OutsideMatchInside

@@leebick I'm glad you finally got an answer and it worked out how you wanted. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

For me the pain meds caused more pain and discomfort than the actual surgery pain. Post-op just felt like I did 1000 crunches. A few days later the dull ache from the gas hitting my shoulder was the worst. I have a high pain tolerance but the post-op pain isn't much to worry about in my opinion.

I am finding that jeans that go by waist size are pretty standard, which is nice.

I mean I can do that now at 14 months, but I would have never been able to that early. Some people heal well and don't have much swelling, so I wouldn't worry but I would suggest trying to slow down if possible.

When you change your life for the better, in any way (new job, new house, whatever), you find out who really loves you. That is one of the things that has made my life richer. Learning who really loves me.

@@myfatisnotaflaw Your doctor didn't prescribe one? Your stomach is till producing enough acid for a full size stomach, it takes a few months for it to adjust to the new size. Get some Prilosec, you should be less hungry, not hungry at all after 4 to 7 days. Please see your doctor and eat more.

@@QueenOfTheTamazons I have done this solo, since I live alone and I live in area where I don't know anyone. I still find it easier to be self motivated and rely on myself because no one else can derail me with their lack of motivation or seriousness. I have friend that are trying to lose and they don't have the motivation. For example I have logged all of my food every single day since surgery. I weigh and measure all of my food. I have a few friends WLS and others that are not consistent with that at all, they go weeks sometimes without logging and none of them weigh their food. If I was relying on them for motivation or support, I would be severely lacking. I'm not the relationship/marriage type, I am sure for people that are, having the support of their partner makes it easier. Still a lot of people that post here have partners that don't need to lose weight or aren't trying to lose weight and they are still successful.

@@ovaw8ovathinka Drs don't know everything. Plenty of people here exceed their Dr goals. I think that even if you "only" lost 50 lbs, that would be a huge benefit to you, just because you won't be gaining. You would also be able to maintain that 50 pound loss a lot easier.

@@anonmom Most plans aren't going to allow you meat or solids until week 3 or 4. If you are willing to live on broth and unflavored Protein powder, you can easily live on "real" (I mean protein powder isn't real, it is processed) food. My Dr pushes real food ASAP and is against processed foods. I was over 3 months when I had a Protein Bar, and I am not a fan of them at all, they are fake frankenfoods. IMO, Protein Bars are for emergencies, not a part of a daily diet and even the meathead guys at my supplement store agree. A piece of steak or chicken is always a better option. If you like seafood, then this can be really easy for you. soft baked fish, you can eat pretty soon because it literally turns to mush in your mouth. I skipped purees because I am really weird about food textures, and just did an extra week of liquids. Good luck! It is nice to see someone posting interesting in actually eating healthy!

Pre-op lost 8 pounds. It was 105 degrees every single day, Water weight is real. I wasn't required to lose anything, so it didn't matter. I had a 10 day liquid diet. 1st month 21lbs 2nd month 11.5 lbs 3rd month 13.6 Month 12 144 lbs in total I never really tracked by month, I looked it up in my log just to post for you, because it doesn't matter. Starting with a BMI of 60 ish. I knew it was going to take me 2 years to lose my weight. It doesn't matter how fast it comes off as long as it comes off. I am glad I didn't lose any faster because it is a lot of get used to and I am still adjusting to being so much smaller. My goal weight is a weight I was in HS, 180. I picked it along with my Dr because we thought it was realistic. I feel long term I will probably end up lower than that weight just because of how I enjoy to eat, it isn't really conducive to gaining weight. I do not workout with a partner unless my dog counts. I walked to lose most/all of my weight. I do weights sometimes, but not very consistently. I have been to the gym, maybe 5 -10 times since losing weight. I learned that I hate being in doors, not that I hate being active. Working out indoors is like being in prison for me. I started doing Yoga when I hit around 300 lbs. I go sometimes but not regularly in the summer. I like to be active outdoors, I will return to yoga when it cools off. I am very against working out with a partner, it is a recipe for failure. Other people will hold you back, they may not match your motivation, drive or schedule. You have to be very self motivated and relying on other people is a bad idea. I walked every day, rain or shine and in the freezing cold in the winter. I bundled up and made sure I walked at least 2 miles a day. 5 miles is better, but 2 was a minimum.

@@myfatisnotaflaw You won't lose weight on those calories. You didn't answer are you taking a PPI for the acid? You shouldn't be hungry. Have you been back to the Dr? You should be able to eat and drink more. Just 35g of Protein a day is going to make you sick and slow your recovery. 60g is the bare minimum for any adult. What you just posted here is that you are not even breaking 400 calories a day probably with that amount of protein. That is starvation, you will never lose if you are eating like that. Your body is going to start breaking down your muscles for energy. Please see the Dr ASAP.

Removed all the excess stress from my life. Which included streamlining my business and cutting a lot of toxic people from my life. Making sure you are mentally checked in, and happy I feel is the biggest thing. The physical changes are so big, I don't think it is worth trying to practice for them. I would have never been able to mentally imagine sipping the way I had to sip post op. I could have never done it. Clean out all the cabinets and stock them only with the healthy foods I will be eating. DIGITAL scale A scale is the key, weighing your food is the most accurate and easiest way to track.

You could try vitamin e oil or bio oil on them. If they have been used twice they are going to be more visible than most scars, still they will fade. My scars are barely visible now. It just takes time.

@@myfatisnotaflaw Are you taking something every day for acid? A PPI? You really shouldn't be hungry. Are you drinking Water all day? I mean literally all day non stop? Sipping any time you are awake? Are you regular? I always gain with my period, and lose after. I had my period every 2 weeks for months, so that made my weight loss all over the map. It has finally fixed itself back to normal. Also saying you aren't eating bull**** and that you are eating every 3 hours is not useful. That can mean absolutely anything. Do you track your food? How many calories are you getting in each day? How much Protein? How many carbs? Are you over 600 calories? Over 800? As a taller lady of African American descent, you need more protein for muscle mass. Are you getting in over 100 grams of protein a day? Adding in more activity if your calories are low will slow your progress instead of speed it up. In the beginning just walking is enough to speed your weight loss and walking has the added benefit of helping keep you regular. Do you take your measurements? Take them every 2 weeks for the first 6 months then monthly. You will see inch changes sometimes before scale changes. I started with a high BMI and thought the weight would come off fast and in huge chunks and it didn't. I was discouraged in the beginning, even though I was losing very fast. With the hormonal changes and all the emotions you go through it is hard to be objective.

@@leebick I hope you get some real answers today. I am so angry for you, this is ridiculous. Good luck

@@sweesee Torrid was the first place I dumped months ago. They haven't had cute clothes in about 2 years, I dunno what their buyers are thinking. I am so sick of all that skulls and pleather they push. The final straw was in the fall when I went there, and they were trying to put me in the wrong bra, telling me just to hook it on the last hooks, umm thats not how you start with a bra, as soon as it warms to your body and stretches a little, you have no where to go. Also, $40 for a graphic tee? DIAF Torrid. @@gowalking The weird thing is looking at the clothes and knowing they are too big, even the smallest ones. I used to be in the top sizes at plus size stores, so I was always looking for a roomy 28. Now to know that I won't even fit their smallest sizes, not even in the shapewear (I will miss buying shapewear at Avenue), is such a rush. I have really arrived.

chicken and eggs can both be hard to digest early on. Chicken is really dense and can be very dry. Have you tried baked fish? Baked it is very soft and flaky and melts in your mouth.

My tastes have not changed but they have came more extreme. Things that I was lukewarm on pre-op like scrambled eggs, I hate post-op. Never liked yogurt, despise yogurt now. Loved fish before, really love fish now.

I was an avid shopper before losing weight. Buying new clothes almost daily. I had tons of emails coming every day from all types of stores. So now that I have solidly been in regular sizes, for a little while at all stores (It really isn't a fluke! I had to convince myself), I have decided to cut the cord to my old life. I am breaking up with all my old plus size store mailing lists, youtube bloggers, IG Stores, IG Bloggers. It is time to end. I am not a plus sized lady anymore, I need to stop living like one. I keep seeing cute things that are too large for me (sigh, grass is always greener), and it is getting annoying. I realized this week, that is not my identity anymore. I rock True religion and J Brand Jeans. I buy my T-shirts at Banana Republic. I get my underwear from VS. Time to move on. In a way it feels like a security blanket has been removed. I really have to live and navigate the regular fashion world, which I have been dying to do and I am really enjoying but in a way I feel guilty and disloyal. When I had limited options these other stores and brands were there for me, and I am grateful. Have you broken up with all your old store brands? Cut up you store cards? How does it feel?

It's great for the buyer - not so much for the seller! I sent in 20 items - I got paid $21.00 for all of them - they then listed them all for $15-30. Not worth it - I'd much rater donate them. Total rip off for the sellers. Better to give them to goodwill and get the tax write off. When I saw what they were paying out, it isn't even worth it. They can pound sand, I take all my stuff to goodwill unless it is still new with tags, then I sell it on ebay. I'm also going to go on record as being extremely against wearing loose, comfortable clothes. They make it impossible to see your weight loss so you feel you are making no gains. Loose comfortable clothes are what made it easy for a lot of people to expand without noticing. Wear clothes that fit, with structure. Not only will you see your weight loss better, notice that your waist is going down fast and just in general look better and more pulled together. The structured clothing will help hide and constrain issues we have, like loose skin.

@@bellabeans When you are on liquids and really swollen, you can think you are full on liquids, but you don't know restriction and what it feels like until you have solids. Like right now at one year out I am sitting here chugging Water. I am drinking really fast so I am feeling full but water full, feels nothing like steak full.

Hmm 30 is the max, not the optimal, 20 minutes is the goal for most programs. You want to eat slowly so you are not overly full and get all the signals to your brain. In the very beginning most people don't have their nerves reconnected. If you are actually weighing/measuring your food and not over eating, you don't have to drag it out. I definitely don't, because I like the temp of my food very hot.

I didn't because I honestly hate Soups and broths. Before surgery I was more of a cream based Soup kind of person.Ha! those days are over. Yes, they would be better nutritionally, and taste better. Just don't make too much, you have no idea what you really might want after surgery. I hate pre-made foods. I cook all my food, fresh every meal, every day. I don't eat left overs, hate them. I love cooking and it is part of the meal now since my meals are small and short, but I love meal prep. If you love to cook, losing weight post-op is a breeze. You have a ton more options if you are willing to cook and like to experiment.

@@Bufflehead I love you! On this forum and others

@@HopefulInVirginia Please don't feel ashamed. All kinds of people have all kinds of struggles, ours are just visible to other people, which makes it easier for people to comment. Make your life easy, don't tell people about your surgery. It isn't any of their business and it is not worth rolling the dice on if they will be supportive or be evil and petty. Be proud you are taking control of your life.