dcostella

I joined this when I first had my surgery 2/24/14 and got a lot of answers... I just wanted to let everyone know you can reach out to me if you have questions im 155 down and only have 30 pounds to go to goal

I am 3 months out so I decided to post a couple of pictures. One is the day of surgery and the other one is on Saturday.

It took about 40 lbs for people to start really noticing. I also think they are embarrassed to say anything because they don't want you to think they thought you were heavy. I laugh and tell them...it's OK I was really heavy! But even now each day they notice something different. Even though I haven't lost any weight for a few days I think we loose inches even if the scale doesn't change and that makes a difference also.

Hello,
just a quick update on my hairloss. I was very devestated a few months ago, my hair was falling out by the handfulls, and nothing helped. It started to fall out at 3 months out.
Well, as sudden as it started it stopped. I still lose some but it's almost back to normal at this point. It stopped 5 months out. I cut back on washing my hair to once a week and used dry Shampoo in between. I also opted for a shorter hairstyle. I changed nothing on my diet and I did not take Biotin either. (well I tried but it did not work so I stopped)
So cheer up ladies and gentlemen, there is light at the end of the tunnel

At 3 months my ferratin was low and my B12 was double also. They had me drop my B12 to every other day. They had me start taking prenatal Vitamins with Iron instead of an Iron supplement. I have been constipated since I had surgery. I was never before. The only thing that works for me is every 3rd day I take 3 laxatives and stool softeners and it seems to work for me.

My understanding is it starts falling out about 3 months post-op and lasts until about 6 months post-op. Mine is also coming out in handfuls. Luckily I have thick hair so you can't tell, but man if I didn't I would definitely be bald.

I was 277 pounds. Now I'm 135

Today I am officially one year out and I have a normal BMI.
I just saw my nutritionist and she didn't recognize me at first. Which is funny and really nice. She also said she is very proud of me.
Even though I developed Reactive Hypoglycemia which only 2% of Gastric Bypass patients get I wouldn't change a thing about having this surgery.
The pluses out way the minus of getting this.
It's been an educational journey which I will continue to take from this day forward.
I wish all of you great success on your journeys too.
Thank you for reading this.

Today is my six month surgiversary and my birthday! I've lost 67 pounds and still have 35 more to reach my goal! I can't believe it's been six months!

While this is soooo not funny..I had to smile a bit..I'm thinking, not many people have this problem..But I will say this..4 years out and I haven't gained more than a pound or 2 on the up side, but on the down side, I have (accidently) dropped down to 110 lbs, it happens when I have to much going on, I'm running myself ragged, and forget to eat, I remember to exercise, but I forget to eat..I think a lot of people on here cant relate to that yet.
I don't get hungry often, so I have to remind myself to eat. Breakfast is NON NEGOTABLE, I eat breakfast no matter what I'm doing or where I'm at. But the rest of the day is a fight to remember meals.
I do want to slow down though, that seems to help, but since I lost the weight, I cant sit still, 'mI constantly doing something..my poor husband, he says we need a intercom in every room so he can just stand in the kitchen and call me on a wall unit..he taken to texting me of my where abouts in the house lol..So I don't know if its the same thing..but I do have to be vigilant about feeding times, or the scale starts to slide downward..I don't want to be a bag of bones!

Had an appointment with the NP this morning and I have made it to my pre surgery weight. I even weighed 5 pounds less than my pre surgery goal weight. Went home and got a call to make my appointment to meet the surgeon. My appointment is next Tuesday and I am psyched. Things are moving along. Yahoo

Well as of today, I am halfway to my goal. This is including my weight loss from before the surgery which was 20 or so pounds. I am also nearing the 100's, so that is exciting as well!
I was at a 2 week or so stall and have picked back up losing weight again...

7 months out

Doing great feeling great. Started out at 356. Down to 233. Would like to be 190. Still striving......

Way to go! I also had my two month post-op this week. I have lost 53 pounds.
I am doing my first 5K on Saturday . I feel great I bet you do too!

2 months ago today I had my surgery. Today I hit my first goal of losing 50 pounds!

Today marks 6 years since I went into surgery and came out a changed person. I am so much happier than I ever thought I'd be. Life is better. I am stronger. I am smarter. I went into the hospital 6 years ago weighing 301 lbs. This morning I got on the scale and I am 122 lbs! I have a small frame and I'm 5'2. To me, I feel perfect. I am content. I am happy. The road here wasn't easy. It was emotional. It was hard. It was even lonely. ... But today, It is no longer hard, it's not emotional and I'm never alone. Happy Re-birth to me!!!

Had my three month visit yesterday. I was really trying to hit that 50 pound mark but missed it by 1 pound. Arghh!!
The surgeon was very pleased with my progress. He kept asking about complications or how I've felt, like he couldn't believe my answers about feeling like a million bucks! He told me I looked great and when I said "Thanks to you", he said no, that I had done all the hard work and his part was just a small part of it all. Very nice surgeon!
I told him I would be his poster child for relative lightweights and he asked me if I would be willing to post before and after pics on his website and Facebook page. I told him sure. Well, when I posted my pics on his Facebook page, I didn't realize it would post to my timeline and all my friends and family would see it. I hadn't told them all about having surgery. I got SO many positive likes and comments about my weight loss and not one negative comment about having had surgery.
So, the cat's out of the bag, now!

As of today, I have surpassed my goal weight!! This morning I weighed in at 138.8. I'm beyond happy:)
Heavy weight:286
Surgery weight:262 August 14, 2013
Goal weight:140
And now the hard part....maintaining!

Looking great keep up the good work

I'll be six months out on Saturday, but I thought I'd post some pictures that my son took of me today. I still have about 35 pounds to go, but I'm pleased with my results so far.
 

You look amazing!!!

So about 14 years ago some pretty major things happened in my life to cause infection and need for steriods. This all occurring my freshman year in college. I then stopped exercise and began eating poorly and was on steroids. My boyfriend now husband has always been supportive of me and my endless diet efforts and physician assisted weight loss programs over the years. Unable to conceive Bc of infertility I started thinking about weight loss surgery. After 8 years trying to find out more about the subject and failed attempts to loose weight I finally have a job who's insurance covers the procedure. I immediately prayed about the process contacted the doctor, dr. William Johnson with Atlanta bariatrics. I went through 5 months of tests and approvals. Here I am 1 week post op feeling amazing. I weighed Tuesday and have lost 15 lbs so far. I'm just now battling with craving for food. I have never been be fan of shakes. Hey it is worth It! Good luck to all of you! Hope my story helps!

I was actually almost hoping for the hair loss, as it would have given me an excuse to shave my head for a while. While my hair is now not quite as coarse as it used to be and much thinner (the hair itself, not the volume), I haven't experienced any Hair loss at just over 6 months out.
That said, I've been beyond religious when it comes to making sure I have my Protein and fluids each and every day.
As for the dumping - as already mentioned, avoid the sugars and fats and chew your tiny bites as much as humanly possible. I have only dumped once and it was by eating regular ketchup (I now use reduced sugar). It was a bad day (~6 hours), but definitely not the end of the world. After that I learned to try all new foods while at home and to ensure anything I try is extremely low in sugar (I've avoided fatty foods at all costs, so no experience there).
The sagging skin is now more of a badge of honor. While it looks terrible in the shower, I'll happily deal with it knowing that I can be active, healthy and truly get back to living life instead of just surviving.
Unfortunately I don't know that there is anything you can do to combat any of these 3 issues pre-surgery, but in my opinion none are worth fretting about.

I have lost 82 lbs and about 60 inches.......I lost diabetes, high BP, high cholesterol, chronic pain & my walking cane !