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Everything posted by Clementine Sky
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Congratulations on your success, and thank you for your encouragement. I've also stalled out quite a bit, and have to pep-talk myself into persevering. Did you make any modifications to your eating and exercise habits to break the stall, or was it just time itself that did it for you?
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June 25th Dr. Fernando Garcia
Clementine Sky replied to iavolru's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I had my surgery with him last August, and had a very positive experience. All the best to you. -
Best Tasting Protein Shake
Clementine Sky replied to charley27's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
What blender do you use? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I love the NutriBullet because it blends so quickly and is convenient. I just pop on a lid and can head out the door. As for protein powders, I really like Unjury's chocolate flavored Protein Powder. I'd add coconut cream to it for an Almond Joy flavor, or PB2 for a Reese's-like treat. Chike's protein powder is also tasty. If there is a Sprout's near you they have unflavored whey protein that dissolves really well into both hot and cold drinks. You can buy it by the weight, so you don't have to commit to a giant tub of it when you just want to sample it. I also liked GENEPRO. Starting about two weeks out I began making smoothies using a yogurt that is high in protein and low in carbs, frozen berries (also lower in carbs) and frozen spinach (the berries mask the flavor, and the consistency is better if it's frozen) rather than using protein powder, and that's what I've stuck with this whole time. -
My therapist disapproves sleeve?
Clementine Sky replied to glitterdaisies's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I also have PCOS and definitely understand the struggles it causes, including with weight. You might want to read through some of the medical research about how the VSG has been shown to help women with PCOS and then discuss it with her. Here is one paper: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3334389/ Your therapist is unlikely to be aware of the health benefits of having the surgery, and how it can help to alleviate symptoms of PCOS. Since your hormones have an impact on your mental health, it can help to improve your psychological wellbeing as well as your physical. If you have a history of binge eating and purging, then it would definitely be more of a concern because it's harder to break compulsions than habits. You could cause harm to yourself, especially in the first month post-op when you're healing, if you deviate from the eating plan. If you just have a problem with portion control and stress eating, as many of us do / did, and you think you can work on managing them, then you'll likely be fine. The sleeve is a way of enforcing portion control on you. It doesn't do all the work for you - you still have to make wise choices and use self discipline - but it helps tremendously. It will require you to learn other coping methods for handling stress. In the past I'd treat myself with food, and now I buy little things that indulge other senses, like a candle or fresh flowers. -
Summer Comparsion Pics
Clementine Sky replied to Fettchick83's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
You look fantastic! -
Very helpful advice needed!
Clementine Sky replied to hernewselfie's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I tried to learn from the experiences of others who had the VSG to help prepare myself for what I might experience. I read through this forum and others like it, read a book about the "sleeved life" from Amazon, watched a lot of YouTube videos from people who'd had the VSG as well as from surgeons (Dr. Matthew Weiner has some especially informative videos), and went through the sites for major bariatric centers like the ones at the Mayo Clinic, UCLA, and Stanford to try to gather a wider range of medical information. Specifically, this is what helped me the most - - Packing lists of what to bring for the surgery - Making my own packing checklist based on the recommendations from others and allowing myself enough time to buy everything on it, and put my bag together - Lists of what to eat during each of the stages. The blog site The World According to Eggface has some great Protein shake recipes that helped me to make it through the liquid stage in good spirits, as well as this guide: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2016/05/liquid-phase-for-post-weight-loss.html - Stocking my pantry and refrigerator with protein powders, popsicles and the like so I'd be all set. One woman who made a YouTube video said she regretted buying as much as she did before surgery because she didn't end up consuming it all, so I didn't go overboard but I got enough so that I wouldn't have anything to worry about while healing. - Knowing to expect a stall about three weeks out, and to not be discouraged by it because it's normal - Knowing that many people experience "buyer's remorse" in their first month post-op when they are struggling to acclimate to all the rapid changes they're going through, and their hormones are fluctuating due to rapid weight loss. Though I never had a moment of regret, I think knowing that if I did it would likely be fleeting was helpful. - Having the house in order, and a cleaning service arranged to come in a couple of times while I was still recovering to help pick up my slack (my husband does his part too, but he had an especially busy month and I hadn't wanted him to have any extra stress) - I weened myself off soda and coffee. I was told that I could begin to gradually have coffee again a couple of weeks post-op, but I knew I'd feel the caffeine headache everyday until that point if I hadn't already broken my dependency on it -
Where do you buy clothes?
Clementine Sky replied to NewNewMe's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
I live in LA, and there are consignment stores here called It's a Wrap that buys the wardrobe from TV shows and movies. It's a fun place to shop (the tags tell you which show / movie the item is from), and the clothes are very reasonably priced. I bought several maxi skirts from Nordstroms last summer before having surgery, and was able to keep wearing them as I lost weight because the waist can be folded to make them smaller and shorter. -
TV Series - Paid Teen Bariatric Surgery
Clementine Sky replied to HeatherD43's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I'm absolutely for teens who qualify for bariatric surgery receiving it if they, their parents, and their physicians believe they are physically and psychologically ready for it. An increasing number of pediatricians are aware of the benefits of bariatric surgery and talking to their patients about it. I just worry about the social and psychological impact of having kids go through the experience on camera. The additional information provided hasn't assuaged concerns much. -
TV Series - Paid Teen Bariatric Surgery
Clementine Sky replied to HeatherD43's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
"Educational" documentary series have been woefully exploitative, especially of minors. Teens who are candidates for bariatric surgery have likely experienced social ramifications such as bullying or exclusion, and this would make them vulnerable to more negative treatment. What sort of safeguards do the producers have in place to make sure the teens are psychologically resilient enough to not only go through bariatric surgery, but to have it portrayed on camera for the world at large to watch and judge? Shows of this nature often have a very basic psychological screening beforehand, and offer little support once the cameras have stopped rolling. -
TV Series - Paid Teen Bariatric Surgery
Clementine Sky replied to HeatherD43's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I haven't encountered many teens on this forum, but if they're here I hope they and their parents are wise enough to not become a part of this exploitative show. -
I haven't had problems in those areas, but I developed a form of psoriasis over my left eye a few months post-surgery. I don't think it's related to the surgery itself, though. My dermatologist told me it was due to makeup and skin care products causing an irritation. He prescribed a very mild steroid ointment, and it helps. The flakiness has come back several times, but I just apply a dab and it goes away in a day or thereabouts. You haven't mentioned the other areas where you've having the shedding, but I wonder if something you're putting on your hands is causing the problem on your palms. Hand sanitizers and antibacterial soap can be harsh on your skin. You might want to try using a very mild, fragrance free hand soap at home, and then apply something like Aquaphor to your hands.
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Weight gain, looking for meaningful discussion/mutual support not lectures!
Clementine Sky replied to Oak Park Lorena's topic in WLS Veteran's Forum
I can't relate to your exact experience because I'm only 10 months out from surgery, and thankfully haven't had any setbacks. I can relate to being a very active person to becoming a sedentary one due to problems with your feet. I started dancing in pointe shoes at too early of an age, and that in tandem with hereditary problems with my feet lead to me developing plantar fasciitis in my late teens. For me Pilates has been really helpful because it doesn't put any impact on my feet. You mentioned in your post that it was one of your exercises that helped you to lose weight. Perhaps you could get back into it. I go to a physical therapy facility that uses Pilates three times a week, and my insurance picks up part of the cost. I'm considering booking sessions with a trainer at a gym to get in more workouts. For me, the expense of the sessions forces accountability (no way will I cancel with the fee involved for doing so) and makes me want to make the most of them. I also find that it's less overwhelming to focus on reaching one goal at a time. I work on ten pounds at a time. I think you can lose the weight. You did it before, and you seem to have the will to do it again. In the meantime, maybe you could try ordering some clothes that have a bit more flexibility to their sizes. I bought some summer maxi skirts (long, but very light weight and with a long slit) from Nordstroms that come in S, M, L, XL last year before having surgery. The waist line is sort of designed so that it can be more customized. You can fold it under to make the skirt shorter and more fitted. I can still wear them without looking odd even after having lost 70 pounds. Good luck! -
Skin firming lotions
Clementine Sky replied to 2bsleeved26's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I haven't used any lotions specifically for firming your skin. I simply use a sea salt scrub in the shower to exfoliate, and then a body lotion while I'm still damp. In the winter I was also using a body oil. I don't know to what extent firming products help. I think whether or not you develop loose skin depends on various factors, such as how rapidly you lose weight, how much weight you lose, how long you were at your highest weight, and your age. I've lost weight at a very s l o w pace, but the silver lining is absolutely no loose skin. You might want to look on MakeupAlley and see if you can read product reviews for lotions that are supposed to firm your skin. It won't be as specific as feedback from here, of course, but there are far more people who use that site. -
Tomorrow is my day! June 20th
Clementine Sky replied to tresmith69's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hopefully tomorrow will be for you like my surgery day was for me - uncomplicated and with minimal pain and discomfort. Having my wisdom teeth removed actually hurt far more. It's been ten months since I had the VSG, and a day hasn't passed when I haven't been grateful for it. I'm so much happier, healthier, and more energized than I was this time last year. I think you're making a very wise choice. All the best for you tomorrow. It's going to be worthwhile. -
Stalled completely, even gaining some
Clementine Sky replied to stephyr's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I'm sorry you're experiencing this frustration. I had a lengthy stall this year, and it finally broke when I increased my calories and made sure I had at a very minimum 900 a day. When I'm biking to work and going to the gym I need to up the calories even more. Today is the 10 month mark from my surgery. I stepped on the scale expecting to see a higher number than a few days ago because friends are in town and we've been eating out so much, but it was two pounds lower. It felt like a little victory. My body definitely runs better when I'm getting in more than 1000 calories and staying reasonably active. When I work out more, I need to eat more in order to see weight loss. I'd try increasing your calories gradually and see what happens. Your body has probably gone into a starvation mode and is clinging on to every calorie you put into it to try to protect your organs. It will calm down and start cooperating again if you feed it more. For me, just adding in an afternoon latte or smoothie was enough at first when I really didn't want any more than about 800 calories worth of food in a day. I then started making my meals a bit larger but still fitting onto a salad plate for each one. Keep the faith! -
What is on your Trader Joe's Shopping List?
Clementine Sky replied to OutsideMatchInside's topic in Food and Nutrition
Some of my Trader Joe's favorites are: - I'm a fan of almost all of their coffee. Their low-acid French Roast was lovely when I was easing back into drinking coffee post-op. - Burrata - Mozzarella - Trader Joe's brand of plain Greek yogurt. It is low carbs and high in Protein. - Their brand of unsweetened, plain kefir - Misto allo griglia (grilled eggplant, red peppers, and zucchini) - Frozen nectarines - Frozen sweet potatoes (Far lower in carb than you might think. I make smoothies with them using milk, ice, and cinnamon) - Frozen turkey burgers - Almond butter - chicken sausage - Mango bar bites (10 grams of carbs for one, and quenches the craving for sweets) - Mango macarons (15 grams of carbs for three, but I'll usually just have one at a time) I also love their non-food products, like their cards, mango honey shaving cream, lavender body scrub, and mango tangerine candle. -
First time under 200lbs since early 1990's
Clementine Sky replied to MBP's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
Hooray! Congratulations! -
I began losing hair at the four month mark, but it wasn't drastic. I added GENEPRO to my morning coffee as a way of easily sliding in more Protein, and that seemed to help a bit. I haven't taken any Biotin because of fears it could cause a breakout. I also tried collagen after reading about it on here, though it was at the 7 month mark when hair loss had slowed down considerably so I can't really gauge its benefit. The main thing that helped me was to stop washing my hair every day. I started washing it every other day, or even every third day. I'd wear a shower cap and then would sprinkle some dry shampoo in my hair to refreshen it up. I like Lush's the best, but there are several brands that have them. I also think I benefitted from slowing down my weight loss a little. I went on a lengthy vacation at Christmas and wasn't being as mindful about tracking my eating. I didn't gain any weight, but also didn't lose any during that time either. I noticed that my hair loss slowed considerably. I started losing weight again in the new year, but at a slower pace. I've still met my goals, and my hair loss has stayed minimal.
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My rant is when people go to a concert but watch it through their phones instead of just taking in the experience. It blocks the view and is distracting.
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Successful weight loss after 6 months? Anyone?
Clementine Sky replied to carrie3101's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I had a lengthy stall at 6 months out, and then began to lose weight again after increasing both my calories (too low can slow down your metabolism) and my exercise. -
Post Op Acne
Clementine Sky replied to SilentBotts's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
As others have discussed, some of the supplements commonly taken by bariatric patients such as Biotin and B12 can cause acne breakouts or exacerbate existing skin problems. I have stayed far away from biotin since it caused a horrific breakout two years ago when I took it to try to speed up hair growth after a hair cut. My dermatologist told me that biotin and excessive B Vitamins can cause acne breakouts in many people. Hormonal fluctuations can also cause breakouts, and losing weight can cause your hormones to fluctuate. For the most part, my acne has gotten better since having surgery, though. I have PCOS and have struggled with acne because of that for a while. I was taking medicine that cleared up my skin, but caused weight gain. I gradually went off that medicine post-surgery, and had some breakouts along the way. Some things that have helped me - - Simplifying my skincare routine. In the past I was using so many different products in a desperate hope for it clearing up my skin that they caused more problems than they resolved. Now I use rose Water on a cotton pad to clean my face in the morning, and only La Roche Posay products. I use their Effaclar face wash at night, and the toner a few times a week. I put a very thin layer of the spot treatment on as needed. Overdoing it with these products can lead to peeling, so I've learned to be careful. I also use a serum and moisturizer by this line. - Being very careful with all vitamins and supplements. I read through the labels and make sure they don't overdo it with B vitamins. The ones I've responded to the best are Garden of Life's Vitamin Code Multivitamin and Flintstones Complete with Iron (one or the other, not both). I take a multivitamin, and Vitamin D, and peppermint oil supplement (for acne and other PCOS issues; you can find it on Amazon inexpensively). About 4 months post op I took a B-12 supplement for a week when I was trying to bounce back from being sick, and it caused a month's worth of acne. I've had very little hair loss. - Not using heavy makeup, creams, or anti-aging products. I'd been using some Lancome anti-aging products that came in a gift with purchase bag, and my dermatologist said it was far too heavy for my skin. He said to use lighter weight products and avoid ones designed to be anti-aging. - Using fragrances sparingly. At the advice of my dermatologist I use fragrance-free laundry detergent and fabric softener because he said they can cause breakouts. I avoid putting things with fragrances on my face. - Changing my pillowcases three times a week. I bought extra sets so I can change them out quickly. - Using SLS free products. SLS in toothpaste and hair products can cause breakouts in some people with more sensitive skin. Loreal has an inexpensive, readily available line, and you can find many other options as well. - Having a facial once a month by a reputable esthetician. -
What do you look forward to most...when you're thin?
Clementine Sky replied to fancypants67's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I feel like I'm much more open and free than I was this time last year. I'd dread running into people I hadn't seen in a while because I knew my weight gain would be noticeable, and would only attend social functions out of fairness to my husband. I was much more self-absorbed because I constantly was self-conscious about myself instead of focusing outwards. I was hibernating in a way, still alive but not engaged in life. I'm living again now. -
Regret before surgery
Clementine Sky replied to VSGMEPLZ26's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I think it's normal and common to question and even have some feelings of regret about any choice that is going to alter your life. I "leapt before I looked" when I was younger enough to start pacing back and forth in front of the Water investigating it first and really thinking through decisions before making a move. It's better to go through that process beforehand and to address your concerns so that you can feel more confident. I did second-guess myself a bit prior to surgery and wonder if it was too drastic of a choice and if I should just try again at losing weight through diet and exercise. I then thought about how many times I had lost a little weight, only to gain it back and more, and how that cycle had repeated itself for years. I have PCOS and weight loss is enormously frustrating. I think our history helps to tell us about our future, and I could see more years of struggling, obsession about my weight, and my life not being lived fully. I don't know what your personal circumstances are, but if you are paying for this yourself or a big part of it then the financial aspect is an understandable concern. I was self-pay because my BMI didn't meet insurance qualifications, and I did feel selfish about spending that much on the surgery (though I had mine in Mexico, which was far less than it would have cost locally). I now view it as a necessary and completely worthwhile investment, not just in myself but in the wellbeing of my family since how my wellbeing also affects them. If you're doing a pre-op diet that could also make you more emotional, understandably. It's also common to have regrets post-op and "buyer's remorse". That's something I'd prepared myself for after reading about VSG and watching YouTube videos of people's experiences. Some feel exhausted, uncomfortable, overwhelmed. Everyone also said that those feelings passed, and that in the long-run they had no regrets about having surgery. All benefits outweighed the negatives. For me, I didn't have any regrets post-surgery. I really didn't have that much pain, and I quickly started to see progress. I'm at my lowest weight since age 19, and I feel so much more alive. I'm more active, more willing to try new things, more optimistic. I am so glad I had this surgery. I hope you feel the same way. -
My period started during my surgery. The cramps were definitely amplified that day. I'd brought two heating pads with me, so that I could have one behind my back and one on the lower part of my stomach (it didn't interfere with the incisions). I asked for more pain medicine, and it helped to zap a lot of the pain. I also asked for medicine to help me sleep because hormonal fluctuations often cause temporary insomnia for me. Beyond that I really didn't have much pain or discomfort. By the second day I was fine. I recommend bringing heating pads and a small extension cord so you can plug them in without needing to unplug anything else already in the room.
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Thin crust pizza
Clementine Sky replied to cutiek16's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I bought a slice of thin crust turkey sausage pizza from Whole Foods at about 3 months out when I was having cravings for it, but it took me three meals and a snack to complete it. In the past I could have two slices of it and a garlic knot in one sitting. Since scratching the itch, I haven't craved pizza since.