MichiganChic

Never having had this experience, I can only offer clinical experience. But the answer is simple, take in a few more calories. My experience as a nurse is to have you add a few calories by adding a little dry milk to soups, add some protein powder to foods, have one extra snack like a cheese stick, use full fat dairy, or add a little healthy fats to foods. It's easy to add calories, but the trick is to add them with the appropriate nutrional value. And if all else fails, a little ice cream every day isn't a bad plan

Depends on how soon it came up, and what came up. If it was down a while, you probably absorbed a little of it. It went down and came right back up, probably almost none. Also consider how digested it was. I never had any of that happen, but it sure sounds unpleasant!

Fiddleman, I have no advice for weight training, cross fit, or anything else, but I wonder how many calories you are eating? In addition to carbs to fuel a workout, you also need enough calories. When you mentined you just didn't have the energy, that question came to my mind. Either way, I'm ultra impressed - not only with your workouts, but also with your determnation and goal setting.

I thing that area you are referring to is the mons pubis. I think a plastic surgeon could tell you the answer as to what can be done for you, but I bet there is something. I saw a show on discovery health a while back, and this girl in England had lost a bunch of weight, had plastics, but they botched it. She was left with what she called her "willie" and it was quite pronounced. After a revision, she looked great and no longer had her "willie". On another note, congrats on your weight loss and new found health! That must feel so great to see your new shape emerging!

I also have a high BMI, and needed to lose around 150 pounds. My doc said I could do either, but thought I would lose more with RNY. I just couldn't get comfortable with the malabsorption, dumping, and inability to ever take NSAIDS again. I decided that even if I lost less, it would still put me at less than 200, and I could live with that. If I had wanted RNY, I could have done that years ago, and believe me, I considered it. Now that I'm 4 months post op, I'm happy with my decision. I don't know if I'll get to goal, but I plan to, and my doc says it is possible. His personal stats are similar between RNY and VSG patients. I think with both, it comes down to hard work on our part. The sleeve just makes it easier for me becuase while I still get hungry, I don't have that continuous drive to eat like I did pre-op. Also, it forces me to eat less, and because I committed to changing my habits, I'm learning a new normal way of eating. I've got a long way to go, and some days are harder than others, but it's a million times easier than it was preop. Now that I'm starting to see results, my motivation is high, which fuels a positive cycle of change for me. Good luck, whatever you decide.

That's a tough one. I also have three daughter, late teens through early 20s. It would feel like a bit of a conflict for me to tell my kids and not my parents. We are all close, so in my family, I wouldn't be able to do that. I agree, it is likely to slip and then you have deal with others you are close to having the information, or feeling hurt they were excluded. As far as the message you are sending, I felt fine about that with my girls. They were worried about me, but were/are very supportive. I think kids are intuitive, and they might understand and appreciate your struggle lmore than you know. And yeah, hiding things from kids living in the same house is tough Good luck, however you decide.

Great job, that's quite an accomplishment! Now can imagine carrying that exta 100 pounds around with you all the time? Congrats

I've recently added music to my exercise routine, and obviously, the tempo make a huge difference in how fast I move. Some of my favorites are a few of the old Motown tunes, Fleetwood Mac, (giving my age away ) Stronger (Kelly Clarkston), Forget you (Cee Lo Green), and Eye of the Tiger (survivor), and a few others to round out an eclectic mix. I'd love to hear your favorite workout tunes!

Yes I sing out loud, too, and my family will tell you it's not pretty, lol!

Um, I don't think that's dorky at all - seems pretty smart to me. I do the same thing (that's why it's smart ) and I start with slower things, I timed them based on what I know I want my workout to be, then I make sure It's long enough. Otherwise, without the music I find myself clock watching, and three minutes feels like an eternity. With the music, three minutes is time for a new song!

I'll be adding those to my list, too!

At this point, I don't have any regrets at all, since I've made it through the really difficult early post op stages. I seriously wondered for a while if I had done the right thing, though. I spent a lot of time worrying I would end up with a complication, and it made me think I shouldn't have taken the risk since I was so worried about it. Now that I'm seeing results and feeling well, I'm happy with my decision.

Good question.....I think the introspection is good. I also think you nailed it - you (and me, and all of us) didn't get to be overweight by eating normal. Denial of that would be serious denial! There is a lot of information on the internet about food addiction, including assessment tools. I'm still pondering this one myself. I believed I was addicted before I had surgery. I called cake my "crack". But since surgery, I don't feel the same way. I thought I would struggle a lot more than I do about wanting to eat things I can't/shouldn't, or even the amount of what I can eat. I've been really surprised that I don't struggle with that like I thought I would. I feel like it's too soon for the jury to be out on this one for me....I might be in a honeymoon phase and find myself back where I was. Last week I had a moment of feeling like I wanted to eat just to eat. It quickly passed, but still, it made me nervous. So, for me, I think time will tell. At the end of the day, no matter what you call it, we all still have to learn to deal with the physical changes the surgery brings, and the mental changes of dealing with that.

Yep, had that for the first 4-5 weeks, thought it would never end. Went from that to constipation. Between the two, I'll take constipation any day!

Uh......no.

I probably don't eat slow enough, and I don't chew like they said you should. Not that I'm inhaling or swallowing whole. It doesn't bother me at all, never got anything stuck, no pain, no puking, so I don't worry too much. I try to go slower...but it's just so unnatural for me. I thought I would be more compliant about this than I am! I feel the same either way, and I measure my food so I don't over eat.

Hi, I'm sorry, I just saw your reply! The book I bought is called successful weight loss with the gastric sleeve by Guillermo Alvaraz. It's a pretty easy read with good information. I'm really happy you found some relief for hunger - medications can certainly impact a lot of things. The book I suggested will give some guidelines about eating, but most people on here say their docs recommend eating between 800-1200 calories for weight loss initially. You had your surgery quite a while ago, so you might need to be on the higher end of that. Try exercise to manage your head hunger, it really works! You can order DVDs online that you can follow along with. You could even get your son to do it with you! He might even like it Glad you are feeling better.

Yeah, my list of what I could eat at 1 week post op was pretty small, and it didn't include ice cream. I really think that restrictive list helped me reset my way of eating. I'm 4 months out and can eat just about anything, but I've surprisingly developed new habits, and I still avoid high fat, high calorie foods. It's about changing our eating habits. I probably could eat ice cream, but I ever think about doing it! That's a little shocking me, but I attribute it to those early days post op. Don't get me wrong - it's still a learning curve and I am in no way claiming to be perfect - you are doing the right thing by realizing you are changing, too! Congratulations on your recent surgery, I wish you continued success

OMG, you are killing me! I don't even feel worthy of posting to this thread...I'm a light weight....not really, still really heavy and can't exercise like that! Plus, I'm an old lady But I am so impressed with you! Anyway, I do 30 minutes ski machine, 20 min stair climber, 10 min arms (bowflex) and I'm up to 40 crunches. I was impressed with that until I read what the rest of you are doing. Great job everyone!

So sorry about what you are going through! The first few weeks are the most difficult, and any complication makes it a little rougher. I had an abscess, so I think I was really fatigued for a long time, and I was pretty miserable with the incision draining, healing, having to reopen it, and on and on for about 7 weeks. However, even with that, it did get better every day. I'm 4 months out, and things are pretty normal. I never got a sudden burst of energy, but every day I got a little stronger, my endurance improved, and things generally improved. I do have a lot of energy now, can go all day and not be tired, but it took a while. I think I had reasonable expectations, but really, nothing can fully prepare you for the unknown. Just suck it up , do the miserable protein shakes, force the sips of water, and it will pass before you know it - really! Also - in NO WAY did you fail! You had no control over the complications. Good luck, you'll get there!

I have the same thing. I wish the hair loss would stop, and my scalp weren't so sensitive.

Mine start coming out about 3 weeks ago....and it's a lot.

Great job! I know what you are saying. I really wanted to hit 70 by 4 months, but I was 69 down until the day after! I'm just glad it's gone

Me too! I got away from my fitness pal when I got my fitbit last summer, but I don't think the food tracking is as easy on fitbit. Love the combination of the two! I'm tboosrn on my fitness pal if anyone wants to friend me!

about 10 pounds.