Laydee_G

Hi Nikki Congratulations on your surgery date and I hope everything goes well for you. I had my surgery 11 weeks ago at a private clinic in central London and I haven't regretted a single day. Some days have been tough in terms of getting used to a new way of life but I am happier, freer and more hopeful now than I have been in my entire adult life! Due to my surgeon being a liver specialist I didn't have to go on a pre-op diet but I chose to help him do his job by going on the pre-op diet anyway. I am somewhat lactose intolerant so I chose Nature's Garden soya Protein powder from Holland and Barrett which I had with soya milk. The flavours come in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. I just used vanilla. I also flavoured soya milk with a teaspoon of cocoa powder and decaf coffee to make some delicious mochas. I found I am able to tolerate Slimfast powder using soya milk so do have that from time to time now if I haven't been able to eat enough protein for the day. Best of luck on your journey and keep us posted: this website is fantastic for support. xx

Hi Jamie, Have you had a blood test recently? Maybe you could just check with your docor that your Iron levels are where they should be. Best of luck with your 5k training

Are you making smoothies? They're great for getting your Protein in and you can vary them with small handfulls of different soft fruit like chopped banana, blueberries, mangoes, raspberries, kiwi fruit, strawberries and they help make the Protein powder taste better too. Also a chocolate milk with plain cocoa powder, a little vanilla essence and I use soya or almond milk rather than cow's milk with a little sugar-free sweetner. Divine! These are some pics of my banana/ mango and fruits of the forest smoothies, inspired by 'Return to Slender' a wls surgery cook book. Similar receipes can be found on the author's website: http://www.bariatriccookery.com Make it tasty and even if you can only manage a few sips or spoonfuls at least you're taking in something.

I"m actually focussed on my physical activity: pedometer with me at all times, Zumba twice a week, swim twice a week and walk home from work.

First of all, congratulations on your achievement! Just take a pause and enjoy that... I think we have high expectations of ourselves through the surgery forgetting that what got us to the surgery stage in the first place (i.e.comfort eating) still has to be confronted and resolved afterwards. I'm going to say it straight: comfort eating is an abusive behaviour and we all of us who do it have to take a look at why we do it. You said the term "weak, emotional patches" so look at what that really means to you. Ask yourself what the emotions are and why are you feeling them? They do say old habits die hard and maybe it's just force of habit but try going for a walk if you feel tempted or keeping those 'naughty' Snacks in a cupboard that you cannot go into. See how different your body looks and buy yourself an outfit that is the next size down from where you are currently. That way, if you're motivated to stay on track it won't be long until you're wearing it and looking fabulous! Keep going, Teach: your success is my motivation! xx

@@kaylekat I totally get where you're coming from: a long time ago I realised my relationship to food was like living with an abusive partner. I knew it was bad for me but I just didn't seem able to get away from it. But just as some people in abusive relationships need drastic intervention to get away, I needed the sleeve surgery to divorce myself from my addiction. Even after surgery once I was more lucid I started to obsess about having a full English Breakfast (sausages, bacon, eggs, tomatoes and toast) when I could barely swallow my meds! The addiction is real and it goes very deep because the reasons why I started comfort eating as a child were due to deeply troubling circumstances. So before my surgery I started therapy so I could be ready both emotionally and mentally. I do not regret having either the surgery or the counselling: I needed both. I'm not going to lie: it's a long road and 8 weeks post-op the journey is going to be life-long even when I reach my target weight. Every now and again my food addiction tries to gain access by making me put extra food on my plate - but the sleeve takes care of it because I am so limited in how much I can eat! Thank Goodness! So go through the door, Kaylekat: your life is about to be given back to you in ways that you may only ever have dreamed of! Best of luck on your journey xx

Put on your favourite music and dance! dance! dance! Best of luck on your journey xx

@@Susan33 My sugeon explained he would be removing fat between the stomach and spleen. A few hours after sugery when I checked my stomach I swear the upper part was flat where before it used to stick out!

Because the use of the term morbid in the UK is used to describe a very negative person the term 'morbidly obese' usually makes me think of an overwieght person person who doesn't think positively. Ironically sounds like the old me... In seriousness, I would much rather the term morbidly obese than the F word. Right now over here there are stacks of TV shows portraying morbidly obese people with the F word in the title. The portrayals are negative to say the least and it is as if these TV shows have been made to laugh at people, not to help them or gain an understanding of the challenges of being overweight which might develop into a change of prejudicial attitudes.

Chicken has been very hard for me to get down so I'm avoiding it. Getting my protein from fish, pulses, soft cheese and fortified milk. Week 3 of soft diet and food getting stuck behind my breastbone less often

Faith41 and ahsleyxx thank you both for being so honest about where you are currently at. I am 6 weeks post surgery and from my perspective you both made fantastic progress in your weight loss. Both your posts are reminders however that this journey is lifelong and doesn't just end when we reach our target weight. Best of luck to both of you and I hope you reach wherever you want to be. xx

Obesity Weight Loss Surgery Support The website is www.owlss.org.uk I have been waiting ages to get an approved secure log in. Hopefully you'll have better luck. Please let me know

Breakfast: Raspberry and banana smoothie Lunch: Steamed cod with peppers and shallots for lunch and if I am GERD-free: Dinner: a small slice of gammon with fresh spinach otherwise pumpkin Soup. Enjoy your Saturday too xx

London here. 5 weeks post op and so happy I did this! Am at soft food stage but ate very little on Christmas Day & yesterday due to GERD and the slimes. Was on soy Protein shakes but found them a little heavy. I tend to drink a lot of milky decaf coffee with soya milk and smoothies with Greek yoghurt. Happy to connect with UK based sleevers. Has anyone been able to get logged in to the Owlss group?

@dw40. I think I understood you meant you were saying a fond farewell to your old way of life because after surgery you will never eat the same way again. I am nearly 5 weeks out and I honestly feel I have been given a new life. That doesn't mean to say I haven't obsessed about food: it's just taking my head a little longer to catch up to my body! Finally just to say there is no better support site than this one. I am in the UK and I have been waiting 8 weeks to get login for a UK site but since I found BPal I haven't looked back. Here you get support in many different ways (including respect AND humour) Good luck on your journey xx

@@scstxrn - I agree. Eggface is a very place to go for recipe ideas. Also www.bariatriccookery.com

it's really great to read all your experiences. I am 4 weeks post surgery today and at first struggled with complete food obsession. It's getting easier now but I am still challenged by old behaviours (e.g. eating too quickly, taking big mouthfuls and even taking a mouthful of solid food when I'm still at puree stage which really hurt going down!) However I am learning from all of this that the discomfort of doing the wrong thing will modify my behaviours and also to give it time for my head to catch up with my new physical state. After all, I became obese by being a comfort eater and that is an emotional-psychological disease. I am hopeful the surgery plus some good counselling/group support will give me the control I need to live a much healthier life. Best of luck to all xxx

@@angewil60 I couldn't even text "Hi, I'm fine" to my family and friends when I came out of surgery so I take my hat off to you and wish you all the best as the meds wear off...!

@@Wtloss Hi - please give yourself a break: you are only 3 weeks post op and your body is still recovering from the surgery. You need time to recover. At my pre-op assessment I was told it takes 6 weeks before the body gets back to normal. Right now everything you ingest is to help your new new pouch get used to functioning without stretching it. Try to see this time as healing, and when you're back on solids at smaller portions combined with some serious exercise I am sure you'll see really positive results. You have lost weight since the op, so Celebrate it! I am 11 days post op and have not weighed myself yet. I am focusing on getting in my protien,fluids and Vitamins which I think is challenge enough: I cannot dictate to my body how much it should lose. As long as I follow my surgeon's and dietician's advice to the letter that is all I need to worry about. I can't wait to start exercising and reclaim my health. I feel as though I have been given my life back and I intend to enjoy every minute of it! Focus on the wonderful opportunities that are going to open up for you and don't limit it by how many pounds you have lost. Best of luck to you and to all of us on this very courageous journey. xxx

The book can be bought on amazon.co.uk and Carol Bowen Ball the author has other recipes on her website http://www.bariatriccookery.com The lentil soup recipe isn't online but I will send it to you

Yes - the blood thinning shots are not great but it's not forever and neither are the physical discomforts. Maybe you should see your doctor if you're still having sharp pains when you swallow: it might be your pain relief is not as effective as it should be. Yesterday I made a liquid Stage Soup from a wls cook book called "Return to Slender." It was the most delicious thing I'd eaten all week AND my new pouch tolerated it! I hope all goes well for everyone because this is not a procedure that any of us has taken lightly. xx

Hi - my op was on 23rd November. From the UK and recovering well apart from the head hunger!

I am 4 days post op and in minimal pain but struggling with head hunger! I am obssessing about foods I cannot have right now but realise the WLS is just a tool: the real food issues lie in my mental-emotional state. I can't use food to comfort myself anymore (thank goodness) but I feel I'm starting over and everything is strange and new...