For those of you who have recently had surgery...

Newleaf?
Xcaliber?
Anyone else?

Please update us...

How are you feeling now? 

Anything that those of us who are on the waiting list should know?

What is one thing you wish that someone would have told you before surgery?

Do you find it hard to get in enough protein or water in the day? 

Any issues with hair loss after your surgery?

I could go on and on with questions, I just want to know how you guys are doing!

Hey there Cooper's Mom. I'm well. I haven't posted much on the site for awhile, but I read every Friday when I update my heath tracker.

I'm feeling pretty good. It's been 9 months since surgery and I'm down 110 lbs. My energy level has increased tenfold and I love shopping for new clothes now as Ive gone from a 26 to a 16.

One thing you should know?? I guess it would be ...ITs Worth The Wait! I waited over 5 years for surgery and I have to say it has been one of the easiest things I've done when it comes to weight loss. The recovery was fast, with little pain and the rewards are to many to mention.

The one thing I wish someone had told me?  That I should have done this years earlier.

Do I find it hard to get protien and water in? I've had a few problems with my protien levels and have now started back on protein shakes to increase them. I've also developed low blood pressure so I need to make sure my liquid intake is at the max but I don't do that very well.

Hair loss? About the 4 to 5 month mark I lost hand fulls and hand fulls but by the 7th month it stopped and I'm back to being bush woman ( I have lots of hair).

So, thats what's up with me. I have plans to attend a seminar regarding eating for change. It's supposed to focus on us emotional eaters so hopefully this will be benifical. My weight loss has slowed quite a bit now so I need to add exercise and more protein to get it going again. My biggest fears is reverting back to the way I was and frankly there are days which I have done so, but now I know the issues and my little pouch tells me when I've gone to far.

Cheers ! 
Kelly

110 lbs!! Congratulations!  How much more do you want to lose? Are you into regular sizes or still in the plus?  I can't wait to be in regular sizes again!

I'm terrified of the hair loss part!  I'm also scared that it will change my hormones so much that my naturally curly hair wont be curly anymore.

They told me that my wait will be 3-4 months, I'm hoping my time will fly and I continue to lose weight in the meantime (I'm already 25lbs down since I started the Weight Wise program).

Thanks! 

I want to lose another 25 lbs approx. and then I will re-evaluate. That would bring me down to 170 lbs which is still high compared to the Heath Canada guide lines. According to them I should be between 135 and 155 but that just seems unrealistic for me at this point.

Im in regular sizes now. I tried doing some bargin shopping at Penningtons after the holidays and couldn't find much that fit me so I had to go to Reitmans instead and in their plus size I found a pair of jeans but next time I think I will have to cross over the the regular sizes. It's still very unreal to me and I find I still try on clothes that are to big.

I wouldn't worry about the hair loss that much, you will be so happy with the weight loss that being a little bald won't feel so bad. When I did start losing hair I decided to change my hair style and colour and worked with a stylist that helped hide the thin spots and now I get complements on my new do! 

Good luck on your journey and the next few months will just fly by and you will soon be on the losers bench. I'll save you a spot! 

Take care

Hey Coopers Mom--just wanted to say a big congrats on your weight loss so far. Believe it or not the more you can lose before the better it will be. I was able to lose almost 50...and I am very happy now that I worked hard to do that.

How are you feeling now? I am feeling great...unbelievable...outstanding! I started at a size 20/22 and I am now a 14 and just bought a size 12. I still workout regularly...in fact I am excited to be back to full exercise and weights. Honestly...I love it

Anything that those of us who are on the waiting list should know?
Well hold on for the ride. I hardly remember the wait... now that it is over. Do your best to be super compliant...lose between 5-10% of your weight. Work towards learning what you need to know and do, to one day maintain the weight.

What is one thing you wish that someone would have told you before surgery?
Well I am a planner and preparer...and I bought protein bullets and other product and some of these don't appeal to me anymore. The one thing that clicked for me the other day was...
Before surgery I used to long and try to feel full...now I make sure to avoid this feeling.

You can still make bad choices...this is a tool so prepare to use the gift wisely. I am sure you can still eat chips and ice cream...and gain. Get used to life without them.
So far I LOVE my sleeve.

The other thing is be careful who you tell...you might regret it.  

Also try not to compare your journey to anyone else. You will lose, stall, lose...and your body will find its own rythym. The lower your weight and the more you lose before and on the pre-op diet the slower the rate after. Just keep doing what you should be doing with food and exercise...and be patient.

Do you find it hard to get in enough protein or water in the day? 
I have no trouble. Some of my favorite products are lilydale chicken bacon (25 cals/5gr protein), chicken deli meat and many other things.

Any issues with hair loss after your surgery?
Not yet

It is easier now...only because I am eating right...protein protein protein, veggies then carbs.
 

How are you doing waiting? How is the process going? Share with us your journey...what have you been doing to lose?
 

Ps--for those of you who have been shopping at Addition Elle and Penningtons...be prepared to say goodbye. Good bye to higher prices and limited choice! At first it might feel a bit scary and weird as those are our old faithfuls and the stores we head to...but it gets easier.

I have been loving shopping anywhere and have adopted a new fav store 'Rickis'. The beauty is you can get tons of clothes for much cheaper. I got a ton of stuff for $100 over the holidays.

Just don't buy too much...as you will change sizes before you know it.

Hi Copper’s mom these are some really good questions for both sides per and post op!

How are you feeling now?

Well as I am a month out today I feel great and am noticing that I have way more energy than before. At my post op appointment taking the 4 flights of stairs was a breeze, were as before I was huffing and puffing by the third flight.

Anything that those of us who are on the waiting list should know?

Like  NewLeaf, I would have to say that if you are in the weight wise program try your best to be compliant and follow what they say to the best of your ability. I know that for myself I tried as much as possible to comply with the program and keep the daily food journal and wear the pedometer, but I too was not completely perfect, but I found that following the program helped to make the pre-op go more smoothly for the most part. Also I would say don’t have a major freak out if you gain a small bit of weight throughout the program, the key I think is that you are able to maintain your weight / lose what you have gained. For myself I had a huge freak out when I gained a bit during the program but now looking back that added stress was more harmful to me than the added weight. And also definitely definitely comply and lose the 5-10% per-op because it’s like free weight that you can loss before your surgery, and it helps after in so many ways. And keep in the program even if you think your day will never come, it will! You just have to look at the wait time not as a negative time but as a time that you can use to really examine yourself and make sure that you are making the best decision. I think that if I would have the surgery right away, I didn’t think I would be able to be as sure of my decision and sure of my success, but because of the lengthy wait time I was able hash out my uncertainties and come to a informed and thought out decision.

What is one thing you wish that someone would have told you before surgery?

I wish someone would have told me to bring one of those eye sleeping covers things that your wear to block out the light, because it’s really bright in the hospital room and if you have a room mate that likes to watch T.V it can be a bit bothersome. Also be ready to get used to eating small amounts of everything. I know that they tell us about the small bits of food we can eat but for me it’s the weirdest thing to look at the half cup of cottage cheese and know that I will be full with only a few bites, compared to pre-op when I didn’t bat an eye to a half cup of anything . I think its something that really can’t be explained pre-op.

Do you find it hard to get in enough protein or water in the day?  

For the first couple of days after surgery I found it really hard to get anything in but by the 5th day I was able to get a hold of that issue and get headed in the right direction. Now that I am fully on solids I though pre-op that I would need to rely heavily on the protein drinks and shakes to get enough protein but 1. I have discovered that I can’t stand any protein shakes right now 2. It’s really not that hard for me to get in the protein just by solids alone. As for the water I keep one of those 500 ml nalgene water bottles with me were ever I go and I drink herbal tea to up the water intake / I also don’t really fancy the crystal light type things to add to water.( I think I have just lost my sweet tooth)

Any issues with hair loss after your surgery?

On the hair front 1 month out so far so good! Hopefully it will stay that way but I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts falling out tomorrow:)

 

P.S. Sorry this post is like a short essay  I just wanted it to be a throe as I could possibly make it 

Thank you everyone for replying!  I really get a lot out of your experience and stories.

I am on the waiting list for surgery, I'm not sure of my place in line but I predict my surgery will be sometime in April or May.  I am still following the weight wise guidelines, wearing my pedometer, cutting back on portion sizes, eating on a regular basis, taking my vitamins and trying to be as active as possible.  I have already lost 25 lbs... maybe more now as I haven't weighed myself in a while.  Both my nurse and dietician are proud of how far I have come so I really do think I'm on the right track.

I am already registered for the post-surgery nutrition modules and the pre-op testing.  I don't think there is anything else I can do other than wait my turn and keep losing weight prior to surgery.

This past weekend my hubby and I (with our pups) took the snowshoes out to the lake close to our house and walked for 6 kms!  I was dead tired and very sore at the end of it, so I'm looking forward to all this new found energy you all talk about once some of the weight comes off.  I want to be able to do that walk without any issues.  I also want to get back on the cross-country skis and not be winded after just going a little ways.

I do have another question for you all:

Have you travelled at all after your surgery?  Did you have to take any foods/protein powders or drinks with you?

My hubby and I are planning to go see his family and do some touring in Switzerland next year, we'll be over there for 3 weeks and I'm nervous about not getting the right foods in or not having access to what I need.  We plan to pack light so we can just go wherever we want, whenever we want so I don't think I'll be able to pack a whole bunch of foods with me.  Have any of you done this after your surgery?

Thanks!

Jill