Neversaynever

Before surgery my husband and I would go to Texas roadhouse on Wednesdays for date night, They have an 8 oz sirloin special for cheap. We would sit at the bar. Usually before dinner I would have at least 3-4 cans of light beer (so I didn't spend as much money at the restaurant trying to catch a buzz). We would order an appetizer and eat the bread and peanuts while we waited for it. Then we'd eat the app. Then the salad. Then the meal; steak and mashed potatoes. Not to mention I am drinking probably 3 large beers during the meal. Afterward, we'd go home and chill for a couple hours. Then I would go in and snack off anything we brought home.
I celebrated a month post op this past week so I told my husband Id love to have some steak so we thought wed give it a try. Going in I knew I would NEVER be able to have what I used to have. But I missed our nights out together and thought it would be a good test.
WOW.
We sat at the bar and I ordered a beer. I know, I know I know - But I am an adult and I wanted to see how I would react to a beer. I couldn't even finish half of it. I only ordered a salad planning on eating off my husbands plate. I ate some peanuts but skipped the rolls. We got our salads and I was able to take about 3 bites. The meal came out and I literally had 4 tiny pieces of steak from my husbands meal. I was a so full I was sick!!!!
It was a lesson to be had. No more beer for me, At least not for a long time. I felt like **** and it kept me from being able to have regular food because it was so bloating. I knew I couldn't drink after I started eating so I don't know why I even bothered. But at least I know now. And any thirst I had for beer is GONE. So, I don't have to worry about missing out on it.
I can't believe how much I used to eat and it makes me sad that I let myself get that way. Its been rough replacing food with other things, but that's what I've been doing. I had let my life revolve around food and my next meal so much that I was missing out on actually living. Everyday is a new adventure and a new lesson.

I wore a pair of strappy sandals that previously wouldn't do up, not that I could bend over anyway to do it or that I could get that close to my own ankle!

But now, I can do both!

Was starting to feel frustrated due to a week long stall/ 1lb gain (not being able to exercise due to horrible air quality making my asthma flair)... anyway about two months before surgery I bought a T-shirt at Hamilton in the largest size they had (XXL but really a funky women’s L). Today I found it and tried it on. It fits and looks good on me. I may have squeeed.

Thanks for asking I'm doing really well. I had surgery Wednesday, came home Thursday, and now two days later I'm feeling as well as can be expected I guess! As long as I keep up on my Tylenol and Oxycodone my pain is fairly minimal. I'm able to move around quite a bit, showered today. I'm also having pretty good success with keeping up on my Water and Protein intake. It's been slow but steady and nausea and vomiting have not been a problem. So far I'm really pleased 😃

So I started at 304lbs ( 21' 10 ) for the uk'ers and blimey did I feel every pound!
I have lost steadily and I am now 245lbs (17' 7!) so very chuffed, and cannot believe how much my life has changed.
Here are a couple of before and afters, one at my heaviest and the other, two days ago for clarity.
I can't really see a massive difference myself but others have told me they can definitely see it, can you?

I wore a pair of strappy sandals that previously wouldn't do up, not that I could bend over anyway to do it or that I could get that close to my own ankle!

But now, I can do both!

55 at time of Sleeve on 8/23/2016. 2015 weight 300+ (based on photos - didn't get on scales then). Highest recorded weight 275 in April 2016. Current Weight 155 and still losing (sort of - trading fat for muscle mass). I was in the hospital one night. Surgery Tuesday, Discharged Wednesday. Did the grocery shopping on Friday (made the husband and kids carry stuff in and had a kid at the grocery store load the bags in the cart and car.) Went to the gym and road a recumbent bike for 15 minutes on Saturday. Went back to work Monday. (I work from home T, Th. Fr).
So, where am I now - I am a nationally ranked foil fencer in my age group (50-59). I can deadlift 195 pounds and back squat 215. I went from a size 24 to a size 6 or 8, depending on the manufacturer. I haven't had plastics yet, but have had a consult and my plastic surgeon says I'm probably carrying 10 pounds of fat and skin that will disappear with the tummy tuck/panni. My body fat is at about 30% which isn't bad for a post-menopausal woman whose had two kids.
I had little pain, but did walk every hour when I was in the hospital (each time they woke me for vitals, I got up and walked a lap of the floor.)
My only regret is waiting until I was 55 to do this.

So I believe someday I also may escape the back dark area near the rear exit, near where they store the cleaning supplies. I may be migrating to the front,of the store where they have clothing in pretty 👕👚colors and cute👗 kicky styles? Oh fan me someone, the thought,of that nearly makes me swoon! Huff,Huff, I THINK I feel better now!!!

Went shopping at JCPENNEY today and for the first time in over 15 years I was able to purchase pants off the rack!! And they fit! And I was able to buy the shirt in a 2x! After being in a 4x forever!😁

You can put the scale away for a bit and live your life like an exact number doesn't define your worth
Most people don't know their exact FICO scores, IQs, insulin levels, Natural Gas meter readings , heart rate, poison control phone number or national deficit  and they can remain happy from day to day...

One year out! 157 pounds lost.
I (generally) consume about 1400 calories. It does vary, but I wouldn’t have gone under 1100 in several months.
I am pretty tall - 5 foot 9, but I do very little exercise. Like a bit of yoga and barre. I’m in my thirties.
This is something that you have to play around with. During a stall, I freak out and drop to 1200. Then I might go up again.
Ive has an excellent month (down about 10 pounds, which is great for me at this stage of the journey). Even so, I do think about dropping my calories down to speed things up but there’s no guarantee it would work. I also eat fruit as a snack and I would have to stop doing that. Also, I want to be able to maintain my weight. I can’t live forever eating only 500 calories a day.
Its not just about calories though in my experience (I’ll brace for some people to respond with the usual calories in vs calories out arguement). It really is about what you eat. I avoid bread, Pasta, too much processed food, high sugar food, milk chocolate. I do eat dark chocolate every single day. So although it’s a high calorie diet, I generally follow a pretty moderate Mediterranean diet. I have messed around with the Keto diet, but I like eating fruit. My body feels healthier.
The bottom line is that you have to talk to your nutritionist and come up with something you can comply with.

So I started at 304lbs ( 21' 10 ) for the uk'ers and blimey did I feel every pound!
I have lost steadily and I am now 245lbs (17' 7!) so very chuffed, and cannot believe how much my life has changed.
Here are a couple of before and afters, one at my heaviest and the other, two days ago for clarity.
I can't really see a massive difference myself but others have told me they can definitely see it, can you?

Maybe I'll have baby curls again, I was born with them, my late Mama said I was adorable but maybe SHE was biased a little.

Hello all,
Well today is my three month post op check up with my surgeon. I am down 62 pounds since my journey started in December 2017. My surgery was on May 16th, 2018 so since my surgery date I have lost 36 pounds. I did hit a bit of a stall for a week but I just tried to ignore it and keep on keepin on.

Let's not focus or the sorrows we read but on the much improved health and vitality we gain from a successful surgery and better eating habits. I was terrified that I would be hungry all the time just like before surgery. I am not hungry all the time. I do get hungry at times because it's been a while since I ate , more than 4 hours. That's when I am likely to push in more than my 5 ozs. Then my tummy hurts for about an hour. The days I watch my Protein intake and do not get hungry are much better days. I'm learning. It works. I dropped 4 pounds yesterday.
I'll take crape-y skin anytime over being diseased, deformed, disabled, and dying.
Heck I could put an eye out with my wing flaps now. When the fat is gone those flaps would just be a love tap. No eyes in danger.
Remember to take Vitamin B1. That's thiamin. It goes a long way in preventing nausea.
Following this kind of surgery, when patients get sick, vomiting and dehydration, ending up in ER. They are given a banana bag IV and all is well. A banana bag is an IV bag of Vitamins including B1.

Palomabella... Go for it! I'm 69 and 1 month post op. I have felt better ever since I awoke post op. For me it was lifesaving surgery. 50/50 odds. For me there was no choice. I tried to have the surgery in 2016, March 7 to be exact. I sought our the best surgery group in my state. I went into surgery at 7:00 am. I awoke in the OR suite at 7:45 am. I knew immediately something went wrong. I was very alert. I asked what went wrong? A few hours later my doctor came to recovery and told me my liver was too bad to proceed with the surgery. He did a biopsy and closed my 4 incisions. It was devastating. Turns out the cure for a bad liver is weight loss. That's a catch 22.
So 2years forward and my health has continued its downward spiral. I knew I would not be around for my 70th birthday.
I went for a consultation with a local surgeon new to our area. I took the photo of my liver and accompanying data. He said it could be done.
After many, many tests. My day finally arrived. July 16.
I felt so much better immediately. When I awoke I felt as if all the rotten and diseased stuff in my body left with my miserable stomach. I had NO Pain other than 3 gas pains and NO nausea. The only discomfort since is when I eat or drink more than 4-5 ozs. My highest weight was 373. That was some time before pre op. I lost about 10# off that quickly. At this time, 1 month and a day post op I am down 62# this morning I weighed 311#. I'm sleeping better, walking better, alert during the day. I put my own shoes on this morning.. Go for it! It's all good..
It only gets better from here.

I was 56 when I had my surgery in 2011. It worked great! I lost 100 lbs to a low of 132 (it lasted about 1 day) gained 3 and was 135 for a long time. Gained 7 over the latter half of 2017 (too many cookies) and now back at 137, where I feel good and all my clothes fit.

And that's not a place of sorrow. In ancient times, when few of uscsurvived that long, we were celebrated as Wise Women, a source of good consul for others. And that makes later life a valuable commodity to experience. At 72. I can testify , Grow old along with Me, the best is yet to be÷

Nuts... My arch nemesis, they'll bump your calories up so quick you'll be wondering why you're gaining...

So I started at 304lbs ( 21' 10 ) for the uk'ers and blimey did I feel every pound!
I have lost steadily and I am now 245lbs (17' 7!) so very chuffed, and cannot believe how much my life has changed.
Here are a couple of before and afters, one at my heaviest and the other, two days ago for clarity.
I can't really see a massive difference myself but others have told me they can definitely see it, can you?

So I started at 304lbs ( 21' 10 ) for the uk'ers and blimey did I feel every pound!
I have lost steadily and I am now 245lbs (17' 7!) so very chuffed, and cannot believe how much my life has changed.
Here are a couple of before and afters, one at my heaviest and the other, two days ago for clarity.
I can't really see a massive difference myself but others have told me they can definitely see it, can you?

So I started at 304lbs ( 21' 10 ) for the uk'ers and blimey did I feel every pound!
I have lost steadily and I am now 245lbs (17' 7!) so very chuffed, and cannot believe how much my life has changed.
Here are a couple of before and afters, one at my heaviest and the other, two days ago for clarity.
I can't really see a massive difference myself but others have told me they can definitely see it, can you?

I log everything in My fitness pal as I am too lazy to work out if I have any calories left for the day and also the amount of Protein etc I have already eaten. Its just easier it does all the hard work for you!

I made a vow to myself to not eat any of the following as they were my downfall in the past and I haven't yet...

chocolate
Biscuits
Cakes/ pastrys
Pies/sausage rolls etc

Its not hard to do either as like others, my taste buds have totally changed. The only regret I have is that tea doesn't taste the same which is a shame as I loved a good cuppa.

This is from an article that I read recently. I am considering buying the Vitamins she mentions.

its a bit long but well worth the read.


I went to an excellent and brilliant doctor who my best friend uses. He practices Oriental medicine & uses a different approach than other doctors; he doesnt want to treat the problem but find out the cause, then fix that. He ordered a full blood work up like all the other doctors do but this time he added something no other doctor ever did and that was my ferritin levels & my Iron saturation. My iron came back totally normal, as it always had BUT my iron saturation was 14% and my ferritin level was a 34. There it was, MY SMOKING GUN.


I ran home & googled low ferritin levels and there it was; the most common reason for losing hair is a ferritin level below 70. Why the hell this never came up before when I searched I dont know but whatever.
nothing was going to get me down now because I found out what is wrong with me so now I can fix it. I did ask the Dr why I have low ferritin & he said its not important why or how, lets just get my iron stores up. I eat red meat at least 3x a week so it was pretty shocking that my iron is low but for some reason my body wasnt able to store it. I started on 325mg of FERROUS SULPHATE 2X A DAY , after 1 month my blood was tested & my ferritin level went to 41. Did I notice any hair improvement? A tiny bit maybe instead of losing 1,000 hairs a day it went down to 950! Then I decided to search for a better way to raise my levels & thank the lord for the internet because I found out that the best iron with the greatest level of absorption is FERROUS FUMARATE so I started myself on 325mg twice a day AND with each pill I take 500mg of L-Lysine & take it with a big glass of orange juice if I have to take it with Water then I add 500mg of Vitamin C.then I waited, but not for long because within 2 weeks my dream came true. The shedding really slowed down. but I thought it was my imagination /maybe I was going insane because I was at my breaking point with my damn hair. i saw my best friend who said, holy **** your hair looks so thick on top, I think its working she asked me to take it down from the clip but I wouldnt. Not yet. Another week passed and it wasnt just a dream or wishful thinking but I could tell my curls were longer & when I showered it wasnt ALL over my body. Its been about 5 weeks since I began taking my ferrous fumarate cocktail and I am wearing my hair down. I can hardly believe it. I just took a shower and hardly anything came out. A lady at Target came up & asked me if I permed my hair or if my curls were all natural, and I had such pretty hair.TOTAL SHOCK!! I COULDNT EVEN THANK HER BECAUSE I WAS SPEECHLESS. I havent had a compliment on my hair in about 14 years.14 LONG years!

So this is my story with a very happy ending. All it took was a simple blood test followed by 4 weeks of supplements and the nightmare has ended. Every 30 days I will get my blood tested to make sure I dont go into iron overload but my goal is to get my ferritin levels over 100 and keep them at about 120sih. If I had read a post like this 10 years ago I would have avoided a decade of hair despair. And if your ferritin levels are fine, keep searching for your smoking gun because it is out there