LauriW

I made it! In almost exactly 10 weeks! I’m thrilled!

It seems to be extremely common. Some sort of metabolic or hormonal reaction. Weeks 2-6 were really bad for me, my fingers and toes would regularly be numb with cold but it has gotten better. I am 3 months out now and while I am colder than I used to be pre-surgery but it is better than those first few weeks. If it lasts it will be nice to not sweat like a pig all summer though.

Can't wait to renew mine...I lied the last time and grossly under-reported my weight (I was 225 ish and said 165) ?

So now it says 165 and I'm 123 July '19 come onnnnnn renewal!

How exciting for y'all!!! Congrats!
For the first time EVS I'm not gonna lie on mine.

So, I officially weigh less than my license says I do. This is the first time in a LONG time that I can say that! Feels good!

My hair was already extremely thin before surgery; I tried biotin, I tried hair fibers, I tried everything. So when I started losing more, I took a leap and decided to go with hair toppers or "helper hair." I don't think they are terribly noticeable - I did fool a friend of mine who is totally honest with me about everything. Even if it is slightly noticeable, I would feel more self-conscious without it. And they make ones that are extremely natural, with dark colored roots. I actually love my hair now and how it looks on me - it's not too much hair, so it doesn't look garish. ! If you are interesting in trying this out, I suggest going to this site to get some advice: https://cornerofhopeandmane.com For me - fake hair, don't care.

Here's a thread where I compiled some research on Telogen Effluvium
Take a look.
If there is nothing you can do internally, take a look at aesthetically pleasing half measures

You know what happens when we cut corners on ourselves. Right? Part of what got us an invite to the Obesity Ball, sweetie! You wouldn't cut corners on your kiddos. So don't do it on yourself, it will have lifelong impact on them if you're not healthy and teaching by example: if something doesn't work fully or as it should, change it until it works again and succeed! What a cool thing to teach them. Persistence and engenuity!

Wow! That was amazing and I greatly appreciate the pep talk. I know what needs to be done and I need to stop cutting corners. I hope my next post is I have reached my goal. I go back to see the surgeon next week so I am busting my bubble to at least reach the 180 goal set for me. Thanks so much!

I echo what others have commented above. You've got this!

Congrats on so many things!
You're weight loss from 300lbs Maintaining in a 10lb window for the last year following your honeymoon period Raising a family Working Going to school to provide a better future for yourself and your family. Recognizing you have an issue and need practical suggestions for change, rather than ignoring the situation. That's amazing and sure doesn't sound like someone who is failing WLS. Make sure to give yourself credit, cuz the morale very rarely improves with beatings.
You know in your heart of hearts that you have a decision to make. It lands solely on your shoulders. And you already know the answer. The answer is you HAVE to want to choose to go back to the old rules from your surgeon that actually worked. Or if they don't work, then you have to find new rules. But at the heart of it, you must take action, quit rationalizing, have a game plan, and implement the plan.
No one likes going "BACK" on a diet. No one. Cuz it's like 2-3 weeks of PIA and pain.
You're not feeling satiety cuz frankly, you are rationalizing bad behaviors that contribute to the problem. Maybe you are:
Eating too many carbs which cause blood sugar and insulin spikes which drive hunger. Eating too quickly of the wrong things Eating too much "comfort food that is sliderish" and lacks density Not eating protein first Eating the wrong kind of protein Not eating things that are low calorie and low carb that will help fill you up (ie al dente and raw veggies along with dense lean protein and a bit of healthy fats) Not following the rules about drinking and eating at the same time or in close proximity of each other Not fully hydrating Not taking time for you and not exercising etc. etc. etc. But these are all fixable things! The rules exist for a reason. They work! They get results!
Honestly, sugary foods, and sugar alcohol sweetened waters make me MORE hungry! They wake up my cravings! Same with candy bars protein bars. To me those things have no place during active weight loss. All they are is crack cocaine that helps sabotage your diet and plays mind games with your resolve. Maybe some of you can eat them as a snack during maintenance in order to drive calories up to maintain? But they wake up cravings in most of us.
I'm much better off eating a cheese stick and a hard boiled egg than eating a protein bar! Even beef jerky and cheese sticks are better than protein bars! They have P3 packs (cheese, meat, nuts or boiled egg, cheese, nuts) that can be stuck into a back pack! Easy meal on the go! Etc. There ARE solutions. They just may not be as "nummy" as a candy bar! But they ARE more feeling and won't drive cravings!
Go back to the basics. Kick the taste of sweet to the curb. Meal prep on days off! Go back to eating "boring" easy button meals for 2 of 3 meals. You can turn this around and finish what you started without more surgery or diet pills...just sayin'!!

Your welcome. I am only 3 months out and the other night i skipped dinner.. not because i wanted to, but like you.. I was busy that day. I had work, straight to the gym, left the gym, straight to my ballroom dance classes.. Before surgery on a day like this.. I would have run through Mcdonalds or something to grab something. I know i cant now, so i just didnt eat dinner, also not a good habit..So to fix that ( Point of this post for you lol) is i bought some Quest Meal Replacement Bars.. not just the snack ones.. SO on a day where i am constantly on the go.. i can grab one and have my dinner in between places and still get my protein in.. It also gives me the sweet variety in case i wanted it.. but i never really did sweets beforehand.
I would also track your carbs and not just measure your food. Try making sure you are not overdoing the carbs, sometimes its not how much we eat but what we eat.. Even though my NUT told me i can have 60 carbs a day. i confirmed with Dr. he wants less than 40.. I want less than 20.. So i try to intake as few as possible.

Good Luck to you and reach out if you need any other support!

I have 13...hmmm maybe new ink is in order lol

I understand, that is why I wrote it. I find myself being guilty of all the things I mentioned. After a 40 hour work week I feel like I owe it to myself to eat something to "reward" myself. I want pizza or junk food or the like. I am recovering alcoholic and addict, I am sober today. Food is the only thing I have left to abuse. The sleeve has definitely helped me in the sense that I cannot eat as much as I used to, but the mental obsession to eat is still there. Before sleeve surgery I estimate I was taking in roughly 8000 to 10000 calories a day. I typically take in about 3000 per day now at 18 months out, I realize that is too many calories and am trying to get it under control and starting to walk as a form of exercise.

My thought to share this overcast morning in Ohio
FOOD=the most overused Comfort Measure
EXERCISE= the most under- utilized antideppresent.
Just something to ponder on.

I don't have any tattoos but I may need to go all out and get a sleeve made out of this!

-Food is not your friend.
-Food is not a reward.
-Food is not an escape.
-Food is not a drug.
-Food is not a treat.
-Food does not comfort you.
-Food is not a celebration.
-Food is simply fuel for your body and nothing more.
The sooner you accept this, the better off you will be.
Sadly, I am still trying to convince myself to believe these statements.

That's awesome! I'M proud of you, keep working! I'm down 105 pounds as of monday, 95 since surgery. Down from a 28 to a 20/22, sometimes an 18. I work out 6x a week, weight train 3x. Working on seeing the chance instead of having body dysmorphia. I'll get there!

Sent from my SM-J727R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

How's everyone doing in the new year so far? I've been doing great. Had a slow loss in Dec (my own fault). I've already lost more in January than in December and only half way through the month! I was sleeved 8/16 and I'm down 69.2 from HW and 50.5 from SW. I've lost 44 inches too. Gone from a size 24 pants to a 16 or 18, a size 3X or 22/24 top to XL or 14/16, and a 44C bra to a 38/40 C/D. I've also been doing Zumba, which I love. I want to try kickboxing too. I'm super happy with my progress. I attached my most recent progress pic.

I can only share my experience. This is what works for me.
I am just over 8 months out. I CANNOT EAT OVER 1000 calories on the reg and lose weight. I can maintain at 1050-1100. Anything more and I gain. I'm at 126 lbs. My original goal was 150. Crushed it. My surgeon said I was perfect at 135lbs. Good for him. I WANT to continue to weigh 125-127lbs.
But, to maintain this weight, it takes constant vigilance and work. It's a drag sometimes. Isn't everything?!
For me that means I have to eat high protein and super low carb. I have to be very strict almost all the darn time. Like, under 55 carbs a day. And, those carbs have to come from good foods. I enjoy Friday Funday every week with my husband now that I'm at my happy spot. Here's what that looks like; the toppings from two small slices of supreme pizza. One small bite of thick crust, (my only bread, ever), a 2oz cup of trail mix (the kind with dried fruit AND M&M's) and 1 tiny handful of popcorn. This is over 2-3 hours. I also have a double Tito's screwdriver--light on the OJ/heavy on the ice--long before I eat anything. Add to this a protein shake and a Keto Coffee with Chocolate Greens throughout the rest of the day and you have summed up my wild and crazy eating adventure day! I usually gain 1/2-1 full pound. Then I have to lose it!
You can imagine the rest of the week.
That's how I maintain my ideal weight. If I feel like losing a pound, I cut a few carbs. If I feel too slim, I add some.
I never worry about fat...never buy/eat low fat products because they have added sodium and sugar. Good fats are good fats. I don't cook with salt, eat fast food (except a few bites of Wendy's chili every now and then). I keep my bag primed with protein bars. And I don't put junk in me because I didn't come this far to fail my body after the amazing response it's given me with this fab tool.
But, it's not for everyone. I have a butt ton of support from my husband. I am retired and control my environment. I have a "piss off you psychos" attitude that makes me hard to corrupt when I'm out with girlfriends who are trying to get me to drink or eat crap.
To most people it sounds like my food situation sucks. To me, I finally feel like food isn't controlling my life. I don't live for it anymore. It's just a survival mechanism. It's not a pleasure or a comfort. It just keeps me alive and healthy. Then on Fridays? I add a little sparkle! (It's always enough.).

Frustr8 is right. I take photos weekly in just underwear. Front and side. You are early out by the 3rd month it’ll be a change but not drastic by month 4/5 you’ll definitely notice. Here Is me at surgery day then at 3,6 & 9 moths and the far right was a week ago.

I am so speechless at this picture. My work had an event at a Disney Hotel on Saturday night! When i saw this PIC.. I look totally like a different person.. Besides being dressed up
LOL! The first one is me before surgery, and the second is Sat night! My first post op pic share!

Guys... Gals... after the LONGEST mother cracking stall ever... I hit my goal of 175. Exceeded it actually :) I weighed in this morning at 172.2!!!!

Hellllll yeah! 2019 is going to be a good year I just know it! I’ll do a more in depth post later with my intake and what not but this is good for now ?

Happy New Year folks!

Thanks, but I didn't originate the term. You can find out a lot about it here in the forums. This is one of the things you can start to practice before surgery. Before you eat, really consider whether your body is really hungry or if it's craving something. For most of us, it is really difficult to tell. But think of a starving person on a desert island (true hunger). He'll eat worms if that's all that's available. He can't hold out forever waiting for a party barge to sail by and pick him up. So, for instance, if ice cream is the only thing that will satisfy you, that's a craving. Cravings aren't bad, but you need to learn how to manage them. (Some people can do moderation, some have to abstain from certain foods altogether. It's a personal issue.)

I'm kind of in the same boat. I am down 90 lbs and have stalled. I think I needed to let my body rest and get used to this weight for a little while. I maintained this weight for over a month and now it seems to be going down again. I am remembering to drink water and continuing to walk during this maintenance time. Next week I am going to up my workouts again. This helped with my last stall.