So dang frustrating though.

I had the same wonderful experience in June. Wasn't it such an awesome feeling? I'm down another 30 since then and keep having those moments. Such a great investment, I agree!

@@ready2B Good thread. This is the one I was talking about.