juliarh

Bilka, I'm so happy the surgery went well and that your overall experience was positive!! Hooray! And you're already losing weight

Totally agree!! You are MORE than welcome to be part of our family Happy Valentine's Day!

Love it!!! Congrats -- it is nice to be checked out

Jane, it is good to see you!! We'd love an update!

I'm game -- this is fun! 1) If I don't eat anything with Fiber and drink ALL my Water nothing is coming out of me. 2) I live in a hot country and only sweat when I exercise -- hmmm . . . maybe I don't want to visit the States soon . . . 3) Cannot eat sugar, even in my beloved chocolate, no matter what -- it's nasty tasting. 4) Instead of having thick hair, I may soon have thin hair. 5) I only eat when I feel empty or light-headed -- otherwise, no hunger sensation. And, after a couple of bites, I need to force myself to finish a measly 3 oz. of food. But it's good. 6) I LOOOOVE my water! 7) Am amazed at how fast and how much normal people eat -- not that they're overeating, just that it's sooo much more than I could even imagine eating.

Happy Valentine's Day to you, too, Doug! Hope your wife (or husband ) got you something nice -- you deserve it!

Looking forward to this!! I think I'm going aggressive too -- I'm a little scared, but we'll see if that gives me an extra push! And Diva, correct me if I'm wrong, but our starting weight should be what our challenge starting weight is, not our overall starting weight, correct? SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal juliarh.........211.2..................211.2.........186.2.........25 (yikes!)

Just using everyone's latest weigh ins -- tends to get confusing if it's not the latest . . . SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda...............275.....................187............177..............10 Becca.....................244...............222...............214..............8 BlackBerryJuice.........208..........145..............145................0 Brendasgonnalose...335............224.............225................-1 BonnieEJune . . . . . 325........................271.............275............-4 bugwitch....................291..............286.4...........283..............3.4 Cherice95405..........248...........177............ 164...............13 Chilo1.....................216...........158.............154................4 Cludgie................235..............210...............209..............1 Coops ...................238...........183...............177..............6 Cwalker.................250...........180...............170...............10 Daisy......................237..........138...............130................8 DJackson..............229.............213..............215................-2 HollyW...................259............214..............215..............0 Ibejjo.....................249...........249...............229.............20 Juliarh...................230............211.2..............215................-3.8 Kimmes................239.............197.8..............200..............-2.2 Kgremmy.............225.............190.8..............199...............-8.2 Laylasmojo...........242............180...............170...............10 LeslieH.................212...........204................199..............5 LilMissDiva...........235............221.8.............220.............1.8 livelovelaugh.. ...236............ ....207........ .....189..............18 Mellifrits...............210............132..............125................07 Meriteri................240............177..............170...............7 MichelleLee..........252...........222................199...............23 MINI-Me...............203.............124.6...........125...............0 & holding! mlr777................200.8...........174.6...........160.............14.6 Mommy2Girls.......275...............240............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.............181...........178...............3 MRSKOUBIK...........317............252.............255..............-3 NannieG . .............250. ..........153........... 150............... 3 OregonDaisy . . .. . . ................135 pattimomof3nj......203.4...........157.3............155................2.3 missed it by that much! PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..266…….........255………….....11 Sailorgirl................240............220.............200..............20 Secret Surgery34....205............174...........165................9 Seniorsleever........290.............279.............260..............19 Sleeve 4 me.........166...........159..........159....................0 Sweatinitout..........245............170.............160..............10 tlang262 - Texas.....240..........240..............230..............10 Yolanda240.....236.................191..............170..............21

Hi all -- last weigh in for Valentine's day -- so today I weighed in at 211.2. That means I lost 18.8 pounds - yay! and made my goal and then some (-3.8 pounds) yay!! very happy! Hooray for everyone else -- I think we all did spectacularly well this past time -- can't wait for the new one to begin!!

My husband bought the shampoo at an organic pharmacy when he was in the States -- but you can buy it online if you want, here: http://www.millcreekusa.com/shampoo/biotin-shampoo

Hooray!

Ok, my take on carbs is pretty serious because I sincerely believe I'm addicted to them -- so that said, you can say that I'm a little extreme or maybe it might help -- I don't eat any carbs that are not from the ground or a tree -- no processed anything -- I don't eat: rice (yes, I know it's from the ground, but it's not in its original state) bread (or bread-like things -- tortillas, anything made from flour) potatoes (again from the ground, I know, but still) Pasta sugar any products with sugar in them any products with high fructose corn syrup I do eat: vegetables fruit whole grain (really high in fiber) bread and crackers -- Wasa crackers is an example When I have eaten any of the above it's taken me a week to 2 weeks to get over the head hunger for them. But, again, this is me. I know what I want and what I crave. So I decided that I would cut my addiction off permanently. That's not to say I won't eat a piece of bread now and then -- but, I know what the consequences will be (head hunger for a week or so) and that I better be able to deal with it. I've found that since I've done this, I don't really want any of the processed carbs. No head hunger. Nothing. It's pretty great. So maybe this might help, maybe not . . . In any case, I know how you feel and hope that you find a solution

Oh, and yes, it does help with re-growth (not loss) -- I've got a bunch of little hairs growing back in -- (and also my leg hair is growing faster too - )

Hi Faith -- Ok, this is what I do -- I have no nutritionist to tell me what to do or anything -- so I'm kinda winging it, but it seems to work. 1) I take this: I take one tablet a day -- 5000 mcg 2) I wash my hair twice a week (I know it sounds gross -- I used to wash it every day, but with the hair loss . . . . ) luckily I have thick hair and washing it twice a week is not noticeable. 3) I use this shampoo: and the conditioner too. I figure by the time I'm done losing weight, most of my hair will start to grow back in. (Crossing fingers). Hope this helps!

Hi Zuby -- more hugsss -- I have to agree with Irene (Diva) -- my hair started falling out around the 3rd mo. too and has been falling out since -- I too take biotin. I am a stickler for my Protein, too. From what I understand the hair will fall out due to rapid weight loss -- the body thinks it's dying and is transferring its energy from growing hair to more important stuff -- don't worry -- all the long-timers say it does grow back. And like Irene, I too have little hairs sprouting all over my head. It's weird, but heck, I'd take weird little hairs over none (and I have lots of thick hair too). I think it's all due to the Biotin -- it won't prevent the hair loss, but it does encourage hair growth. I've also noticed my leg hair grows in faster (ugh). So chin up - - it will get better

Wow Melissa -- I found myself nodding in agreement as I read -- so much of what you felt, I did too Loved your story and found it very inspirational -- 83 pounds -- wow!! you rock!!

Hoorayyyy!!!

Couldn't have said it better -- the sleeve will allow you to make a change in the relationship with your food -- BUT, you have to want to do it. WLS is never the whole answer to any problem with food or weight -- it's only a TOOL. And, if you use like a tool, then you'll get where you want to go. But if you don't and you eat like you did in the past, and you don't exercise, you'll only get more of the same. So, it sounds like the sleeve will work for you if you're will to work with it. I absolutely love love love this thing -- and I'm doing my best to work every aspect of it that I can

Hi Lysa! Welcome! Congratulations on your weight loss! The first month EVERYONE drops weight really fast and the the subsequent months we all drop slowly but steadily. Some weeks I have lost only 1/2 pound. There have been weeks when I have not lost at all. The thing about weight loss, even with weight loss surgery, is that our bodies don't lose it steadily -- wouldn't that be wonderful if we did? Usually it's in a stair-step kind of way, we lose some, then not, lose some then not. That's OK!! It's normal. The thing that a lot of us forget is that we should be really focused on the process, not the scale or our weight. And what I mean about this is that: 1) are we eating all our Protein and our calories; 2) are we drinking all the Water we need to be drinking - 64 oz.; 3) are we doing some form of exercise? That's it. And if we do the process, we will get there! Swear to God! Now, some of us lose slower than others, but that's ok too -- as long as we incorporate our new diet and our new lifestyle into our lives, we can be assured that our sleeves will work, eventually! We have to remember it's not a race, it's a lifetime! (And believe me, I'm writing this for me too -- I forget this allll the time!) So, chin up!! You're doing great!! Just keep on, keeping it on!!

Hi Melissa! Welcome! 1) My dr. told me I could lift things about 2 or 3 weeks after surgery -- I could exercise 2 weeks afterwards too. Every dr's recommendation is different, so I would go to a seminar (many drs give them) and ask LOTS of questions. 2) I believe the psych eval is just to see if you are prepared for a lifetime of change -- because you will eat differently for the rest of your life. I think as long as your bipolar disorder is under control, it shouldn't be a problem. Many people on this board have depression and anxiety, so I wouldn't be too concerned. (My son has bipolar disorder, so I'm very sympathetic!) 3) I would do it again in a heart beat!! I just wish I had done it when I was younger -- my oldest is now almost 19, I have an almost 15 year old, and my youngest is 12. I wish I had done this when they were young and I had been able to play with them -- this is the first time in my adult life that I've been able to do fun, physical things with my 12 year old -- we golf every day and have a blast -- and I'm sad that I couldn't have done it with my other kids. BUT!! I have a lifetime of experiences to look forward to I'm beyond thrilled I did this -- while I have a bunch of weight still to lose, I am more active, more happy than I have been in decades. so YES YES YES YES!! I would do it again!! I hope that helps -- and I hope others chime in -- I didn't have a psych eval because I was self-pay, and every dr's recommendation is different for activity and lifting.

One of my goals was to golf again -- and I'm doing it EVERY DAY! seriously! sooo happy! I would like to learn to play tennis decently I would like to Water ski again I would like to not be the fattest person around I would like to go swimming in an area where there are nothing but skinny people and not feel awkward And, like Diva said, I would like to NEVER EVER gain this weight again!

Welcome SweetGal - you should join our weigh in thread (search for Sizzling) -- most weigh in on Mondays, but you can weigh in any day of the week (I weigh in on Weds.) -- it's a great thread for encouragement, etc. Glad you could join us!

So glad you are feeling better! Yep, you sure did hit the lotto -- next time, you gotta try a big lotto just to see if the odds are still with you But, seriously, I'm sooo glad you're better!

Dawn, that is soooo great on so many fronts!! What a NSV day!! Soo thrilled for you!