mcipanda

Hi there, hair loss can be really scary, especially when you’re already in a fragile state after surgery. Before surgery, I talked to my hairstylist and doctor to understand what was coming and how to deal with it. Here are some of the tips they gave me: 1. Get all of your protein 2. Take your multivitamins religiously 3. Keep your scalp clean and healthy 4. Don’t use harsh shampoos. Use fragrance free, low lather, low chemical shampoos 5. Wear your hair loose. Avoid tight pony tails or braids etc 6. Keep your hair out of the sun to avoid UV damage 7. Use a wide tooth comb to brush your hair, and be gentle. Use natural bristles if using a brush 8. Reduce your overall stress (meditation, relaxation techniques, etc can help). Stress itself is one of the biggest contributors 9. if your hair seems brittle, try coconut oil or olive oil. Just be careful not to over wash afterward (oily hair can perturb some) 10. accelerate new growth with vitamins, biotin, etc. they won’t prevent loss but they can help regrowth I hope some of this was helpful. Good luck to you and remember it’s only temporary! 🍀☺️

The first week is tough. I was able to get up and walk to the restroom and around the house a little before sitting back down again. By week 2, I could be up and walking for 10-15. Give yourself the downtime you need right now and don’t stress too much. You’ll be up again in no time so long as you don’t go beyond the limits your body is telling you to stay at good luck!

Welcome! Like many of us, you’ve had some ups and downs… as my doctor would say, it’s all part of the obesity disease. There are good reasons to approve you for the procedure, so try not to be too nervous 😬 haha easier said than done right? Best of luck to you!

I understand your frustration. When I was about one week post op, I hit my first stall. ONE WEEK! I only had water, some broth and that’s it. So why the heck wasn’t I losing weight?? To make matters worse, my hubby, who ate take out twice that week, lost three pounds. WHAT!? I was totally insulted… and I started to think it was my body again. Always trying to keep me fat. Years of struggle and here I am eating 400 cals a day and not losing anything?? One week later, a small movement. But every time I changed food stages, another stall. That was four stalls in six weeks. Very frustrating. I knew my BMR was 1400, so staying around 600-800 calories with high protein and low carb would HAVE to work. It’s not the program as much as it is the science. a couple things I’ve noticed… 1. If I’m sick or have an allergy episode, I will stall or even gain 2. if I drink Gatorade or artificial sweeteners of any kind, I will stall 3. if I don’t have regular daily bowel movements, I will stall. This one is so hard to deal with. 4. If I don’t get enough sleep, I will stall. 5. When I started eating higher protein than recommended (90 recommended, I have 110), I will lose. Even if the carbs go up slightly. 6. If I eat too many processed foods in a day, like protein bars, drinks or snacks, I will stall. 7. If I don’t get enough pure water, I will stall. You might have some sensitivities like these or others…. Really examen what you’re taking in, not just the calories and fat. It’s a puzzle you gotta figure out for yourself. It’s hard work. But I believe you can do it. Just vent and get back in there! 😃

I had a similar experience in my mid-20’s and now, six weeks post op, I worry it might happen again. After my first baby, I lost 40lbs and started getting more of the attention you’re talking about. I didn’t realize how worthless people thought I was until the weight came off. It made me angry. I was angry at men for their stupid comments, unwanted stares and for thinking I would be even remotely interested in them. But it wasn’t just the men. It was cashiers, bank tellers, services I wanted to hire, flight attendants, etc. They looked me in the eyes when speaking to me. They stopped at my seat faster on the plane. I negotiated a better rate for a car repair when previously, they would tell me they don’t “offer discounts.” Oh, I see now… you DO offer discounts; just not to overweight people. I let the insecurity get to me and started to sabotage my own progress. I felt like I couldn’t trust anyone. At least when I am heavy, I can see who you truly are because you don’t see me. Being heavy suddenly felt safe, and it wasn’t long before I was back over 200 again. 15 years later and I’m still worried about what will happen when the weight comes off, but I realize that my worth is not defined by other people. It can only be defined by me. We can be angry at these people, or we can pity them. I can feel scared to be seen or I can take control of my presence, own the space I occupy and refuse to let other people make me feel uncomfortable. Yes, easier said than done but I’m getting better at it. I hope you’re able to come through this and own your own space, too. The insecurity stems from a deep rooted sense of low self worth (in my case), so I’m working to believe that I deserve to be here. Sending you the best of wishes. We are all here for you.

I have the same issue. I had my surgery 3/13, five weeks post op and my abdominal incision on the right side is still giving me a hard time. If I twist, reach or turn a certain way it can go from burning to stabbing. My team said it’s not unusual for this to happen, can take six months to completely heal. I’m 41 so I thought it would go faster… nope! Guess he got me in “just” the right spot 😂 I bought an abdominal binder and that really helped! Take it easy and let others give you a hand if you can. 🤗

I chose a doctor who specializes in this - and only this - with an entire team in his practice dedicated to the same. I was assigned a coordinator who knew exactly what we needed and when. I finished my reqs in a week and insurance approved me in a single day. My biggest hold up was the doctor going on vacation for two weeks 😂 First consult Jan 30, final appointment 2/17, surgery on March 13th. Note: based on your posts, I wouldn’t let that woman touch me with a ten foot pole unless there was no other option and even the Devil was booked solid. Good luck to you!

I went to the movies recently with my family and didn’t want to feel left out. I understand the habit of mindlessly consuming is what needs to change, but I also believe the grief we feel at no longer participating in these social activities can derail us. The ultimate goal is to realize that not participating does not mean being left out, but this comes with time for many of us. So how do we deal along the way? I decided to get a bottle of water while at the theater and took some sugar free cinnamon discs to suck on while watching. I felt like I was included, but still responsible. By the end of the movie, I only had two pieces. As we were walking out, I realized I am capable of changing the narrative of “going o the movies” while not cheapening the experience. I’m not promoting mindless eating. I’m promoting healing and learning how to kick old habits. If you’re one of those people who has to quit cold turkey, then this might not work for you. Other ideas: sugar free suckers, bring packets of SF flavoring for your water, mini packs of peanuts or a pack of protein snacks like cheese cubes, ham, etc. Good luck! 🍀

I had a hard time with this too. What helped was getting it to a texture I could manage like @summerseeker mentioned. I added taco meat made with turkey (very finely minced while cooking) to refried beans with some cheese. If it was too thick or dry, I added a little sour cream. The other winner was pot roast and veggies. I ran it through the food processor with the carrots, onions, celery and broth. The meat was fine enough to add texture but not so fine as to be paste. I made sure there was more meat per serving than veggies, but the veggies and broth helped keep it soft enough to be easy on my tummy. Since each of these made me a few days of meals, I was out of the purée stage before I knew it. I had yogurts and cottage cheese as snacks. Some people like hummus. I just couldn’t eat hummus by the spoonful. I need pretzels or something lol Hang in there! 😊🤞

Yay!! Congrats on your progress. You must be so proud of yourself. I hope you continue the trend and reach both of your near term goals!🤞

Hi Ashley and welcome! 👋 congrats on meeting your surgery goal weight! The psych eval was very straightforward for me. I was open and honest about why I wanted the surgery, my history of weight gain, loss and regain. Yo-yo dieting and all the self esteem issues that go along with a weight-focused society. You’ll have a pre-op diet before surgery, so it’s easiest to start making small changes now. I started swapping a protein shake for a meal once per day about a month before my pre-op diet started. I also weaned myself off of caffeine. It really helped! I also have a therapist, which I highly recommend if you can. She has helped me realize so many pitfalls of my unhealthy relationship with food. If I didn’t have her to lean on, I’m not sure I would be as successful as I am today. These are my best pieces of advice. Good luck!! Let us know when you get a surgery date set! 😊

Liquids go through us pretty quickly, so it’s understandable you might still be hungry or hungry sooner. I drank water in between or had some Gatorade Zero, sugar free jello or sugar free fudgesicles. as long as you’re eating every 1.5-2 hours with five max meals per day, I think you’re just fine. Check in with your team, though. It might be good to understand if your hunger is normal right now and if there are tips for dealing with it. Good luck!

I believe so, yes. There’s a different kind of re-wiring that happens with RNY vs VSG, but I don’t think it guarantees anything. I’ve met a lot of RNY folks that still feel hunger (my mom included) so it feels like the luck of the draw.

I honestly had a good round of food funerals so when my pre-op diet started, I was more or less ready for it. 😂 Something that helped me is knowing that nothing is permanently off limits. Sure, the first couple months requires specific eating to help the stomach heal, but after that anything goes so long as you can keep it down. This is where the mental stuff comes in. Just because you can have it doesn’t mean you should or that it will help you achieve your goals. Im 4 weeks post op VSG today and my physical hunger is back. It’s not as crazy as it was, but I do feel hungry about 2x a day. It usually happens right when I’m due to eat. I envy people that never feel hungry again, but I’m learning what real hunger feels like vs mental and I’m thankful it’s not like it was (I’d get the shakes and feel like I was going to pass out). Good luck!! The days fly by and before you know it, you’ll be here on the other side 🌈

I only had water, broth and Gatorade zero the first three days. Then I had 2 protein shakes per day for the first week. For me, the key was sipping constantly. I also used Gatorade zero with protein if I just couldn’t get another sip of shake down. At about a week post op, I tried protein broths and loved the Unjury brand chicken. I’ve heard some people thin out yogurt (like Oikos Triple Zero). Just try your best to get as much protein as you can. 50 out of 60 grams is pretty good! Just keep the goal in mind and sip, sip, sip!

I’m 4 weeks post op VSG (3/13/23). Have lost 20lbs, just dropped into the 180’s for the first time in 7 years. My abdominal wall healing has taken longer than expected, so I haven’t been able to move as much as I’d like. Goal is to reach 170 by the time I visit my parents in late June. I’m learning just how finicky my body really is. Makes me feel less crazy about all the years of trying to lose and keep weight off….Not enough protein? STALL. Not enough fluid? STALL. Injured? STALL. Drink stuff with fake sweetener? You guess it…STALL! Lol 😂 ah well, I love this body anyway. Keeps things interesting if not downright insane and who wants to be normal anyway? 😛

I think your body is really confused. You had major surgery and probably didn’t eat much the first couple weeks, then started eating heavier than you should and sugar as well. The body probably latched into the sugar and carbs to replenish stores and turned the rest to fat (explains the gain). Then you go back on track and your body needs to adjust again, but after losing some pounds you’re eating less often (so your metabolism machine is slower) and still having sugar even if it’s a small amount. Your body is really smart. After going through trauma, it’s going to try to stabilize. Here’s what I do know… you still have time to get yourself back on the right path. You will need all your fluids (sugar free), the protein prescribed by your plan, very low carbs and all of your vitamins. If you don’t at least do these things, you’ll probably remain frustrated and stuck. It’ll take a jolt and consistency to recover. I believe you can do it because you already got this far. Dealing with our emotions and food is not easy, but it is possible. I’m pretty sure everyone here would pat you on the back and tell you to get back in the ring, don’t be so hard on yourself and stay focused. You’ve still got time to turn it around! You can do this. Sending you all kinds of encouragement! 🌈😊

This sounds about right. There’s something doctors and others call a “3 week stall” where your body is recovering water lost and rebuilding the stores it expended during the first week or so of very low calorie/healing. The stall can happen earlier for some (it happened at the 10 day mark for me), or a week or two later. Regardless of when it happens, it usually lasts 1-3 weeks (mine lasted a week) and breaks as long as you stick with your guidelines. YouTube has some great info videos on this stall, worth checking out!

Hi there, welcome 🤗 I know how you feel. My youngest daughter caught me on Google searching for “woman in her 40’s with no friends.” I have acquaintances, but the friends in our lives are more my husband’s than mine. So I get it. That’s why I started coming here. I feel like this is a forum where you can vent, ask questions and commiserate with people who understand you and this decision. Not everyone agrees with WLS. Everyone here is on your side. Feel free to jump in, ask questions and make new friends. Especially if there are folks having the procedure around the same time as you. I love chatting with my March 13th buddies Hope you’ll stick around and support us so we can support you!

I had my VSG on Monday (5 days post op now) and on full liquids. I was given protein and fluid goals, but nothing else. Did you have calorie goals/restrictions during each phase (clear, full, purée, soft)?

Love that you can have any/all non starchy veggies. Sounds like it isn’t much but it really is! For the shakes, I treated them like mini meals.. At breakfast, I made a coffee shake using latte flavored protein shakes and sipped slow. At lunch, I made a peanut butter banana chocolate milk shake with banana extract, a chocolate protein shake and PB2 peanut butter powder. For dinner, have a protein shake and some fajita seasoned sautéed veggies. For a snack, try having a strawberry banana shake (Fairlife) blended with ice. I was really afraid of the 2-week diet, but it flew by. The key is to keep it interesting. Have cauliflower “rice” with veggies, for example. My biggest worry was the doctor opening me up, seeing my liver covered in fat, then closing me up and saying “nope.” It happened to others on these forums, so the fear kept me in line. It was also a great prep experience for the weeks after surgery when you can only have liquids. Hope some of this is helpful

Congratulations on your healthy surgiversary! I’m so glad you mentioned the emotional challenges. So many people go into this thinking the physical weight is the problem. They don’t realize their own emotional dependence on food, or how their lives and relationships will change. When I decided to alter my anatomy, I knew I had to be ready to face the hard stuff that got me here in the first place. Therapist = best. money. decision. ever. May you have continued success!

I never did get an answer to my calories question… my nutritionist just reiterated that the calories matter less as long as the following are true: - get your 70-90 grams of protein per day no matter what (I am in soft foods stage) - get your 64oz of fluids every day (and I’m allowed to count protein shakes and milk as fluids) - no more than 5g fat per serving - no more than 5g sugar per serving When I watch these rules, I end up with around 700-850 calories per day and I’m steadily losing. If I don’t get enough protein or water, I stall over the next two days. Oddly, I noticed that if I drink artificially sweetened things like Gatorade Zero, I stall out. She said I may be insulin sensitive where my brain sees the fake sweetener as the real thing and releases insulin to counter it. I try to have maybe one of these drinks every two days to get my Miralax in. Not sure if any of this helps but I hope there’s a nugget in here that adds some value 😊

Yup, I also take a separate iron pill from the same company and dissolvable magnesium at bedtime.

I like the Bariatric Advantage multi chewable in Tropical Orange and Strawberry Watermelon. These are the only two I’ve tried, but both are great 👍