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I have been crazy busy, but I love it here and wanted to update you guys on what's new with me. And hopefully some of you will give updates on yourselves here, too So I am getting used to the work outs I've been doing (and by that I mean I don't need 2-3 days between working out now. I can do 6 days and take 1 rest day). I do cardio twice per week for an hour and a half each time, I do strength and core training twice per week for an hour and 15 minutes each time, and I do weight training twice per week for an hour each time (that's my least favorite lol) On my rest day, I literally do nothing. I work and do college from home, so I either lay in bed or on my love seat and get stuff done. I'm a complete veg head lol I made my rest day on Mondays because...well...Monday lol I drink three 16oz bottles of propel electrolyte water everyday (my favorite) and one 20oz bottle of gatorade zero each day. I also drink 2-4 cups of tea (sweetened with monkfruit sweetener, or not sweetened at all, depending on the tea). Specifically, I drink green tea in the morning, black tea in the afternoon, white tea in the evening, and if I'm in the mood, I drink either oolong tea or yerba mate tea at night. Helps suppress appetite, burn fat, and the green and black teas give a little caffeine boost (not a lot, but juuuuust enough). I usually make a protein shake in the morning for breakfast (never been a big breakfast eater). I have several different protein powders to choose from, and I typically add my greens powder to it, turmeric powder, moringa powder, matcha powder, mct oil, black seed oil, collagen powder, soluble fiber, avocado, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, gut health powder (digestive enzymes with pre and probiotics), and vitamin c powder. If needed, I add some monk fruit sweetener for a little extra sweetness, and it's really yummy and filling. For lunch I typically have some kind of salad (I have a few different ones that I like) and I add a protein to it, and then dinner is always some kind of protein and veggie. On weight training days, I have a P3 protein pack for a snack, but I don't usually have a snack on other days. On cardio and strengthening days I tend to have about 1200 calories and 20 carbs. On weight training days I have around 1300 calories and 25ish carbs. On my rest day I have between 900 - 1000 calories and 15 or so carbs. I also found a new salt to use (I rarely use salt, but this is much healthier for when I do) called Kala Namak Himalayan salt (it's black). Black salt has antioxidant properties and has surprisingly low sodium levels. It also contains important minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium, which are essential to healthy bodies. Black salt stimulates bile production in the liver, and helps control heartburn and bloating. Its sulfurous, salty, mineral taste works great in cooking or as a finishing salt. I'm firmly in a size 20 clothing now, and my ring size is an 8 (but it's starting to get loose, so I'm looking at 7 1/2 now). I'm also in a stall again, but I honestly don't even care. I'm getting so healthy and strong and I can see a difference, so the scale will move when it moves, and until then, I'm just gonna focus on what I'm doing. I'm working full time and I'm in college full time (I'm finishing up my bachelor's degree - I have 8 more classes now) so between that and my more fit lifestyle, I'm always busy with something lol I really love it, though. I finished my Associate's degree in October and decided that I was going to finish the rest of my dream and get the bachelor's degree. I already have my dream job, but it's for ME, you know? I'll be the first one in my family to have a degree, and I want that. It means a lot to me to have it, and I graduated with a 4.0 with my associate's degree, and I still have a 4.0 so far now. I'm going to do my best to keep it, too. I'm noticing I have zero boobs to speak of now LOL I wasn't really expecting that at all, but it's fine. That's what padded bras are for until I get em done later on lol I'm more than ready for my hair to stop falling out and to start growing back. I'll be 8 months post op on the 3rd. How much longer will this go on before it finally calms down? That's really my biggest gripe right now. I'm just ready to not lose so much hair. I knew it was coming, so I never freaked out, but it's getting on my nerves now lol That's really it. All in all, things are going pretty well. How is everyone else doing?

I started losing large amounts of hair around 3 months post, and cut it into a pixie a week or so after. The shorter hair was easier to style and fluff (and stay) up to give the illusion of volume vs the longer hair, which weighed down against my scalp, making the scalp more visible and looking bald-ish. Plus i was sick of vacuuming up the carpets of long hair i kept shedding around the house. Little chicken hairs started to sprout up around 6 months post and by 2 years post those chicken hairs were down to the tops of my shoulders. Im a little over 4 years post op today and its almost exactly like it was before surgery. I say "almost" because i believe it's actually thicker looking now, but that may also be due to the fact that the hairs came in wavier/bendier that before. which im not hating at all. 😉 Below my hair progress pic lol. I actually had a lot of fun putting this collage together...i spent a good couple hours trying to find a pre-op pic of me with my hair down (i almost always have my hair in a bun or ponytail), and i was marvelling at all my obese pictures! i am in shock at how big i was...i could've sworn i was never that big! crazy. just crazy.

Same here. I lost three pounds last month. Three! I feel like I’m losing inches though. I think the three pounds was all of the hair I’ve been losing! Here’s to ending the stall in 2023!

Question!? And I am sure this is repetitive but I can’t find a specific answer! So I am 8 weeks in post operation. And my friends invited me out for drinks I explained that I can’t drink and they said for me to just try a buzzball which is 19.9 grams in carbs, 22.1 grams in alcohol, 248 in calories and also it’s gluten free! And I think I could probably only do half of that anyway. So my question is can I have a little to drink ? And how would it affect me if I do? Besides getting intoxicated faster. Thanks in advance and hope everyone has an amazing new year!!!

It's the worst! In one shower I lose what I used to lose in a weeks worth of showers. I am so glad I had thick hair, but it is getting to be so noticeable. I have been considering shaving the rest of my head...

So sorry you are having these issues. I am having my lap band removed in a couple of weeks. I discovered with an endoscopy that I have Barrett’s Esophagus and the band must be removed as it causes damage. I had all fill removed almost 10 years ago and I don’t have symptoms of reflux but it was still happening without symptoms. Be sure to monitor your esophagus as there could be damage that can lead to cancer.

I ended up with a total of 6 incisions. The lower left was/is the one that still causes a little pain 2 weeks out. The bruising is a site to behold. Finally starting to fade. It does get better as those who have gone before us have said. Best wishes and Happy New Year / New You!

I hope you were able to find some answers since you posted here. I recommend that you do not wait and get the scope. I recently had a scope and I have Barrett’s Esophagus. I am having the band removed in a couple of weeks. Heartburn is a sign that something is wrong. It erodes the esophagus and stomach.

Yep, I had the exact same experience. I had 4 incisions and the 3 were pretty well healed and painless after the first week or so, but the one was very tender, swollen, and sore for probably an additional 2 weeks. I think that is pretty normal. As long as it isn't hot to the touch, excreting discharge, or showing other signs of infection, it just needs time.

Same for me. My B12 was high in the past, and my surgeon told me to switch to even one time per week, as my body might be absorbing more than I realize from meat.

Good Morning: I just wanted to get some feedback in case anyone else has experienced this (I'm quite sure some have). My last bariatric follow-up was fine. He told me my numbers were good and to keep it up. This week, I had a visit with my new primary care doctor. My previous PCP retired after 15 years (which I was very sad about-her retirement was unexpected). I was with her before & after my RNY, and she was very knowledgeable about everything related to the surgery. When I went to the new PCP this week, after he reviewed my numbers (BP was a little high-I was told to stop taking my birth control because it can cause high blood pressure for woman over 35), he looked at my weight and advised me to lose more weight, which could help with my BP. I wanted to go on the defensive but did not. My BMI stays around 28-29, and that is after having skin removal on my entire body. I wear size 6-8 jeans and small to medium in pants. I honestly don't know where the additional weight could be lost lol. My question is: how does everyone else handle this with a medical provider when it's encountered? I wanted to tell him that I used to weigh 311 pounds, so my weight now is considerably better.

I'm having my surgery January 9th. I have started my 2 week plan already. Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm trying to look at it like this: I may be stalled, but on the other hand I made it through all the holidays without gaining, I'm actually a couple of pounds down from before Thanksgiving. Now when in my life have I ever done that? Here's to a great New Year for all of us! We have taken such a giant step towards our health goals this year. Think of where we all were last year at this time! Best to all of you ❤.

I am glad to hear stalls are common around week 3 🙃

I agree with the others - everything you said is completely normal. The stalls, the hair loss (and that will grow back), and the occasional slip-up. It's only a problem if you don't know how to recover from it - that is, forgive yourself, learn from it, and get right back on plan. And 62 lbs in six months is totally normal. That's about where I was at that point.

almost everyone has a stall around the 3rd week post op. Did you get a DS or just a sleeve? This is the first I've heard of revision from bypass to sleeve (since the bypass is a more powerful surgery, I'm not sure why they'd do this... unless your sleeved stomach is part of a DS? (duodenal switch - which is a sleeved stomach with a partially bypassed small intestine - this particular surgery is even more powerful than the RNY bypass)

Suzi sorry to hear. I have hit another stall too. But mine is I’ve fallen back into bad habits of eating every 2nd day. Yep even over Christmas. I’ve also got thee fear of vomiting so don’t eat. And I’m not getting the calories or protein I need. Everything tastes gross on the taste buds. Also I’ve only walked a few days as I re injured the shoulder so have to stop the exercising. I am walking an hour every other day.

Sixty two pounds in six months is a job well done. I've lost nearly 47 pounds in four months and three weeks, so almost four months. I'd be very happy with 62 pounds in six months, although most likely I will lose less than that. I ate a little bit of cookies and candy during Christmas. It didn't make me gain weight. The key is to stop in January, and make sure the sweets are just a seasonal treat and not an everyday occurrence. Start the new year with a new exercise routine and stop being disappointed in yourself. You're doing great.

So many of you are getting your surgery next week... I am sending positive vibes to you all!!! Mine is Jan 16th. I just had my required class of final details. Next week is preop appt and start of Liquid diet. I also had to change primary physician and therapist... since they left the clinics I was using. So much changing and going on. I just put in my grocery order to pick up Saturday for my liquids and post op liquids. It's becoming more real... I am scared, nervous and excited all at the same time. Scared because of all the horror stories I have read and surgery is scary to begin with. Nervous because I want everything to go well and work for me. I have been struggling with my weight since I hit puberty. And Excited since I am still working on ME and this is what I am doing it for. Also wishing everyone who is after the first week positive vibes as well!!! oh how do we join the Whatsapp group???

I can see how frustrating that is, but then again you've already lost almost 80 pounds which is a LOT. So, your body is probably adjusting to that massive weight loss before you can start losing again. I spent the last week of October, all of November and the first week of December in a stall, pretty much. I only lost 6 kilos (13 pounds) in those three months, most of it in December. I'm thinking January is going to be your month. It will be great starting the new year with renewed weight loss!

You will "slip" again. And again. And again. And again. And again. Get used to it. Only if you don't learn how to handle the food world (including situations like the ones you described). Then there might be a not-so-low possibility that you're one of the people who're gung-ho during their first post-op year, then "something" happens, the weight first stalls despite "still wanting to lose these 25 lbs" and finally the weight gain starts, maybe gaining until they reach their starting weight again. That "something" seems to be some kind of burn-out after having gone full throttle for some months. Other people say that "life happened" (however, I think burning out and "life happening" are related closely).

oof my hair is falling out, too ive lost a ton of weight post-op, and ive been stalled the past week or so because my period has finally come back (yay? o.O), and ive caught a cold (double yay xD). im not struggling super hard eating anything in particular, but sometimes nothing sounds good or goes down easily. i struggled early on with various complications and strictures, but i haven't needed an endoscopy to widen my stomach pouch connection since the end of november! i think im finally out of the woods! i try sooo hard to hit my daily protein goals but it's difficult. my dietitian has me aiming for 80 g of protein daily and i am regularly hitting somewhere between 60-80 g of protein which ends up being around 700-900 calories. ive definitely become more of a savory over sweet person post-op - i completely forgot about sweets this christmas! xD so far ive lost about 120 lbs (85 lbs post-op) and 48 inches overall. i got new workout clothes for christmas because nothing fits anymore! xD ive gone from 5x to 2x clothes, and a tight size 28 pants to a loose 18-20! im trying so hard - this cold really has me frustrated because i want to work out and keep up my progress, but i have to stay home for now and not get sicker or get anyone else sick.

I didn’t experience a lot at the beginning with the bypass. I was expecting them at around 3 months with this revision. I just did measurements today because I feel so discouraged. 😭 I know we shouldn’t go by the scale but I am just 3 weeks out and it hasn’t moved since week 2 😩

Remember stalls are very common & you can experience a few of them while you are losing. Many experience the first one around week 3 +/-. They can last 1-3 weeks. Stick to your plan & the scale will start moving again. In the meantime, take some body measurements. Sometimes you notice changes with a tape measure even though the scales don’t move. Did you experience many stalls after your bypass?

Body dysmorphia. It can bring us down, make us doubt ourselves & mess with our reality far too often. I have odd days when I question & doubt my size. Even yesterday, I very tentatively & reluctantly put on a pair of jeans thinking the worst: they won’t fit, they’ll be tight. Were they? No. They fit fine. Looked good. Logically I knew they would but my head was saying Christmas, too many desserts, fat. I knew the scales read only 200g more over the week of Christmas. Yep, 200g, 7 freckin’ ounces, & my mind went to crazy extremes Thankfully it was only a brief bout of insanity until I told myself not to be so damn foolish. Wish I’ll never have those thoughts ever again, though I think they may always happen in some form. I am glad though that over time I’ve got better at recognising them for what they are (mind games) & can remind myself of the truth of my reality more quickly so I can ignore them. Hopefully you will too.