Helen the Cat

Well, I have stepped up my protein, vitamin and biotin intake, but nothing seems to be making a difference so far. BUT, my wig arrived, and I love it. It looks so natural! Check out Headcovers Unlimited.com. They have TONS of wigs and hair pieces and are SO great about talking to you on the phone if you have ??? or concerns. I love the wig I got from them, and am not embarassed at all to wear it anywhere. I was hesitant at first, but had so many compliments on it that I thought "what the heck? it looks great, I'm going to go with it."

After YEARS and YEARS of eating as fast as I could (a habit learned at work), I too am struggeling to learn to eat slowly. I have started counting my bites, in an effort to slow down. I know that after five to six bites, I start to approach full. I am five months out from surgery, and am still struggeling with the whole eating slow thing. Thanksgiving day was a riot. I cooked a HUGE meal for our family, and by the time I got it all on the table, and everything was passed, I was done eating! I ate my seven bites (I pushed it a little and didn't stop at five or six bites since it was a holiday) and everyone else was just cutting their meat and getting ready to start, and I was done! But normally, I try to eat slow and count my bites as I eat. Then I try to count the number of times I chew eat bite. And then I try to put my eating utensils down between bites and just relax. When there is someone else here for a meal (I too live alone most of the time), I make a list in advance of conversation topics, and force myself to discuss at least three or four of the topics in between bites. This whole business of eating slower can be a pain, but you sure don't waste much time sitting at the table! And I have to say, I have lost 92 pounds since June, and gone from a size 26/28 to a 10, so I wouldn't change it for anything! I am still about 25 pounds from goal, but if I NEVER lose another ounce, I am thrilled to death with my results! And I'll eat slow, count bites, chew well, whatever it takes to stay where I am now. I never want to go back to that fat girl who was stuffing her mouth with everything in site, and eating fast partly to cover up HOW much she was eating! Hang in there, Once viewed from the other side it is worth it all!

Funny that you should post this today. I spent almost four hours on the internet this afternoon looking at wig options. I finally purchased one too! I hope I like it. It should be here in three or four days. I am five months post op this week, and noticed (REALLY noticed) that I was loosing hair about 4-6 weeks ago. I went to see a physician and had some blood work done, I was so concerned, and all my blood work was normal. She said it was probably from the fast weight loss. (I have lost 90 pounds so far in the five months since surgery.) About four weeks ago I switched to Nioxin Shampoo and hair treatment. Also am using Minoxidil hair treatment. But doesn't seem to be helping. Maybe I haven't been using long enought to notice a difference. Anyway, Today, after I showered and was drying my hair and putting on my make up I just couldn't believe how bald I looked! It seems like the hair loss is accelerating instead of getting less. So I decided that I was going to invest in a wig. I bought a Human Hair Raquel Welch wig. It is a short style. And I tried to match it very closely to my current color. (I have colored my hair for years. I am NOT going into old age gracefully!) Will let you all know when it arrives how I like it.

Have spent the day baking. I was supposed to be packing up my household stuff, in anticipation of my move back home the end of this month, but I just CAN'T get into packing. I keep thinking "what if I need this before I move, I 'll just have to unpack it and then pack it again". So I don't pack it to begin with. My husband arrives in three days, (To help me move home) and he is going to be disappointed that I am not farther along than I am. I am a travel nurse and have been living in California for the past 13 months, and now am moving home to the frozen tundras of Iowa for the winter. YUCK! I hate Iowa in the winter. But he is so lonely and wants me to come home. So what can I do? So to kill the day, I spent the entire day baking. I made three different kinds of cookies, and a puff pastry creation know (in Iowa) as Dutch Letters. They are a puff pastry with sweet almond filling. And to make matters worse, I sampled some of each one! Here I am, trying my best to reach my weight goal, and I am baking like a fiend! I have GOT to quit baking and eating! The Dutch Letters by the way were fantastic. They are labor intensive, and I don't make them very often, but today seemed the day to do it! (At least when I got done baking, I took the cookies and Dutch Letters to the hospital where I am working and left them in the break room for everyone to eat. There is NO way I could eat all that stuff, although some days I think I might give it a try.) Anyway, I was so gratified to get on the scale this morning and see that I have lost four pounds this week. I am within 19 pounds of my original goal weight. But now am thinking of revising my goal down another 10-20 pounds. Is that crazy? I am five months post op, as of yesterday, and as I get closer to my goal, I think about being thinner than I originally planned. I am down from a size 26-28 to a size 12, and size 10 is getting closer all the time. In fact I can get a size 10 on, it is just tight. Of course if I keep baking and eating I can kiss size ten goodbye for good. Some days the "Head Hunger" just gets to me. I think that is what today was all about. I was hungry and I didn't know what I was hungry for. So I just started baking and sampling what I had baked. And to top it all off, I re-watched "Julia and Julie" on DVD while I was baking. That doesn't do a lot to encourage me not to eat! Enough of my ramblings about baking, food and watching TV. I am going to bed. Happy weekend all you VSGs!

You don't "owe" anyone an explanation about your personal, medical history! Although I have told many people about my surgery, I didn't tell my mother. I knew that it would worry her to death. She is 90 years old, and although very healthy (still in her own home) she would worry about it. So I just told her I am trying to lose weight and am doing it with portion control and exercise. And guess what? That is THE TRUTH! I can't eat as much now, since my sleeve, so I am controlling my portions! And I exercise more to facilitate my weight loss. So when anyone asks me how I am loosing, and I don't feel like telling them all the details, I say "portion control and exercise"!

Congratulations on your sleeve! I too had many people tell me I didn't need to have surgery, but I felt in my heart it was the right thing to do for ME. I weighed over 250 and had lost 50-75 pounds multiple times, and never been able to keep it off. I am so happy that I followed through and had the surgery! I am 5 months post op yesterday, and have lost 90 pounds so far. The weight loss has slowed down considerably in the last two months, and I still have another 25-30 pounds that I would like to loose. BUT if I never loose another ounce, I am happy, thrilled and perfectly satisfied with how I look and feel now. I have NEVER been this thin in my life, and I am loving it. I went from a size 26-28 to a 12! My goal is to be in single digit sizes (8; 6; 4? would be wonderful). But if I never loose another ounce, I am happy! Even better than how I look, is how I feel. Most of the time I have loads more energy than I did prior to the surgery. I have been able to go off my cholesterol meds, my high blood pressure meds, my arthritis meds and my allergy meds (I still don't get that one!) and my diuretic. I am left taking only Nexium for acid reflux and a stool softener. I feel great. I swam all summer for exercise and am now starting a walking program since it is to cold to swim. Take heart. You WILL feel better soon! I think we all had some buyer's remorse initially. BUT it get SO much better! You're in my prayers!

Here it is, November 15 already. My work contract is done here the 30th of November, so I will be moving home in just two weeks. I have such mixed feelings about moving home. I miss my hubbie terribly, but on the other hand, I have enjoyed being independant, doing what I wanted, when I wanted, etc. It will be different when I have to consider his wants and needs again. I have been living and working here in California for over a year, and now am moving home again, And this time when I move home I weigh 90 pounds less than I did when I last lived at home. My whole life style has changed! Although I still love to cook and bake, I can't eat like I used to, and the things that I fix are more health geared than ever before. How will my family react to this?

Don't worry about the fatigue. I too had a horrible, bone deep fatigue that hounded me for almost 6 weeks. I only took 12 days off work, and I DRUG myself to work for weeks before I felt good. I am a Labor and Delivery nurse, and work 12 hour shifts, and thought I would die before I started to feel better. But the fatigue DOES go away eventually. Hang in there, drink your Water, get your Protein and take your Vitamins. It helps, and the fatigue WILL go away! Thinking good thought for you! Kathy D 49

Good luck to both of you! I am almost five months post op now, and have to say this is the best thing I have EVER done for myself. I find myself loving the way I look now. Have lost 90 pounds, and have about 20-25 pounds more to lose to get to goal. Be patient in the initial post op stages. I went through a period of extreme fatigue for 4-6 weeks after my surgery, and some times when I was sorry I had done the sugery. But now, I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING! Just this morning I went out to buy a new pair of pants, as my 12s are getting to big for me. NEVER in my life have I worn a size 12 before, much less a 10! If I never lose another ounce, I will still say this is the best thing I have ever done! Will remember you both in my prayers tonight and in the morning. Hope everything goes perfect. God Bless you both!

I went clothes shopping the other day, as everything I had (and most of it purchased since my surgery June 18th!) was getting too big! I had to use a belt on every pair of slacks, jeans, and pants that I owned, or they would fall off. I previously posted (about a month ago) how thrilled I was when I bought a pair of size 12 jeans. Well for some reason, I never expected it to be a permanent change! Instead, I expected (DUMB me huh?) to go shopping and have to go back into a size 14 or 16. (I mean, that has been my history my whole life! Lose a few pounds, be a size smaller and the next time I go shopping, I have gained those few pounds back, PLUS a few more, and I am back up a size or two!) But low and behold, I tried on about a dozen size 12 slacks, AND THEY ALL FIT ME!!! Just to live dangerously, I tried on a pair of size 10s! And guess what? They went on, and zipped most of the way up. It won't be long (I hope!) till I can wear a size 10 comfortably! I only bought one pair of size 12 slacks, as I am holding out for those size 10s! I am so happy, I am thinking of having a sign made that says "I am wearing a size 12, for the first time in my life!" and wearing it strapped to my back! I mean, I still have about 30 pounds to go till I am at my goal weight. But if I NEVER lose another ounce, I am happy! I have NEVER in my life worn a size 12 before! I went from childrens sizes straight into a Misses size 16 or size 18, and of course shortly after THAT, into Women's sizes. What a thrill. I can't stop telling everybody I meet "I now wear a size 12! Did you know that Marilyn Monroe wore a size 12?" People I work with are beginning to look at me funny when they hear me say it for the umpteenth time each day! But I don't care! I LOVE IT!!! I am SO thankful for my sleeve!

I think you are right, it is a nursing thing. I too am a nurse (Labor & Delivery). I think part of it comes from eating anything and everything so FAST for years. If I didn't eat fast, my gal might progress and be ready to deliver and I might miss my lunch, so I ate everything and ate it FAST! And it is a hard habit to break. I am trying, trying SO hard, to learn to eat slow and enjoy my food. I have been counting my bites lately, in an attempt to slow down. Also am trying to chew REALLY REALLY well, again in an effort to slow down my eating. I am 4 1/2 months out from surgery and have lost 90 pounds as of today. I am SO thrilled with my weight loss. I am in a size 12 jeans, but still a large size on the top. I wish I would lose some on top, so I could move into smaller size bras and shirts. But if I never lose another ounce, I am THRILLED and HAPPY with the current state of affairs. I love being closer to a "Normal" size! It seems that Sharon (I named my sleeve!) can tolerate almost anything. My sister was just here to visit me and we ate sushi three times. Went out for prime rib once, had chinese once, and assorted drinks (chocolate martinis!) two or three times. I was sure I would gain, but I lost 3 pounds while she was here! The only thing that bothers me a little is lettuce salad. I have to chew it REALLY well, and then it still sometimes gives me problems. But I have ulcerative colitis, and it always bothered me before the surgery too, so I guess it shouldn't be a surprise to me. I hope I qualify as a member of the Sleeve of Steel club!

I am 4 1/2 months out from surgery, and I noticed my hair loss about a month ago. Instead of slowing down, it seems to be speeding up. I never had really thick hair to begin with, so it is REAL noticable on me. I was drinking a Protein drink once daily, and have upped it to 2 per day. Also have started using the Nioxin system to shampoo and treat my hair, and have started taking a Vitamin that contains Biotin. So far I haven't noticed any results, and am considering if I want to subject my hair to coloring it. I have colored for years, and it is time to re-touch, but am wondering if I should. I have lost a total of 88 pounds since my surgery, and am so thrilled with the results that should I go completely bald, I will gladly buy a wig! I was just in my closet a few minutes ago weeding out the clothes that are to big for me. I have sent boxes and boxes of clothes to friends who are about the size I was before the surgery. These are clothes I bought AFTER the surgery, when my original clothes were to big. It is so thrilling to put something on and find out that I swim in it! I have about 22 pounds before I get to goal, but again, if I never lose another ounce, I am happy! Kayla, Big Congratulations on your weight loss. It is fantastic! Keep it up!

Hello all you fellow VGSers. How are ya all doing today? I am sitting here at the computer, killing a few minutes before I have to get on the road to see my doctor for my 4 month post op check up. So far, I think I am doing GREAT! I feel good, I have lots of energy (well most days) and Love, Love, LOVE the way my weight is dropping! I am now down 83 pounds since my surgery on June 18! It seems absolutely amazing to me that I could have lost that much! I love it that the size clothes I am wearing is also dropping. If you read any of my posts shortly after my surgery, even when I hadd lost 30-40 pounds, I was still wearing the same size clothes, and I was wondering if my scale was really weighing me correctly, or if I had lost all that weight off my fingers and toes! Most recently I purchased (and am wearing) size 12 jeans. I only have the one pair of Size 12s, so I will most likely wear them out by the time I get to size 10, cause I wear them every day, and wash them every night before bed! I can't bear to wear any of my 14s! I recently experienced a stall, for over a month! I would gain a pound, lose a pound, gain 1 1/2 pounds, lose a pound, gain, lose, gain, lose, etc. So I started drinking my protein drink on a regular basis, and have tried REALLY hard to eat the way I know I should, instead of cheating with little bites of empty calorie foods. And the weight loss has resumed and is now more regular. I lose like a pound every two to three days, so I lose about 2 and a half pounds a week. I still have 25-30 pounds to lose (maybe 35-40 depending on how I look when I get to my original goal). And I am content to do it at 2 and a half pounds a week. Well, have to get dressed to see the doctor. Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Hang on, don't get discouraged! Stalls, plateaus, etc happen. Sometimes sooner than later. I have just spent on whole month losing and gaining the same three pounds over and over, and FINALLY last Thursday the needle on the scale started to move south again. I was beginning to worry that something was terribly wrong and that I was done losing forever. But it will happen. I think I was at the same point as you are now, I wasn't eating enough to keep my body from thinking I was in starvation mode. Now I eat protein for brakfast (cheese, a scrambled egg and slice of bacon), a protein drink for lunch and a small supper, that is mainly protein. Then have a protein drink around bedtime or later. I have lost four pounds in the last four days. Remember your body has to adjust. Even though you don't have a huge honking incision, you had major surgery! You are missing 85% of your stomach. It takes your body a while to adjust. Hang in there. It WILL get better!

Well, I am not sure I did it the correct way, but I finally bought a couple of new bras when I had lost so much, that the hooks wouldn't stay fastened because there wasn't enough tension on them to keep them snapped. My bras kept coming unsnapped when I would move or reach for something. At home it was just an annoyance, but at work it was down right embarassing! So I went out and bought 3 or 4 new ones. Got fitted for them at Lane Bryant. Now I am just about out of the Lane Bryant sizes (Happy Dance!!!), and am going to a regular department store where they have fitters to fit you into a correct size. And I love buying matching bras and panties. It makes me fell SO sexy! Talk about non surgical victories, I Love the new underwear!

WOW Kimmes! You Look Fantastic! What a difference! Congratulations! I am SO envious. Can't wait till I get close to my goal. I still have 28 pounds to go. I love the Little Black Dress. It looks absolutely stunning on you! I CAN NOT wait to get to where you are! But I keep telling myself, it isn't the destination, it is the journey. I need to enjoiy the journey to appreciate the destination. Again, Congratulations!

OK, this is the LAST time I am going to try and update my blog! I have written this three times, and each time when I hit the "Post" button, it disappears! If it doesn't work this time, forget about it. I have been saving my loose change since Christmas, and took it to the bank last week in anticipation of flying home earlier this week. ($320.00!!!) As soon as hubbie picked me up at the airport, I told him I wanted to go to The Blond Genius. It is a retail store in West Des Moines, IA that specializes in fitting anybody in jeans and making them look good with a great fit. They are pricey, but they always look good. Their slogan is "We Can Fit ANY Body!" So we headed to West Des Moines, and I went in ready to spend my cash. I told the sales clerk I had lost about 80 pounds recently, and didn't know what size to try on, but maybe to start with a size 16 or 14. She brought four or five pair into the fitting room and I started to try on jeans. She asked to see each pair, and finally she said "these are all to big on you, let's try something else." She brought back a bunch of jeans and I tried on size 12s! I thought "never, no way, no how". But guess what? They zipped up easily and looked GREAT! I was so thrilled, I had to sit down right there in the dressing room and cry for joy! (Am sure the sales clerk thought I was Crazy, Nuts!) I don't think I have ever worn a size 12. I went from children's sizes to a size 16 womens with no pause in between for smaller sizes! A 12, I can't believe it! How great is that! I am thinking of making a sign that says "I wear a Size 12 now!" and hanging it on my back just so the world will know! When my husband came to pick me up at the airport, he drove right by me, he didn't recognize me at first! Had to back up the car when he realised it was me. I have to say, my sleeve is the best thing I have EVER done for ME! Anyway, all you VGSers who are in a stall or not loosing as fast as you want, hang in there, the (NSV) rewards are SO worth it!

That is SO Great Lash! Congratulations! It is freaking fantastic actually! I can't wait till I am there!

Tif, I too LOVE pregnant bellies, (I am a Labor & Delivery nurse, what else would I love?) and you look SO cute pregnant! Bet you are loving being pregnant and skinny! You look marvelous! Best wishes, can't wait to see pics of that little gal After birth! Six more weeks, they'll go by fast!

You look SO GOOD!! Absolutely amazing! Wow, 155lbs. I can hardly wait (not that I will ever look that good, I am an old lady and alas, even when I get to 155, I will be saggy and baggy), but you look SO Amazing! Big congratulations! And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your shoes!!!! They are the bomb! You have done a fantastic job of losing! Again, Congrats!!!

You look GREAT!!! 95 lbs, that is just amazing! Congrats on a wonderful job! Keep it up. (I would vote for buying an IPAD! I want one so badly, but just can't justify it for myself.) But you look GREAT! I had my surgery in June and am down 80 lbs and it is going so slowly now. Have been in a stall for about 3 weeks, but I know if I just keep on keeping on it will come off. Again, Congratulations on a Fantastic job!

You look BEAUTIFUL! Your eyes are gorgeous! And you look so much younger. When I get closer to goal, I am going to get some pics taken and post. I can only hope and pray that my after photos look as gorgeous as yours!