WL WARRIOR

It could be that I am starting to look my age. In the past, I had been use to others commenting that I look much younger than my actual age. I'm hoping it will all even out once I stay at my goal weight for an extended period of time. I'm not going to gain weight back in hopes of my face looking younger. If I did, what are the chances that the gained weight would first go to my face? I'll probably get laser or chemical peels at a clinic in a few years. Right now, I've been doing an at-home chemical peel that isn't nearly as abrasive. However, I have seen some improvement with it after a few applications. The one I am using now can be found at http://www.cosmesearch.com/swisspeel/index.html. It's inexpensive and uses non-toxic natural acids.

I went to the dermatologist a month after surgery because I was tired of breaking out so much. She prescribed Spirolactone and I haven't seen a pimple since. That's 13 months without one single pimple or blackhead. There are days when I can just wash my face and skip the make-up totally. I don't have to try and cover up the redness, blotchiness, and swelling that comes with breakouts.

Momto3redheads, I am actually a mom to one redhead. Anyway, what is Rodan + Fields? Is it a product or a procedure? I've used Murad products before, but they are quite expensive. Red light therapy is also suppose to be effective, but I have yet to hear a first hand experience from anyone that has used it.

MsCyrus, I wish you the best and an easy recovery after your surgery Monday. Frankiesgirl, you are so lucky to have good cheekbones. They really do help the face look younger. Your comment about facial skin rebounding with time is encouraging.

I had anorexia as a teenager about 20 years ago, After surgery, I did experience certain times when I felt like I was slipping back into that same mentality. I started attending OA every Sunday and truly feel that it helps keep me grounded. Also, I attend cognitive behavioral therapy group meeting sessions every month. It helps to get my thoughts and struggles out in the open and hear helpful feedback from group members that also have experienced similar weight loss issues. This I find more useful than feeling pressured to talk for 60 minutes to a psychologist with predictable feedback and therapeutic strategies. If you have a history of an eating disorder, I encourage you to have a plan prepared before surgery. Your physical and mental success will depend on it. Otherwise, old behaviors and bad habits will creep back in full force.

http://www.chicoweig...ookJuly2014.pdf Free download, Online bariatric recipe book, I printed mine out, punch holed, and placed it in a binder There's a great section devoted to puree recipes.

I've been at goal since May, but find the maintenance phase to be quite tricky at times. I'm trying to stay within a 5 pound range. Any indulgence on carbs sure shows on the scale the next day. Looks like I'll be living the rest of my life steering clear of carbs.

I usually stop eating once I burp. Now, if I could just figure out why my nose runs every time I eat.

I can top that one. I had to go through a company called Rejuvanist to complete my Psych evaluation because my regular psychiatrist wrote up an evaluation that they found too vague. This was understandable seeing as how all he did was type a letter with two sentences that indicated that I was mentally stable enough for surgery. My bariactric center was the one who recommended the company to me. I was reassured by the bariatric clinic and during check-in at my Rejuvanist psych evaluation appointment that my insurance would cover the cost. Well, they did not. I get an $880 bill from Rejuvanist every month that I REFUSE TO PAY. Its been over a year and I'm still trying to work something out. This is such a ridiculous amount to charge for something that took less than 40 minutes to complete.

I'm not absorbing Iron even though I have the sleeve. The Vitamins and supplements I take have more than the recommended amount. At the moment, I'm speculating whether the mal-absorption has to do with my hormone issues (period stopping/early menopause). I don't see a specialist for a few weeks. The lack of iron really makes you so tired and drained and I may be getting iron shots down the road.

I am in maintenance and find that I go up and down the same 5 pounds every few days (123 to 128). When I see a 1-5 pound gain on the scale, I think nothing of it because I know I will be down again the next day. Now, if it was more than 5 pounds, then that would be a different story. Does anyone else in maintenance go through something similar?

My son and I live together and have separate food. Early after surgery, I asked him to call me a fat piggy if he ever saw me eating his food. Of course, he thought that was a little crude. So, he instead reminds me that I could be ruining all my hard work whenever he sees me taking a bite of cake, Cookies, ice cream, bread, Pasta, etc.

Dehydration can cause nausea and headaches. I would try drinking more fluids and see if that helps.

I've been experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness. I thought anemia was the culprit, but my Iron isn't so terribly low that it would cause such problems. I do wake up every 2-3 hours at night as far back as I can remember. It's just become a habit, I guess. I'm unsure of what to do about my constant tiredness. Caffeine doesn't even help all that much. My thyroid is underactive, but I've been on meds for that for quite some time. I'd like to find something natural because meds like Provigil are too much like amphetamines. They give me nausea and don't really fix the cause of the problem. Oddly, losing 150 pounds hasn't helped my sleepiness problem as much as I hoped it would. There are times that I feel a little more energetic, but it's not as often as I'd like.

I lost 15O lbs in 7.5 months after my surgery. My period stopped at 4 months post op during the end of January this year. It never returned. My recent blood work shows that my hormones are still quite screwed up even though my weight has stablized these past few months. I am 38 and will now never get pregnant again, which i was hoping could be possible with weight loss.

www.dietpillswatchdog.com Watch Dog Verdict DO NOT BUY PHENTABZ! A massively confusing site with several mixed messages; no address details and a lack of a guarantee add up to rejection based on our criteria. This could possibly be an effective weight loss diet pill but the negatives far outweigh the potential benefits in our opinion. We suggest that the company undertakes a big overhaul of their site, before we could approve them. If they do that, offer clear address details, a proper guarantee and a clear ingredient profile then potentially we could look at them again. Watchdog Rejected Diet Pills

Don't have it at all? Not having any of that kind of food for the past year has reduced cravings. My sleeve is larger than the typical sleeve and there is no way I could be satisfied with a few tablespoons of mac and cheese. So I just choose to have none at all. It's probably a good time to ignite a love for vegetables. Try different seasonings or preparation in the hopes of changing your cravings into a healthy variety of food. It's best to keep noodles and carb rich food out of your kitchen so that you don't indulge when you have a craving.

I was in the ER overnight and noticed that my heart rate was in the 60's despite having anxiety. I had an excruciating stomachache for four hours. They attributed it to a spasm/food getting stuck. I'll be drinking more and eating less turkey from now on.

I actually could eat about 4 cups of food in a sitting if I really wanted to. Despite this, I have managed to maintain my 155 pound loss for the past 6 months. Like Kindle mentioned, it all boils down to food choices. When I noticed that my capacity had increased, I decided to eat more of a plant based diet. There is no guilt in eating 4 cups of spinach in one sitting. Those that claim that the sleeve failed them have in fact eaten "around their sleeve". They consume mostly slider foods and don't follow the Protein first rule.

BARIBUDDIES ONLINE COOKBOOK: http://www.chicoweig...ookJuly2014.pdf I also found this website today: http://www.peachtree...t-loss-recipes/ Original Bari-Buddies cookbook: http://www.mybaribud...46/cookbook.pdf Phone app for recipes: http://www.eatingwel...ch_ipad_android http://theworldaccor...e.blogspot.com/ http://twosleevers.com/ Happy Cooking!

www.puritan.com Puritan's Pride seems to have the best deal on Isopure. You can save over 50% compared to GNC's selling price, plus the shipping is free.

I finally got a Sam's card today and purchased a two pack of the Prostak Blender Bottle. Anyone else use these? Description: Leak-proof, expandable, and unbelievably powerful, the BlenderBottle ProStak is the all-in-one solution for the serious athlete. The patented BlenderBall wire whisk delivers smooth shakes every time, while the unique twist n' lock jars offer unlimited storage expandability. Keep powders and pills in place - with or without the bottle. The ProStak's unique interlocking jars have individual lids, making it possible to carry pre- and post-workout supplements, Meal Replacements, and Snacks, even without the bottle. The ProStak's screw-on lid and leak-proof SureSeal flip cap keep your shake where it belongs. With a snug twist of the lid and the assuring snap of the flip cap, you're ready for some serious shaking. The BlenderBall wire whisk delivers lump-free Protein, nutrition, and Meal Replacement shakes, even blending flavorful additions such as Peanut Butter, yogurt, and oat flour. Includes 22 ounce capacity BlenderBottle, 150 cc jar, 100 cc jar, pill organizer and patented BlenderBall wire whisk. The BlenderBottle ProStak is expandable with extra twist n' lock jars The Ultimate All-in-One Supplements, snacks, pills, and liquid – all in the same bottleLeak-proof, expandable, and unbelievably powerful, the BlenderBottle ProStak is the all-in-one solution for the serious athlete. The patented BlenderBall wire whisk delivers smooth shakes every time, while the unique Twist n’ Lock jars offer unlimited storage expandability. Patented BlenderBall wire whisk mixes as you shake Two fully independent storage jars with Twist n’ Lock technology Space-saving pill tray BPA- and Phthalate-Free 100% leak-proof

The reality of how easy it is to gain weight really set in this week. I've decided that my set point is 127 pounds and have been successful maintaining that weight for the past two months. However, last week was quite turbulent. I had two relatives die and was very busy at work. The result was a loss of 4 pounds. To some, that may seem like a good thing. Although for me, it's a time to take action. Ever since the beginning of maintenance in June, I told myself that I would not let myself get sickly skinny. I work with a lot of young girls and don't want to give the impression that it is okay to look underweight. Plus, it makes me look incompetent at work and may prevent me from getting hired for a more prestigious position. Looking weak and super skinny was not why I got WLS. However, in a way it makes you feel empowered. I think that is why some post ops are okay with being underweight. So, my plan was to add a bowel of Cereal (Special K actually) to my daily diet. I though it might take a couple weeks to get back to 127. Nope! It only took three days to gain back the four pounds. Therefore, all it took to gain the weight back was three bowels of carb ridden cereal. It was so easy to do, which is so unfortunate. No wonder some gain weight back. It doesn't take much.

0. What type of weight loss surgery have you had? Gastric Sleeve Oct. 6, 2014 1. How long have you been in maintenance mode? Since June 2015 2. What's your current height and weight? 5' 6” (I have lost an inch in height since VSG), 127 pounds 3. How many calories do you eat daily (on average) to maintain your weight? 1800-2000 daily calories, I’ve been eating this amount of calories daily for the past two months and have consistently weighed 127 every morning. Even if I go over or under 1800-2000, I still stay at the same weight. Therefore, I’m pretty sure that 127 pounds is my set point. I’m happy with this and hope my metabolism doesn’t slow down over time. 4. What kind of focus do you put on Protein -- number of grams or anything else you want to say? During the weight loss phase, I focused on getting in at least 100 grams of protein in a day. Once I hit maintenance, I started adding in lots of fruits and vegetables and decided to change to more of a plant based diet. I still get in at least 65 grams of protein everyday by drinking a Protein shake for Breakfast and eating 1-2 servings of fish. 5. What kind of focus do you put on carbs - number of grams or anything else you want to say? During the first three months post op, I limited carbs to fewer than 10 grams daily. I gradually increased my carbs and calories every month after that. I no longer count carbs because I’ve eliminated breads, Pasta, rice, grains, and starch from my diet completely. 6. What other nutritional tips / tricks are working for you that help you maintain? I eat the same food for lunch (and sometimes dinner as well) everyday. This is known as the “pick and stick” strategy. I wrote a post about it last summer: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/346081-pick-and-stick-a-post-op-eating-strategy/ I eat lettuce and cucumbers everyday and believe that green vegetables such as these increase your metabolism because your metabolism has to work harder during digestion. Plus, they prevent constipation and keep my body hydrated. Another strategy I find helpful is apple cider vinegar: I haven’t been one of the lucky ones that can eat anything they want and still lose weight. Nor am I one of those patients that are full after three bites. I realized this after 6 months and decided to put more of a rigid eating structure in place. Fortunately, I’ve learned that your rate of success is not determined by the size of your sleeve or even choice of procedure. The quantity of food you eat is not near as important as the actual food choice. When I learned this, it finally became clear to me why I had lost more weight than others in my clinic support group that were boasting extreme restriction. 7. Which foods, if any, do you avoid altogether? Rice, potatoes, bread, pasta I’ve walked 45-60 minutes a day for the past year. It relaxes me and is a regimen I can stick to and enjoy. I know weight lifting would really help tone my body, but I keep putting off going to the gym. I continue to attend a CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) therapy group every three weeks. <a href="http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/344943-i" data-ipb="nomediaparse" "="" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/344943-i" m-an-apple-cider-vinegar-junkie=""> 10. What advice would you offer WLS patients to help them be successful? Someone told me that the first six months after surgery are the most important. I took this advice to heart and lost almost all my excess weight (125 pounds) in that time frame. I’ve observed many other post ops slow down with their weight loss after the first six months. So, my best advice would be to take advantage of those first six months and kick your willpower and adherence to the bariatric guidelines into overdrive.

I posted research about stomach dilatation (stretching) last week: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/354672-gastric-dilatation-does-not-necessarily-lead-to-weight-regain/ Dilation (stretching) does happen, but mostly to larger sleeves. You are going to have many people tell you that it just can't happen, they are wrong. This seems to have a great deal to do with how much of the fundus is cut out. The remaining fundus can stretch up to four times it's original size. Research shows that about 50% of the ghrelin is still produced in our bodies. I can also attest to the fact that my hunger and cravings are about at 40% compared to before surgery. I've read that most sleeves hold about 2 ounces after surgery but will eventually hold 4-6 ounces. This means that it is normal for the sleeve to enlarge 2-3 times its original size over time, despite not overeating. Really, what counts is NOT the size of our stomach, but what we put in it. I've seen patients regain weight no matter what their sleeve size. It's interesting to note that I've lost much more weight than those that boast at meetings that they are full after a few tablespoons. Even if your capacity has increased, the key is to stay positive! You can and will be successful! Further info: http://myaceinhand.b...ougie-size.html **How to prevent your stomach from stretching: https://www.youtube....h?v=3_aahPETzH0 This is an Dr. Weiner video. He does state on the video that hunger and capacity return to about 50% when compared to right after surgery.