losergrl75

I am another who had to give myself Lovenox shots for 2 weeks post op. I was nervous about it, but it ended up being really easy to learn/administer. It's a part of my programs post op plan regardless of age or BMI, the folks in my class had varying ages/bmis and we were all going to be on them post op.

This brings back my only truly awkward/shocked/speechless moment. I had just been cleared for soft foods and I went to the market's salad bar to get my teeny tiny lunch. At that time, I was especially fond of their chicken salad and their seafood salad. I got MAYBE two tablespoons of each in the salad bar container (knowing I would take half home) and went to the register. The cashier, a big girl herself, looked at me (remember, I was just about 6 weeks post op and still quite the fatty) and said, "Girl! You know you eat more than that! Who you trying to fool??" in the loudest voice. And yes, everyone in line turned to look at me and my pathetic salad. I was hormonal, stressed at the idea that any food I ate still came back up because of my stricture, and absolutely floored that anyone would say something like that. I barely held my **** together, told her I had stomach cancer and moved on through. She's not looked at me in the eye since. Ha! That's what her nosey ass gets! Bet she felt an inch high! Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

As others have mentioned, I find that I actually enjoy eating out more now than presurgery. Red lobster has endless shrimp right now, before surgery I loved endless shrimp. I had strategically planned how to eat (and take home) as many shrimp as possible. I would literally eat myself sick. Presurgery, eating out was about quantity vs quality. I felt like I needed to "get my monies worth". Post surgery, eating out is about enjoying the experience-- good food and even better company. I order something on plan ( grilled or baked lean Protein and veggies). Eat what I can and box the rest if I want ( sometimes I don't and I've gotten past feeling wasteful). What I've noticed is that people are mostly self-absorbed, no one is paying as much attention to me and what I'm eating ( or not eating ) as I thought they would. Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

I live in the Midwest and everyone here is something -- hi protein/lo carb, Paleo, keto, I live in the Midwest and everyone here is something -- hi protein/lo carb, Paleo, keto, whole foods etc. I haven't had anyone blink an eye when I order/eat. Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

I simply reply " Oh yes, everything was great. I'm stuffed." Nothing more. Nothing less. No need to over explain. Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

That was actually one of the things I talked about in my preop psych evaluation. Culturally, black men appreciate a more voluptuous frame. When I was young and thin, everybody in my family tried to fatten me up. What most consider fat, we consider "thick". So yes yes and yesssss. @@mschan218 get ready to lose it girl. I haven't lost it all but I'm only 4 months out too. I had a nice butt before weight gain but I don't think its going to hold up much longer. I had a 38/23/42 measurement in high school mid 20's it was more like 40/26/45. So always small waist bottom heavy. @@losergrl75 my hubby met me in high school I was about 125 with those measurements. When we married 5 years later I was 125. So he's used to a smaller me... however he's really grown fond of BBW. I mean really. Like TMI his porn of choice is BBW. I'm afraid although this man has loved me through it all that I will not be as attractive to him. I know that's just my personal issue but it lingers... I totally get where you're coming from. I also met my hubby in hs when I weighed about 110 soaking wet. So he has seen me small, big and every weight in between. But he definitely loves thick women. He's in the fitness industry, so he thinks Serena Williams body is hot! Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

That was actually one of the things I talked about in my preop psych evaluation. Culturally, black men appreciate a more voluptuous frame. When I was young and thin, everybody in my family tried to fatten me up. What most consider fat, we consider "thick".

I think this is a very interesting discussion that brings up some different perspectives. Personally I talked about culturally how I thought losing weight would impact me during my psych evaluation. I'm African American and having a voluptuous figure is an aspiration for many women. I also know some people who are survivors of abuse and being overweight gave them a feeling of protection. Plus, there's always room for a little light hearted banter Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

Sammydress is one of those China based companies---their clothes run super small and hardly ever look as good as the photo. Google some reviews for them. A friend of mine who has always been like a size 6 ordered from them and even ordered up a size large due to the reviews. She ended up giving it to her daughter who is in the 6th grade and she's a 6th grader that is average height/weight for her age , so there is no way a woman's large should fit her.l And it was very cheap fabric! During weight loss phase , I found a nice Goodwill in my area and bought all most of my clothing from there. You do have to try everything on since stuff has been worn and washed, but I felt much better about paying $5 for a pair of pants I wouldn't be in for long. I also wore a lot of Walmart $4 leggings. Bought a size down since they are stretch and that way they lasted me a long time.

I'm very boring, plain old Water and it has to be room temperature. Cold still hurts my sleeve. I also drink coffee every day. And very occasionally I might have an unsweetened iced Tea with lemon. Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

I definitely miss my boobs and butt. That thing used to be cornbread fed and now it's flat and sad. I keep teasing my husband about buying some booty pops ( underwear with butt pads to make you look like Nikki Minaj) at the beauty supply store. I'm still paying off my surgery, but as soon that's done, I'm buying some new boobs! As weird as it sounds, I miss the bravado my large body gave me. Weighing in the same as most heavyweight boxers gave me a certain confidence in the ability to defend myself. I thought nothing of walking to my car after last call and would joke that I could hold my own against any man. At 5'2" and 147, I'm now pretty petite and would more than likely get my a$& handed to me in a fight.... Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

I was on the app via my phone which doesn't show the forum threads are posted to. Just realized this is in the male only forum. My apologies. Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

So far I haven't developed a kidney stone, but I have had 2 UTI since surgery in January. Prior to that, I hadn't had one in over 10 years. My PCP said several of his patients who had wls have gotten them when they previously hadn't had an issue. First one was admittedly my fault because I had been traveling and not hitting my Fluid goals. But after that, I made sure to get in my minimum 64oz and still got one. Since then, I only drink plain Water for my 64oz ( no crystal lite etc), might be coincidence but it makes me feel better to think that helps Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

I've been natural for about 7 years with the exception of color as well, I'm 9 months out and so far no hair loss. It's a little bit thinner, but only noticeable to me and my stylist. I have PCOS, so I was scared to use Biotin since it can make facial hair worse. Not sure if this helped or not, but I held out on getting a silk press until I was months out just because I wanted to put the least stress as possible on my hair. Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

According to the eating plan given by my bariatric team, I was "allowed" to reintroduce bread, rice and Pasta in moderation at 3 months out. I am currently 9 months out and for the most part still chose not to have them with the exception of the occasional 1/2 a low carb flat bread. I thought I would really miss all of the above, but surprisingly I don't. Most of the time, I'm even too lazy for substitute like zoodles , cauliflower rice etc. Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

I use the tortilla strips in the salad topping aisle, 2 tbsp are only 30 calories and 4 carbs.

I was allowed canned tuna in my puree stage at 2 weeks out and baked tilapia, swai, cod etc in my soft food stage at 4 weeks out. I was released to all seafood at 6 weeks out, I tried grilled shrimp around 10 weeks out and it was a no go. Still the only thing that has hurt my sleeve.

This is such an interesting topic and I am enjoying everyone's answers. I have changed my goal weight about a million times since I started my journey. My surgeon and NUT never set a goal weight for me , they only told me what was considered my excess body weight and the average % of excess body weight they see most patient's lose. I set an inital goal weight of 160--starting at 242 it seemed impossible to lose more than 80lbs in a year. It is just impossible to wrap your mind around the rapid weight loss phase until you're actually in it. I hit 160 at around the 6month mark and mentioned it to my surgeon at my checkup. Again, they never suggested an actual goal weight for me , but mentioned that most of their patients see the most significant improvement to health just from getting out of the obese BMI even if they remain in what is classified as an overweight weight. I had then revised my goal weight to 140 which would be just a hair over into the overweight BMI for my height. I also vainly thought it would be a nice number to tell people that I've lost 100 pounds, when asked. I met with my NUT this week for my 9month followup ( don't see surgeon again until a year) and told her I think I've changed it yet again to 145 lol I have been bouncing back and forth between 146-148 couple of weeks to a month. I'm 5;2" and this has put me mostly in size 8 pants ( some 6s thanks to vanity sizing) and Medium shirts/dresses and more importantly all my health issues are gone. Plus, I worry about setting my goal weight so low that I have to constantly diet to maintain. I know I will still need to be diligent about eating to plan, but I don't want to put myself in a position of subsiding on 800 calories a day for life just to maintain. I see folks post stuff like that in some of my FB groups all the time.They claim to be several years out , eating to plan but constantly having to do a 5 day reset just to maintain........

This! I keep wondering, ok what's next???

I'm 9 months out tomorrow and currently 147 which is 2 pounds away from goal. I should be over the moon ecstatic, instead the closer I get to goal the more apprehensive I become. I have yo-yo dieted for the last 15 years of my life. I've become a pro at losing weight, but I obviously suck at maintaining weight loss. In the past, I'll lose 40 gain 45 back. Wallow in misery for a while and then lose 35 gain 40 back. I'm sure you're all familiar with the pattern. I've been losing consistently for 9 months, it's the longest stretch of time that I have ever kept losing without becoming complacent. I worry about what will happen when the scale stops going down. Have I become addicted to the little rush I get every time it moves down? How will I handle it emotionally? In the past, if the scale wasn't going down , it was going up. I was shopping last weekend and realized I have never shopped with maintenance in mind. I bought my clothes with a disposable mindset because who knew if I'd fit them next week let alone next season! For the vets, how did you wrap your mind around maintenance? Thr realization that this is you forever, not just you for your birthday weight or swimsuit weight or high school reunion weight but forever and for reals weight??? Sent from my XT1565 using the BariatricPal App

As others have mentioned, a heating pad came in handy. I also bought one of those reclining pillows with the arms on the side, it was much easier to get in and out of bed or just more comfortable laying in bed, couch etc watching TV. I used a ton of chapstick.

It's weird because on the one hand, I am definitely feeling myself lol But on the other hand, I'm freaking out the closer I get to goal. I think the old worries resurface that this will be just another failed diet. It's hard to transition from the diet mindset to the lifestyle mindset. I guess I thought I'd have it all figured out by the time I hit goal.........