catwoman7

check the blog "World According to Eggface". She had weight loss surgery several years ago and has tons of recipes on her site - for all phases

it takes awhile for your brain to catch up. Just this morning I saw one of those "Facebook memory" photos of me that was originally posted three years ago. I thought to myself "wow - I wish I could get that low again - I looked pretty good at that weight". I checked my weight from that week (I keep weekly records), and I weighed exactly the same as I did this morning. Surprise! (I did eventually drop another 15 lbs or so - but I got too, too low. I didn't look very healthy. My current weight is much better for me, but I'm still feeling/thinking like I'm too heavy. Nope! Not if I still look like that picture! (which I do!))

It's been awhile, but I think mine was scheduled about three weeks out, too.

if you're still following your program religiously, it could just be a long stall. How long have you been at that weight? Sometimes stalls can last two or three weeks - and even longer once you get to a year or so out.

from what I've read and heard, nothing really helps much. You just have to wait it out. Since you're eight months out at this point, it probably won't go on for much longer. And to be honest, I can't see the loss. I'm sure YOU can, but I can't see it in that second picture.

that's a question for your insurance company. I'd call their customer service dept (it's probably listed on your insurance card)

it's doable - I'm 60 - so even older than you!

I don't remember what my surgeon's plan was at that juncture, but I personally wouldn't have been able to tolerate steak then.

they do that to shrink your liver so they can get in there and operate more easily. I don't think they care if you lose or gain weight. Although it's sort of odd you didn't lose anything on that liquid diet....

P.S. I seemed to have longer stalls the further I got out, too. I'd stall for like a month and think..."this is it"....but then it would start up again. Just keep at it! my surgeon's original goal for me was 180. Although I told him I'd be absolutely ecstatic if I got under 200. MY first goal was 199. 180 seemed like a pipe dream to me. But that wasn't too, too difficult, actually. It's those last 20 or 30 lbs that can be a real bear to get off. But a lot of us have gotten there, so it's not impossible!

I kept losing until month 20, although my loss really slowed down after about six months out. But still...it kept going as long as I stuck to my plan. So there's hope!!

yep. I've been hanging out on this and other bariatric boards for about five years. It happens a lot. It's not inevitable - but it seems like a LOT of people have a rebound.

sounds like it might be carb withdrawal

I can really see the difference in those pictures - great job!!

that's for the sleeve. They don't remove any of the stomach with the bypass - they just section it off with surgical staples.

I'd consult a doctor about this - it may or may not be related to your surgery.

1) there are a lot more people who never make it to goal than there are people who lose too much weight. Besides, you have control over that. If you're feeling you're getting too low, you can increase your calories and stop the weight loss 2) yes - a lot of us deal with excessive skin, but it's easy for most of us to hide. You're likely the only one who'll know it's there. And if it drives you nuts, there's always plastic surgery 3) you will not lose all your hair. No one loses all their hair. There are a few who experience hair coming out in clumps, and there are a few who lose no hair at all. Most of us notice some "shedding" for a few months, but we're the only ones who notice it. And it grows back. 4) I heard no comments of alarm, even after losing over 200 lbs. People either didn't say anything at all (which I thought was very odd, as surely they noticed - maybe they just don't think it's appropriate to discuss weight??), or they went on & on about how great I looked 5) complications are uncommon and for those of us who have them, most are minor 6) nausea is not uncommon the first few days or weeks, but for life? No. That would be very rare. Plus they can give you Zofran to control it the first few days/weeks if it's bothersome I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am to have had this surgery. I LOVE being normal weight and NEVER want to be obese again!! It is worth EVERYTHING. I do remember worrying incessantly when I was a pre-op and early post-op about losing hair and excess skin. I lost very little hair - and my excess skin was easy to hide. No one knew it was there. In retrospect, I cannot believe I wasted even ONE brain cell worrying about these things. They are so insignificant in light of all the positive changes I went through. I would have this surgery again in a heartbeat - and if I had to go back every year to have it again, I would! Best decision I ever made. My only regret is that I didn't have it YEARS ago!

the average weight loss is about 70% of your excess weight, so the calculators may be based on that. But like any other average, there are people who lose more and people who lose less. If you really work hard at this, there's no reason you can't get down to your goal. The dietitian at my surgeon's office warned me that my goal (150) was unrealistic because only about 10% of their patients lose 100% of their excess weight, yet, I did it. I worked my butt off, but I did it (and by the way - that 10% statistic is about what I've seen in peer-reviewed studies, too. But if you think about it, that's about right - it's a couple standard deviations away from the norm, so one would expect that)

this was the hardest part of the whole "ordeal" for me, but it does get better after about the third day. Your body goes into ketosis around then and you don't get as hungry. But just white knuckle the next couple of weeks - you're almost there!!

I was like that as well and the PA at my surgeon's office said not to worry about. But if you're concerned, I'd just call them and ask.

great feedback overall - although one thing I wanted to comment on: a lot of surgeons are now advising their sleeve patients to avoid NSAIDs, too, so this may or may not be a factor anymore...(back when I had my surgery, it WAS, but now - not as much. Some (medical) opinions have changed on this...)

I was surprised to see juice as well. A lot of plans don't allow it. Too much sugar.

I've got them on my thighs

just to repeat - STICK TO YOUR PLAN. The weight loss will start up again. Stalls are common and will happen again and again throughout your weight loss journey. Just stick to your surgeon's plan and stay off the scale if you have to. But the weight loss WILL start up again.

I'm sure it's cheaper. Plastic surgery is pretty pricey. But I don't know how good of a job it does.