Pam_2-06-2017

Getting all of anything early in your recovery is going to be tough. Do the best you can is the best advice I got. Remember that everything you drink this early is fluid. I counted it all and that helped take the pressure off getting all my "water" in. Your new, tiny tummies are so swollen right now sips are all they can handle. Just work hard to stay hydrated and you'll start to see your ability to take in more fluids increase as you heal. The biggest concern is dehydration so keep that water bottle close and sip, sip, sip. It helped me to put my shakes in 2 oz containers and set my phone to remind me to drink one ever hour and a half. I couldn't consume a whole shake until I was over a month out from surgery. Take care

I think there is some merit to alcohol affecting you differently after surgery. I know it did me. Rightfully there is much concern for addiction transfer but also alcohol is pretty harsh on a tender tummy. That first 6 months could be particularly sensitive. Considering that, I am a wine maker. I make berry wine from wild Alaska berries and I could not imagine missing out on that. I made a dryer (less sugar) wine with a lower alcohol content and it is so yummy. I spoke with my surgeon about my winemaking hobby and he did not seem at all concerned. There is no doubt that I can't hold my alcohol like I used to. I feel the buzz very quickly. Oh and I'm nearly 8 months out.

Yay! Congratulations!

I had plain vanilla yogurt that first week. I put a little milk in it to thin it out. It was a great way to get protein and NOT a protein shake:-)

Today: 170.7. Forgot to give you a goal. I'm hoping for 159

Hmmmm... I drink from a straw. I drink water with meals. I don't chew my food as well as I should. I sometimes don't eat my protein first (shhh). I still struggle getting 64oz of water in a day. I suck at a regular workout schedule. My nutritionist says I eat too much cheese. I sometimes forget to eat in the middle of the day and have only had breakfast and it's too late for a full meal when I finally think about it. Boy, I better stop there... <<walking away self-reflecting>>..

I absolutely weighed myself everyday and sometimes twice! It was exciting and one of the only positive feedback moments I had that first week. I didn't rely on the scale for my joy because it will inevitably slow down but when all you can have is clear liquids, then full liquids and your previous joy (food) has been taken away you have to find it somewhere. I am no longer a slave to my scale but I do weigh about 2 times a week. I only use the weight I get on Friday as my official weight for the week. But I do like to compare my food journal to how it affects the scale. I also no longer dread the scale. If weighing causes you anxiety then don't get on the scale as often. But, quite frankly, weighing myself often has numbed me to any anxiety. And besides the 1/2 pound one way or the other, or no weight loss at all could mean your just constipated from surgery, you have to pee or your pre-mentrual. No stress, right? Enjoy your downward trend and know that it may pause but if you're doing everything right it will continue to move down hill. Good luck

7 months post op and my hair is finally coming back in. i faithfully took Biotin and it didn't help prevent my hair loss at all. I lost a whole lot of it and now I have a poofy head of baby hairs coming out all at once:-) I do still take Biotin as I did notice nails are healthier and stronger. I hope this also helps with healthy hair growth. I wish it would have worked with the fall out. Now I'm sporting a cute short haircut so my baby hairs can catch up.

I am so sorry you are going through such a hard time. Pain is never good and it also increases your stress/anxiety which can push you to the edge of sanity. Have you spoken with your surgeon about how you feel? I would call my team and find out if this is normal or expected. WLS is tough, making huge changes to your life is tough and your PCOS/endometriosis is tough. Considering your difficulties I suspect you are already one tough cookie and have what it takes to see this through. Call your team and bounce your symptoms off them as a way to ensure that they know where you are right now. Is your difficulty that you can't medicate your PCOS/endometriosis right now in preparation for surgery? If so, then you can look forward to this temporary struggle in the anticipation of relieved symptoms as you lose the weight and begin to feel better as well as being able to take your medicine again to relieve symptoms. On top of all this just having WLS is scary. Many people post pre-surgery jitters before the big day. Keep us posted on your progress. I will be thinking of you as you head into surgery on Monday. Take care and focus on your goals. With WLS they are attainable. p

Ok, you look amazing!!! Your skin looks amazing!!! Your bum looks amazing!!! You have every reason to be proud. Congratulations!!!!

Missed the start date but plug me in anyway. Friday September 22 I weighed 171.8

7 months post op and down 48 pounds. I see others lose much more. So many factors that influence rate of loss. I learned I'm a much slower loser but I'm also not a fanatic to every morsel I eat. I started out a fanatic when I was healing. Now I am losing at a much slower rate but still going down. I had 80 pounds to lose and am more than halfway there. 32 pounds don't seem so far away now but at the beginning it seemed like a lot. My next check up at a year out is in February. My doctor has a goal of 11 pounds from now until then. That almost seems like a drop in the bucket and I will surely meet that. This is not a marathon but a long slow sprint. Your body, skin and future success depend on it.

7/17/2017 - 172.5 and that's my final answer:-) Thank you for another great challenge!!!

I have no eating disorder history to understand but I am now sleeved like you and can say that this may also be your sleeve and not the disorder at all. I eat chicken with no problem but cook it in curry and it will come up virulently. I puked in my soda cup it caught me so off guard. It is surely important to be mindful of your past eating disorder but also understand that you also have new tolerances to food. You will learn them and continue o be proud of yourself that you've gotten all this under control. Take care