LadyB_atx

I had gastric bypass a year ago and have greatly benefitted from the support in this community. For my December 2016 buddies - I hope everyone celebrates this year — congratulations! It has been a great year because aside the obvious weight loss, I have learned discipline. Not in not eating - I physically have been required to think about eating differently, but discipline in taking care of myself: drinking enough water, eating protein, being a hawk with not missing vitamins and chewing, chewing, chewing. I'm not sure if my photo is attached, but I was humbled seeing the difference in a year. If you are at the beginning of your journey, hang in there, be patient and be proud of your investment in yourself!

I couldn't remember how to include you in my response that I just posted but I mentioned what helps me stay on track and what my. Biggest challenges are! [emoji1]. BTW, keeping up with weight loss even when you are stalling is awesome, that takes so much determination. So when you do lose weight, your persistence and determination are already set in place!

@Alexis99 and@MsMiamiMami: The hair loss was not dramatic, but it was enough to be more than annoying. I had hair that came down just below my bra strap, so I got a shoulder length cut and layered so when my hair does shed, it's less noticeable. And it's summer - it's hot and shorter hair feels great! As for the weight loss key after the slowed metabolism, I still get updated eating plans from my nutritionist. We kept in touch every two weeks up until the six month mark and now asks that I send her updates on my measurements every month. My weight loss is now between 8-10 lbs a month the last two months. As I can try to include more foods and slightly bigger portions, i do sometimes try foods that are probably like playing with fire for me. For example, i can have coffee, but I get either coffee with milk (skim) or for a treat almond milk, cafe au lait or a latte. A small will last all day, a regular two days. If I have carbs, it should be my own like a silver dollar size protein pancake or waffle with peanut or almond butter. But the other day I ordered a mini scone. I ate over about two hours but I should have eaten less than half and saved the other portion or not eaten it at all. It made me feel uncomfortably full and I got sick. With pizza, I was craving some, but there is nowhere that I could get a think slice, so I bought a frozen, organic, ultra thin crust pizza and I could pick at the toppings, but even a super thin crust just felt too bready and it just didn't feel worth it. I sometimes do have a piece of chocolate, but I try to think ahead in my day with what snack it makes sense. I keep chocolate Maria or chocolate graham crackers. If I don't have a Hershey's kiss or m&ms, I'll have 4-5 maria crackers or 1 sheet or graham cracker. I have three small meals and two snacks a day. The proteins I have the easiest time eating is chicken either shredded or carved from a roast chicken and I weigh the protein. Its been suggested that I have rice or beans up to 1/4 cup cooked no more than 2x a week. During summer, im really enjoying shrimp tostadas, shrimp cocktail or shrimp salad with mango chunks and cucumber slices. The hardest part for me is getting more exercise in. It's easier, but what I did t realize is that exercising a lot is just plain hard even for fit people. By virtue of being less heavy, it doesn't make it easier to work out longer. It's just an annoying virtue of keeping it going. Ha ha! So, yeah, that is my biggest struggle, overcoming the desire to quick as soon as I'm tired. I hope all of my December Bypass Buddies are hanging in there. Whatever your weight loss is so far, remember where you were six, eight, 12 or 24 months ago. I ran out of breath walking up a flight of stairs, had painful migraines 2x a month, became hypertensive, diabetic and was so overwhelmed that I struggled with anxiety and depression. There is no comparison amongst your weight loss peers that assigns winners and losers. And if your weight loss so far hasn't helped you deal with food issues in a healthier way, like secret eating or overeating, reach out to professional support services. My doctor (she's also my family) was adamant that my weight loss experience would be better if I went to therapy before surgery to help me work out my destructive habits so that wasn't an unresolved issue after my weight loss. One thing that I began to do that is seemingly unrelated to weight loss but is such a. If part of it for me is that I think about three things that I am grateful for. And I recognize and give recognition to that. For example, I feel grateful that i no longer need medication to treat my blood pressure, diabetes, depression or migraines. I am thankful to not need to spend a day shrouded in quiet darkness because light made me so nauseous I'd throw up. I appreciate that I can bend down to tie my shoelaces without losing my breath. I appreciate not having to lie down to put on my underwear bc I couldn't stand and bend to do it six months ago! I appreciate and feel grateful that this community shares their journey. It gives me support and inspires me on my own journey to not feel alone! This is a now and before...

Hi, I live in Austin, had surgery 12/3/16 in Mexico, in recovery for the holidays with my parents in Mexico, but thought I'd check in too see if there are any newly post-op people near Austin for local support with being accountable with meals, working out, handling the unexpected changes that will accompany WLS (weight loss surgery). My journey story is in the share your journey forum.

I just had hit my six-month point, down a hair over 100 lbs, with 50 more to go. My nutritionist did give me a heads up that between 5-6 mos. my metabolism would slow down and I'd have to work out harder. I don't have protein shakes as often, but am diligent about making sure that I'm getting enough protein. The only down side is that I have lost the desire for pizza. It's a small sacrifice to pay, so I'll take it! I started wearing a shaper to camoflouge my loose skin. What are the experiences my fellow December bypass buddies are facing?

The good news is that it does go away! But I was super concerned after I was released from the hospital. Also consider that if you had a catheter (I think this is standard for most patients), a few days after it's removed, you'll begin to heal and feel like it's improving. You may want to look I to purchasing a sitz bath set up for your toilet. You can buy one at any pharmacy. Hang in there!

@aftermath - congratulations! I'm close to down 40lbs since surgery. There doesn't seem to be a normal, everyone is different. My doctor and nutritionist tell me to focus on eating small portions, eating slowly and watching to keep a balance of proteins, healthy carbs and fats — focused on real food. And exercise, which I try to do at least and hour of walking everyday, but if I can do more I tense cardio I try to do 30-45 mins in addition to the walking. Whatever you are doing keep it up - sounds like you are doing awesome! @adam327 - take care and I hope your doctor helps you figure out what's giving you issues!

Good for you @@Alexis99! Half and half tortillas are popular in texas - they are half corn and half flour. Delicious, but not my friends currently. Also, to keep on track losing weight, make sure that your meals are high protein and low carb. I need to remember that carbs are in more than bread. My pineapple snack put me over the edge today in carb consumption and I barely have 29 grams of protein consumed. Learning something every day!

@@Alexis99 - yeah, the blander the preparation the easier to tolerate. Ground turkey with just salt and pepper goes down fine. I tried to make my portion into a mini-mini meatloaf and I'm thinking that the veggies and tomato sauce was too much. The next time it happened I had salmon left over from lunch - flaked pouch kind that was prepared with just lemon juice and salt and pepper. I had this a bit later in the evening. My stomach said nope, and I vomited and felt bad for about an hour and was wiped out the next morning. The last time I had lunch of grilled chicken with diced tomato over 1/8 c whole wheat penne pasta. I felt like a ate a bucket of cement. What is working for me is making a meal plan so I never have to improvise, which is where it can be easy to get too many carbs over protein. I'm letting my doctor know just to make sure to get her guidance. I'm also using the Baritastic App. When you log meals it breaks down the protein, carbs, sugar, as well as calories. Yes, I had gastric bypass on 12/3. This past week and a half Ive just focused on eating without getting sick - but now that I am clear for cardio and am getting a handle on how to avoid getting sick, I can continue to focus on the weight loss. Things I tolerate well...eggs, egg whites, greens, zucchini, carrots (a little softer than I usually care for at the moment), chicken, sliced turkey deli meat, meatless ground meat, cottage cheese, mini babybel (I split one for two snack times) and I couldn't tolerate corn, flour or half and half tortillas so I make my own with cassava flour and I can make them smaller and they are great! this one is tiny tiny, but you get the idea!

Hi December buddies. I'm on week 5 and last week was my first week off of mushies, soft food, and liquids. Last week I got sooo sick three times with my last meal of the day. I measure and weigh all my portions but I'm learning that certain new foods require smaller portions, longer chewing, and some just flat out need to be tried down the road, sorry ground turkey, beef, and salmon. While it feels awful when I feel sick to my stomach, it is a powerful motivator to be a more mindful eater.

@@bbudee Yes, it totally normal. If your bariatric team doesn't include a nutritionist to oversee your diet post-surgery, ask your doctors for a recommendation. I am two weeks post surgery and have been following sample menus tailored to me by my nutritionist, based on my doctor's feedback. If you feel nausea or light-headed talk to your team — they may need to adjust your meal plans. Good luck, it sounds like you are doing a great recovery!

@thenewkel - months before my surgery (I'm barely 1 week out post-op 12/3/16), I was going to therapy, and realized I was an emotional eater. Group therapy for eating issues didn't feel like the right fit for me, but I worked on it and slipped, but each time I slipped, I didn't let it make me feel like I failed. I felt like it was a relationship that needed to end, so I picked one thing that I felt that I would say good bye to, it was a frozen pizza, ice cream dinner. I enjoyed it, thought about why it was such a comfort and ate it slowly making it a long good bye. From there, i worked on really figuring out what I could do to replace those feelings. Now, I am very conscious about my eating. I'm still on liquids, but I make sure that even though I'm not hungry, that I'm sipping a few ozs of broth, Protein smoothie, tea, etc. every 20 mins. For my soft foods phase in two weeks, I'm seeing what recipes exist so that I can have my own festive portions of not only healthy food, but tastier food than the easy comfort of store bought diet food. For non-foodies, I suggest asking your dietician for a thorough guideline on meal-options so it is less work for you or recommendations for ready-made delivery services that cater to high protein, low carb diets, ketogenic, wholefoods30, paleo, or bariatric. For holiday meal and appetizer ideas, check out BariatricCookery You already did the hardest part, not that everything else isn't hard, but will become rote, easier and even rediscover your relationship with food! Continued success to you and happy holiday eating! Photos courtesy of BariatricCookery.com

@crazywomanincage...I came across that Mexican resource info... I hope provides some initial direction. Best of luck to you!

@@dmw0621 - yes, I haven't had a stomach discomfort at all, but my bariatric team modified my liquids so that I only drink water, clear broth, herbal tea and jello. I was told that for me, the blander the better but I'll let you know if anything changes tomorrow as I start my phase two which is shakes although my doctor isn't pushing the protein powder yet. I'll be able to drink non-fat milk, shakes with natural fruit , yogurt, thin cream of wheat or rice and pumpkin and sweet potato soup.

@@shannonmarczak Once you begin pre-op regimen, it will fly by really quickly! Good luck!

Hi! My surgery was 12/3/16 and I'm on Day 7 post-op. I think I'm getting weighed today. I don't feel like I've lost any weight yet, but I'm feeling good and excited to have my drain from one of my incision points removed today or tomorrow!!

• not spill out of seats...especially in planes and theatres! • overcome sleep apnea I had once already corrected through surgery • cross my legs... good one @@Raymia! • become more sporty • climb the pyramids outside Mexico City • be happy knowing that I will never again secretly eat two pies, a frozen pizza, bag of popcorn, box of pop tarts and an order of church's chicken in an evening!!! (This of course took as much therapy as it will the surgery. Surgery doesn't magically cure the root for overeating.) • do yoga on floor without severe lower back pain and get my teaching certificate!!

@@crazywomanincage - I'll try to find that post with resources and send it to you directly by a DM. In my short-lived BariatricPal experience, I feel that feeling like you trust your Bariatric Team is the gauge you should follow on where you ultimately have surgery. I too had concerns about just coming to Mexico for surgery. However, my doctors have been very involved in my pre-op stage through the post-op transition through Skype, phone calls, emails, and not just because I'm related to half of my BT, but I have the sense the right team care this deeply about their patients regardless of blood ties! Keep in touch and good luck!

@@wendypenn - what is protein coffee and how do you make it? I'm only on Day 6 post-surgery and about to start the non-clear or shake week liquid diet, and am a little ways off from coffee, but I'd still love to know more about it. For me, my dietician and doctor suggested that I wait bc I retain fluids, so it's that much more important that I hydrate in order for my stomach to heal. It looks like most patients plans are really customized. Okay, so about that protein coffee... ☕️

mskitty - I will message you separately so we can follow up with support locally for each other! Thank you!!!

Crazywomanincage, hi! I looked into surgery in Austin, but with financing I couldn't afford it soon. My parents live in Jalisco Mexico and a relative who is a surgeon, really went to bat for me and she and her son negotiated with Bariatric Surgeons to do the surgery at a greatly reduced rate. I truly lucked out to have family in medicine who pushed for me to go forth sooner than later, but if you are in the pre-op stage, there are posts that I've seen with resource information for options in Mexico, or someone who can provide more resource support to help you determine the best financing options. I hope this helps and you remain determined! Best of luck to you!!

Austin, TX surgery date: 12/3/16

Wow! What a great supportive welcome! Thank you. Today I feel a little light headed because I'm on clear liquids until Sunday, when I can have mushy food. Counting the days!!

Hi! I'm three days from being released from hospital, and day 6 of post-op. After having the hardest medical year last year and dealing with multiple co-morbidities, I started looking into which weight loss solution was right for me. I could afford the surgery locally and while visiting my parents in Mexico, after they recently retired here, they took me to a battery of doctors to get second opinions about my co-morbidities and came across a family friend and relative who is a general surgeon and has been a god send. Her son is a surgeon as well, and know for laparoscopic procedures. Her daughter is a registered dietician, who has monitored ny weight, nutrition plans and needs for six months and I'm being cared for by my family while I recover through the soft foods phase. When I'm back home, I've told a few close friends about my surgery, and have a sympathetic support system, but I feel that connecting with others going through my same experience can only enhance my recovery, help me get through rough Patches and I look forward to hopefully proving the same to others! P.S., I didn't know how to edit a few things on my profile. I had gastric bypass on 12/3/16. I weighed 273 lbs prior to surgery. This summer when I became a pre-op candidate, my starting weight was 305 lbs. The lightest I have ever been in my life was 177 lbs when I was 14 years old. I'll turn 40 in January.