ms.sss

Ah, ok, I would think that since it's only been a month (I incorrectly thought you have not lost weight for the last SIX MONTHS @800-1000 cals), this is just a normal part of the process this far out from surgery. Weight loss does tend to plateau as you progress. So long as you stay the course (especially at 800-1000 cals), it will eventually pick up again. Good Luck!

Maybe I misunderstand...how long have you been stalled, and how many calories do you/did you average during the stall?

I started shedding at 3 months, kept going until about month 7. I'm 1.5 years out now, and it's pretty much all grown back. Mind you the new hairs are about 3-ish inches long so they stick up in some places, lol. I know eventually they will grow long enough to lay flat.

I'm thinking that at 270 lbs and 5'6", 1000 cals a day would be sufficient to lose weight on. I did a quick calculation with your stats and theoretically, you *should* be losing at anything less than 2400 cals/day...! Have you been at 1000 cals a day the entire 16 months?

BFF came by yesterday to "join" us for dinner (we sat on the porch, she stayed on the driveway, lol). I made her and the fam loaded noodle bowls (udon, lobster balls, pork & leek dumplings, carrots, edamame, corn & green onions in broth) ...I had a modified version for myself with shiratake noodles & grilled chicken:

lessons, please! (my nails are HORRIBLE).

There were a couple times I’ve used suppositories and didn’t get results in an hour (or the day, for that matter). I just tried again the next morning. This did trick for me...I’ve never had to take more than 2 days in a row. The instructions on box said use only once every 24 hours, and to not use for more than 7 days. Though i dunno if I would use it for 7 days...! Like OP said above, make sure its up far enough. You should not be able to feel it when its in properly. Also, I laid down on my side while I waited for it to work... Good Luck! Hope u get relief soon...constipation is the WORST!

$0 for both the questions above. I have an own personal issue with paying out of pocket for something that can be covered legitimately under other means...even if it means delaying/waiting for it a bit (but that's just me!). Everyone will have their own reasons for paying/not paying to fast-track their surgery...so if one has the means, and wants to fast-track, then go for it. It's your money, you can spend whatever and how ever much of it as you want! Good Luck!

I don't know anymore if I exercise "a lot" (I think its all relative now, cuz I think Mr. exercises ALOT, but he doesn't seem to think so), but I do try to exercise regularly.

I had an Arm Lift, a Breast Lift & a Tummy Tuck about 4 months ago. ALL. AT. THE. SAME. TIME. While it was nice to have it all done at one shot vs. scheduling multiple surgeries, recovery was a b*tch. Insurance covered the Panniculectomy portion of the Tummy Tuck, but I had to pay for the difference between the two procedures, which was the muscle tightening and the lipo on the flanks. I paid for the Arm Lift and Breast Lift in full. Insurance also covered the hospital stay & medical equipment/peripherals. Its funny because at my one year followup/appointment last year, my surgeon asked if I would be willing to come in for a photoshoot so I could be on a poster or something....and I was all, um, no thanks. LOL. It was very flattering, but yeah, NO.

Ummmm...this looks like a picture out of Food and Wine magazine. Nice! (and YUM!)

Ok, going off on a tangent from food here, but I have to share my one and only celebrity encounter myself. 10 years ago, we got to meet Alicia Keyes backstage when she was in town for a concert. The Kid was sooooo upset she didnt get to go to the concert (she was 5!) because her fave song at the time was "No One", so she basically had a meltdown when she found out we met her AND had a picture with her....so I photo-shopped her into it, lol. Over the years, I think she convinced herself she was actually there now. 🤣

My new fave snack: Frozen Grapes!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that skirt. I WANT it.

Agree whole-heartedly on both counts. Your husband will be better set up for success if he takes the responsibility upon himself to achieve it. Your support and encouragement will definitely help him 100%, but he also needs to be able make decision/choices/efforts on his own for long-term and sustained success. Good Luck to Hubs!

It's difficult getting calories in in the beginning. My doc told me just do what I can and not to force it. It will become easier as time goes on. The first couple weeks, I got in maybe 400 cals PER WEEK, yikes. Then at around the month mark to around month 3, I got in maybe 400-500 a day. From months 3-7 it was about 700-800 a day, average. Once I reached goal, I struggled to increase calories for a few months until I figured out I needed to stay around 1700-2000 a day to not lose nor gain weight. Everybody is different though, and will be able to handle different calorie levels. Do what you can, no need to push it. So long as your labs keep coming back clean, I think you should be OK. But do check with your team if you are concerned. Good Luck!

Also, 2-3 lbs average loss a week is actually considered an normally accepted rate of loss with WLS (averaged out over weight loss phase) Like I said above, I lost all my excess weight and my average rate of loss (not counting the first month) was under 3lbs per week. Pretty average.

@Ashliza ... Ultimately its up to you. While the surgery will definitely help you lose weight if you follow your plan, a lot of your success/failures and positive/negative experiences will depend on, and be affected by, your attitude and mindset. Nobody can predict the future, so it is very possible that you will suffer complications, OR gain all of your weight back. But the odds are you won't. The majority of WLS patients have very uneventful recoveries. The majority of WLS patents lose 60-70% of their excess weight and keep it off. Some lose more, some lose less. You won't know where you fall on the spectrum until you get there. I will say that I had a very similar pre-op experience as you. I kept changing my mind and second-guessing my decision about getting the sleeve done. I was approved way back in March 2016 and I started and stopped the process TWICE before I finally got into the right mindset of being confident with my decision...was sleeved in Oct 2018. I had no complications and lost all off my excess weight. I've very happy with my decision, only regret was that I just didn't get it done in 2016....but I guess I just wasn't ready yet. Good Luck!

OMG I used to love it when the boys at school would wear their pastel blazers and push their sleeves up 😍

I didn't have DS, but the sleeve. But I had issues with constipation several times (2 times specifically it lasted about 2 weeks each! yikes.). Milk of Magnesia and glycerin suppositories were my friends.

Isopure Dutch Chocolate was my fave...i found it the least sweet and the least chalky than others I had tried. I also used the non-flavoured version to sprinkle on foods.

That is unusual. I was supposed to stop eating AND drinking at the midnight before my surgery (which was at 10:00am) In any case, I'm excited for you...good luck, and keep us posted!

+1

5'2" RE: your sister. People would say I obsessed about everything I ate too during weight loss phase. They would tell me they were worried about me, that I lost too much weight, that I was anorexic, that I must stop losing weight immediately. They would comment on how little I ate, and constantly offer me food. They would give side-wise glances to each other if I declined a piece of cake. They would say/do this to my face, and behind my back. But not once did my weight go below what is "normal" for my height and age. At all my follow-ups and appointments, not once did my Dr. tell me I was not the picture of health. I think "they" just weren't used to seeing me at a normal weight, they weren't used to seeing me turn down food and eat less, and the change in me was so rapid and so different that it was just so in-your-face, they couldn't help but feel the need to worry. During weight loss phase when I get the "munchies" I ignored them (and was successful maybe 95% of the time, lol). I mean, they were just munchies, not actual hunger. And giving into munchies is one of the things that got me to morbid obesity. Unless your sister has health problems as identified by her team, is underweight, or has developed behavior problems that are negatively impacting her quality of life, then I think she is just being determined. But I'm not her Dr....has she seen them recently? Edited to add: Now that I'm 1.5 years out, the comments and concern have effectively stopped. Me, my weight, and my eating habits are old news, and everyone is used to my new normal. ❤️

I've been told I am one of those "faster losers", so I got to goal at around 7 months (127lbs, 108lbs lost at the time). I lost a little bit more after that, gained after a vacation in september, lost it, gained these recent 6lbs, lost it again. I went as low as 109 lbs (too small!!) and as high as 121 lbs (over my acceptable limit!!) in that time period. Today I am at 115 (total 120 lbs lost). 115-120 is my happy place. It does get a little bit more challenging the further out we are. I mean, losing 10 lbs off a 230 lb body is waaaaaayyyy easier than losing 10 lbs off a 130 lb body. Just keep on going, it will be slower yes, but if you make an honest effort ad stick to it, it will come off a little by little. It does get discouraging when the visible results are not as dramatic, so I get it. Maybe keep track of your body measurements? Sometimes you'll lose inches and not lbs. Also, I find that looking at old pictures of myself and seeing how far I've come to be a great motivator.