glitter eyes

I take the 10,00 mg of Biotin and the are the kind that dissolve in your mouth. They haven't helped my hair loss at all, but I am still going to keep taking them until I am completely bald!!! LOL

You can refocus- especially since you are aware of the things that are holding you back. I am almost 10 months post op too and I think this is the time it can get really hard. Our stomachs are healed and can hold more and for some the appetite comes back (happened to me). However, we can do this!! I am upping my exercise. I just brought a fitbit to encourage me. I am also cutting my carbs way back. Try logging your food again and see if that helps. Also, being this close to goal it becomes a little harder to lose those last few pesky pounds!! You got this!! Good luck

I felt like my stomach was swollen and puffy for at least three weeks. It was also tender and I didn't even wear pants for three weeks. Guess I am kind of wimpy. The swelling will eventually go away. Hang in there- you can do it!! Congrats on being post op!!

@ladycook9713. For my puréed stage ( let me clarify that my surgeons puréed stage included anything soft that could be chewed to applesauce consistency) : Greek yogurt Ricotta cheese bake( google "the world according to egg face" for the recipes, she has a lot of great ideas Soft white fish chewed well Soft cheeses Refried Beans ( my fav, I was able to add different things like melted cheese, gaucamole, sour cream etc. Smoked salmon chewed well Humus Soft scrambled eggs Chili chewed well Soups- I would add unflavored Protein powder I made sure to weigh and measure everything and take slow tiny bites. Have fun on the puréed stage and get creative and goggle ideas.

@ good idea about the tea- I will start drinking it today. I am willing to try anything at this point. Mine didn't start shedding until about five months out. I also took great care of my hair. I even started biotin six months before surgery. I was reading on line about cucumbers and how they contain silica which is supposed to help. I have already brought a bag full of cucumbers this morning. LOL. Hope it stops soon.

Hang in there it will get better. Also, just because you can't get your protein in early post op does not mean you are a failure. Post op I had a hard time getting my protein too. I could not tolerate the protein shakes and I tried many brands. I still to this day- nine months post op despise them. I just made sure I stayed very hydrated ( small sips) and I lived off Greek yogurt and strained soups until I got to the puréed stage. From there on out you can get your protein from food instead of shakes. I used all the protein powder I had to make protein pancakes( once I was able to eat solid food) and I also mix it with my Greek yogurt. I get my fair life milk at my local grocery store ( Publix) it taste just like regular milk but you get the bonus of double the protein. You will be a success. Lots of luck

Is there anyone out there who has found a good shampoo that helps with the hair loss? I have tried an emu oil shampoo. emu oil is supposed to be great for hair loss and regrowth- but so far it isn't working for me.

Congratulations!! That's an awesome victory. Enjoy your flowers

@@Pac-woman , that picture you posted looks exactly like the amount of hair I lose every time in the shower. I feel your pain. I am nine months out and still shedding buckets of hair a day. If my hair had not been so crazy thick before surgery I am sure I would be bald by now. It's scary. I also take 10,000 mg of biotin, multi vit., zinc, folic acid, vit B complex. I get on average 90 grams of protein a day, some days more. I drink plenty of water and all my blood work is normal. I guess it's the luck of the draw. I have some friends who had the gastric sleeve, they eat like crap, drink soda, don't take vitamins and their hair is perfect. Lets hope our hair loss ends soon!!

152 today- stayed the same. Thank you so much Susan for all your hard work and time.

I have a close friend who felt like she did not have enough restriction and who was always hungry. She actually works for the bariatric surgery center. There are two surgeons in the practice. She had the surgeon who didn't do her surgery order a scan to check her stomach size. That surgeon said her stomach was too big and it looked like the other surgeon hadn't taken enough off. He told her it looked almost normal. He did a sleeve revision on her and she recovered quickly and is now at her goal weight and has been for almost two years. So I think it can be safely revised, but it is a personal decision.

Hang in there!! One bad weekend does not mean you are a failure. It's a holiday weekend and a splurge is part of normal life. Tomorrow is another day. Wake up empowered with the idea that you got this and can get back on track. You can do it. You are not alone. I ate like a hippopotamus today. It was a wonderful treat. I didn't even log my food and I am a faithful tracker. This has been my pattern for holidays and so far it has worked for me.

I just had my regular co payments for each visit and then a final payment of $600 for the actual surgery. However, the hospital bill was $5000. That was the portion my insurance didn't cover.

The biggest surprise I have had after surgery was how adventurous I would feel and how excited I am to pursue outdoor activities and go to the gym. I have been thin twice before; once as a child/teenager and the second was for a brief time in my early 30's. So I knew how good it would feel to be able to wear normal size clothes, fit into restaurant booths, ride amusement park rides,etc. I am completely shocked that now I love to hike outside, Zip lining, kayaking, looking forward to camping. I am looking forward to seeing my body get stronger and fitter. It's so crazy because I have always been a prissy girly girl who never wanted to sweat or do outdoor stuff. Now I say bring it on- I am stepping outside my comfort zone every chance I get and I love it!!

I agree with lipstick lady that grocery stores are awesome. My local grocery store will also just slice a few slices of deli meat and cheese. They also sell rotisserie chicken and will sell just one piece if you ask. I have even gone to seafood department had had them steam me a handful of shrimp. As far as fast food... Chick fil a grilled nuggets, Wendy's and panera's chili. I also carry turkey jerky with me all the time for any food emergencies.

I am a nurse, but I am the Assistant Director of Nursing, which is similar to a house supervisor. I do walk a lot, help move patients, lead the code and rapid response teams,so I am usually busy, but my job isn't as strenuous as a floor nurse. I took four weeks off. I could have come back at week three because I was feeling good, but was grateful for my extra time to adjust to my new way of eating. I had lifting restrictions for three weeks. As for telling your co workers that is a personal decision. I have been lucky that everyone at my job has been supportive. In addition, there were four of us nurses that had the gastric sleeve within two weeks of each other, so that has been a lot of support. When it comes to eating and the night shift schedule, just play around until you find what works for you. I log everything I eat into My Fitness Pal. What I do is consider (24 hours) 7am to 7am one day, that way when I clock out I start a new day. This has worked for me. Try to take it easy post op and best of luck to you. This is an amazing wonderful surgery

I haven't been able to tolerate water since the beginning. You can try adding different flavoring to your water. Just keep experimenting and eventually you will find something you like. I drink Propel water peach flavored. Good luck and hang in there

I am looking into purchasing a fitbit. Does everyone like theirs and which one do you have. I like the smaller design of the fitbit flex, but I would like one that keeps track of stairs climbed. Does it motivate you it keep moving?

Thanks everyone for you input!!

In my humble opinion, try tracking all your food intake; paying attention to the calories and carbs. After weeks of this you can look back and see what combo works for you. Everyone's body is different. Some people stall on lesser calories and some stall with increasing calories or carbs. I have found since I track all my food I can look at trends that happen when I lose weight. For me, the "happy place" is about 20 carbs, 90-100 grams protein, and 600-800 calories. Some days I eat more if I exercise. Also, as I get closer to goal I do allow myself an occasional treat. However, it does get harder to lose as you get closer to goal. Just try to find what works for you- you can do it!!!

152 today.

Congratulations on your hard work and reaching goal!! You look wonderful and happy.

Prior to surgery I loved plain water. After surgery I haven't been able to tolerate plain water. I drink Propel water and the peach flavor is my favorite.

Good job!! You look amazing

@@Ginger Snaps- thanks for the information link. Wish you the best of luck with your first mud run. It's amazing how weight loss surgery makes you start to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I have been thin several times in my life, but not until this time, after WLS, do I find myself having a different kind of zest for life and a seize the moment kind of attitude. @LipstickLady- you look like you could be your daughters sister!! You go girl!