ubiquity

OK, I have a fairly decided variety of face care products I've used for past couple of years (due to being over the age of 40) that I like and that I KNOW make a big difference in how my skin looks, feels, etc. I spent a LOT..and I mean a LOT of money trying everything from drugstore creams to higher end skin care lines (Sunday Riley, Dr. Brandt, skin care sold in higher end dept stores), etc. and have honed it down to my 'A' list items (my 'must haves')
I really do not want to nor can I really afford to...spend yrs trying to find what other lotions, tapes (silicone), etc. will be even POTENTIALLY helpful to minimize what comes from rapid weight loss. I REALIZE for the largest 'skin' impacts of rapid weight loss...that if things like an 'apron stomach' that sags and causing yeast infections, etc. - this is a whole different CATEGORY of 'issues'.
I'm looking more for things that can reduce to some extent..things like:
Lessening the color of stretchmarks (I have some mederma products that I use on a large scar on one arm where I had an area of malignant melanoma removed) Lessening the additional creases/fine lines that appears everywhere (leaning towards Bio Oil?) Doing anything that can be done to improve elasticity of skin short of professional treatments (also willing to consider professional intervention) -1 of my daughters is slowly working on losing weight and since she's in 20's - I'm hoping since she still has PLENTY of estrogen flowing, her skin will bounce back better than mine but she has asked about what lotions, etc. she should try. Someone had suggested coconut oil to her?? I realize at end of day these types of things are limited in what they can do, but we don't want to leave any stone unturned. For myself, since am older than 45, I know some of the things I will need help with, I will possibly be turning to plastics. My upper arms were always saggy even at 16 & I weighed 135. Had been on the swim team for years. We also lifted weights so I KNEW as I got older, that this was a hereditary issue (which of course I compounded).
Any experience - positive or negative that you are will to share is GREATLY appreciated!

Weighing is definitely important. My surgeon and team say it allows us to see what we are eating and taken in the proper portions so we do not overeat or stretch your sleeve or pouch. I do measure and find it helps me a lot. A friend of mine began to gain... she was not weighing her meals. Unintentionally overeating. Soon as she began weighing meals the weight began to drop again. Good luck and I hope this helps

Well how my BD manifests itself for me. Since my still ongoing Weight loss, I have be3n fearful that I look like I'm on the verge of Anorexia or "Failure to Thrive" , scrawny neck, you now can see my collar bones and visualize my top 3 ribs in my chest cavity, hardly any boobs, down from 46DD to a 40/42B, depending on Bra price point. WAIST has diminished , pot belly is now a small warm- up skillet, Baby "no longer has back", now down to 2 small handfuls, if I could get a guy to grab them. Now the flesh on lower abdomen and thighs, especially inner portions, I liken to a balloon that was blown up and then air let out, an empty blobby stretched appearance, but the legs are beaten and trimmed enough I can wear leggings without somebody thinking I was poured into them and didn't know when to stop. And the sizing , ooh I GLORY at that, I'm back into Juniors where I truly belong, Okay still at the Upper End, 17 and 19 , but still a NSV or close to it, my BMI this AM is 29.2. All sounds pretty fine ? Well I am apprehensive that I look sickly and could possibly DIE!
No Less than my Ortho, who called me by my Legal First Name, no MaMa did NOT christen ME Frustr8, I picked IT up along the way. Anyway Dr Doolittle, who is Sport Medicine along with Orthopaedics, so should be able to adequately assess body types. He said " Darlin'( from him I accept the endearment , most other guys I would "Jack-Slap" instead) You are merely starting to look NORMAL!" How would I Know That Already? I have never been NORMAL or AVERAGE in my whole existance! So although much of my Veiwing Public feels I look Just Fine, I fear I Am still the obese unbalanced ugly ME I used to Be, and it is difficult for my Rational Mind to overcome my Bruised Battered Emotional Foundation. I was told by Kith and Kin I was Ugly, Disgusting , barely worthy of life and nobody much wanted me Near Them. Case in Point--- I got a BonoFide Wolf Whistle the Other Day, I looked around because I thought it was a compliment given to someone Else. SAD, ISN'T IT?

It's good that you bring this up. It is definitely a more widespread issue in the WLS community considering our obese beginnings. I have definitely experienced the 'consequential' chain of events where one thing means this thing is justified and so on. I've struggled with BD throughout my teenage years. Ironically I overcame BD when I was at my highest weight. Seems like something 'clicked,' and I realized that the weight does not and should not define who I am.
I think the important take-away is that you realize you've taken the necessary steps to better yourself. You were patient enough to wait for surgery, get the surgery, and now maintain a healthy weight. You know you've done well, therefore you must give yourself credit for your achievements. As for plastics, I think that is a personal decision and should not be impulsive. After all, hard work does pay off internally and aesthetically; plastics only gets you there a bit quicker 😉.

No, I'm an actual research scientist with a doctorate.
But I'm happy that you're happy with your choice - as we all should be! 👍

@mikeyy. Feeling great today! The first 2 days I was out of it with the pain meds having me drugged up. Came home Wednesday and been in my wife’s good hands getting better and Better as each day passes.

Hi Marie! Hang in there. If you have done your research and ready to make this change and have surgery, then just focus on that. It is nice that your sister is showing concern for you, but it is counterproductive. Do what you think is best for yourself. I am fortunate to have a co-worker who went through this who is super supportive. She did hers about 2-3 years ago. Her husband is having surgery the same day as me. My husband is TRYING to be supportive, but he doesn't want me to do it. I say "too bad". My body, my life. I want to take back my health before I have anymore weight related complications. Hang in there!

I'm so excited to hear the good news. Keep up the good work, you'll be at your goal in no time! 🙂

As of this morning I am officially in the normal BMI category! 123 is the top of my BMI range and I weigh 122.7 today! Yay me! Haven't been here in years!

i finally got over the hump!! 299! Phew that was brutal. Was in a mini stall but stayed the course. Cheers!

Im new here! I had my surgery just over a month ago. Im almost under 300...its been since high school. This is exciting.

Well I am 288 ( I think) at a week short of 1 year and a Joyful Size 17/18 and diminishing Every Day. I started at 365+ so at 5ft8in I'm starting to look like a Firecracker instead of a Full keg of Dynamite! And my PCP, yep same dude that danced around singing " You're Obese and you're GONN DIE!" now has started a Slender-Shaming Tirade. Thinks I've lost TOO MUCH and TOO FAST,told me I could stop ALREADY. Am I Gonna? Nope no Way, not when I can SEE my goal of 175 shining ahead for ME! But some people are so Contrary they' d argue with a tack about not being Sharp enough. There is an River in the Canadian Maritimes so affected by the tides it flows backwards. Wonder if they would like to go live there?👈😛👉

My surgeon warned me that I could feel a little depressed after surgery . Well... I’m not feeling necessarily depressed but so frustrated with everyone around me. My patience is at an all time low. I rarely fight with those at home. Typically glass 1/2 full type of girl. My grandchildren moved out 1 year ago so it’s just the 4 adults left here at home. I’m the one who has for the last 10 years been the “mommy” to all of us. I run the day to day “operations “, do all the cooking shopping etc. I’m the matriarch of my family . In general I do feel frustrated with the others on a regular but yesterday I kind of blew up... 1st yelling at them.... then crying. Holy moley !!! THATS NOT TYPICAL. Honestly I was a little justified because I wasn’t getting some of the help I needed but my delivery was definitely out of character!
So yes.... we can have have some emotional upheavals . The temporary hormone changes are real!!
On a positive.... today I’m one week out from sleeve & down 9 lbs. I’m getting better every day at taking all my meds. For a few days that was rough. I’m getting in my Protein & my fluids.
Thank you all for listening!!! 👍👍👍

I’m with you completely on the nervous but excited to get it all over with. I’ve felt so awful these last 4 days I know I’ll be feeling nothing like this once I have time to recover and recoup. Working 40 hours and going through finals week for school on only liquid has been a treat.

Congratulations on your pending surgery. I had my GSV last Wednesday. I am 67. I always swore that I would NEVER get over 300 pounds. Three times in my life, I have lost 75 pounds on my own. But unless I maintained a rigorous exercise regiment and a super strict diet, the weight would slowly come back. Then about 18 months ago I got on the scale and weighed in at 315! That was it for me. I have 3 ruptured discs in the lumbar region of my back and so cannot walk or stand for any length of time. I began by really truly using my Fitbit. I began to keep a food diary, entering my Water intake, and logging my exercise.
I have a recumbent bike and started riding five to seven times a week, starting for ten minutes and then adding five minutes every two weeks until I could ride for thirty minutes. at 13 to 14 MPH.
I created a playlist of high energy songs (the kind that makes your feet move). Then sitting on a chair and moving my legs and arms to the beat of the music for 30 to 60 minutes a day. It probably doesn't sound like that would work but it does. My heart rate averaged about 115 beats and often reach 150 and the swear poured off of me.
I usually lifted my two pound weights for fifty times before I started chair dancing, fifteen minutes after stating my chair dancing and after I finished my chair dancing.
I could not imagine myself successfully sticking to a liquid diet for two weeks but I did and I continued with my exercise program. On August 21, 2019 as I was bei8ng prepped for surgery I weighed in at 262 pounds!
We were advised by my surgeon's PA-C that we would vomit at least once after the surgery. However, I HATE vomiting so I have been very careful about how quickly I ingest my continuing liquid diet. To date, I have yet had to do that which I hate. I just concentrate on eating and drinking s l o w.
The nutritionist recommended Isopure unflavored Protein to add to broth so I bought some (I live in a very rural area so I rely on Amazon). Isopure also has a flavored protein that you can add to water and I bought that in Mixed berry and that has proven to make staying on the liquid diet relatively painless.
Now, for a treat I found on Amazon and not only is it delicious but the nutritionist was excited when I told her about it. It is Sans Sucre Mousse mixes. They are frothy, light, sugar free and very low fat when made with skim milk.
I stepped on the scale (once my fiercest foe) and as of today I am down to 257. I have never felt so confident in my ability to lose the weight and this time to keep it off. I have always eaten relatively healthy (I admit to some bad habits though) but my biggest challenge was always Portion Control. The surgery is helping me with that aspect of weight control but over the months that I prepared for the surgery, I have developed the habit of exercising faithfully. I do not let myself leave my bedroom until I have ridden my recumbent bike for thirty minutes at the barest minimum of exercise for the day.
This is not to say, that the surgery was easy. Anyone who thinks this is a silver bullet for weight loss, has never done it. While I strive to eat and drink slowly, I still manage to go too fast and the result is NOT pleasant. The surgeon prescribed a medication to help with the cramping and nausea and I am definitely using it. Admittedly, I felt extremely tired after the surgery for about three days (however, part of that was due to the fact that I had to travel about two hundred miles home). But yesterday, I felt so energetic. I decided to not resume exercising until tomorrow (I cleared this with the surgeon).
So, good luck on your surgery. Even at this early date, I am very glad that I had the surgery.

I am pumped! I completed my first 5K race yesterday. I ran the whole course and felt great! I was so emotional when I crossed the finish line. I've always wanted to run but I was hindered by my weight. Along with hip, knee and foot pain. WLS is the best thing that has happened to me. My ultimate goal is to run a marathon. I can't wait!👏

I’m new here but I’ve been lurking since May. My date of surgery is August 28th. I’m so excited and scared at the same time. I feel as though a major part of myself is about to die. I’m now tryna focus on how to fill that void. As for pre-op, I definitely struggled in the beginning but so far everything is going smoothly. I send you all my prayers and may we all have a speedy/easy recovery.

So, here I am searching puréed stage because, like Brian, I am feeling good, and tolerating some purées now.

The poor guy came on here asking for some tasty foods. He didn’t say he was on here wanting a large cheese pizza or an everything bagel smothered in cream cheese, or French toast, pancakes and the like.

He simply came to a forum, that is here for people to get ideas, recipes, calms fears and rejoices in each other’s victories.

I’ve noticed a lot of being on your “high horse” recently on the forum, and it really needs to stop.

We all came here because we were fat and unhealthy. NO ONE is perfect.

DrBrian, I am 1 week and 4 days post op. I have tried Soups mostly, and can handle all of them. In fact, I had about 4oz of French onion Soup without the cheese and very little onion, and did great. I’ve also had about 2-3oz of chili.

Also, I am down 20lbs from my surgical weight today and neither of my decisions wanted me to go back to old ways of eating. I would have had the entire Soup and chili plus an entire meal before.

Whoa I think we’re being a little tough on @drbriang here. Everyone’s journey is different there’s no reason he needs to sentence himself to a lifetime of bland and boring there are plenty of healthy nutritious options out there. He didn’t say he was looking to eat a pepperoni pizza all he asked for were some tasty suggestions.

You needed to vent, come here any time and do that - it's important for your mental health and your journey.
Some men are insecure when the wife makes drastic physical changes and changes the roles that were in place before. He may not know how to handle that. Your description sounds like he is needy and depressed, if his depression meds mess with libido that could bother him. (Wellbutrin does not do that BTW. It takes 3 weeks to take effect, and in some it can have a slight appetite depressant as well.) Depression is joyless and makes a person feel stuck. Men seldom go to counseling, but suggest it anyway.
Try to think back to when you dated and did things together - maybe suggest a date night once a week based on those common interests. Tell him he has to get dressed up, go to a bar with music and dance and talk - you can just get Water with lemon so it looks like a drink. Getting out of the house is good for depression. Or invite another couple over to do something - even just playing cards. Did he ever have hobbies? Motorcycles or bowling, fishing, trains, etc. Arrange a picnic to a forest preserve for the family and lock the phones in the car, bring a frisbee.
Good luck.

So sorry you are going through this. Sounds like he is experiencing a lot of anxiety/depression but doesn't know how to work through it except by being passive/aggressive toward you and hurting himself. If he won't see a counsellor, maybe you can go by yourself to learn how to deal with this. You are becoming a new person, but you sure didn't expect hubby to become a new person, too, in the worst way. I really feel for you. I bet others have had unexpected reactions from their spouses as well. It's almost as if he sees you taking control of your life and making amazing changes and this somehow threatens him because now HE is the vulnerable one and now HIS issues look even more magnified. Please consider seeing someone for YOU! And hang in there! Don't let his behavior undermine your success and your new journey.