biginjapan
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Everything posted by biginjapan
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Going through this on your own?? Feedback or opinions?
biginjapan replied to Aijan's topic in Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery
I went to Mexico from Japan by myself and have done the entire process alone - it's been fine. No complications, no help needed. I didn't fly back home until a week post-op though, because at the time I booked everything I was afraid of complications flying on a long-haul flight across the Pacific so soon after surgery, even though the doctor said I would be fine (and I was). I also had a plan in place in case I did need the extra help - like informing hotels in advance, having extra money for taxis, booking a business class seat, etc. In the end, the extra time and effort was unnecessary, but I'm glad I did it - if I had to do it all again I wouldn't change anything. Plus, it gave me a chance to explore San Diego, which I loved. However, I've been single for a long time, and am very used to dealing with things by myself (including being sick in a foreign country, multiple times). I guess for most people the emotional support is important, but even if you are by yourself, you'll very likely have support by those around you. When I had my surgery done, every person on the recovery floor (including the nurses) helped others as they needed it - some were in real pain, some needed someone to talk to, some needed encouragement to walk around - we all helped each other, regardless of whether or not the patients had companions or not. -
3 weeks post op VSG, gaining weight
biginjapan replied to j15big's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
@j15big: I was similar to you post-op. I lost about 13 pounds in my first 2 weeks post-op, then stalled for 3 weeks. Over those three weeks my weight would go up and down, usually between 1-2 pounds, almost daily (but never going below the "low" weight). Finally, my stall broke and I lost another 5 pounds. Then stalled. I just recently broke my 3rd stall. Now, I'm exactly 2 months out from surgery and have lost 30 pounds (54 in total including pre-op). Like you, I have almost no restriction. I can eat 2 eggs or 4 ounces of any meat (usually chicken or salmon) at one sitting, and still have room for some veggies. I recently flew to Germany and was given a very nice lean steak for my "diabetic" meal (I thought it would be the most bariatric diet friendly). I was able to eat most of it, I'm guessing around 4 ounces (that was one month post-op). Unlike other people's programs, my nutritionist recommended never going below 800 calories a day (not that counting calories is important) to avoid going into starvation mode. That said, regardless of how much I think I'm eating, the end result is that I usually stay between 8-900 calories a day, with over 100g of protein (I let fat fall where it may). I have no problems eating protein bars, but try to avoid them - just use them for emergency situations. I agree with the others though - your "food" in your daily sample seems to be a lot of artificial food - like the diet drinks and protein bars. Even though I drink one (sometimes 2) homemade protein shakes a day, my meals are always with real food - eggs for breakfast, chicken for lunch, salmon for dinner (and veggies on the side for each). All other liquids are water or herbal tea (I like mint tea because it's good hot or cold). Although I'm getting better at recognising when I feel full, it's not like how others mention here, feeling sick or nauseous or in pain. I try to be conscious that just because I don't feel these symptoms, that it's not necessarily good to keep on eating. Also, I try to finish eating within 20-25 minutes. If I can't, it probably means I have too much food and should save the rest for later. I don't really get hungry (only when I eat things I shouldn't, like protein bars), so I find that I can get by with eating less rather than mindlessly cleaning my plate while watching YouTube videos, which is how I got here in the first place. Anyway...just my take from the peanut gallery. -
Can you use Tums after surgery
biginjapan replied to Elizabethtash's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Have you tried GasX? A lot of patients (including myself) found it to be quite helpful when dealing with gas after surgery. -
PSA: Chicken Soup Protein Mix
biginjapan replied to ChaosUnlimited's topic in Protein, Vitamins, and Supplements
I agree that clumps of protein powder is gross (I've only had that with cold Quest protein powders), but there is a way around it. I haven't used this mix as it's impossible to get or ship to Japan, but I have mixed unflavoured protein powder into soups. There's no need to drink them cold! First, thoroughly mix the protein powder in some cool water or soup (just enough to mix it up). Then add it to the rest of your soup (or water, in this case) and slowly heat it up back to a temperature that's agreeable to you (but probably not boiling). There should be no clumps involved at all! -
My 2-month surgiversary is today! Down over 50 pounds since I started the pre-op diet in January, down 2 clothing sizes and one shoe size (back to my normal size 8). Completely revamped my closets with "new" clothes from storage. Stalled at the moment but hoping to see the scale move soon!
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@Newme17: Boobs are so individual, it's hard to know what will happen to them! By measurements I should be something like a double D or larger, but the reality was that I was at best a D. I was never a big girl to begin with - for most of my life I've been a B, it's only the last 8 years or so that I crept up the alphabet. I'm definitely now losing a lot of boobage - I'm already down to a C cup, and the ladies are swinging past my knees (just a little exaggeration!). Starting this month, every month for the next 1.5-2 years I will putting away some money for a future boob job - regardless of what happens to the rest of my body, it's the first thing that will need to be fixed (maybe in conjunction with, what will like be, some bat wingage).
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Waist Trainer Suggestions
biginjapan replied to PrettyThick1's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Why do people still believe in waist trainers? They do not help in any way, there are numerous articles and hard research about this. All it is is a corset to give you a slimmer waist WHILE wearing it. Once it's off, your shape goes back to normal and you will have a weakened core, not strengthened one. Also, your shape depends a lot of your genetics (and age) - outside of diet/exercise and/or plastic surgery, there's really little you can do about it. (don't mean to be a downer, just keeping it real). -
Big calves-anyone lose any calf weight/inches
biginjapan replied to Kennalb's topic in Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery
I'm also part of the big calf group. I'm definitely pear-shaped, with most of my weight below the waist, so I think big calves are just part of the package. That said, I haven't lost much in inches down below, since it appears the fat is slowly disappearing from my body from the top down. I definitely have lost a shoe size though! I'll be doing my measurements tomorrow so I'll know how many inches I've lost from where then. -
4 weeks out and haven't lost in two weeks!
biginjapan replied to Jnette1979's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I agree - don't freak out (I know that's easier said than done). You've hit the dreaded 3-week stall! Just keep to your plan, whatever it is. I was sleeved on Feb. 9 and have 3 stalls since then (I had a 3 week stall beginning at the end of the 2nd week post-op). Then I dropped 5 pounds overnight and the weight kept coming off. Then I had another stall before heading to Germany (one month post-op). I didn't weigh myself during that 10 day trip, but when I came back home I was down 12 pounds. Now I've been stalled for almost 2 weeks, but I know the weight will drop again. My stats are similar to @SalZ - I've lost almost 30 pounds in 2 months post-op, and 50 pounds since I started the pre-op diet. It's working, and it'll work for you. -
Mexico Location's - Please Help
biginjapan replied to I'm Changing 4 Me's topic in Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery
Great! Tomorrow will be my two-month surgiversary (wow, that's the first time I've written that). I've lost 50 pounds so far from my highest weight, almost 29 pounds since surgery (first time I've written that too). It doesn't seem like much compared to others, but I don't really compare myself to others, just myself. I haven't been this low a weight since 2012! I've gone through a few stalls already (currently in one) but I don't let them bother me. That said, I haven't been tracking like I should so I will be getting back to that to see if it helps. One problem I have, which isn't really a problem, is that I have no restriction. I never have, not even from day 1 post-op. To be fair, it does take me a while to eat or drink, but even after a month out 1/2 cup to a full cup of food is no problem for me (of course, getting close to a cup can be very filling). I have no aversions to any food, which is why I am very strict about not even sampling a little bit a trigger food for me (like chocolate or fried food). Luckily though, I don't have any cravings, and I don't long for any particular food or drink. I've recently been going through my closet and my 12 (!) storage containers of clothes - I've gone from a 3x/24 in pants to a definite 1x/20, and some brands I can get into an 18 or X. Tops I'm already down to an 18/16 or L size, and I'm down a band/cup size for my bra. Shoes are the biggest win - I've been a size 8 most of my life, but the last 2-4 years I've had to wear wide size 9's because of swelling in my feet and fat. But I can now toss those big shoes because I can fit into all of my old shoes. That makes me happier than anything else! Tomorrow I'll do all my official measurements to see how far I've come that way. Anyway, back on track, all the women in my life (friends and co-workers) have definitely noticed the change (I haven't seen most of them in 2 months since we were on vacation) and they have made really positive comments to me (I've still told no one about the surgery, just focusing on the high protein, low carb diet, which is also true - lost 23 pounds in 3 weeks pre-surgery that way). None of the men I know have said anything to me, which makes me wonder if they've noticed, or if they are just reluctant to comment about a woman's weight to her face (even something positive). -
6 months! Before, 3 months & 6 months photos!
biginjapan replied to sarahblu's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
Fantastic! You look great and I love your new haircut! -
5 month post opt pictures
biginjapan replied to vannababyy22's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
Wow - you look fantastic! I really need to start working out more (more than walking) and your success is a real motivator! -
Back from Germany and have lost almost 7 pounds on that trip (10 days). I didn't weigh or measure anything, but after a month of post-op foods I knew how much an appropriate portion size would be. Still, it was hard to find a variety of food that I could eat, and I mostly relied on eggs, cheese, and sliced meats for my protein/nutrition, plus protein shakes (I brought my own powder to mix) and vitamins. Also started eating a variety of different veggies, all with no problems. Caved in and ate some fruit sometimes (raspberries, blueberries) and fruit-based yogurts (despite the sugar) because they looked so delicious and unlike anything we can get in Japan. Also learned that I can eat just about anything (tried some small sausages, and a couple bites of bread, among other things) without a problem, so I'll always have to vigilant about what I eat since my only restriction will be the size of my stomach and nothing else.
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Thanks! Actually, now that I'm back I'll probably go back to counting/measuring for a while, just to get back on track. I'm now 6 weeks out from surgery which means I am no longer restricted from anything (healthy), not that that's been a problem for me! Ordered the diabetic meals for the plane rides (going to Germany was great, coming back was not) - the first meal I had was a steak! But it went down no problem (about 4.5 weeks out from surgery). Not that I'll be eating red meat every day, but it's nice to know that I can.
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It's the weekend! What was your NSV this week?
biginjapan posted a topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
So I've been a little down (but not too much) since I've been mostly stalled for the past 2 weeks (the weight might go down a pound or two, but then I regain it back). I know things are changing though, because I've definitely lost weight all over - I measure everything (head, neck, upper chest, breast, lower chest, waist, hips, and both right and left of the following: arms, breasts, thighs, calves, and feet (around the arch).) I've lost in every category. However, I don't know why, but I haven't been trying on smaller clothes, although I haven't been this weight in over 3 years! Well, I was packing for a trip tonight, and decided to try on some old or never worn clothes, and yay! I can fit so many clothes now - old favourites, and some I've never worn. I was giggling like a schoolgirl - I wanted to take photos of every outfit! So that's this week's NSV - mostly stalled, but wearing clothes that have been buried at the back of my closet for ages! Oh - and almost all of my shoes now fit (in fact, my regular shoes are too big!). That's 2 for the price of 1! What was your NSV (non-scale victory) this week? -
It's the weekend! What was your NSV this week?
biginjapan replied to biginjapan's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
I'm currently on vacation in Germany (so good for the diet!😒) and I'm very happy with myself for not giving in to any of the free chocolate, candies, or alcohol that has been offered to me while I was here. Yesterday I had to sit in three different chairs with arms, and could fit into all of them! I haven't been able to weigh myself, but things like that make me happy as I know things are progressing as they should. -
I must be an outlier. For the first three weeks I went 3-4 times a day, but now it's only 1-2 a day. 😉
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I'm having trouble with my chewable vitamins
biginjapan replied to Misskimmeth's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
What about regular vitamins? I got a bunch of chewable and gummy vitamins before surgery because I was worried I would have problems swallowing pills afterwards, but I haven't. I'm still going through them, but as I finish them I'm returning back to the regular pills (except calcium - man those are big! (but I found a smaller tablet I can swallow for that). -
So How Many Of You Guys Want To Actually Get Down To A Normal BMI?
biginjapan replied to Proud2BMe's topic in The Guys’ Room
Sorry guys! Most of us will never be professional athletes who have so much muscle that our BMIs don't reflect reality. However, with this being the guys room, I could understand how BMI might not be an important measure since a lot of men who lose weight also do a lot of weight training. -
So How Many Of You Guys Want To Actually Get Down To A Normal BMI?
biginjapan replied to Proud2BMe's topic in The Guys’ Room
My lowest adult BMI was 23, which I was at for barely 6 months. I was a healthy overweight person most of life, active in a lot of sports and eating fairly healthily. So yeah, I'd like to get back there. My goal is to hit 24 BMI, cause I can't imagine myself any thinner, plus, it gives me some wiggle room in case I do regain a little with the "bounce back". But who knows - I may change my mind if and when I get there (which will admittedly be quite a while from now). -
Day 3 post-op, BMI 35, quick recovery but what next?
biginjapan replied to Jaguarftype's topic in The Guys’ Room
So, I'm not a guy, but like you, I had no pain post-op and have felt great ever since. My biggest issue was that I could consume more than recommended, or what other people could handle. For example, 1 or 2 sips or water was not a big deal for me, nor was half a cup (day 2 post-op when we were given liquids). I'm a month out from surgery now and I usually eat 1/2 cup to 1 cup worth of food at a sitting - something I shouldn't be able to do 6-12 months from now (based on what i've read of other people's experiences). I'm not overeating - I'm in the calorie range recommended by my NUT, and I get 80-110g of protein in every day, and I keep my fat and carb levels low (I try to keep carbs lower than fat grams, but that doesn't always work out). That said, now that I am eating real foods, I do feel the restriction more - I often have to put the leftovers of my meal away for a small snack later on. So the restriction so far has mainly come from eating meat (chicken) and eggs (if I have more than 1). I'm trying hard to stay within recommended limits because I realised that I probably wasn't feeling anything because of the nerves being cut in my stomach. So unlike those that have a hard time with it physically, I have to deal with it mentally and remember to slow down and not worry about finishing everything on my little plate. In the first 2 weeks post-op I got all my protein from shakes (that I mixed myself, not the premade stuff, which I don't really care for). When I was eating strained soups I added unflavoured protein powder to that (make sure to mix it with cool water first, before putting it into the soup, otherwise it'll clump.) Now that I'm eating more food I only need one shake a day to make sure I hit my minimum goal (which 80g at the moment). Anyway, good luck and let us know how you go. -
Wow - great story and I think most of us here can relate. Good luck with your surgery on Monday!
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The scale finally moved down a little today - that makes 40 pounds lost! It's hard to believe that number even though I know it's true.
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So I just arrived yesterday. Having a hard time finding food to eat other than cheese. That said, it's forcing me to try other things. Still trying to find soy or almond milk for my shakes.
i did buy two shirts small yesterday. I know I shouldn't, but they were too cute to pass up. Officially they are a size 8 or 10 in US sizing, but based on what I saw in the States, they would be considered a 12 or 14 there.
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Everyone is different. Some have a rough time after surgery, some don't. I didn't. I never had any nausea, very little if any fatigue. Day 4 post op I did 10,000 steps and day 5 over 20,000. I will say I did have to push through some fatigue when I started walking, but once I did, I was great for the rest of the day. Since then I have been doing somewhere between 10-15,000 steps a day. Luckily for me, I have 2 months off work (natural school holiday) but I could have gone back within the first week. That said, although I had energy, I didn't really have to concentrate on anything, so that could have made a difference. Also, I noticed in the first 2 weeks post-op that I felt more tired and more fatigued the more I rested. The more I got up and moved around the better I felt. However, like I said, everyone is different. The best thing to do would be to book as much time off as you can (2 weeks sounds good if you can manage it), but if you feel better sooner than expected, then you could go back earlier, maybe starting with half days, just to see how it works out.
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I used to drink Diet Coke/Coke Zero a lot - at least 16oz a day, but often twice or three times that amount. I had that habit for about 20 years. I gave it up cold turkey 3.5 years ago and I haven't missed it since (this was long before I ever decided to have bariatric surgery). Yes, I did have some cravings in the first couple weeks afterwards, but I was able to overcome them, unfortunately with other sweet things, like chocolate. I've heard from people that giving up soda also curbed their sweet cravings, but that wasn't the case for me. In fact, my sweet cravings went into overdrive. But eventually I was able to deal with that too. Based on what I've read, here are the reasons why any kind of carbonated drinks are not recommended, at least for the first six months (or ever): while it does not stretch your stomach, it probably feels like it does, and can be very uncomfortable for you you should be trying to keep the acidity of your stomach down, not increasing it empty calories - do not be fooled by the "sugar-free" label. Yes, you may not be consuming calories, but the rest of your body (your pancreas in particular) still thinks you are and will secrete more insulin to deal with the anticipated sugar rush. Of course, there is no sugar, but what happens over time is that you end up becoming more and more insulin-resistant and/or pre-diabetic/diabetic (if you aren't already). if your stomach is full from carbonation you won't have room for the food you really need soda, for many people, often accompanies other foods they shouldn't be eating, like pizza or burgers or fried food or chips or...You may have trained your body for years with those kinds of associations. It may be a slippery slope to start drinking soda again and not want a bite or nibble of something to accompany it. most people who admit to drinking soda weekly or somewhat regularly again have lost most of their weight and/or are in maintenance. That's a much different situation than being within 6 months of major abdominal surgery. In the end however, it's up to you. To the OP: I noticed that your profile says that you are pre-op. Like so many other habits (coffee, smoking, alcohol, etc) this is one addiction that you should probably get a hold of before surgery. The more you can deal with these things beforehand, the better.
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That I don't know! Hopefully someone who runs this site will read this and be able to give us an answer. Also - in the "status updates" bar on the left, just below the title there is a space that says "What's on your mind?" You can add your update there too, or do you not see that either?
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Yeah, I keep fumbling around with this since the new update. But here it is: In the top menu bar, next to your username on the right, it should say "+Create". If you click on that there is a dropdown menu and the very first item is for status updates! Actually that create button is a shortcut to all the main things you may want to do on this site. Cheers!
