Tiffykins

I've missed you around here, and wasn't sure what was going on, but didn't want to impose.

You've done amazing through your journey, and I'm so glad to see you posting again.

You've done really great thus far, and I promise every day, week, month gets better.

Right now, it's tough to be perky when we're so low on calories and food, but it does get better as the weight comes off.

As for eating, once you get to more solid, dense protein sources, the restriction is really noticeable. I didn't eat more than 3oz of meat for almost 4 months, and that's all I could get in. No extras.

Now, further out, I can still only eat 4-5oz of meat, and couple bites of veggies, and when I say bites, I mean like six steamed green beans, or 2 broccoli florets with a little cheese sauce. I'll be 11 months out next week, and have lost 140lbs in those 11 months. I lost the first 113lbs in the first 6.5 months. So, it can be done, you will be successful, and you'll feel more fabulous with every passing day.

Good news, my stress is gone ! ! ! We got amazing news today, and all is well again.

I'll just tell y'all what happened.

The finance office here on base screwed up John's enlistment date on the military pay system. They had him separating from the military as of March 31, 2010. Well, his current enlistment is until 2012, and he's a lifer. Contracts only go for 3, 4, or 6 years, so they screwed up. Least to say, we haven't been paid. We have savings, we are debt free, but we were kind of freaking out with the 1st approaching, and obviously bills needing to be paid. Well, we went to the 1st Sgt last Thursday, and it was escalated to the Commander, today John got the call that he'll be manually back paid tomorrow. It's a huge relief for me because I handle all of the finances and bills. We didn't want to dip into savings, or rely on credit cards to pay bills. We've never done that so we weren't looking forward to it. This is actually the 2nd major screw up we've had to go through with this finance department here. We ended paying in over 2grand due to a mistake they made when we first got here(2 years ago), and we still haven't recuped all of our money. So,least to say, we were stressing that this would not be resolved quickly.

Thank you all for your support and prayers. I already feel much better.

Thanks Laura. My surgeon said the same thing " you should not have been this successful". He told me that he has RNY patients that haven't lost like I have that started off around the same weight/height and BMI.

I honestly think the loss is directly related to my stress level. When I relax, I feel better.

I worked out today, and worked out HARD, I'm gonna see if building muscle will help stop the loss. I figure building the muscle mass will stop the loss, and tone me up.

I'm not just not okay with getting any smaller. I'm in a size 4/5 now. My 6 and 7s are practically hangin on me. People are starting to comment on how "skinny" I am. It's just weird.

I'm down to 123lbs for the last 2 days. I'm just at a loss at this point. I started working again today. Lifting weights and ab/core exercises, no cardio to avoid burning major calories quickly. I just need to build muscle mass.

I'm not happy to be honest. I'm pretty frustrated, but it'll be okay. I figure when I quit smoking I'll be eating more, and working out should help.

Oh, yeah, and your tastebuds will come back to normal. At least, that has been my experience. Everything actually tastes a little better now because I eat so much slower than before.

It's very possible. When our bodies go into ketosis (high protein/low carb), buring fat, our breath turns sour or metallic like tasting. Food kind of loses it's appeal because honestly it just doesn't taste good. Some patients even experience a different body odor so don't be alarmed if this happens as well in the upcoming weeks.

It goes away, I promise.

Orthostatic hypotension. Remember, I had the same exact thing. Increasing my fluids, sodium, and activity level have helped tremendously. I only had one episode this entire week.

It'll be a great weekend pre-op. Mentally, just push all the negative out, and only positive thoughts, feelings, and realize things will be really different for a few weeks.

Will they give you a pre-op diet? If so, stick with it, so the post-op diet is a bit easier for you.

Take care of yourself, enjoy your family, and I am seriously stoked for you.

I also just realized that I have been super stressed lately. Before I would gain weight when I was stressed probably because I ate more. But, even now, I'm eating more to maintain. The stress is not going to resolve until I get back from Texas next weekend. This stuff with my mom has sent me on an emotional roller coaster and I remember back in late December, early January when I had a falling out with my best friend from TX, I experienced the same thing. I kept losing even though I was eating. When the stress was gone, I was able to maintain and even gained a couple of pounds. So, maybe there is hope once my stress level drops back down to normal.

I hate my scale now. I just complained a week ago about how much I missed that high of seeing the numbers drop, and now this happens.

The low bp seems to be resolving with increased fluids, but I still have to be careful getting up to quickly. I can go a few days without any episodes and then bam, they come back.

Thank you all so much for the encouragement. I'm considering going on high calorie/high carb protein drinks if I can find one that I can tolerate just to get in extra calories. Since I literally don't feel like I can eat anymore. I eat from mid-morning (9am-10am) to almost 11pm every 2-3 hours. It's like I'm more obsessed with food now than I was before surgery.

I lost half my hair. It's extremely common effect of most traumatic surgeries. Our rapid weight loss contributes to it, but a lot of women experience hair loss post pregnancy as well.

You can take Biotin, or other hair/nail/skin supplement before surgery and post-op to help with new growth.

Unfortunately, nothing will prevent it. My hair loss started around 3.5-4 months post-op, and continued until I was about 6.5 months post-op.

I didn't take anything, but I did use a high quality shampoo/conditioner combo, and used Folicure extra care shampoo as it promotes near growth as well. You can find it at most beauty stores like Sally's or online at amazon.com

Remember, it's only temporary, and the hair grows back. I have 5-7 inches of new growth because I started getting new growth before the actual losing stopped.

Kelly, tell your co-worker thank you. . . I think that's why I'm so frustrated because I never imagined being here. I never imagined wanting/needing to gain weight.

My husband has now become the scale obsessed one, and today when he got home, he asked "whatcha weighing today", I told him " I'm not sure" so he asked me to jump on the scale. Well, low and fricken behold, it read in at 127. I'm sad because this is really bothering me emotionally. I consumed over 1500 calories yesterday, not including 4oz of wine.

It doesn't help that I literally can't eat more. I mean I can only put so much into my body throughout the day.

I hope no one has to experience this issue, but I know how difficult the battle was before surgery. I'm grateful to where I'm at today, but I'm ready for my body to just get comfortable.

Your pics are fabulous, congrats ! ! !

Great attitude, and you'll get your surgery. I hope the time flies by for you, and can only imagine the frustration with being denied time off. Keep blogging, it's fun, it's an outlet, and it's a great place to dump all of emotions and thoughts out.

Oh that sucks DeeDee. I caught some nasty chest cold and it took me 3 weeks to get over it.

Have a blast shopping, and hopefully you'll be able to vacay this summer ! ! !

Shontel, I am right there with you. My husband met and married me at my heaviest of 270. Now, today at 128lbs, life is different. He never was a boob man, but now he completely neglects my upper torso. The other parts are great, he's attentive and loving, but we just had this same conversation, and I got the same "pause" response. John also liked thick women, but I was the heaviest he had ever dated. Anyways, I find that I need more reassurance from him now. When I was fat, I never questioned if he found me sexy, attractive, hot. But, now I'm left feeling pretty unwomanly some days. I've even been having sex with a shirt on again. We've been together 4 years, married for 2, and I'm absolutely broken about this. God love him, he tries to reassure me, our sex life is better than it was when I was fat, but I'm letting the missing boobs really bother me lately. The excess skin, saggy arms aren't bothering me, but the loss of nice, round boobs, is really weighing on me.

Plus, my wrinkles have surfaced. I hate it and will be checking into Botox. I'm vain, I get carded for cigarettes, but I see the wrinkles and think "holy crap, I really do look 33 plus".

Vent, whine away. I'm right there with you, and I hope we both can find some peace and reassurance during this time.

For the water consumption, I just used a 20oz bottle, and sipped about 2oz every 15 minutes. I'd have the bottle finished in a couple of hours and refill it.

Head hunger is a beast, but it gets better.

Best wishes for your surgery, I'll keep you in my thoughts for a speedy recovery.

I take a multi-vitamin, and B12 sublingual, my supplements cost me less than $15 a month. I'm on chewable multi-vitamin and sublingual B12. The calcium I have (if I remember to take it) is $9 for a 60 day supply.

DeeDee, on the low BP, I've increased my fluid intake and even sodium intake with amazing results. Today, was the first time in 10 days that I had an episode. I'm also starting back on the Wellbutrin in hopes of quitting smoking, and to help level off my moods. My PCP told me the receptors in our necks regulate blood pressure especially when going from a sitting to standing position. He explained that my body is just trying to compensate for the weight loss because my heart rate has dropped as well.

If you ever need to talk, don't hesitate to email or call. Hopefully, you'll get some resolution soon, and find peace in all of this.

Thank you both. I know that I could easily drop another 15lbs without trying hard. I know that sounds horrible, but it's the truth. I could cram all protein in, and limit carbs, and never have an issue losing. But, I really am satisfied with my weight at this point.

Maybe focusing on losing the baby fat roll that I'm left with will be my new goal, or motivation. I need to start working out again, I've definitely been slacking in that department.

You've done great, and I hope you have a fabulous vacation with the family ! ! !

I have to agree with DeeDee with the exception my arms look horrible. Grant it, I didn't work out for 4 months post-op (wasn't allowed to do so), my thighs, and tummy look the worse, but the husband and I have noticed significant improvement over the last 2 months. Men's skin seem to rebound a bit more/better than female skin. I use lotions constantly, I drink lots of water. Many people say there's a lot of factors that go into determining how much saggy/excess skin we'll have. Heredity, how long we were obese, how much/fast we lose it, and general health of the skin.

I can't bring myself to wear shapers/Spanx so I still have tummy fat roll that I'm just learning to accept. Even when I was super athletic and skinny in school, I had a little pouch on my lower abdomen. Throw in 15 years of obesity, a traumatic c-section and a huge amount of scar tissue across my pubic bone area, I highly doubt my stomach will ever look decent without surgical intervention.

Try it and see. The worse it could do at this point is probably make ya cramp a little bit, then you'll either burp and toot, and it'll pass. Check out these: I have one, and I don't get any air in my sleeve using this one. You literally bite the little plastic thing open, sip just a bit, and the water comes up the straw. No tilting, no sucking hard. I think you could probably find them at Wal-Mart in the sporting goods department or on amazon.com from this link. I paid almost 18 bucks for mine on base at our mini military mall.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/CamelBak-BPA-Free-Better-Bottle-Valve/dp/B0019DCD6Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1268967184&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: CamelBak BPA-Free Better Bottle with Bite Valve: Sports & Outdoors[/ame]

Shell, you're doing really great ! ! ! Keep it up, and enjoy your trip to Mexico.