decemberroses

So I took a ton of Biotin, drank tons of Water, and worked hard to keep up with my Protein. I still lost so much of my hair on top that I couldn't go out in public without a head covering. At first, I was getting really bummed about it (though, even at that time, I did NOT regret the surgery one little bit!), but I did a lot of research, and got a really pretty, very realistic looking wig and after weight loss, and with a head full of hair, I got all my confidence back. I am at 20 months out, and still don't have all of my hair back. It's very fine and thin and the texture is really curly now. I just keep wearing wigs. I love them, and no one has any idea unless I tell them, and then they act like I'm joking with them. Even though I put off having surgery for fear of losing my hair, I finally realized that the trade off was worth it. Seriously, I can always buy hair. Can't buy health or a new body if mine starts breaking down. It was still worth it, and I wouldn't change a thing.

So I took a ton of Biotin, drank tons of Water, and worked hard to keep up with my Protein. I still lost so much of my hair on top that I couldn't go out in public without a head covering. At first, I was getting really bummed about it (though, even at that time, I did NOT regret the surgery one little bit!), but I did a lot of research, and got a really pretty, very realistic looking wig and after weight loss, and with a head full of hair, I got all my confidence back. I am at 20 months out, and still don't have all of my hair back. It's very fine and thin and the texture is really curly now. I just keep wearing wigs. I love them, and no one has any idea unless I tell them, and then they act like I'm joking with them. Even though I put off having surgery for fear of losing my hair, I finally realized that the trade off was worth it. Seriously, I can always buy hair. Can't buy health or a new body if mine starts breaking down. It was still worth it, and I wouldn't change a thing.

I think every person's definition of "normal" is pretty different. I think I live a very normal life post-op, my mom doesn't, some of my friends don't think it's normal, but then I have other friends that know about my surgery and say things like "wow, I've never seen you eat pizza" because I really do stick to plan most of the time. However, I want to preface that with the fact that I was not an emotional, stress, or comfort eater. food was not this thing I turned to when stressed, sad, or overwhelmed. I just loved food in large quantities, and didn't have a stopping point. So, I do not and have never suffered from the "eat a carb, crave a carb" that I often hear about on forums. I did work on some behaviors that led to my obesity, but I refuse to classify myself as a food addict. I've dealt with addiction in other forms, and my love of food was not driven by compulsion or addiction. Defining what is normal to you, or every other patient might be different. I do have trigger foods that I really do avoid unless it's a special occasion such as cake, or cupcakes. Those things go down way to easy, and I can eat a huge slice of cake so I do not keep those things in my house. But, if I'm at a party, I'm sharing in the celebration with cake, a whole slice of cake ! ! ! My husband eats ice cream, Reese's Ice Cream, 4 nights a week, and not once have I been tempted to eat his ice cream. I keep some 100% whole fruit raspberry or peach sorbet that is no sugar added, no milk fat, in the house in the event I want frozen yumminess, but I can honestly say it's been 2 months since I've touched the container.
When I say my life is "normal", I am comparing it to the life I've seen other naturally skinny women living.I eat pretty much the same things and amounts of my skinny girlfriends. I might modify my plate to get in Protein first such as removing the bun, or eating the meat and eggs from the salad first, but I'm still eating somewhat normal amounts. The portions are smaller, but I'm rarely questioned as to why/how/ if my food is okay because I've eaten such a small amount. The only time it really happens is when I go to buffets with friends, and I only make one trip, and even then, that has only happened 2 times in 2 years, and the lady was convinced something was wrong. I can eat 1 slice of pizza and be perfectly content and satisfied. I can eat all foods in smaller portions that I could pre-op, but I have a different mindset on what I put in my mouth. I still go for protein first about 80-90% of the time. But, sometimes I just want a big, fat juicy salad or a veggie plate from a restaurant. For example last night, we went to Sonny's barbque. My husband had a sampler platter of all the meats, my son had ribs, each of them ordered 2 sides with their meals. I opted for the salad bar knowing I would steal meat from their plates. That's exactly how it happened. I ate 3/4 of my salad, sat there and talked with them and then waited about 20 minutes and snacked about 2oz of meat of my husband's plate. I was perfectly content and satisfied. I can fit a lot more junk food in that I can nutrient dense food. I can easily polish off one of those 99cent bag of doritos without issue so I avoid eating chips because those are truly just junk food. I don't believe in "good or bad" or "cheats". I look at what I'm putting in my body as nutrient dense or lacking.
I hope that makes sense, and I'm sorry to ramble.