Roostertail2

I agree with needing a vet group. I am 2 years out and would really like to discuss what is going on NOW.

I had some major issues with the people in my life over the past few months. Everyone said I have changed. Well I dont think my personality has changed at all - I have always been outspoken and comical. What changed was I am no longer sitting around the house all day long watching TV. I am the first to say "lets do something" instead of trying to figure out ways to stay home. I enjoy myself now. Why is it that my family and friends have to make me feel guilty for finally living my life? They act like they were happier with the "old" me. Well guess what - I wasnt happy so everyone will either have to get over it and get used to the new improved me - or they have the option of not being in my life anymore! I dont really see myself differently when I look in the mirror - in fact I still have the "fat" sight issue. Even though I am down to a size 12 from a size 20 I still see myself as fat. I dont know if I will ever get over that or not but I am not beating myself up for it anymore either!

Dont panic. I am almost 2 years out and went through a couple of stalls during that time. You will hear so many different ways to kick start the weight loss back in so you may have to try a couple of different things. For me I would go several months sometimes in between losses. When this happened I either increased my calories or decreased. ( usually increase because I wasnt eating enough and my body went into starvation mode!) I am now at the point where I maintained my weight for almost a year - BUT this week have actually gained 4lbs - so now I am reducing calories. Its a constant juggling act to try to get this right! Dont get discouraged!!

Hi I am 1-1/2 years post op. I started at 285lbs - 265 when I went into surgery and I am now at 170lbs. I fluctuate between 168 and 172 for some reason. I am still not at my goal of 160lbs but really am not too upset about that because I am very comfortable with size I am. Everyone tells me I don't need to lose more but you know how that scale number can drive you mad! Some of my advice/story/issues. Water! I have never been a liquid drinker and seems that no matter what I have tried I just forget to drink. I am having a REALLY good day if I manage 2 glasses - yes I know I am WAY below the requirements! Simply forget... I was never able to tolerate shakes. I managed for a couple of weeks on one but even that soon turned to instant gag when I brought it to my mouth. I have tried so many different types - added fruits/flavoring - held my nose - said prayers - you name it I tried it.. I am constantly fearful of weight gain. Even though they tell you not to weigh everyday - I do..And I almost panic if I weigh even an ounce more than the previous day. It has taken months to get used to the couple pounds I fluctuate - but know if it goes over 172 I will hit freak out mode and probably starve myself! lol Find I am having issues with my teeth. They are more sensitive now ( I am sure Water plays a part in that as well as Calcium that I cant seem to remember to take when I should!) I have recently really buckled down on both issues so hopefully I will not have too much damage to them. Have always had great teeth so this is a major issue for me! hair loss: Have always had really thick naturally curly hair so I was prepared for some hair loss..Wasnt prepared to lose 1/2 of it! Fortunately it is starting to thicken back up it just always looks like I stuck my finger in a light socket with all the little sprigs! lol.

I didn't start losing until I was around 5 months post. Then it started falling out by handfuls! I am a little over a year and now am going through regrowth. Lucky for me I had really thick hair so no one noticed except me and my hair stylist! Just keep up on those vitamins

I am now 14 months post op and only 15 or so lbs away from MY goal weight. I am a weekend drinker who used to love DRAFT beer. After surgery I stay away from beer. Changed to rum and diet cranberry. I used to have a very high tolerance for alchohol - not anymore! Let me start by saying that each time I drink it effects me differently. Some times I feel tipsy after half a drink - but other times I am able to consume a couple before I feel that way. I will say I can not drink like I did before! I don't worry about getting addicted - never had an addiction issue - and I only drink every few weeks.

I am 14 months post op and have lost 90lbs so far. My scale has sat at the same number for over a month at times. Then suddenly another 5lbs will be gone! I am currently at 174-175lbs ( that one pound seems to come and go) and have been at this weight for almost 6 weeks. My goal when I started was 150lbs. But you know what - If I don't lose another lb I am totally fine with that! I am now in a size 12 and feel great about how I look (at least in clothes! lol). That 150lb mark may never happen for me. I know that until recently I panicked if the scale didn't move after a week or 2. And I would try to increase/decrease everything I was doing to kick start the weight loss again. Normally it worked but this go around it doesn't seem to be. Again I am ok with that. My doctor wants me to get to 150 too - but I told him the same thing - I am perfectly fine with right where I am right now! Don't concentrate on that number - concentrate on how you feel!

I know exactly what you mean. I was in a size 20 when I started this journey a year ago. I am now in a loose size 12. I have always loved to shop for clothes. Even when I was at my biggest I tried to dress fashionable - BUT I tended to buy loose shirts. It took me a lot of pep talking to get my head to understand I was not that person anymore and I needed to buy clothes that actually fit like they should! It makes a world of difference to have a tailored top on instead of a flowing one! I still hide certain parts of my body - but now every time I go into the store and I pick up something I ask myself is this something the old me would wear or is it something the new me wants to wear? If I answer as the old me I put it back on the rack. I didn't go through surgery - pain - throwing up - starvation - monthly shots - daily vitamin regime to wear the same stuff I did back then. I suggest standing in a mirror and really taking a look at yourself. Look at all the wonderful changes and embrace the new you. I find that I am still uncomfortable when people say things like "hey skinny" or how much more weight are you going to lose as though I am anorexic looking or something (which I am most certainly not!) I feel so uncomfortable sometimes - almost like I have to defend my new found body?

So I had my GBP last August so I am a little over a year out. I started at 265lbs size 20 bottoms - 22 tops. Size 40DD. My boobs and butt were the first things to go! I am now size 12 -almost can get in a size 10 but they are just a little too tight for comfort. My boobs are a sad sad mess. I am down to a 34 small C. I plan on doing whatever it takes to get these babies fixed next year! This year I had the arm fat removed - worse pain EVER! I plan on using income tax to do the boobs, belly tuck/butt lift next year!

8/5 Will be my 1 year surgiversary.I am down 100 lbs from my heaviest. I am loving life again! I went from size 20/22 to a size 12! I go on July 8th to have arm briachiaplasty surgery to finally try to have "normal" arms for first time in my life!

I'm at month 9 and still don't get all the water and protein in. Forget to eat most of the time and drinking water really is hardest thing ever! Just not a drinker. But try my best. Did finally started getting more protein when the hair loss started! Probably get 60g a day

I had GBP on 8/5/2014. Other than having to learn a few simple things like what I am u able to tolerate, that bite number 10 is too much- I feel I have done pretty well. Right after surgery I had hard time keeping anything down- thought I had a structure- but after a few more weeks of healing it has been gravy.. Only complaint I have is the hair loss.. Have always had VERY thick hair- now it's half as thick as it used to be!

Not sure what your starting weight was, but we are same height - I was 265 the day I had surgery - was at 257 a few days later. Since then I average about 10lbs a month (now weigh 207 as of this morning). Not a lot when you compare to a lot of people on here, but for me it is perfectly fine. I am not losing so fast that my body cant keep up with it. And to be honest I don't exercise other than walking at lunch time each day. I know I would drop more if I did, but I just really don't have the time much less the energy to give! lol. Stalls are something I panicked over for the first few months ( I am 6 months out) I just knew I was going to be the "one" who the surgery didn't work for! But after several days of no movement on the scale - then WHAM I would drop lbs like crazy. You will hear this over and over again - EVERYBODY is different and will lose weight at different rates. Don't panic and try not to do like I did and weigh every day! lol I couldn't stay off the scale! For the first few months your body has some adjusting and healing to do. Don't stress it! Just do the best you can with what your doc said to do and before you know it you will be buying new clothes!

So I must be honest and admit that I get very little exercise. Not making excuses but I have a 40 mile one way commute in downtown Atlanta traffic 2wice a day - I get up at 5am and don't get home until 7PM. then I have to tend to my 3 year old, my 16 and 17 year olds. Make dinner - do laundry...I finally fall into bed by 10 if I am LUCKY! I am 6 months out and have lost almost 60lbs - so I am not really disappointed with my results so far. I finally found a protein drink I can tolerate so am now getting in the necessary amount each day unlike before. I still don't get in the water I am supposed to - just don't remember to drink! But all in all I have to say I feel great about my results. Being tired has become the norm though. I am ok first thing in the morning but by 2 or 3 I am headed down hill. And it seems the minute I get in my car in the evenings to drive home that every ounce of energy I had just disappears in an instant!

I am almost 6 mints postop and totally know what your going through. For the first 2 months I couldn't tolerate anything it seemed like. And tried sooo many different shakes I felt like a gnc store. They all smelled like baby formula and made me gag.. Still do. I still can't get in all the protein or water I am supposed to. I do try my best to eat protein first but know that bite or two of starch takes up some of the space more protein could have filled! I have averaged 10lbs a month and am quite happy with that. Just know the way you feel is something a lot of us go through and it will get easier every day.

Hi Michelle - you sound EXACTLY like me! My start was around same weight - BUT so far I have only lost 40lbs. I had surgery on Aug 5th so I am just under 4 month mark. I figure 10lbs per month is better than what I was doing before! Though I often also kick myself because that is something that is also obtainable without the surgery. One thing I have learned from being on this site is the word STALL. Seems as though almost everyone has hit one or sometimes several so I don't even worry when the scale doesn't move. Your body is just starting to adapt and your weight loss is just slowing down. I have seen people suggest taking in more Water, or changing your diet up a little. I by no means have any real decent advise as I am trying to figure this all out myself! lol. I just take each day and do my best. I have fallen short on a lot of the things I am supposed to do though. I have never been a drinker so I might get in 20-30oz of water a day if I really push myself. I don't eat as mush Protein as I am supposed to either. It is hard to try to eat what you need to when you are never really hungry! And exercise - while me and my best friend who I also work with, walk up and back down the 9 story parking garage twice a day - that is really the only exercise I am getting. I leave my house at 6am and don't usually get home til 6-6:30. Have a 3 year old so he takes up the next few hours trying to get him and my other teenage boys fed - laundry done - chores completed and so on...by the time I finish everything and get the baby down for the night it is 10-10:30 and I am exhausted. so when do I find time to go to a gym? Which by the way I pay 30.00 a month for membership I don't use! And who really has the energy? I am still always sooooo tired! I often feel like it takes everything I have just to get through the day without falling over! lol Well I hope your scale moves and you get back that great feeling of success. Just know this is a journey and you can do this!

So - I am 11 weeks out tomorrow and your story is exactly like mine. Protein shakes are intolerable so I don't drink them. I have tried so many-spent soooo much money on them! The minute the smell hits my nose it is all over. they ALL smell like baby formula! Water - well if I get in 20oz a day I am doing great. I have never been a drinker and knew that was going to be my issue and so it is. SO the protein I get daily is all from what I can eat - which isn't much! Vitamins - I tried those chewable bariatric ones they give you that are supposed to taste like vanilla and soon found that if I didn't want to throw up I had to find an alternate. SO now I take ones you swallow - works much better for me and it contains Iron so I have 1 less pill I have to take a day. I understand what you are going through - just know that it does get a little better each day. Even though I know I am not where I need to be in protein and water - I work on it every day. I try to make sure that when I eat it has the most protein possible in it. The atkins meals are a great choice once you get to that point. Just keep trying things until you find what works for you. Once you get to the normal food stage things will be better and you will have way more choices!

Hey Pion - that will subside in next week or so - at least it did for me. Now I have to make myself eat cause I am never really hungry.

I took 2 weeks - office work but with lots of walking. The pain is so minute that you will really think you could return to work in just a few days - its the feeling of exhaustion that gets ya! lol. 6 weeks later and I still feel tired all the time!

As a person who has been on Thyroid medications for years ( levothyroxine) I can tell you that it didn't make a bit of difference in weight loss. I take my pill like clockwork, had dieted constantly but would only drop a pound or two then gain right back. In the 6 weeks since having GBP I have dropped 26lbs. Pretty much eating same type of diet I was prior to the surgery (except during the liquid/mushy/soft stages as required). Diet consists of lean Proteins, salads (once I get to that stage) and the other "healthy" foods that have always been the standard for anyone on a diet. Having a slow thyroid is not something that can be cured by surgery - you will have it all your life. Unfortunately people think that as soon as they are medicated that the weight will just start dripping off - THAT IS NOT THE CASE. You need to take your meds, but don't depend on them to be the diet pill you are dreaming about. So saying that you don't need to have surgery because you have hypothyroidism is a false statement and one your doctor should explain more clearly to you. You shouldn't regret your GBOP surgery because it is going to do what no other pill can. Keeping the weight off may be easier once your levels are controlled, but it will still be up to you to keep that weight off.

Thanks! I appreciate the compliment! I stay out of the sun so it has helped over the years to keep wrinkles down. Will probably be worthless once I lose enough weight though. Everyone says you go through a period where you look older once you have had WLS - but I am really praying that at least one thing on my body doesn't turn to crap! After all - boobs will deflate, hair fall out, skin start hanging - what the heck else do I have to look forward to?! lol. I know that the normal response we are supposed to have is we are doing all this to be healthy - well that may play a part in this, BUT I want to look good! I don't want to be the biggest girl in the room, or have to shop at Lane Bryan anymore!! Dang it I want to be able to rock a dress and not look like I am pregnant!lol..So vanity IS a major part in this as well. I think if you try to tell yourself otherwise you are fooling yourself. Everyone want to look good don't they??

I will be 47 in November...so wrinkles are already on my list! I just had so many things to list it slipped my mind - that might have been the dementia!!