hadouni

I'm 7.5 months out from surgery and I've lost quite a bit of hair and I didn't have much to loose! My hair is fine and less than abundant without surgery so right now I feel pretty pathetic. I've been taking a low dose of Biotin (I think 1000mg per day) for about 1.5 months and I tried the Nioxin hair care system for fine & thinning hair. I'm not convinced either of those things are doing much and I think the falling out is slowing on its own. It started at about month 3.5-4 for me. I cut my hair to a shoulder length layered cut that gives it some volume and I use mouse to blow it dry and give it shape/volume. The Nioxin scalp treatment has sunscreen in it and I have to wear a hat if I'm going to be in the sun for any length of time because I don't want to burn my scalp. All in all, I'd take the thin hair over the 80lbs A-N-Y day!

Yes, I have the first consult for laser hair removal this Friday! I'll have to talk to the Dr. about biotin because I've been taking it for the last month. I haven't noticed any significant change in hair growth since taking the biotin but it's not two months yet and I figured I'd give it 3 months. I'm doing my underarms for sure and hopefully bikini+ if I can afford it! My skin is so sensitive and I get ingrown hairs like razor rash even from waxing my bikini area and that's just no good! Wish me luck!

Haven't read them and am not really that interested even though lots of people are telling me I *have* to read them. Aren't the 50 shades books more about dom/sub than S&M? Do all dom/sub relationships include S&M? I don't know... ? I suppose I could see the appeal of giving up sexual control to partner who was entirely focused on the pleasure of the person they were controlling but bringing any pain into that is beyond me. But, I also believe consenting adults can do whatever they want and it's none of my business! =)

They put three or four bags of potassium back into me the day after my surgery. This was seriously one of the most uncomfortable parts of my surgery experience. I absolutely second the coconut Water. That's exactly what I was going to suggest when I saw the post. There are several brands out now and I find it all over the place including costco, Target & my local grocery store. I'll have to check the potassium in V-8 to the coconut water, that's an interesting comparison.

I have several areas I'd like to tighten up by about an inch! boobs...stomach...thighs! I'm going to have to settle for some laser hair removal for now! =)

oh the hormones were crazy in the first 4-5 months after surgery and it really was a bummer to be single through that! =) it's become a little more manageable and only truly irritating half my monthly cycle. I get at least two weeks out of every four that I don't feel like a teen-age boy!

I'm kind-of straight up and down, with boobs so like a boy, with boobs (and no willie)! I used to be like a fat boy with boobs (and no willie)!

not sure... I wax but the waxing isn't any more painful so I don't think there's more... =)

I started with thin hair and started the loosing at around 3.5-4 months post-op. I'm at six months now and it's slowing down but still more than what I'd consider normal. I started taking Biotin about a month ago and will give it another month to evaluate any success there. I started nioxin system at about 4.5 months. I did the nioxin for a month and don't think it did much for me but the sunscreen in their treatment is useful to me. If I had to buy it again, I'd probably just buy the treatment and not the full system that includes shampoo and conditioner. I did cut my hair so it's layered and not quite shoulder length. I've been using mouse when I blow dry to get a little extra volume. I think the hair loss is only noticeable to me so far. I really see it when I look in the mirror with direct light coming down onto my head - I see way too much scalp! I do see lots of short regrowth coming in as well. I would not trade the 75lbs I've lost, even for my pregnancy hair which was the fullest my hair has been in years! The only thing I'd do is start trying the biotin earlier. Good luck to you all!

I have the Zumba DVDs. I've been lucky to have lived in a few major metropolitan areas where I had access to many forms of ethnic dance so Zumba is ok, but not super exciting. I do like the Zumba workout with the weight/shaker sticks but getting motivated to re-arrange the furniture so I have space to do it is tough. I'm much more likely to get on my treadmill. I'm thinking of a gym membership but I don't like to take my son's time to go to the gym.

I got a nice xl one-piece at target (brand is somehow associated with spanx) and feel pretty good in it. I wish it had a little more room for boobs but it does hold in my tummy nicely. I've only been around family so far but I'd go out in it if I had the opportunity. I took it to the beach recently but it was cold so I didn't use it on that trip. It'll happen for you!

I'm 5'7" and a little bit. My initial goal was 160 but the surgeon's office said 145-150. I think my ticker goal is for 150 now but 160 sounds pretty good to me! Heck, 192 feels fantastic. I'll be at goal when I get rid of my belly roll!

Thanks for the inspiration! You look wonderful and really happy too!

I was just thinking "been there, done that" too! =) It was harder for me in the first three months or so of solid foods and is very rare for me six months out. It'll get better because you'll learn your sleeve and know what to do and not to do. That's been my experience at least! Best to you!

oh yes... still here but lurking more these days!

The past week has been amazing! I fit into my first pair of Lucky Brand jeans. I didn't buy them because I didn't really need them, but they fit! =) The scale is inching down again and all of a sudden my size 16 stuff is hanging real low. One of my friends AND her mom are looking into sleeve surgery because they've been so impressed with my progress. (I'm very excited for my friend because I know she'll have a whole new outlook on life) Another friend, who was the most verbally outspoken against the idea of any WLS saw me for the first time since surgery and I've made a believer out of her. She expected I'd not look healthy and that I'd have more skin issues than I do. She was shocked how healthy I looked and was even more surprised to see the condition of my stomach and boobs - I think they look like the dickens, but she evidently expected them to look worse! She's a pretty harsh critic so I was pleased!

You and I have the same starting weight and I'm down 75lbs at just over 6 months! Good luck to you! I wish I had the time to do the gym thing but it's not in the cards yet for this single mom. I'll stick to my human hamster wheel for now.

No drain for me but I had a catheter that stayed in through the first night. They were very focused on how much I was drinking and urinating. I went home the day after surgery and have had no problems other than a little nausea that responded to meds and some barfing that's always been my fault for eating too fast and too much.

I'm 5'7" and my goal is 150. I'm average sized frame but pretty straight up and down and my boobs are heading south sadly...

I just met with my surgeon's office yesterday for my 6 month check up and brought up my lightheaded and almost fainting spells. She talked mostly about blood pressure and blood sugar levels. She said to make sure and eat three full meals, a small snack if needed and to get in my fluids. I experience this mostly when I do yard work, or am in a situation where I'm bent over and have to turn and move quickly (working in the kitchen and sometimes when I stand up after sitting a while). I tend to run slightly anemic as well. She seemed not to worry unless I started really fainting and hurting myself.

I have a 3 day go each month during my cycle (I think tied into ovulation) when I could basically gnaw on my arm all day! I just want to eat constantly. I try to remind myself it's hormone induced and since I'll not be getting pregnant, I should try to ignore it... not often successful ignoring it What kinds of things are you eating? You might try for some denser Proteins (meats) that stay with you longer than shakes or milk/vegitable based proteins.

Good for you! Congratulations - I know how you feel, I'm back in the 190's and haven't been here since 1999! Keep up the good work!

Oh HECK yes!! I've been dieting since I was 9 years old! The crazy stuff I did to keep from being fat instead of just chunky took years off my life the way I see it. The sooner I could have done this, the better. Knowing what I know now, I should have been looking into this in my early 30s when I started really gaining because there is just no other way for me. I tried it all! If insurance companies were smart, they'd let people do this earlier than they do. The money spent on weight related issues is far more than the cost of surgery.

My surgeon actually doesn't want his patients using Protein shakes at all because he wants them to concentrate on getting their protein from food. I often use a shake for Breakfast and catch all kinds of flack if I fess up to it at the surgeon's office. A box of shakes from costco is lasting me two months. I use them mostly for breakfast at the office. Protein is the building block of so many of the body's systems so it IS really important to get enough but if you can get it in without shakes I'd think you'd be fine. I'm loosing some hair but I started taking Biotin. The loss is starting to slow down maybe, it started about 4 months out and I'm getting close to 6 months out from surgery. How far out from surgery are you?

These are just the greatest moments! Congratulations on your hard work paying off in a "small" way! I had one this morning when I pulled on a pair of size 14 pants my mom gave me because they don't fit her any more... I could totally get away with wearing those pants now... =) I'll give it 10 more lbs to like the way they look on me!