swimmom

I am actually getting pretty close to my goal, but instead of being super excited, I am a little scared - I know that MAINTAINING that weight will be the real challenge. I haven't really thought about celebrating yet. At the moment, I know we can't afford plastics, and we already have plans for a family reunion vacation in Hawaii next Summer. Hmmmm. I need to put some thought into this....

My surgeon's office said they were fine, as long as you get the multi that has vitamins AND minerals - most of them on the market only have vitamins, not minerals. I get mine from Target. It is the Target brand, adult version with vitamins AND minerals. My surgeon said these were fine. I am 7 months out and getting close to goal. Have been doing the gummies all along and my bloodwork is fine.

Awesome!!!

Plan an awesome hike! Hula Hoop! Register to walk a 5K!

That first month is the worst for emotions because your hormones are all out-of-whack from the surgery. Things do get better. But it IS important to get emotional eating under control. In a few months, you WILL be able to eat more - and you are likely to go back to emotional eating unless you get that habit in check now. Find a support group. Go see a therapist. Do whatever it takes to help you dump the emotional eating NOW, and then find a way to maintain. Support is key. Hopefully, your Kaiser has a support group for this sort of thing. If not, then seek one out.

I totally drink coffee without a problem! However, I have noticed that I can't stomach it black anymore (I used to drink it straight before surgery). Too acidic. But now, I just make protein lattes and knock out two birds with one stone - my coffee/caffeine fix, and some much-needed protein! I like the cappuccino mixes from American Bariatrics - I mix it with my coffee. But just plain ol' non-fat milk is just fine - and protein-rich as weill. Non-fat lattes at Starbucks are a great source of protein and caffeine and zip! Love them! You just need to log it in as calories.

For the first month or so after surgery, your hormones are all out-of-whack, and yes, you will probably experience some depression and anxiety in those early days. After that, it really depends. I have been on anti-anxiety/anti-depression meds for the last 10 years, so things have been pretty smooth since surgery (I also see a psychiatrist on a regular basis for my issues). I have really had no problems. But I have seen other people in my support group that HAVE experienced some depression and/or anxiety after surgery - that lasts into the first year post-op. But regular follow-ups with your doctor, as well as a good support system, should help ease some of that. And don't be afraid of the possibility of some meds to help with the depression/anxiety - they will help to balance out your brain chemistry while your body is going through some significant changes!

Could also be dehydration. My eczema has been much worse since my surgery, and I think it is mainly because I get dehydrated and my skin is dry. I try to keep my water up and use lotion.

Cough drops probably have sugar in them - that is probably causing your intestinal issues.

Yep, World According To Eggface is the way to go! Shelley is a WLS person herself, and she has developed TONS of bariatric-friendly recipes that are fantastic! In fact, I just made her Pumpkin Ricotta Praline Bake and I am eating it right now - DELICIOUS!!! Low cal, low carb, high protein - and super good!!

Congrats on your weight loss! I spend a lot of time in thrift shops getting clothes in each size. I go through a size every 3 or 4 weeks at this point in my weight loss. Savers, a chain of thrift shops, sometimes has really good sales. Over the weekend, they were having a 50% off sale (off thrift shop prices!), so I stocked up on the next size down - a complete wardrobe in a size 6 for $76, including shoes!! And almost everything I purchased was Ann Taylor or Banana Republic. Loving it! I look forward to getting dressed these days.!

Like everyone has said, it is totally possible - but as you get closer, it will be harder to do. I am much shorter - just over 5' tall - and I am down to 140. I am trying to get to 120 (or better, 115). However, my Doc wants me to start increasing my calories slightly (I have been between 500 and 600 a day) to 700 calories a day. It is sending me into a stall at the moment, and I am feeling less sure about getting down to 115. We will see. I also know that if I get to my personal goal, the long-term maintenance will require more vigilance. That is the REAL challenge!

ALL eating disorders are related - overeating AND anorexia included. The bottom line is that we don't have a normal relationship with food, and we must be constantly on guard for dealing with this. Yes, seeing a therapist is critical. I am 6 months out and have started having some anxiety around eating - I have a regular appointment with a psychiatrist for anxiety, and I plan to bring this up with him at our next session.

It depends on a lot of factors, especially age. I lost 100 pounds in my early 20's and had no significant problems with the loose skin. I am now 70+ pounds down - 22 pounds from my goal. And now I am in my 40's - and the loose skin is much worse. I tried a bunch of the creams, lotions, oils, and potions - nothing has helped significantly. I think is just something I will need to live with until I can afford some plastic surgery. The plastic surgeon also said that you can do 1000 stomach crunches in a day, or even an hour, and it will do nothing to eliminate the excess skin - it is not muscle, it is skin, so the only way to effectively tighten it is through surgery. And the older you are, the worse the loose skin will be. I finally decided that I would rather have loose skin (that I can hide with clothes) than a bunch of fat to fill it up.

All totally normal in your first month or two after surgery. Remember that your hormones are also out-of-whack after surgery, so it's easy to get sad or depressed about these things - even to the point of crying while you watch everyone else eat. But in time, it gets MUCH easier. Hang in there - it WILL get better! I am 70+ pounds down in 6 months and I feel great. I have no problem watching everyone else stuff themselves while I sip my iced tea or eat my freeze-dried edamame. I am down to a size 8 in jeans. Life is good.

Mine didn't forbid alcohol, but they do say to BE CAUTIOUS. I think there are two concerns: 1) totally empty calories, and you can drink a ton of them, and 2) fear of crossover addiction. WLS patients have an unusually high rate of alcoholism due to crossover addiction. It is also a good way to gain back weight fast.

For the first time since my surgery March 18th, I topped 700 calories - I ate 702! I know I needed to do this sooner or later, but it is freaking me out! I have been keeping it between 500 and 600 calories since surgery, and doing fine. 700 calories seems like it's so much!

Unfortunately, most of the college-aged kids working in SOMA and Victoria's Secret and other lingerie stores don't understand our issues, nor are they trained on how to fit someone that doesn't fall in the "normal boob" category (like us tube-sock ladies, post surgery). I have found that 1) trial and error, and 2) more expensive bras tend to be the only solutions. Also, for work-out bras, I swear by Enell - I discovered them many years ago via Oprah. They are NOT CHEAP, but they work!!!!

Great article!!

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea 3 months before the surgery. The surgeon was pleased that I started on the cpap machine before surgery - they believe that if you are better rested, you are healthier before surgery. And by using it after surgery, they say you will recover and heal faster because you get better rest.

I'm a teacher, and I work with homeschool families. I live in the Monterey area of California.

I recently tried the Celebrate Multi-Vitamins - HUGE mistake for me. I had horrible stomach issues, gas, and diarrhea all day. Then I read the ingredients - first two are both sugar alcohols! Some people are more sensitive to sugar alcohols than others, but these vitamins CLEARLY did a number on my system - instantaneously! I have switched back to a Target (Up&Up Brand) multi-vitamin/mineral - it is in gummy form, and it works great for me! I am not switching again after the Celebrate episode... But you will need to try things out for yourself. In my support group, everybody has had a different exerience with the vitamins - it all boils down to what your body will or will not tolerate. Most of the Bariatric companies offer free samples if you email them - it is a great way to try them before making a big investment.

It IS totally normal, and it WILL stop. From what I hear (and my doctor agrees), you can do all of the protein and vitamins in the world, and it will still probably fall out. They say it is because your body is going through such a radical change/adjustment. Once the rapid weight loss slows down, so will the hair loss. In the mean time, I am just buying cute hats.

I have given up on consignment stores and selling clothes online - you never get much for them. Instead, I do all of my shopping at thrift shops (since I am continueing to lose weight) and then when they are too big, I donate them right back to the same store. It's a great way to watch the budget and do some good for the community at the same time!!

Sometimes a change is all it takes for your body to jump-start the weight loss again. Also, if you are stressed at all, your body has a tendency to hold onto fat. When you relax, it often helps the weight loss - maybe you were more relaxed on vacation?