mae7365

When I was preparing my weight loss/diet journal for my insurance pre-op, I contacted WW for my past history data. The woman I spoke to said that they have many post-op WLS patients in their program. I would hope that they would be clued in to the diet of a WLS patient, but I know that I went to WW for the support system more than having someone tell me what to eat. That alone may be what you need from WW. Just a thought.

I had the sleeve Nov 2014 and I am so happy with the decision I made. I decided on gastric sleeve vs. bypass because gastric sleeve patients don't have the malabsorption issues associated with bypass and my surgeon won't even do lap bands anymore due to the high failure rate.
My pre-op weight gain was directly related to my over-eating. But not eating too much at meals, rather eating 2-3 candy bars along with a bag of chips and three scoops of ice cream every night after my family went to bed. Call it binge eating, grazing whatever, it was my way of feeling comfort.
Now, post-op, I have control of my head and what I put in my mouth. I haven't felt real "hunger" since surgery, so I eat to live. I still get the late night cravings to eat junk because I'm bored, but I usually just eat a Protein bar while watching TV after the family goes to bed. Plus, eating really sweet foods before bed gives me terrible acid reflux during the night and that is a constant reminder that junk food and boredom eating should not mix.
I see many pre-op patients at my monthly support group. They are either waiting for surgical approval or just getting feedback from those of us who have had WLS. It's a great forum for face-to-face conversations about options. I doubt you'll find one person who says they are sorry they made the decision to have surgery. Benefits clearly out weigh any pre-surgery food passions.

My "OTHER" is BOREDOM!!!!! In the evening, when I'm watching TV and my husband is sleeping, I'm tempted. Most days I resist with a cup of tea or Protein bar.

Checked my Multivitamin bottle and No Iron or Zinc, the two things known to cause hair loss per the article posted by MrsSugarbabe. A quick trip to Walmart and Iron and Zinc have officially been added to my daily Vitamin regime. Now I'll just pray that Hair growth exceeds Hair loss for the next few months!!!!

My "OTHER" is BOREDOM!!!!! In the evening, when I'm watching TV and my husband is sleeping, I'm tempted. Most days I resist with a cup of tea or Protein bar.

I'm almost 15 weeks post op (Nov 2014 sleeve) and my hair is definitely falling out. Not in clumps, but so thin I feel like I'm washing my scalp vs. my hair. I don't see anything that looks like new Hair growth, so I'm hoping it slows down at some point before I'm bald! I've switched to an oil based Shampoo and I'm definitely taking all the Vitamins recommended to minimize Hair loss. I have my fingers crossed, but I also knew it was a possible consequence of rapid weight loss.

I was 57 when I had WLS and definitely went with the VSG. I didn't want to deal with dietary supplements for the rest of my life which is what happens with Bypass. The sleeve leaves an intact digestive system so malabsorption isn't an issue. I take two OTC Multivitamins, two OTC B12 and one OTC Biotin per day. No major expense (I can get them at Walmart).

I had the sleeve Nov 2014 and I am so happy with the decision I made. I decided on gastric sleeve vs. bypass because gastric sleeve patients don't have the malabsorption issues associated with bypass and my surgeon won't even do lap bands anymore due to the high failure rate.
My pre-op weight gain was directly related to my over-eating. But not eating too much at meals, rather eating 2-3 candy bars along with a bag of chips and three scoops of ice cream every night after my family went to bed. Call it binge eating, grazing whatever, it was my way of feeling comfort.
Now, post-op, I have control of my head and what I put in my mouth. I haven't felt real "hunger" since surgery, so I eat to live. I still get the late night cravings to eat junk because I'm bored, but I usually just eat a Protein bar while watching TV after the family goes to bed. Plus, eating really sweet foods before bed gives me terrible acid reflux during the night and that is a constant reminder that junk food and boredom eating should not mix.
I see many pre-op patients at my monthly support group. They are either waiting for surgical approval or just getting feedback from those of us who have had WLS. It's a great forum for face-to-face conversations about options. I doubt you'll find one person who says they are sorry they made the decision to have surgery. Benefits clearly out weigh any pre-surgery food passions.

I had the sleeve Nov 2014 and I am so happy with the decision I made. I decided on gastric sleeve vs. bypass because gastric sleeve patients don't have the malabsorption issues associated with bypass and my surgeon won't even do lap bands anymore due to the high failure rate.
My pre-op weight gain was directly related to my over-eating. But not eating too much at meals, rather eating 2-3 candy bars along with a bag of chips and three scoops of ice cream every night after my family went to bed. Call it binge eating, grazing whatever, it was my way of feeling comfort.
Now, post-op, I have control of my head and what I put in my mouth. I haven't felt real "hunger" since surgery, so I eat to live. I still get the late night cravings to eat junk because I'm bored, but I usually just eat a Protein bar while watching TV after the family goes to bed. Plus, eating really sweet foods before bed gives me terrible acid reflux during the night and that is a constant reminder that junk food and boredom eating should not mix.
I see many pre-op patients at my monthly support group. They are either waiting for surgical approval or just getting feedback from those of us who have had WLS. It's a great forum for face-to-face conversations about options. I doubt you'll find one person who says they are sorry they made the decision to have surgery. Benefits clearly out weigh any pre-surgery food passions.

My hair has finally started to shed. Nothing too horrible...yet. Just really annoying! I had a cute hair style picked out but opted to order extensions instead. I'm not upset by it, I knew it was going to happen so I'm not shocked. I've decided to look at it as my internal "fat" girl and "skinny" girl are fighting. One of them is fighting dirty and pulling hair out!! I'm betting on the skinny girl to win the fight in the end! Ha! So if you lost hair how long did it last?

You're gonna be fine! Today is the first day of the rest of your life!!! What a blessing! My surgery day was the first day of the rest of my life too! It's been a blessing, but in many wonderful ways I wouldn't have expected.
I know it will be a blessing for you as well.

I've had cake, pie, Cookies and candy........all in very small amounts. As @@finediva said, I didn't have surgery to never eat sweet again. I had it so I can learn to control what I eat. And I have. I know I can't eat sweets every day and in the massive quantities that I did before surgery, but having a bite of my husbands dessert when we go out to dinner is just good for my mental health. I don't feel deprived AND I feel like I'm finally in control.

I've had cake, pie, Cookies and candy........all in very small amounts. As @@finediva said, I didn't have surgery to never eat sweet again. I had it so I can learn to control what I eat. And I have. I know I can't eat sweets every day and in the massive quantities that I did before surgery, but having a bite of my husbands dessert when we go out to dinner is just good for my mental health. I don't feel deprived AND I feel like I'm finally in control.

Don't let others (including family) define you! I've learned over the years that family members love each other in different ways, but not always the way I want them too. I'd like to believe that it's their loss more so than mine. With three grown children and a husband of 36 years, I too have learned that I must be sure they know I love them, even when I can't support them. My husband routinely commented about my "fat a**", but that wasn't why I decided to have surgery. That decision was because I finally realized that I was worth it! My long term health was essential if I was ever to enjoy the grandchildren I hope to have one day!
Don't let the past dictate your new beginning. It's all about you....no one else!!!!!!!

Don't let others (including family) define you! I've learned over the years that family members love each other in different ways, but not always the way I want them too. I'd like to believe that it's their loss more so than mine. With three grown children and a husband of 36 years, I too have learned that I must be sure they know I love them, even when I can't support them. My husband routinely commented about my "fat a**", but that wasn't why I decided to have surgery. That decision was because I finally realized that I was worth it! My long term health was essential if I was ever to enjoy the grandchildren I hope to have one day!
Don't let the past dictate your new beginning. It's all about you....no one else!!!!!!!

I don't have a true before picture as I hated getting my picture taken. But I did take some selfies 5 days after surgery and just last week I took 12 week post-op pictures. 43 lbs lost in 12 weeks. More to go to get to my 140 lb goal.

Don't let others (including family) define you! I've learned over the years that family members love each other in different ways, but not always the way I want them too. I'd like to believe that it's their loss more so than mine. With three grown children and a husband of 36 years, I too have learned that I must be sure they know I love them, even when I can't support them. My husband routinely commented about my "fat a**", but that wasn't why I decided to have surgery. That decision was because I finally realized that I was worth it! My long term health was essential if I was ever to enjoy the grandchildren I hope to have one day!
Don't let the past dictate your new beginning. It's all about you....no one else!!!!!!!

Don't let others (including family) define you! I've learned over the years that family members love each other in different ways, but not always the way I want them too. I'd like to believe that it's their loss more so than mine. With three grown children and a husband of 36 years, I too have learned that I must be sure they know I love them, even when I can't support them. My husband routinely commented about my "fat a**", but that wasn't why I decided to have surgery. That decision was because I finally realized that I was worth it! My long term health was essential if I was ever to enjoy the grandchildren I hope to have one day!
Don't let the past dictate your new beginning. It's all about you....no one else!!!!!!!

I never had to stop my medications pre-op. I resumed my meds when I got home the next day. I don't have RA but I do suffer from osteoarthritis. I've noticed my hips and knees don't hurt as often since I've lost weight. I had the gastric sleeve, I'm 14 weeks post op, have lost 49+ pounds and I feel great. The first 10 weeks were challenging with reflux, dehydration and vomiting. But that ended about 3 weeks ago and I now FEEL FANTASTIC. My medication now consist of 2 OTC Multivitamins, 2 OTC sub-lingual B12 pills and 1 OTC Biotin Vitamin plus my two omeprazole prescribed by my surgeon for post-op reflux. I'm off my cholesterol and high blood pressure medications and I turned in my bipap machine last month. LIFE IS GOOD!

Oh......and forget fruit - especially if it has any type of skin. Oranges, apples, grapes, strawberries.....my sleeve just doesn't like them.

I lost 31 pounds the 1st month post-op, 7 pounds the 2nd month and 7 pounds the 3rd month after surgery. Imagine all the stressful days in month 2, 3 and een now when I step on the scale and its the same, or God forbid it's 0.3 pounds heavier..... Your body has to adjust to this new life. I wish I had the strength to just weight myself once per week so I wasn't as scale crazy, but I somehow need that daily reminder in order to keep focused.
Just eat correctly, hydrate sufficiently and keep moving. WLS works, but it's just like when we dieted in the past, when your body thinks it's "starving", it starts holding on until it adjusts to the new "normal".

I went shopping for new tops yesterday and kept defaulting to the larger sizes. Ended up in LARGE but kept walking back to the Women's sizes. I've gone from Size 2X to Large in 11 weeks. My daughter tells me I look "skinny" and I actually have a waist! I keep my sewing machine in the kitchen so I can take in the seams of my slacks before I leave the house.
I'm trying to create new habits - park as far out in the parking lot as possible so I need to walk further, I make a conscience effort to speak to people I know since people don't seem to recognize the thinner me........I'm proud of the decision I made and the changes I've made that have got me to this thinner me!

Age is also a factor. The younger you are, the more elasticity in in your skin and that betters your chances of your skin shrinking as you loose weight. I'm 5'4, 58 yrs old and I've lost 48 lbs. I'm please with how well my skin as shrunk as the weight has come off. The only place I have a lot of excess skin in in my upper arms. But I've heard plastic surgery in your arms causes a large scar that you end up wanting to hide anyway...........

Special K Protein has 10 grams of Protein in 3/4 cup serving. With 1/2 cup 1% milk, it's a 14 gram Breakfast or snack. I've also tried Cheerios Protein, but it's lower in protein than the Special K. I brought this up at my last bariatric support group and the nutritionist actually recommended it for post-op sleeve patients who suffer from gout and can't eat a lot of meat products.

Age is also a factor. The younger you are, the more elasticity in in your skin and that betters your chances of your skin shrinking as you loose weight. I'm 5'4, 58 yrs old and I've lost 48 lbs. I'm please with how well my skin as shrunk as the weight has come off. The only place I have a lot of excess skin in in my upper arms. But I've heard plastic surgery in your arms causes a large scar that you end up wanting to hide anyway...........