devint

Hi everyone, Wow kudos and thanks to all you hardcore peeps keeping this board going. I can relate with so much of what you have shared! I sure wasn't checking in and it's no wonder I fell off the wagon hard. I became pregnant in feb and lost it at 7 weeks so for two months I ate with reckless abandoned and blamed hormones. Afterwards I ate with reckless abandoned and blamed grief and hormones. I had gotten down to 213, but then through this had gained to 232, which is crazy to think can happen in just a short 3 months even with the sleeve. Today, I'm now on the fourth day of <50 carbs, back to basics and coming in at 222. May is coming and I'm feeling sad I've "wasted" so many months of my "easy losing time" and I'm way below what I would have hoped for for expected loss. But I can only control what I do today and so that will just have to be enough. At least I've stopped losing my hair, and I have like 1" sprigs pointing out on my part in all directions from it coming back.

I was also struggling with plucking an insane amount of facial hair every day pre-op. I had tweezers stashed in every purse and bathroom. I am now 7 months out from surgery and I am happy to report that I am seeing significant improvement (but not elimination) of my facial hair problems, hair is lighter, thinner and grows much slower. I run an electric razor now once a week versus the daily battle. I didn't see the improvement though until, 1. my normal head hair stopped its significant thinning 2. I became cleared to stop birth control and 3. I stopped using store-bought makeup and face cleaning products and switched to "potions" I've made from pantry items. I have PCOS and the rapid weight loss the first 5 to 6 months (coupled with a gallbladder removal) made my hormones go crazy. But now I feel like I have achieved a more balanced state and the hair issue has eased up significantly. Good luck to each of you as you go through the journey, everyones body is very different and I hope you enjoy the new you!

Hi everyone, I did get the 6 month results back and all were normal! I've never had normal blood tests my entire life, always bad chol and triglycerides and Vitamin d deficiency ever since I was a teenager. So cool we got the green light to try. We've been looking forward to that news for five years. AND while I was there my doctor called me out on not doing strength training as well so he made a point to "clear" me for all levels of lifting and strenuous exercise In terms of being cold, I was already cold before surgery with low blood pressure. Now I've lost my protective blubber layer (it shouldn't be funny but really it is.) Now I live in Antartica-land-coldness. Luckily, the heated blanket and the heated mattress pad I got for christmas does help too! I've started to wear thicker/more socks, gloves more often, covered shoes, and I drink herbal tea all day long (good for hydration and antioxidants too.) I've also tackled coldness with more hot soaking baths, which is a refreshing way to take care of myself, something that "big me" never made time to do.

@@Niquee, congrats on the century club and onederland! I am so happy for you. I can totally agree and relate to what you mean about the holidays. WOW I was so bad with Cookies and pie jeez. It works against me that I don't throw things up they just go down and stay down and cause me misery. I am going to the support group at my doctors tonight and am hoping to get my Vitamin reports from my 6 month checkup. My doctor said that if I have good vitamin levels I can pursue trying to conceive, which was a primary reason I got the sleeve in the first place. This is somewhat controversial as some doctors make patients wait 2 years but mine says as long as you aren't deficient and have a good handle on calories and can get in 1k then I'm good to go. My stall at 220 lasted for about a 6 weeks, but broke early December (hard to believe I'm not sure if I've checked in since then.) and i'm down to 212 today so it's moving, much slower but still. I'm glad because i went down one more size since then. I bought a foam roller to help with home exercises and stretches as I've been having problems caused by posture and muscle imbalances in my middle back and outside of my thighs. Hope you all had great holidays and good luck with your resolutions!

Yeah I am also looking forward to joining "the century club!" But i have about 18lbs to go. I am also realizing that I do look a lot different even at 82 lbs down from april. I wore some of my old clothes to work today (pants I had taken in myself) and the sweater just looked so tent-like, and even the cami went down below the crotch of my pants. I looked like a kid wearing mom's clothes around the house. I am different, and so are you @Niquee. Good luck on hitting those big milestones!

I've also noticed that I'm bruising really easily, especially on my legs and chairs feel like they have less padding (even though clearly its me that has less padding lol!) I just went for my bloodcheck yesterday and haven't gotten the results back but the internet (in its vast wisdom) has made me concerned that maybe my iron levels are low and that's causing easy bruising. I am currently and annoyingly between pants sizes. I was so excited I was losing weight pretty good for a while and then as soon as I bought pants that were a little tight, then I hit the stall and have to look at them in my closet taunting me! I suppose it doesn't matter what weight I'm at, my clothes and I will still have a rocky relationship ha! Made it through the Thanksgiving holiday, indulging a little bit but not overdoing it, no reflux or getting sick. Now things are "back to normal." Since Christmas is right around the corner, did any of you find any awesome holiday meal bariatric type substitution recipes worth sharing? Never hurts to ask. Thanks!

My husband knows whats best for me even when I don't see it and he's willing to sacrifice to make sure I'm taken care of. When I had gallbladder complications after my sleeve, he didn't pipe up once about having to essentially act like a single parent for a total of 4 months while I recovered from my two surgeries. He is always thinking of ways to show me he cares and to make sure I'm safe and happy. Couldn't ask for more.

My big A-HA moment was watching my husband, who I considered to be a slave to food of the 10th degree versus me, lost more weight than ever with his sleeve. It was about month 3 of his journey that we had the hard talk where he basically said, "I've done something about my weight, health and longevity. You don't have to go with surgery but you do need to do something. I need you around." I scheduled an appointment that week for consult. I'm glad he was brave enough "to go first" and "to have the talk." It has changed our lives and we're only just getting started.

Perseverance. I had learned perseverance, through trying and trying and trying to tackle my weight problem. I watched my weight cost me dearly in relationships and in health. Failing, failing, failing and then trying again a different way. Personal Trainers, Alli, Nutrisystem, So many gym memberships, Walking apps, food Diaries, Weight Watchers, Veganism, Bought a Bike, Nutritionists and medically supervised diets. I know what it's like to live through battle for years at a time. And God forbid, if I ever have to tackle any sort of chronic or lifetime affliction or hardship, I will be so glad for my experience of fall down get up fall down get up fall down get up. I'm one tough cookie because of it.

Although I didn't have this exact problem, I have heard a lot of stories of all the things that can go wrong if the liver is too big during surgery, so it's understandable what your doc is saying. I also know that for me on the preop diet, I dropped weight quicker than any other diet I had tried in my life up to that point (and that's a laundry list all in itself.) It's not easy but it's doable and it's only temporary. It probably won't be more than a few weeks on that preop depending on how carb restrictive it is for you before those 60 lbs will melt away. Good luck to you and keep encouraged. The new you is hiding inside somewhere excited to get to come out soon.

I think Christmas is a lot easier holiday to adapt to versus halloween and thanksgiving, that are strictly food focused. With all the decorations, traditions, songs and activities, food takes a back seat and I at least hope I'll feel a lot less dissonance between my first sleeved Christmas and years past.

I've made some stuff from bariatricfoodie.com and my family ate it up with minimal complaints

I know my "word" is probably unpopular and some might roll their eyes, but it works for me on a couple levels. I call my experience "recovery." In a very real physical sense, I'm still recovering from the surgery and the dramatic weight loss side effects of the first six months. Some peoples ride down is smooth and easy, but not mine. Reading about it ahead of time is nothing like living it. Deeper, I am recovering from a lifetime of unhealthy use of food as an emotional numbing agent and my weight as an emotional barrier to meaningful relationships. I am recovering from those behavior patterns because my buffer and my numbness are being stripped away as the pounds melt. I have to deal with things like emotions and relationships now instead of hiding. I also never want to forget where I was and where I'm coming from, so calling it recovery reminds me that its not a dream, it's not a magic fix and life isn't going to be all roses and butterflies when I hit goal. I could end up living large again if I'm not diligent. Some people need the optimism of inspiring language when talking about their experience. I need a reality check.

So great to see everyone's updates and doing well for the most part. Any shopping/clothes tips? Whats your exercise routine look like? Plans to tackle the holidays and stay on track?

@@Suzzann I use Nascobal with the Bariactiv and have since surgery. It's a win for me, except sometimes I just get sick of the taste but money wise its the best Vitamin solution for me. For pedometer, I use my iPhone, it drains batteries and its only about 95% accurate but it does help me to keep track of whether i've been totally lazy or at least come close to my goal. Because of my three week stall, I decided to start logging food here starting last wednesday and omg no wonder i'm stalled! I have been between 1200 and 1400 calories and have seriously let my carb consumption go haywire (aka over 100 grams most days), all in an effort to be super Protein rich (been over 80 g everyday and hardly "tried") Mostly due to trying to stop/slow the hair loss. :/ I am so disheartened that I have to reevaluate my eating habits again to get "leaner" choices in. I HATE feeling like i'm on a calorie restrictive diet, despite surgery I am back at square one trying to do it "the hard way" that I've tried doing it my whole life with no real long term success. Ugh, I don't mind "rules" like no sweets or bread but I hate "counting" and "logging." But obviously it works. Good news though, family is coming to visit this week and next and haven't seen me since surgery. Prepare for shock and awe.

My husband had his surgery schedule for our wedding anniversary! It's a great way to remember the surgiversary, convenient. But more than that, I had already taken time off of work to take care of him. It's actually an advantage to have your family off work and ready to help you around or with simple things if you need the help. It makes a world of difference, and well makes up for the missed traditional pig-out feast. It will also start to train your family that you are going to have a different relationship with food forever, and that celebration does not necessarily mean buffet style feasting all the time. Good luck with your journey whatever you decide!

WOW you look great! We had surgery the same month. Thanks for the inspiring photos and progress update!!!

@@4andcounting , Are you measuring inches or some other form of body composition? I took measurements before my surgery but haven't since. If you have any idea where you were before surgery, maybe it'd be worth it to measure now and use that as a judge of success. If you are heavily using weights it is conceivable that you could be losing fat and gaining muscle mass at an almost equal rate, if you were eating Protein like a maniac. Don't fret what you'll weigh at your checkin, focus on what you're going to bring (food and exercise logs) and what questions you're going to ask to help your doctor get to the bottom of whats going on. *hugs*

I've been in a stall for about 2 weeks now, and halloween cheating hasn't helped my morale about it. But luckily the issues with my eyes and ears have eased up a little bit. One thing I ran into this weekend is that I was doing some shopping cause my pants are literally falling off my rear... I had bought a 1x shirt and sz 18 pants at lane bryant so I thought that would be my size everywhere. WRONG! I bought three pairs of pants and three sweaters at "normal size stores" that look like I'm stuffing myself into a sausage casing when I put them on. I just put them in the back of the closet and God willing I'll be able to wear them in a month or so. It's so weird to know in my head that I am doing ok, not awesome, but good in losing 90lbs from high but I still feel really fat when stuff like that happens, and without clothes on my general shape/rolls are the same but just "deflated" It's both a blessing and a curse when my husband says, WOW You look so slim... when you're wearing your shaper. Even people who go the plastics route (probably not me, money is better spent elsewhere) end up having scars like frankenstein. I'm struggling to balance positive and realistic outlooks lately. I hope you all are doing well.

We are giving out candy and taking our 2nd grader around the neighborhood for more candy. For me Halloween is a holiday to experience so it definitely qualifies as the "special occasion" I am definitely planning on having a piece of candy. And if later, I want to have another piece of candy (GASP) I will probably have another piece of candy. I will not allow myself to freak out, berate myself, or scare myself away from enjoying the occasional treat. I'll enjoy it in the moment, log it, and on Nov 1st I will not touch any of it.

I had a lot of issues with gas and bloating. The gut flora is totally shifting inside right now. You can try gasX, or lay off the cheese and yogurt, or add Probiotics, but really none of them are sure fire. Water and exercise are the only things that are "proven" to help. Good luck with it... I can say for me it eased up on it's own after a few months. BUT my stomach still growls if I drink or eat too fast til this day ha.

Maybe 18-24, but I will say this... a lot of my many annoying and unpleasant side effects are from my body freaking out about losing weight too quickly. I know it doesn't seem like this is a concern at the beginning of the journey, lots of people get excited and goal oriented about losing faster than others or faster than average. But it's easier on you and your body, the slower you can go through the rapid change (if that makes sense?) because things like loose skin, hair loss, Vitamin deficiency and just general fatigue will ease up if you lose a little on the slower side of the fastest-you've-ever-dropped-weight-in-your-life. Good luck to you and I hope we get to follow your transformation on the boards here!

First off, congratulations on your journey, it's an inspiration and a reality check to me, in my first year, who still feel like this is a dream of sorts. On next goals, I would work on a fitness goal, or a "giving back" goal of educating/leading/helping others in your family or community work on their health, or a "never going back" goal of listing all of the things you wanted to do but couldn't because of your weight and actively work on experiencing them, maybe for the first time. (horseback riding, hot air balloon, ballet lessons, scuba, whatever.) I have found things like that reconfirm my emotional commitment never to go back to being obese cause being "normal-sized" opens up so many doors.

My husband and I both had about 170lbs to lose when we had our sleeves done. He just hit his surgiversary and has lost 120. I'm currently in month 6 and have lost my gallbladder and about 90lbs since high. Both of us experienced crazy rapid weight loss at first, then followed by stalls that last anywhere from 2 weeks to, in my husbands case, 9 weeks. For the longer ones, that was a sign we were doing something wrong. The fix for the dreaded 9 week stall was to nix the full sugar gatorade that he had come to lean on as a soda replacement and go for g2 lower sugar gatorade. Most people will say this is a no-brainer, but its a perfect example of how silly things can sneak in on you when you're not being vigilant and careful. It sounds like you're really serious about beating the weight for good. It's not an easy path, but for us it has been effective. And even though neither of us are at goal now, I have faith we'll get there with our tool and steadily working the plan.

With you in prayer!