Six months already. That feels both surprisingly long and weirdly short at the same time. I still remember the night before my mini gastric bypass surgery when sleep felt completely impossible thanks to a head full of nerves and excitement. Back then, I kept telling myself that fear tends to exaggerate everything, and looking back now, I was right. Recovery was smooth and far less dramatic than my imagination had prepared me for.
These days, life feels normal again, just a slightly lighter version of normal. Compared to six months ago, I am more active, more confident, and about 30 kg (~66 pounds) lighter. The weight loss has slowed down with time, which was expected, even if patience is not exactly my strongest skill.
There have been a few plateaus along the way, the kind that test your sanity a little, but nothing unexpected or unmanageable. I still hope the scale keeps moving down, just without turning it into a daily obsession. For the curious ones, I have added before and after photos here to make the changes a bit more real.
One of the less fun surprises has been hair loss. Not the dramatic kind where you panic at every mirror, but enough to notice every time I brush my hair or run my fingers through it. I will admit that this has cost me a few tears. In those moments, I try to remind myself why I chose surgery in the first place. So far, there are no bald spots, which helps, and I keep telling myself that this phase will pass, even if it is taking its time.
My hair care routine is solid and slightly excessive at this point. Masks, serums, conditioners, and all the hopeful products in between are doing their best, but biology always has the final say. Some days it feels like the shedding has slowed down. Other days, it feels like wishful thinking, so I try not to overanalyze it.
At the three-month mark, I had my first blood tests done. My vitamin D level was slightly below normal at 64.9 nmol per liter (with the reference range being above 75.0 nmol per liter). Since it was summer and I was getting more sun (hello, vitamin D), I decided not to supplement at that point. Now, at six months post op, new tests show a small increase to 67.3 nmol per litre. Still below the ideal range, but moving in the right direction. All other values are within normal limits, which honestly felt reassuring.
My ferritin level is still low, which is nothing new since it was already low even before surgery. Right now it sits just at the lower end of the normal range at 13.5 µg per liter, (with the reference range being 10.0 to 204.0 µg per liter). Even though it is technically within range, the bariatric nurse still recommended that I start taking iron. I now take one Bertils iron pill every other day, making sure to keep it separate from dairy products and calcium by at least two hours.
She also suggested adding vitamin B12, either as a spray or drops, as well as vitamin D3 at 1000 IU per day in liquid drops, taken together with a meal that contains some fat.
I have added all of this to my daily routine, and I am hoping that future blood tests will look a little more impressive. Since the clinic always asks about my meals, I will also share a one-day food log that I sent to the bariatric nurse.
Meal 1
One slice of black seed bread topped with two slices of chicken ham, cucumber slices, and served with half a medium peach.
Meal 2
A homemade chicken patty made from seasoned minced chicken, egg, and a small amount of breadcrumbs, about 70 g. Served with one medium potato, a small spoon of sour cream, and a few cherry tomatoes.
Meal 3
Boiled vegetables with seasoned minced meat and rice, with a small portion of cottage cheese on the side. Total portion size is about 185 g, plus four small seedless grapes.
Meal 4
Ninja Creami ice cream imade with 160 ml Alpro almond milk, 40 g protein powder, and a small pinch of xanthan gum to thicken the mixture. The almond milk contains 13 kcal per 100 ml.
Comments about my appearance have started coming in, both from people close to me and from those who are not. On one hand, it is nice to know the changes are visible. On the other hand, it can feel uncomfortable, as if my body has suddenly become a public topic. I know most people mean well, but it is something I am still learning to be at peace with.
Mentally, there have been tougher moments. Mostly when I catch myself comparing my progress to others. Reading about people who have lost more weight in the same time frame, sometimes with a lower starting weight, can be discouraging. When that happens, I try to remind myself that every body has its own rhythm and that slower progress is not the same as failure. Also, losing around 30 kg in six months is objectively not terrible, even if my inner critic disagrees.
At one point, I noticed that snacking had quietly increased. A cookie here, a piece of chocolate there, and suddenly it adds up. I started keeping a food diary again, and that alone helped bring things back into balance. It is a small habit, but a surprisingly powerful one.
All in all, things are going well. I am happy with the weight loss, even if part of me would not mind speeding things up just a little. I am happy with my health, too. Apart from the annoying constipation and the hair loss, nothing dramatic has happened, and honestly, I will happily take that.
How has your journey been so far? Is there anything you are struggling with? What has gone well for you up to this point?
