Beachbum2017

I'm just going to weigh in with my experience - My surgeon was part of a highly regarded Center of Excellence - pre-op care was amazing - I have never been treated so well at any doctors office. However, once my surgery was completed - I only saw my surgeon once after my surgery - the rest of the visits were with nurses and PAs - like the original poster I was charged a co-pay everytime that I went in just like if I had seen the doctor. Got so ridiculous that I quit going after 2 years and only see my PCP now. I was still only eating 800 calories per day after 2 years and started gaining weight. PA suggested that I start running every day. I'm a 58 year old woman with rheumatoid arthritis - that was the clincher for me - I haven't been back since. I have great respect for PAs and nurses - I have many, many in my family and I know how hard they work and how dedicated to their jobs they are but when you're expecting to be treated by a physician and you get a PA or a nurse that can't answer your questions and doesn't seem to care about finding out the answers then it is time to move on.

I have to stay 900 calories or under or I gain. Doesn't matter that it's good healthy food that we are supposed to eat - if I go over 900 (I'm talking like 1100 or 1200) - I gain weight and it comes back very quickly. I've decided that I've messed up my metabolism so bad it doesn't know what the heck is going on. But if I gain a few lbs - I go back on 2 Protein shakes and 1 meal a day until it disappears. I never did reach goal - lost really well for 8 months and then it stopped - totally. I track everything on my fitness pal and doctor and nutritionist say that this is just the way it is for some people. Very discouraging sometimes but at least I know what to do now!! I'm almost 2 years out.

I wish that somewhere either in the Nutritionists classes or the seminar or somewhere - someone had told me that I needed to only eat 900 calories a day for the rest of my life or I would gain weight. That was never mentioned. This may only be my reality but it doesn't matter that it is good healthy food that I'm supposed to be eating - if I eat over 900 calories a day - I gain weight. Don't know that it would have changed my mind - because I am beyond pleased with the results (I'm almost 2 years out) but it would have been nice to know. Good luck to you!!

I buy John Soules Angus Beef Strips in the freezer section at Walmart. They are precooked and ready to go. Peel an onion and slice it and a pepper into a frying pan with a little bit of olive oil in the pan. Let saute until just before done. Add slices of Angus Beef Strips and top with slice or two of 2% Provolone cheese until the cheese melts. This is my go to fast meal....and it satisfies that longing for a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. I just eat mine on a plate - no bread, doesn't need it.

RJ - you are the most beautiful person I know! Your constant support and encouragement to others on this site are amazing and the fact that you have been able to hold up through all your set backs and complications is a true testament to your beautiful spirit. No one can be so perfect ALL the time and the fact that new challenges have piled up and made you feel overwhelmed is not unusual. Don't worry about that butthead doctor - he obviously has no appreciation of real beauty- only plastic barbie dolls that he can create. Please don't let this idiot get you down - you are an amazing beautilful person, inside and out. We may not be 18 and plastic but we've fought the war and come out the other side - scars and all. Be proud of who you are and what you have accomplished. BIG HUGS for you!!

I'm at 10 months also and I've been stuck fluctuating between 186 and 183 lbs since the end of February!! It's beyond frustrating. I've tried everything that I can think of - even went back on just shakes for 5 days - no change. Doctor's office is no help either. Nutritionist says "Perhaps you've reached your set point - where your body can easily maintain this weight." PA says that I still need to lose 13 more lbs. Still at between 800-900 calories per day, 60 or more grams of Protein, 50 or less carbs. It's really hard to stay motivated at this point but I'm hanging in.

Interesting - though my doctor said 800 at 6 months and then they said 800 again at 9 month checkup (just last week) - I haven't lost any weight since right after my 6 month checkup when I upped it to 800 and I've been wondering if I should go back down to 600 to lose this last 13 lbs. I KNOW it gets harder the further out that you get but this is ridiculous. Now I'm worried that I'm not getting enough calories and am actually screwing up my metabolism even worse!! I've tried everything - going back to 2 shakes a day and dinner, upping the exercise, etc. Getting really discouraged.

I've been using a straw since about 6 months out with no problems. Actually happened by accident - went somewhere and got a "to-go cup" of Water and they stuck a straw in and I realized that I was using the straw and I could drink a lot more water that way. Been doing it ever since.

Yep - I had to pay $300 to my doctor and $300 to the hospital but they did tell me that at my initial visit so I was able to save up for it.

Hang in there, girie! I had to lose 65 lbs before I went down from 22's and then I just skipped over 18's and 16's and went straight to 14's - now wearing 12's comfortably. Don't know what it is with some of us but it's like the actual fat is hanging on for dear life but you WILL get there. Just stay with the program and keep up the faith - it will happen. I KNOW it's discouraging to hear about how fast some of these other people move through the sizes but it really does feel fantastic when you do finally start going down!!

I used to love Chinese food but now even the smell of it makes Frankenbelly tie itself up in knots. I've only actually tried to eat it once and to be honest - I don't even think it made it down to the Frankenbelly before it came back up. Don't know what the problem is but I'm not trying again! I'm 8 months out tomorrow.

Scarves hide a multitude of sins!!!

Hey Rev - Hang in there! It's got to get better right? Mine started falling out exactly at 3 months and has finally started to slow down at 7 months. Meantime I was afraid to color it (which I had been doing for years) and the little bit that is coming in skipped right past gray to white. I kind of look like a speckled egg and my hairdresser cut my hair really short and spiked it up (I'm 56) so if you just make the hair on my monkey pic white and black you kinda get an idea of what I'm looking like these days....see - it COULD be worse!!

Girl - you look absolutely AMAZING! They are not too much - they aren't enough! You need to update your profile picture (I know - so do I!!) You've inspired me - I'm going out to buy me some pink and orange capris this weekend....Keep up the good work - you seriously don't look like the same person!!

Frankenbelly....coz sometimes it's a monster!!

Great App - Thanks for Sharing. It made me feel great to know that I'm still above average even though I've been stalled for about a month!!!

So sorry for your loss and so amazed at your strength to post here with us. Praying for you and sending positive thoughts and lots of HUGS your way.

Everyone is different and you have to figure out what your issues are that make you "fall off the wagon". I had to do 6 months of dieting, nutrition classes, psych evals, etc. before I could get approved for my surgery. I think having that time to focus on what I was about to do was extremely beneficial. Part of what I did was try to figure out WHY I ate so much and was always hungry - I went and bought myself a journal and everytime that I thought that I was hungry I would write down what I was thinking about, what I was doing, etc. After a couple of months of this - it became very, very clear to me that I would eat when I was bored or stressed - now I find that writing in my journal helps relieve the boredom and the stress! I also know that if I think I'm feeling hungry if I get up and do something else I completely forget about it. The sleeve helps most people not feel any hunger for the 1st few months and to learn when their body is truly hungry not just head hungry. I'm 6 months out and have lost over a hundred pounds and have 18 lbs to go to goal. I find that making better food decisions just comes easy to me now - I won't tell you that it's a cure all but it is a heck of a lot easier for me than it used to be. Somehow - all those things that I used to crave - chocolate, pizza, junk food just don't have the same appeal and honestly, the few times that I've had a small taste - didn't taste very good either. Good luck to you - do your homework and you'll figure out what is best for you.

I'm at 6 months out - mine started falling out at about 3 months and was falling out pretty rapidly - even my eyelashes were falling out. It has started to slow down now and my eyelashes are growing back in. I had very thick fine hair before and my hairdresser says that it's even finer now. I haven't noticed any regrowth on my head yet and it has gotten really thin on the top front part of my head. I can see my scalp (though others say they can't) and I've never been able to see my scalp without actually pulling my hair down to see a part before. I started taking Biotin 3 months before surgery and have recently started taking collagen hoping that it will help. I also have Bamboo Silica on order because I read somewhere that it really helps with hair regrowth - willing to try anything at this point!

Totally addicted to Light & Fit Toasted Coconut vanilla Greek Yogurt. Eat it every morning for Breakfast and sometimes during the day if I need a "sweet treat"! 80 calories, 12 g of protein!

My Fitness Pal - definitely! If you add the app to your phone - it's really easy to keep up with. Honestly - in the early days - those measuring cups that are flexible and allow you to measure and then plop the food out into your teeny tiny bowls were nice - sometimes "mushy" food is not so easy to measure! I bought pretty tiny little bowls and plates (just a couple!) to make my food look special - sounds silly but it worked for me!!

HEAD HUNGER at night! Do fine all day long and then at night - it's a real struggle! Finally gave up not using a straw and now I have no problem at all getting in my water and liquids - I just couldn't do it sipping!

I actually had mine done right across the hall from Riverside Surgical - it was pretty easy. Just breathing measurements, etc - though I will say that particular office was the least friendly that I dealt with. I had to get a cardiac clearance also and that one was a little tougher - I had to get all my testing and everything done before they submitted my paperwork to my insurance. Hang in there, girl and do whatever they want - it's worth it!

I've been taking 10,000 mg of Biotin since 3 months before my surgery. Nothing is working - I had very thick hair before I had the surgery - now you can see my scalp all over my head - it's NOT amusing and getting harder and harder to manage my female combover!!!