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from what I've heard/read, it usually starts falling out at 3 or 4 months out, but it can start as late as six months. I'm quickly approaching five months (with no loss so far) and am cautiously optimistic, but I won't rest easy until I hit the six-month mark.

I hated the sleep study!!!! It has been a nightmare from the beginning. My doctor has three offices in three different cities, takes forever to schedule an appointment, has incompetent staff that lose paperwork. I'm just at a loss. I finished all my clearances, nutrition classes, blood work, psych approval blah blah blah in early November here it is January and I'm STILL waiting for an approval from him. I originally did the study at home then he claimed I needed to do the study in their overnight office. I barely slept either because hello... There is crap everywhere and I'm breathing through a machine that is hurting my lungs! So I push through the silly study and they tell me my number is 5. I can't remember the term off hand but I know it's the lowest number you can have for the mildest of mild sleep apnea. Mind you I have NO TROUBLE sleeping at all. So I had to get fitted for a machine, wait for it to be shipped, and now use it a full 30 days before my approval from his office. AND he said I probably don't need it. So with are you prescribing it? And then on top of that he says well I think it will be a good idea just in case you need during surgery... OK fine. I'm OK with that but if that's the ONLY REAL REASON you want me to have it then why do I need to use the dumb piece of crap for 30 days? Sigh. Can you tell I'm ranting. Just hijacking your post. Lol. My bad!!!! I seriously think its only for insurance and billing purposes. And extra doctor visits. Smh!!! Best of luck.

Will life always require a pill box of Vitamins? At 5 months I take 1 chewable multi with Iron, 1 calcium chew and 1500 mcg of B-12 a day. I think I will probably stick with this, but I don't care. These are my candy substitutes. My multi tastes like a Sweet-Tart and my calcium chews are lemon, raspberry, chocolate and caramel. Will I ever be able to take the refreshing gulp of Water? I can chug pretty good, but the capacity isn't there. Just wait a few minutes between chugs. It empties out pretty fast I think. Will energy always be low (B12) My energy was always good. From what I hear it gets better, but like PDXman says, we will always have to take that. It gets to be habit like brushing your teeth. Will I ever be able to get strength back again with such low intake of essential nutrients? I do some pretty intense workouts, You will eat more as time goes on and it's easy to pack in more nutrients within the space you have. I lost a good amount of muscle in the first few months. I'm just now rebuilding it. It has slowed the weight loss, but I have lost inches, look better and feel better. Can I ever do a tough mudder without a supply of protien bars ? I was just on a long hike this past weekend and I learned that I need a lot more energy to keep going that my normal daily diet gives me. I took a half a Peanut Butter sandwich, an orange, fig newtons and a tiny bit of dried fruit and peanuts and some cheese. I didn't eat it all, but a had a bit of each. 10 mile obstacle course? Really? I'm not sure you could get through it without a nosh. Can you run and eat? Here's mine: Will I ever be able to go out and eat with family and friends or simply go to someone's house for dinner without having to special order? Wherever you go there will probably be some form of Protein. I have done a lot of eating around bread and noodles, but it's easy. Usually there will be chicken, steak or sausage and I eat that with a bit of green salad or vegetables. Going out is easy too. Share meals, get senior meals, order appetizers, get regular meals and take leftovers home. Just skip the bread, Pasta, rice, potato, etc. or have just a little. Get the mixed vegetable side instead of the potato or rice or mac and cheese. Get a baked sweet potato (many places offer that now). Ask the water to leave sauces off or ask for them on the side if possible. I got this seared ahi the other day and saved 300 calories because I asked for soy sauce on the side rather than the sugary sauce they were going to dump on it.

It’s hard to believe, but 2014 is almost over and 2015 is around the corner! BariatricPal has come a long way in the past year. 2014 Was a Good Year for BariatricPal! It is now the largest weight loss surgery community online and on mobile. We put out our new and improved mobile apps (if you haven’t already, download yours free for iPhone and iPod , for Android, and for Kindle). We published the fourth book in “The Big Book” series (find out how you can get your copy of all four books). A Sincere Thank You! to BariatricPal Members! BariatricPal couldn’t have been so successful this year without you. Thank you. Thank you for making BariatricPal part of your daily life. Thank you for your participation on the boards, for helping each other out, and for spreading the word about BariatricPal. Thank you for providing feedback throughout the year. Share BariatricPal with…Everyone! BariatricPal depends on you. Please share BariatricPal with everyone you can! Go to the BariatricPal sharing page to see how you can share BariatricPal. On social media: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and LinkedIn! Via email On your own site or blog Tell other weight loss surgery patients, your surgeon, members of your WLS support group, and the bariatric surgeons and staff at the office you go to. Let everyone know what BariatricPal means to you and how it can help them. And thanks! You Can Make 2015 Even Better for BariatricPal! I’m planning for 2015 to be just as successful as 2014 was for BariatricPal, and I have a lot of improvements in store. To make 2015 the best year possible, though, I need your help! Do you have suggestions for the coming year? Which new features would you like to see? Which services do you think BariatricPal should offer to help strengthen our community and help members reach their health and weight loss goals? I would love to have your input! Please feel free to post your ideas and suggestions right here. Or, if you prefer, send me a private message (PM). You, the members, are the ones who make BariatricPal possible. You drive this community. Please let me know how it can be improved! Have a healthy and happy New Year!

Hi Nikki! welcome to BP! I have not been approved yet for surgery, waiting for insurance to kick in on Jan1! It's always nice to meet someone new! Congratulations on your loss and Happy Holidays!

I had some slightly sagging skin a few months ago after the rapid weight loss, but I can't tell that I have any now. I think the muscle building back up and the skin (elasticity) meeting it halfway has helped me.

It sure sounds like your body is trying to get rid of your port, and if it also goes to work on your band, your complications will get even worse. Like Carolinagirl, my life is more important than my weight loss surgery, and I'd go to the emergency room and call my bariatric surgeon immediately. Please don't think that your only choices are to live skinny with open abdominal wounds or live fat without your port and/or band. Once the port complications are dealt with, you may be able to revise to a different bariatric surgery procedure that doesn't involve implants. Good luck! Jean

men metabolize different than women so they tend to lose faster and also the heavier a person is the first to go is always water so the weight loss at first can go faster then it slows when you are working off the fat. I lost 40lbs first month at 10 lbs a week first month then it slowed to about 2 lbs a week.

Hi We can all hear your pain and desperation. I am so sorry to hear what is going on for you. First off, deal with the infection. See a doctor ASAP; you may need an antibiotic to knock it out. Get your mind focused on healing the infection. Then take steps needed to keep more infection from happening. I don't know if you can keep the band or not. From what you wrote, it sounds like the lap band served you well and you reached your goal weight. However, it does not seem to be serving you now. So, it may be time to look at other weight loss strategies. But first, you have to get the infection under control and cured. See the doctor, follow their instructions. Get rest and fluids. Eat all your meals. Doing these things will help you keep a more clear head about your situation so that you can think with intelligence rather than panic. Keep all options open. My body rejected the band, which was heart breaking. I had it removed. I now feel so good and healthy; I learned a lot while living with the band and am continuing to lose weight (which has really surprised me). So don't give up hope! I hope you can settle down and get some much needed rest. Please see to the infection immediately. Here's a gentle hug for you. ~hiddn

Ok.. When I first saw a dr put on my med chart " obese stomach" ..I was in shock. This was about 12 years ago. This comment stayed stuck I'm my mind for years to come at the meantime getting larger year to year. Of course..I would lose tons of weight between that time I saw this term and prior to sleeve surgery. For some reason that word "obese" pierced my heart. I had to talk through myself that it is only a word that the med profession uses for excess weight. But what I was really doing to myself ..I was in denial about my excess weight.. Only when I saw pics of myself ..I looked "obese". When I started having high blood pressure, high cholesterol ..it was a sign of my health condition..but even with these bad symptoms. I was still in denial about my excess weight. food was my best friend that I could not conceivably ever give up. I could not even fathom this concept and certainly did believe I could in myself to even consider this option. Flashback to Sept , 2013.. I heard that a friend of mine lost tons of weight with the sleeve..and finally keeping off her excess weight reheat she struggled to do for years. I was a classic replica,of her weight loss journey. Lose, gain, lose gain. After losing 65 pounds two years ago, just to gain it back immediately, I was literally exhausted with getting on diets.just to gain it all back. I had liposuction twice, I had the lapband, and went on too many diets to count . I was still no better in Sept 2013 ..improbably spend over $75,000 On weight loss efforts. (Could of used that money for a world cruise). I never , ever considered invasive weight loss surgery till Sept 2013. The gastric by pass, in my opinion, was too extreme, I researched the sleeve, spoke to my friend who had the surgery, and went to a consult with my dr. I vacillated whether to have the surgery. Changed my mind several times. I was also seeing a psychologist at that time for my "emotional" eating. This turned out to be invaluable and a real added plus to my current success. I still see my psychologist every two weeks. I knew deep down that getting on another "diet" of food deprivation was no longer a solution to my weight problem. I was completely exhausted to deal with my weight ..on to dec, 2013'. I had the surgery. I remember that 7 days after surgery, my reality that food can and will no longer be my friend was very humbling to me. I knew that my life changed forever with my relationship with food. I cried, I mourned..but I prevailed. To me that day was a turning point.. I could now accept that food was no longer my best friend. I cannot explain how profound that day was for me. Sadness , mixed with hope ..5 month later, today, I am living such an energetic life, with great joy. I don't obsess on food.. My tool, the gastric sleeve, has helped my in curving my hunger, big time. Head hunger still appears in my life.. But through my psychological sessions, I have more tools to deal with this. I now have connection between my head and my stomach..I had lost,that for years.. Never, ever checked,with my stomach to see,if I was truly hungry ..I would just eat and eat and eat and never felt full. Even though I had years of struggle with my weight..I have to accept that my struggles has brought me to where I am today. Getting healthier, and seizing what life has to offer. Eating to live not living to eat. I have greatly reduced the "all or nothing attitude " I do enjoy on occasion my favorite foods..but he difference now..the guilt feeling nah as dismissed. I don't binge because I had one bite of a "bad stuff". Eating in moderation what I do now. No more deprivation. To those who are considering wls..I would suggest to get help if you are an emotional eater. You need the tool of the sleeve or by pass to help you get to your healthy goal, but just as important, you need to deal with your relationship with food. I am now considered overweight.. I accept this term without harsh judgement on me. I accept the weight I am today.. I know I will slowly reach my goal ..I decided to set a goal of 150 pounds at 5'2". 60'years old. I am in a size 8 .. Which I am very proud of. 13 more pounds to go. I am grateful where I am today.

ok so I am about a month out of gsv and have noticed that skin in stomach rolls is sticking together, now i am very diligent about keeping it and dry and was using vagisil powder to stay comfortable but as I have dropped more weight it is not working so wele any ideas on how to deal with this or skin care in general aftwr weight loss surgery

Hi everyone, I hope im doing this right. I've decided to join and get some support. I had lapband surgery on 4-18,and I have lost 11 pounds since the surgery. I started with a physician (not the surgeon) weight loss program for three months as directed by my insurance company. I lost about 10 pounds on it. After the three months, I went to see the surgeon, Dr. John Baker, prior to my surgery date. He put me on protein shakes for two weeks prior to the surgery and I lost 15 pounds. The day befor surgery, I did clear liquids and lost a few more pounds, so i'm looking at about a 30 lb loss since February. It was recommended that I have gastric bypass for the amount of weight I have to lose, but I was totally against it. These past 12 days have been interesting. My core has been especially tender, but im walking 40 minutes per day as the doctor instructed. I am on sugar free, fat free full liquids. On Thursday I can advance to soft diet and I am excited. I am almost ready to come off of my BP meds ALREADY!!!!!!

I heard recently that they have changed their requirements and no longer require a 6 month weight loss period. Has anyone else heard this or been approved since this? I have a friend who is waiting on her approval thru BCBS and is wanting to know what to expect. thanks all.

Congrats beautiful lady! I am one month out today and feel great as well! I will be watching you as an inspiration. I have felt the same as you all the way. Feels great. I'm a bit scared of the 4 week plateau but I know that's when our weight is shifting just to prepare for more weight loss. So i think I'll get through it. Just love to see weight loss everyday Patients is a virtue lol.

Hi. I had massive complications after my sleeve and was in hospital for over 4 months from October 2011 to Feb 12. Another additional bonus was I lost the vast majority of my hair. By January this year it had all gone. I started taking biotin in Feb (I was nil by mouth before then) and took 1 per day. My hair grew back enough to stop wearing wigs by early June. I believe the biotin played a huge part in the regrowth and highly recommend it.

Congratulations to everyone!! I was sleeved on August 29th, and I'm down 22 lbs. so far. I'm loving the no food obsession thing right now. Preparing myself for when the weight loss slows down, but enjoying it now!!

Hey everyone, I think I am going thru a funk. I am 11 weeks out as of today. I am very excited with my weight loss. I am down 60 pounds as of this morning. I am just having a hard time with the social part of not really eating. I have found that I am never asked to go out to lunch anymore and we never go out to dinner. I really miss the this! Will this change as time goes on? I am really tired of eating my Soup at my desk by myself everyday (

75 gm of Protein per day? I don't think you meant 75gm protein per shake.... I read somewhere the body cannot process more than 55 gm at one time, the rest gets flushed AND can overload your kidneys...35 may be high, but that is what I have every morning... I have been taking a morning high protein smoothie ever since being banded...not to loose weight, but for nutritional value...plus my band is tonight every morning and it is a challenge to get anything solid down.... The amount of protein and nutrients I get from a single shake....try to match that with solid food and it would be impossible. especially for someone whose food intake and portion sizes are restricted due to weight loss surgery... Protein drinks are the craze right now...all my friends are doing it for Breakfast, and they have not had WLS, nor are they fat...just health and fitness minded....you can make your own, and also find them for sale just about anywhere...I buy a brand called "Naked" in the produce section of our grocery store, and always have a few in the fridge for those days I'm on the run.... It's none of my business....but you say you have 9 cc in a 10cc band....with all respect, something does not sound right...did they actually verify that last time at the Dr.'s? I would insist they do, NOT by reading the chart, but by actually pulling it all out, measuring it in the syringe, then replacing it with fresh clean saline....My Dr. used to do this every visit...you would be surprised at the discrepancy's they found from time to time... Also, do you not feel ANYTHING when you swallow? Can you tell the band is even there? My band speaks to me with every swallow,...even straight Water if I drink too fast too much at one gulp....the band does keep my eating techniques in check...I have to do it correctly or else... Like I said, 9cc's....something is not adding up somewhere. Get back to a Dr. ASAP....

Hi guys just wanted to know how dec 2012 sleevers are getting on? Can we have some updates. Starting with myself, Sleeved on 21.12.12 Start weight 110.3kg Current weight at nearly 14months 59.9kg Total loss so far around 50kg Clothes size 22/24 uk size to a current size 12/14 uk size. Dropped around 5 dress sizes in nearly 14months. Waiting for your updates. Well done to all and congratulations on your loss.

I've now had 4 fills, and am at 7.4cc in a 10cc band. I think I've finally hit my sweet spot, too. However, even though I don't feel hungry, I make sure I get three MEALS a day. I do this because I don't want to end up looking sickly or losing my hair. Skinny but bald ain't pretty, people! Remember, eat PROTEIN first, then veggies, and if you still have room, carbs. I know from past dieting experiences that loosing your hair due to low protein intake is a very real thing! The good news is that it is easily reversible once you adjust your diet for the proper nutrients.

I have used the Daily Plate for more than a year. It is very helpfula and feel it has beeen a major factor in my weight loss success.

I just had my 3 week post op. I have lost 27 lbs but they did specifically warn me that weeks 3-6 will not look the same. As body continues to heal and we graduate to more "food". The body goes into adjustment phase. I was told the steady, more consistent weight loss will kick in at 6 weeks.

Thanks everyone! Some great encouragement and advice from all of you. I have been so excited about my weight loss so far It freaked me out a bit when it just stopped for such a long period of time and I started over thinking again. Good to know that this is just part of it all.

I think you all should be extremely proud of such SUBSTANTIAL weight loss in less than two months. I know it's hard to be stuck in bodies we don't want, but you all are making progress. Any movement in the right direction is a major victory, given that most of us have been gaining weight the majority of our lives. Celebrate the change.