bikrchk

5'6.5" here. Started at 235, have been in maintenance under 145 for 3 months, but I recently decided to shed 10 more vanity pounds. 9 to go!

vitamins and other supplements - I get my vitamins at Walmart. Citrical chocolate chews and Centrum chewables early on, (now I just swallow pills) but get a "petite" variety when I can. Protein shakes - Syntrax Nectar Iced Lemon Tea, later, Quest bars and PowerCrunch bars. I lost my taste for milky, thick shakes for a while and preferred a water mix product. Skin products for sagging - I try to remember to moisturize with a product containing cocoa butter daily. Not sure if it's helping but it smells nice! Exercise IS helping some especially around my arms and legs. Hair products for hair loss - Been taking a biotin supplement since 3 months pre-op. Never really saw much hair loss and my nails are in GREAT shape!

It is totally normal to stall. STOP weighing every day if you are doing that and focus on your behaviors.

I would have been fine without help, but my mom insisted. I finally kicked her out after 3 days. That said, everyone is different, some folks are really weak and need a little extra help. I did not. I was only in the hospital overnight, never needed narcotics for pain and went back to work the next week, (early). They probably WILL require you have someone to drive you home. Early on I'd asked if I could take a cab and they told me absolutely not for liability reasons they want to release you into the care of "someone".

The only well meaning comments I've gotten are, "You look great. You can stop now!" Which started when my BMI dropped under 30 and I was still overweight. They continue today (My BMI is 23.2. I'm still to the right of the healthy average. I am NOT too thin!). I may decide to slowly take off another 10 "vanity pounds" to land me right smack in the middle of "normal" but reveal that to some of my friends and they firmly tell me I need to stop. I appreciate their concern, but my docs are supportive as long as I stay in healthy BMI territory so I thank them for their compliment and move on.

Your Dr. "Makes" you buy particular products? Sounds like a conflict of interest on his part. Vitamins are vitamins. You may have to take several different pills or chewables to get the same nutrition available in a single bariatric product, but my instructions were that the delivery system doesn't matter. Getting all the vitamins does on the proper schedule. I was advised by my coordinator to get my vitamins at Walmart and given a list of the mg's and when\how often to take what. I've been compliant (it does take a bit of work to keep the schedule) and my blood work is perfect. As far as they psych goes, I'm sorry you've had a difficult time. Maybe try to get a second opinion?

I hate pre-made shakes. Plus, I found that post-op, I preferred the Water based Protein supplements as they were not a rich and easier to get down. Syntrax nectar makes some decent ones and you can get sample packs so you can try different flavors without committing to a whole jar. Have measuring cups, baby spoons to eat with for the first month, (they'll slow you down), Gas-ex, Tylenol Jr. chewables (way better than trying to crush or using a liquid that tastes like crap). Tylenol Jr chewables was all I needed for post op pain. Supplements... Here were my instructions: I did everything chewable that I could get for the first 6 months. Today I swallow pills. Multivitamin morning and night, (I used Centrum chewables. Tasts like skittles) I take on waking and before bed B12 1x day D3 1x day Calcium citrate 3x day (never with taken with anything including iron) I took a chew at 9am, 1pm and 6pm Iron (never to be taken with calcium) I also take fishoil 2x day, (good for skin as well as cardiac health) and Biotin 1xday as well as 40mg of omeprazole morning and night, and a multi-strain probiotic every am.

I drink socially now as I did pre-op, but I can't drink as much or as fast due to volume restrictions. I tend to choose cocktails or white wine now, (beer makes me feel bloaty because of the bubbles and red wine sometimes gives me reflux). Also, I try to eat a couple hours before to accommodate the no drinking while eating rule. Makes my food "float" when I break it which is never good. When I drink, I count the calories into my daily totals and stay within the limits I've set for myself in my food log.

Well... You jog a million stairs on this tower about 60 feet in the air (watching your friends huff and puff while you're smiling :-)) and let a couple comedians strap you into a harness attached to a pulley on a cable. Then you jump off the tower and zip across the forest and land on the connected tower. Then you do it again and again until you reach the end of the park and pretty much free fall off the last tower sliding up the other side to finally rest in the middle where they come get you down with a ladder. It was Da Bes!

I haven't felt like I needed it so far, (I'm 1 year out in October), but I have a great support system in a face to face support group along with several local friends I see outside of group on a regular basis. I've been in my goal range for a coupe of months now maintaining slightly under nicely. For me, success is all about good habits. I eat what I like in small quantities, have a 5x per week exercise habit and maintain my food journal on MFP so I know what's going in vs what's being burned. I went on vacation, put on 5 pounds and had it off the next week by falling back into good habits. Right now I have it figured out, but I would not hesitate to set some appointments with a counselor or dietitian if I were struggling.

The band was not even a consideration in my book. Too many issues with prolapse, rejection and the folks I know personally who have them have issues eating dense protein and most have gained their weight back with interest. Plus I didn't want a foreign thing in my body that required a lifetime of maintenance. I was a lower BMI'er starting at 37 with an arm load of medicated co-morbitities that went back several years.. This has been the best gift ever! I've not heard of an insurance company approving a sleeve for anyone below a BMI of 35 even with co-morbidities so your mileage may vary. Good luck!

Did your surgeon prescribe Vitamins? You might be low somewhere (B12 or iron). I was sent with instructions to take extra of both of those in addition to 2 Multivitamins per day and extra Calcium. Tired for the first month is NORMAL, but if it persists, check with your team. Also, don't be afraid of food! You need Protein AND a few carbs to recover, especially if you're active! Record all of it and keep your macros where your team recommended.

You look FANTASTIC! And I KNOW you feel it too! I was a super healthy fat person too... Until my 40's caught up to me and my obesity. Things can go down hill FAST after 40 when you're carrying around an extra person! Today, I'm in the best shape of my life and lovin life!

I went to purees 5 days early, but kept them pretty bland and thin the first week. When I went for my post op mu surgeon asked "are you advancing your diet"? and wasn't terribly concerned as long as I was taking it slowly and tolerating everything well. (I'd been given a schedule in writing when I left the hospital), but moved through each stage almost 1 week early. All docs are different so YMMV.

It IS STRANGE when you start hearing that! It's stranger when you start hearing it from strangers and folks who didn't know you pre-WLS because you know it's not just about their perspective you of you then vs now, but honestly how they see you with no preconceptions! How ever it comes, take it as a compliment! Someone noticed your work! Perhaps you inspired them! Hang on to that and use it to maintain your motivation because the comments do slow down at some point.

I waited a couple of months before tasting it, and even then it was a TASTE. It was probably 6 months before I could actually do a drink and I found what I drank before, (red wine) didn't sit very well anymore. Beer was out of the question as the bubbles filled me up very fast and made me uncomfortable. Do I drink socially now at 1 year out, yes. I've also been at goal for 3 months and count up my extra calories at the end of the day before I indulge. My advice is, wait longer and take a hard look at any "empty" calories if you choose to work them into your day particularly during your loss phase.

Yes, my hunger returned after about 4 months, but it's not the same as it was before. I don't feel compelled to eat everything in site or give in to a craving as soon as I feel it anymore. I don't "diet". I eat what I like in small quantities and exercise regularly. I make better choices and sub high protein options for formerly high carb favorites. For example, if I do pasta at home, I choose Tolerant Red Lentil pasta for its high protein. I have it with a bit of Neuman's Alfredo and parmesean and my "pasta" want is satisfied. My "cookie" want is satisfied often by Power Crunch protein bars. My Ice cream want is satisfied with Skinny Cow bars because they are portion controlled bits of goodness that don't wreck my day of good choices. No more than I eat, I can work ALL of those things into one day if I've exercised, get my protein, and still stay between 1000-1200 calories, (where I lose well). So yes, I get hungry, but I guess I've found ways to manage it well with the help of my sleeve.

Can you feel your stomach afterwards? It didn't feel that different. Sore, absolutely, swollen, but not that different. Can you feel the staples? I couldn't feel the staples Does it hurt to take your first drink? Yep, a bit, it did. For about the first week it was a little uncomfortable with every sip, but got better each day. They tried to give me a dose of hydrocodone in the hospital, (which I don't tolerate well on a GOOD day) and this was not a good day! It came right back up. I never took narcotic pain meds after that and was FINE. That was my ONE bout with nausea as well. I took Tylenol Jr when I got home the next day which was enough to take the edge off. Pain on a scale from 1-10? Five Gas Pain? Not that I remember. I did get up and walk as instructed as much as possible. All in all not as bad as I expected. At All.

Ziplining was one thing... I hit goal 2 months ago and I'm scheduled on Saturday for the zip tour! Skydiving may be the next! I decided to shed an extra 10, so once that's off I'll be scheduling that jump! I didn't really go mini-goals, just looking and feeling great and the new wardrobe was reward enough!

For me getting it off was not the biggest issue. KEEPING it off... THAT'S another challenge entirely! And one that I chose a permanent fix to help me achieve! I will NEVER understand the mentality that weight loss is a competition to be won by one person and lost by another who chooses a different path to take back their health. Ignorance at it's finest! Get used to it. Haters gonna hate, unfortunately. If they can make their lifestyle change permanent and keep it off, more power to them!

I take a daily multi-strain probiotic which has helped a lot. Don't ALWAYS have one daily, (volume is reduced) but much more regular now.

P28 bread - 14g of protein per slice Tolerant red lentil pasta - high protein Mung bean fettuccine - high protein Quest bars PowerCrunch bars Wasabi peas to snack on - They have a fair amount of protein and fill me up!

I'm 5'6". I THOUGHT my goal size was a size 8. I was so wrong! With vanity sizing creeping lower and lower these days, I am today in a 4 for most pants, 6 for a dress. After living in maintenance for the last 2 months, I've decided to take off another 10 "vanity pounds" so I have a bit more wiggle room within my goal range, so I may see a 2 yet!

If your surgeon's plan allows it. FYI, rice is iffy for many of us. It was my final "hold out" food as far as what I was able to tolerate. Problem was it would "float" on me, (no I wasn't drinking with meals), causing foamies, reflux, etc. Once I passed the 6 month mark it was a problem no longer. I can do half a sushi roll without issue.

It took me a while to tolerate sugar and rice, but I can do both now without unpleasant side effects as long as I watch the quantity. I used to drink a lot of red wine, but since surgery, it tends to cause reflux a bit worse than before so IF I drink, I tend to go for white or a cocktail now. That's really about it.