thedivinemsQ

Hi there! I am 4 months out and am shrinking away and LOVE it! But I do have sagging. (I'm in my 40's) The most distressing is my butt. It looks a bit like a shar pei puppy In your experience how much did your skin shrink, and how much of this sagging have you been left with? How long before you noticed changes? any tips? thanks Tracy

Did it shrink with you all along or did it take a more time for the tightening than the shrinking?

Depends on the restaurant, but often I will order a starter size salad, and share a couple of bites of what my husband ordered. Or i'll order an entree and ask for a to go container and make a few meals out of it. I love tapas restaurants where I can just have a bite of each dish and be done. I try to focus on lean protein dishes.

Congrats! Take care of yourself!

You're lucky! I had 4 weeks of liquids presurgery!

Thanks a million!

I am in Edmonton and the wait lists seem to be the longest here. I did talk to the lead bariatrics guy here and he offered to bump me up the list (because this was my second try through Weight wise) and within the first week I was brushed off and set back from a 2 week preliminary appointment to 5 weeks. I also found the nutritional post care info archaic, and have recently heard hospital horror stories here in Edmonton, so I felt more in control of my outcome going to Mexico. I was also further disgusted with our system in Alberta when someone on this forum announced that because she lived in a smaller community she didn't need to jump through any hoops and got her surgery done by the Edmonton Bariatric surgeon within 4 months of her first visit with him...seemed really unfair and totally turned me off. My GP kindly agreed to do my post care here. Good luck to you!

Alana, I cannot find this claim form on the capital health website. How did you find it? Thanks so much Tracy

I have my fitness pal, Fitday mobile and My Net Diary Pro, and the last one is the one I use consistently and the one I find easiest to use. It tracks everything and has an easy to use bar code scanner and recipe entering feature. It tracks calories, protein, fat and carbs and you can set goals and it also tracks output. My Net Diary is the least annoying and most complete one I have found. I paid for it once and it also downloaded onto my ipad and is accessible online as well.

I love the chocolate ones,(the vanilla flavor is way too sweet for me). I think they taste like chocolate milk especially over ice, and yet, my husband hates them...go figure.

How much have you lost? Are you still losing?

Holy Crap!! You look amazing! and you have the hottest legs! I'm so jealous!

I was STARVING week 2 and also weak and very tired. I was supposed to hold off on liquid protein until day 15, but I couldn't do it so I added very watered down Premier protein shake -2 oz 3 times per day and this made me feel WAY better. I was missing the protein. I was not one of the lucky ones that got my hunger removed with my stomach, but 3 months out and a cheese stick is enough for hours so that is AWESOME! It changes a lot once you move to mushies because once you are getting some real food there is definitely more satisfaction.

I wish I could help you ladies. I had diarrhea the whole time I was on liquids. Someone mentioned though that over three days without pooping and you should see a doctor. Good luck to you all

I was taking a stool softener and it helped a little but the high fiber V8 works even better for me.

The only thing I find works for me is V8 low sodium high fiber. 8-16 oz per day really helps me. Keep your water (decaffeinated liquids) over 64 oz.- anything under that is not enough, and protein shakes don't count as liquids in this case. This is the fist time in my life that I am contending with this problem and I don't like it at all! Good luck to you!

I have been extremely open. This is the best decision I have made FOR MYSELF and I refuse to let anyone make me feel anything but proud. This was a very empowering choice and I won't look at it any other way. I have no problem shutting down anyone's negative crap and not very many people have had anything bad to say about the surgery, more that I traveled to Mexico to have it done. I am always sad to read that people feel the need to hide it.

Have you tried Popsicles? and ice cubes? I had a hard time drinking at first and I found if I constantly sucked on these things it was easier on my tummy and I was always getting some liquid. Good luck.

The worst part about sushi for me, is it is REALLY hard to eat it in small bites...but it doesn't upset my stomach at all unless I take a bite too big

Surgery June 13th and I'm down 37 since surgery, 52 from preop weight (90 lbs since my highest weight). No real issues. I find my weight loss fluctuates depending on hormones and water consumption. Just started working out last week.

yeah, talk to your doc and don't get too caught up on what your body is doing right now, it's all a wonderful surprise and takes time to unfold. I wouldn't even CONSIDER HCG until 7- 8 months out, but I am losing great and don't think I'll need it. I think exercise is the better option.

Surgery date was June 13th. Highest weight 259, pre-surgery weight 221, surgery weight 206, current weight 172. I lose in hormone cycles. premenstrual for 10 days and during my period and then I stop for 2 weeks, this has been the same for 3 months. I'm now at a lower weight than I was in grad 10 so anything from now on is gravy! I eat between 600-1100 per day. 60-90 grams of protein, and just started exercise this week.

I would recommend seeking some alternative therapies that focus on helping your body fix itself. Acupuncture, supplements. I get really angry when doctors plant an idea in someone's head like your "metabolism is PERMANENTLY" screwed. That's not how the body works, that's just something they say when they don't have the answer. And I'll add, if you believe that this will never happen for you, then that's the truth. Your beliefs dictate how your body responds. I would also recommend consult some other surgeons and docs, because if yours have given up, then you need new blood looking at the situation. Good luck.

Way to go!!! You look awesome! Thanks for telling us how you're doing it

Way to goooo!!!! How exciting! Congratulations!!