CrazyJaney

My normally oily skin has gotten drier (so has my hair). I started taking fish oil. Seems to have helped a little. I went through a ton of lotion the first 2 months. Month 3 is getting better.

Stick to your surgeons guidelines. There is really no way to safely avoid liquids and purée/softs in the early days. Nor the fatigue. It does all pass and in the rear view, it seems like forever ago (it was only March). We do make bad patients but try to be patient. The first month sorta sucks. But it gets so much better!!!! 75 down (47 since surgery in March). I can eat small amounts of anything now. But 6-8 ounces of anything other than liquid in the first week is a lot. I can barely eat a whole egg now at 3+ mo post. I tolerate eggs very well though. Yogurt, soup, purée beans are all good. Chose protein first and don't expect to be anywhere near goal yet. Good luck!

I've loosened up on carbs, just a smidge, and I've seen an increase in energy, improvement in my desire to exercise, and consistent drop in weight. I'm not sure what's done it. I'm now eating 900-100 with at least 60 of protein. Some days I'm under 50 carbs and other days I'm closer to 70. I feel better and have so much more energy. Then again, it might be the exercise that's driving it. I try to stay under 50 carbs at least 4 days a week. I've lost 75 and have 85 to go so I'm no expert. It's nice to know some can live in maintenance with some carbs. But I agree, most women of a certain age or body type, can't metabolize normal carb intake. Things like pizza are a slippery slope for me and would induce cravings.

Getting my very nice TREK bike down from the attic (hasn't been ridden in MANY years) and taking it to the bike shop for new tires. Have ridden with my son in the neighborhood which was so much fun. Now I am ready to use it for exercise. Very exciting! Still scared I will fall but it felt wonderful to ride a bike again.

I've still got a long way to go but have already knocked a few things off my list. Kayaking is awesome! So much fun!

Only regret is that I waited so long. Life is so good!

The majority of the time, the comments are genuine. But there comes a time where people need to move on from their "astonishment". I've lost 71 and you can tell a great deal. I hear the "astonished" comments nearly every day. I give brief thanks and then move onto some other subject quickly. It's nice for a brief second and then I just want near strangers (work acquaintances) to stop examining me. Just today, a female doctor exclaimed loudly in a hall full of coworkers how "you look like half the person you were!" which then drew in others to comment and before you knew it, 5 sets of eyes are examining me. It was ridiculous. The elevator came and I went the opposite way. Everyone was pleasant and nice but it's just unnerving. I still have 80+ to lose so I can legitimately say "I've got a long way to go". I deal with HR stuff so I am familiar with hostile work environments. It's just hard to decide where the line is. When is enough enough? I suppose any unsolicited comments could be considered unwanted. Some days I tolerate it better than others.

The sense of "loss" diminishes for me each month. It's replaced with a sense of "I get completely satisfied quickly". I miss trigger foods every now and then, but the sense of loss is gone. 3 months out, I feel like I have power and freedom from hunger. Might not be this way for everyone I realize. But I'm thankful.

Our starting stats are nearly identical. I'm just 3 months out. I've lost 71 (28 of that preop) and a little overwhelmed with how far I have to go (although pleased with my progress). THANK YOU for sharing! I have to remember it's a marathon, not a sprint. Any advice on how you kept it coming off once it slowed down (assuming it slowed)? Did you have to decrease calories, do 5:2, increase exercise?

I had pretty severe fatigue - I mean it's sort of SHOCKING how badly fatigued you are at first. But at 3 months, I'm not exactly full of energy all the time, but in general, I'm much more energetic than I was 70 pounds ago. I just visited family in MI that live on a lake. I rode bikes and kayaked several times. My sister was amazed at how much more active I was on this visit. I still feel the low carbs at times but the oppressive fatigue will go away eventually. At least for me it has.

Hey there TN! I'm 3 months post. Also in TN. Has my surgery at Vandy. The first week is rough but it's all doable and it gets better everyday. Follow the sleeve mantra: sip, sip and sip along with walk and walk and walk. I still get very constipated and take something EVERYDAY (fiber gummies and stool softness). I still struggle with getting all my fluid. I advise tracking everyday, even in the early days because it's a good habit to develop. You energy levels might be really low but they bounce back. I've lost 71 pounds (28 was preop). Absolutely no regrets. Good luck to you!

Sending you prayers of strength and comfort. Im so very sorry.

This is one of my most favorite threads. My surgery was March 13 and it seems like eons ago. I've lost about 70 pounds (including preop), life is so good. The first month is hard but it gets so much better! Good luck to all those starting out.

Awesome NSV tonight.... Went to a Detroit Tigers game. I was walking ahead of our pack, or with the pack, and did not struggle in the least to keep up. Zipped up and down the stairs. Walked up steps in parking deck without feeling like I couldn't breathe. Wearing jeans that are now too big that I hadn't worn since 2008 - friends noticing how loose they were. And of course, sitting in stadium seat comfortably. Awesome night!

Ooooo, I'm searching for the twinkle tweezers now. The Biotin is making my facial hair (even the fine hair) grow like crazy!

Hair sheds when dry and there is a handful when wet. Ugh. I just had a big loss but pretty sure I'm now in a stall. No scale so my daily weighing habit is on hold (I'm on vacation). Loving all the NSV's though.

68 down and 90 to go. Love the dress but can barely see the progress. Sigh. So much better than I was but so freaking far to go.

You're gonna do great! It's risky and scary but worth it! Hang in there.

You're gonna do great! It's risky and scary but worth it! Hang in there.

Big huge congratulations sent to you! What a testimony!

I find I'm touching my hair all the time now since I'm starting to shed. I'm not pulling hair but it's like I'm obsessed with assessing the hair loss. I have a ton of hair, but it's shedding big time.

Try fiber gummies if you haven't already. I take 2 gummies, plus 2 stool softness every night. I usually go every 4 days or so. I gave up on the Miralax. All it did was bloat me up worse. Not sure they will help you but the gummies sure taste better than Miralax. I told my husband today that I'm pretty sure I could land at O'Hare with my bat wings. I'm trying not to fixate on the secondary losses because it is what it is. But, it's a tad depressing at times.

I admit I struggle with the need to de-stigmatize this. And by not being totally open, maybe I'm preventing this from happening on a larger scale. I have told ALL my close circle of friends, and my immediate family. I just don't want it to be the topic of every conversation at work - and trust me, it would be. To de-stigmatize it requires the masses to "come out". The problem is the distraction to my everyday life, my mindset, my own peace of mind, depends on keeping centered and balanced. Constantly receiving feedback from others messes with that. I'm just not comfortable with my weight being a MAJOR topic of conversation - that freaks me out. Being under a microscope for losing weight, while not as bad as being under the microscope for gain g weight, is just unpleasant. There are tons of these threads on here about this. I often comment because I see the pros and cons and it's such an issue for some of us who feel passionately either way. I was very protective of this decision because I didn't want others feedback. Once it was done and I'm fully invested in this way of life, I'm less worried that people will know. I care less what they think after losing 68 pounds. Maybe a year from now I'll sing it from the mountain tops, or announce it over the PA at work. Doubtful. But, you never know. In my humble and useless opinion, do whatever YOU need to do to get through this. Do what feels genuine to your personality, your life. There is no right answer.

Buying a dress online that was smaller than last summer AND having to return it for a smaller size because it was too big when it arrived. And ordering a lab cost in a much smaller size than last year and being able to button it all the way up! Clothing changes seem to be the biggest NSV at the moment.

Best. Responses. EVER. Lololololololol