S(he) be(lie)ve(d)

I love that I rediscovered that I don't live to eat. I eat to live.

One word that says it all.....HIPPA. My business is my business, not everyone else's. I'm a very private person with everything. But, to each their own. Everybody is different.

Let loose, be bold, laugh, enjoy! Do what you want to do and don't let anything hold you back! Dare to try new things!

No sugar coating it, NOTHING WORKS. I did all of everything that you are supposed to do. I lost a TON of hair. It seriously looked like I was going through Chemo. At first I used "Halo Hair" (extensions). Then, I resorted to a wig. Yes, it was that bad. Now it is finally growing in, but I still wear my wig. I'm just not ready to not wear it yet. Probably another few months more.

No. I ended up getting a prescription for Vitamin D2 50,000 IU's once a week. My numbers went up. Now they are perfect. I take it year round. You won't get anywhere taking D3 over the counter. The dosage has to be high enough to make a difference.

My surgery was a day surgery. I was out the same evening. I would have been out in the afternoon, but I tend to take an extended nap through the anesthesia every time I am put under for a surgery. Lol! Everything went perfectly and incredibly smooth.

I only told 4 people that I knew would support me 1,000%. I knew they would never say negative comments, be mean/rude, discourage me, create drama, gossip, or try to sabotage my success. They have all been amazing since day one!!! I share my story here and I have also headed up a local support group for others who have also had the VGS or other bariatric surgeries done. In our group, there are many others that are private about their WLS as well. So, each meeting, I remind everyone that names and personal info is to remain confidential. I don't regret not telling everyone or being an open book. Privacy is important to me.

I follow the Paleo style of eating about 90% daily. It's been amazing!!! I feel like a million bucks. When you eat something that is horribly wrong for you, your body feels it. Just the mention of sweet and rich foods, make me want to be sick. They are too intense for my taste buds and stomach now. The only thing that I can tolerate, that is sweet, is chocolate. It works for me! It's a rare treat, usually about once a month. Lol! I have continued to eat dairy. To date, I am 6 lbs away from my goal weight and almost 11 months out from my VSG date. Healing from head to toe, for my body, has only benefited from Paleo. I also swear by PiYo for my workouts. Love it! I haven't had any plastics at all. Eventually, I would like to have breast augmentation, but that is it.

No issues with the sleeve at all. I take time release capsules and they still work the same.

You will always have some extent of gurgling. My kids say that I have swallowed a frog. They named him Kermit. Lol!

Oh good! You should be good then. It fluctuates just depending on your diet. If it goes really, really high and doesn't come down, then they start to get concerned.

I did. The max # was 900. My level was so far beyond, they didn't even record it. It was just flagged for being really high. I asked what my actual number was and was told it was 2,400. Then it dropped a few months later to 1,300. It didn't effect my surgery date at all. So, don't worry too much about it. Do you take or drink anything with B-12 in it? Such as Zipp Fizz, supplements or anything else by chance?

I do not count calories at all. The way I eat follows they Paleo style of eating. I eat about 5-6 times a day. The only 2 things that I count are my Fluid intake and Protein amount on a daily basis. At this point, I am only 8 lbs away from my goal weight. With myself, I have to keep it simple or I won't stick with it. With 3 kids, it was the only way to go for me. I am the healthiest that I have been in 15 years. For me, it works.

I lost 23 lbs on my pre op diet.

My longest stall was a month long at 8 months out. Even though I didn't lose any lbs, I did see a lot of changes in inches and tightening up all over. It's all good. I'll take it! Then I began to drop again. Slowly though. I'm only 12 lbs away from my goal weight, so I'll have to work a bit harder to get the remainder off.

It's also the same thing as Reactive Hypoglycemia, per my doctor. I don't experience the runs at all, ever. http://diabetes.about.com/od/whatisdiabetes/qt/reacthypoglycem.htm http://www.reactivehypoglycemia.info/2009/05/the-reactive-hypoglycemia-diet/ Read up, learn it, live it. Having it kept under control makes a huge difference. It sucks, but it is what it is.

I had really thin hair before surgery. I was prepared for the thinning to commence. By the time the shedding stopped, it was pretty bad. It still is, but it is starting to grow back in now. Now much of it is really short, as in an inch long. I don't blow dry, curl, straighten or color it at all while it is in this fragile state. I bought a wig prior to surgery. I knew my hair would be awful. I've learned a ton about how to care for them and how to faux dye the lace front to make the part look even more natural. The brand I went with is Jon Reneau. It's lace front. It's been 7 months since I began wearing it and still looks great! Nobody has been able to tell that it is a wig at all! Find the one you want and the color, then go on ebay to purchase. It is so much cheaper. You are not alone. If you need tips or advice on wigs, don't hesitate to ask!

I am 7 months out and still have a premier protein shake in the morning. It is a fast, easy breakfast for on the fly with 3 kiddos. Even before surgery, it was my go to for breakfast.

It can be done! I am 7 months out. Only 4 people were told. Nobody else knows. They just know that I am making better choices with what I eat and exercise 5 days a week.

My diet follows 90% of the Paleo way of eating. I feel amazing, my labs prove it and I don't require as many vitamins post-op. I am 18 lbs away from my goal weight too!!!

Gas-X Strips and Mintox Anitgas/Antacid (At Costco) were a godsend for me. My hiatal hernia was graded a 4 1/2. It will get better over time.

Before you know it, you will be 6 months post-op! Seriously! Even though some parts seems to really drag, it all goes by so darn fast. I can't believe that it's been 6 months since my surgery. You can do it! It may be hard, but it is so worth it. I just kept telling myself to suck it up buttercup and just do it! You got this!!!

I have never tracked my caloric intake. I just make sure that I eat when it's time. Everyday I eat pretty much the same thing, except for dinner. That is my only variation. It make it much easier to be a creature of habit for the long haul.

If you don't want clip ins, there is also Halo Couture. There are no clips involved whatsoever. I've had mine for 2 years. But, after 2 surgeries close together and weight loss, I have lost so much hair. I have actually been wearing a wig. Yes, it is seriously that bad. The good part, NOBODY can tell.