LindsayT

I use heat (blow dryer and straightener) every time I style my hair. The only issue I'm having is the normal shedding. My hair looks and feels healthy. I do use good quality hair products. I stopped dyeing my hair 7 years ago and embraced the grey in my mid-thirties.

I was allowed to do chewable or disolvable too.

First, great job on the weight-loss. I've noticed I can eat more and I'm starting to get my appetite back. It's so important to follow the plan... get in your protein (and some extra if needed). I aim for 3 oz per meal or about 80+ grams per day. Keep it lean- chicken, fish, shell fish, and plant protein. Make sure you're getting your veggies in. Cut up a veggie tray for the week and enjoy with a tablespoon of hummus or guac. Low fat cheese and yogurt. Keep measuring your food. It's so easy to overeat. Fluids are really important to stay on top of. Another thing that helps is to stay busy and keep your mind off food when you're bored. Exercise is also helpful to boost your mood and metabolism. Just be careful of the after workout munchies. It's totally a thing for me. A once on awhile treat is important too. My nutritionist said that if we always deprive ourselves, we'll regress back to old eating habits. So, for example, I love onion rings. And we we go to dinner that my husband orders them, I'll have one... or whatever I may be craving. Small amounts of something special once a week is totally within the plan. Everything they taught you before surgery is for life. Focus on not deviating from that too much.

If you want/can, make your own protein shakes. There are a bunch of recipes online. Just no chunks or berry seeds in the beginning. They need to be smooth. Getting enough protein is super important in addition to your vitamins.

I just have collagen in my protein (it's not my source of protein, it's just added as extra). Like someone else said, it just helps the new growth. Using quality hair products does wonders for your hair. As well as regular trims. I like Tretinoin for my face. It helps with fine lines, hyper pigmentation, acne, dullness.... it's a mature woman's miracle cream. It's prescription only, but well worth it. For the rest of your skin, make sure to moisturize religiously. I do an in shower lotion and then another moisturizer once I'm dried off. I have noticed a big improvement with the texture of my skin. And I don't use anything overly special. Your multivitamin should already have biotin in it, so you shouldn't need to add any additional milligrams (brand specific). I use women's one a day vitamin, and it has 100% of the biotin I need.

Looking good!

Fantastic!! It's such a great feeling! I'm down 75 lbs (15 of that was pre-op diet). I am feeling so great. We went for a 2 mile hike today and I only got winded climbing the super steep hill at 8500 feet elevation. My stamina was great and no pain. I would have this surgery 100 times over. Pre Surgery 262 Current 187

Same. I have about 30 lbs left. It's definitely slow going right now for me, too. For me, I'm just sticking with the plan and adding more exercise. I still average about 1-3 lbs a week, which I'm okay with.

I have noticed I wake up on my back with my arms over my head a lot (it actually hurts my shoulders and i dont know why i keep doing it), and quite a few times with my mouth open and seriously dry. I've also noticed my cpap doesn't fit well anymore. It's like my nose has shrunk. I keep questioning if I still need it because I also feel like I can't breathe with it on. I'm planning on calling the Dr today about it.

I think I'd enjoy this too much

Half a scoop of miralax in my coffee every day and a stool softener 2 times per day. Also, make sure to eat fiber every day. Once you get a plan in place that works for you, it's pretty easy to combat constipation. Just don't wait until you're constipated to do something. Keep a plan going.

Exercise, keeping busy, talking with someone, and my faith all help me through. I did a lot of work with my therapist years before surgery, but we still meet once a month to check in. Therapy is so important in this process. I'm glad you're getting it set up.

How soon after surgery did the weight loss start slowing down? I'm 4 months post-op, and things are slowing quite a bit. For the last 3 weeks, I'm at roughly 2 lbs lost per week. I just feel at 4 months it's too soon. I still have about 30lbs left to goal and I'm getting antsy to get there. Though, I'm down 71 lbs since the start of the preop diet and am very happy with the way things are going. I'm just curious if the slow down at this point in normal.

Ok, is painful intercourse a part of the changing hormones from losing weight, or should I talk to my doctor about it being another issue? It's not really dryness, though there is some. It is mostly pain during, not after.. I thought increased estrogen would help. It's only been in the last few weeks that this has been going on.

I did stall often in the beginning though. About every other week. A good loss one week and stall the next.

I can only imagine how frustrating this could be. What does your surgeon say? Is your dietitian well versed in post WLS eating? I would maybe seek a second opinion. My mind went straight to hormones, but if all is well... I can't remember your post, have you had your thyroid checked? All I know is to stick to the basics: meet your protein and fluid requirements, get in your veggie fiber, and exercise. What kind of carbs did you introduce? Maybe potatoes, fruit, and/or whole grain would be best, if you're not already.

I was is SO MUCH PAIN every day. It hurt to walk, climb stairs, carry groceries in, sit. I was always out of breath and had zero stamina. I was uncomfortable in my skin and the negativity that was running through my mind. I absolutely hated for my husband to see me naked, and pictures were very cringy to look at. I also dealt with mental health, and the medication I was on contributed to my weight gain (I gained 60 lbs in less than a year). I was just tired of being fat, unwell, and unhappy. I struggled to lose weight and needed help. I also had sleep apnea and high cholesterol. In the long term, I wanted to be well for my family and, eventually, my grandkids. I wanted to enjoy the second half of my life (I just turned 41). I didn't see that future at 262 lbs and the physical and mental condition I was in. Now, 71 lbs lighter, I have minimal pain (arthritis is still an issue), I'm growing stronger every day, and my stamina is higher. I strut around naked in front of my hubby and am confident in my own skin. I'm off all mental health medication, and my cholesterol is normal. I'm still having some sleep apnea issues, but I'm hopeful those will resolve by the time I get to my goal weight (30 lbs to go). And I feel hopeful for my future. I'm so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have this surgery.

Ever since last night after dinner, every time I eat solid food, my stomach gurgles for about 30-60 minutes, and I get a bit nauseous. Then, this morning (sorry TMI), I had a massive BM and severe painful cramping during. Thankfully, that went away after I finished in the restroom. The only thing that has changed is that I started an antibiotic Thursday and stopped the omeprazole on Wednesday. I have had very minimal issues since surgery or had any major food intolerance. Any insights? Could it be the antibiotic or not taking the PPI? Thanks!

It's not normal for my stomach to be noisy. It's something new. I was reading about the antibiotic, and it said not to take it if you've had WLS. I stopped taking it and emailed my doctor. It's a holiday here in the US on Monday, so I'm not expecting a response until Tuesday.

I had surgery 4 months ago. I'm in a good routine and recovered very well.

What does your plan say? As long as your food is high protein, low fat, low carb, low sugar AND you can tolerate it, you're good. Always eat protein first, then veggies, then complex carbs (potatoes, whole grain, beans ect). I suggest maybe speaking with a dietitian.

It can be a lot to process. Always protein first and get what veggies in you can. As you get farther out, you'll be able to eat a bit more, so a half cup of veggies may be possible at some point. Make sure your snacks have protein and add a protein supplement if needed. You'll get it.

Great job, that's quite the accomplishment. As far as the protein snacks, just be careful of the calories, fat and carbs. Chips for me are a slider food; meaning I can just keep eating and don't really fill up on them and end up consuming too much. For example, we went out for Mexican food last night for my birthday and I ate about a third of the chips and salsa and still had my portion of dinner. Not great in the calorie arena. With that said, if you pre portion your chips it should be fine, same with the cookies. My thoughts are to limit the foods that got us to where we are and only consume them once and awhile as a special treat; even if they appear to be good. It's easy to fall back into old habits.

Milk of Magnesia should get you going within a few hours. Then, I do a half cap of miralax, a stool softener, and fiber every day to keep things moving. I have found that if I don't, I will go back to being constipated. It's such a delicate balance for me. Fiber and hydration are definitely your friends if you want to keep things natural. But, for some, that's just not enough.

Good to hear you're doing well. Protein is your friend. Unflavored protein to broth and strained soups is helpful to get full. It's not always the best tasting. In my program I was allowed to add seasoning to my food as tolerated. That may help with the flavor (just nothing with chunks yet).