Sign up with your email address to be the first to know about new products, VIP offers, blog features & more.

Week 23 of 52 – Hilo – March 25, 2012 – 157 lbs

Feeling healthy and enjoying nature in Hilo at Rainbow Falls

Some people may have left their heart in San Francisco, but exactly 5 months ago today I left 85% of my stomach in Frankfurt, Germany. Now here I am in Hilo, Hawaii, half way around the world and I don’t want it back!!!

For the most part, at 5 months post-op, I feel great!  I know what I can eat and can’t eat (but always learning too).  My husband came up with a new acronym when he sees a certain look on my face after a meal:  OBTM (One Bite Too Many….I need to listen to my stomach and not eat that one last bite that will make me feel uncomfortable).  I never feel deprived, my energy level is back, and I’m happy with how my weight loss is progressing (note: I am back on the 1 lb a week loss again even though I have worked out every day; but I’m happy with that and if it continues until I reach goal; then how good is that?).  I love the compliments but try to quickly diffuse the conversation when people comment on my weight because I still feel a bit weird about it.  It’s funny, some people who haven’t seen me for a while, or maybe they feel funny about commenting on my weight loss will say “You look great!  Love your new hair cut!” 

Speaking of hair, here’s the segue into the bad news….I’m losing it!!!  At 5 months, just like clockwork, I’m losing hair at an alarming rate and I’m trying not to freak out about it, because we all know this will happen.  Very few dodge this bullet; it’s all part of the process, and yes, I know it will grow back, but darn it, just when you’re feeling pretty good about yourself, feeling healthy, and normal, you have to deal with this.  I posted a note on the forum about it and got lots of responses, mostly very helpful but also validating things you can do: take Biotin, use Vioxin, don’t wash your hair as often, don’t dye or perm it, buy hair pieces or a wig) but this is part of WLS and we all knew this when we signed up for this adventure.  And I’d rather be thin and healthy than have a full head of hair!  (Let’s see if I feel that way if I go bald!!!)  But I do know it’s a lot easier (and fun!) to put something on your head than it is to hide the extra weight and waddle around. I started looking at wigs online and I’m sure if I get one it will look better than my hair ever did on my best day!  To keep from combing my hair during the day and only washing it every 3rd day, I’ve started to pull my hair back in a small ponytail and plop a hair piece on top.  This could be my new look for a while.  (On the other hand, once I took these photos I think both looks are pretty bad……sigh….)  I guess I should be grateful that at age 58, I have very little gray….

Thinning hair is part of the price we pay…

…but it’s still a good deal!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The good news is that I saw my Naturopathic Doctor this week.  She’s someone I saw when I was heavy and I really admire her, although she’s more into an organic, all natural lifestyle than I will ever be.  She was very happy to see the weight loss and interested in how it all happened.  We went over my blood work and all was in good order (cholesterol is a little high so we’ll keep an eye on that-no need for medication though!).  I have gone OFF the Prilosec and the Ursodial (which can cause hair loss so yea!). And she also told me I don’t need to take an Iron supplement (so maybe I can poop normally again!).  She is putting me on Fish Oil and a supplement to help my hair.

My daily indulgence…..I do love my coffee (and OK, I have a cookie with it too!)

She was impressed with my food intake but told me I really need to wean myself off of the creamer I put in my coffee because of the artificial ingredients.  So, I’m working on that but not going cold turkey.  I cut it in half with Skim Milk; but for now I’m not going to  give it up all together.  The reason is that I really love it and I love my coffee, and I’ll only have it for a few more months since they don’t sell it in Europe.  So that will be my indulgence…..for now.

So at 5 months out, I am only taking supplements, no prescriptions. I’ve been taking vitamins for the last 20 years and I’m not only used to it; I’m convinced they have helped keep me healthy and they go down easy unlike the first few months.  Here’s my daily cocktail now:

  • A multivitamin
  • Calcium
  • Biotin
  • B12
  • Vitamin D
  • Glucosamine (helps my joints)
  • Fish Oil ( for joints and to help lower my cholesterol)
  • Luminous (new to help my hair growth)

Seared Ahi Tuna for lunch…..ono delicious!

We had quite a few lunch dates this week with friends, and we went to a wonderful party at a private home this past week which featured a wonderful jazz performer, but we haven’t gone out to play much since we’ve been back.  We’ll do some exploring next week when our ‘hanai’ (means ‘adopted’ in Hawaiian) daughter comes to visit us!  But eating out is much easier than it used to be; no one seems to notice how little I eat and there is always something on the menu that works.  I ordered this fantastic plate of Ahi this past week, ono delicious and full of protein!

As you can see, each week is always a new adventure, and even though the hair loss is a bit of a challenge, it’s not something that doesn’t have solutions.  Thank you to everyone who sent in suggestions for the hair issue and stay tuned on that topic.

If you know anyone who might benefit from reading my blog, have them sign up; although I have chosen to keep my surgery private among the people I know, I am true advocate of this surgery.  My goal of this blog is to help people understand what they might expect in the first year, especially if you are in your 40’s or older, have tried all the diets and failed, and think there is no hope for a healthy body.  I’m here to tell you and them, it’s not too late!!!!!  So if you have not signed up for my weekly updates, please do so and tell any one else they are welcome as well.

Until next week, A hui hou!

Queen of Crop

 

7 Responses
  • Stacey
    March 25, 2012

    Okay Lady,
    The pic of you is the one that you are losing your hair??? Well.. with that said… you are the only one that really sees it. You notice it more because you actually see the hair coming out. Although your little hair piece looks cute you do not need it. Really, believe me I would not just say it to make you feel good. Your hair looks fine with out it. “Fine” I guess is a poor choice of words..lol. Anyway, you look amazing.
    I recall a few years ago I had a hysterectomy and a month or so afterwards I lost a lot of hair, it made me so nervous. I am nervous again but hopefully it will grow back, if it begins to happen.

    Thanks for your blog I truly really enjoy it and look forward to it every week.
    Aloha from the Sunshine State 🙂
    -Stacey

    • queenofcrop
      March 26, 2012

      Aloha Stacey! Thanks for the nice feedback…..you are always so supportive and I really appreciate it. Hope you are doing well, and as for the hair….stay tuned….not sure if it will get worse or better in the next month or so!

  • Stacey
    March 25, 2012

    ooops I meant the pic on the left is of you …

  • Rosa Berlanga
    March 27, 2012

    Thank you so much for the beautiful pics of Hilo!
    You look great! I couldn’t really see any hair loss. Ur scalp looks fine.
    My fiance and I are planning a trip to Hilo for the summer. He has never been. I’ve been there twice and can’t get enough.

    My name is Rosa and I am 51yr.
    I was banded 4-11-08. I have had nothing but an increase in health issues since I was banded.
    My BP has been out of control, n/v, reflux causing bronchities, and snoring so bad. I couldn’t eat eggs, tuna, or salad.
    Felt like everything got stuck in my throat. Sometimes even water. I was miserable. I had my fill removed and filled multiple times till I got better but nothing helped. I lost 40# but regained it all.
    I weigh 248, 5’6. OMG… My body might be getting old but my mind is still 23, ahhhhaa

    I had an EGD and an UGI last month and my dr told me I had to have the band removed.
    My daughter recommend dr Yu. I saw him on the 22nd of march and now am waiting to see what’s next.  
    I know I have to have the band removed soon so just waiting.
    Any advise for the days following surgery?

    • queenofcrop
      March 28, 2012

      Aloha Rosa! Thanks for reading my blog! And when you come to Hilo, let me know so we can meet! We will be here until about August. As for advice, I would definitely go to the forum for the band to sleeve discussions. You can find it here: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/13-band-to-gastric-sleeve-revisions/ I was advised by my doctor to do the sleeve over the band because of my age; I guess as we get older, foreign things in the body don’t do very well. And I can see there are a lot of people who get the sleeve after the band and do very well; I’m sure you will too! Good luck and hope to meet you in little Hilo town!

  • Rosa Berlanga
    March 27, 2012

    Mahalo

  • queenofcrop
    March 28, 2012

    Testing my comment section out…..

Leave a Reply to queenofcrop Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *