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'1) 30oz Yeti cups 2) a talking scale. I kid you not....I am 9 years out...my scale has a female voice and I love hearing her tell the news every morning. 3) a fluffy pillow to take with you to surgery. Use it to hold pressure against your abdomen on the ride home...and whenever you need it those first couple days/week. When standing or walking...that pillow helps. I learned this trick during 3 abdominal hernia surgeries.

You got this. I was also active on here in the years following my sleeve. Had a life event occur that knocked me down. Stayed in a hole for the past few years....but started resuming normal life recently. Addressing the regain. That part is going well. Staying in my lane, been alcohol free the past 6+ years, working long hours and taking care of yard work & house chores on my days off.

I never have been able to drink decaf. The process used to produce it was a turnoff. I prefer to buy dark roasted beans & grind them finely just prior to brewing. I used to use Splenda & protein shake (as creamer). Now I am dabbling with monkfruit & allulose vs Splenda.

I was fortunate in that my first sips of water that were allowed after surgery were so dang welcome...and the satisfaction of having those sips carried over in the weeks ahead. Always having a water bottle close at hand is a good habit to get in. It seems to be a widely held practice by people in general.

My only gripe about spinach is that you have to buy a 37 gallon bucket of it.....as it reduces down to a 1/4 cup once cooked. Actual measurements....or so it seems. Love the stuff. Butter, garlic, curry powder and a splash of heavy whipping cream and keep stirring in heaps of baby spinach. In a few minutes the magic happens.

Sucks that nobody replied thus far. Perhaps drinking a protein shake first thing each day will help kick start your system. Hopefully the intake will help get your system functioning

I am writing this down on sticky notes and putting them on my fridge, my steering wheel and maybe wear one on my forehead. Your first sentence is a battle cry that we would all do well to adopt. Thank you.

9.5 years post op (sleeve). Surgery was successful and a piece off cake. The only pain was due to a large abdominal hernia that was repaired during my sleeve surgery. Third such repair ( different surgeons prior). Doc said he fixed it for real that time....no half measures. The weight melted off. The liquid diet preceding the surgery was beneficial. The other aspects of life, were most definitely NOT as easy. The time since surgery has seen a wide range of life experiences occur. Working through things and grateful for the knowledge that if I do my part....the WL can occur if and when needed, My plan is to be at goal and maintaining when my 10th year arrives....

That is the best answer of all. The real answer. Truth is, you could give people a gazillion reasons. They may or may not buy into it. It is their hangup not yours. Your energy is being directed on solving matters with the tools you have available. Your health is the goal...not their feelings about the matter. The people who really care will see you feeling better and doing better and they'll be happy for you. They will also see that there is still much work being done by you....much adherence to a new way of eating....more moving and exercise....more feeling better.

@Bypass2Freedom sorry to hear about your breakup. Maybe it is a temporary storm that will pass. I suspect if all the folks who've had WLS were open & honest....we would find many common experiences have occurred in our lives. I'm one of those people who detests change.....no matter that I may be treading water and change may bring a much needed lifebuoy....I'm stubborn and will keep treading water as it is familiar. That was how I was....until WLS. WLS went by uneventful, recover was swift....took a week of vacation time and went back to work. No medical issues....so in my mind there was no need to do anything but the minimum on followup visits with the surgeon. So much change occurred...so quickly....unexpected outcomes....wide open-full throttle-full speed ahead....but I was ill prepared to be at the helm. Felt like I was driving a fast sports car and I only had skills to drive an old beat down truck and only on the back roads. I seem to recall the pre-op class sessions where they gave us the medical risks and the statistical data on relationship survival. I heard it all but didn't listen. I was finally ready to address weight and nothing could deter me. Didn't listen...didn't take part in the group meetings post-surgery. Now....looking back...I see where staying in touch with the WLS support group would have had many benefits.

9yrs post op (sleeve). 6yrs sober now......the calm after the storm. I won't preach to anyone, but I'll simply say that if you reintroduce drinking post op, please, please do so with utmost care and control.

Way to go !!!!!! Nice !!!

OUTFREAKINGSTANDING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great improvement. My 12 month bloodwork came back in very similar fashion. Sure is a relief to get a glowing report card.

GNC unflavored works well.....in everything I've tried it with. Heck, it even did okay in Crystal Light, lol.

Good for you. I know they have a way of coding every single aspect of planned events. Good that the ball bounced in your favor. Good luck moving forward.

Thank you. It's just the shirt. It takes 30 pounds off when I wear it. I was also gifted a mate to it in black.....I'm gonna go stretch it on and see if it'll have the same properties, lol. You are doing great. Don't let stalls drive you bonkers. We ALL have them and can bust through them when we get our focus back.

14 months out.

Almond Milk........lol.............I'll buy into it once there are tits on an almond.......

You are doing well. Be consistent with the exercise and be mindful of the calorie intake and all will be well. Measure, track, evaluate, adjust activity accordingly. In short, weigh daily and take appropriate action.

All I have to say is........ you try to take my jalapeno Cheetos and you'll get yer arse beat......oldschool beating, too.

So.....you've lost 264 lbs and are 2 years out from wls and started a thread titled "I wanna know about carbs.....Seriously!" Odd. I thought you were the "Doctor"...who fields all questions......dispenses wisdom left and right. At this point I'd have thought you could teach classes on carbs.

There are many things that are liquids yet not allowed on the diet. Milk, for instance, has too much sugar for most plans. My surgeon was fairly liberal on many things later on after surgery but very strict on the 14 day liquid diet. I was advised to have 3-4 Protein shakes (there were three approved brands) mixed only with Water. In addition to that I could have any non calorie drink (water, crystal light and the like). It was not much fun, but it passed quickly and the weight loss was fun to see. The plan did not allow for any type of meals but if it did I believe that making sure they were low carb would help keep the cravings and hunger to a minimum.

Howdy..............14 months post op here. Also becoming a salad lover........largely in part because my program's NUT says we shouldn't eat salad. Flawed reasoning, I know......but it's how I roll. Went to a spot yessaday.....known for their salad bar. Ordered their New Orleans blackened fish and shrimp......and salad bar. Spinach, bacon, red onions, soybeans, blue cheese dressing and other non-carb stuff added. It was mighty tasty and more than half made it home in a to-go box. I laugh at some of the bs my NUT preached. I was able to get a pile of Protein and Fiber from yessaday's outing.