Inner Surfer Girl

I always have had very thick hair. It's almost like I have two head of hair: the top and sides are straight and the back and underneath are curlier. I wore my hair long for years. Not long after surgery I had it all cut off and donated it. I have been wearing it short since then and because it isn't as heavy and weighted down, it tends to be curlier. I didn't notice any significant hair loss due to surgery.

I actually think that eating a variety of vegetables is a great goal, but just not at the expense of getting enough protein, ESPECIALLY early out when we need protein to heal from major surgery and we have a limited amount of room for any food.

Thank you so much for the encouragement and the great suggestions. I may take you up on your offer!

The heart is a muscle and if you are protein deficient your body will start to consume your own muscle. It seems that being protein deficient would be more dangerous for your heart.

I know, it is aggravating that they do that. Good thing the employee gave you a heads up. We had a big thread on this sometime last year. I LOVE regular Sonic ice, though.

I don't know why not as long as you blend the chili (it is a bit chunky). What does your program/NUT say?

Sleevers don't have pouches to stretch. Believe me when I say it is going to be practically impossible to drink too much water early out. If you are like most people, it is going to be a struggle to get enough, at least while you are healing from surgery. As to Meal Replacement shakes, if you are like me, you will look forward to every food stage because it is really boring to eat/drink the same things all the time. Variety is the spice of life.

Great idea! When I lived in Atlanta I used to pass a shoe store every day that catered to drag queens. I figured if anyone could do comfortable, large-sized high heels, they could!

Thank you! It is exciting and scary. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to work on my health: between swimming and physical therapy I stay pretty busy as it is. Going back to work is going to be an adjustment. I just pray that I find the "right" job. I do have time to find something good, as opposed to just finding anything. I do live in a more rural area than I did when I was working, so there are fewer good opportunities and try don't come around very often. If you pray, please keep me in your prayers!

Great idea. The ones I had made before have elastic waist bands, but a draw string would be better. The few skirts I wear all the time that so bought online have drawstrings and pockets. I will never buy another skirt without pockets if I can help it!

Thanks for the reminder. We have a store in a nearby town that carries Clarks. The last time I went there (pre-op) I couldn't find any that I could wear. I'll have to try again.

Some critical success factors for me: Ask lots of questions and learn as much as possible. Keep asking until I understand. Write everything down. My bariatric team gave me a manual and I consulted it frequently. Be rigorously honest with myself and my medical team. Do everything I am asked to do by my team, even if I think I can't. Gradually weaned myself off of carbonation and caffeine pre-op. Record my food. I use MyFitnessPal. A fitness tracker is helpful. I wear a Misfit Shine. Follow my post-op food plan. Focus on getting my 100 grams of Protein and AT LEAST 64 oz of Fluid every day. Stay off the scale. Avoid added sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup), starches, and fried foods. Take my Vitamins and supplements as directed. Exercise regularly (when cleared). I am a Water baby, so swimming is my exercise of choice. Practice mindful eating: eating slowly, taking small bites, and chewing thoroughly. Use every resource available to me when necessary: my bariatric team, NUT, surgeon, psych, support group meetings, OA, self-help books, BariatricPal, MyFitnessPal, etc. Participating regularly on BariatricPal has been very helpful. Watching shows like My 600 Pound Life and My Big Fat Fabulous Life have been educational and thought-provoking (and often infuriating). Practicing self-care, especially by finding ways to reward myself that don't involve food: massages, mani/pedis, art classes, writing classes and workshops, knitting, etc. And, most importantly, learning to Embrace the Stall! Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall Best of luck with your surgery and keep us posted on how you are doing.

I am a full-busted (now floppy), pear.

PS, I have ALWAYS been a plus size. I went from girls 6x to plus sizes. Shopping in stores has ALWAYS been a torture for me.

I do not have a goal size because I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what size/sizes will fit me when I get to goal. As you said, sizes are pretty meaningless. I just want to be able to wear clothes that fit me and that are well made and comfortable. What aggravates me as I start to be able buy more clothes off-the-rack is how hard it is to find clothes that are practical fans well made. Everything seems to be made of synthetics and cut for teenagers (sheer, flimsy, skinny straps, too short, no pockets, etc).

Watching My 600 Pound life was an important step for me to be brutally honest with myself about my weight and health. Unfortunately, I was just one diet away if being eligible to be on that show. Much of what the people on the show experienced due to their weight is not unfamiliar to me. Now, each time I see an episode, what stands out to me changes depending on where I am in my own journey. With all of its flaws, watching My 600 Pound Life has been a very important part of my journey. My Big Fat Fabulous Life, although infuriating, has also been enlightening.

Many of you may know that when I started my WLS journey I was on disability. After losing over 200 pounds (with a ways to go), I am starting the process of returning to work. Up to now, I have been making do with my existing wardrobe with a few cheap additions here and there. Before I moved to Kentucky I had a friend who sewed and made me skirts. I am harder to fit on the bottom off-the-rack and via catalogs due to my bottom-heaviness and lymphedema. My top is smaller than my bottom so even dresses are hard to fit. But, I can generally find tops online and now in stores. I finally found someone here who can alter some of my skirts. I am going to see how she does and possibly see if she can make some new ones for me, too. My biggest challenge right now is to come up with some basic pieces, especially for interviews, and shoes (absolutely no heels). I don't know that I have any specific questions, I just wanted to put this out to the universe because it is on my mind right now. Part of me really wants to be able to buy some nice clothes off the rack and have them fit perfectly! That probably will never happen but I do want to have the option of having a bigger selection. The good thing is that even in our small town I have been able to find tops off-the-rack at several stores. I have been to a thrift store but may need to visit some consignment shops in Lexington. Whatever I do, getting some basic skirts made to fit me properly, even as I transition sizes, will be my best strategy for a while. I am looking forward to building a good basic, chic wardrobe when I get to goal and s stable weight. In the meantime it is going to be an adventure!

Have you talked to a therapist about your relationship with food? I too started at an extremely high weight and am on disability. We don't get to be super morbidly obese and disabled due to a healthy relationship with food. Years of dieting can really do a number on our heads. I highly recommend that you talk with a good counselor or therapist who works with bariatric patients. Your surgeon may have someone on staff or be able to refer you to someone. There are some good books you may want to read. One is called Eat it Up! by Connie Stapleton. She posts on this site periodically. Have you considered going to some Overeaters Anonymous meetings? You can find meeting lists (in-person and phone), as well as podcasts and other resources online at OA.org. Best of luck. You can go slow in introducing foods but you may find you are happier and healthier in the long run if you learn to eat a variety of fresh, while, "real" foods.

By the way, if your energy is low, take a look at what you are eating. Are you getting at least 64 oz of Fluid (more once you start exercising significantly)? What is your Protein target? Are you reaching your protein target every day? Are you avoiding added sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup), starches, and fried foods? Are you taking your Vitamins and supplements as directed? Are you eating enough? Have you talked to your NUT lately?

I didn't do any significant exercise except for a little walking until I was cleared to get into the pool at about 4 weeks post-op.

Everything you listed should be ok, but just try one new food at a time to see how it goes. Some people have difficulty with eggs early out. Try to make sure they are soft/runny and not dry. When I was on soft foods I ate a lot of cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, tuna, soft fish, refried Beans, etc. I still eat a lot of these! Wendy's chili is good. I eat oatmeal but usually add Protein to it. You can add Protein powder.

Pre-op, my NUT suggested adding a bag of frozen vegetables (like broccoli) to a Lean Cuisine (or similar) to bulk it up without a lot of extra calories. I ate a lot of broccoli, cauliflower (cruciferous vegetables).

I like: Premier GNC Lean 25 Syntrax nectar unjury ProtiDiet liquid beverage concentrates

I guess it depends on whether or not you have someone to carry your bag for you. What does your surgeon say?