Star1221

You look fantastic. Congrats... Keep on rocking out

I totally feel you with the hair loss. I was still losing hair from having a baby when I had my surgery. Now at close to 5 months post-op, GOBS of hair is coming out. I cut it a good bit shorter, thinking the shorter hairs wouldn't bother me as much... Guessed wrong. Hair still coming out, still bothering me lol. I guess it's just something we have to deal with. Most of us women will have it. Some swear this and that will work, but I've done it all from Biotin, Nioxin, and lots of protein. I've been doing them all from go, and nothing has changed. I do know that it will grow back. That we will lose about half of our hair. But it will come back usually the same, if not better. Let's hold on. I am POSITIVE this is worth it.

Hands down, child birth was worse. 48 hours of labor... I had no pain with VSG. So, though I had a piece of perfection with my daughter... Child birth was worse. Not doing that again lol.

I live in the Starkville area. I was born in New York. So kinda foreign lol

WOW!!! That rocks. Congrats. And you look like a completely different person. Fantastic

Good luck. You'll do just fine

The burping and gurgling in your stomach is COMPLETELY normal. Also, your body is in shock and retaining water right now. Don't worry. It will move. This is something we all go through. I know when the scale is stagnant, it feels like it will never move again. I would not look at the scale for a week at a time at the beginning at least. Focus on getting your liquid in. Most important thing right now.

That is a great article. Thanks for putting it out there for the newbies. Everyone's first stall is scary. Feels like you'll never lose again lol

Oh my god.. I couldn't have waited 4 weeks lol. I just read a post this morning about how different thinner sex is for a man. Just letting you know, it's different for a woman too. From my biggest, I am 105 lbs down. From pre-op and surgery, I am 90 pounds. So when I remember how self conscious I was and all the fat bouncing and stuff, it's really... Gross.. LOL. There's nothing hotter than being told that your but bruised their groin... Just saying LOL. It gets better...

The amount of food you eat will increase slightly as you go through this journey. But it from from like 3-4 oz, to like 7 oz. It's not a whole whole lot. It's what we put in that limited space that really makes the difference. We all are going to slip. But the best thing to do is stay away from the foods you are helpless with for a while. Some say until goal. I say until you don't really think about them anymore. If you're 6 months out and you really don't care if you have a chip or not... Try one. Your body may not even like them anymore. I know cakes and muffins and brownies are my weakness.. I know I will forever have a problem with them, because I still think about them all the time. So I just steer clear of those things. As long as you eat protein first, you shouldn't have a problem.

Ouroborous... Every thread I read of your makes me smile even more. This is FANTASTIC!!! Haven't had that kinda marathon sex is YEARS lol. I might need to find me a sleeved man lol.

Right now your body is trying to adjust to everything. I know my weight loss started off in those first day kinda slow. You still have water retention and swelling from the surgery. And 9 pounds in 2 weeks??? That's 4 1/2 pounds a week. That's fantastic. If you would've lost 9 pounds before, would you not be celebrating? Look at it that way. We didn't gain it all at one time, so we can't just lose it all at once. The sleeve is a tool that allows us to control our portions. So 2 things you can do to continue this success... Make sure you get your fluids in. I know when I don't, my weight loss is slower. And the second, walk. Anything to burn calories. It takes 3500 calories burned to lose a pound. The more active you are, the faster it will come off. Oh and one more thing... Take the word "ONLY" out of your vocabulary when talking about weight loss. You will lose a lot some times, then you may stall for a month. Just relax, breath, and know that it will come off if you are following your diet properly. Congrats on surgery and your 49 lbs weight loss thus far.

You look fabulous.

Incredible honey... Absolutely incredible.

I am 29, I went from highest 300 lbs, I lost 15 pounds before pre-op diet, 20 pounds on the pre-op diet (2 weeks all liquid) and am now sitting at 195. Surgery was 4-18. So at 4 months out, including pre-op and post-op, I have lost 90 pounds. 70 of those post op. I do have loose skin. Mainly on arm, upper thighs, and stomach. But not as horrible as I thought it would be. I think it will all draw up some, but still anticipating having to have surgery to fix the really problem areas... Stomach and thighs.

I take Biotin. I use Nioxin. I take a B12 shot every month. I am also 4 months out. But my hair is still coming out by the handful. I think some of us are just more susceptible to hair loss. I also cut my hair shorter... Still coming. But all of it won't come out. And I know it will grow back. Just gotta hold or breath and wait, I guess

So I am officially 4 months and 1 day out today. It's been a journey to say the least. Not any issues with the sleeve, just the head part of it. I know I have lost a lot weight (89 including pre-op) but I mentally still see myself as what I looked like before. But, I have went from a size 22/24 to a size 14, I went from 285 to 196, I weigh less than I did in Jr high, and weigh less than my husband does (by 5 pounds thank you lol). It takes a lot to accept the compliments from others, but I have got to say, I like the attention. I work out at least 4 days a week for 60-90 minutes. I eat almost only Protein, though I can say I don't really watch calories. As long as I know my carbs are down, and I get all my liquid, I know weight will eventually move. Just know that this journey is not easy, but I would do it a 1000 times over. I would've put full body pics up, but the only before pics are only in bra and pants LOL. Other than that, never really allowed full body shots.

The cath depends on the surgeon. I didn't have one. I had 6 incisions. All but one look like a red speck. Fluids are a chore for a while... I still have to remind myself to drink, but never dehydrated. As long as you sip sip sip, you should be fine. As far as hair loss... Going through it now. Most people have it. Women worse then men from what I am seeing. My dr had the sleeve done, and he actually got hair back. My is falling out in gobs right now, but I am ok with that.. I can buy a wig if I think it's too bad. The hair comes back. It is only temporary. I knew this before hand and it didn't deter me.

Alcoholism is a switch over addiction. Some people use that to fill in the void that food used to fill. It's used instead of self-medicating with food. It happens quite a bit actually.

I think I am one of the few lucky folks. Never ate anything that didn't agree. I eat spicy all the time. Love kimchi. Now I just make better choices... Smaller portions. Just haven't tried sweets... They were my down fall on my way up the weight latter. So going to wait on that until I am closer to goal.

Weight loss would help the heart rate. Losing weight helps your heart because it doesn't have to work as hard to pump the blood. So a heart rate of 100 is having to work harder than someone's who is beating at 60 bpm.

I had 2 weeks with 3 shakes a day.. All the broth, water, crystal light, sugar free Popsicle, and sugar free jello I wanted. First 3 days sucked. Fourth day I was a B. After that is was ok. Lost 20 pounds in that time.

They gave me regular in the hospital. I drink a cup of regular coffee since go. I have not had any issues with it. Sugar free creamer and equal... My dr wasn't as "strict" as some of the dr's people have on here. I can use a straw, drink slightly flattened soda (I don't, but I can) and coffee is fine.

You are doing wonderful. We all go through the not being able to see it part. You definitely need to buy at least one new pair of pants and one shirt (even from Goodwill) to let yourself and others see what you have lost. It took me 50 pounds to see any real difference in myself and about that for others to see it, but only after I wore a more form fitting outfit. The first real compliment I got was "Your arms are so tiny". Not even close, but that was the beginning. Now people who haven't seen me in months or years are really noticing everything. Just hold on a little longer. Suddenly you'll see collar bones, your rings will fall off, and you'll walk straight out of your pants. Plus, you are just DAYS away from ONDERLAND