Dealing with the hair loss

Many folks who are researching weightloss surgery ask questions about hair loss. I know the feeling, as I was worried about it too! I have pretty good hair, and when you're overweight, the thought of losing your one redeeming quality can be quite frightening.

Hair loss does seem to be a pretty common problem with any bypass surgery. Basically, your body thinks you are starving, and it shuts down anything that it feels is not absolutely necessary. Hair being one of those things! What is wrong with our bodies?! Don't they know how important hair is!!! Anyway, the follicles seem to go into a hibernation mode, and you do lose some and it's slow growing back in. Some people lose more than others. It can help to get in your protein, wash your hair with Head and Shoulders and some people take zinc - although it is known to upset your stomach.

I tried the zinc, and it did not sit well with me. I do use the Head and Shoulders Intensive shampoo. My hair started really coming out at about 4 months. I thought I'd go bald for sure! But now at almost 10 months, the loss has slowed tremendously. However, what used to be a pretty good ponytail became a rat tail instead. I could see that my hair looked kind of stringy in the front, and finally looked backwards in a mirror and saw that it was REALLY stringy in the back. (Asked my husband why he didn't tell me how raggedy it looked...mmmm he hadn't really noticed. Men.)

So, today I went and got my hair cut short. I haven't had it short in many years, as my man likes long hair. However, my friend Peggy got hers cut off really short a couple of weeks ago, and it looked so good - well - Louie said I could cut it off as long as I grow it back when it thickens up again.

I'm happy with the cut, might even add some layers after I play with it for a couple of weeks. All in all I would tell anyone who is looking into the Mini Gastric Bypass - don't let the hair issue hold you back. It's a temporary problem! I've not had anyone say, "Wow! Your hair sure looks thin!" But lots of people have said, "Wow! YOU sure look thin!" Go for it, you'll be happy you did!!

It's time to get the shorts out

Well, thank goodness that shorts season is finally here, and even better, thank goodness that long shorts are in style! They are great for covering these saggy thighs. A small price to pay for all the other benefits of losing 113 lbs! I had all those years of huge cellulite covered legs, and I dont' care if these are saggy - they are so much thinner!

Here are a couple of pics from today.

We had a great time with our friends Mike and Peggy and their grandson Austin, visiting a town near us called Sylva, NC. They had their annual Greening Up the Mountains day, with lots of vendors and such. It was a great day to put on my shorts for the first time as a normal weight person, and I enjoyed it!!

I met with some friends this week that I've known since high school - Hi Cliff and Ray!!! I've never been this thin (since about 8 years old!) so it was probably different for them to see me like this!

Well, nothing new for now - just thought I'd check in and post some new pics!

Have a blessed day!

Spring has Sprung

Looks like I've been neglectful of my blog! Apologies! I bought my first pair of shorts in preparation for warmer weather! Guess what? Size 6!!! I can't stand it!!! Now I do want to say that I bought some of the new LONG shorts. They come just about to my knees....I'm making sure to cover the saggy skin on these skinny thighs! It's so funny, when I was trying shorts on, the legs were actually too big in some of them. These are so not my legs of old!

Spring has sprung here in the mountains, and it's been beautiful. The flowering trees here are so incredible! However, we've been having a Blackberry Freeze (I think?) and it got chilly again. It was down in the 20's overnight last week, and we had to cover up the blueberry bushes we just planted. The high today was only around 60....so those shorts I bought are still in the bag. Hopefully we'll warm up this week and I can try them on and show off my Casper the Ghost legs....gotta get back to using that lotion with the self tanner in it!

In case you're tracking, I'm down to 144 - that's 112 pounds gone. I am now within Dr. P's goal for me. He said anywhere between 135 and 145. I have chose 136 as my personal goal, but if I never lost another pound I would be completely happy at 144. The weight loss has slowed down...it took about 2 weeks to go from 146 to 144. I'm actually thrilled with that, as this has been one fast ride for me. I've had several different people tell me that they guessed my weight at 100-110 pounds....so I guess I don't really ever want to see that weight. I'd look like a skeleton!

My eating has not changed lately. Still snacking my way through life. That's what it feels like - snacking. I just eat a little bit, but every 2 hours or so. I'm trying to get a much protein in as possible, so nuts, cheese, a little turkey, peanut butter, whatever. It's easy to reach for crackers or pretzels, but the protein is the better choice. I also try to focus on drinking enough. I can drink more than I could 3 months ago...but still nothing like before surgery. I have regular meals too! But they also feel like snacking, since I can't eat too much.

My husband and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary this month, and then he had his birthday and joined me in the 50's club. I told him I was sorry that he had to wait 19 years to get a skinny wife - but he said it was worth the wait! We went out to a nice dinner for our anniversary. We split of course! We even split some tiramisu for dessert. It was funny - I was thinking about how in the past I would have been HOPING that he wouldn't want much of it! This time, I was hoping he would eat most of it - which he did. I'm a cheap date now!

Life is good. Hope you're enjoying yours!