Pam_2-06-2017

Just talked to my doctor about this yesterday. The hair loss is not necessarily diet related although rapid weight loss can cause hair loss. It can also happen after major traumatic stress like surgery. It's called telogen effluvium. Essentially 5-15% of your hair follicles go into a "resting" state. This causes hair loss as those follicles stop growing hair and it falls out. Everybody loses at a different rate or some lucky souls don't lose at all. I'm not one of those lucky souls. I have lots of hair that is very thick so my hair loss is really noticeable in the shower and on my brush. I have been taking my biotin in a futile attempt to save my hair since before surgery:-/ Thankfully most people begin to recover around the 6-8 month mark. Lots of people end up cutting their hair when it does grow back because of how weird it makes your hair look with all the fuzzy new growth. At least those with lots of hair loss like me. This makes me sad because I've always had really long hair. Might be time to see what I look like without it;-) Thankful it's not permanent.

Here we go!!!!! Current weight 178.4Goal weight 160Today's date 6/16/2017 Thank you!

This procedure is pretty serious business. It will be changing your life. Pre-op diets not only prepare your liver for surgery but also prepares you for post-op eating. Planning meals is super important to success. It's time to slow down and make time for your meal plans. As much as we believe we are "on the go" we really can carve those times we need. Think about what your willing to drop everything for now and transfer that same desire to planning. Instead of going out to eat, drive to the grocery store and shop for the week. If you go to bed at 10 stop what your doing at 9 and prep three meals for the next day. It really is all about making these healthy changes a priority. Take care

Many people fly after surgery. Lots of folks go to Mexico and fly home very shortly after their procedure. Just make sure you clear it with your surgeon first. I really wanted to stay close to home right after surgery because of the adjustments I had to make but since this is a revision for you, you know what to expect for the most part. Take care

Lots of nasty stuff is stored in fat. As it's melting away it's released into your body. Also, the surgery itself sends your hormones out of wack. The beauty of it is that your body is recreating a new set point. A new, healthier metabolism. For the next year you have a fantastic opportunity to get that set point stabilized at a healthy weight. Think of this time as a great time to optimize your weight loss and increasing your chances of lifetime success. I sat my husband and son down for a chat about my potential moodiness, regrets, etc. it was important that they know so anything I may have said could be put in context. My son was always asking me if I was feeling regret or if there was anything he could do to make me feel better. I loved him for that. You have come to a great place for support. I came here because I have no support group in my area. You will get encouragement advice (good, bad, nice, not nice) but most especially you will get honest and forthright answers to any question. And I mean any question. There are no boundaries to propriety here:-) Good luck and hope to see you on here more. Take care

Oh and congrats on surgery..FINALLY! You're gonna blow us out of the water! I can't wait to see your numbers...

I'm in again!!! Yay for August 11th. My 6 month follow-up is August 10th....I got this!

Congratulations! Your life story has just been changed! I am so excited for you. Right now might not seem exciting but I can't begin to tell you how awesome it will become over the next few months. Welcome to the family!!!

Two ways... if I'm out with my husband and son I just order an extra plate and pick of their plates. I love that because I get a good variety to choose from. If I'm with others I'll order a meal and eat what I can and ask for a go box. Most people don't notice that you didn't each much unless you make it obvious. Lots of times I will pass some to my husbands like "here try this!" He doesn't have a weight problem so he is happy to oblige. If I have lots left over I eat it for lunch and dinner the next day. I have a teen-aged son so many times it never makes it that long:-) I never eat at fast food and will pass up an invitation that is offered. I only eat at restaurants that I am familiar with and have healthy options to choose from. Most people understand when we try to eat healthy and will step in line. If they don't, or they get snarky, then re-evaluate the friendship or embarrass the hell out of them by bringing a sack lunch to the eatery because they've chosen a place with no options:-) Yes, I've done that. My girlfriends wanted to go to Arby's for lunch even after my protests...I stopped at the grocery store, picked up a yogurt and sat with them while they ate crap...HA! Now that I'm down 40+ pounds they get it and have stepped in line:-)

I've eaten there but there is no way I could eat anything bigger than that kids pack minus the tortillas. It is super yummy and has really good options for WLSers..

I had a lot of hair so at first I wasn't worried. Now I'm losing in clumps! It is kinda scary. My hair is down to my waist so it really fills the shower drain and my brush AND my little bathroom trash can. I'm not yet at panic stage but I am getting close. I am tempted to cut it short because when it starts to grow back it's gonna look really weird:-/ I read that it is your hair follicles "resting" because of the trauma of surgery or rapid weight loss. Lots of people have it after pregnancy, trauma or, like us, surgery. It sure doesn't make me feel any better today.

I'm at month 4 and haven't lost in a while. I was only getting 800 cals per day and not exercising. I upped my cal intake to 1000 and started walking everyday. It showed on the scale this morning. Look over your food journal and make sure you're sticking to plan. Low carbs? Water?, etc... you know the drill.

Aw...these next two weeks are tough. Your priority right now is to stay hydrated. Dehydration is common because your tummy is so swollen it can't hold more than a couple of ounces at a time. Some people can hold more. I couldn't. You will build up to getting all your protein as your swollen tummy settles down. It is important to sip, sip, sip all day . I made 2 ounce servings of protein shake and set my phone to remind me every 30 minutes to an hour to drink one. Then sip water in between. I didn't get all 60g of protein until week 3. By week 5 I was up to 100g no problem. You're doing no great!

I'm all about the secret! I decided not to tell anyone just because I didn't want what or how much I eat to be a topic of conversation. It feels damn good to be normal. The people who pay attention to what I eat are people who want to lose weight or people that want to judge. I'm not interested in being someone's example or target. If I'm asked how I'm doing it I'm as honest as I can be. Low carb, water, exercise and I take my vitamins. I rarely go out to eat and when I do I just order what I want and a go box. If it raises eyebrows I just say I read it in a magazine that planning on having leftovers is a great way to eat less. That is absolutely true, I did read that somewhere. I get my meal and pack up half before I start...ha! Any snarky comments would be easily ignored. Early on I got a bit of snark but now that I have lost so much it makes more sense to them. Just roll with it. Eventually, you will feel like you eat more normally and most people generally don't care what or how you eat when your skinny. Not so when I was a big girl.

I'm 4 months out and have lost 41 pounds. I haven't been too concerned about how much I have lost how fast. This is my personal journey and as long as the numbers are going in the right direction I don't really care how long it takes. I only really count my protein. I make sure I get 60-100g a day and my water. Beyond that I'm not too concerned. I do track everything I eat and try to limit carbs but I do not deny myself. I make an effort to not eat grains and sugar but I am not militant about it. I average about 1000 calories a day. This is intentionally up from 800 that I naturally eat. I intentionally increased my cal intake because I felt that I may be getting too few at this point in my journey. I have also increased my activity level so the extra 200 has helped my energy. The point is try different things and see what works for you. This is a marathon not a sprint. I'm in it for the long haul. Note: this is a very different attitude I had when I first had surgery. I was very strict while I was healing and building self control. It has become pretty easy for me to not eat something if it is not good for me or I feel like I've had enough for the day. This control is an amazing feeling and it makes me feel proud for the work I've done. Take care

Hi Desiree, Welcome! Congrats on making the best decision ever!

Ok, here's my opinion on that. The first two weeks are horribly restrictive because you are healing. I'm not lecturing you on this but it is important to follow the plan while your at your restrictive best. I stuck to the script for 3 weeks and rocked the plan. Once I "cheated" the plan with a bit of popcorn I was all worried about what I may have done to myself. Thankfully there were no consequences to my health and safety. But it did do something. It made me realize I could cheat and not die. After that day I had to make a decision with the understanding that I can eat what I want...but should I? Fear kept me on plan but my cheat made me bold. Now that I am 4 months out I can eat whatever I want. Those early weeks of necessary self control helped to condition me to stick with it. Many people use that first slip up as a green light to eating. Don't let that happen. Protein is important to your healing, energy, and weight loss so make it a priority. Also, it helps to keep your hair. Take advantage of this time of your best restriction. Take care.

Can't wait for the next challenge. Thinking of you Dashofpixiedust8 this week. Surgery tomorrow!! So exciting!!

Last weigh in for my first challenge. 178! That was the goal you set for me when I didn't set one. Then I got all ambitious:-) Now that I'm a little more realistic, I'm ready for the next challenge!!!!!

I was cleared to amp up my workout at 6 weeks by my surgeon. I still held off for a couple more weeks because I just didn't have the energy beyond walking. Talk to your surgeon or call your NUT. There may be specific guidelines specifically for you.

OMG...no way!!! That is absolute torture:-) Turn off the tv and step away!!!!!

Aw....surgery is tough and pain sucks! You will begin to feel better quickly but soreness is a given. You'll be fine. Make sure you do a little walking regularly. That will get that gas moving faster. Gas-X is not endorsed by everyone. It is meant to treat gas in your digestive tract. The gas you have is in the body cavity, which will only come out with time. This is day one so use a pain pill if you need it. I only used it that first night and that was reluctantly. Keep sipping that water and protein. It will speed up the healing process and give you energy. You really need that right now. It won't be long before you are feeling great, you'll see that scale move in the right direction and it will all be worth it. Good night and rest well. Take care

I'm almost 4 months out. I have lost 40. 6 pounds as of this morning. I was feeling like my loss was slow but considering my starting point I think I am doing really good. I stopped looking at others' journey because it would bum me out. I have had lots of non-scale victories that make me feel happy also. I think over 50 pounds is pretty awesome! Good job!

I started by finding a "Center of Excellence" I wrote down a list of complications that concerned me and asked the surgeon straight up his stats on said complications (leaks, death, etc). Not only was he not offended (important) he was quick to answer and confident to explain. I liked that. I also read any reviews online and if one concerned me I also asked the surgeon regarding that review. If at anytime he minimized my concerns or made me feel stupid to ask any question, I would have booted him to the curb. Remember not to confuse minimize with confidence, there is a big difference. You need him/her to be on board with you from the very beginning. You also need someone who will talk to you like a person and not an underling that he/she doesn't have time for. I talked to one surgeon at a Center of Excellence in San Antonio and never went back. You do have a choice.