delta_girl

I'm still a food addict. I still fear not losing weight and regain. There are a few things that are helping me, though, besides the smaller stomach. I never ate crappy fast food like McDonald's, Burger King, or similar, so I am never tempted by that. Ice cream and Diet Coke and beer were harder to get over. Since surgery I have lost the vast majority of my interest in sugar and fried foods, so that is a huge help. I also enjoy vegetables more than I ever did before, without even trying to. Fear of the unknown is scary. Not many things in life have a stamp that guarantees something. This is the same. But each day is a new opportunity to work on yourself. Some days are much easier than others.

I haven't been on this thread in forever. So I had a month long stall, which really sucked. I started taking D3+calcium and it broke. I lost around 5 more lbs since then. I'm 71 lbs down with 30ish more to go. My doctor's goal for me and my goal are different by 18 lbs. My 6 month check up is this Thursday. I'll probably be in trouble. I haven't been exercising like I should and I've been enjoying wine on the weekends with an occasional glass during a week night. I haven't counted calories, protein or carbs in 8 weeks or so. Yesterday I ate everything I could find. It may be getting close to that TOM. The compulsion to eat was undeniably strong. I tried to add in some healthy things with the not so healthy, meaning I ate pickles, cucumbers, celery, fruit to try to get in some bulk since my stomach felt so empty. It was just weird and crazy. Not a typical day at all. So I went from a size 20 back in September and I fit comfortably in a size 10 and some size 8s now. My hair has been falling out like crazy for months and I hope that will slow down soon because it is really irritating for hair to be all over the place, even after I lint roll and brush and lint roll. Saggy skin? Under my upper arms and stomach and my butt is looking a bit droopy like it needs some serious exercise to tone up. Overall I'm really pleased with my progress. I mean ...shoot ...6 months and -71 lbs!?!? I still have issues with fear of gaining weight back, not losing these last 30 lbs, saggy upper arms, and still seeing myself as a fat person in my mind.

I have fallen off a few times. Yesterday was one. I ate everything that wasn't nailed down. The worst was 4 Girl Scout Cookies. It started with Breakfast - pistachio nuts, mozzarella cheese, crackers, grapes. Then pickles around 10 am. I tried to mitigate the damage somewhat and had celery and cucumbers with fat free dressing to fill up with some bulk.Then it was way too many pita chips, which I never should have bought in the first place. Two very small glasses of wine, pork loin, fruit salad, butternut squash with a little butter, and then the cookies. I do not know what in the world got into me but it was like a train that couldn't stop. It scared me and reminded me of the bad old days. My scale is up 2 lbs this morning. I don't usually pay attention like some others do, but it may be getting close to that TOM, which always makes me hungrier. So you are not alone at all in struggling. It happens to many of us again and again. Today is a new day to start again and make better choices. We are so fortunate to have vsg to assist us with that.

...and starting one's period immediately before, during, or after surgery.

T.h.a.n.k. Y.o.u.

There is some anecdotal evidence through some studies that show having enough D3/Calcium prior to weight loss improves results. Do a web search on this to see what you find. I didn't read any of it until a very long 4 week stall. I started the D3/Calcium and my loss picked back up. Could have been from the supplements, maybe not. I don't take them every single day, but I take them more days than not.

I have GERD. I had a moderate hiatal hernia repaired during my vsg surgery. I'm 6 months out and I still take a PPI 1x daily. I do a lot better if I take one 2x daily. If I skip a day or two it is seriously NO FUN. Extreme burning.

It wasn't until I had lost around 45 lbs that anyone noticed. It didn't bother me too much because it isn't for them and their opinion of me. Also, your overall shape doesn't change that much unless you really get down to lower numbers. People glance at you and see your shape is the same. If you wear baggy clothes, they can't see the results very easily. Don't be sad at all. As time passes it will be much more noticeable to others.

MMmm.....I'll bet there are just a few hundreds of threads on this topic. Try searching up top.

During the first 12 weeks or so I often had hot herbal tea with Truvia or diet hot chocolate mix (25 calories) in the evenings around 8:30-9 pm. It helped out a LOT. Also a nice treat.

Nice analogy.

Using this form of calculation, I've lost 80% at 6 months.

Nasty food. Didn't even eat that when I was morbidly obese. It's just gross. If you are going to go "there" at least eat something that is higher quality, be sensible about the portion, and feel no guilt.

60% of my loss would put me at 130 lbs. My surgeon's recommendation is 128 lbs, so it is shy of the 60% mark. I have NO problem ending up at 130 lbs!

There is a HUGE change between eating and tastes from the first few weeks to many months out. The two that have shocked me ..and I mean have REALLY shocked me the most, are 1) sweet stuff ....I used to live on these. Now I don't crave them much at all. I can pass by sweets with no feelings of denial or sadness. If I want some, I eat a few bites and am done and do not have any desire to eat more of them. 2) fried things ....I loved fatty foods before. Now I avoid them. When I even think of them I associate them with something gross, greasy, nasty, feeling bad, ......and even more nasty. The few times I've had something fried I have eaten maybe one bite of the crunchy outside, then peeled off the batter and tossed it. These things are not sad or bad. They are GREAT!!! Amazing. A miracle.

Oh geez....I was so busy thinking about you making sure to get in your fluids I didn't even comment on your sweet pup! That must be heartbreaking to see your baby hurt

This is something I've wondered about a lot as well. It depends on what the 60% means. Is that based on a BMI chart? Is it based on the surgeon's suggested loss for you? The reason I've pondered this is that at 5'3", a healthy weight for me is 115 lbs. That is not really skinny, it is in the middle of a healthy weight according to that chart. However, I asked my surgeon's nurse what number they were using. She said 128 lbs. This is quite a bit different from what I had estimated or decided to shoot for. When I asked my surgeon about these weights and told him I was shooting for 115 lbs, he said that I would really need to stay on top of an exercise plan in order to maintain that weight. Then he asked how I would feel if I ended up around 140 lbs. I am guessing he was basing his comment on what he typically sees from his patients. I replied that I would be "delighted." I mean, seriously .... being any version of smaller than I was is a victory. So at 6 months out I am down 72 lbs and weigh 148 lbs. I'm not even trying anymore and I'm still losing weight, though much slower. I have no idea where my body will find its new set point. I'm also being a bit bad. I don't exercise and I drink wine when I want, eat a few Cookies from time to time, I eat out a lot and enjoy the heck out of it when I do. I doubt that my body is going to suddenly quit dropping weight at 6 months. Though I have often read that there is a 6 month honeymoon stage after which losing weight is significantly more difficult (so some comments say), the projection of weight loss goes from a year to a year and a half. (..guessing that is unless you just lose your mind and stop making more good choices than bad). So 60%? I'm STILL wondering where that number comes from and based on what research? How far back does that research go? A few years? A decade? A lot has changed over the last many years with vsg and what they knew then compared to what they are learning now. Any additional information is certainly appreciated on this.

Sure. Just be sure not to get dehydrated. Keeping your body hydrated is very important. Try to make sure you get your vitamins in, too. I once went about two days of eating nothing, just drinking, because I didn't want to eat at all. It passed.

I was cleared for salads at 12 weeks.

Chewing is instinctive. You will find out, by experience, what works best for you. Early on you need to be more aware as your stomach is healing. Later you will have adapted and instinctively know what to do. I don't think that much about it at all now. I probably still eat too fast compared to others, depending on what it is I'm eating. It works for me, though. You will discover what works for you.

This is so true! I traded in all of my granny panties for the boy shorts style since I really do not feel very comfortable wearing floss or bikini styles. I LOVE the boy shorts style. They come in some very cute colors and patterns, fabrics and even lacy accents. They still make me feel comfortable and covered, but also sporty and maybe flirty (not really sexy since I am no looking for that).

Eat or drink what feels good. Reject the rest. Keep healthy choices in mind. The end.

6 months out...and its still falling out nonstop. It will grow back, so no worries. But I'm tired of hair being freaking EVERYWHERE. I have 5 lint rollers.