Rebel

I am exactly 8 months out and was down 50 lbs. by my 6th month. My Dr. was thrilled and so was I. In the past 2 months i haven't lost a thing. In fact i've gained 6 lbs. I lost my brother in October and while it was heartwrenching I managed to stick to my eating plan. However two months ago I took a job transfer and moved out of state. My husband didnt find a job right away and well I guess the stress has just taken over. I love my new job etc but this has been a huge transiton for me. The bills are all behind and I have found myself succumbing to my old standby.... Food. Snacking, fast food, drinking from a straw etc. I cant eat much at one time but I know I'm eating the wrong things. I am getting little exercise with my new work schedule and the more the scale doesn't go down the more depressed I feel. Does anyone have any advice? I don't want to undo all of the good I have done and want to get back on track. What is the best way to start? Also my hair is still shedding..

Thanks sleeved. I feel better already. I guess the first step is to admit I've fallen and now I've just got to pick myself up and get going.

Thanks Wishes! I appreciate your support. I havent been on the boards in a long time and I really need that support. I will start planning my meals tomorrow and begin using my fitness pal again. That really helps me hold myself accountable. Thank u for being such a great board friend!!

I can completely empathize. I am exactly 8 months out and was down 50 lbs. by my 6th month. My Dr. was thrilled and so was I. In the past 2 months i haven't lost a thing. In fact i've gained 6 lbs. I lost my brother in October and while it was heartwrenching I managed to stick to my eating plan. However two months ago I took a job transfer and moved out of state. My husband didnt find a job right away and well I guess the stress has just taken over. I love my new job etc but this has been a huge transiton for me. The bills are all behind and I have found myself succumbing to my old standby.... Food. Nutty bars, fast food, drinking from a straw etc. I cant eat much at one time but I know I'm eating the wrong things. I am getting little exercise with my new work schedule and the more the scale doesn't go down the more depressed I feel. Does anyone have any advice? I don't want to undo all of the good I have done and want to get back on track.

This is great information. I have been stalling and now I think it could be due to me not getting enough calories in. Who'd have thought? Congratulations on your success. You are SUCH an inspiration.

Everyone here has given great advice. I personally had surgery 9/6 and my older Brother passed suddenly on 10/1. I didn't know what to do with myself as I could not turn to my old friend "food". Before surgery, I would have eaten my way thru it and not fully embraced my emotions and grief. I did a lot of "journal writing", lots of praying and lots of exercising. I also read books and talked to my family about my brother. I actually experienced the grief, etc instead of masking it or pushing it down with food the way I always had before. Good luck. I'll be praying for you. For me, my Brother's death was an eye opener that I had been on the same road as him with my diabetes & high blood pressure and I was so thankful that I had the surgery and have now eliminated those health issues.

My husband was initially unsupportive as well. But, I persevered and went to the seminar, picked the sleeve surgery based on my research, was approved in 2 weeks. I prayed about it a lot and eventually my Husband came around. I know now that he was scared for me. He has become my biggest supporter and I can't imagine doing this without him. I had diabetes, high cholesterol, high tryglycerides and rheumatoid arthritis at 40 years old. In the 3months since my surgery, I have lost 45 pounds, my glucose is normal, my blood pressure is normal, my tryglycerides are normal and my cholesterol is within 3 points of being normal. I feel better than I have in a long time. I am so happy I had the surgery. I am losing a bit slower than some but I know that everyone's body is different. i am still adjusting to new eating habits, exercise and more. But, I know I am on the right path. I failed over & over on diets and my doctor said only 2% of dieters keep the weight off without surgery. Its a vicious yo yo syndrome. i am glad to be off of that.

I began looking into Weight Loss surgery in April of 2011. I did a lot of research including some on this very board before signing up for a Seminar in July of 2011. My Husband was dead-set against me having any kind of surgery and was sure that we could both do it on our own. However, I was tired of dealing with one medical condition after another stemming from my being overweight. Where normally I would have backed off when he didn't support me, this time something was different and instead I forged ahead. I attended the WLS seminar in July and based on the research I had done prior and the information about different WLS Surgeries they performed, I opted for the Sleeve. I had completed my paperwork and turned it in at the beginning of the Session. Once the physician concluded the Seminar he said to turn in your paperwork if you were interested in moving forward. OOPS. Oh well, I thought it is in God's hands now so His will be done. I went home and told my Husband what happened and he said well you won't be approved so don't worry about it. Two week's later I was driving home when I received the call that I was approved! I could not believe it. I was literally in shock. I knew how many people are denied etc and could not believe it had happened so fast for me. I went home and told my Husband and he said it didn't matter if I was approved there was no way we could afford it. I went to my consultation and found out that I had already paid quite a bit toward my out of pocket due to the other medical issues I had been dealing with (Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Rheumatoid Arthritis) and I could afford the surgery. In addition, this year for the first time ever I had participated in my employer's health spending account and would have those monies available as well. I went home and told my Husband the news and did a lot of praying beforehand. He told me then that he was scared for me to have the surgery. I told him that I appreciated his concern but that I had prayed about this entire situation and every step of the way the Lord had removed one obstacle after another. I told him that in faith I was going to move forward and gave him a couple of dates that I could have surgery on. It was like the Lord just changed him at that point. We talked about it (for the first time) the procedure, the pre-diet, the post-diet, the lifestyle changes and he really listened. We picked the surgery date together and he volunteered to take me to the hospital and stay at home with me my first day out of the hospital. My surgery went smoothly in September and he has been my biggest cheerleader ever since. He actually spent the first week with me after I got home from the hospital (taking his vacation time) and took care of our son all on his own while I recovered. He is the first one to encourage me now if I am having a bad day or feeling discouraged when I stall. I could have done this without him but I am so glad I didn't have to. In three short months, I have lost 45 lbs and am over 1/2 way to my goal of 88 lbs lost. I have lost 18 inches in my waist and hips alone. I have more energy than I have in years and a newfound self confidence that had been sorely lacking. I have gone from a size 22 to a size 16 in clothes. My recent labs showed that my triglycerides and blood glucose are NORMAL and my cholesterol is within 3 points of being normal. I was so excited when I saw this and have already been taken off my diabetes and blood pressure medications as well. I can honestly say this is the BEST thing I have ever done for myself. But, the benefits are priceless too. My son has a Mom that can get in the floor with him, take him on amusement park rides, play soccer, throw the football, etc. I was so tired before and my joints were so sore that I had become a sit-down Mom and could only watch as he played and ran around. I know now that I will be here to see my grandkids and grow old with my Husband and a few months ago even, I could not have said that. I know how good I feel already and can't imagine how much better I will feel when I get to goal. The goal is something I can actually see now when before it seemed so unattainable. I will do this. This is my time and I will succeed.

I had surgery on 9/6 and my left side pain began the same time as yours. It did not ease up until 10/6 when my stitch finally dissolved. I used a heating pad alternating with ice and took liquid adult tylenol. Once it dissolved I had no pain at all. Hang in there! That left side stitch is really deep.

Rest assured, this is completely normal. My surgery was in September and I experienced the same burning pain at the same site. I was sure that something was wrong but my Dr. assured me it was normal. Alternating heat & ice really seemed to help as did adult strength liquid tylenol. At about week 4 that stitch finally dissolved and the pain (as well as the dent in my side) finally disappeared. It's rough but completely normal. If you do too much it will definitely let you know. The stitch is really deep and that whole area is sore from being clamped open while they did your surgery and removed your stomach. You'll be fine. Hang in there.

OMG. As a Mother myself, I struggle with the same things. I have no problem spending money on my Hubby or Son but when it comes to me I don't really need it or it can wait or... You get the point. I have started having my nails done every 2 weeks as a treat along my journey. Once a month I have my toes done. Once I hit 50 lbs lost I am going to have my teeth whitened. I am trying to have small goals/rewards as I progress. It is fun but also an adjustment. We are so used to putting ourselves last. 2012 is the time to change all of that.

I am always freezing too and prior to surgery I was the one at the office with my fan running when everyone else was running their heaters. But, I wouldn't trade my sleeve for anything. I've lost 43 lbs in 11 weeks and already left diabetes and high blood pressure far behind me.

I am feeling both up & down lately about my WLS. I feel good after losing 31 pounds in 11 weeks (43 including pre-op)and over 11 inches in my hips alone. I cleaned out my closet today and it's practically bare after removing all of the items I could no longer wear. I am feeling down because the scale continues to mock me. I was up 3 pounds during my TOM and afterward went back to where I was. The issue is that the scale seems to no longer be moving. Granted, I am struggling with getting my fluids in and getting my exercise. I was walking about 30 minutes a day but the weather has been playing havoc with my rheumatoid arthritis so walking has been out of the question as a result. I feel like I may have been grazing a bit more with the TOM and the holidays so today I joined my fitness pal so I can begin to track each and every bite so that i can see exactly how many calories I am consuming. I have a stationary bike so I will start riding it 30 minutes a day and see if that will help offset the walking that I am missing out on. Does anyone have any other ideas? I am open to anything at this point. I just realized that I never had my post op nutritionist appointment so I have it scheduled for next week. Thanks for reading and for any advice you can offer. I know this was the right decision and I have already left behind high blood pressure and diabetes with what I have lost so far. I know the future is bright.

Me too. You are MY inspiration. This is a great tool and I want to make sure that I take full advantage of it. I am motivated and tracking my food, fluids and exercise on fitness pal as of Saturday. I think this will help me realize how much/how little I am eating and really help me focus on getting in my fluids and exercise. I am 1/2 way to goal in just 11 weeks and this board has been a tremendous blessing. Thanks for your wonderful offer. I will definitely reach out with ?'s and or support needed.

Someone posted that as women lose weight they release a lot of estrogen as it is trapped in fat cells. As the fat cells are shed they release estrogen into your blood stream, leading you to feel emotional, moody etc. similar to pregnancy hormones. I can personally attest to the fact that I have been more emotional, sensitive and have a much shorter fuse than usual. Since my hubby pointed it out I have been trying to be more conscious of it. I also have a very high stress job and between having surgery on 9/6 and my brother passing on 10/1; my priorities have really shifted. Family and self first.

i am getting between 700 and 1000 calories per day. On average around 800.

Wishes. Our surgery dates are really close also. Maybe this is normal. I am very happy with my loss thus far. I just get frustrated when the scale doesn't go down in almost 3 weeks. Grrrrrr. Hang in there and I will too. Let's check in next week and see where we both are. I am going to change up with the things I listed here. Adding stationary bike, tracking calories & fluids on my fitness pal and adding in same aerobic activity. Good luck to you as well. We can do this. We've already come so far.

I experienced the same thing and it was from 2 causes. 1) the deepest stitch is in your left side and it will pull/feel like a burning pain until that stitch dissolves. 2) you overdid it by walking or being up and around too much. I was scared when it happened to me that perhaps I had pulled something etc but my dr said it was completely normal. Use a heating pad and take your liquid tylenol and this will help.