HealthyLifeStyle

Thank You for these ideas. They are great!

Something weird is happening. Before surgery I was very hairy. I had to shave my legs and armpits a few times a week. I also had laser hair removal on my face. Now after surgery....my leg and armpit hair has literally stopped growing. I haven't shaved in months. I no longer have to get laser hair removal on my face. But the weirdest thing so far is that I am losing my pubic hair? At first I thought I was crazy, but then my hubby noticed it too. Is this happening to anyone else after surgery? Why is this happening? Does having WLS change your hormones?

Have any of you that are least where I am now (9 months) stopped taking the bariatric vitamins and started the over the counter ones? I looked into the Centrum Silver and I may start taking these instead now that I am this far out. The price difference between these and the ones I have been buying thru this website is huge.

I eat them now at 9 months out. I can only eat a little bit (2 bites) before I feel full. My hubby makes cheese grits. Yummy!

I also had the bypass 9 months ago. Did you figure out why you were having the cramps? Mine was eating Maltitol, a fake sweetener found in a lot of foods. I stopped eating it and feel a lot better now.

Still have a very hard time with carbs at 9 months out. If I eat them, it makes me so full that I end up feeling really sick. I am talking only eating one spoonful of rice, or pasta, etc. I just don't bother trying to eat it anymore.

That is an awesome idea! I wish someone had told me about this. I am actually going to do this now. It will seem like I am eating ice cream but healthy. Thanks

Feeling more confident about my picture being taken at family functions, holidays, etc. I used to actually hide when the cameras came out because I feared of my pics being shown to everyone to see how big I was. Not being embarrassed to eat in front of others. When I was bigger, I didn't like to eat in front of anyone because in my mind they were making fun of me for being so fat.

Anyone who has been following me knows I have been asking about the water recommendations. Even though I am a little past 9 months, I was told by a few people on here and also my docs office that I should still be doing the required 64oz of water per day. At 6-7 months I cut down to 6 cups per day so I could eat more protein. If I didn't do that, I wouldn't be able to get in all my food because I was just too full. It was concerning because I had already reached my goal weight and couldn't maintain. I let the docs be aware of this and was told that I still had to do the 8 cups per day. I made my own decision not to listen to them. At this point, I am drinking only 4 cups of water per day. By doing this I am able to eat more. I have been doing this for at least a week. I was excited to get on the scale today because I just knew I had put on a few lbs. but alas I have actually lost more. I am so frustrated because I really thought this was going to work. Less water being less full means more food intake means weight gain. Isn't that how it would logically work?

I was on lithium for 27 yrs. and 2 months (45 lbs. lighter) after my surgery became "toxic" and ended up in the hospital because they never lowered my dose. My husband said I was acting weird one day. I was changing in and out of different pj's every 20 minutes or so. Then he told me I was taking out bath towels one by one, wetting them and placing them around the house in different spots. Cussing at him for no reason and just acting out of character. He called my parents, and when they came over, I was in the bathroom naked crouched in a corner and bawling my eyes out. My mom kept telling me to get dressed and I refused. She said she couldn't understand what I was talking about because apparently I was mumbling and couldn't form sentences. They called the ambulance after they were able to put some clothes on me. I was cussing at the EMT's the entire way. A lot of other stuff happened. I do not remember ANY of it. They told my husband and parents that I almost died from being so toxic. I ended up in the hospital for 4 days. When I got home, I called the surgeons office to let them know what happened, they blamed it on my psychiatrist office. Then I called my psychiatrists office and they blamed it on the surgeons office. No one would take responsibility for this. I still don't remember anything from that awful time. Hubby told me a lot of other weird stuff I was doing, and saying. I am still going to counseling for it because it was so traumatizing that I have a hard time just being in a car. (I was told that it's because of my body remembering the ambulance ride as the last time I was in vehicle)? Even though my mind can't remember, my body remembers. I am slowly working on it, and can be in a car for a little bit longer each time. It was and still is bothering me because I can not remember anything that happened. PLEASE make sure you tell your docs about this. Make sure they are adjusting your meds as you lose weight. Your body won't be big enough to handle the current dosages your used of taking. I am now taking Gabapentin for anxiety, and it's also used to treat my neuropathy pain from when I was diabetic and now have permanent nerve damage in my feet. I also take Ativan if I have to go anywhere in the car. If I don't take it, I can't go anywhere.

Last August. Good to know about Chick Fila. I went there today for the 1st time since before surgery, and didn't get a drink because I was scared it would bother my belly.

Your welcome and I hope I gave you some good ideas to look fwd to.

Well that could make sense. I do have Hashimoto's. After the WLS my doctor has decreased my meds twice. I will have to ask about that. Thanks Also I am going to be 52 this year so age may have something to do with it like you said.

Just had my labs done and everything is great.

I know I do not have PCOS, I am Greek and Egyptian and my entire family is hairy. LOL I am 9 months out. My labs are all great. I do not have any deficiency in any vitamins.

Yes sharing is caring. LOL Hubby and I also did this before my surgery. This is something I am sure we will be doing again.

I just ate at Chick Fila today for the 1st time since my surgery 9 months ago. I asked the manager if the "grilled chicken was actually grilled" she told me yes and that they use a small amt. of canola oil. I asked if any butter was on it and they told me no. So I felt comfortable enough to order the grilled chicken nuggets which is basically a grilled chicken breast cut up. Then I had the fruit cup for the side. I was fine with it. It didn't make me feel sick, and I was full. So I was very happy. Now on to other places. Yay!

Great advice thanks

Wow thanks for all these suggestions.

Great idea about the kids portion and switching the meals. LOL

How many months out are you? I am 9 and if I ate all that you did I would be sick. I still have a hard time eating. Maybe what your eating isn't satisfying your taste buds? I was a huge chocolate lover before the surgery, and ate it every day. Now when I get a craving, I eat a very small handful of dark chocolate chips and it satisfies me, and my craving goes away.

I am 9 months out and didn't start eating fruit until 6 months. When I do, I eat strawberries and blackberries. I cut them up and put them in a bowl. I crush up some raw, unsalted walnuts, and mix it all together with a little bit of lite cool whip. So I am getting my fruit intake but making it also be protein because of the added walnuts. I will take a pear and peel the skin off (I can't tolerate the skin) then I cut it up into small pieces, mix it with some raw, unsalted crushed almonds, and put a little bit of honey on it. Sometimes I put it in the microwave for about 20 seconds. It is so delish. If I eat any nuts at all they are always raw, and unsalted. When I started I counted out 12 as a portion size. Now I count out 20. I still can't eat that much because I get too full quickly. Just use portion control and you will be fine. I use a scale and measure everything I eat. I am looking forward to eating some peaches and nectarines. The summer is almost here (I live in NH) so better fruits are becoming available. I just have to figure out what I can pair them up with for protein. I recently started enjoying watermelon with feta cheese (I am part Greek) and love feta. I only eat a small amt. due to the salt, and fat content. I try to pick one fruit a day for a snack. I plan ahead of what I will eat for the entire day. Like today I had an apple with peanut butter for a snack. Sometimes I eat an apple and have some walnuts or almonds on the side.

I only told my parents and hubby. Afterwards when I was losing noticeable weight, my sister told me I took the easy way out. She was always skinny and I think she actually got jealous. As far as everyone else, I told them I was eating less and getting more exercise. It's the truth. I feel that nobody needs to know my business. If I feel comfortable telling someone than so be it. If I don't that is ok too.

I go for a walk or a car ride with my dog. I go to this website every day. Sometimes to comment but a lot of times I just like to read what others have to say. I do crosswords. Watch YouTube videos. Listen to music. Read books. Now that it is finally getting hot, I will be spending a lot of time in my parents pool. They only live 10 minutes away. I love to organize, label, clean out closets, etc. My hubby doesn't like it when I do it because I am always getting rid of stuff. LOL For 2 months I raked my entire yard and burned leaves. I have an acre of land and did it all myself. It was very hard work, but I loved it. It kept me busy, gave me exercise and now my yard looks awesome. Now I can to start decorating outside.

Very sorry your going thru this. It makes me nervous re the surgery. I am 9 months out and although I am not vomiting, I can still only eat about as much as I did at 5-6 months. Very little. I went from 216 to 131 and keep losing. I can't maintain at all. I look very thin and sickly. I haven't got any help from my nutritionist either. I have called my surgeons office and no one has called me back. I am glad to hear that your going to see a specialist. I am looking into getting a new nutritionist myself. Good Luck