GotProlactinoma

You get it, exactly, mylighthouse. I have bought a couple tops from free people, something I could only dare DREAM OF. Such a thrill. And now I feel like, can I wear this? Do I look like someone’s grandma, trying too hard?? I want to enjoy my new body (still changing of course) but I think I looked younger fatter. Ideally, one day I could afford surgery to maybe do the neck, and I really want a Mommy makeover one day. But for the time being, is there anything to restore a bit of youthful fullness to the face or neck?

I cold not stomach anything sweet, including the sweeteners used in flavored protein powder. And mixing plain protein powder with water or milk didn’t work. I’d get shaky and sweaty and nauseous. And I wasn’t getting enough protein. Finally I came upon my way to get good quality protein powder ( I use the grassfed organic powder from NorCal) into me. I mix it with the Greek yogurt! I add enough coconut water to be able to mix the powder into a cup of yogurt. Then I put it into little lunchbox tins to take with me in my lunchbox all day, with a cold pack. I often mix in 2 tbsp of Ground flax seed, the red bag with bits of dried fruits in it (just a teense of hint of flavor). This concoction is PERFECT because it fills me up with the needed protein without any food reward or food pleasure. You just take enough spoonfuls until you aren’t protein-hungry any more. Eating to live.

I eat low carb but I don’t feel I need to be in ketosis. I feel that my gut biome needs the healthy seeds and veggie fibers and starches from tubers like potatoes. I also feel that it’s the best way to keep “digestion” working well. So I end up with around 30-60 g carbs a day. No junk carbs. My snack is 86% dark chocolate. But controlling carbs keeps me losing and eating plenty of healthy fat keeps me losing too.

I only work out for 10-20 mins 5x a week. I eat 1000 or so cal a day at 6 months out. Still slowly losing. i only eat about 50-60 g carbs a day. 60g protein and I try for more. Over 50% of what I eat is fat. And steadily losing, no stalls longer than a week except one time around month 3.

You look awesome. I can only wear leggings since a) size changes and b - more comfortable. But I’m still in a size L. Wow that you fit into the smalls. Do you work out a lot?

Wow, you lost fast! We started at similar weights, I was 205 last June before the pro op diet for 2 weeks, surgery in July. And I am still at 156. You look amazing. How do you still have hair? I’ve only lost 49 lbs and I have only 1/4 of my hair left. Admitting to envy! But you are inspirational. Congrats!

It’s such a thrill. Hard for others to understand. For the first 2-3 mos my stretchy yoga pants, size 2x, were still fitting. Finally the waistband was too loose. So I ordered a used lot in xl on eBay of my favorite brand. They fit but one of them fit better than the others. It was a size L. Unbelievable. Still in the L at 6 mos out, though. Almost down to mediums if it weren’t for the thunder thighs. I’ve lost 10.5” around my waist though. I can wear medium tops. Unbelievable. I was a 2x forever and now I am 12-14. I still don’t believe it. I could shop anywhere. What?? 😊

Carb cravings come from the gut bugs. Several tricks to try. 1. Try to change up the gut bug population to better ones by adding some good probiotics (I love Prescript Assist, Amazon has it), and fermented veggies like kimchi (one tablespoon at a time or a meal). 2. Give the bugs what they want, starchy carbs, by eating cooked and cooled potatoes, maybe potato salad, or old baked potatoes chopped and pan cooked in butter, whatever. Or roasted vegetables. Try carrots or onions or whatever. 3. Leafy greens, especially cooked and dense, can actually remove cravings for sweets. Don’t forget to add fat and sea salt. the first two could help eliminate bad carb cravings. The last one is just a temporary trick.

I’m kind of shocked at some of your low calorie amounts. I’m just 6 months out and I followed the Rec of one of the successful people here, forgetting her name now, who said for the first 3 months, around 600-800 cals, then after that 800-1000 cals, and around now, 6 months, I would raise it to 1000-1200. So I do get around 900-1100 cals a day. Over 50% fat. I try to get 60g protein. And keep carbs to as low as possible and only healthy carbs, not processed. And I lose every week. Slowly but it keeps happening. ive had a few days of 800 cals when I didn’t feel like eating for some rare reason. But I have not eaten a 600 cal day in a long time and I wouldn’t want to. I’m surprised you guys can exist on such low cals. I was tired and weak when I was eating that much only, after surgery.

It is my opinion that we need to eat pure clean healthy foods only BEFORE SURGERY. We need to stop eating empty carbs beforehand. Eating sugar makes you crave sugar. I wish some docs didn’t tell people to drink sweetened protein drinks, jellos, and other foods that keep people craving empty carbs and sweets. It’s sad. I’m not sure you can get fat just eating healthy proteins and fats, with some veggies, seeds, and beans thrown in. Not after WLS, at least. If you don’t eat sweet tasting things (even with fake sugars) after surgery, you won’t crave them. No breads, no tortillas, no desserts, etc. hard to do on a dime but if people on;y were given that wonderful advice before surgery, it would give them months and months without sugary flavor, and they wouldn’t crave or want it any more. Dr. Umbach in Vegas has such a good nutritionist. It’s one reason to choose him. I’m so glad she set me on this journey the right way. We have, from the surgery, the tool of PORTION CONTROL. That is all it gives us. We still have to add other tools, like learning WHAT TO EAT and what not to. And then add activity to get strong and fit. To the OP, you can do this. It will work for you. I know the portion control gets looser with time, I’m 6 months out and I can tell I can put more in my stomach now. So I have to make sure I don’t put bad carbs in. Good luck to you getting the ball rolling again.

Congratulations! I can’t wait til later this year when I reach that goal! So glad all your health issues are gone too!

I just went and looked at the spreadsheet. CONGRATS TO ALL!! Everyone did so well! I didn’t reach my goal but I did the best I could and I am proud to be where I am now in January and looking forward to more losing this year, and taking part in more challenges with you all! We did it. We LOST SOME WEIGHT OVER THE HOLIDAYS. Anyone ever do that before?? I know I haven’t. (6 months out)

Whoops, I never got my final weight in for this challenge last night. Yesterday I saw 158 on the scale for the first time, and it was there again today. I am losing verrrrry slowly but steadily. i was supposed to get down to 154, which was too ambitious, but I didn’t know. But for the first time in my adult life I LOST WEIGHT DURING THE HOLIDAYS. I baked and baked and baked. I love to bake goodies. And I ate how much of the sweets I baked? How much did I eat? NONE NONE NONE NOT ONE BITE. No one but you guys can understand that, how huge that is. Each week I throw away a plate of cookies or something because my family just can’t eat that much. Meaning I used to eat 10 of them a day probably. I don’t eat desserts at all. And I get still lots of pleasure from baking them, it now is like crafting or woodwork or ceramics (that smell really good) to me. Why would I gain weight at the holidays now? I d like to hope this lasts forever. I eat protein, and a bit of veg and seeds/beans, and I’m not going to pig out on them, ever. Right? I don’t eat processed carbs any more. Thanks for this challenge. I am very happy to be in the 150s even if I am 5 lbs more than I imagined. I consider it a total success.

So awesome! That is a wonderful NSV.

Holy heck, it’s not the easy way out. Just the successful way. I am you, only older. My BP was scaring me. I want to see my kids grow up. My starting weight was 205. I am 5’6”. Small boned and my weight was like all fat. I was size 18/20. 46 lbs down and still my thighs keep me too big for size 14 jeans. But I get compliments every day and still losing. I could NOT have lost this weight by myself. I needed this portion control. And I wish I could show you something better than my weight ticker. I wish I could show you my blood pressure chart. Before July and after. Unbelievable. It means LIFE not EARLY DEATH. Even better than the weight loss is the health gained. I’ve started working out and I even went ice skating yesterday! i have zero regrets. And the weight loss has been slow and steady. My BMI is still in the overweight range but we are heading toward normal. One big vote for you to do it. Hugs.

Im not sure there is too much fat. That is one of the most surprising things I’ve learned since keeping track of what I eat since surgery. I’m almost 6 months out. Every day apparently over 50% of my diet comes from fat. My egg each morning is cooked in grass fed butter. I use normal cuts of meat. I cook or use coconut oil or olive oil in meals. I eat my protein powder in full fat Greek yogurt. My tiny portion of homemade granola has whole milk on it, and has fatty seeds in it. i lose weight steadily. Eat plenty of healthy fat. I finally believe fest doesn’t make you fat, as long as it is healthy fat. (Bad fat would be the tub down at kfc in the fryer, cheap salad oils etc) ive never felt that sweaty dumping feeling from fat. However, I have felt really bad after eating a bit of carb like a couple bobas in water, or even one tortilla chip. And I don’t touch sugar or sweet stuff, not even more than one bite of fruit. So I’ve learned it is not fat I need to avoid but sugar/bad carbs. EDITING TO SAY I HAD GASTRIC SLEEVE NOT BYPASS. MAYBE THAT IS WHY I CAN EAT FAT AND NOT CARBS. SORRY!

You beautiful women who did regain and are getting back on track: what would your advice be for those still in the losing months? For example, I am almost 6 months out, losing slowly but steadily. I don’t eat any carbs except natural ones like vegetables and potatoes. I focus on protein. I don’t eat any sugar except a homemade granola made with seeds and oats that is made with a bit of maple, and I only eat 2.5 Oz of that a day. I do eat 85-90% dark chocolate, maybe 2-4 squares a day. Total calories around 1000 a day, total protein I try for 60 g a day, most days I make it. And I lose 1-2 lbs a week usually. I exercise but not as much as I want to. I have given up almost all fruit (might have one bite a day), all dessert and breads and processed carbs. Do you guys think this is enough? If I could stay with this, would it prevent me gaining the weight I lose back? My only drink is water, period. (I made a hot chocolate over the holidays with 85% dark chocolate bits mixed into hot milk, only drank 2 oz). No desserts other than that dark chocolate. if I stay away from the carbs will I be able to not regain? If you had avoided empty carbs, would you have not needed to re-lose? Thanks for the advice. All if you sound awesome and look so good. I know you will get back on track. Much success to you!

Yes take the colace etc for the week’s post surgery. Also try tsp potato starch in a small glass of water, stirred, start with jut a few sips a day and work up to the glass of water with the tsp. Tasteless. This is a starch that feeds your gut bug population (can research resistant starches online) until you get to the point in recovery where you can eat beans, seeds, etc. to feed your gut bacteria.

Sorry to be a Mommy nag. But you want to stay away from sugar and sweet things (even with fake sugar or “fruit” - it’s sugar!). If you are craving cold, try (don’t laugh, it works if you don’t eat sugar and fruit) buying or making snow cone ice and drenching it in coconut water and splashing coconut or dairy heavy cream on the top. No sugar (coco water is kinda sweet) but fatty and cold and yummy. Getting off sugars and fake sugars I think will be key to keeping weight off. It changes the gut bugs in us and thus eliminates the cravings for sweets. Just an idea. I eat plenty of fat every day, but healthy fat, over 50% of my calories daily, and steadily lose weight. Fat doesn’t make you fat or crave sugar. Sugar and fake sugar do.

Amazing, dude! WHAT a start! Keep going. Your pace is huge and it can slow down but just keep doing what you’re doing. In almost 6 months I’ve only lost 46 lbs but it’s still life changing.

Omg, I was so happy to wake up New Year’s Day and see 159 on that scale. There today as well. I won’t make 154 by next week. But to be in the 150s, guys. Huuuuuuuge! sadly I’ve lost more than half my hair, even losing this slowly. I’ve never lost 10 lbs in a month and barely 5 most months. And taking vitamins and biotin. Still having the hair loss. It’s still worth it. ’Happy new year and thanks for this challenge. Never in my life have I lost weight over the holidays. What?! So happy.

I am so sorry to get a big laugh out of this but I was just picturing a workout on YouTube with a pubic area lifting a tiny barbell.

I’ve been looking at before and after augmentations / lifts of post WLS patients and when shown from the back, that side and back fat seems to be gone. I think you will need to weigh whether to go with a surgeon used to male to female surgery, or one who specializes in Post bariatric. Or have two surgeons consult with each other WITH YOU no matter which one performs your surgery. They each specialize in getting the great look their patient wants, but you have two different special needs. Your surgeons work for YOU. I’m sure you will find the solution. For straight up post WLS boob lifts and augments, that side fat is gone after, though. So they know how to whatever it to make it gone. Good luck to you in all things!

Thank you for your story. I enjoy hearing how WLS fit into real life, and how you got through your highs and lows. Much happiness to you and keep up your annual tradition. It is so important to hear how this goes years down the line. Thanks. (85% or higher dark chocolate will always be a part of my life. Still losing and you can’t eat much of it at a time.)

Wow, that is amazing. Congrats! I’ve not lost half that, it’s going off me much slower, but that is ok too! You must be feeling so good there in summer!!