becky101010

Wow that is a very dramatic difference!!! Was your surgery covered by insurance or did you have to do it on your own? How can you tell when it's fat or skin leftover? My stomach is definitely getting flatter, but I still have t his area (roll) over my bellybutton that I feel like isn't getting flatter and I'm curious if it will be an issue.....

It took me about 9 days to have a bowel movement after my initial surgery, and I actually have struggled with constipation ever since surgery on 4/14 of this year. Just recently I've gotten a little bit more regular by mixing Dulcolax with a bottle of water once a day for about 4 days in a row... It regulates me for a few days then I start again, so I'm not having to take it 7 days a week.

You're definitely not alone.... I feel like it's been just about 2 weeks that I've stared at 230 point "something" on the scale... Just in the last 2 days I made sure to write down every single thing I was eating, focusing on Protein g and amount of Water... At my next appt I want to bring it so maybe the dr can let me know if there's anything I need to change. May be a helpful idea for you as well! Also- I count my g of protein, not calories.... Which is best to focus on???

I lost 63 lbs in a little over 3 months only having one fill of 3 cc's... I'm a little shy of 50% towards my goal!! I hope the next 50% comes just as easy Good job everyone else out there!!!!

I've experienced hair loss as well. I'm trying to get as much protein as possible (even bought Special K protein water packets to add to my water... 5g per serving!) My dr recommended taking Biotin to help too.

My surgery was 4/14/11. I was 293 lbs and I'm not down to 230. My arms are horrible already, and I still have at least another 60 lbs to go. I've been reading different posts on here and it seems that insurance doesn't cover arms, but is there anyone out there who has gotten them done via health insurance? The hanging skin isn't necessarily a discomfort yet, but I can imagine if it continues, it will be. I try and tone them every time I'm at the gym, but I really haven't seen any results. They actually look bigger than before my surgery due to the hanging skin. Any comments or ideas???

I, too, am getting that cellulite lumpy skin near my armpit... If I put my hand on my hip, they look ok, but if I stretch out my arm oh boy!!! I was noticing how bad they were moving around last night while I was at Zumba

Thanks for the comments, and definitely thanks for that article. I'm a little over 3 months post op so that definitely makes sense!!!

Has anyone else been losing their hair since they started losing the weight? Recently in the last 2 weeks or so I noticed a lot of hair coming out in the shower and when I brush my hair. Then randomly, my doctor asked if I had been losing a lot of hair... He did say it is typical with rapid weight loss and suggested I take a Vitamin called Biotin. Should I also try to increase my Protein daily to help? I feel like it's so hard for me to get in 50-60 grams of protein because I'm just not hungry enough. I think I might buy Special K protein waters just to atleast get some extra protein that way. Any other suggestions?? Surgery: 4/14/11 Starting Weight: 293 Current Weight: 230 One Fill Only: 3cc

Interesting... I have really thick hair and a lot of it, so I'm not totally worried about and really didn't think I would go bald, but didn't think it was normal nor healthy. Just another random side effect I guess!!

Good for you on trying Zumba!!! I love Zumba and go 2x per week! It's amazing to me how different the class is not that I'm 63 lbs lighter!! I can move faster, do more of the jumps, and just have more fun. Plus, since I'm moving faster and working more of a sweat, it's great! The routine that helped me when I wasn't at Zumba was incorporating cardio and weight training. My gym offered free sessions with a personal trainer, who was fabulous. She told me that weight training burns more fat than cardio, so it's important to do both. At this point, my typical non Zumba day is 45-60 minutes on a cardio machine (such as an elliptical or cross ramp), then 30-40 min with the free weights and machines. I've really been trying to tone my tummy and arms b/c I feel like that's where I'm going to have the most trouble with loose skin. Good luck in everything that you do. Something is better than nothing, so keep it up

I'm very curious about this too. I've been overweight my whole life, so I'm scared it's been stretched so long that it won't want to go back!! I was banded on 4/14/11 and have lost 63 lbs so far (started at 293, currently 230). My arms seem to be a problem already, especially when I fully extend them out, by my armpit. I workout 5-6 times per week and I make sure that I do my arm exercises to help.

My surgery was 4/14/11. I've had one fill of 3.5 cc's about a month ago. Today when I went to my doctor, he said he was proud of me but told me I was "wasting away" because I lost 21 lbs in the 5 weeks since I last saw him. I was really looking forward to a fill b/c I personally feel like I've been hungrier between meals, but he wouldn't do the fill because he didn't want to "overdo" it. I cheated and ate some carbs while on vacation last week but also did a TON of walking around (we were in Disney). Could this be my sweet spot that everyone talks about? I still have 76lbs until I reach my goal, having lost 51 as of today. I hope this month doesn't prove to be little weight loss and then he does a fill anyways next month. Any advice, or am I over reacting LOL?

Don't be discouraged to gain right after surgery... Most of it is your IV Fluid... I know speaking for myself, I had many bags when I was in the hospital and definitely wasn't peeing it all out when I was there! I weigh myself every day, too. I find that it keeps me in check as well. It's a big motivation for me. I've also found that in the past month, I think my body has really adjusted it's metabolism because even though I feel like I'm eating "more" than I was a month ago, I'm not gaining, and still losing 3-5 lbs per week. It's really all about the exercise along with healthy choices in your diet. Good luck to everyone out there!!! ~Becky Surgery: 4/14/11 Starting Weight: 293 Current Weight: 238

Thanks!!! According to my doctor, they never did a fill during the surgery, so I've only had one fill. I just try really hard to stay disciplined and visit the gym A LOT... Two days a week I take a Zumba class that incorporates toning, and the other 2 or 3 days I'm there I try to do at least a mile on the treadmill, elliptical for 30 minutes, and some ab/arm work with weights. I'm pretty strict with the diet they gave me too, limiting my carbs big time. Sometimes I will eat some carbs if I'm heading to the gym to use as fuel, but sticking to really high Protein has been working for me. Like I said, I still have a ways to go and hopefully this can be motivating for some of the people out there who are struggling. I guess I shouldn't complain about not getting the fill but I just always have that anxiety of "slipping up" like I have done dozens of times on other diets and such.

Since my 4/14/11 surgery, I've had a few stuck episodes (definitely from forgetting to eat slow!) and I definitely can sympathize with your pain!! I find that if I walk around, it helps. Trust me, at Disney World last week I had to stand up and walk outside the restaurant we were at to get the pain to go away. I've also made the mistake of drinking something which makes it feel worse!!! So try the walking next time if you can (and hopefully it won't ever happen again anyways!)

I agree with others that you should check that it's not a blockage... if not, my dr recommends drinking 80-100oz of water per day ( I know it's a lot!)... I also learned from reading these blogs to eat prunes. I dealt with constipation badly and could only go if I took an exlax. Eating one servings of prunes a day has gotten me to become pretty regular! Hope you feel better soon!!

I have been having this exact problem since the day of my surgery 4/21... My doctor's advice was to increase my water intake to 80-100oz per day, which is nearly impossible for me... Unfortunately, I take a chewable exlax once a week which clears me out, but nothing else has worked. After reading these posts, I definitely think I'm going to try the prunes route!!!

Sounds great!! I can't wait to be on solid foods Speaking of recipes, what seasonings are OK to use. I would have never though taco seasoning would be ok, so I'm interested to know what else we can use!

I was banded on 4/14/11... so far, 1 week and 1 day later I've lost 15lbs (23lbs from my visit in Feb with my surgeon). A couple things have happened that I'm not sure are normal or if I should bring them up on my post op appointment next Wednesday. First, (and sorry to be blunt) but I haven't passed a bowel movement since the Tuesday before my surgery... so we're talking 10 days. I don't have pain or discomfort, but I'm not sure if that's normal. Also, I should be drinking my Slim Fast 4x per day, 2oz per serving. The last few days I've had only 1 or 2 servings, and today I couldn't even finish 2oz. Not sure if I'm just getting sick of the liquid diet and my brain is playing tricks on me, but I feel fine... not hungry or anything. Should I continue drinking them regardless to get my protein in? I'm PETRIFIED of throwing up so I just listen to my stomach and don't take any more. CANNOT wait for the liquid diet part to be over with... this has to be the most challenging thing I've ever experienced and my mind is craving so much, so it's quite the battle!!!

Thanks for the replies! My doctor didn't have me do a preop diet, but I tried to begin eliminating things in the meantime so it wouldn't be such a big deal (like soda). I tried sugar free jello last night and it was amazing how delicious it tasted to me!!!

I was also banded on 4/14/11... had the same thing with the chest pains. In the hospital, they told me that's how I would know the difference between the pain of surgery and the pain of gas... the gas would feel like it's in my chest and shoulder, sometimes lower back. It's getting better day by day. 7 lbs down already!!!