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I've started to feel like an animal shedding comic! It started about a week ago, maybe a little more so perhaps 3.5 months out. I have fine hair and not tons of it to begin with so I sucked it up and bought one of the Nioxin (sp?) systems. I'll see how it goes with that but I think all it will help with is making what I have look a little thicker and hopefully improving the regrowth. The final step has sunscreen in it of all things but I have burned my scalp a couple times in recent years. As fast as the hair grows on my legs after I wax it off I can't imagine why it takes my head so long!! =) (sorry guys - TMI on the waxing, I know)

It's been a week already?! Holy cow. Lots and lots of down time, and quite a bit of pain, but I'm finally feeling a lot better (and TMI, but A LOT better after my first BM last night lol). I have my first post-op appointment tomorrow, but I did weigh-in today..... I lost 7.2 lbs! In one week! SEVEN POINT TWO! craziness. That brings me to a total of 14 lbs, and only 56 more to go lol. I am not expecting a huge loss next week, but I am aiming for 1-2 lbs. Did anyone get to start mushies on week 2? I don't feel like I have any swelling around my band, and I am able to get all my Protein and Water in every day, so I am just hoping I can start on some semi-real food... and maybe start getting some Fiber back in to my diet ASAP lol. woo hoo! If any of y'all have a youtube account and would like to follow my journey on there, or have me follow you, please subscribe! My username is jessicakesbanded and I make update videos at least every week.

Hi all, I have been giving little updates on my progress since surgery. It seems to help me mentally to just jot down whats been happening. Maybe it will help others too. Yesterday I overdid it a little by taking my 13 year old shopping for school supplies and running a few errands. I had my husbands truck since he took my car to work. Its a tall quad cab dodge and our driveway is on an incline. It was hard to get in it but once there driving was fine. We only stayed out a few hours but I was pooped by the time we got back. I was really sore last night and it was hard to sleep soundly. I woke with a little nausea... my first nausea! I did not throw up but my body was screaming for something warm. I made decaf coffee and sipped that. I noticed gurgling and gas moving so when I tried to pass the gas a lot more came with! TMI I know... so I had a touch of diahrea sp? but now I feel better. So I am calling that my first BM after surgery. It was not bad, no cramping or anything. I have had a bout a half cup of coffee in the last hour and i feel some better now. Still sore from yesterday especially on the left side. Not horrible though. My bandages are itching now. I gained 14 pounds in water weight at the hospital. My right hand where the iv was is still puffy. I had lost 9 pounds with my postop diet and to see that I gained that back plus 5 more was disheartening. I have lost most of that back now. As of yesterday I was within 3 pounds of my preop diet weight. SW 234, preop 225, home from hosp. 239, yesterday 228. I have not weighed this morning. I will keep you all posted on how Im doing. Thanks for listening. Tammi

First let me say a thank you to those of you who sent me messages to check up on me, or let me know you missed my blogging, etc... I've been quite the busy lil' bee lately and being online has only been for work and the occassional facebook check in lol. All of that being said, let's see it's been about a month since my last log in.. not even sure about my last blog. But the 4th of June I had another fill....I think this puts me at 7.75 in a 14 cc band. And wow can I feel the difference. Even getting samples at costco is too much for me right now. My last two fills have had me experience sliming, pb'ing and last night for the first time...vomiting, well I think it was vomiting, I get confused on what you guys call PB'ing. Either way, It may be TMI but I ate a few chunks of fruit, (pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon, etc..) by the time I got to the 4th chunk I had to excuse myself.. as I sat in the bathroom sliming....suddenly in one fell swoop up came the last chunk of fruit I had, not gross, but just as if I had chewed it and spit it out. Then I INSTANTLY felt better and went back to eating. I think I didn't chew enough, or my band just doesn't like honeydew lol. Anyways...my weightloss had seemed to slow prior to this last fill. When I went in I had lost 2lbs. Which is still great considering what my diet had consisted of... Not that it's an excuse but I've been working excessive hours like 9am to 3am and moving. My house/houses were boxed up for about 3 weeks and for some reason the movers boxed up the kitchen first. So the combination of all of that had me back in my old lover's arms, basking in the light of his golden arches. Darn you Ronald...DARN YOU!! I said I would never call again... but you got me. But I'll get away this time lol... So after almost a month of fast food almost EVERY night.. I still lost. *Sigh* when I think of how much MORE I could have lost if I had been on plan! I'm back to a white out (no flour, sugar, salt, rice) and putting protien shakes into heavy rotation while eating very small portions. Like last night I had 1/2 of a fish fillet (the fish not the sandwich lol) and some veggies. I wasn't hungry at all, but I hadn't eaten since 2 or 3pm so I figured I should eat something. I have an appoint on Friday, supposed to be a fill appointment, I REALLY don't think I need any more liquid in there than I have right now.. maybe .25 to put it to 8 and tighten me up through my PMS phase which is due to come. I can't be the only one who's band does not seem to be a match for mother nature during that time. I swear it's almost like my jaws come unhinged and I want to put everything in sight in my mouth, the sweeter and carby-er the better lol.. yes I know carbyer isn't a word but you know what? It's MY blog lol Ok so where does that leave me.. been a good girl for the most part since my fill.. really didn't have a choice.. Came up with a new smoothy recipe that is AMAZING.. I mean AMAZING!!! Speaking of amazing...I experienced this tres leche cake at a local spot here that is AMAZING.. I mean toe-curling, grab the edge of the table and look at the plate like it just did some dirty things to you, kind of amazing!!! I've made this my once a month treat. Tres Leche cake, with coconut milk ice cream, topped with toasted coconut and pineapple tidbits and this rum sauce.. OMG this rum sauce.. AMAZING! I mean A-FREAKING-MAZING! Like I had to stop eating it before there was a When Harry Met Sally kinda scene in there.. luckily I was sharing it with someone else so it didn't go to waste. I'm going hardcore from now on... this friday is my 6 months post op and although I've lost, I'm not happy with my progress because I *KNOW* I could have done WAYYYYYYYYYY better. I've been so busy putting other things first and not focusing on me and my workout time, etc... So going hard core, come my 1 yr anniversary ya'll are gonna be congratulating me on 100lbs gone. Probably more.. Epic moments so far: My shirt size and pant size now being the same, or close to (depending on the shirt lol) For the first time since I was a teenager I fit into an 20 shirt which to me is a HUGE deal.. I mean HUGE! Then when I fit into an 18 I was ecstatically happy! So 18 shirt down from a tight 32 (at my highest). Able to wear an x-large t-shirt and not have to special order a shirt for me for all of the various events I do. It feels SO good! I'm teetering on the 18/20 size range, depending on the cut of the item. I bought a pair of capris from LB that were a 20, only because the 18 fell right on my Lapband scar which was uncomfortable. I'm now at the point where I understand WHY people get lipo and other surgeries, although I DO NOT have saggy skin, I see my body changing and getting tighter in some areas, where I start to think... "Hmmmm if I just had this sucked out... I'd be GOOD" lol but I KNOW it's a challenge and I am determined to do this the right way, without any cheats or surgery. So thankful to have friends who are helping me along the way, a seamstress friend to help with clothes, an esthetician friend who brings me all sorts of firming and rejuvenating creams, that seem to work. Bodybuilding/exercise guru/expert friends to help with diet and workouts. I have it set, I just need to take action which is what I am doing now. Ok so I think that about covers it, my schedule is freeing up no so I'll have some more time to be back on here and check in with everyone. Please do give me the recaps of your progress! Hope you're all doing amazingly well!!!

any new updates? any one lost any more weight during this challenge yet? i'm once again at another lil plateau, but, its also my TOM (hope thats not TMI), but i'm HOPING that is the reason my weight has been at such a stand still.....yea that and plus... Do GREEN M&M's count as "going green"?!! LOL...sorry, i had a sweet tooth attack!!! i couldn't resist, like i said, TOM! xoxo, Christie

I had gastric bypass on july 27 2016. First 3 weeks were tough with the eating (broth/soups) and learning to sip my Water. However I felt I was getting the hang of it. I went to my 3 week post op appt and I was down 30 pounds!! I couldnt believe it. The middle of my 4th week I started to introduce new foods and I have noticed I can't keep anything in. This is TMI but I have constant diarrhea Anytime I eat something 20 mins later, my stomach starts turning, I have to go to the restroom. I have not been able to intake all my Protein all though I do try. I can not tolerate the smell. I force myself to drink the shakes. Also I do stay hydrated and am drinking all my water and take my Vitamins. I was working out doing cardio and floor exercises now I feel like I have no energy. Any one else going thru anything like this. Does it stop? What can I take for an upset stomach?? Any advise??? ♡sammywammy ????

Tomorrow will be 1 month since my surgery - and I know there are several of you out there in the same boat - so I thought we should check in and compare stats. I'm 5'8", starting weight was 296, surgery weight 283 and weight today is 258. I'm eating between 600-800 calories a day, less than 50g of carbs, and at least 60g of Protein. I dont exercise yet, other than some light walking, but I plan to start soon. In less concrete news, I feel great. I've been working since 2 weeks out and not really experiencing any more exhaustion than usual. My hunger is starting to pick up the last couple days, but I think that has to do with hormones more than anything else. My only complaint is constipation (sorry, TMI!) but its not the worst in the world. I'm a little disappointed with my 25 pound weight loss in the first month, but only because I lost 16 pounds of it in the first week and since then its been a slow slog. How are all of you doing?

so im on the preop diet, its my 3rd day, and since the first day i had stomach aches and diarrhea since the first day as well(TMI i know). every time i have a protein shake(i need to have it 4 times a day) i get that feeling like i have to vomitt(TMI) it back up. and today i started to get a heach ache. my mom told me i need more water and i read in somebody else's thread that someone wrote that they needed to up their water. anybody else go through that? and is water all i need to fix it? thanks (:

My stomach was fine I'm just constipated (tmi) and pms'ing Day 2, anyone else's stomach getting upset? My surgery will be done by Dr. Chung at Capital Health Hopewell, it's in New Jersey : )

Yes I am in the hospital now with a possible leak. My surgery was 11-12, I was released 11-14 back on 11-18 with severe pain. They waited too long to do my ct scan so now I have to wait until tomorrow. But they did remove about 5 cups of nasty stuff yesterday. Sorry if that was tmi!

I think it may depend on if you are normally constipated or not (how long it takes to work). Sorry TMI coming... I've always been one to be on the loose side and go 3+ times a day. I am NEVER constipated. If anything, I have the reverse problem of having to go too much. I was scared to death to take the magnesium citrate knowing how my system already is. And, sure enough, it gave me horrible horrible diarrhea starting 15 minutes after taking it and for the rest of the day and night. I was seriously dehydrated by the time I checked into the hospital. My BP was super low and I sucked up an IV bag in record time as soon as they hooked me up. I continued to have diarrhea for the entire next week after surgery. Gosh, I hate that magnesium citrate stuff. Vile vile liquid! Anyway, your plan to call the doctor in the morning if it doesn't work by then is a good one. I can't imagine it not working, though, unless you got a bad batch. Oh, one thing you might try is drinking lots of Water. The way I understand it, magnesium citrate works by sucking water out of your system and forcing it into your bowels. So, if you are dehydrated, maybe you don't have enough water in your system to force into your bowels? Just an idea.

Hey all I am 8 days post VSG I had surgery on 18th Jan... I was doing ok as far as liquids go but today...well I haven’t managed to fit anything in at all...all day I feel bloated and full.. so worrying - sorry for the TMI but I haven’t done a number 2 today..so my husband said it may be because I haven’t emptied my stomach? Has anyone else had this issue at all?

Hey Ladies HUGE question...I know this is personal and tmi but I was wondering if its bad having your aunt flow start during surgery? Because my Surgery in a week from Monday, April 15th and that is the day Aunt Flow is suppose to arrive and I'm thinking how embarrassing its going to be if I am.

Hi everybody. This might be a TMI post, bear with me here. I eat fast. I finally figured out why. If I'm eating lean steak pieces, sauteed onions and mushrooms, for example, I want badly and need badly to swallow beef, onions and shrooms so I can know I'm eating those foods. Not pureed mush where once it's mush, you lose the structure and essence of what you're eating. I can't handle, yet, the mush in my mouth. Feels sick to me. Am I crazy??? Have any of you felt this way and overcome it, if yes, HOW?

Ali thanks for your post! I am now just 2 weeks post op and some days I feel great and others I am like Vegas, I feel like I am 80!! lol! I have lost 9 pounds since surgery and a total of 21 since starting the preop diet. All in all I would do it again in a heart beat. The discomfort is worth it if I am a healthier person in the end and live not only longer but a better life. Now I really only have a little pain around my port area and I swear that it sticks out even though husband says it doesn't. Oh and sex can be a little bit uncomfortable, it kind of feels like the port is going to pop out...tmi I know but its weird. Rcoleband, thanks for starting this thread, its great to hear success stories!! Keep up the good work.

Hey everyone. Ok so I just got banded on the 18th of Dec. I got through the first week good as far as following the diet and only having liquids. I then moved on to thicker/creamier foods the next week and was doing fine. I am on mushies and throwing in a little piece of chicken (little little) here and there. My questions are: 1. why do I have to wait till the 4th week to eat foods?? I feel like my body can handle them already. So I have been trying, but if there is a good reason for me not to, then I won't. I still only eat half a cup and feel full. SO I am doing ok with quantity. 2. This is a little TMI but, how often do you guys have a BM? It seems to be once every few days for me, and I don't know that that is normal. 3. will the gas and bloating ever calm down?? 4. Do I have to take small sips of Water forever?? I am so thirsty I just want to chug water but I am scared to. ALSO I hate the Protein drinks I have (haven't found one I like yet) and I could get through them perop because I chugged them, now I have to sip slowly. Any suggestions?? 5. Will our serving sizes be 1/2 a cup forever? I mean as long as we have the band?? Any feedback you guys have would be amazing!!! Thank you everyone in advance!

If you're female and it's even the slightest bit close to your period then bring pads. The surgery brought my period a week early (TMI, sorry).

I have been so sick these past 2 days i just want to crawl in a whole and die. I 10 days post op and i don't know what i should or shouldn't do that is helpful. I know tmi but i have had an upset stomach. I am constantly feeling like i am going to throw up... maybe it's a bug..maybe i ate something i shouldn't of... idk. Help!

No, I didn't have a catheter. This may be TMI, but I thought it might be helpful to tell you about my experience. I expected to start my period a couple of days before surgery. When the pre-op nurse called a few days before surgery, I asked her about wearing a tampon. She told me it would be fine and said to tell my pre-op nurse when I arrived at the hospital. My period didn't start like I expected it to, but I inserted a tampon the morning of surgery, knowing my period could start at any moment. I explained this to the pre-op nurse. She gave me a pad and panties and told me to remove the tampon. It was no big deal.

Hi, I have a few questions.. How soon after surgery can you start working out? (Running, Interval training, gymnastics, etc). Although I'm overweight I'm very athletic, but I just made poor food choices. I had my surgery 12/22/2016. I've been feeling weak and struggling to get my proper Protein and Water intake in. TMI, but I've also haven't pooped since the hour before my surgery. Have anybody had troubles with proper intakes and/or going to the restroom?? I'm new to all of this and any information would be greatly appreciated ! Become a better you for YOU :-)

I'm wondering what's going to happen to the girls too. I'm half way to my goal and I am still the same cup size but it's more loose skin than firm breast. Sorry it that's TMI. Are there exercises I can do for this? I'm about to go buy new bras that cover the girls more because it's hard to keep them where they belong because they are so loose now. (Sorry to the guys out there), Maybe a boobie tuck is in my future?

I’m a little late to this post, but I had the exact same issues early on and ended up with impacted bowel and endured the worst week of my life about 4 weeks post surgery. Turns out too much fiber can actually do the opposite of what it’s supposed to do. For the last 5ish months I’ve been doing 1/2 cap of Miralax three times a week and I’m making sure to eat foods with natural fiber but not go crazy. I monitor the bathroom situation just as much as my water and diet. If I don’t “go” for two days I increase to a full cap of Miralax. If you do end up having impacted bowel issues and need to know the TMI of how to fix an impaction when every over the counter option doesn’t work, shoot me a message. Also, early on I had zero energy. Once I got the protein/water/food/sleep thing balanced I was able to walk forever. It took about two months for me to feel real energy.

I just had my surgery on 12/17. I was five days post op when I had my BM. My doctor said no Fiber for the first three months, but if I needed help “going” to take miralax. (TMI but my first BM was entirely made up of blood- surgeon said it was normal. Sorry if that’s tmi, but I was totally taken by surprise and would like other people to know that it happens.)

They sell skin brighteners at drug stores. My mom has something that is to brighten skin from sun damage and age spots. She got it at sephora I think. Maybe try there or Clinique? Or you could go with Michael Jackson's method of skin bleaching. I know this may be tmi but people get their anus bleached. Maybe talk to a salon. ??

I had to do 2 weeks Pre-Op diet of mostly liquids and staying below 500-700 calories each day. Yesterday and today I have had to be on clear liquids, sop that only gets me to around 80 calories each day since I can't have sugar, carbs, fat, etc. Tonight I get to do the awesome cleanse (TMI I know as well), but not sure what it will accomplish since I haven't had anything but liquids. lol.