Beta98

I went back to natural hair 8 years ago to stop hair shedding from the use of high blood pressure meds. At one poing I could fill up a ziplock sandwich bag with hair every morning. Just the thought of having to go through that again makes me sick to my stomach. It was so hard emotionally when it happened before. I know its just hair but I'm at that age now where it might not come back. In my culture our hair is our crown of glory and we put a lot of time and expenses into maintaining it. Sigh...

I went back to natural hair 8 years ago to stop hair shedding from the use of high blood pressure meds. At one poing I could fill up a ziplock sandwich bag with hair every morning. Just the thought of having to go through that again makes me sick to my stomach. It was so hard emotionally when it happened before. I know its just hair but I'm at that age now where it might not come back. In my culture our hair is our crown of glory and we put a lot of time and expenses into maintaining it. Sigh...

My doc said between 3-9 months. The dietician recommended adding hydrolyzed collagen powder to my shakes. Hopefully it helps! I’m at month 5 and it’s all coming out!

Llysine may be worth the research and investment...

Thanks for all your comments!

I have lost most of my hair, and I am 8 months out. I do have regrowth and have cut my hair off. Make sure you are getting your Protein and Water intake up. Good luck!

@saygrace, EXACTLY! And yes it does feel better knowing you are going through this "overthinking" everything part as well. Good luck to you.

@saygrace, EXACTLY! And yes it does feel better knowing you are going through this "overthinking" everything part as well. Good luck to you.

I do, she just told me to write the feelings down

Did any you find your emotions and thoughts all over the place before you got your surgery? I have a long ways to go. If my lucky my surgery will be dec 2018 or Jan 2019... yeah so I need to simmer myself down LOL. How did you deal with the crazy thoughts and fears coming up to your surgery? I keep thinking how I've lost 100 pounds twice in my life and couldn't keep it off, why will this be any different. Or I will still be hungry and just won't be able to do anything about it so I'm setting myself up for pain, etc..... What are some good suggestions to keep myself positive because I have a LONG way to go!

I went back to natural hair 8 years ago to stop hair shedding from the use of high blood pressure meds. At one poing I could fill up a ziplock sandwich bag with hair every morning. Just the thought of having to go through that again makes me sick to my stomach. It was so hard emotionally when it happened before. I know its just hair but I'm at that age now where it might not come back. In my culture our hair is our crown of glory and we put a lot of time and expenses into maintaining it. Sigh...

I'm so sorry you are struggling, losing a job takes a huge emotional toll. When you go for your check up let them know the emotional strain you are under maybe you can get some counseling support.

I was 277 at pre-op appt., I am 16 months out with 107 pound weight loss.

I am 5’4”. Starting weight was 247. No long pre-op diet. I was sleeved in late August 2017. So I am 9 1/2 months out and down 95 pounds. I feel very confident I will lose over 100 pounds by the one year mark. I do walk a couple of days a week and also do 30 minute strength training twice a week with a trainer. I have never followed a very strict plan but do monitor my macros (protein, carbs and calories) several days a week to make sure I am on track. I also only drink alcohol on the weekends, usually just one night. Just remember the main objective is to be healthy so eat accordingly. Follow the two main rules of Protein first (it fills you up fast!) and no liquids before and after meals and you will be successful.

i feel the same way. i’m in the late stages of getting my surgery date (waiting for insurance approval) and my emotions are everywhere. i’ve been reading threads on here and am doubting the sleeve and it’s results (though it is what my surgeon suggested and i still think at 22 it is my best option because it is the least restrictive?), extra skin and skin removal eventually, healing immediately after and how long i won’t be able to work (i nanny but i don’t do any heavy lifting- the kids are 4 and 6 so don’t need to be picked up).

like you said, all my emotions are just everywhere. i do see a therapist so i feel in check and i see her every two weeks and we spend our entire session talking about this, and i talk about my feelings with my friends, it’s just a lot of feelings to handle and i think it’s best to write them out sometimes and just have someone who has gone through it be like “yeah that’s normal don’t worry!” and that helps more than anything else does. I’ve only used this app for a short time, and i don’t necessarily feel like i’m a “part” of ~it~ yet, but i can tell it’s a great community where every is supportive and willing to give advice.

This Place!!! This Place Right Here!!!!!
Post your fears and questions and there will be an answer. Someone here has been through it. If you have the time look through the older posts and you will find anything you are looking for. I have learned more here from others experiences than from my own surgeon or nutritionist. They gave me all the info but not the detail you get from all the folks here. I havn't had to post many questions that I had because I always find a post about it with more information than I could have thought there would be.
Stay up and best of luck to you.

This is the perfect place to release.. We are all here to support you. But on the back side you should see your therapist or just pray. God will give you the strength. I always tell people in time of pain, confusion and anger. This is only temporary.. All of it will pass and you will find the strength and joy to smile and laugh again.

I am a therapist and my surgery is scheduled for 7/6/18. Two years ago I abandoned the idea of surgery due to fear. I have since prayed about this and am approaching with a whole new mindset. The song goes, “I am no longer a slave to fear for I am a child of God”. It is my spirituality which has helped me to get the emotions under control. From therapist perspective- your emotions are a barometer of your thoughts. What are you telling yourself about this process? Is it accurate? Based on facts , habit, or emotional reasoning? Are you engaged in thinking errors/cognitive distortions?(Google list of Cognitive Distortions). If so, you can change what your telling yourself, what you believe, and your emotions will follow. Hope this helps my friend.

You really get a chance to examine your relationship with food, figure out how to stop the love affair - you have to find the replacements for that, at the very least you notice how you use food. This is an important time actually, get picky - only eat great food that fuels your body. Eliminate all soda, then go from there through the list of those things you know you can just live without. I will never eat store bought cake again, I don't miss Pasta either. There are some items I will indulge in, but it is a planned item and rare. Good luck.

I was in the same boat--kinda. My emotions were not all over the place but I was pretty apathetic. Like you I had lost weight over and over again only to put it back on. I was daunted by the shear amount I had to lose JUST to be overweight. But I figured I owed my children and husband one more try, an earnest, all out try.
In terms of encouragement, my all time record for weight loss was 112 pounds. Today I broke that record --I have officially lost 113 pounds. So like everyone says, its a tool, blah blah, blah, but it is a tool that has the capacity to really work. Good luck.

@Beta98 my emotions were all over the place as well. I would just internally deconstruct the emotion to see if I could find out where it was coming from, typically it's just misplaced fear. You lost 100 lbs 2x in your life, so that means you've got the will power to do so, but you are afraid you aren't going to be able to keep it off. Well, there is only 1 person that can make sure that happens, and that's you. It's ok to be afraid, hell if anyone says they weren't some level of scared before surgery, I'd call them a liar to their face. Even the most prepared person in the world is going to have some latent fear about the procedure. I've been through this 2x times now, I've watched surgeries being performed, I knew every step of the surgery, the tools, the complications, who was doing what, etc... and I was still afraid to some extent. I had the same "uncertainty" fears, each time I simply told myself that I was going to make 100% sure this time was different. I've even forced myself to do things when I'd rather not... I've been at the gym and been like "I'm done with this... the results are too slow" but, even though that though crossed my mind, I didn't leave. I finished my work out and moved on.
You will have moments where you want to cave, it's your choice to do so. You've just got to make the decision not to cave.
You've got this.

I am cheering for you! It would be good to find a bariatric therapist who specializes in food addiction.

Talk to a therapist. Particularly, one who specializes in bariatric patients.

I still wish bariatric centers and hospitals had a clothes close,towhere you could trade,in clothes, like I'd bring in 26 and 28 that I've "undergrowth" and trace for some 22 or 24, we I undergrow them get some 18 and 20. Yes I probably could jumble sale them but I don't want to watch others paw them and throw on the floor or ground. 🎽👗👚👕👖

Man you lost quickly! I am not far as far along as you are and I still don't eat very much at all.