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I was too worried about this aspect. I've always lost quite a bit of hair just normally, I'll never forget my mom having to call a plumber in 3rd grade after moving into a new place, he couldn't believe how much hair he dug up. Around 2 months I think I started shedding a little more than normal, and now at 3 months I notice a lot more hair coming out when I brush it and/or shampoo/condition. I've decided to stop stressing it so much by flat ironing for now and am wearing it natural, but if I need to I will look into some high-end wigs. I can tell you, the success of losing weight and feeling so much more healthy is so worth the hair loss in my opinion.

Welcome to VST! This is a terrific place to learn with very knowledgeable and caring people. I'm sorry I don't have any answers to your questions. I wish you luck in your research.

Thank you Skye and Tiff for the words of support! Family relationships are just so complex, but I know I wouldn't be who I am today without those relationships (but I probably wouldn't also have been in counseling either :-)

I noticed the same thing on some people this summer when looking around the net for before/after successes. One thing I did think of though is that a lot of times many people's faces just need some extra time to settle back in after the weight loss. It's just a theory, but like pp said, looking older is not a health issue like obesity. On a side note, my mom is in her mid-fifties and in her thirties and early forties always looked a lot older than she really was (she had a lot of stresses then). Now most people think she is much younger than she really is and people that knew her younger comment all the time how she somehow stopped aging. I think stress (and losing a lot of weight quickly probably qualifies as stressful for our bodies) can age us, but maybe it's not permanent? Good luck on your journey!

Isn't it great!

My mom was not in favor of me having weight loss surgery. She encouraged me to try Jenny Craig AGAIN or look at the serotonin plus diet (even offered to pay for them). Although she did not like my decision, she always supported ME 100%. She sat with my husband during surgery, came to see me each day in the hospital, and came by my house during my recovery to bring me whatever I wanted. Well, over the last few weeks, she has made some interesting comments regarding my clothing purchases. When we went shopping for my birthday I found a lot of clearance Lands End clothing at Sears that was 75-80%. I really wanted to buy some size 8's for next summer, but she said I'd never be that size, that I NEEDED to stop at 12 if I managed to get there. I was having such a pleasant day and was wearing 14-16 at the time, I just didn't want to make a big deal over it. Last weekend we went out together and I was talking about how I ordered a size 10 Lilly dress (since I now fit my size 14 one I've had for a couple of years) because it was such a great deal. She got really upset that I was continuing to spend money on clothes and said, "And how long do you think you'll be that size? Like 6 months?" insinuating that I couldn't possibly maintain a lower weight. I accused her of being unsupportive and left it at that. Yesterday I stopped by to pick something up and she decided she wanted to explain that she does support me, she's just worried that I will lose too much and start to look sickly like my anorexic aunt (one of her sisters). What?!? I weigh 174 lbs. I am at the top of the overweight bmi range. It was good we had the conversation. I think we both understand each better, but I am still just annoyed. I feel like part of her just doesn't want me to set my sights too high and fail (I've been through this before because I am so goal oriented and she worries). I just wish I could be at the end of this journey so that all of this was behind me. Oh, well...it will all be okay, just needed to get this off my chest.

I've never been told that there is a need. We just have a smaller stomach, but all of our insides are the same with nothing extra. I'd be curious to see what others say...maybe there is a reason we should get them.

I don't have any answers for you, but just wanted to say hi and wish you luck on your journey. I hope you learn a lot at your seminar, you can always ask the surgeon about complications and his/her rate.

Welcome and good luck on this journey! I hope you get approved and scheduled soon.

Welcome! I think December would be a great time to get sleeved...it's a wonderful gift to yourself. Just think of where you will be next year. Good luck with your husband coming around. My husband always understood my desire to have this done, but was very worried and kept trying to push my towards the lapband in the beginning because it was less invasive and he was so worried. This was my second surgery and it went so well. I was very scared and nervous, they almost couldn't put the initial IV in me because I was shaking so bad and my teeth would not stop chattering. They had to bring extra blankets in because I was so cold. (The nurse told me I should have told my surgeon about my nervousness and he could have prescribed anti-anxiety pills for me to take.) But that was the only bad part of the surgery and that really wasn't even a part of the actual surgery. The actual surgery, hospital stay, and recovery all went well.

I think it's possible, but if you feel like I did, just expect to be really tired upon your return. If possible, try to clear off any major/intense projects before having surgery.

Welcome LapGyrl! I'm so happy that you have made a decision and can now work towards getting in a position to get it done. I also did this to become healthier and hopefully have a healthy pregnancy in the not so far off future. Good luck on your journey and definitely keep us posted. I have found this site to be such a wealth of information and full of kind and caring people.

I just wanted to say that I understand. I went through similar feelings and even though it doesn't help you now, they eventually passed. Vent here, this is a great place to get support. I wish you luck on your journey, it WILL get better!

Congratulations! I think this is one of the best gifts you could have given yourself. This is a wonderful place to learn while you wait and once you return. Good luck!

Congratulations!!! I bet you look super hot in those jeans.

Just wanted to say congratulations on your decision and your date! I was super excited and nervous leading up to my surgery date too. Good luck and I hope you find someone who will be there around the same time.

Yay Linda! You are doing terrific. Happy surgiversary, what a wonderful day!

Thanks for the update. You are definitely in my thoughts and prayers.

Tomorrow will be my three month surgiversary. I cannot believe how fast the time seems to fly by. I truly feel like I'm learning to live with this wonderful tool by trying to develop habits that I can sustain for life. I'm exercising at least 5 days a week doing things I really enjoy. My vitamin and protein intake still needs work, but it continues to get better each week. Currently my biggest dilemma is how I want to go about the rest of my weight loss phase. This morning I weighed in at 174.5, down 47.5 lbs since the morning of surgery, for a total of 63.5 lbs since beginning my pre-op diet. Lately I've been torn on whether I should begin adding more carbs into my diet (well, I've actually been doing that) so that I lose the rest of the weight (about 38 lbs) in a way that I know I can maintain once I'm finished. The other part of me really thinks it would be great just to lose these last pounds as quickly as possible before my "honeymoon" period ends and then worry about maintenance because I know to get under what I am now will take a lot of work. Anyway, I'm sure I'll figure it out as I go. Overall, I am soooooo happy with the weight loss and grateful that I was able to have this procedure. Accomplishments so far: *Wearing sizes 12-14 depending on brand (22-24 before pre-op diet) *28 day cycles (50-80 days before surgery) *Exercising at least 5 days per week AND loving it *No desire to eat McDonald's (ate there 5-7 times per week before surgery) My hopes and dreams over the next few months: *Fit into the size 10 Lilly dress I just purchased *Pass the Jazzercise audition *Get pregnant (that's quite a ways down the road, but still) *Continue towards my weight loss goal of 100 lbs. gone

Excellent job...30 minutes on the treadmill is a great start! It will definitely get easier the more you go and once you learn how all the machines work, I still get very confused, but I only go occasionally as my husband's guest. Maybe you can work something out with Caysen regarding the bus? He could ride it a couple of days a week, but the others you will take him...OR you can just pull mom rank :-) Either way, good luck and good job!

Congratulations on your weight loss AND maintenance! I really appreciate hearing from those much further out. I'd love to hear more about your weight loss journey (did you follow a low carb diet?) if you ever want to post more. Thanks for sharing.

Congratulations Linda! You are doing wonderfully.

Yay!!!!!! That sounds like such a great program, I wish we had a Y around here. I'm thinking about adding in 2 days per week of personal training at a studio that would be on my way home from work, but it is so ridiculously expensive, so I don't know. How wonderful you have all that right there at the gym. Having new exercise clothes is such a great feeling, although I've only been wearing mine for the last couple of days to lounge and sleep in. Have fun tomorrow morning!

I'm so sorry. I'll be hoping that they can help you out tomorrow, it will make surgery go so much better if you are as healthy as you can be going in. It's sort of good news that they are willing to keep your date for the 10th. Keep us posted. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

Tiff, Did you sign up at the Y??? Classes are totally the way I prefer to exercise. I actually miss it when I'm not able to go...today I had to come home from work and I really still want to go to tap, but I know I'll never hear the end of it from my husband because I'm still hacking quite a bit. It's great to have an accountability partner, I've done that with my best friend in WA for some things and it really helps. So glad your function went well. Did you take any new pictures? Congratulations to being so close to goal.