6 month update

Hi guys!

I'm a few days late but wanted to come back to the boards and give a little update about the past 6 months living with my DS.  I loved updates as a pre-op and promised myself I would do them after surgery.

So I'll start with my stats.  I went from 274.5 to 189.5 lbs.  EWL of 63%.  Size 22 and 2XL to size 16 and L.

So anyways...how has the last 6 months been?  GREAT!  I believe I'm relatively lucky.  I have ZERO food intolerances.  But that is a double-edged sword.  Because I -can- eat anything, it makes it more difficult to avoid those foods.  I have never been the best at low-carbing....but recently I have let WAY too many carbs back into my life.  I still watch how much protein I eat, but I was eating ice cream, Mt. Dew, etc daily.  I recognized that this is destructive behavior on my part and have been working hard to get back on track.  I don't think I'll ever be one that eats super low-carb, but I also recognize that for my health I can't expect to sit around eating junk either.  I guess that's why they say they do surgery on your stomach not your brain!

My restriction is still good, although I have noticed in the past month is has increased quite a bit.  I can eat 1 egg and a small sausage patty in one sitting.  But if it's junk food (carbs), I can eat way more.  It's like my restriction is gone when it's a bad food!

Waiting for my 6 month labs to come back.  I've been doing pretty well with Vitalady's plan.  Except the iron.  I absolutely cannot tolerate iron for some reason.  It makes me vomit every single time.  I've tried Proferrin, which does stay down much better, but it still makes me sick.  So I may have to just get infusions...but we will see with these next labs.

If anyone has any questions about my experience so far, I'm happy to answer them.  Thanks to all the vets that helped me on my journey!

ETA:  I forgot to add the answers to these other 2 common questions.  

1. My marriage: better than ever!  I really believe a strong relationship gets better and a bad relationship will end with WLS.  I am lucky that I have a super supportive husband that loves me regardless of size and is not threatened by my weight loss.  We also go out and do more things now because I'm less self concious.

2. Hair loss: at about 3 months out, my hair started falling out like crazy!  I would run my fingers through my hair and my hands would be full.  And I'm not talking a few strands....   Did I get upset?  YEP!  I knew it would happen, but I still cried.  But thankfully my hair only shedded like that for about 2 months and then it stopped.  I came through it still having a full head of hair.

Thanks for the update and pics! Would you be willing to share your total weight loss for each month? My starting weight was similar to yours and I'm 4 weeks out. I'd be curious to see if I'm on track with your loss. I know everyone's different, but it would help me level set my expectations. Also, did you have any issues with weight stalls? I had a 2 week stall and now seem to be loosing again. I'm nervous that I will stall again soon.

Awww! Very nice!

Looking beautiful!

You're so pretty!  I, too, started out about the same weight as you- 270- and would be interested in your monthly progress. I am 8 weeks out today and have lost 42 pounds.  I thought it would be more by now, but the surgeon was happy with my results at my one month post op visit, he said, because my BMI wasn't all that high to begin with- 41.  I am 5' 7.5".  May I ask how tall you are?

Keep up the great work....I hope you feel as amazing as you look!

Here is my tracker.  Just because there is a period without weight loss doesn't mean I was "stalled", I just don't always track my weight on here.  My surgery date was 12/17/12.  I am 5'3".

Also...I don't believe in the word "stall".  NO ONE is going to lose weight every time they step on the scale.  It's just not possible.  I knew that going in, so I just never stressed about how much I was losing.  I've never seen anyone have the DS and -not- lose weight.  Just do what you're supposed to do and be patient.  And don't compare yourself to everyone else.  If you are 8 weeks out and have "only" lost 40lbs but someone else has lost 50lbs that doesn't mean you are doing something wrong...that's just life.  You will NEVER lose exactly the same as other people.  So either remain calm like I did...or stay off the scale so you don't drive yourself nuts :)

Thanks, Sweetie!  I'm really not stressing about it....I had been "stuck" at 232 for about 2 weeks, but thanks to this forum, was able to understand my new body was just adjusting to its new self.

Way to go!

Congratulations!  You have an amazing surgeon - but I'm kind of biased, as I was his twelfth DS almost seven years ago.   Just saw him Friday, as he's going to do a hernia repair for me in July.   We are so blessed to have a surgeon of his caliber in Michigan.

I would work as hard as I can to get the carbs out of your life for as long as possible.    You can play around more after you hit a normal BMI.   I have managed to get away with murder in the carb department for the past seven years, and now, it's getting more difficult to maintain my weight, as my metabolism adjusts to the DS.    Just a word of warning!