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dashofsunshine

Gastric Sleeve Patients
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dashofsunshine last won the day on June 5 2017

dashofsunshine had the most liked content!

About dashofsunshine

  • Rank
    Bariatric Guru
  • Birthday 10/10/1988

About Me

  • Gender
    Female
  • Occupation
    Artist
  • City
    Nashville
  • State
    TN

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  1. If you scroll back in the comments, I've already answered this question it's my most asked question, from everyone, everywhere. There is a more detailed answer if you thumb back in the comment pages of this post, but the short answer is: there is no "trick." It's about luck, age, good genes, and general skin elasticity, with a bit of exercise thrown in for good measure. Depending on all those things, and your body composition, you'll either have lots of excess skin - or you won't. Good luck!!
  2. Honestly I was freaking exhausted for about 3-4 months after surgery. Everyone reacts to surgery differently and I'd never dealt with anything that major - my body took a while to recover. I still lost almost 80 lbs in the first 4 months, even without major exercise. Once I started feeling better, I started doing T25 at home - then a couch to 5k plan. I've been running and lifting ever since. Choose something that works for you!
  3. dashofsunshine

    I've tried everything.

    Almost 3 years out, and I do the same. Small, protein dense "meals" every 2-3 hours. I've been that way since I hit below goal weight, and have just been maintaining/coasting ever since.
  4. dashofsunshine

    Calories

    Haha, well I ate plenty the two weeks we were in Japan - lots of rice and bread - you only live once, right? And I did the same the whole month we were in Europe - no weight gain to mention. So, I think you're okay!! I do just fine on roughly 800-1000 per day when we aren't traveling, AND I work out a lot. I don't deny myself much, so...who knows?!
  5. dashofsunshine

    Poopy probs pls help !

    I run half marathons and exercise (running, lifting heavy weights) 6 days a week - drink 120 oz of water daily - and still have bathroom trouble sadly it doesn't always help the way it should! So glad the fiber is working for you - it's my go to! In my morning coffee and in a cup of tea before bed, usually. It's just a way of life now, but the trade off is worth it! I've also used smooth move tea many times when I was in a pickle and needed relief, but it gives me serious stomach pain/cramps, so it's a last resort for me these days, haha.
  6. dashofsunshine

    I've tried everything.

    Also, PS - weight loss is 80% in the kitchen and 20% in the gym. MANY, many people lose weight without ever setting foot in a gym. Do I suggest that? Nope - working out is great for your mental health, burning a few extra calories, and for tightening and toning. But will it make or break your weight loss? Nope. Stick to your plan in the kitchen, and I promise - a few days off from the gym won't bring weight gain.
  7. dashofsunshine

    I've tried everything.

    When you're in active weight loss phase, the most important thing you can do during a stall is change it up. I agree with both other suggestions - it seems counter intuitive, but eat more. Add a few extra calories. And I wouldn't say stop working out entirely, but definitely back off from it a few days per week. "Shock" your body out of your routine, so to speak. It will hopefully get the scale moving again. Sometimes we push our bodies so hard during weight loss, and stalling is the only way they have to tell us "back off, you're killing me!" Good luck!
  8. dashofsunshine

    INSTAGRAM

    Oh, I love my WLS instagram fam!! This is a great post, haha. I'm dashofsunshine - same username as this site
  9. dashofsunshine

    Poopy probs pls help !

    Miralax was a no for me, which is weird because people sing it's praises. I took it in my AM coffee for almost a month, thinking the extreme stomach expansion and weight gain it caused would get better - but it never did. I gained 6 lbs of water and looked pregnant while I was on it - it was insane. My pants didn't fit, haha. I think most people's systems respond fine to it, but mine did not - came back off of it and bam, everything was normal again. I drink a TON of water every day (120 oz), and still need bathroom help - so I put fiber in my coffee, these days. It helps really well, as long as I get my water in, as well!
  10. dashofsunshine

    Calories

    Thank you for your concern! But I promise, I'm just fine I eat as much as my sleeve allows - pretty much every two hours. From what I read on these boards, I seem to have a much smaller sleeve than most - which is fine with me! I'm doing great, running half marathons, all my labs are normal, and I don't deny myself a shared slice of cheesecake on date night, haha. It's not so much "caloric restriction" as it is "I eat almost all the time and this is what my sleeve can hold"
  11. dashofsunshine

    Calories

    My hospital's "active weight loss" requirements were less than 15 total carbs a day (not net - total), and 600 calories or less. You were encouraged to stay at that level until goal (or at least close to it). I didn't even come close to 600 for many months - but some people do. I'm almost 3 years post op, under goal and maintaining for 1.5 years, and I eat anywhere from 800-1000 a day. 50 or less carbs a day, give or take. I monitor everything pretty loosely at this point, considering my habits and how much I run/lift.
  12. dashofsunshine

    Stomach Stretching is a Myth

    I'll be 3 years post op I'm November, 170 lbs lost. I still can *barely* eat 4 oz of food. Most of my meals are 3 oz and I'm stuffed. This is of anything - protein, veggies, salad...anything. In the early days before my swelling fully went down, I could eat maybe 2-3 bites of anything at a time. Now it's more like 5-6 bites - and it has been 5-6 bites for over 2 years now. Call that "stretching," if ya want? Lol I never push it. I made this a lifestyle. I've experienced zero regain and have been maintaining under goal since 16 months post op.
  13. dashofsunshine

    Hair loss

    Honestly? After talking to dozens and dozens of post-op bariatric surgery patients, it depends more on your genetics and your luck than anything. And I hate to say that. It's kind of like the loose skin issue. I wish I had a magical trick for the huge number of people that have asked me about my lack of hair loss and loose skin, but really - I got my protein in, I drank my water, I used bath and body works lotion a few times a week. 170 lbs lost, never lost any hair, barely any loose skin. I have no idea how, or why - neither does anyone else take your biotin, get your protein, drink your water - you could try to find some biotin shampoo! But honestly, I don't know if it makes that much difference. It seems that some people just lose the hair, and some don't. Good news? It will grow back!
  14. dashofsunshine

    Coffee

    Your stomach has 3 rows of staples now, and 70-80% of it was removed - this is why things that are highly acidic (like coffee, or wine) as well as NSAIDS (which are known to sometimes cause ulcers in normal stomachs when taken in large amounts) are generally discouraged with all bariatric procedures. Caffeine is also a diuretic, as someone else commented - it dehydrates you faster, and water is precious (especially in the early days) to your body now because you won't be getting much liquid from food anymore. ALL of that being said...I will be 3 years out in November. I drink a 6 oz cup of coffee with a splash of creamer every morning. I drink dry white wine occasionally on the weekends. I will pop an ibuprofen occasionally. No ulcers here. My best advice would be don't do coffee/NSAIDS/wine in excess (like, several cups/glasses/pills a day), and give your new sleeve full time to heal completely. You'll likely be fine
  15. dashofsunshine

    No carbonation

    I'm almost 3 years post-op and can't chug anything. I can take regular sized sips of water, 2-3 in a row at most. No baby sips, but also no chugging like before surgery. As for carbonation, I can do something that is *lightly* carbonated once in a while. A sugar free Red Bull left out for a few minutes, or a few sips of a very, very dark beer (I don't really care for beer anyway, but I have tried the carbonation factor, just to see...lol). Champagne, sparkling water like la croix, any kind of soda...kills. Blahhhh. So much pressure in my sleeve!

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