Mkmb2006

Our surgeries were around the same time. I'm down 102, but have easily lost half my hair. My doc and nut say its normal, at it's peak now and should subside by 9 months out. I hope so...I'll have nothing left! They did tell me to increase my protein to 70g per day and make sure I take my vitamins (I do!). So I guess only time will tell...

Ah, so there's a benefit! Just take a day at a time, lots of fluids, avoid those foods that cause migraines and could make it worse (Google "migraine trigger foods" if you need). I find that exercise helps too - fresh air and all that. After three days, the headaches lightened up, and after a week I was fine. Good luck!

Definitely check with your surgeon before adding carbs. Occasionally I'll have a 1/4 cup of brown rice (maybe once a month), and maybe once a month I'll have one slice of whole-grain toast. Maybe every other month I have half of a sweet potato. So, I really don't have carbs except naturally occurring carbs in things like beans, quinoa, almonds or walnuts, or peanut butter, etc. Try to stay away from frozen meals - remember we're all trying to change our lives and be healthier, and that's a lot of processed food. However, I do admit, I keep an emergency frozen meal in the fridge (e.g., I'm in a hotel for two weeks), but it's either an Atkins meal or the one variety of Lean Cuisine that doesn't include pasta, rice or potatoes.

I was a salad freak, and can barely tolerate 1/2 cup now. Surprisingly, chicken gives me a lot of trouble, but beef burgers and steak are fine. Ground turkey is fabulous, and I get along well with veggie products (e.g., Morningstar grillers, chik'n patties and nuggets - huge amounts of protein). I have to really steam fibrous vegetables, such as broccoli and asparagus, until they're soft. I still don't eat carbs (maybe one slice of whole-grain toast a month), and I haven't tried sugar (1) because I'm afraid I'll want it and (2) because I'm afraid of what it will do to me and (3) because I'm afraid I'll want it even after what it might do to me. I do miss soup....liquid and substance is hard to consume. All in all, it's a re-learning experience...surgery was Dec 19, and I'm down about 95 pounds.

Jennifer... Good for you!! Drink lots of water to help flush your system. Caffeine withdrawal is real, but after a couple of days, I promise you'll feel better!

Coffee was definitely the hardest for me!! I was a Starbucks junkie!! I went cold turkey the day after my first consult. My surgery was in December, and I've only in the last couple of weeks started back on decaf. Picture this: "Can I have an iced grande decaf, nonfat, sugar-free vanilla latte please?" Oy vey. So, yah, cold turkey...i did have wicked headaches for a week, but that soon stopped. I found that I drank more water when I dropped the coffee, and even now I still have to watch decaf since (1) it still has some caffeine and (2) I still drink less water when I have coffee (or, as I like to call it "$5 colored water in a trendy cup."

Yeah, I'm five months out too and having some trouble. I've increased my fluids and varying my food helps (I get lazy and eat the same foods often). My doc recommends Senecot lax tablet since they're the most natural, and they usually help overnight.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You're human, and sometimes "want" pushes us too far. Remember, we have a lifetime of bad habits to overcome. Just try to remember this experience the next time you're faced with the challenge. In the meantime, forgive yourself.

I have easily lost half my hair. I'm four months out. I could just cry. I take all the biotin and everything else.

Morningstar Farms is a line of vegetarian products in the freezer section. Their "griller" is a vegetarian burger, and they make veg sausage patties, "chick'n" patties and other stuff. Seems like they sit well with me, sometimes better than actual meat, and are really high in protein.

Hey, also try the Morningstar farms stuff! I had an "original griller" today - 15g Protein and perfect size! I even put a piece of cheese on it (I'm eating too much cheese), and a little mustard. I also had a vegetarian crispy chicken patty the other day, and that was yummy too - 22 grams for two! I'm not doing well with regular chicken, but the veggie chicken did quite well. Just a thought... Oh, and I tried salmon yesterday. Let's just say that did not go well. 'Nuff said.

I find that any carbs stall my weight loss, and my doc and nut basically say protein first, and then if there's room for vegetables, great...but carbs should be the last on the list. And they both always remind me to make sure meats are moist... Salsa, broth or anything else low-fat to moisten. Maybe try some of that?

I'm the same as you...three months out and still have trouble with chicken. My nut said to try the dark meat (forget the old diet rules). I've also tried the rotisserie chicken from the market, and when it's fresh, that seems to be good. But, grilled chicken...nope. The other thing that worked well and I really liked was vegetarian "chicken" patties. They're slightly breaded and crisp, so they taste like a crispy chicken patty, but that seems to be great and packed with protein. I'm also doing okay with beef, but don't really want to eat a lot of that. Even deli turkey I have to be careful with. But, we all find what works for us, right? My nut says if something doesn't work, give it a couple of weeks and try it again.

Follow my plan...follow my plan...follow my plan...

Consider all the money you save on food you can spend on clothes. Here in MA, we have a Talbot's outlet. This weekend I bought two smaller pairs of work pants for $5.39 each! Lol! Find those bargains, ladies!! Also, my program has a clothes swap, so check into yours...or even start one!