Suzi_the_Q

One of the reviews for it was from a WLS patient who said this Shampoo and conditioner was the only thing that worked. I haven't gotten to the Hair loss phase yet, but I started using it and my hair has never been so thick or grown so fast. The Biotin supplement helps support your hair, the saw palmetto blocks the process that makes your hair shed. btw- I only use the shampoo/ conditioner ~2x per week. Take the supplements every day.

Try this and the Biotin conditioner. Start taking saw palmetto along with biotin.Hope it helps.
https://www.amazon.com/Biotin-Shampoo-Hair-Growth-Thickening/dp/B01M3Y6WW5/ref=pd_bxgy_2/145-9401167-6381965?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01M3Y6WW5&pd_rd_r=1bbfb619-2f15-40b4-b387-81d0f527a989&pd_rd_w=EqcDD&pd_rd_wg=FU5XD&pf_rd_p=f325d01c-4658-4593-be83-3e12ca663f0e&pf_rd_r=KWWC7K9T1PDKYBFPKJTQ&psc=1&refRID=KWWC7K9T1PDKYBFPKJTQ

I am currently 121 lbs but my electronic chart shows me as "obese." I called my doctor's office twice to ask staff to remove this classification but they said they can't -- they claim their office's electronic records don't show the "obese" classification, but for some reason it remains visible on my chart whenever I access it. So apparently I am going to be obese forever.

Thanks!! Trying not to spend my day naked in front of the mirror, but it's hard!! LOL!!!!!! I'm sure you have the same problem!! HA HA HA!!!

I do a lot of casserole type things. For example, this week I did "Eggroll in a bowl" - it's ground meat (I used turkey), cabbage, carrots, onions, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, soy sauce, and a little rice wine vinegar. I added a little cooked rice as well.
Another favorite is a veggie au gratin: cauliflower, broccoli and leek with greek yogurt, dijon, thyme and cheese. I add in sliced dinner sausage to give it more Protein.
One more: An easier version of stuffed peppers. Ground chicken, quinoa, onions, tomatos and spices in a cooked bell pepper (or just dice the bell peppers in) and add a little pepper jack cheese.

Getting more and more used to the faja. Have it on the 2nd row of hooks.

It looks silly, but I decided to leave the crotch flap open and just wear a pair of panties over the faja. It’s more comfortable and feels more sanitary. Added bonus is that the faja gives me a tiny booty!

Yeah, get a new PCP ASAP. Mine was very supportive, very on the ball with it, (both of them, actually- my PCP left the clinic a month before my surgery, so I got in with a new one right before.) This guy is a jerk. I wish you the best with your surgery- you got this!

Oh, I've had my share of f-ed doctors over the years and that kind of reminds me of the time I went to see the neurologist in July for my dizzyness, balance issues, and my blackouts. I didn't do the glucose test because 1. I didn't want to have that much sugar and ruin my diet, and 2. I KNEW it wasn't hypoglycemia because I've had hypoglycemic incidents in the past so I KNOW that's not what it is. He asked me why I didn't do the test and I told him because I knew that's not what it was so I didn't see the point. My PCP had agreed with me because she said my labs looked normal and my symptoms, the way I described it, pointed at something else. He got in my face and said "Well you really don't want to get better then!" It pissed me off! I mentioned that I'd get a second opinion and go see my neurosurgeon instead and his response was "Well, I'm going to send a note that you didn't comply with the test for hypoglycemia and that's likely what it is so go ahead and waste HIS time." Urgh! I reported his attitude to my PCP and now she REFUSES to send any more of her patients to him! At least no one else will have to deal with that complete A$$! 😡 I still get mad whenever I think about it! 😡
So yeah, were I you, I would DEFINITELY get a new doctor and while you're at it leave a sh*tty review about your experience so that when people look him up they can find your experience and not have to go through it themselves! I enjoy leaving sh*tty reviews when doctors piss me off! Helps relieve the anger a bit so I don't give in to the urge to punch them.

yes - I'd suggest finding a new PCP. He obviously doesn't understand much about obesity or WLS.

I’ve been researching wls for years and am finally scheduled to get a sleeve next month. Today I had a checkup with my PCP and mentioned I was having the surgery and he told me I absolutely shouldn’t. He said that while I would lose weight initially my stomach would stretch back and undo the surgery because I would keep eating how I’m eating (I actually eat very healthy, he has no idea about my diet, he was just guessing because I’m obese). I said well yeah, that’s why I’d adjust and start eating smaller portion sizes etc., and he said “If you think you can do that, why aren’t you doing that already?” Well because I’ve done that before and my weight doesn’t change no matter what I eat so I might as well eat what I want instead of starving myself all the time and slowing my metabolism even more. He then continued to talk about how if I would eat more vegetables and walk for 30 minutes 5 days a week my weight would fall right off, even though I trained for and completed a triathlon last year without dropping a single pound and, like I said before, actually already eat a lot of vegetables. He finished by listing all of the possible complications of the surgery as if they were all guaranteed to happen to me and strongly suggested that he was going to drop me as a patient if I got the surgery: “If you decide to do it anyway, I’m not picking up the pieces of that mess.”

I’m still getting the surgery, and I’m used to this attitude from family and coworkers but this was upsetting because I had expected my doctor to be more knowledgeable about how weight loss actually works. Guess I’ll have to find a new PCP. Thanks for listening to my rant lol

They probably want to reach out to the insurance to see what the requirements are so they can tell you exactly what to do when you do go in. No need to go in if you don't know what is necessary after that visit.

BTW- if you just need to chew or crunch something- use ice or popsicles. Good luck, it's the worst part of the whole ordeal IMO.

Try Hint water- it's water infused with various flavors. If nowhere else, you can find it on Amazon.

On my first pre-op Doctor visit he said he thought I could get to 140. I was following Weight Watchers at that time and knew my “normal” range for my height was 94-124. For WW I chose 123 as my goal. On my first post op visit my dr said he thought I could get to 130. I told him I had to get to 124 otherwise I’d still be in the “overweight” class and I’m not doing this to get close to normal...I’m going for normal! He told me ok but don’t be disappointed if you can’t get there you’ll be fine at 130. I hit 130 with no problem and kept going until I finally stopped at 109. That seems to be my optimal weight because I’ve maintained that for a while now. Surgery was in Oct 2018.

I will be 3wpo tomorrow! Just got back from another post op visit and I am officially drain free! Woo hoo! Boob tape was also removed.

I’ll use antibiotic ointment for another week and see the surgeon again next week at which time I’ll likely we switched over to silicon tape.

In honor of being drain free, I also switched over to my faja! Currently wearing an ab board with it. Not sure if I like the ab board or not but will keep it in for now!

at 2-3 years out, many of us put on 10-20 lbs, unfortunately (some gain much more, but that 10-20 lb bounce back happens to most of us, it seems). I gained 10 during that period, and then put on 10 more over the last year or two. I'm trying to lose that last 10 (I don't want to take off all 20 because I got too thin for awhile). The simple answer is to cut calories and/or increase your activity (and preferable both) - but I know that's easier said than done.
I still track my food at almost six years out. I know from tracking that if I stay within the 1500-1700 calorie range, I can maintain my weight. So to lose weight, I have to eat around 1500 pretty consistently (or better yet, under it - but that's tough). Looking back at my records, I'd been eating at the high end of that pretty consistently, and often a bit over. So I had to gradually pull myself back. It's easiest to do it if you just cut 100 calories at a time - do that for two or three weeks, and then cut another 100. You don't notice the drop as much if you do it gradually.

I have found in previous diets and lifestyle changes that I do better if I have something else new to focus on as well that’s not stressful for me. For example, I was able to lose 50lbs and do a triathlon a year after I had my son because weight loss wasn’t my primary thought at that time, my new baby was. But things that are too stressful and occupy too much time sabotage me. For example, I gained back the 50lbs and then some after I started back to college full time. So I was thinking of adopting a puppy after my surgery (like 6 weeks after so I’ve healed) to keep me occupied but not stressed out. It’d also give me a reason to be more active. I think it’d also be good for my kids because I know that it can be scary watching a parent go through surgery, especially at a young age, and it’ll help them feel better. Is this a good idea or no? Has anyone else done something like this?

What is your win this week or today?

Just out of curiosity today I grabbed a pair of jeans out of the storage closet that I haven’t worn in 13 years, a pair that I never thought I could squeeze into, but they fit! I’m 85 days post op and wore a size 24 or 26 in jeans, this pair is an 18. They are a little more snug than I care for in the waist, but they easily went on, zipped and buttoned, I kinda of like mine a little looser and then add a belt, but they definitely it! This felt like a huge victory for the day, because I was sure they weren’t even going to pull all the way up!

If you lose a lot weight in the few weeks before weight loss surgery it very likely you won't lose as much as someone who doesn't have a strict pre-op liquid diet. All that Fluid retention/bloat etc has already gone before surgery.
That said you are doing great, everyone is different, some will have lost less than you in the first month and others will have lost more. As long as you are following your post op guidelines all is good.

re: that article - I've been hanging out on bariatric forums for six years. I've never seen anyone lose 15 lbs a week. Maybe 5 lbs a week for the first two or three months. I never lost that much, though. I was 16 lbs the first month, maybe 12 or 13 for the next two months, and then gradually down from there...

I think it’s a typo & should be 15-25 pounds a month not a week as it says on the website. Even people on My 600 Pound Life don’t lose 100 pounds a month. When they get down to the 200s they’re told they’ll be losing about 15 pounds a month.
You’re doing well. Celebrate every pound you lose.
Good luck.

Agree completely with catwoman. That excess skin is already on you. Your best opportunity to minimize the issue is now before you get older/bigger.

I lost 15 pounds on my two week pre-op diet. I lost 15 pounds my first month post-op. Then another 15 the second month. And another 15 each, months 3 & 4. Slowed down to around 10 after that. I was also disappointed with my weight loss that first month, but boy did it add up quick. I am a bit shy of 7 months post-op and a bit shy of my first goal weight.

Just stick with the plan, and be kind to yourself! 💕

I'm a gamer, so I use the Habitica app. I set my own goals including difficulty settings (I'm disabled/ fibromyalgia too) so I have tasks/ achievements for when I take my Vitamins, have a Protein Shake, make my other Protein goals, Water intake, exercise etc. I get "experience" points and my character levels up, earns pets, mounts, items etc. I've just started using it and it's been a real help.

Today is officially my 1 month post bypass, and I've only lost 16lbs. I had a gnarly 2.5 week stall, but I barely eat anything- I feel like I should be losing more. 16 lbs. in a month is nothing to sneeze at, but I thought It'd be a little more. Are my expectations too high? I've been struggling to get in enough fluids too. Just feeling a bit disheartened.