AJW

I really think this depends on your age as well as how much weight you lose. I'm not a spring chick anymore, so yeah, after losing 83 pounds there is sagging skin. Not attractive to me. I plan to have cosmetic surgery once I get to goal, skin tightening up by then or not. I don't have a lot of time to wait it out and see what my body ends up doing (at least in my mind, I don't have time, and I'm the impatient sort) so the nip/tuck is definitely in my future. To each their own.:biggrin2:

/ Frankly, I'm an ARIES and 6 months of waiting/weighting would drive me completely crazy. I'd just do again what I already did: go to Mexico and PAY FOR IT myself. Dr. Aceves is the best, no waiting and sooo much cheaper than in the States. Just my opinion; everyone has to find their own way on this path.

Glad it's moving again. I know how frustrating it can be when nothing happens. I resorted to taking diuretics at one point, and then stopped myself because that's a dangerous habit. If it has to come off slower, then that's the way it's going to be.

Hope things went better than you expected and you're back at home. Let us hear from you so we can know how you're doing.

I have hair extensions and had them even before the sleeve. However, my hair has thinned so much on top that they can only attach so many extensions without them showing. Of course extensions (the piece by piece Cinderella system) are expensive and very time intensive. That's the bad part; the good part is they last about 4 months with care on your part before you have to have them taken off and re-done. I briefly had the type that you can literally stick on, but the quality of the hair wasn't good (frizzy hair) and you could see the "tabs" when a light breeze came up (on me) because my hair is so thin. I hope the hair comes back, but I'm 60 so not sure about that.

Wearing my size 10s today. The 12s were just too big in the legs and butt, and were looking dumpy on me. The 10s are tight in the waist but fit everywhere else so I'm wearing them.:thumbup:

I'm cold all the time now too. My house is cold inside and I hate turning on the heat, so I have a little heater under my desk. But yeah, am now cold, never was before unless it was really COLD. Ha Ha, Dee Dee, about the weather. So Cal. you can have it; we're never satisfied where we are, are we? I get tired of always sunny days, believe it or not. Would love some rain and some texture in the sky. Was 173.4 this morning, and have a size 10 jeans upstairs waiting for me to feel comfortable in them. I can get them on, but they're still too tight around the middle for comfort. They fit, but I don't want something to be too tight. It's all good!

WTG, Dee Dee. Lucky you have snow. We're in So. Cal., so winter is 50ish and no nothing, only rain when we get very lucky.

Glad you're home and doing well. Just remember it takes time and healing is a process. Remember this when you wonder why you're feeling crappy some days and really good on others. It's just a process.

I was just reading through this thread and came across yours noting that you worked in medical malpractice. When I was a legal assistant back in 1999, I also worked for a medical malpractice DEFENSE attorney. Small world.:thumbup:

I'm 4 month post-op sleeve, and I still can't eat very much of dense protein or anything else for that matter. Can I eat more now than at 6 weeks, yes, maybe a little. If there's any stretching, it's something minuscule you don't even notice unlike the bypass pouch which can and does stretch to the point that people can actually gain the weight back if they don't watch it.

Yes, you need some help. Are you working with a nutritionist or were you evaluated by a nutritionist before you had the surgery? If not, then ask your doctor's office to offer some advice on diet, etc. As you say, this is a life-changing event. You can't continue to eat like you use to and think, Oh, I'll just eat LESS of the wrong foods. No! That's not how it works. I've lost 70 pounds and I have not exercised at all. That's not in my best interest, but I'm lazy, so I'm shrinking but my muscle tone is for crap. I need to work on that. Right now, just concentrate on getting your protein in and enough fluids. Doesn't have to be water, but does have to be enough fluids so you're not dehydrating. Muscle cramps in your calves sounds like dehydration or calcium deficiencies, to me, but I'm no doctor. I started my pre-op with the Medifast plan and I have continued with it. It takes the guess work out of "what am I going to eat today?" I also take supplements which I buy from womentowomen.com Yes they can be pricy, but my health is worth it. Check out both programs and see if anything interests you. Medifast works, and people lose weight with it even without surgery, but it's a lot easier with the surgery. Yes, it's expensive, but you're not buying so much food at the market so it's a trade off. Whatever you choose to do, we're here to support and help you, but all the decisions for a new and more healthy you start in your head. It's a re-education process so give yourself time to evaluate what's more important to you - your health or your old habits. I'm sure you know which it is.

Congrats, Tracy! Glad you're doing well and that they could revise you to the sleeve without complications. That's great news! Yes, keep us posted on your progress.:lol0:

Great job, Deedee! Keep going and you'll be at goal before you know it!

Carolyn, go here and read about how to register as Non-Union: Central Casting

I used to do background work in films and television. I was about a size 12/14 at the time which is too big for camera work. You have to be a size 6 or below to get featured roles to make the work itself any fun for you, cause there isn't any money in the jobs. IF I can get down that low, I might try it again, just for fun. I've been a size 6 before but it was in the mid-90s and before I broke my leg in 1998, which was my real downfall into obesity. We'll see how it goes. Some time next year I figure I'll be there.

You're not doing anything wrong, except that mushy foods should only be started when your doctor gives you the go ahead and all docs are different. After I lost 12 pounds I had a little stall - a few days - and started thinking "boy I did all this just to lose 12 pounds!" Of course that wasn't true. Your stomach needs to HEAL, ladies, and your body will hold onto fluids to surround the healing parts. When that's no longer needed, the fluids will let go and the fat will go with them. You guys need to be patient. I know that might be a foreign word in some people's vocabulary, but keep it in mind. In fact, I basically already posted this in response to the other poster.

Well crap, I was down two pounds less last week and have gained two pounds doing nothing different. Don't know why; my body likes to screw with my head. However, my size 12 jeans arrived today and they fit like a glove. By the end of Dec. I so want to be at 170 pounds as I'm going on a cruise. When I hit 179 I thought OH YEAH, I'll get there. Now I'm back to 181! I broke down and took a diuretic today. I know that's a sin against weightloss kind but I'm tired of holding onto the water! I'll be down tomorrow and then watch it creep back up as the fluid is replaced. Oh well, screw it. Doing the best I can and am thankful that I'm in my size 12 pants anyway. Hope things go back to my normal down .2 to .4 a day routine pretty soon.:001_tongue:

You're still healing so your body is probably holding onto fluids for awhile longer. Give yourself time. I don't think this is really a stall; it's your body's way of saying I'm holding onto fluids until my tummy heals and I figure out that you're not starving me. Then I'll be OK and let go of all these fluids. You're not even a month out yet. Be patient.

Way to go, Chickie! Congratulations to you. I remember the feeling of getting under 200 and it wasn't that long ago. Keep doing what you're doing as it obviously works for you. Keep us posted.

I think you may just have to have that lipo'd off if it doesn't shrink enough for you.

You are a skinny lady, that's WHO you are, Missy Tiffy!!:001_tongue:

I weigh daily too; I'm way too anal to not do that. That way if I get too far off track I can catch it quick. If I didn't do that, I'm afraid of losing control and I need to be in control of this. You type A's know how that goes, right?! Even you type B's. LOL!