healthynow75

I was thinking the same thing, on how long we can live. I want to live long enough to be a grandmother n enjoy my grandchildren. Thank you everyone this makes me feel so much better.

I was thinking the same thing, on how long we can live. I want to live long enough to be a grandmother n enjoy my grandchildren. Thank you everyone this makes me feel so much better.

Hi Everyone,
My name is Eli and I am 21 years old. I just wanted to share my amazing journey with everyone and hopefully help anyone that needs it. Since I was a young boy I struggled with weight loss. I put weight on and I took weight off and it didn't seem like I could ever get it right. Growing up, all of my friends were thin so they never understood what it was really like to be overweight, nobody actually understands unless they actually walk a mile in your shoes. I was miserable, depressed, and felt like there was nothing in the world that could help me. As a lineman for my high school football team I justified my extreme weight gain with the fact that I needed to be bigger to play my position and this mindset caused my weight to spiral out of control.
When I graduated high school in 2011 I weighed the most I ever did and it took a huge toll on me as I was about to go away to college and had literally no self-esteem. Jumping ahead to my sophomore year of college I had now put on even more weight and it was affecting me more then ever. My grades were slipping, it didn't seem like any girl would ever want to talk to me, and most of all it was hard to look at myself in the mirror. When I came home from school after my sophomore year I weighed about 320 pounds, which was by far the most I ever weighed. When I came home in May that year I just came to the realization of what I did to myself and I asked myself, "How did I let this happen?" Before I continue I want everyone to know that this is not a sob story and that there is a huge gleaming light at the end of that tunnel. When the conversation of weight loss surgery was brought up for the first time I honestly felt offended because I never thought that it would possibly come to that and after countless talks with family members and friends I finally agreed to schedule an appointment and the Center for Bariatric Surgery and Weight Loss in Ridgewood, New Jersey in June of 2013.
Fast forward to September of that year I had completed all of my pre-surgery requirements and a date for surgery was scheduled. My surgery happened on November 4th at New York-Presbyterian in New York City. Let me tell you that November 4th, 2013 was the first day of the rest of my life. I'll save the details of pre-surgery, hospital stay, and post-surgery for another post. On the day of surgery I weighed 316 pounds having lost a little in the months prior to my surgery date. Now, in October of 2014 I am proud to say that I weigh 196 pounds putting my total weight loss at 120 pounds. My life has changed in the most extreme way, not just with how I physically look and feel, but mentally, I am a different person. I am the happiest I've been in my entire life.
I understand that there are countless reservations people have before making probably the hardest decision of your entire life, because for me it was, but I can also proudly say that it was the best decision I have made in my entire life. I understand that you might feel that there is no way out of being overweight, but I'm here to tell you that there is. I am willing to talk to anyone who has questions and I am always available because I understand how hard it is to make this decision. PLEASE don't hesitate to ask me anything. Thank you for listening to my journey and my story and I hope this might help anyone who is on the fence or anyone who is scared or nervous. Lastly, I'd like to say how amazing the last year of my life has been and I hope everyone can share the same happiness I do.
-Eli

Flintstones has Iron. I was a little taken aback by it at first, but our program recommends them. They just said to take 2 post op.

Clients often ask us how they can prevent, or how they can stop Hair loss after weight loss surgery. hair is an important part of our appearance, however, whilst important to us, it is not very important to our body. Therefore when our body is under stress, our hair can be sacrificed for more important organs, like our heart and our brain.


Healthy human beings are constantly growing and losing hair simultaneously, generally we are growing more than we are losing, so we do not notice it. When there is extra ‘stress’ on the body, this can cause a shift in the normal balance and hair loss increases. Two stressors known to do this are major surgery and rapid weight loss. Therefore weight loss surgery is a double whammy! There can also be nutritional causes of hair loss.
Hair loss in the first six months after surgery is generally due to the trauma of the surgery and rapid weight loss. However, if you have a good nutritional intake it will settle and hair will re-grow as weight loss stabilises.
For hair loss that continues for over a year, or hair loss that starts six months after surgery, particularly in people who have difficulty eating or not taking the supplements recommended to them, there may be a nutritional cause. A low Protein intake, Iron or zinc deficiency can all play a role in hair loss.
You may have seen discussion on online forums or discussion groups recommending zinc supplements for hair loss. Interestingly, iron is actually the one nutrient that is most closely related to hair loss. This does not mean that if you are losing hair you should put yourself on iron supplements! Your team should have already recommended a supplement for you containing iron. If a particular supplement is recommended, it is generally recommended for a reason. We recommend supplements that contain more iron than a standard Multivitamin after weight loss surgery. Standard Multivitamins contain very little iron, far less than that recommended after weight loss surgery. You should also be checking in with your team for regular blood tests. Even if it is years since you had weight loss surgery, yearly blood tests are important to check not only your iron levels, but also a range of other nutrients.
As mentioned above, zinc is often associated with hair loss, but again, it is important not to rush out and buy zinc supplements! High doses of zinc can actually interfere with iron absorption and can also cause copper deficiency. Therefore high doses of zinc may actually cause you more problems and there is no solid evidence zinc supplements will fix your hair loss.
Protein, protein, protein! Sometimes it seems that is all we hear about after weight loss surgery. Protein is important for a range of reasons after weight loss surgery, but it seems it is also involved in hair loss. The current guidelines suggest a minimum target of 60g per day. Whilst this can be a challenge, with careful planning it can be done. We will look at how you can make sure you are getting adequate protein in upcoming Member Bulletins.
In summary, don’t try to treat your hair loss without some guidance from your team and blood tests to check your nutritional status. Speak to the dietitian in your team about making sure you are getting adequate nutrition both from your diet and supplements.

I was thinking the same thing, on how long we can live. I want to live long enough to be a grandmother n enjoy my grandchildren. Thank you everyone this makes me feel so much better.

Bingo - I was going to say cancer patients have done well with it. Beats living with the complications of obesity!

Surgeons have been doing total and partial gastrectomies on cancer and ulcer patients for well over a hundred years. With proper Vitamin supplementation and diet, there is no reason a complication-free VSG would shorten your life. But obesity-related comorbidities certainly could.

My surgery date is Nov 5th In Pleasanton, CA and like most I'm excited n nervous at the same time.

I could play devil's advocate and say WLS is also part of what makes me, well... me. Along with many, many other things I have done and experienced in my 47 years of life that make me the person I am today. My struggle with my weight has been a part of my whole life and I'm sure, hell I KNOW, it has shaped me in ways both positive and negative. It has for all of us. If not, why would any of us do something so drastic as to get surgically altered to lose weight? No, this surgery does not define me or who I am, but it's part of this wild and crazy journey I call my life, and I don't mind letting people know that this is part (one of many) of who I am.

Since the topic was so eloquently brought up, I thought I would share MY reason for not telling the public at large about my decision to have WLS. No, I am not ashamed, embarrassed nor am I being dishonest with myself. I am not protecting myself from ridicule or dissension and I do not care if my decision is a popular one or unpopular. I know I've shared this before, so pardon me if I bore you with a repeat.

I am a mom, a wife and a successful business owner. I am the VP of my HOA, I have held dozens of positions on the PTA both locally and nationally. I work with my sorority undergrad group, I volunteer at a women's shelter, I work with special needs children. I do mud runs, zumba and am a training instructor at my martial arts school. I organize charity 5ks, lock ins and I used to be a girl scout leader. I was a theater major before I wizened up about my talents and now I am a theater mom. I can't sing, but I can dance when I've had a few cocktails. I can cross one eye while leaving the other one straight. I've been skiing double black diamonds all my life and I am a diamond certified gemologist. I am currently writing a book on my field of business. I have broken my nose 4 times doing stupid things and still don't have a bump. I had a brain tumor. Both of my kids attend special high schools for extremely gifted children and they obviously get it from me, not my husband whom I've been married to for 20 years. I drive a minivan but I prefer to go offroading in a jeep. I am white Water certified in a kayak and a canoe. I have a wicked sense of humor and I hug strangers randomly. I am pro-choice, a libertarian, and a gay right's advocate. I could bore you with more, but I am sure that is more than enough to digest for ow.

I am *so much more* than someone who has had WLS. I would much prefer to learn about the person I am with than explain what a sleeve is. I don't care for my weight loss to be the center of conversation every time I see someone nor do I feel the need to be the advocate for such a personal decision.
When people ask, I tell them the truth. I sought the advice of a doctor and nutritionist. I follow a low carb, high Protein diet. I shake my ass a *lot*. I am eating healthier and have made the right choices for *me* to be successful at weight loss. I owe no one any more than that.

It is up to me to choose how I want to be defined. My choice is NOT as a WLS patient. If you choose differently, so be it. I will not judge you or shame you nor will I try to decide for you. Your body, your choice. Run with it.

Preop 11/5 and surgery 11/19 for me! My PA asked me if I was sure I wanted to be on a post op liquid diet over thanksgiving....I told her if that mattered to me at all I wouldn't be going through all this. BRING IT ON!!! Oh and by the way, I'm also almost 8 weeks nicotine free! This journey finally gave me the motivation to quit smoking.

Today my mom mentioned that my calendar had a sticker on it that said Anniversery. That was my original surgery date I forgot I had done that. When I told her what it was She didn't say anymore. Clearly she can't understand how important and life changing this is for me. I wish I had her support:( I will always remember the day I was given a chance to LIVE again. And I will Celebrate Nov 6 for the rest of my life.

It's so exciting to read through this thread and see quite of few of us having surgery on the same day. That means we will have the same Birthday!!!! for the new life we're about to live!

I'm scheduled to be sleeved on Nov. 3rd. I'm in North Carolina. I'll be having my surgery at CMC-Northeast! I'm super excited!

I just had my EGD a couple days ago. Seen my primary dr today and will see my surgeon on 10/16. All requirments have been completed and hoping to have my surgery date in early Nov. A few concerns about infections since I do not have a spleen but I have faith that all will be fine. So excited to get things going on this journey.