antigone40

I would hardly call once a week an addiction? So someone who has a glass of wine or a beer once a week is addicted? Your ignorance and prejudice about Marijuana is showing....

I did not experience hair loss at all. I did take Biotin, but not the little 325 mcg that Walgreen's sells. I got the 10,000 mcg (also at Walgreen's) and took two a day - and still do. Also, I have Gelatin every day and make a fresh pot of bone broth Soup every week.
I am 18 months out and at age 63 have the thickest healthiest hair I have ever had. Even my hairdresser has noticed and asked what I am doing. Other than that, I do the same as almost everyone else, such as drinking my fluids (80-100 ounces of Water daily) and getting in my Protein (80 - 100 grams daily).
Prior to surgery, my nails were brittle and flakey, too. Along about month three post-op they started to respond to excellent nutrition and supplements. My skin was flakey up until then and has gotten very soft. But I think that is in part to exfoliation with each shower and a rubdown with almond oil. Boy...this is so much work - but I was warned.

Thank you so much for the motivation! I needed to hear your upbeat take on this block.

I got held up by the sleep apnea doctors. Regardless of the reason, it was a 2 month delay and I was livid. I skulked around for a couple months, bitter and ready to have my surgery. You're not alone in your disappointment. And it's a big disappointment since this is life changing.
Sorry for your delay. This time will pass (although it could seem really really long like it did for me). In the meantime, take a big gulp of Water while you still can (do it for me?) and get ready to feel happiness like no other after surgery. This disappointment, though huge and at times crazy-making, will soon fade from memory. A new life is coming to you and it will never go away. Once it gets here.
Onward!
Summer

Hi Kimmi-
Thank you for sharing your story.
Like you, my knees are in bad shape. I'm bone on bone on both sides: late osteoarthritis. I'm 38.
But now I'm 5 weeks out of surgery and I've already had great improvement. I hiked a mile and a half recently, which was a really big deal since only weeks earlier I couldn't make it even a quarter mile! Just wanted to share that the knee pain has greatly diminished, and quickly.
Onward, and best of luck on your surgery.
Summer

Hi, I'm new to the site and have started to read some of your journeys. My name is Kim, 39 years old, married with two boys. My oldest is 17 and youngest is 5. My family is very supportive of the decision to have VSG. I've struggled with my weight since I was a child and it also runs in my family. Out of 7 siblings, only one is not over weight and he had VSG done about a year ago and looks wonderful. I've made many attempts to lose weight on my own. With having PCOS and really bad arthritis in both knees, I haven't had much luck. I would lose about 15-20 pounds only to turn around and gain those same 15-20 pounds back again. My weight and PCOS prevented us from getting pregnant a second time for 12 years. I was able to lost 40 pounds when my doctor put me on Metformin ( I do not have diabetes) and that did the trick 6 years ago. We tried that again about a year ago without any luck.
So, here I am....drinking my Protein Shakes and eating my sugar free Jello preparing for the day. All pre-surgical testing done and clear. I've just been reviewing all the documents received to make sure I'm not missing anything for the big day.
I look forward to sharing my journey with you. Thanks for listening (reading)!
Kim

Scares me that this can happen. Maybe if you bring your own small plate and always put just what is the proper portion on it and that is it. Wasting food was one of the hardest things I have learned when I had my lapband. But in the end would you rather waste it or have a bigger waist? Just throw it out, give it to the dog, portion it and fridge for future meal. Do something with your time right after you eat so you are away from the table and not focusing on food. Even in a restaurant get up and leave if you are done as sitting there with family and friends will allow you to snack and focus on the food. We are doing this because we need to and they will understand. One girl I like to look at her posts on youtube says she eats before she goes to dinner at restaurant or friends houses and then just says oh I already ate and does not eat at all at restaurant or party. Also she said she wears her tight Walmart panties that have tummy control fabric, like tight underwear, so that she feels full faster when with family or friends in situations with food. Don't worry about what already happened, just get back on track for now on.

i eat 5 times a day - 2 of those "meals" are Protein replacements of some sort - a shake - a Syntrax drink a hard boiled egg - Protein Bar etc...i drink 64 + ounces of Water a day and try my best to hit 80-90 grams of Protein a day - my portions are 1/4 a cup at meal times - always protein first if i am still hungry then i can have a bit of veg etc..
I also exercise - it is what has helped me get this weight off my bones and hopefully i will get over this stall i am in and get the last 24 pounds off and get to my goal! I do feel better and i am in a routine of eating this way now and it is easier now than it was in the beginning to eat this way. 132 pounds gone forever!
I love oikos greek yogurt - regular and the frozen too - especially when i am craving something sweet! those really help me.

here is a hint, skip the Protein bars of any kind until your well in hand with your eating habits , personally id say 6 months out minimum. they all have sugar and carbs, the big misnomer is that complex carbs are okay. they are and they aren't. they are better than simple carbs but still not good overall. Maximize your weight loss, minimize the carbs and eliminate the sugars.
as little as 20 grams of carbs in a day will slow my weight loss down to a crawl. So i dont do it if i can help it. we all have lapses, but we work to minimize them as much as possible.
This is such a drastic life changer, we need to embrace it and use it the best we can. I like to look at it this way, weight loss surgery is like a chainsaw. Sure it can cut big trees into firewood, But in the hands of a skillful user, it can make beautiful art.
Make art with your surgery, not firewood.

WOW... crazy your surgeon has gotten away with saying those things. Its a shame really.
I wanted to add that I'm only 8 days post op and still on liquids but one thing my weight loss center taught me was how to calculate your Protein intake. Take your weight X 0.3 so for my current weight of 264 x 0.3 = 79 grams of Protein per day for me.

You should have Water and Protein coming out of your ears!

Empty carbs like pretzels not only don't fill you up, they drive additional hunger. Stay away from grains. (Bread, crackers, rice, etc) Add plenty of green veggies. If you need a dressing, make it zero calorie. Even reduced calorie dressings are a killer. Good luck!

I'm in the exact same spot as you off and on these last few days. I had Gastric Bypass May 5th, so just a few days bed you. At my heaviest I was 347. Pre-op diet I lost 16 and then first week post-op I lost 17, to a grand total of 33 list in 3 weeks. Our bodies have been through so much, and its hardcore frustratingly not easy at times. And as a guy we are taught not to cry about anything or not complain because we are guys. But F*#k that, we deserve to let go of all that got us fat in the first place. I think it pretty normal to mourn food for all that it meant to us. It was a friend, comfort and so many other things to me. And hell we had to give that up, and what do we have to replace it with now? Nothing yet really. I'm still to fat to go hiking or be more active like I want yet. But I know that day is on the horizon now. We've made the hardest step already, now we just see the pounds come off. Right? And it's so much more than how I've mentioned obviously. Good luck on your journey. Hit me up if you ever need a sounding board. And sorry if I rambled or didn't quite make sense lol

Finally got approved, I was prescheduled for June 1. Now it's confirmed. I was starting to feel like this process wasn't going to happen for me. Thank God!

I had one, It didn't bother me at all while walking and I liked the fact that I was not up all night having to go pee. The IV of Fluid had me going potty a lot the second night so I was thankful I did not have to worry about it the first night. I also had compressors on my legs and I did not feel like taking those off and having a nurse come back to put them back on every time I had to pee.

My surgery date is May 18. One week from today. I'm so ready, and so tired of waiting. I've been in the program since October.
I didn't expect to get so emotional before surgery. I feel like I'm going to be so much better; when I think of all my complaints, they are all tied to my weight: the osteoarthritis in my knees, the social anxiety, the pain in my back, my shoulders, SO MUCH will change. I really feel the "weight" of this life of obesity, and I just want to hide until I'm better. I'm ready to be rid of my pain, both physical and emotional.
It's like over the past month I'm seeing myself as someone who's wearing too much body armor. I've allowed myself to look honestly at where I am, and I'm really ready to leave. 6 more days! I am so ready!

@@toohot74akaelh2 The weight came off quickly but honestly very gradually- I would have weeks where I would lose nothing then randomly lose 6lbs but most of the time it was 2-3lbs weekly which is about what you're supposed to lose anyway regularly. I do work out a lot now (I didn't work out a lot during the losing phase though). I have sooo much energy to burn. I have an update pic I took with my doc on 5/5/15. He was amazed. He's so awesome. The before pic was day 2 postop on 10/9/13.

The regular size blood pressure cuff fits! I'm three weeks out and down 24 pounds.

Steph, I like your idea about posting them above the scale, but I think I will take it one step further and post it in the pantry and on the fridge. That would be a good reminder whenever that urge to eat something not so healthy strikes.

Chancie, I love your NSV #4 wearing a summer dress and feeling like a lady. I haven't been able to do that in sooo long. I am hoping for that next summer. How wonderful for you, it's inspiring me. I love that feeling too, and sure do miss wearing summer dresses.
Maybe we should all write these victories down on paper and post above the scale, so when we have a stall, we can look at all our victories, and keep on going.
God bless you guys, you're great!

I think it's the U-touch that makes husbands jealous. :biggrin0:
Some recent NSVs:
-Some pants I bought two months ago are too big for me now even though I haven't gone down that much on the scale
-The other day I saw a picture of myself and instead of noticing all the imperfections, I thought I looked hot (and tiny)
-Shot up a hill today that would have been a challenge 6 months ago
-My resting heart rate is the same as for a lifetime athlete

Loving this thread! My favorite thus far is the one I posted about last week. I can no longer buy my clothes from the woman's department at Kohl's. I now can shop in the regular sizes.

Hi all. I am now down roughly 60 pounds and seven weeks out from when I started my liquid pre-diet. Am also having some awesome NSV moments. Some are:

No longer wearing 3x shirts. They are packed and ready to be taken to Goodwill. My size 48 (expandable) pants? Gone too. Can button my pants at my belly button. No more "slant pants." I wore a much smaller belt...and it was a new one! Went three days this past week without needing a mid day nap. Three days now without any slimes or throwing up. Joined a local health club to work out. Snoring is all but gone. No more BP meds at all (125/65 is normal now). And BMs much more normal and less stressful. Bought myself an I-touch. That was my 50 pound loss gift to myself. Any suggestions for the 100 plateau? That's a short list, but ones that come to mind.

Please, share yours!

Let's look at the fact that this journey is not just about the weight loss, but about all the wonderful things that continue to happen along the ride!

When u drive u have too raise your seat all the way up so u can c. (my butt is gone????)