Newme17

You’ll still get hair loss (unless you’ve got a miracle gene that doesn’t let it go) whether you are on a high protein or low protein diet. My doc reminded all of us patients that it’s a given. I dealt with it between 3-7 months. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be, but I’ve also had a head full of hair to start. I’ve read countless others upping protein count to prevent, but alas, it does not work like that. So, you’ll have to make do with what you lose., unfortunately. Blessings hon.

Ugh...81lbs down; 40K to 34I...ugh. Still TOO BIG!!! Feels like they've gotten bigger to me. Been researching reductions/lifts.

Okay....the set point is reduced with surgery, so yes, it's easier to lose weight in the beginning. This is why it's called the honeymoon phase. Easy peasy...but then you get on in time and you have to work it, just as any other person who manages their weight...but the catch is...you've developed great eating habits, better foods in your diet, and you are working out, whether it's just a simple walk a day or going to the gym and lifting, or whatever workout you want to do. Now, if you're eating 1200 calories a day to lose weight on your own...that's WAY TOO LOW. Please believe me, I did that, so do the numerous others who did it, and guess what...you have a rough patch and you start eating back the way you did, and WHAM! It gets piled back on and more! So, please please also believe me when I say, you can gain weight eating too low. I did this. Not because I was on some kind of diet, just because I didn't eat. When I did eat, the body was saying "hey, you didn't feed me enough food, so I'm going to hang on to every calorie you've just eaten, especially the fat and store it." My doc got on to me for this!!! So, education is key. Sometimes you have to figure out how the body actually works and figure out what you need to do. So, I entered in your stats in this calculator. I don't know your age (but I put in 30) and I don't know your activity level (so I put in light 1-3 times a week). Your body, at these stats, is supposed to be getting about 1697 calories a day to lose at a 15% deficit. When you lose, you revisit the calculator and get your new numbers. When you meet goal, revisit, and you'll have a general idea of how many calories you'll be eating to maintain. Now, I wish I had the discipline to have done this in the beginning without wls, but I needed to forced, per se, to learn better eating and change my lifestyle (I'm now plant based/vegan/vegetarian-like); I was also at a higher BMI and nearing getting complications due to my age/lifestyle then. I've always enjoyed working out, so that wasn't an issue for me. I'm at 40 lbs from my goal...and when I reach it, for my future stats, I'll be eating approximately 2400 calories a day. Sounds like a lot right? But my body will need it for the amount of energy it puts out. Check out the calculator and check out this website, if you plan to do it on your own. http://eatmore2weighless.com/weight-loss-calculator/

I think it may be the same here for me too, but I’ll get there. Currently sitting with a rolled up pillow behind my back. I’ll look in to lumbar supports....Thanks for chiming in!

Not me, just my butt area, but my hope is that with good posture and strethening our core muscles, will help greatly.

OUCH!!!! Probably take a whole lot more issues other than just fixing your posture to have to go that route. Not for me.

Haha...no one wants to watch themselves eat. But maybe we should all be doing it. Imagine a restaurant full of mirrors? Everyone will take three bites and take doggy bags home. 😂

Thank you for this...but maybe change it to say COMPLEX carbs to call your friends? So many people lump all the good nutritious complex carbohydrates with the simple ones. It’s really sad. My diet is comprised of about 90% of these...and they are indeed my friends. 😊

I was hungry about 5 days out. Just stuck to my list and had a protein drink and drank lots of broth too. It happens. Nothing wrong with you either, have a drink. Now I wouldn’t go without doing all kinds of work to get your mind off your stomach needing food/liquid. That’ll result in some very low blood sugar and possibly a trip to the er. Be careful.

Wouldn’t you know....I’ve been on a quest about posture for the past week!!! Now that I think of it, I position the lumbar in my car for my back, and I don’t get this feeling while driving. Thank so much hon!!! I’ll be paying way more attention to how and where I sit...and strengthening my core/glutes in the process.

Ive heard the pain associated with getting rid of one is through the roof! I think I’d just rather lay on my stomach for the rest of my life. Lol. I’m going to focus on doing some glute exercises over a span of time and see if it indeed helps. I’ll be sure to report it at some point or during the progress.

I’ve thought of one...I may have to try it. BUT, wouldn’t it only work on a hard chair? My fear is that it won’t work. I sit on my chair (which is like a recliner) and I still get this mess. It’s a big comfy chair. So the softness of the chair doesn’t even work. I’m weary of the gel not working too.

Seconding @Creekimp13, we plant based folks are always there in the vegan/vegetarian thread. As for losing muscle mass, hmm?? I’m gaining muscle mass. I’m about 9 months post as well. Check out the recipe thread for some good stuff too. Want a salty crunchy snack: roasted broad beans. Low fat popcorn. As for protein, I don’t count it, but I do eat a lot of grains, legumes, and veggies. Doc hasn’t had an issue with me not getting enough. So, I can’t help ya in that arena, but I do know these foods all have protein.

I only packed a robe, slippers, and some essentials like lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, and chapstick. Of course my phone, charger, and some headphones. After surgery, there’s no time to relax. Always being checked for vitals, given meds, and hoping to catch some sleep in between all the poke and prodding. Also, you’ll be having to walk as much as possible...so there’s really no down time for anything else, at least for me there wasn’t. Didn’t take much because the hospital supplied basically all of my needs, just ask for it. They even had toothpaste and toothbrushes and shampoo/conditioner, etc.

Uh, three months is about 90 days....you should ask them to be more clear and present your visits again...that is, if you’ve got those three months of consecutive visits. I have Cigna as well, but it took just about 4 months from start to finish. When did you start your journey?

That’s a good RD! I’m all for moderate intakes. That’s why nothing is off limits to me at this point in my journey. Enjoy your soup! I’ll add some mushrooms. Yum!

@Little Green You've got my prayers hon. I hope this all works out very soon!!!

Bahahahajajajaja!!!! That's good. For anyone who is doubting: I eat plants, a lot of it. I eat lots of beans, kale, quinoa, just to name a few. I haven't had any issues not meeting protein levels, 1) don't need as much as we're led to believe (western issue) 2) my work ups for the doc prove this. My system is very regular, although I haven't tested this, I'm quite sure my arteries are clear of fat and plaques, I have lots of energy, my body feels good. The only time it doesn't is if I eat processed foods and the occassional meat (holidays)-so I stay away from it for the most part--and I save tons of money too not buying those things. I lift weights and have been gaining my muscle. I jiggled my thighs yesterday for my hubby and showed him how much less jiggle there is! Satisfying! I've been at this for almost a year now...so, it is very doable. Hey, one more thing...before surgery and my change in lifestyle diet, I had excrutiating (sp?) heartburn. I haven't had one episode of it since. Now, that's pretty amazing...and I'm pretty sure it's eating healthy plant based foods.

Public or not, RESPECT should be rendered whether or not you agree or disagree with someone's beliefs, or just don't post at all and keep it to yourselves.

@FluffyChix Thank you! And I'm confident that your pain will reduce as well. Heck, I'll pray that your pain diminishes all together! Now, that's a trade off....weight loss=LESS to NO PAIN!!!

DId you come up with this? This is awesome...I can taste the broth already...even though I don't do chicken anymore. LOL Wonder if it'll taste just as good with veggie broth??? I should try....I have all those ingredients on hand. Update: totally missed that you ENGINEERED it. LOL

I'm am not too sure, I wouldn't see why not for the syrup, given that it's sugar free but I would for sure check with your RD first. My thoughts on the condensed cream of mushroom soup, even though it's just a tiny bit of amount, it's creamed...that usually means fat. Now, at how far I am now, I don't give a hoot about having that, but during my pre-op and early stages I stuck to the list I had.

I had to do the cortisone and PT when I had the pain too. It was just awful. Just kept reminding how bad I needed to get my body in some kind of health and shape and I am too young for this mess. I hated PT, just made it feel worse. I've lost so far, 81 lbs...that's a pretty significant amount of pressure off of my body for which I'm so thankful for. Now, I'm on the quest for the last, very slowly coming off, 40lbs. I feel you...I couldn't move without so much pain too; you'll get there!

@Apple203 I'm excited to hear when your aches and pains have been diminished greatly or completely!!!! Got to get those knees feeling better....in due and appointed time. Yay!