WL WARRIOR

The right hair cut can make all the difference. I've had thick, one length hair down to my butt for the past few years. Although I didn't lose any hair from surgery, the hairline above my temples is thinner than the rest of my hair. This could be due to menopause (thanks to the VSG surgery) or just growing old at 38. Since my hair is so heavy, it gets really flat on top from all the weight despite my many attempts to add volume. I've been planning on cutting my hair into a short shag for months. Finally, I went to the salon Saturday with multiple pictures of what I wanted. Although, she didn't cut it shorter than my shoulders (she was afraid I'd regret it) she put in a multitude of choppy, disconnected layers all over the place. The hairdresser cut the layers in a way that made my natural curl come out. In the end, I got volume for sure, but not as short as I originally wanted. My hair is so thick now that you can't even see my face when it is all down. I've decided to try the style out for a week and go back again if I still want it shorter. So, my point is that a great layered haircut can do wonders if you are thinning on top.

I went through a jug of the Pure Protein chocolate during my 2 week pre op liquid diet. It was alright. They sell it at Wal-Mart for pretty cheap. It's better than the Body Fortress brand that they also sell at Wal-Mart. Muscle Milk is pretty good if you want something milk based. They sell this also at Wal-Mart along with Muscletech. There are so many protein brands out there now. It takes awhile to find the one that you actually enjoy enough to buy again. There are some really good brands like Isopure, Syntrax, or Bariatric fusion that are on the pricy side. I go back and forth between something on sale at Wal-Mart to something more expensive. While the Premier ready to drink is quite convenient, its also more pricey than Pure Protein. In fact, the Premeir Protein Chocolate and Pure Protein Chocolate taste quite similar.

Hey, you might be okay. You just never know. I wasn't in any pain either or have cavities. I just have a few broken teeth in the back that I never did anything about because they never caused me trouble. My plan was to get the surgery and work on alleviating my co-morbidities (diabetes, high blood pressure). It was only until that was accomplished that I had planned on getting any dental work done. My teeth actually looked healthy when I smiled and the teeth in the back caused me no pain, so I didn't see it as a big deal. My bariatrician just happen to ask about my dental health during a consultation and I told him about a few broken teeth that I had planned on fixing next year. Broken teeth are considered an infection, which I didn't understand at the time. He then explained that I couldn't schedule surgery until I got a clean bill of dental health from my dentist. I WAS FURIOUS! To me, this was just a way for my dentist to require lots of expensive dental procedures so that he could make money. After my dental x-rays, he suggested dental work that was going to take over three months to complete and over $1000 even with dental insurance. I begged to just have them all pulled out and put dentures in, but they wouldn't do it. I guess my teeth in the front were in to good of health to pull. Once again, it was just a way for the dentist to make more money, in my opinion. In the end, I had to get a lot of teeth pulled to get a good bill of dental health. I still need to get a partial put in the back because I still can't chew meat worth a darn. It's just something that I keep putting off. Good Luck to you and I hope that your problem is easy alleviated.

I second that. I started with the powdered isopure right after surgery. You can't beat the 50 grams of Protein in one serving. Did I like it? No, not really. Did I like what it did for my health and ability to fulfill my daily protein requirement? Heck yeah. This is more important to me than taste. Unless it causes an allergic reaction or vomiting, you may just have to tolerate. If you have the time and money, you can taste test other Protein drinks. There are a lot out there. The best tasting protein, in my opinion, is Syntrax Fuzzy Naval and WonderSlim pudding/shakes by Bariatric Choice.

You will be alright. Although for future reference, remember to stop after you initially make a bad choice. That thinking of "I might as well eat all that I want, since I've already blown it" will get you into trouble. One bad food choice shouldn't have too much of an effect on your weight loss. It is the continuation of bad choices after the initial one that will lead to weight gain. Think about it, when you run a red light, do you decide to go ahead and run red lights for the rest of the day? No, that would be silly. It is the same for food choices. If you make a small slip up, own up to it and move on with your bariatric diet.

I would postpone your surgery if you are having a toothache, especially if it is infected. A tooth infection can negatively effect a newly cut stomach. The infection can transfer from your tooth to your incision through saliva. This is what my bariatrician told me and I had to postpone my surgery until I got about $1000 worth of dental work done. Most toothaches are the beginning of an infection, since a small cavity is an infection in itself. My clinic will not let you undergo surgery if you have cavities.

I good addition or substitute for a Protein shake would be Dr. Weiner's SET POINT smoothie. The more of these you drink, the more weight you lose and the healthier you become. The main ingredients are baby spinach, kale, dandelion greens, and apple or pineapple. You can use frozen fruit and a spice like ginger root can be added to suppress the appetite. The focus with these smoothies is eating whole, unprocessed foods rather than fake Protein shakes. Personally, I do both. There will come a day when I stop my Protein Shake, but it is my daily Breakfast for now. SET POINT SMOOTHIE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MxZYAwzPuk (leafy greens, fruit, spice) A BETTER PROTEIN SHAKE (20-30 protein grams) http://drmatthewweiner.com/a-better-protein-shake/ ******this shake in particular would be a good substitute for your ice cream shake. Since it doesn't use Protein powder at all, you don't have to worry about that nasty powder aftertaste. It uses low fat or greek yogurt, natural Peanut Butter (PB2), and a banana. The result is a healthy shake with 20-30 grams of protein. Watch the video above for more info. Homemade Set Point Smoothies are a better option to drive weight loss than commercially available smoothies. By introducing real whole foods you can increase your phytonutrient intake which helps improve your overall health and drive and maintain weight loss. This video provides tips and tricks to making a better tasting and more nutrient dense smoothie without spending a ton of time in the kitchen. Dr. Matthew Weiner is an author and bariatric surgeon who offers both surgical and nonsurgical weight loss solutions. Through his surgical practice, Dr. Weiner made a groundbreaking, nonsurgical, dietary discovery. In his book, A Pound of Cure, he shares his style of eating which mimics the changes that occur directly after undergoing bariatric surgery. For more information call his office at 248-413-2670. Or, log onto www.drmatthewweiner.com Or, www.facebook.com/APoundofCure DR. WEINER'S SET POINT SMOOTHIE *lots of kale *1 inch of ginger root *3-4 pineapple spears *5-6 ice cubes *2-3 oz Water Blend in a blender, not a juicer DR. WEINER'S "BETTER PROTEIN SHAKE" *1 cup low fat plain yogurt (greek yogurt can be used) *1 banana *4 tablespoons of PB 2 or natural peanut butter 20-30 grams per 12 oz serving

The first year after surgery is all about making lifestyle changes. After a year, frequent exercise and following the bariatric diet and guidelines should feel like second nature. I have gotten in the routine of only eating Protein, fruit, and vegetables. It is instinctual now to NOT reach for junk food when I'm hungry, bored, stressed, anxious, or depressed. If I got into the habit of adding ice cream to my food to add flavor, it could be the beginning of a bad habit or lead to other bad choices. Since you are so early out, you may still lose adequate weight with milkshakes. Heck, there are plenty of people who still lose quite a bit of weight during the first year without changing their diet. They can eat Cookies and junk food and still lose weight because their restriction is so great. However, once their capacity increases after the honeymoon period, they start experiencing stalls because they never learned to change their eating habits. They are confused why they stopped losing. Well, what did you think was going to happen? I've been on this site for over a year and observed quite a few people that received little or no education about the post op bariatric diet and lifestyle. They decide to follow the behaviors they read about here. Most of the time that is a good thing, but on a post such as this one? Not so much. Good Luck on your weight loss journey! I know that you were only trying to help others out.

Sorry, I posted here in the wrong place. Just carry on. Well, since I'm here, I might as well contribute............................... I would suggest fish with high Protein and low calories, like salmon and tilapia. Also, I drink black coffee (it has to be black to get the antioxidants) to help control my appetite. It really helps when I have a cup in the late afternoon. Research has backed this notion that black coffee reduces appetite. You may want to give it a try between meals? Once you can eat green vegetables, they also can help control the appetite between meals. I will eat a cucumber or a bowel of spinach with Walden 0 calorie dressing. This is a snack that is less than 25 calories and high in Water content. Plus, you can eat it whenever you fell like. Yeah, it use to make me feel like I was grazing at times, but it works for me.

Have you ever been to an AA meeting or are you worried that showing up will risk your reputation? I would suggest at least trying it once. It may help you to talk about your struggles as you go through your transition into sobriety. Don't be afraid that they will judge your weaning process. It's not something you have to share. Sometimes it helps to take what you find useful and leave the rest. I've always found group settings to be more useful than talking to a therapist. Cognitive Behavioral therapy is also useful for people recovering from any addiction (food, alcohol, illegal substances) because you learn preventive strategies. You need to have a plan in action in case severe stress, anxiety, or depression arises and it becomes terribly challenging to turn away from alcohol.

My Bariatric fusion came in today and its great! I'm going to share some of the info. on this product below since it is such a good find. I've been looking for something like this for a long time. Also, I attached some info. on the WonderSlim pudding/shakes from Bariatric Choice. Bariatric Fusion - High Protein Meal Replacement - chocolate Mousse 27 grams of Medical Grade whey Protein Isolate Per Serving 23 Vitamins & Minerals 5 grams of Fiber Per Serving Lactose, Aspartame & Gluten Free No Sugar added What’s better than chocolate pudding? How about guilt-free chocolate mousse? Bariatric Fusion Meal Replacement Chocolate Mousse is not only sinfully delicious, it’s also a nutritionally complete meal designed to meet your needs both before and after bariatric surgery. The first few months after bariatric surgery can be a tasteless, bland time, but Bariatric Fusion helps add flavor back into your life. An experienced team of professionals worked with 3,000 bariatric surgery patients to develop a nutritionally complete and delicious low calorie meal replacement pudding. The result is a creamy, dreamy chocolate mousse that provides good nutrition with great taste. Each serving of Bariatric Fusion Chocolate Mousse Meal Replacement provides 27g of medical grade whey protein isolate and 5g of fiber to help you meet your weight loss goals. It’s enriched with 23 essential vitamins and trace minerals to keep you healthy and ensure that you’re getting all the nutrition you need. Each canister of Bariatric Fusion Chocolate Mousse Meal Replacement powder contains 25 servings to help add flavor back into your life after weight loss surgery. Bariatric Fusion meal replacement powder is also lactose, aspartame and gluten free, making it a great choice for any weight loss meal plan. Serving Size: 1 Scoop (37.16g) Calories 121 Total Fat <1gg Saturated Fat <1g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0g Sodium 83mg Potassium142mg Total Carbohydrate 7g Dietary Fiber 5g Sugars <1g Protein 27g Vitamin A: 50%•Vitamin C: 50%Iron: 50%•Calcium: 12%Chromium: 50%•Vitamin D: 100%Vitamin E: 50%•Vitamin K: 50%Thiamin: 50%•Riboflavin: 50%Niacin: 50%•Vitamin B6: 50%Folic Acid: 50%•Vitamin B12: 100%Biotin: 50%•Pantothenic: 100%Phosphorus: 7%•Iodine: 50%Magnesium: 50%•Zinc: 50%Selenium: 50%•Copper: 50% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs: Calories: 2,000 2,500 Total Fat Less than 65g 80g Sat Fat Less than 20g 25g Cholesterol Less than 300mg 300mg Sodium Less than 2,400mg 2,400mg Total Carb 300g 375g Dietary Fiber 25g 30g Ingredients Whey protein isolate, digestive resistant maltodextrin, natural cocoa, vitamin mineral complex [magnesium oxide, ferrous bisglycinate chelate, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), zinc citrate, molybdenum chelate, Biotin, Vitamin A palmitate, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin K, potassium iodide, copper glycinate chelate, pyridoxine HCL (vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), riboflavin (vitamin B2), cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), chromium picolinate, selenium chelate, folic acid, vitamin E acetate], xanthan gum, natural & artificial flavoring, sucralose. Contains milk and soy (lecithin) ingredients.

I just ordered the Bariatric fusion Protein drink/pudding after getting a sample in the mail. The WonderSlim pudding/shake by Bariatric Choice is also quite tasty.

I've watched most of Dr. Weiner's videos and the only thing contradictory would be the "Protein first" rule. He puts an emphasis on a plant based diet after the first 6 months post op.

My doctor said that they accidentally got the lunch trays mixed up in the hospital and a guy right out of gastric bypass surgery was served a large hamburger. They didn't realize the mistake until after he had eaten the whole hamburger (I know, how is that even possible?). Of course, the patient blamed the hospital for his bad food choice. It seems that most post op patients that decide to "do it their own way" end up not being very successful. Then you have to listen to them whine about why they aren't losing weight.

I haven't had a period since January and I'm not sexually active. The professional medical opinion is that I am going through early onset menopause (38 years old) and the sleeve was the cause of it. Well, it was more or less my hormones going haywire from losing 100 pounds in 5 months post surgery. What symptoms do most people experience during menopause? Of course, my moods are up and down, but that may be happening for a variety of other reasons. I've been maintaining goal weight for a few months now and my period should have come back by now if weight loss was the primary reason for its absence.

A lot of people on here are Premier Protein fans. While everyone has different tastes, I don't know what makes it so special. It contains whey Protein Concentrate instead of Whey Protein Isolate, which is easier to digest. There are other Protein drinks that have similarly low calories, sugar, and carbs PLUS contain the whey protein isolate that is recommended for post op patients. You may want to try some free samples before purchasing a large supply. The two web sites posted below will ship you 2-3 free samples in the flavor of your choice: www.doctorsbestweighloss.com (request on the live chat or leave a message request for 3 samples) http://www.bariatricchoice.com/sample-request?utm_source=bariatricsamples&utm_medium=postcard&utm_content=BC3Q2015&utm_campaign=professionals fill out online form to get samples I personally favor Isopure Low Carb chocolate powder, Bariatric fusion, and Muscle Tech brands. These three have over 30 grams of whey protein isolate in a serving, low calories, low carb, and low sugar. Isopure powder and Bariatric Fusion also contain additional Vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Many others like the Syntrax Matrix protein, which I have yet to try.

The Bari-Buddies online cookbook has many pureed food recipes as well as recipes for all stages of the bariatric diet. You can download and print the book because there is no copyright. It's a great resource! http://www.mybaribud...46/cookbook.pdf ORIGINAL BARI-BUDDY COOKBOOK (few hundred pages) http://www.chicoweig...ookJuly2014.pdf UPDATED REVISED VERSION

A daily calorie intake of 1000-1200 is quite low in the maintenance phase. I've been maintaining goal weight since June at around 1800 calories a day. I would continue to lose with anything lower than that. However, if your daily calorie intake is consistently around 600 throughout your weight loss phase, then it does make sense that you would maintain around 1000-1200. I purposely increased my calories slowly during the last few months of weight loss (600 calories a day to 900) to shake up my metabolism. You don't want your body to get use to such a low calorie diet.

You can request three free samples from: www.doctorsbestweightloss.com Once you go to this site, click on the purple bar in the lower right corner that says "leave a message" or "chat now". If it's after business hours, you will have to leave your sample request as a message. Otherwise, you can chat with an online chat person. They will let you request a Protein bar, Protein shake, protein pudding or Soup in your choice of flavor. I sampled some protein pudding (Bariatric fusion chocolate) and liked it so much that I ordered a tub of it. They have great prices and service. The samples only take a few days to ship to you. Also, Bariatric Choice will give you two samples at your request. It's usually a chicken broth and chocolate pudding. Click on the following website and fill out the online form for these samples: http://www.bariatricchoice.com/sample-request?utm_source=bariatricsamples&utm_medium=postcard&utm_content=BC3Q2015&utm_campaign=professionals

My rate of loss was similar to Livsmom. I lost my first 100 in five months and got to goal by month 7. It slowed down quite a bit after that. However, I do agree that it is not typical to lose that fast. Nor do I recommend it. It really can screw up your hormones and put me into early menopause at 38 years old.

I've actually taken both Effexor and Prozac (not at the same time) as well as many other SSRI's and antidepressants. Most SSRI's can make you gain weight (5-10 pounds), but not near as much as the psychotropic meds (Seraquil, Zyprexa). I switched to Welbutrin a few weeks before surgery because its doesn't cause weight gain and is suppose to decrease cravings and binge eating. It seems to be working okay for now. Some psychotropic and antidepressants actually increase your craving for carbs and effect blood sugar (Abilify) so be careful. I don't remember exactly why or how, but ask your doctor or read your drug warning sheet if you want more information. Not everyone experiences the same side effects on these drugs, so only time will tell if it will cause weight gain. The best you can do is stick to the guidelines and Bariatric Eating plan.

There are some great recipes for each stage of the diet in this free bariatric cookbook: http://www.chicoweig...ookJuly2014.pdf http://www.mybaribud...46/cookbook.pdf

I found the author's home experiment with food to be quite interesting. I've been in maintenance for a few months and agree with him on many points. I've been eating a more plant based diet and have noticed that I don't have to track calories and watch portion sizes like I use to. My Protein is still 3-4 ounces at every meal, but I generally eat my veggies and fruit until I feel full. Like I always say, nobody gained weight from eating too much spinach. There is even a study that showed that eating green vegetables in large amounts all day can actually make you lose weight. Even though I haven't 't tracked or reduced portion sizes, I still have remained at goal weight the past few months on a plant based (real foods) diet. Anyway, I would like to hear comments about the article. Shocking (In Pictures): Why We’re Fat – The Home Experiment by Alexander Heyne http://modernhealthmonk.com/why-youre-fat-experiment/ Dr. Weiner's YouTube video on benefits of a plant based diet after bariatric surgery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hf7KMEMA-Q If you like to read up on weight loss success stories or approaches, here are two more articles: 15 Habits of People Who Have Effectively Lost Over 20 – 30lbs and Kept it Off http://www.organizeyourselfskinny.com/2014/03/25/15-habits-of-people-who-have-effectively-lost-over-20-30lbs-and-kept-it-off/ Myth: Eat Fewer Calories If You Want to Lose Weight http://modernhealthmonk.com/low-calorie-myth/

I just received a reminder for my one year follow up in the mail. The name of the bariatrican I will be seeing is, once again, someone different (or new). This will be the third time I've switched bariatricians within the same clinic. Maybe it is like you mentioned, a Missouri thing. As for my surgeon, I only met him briefly when coming out of surgery and never got to talk to him. These things don't bother me too much. However, it did bother me when I wasn't allowed to meet or speak to a bariatrician at my clinic while experiencing a complication a few months ago. They kept referring me to the ER at the hospital I had my surgery. I ended up just going to my PCP. In fact, I may skip my one year follow up and see my PCP instead.

I've been maintaining for a few months after losing 150 pounds. Yes, that's right. I've lost 150 pounds since my surgery October 7th. This process has been harder mentally and physically than I ever imagined. The quick weight loss stopped my period 6 months ago and now I'm going through menopause at 38 years old. I go to weekly OA meetings as well as cognitive behavioral therapy twice a month. Maintenance is just as hard as the weight loss phase and I'm determined to never gain my weight back.