Polara

As previous posters have mentioned, don't think of this as a diet. It's a lifestyle change and you are essentially giving your relationship with food and eating a total overhaul!
Following your surgeon's instructions post-op is really exceedingly important, because as people have mentioned, your tummy is still healing. Forcing food into it that it isn't ready for yet can cause staples to pop, tears, blockages, and all sorts of scary, scary things to happen that will make your recovery time longer and more painful.
It is very difficult to deal with lack of variety when it comes to food post-op, so I feel you there! The World According to Eggface and Bariatric Foodie have some great recipes and ideas for noms that are suitable for various stages post-op so that you can whip up something tasty and different!
Here are links to their sites:
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.bariatricfoodie.com/
Lots of luck!
Xx,
Polara <3

As previous posters have mentioned, don't think of this as a diet. It's a lifestyle change and you are essentially giving your relationship with food and eating a total overhaul!
Following your surgeon's instructions post-op is really exceedingly important, because as people have mentioned, your tummy is still healing. Forcing food into it that it isn't ready for yet can cause staples to pop, tears, blockages, and all sorts of scary, scary things to happen that will make your recovery time longer and more painful.
It is very difficult to deal with lack of variety when it comes to food post-op, so I feel you there! The World According to Eggface and Bariatric Foodie have some great recipes and ideas for noms that are suitable for various stages post-op so that you can whip up something tasty and different!
Here are links to their sites:
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.bariatricfoodie.com/
Lots of luck!
Xx,
Polara <3

I am only a bit over 9 months out, hit my goal weight in June, and in mid-July hit 135 lbs. Since then, my weight has fluctuated between 134 lbs - 136 lbs depending on the time of the month for me and if I've been overdoing the sodium. One of the things that has really helped me maintain my weight is following the eating guidelines given to me by my NUT and bariatric team. I've also become very active and am now part of a women's rugby league again, which is fantastic because rugby was something I had to give up when I became obese since I couldn't do it physically any longer. As a mortician (funeral director), my job does entail lifting quite a bit (caskets and human bodies can be quite heavy!), so that also helps me keep in shape and active, as morbid as it sounds.
Overall, I think the combination of following the dietary guidelines I was given and being very physically active has really helped me maintain my weight loss. I don't plan on changing my eating or activity habits, so hopefully, I'll be stable where I am now for the foreseeable future. I am VERY happy here, as this is the weight I was before I gained over 100 pounds due to psychiatric medication, which is what started me on this path (I have severe schizoaffective disorder and was given Zyprexa, which pretty much made me gain 5 pounds the moment I filled the script, no joke). I'm now on a combination of weight-neutral medication that works for me with notes in both my physical and mental health files that I can no longer be put on any medications classified as weight-positive (THANK HEAVENS!).
It's been a long, long journey so far...but I would do it again in a heartbeat!

@@Polara
I don't want to sound like a dick, but at 9 months out, you're still in your honeymoon period. It's easy right now. I'm 2 years out and have been maintaining within 5 or 6 pounds for almost a year, and my honeymoon period seemed to end at around 18 months. What I do know is it's getting harder and harder as each month goes by, as my hunger and cravings are returning and I notice I can eat so much more than at a year out. I am constantly fighting with that 5 pounds to make sure it doesn't become 10, 20, or 30. Sometimes it effing sucks and it's effing hard. And I hear year 3 is when the struggle really starts and weight seems to re appear for no apparent reason and becomes even harder to get off.
Don't get me wrong, you've completely got the right idea, and if you continue with that mindset you will be success at maintenance. But as long as you understand that the further out you get, the harder it becomes as the excitement of being thin wears off and the effectiveness of the surgery wanes until the effects become almost nil around year 5 and it's pretty much all on us at that point.
Also, my niece is a mortician, too!

As previous posters have mentioned, don't think of this as a diet. It's a lifestyle change and you are essentially giving your relationship with food and eating a total overhaul!
Following your surgeon's instructions post-op is really exceedingly important, because as people have mentioned, your tummy is still healing. Forcing food into it that it isn't ready for yet can cause staples to pop, tears, blockages, and all sorts of scary, scary things to happen that will make your recovery time longer and more painful.
It is very difficult to deal with lack of variety when it comes to food post-op, so I feel you there! The World According to Eggface and Bariatric Foodie have some great recipes and ideas for noms that are suitable for various stages post-op so that you can whip up something tasty and different!
Here are links to their sites:
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.bariatricfoodie.com/
Lots of luck!
Xx,
Polara <3

I am only a bit over 9 months out, hit my goal weight in June, and in mid-July hit 135 lbs. Since then, my weight has fluctuated between 134 lbs - 136 lbs depending on the time of the month for me and if I've been overdoing the sodium. One of the things that has really helped me maintain my weight is following the eating guidelines given to me by my NUT and bariatric team. I've also become very active and am now part of a women's rugby league again, which is fantastic because rugby was something I had to give up when I became obese since I couldn't do it physically any longer. As a mortician (funeral director), my job does entail lifting quite a bit (caskets and human bodies can be quite heavy!), so that also helps me keep in shape and active, as morbid as it sounds.
Overall, I think the combination of following the dietary guidelines I was given and being very physically active has really helped me maintain my weight loss. I don't plan on changing my eating or activity habits, so hopefully, I'll be stable where I am now for the foreseeable future. I am VERY happy here, as this is the weight I was before I gained over 100 pounds due to psychiatric medication, which is what started me on this path (I have severe schizoaffective disorder and was given Zyprexa, which pretty much made me gain 5 pounds the moment I filled the script, no joke). I'm now on a combination of weight-neutral medication that works for me with notes in both my physical and mental health files that I can no longer be put on any medications classified as weight-positive (THANK HEAVENS!).
It's been a long, long journey so far...but I would do it again in a heartbeat!

I am only a bit over 9 months out, hit my goal weight in June, and in mid-July hit 135 lbs. Since then, my weight has fluctuated between 134 lbs - 136 lbs depending on the time of the month for me and if I've been overdoing the sodium. One of the things that has really helped me maintain my weight is following the eating guidelines given to me by my NUT and bariatric team. I've also become very active and am now part of a women's rugby league again, which is fantastic because rugby was something I had to give up when I became obese since I couldn't do it physically any longer. As a mortician (funeral director), my job does entail lifting quite a bit (caskets and human bodies can be quite heavy!), so that also helps me keep in shape and active, as morbid as it sounds.
Overall, I think the combination of following the dietary guidelines I was given and being very physically active has really helped me maintain my weight loss. I don't plan on changing my eating or activity habits, so hopefully, I'll be stable where I am now for the foreseeable future. I am VERY happy here, as this is the weight I was before I gained over 100 pounds due to psychiatric medication, which is what started me on this path (I have severe schizoaffective disorder and was given Zyprexa, which pretty much made me gain 5 pounds the moment I filled the script, no joke). I'm now on a combination of weight-neutral medication that works for me with notes in both my physical and mental health files that I can no longer be put on any medications classified as weight-positive (THANK HEAVENS!).
It's been a long, long journey so far...but I would do it again in a heartbeat!

As previous posters have mentioned, don't think of this as a diet. It's a lifestyle change and you are essentially giving your relationship with food and eating a total overhaul!
Following your surgeon's instructions post-op is really exceedingly important, because as people have mentioned, your tummy is still healing. Forcing food into it that it isn't ready for yet can cause staples to pop, tears, blockages, and all sorts of scary, scary things to happen that will make your recovery time longer and more painful.
It is very difficult to deal with lack of variety when it comes to food post-op, so I feel you there! The World According to Eggface and Bariatric Foodie have some great recipes and ideas for noms that are suitable for various stages post-op so that you can whip up something tasty and different!
Here are links to their sites:
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.bariatricfoodie.com/
Lots of luck!
Xx,
Polara <3

As previous posters have mentioned, don't think of this as a diet. It's a lifestyle change and you are essentially giving your relationship with food and eating a total overhaul!
Following your surgeon's instructions post-op is really exceedingly important, because as people have mentioned, your tummy is still healing. Forcing food into it that it isn't ready for yet can cause staples to pop, tears, blockages, and all sorts of scary, scary things to happen that will make your recovery time longer and more painful.
It is very difficult to deal with lack of variety when it comes to food post-op, so I feel you there! The World According to Eggface and Bariatric Foodie have some great recipes and ideas for noms that are suitable for various stages post-op so that you can whip up something tasty and different!
Here are links to their sites:
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.bariatricfoodie.com/
Lots of luck!
Xx,
Polara <3

I am only a bit over 9 months out, hit my goal weight in June, and in mid-July hit 135 lbs. Since then, my weight has fluctuated between 134 lbs - 136 lbs depending on the time of the month for me and if I've been overdoing the sodium. One of the things that has really helped me maintain my weight is following the eating guidelines given to me by my NUT and bariatric team. I've also become very active and am now part of a women's rugby league again, which is fantastic because rugby was something I had to give up when I became obese since I couldn't do it physically any longer. As a mortician (funeral director), my job does entail lifting quite a bit (caskets and human bodies can be quite heavy!), so that also helps me keep in shape and active, as morbid as it sounds.
Overall, I think the combination of following the dietary guidelines I was given and being very physically active has really helped me maintain my weight loss. I don't plan on changing my eating or activity habits, so hopefully, I'll be stable where I am now for the foreseeable future. I am VERY happy here, as this is the weight I was before I gained over 100 pounds due to psychiatric medication, which is what started me on this path (I have severe schizoaffective disorder and was given Zyprexa, which pretty much made me gain 5 pounds the moment I filled the script, no joke). I'm now on a combination of weight-neutral medication that works for me with notes in both my physical and mental health files that I can no longer be put on any medications classified as weight-positive (THANK HEAVENS!).
It's been a long, long journey so far...but I would do it again in a heartbeat!

It is a very difficult adjustment at first, but after a while it becomes second nature. Remember that this is a process that does take a great deal of time to get used to because you are changing years and years of eating and drinking habits!
As my bariatric team says, "Inch by inch, it's a cinch...yard by yard, it's hard." Take it day by day and bit by bit and you'll get there in the end!

It is a very difficult adjustment at first, but after a while it becomes second nature. Remember that this is a process that does take a great deal of time to get used to because you are changing years and years of eating and drinking habits!
As my bariatric team says, "Inch by inch, it's a cinch...yard by yard, it's hard." Take it day by day and bit by bit and you'll get there in the end!

It is a very difficult adjustment at first, but after a while it becomes second nature. Remember that this is a process that does take a great deal of time to get used to because you are changing years and years of eating and drinking habits!
As my bariatric team says, "Inch by inch, it's a cinch...yard by yard, it's hard." Take it day by day and bit by bit and you'll get there in the end!

Pre-surgery, I didn't really feel comfortable telling anyone outside of family or close friends. However, as the weight started to come off, many of my coworkers asked my secret...and the fact that my diet was so restricted coupled with the weight loss tipped them off. I never had any negative reactions, and most people commented how courageous it was for me to have taken action to improve my health!
In May, I relocated to the United Kingdom from Florida because I got married on 20 August. The close friends I had here in the UK were all aware of my surgery and very supportive, but since I have been here, I've obviously met many new people and forged new friendships and professional relationships. These new people in my life don't know me as "Obese Polara," they see me as I am now. My surgery was 9 December 2015, and at over 9 months out, my diet is more varied than it was immediately post-op (kind of a no-brainer statement, lol!). However, I still follow the dietary guidelines given to me by my surgeon, nurse practitioner, and NUT to the letter. The restrictive nature of the surgery coupled with the changes to my mental relationship with food means that I'll always opt for Protein, veg, and fruits over anything else (I have no desire to eat bread, Pasta, etc.), but everyone simply assumes that I am very health-conscious (which is actually the truth and 100% spot-on) and not a huge eater.
I am not ashamed of the fact that I was sleeved and I will open up to people about it if I feel the circumstances warrant it. In fact, because I was open with my best friend about having the procedure, she felt confident enough to start the process herself. She's having the surgery this coming weekend in the Czech Republic, and I am actually very humbled that she asked me to accompany her as her support person, so we will be flying out together Sunday!
I guess that the point of this ramble is that who you choose to tell or not tell is your business, but you'd be surprised how understanding many people can be. Of course, there are a lot of people out there who have negative opinions about bariatric surgery, but if you feel you can trust someone, letting them know can actually be cathartic. As time passes, you may feel more comfortable discussing it. Take it day by day and enjoy the journey. Lots and lots of good vibes your way!
Xx,
Polara

Sometimes cooking meat in a slow cooker or by using another method that makes it very moist and tender can be a huge help!
That being said, I am 9 months out and pork STILL wrecks me no matter how it's prepared, and I have a friend who can't tolerate red meat at all and she has been out for almost a year! Trial and error is probably the way to go when it comes to figuring out what your tummy can tolerate

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.bariatricfoodie.com/
<3

I haven't had noodles or Pasta since surgery! They're definitely not on the list of approved foods from my surgeon, so I avoid them. However, I have found that crepes can make a good substitute. I take four eggs and a half cup cottage or ricotta cheese (depends on your tastes, honestly), nuke the eggs and cheese in a blender and then cook the batter in a pan greased with a bit of olive oil. After they cool, I slice them into thin strips and store them for up to 4 days. They are a great low-carb pasta substitute, and I have found that with a little sugar-free Syrup and berries can make a great sweet treat. Alternatively, you can store them whole with a bit of parchment or wax paper between them and use them in lieu of bread for wraps.
Just a suggestion if you find that you are missing pasta!

Sometimes cooking meat in a slow cooker or by using another method that makes it very moist and tender can be a huge help!
That being said, I am 9 months out and pork STILL wrecks me no matter how it's prepared, and I have a friend who can't tolerate red meat at all and she has been out for almost a year! Trial and error is probably the way to go when it comes to figuring out what your tummy can tolerate

The World According to Eggface and Bariatric Foodie have some great recipes that can carry you through all stages of the post-op diet! They are real lifesavers

The World According to Eggface and Bariatric Foodie have some great recipes that can carry you through all stages of the post-op diet! They are real lifesavers

Pre-surgery, I didn't really feel comfortable telling anyone outside of family or close friends. However, as the weight started to come off, many of my coworkers asked my secret...and the fact that my diet was so restricted coupled with the weight loss tipped them off. I never had any negative reactions, and most people commented how courageous it was for me to have taken action to improve my health!
In May, I relocated to the United Kingdom from Florida because I got married on 20 August. The close friends I had here in the UK were all aware of my surgery and very supportive, but since I have been here, I've obviously met many new people and forged new friendships and professional relationships. These new people in my life don't know me as "Obese Polara," they see me as I am now. My surgery was 9 December 2015, and at over 9 months out, my diet is more varied than it was immediately post-op (kind of a no-brainer statement, lol!). However, I still follow the dietary guidelines given to me by my surgeon, nurse practitioner, and NUT to the letter. The restrictive nature of the surgery coupled with the changes to my mental relationship with food means that I'll always opt for Protein, veg, and fruits over anything else (I have no desire to eat bread, Pasta, etc.), but everyone simply assumes that I am very health-conscious (which is actually the truth and 100% spot-on) and not a huge eater.
I am not ashamed of the fact that I was sleeved and I will open up to people about it if I feel the circumstances warrant it. In fact, because I was open with my best friend about having the procedure, she felt confident enough to start the process herself. She's having the surgery this coming weekend in the Czech Republic, and I am actually very humbled that she asked me to accompany her as her support person, so we will be flying out together Sunday!
I guess that the point of this ramble is that who you choose to tell or not tell is your business, but you'd be surprised how understanding many people can be. Of course, there are a lot of people out there who have negative opinions about bariatric surgery, but if you feel you can trust someone, letting them know can actually be cathartic. As time passes, you may feel more comfortable discussing it. Take it day by day and enjoy the journey. Lots and lots of good vibes your way!
Xx,
Polara

Pre-surgery, I didn't really feel comfortable telling anyone outside of family or close friends. However, as the weight started to come off, many of my coworkers asked my secret...and the fact that my diet was so restricted coupled with the weight loss tipped them off. I never had any negative reactions, and most people commented how courageous it was for me to have taken action to improve my health!
In May, I relocated to the United Kingdom from Florida because I got married on 20 August. The close friends I had here in the UK were all aware of my surgery and very supportive, but since I have been here, I've obviously met many new people and forged new friendships and professional relationships. These new people in my life don't know me as "Obese Polara," they see me as I am now. My surgery was 9 December 2015, and at over 9 months out, my diet is more varied than it was immediately post-op (kind of a no-brainer statement, lol!). However, I still follow the dietary guidelines given to me by my surgeon, nurse practitioner, and NUT to the letter. The restrictive nature of the surgery coupled with the changes to my mental relationship with food means that I'll always opt for Protein, veg, and fruits over anything else (I have no desire to eat bread, Pasta, etc.), but everyone simply assumes that I am very health-conscious (which is actually the truth and 100% spot-on) and not a huge eater.
I am not ashamed of the fact that I was sleeved and I will open up to people about it if I feel the circumstances warrant it. In fact, because I was open with my best friend about having the procedure, she felt confident enough to start the process herself. She's having the surgery this coming weekend in the Czech Republic, and I am actually very humbled that she asked me to accompany her as her support person, so we will be flying out together Sunday!
I guess that the point of this ramble is that who you choose to tell or not tell is your business, but you'd be surprised how understanding many people can be. Of course, there are a lot of people out there who have negative opinions about bariatric surgery, but if you feel you can trust someone, letting them know can actually be cathartic. As time passes, you may feel more comfortable discussing it. Take it day by day and enjoy the journey. Lots and lots of good vibes your way!
Xx,
Polara

Pre-surgery, I didn't really feel comfortable telling anyone outside of family or close friends. However, as the weight started to come off, many of my coworkers asked my secret...and the fact that my diet was so restricted coupled with the weight loss tipped them off. I never had any negative reactions, and most people commented how courageous it was for me to have taken action to improve my health!
In May, I relocated to the United Kingdom from Florida because I got married on 20 August. The close friends I had here in the UK were all aware of my surgery and very supportive, but since I have been here, I've obviously met many new people and forged new friendships and professional relationships. These new people in my life don't know me as "Obese Polara," they see me as I am now. My surgery was 9 December 2015, and at over 9 months out, my diet is more varied than it was immediately post-op (kind of a no-brainer statement, lol!). However, I still follow the dietary guidelines given to me by my surgeon, nurse practitioner, and NUT to the letter. The restrictive nature of the surgery coupled with the changes to my mental relationship with food means that I'll always opt for Protein, veg, and fruits over anything else (I have no desire to eat bread, Pasta, etc.), but everyone simply assumes that I am very health-conscious (which is actually the truth and 100% spot-on) and not a huge eater.
I am not ashamed of the fact that I was sleeved and I will open up to people about it if I feel the circumstances warrant it. In fact, because I was open with my best friend about having the procedure, she felt confident enough to start the process herself. She's having the surgery this coming weekend in the Czech Republic, and I am actually very humbled that she asked me to accompany her as her support person, so we will be flying out together Sunday!
I guess that the point of this ramble is that who you choose to tell or not tell is your business, but you'd be surprised how understanding many people can be. Of course, there are a lot of people out there who have negative opinions about bariatric surgery, but if you feel you can trust someone, letting them know can actually be cathartic. As time passes, you may feel more comfortable discussing it. Take it day by day and enjoy the journey. Lots and lots of good vibes your way!
Xx,
Polara

Pre-surgery, I didn't really feel comfortable telling anyone outside of family or close friends. However, as the weight started to come off, many of my coworkers asked my secret...and the fact that my diet was so restricted coupled with the weight loss tipped them off. I never had any negative reactions, and most people commented how courageous it was for me to have taken action to improve my health!
In May, I relocated to the United Kingdom from Florida because I got married on 20 August. The close friends I had here in the UK were all aware of my surgery and very supportive, but since I have been here, I've obviously met many new people and forged new friendships and professional relationships. These new people in my life don't know me as "Obese Polara," they see me as I am now. My surgery was 9 December 2015, and at over 9 months out, my diet is more varied than it was immediately post-op (kind of a no-brainer statement, lol!). However, I still follow the dietary guidelines given to me by my surgeon, nurse practitioner, and NUT to the letter. The restrictive nature of the surgery coupled with the changes to my mental relationship with food means that I'll always opt for Protein, veg, and fruits over anything else (I have no desire to eat bread, Pasta, etc.), but everyone simply assumes that I am very health-conscious (which is actually the truth and 100% spot-on) and not a huge eater.
I am not ashamed of the fact that I was sleeved and I will open up to people about it if I feel the circumstances warrant it. In fact, because I was open with my best friend about having the procedure, she felt confident enough to start the process herself. She's having the surgery this coming weekend in the Czech Republic, and I am actually very humbled that she asked me to accompany her as her support person, so we will be flying out together Sunday!
I guess that the point of this ramble is that who you choose to tell or not tell is your business, but you'd be surprised how understanding many people can be. Of course, there are a lot of people out there who have negative opinions about bariatric surgery, but if you feel you can trust someone, letting them know can actually be cathartic. As time passes, you may feel more comfortable discussing it. Take it day by day and enjoy the journey. Lots and lots of good vibes your way!
Xx,
Polara

Pre-surgery, I didn't really feel comfortable telling anyone outside of family or close friends. However, as the weight started to come off, many of my coworkers asked my secret...and the fact that my diet was so restricted coupled with the weight loss tipped them off. I never had any negative reactions, and most people commented how courageous it was for me to have taken action to improve my health!
In May, I relocated to the United Kingdom from Florida because I got married on 20 August. The close friends I had here in the UK were all aware of my surgery and very supportive, but since I have been here, I've obviously met many new people and forged new friendships and professional relationships. These new people in my life don't know me as "Obese Polara," they see me as I am now. My surgery was 9 December 2015, and at over 9 months out, my diet is more varied than it was immediately post-op (kind of a no-brainer statement, lol!). However, I still follow the dietary guidelines given to me by my surgeon, nurse practitioner, and NUT to the letter. The restrictive nature of the surgery coupled with the changes to my mental relationship with food means that I'll always opt for Protein, veg, and fruits over anything else (I have no desire to eat bread, Pasta, etc.), but everyone simply assumes that I am very health-conscious (which is actually the truth and 100% spot-on) and not a huge eater.
I am not ashamed of the fact that I was sleeved and I will open up to people about it if I feel the circumstances warrant it. In fact, because I was open with my best friend about having the procedure, she felt confident enough to start the process herself. She's having the surgery this coming weekend in the Czech Republic, and I am actually very humbled that she asked me to accompany her as her support person, so we will be flying out together Sunday!
I guess that the point of this ramble is that who you choose to tell or not tell is your business, but you'd be surprised how understanding many people can be. Of course, there are a lot of people out there who have negative opinions about bariatric surgery, but if you feel you can trust someone, letting them know can actually be cathartic. As time passes, you may feel more comfortable discussing it. Take it day by day and enjoy the journey. Lots and lots of good vibes your way!
Xx,
Polara