I had my surgery 5/13 I'm down 88 lbs. Thats been a struggle I want it faster. I feel so jealous men lose much faster than women. I know I need to work harder on more protein and water. Most proteins like chicken bother my stomach. If I eat cottage cheese or tuna you need to eat more. I'm frustrated salads go down well but not enough protein. I plan to start drinking the protein drinks again. But my problem is now with hair loss. Any suggestions with vitamins or something that might help this. I use to have short hair for over 30 yrs and 1 yr ago I started to grow it, It looked so nice, it was thick. Now I have a thin hair. I thinking of cutting it. Help!!!!!!!!!

Time really does fly, doesn't it?It seemed at first like the surgery would NEVER happen! And then it seemed like it took a long time to HEAL. And now here it is already (nearly, for me) 6 months out. I am very pleased that I did this. I have about 31 pounds more to go ... to get to my Doctor's goal weight for me. He thinks 148 (I'm 5'10"). I was thinking more like 160, but will see what happens! Keep up the good work Jeanette!

How to recognize a Wls Patient You Know You Are A WLS Patient When... 1. "I have a date" doesn't mean you are going out. 2. "I'm a loser" is a good thing. 3. "Welcome to the other side" does not mean you have died. 4. New clothes fall off the next week. 5. You are excited about "hand me downs" 6. YOU have a NEW family! 7. Hitting the "Century Mark" is a good thing! 8. You love the taste of Chewable Centrum Rugrats Vitamins or biting the head off of Wilma. 9. People start calling you tiny, and it's a good thing. 10. When the word lap has nothing to do with a strip club!! 11. When "No, I couldn't eat another bite" really has a deeper meaning! 12. When they look at you resentfully in the plus size store because you really don't belong there anymore! 13. When you have to prove you are you on your license! 14. When you start hogging the camera space and loving the pictures! 15. You want to hug everyone who is fat and give them your surgeon's card. 16. You are never without a bottle of water. 17. When people look surprised when they see how little you eat. 18. When you know all too well the definition of "dumping". 19. When you can see your feet for the first time in years!! 20. When you order a doggy bag the same time you order your meal. 21. When you count protein grams instead of calories. 22. You say "Oh, I won't have any of that, I'm full" and really mean it. 24. Having your husband say, "Honey, I can put my arm (not arms) all the way around you!!" 25. When you go to the mall and you park in the first open space instead of circling for 20 minutes for a spot by the door. 26. You go out on a date and are really truly a "Cheap date" and not in the way that some think..... 27. When one drink makes you a flipping floozy... 28. When you run you don't hear a flapping noise.....oh wait you still do.....but at least you are running! 29. When your husband takes your breath away in a moment of passion...but not because he is squishing your tummy! 30. You feel like you have over eaten after eating half a cup of something. 31. Vitamins and calcium etc. feel like a meal. 32. When the chef comes out from the kitchen and asks you "what's the matter, don't you like the meal?" 33. You've just lost 100 pounds, and someone who hasn't seen you in a while says .... "Gee, did you change your hairstyle?" 34. When you bend over and see daylight through your thighs. 35. You can cross your legs. 36. When you ask for a sample in the deli section of a grocery store and that's your meal. 37. When you say, "I just got these clothes last week and they're already too big!" 38. Trying to cash a check and the teller says, "That's not you!" 39. When the pizza delivery driver forgets your first name. 40. Your old boyfriends (girlfriends) don't recognize you. 41. Going to Sam's Club for free samples is considered "eating out" 42. You wash and dry your clothes on the highest heat to try to SHRINK them into fitting! 43. Your pants are worn out on the top of the thighs from pulling every child you know onto your lap because now you have one. 44. Yogurt is now a meal. 45. "Sugar" has become a bad word to you. 46. You can't wait for someone from high school to see you because you actually look BETTER than you did back then! 47. You have to kick your sleeping spose on the couch because you have worn him or her out. 48. "lets do it again" becomes your most frequently used phrase. 49. Your kids are telling you they are too tired, not you telling them! 50. Your favorite past time is seeing how many family members you can fit into your old jeans WITH you!

I will be 6 months out on Sunday, surgery was 5-9-03. I have lost 80#s according to my scale. You have me beat by 5#! I know how you feel, I have days when I really can't stand being in the middle, not fitting into any of my clothes, big or small, and HATE having to buy new stuff! Go put on an old outfit if you haven't given them all away. See what you can fit into your old clothes with you, beach balls, kids, etc. Take pictures so you can show your mind exactly where you can come from and are going to! Then get all prettied up and take some current pics. It wasn't until my hubby took some current pics of me that I really understood how HOT I look (okay, that is TOTALLY my opinion!). It's easy to get down about going through such a process to look and feel better and wanting it NOW!! Just think that by this time next year you will be boo hooing that you have to put away your skimpier clothes, not thanking God that you can finally cover up all the chub that you WERE embarassed about. Good luck and keep your chin up! Jeanette Lap RNY 5-9-03 264/184/140??

I just need a little encouragement. I am 6 months out. Surgery was on 5/5/03. I have lost about 85 pounds. (I threw the scale out when I had my surgery). I should be thrilled but I just want so much to meet goal and be normal. I feel great and I try to concentrate on that. I am trying to fit my workouts in more consistently. I just need some good positive words. I would do this again in a heartbeat. Anyone out there???