Bekrudz

I just want to know how people are doing! I am a week shy of 6 months post op and I have lost 55 lbs. I am just curious to find out how other people are doing and where I fall in weight loss compared to the rest of you. I feel like I should be losing faster, but I am the reason I am not! I go to the gym religiously 3 days a week and work out with a personal trainer. I should be going the other days and doing cardio, which I'm not . I also don't have the best diet. I am eating a lot less than I did before, but my choice of foods is not always the best. How are the rest of you doing?

Hello Bos123, I don't think you should read into anything as far an not a lot of newbie's. It's just a newer surgery and insurance doesn't cover it so less people get it. I don't know anyone who has had any complications from this surgery. I am really happy with the surgery and everything that's come with it. I can honestly say that I wasn't nervous until the day of surgery. I was happy for my new life to begin! I had my surgery done in the Seattle area. Where are you having yours done?

Hello Bos123, I have found that a lot of the plication "old timers" stop posting on a regular basis. I am guilty myself but I am trying to be good and check in regularly. I had my surgery Oct 4th 2011 and did really well in the beginning. I have lost a total of 70 lbs, but am now stuck at 200 lbs. Most of which is my fault. I need to start watching what I eat more. I think my body is now maintaining with the calories I eat. Now I officially need to start dieting :-( and going back to the gym on a regular basis. How are you doing and when did you have your surgery?

Neman & tobethin, You two are doing great! My OP was Oct 4th. I started at 268 and am down to 200. I haven't lost much weight lately, but it's my fault. I've been working so much and have a very ill mother so I've been slacking with my diet. Keep updating, it's exciting to watch everyone else!

Welcome to the club Jeanet! You'll be "hot" in no time!

Canadian, you are losing much faster than I am. I am down about 65 lbs in just shy of 9 months. Granted for the last month I haven't been to the gym. I am still losing, but not as fast as I probably would be had I been going :-/

KC - We all had that "will it get better" feeling. The answer is YES!!! It gets much better! At day 5 (& 8) your stomach is still trying to expand back to it's normal size. That's why you get stomach spasms. Headaches could also be from lack of calories & water. My dr showed me how fast liquids go through your stomach and it's within minutes, so you should be able to sip water continuously throughout the day. Everything is going to feel weird right now and that's normal. Just know that you're in survival/ recovery mode right now and once you get onto solid food, you will feel much better!

Fantastic Canadian!!!! You must be so excited! I am almost a 1er myself! I have 5 lbs to go, and am very excited!!!!

Stina, you are doing great! You are losing faster than me and I work out with a personal trainer 3 days a week. I do have hair loss and it's driving me crazy. I had a lot of hair loss when I was pregnant and then 18 months of breast feeding. It finally got better and then came the surgery and it's bad again. My hair is sooo much thinner than it was, but luckily I had a pretty good amount to start with. I'm 8 months post op and I'm down about 60+ lbs with 50+ lbs to go

My Dr is Dr.Chock at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery in Everett, WA. I have had a great experience with her. My friend went to her at my referral and she also loves her. What state do you live in?

With all of our shrinking waists, I thought maybe we could find people in our area's here on this site and do some clothing trades :-). I don't like to shop for clothes and with our ever shrinking waists, it seems like we may be able to help each other out. It's hard to spend money on clothes when I know they will only fit for a short time. I personally sold my ENTIRE wardrobe on Craigslist for $20. I wasn't out to make money, just to give them to a good home. Now I have more clothes, but not as much as the first time. I am looking for sizes XL Shirts, and 18 Pants. I would also like smaller size pants, knowing I will get there soon I have sizes 2X shirts, 22 pants, 20 pants, & size 20 capri's to go to a good home. I don't have many items since I didn't acquire much after my initial weight loss, but if there is someone in the area I would love to give you what I have! Becky

Seems like different dr's say different things. I was clear liquids for 2 weeks, then milk based liquids for (I think) 1 week, then semi soft for a week, and at a month I was on regular food. I am hoping I am remember that right :-). My surgery was Oct 4th, so my brain is a little fuzzy. I have heard that some people have only been on clear liquids for 1 week.

I have never really been a breakfast eater. I try and at least take a bite of something. DEFINITELY eat before taking any vitamins! Vitamins on an empty stomach will make you throw up! I usually take my vitamins (when I remember) in the evening. Where are you in your eating? Are you on Semi soft yet? I know sugar free popsicles are okay in the clear liquids faze.

I was told to stay away from shakes because they are liquid calories that move through you quickly which in turns makes you hungry faster. I would say... If you're in a hurry and that's what you have available, than grab it. It's still a lot better than stopping at fast food! I drink some protein drinks also. Being a vegetarian, I am always worried that I'm not consuming enough protein. Maybe when you drink a shake you should make a mental note that you can't have anything else to eat for 3 hours. That way you don't end up eating 2 meals. I find at night that I want to snack even after I've eaten dinner. It is my biggest issue right now

I can gulp, but not as much as I used to be able to. Are you getting barium scans? If you can... they help to see what your pouch and how much room you have. I think you're weight loss is good for the short time. I think you're doing good. I know what you mean about it being mental. I struggled a for a couple months with the mental aspect of the surgery. I was hard to not eat when you really "want" to. I can tell you that, that aspect gets better. I now naturally order smaller portions or share a meal with my son. I find it helpful sometimes to have a very small amount of a few different things so I feel like I get a variety.

The reason for not drinking while eating and within an hour after eating is because it helps the food digest faster, therefor you are hungry sooner. I have also found that if I drink to much or to soon after eating, it makes me feel bad and once I even threw up. I think it's because the stomach was already full of food and now I over stuffed it with water. I try and make a conscience decision to drink a lot before meals, even if I don't feel thirsty. I will try and drink a large glass of water right before my meal. The water goes through you really fast so you will still have room for food.

Clovers- I agree with the weigh-ins not being everyday. I weigh myself maybe once a week, but I really go by the dr's scale when I go in every month. I agree what you said about the band. I don't do well when someone tells me "I can't" have something. I also didn't like the idea of having a device in my stomach and having to get fills. I wanted to let you know that Kika79 is also in Miami, if you wanted to talk to another local. You need to make sure you are "Living" in Miami and not just "Existing" anymore! BTW... I think you're doing great with your weight loss. Sounds like we are on the same path and getting similar results . Becky

tobethin- I feel like I can eat to much too! My Dr has assured me that my plication is doing great and not stretched out. I have also seen it for myself on the X-ray, but I still think I can eat to much sometimes. I am going to have her check again when I go back in June. She did tell me that you can stretch out your pouch by eating to much, to fast! I feel like I eat to fast sometimes and in the evenings I have a bad habit of snacking. I try and make better snacking decisions, but it's still a BAD habit! Good thing we have this site to talk to people about and try and hold ourselves accountable!

Honestly Sue.... You are smack in the middle of one of the hardest parts! If you can get through the pre op diet you'll be 1/2 way there. The next hardest part is the post op diet. Post op is easy at first because you don't want to eat much. As you feel better, it is only hard because you want to eat solid foods but can't. Again it's a will power thing! Once you're on solids, you're home free. Keep yourself as busy as possible during the pre op diet, so you don't have time to think about food. You'll do great!!!

Bfacebaby- You are doing much better than me! My surgery was Oct 4th, started at 268 and I'm down to 213 right now. Any tips you can give? I had a dr appt today to weigh in and I only lost 2 lbs in the last month . Any tips would be much appreciated! Fantastic job by the way!!!

I wouldn't necessarily cancel golf for May. I was back at the gym at the beginning of my 3rd week post surgery and even doing stuff where I was laying on my stomach. My dr basically said there are no restrictions, just do what's comfortable. I also enjoy golfing, and think had the weather been permitting I could have golfed in my 3rd weeks post op. I think the biggest thing that might hold you back is that you may get tired easier and not be able to finish all 18 holes. The reality is you don't have to worry about your stomach except when it comes to food. The rest is just the healing of the incision sites.

Abdulalux - You are doing INCREDIBLE!!! 44 lbs in 1 month!!! I am 7 months out and have lost roughly 55 lbs (find out exact amount tomorrow). I thought I was doing good, but you are kicking butt and taking names!!! Becky

I HATED muscle milk too! I liked the protein shakes you get at costco. They don't have any weird after taste and just taste like chocolate milk. Well done on the weight loss! I had a 7 day pre diet and lost 8 lbs. My goal was to lose 10 lbs, but they seemed pretty happy with 8 . You are already doing great!!!

You will do great!!! I think you are smart to schedule the surgery sooner. Just means you have more time to lose weight before summer . It will also give you less time to worry about it! My dr said... "you can't un-tell someone, so be selective on who you tell!". I think that's true, but I found when I told people they were super supportive and I even found out that a few of my friends had, had WLS and never spoke about it! I also found that most people I told, had someone close to them that had also had some kind of WLS. If you like your co-workers and get along with them, I think you should tell them. It is nice to have the support system and have them check in with you. You also then get to brag to them how much you've lost . I only told 1 person that I wish I hadn't and that was my uncle. He gave me a lecture. He doesn't live in the same state as me and hasn't checked in with me since so I don't even know if he knows that I already had the surgery (Oct 4th 2011). His loss! He will be surprised in July when he comes to visit and I'm (hopefully) 80 lbs lighter (55 lbs right now :-). I have a few neighbors that keep telling me I'm shrinking and I haven't told them I had surgery. I just say thank you for noticing and that I'm working really hard. One asked how I've done it and I told the truth in that I now work out with a personal trainer 3 times a week and eat much smaller portions! I'm not lying!!! You will do fantastic and the months after the surgery will fly by while your fat stays behind . Good luck and keep us posted!!! Becky