biginjapan

19 minutes ago, adkmalik said:

I love bullet journaling! I am not using one for this, but I probably will start now that you mentioned it. I do use a medicine/vitamin tracker that is pretty darn impressive (bullet journal style) but I keep it on a clipboard with my Vitamins.

I also received a very nice journal for Xmas from a friend. I changed the cover, added some washi tape & added my days before surgery, surgery day & post-op days. Each day I track (also use Baritastic App), I have the date, days post-op, doc notes, quotes, funny observations, recipe ideas, or products that I've heard about. I look forward to seeing what you do with yours.

I agree, as much as I love the apps, there is something wonderful about paper & pen!

I'm so happy to hear that! I was a little dismayed to find no reference to bullet journaling after a search on this site, when it seems like it would be a great way to track everything, have goals, etc. and have everything all in one place. I also use(d) Baritastic (and others) but I see the bujo as a way of supplementing the apps, rather than replacing them. It'll be a lot easier for me to gather the raw data from the apps (especially the macros) than to have to figure that out all myself.

So far what I've been trying to do is have a weekly spread for everything - meals, Water, supplements, macros, exercise and a few other goals (like no eating after 8 p.m.). It doesn't leave a lot of room for anything else, but I think I've gotten a spread that I like since I want to minimise the number of pages I need to make (!) and will have to actually use. Last night I spent some time making an outline of how many pages I'll need for what, and so far I've got 20 pages (goals, quotes, photos, year at a glance, progress tracker, NSV page, etc.) before I even get to the first weekly tracker!

Yes, it's normal (although everyone is different). I also find that the heavier a person is, the more they lose on these types of diets. I've noticed this not only on sites like this, but also when I was a part of weight watchers. People who were morbidly obese had very large drops of weight on any kind of restricted diet (10 pound or more a week), where as that would be both unusual and alarming for anyone who was within a normal BMI range. The first time I did this I lost 21 pounds in 21 days during my pre-op diet (of course it was not one pound a day, it stalled and dropped over 3-5 days usually, but the end result was this). I'll be starting my pre-op for my revision surgery in February, so hopefully I can get similar numbers.

@Hop_Scotch Yes - actually that's the original concept, although a lot of people have taken that idea and run with it, some so far as to creating whole works of art with it. Here are some examples that I was thinking of:

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a19957500/bullet-journal/

https://myinnercreative.com/using-my-bullet-journal-for-weight-loss-tracking-planning-and-71-examples/

I like these spreads from Etsy, but I'd rather make my own:

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/475115332/bariatric-surgery-weekly-food-exercise

I had a sleeve done three years ago and will be going in for a revision to bypass in March. I really want to do more to keep myself on track, and thought about having a dedicated bullet journal just for this - goals, trackers, etc. Of course, I already use apps to track food and macros, Water, step count, etc, but they are in different places and, having just started bullet journaling for another part of my life, I’ve realized how much I miss actually writing things down and having more space to write about high points and low points, as well as a place to keep photos, etc of my journey. I’ve done some research online but most bullet journals just have a one page spread for the month tracking exercise or water or whatever, there are very few ideas out there about setting up a journal for those of us going through bariatric surgery (pre- and post-op diets, liquid/purée/soft food stages, etc). Just curious if anyone out there has set up a journal for themselves and are willing to share the kind of spreads they made. I’m currently sketching out a few ideas and will share as soon as I can make them somewhat decent.

I can't help you with your questions, but I just wanted to let you know I'm on the same journey. I was sleeved in 2017, lost 100lbs and have since gained back more than half of that. After reading the forums and consulting with some surgeons, I'll be having a revision to bypass in early March. I'm hoping that that, plus following some version of a low-carb/keto/paleo type diet, that I'll be able to keep the weight permanently off.

I live in Japan and had my surgery in Mexico, so flew home about a week after the flight (I could have gone sooner, I just added a few extra days for my own piece of mind). That's Tijuana to San Diego (car), train to LAX, flight to Seoul, then to Japan. To be fair, I did book a business class ticket for my flight back because I knew I wanted to lie down for the long-haul flight. Three weeks later, I was on another long-haul flight (economy like usual) to Germany. For both I wore compression stockings (which is standard for me now anyway). All was fine.

The worst part of flying after surgery was not being able to eat or drink any of the much better offerings in business class, but they did come by to refill my Water and Blender Bottle (for Protein drinks) every so often, and they did help me with my bag since it was too heavy for me to lift above my head post-op.

Unless your doctor has any concerns I think you don't have to worry about flights at all.

I had my sleeve done in 2017, lost 100 pounds, gained half of that back, and am now looking to have a revision to gastric bypass early next year. Am frustrated I failed the first time around, and that I didn’t go for a bypass in the first place. I’d be interested in joining the group.

I had a gastric sleeve done in Tijuana a couple years ago but after the initial success I have since gained back about half the weight lost, and am now looking for a revision to gastric bypass (I've done my homework, this is the best option for me). I wish I had done it in the first place, but I at the time I thought a sleeve would be good enough, but it wasn't. In any event, I've been looking at reputable places to go to that don't involve going back to Tijuana. Because I don't live in North America, getting to San Diego is problematic and I would prefer not to have to travel through the States at this time (fly direct to and from Mexico). I've been looking at Puerto Vallarta as an option, but would love to hear other suggestions, since 99% of posts here seem to be for Tijuana. It also doesn't have to be Mexico, anywhere else in the world with reasonable costs and reputable hospitals would be okay too.

I'm 2.5 years out and I can tell you that although I had some restriction after surgery (mostly, I think due to the swelling of the wound and the time it takes to heal), by 6 months out I could eat what others could only do at 2+ years out (full chicken breast, some veggies, etc.). I never felt a restriction the same way that others have mentioned - I could move ahead much faster in trying new foods post-op than what was recommended (I didn't, but could have). Now I'm looking at getting a revision to bypass because clearly the restriction of the sleeve did not work for me. I know it's not just the sleeve, part of it was the mental side of things. For me, I've come to realise that there is no going back to normal eating patterns. The new food/portion control is for LIFE. Fail at that, the sleeve can fail (at least, it did in my case).

I remember the day after my surgery crying to one of my doctors that I didn't believe that they did the surgery (despite the scars and tubes and everything else) because I wasn't in any real pain, had no nausea, and was full of energy, the complete opposite to every other patient in the hospital when I was there. She told me I was one of the lucky ones that come out of surgery feeling good and that I should be thankful for it. She then showed me a picture of my stomach that was cut out (to prove it) and said that it was longer than usual. I sometimes wonder if, because of that, I didn't have the same restriction as others.

Anyway, long story short, everyone has a different reaction post-op to surgery. You may be someone who feels restriction years out so it will help you keep portions small. You may be someone who feels less restriction as time goes on, which means you have to have the mental strength and determination to stick to what is right, and not be distracted or influenced by others in what you eat. Either way, the best way to keep your sleeve small and unstretched to be vigilant in Portion Control and drinking protocols. Maybe forever.

I got the sleeve back in Feb '17 and now am in full research mode to get the bypass done sometime early next year. I should have done it in the first place, but like many others, thought the sleeve would be less invasive and I wouldn't have to worry about supplementation the rest of my life. But since the operation I've have had very little restriction and the only thing that kept the weight off was sticking to a very strictly controlled low-carb diet. Once I tried to integrate back into regular life (albeit with smaller portions) I gained a lot of weight back. It's clear I have a sugar addiction and I hope the bypass will cure me of that through negative reinforcement (although I know that's not guaranteed). All my attempts to "reset" my sleeve have failed, so I hope this process will be the one that sticks.

I too am struggling with regain. I lost 100 pounds in my first 8 months (about 2/3rds of what I needed), and then slowly started adding more (let's face it, carbs) to my diet and since then I've gained back 30. It's very frustrating for me and I've been debating getting a revision myself. But I refuse to do it without making a real attempt to get back on track, which started today! (Hopefully it works, this is not the first time I've tried to do it).

It's also my return to this site in a long time - it's been so long that the last time I was here I couldn't be considered a veteran, and now I am!

Along with photos, don't forget to take your measurements too!

Yes.

Are you taking photos? Sometimes a side-by-side visual from where you started and where you are now can show a difference that you can't see from day to day. Have you tried taking your measurements? That can provide a real numbers that things are changing. Also, even if your regular clothes feel the same (remember, larger plus sizes can accommodate 20-40 pounds of weight gain/loss), perhaps you can try some smaller clothes that were too tight for you in the past. I was surprised at how well some clothes fit after 20/30 pounds lost. Grant it, some were a little tight, but considering I couldn't even zip or button them up before meant that things were changing.

One more thing to consider as you lose weight - of course, we all want to avoid spending money on new clothes as we drop weight, but I think most of us are able to "shop" in our closets for smaller clothes, at least for a while. That said, look at your clothes - do the pants/skirts have elastic bands, or are they button/zip? How fitted are your shirts? Do the collars on shirts look bigger (your bra strap is showing). Where are the shoulder seams - are they hanging down the side of the arms? How much material is there in the underarms? It's not about whether or not you fit inside your clothes, but do they fit you? I have to say people noticed my weight loss a lot more when I wear clothes that fit me properly.

Great article that explains how our brains work both with and against us. I know for myself that it does take a long time to form new habits and ways of thinking (especially when it comes to food), but I've had successes with it both pre- and post-surgery. I do slip up on occasion though, but luckily my sleeve prevents me from falling off the rails too much before I can right myself again. Now I'm trying to work on my triggers (which is mostly not being prepared, food-wise, during and after long days at work) to really get me to good place that will help me to continue to lose weight and then maintain once I'm at goal.

Of course you should talk to your doctor/therapist (when you find one), but I wonder if it's the carbs that are derailing you. They certainly do for me. I was pretty good in the beginning about tracking my food and macros, but since I mostly eat the same thing all the time, it got pretty boring so I stopped. However, I've been losing weight steadily in the 8 months since surgery. That said, over the summer I started eating more carbs that usual - lots of fruit, an occasional wrap here and there, a chai latte, etc. And I noticed a few things. One, I started getting hungrier. Two, my weight completely stalled (and in fact, went up a few pounds). And three, I noticed that unlike protein-dense foods like chicken, most carbs went through my sleeve with no problem - I could eat them all day if I wanted to. So I've gone back to (mostly) what I had been doing before (low carbs - not quite Keto but pretty close) and guess what - my weight is starting to go down again on a slow but steady basis, my cravings have stopped, and I'm more mindful about what I eat.

We are all different, what works for one may not work for another, but perhaps you really do need to think about the carbs you are putting into your body and if that makes a difference. The sleeve has forced me to eat less per sitting and has reset my body to help me lose weight, but I've quickly learned that I cannot go back, even a little, to eating what I used to eat before. It's too slippery a slope. Which sucks because there are a lot of (high carb) foods out there that I love but that I know I probably won't eat again for a very long time (if ever). I know you're an aspiring gourmand, but you may have to channel that energy into foods that are good for you and your sleeve. Also, I don't know how old your kids are, but you may want to talk to them about having only good foods in the house for a while (so no pringles or ice cream) to help you stay on track. Temptation is a hard thing to get over, and it takes a long time to truly get over the things we love (if ever). In any event, good luck.

I just cleaned out my closet again. I have 6 storage boxes of clothes ready to be gotten rid of, but unlike those of you in the US and other western countries, my options for getting rid of the clothes here are pretty limited. When I have some time, I'll photograph most of them and put them up online to see if there are any larger women living in this area will want them.

Another terminal single here. It's been so long since I've been with anyone or dated that I'm actually afraid to count back the years to see how long its been (definitely more than 10!)

However, even when and if I get down to my goal weight and get some plastics done on the body parts that need it, I'm not sure that I'll ever find someone. The reality is for me in Japan is that Japanese men have never shown any interest in me (other than for sex - I can't tell you how many times I've been offered money in the past - I think it was because of my boobs and my overall confidence (I look people in the eye, smile, and say hello - just being friendly, but you can't do that as a woman here).) The foreign men here are mostly interested in Japanese women, if they're not already dating or married to one. And honestly, at my age (43), I think it would be hard to find anyone no matter where I was. I'm so used to being invisible that its just the way it is for me.

As Introversion said, anyone can lose weight. Keeping it off long term is another story. I was more successful with my pre-op diet (21 pounds lost in 21 days) than I have post-op; however, my weight has continued to go down, however slowly, over the past 8 months, and that's something that has never happened before. I already know from going off-plan a bit this summer that I will have to be smart about food for the rest of my life. But without the surgery I wouldn't have a chance to keep it off.

A lot of people feel the way you do pre-op, but I think it's like pre-wedding jitters - you're just trying to find something to convince you not to do the thing you're worried about, even though you've been working towards that goal for months (if not years). But really what you want to do is have the surgery. It's helped so many people to not only lose weight, but to keep it off for good.

Personally, for me, I don't view plastic surgery as a reward - it's the end part of the entire sleeve/weight loss process. I don't know how much I'll need, but boobs and arms will definitely need to get done.

Rewards for me will be activities and experiences that I've always wanted to do but that I never did because of weight issues - like learning how to scuba dive (somewhere fantastic, like the Great Barrier Reef), or climbing Kilimanjaro, or seeing gorillas, or hiking to the lost city in Colombia, or going skydiving/bungee jumping (despite my fear of heights), or walking the pilgrimage trail to Santiago de Compostela, etc. I'm not saying I'll be able to do (or afford) all of these things, but any one of them would be a real reward to me, and would signify how far I've come in my weight loss journey.

I'm almost 8 months out. In the immediate pre- and post-op sleeve environment, it had a really profound effect - changing my relationship with food, getting a full-body "reset", having little to no hunger, much more energy, etc. I never had any problems with any food or drink along the way. But I have since learned the hard way, that that's not necessarily a benefit.

Over the summer I was travelling, for basically 4 weeks, and it became difficult to stay completely on track the entire time. So, occasionally at first, but then with more regularity, I started trying more foods that I've been avoiding - wraps for lunch, chai tea from Starbucks (the only thing other than regular tea that I can drink there), and other foods (mostly carbs) that I told myself were a one-time only thing (like my dad's birthday cake). But once I started introducing carbs/sugar back into my life I noticed 2 things - one, that my cravings came back with a vengeance, and that I didn't feel full or satisfied as I had in the past; and two, that my weight loss came to a complete and absolute standstill. It's clear that I can eat anything - I did not have any negative reactions to anything that I tried - therefore, I know that I will have to vigilant about food for the rest of my life. It's taken me a couple weeks to wean myself off the carbs and back into a proper diet, much harder than when I did the pre-op diet. It's been a real wake-up call for me. So I'm thankful that my sleeve (and the effects from it) is preventing any demotivating weight gain, and that I have a chance to get back on track.

I think it's possible to wear a size or two that's too large, but then things just look bad (although that depends on the cut of the clothing and your body type). I thought leggings would last me a long time, and they have, but only with multiple safety pins pinning back all the excess material (I wear them at home only). I was a 24, now I'm down to a 14/16. Unfortunately for me I live in a country that does not have thrift stores with any clothes that would fit me (even if the size was correct, the shape would not be) and I have to look professional for work. So I just spent a lot of money on clothes - about a 1/3 of the clothes fit me right now, another 1/3 are the next size down, and the final 1/3 are 2 or more sizes smaller than what I am right now. So it seems like a lot, but really it's not. On top of that I was able to go through all of my old smaller clothes sitting in my parent's basement, so that has given me a few more clothes and shoes that I can wear in the (hopefully) near future.

You're lucky you live in the US - you have a lot of options available to you for smaller clothes that are fairly cheap, I would totally go for those. You can re-thrift them when you are finished, and in the meantime, you'll feel and look better in clothes that fit you properly. Even though I barely lost weight over the summer, most people at work keep commenting on how slim I've become, and the only difference between then and now is that now I'm wearing clothes that fit me properly. It makes a big difference.

Congratulations! You look great and are a wonderful inspiration to everyone here!

My mother had pin-straight hair before having kids; after all her pregnancy-related Hair loss, what came back was darker and curlier that what she had had before (sandy brown hair to very dark, very curly brown-black hair). My hair is still falling out, but I think (I hope!) I've got some new growth coming in - if it is, then it appears to be the same as before. I was worried, because I thought the same thing that happened to my mother would happen to me!

I chose 140 because that's the high end of the normal BMI range for my height. It's also the same weight I was at my thinnest, when I was 24 years old (actually, I probably was down to 135, or even lower, but I didn't have a scale and 140 is the last number I remember seeing). If I get to 140 I will have also lost 50% of total body weight from when I was at my largest, so it's a nice number to aim for. If I go lower, no problem. It gives me room for a little "bounce back" which often happens, and if it does, will probably be easier to maintain.

Interestingly, in Japan 22.9 is the high end of the normal scale, 23-24.9 is overweight, and anyone 25 and up is obese. So I'll probably never meet the "normal" weight limits on my yearly health checks, even though that BMI scale is meant for people of Asian descent. Recently I went home for a visit (and much needed clothes shopping), and my family, friends and random people (like shop assistants) refused to believe that I am still obese - again getting to the idea that we as a society have a skewed view of what is "normal" weight. Even my Western friends here in Japan don't believe that I could still be considered obese. Grant it, I'm very close to just being overweight, but still...

I had my surgery back in February and I still haven't told my family about it. Only a couple of friends who live in other countries (!) know. I'm not married or in a serious relationship, nor do I have kids, so I did want some people to know before surgery, just in case. Even though I haven't told my family, co-workers, and other friends and acquaintances, most people have been supportive of my weight loss efforts so far, and I'd like to keep it that way (although my parents are encouraging me to keep my old fat clothes, "just in case." I want to tell them that it's not something I will have to worry about). I did have a few people ask me if my weight loss was intentional, and I have to admit I was touched by their concern.

I've always been a private person so it's not unusual that I've kept this to myself. That said, if someone asked me specifically about it, I wouldn't lie, but I have a feeling no one will do so.