GotProlactinoma

This is what you want. The most plain and healthiest grass fed whey protein powder. It’s the only one I ever get and use daily. No flavors or sugars or sweet anything. Just healthy whey protein from grass fed healthy animals. https://www.amazon.com/NorCal-Organic-Whey-Protein-Non-denatured/dp/B007B7UGHM?th=1

I’ve gone in for 3 vitamin and mineral IV infusions. At 7 months out, I’ve lost 75% of my hair. It isn’t very nice to have such thin hair. I was at my hairdressers today, and she showed me all the new hair, an inch long. That has started to come in. It is just going to take a long time. so I am going to get extensions for a while. I think it will make me feel better about my looks. I’m so happy to be in normal sizes now, and my hair used to be my best feature. Even my count on the cleavage boobs are gone south. So I do want my hair to look decent these next few months.

By your time I had probably lost 7 lbs or something. It was very slow for me, and stayed very slow. But 6 months did slowly go by and I am 50 lbs down. So just try to be patient. Your body has gone through a shock. The weight will come off.

For cravings, I don’t believe it’s all “mental.” There is head hunger, yes, but food cravings come from bacteria who live in our guts and they can control our brains with their waste products. The right biome of gut bugs, will have us craving natural starchy carbs (potatoes or seeds or beans) instead of donuts etc. So one thing I always do is keep up good bacteria by eating probiotics and fermented veggies every day, and feeding the good gut bugs I have with a homemade seed granola and roasted root veggies. Since they are happy with these choices, they don’t cry out for sugary treats. I think avoiding all sweet tasting foods (all sugars and substitutes and fruits too for 6 months, and then only 1/2 serving fruit a day) is very important to having the correct populations of gut bacteria that don’t make me crave sweets.

Processed carbs and baked goods make me feel sick and just horrible. I don’t eat them. However, I love the smell. I get pleasure out of the smell of those foods and don’t wish to eat them any more. They really make me FEEL so bad. I love that. It’s like what if there was a chocolate cake that looked lovely but had been made with rotted butter or had some bacteria in it, that would make you sick? That is my new mentality now (7 mos past surgery). So I have no desire to eat it and feel sick. But I like to bake stuff and smell it or smell it in bakeries or when a family member has it. I do NOT want it in my mouth, just the smell. Which is very satisfying, though it would not have been before surgery. Now it’s like the smell is its own reward. Weird I know.

Most on plan I am is when I have mid day protein powder mixed into plain full fat Greek yogurt. (I add a bit of coconut water to have it mixable since it gets too thick). Then I see at the end of the day that I had enough protein. It always helps. Even if my breakfast and dinner are good, it all works better when I make sure to have this tasteless protein “snack.”

I can’t believe you were ever 300+. You are drop dead gorgeous. Congrats.

I’ve lost 50 lbs. most of it seems to have come out of my face and upper body. I definitely feel that I look older, honestly, my older successful women, what sort of things can be done to be slender and healthy but not look like a sharpei puppy or a deflated balloon? My face seems older and the turkey gobble neck is not helping. Is there something that can be done, like maybe filler injections, or neck lift, or ?? I can’t get friends to admit I look older. But I feel it, I know it. I’m glad I am not obese any more. I look forward to losing more and having a body in proportion and at a normal weight. But I don’t want to look 20 years older! Ideas?

Great tips, everyone. Going to look at the videos and try some of your suggestions. I already use my edible moisturizers of coconut oil and whipped shea butter.

I had really super thick blonde hair. About 4 months out it was shedding, but I liked it better then. It needed that much thinning. By 6 months out, I had lost 50 lbs of the 70 I had to lose, but I had lost about 75% of my hair. It’s pretty pathetic. It would fit in a dental rubberband. I curl it every day and that disguises the loss somewhat. I take every vitamin and every 2 weeks I get an IV infusion of vitamins and minerals. I’ve taken 10,000 of biotin orally too. Nothing seemed to stop it. I hate to lose even one hair these days. I have this feeling it is slowing down, and I have this feeling that baby hairs are growing in, but I’m still losing. I’ve decided to get extensions. It will help me, because even when I was fat my hair was one of my best features. Now that I am almost normal weight and my face and upper body are looking thin, having pathetic hair is not helping my confidence one bit. Looking forward to the extensions.

I just want to say to the two gorgeous ladies quoted above, you do look fabulous. Congrats. ‘High blood pressure was what pushed me into surgery finally. Only 7 months later, my doc has spoken to me about low blood pressure issues! (Which I don’t have yet, but he said it could occur at goal weight.)

F, NO! The closest I get is when I am freezing cold. In SoCal where it is at lowest 50. I am now always cold. I guess we were wearing internal sweaters. Right now I am in a slightly heated room, but I have a top, a sweater, and a thick hoodie on. BUT I DONT WANT THE FAT BACK. No thank you! I’d rather wear the sweaters!

The easy way. Honesty. I don’t care about the feelings of the waiter or chef. I just say I had stomach surgery and I can only eat a tiny amount. If I loved the food I effusively compliment. If I am going home, I will take the rest home. If I am not, I will say that I’m not headed home, and due to surgery that is the amount I eat. With a big smile. I tip well. If they don’t like the amount I eat, I can’t sum up any caring. There is so much to care about in this world. I can’t be bothered with a waitress disappointed with how much I’ve put in my mouth. And at our fave Mexican restaurant they will make a little plate of refried beans, topped with lots of cheese and jalapeños, and charge me very little for it. Sometimes nothing, if my son orders a plate and asks for no rice and beans. Then they will just give me the beans and cheese as his sides. its ok to just let the server know that is all you CAN eat. It’s your stomach. I want to feel good after, not sick.

TALK TO ME!!! I loved kombucha before surgery. I even made my own. I couldn’t drink alcohol because of migraines. So I finished each day with 1/2 - 1 bottle of kombucha and was so relaxed from it. But it has fizz and I was told not to ever for life drink anything bubbly again. So how do you manage to drink kombucha? I am scared to try but I really miss it.

I do feel great and I am carrying myself differently. I may not be skinny but I almost feel like I am even though I am still a bit overweight. So I think people do pick up on that. I bet we were all hunched and hiding under dark tent clothing. I was. I still sometimes can’t believe I am of pretty normal weight.

I really related to your post too. So honest. How many of us knew damn well what was healthy and could critique foods, plates, etc like a food Nazi but at home be like “I want to eat what I want and who cares what I weigh”? I am not missing that. I don’t feel I have to be an extreme at all any more. The surgery has allowed me the portion control, and I already have my favorite healthy foods that I truly love, so I am quite happy just being me, in the middle, like you said. And exercising is so much more fun with less fat, being smaller. I don’t hate it any more. And I do it when I know I will start losing my new muscle if I don’t keep it up. If I’ve gone three days, I actually (and I am not lying here) WANT to do some form of movement. This is so new. I think up new things to do. My daughter is learning to ice skate so I am teaching myself to do it and it is effing slow, I’m not very good. But I’m doing it. I don’t think we have to be food junkies or food Nazis any more. I think we can just be us. If less carbs help (like they do me), then I est less carbs, but other than putting my foods into Lose It, I am not worried. I really liked your post. We can just be us.

Stuff happens. I am so sorry. I don’t see your progress on the side so I am hoping you do see a difference since 6 months ago, and especially one year ago. Are you somewhat smaller? Do you have somewhat better portion control due to vsg? If there is any progress, cling to that. You are better off now than before. What I learned from reading other people’s progress is that those who lost weight never lost hope for long. We all lose hope for various reasons but we need to keep that temporary. We fall. We get back up. Also I learned that the people who upped their healthy calories and upped their movement were able to raise calories and STILL LOSE. That should give you hope. IF YOU DARE TO eat more (focusing on protein) an walk or work out more, you will be able to enjoy more calories. I didn’t believe this at first but it seems to be working for me. And I am only losing 1 lb a week at most. Also 7 mo out. what I have learned, maybe it will also help you, is that empty carbs and sugar make you crave the same. When you crave sugar, eat fatty protein, or fatty veggies (avocado, or a salad with olive oil and good vinegar / lemon juice). Eat almost anything except sweet tasting things. Add some fermented veggies to your day, and take a good quality probiotic. For my treat I use 85% dark chocolate. It’s chocolate dammit, but it isn’t candy. Buy your most favorite protein treats that have zero sweetness about them. Fried chicken? Sliced steak? Teriyaki tofu, whatever. KEEP THESE GOODIES IN THE HOUSE and reach for them instead of anything that tastes sweet. I hope that helps you get off the sugar cravings. I got off them and I am so glad. And your kids are very forgiving if you gave them a day of benign neglect. Tell em you’re sorry, you needed a time out, and make it up to them with something physical you all will enjoy doing. Even a walk. The other day I got on one of their scooters like an idiot and we all had fun. I never would have done that 50 lbs ago but now I dare. ‘Hang in there, hon. You have this. We all have rough times. Don’t worry about huge regrets or fears for the future. Just do the best you can today to prevent cravings and make yourself feel some gratitude and tomorrow is another day.hugs.

I am 6 mo out and I think about the Head hunger too. I think it divides into two types. Mental desire and physical cravings coming from the gut bacteria. The latter can be almost silenced if you learn about them, influence their population with good probiotics, and feed them their starches from foods that agree with us well, thus eliminating the bacteria who make us crave empty carbs. I have mine living off seeds and roast veggies so they are good. Which leaves me with the mental head hunger. You know, the lusts I always had for baked goods and chocolate. Now, sugar makes me feel very sick. Which I love. So I don’t eat it or want to eat it. I have found, though, that smelling these goodies gives me enormous pleasure. I don’t know if this will work for other people, but it is one of the weirdest and best things that happened after this surgery. Smelling is the pleasure. It’s not the foreplay any more to eating a bunch of whatever. Smelling it is the climax now for me. I love being in the candy store or the bakery. I don’t want them in my mouth, but I love the smell. Mentioning it in case this helps anyone. and my go to dessert especially when others are having dessert is very dark chocolate. 85% - 91%. At that point it is ahealthy fat, antioxidant rich food. Far less sweet than any fruit. I even have the 86% ghirardelli squares in my car. It really helps for the munchies or just a little pick me up.

Me too, I was scared off rice expanding in the stomach so I have not touched it, ask for my salmon eggs at sushi restaurants with no rice please. The other day I got to be snack Mommy at kindergarten and I got my rice cake snack they made, and I didn’t touch it, been so scared off rice, even already expanded rice in the rice cake. i am low carb too and I think the carbs you eat are good ones. We need a few good natural carbs every day and every meal. Keto is great for people with conditions that need it. Low carb is fine for losing. And some days you will be in keto. There are days where I don’t get food til 1 or 2 pm. So that would be keto for some hours.

Sugar and bread. I’m sure every processed carb. I did try a sweet potato fry and it was ok. I am happy I can’t digest sweets and breads and pastries. Very happy. May it never change.

My hair thinned about 75%. It was very thick hair so at first it got better, less frizzy, etc. now it is scary. The whole thing fits in a tiny tiny rubber band made for toddlers. I have been taking tons of oral vitamins, b complex, biotin, since right after surgery. Hasn’t helped. So I am now going for weekly IV infusions* as long as I can, maybe for this month. Maybe it will help the stopping. I know it will stop, eventually, but it can’t get much worse or I will need a hat. My hair was always such a great thing about me. I am 6 almost 7 months out. I need the falling out to stop ASAP! *meyers cocktail, other stuff for skin hair and nails, and glutathione. I can’t tell you yet if it is helping.

Sad that the topic was derailed. My health share gave me a bonus fee plus a health coach calling every couple weeks due my weight. And when they heard I was having wls they transferred me to an amazing coach who has worked with thousands of Bariatric patients in a surgery clinic. Plus my nutritionist is really good too. Carbs is a huge thing for weight maintenance and loss. Our gut biome creates our cravings. Cravings can be so powerful you sink your health and looks to put that thing in your mouth. And WE HUMANS are not causing or creating the cravings. The gut bacteria are. We have the power to change which bacteria make up our personal gut biome. We can slowly introduce species that live off healthy starches from tubers and veggies. We can starve away the kind that crave sugars, fruits, and empty carbs. And we get the perfect time to start over with our gut population. Yes. When we basically stop eating for a bit and slowly reintroduce food, post weight loss surgery. We should be dishing constantly on these forums about how to have great digestion and loss, experimenting on our own and sharing, what has worked. How to get great gut populations that don’t make us crave chocolate cake. I believe it is THE secret to long time success with weight loss surgery. we get a short time to change our diet’s CONTENT. Sure, calories have the ultimate effect on size, but cravings cause us to go off the rail. Many surgeons use frankly horrible nutritionists. They approve of sickly sweet protein shakes, fruity drinks, fake sugar and color loaded jellos and what not. The bad gut bugs will stay with you, continuing throughout your journey to beg you for sweet tasting ****. There is no change in gut biome there. my nutritionist said no fruit for 6 months. Avoid any frankenfoods (fake sugar jello would be an example). And my cravings for sweet things are gone, since survey til now 6 months out. If I do taste something like even gluten free bread I feel horrible. And I am glad I do. I eat to feel good. My carbs are veggies and seeds. I will eat maybe one bite of fruit I prepare for the family a day now. So I think carbs are important. The gut bugs need them. But train your gut population to get their food from potato or sweet potato, taro, any root veggie. Roast some root veggies and keep them in the fridge for your carb to eat after your serving of protein is eaten. They are so sweet roasted. And they love fibrous veggies (not salad thoughmuch) and seeds and nuts (I can’t eat nuts tho). But most carbs are totally empty. Can This Thread Be Saved? I think it’s a great topic.

So funny! I’m glad I asked. I can’t bend over without them slipping. i lie the shoe thing too. I don’t have as much problem finding shoes that fit. I know one foot was bigger than the other, but whatever it was, is less so now. Again, probably edema lessened.

I’ve lost 50 lbs and lately my eyeglasses keep slipping off my nose. I realize this is kind of a dumb question. But I don’t have the glasses with “nose pieces” that might go awry and not fit right. My glasses are plain with no little pieces. So why are they falling off my face now? I know my feet thinned out etc, I guess our noses can too? Need to go get new eyeglasses. Never knew this was a thing.

Definitely. And I was “only” on the low end of obese. Strangers meet my gaze more, smile more, and seem nicer. I am not skinny, not even quite down to normal weight but getting there. it makes me sad to see first hand how fat people are not considered as worthy as lesser weight people. This is a truth, and I don’t like it. I don’t know what to do about it.