DeltaDi

Now being 5 weeks out, the dreams have diminished but I still love watching food porn type stuff on Food network. I have to keep reminding myself that it's not realistic anymore to make random batches of baked goods unless I'm giving it all away.

I have seen some people being a bit of a Debbie Downer, but let's try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes messages don't come across the right way online. I try to focus on the positives, that's what this journey is about after all. On that note, if anyone has any questions or just the need to talk to anyone, feel free to message me privately. We are all in this together after all
And yes, I 100% agree with how much the pureed food phase sucks. All I have in my menu right now is ricotta, applesauce and yogurt. I am tired!! Luckily I can switch to phase 2 on Thursday and switch tonsoft foods like baked fish, and eggs, and chicken breast... I cannot wait! But I confess, after yesterday's episode I am so scared to switch!

I have to agree with you, I didn't post until just recently bc if felt like people were very judgements when others are just being honest and/or looking for advice/support. I believe that everyone will have a different journey and a different experience, we can make great supports for each other but no one should be making anyone feel small or degraded.

Feel proud of yourself for making a difference in your own life and 17lbs it's a great accomplishment!! The puréed food stage was very hard for me as well...I lived off Soup, refried Beans, and protein drinks!!

Thanks hercrystal and shalanda for your encoouragement and comments. I went back to work Tuesday and everyone said I looked great and I felt great but I did have in the bra enhancers at work. I chatted with others on line and they said to give the breast more time to heal and after the rest of the excess skin is removed they will probably be a B. I just had a momentary freak out. I am doing fine now.
Everyone Thanks for all the help!

Belle,

What an accomplishment you have been through! I am not there yet, but I am going to give you my two cents worth....here goes. You are almost there! Yes I'm sure you dont look quite like you want to right now, but you are so darn close!! Just look at it as another stepping stone. You lost 290 lbs!! I mean ROCK STAR!! Now you just need to get the finishing touches, thats all! Just wear clothes that make you feel comfortable right now, but know that you are so darn close!! I hope my pep/rant helped somewhat! I mean if you can loose 290, you GOT THIS!!! #seethelightattheendofthetunnel

Me too! I'm about 1 week post-op and have had very vivid dreams about food. Been on my liquid diet now for 3 weeks, so last night I even dreamt about steamed carrots (and I hate steamed carrots!).

HW 280
CW 267
SW 274 (8/24/17)
GW 150

Every single night I'm dreaming about binge eating and acquiring food to binge on in all kinds of shady ways. Last night was the (long discontinued) Wendy's frescata sandwiches..Dug out of the very bottom of the trash. I need a lot of therapy still lmao

4 days post-op from gastric bypass. So far everything is healing up well and I have been compliant with all dietary limitations. Every single night, my dreams have been extremely food oriented, more than I've ever experienced before? Is this common? Thus far I've dreamt about: chocolate covered cinnamon rolls, making and eating homemade biscuits, crinkle cut fries, and deep fried cod? These things were all within the context of other things going on in my dreams..but it's all very vivid. Fortunately I'm not driven to actually want that stuff. But I am very aware of the fact that my stomach is "meh" about food, but my brain still hasn't quite synced up. And I'm not taking painkillers or anything. Maybe it's all the artificial sugar in the Protein Shakes

I feel ya. I had a very long dream about a fried fish sandwich last night.

I had dreams about hot dogs and pizza, but only while I was still half zonked out on anesthesia after surgery. Maybe it wasn't the drugs... glad to know I'm not the only one!

I had a dream that i went into Mc D's for a hamburger and small fry. they accidentally gave me more food than I ordered. Yay! But, then I got locked inside. Hmm...I don't think it takes much to figure that one out.

You can check in, but never check out...

WOW! You are amazing!

Only told my husband, and very glad I stopped there. Even if the comments aren't negative, which I'm sure a lot would be, I didn't want to hear any comments, ANY. I struggle with rewiring my mind and how it thinks about food. I struggle getting away from the diet mentality. The only way I will be successful is if this is not a diet, but a lifestyle. I have lost a lot of weight, and I hear comments and questions all the time, and it's exhausting, what diet are you on? how much do you exercise? did you know you can burn more walking stairs? have you tried weight lifting? you know, low carb is not good for you....question after question, and it stresses me out. I have a coworker that religiously watches what I eat at my desk now, and always feels the need to start a conversation about it. I can't imagine what it would be like if they knew of the surgery. In addition, I don't want people to forever see me as my surgery.
I had the same fear, of people finding out, or how to hide it. At gatherings, I can always find something remotely healthy, and stay away from stuff that's not healthy. For the first month, I really stayed away from gatherings, since I knew I couldn't eat regular food yet, and had massive head hunger. I'm 3.5 mo out, and can eat regularly, just much much less. I eat slow and while a few ladies have asked why I'm eating less, "I had a big lunch" has been enough to shut down any further conversation. I used to go to gatherings anticipating food, wondering what food I will get to eat. I now go and think about the people I'll see. It's hard to explain what that mental weight off my shoulders it is. I want to eat like a normal person, and be a normal person, not "the fat girl that had surgery", so that's why I kept it secret and I have not regretted it.
As for a good excuse to use for time off. I know a lot of people use gallbladder surgery. I said I had some issues with my colon, left if vague. If people keep asking (which only two have), I've said I really don't know much about it, it's all doctor-speak to me, they just need to clean it out. From there on, I keep reiterating, I really don't know. No one has pushed past that. Short answers and vague.
Good luck!

I kind of just need to vent and air out my laundry. So feel free to read on and offer advice as you see fit. I know it is long so you don’t have to read it either. Maybe you can relate, maybe you can’t but I wanted to share this with people who might understand. I do have some before and after pictures at the bottoms also if you just want to look at those!
I am having a hard time lately. I had my sleeve surgery on 5/29/16. I started this process at the end of October 2015 weighing in at 540 pounds. I used to have to wear portable oxygen 24/7 because I was so overweight my fat was pressing against my lungs and restricting my breathing. I have managed to get down to 248 pounds since my surgery 14 months ago. Now I can walk 6 miles up and down hills without even getting out of breath.
I just had the first of many plastic surgeries on June 5th. It was just an interim surgery since I am not at goal yet, but losing over 290 pounds will affect your skin drastically and I needed my stomach hang removed for quality of life reasons.
I want many more plastic surgeries. My thighs are my biggest concern. My plastic surgeon told me he wants me to get to goal and wait at least 9 months at a stable weight before we do any more though.
My doctor’s just want me to get to a size 12 or 10 as my goal. I started at a size 38/40 and now I am a size 14/16. That is insane to me honestly. I don’t think I have been a size 14/16 since I was 10 years old.
Now, to be clear, I am a huge self-sabotager. I have been challenged by this since I was a kid. I have been in therapy since I was 6 with various issues and still see a great therapist every week.
For over the past month I have not been cooking. Mostly because I had no energy and I was in pain still from my surgery. I don’t heal that great after surgery and it lasts with me a long time. Instead of meal planning and cooking I have been eating take out, sweets, and junk and I know it’s not helpful. Thankfully I have only gained about .8 of a pound with my self-sabotaging ways.
Honestly guys, I think it’s because I’m scared. I’m scared of what it will be like without my fat around me. I have been overweight since I was 3 years old. It’s all I’ve known. I used to have day dreams when I was in school of just getting on the bus and unzipping myself from this fat suit I was stuck in and everyone being amazing at this beautiful girl I actually was.
Here I am at 30, basically doing that and it terrifies me.
I’m not saying I’m unhappy with the weightloss, not at all. I am ECSTATIC! I can actually live my life and join in on the world instead of being trapped in my body and only living as a shell of a human being.
I can go to amusement parks and fit on the rides. Which is what I did this weekend as a kind of declaration of freedom and just a time to enjoy myself with friends.
I can be active, I don’t need to worry about if I will fit in a small space (but still my mind tells me I won’t and I’m scared every time that I won’t fit. I was terrified to get on every roller coaster at the park. Not because of the ride, but I was afraid I wouldn’t fit and the embarrassment would kill me).
This has been a draining experience, both physically and mentally. But for me, the mental part has been the hardest.
I was able to recognize that I was self-sabotaging out of fear though. I was able to get up, shake myself off, and start again. Because that is what you have to do. I have meal planned, weighed and measured my food, tracked everything, and started more activity.
I will not let my manipulative brain win this time.
I have come too far to stop now. I will not give up and I will NEVER go back to the girl who couldn’t live the life she wanted.

I only lost 16 pounds in my first month after surgery . Is this a normal weight loss? I started at 201 pounds. I'm worried that this my slow down next month. I have not started exercise yet! I did start working again after 10 Days of Surgery its been a Struggle with lots of emotions. Just reaching out for advice. Thank you !

There are mixes for Protein broths available out there if salty is more your thing, they were life savers for me during my full liquid phase! Bone Broth also has a decent amount of protein just by itself.

I've heard good things about mixing unflavored protein powders into savory foods, but haven't tried it personally. If pizza is your thing, what you might try is a creamy Tomato Soup with some fresh basil and unflavored Protein Powder mixed in.

Did your surgeon/NUT specifically tell you to start looking at calories now? You're still pretty early out and I'd assume staying hydrated followed by working up to protein goals would be your biggest focus.

Just as a side note, I didn't hit my low protein goal of 40g until I was over 2 weeks out. You will survive this phase! For some reference, I'm 2.5 months out and can get in around 80g of protein or more with a combination of solid foods and a shake a day!

im sure you can improve your weight loss by sitting down and working out a better eating plan than you have. Do you have a lot of bread, Pasta etc ??.... if you cut back a lot more on those empty carbs im sure you will notice a difference.
Have you tried having one meal of Protein replacement a day? even that would help out im sure.. Do you eat sweets? ice cream?? if you are eating these kinds of foods you will have to look at changing your eating habits... at least modifying them a lot.
Ive lost about 35 pounds in two years, coming up two years. I could have lost a lot more but i have had wine, chocolate, some sugary lollies... things like that. I dont eat much bread, about two slices a month.. no cakes, but i do eat dry cracker biscuits. I know if i cut out these items i would lose a lot more weight. its a matter of what is the biggest priority with you, as it is with me... theres no easy way out. Good luck.

There's also a fine line between stuck and restriction/satiety. Like Mis73 said, stuck is eating too fast etc. But you can have the proper restriction and if you aren't following the rules, your band will tell you.
If you've just had a fill and you're getting stuck, understand that you must re-learn how to eat with your band all over again. I know for me each fill created a new challenge. I thought I was too tight but after reading time and time again on this forum that we all need to eat slow, eat small and chew big I'm now a greenie.
tmf