*Lexie*

@auntiemel My surgery was 3 days after yours and I've started to notice that I'm shedding much more hair than usual. I'm the person that every stylist says has more hair than anyone they've ever seen so I'm not yet to the point of being concerned. One thing I considered doing if I do lose too much hair is getting extensions. Anyone try that and have success with it? I've never done it before but always wanted to.

great!

It seems unethical to ask that question. Even if they were trying to figure out if you could handle the physical rigors of the job, it's better to ask questions such as "can you stand for long periods of time" or "can you lift 25lbs". The only other reason I could think they would want that information is for their insurance carrier but it's still not needed. I wouldn't include it.

And use small plates, it will make it look like you're getting more food!

The time will go by fast. Congrats!

Insurance can be so frustrating. Congrats on your approval.

Yay, that's exciting news.

Hang in there, might not be the last lesson you learn. I've learned to take the path of least discomfort and that helps quite a bit.

Our stats are very close and I know how you feel. I also think I'll feel a lot better once I get below 200 but I'm pretty sure I'll just lower the bar again and decide <180 is the magic number. I also set a goal for end of January to get below 200. We can do this. My weight hasn't moved for a week and a half and I'm super impatient. Hang in there, you're not alone. I think I was programmed to be impatient.

My weight yesterday was 214.2

I think my surgeon required 3 months smoke-free. Smoking can cause complications in any surgery, especially abdominal surgery. If the surgery is elective, they can be more strict about it in order to reduce risk. You can google it to find out more. BTW, great job on quitting smoking. I quit a few years back and it's not easy. I remember going through pre-op thinking about how hard it would be to lose the required weight and fight nicotine cravings.

@Kindle Those dogs are precious! I had to put my Golden Retriever down this past year, he was 13 too. I have a couple rescue mutts at home and they are rotten. Dogs are very supportive of WLS. My lab mix Silas sits next to me every morning and encourages me to leave a little of my egg on the plate for him to clean up. They are so thoughtful!

@@frizzylizzie The visual I got of you catching your husband with a burger is priceless. I got a good laugh out of that.

If you can get help for a few days while you recover, you should be fine. Your energy will be a little low for a few weeks but then you feel normal, dare I say you'll have even more energy. The diet is no different than any other diet when it comes to time, it takes a little effort with food planning and preparation. Exercise is encouraged but not everyone does that right away. I'm sure you could find a fun workout video and get your little one dancing around the living room while you're working out. One thing I have read over and over is people saying that their only regret is they wished they'd gotten the surgery sooner. If you want it, don't wait.

For me it was about 3 1/2 months. Though my doctor required us to complete an 8 week class prior to surgery.

I think of exercise like I do any other task like brushing my teeth. We rarely have to argue with ourselves over a task like brushing our teeth, we just do it. If I'm having a day where I don't want to work out or I'm trying to tell myself I don't have time, I just commit to 10 minutes. Usually getting started is the hardest part and I rarely stop when the 10 minutes are up.

My doctor's office has what they call an advanced skills class. I have been attending since surgery because I figure that I need all the help I can get. The purpose of the group in the past was to help individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery to minimize adjustment issues, to improve adherence with the post-surgical regimen, and to help individuals who have experienced premature weight plateaus or weight regain get back on track. We have had open discussion, topical groups, and/or skills training formats. This week I'm going to the meeting discuss the future format. They are looking for feedback on how to make it more effective. Right now it's more of a lecture format with the psychiatrist leading it. I feel lucky to be involved in shaping the structure of this year's classes. What do you think would make you more effective after surgery?

Sounds like the malabsorption could help. Right after my surgery I wondered if I should have given more consideration to bypass.

I'm in! My goal is 199.

I did mashed potatoes the first few times I went out to a restaurant.

I have certainly not lost interest in food. I am trying to keep my grazing in check. My doctor wants me to only have 3 meals a day and so far, I've had trouble with that. I do great during the day but snack in the evenings. I track every bite and I'm not going over on calories. But yes, I still struggle with it. I'm trying all sorts of things like going to extra classes that my doctor offers and trying to do things like paint my nails in the evening to distract me. I really wish I would have just lost all interest in food.

There are things my tummy can't tolerate well. Greasy, fried foods is one of them. I'm pretty sure someday down the road I will be able to but I'm not in a hurry to test it out since I don't really need to eat fried stuff. As for my brain, it still wants all the junk. And @@joatsaint is right, some of it is easier on the tummy. My sleeve has no issues with Hershey Kisses and they don't fill me up so I have to be careful and not buy them often. I'm pretty sure things like Hershey Kisses or milkshakes are what cause that small percentage of people to not lose weight after surgery.

Recovery is such a small part in the whole scheme of things and regardless how you feel, you forget it quickly. My recovery was pretty good. Since I started solids, I have thrown up a lot. But I'm a big dummy that forgot my doc's advice to eat slowly and I've been getting food stuck. And because I'm a big dummy, it took me like a month to figure it out (thanks to the smart folks on this board). So if I had just remembered and followed my doctor's advice, I probably would not have gone through that. P.S. The morale of this story is eating slow is hard.

You look great! Go buy that bikini!

I was just talking about this the other day. I remember enjoying the full feeling. And sometimes when I was full, I'd still find extra room for a dessert or snack. I think most people like to feel full. But after surgery, being full is a bit terrifying. It's not a good feeling at all, it's pain.