akwright68

I can usually find Nioxin products at Ross, Marshalls or TJ Maxx as well. I open the biotin capsules and mix them in the blender with my morning protein shake, just a thought. Although I have noticed hair renewal, I have noticed that I am not losing clumps of hair like I was before. My dermatologist recommended using the Rogaine for women to see if it might help with some regrowth. I have cysts on my ovaries that cause hormone fluctuations which had already caused thinning hair on the very top front of my head. After surgery I was losing hair by the handfuls at each shower. I panicked and went right to the dermatologist. He recommended the Nioxin products as well.

Awesome accomplishment - if you need to get rid of those clothes, I could use them. Wearing size 20 & 18 pants, 2x and 1x shirts. I will gladly take them off your hands and out of your closet.

You are probably still very swollen as well. Try gas x strips first and a warm shower - this seems to help me when I got extra gassy right after surgery to alleviate some of it. I hope this helps.

An update and something that I think that we all need to remember and think about on our weight loss journey. Stress can be a huge blocking point in weight loss. For the last month I have been going through stress at work and at home. I have felt like a giant ball of anxiety walking around. I could not settle down, sleep, truly rest and to actually sit down and eat was just not going to happen. I unfortunately picked up the habit of taking large bites and instead of chewing properly, just drinking the bite down - to avoid the PB issues. This made me hungrier sooner and when you are running to a hundred million places throughout the day fast food is easier. I still have stayed away from the bread, rice and pasta - but got reintroduced to potato chips. The salt content killed whatever weight loss I might have had if I had just eaten properly. Things finally started easing up earlier this week and I have had to reevaluate every aspect of my life and eating habits. On Wednesday I began protein shakes in the morning with a tablespoon of flaxseed as well as a tablespoon of SF pudding. This shake literally takes me 3 - 4 hours to drink it all. I have a late lunch of 4 oz of lean meat and 4 oz of steamed veggies. Dinner is the same as lunch. For my sweet treat at night I have one snack pack of applesauce. So far my weight loss in 4 days has been 3 pounds. I have started meditating in the evening - and as I truly am hyper this is incredibly difficult. I cannot honestly say whether or not it is working, but I think just the quiet reflection is allowing me to think some things through and helping me make some tough decisions. I am in a better place than I have been for about 4 weeks now, but each day brings new challenges. The largest realization that I have had is that my peace and happiness is in direct correlation to everything around me and I can either allow it to control my emotions and allow myself to make bad choices (eating terribly, holding in my feelings and allowing other people to control my life), or I can take control and be accountable to myself. I think we all have underlying forces of control that have taken over our lives and created conflict and turmoil that assisted in our losing control of our weight throughout the years - whether that was people or things. I know that much of my weight loss journey is a mental journey as well as a physical one. I have many people in my life and in my direct surroundings that create conflict and disorder in which I react in a disruptive way (by holding it in and not wanting to cause conflict with other people). Learning to use my voice and venting my feelings is much better than self destructive behavior or emotionally placating myself through food. This is my new declaration for now. I cannot control the attitude and self control of an eighteen year old step son that is full of anger and hurt from his mother, but takes it out on me, his stepmother. Although I cannot control this, I can choose to remove myself as his emotional punching bag. I cannot control the forces of the corporate world and how office politics allows bullies to persist in that environment. I can control how I react to them and stand up for myself. I have as of this week been promoted to a new department and although everything is new - I am excited about the future there. The largest source of my stress - I cannot control the forces of my husband's family in their time of grief and utter disbelief that their mother has terminal cancer. This is a terrible tragedy and watching from the sidelines while they tear each other apart with accusations, distrust and passive aggressive control tactics has been the most horrific thing I have had to be a part of. Attorneys should never be used to control their siblings or parents decisions. I pray every day that she passes with peace and her dementia has a strong foothold of her mind so that she does not experience the pain from watching her family destroy themselves from within. I am thankful that we live 6 states away and that we do not have to experience this daily. I can control my feelings of anguish through prayer, tears and being here to support and love my husband in his time of grief, disbelief and sadness. Finally - I am responsible for me and my actions. I have to stay regimented in my daily food choices and exercise behaviors. I have to breathe, eat and move every single day. It is up to me to make the most of my life and not allow other people to affect me with their negative actions (easier said than done). I know we all go through things from time to time. Thanks for listening to my declarations. This is a journey.

No matter what, you did this for your health - we all did. My hubby has good days and bad, but it is really up to us to be strong in our resolve. I was banded in February and each day brings a new challenge, but I am successfully beating every one. WE CAN do this.

I am down 45 lbs., but believe me it has not been without daily struggles. My husband is still trying to get me eating the wrong things, then gets upset when I say no. Even tries to order for me at restaurants, so yes it can be exhausting. I have 4.5 cc's in my band. I still have to remember to chew everything thoroughly, which I thought would be second nature by now. I started walking for my workouts with the goal of 10,000 steps a day and added the 10 floors of stairs in my office building four times a day. I have needed some additional and/or something different so I purchased the 10 minute trainer dvd's and do 2 to 3 ten minute modules a day. I work at this everyday. The women at work bring baked goods everyday and want to go out to eat everyday. I started grad school, so I use my lunch time to study so I have an excuse. Protein shakes with sugar free Jello pudding added for thickness and flavor changes are my Breakfast. Greek yogurt and chopped chicken breasts with veggies are lunch. I try to keep protein high, no bread, rice, Pasta or potatoes. Tons of Water is a must as well. I hope this helps.

I agree, 1 lb at a time. I feel incredible. Although I had a few weeks where I felt my weight loss was stagnant my body was changing. I see it, I feel it and feel like this was the best decision that I ever made for myself.

Every lost pound or inch counts. I did measurements from the beginning. It helps me see progress when the scales shows none. You look great. I bet it feels amazing.

I think the largest problem is the conflicting instructions from physicians. Each physician has their own set of instructions that they want you to follow. I have spoken with my physician, his partnering physician, their two different dieticians and I have taken a little from each one. I can only provide you with the direction that was given to me. Your body is still healing and you have some time that you need to re-learn how to eat correctly. I was banded February 15, 2013 and I am still trying to teach myself to slow down, chew and take smaller bites. I still get distracted when eating with other people, so I tend to eat by myself or with people I am truly comfortable with. I take in about 800 - 1100 calories per day. I start off my mornings at 4:30 a.m. with 8 oz. of room temperature Water and wait for my morning coffee to brew. I personally found that initially starting off with hot liquids would make my stomach jumpy (a new thing after surgery). My Breakfast is usually a poached egg with 1/2 a tomato or raw zuchini or a Protein shake with 2 T of sugar free pudding to flavor change and thicken the shake. This keeps my hunger at bay and really fills me up. My morning snack is a turkey meatball or 1/2 a chicken thigh and a dannon light and fit yogurt. My lunch is usually 2 meatballs (I have several sauces to diversify my flavors), the other half of the chicken thigh and 4 oz. of steamed or raw vegetables. My dinner is usually a Protein Shake or 4 oz fish and 4 oz vegetables. The basic rule of thumb is to keep your protein level up, veggies are your friend, your bad carb count down, sugars to null and void and your water intake to at least 8 classes a day. When the doctor gives you clearance to exercise start slow so you don't hurt, but keep with it. I hope this helps a little. I am not an expert, just learning like the rest of us. Each day comes with a new challenge. Good luck.

Please add me. Alitawright@yahoo.com

You can find me on MyFitnessPal with my email address: alitawright@yahoo.com

Remember that you are still recovering and swollen. I have read where people have not lost a pound for months after the surgery, then all of the sudden it begins to come off. Not what you wanted to hear, but each of us heals differently. Keep your protein consumption up and be patient. Walk, walk, walk and walk some more. Exercise, water, and protein shakes are a staple of banded life. Right now you are swollen internally and healing, it won't always be like that. I am 2 months into this life and still feel impatient, but see the steady progress and know that this is the healthier way. I am down from a size 26 to a 22. 264 presurgery to 233 now. This week my weight was none, but I measured 2 inches overall smaller. The body changes differently, not just by weight.

Good luck, keep us all posted. We are here for you.

I wanted to share an NSV with all of my fellow bandsters. A year ago today I weighed 289. This morning I weighed 233. I had my surgery on Feb 15th, 2013 and weighed 264 on that day. I have lost 56 lbs in one year and 31 lbs since the surgery. I know that I personally have mentally overcome many of my bad habits and continually find more and more of them that I need to work on. I have learned whom I have as a support system and which ones are not there for me in reality. I take each day as it comes, just as an addict would. Above all I am happy that I made this decision to be banded and take the challenge of becoming healthier and having a better life. I no longer have swollen hands, legs and feet at the end of the day. I no longer have to purchase wide shoes. I can run up and down 10 flights of stairs, twice a day without having an asthma attack or feeling like I am going to pass out. Each day is no longer a struggle to get up. I just wanted to share.

Thank you. You are always so supportive of everyone. You have accomplished so much yourself and have such a positive and upbeat attitude. I am happy that I found this forum and that there are people like you that are here to support and share.

I like the EAS Carb advantage shakes. I add sugar free syrup flavors for different tastes. I am extremely picky about taste and texture.

You have already proven you are stronger than your mental craving. You CAN do this.

Well I have officially gone down a full 2 sizes and almost a third. I no longer have to wear wide shoes and I do have more energy. My motivation to exercise has gone downhill, but it is mostly due to stress at work and at home. I am working on that, but it has been a struggle. I have learned that my food intake has to be planned and measured out, or my mental hunger kicks in and I forget to eat slow and small bites. My first fill was last week and I have had two "stuck" episodes, so I am much more careful. You HAVE to think about what you put in your mouth, which is a major realization for me. I tend to multi-task everything I do in life, so for eating I know that I have to pay attention. It is making it easier to continue that into other parts of my life as well. This really is a learning experience. I learn more about my body, my mental approach to life and that I tend to let everyone else dictate things in my life. Now that I know this I have to learn how to take charge of me.

This may or may not work for you, but I was having the same feelings of wanting to eat everything...........well guess, what we can't or we have already failed this tool. I prepare my meals twice a week. Here is an example of what I HAVE to stick to whether mentally and physically I want more or not: Breakfast - Two 8 oz cups of coffee, 2 Tbsp. 2% milk; Mid-morning snack: Sugar free yogurt (usually peach or strawberry) and 3 oz. of protein - usually an egg or a meatball. Lunch and Dinner: I eat 3 oz. portions of meat or some other protein and 3 -5 oz. of vegetables (usually carrots or green beans due to them being softer). Dessert snack: Sugar free pudding or jello. My protein of choice lately has been turkey meatballs flavored with garlic, onion and green pepper. I add spaghetti sauce, salsa, terryaki or a fat free bernaise sauce. Chicken, steak and I are having some "stuck" episodes, so I have moved to softer things. Ice cream scoops offer just the right serving size. Instituting enough water in my diet has been a beast - I have set timers on my phone for every hour past 9 a.m. and I consume at least 4 - 8 oz. of water every hour that I am not eating. My husband likes to eat out, a lot, so I order something off the appetizer menu or soup and then take most of it home. My comfort zone has become the consistency of having things pre-made and measured out. Life is stressful and messy and to make this work, for me anyway, I have to consistently make my meals up ahead of time. When I forget, I keep 1 EAS Carb Advantage shake in my purse at all times - then I know I have something with me and the temptation to cheat is still there, but I have no valid reason to do it. Friends and family members can make it easy for us to sabotage ourselves as well as the band - we have to be strong enough and find our own way to make this work for us and not against us. Please take this statement as encouragement: We waited too long to get this surgery to not contribute fully to making this work for us. It is not easy, it is a journey and when we accomplish our goals it will be with the confidence of knowing that WE did this, the band was our tool, but WE did it. Take your time, plan, prepare and most of all be good to yourself. Encourage yourself and if you have a bad day, don't beat yourself up - just plan that tomorrow will be better and make it happen.

Congratulations. What a great accomplishment.

Congratulations. What a great accomplishment.

Alita Age 44 Surgery date: Feb. 15, 2013 Weight 8 mos. before surgery: 289 Weight at liquid pre-op: 269 Weight at surgery: 249 Weight at first fill: 243 Goal weight: 145, but would be happy at 160. This has been a slow, but consistent journey so far. I feel so free, no more swelling of my feet, no more mental starvation.

Your swelling seems to have gone down quickly. You are not over reacting, but this is normal. Restriction for some can be immediately, or after a few fills. You also have not really eaten solid foods as of yet, maybe a few but not consistently. Still practice eating properly, the right amount, the right size bite, chewing to paste and eating slowly so you will feel full faster. Much of this is mental, more than physically right now. I was banded Feb. 15th, so I am still a newbie as well. I mistakenly feel no restriction, then don't chew properly and then OUCH......the sliming begins and that last bite comes up. This has happened twice, the last one bringing me to full attention of what I have to do, and how important it is to play by the rules of the band.

You did it.....the week of torture is over and you were stronger than the temptation. Tomorrow will be something else and you can and will be strong enough to say no. Crying is a way to get out that frustration. For me, that next emotion was anger, then resentment for people being inconsiderate. That emotion lessens as well. We are here for you.

Congratulations, and thank you for not only the sage advice but inspiration. Huge accomplishment.