glitter eyes

@alindsey. I am ten months post op. I will be doing a week on the Appalachian trail this summer. I have done long day hikes (sunup to sun down) since my surgery. I am a little worried too as this will be my first time overnight and multiple days in a row hiking and having to carry my pack/supplies. From my experience doing the day long hikes I felt like I was able to stay reasonably hydrated. However, I felt it was hard to keep up my food intake compared to calories burned. Everyone else could power eat at the end of the day. I did take granola, jerky and protein bars to eat. That seemed to help. One day I was so hungry and behind on my calories I ate a Reese's peanut butter cup. I too would like any advice anyone has to offer. How many days do you plan to hike it? Good luck on your hike!!

I think the hair loss, length you lose it, regrowth and what helps is a very individual process. For me I started losing hair at about month five or six. It soon began coming out in clumps. I always reached my protein goals and many days exceeded it, took 10,000 of Biotin a day, multi vit.,etc. and nothing worked. I started taking liquid silicia about two and half weeks ago and it has stopped a lot of the shedding. Now when I wash it I just lose a lot of strands, but no clumps. Also, the amount in my hairbrush is about 1/3 of what it was. Seems to work for me.

Hang in there you can do it! Also, by cutting back on carbs now, when you do your liquid diet your cravings and headaches will already be behind you. It will make your post op easier. One month before my pre op liquid diet I cut all my carbs and sodas. I didn't lose very much, but my two week liquid pre op diet was a breeze because I didn't have any cravings. Everything you do to help before surgery is a good idea. Good luck to you!!

I have a fit bit charger and like it. That being said it does have draw backs. When I do the rowing machine at the gym it doesn't pick up my distances accurately at all. Also if I hold on the handles on the treadmill it's not very accurate. It under counts which is a good thing.

YES!! It happens to me. I have found that I can avoid it if I don't eat anything for about 1-2 hours before I lay down. If I eat then try to sleep, it happens every time. I think it's just reflux. I try to remember to take a Zantac in the evening. That helps too. It is very annoying sometimes because I work night shift and I sleep better during the day if I go to sleep with something in my stomach. Now I have to have my stomach totally empty so it wont happen. so sometimes during my sleep I will wake up hungry and have to make the choice food or sleep.

Good luck to all of you in the pre op stage. It does take courage to go through with this surgery. However, I think you will find that the majority of us regret not having done it sooner. It is a life changer. I am thankful everyday for the second chance that weight loss surgery gave me. I understand about wanting to back out. I was so nervous the night before my surgery that if I didn't work at the hospital where I was having it done- I probably would have chickened out too. However, I am a nursing administrator at my hospital and everyone knew I was coming in to have it done. I probably had almost a hundred people cone check on me during my stay. It was a real party in my room. So I think I was more scared of having to face everyone if I cancelled. LOL Just remember there are complications, but they are rare. Hang in there and before you know it your new life will begin

My saggy parts are my stomach, my butt, and a tiny bit of saggy skin on my upper inner thighs. The thigh skin looks the weirdest because the rest of my legs are super fit and defined. Everything else is holding up ok. I am 43 and so far have lost 120 pounds and want to lose 11 more. I have been exercising faithfully and have used every lotion and oil combination ( hasn't helped). I think a lot has to do with age and genetics. I am only 10 months and as soon as the weather warms my pool up I am going to swim laps everyday so I am hoping that will help. Good luck to you!

Great post. It's good to focus on the reasons we all had this surgery and not let the scale dictate our successes. It's is hard to not fixate on the numbers. I try to keep in mind that I am successful because I have met all my pre op goals. I am fit, healthy, and live a much more adventurous active lifestyle. Yes, I set my goal weight to 140 and right now my body seems to be really happy at 152. Even if I never lose those last pounds, I have succeeded. Like you, I plan and count my food intake, but also don't freak out if I have an occasional treat. I even baked homemade sugar cookies last night just for myself!! I ate what I wanted and sent the rest with my husband to work. You have inspired me to write down new goals. Mine will all be fitness based. I love feeling my body get stronger and tough. I will continue to weigh to stay on track, but those last twelve pounds can either stay or go I will not give them the power to determine my happiness!!

My hair starting falling out about month six so I can understand how you feel. I am currently 10 months post op. I dread washing and brushing mine as well. My hair is dry and thin compared to pre op. I think it might just be the "luck of the draw". All my labs are perfect. I have been taking biotin 10,000 a day since a few weeks before surgery, I get an average of 100 grams of protein a day, drinks my fluids. Hopefully it will stop soon for us all since we are pretty far post op. I just started taking liquid silica last week. I read about it and it sounds promising. To early to tell. If it stops the loss I will be telling everyone!!

So excited for you. That is an awesome victory!! I feel your pain. I am ten months post op and I have been stalled for at least a month now. We all just have to keep moving forward. I tell myself that I will not give up and sooner or later there will be another weight loss. You are proof of that.

Good luck. You can do it. You are such an inspirations to so many of us and everyone is rooting for you. I loved your statement that fighting off those last pounds was like hand to hand combat. That's where I am right now and I feel like I am in a battle. I only have 11 more pounds to go and my body is clinging to each one. I refuse to give in or give up!! Love your suggestions.

So tonight I did my first spin class. OMG it was hard work. I felt it was a victory that I made it through the entire class. However, I have a question. Is it normal to have pain in the groin area from the seat?? I felt like a fire breathing animal was chewing my crotch off. My pelvic bones are so sore. I think if I can get used to the pelvic pain I would like the class. Guess I need to tough up my bones or find some padded underwear. LOL

I brought: - small travel pillow to brace my stomach with, and it was amazing. I used it for weeks - biotene moisturizing mouthwash to help with dry mouth and I was so glad to have it. -gowns,robes,slippers -toiletry items -make up ( I work in the hospital where I had surgery and had at least thirty people a day checking on me) -heating pad which I never used -small throw to keep me warm -nail polish (they wouldn't let me wear nail polish for surgery. I painted my nails the second I got back to my room) I have a tendency to overpack LOL Good luck on your surgery!!

In feel your pain too. I am ten months post op and haven't lost anything in over four weeks. Like you I get plenty of fluids, protein, and limit carbs. I exercise five to six days a week. This week I am trying to up my calories a little and change up my exercise routines to try and shake things up. I hope both of our stalls end soon. We can do it!!

Glad you are feeling better. You had a rough road, but have bravely pushed through it. You look great. Congratulations!!

It is and can be challenging to learn your new tummy. It's like a newborn. One thing you can try is to just eat one new food at a time. That way if you have any nausea or pain it's easier to pinpoint which food caused the problem. It does get easier as time passes. Also, if you do not tolerate something just wait a while and you can try it again. Good luck - you can do it!!!

I can't speak for everyone, but for me the pain your are describing was normal. Every time I took a sip my chest hurt. It does get easier as time passes. One thing I did that helped it was a poured my fluids into a medicine cup and made it last for three tiny sips. That seemed to help with the pain a little. Tiny tiny slow sips. Also, try different temperatures. Some people do better with hot or room temperature. My stomach loved everything ice cold. Also, you can try different kinds of fluid. Plain water was torture for me and even now ten months post op my sleeve does not like water. I love zero calorie peach flavored propel water. The flavored vitamin waters are zero calories and sobe' flavored waters are very low calorie. Hang in there it does get better. Good luck

I think some people just do not have a lot of tact. I did not keep my surgery a secret so I don't get the "are you sick comments". However, some people ask how much I have lost or how much I weigh. Those nosy comments don't bother me. What really gets on my nerves is when someone says,"wow, your husband must be really happy now." For some reason that drives me crazy. I always say that I pride myself in being blessed with a marriage that is wonderful and happy no matter what. I try to keep in mind that the people who say that have probably never had a relationship based on unconditional love.

@@gowalking What a wonderful post!! You are so right this is a lifelong experience and its so easy to get hung up on the scale and the numbers. Success is defined by more than that. I haven't lost any weight in the last month and really wanted to lose 11 more so I can be at a normal BMI. It was bothering me up until this week when I decided to ditch the numbers game and focus on my successes too. I am fit and strong now. I am more adventurous. My body is healthy and I feel great. So even if I never reach my number goal I consider myself a success. You are an inspiration. Have a great day!!

As shallow as this sounds, one of my biggest reasons for having WLS beside my health was I wanted to be able to comfortably lay out in a beach chair. I wanted to be able to easily get up and down and even roll from my stomach to my back. My favorite thing to do is lay out on the beach or beside my pool. For the last three summers I have been too heavy to do this. Now ten months post op and 119 pounds later I had the best day at the beach this week. My chair was comfortable again!! My next goal is to hike part of the Appalachian trail this summer, who knew the new me would love adventure.

I have a crazy addiction buying workout clothes. I have never in my life liked exercise much less owned athletic gear/clothes. Now I can't get enough. I am also addicted to exercise. I feel so much better after I workout that I want to go to the gym everyday. I think it's because I feel my body getting stronger, gaining muscle, and becoming more fit. I was so out of shape and overweight before. Just the other day I was running and had the thought.. "I run because I can!!"

@@Edavidson and @@Need4Change I had my surgery at Baptist with Dr. Morganthal. Both he and Dr. Hodgett do a great job!! I work at Baptist so I felt comfortable having my surgery there. I had my sleeve last June so I am 10 months post op and down 119 pounds. Just 11 more to get to a normal BMI!! It's nice to find people on here from our area. I love this forum and find it so helpful.

I have hypothyroidism and pre surgery I was on 250 mcg of synthroid a day. Now I only need 137mcg to keep my TSH levels around 1. If I start to creep up into the 2 range I become symptomatic. So far my meds have not needed to be adjusted for the last four months. I ten months post op and down 119 pounds so I don't think it effected my weight loss. As long as your TSH levels are not crazy high; your surgery should not be a problem. Good luck to you

I live in Jacksonville, Fl and have BCBS insurance and my gastric sleeve was covered. However, I did have to do the six month doctor supervised visits, psych consult, nutrition consult, and attend at least one support group meeting. I also had a $5000 dollar deductible, which since I work at the hospital they have payroll deducted over a year. Best money I have ever spent!!

My body does best if my carb intake is around 20 grams. I try to obtain those carbs from fruits and veggies. I do my best to avoid refined sugar.