Heather I

Hi! I, too, am a little bummed I didn't lose more, but I started menopause/perimenopause in February, and it completely slowed my loss to a snail's pace. Not making excuses -- hitting the gym, walking, tracking food, getting in vitamins, water, and protein. I'd say I'm eating around 1200-1400 calories a day 85% of the time, but I lose when I keep it at 1000-1200. It's hard to stick to 1000-1200! My surgery anniversary is in two weeks (9/19), so I'm doing the pre-op diet starting today to see if I can lose the last 14 lbs and get to an even 200. My long-term goal is 170-180, but have made peace that may take another two years to get there. My NUT and surgeon are totally fine with my results, which kind of surprised me. I AM bummed I have not lost like the people who posted the first few months, dropping 75-100 lbs within 3-4 months. That was not me, but I'm still thrilled with the surgery and the second chance at a healthy life it has afforded me. Surgery 9/19, 282.1 starting weight. Currently 9/6 214.1. Anniversary goal, 200. Long-term goal, 180/170.

I'm down about 65 and went from a 22 to a 16/14. I'm working out and toning, so I definitely look better, but still being in "plus" sizes and kind of lumpy for the smaller/regular sizes is a bummer. I don't necessarily see the loss either, even though I know it's there and not necessarily rational to feel this way.

Update: So I went 59 days of no period, then got a normal one, and am now on what I'm guessing is my second skipped period, at day 33 with no cycle. I dropped 5+ lbs after my last period, so I definitely am still retaining water and following my cycle of bloated/leaner before and after. I asked the NUT and she said if I skip more than two periods in a six-month cycle, call my Gyno and let them know. She didn't know if it was weight loss or coincidental age bringing on the perimenopausal stuff, but just giving an update. I guess I'm in it now! Plucking the chin goat hairs in earnest now. . . .

OMG! I thought I dodged the hair loss bullet, was feeling happy and smug, LOL, taking my Biotin -- and then BAM, around month January-March losing GOO GOBS OF HAIR!!!!!! Thankfully I have a lot, but still, it's EVERYWHERE -- in food, on clothes, floors, pillows, bedding, lint trap of the dryer looks like I could make a freaking wig! Gross!

Thanks for all the suggestions! Unfortunately, I'm stuck at a LB 14 -- plateaud since February! Ugh. Making a list of these to try if and when the scale ever moves again.

So, I'm on day 56 no period. Still working out 3-5x a week, walking 10,000 steps more often now that weather is improving, pushing harder at spin and lifting more weight at Pump class. I looked back, and my weight really has been bouncing around the same 3 lbs since I joined the gym in January, and my last period was in early February. After two months of working out, I finally feel like I can keep up and push myself in classes. Before it felt more like surviving the classes, now I'm enjoying pushing myself. I started at 52% body fat day of surgery, am at 42% body fat now after losing 55-60 lbs. Physically, I'm smaller at this size/weight than I was originally putting on the weight, and my saddlebags are going, cellulite going away, some muscle tone in arms and back, tummy toning. All good stuff, frustrated at the lack of lbs lost, but am meeting with NUT and bariatric surgeon for 6-month follow-up this Friday. I'll ask them what they think. I guess this is menopause for me! Still losing a lot of hair, despite all labs coming back good. Off BP meds, A1C perfect. Funny aside, got mammogram done and tech doing it said she can tell I'm working out, my pec muscle is larger on the mammogram! Showed me the pic, LOL. Boobs may be deflated and smaller, but the pecs underneath are gaining!

Amazing results! I think your thighs look great, too, but I hear ya on the scar and healing. Why six weeks for the full recuperation? Was your incision infected after all? I know that was a concern since it took so long to close up. Is your stomach sore the whole six weeks?

@OutsideMatchInside, I did have my blood work done in anticipation of the PCP appointment, and I'm no longer pre diabetic (yay!) and at 5.5% A1C, off BP meds, and my cholesterol is always very healthy and low. I am getting 90-100 protein a day and hitting water targets every day, and taking multivitamin/calcium/etc. as directed by bariatric team, and all my levels are good. I never am below 1000 calories, sometimes going up to 1500 on a bad day (eek!) and would say I'm averaging about 1200. You think that's too much? I did talk to my aunt who is closer to my age (10 years older,) and she said her periods started getting wonky/late at exactly this time and I fit the family profile (who knew?) so I guess that's it? Just kind of a reality check I'm getting older. Menopause? Really? Yikes! @Airstream88, I haven't increased my protein, but I'm always sure to hit 90-100 grams per my nutritionist. I'm seeing muscle tone in my arms, back, and chest, and significant toning of the loose flab in the thigh area, plus more toned cellulite appearance. I am happy with the exercise results and feeling more coordinated at the gym/able to keep up and push myself now that I have gone consistently and am -60 lbs, but I'm for sure frustrated at the stalled weight loss. IDK. I'm a menopausal woman I guess? My PCP said give it 2 more weeks with no period, then call my Gyno to be checked out.

My weight loss has totally stalled at months 4-6 since joining the gym and spinning/walking/Pump class 5-6x a week. However, I lose 3% body fat in two months, dropped a size, tightened the skin in my upper thighs and arms, and am physically smaller at this weight now than I was originally, before putting on all my weight. I'm torn. I love working out and getting a schedule back in my life for some "me" time (have two toddlers I bring to the gym's daycare,) and like being toned, but it IS super frustrating not seeing the scale move.

Hello! So am almost 6 months out, -60 lbs, and my weight loss has totally stalled the past two months, which coincides with my starting up at the gym spinning 3-5x a week and doing weights 1-2x a week (Pump class,) plus walking about 2 miles a day maybe 2x a week (weather permitting.) In two months I have lost 3% body fat, and I'm physically smaller/more toned at this weight/size than I was before I gained all my weight, so I do feel the exercise is toning me up well. I'm losing a LOT of hair, but what I'm really concerned about is I'm on day 34 with no period! I'm 44 years old, husband had a vasectomy years ago, and I am not pregnant (bought a test, just to be sure.) I'm like clockwork every 25-26 days, and after childbirth both times immediately resumed a regular cycle, as well as after gastric sleeve surgery -- never missed a beat. Has anyone had a cycle disruption after being super regular their whole life? Kind of freaked out over here. I am seeing my PCP today and will ask him, but he doesn't have bariatric/gyno specialization, obviously, so not sure how much he can help me. Also, do you think this may explain the stalled weight loss? I usually retain a good 3-5 lbs beforehand and lose 5-6 after my period, and even buckling down at the gym and food more so than before, the pounds aren't budging. I'm not going under 1000 calories or over 1400, hitting my Protein and Water targets daily. Ideas?

My personal choice, I told very few people about surgery, and would never put it on social media. It's a shame, because I'm not embarrassed about needing the surgery and know it was definitely the right choice for my health and sanity, but there is SUCH a stigma and so much misinformation about WLS -- it's not my job to educate or convince others that I, or anyone else, needs surgical help to lose weight. I have a casual friend that could desperately use WLS, but I said nothing to her because she is a little gossipy, and I don't want my business put out there. I was VERY annoyed when, against my known, expressed wishes, my husband blabbed to his very harsh, judgmental family that I had surgery. Seek approval and praise from others who understand your journey, like here, or support groups. Truly, until someone walks a mile in your shoes, they don't get it. My SIL has always been rail thin, super tall, and hated food. Well, she quit smoking, gained 25 lbs in 3 months, and is now hungry all the time and freaking out, asking me for advice on losing weight! Before this happened though, she definitely let it be known she didn't understand people getting fat. The worm turns, LOL, and I'm quietly chuckling. I do make sure to post check-ins at the gym when I'm working out (which is now a lot!) This is probably my being self-defensive a bit like, see, I'm losing weight, but I'm busting ass, too, and it's not magic. I'll take the cheers for exercising, but the surgery component -- my lips are sealed.

I'm 9/19, so about 5.5 months out, hovering around 58-60 lbs lost. I, too, track every morsel of food that passes my lips and have been around 1200-1400 calories a day, 70 grams of carbs, hitting my 90-100 Protein goals. My loss has totally slowed, and I know the calories and carbs are too high, but I'm really struggling with getting back to the 1000 range and 40 grams of carbs. I, too, am home with two toddlers, and hate to waste food, so I find I'll finish a nugget or a bite off their plate, or finish an egg or something. Bad habits! Hitting the gym 2-4x a week with spinning, walking the kids to preschool, weather permitting (just started last week,) and doing weights 1-2x a week if I'm lucky. I'm smaller at this weight than I was the first go-around (have my "skinny clothes" saved and remember what I was wearing at this size/weight,) so I think I'm losing weight differently, and maybe the working out is toning me up? I'm not unhappy with my loss, but I'm concerned I'm sabotaging myself with the picking habits.

I didn't think I was this vain, but I am! I'm finally liking how I'm looking and don't want to waste this opportunity to look good for the last of my young-ish years. continuing to be self-conscious. Plus, getting skin tags on the underarms and breast area from skin chafing. Gross. Lift me up, baby!

I was hoping they would be age-appropriate saggy, but I'm "only" down 60 lbs and have another 40-60 to go, and it's sad what is happening in the chesticles area. The bat-wing arms aren't cute, either, or the rolling thighs. I'm walking and spinning and doing weights 2-5x a week, hoping with time and exercise some of it sorts itself out a bit, but I figure 2019 or 2020 there will be a tummy tuck, breast implant/lift that needs to be budgeted for.

I can't believe how much your jawline has changed in such a short period of time! It looks awesome! Hang in there, two more weeks of boredom and slushies will soon be over. What a PITA though! OMG.