Jeannie49

nice choice ck13 For me, finding healthy ways to eat out with family/friends at times is a good thing and part of our lifestyle .I'm glad I can tolerate the food, eat a lot less and only sip water until food arrives and don't feel deprived. I take my breakfast and lunch to work every day and we cook a healthy dinner most days (really my husband mostly cooks for us lol)...I don't always make the best choices but I am doing so most of the time and I'm good with that. My surgeon also suggests more of a balanced type diet vs diets that severely limit all carbs as it's probably not sustainable for most of us long term. I also don't feel well on diets that cut food groups especially now that my broken foot is healed and im back in the gym 6 days a week... However, I do understand others being more vigilant with things being a slippery slope for them. I will never allow myself soda again. It was my biggest indulgence and even though I would give it up for a year or months at a time, I always went back to that addiction and it's just horrible for me, with no redeeming qualities at all. Most days I don't miss it but on a day where I'll be on a plane and straight water is tough to drink for me, I would love a soda but won't do it...too addicting. I now mainly drink heavily watered down G2 when not in the gym drinking water (after my morning coffee).

So glad to see my fellow December sleevers doing so well. I'm doing okay - the hair loss was extreme for me especially between March and April. It stopped coming out in May and dermatologist is taking blood this week to make sure all levels are good for it coming back - already seeing some regrowth. Also at issue is my hair that is left doesn't look or feel like my hair but hoping that will change soon enough... I also wanted to be further along in my weight loss but breaking a bone in my foot took 2 1/2 months of gym time and that's huge for me. So I'm happy I was still able to lose 60 so far with that setback and a cut back of one of my 3 thyroid pills I was taking daily which has slowed down my metabolism too. I go for my 6 month surgeon checkup on Monday...hard to believe I used to wear some of the clothes I've been donating! Keep up the great work all!

It will be here before you know it! Hang in there!!

Thanks so much Chrisb - will do! do you have a surgery date yet?

Well said! There are so many jobs being automated and many of them IT jobs. There have been a shortage of needed trades people like masons, electricians, etc and it sounds like a great idea Mattymatt -- good for you for going for it!

I have a screwed up thyroid and my endo suggested the surgery as well as I was just not able to get on top of the weight gain. Both the endo and my surgeon said mine won't be the type that will go away after surgery but I would go down in dosages and so far they are right. Surgeon did say a lot of people are able to come off the meds. I was on 3 thyroid pills a day (T4 and T3 in the am and another T3 in the afternoon). After close to 4 months, they re-tested me and my levels have gone up so they just took away my afternoon pill. I'm hoping it doesn't slow down my weight loss because I felt absolutely fine on the dosages I was on...guess we'll see this week. Good luck to those still waiting for surgery.

I like Skinny Pop as a snack...it does have fat but also a small amount of fiber and protein...and satisfies the salt craving and the fat is filling ...but I didn't have any until i got past 3 months I think...

that's a good point actually...and I think may have happened with the Joe Gorga incident on the Real Housewives of NJ for anyone who watches ... // don't judge lol! I will let you know if I wind up buying it...I did go see my hair stylist yesterday and she said there is regrowth coming in for me and my hair has always grown really fast ...I ordered some extra zinc...also, I noticed in another topic in here, someone mentioned a shampoo/conditioner with caffeine in it called Ultrax Labs. I ordered them on Amazon - not cheap - $100 or so for both and the bottles came in and were small. But in just the first washing today, I saw a difference -- cut down a little in how much came out but really in the appearance of the hair and softness unlike the Nioxin which is a little drying even though I tend to have normal to oily hair. I'm hopeful this helps a bit until it comes back a bit more...

I just looked up this product...seems like it looks odd in the part area but if i apply it in other areas or move the part, maybe this would work...they also sell it on Amazon..maybe I will try it... https://www.toppik.com/shop/hair-fiber?utm_source=google_shopping&197=13&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_ODWBRCTARIsAE2_EvWdWPPYOuYJ5OrddFQUvZn2kxvlqjvt14O5Nhm-uBMvfCRc8lXWPYIaAtk-EALw_wcB#overview

sorry you are suffering too! has it ended? what powder do you use? I use colorwow a bit where I have a little gray but are you referring to one that makes it look like there is hair there?

I have to say the hair loss has been harder to deal with than I thought it would be. I have always had fine hair but a ton of it so everyone always thought I had thicker hair than it was and would always get compliments on it. No matter how heavy I was, I always felt comfortable with my face and hair. I've had a few setbacks because I broke my foot so that has affected my exercise/weight loss when I had been doing so well, had the flu and a few other things...but this hair loss is the the most challenging one for me and is being harder to stay positive about. I get out of the shower and there are usually tears -- I am also in menopause (turned 50 this year) so that doesn't help matters... I have ordered rosemary oil to put in my shampoo that is coming in today. I have been taking biotin, extra B vitamins and iron and also using Nioxin 4 shampoo and conditioner but from what I've read, these help only minimally...my surgeon says it should come back especially since my mom's hair (in her 70s) is not thin.... I may need to consider a wig at this point. ugh. Would love to hear from those that had bad hair loss, what was the time period it came out and when did the falling out stop? and when did they see the regrowth? I've heard the falling out is maxed at 3-4 but I started at 2 and into my 4th month and is not slowing down...and I don't think I'd make it to 6 with any hair. I know this sound really vain...and there are much bigger issues in the world but this is a challenge for me...and is depressing me and I'm normally a very positive, happy person...

I didn't like the Halo top flavor i tried (can't remember which one :o) but it was an odd texture thing for me too. I do like the Enlightened bars --- especially the mint chocolate chip ones but also like the frozen hot chocolate and the sea salt caramel. Mint chip ones are 90 calories/7 g of protein/6 g of fiber.https://www.eatenlightened.com/products/mint-chip-swirl-ice-cream-bars I got a Cuisinart ice cream maker for Christmas - haven't made anything yet but looking forward to making some of my own sans preservatives...

CK - you were one of the first posters I noticed here and always look forward to your posts! I haven't been able to get on the site much these days but was so happy to see your beautiful pics and how happy you are...and you should be for all your success...awesome job! I hit wonderland this week too and it does feel good -- so happy for you! congrats!

oh thanks April I have hulu so will check it out!

Not sure where I've been but I've never even heard of this show..may need to look for it somewhere..

hi sleeve buddies good to see how people are doing... I've been doing okay since the surgery until last week when i got the flu. Only being able to take liquid gels with tylenol in them wasn't as hard core as I would have been with Advil or Aleve..and liquid Tamiflu is awful. I'm most upset that I haven't been able to exercise or go to the gym and it will be awhile before I get back there with this horrible chest cough. Oh well... how is everyone else doing? anyone settle into an eating window? I'm finding I do a lot better if I don't eat until I'm hungry mid morning and eat in that 8 hour or so window...got me out of my stall too...

Congrats sleevedshereen - you look awesome! Can definitely tell how confident you're feeling in the newer pics which is great to see too...good for you

All these pics are so inspiring - everyone looks great! torriqurl - you look beautiful - is your current weight really 247 - that looks like a typo? if it's for real, maybe you should add to your YT how to dress and look half your size lol.

Great advice RW! I did seem to make a breakthrough this morning - moved to 27.5 but I did have some NSVs too! : - I'm able to move to the middle hook on all my bras (except my sports bras) -My husband said when he hugs me, he feels a huge difference and I can tell too - my work gym has a huge set of stairs to the locker rooms and when i started, it felt like I wasn't sure I could walk up them after working out to leave...now I'm already flying up those stairs. - I looked in my car mirror and was happy to see my "swollen moon face" from my thyroid issues has come way down and I can see my cheekbones wanting to make an appearance woo hoo

I'm 5 weeks post op tomorrow and I've been stalled at 26lbs for about a week but I can tell I'm still losing inches. It's frustrating though.

hi - did it happen for you right after the surgery? for me, I haven't really experienced that...I've always been freezing because of thyroid issues but in the last year plus, when I started into menopause ,I was much more hot a lot of times especially at night...even having some hot flashes during the day earlier this year. But since the sleeve, I feel like more of my old self and maybe because of the fat burning, more cold again which is so much more preferable than being too hot..I can always put more layers on. sorry you are experiencing that..I can never take any kind of birth control as hormones made me feel awful and like a different person so I can understand...what kind of changes have you noticed..is it more temperature or mood/emotions?

wow - what a transformation -- congrats on your progress -- you look great and happy. thanks for sharing about your stalls...for us newbies that can be helpful as I knew that if I hit one at week 3, it wasn't uncommon and that helped me to just be calm about it. Keep up the great work and keep inspiring the rest of us.

Wow - you look amazing -- congrats on your hard work paying off! I'm officially inspired..and I love that you included the .7 in your title lol!!

yikes Lina - you've been through a lot already! sorry that you had to go through all of that but hopefully in a couple months, that will be a distant memory! I was sleeved on 12/7 - My surgeon is not like most others- -after my 2 week post surgery liquid diet, he just gave me a list of foods for pureed/soft food and for beyond with protein levels per oz...said to try to keep meals around 2oz. but does not give protein or fluid goals anymore. But if you're still hungry after eating the 2 oz, eat a bit more. He said eat 2, 3, 4, 5x a day but only when hungry and stop as soon as you are full and throw out the rest. If you take 2 bites of an egg and you're full, throw it out, don't eat it because it's there - this sounds like it's common sense but I think we are programmed to not throw things away. Eat protein or nutrient dense foods first and all the foods on my list are mostly high in protein...I was able to add fish in last week (3 weeks post op) and then today was able to add in chicken -yay! and then next week it will be beef/pork. No restriction on drinking before meals but to wait 30 minutes after eating to drink again. I was also able to add in a little caffeine back in so I usually have one cup of coffee per day -helps me stay regular...if you know what I mean... I like that he doesn't stress me trying to give me these goals to reach as he said he doesn't know how much more I'm exercising than others, people are more hungry who have less swelling , etc . last he said I would probably lose 65-70% of my weight if I don't exercise and follow the diet..but to lose close or all of your EBW, break a sweat and exercise 6-7 days a week which I'm trying to follow..this is especially true the first year as your stomach is healing.. hope that helps - I'm a newbie too - hope you're feeling better

you look beautiful - good for you to keep it off so long!! truly an inspiration to all of us, especially the newbies like me!