Shikin.k

I hope you’re feeling better. Loving yourself starts with the words you use in yourself. Remember that you are still the same you, your body still works the same way, just with lesser inertia. Before and after pictures that I take just for me help. Of course I see that my skin is sagging everywhere, my boobs aren’t perky or high, but I also see that I have smaller thighs, I can see the veins popping on my forearms after my workout, something that I would never have noticed before. Small things like that make me happy. Give your skin some time to recover. Your collagen will work for you. I’m almost 40. Been overweight my whole life so I accept my skin and its folds are just like the surgery scars- they tell my story. Find what makes you happy with yourself, even if it’s just your more defined clavicle. And hold on to it. You’ll get to a place where you give thanks to your body for the home it is giving to your self and soul.

I am using spanx for tummy control. I get them on asos.com when there’s a 20% off.

I was wondering, do you have a “target weight” to achieve? I’m 5’4”. I’ve arbitrarily decided on 75kg/165lbs as my target for the year so that I can get a referral to the assisted reproductive tech clinic (there’s a max BMI of 25 to subsidised procedures where I live). My surgeon just says to continue with losing whatever weight I can. But I don’t know if I setting a target will work for me. I’ve lost about 40kg/88lbs these past 6 months. The weight loss has starting to slow down because I’ve started to eat things other than protein and it’s frustrating. I don’t want to backslide. Oh also, how’s the hair loss? Mine was TERRIBLE in June/July.

Congratulations! 20 weeks post surgery and am on the tail end of experiencing the worst hairfall episode of my life. I feel like im balding. I dont think I have enough hair to last this part of the journey. I’ve only lost 70lbs. I’ve been quite good with the food, not so much with the daily movement. I’m losing about 2lbs per week on average now. Will be meeting with my surgeon at the end of October. Hopefully I can meet their target and lose another 25lbs by then. what is everyone doing about the loose skin and hair loss? I’ve started scalp treatments, drinking collagen, using firming oils. Not sure if they will work though. Im afraid that it’s a case of too little too late.

Yes to the hair loss. Things were just getting better before the surgery too. I started on a skin/hair/nails supplement. Hopefully it will help.

I am starting to go back to my old habit of grazing and other mindless eating habits. I don’t eat as much of course but the habit is not something I want to continue. It’s the festive season in my community so there’ve been more snacks around the house. Trying to curb that. My water intake hasn’t been great but my protein’s not too bad. I aim for 20-25g (about 800oz I think) Anything less and my lethargy will render me useless. I’m envious of all the weight loss you guys have been having. I’m only at -40lbs 10 weeks post surgery. I haven’t been moving as much though. I got covid 7 weeks post surgery. The recovery is slow and the fatigue is TERRIBLE.

Oh yes. The constipation. I was crying when I finally had to go in weeks 2 and 3. Stool softeners helped.

My surgery was on 16/2. It’s been 5 weeks post surgery. My fluid intake has gone up so much and I’m starting to lose weight again now. On the advice of my surgeon and dietician and trial and error, I’ve done these things: 1. Track my water usage using the Waterllama app. it’s cute and easy to use 2. track my food intake using the “see what you eat” app, making note of only the proteins I consume (I don’t count macros otherwise. Just make sure everything is “light” or “Low fat” and mostly “sugar free”) 3. set reminders on my phone to take medications, eat and drink (I don’t feel thirsty or hungry so this has been dangerous for me) 4. use water enhancers and uncaffeinated herbal teas to vary the taste of my fluids I haven’t been hospitalised other than that 1 night post surgery however I’ve been making weekly trips to meet the care team. I’ve lost 25lbs, which isn’t much. I was barely losing any in the previous 2 weeks but according to the body analysis, I was losing muscle and water. I was lethargic all the time but could still move. Once I got the proteins and fluid settled, I’ve been feeling so much better. For movement, I searched for anything “post bariatric surgery” and was doing basic stretches and walking for 15min then moved to 30 min. Now I look for “Low impact/intensity beginners cardio” lasting for about 30min to 45min. Don’t push yourself to the point of pain. Once I feel twinges, I stop. The physiotherapist in the care team suggests that movement be done for 10-15 min, twice a day at a start. For the first 3 weeks, my heart rate doesn’t go beyond 65% of my max heart rate. Now I’m pushing it to about 80%. After week 6 I will incorporate weights again. I enjoy resistance training and can’t weight to get back to it so just do what feels right to you. Find the type of movement that you enjoy. Whilst my body has been changing even without exercise, I am constantly reminding myself this is the same body. WLS is not magic. I have to take care of my body before I can get it to work right. This means eating drinking moving and resting sufficiently. I’ve been on 5 weeks of leave and this has helped me with my new-habit forming as well as allow me to heal gently. I will finally get back to work next Monday. I don’t know how I will be energy and pain wise but we’ll see.

Where I am at, the cost of assisted pregnancy procedures are mostly borne by the govt until the age of 40. I’m turning 37 this year. I hope my doctor doesn’t change his mind about the 1 year wait. But one step at a time I suppose.

It’s 4 weeks post surgery for me and I am still having problems meeting my water and protein daily requirements. I feel like my weight loss is slow. I also feel like I’m not in a good place mentally sometimes. I have to keep reminding myself that my body IS a machine that I have to keep running well. If I don’t eat & drink as I should, I will feel all sorts of lethargy and negativity which in turn makes it more difficult to exercise and move. I’m very grateful that I have a wonderful medical support team whom I’m meeting monthly (used to be weekly) but sometimes it’s hard getting out of my head.

I did the surgery to improve fertility. I have a hormone iud and was told by my surgeon I have to wait for at least 1 year before trying to get pregnant.