blizair09

I am one year post-op. I can eat about 3 ounces of meat at a time with 1.5 ounces of green beans. I could probably eat more than that, but I don't eat until I am "full." I focus on specified amounts and meeting set macros each day. That being said, for the last few weeks, I have found myself not being able to eat what I have easily eaten for months and months now. I am hoping it is just a phase and it will pass soon. I have a checkup in about a month. If it isn't better then, I'll talk to the NP about it.

I'll echo what the other said, and add that you probably had the typical "three week stall" during this period of time. You probably didn't lose anything for a couple of weeks. Most of us went through that. Stalls suck, but they are more prevalent than periods of loss post-op (at least in my experience). The key is to keep to your plan, especially during these frustrating periods. The weight will come off, and you will get where you want to be. Good luck!

I have no regrets at all. I'm in the best shape of my adult life and I am finally living the life that I was meant to live. All of the hard work and sacrifice is worth it. Food is just food, and it isn't worth all the misery that obesity brings with it!

I bought myself a first class ticket to London to visit friends in November!

At one year post-op, I have cut out pasta, rice, and carbonation. I will probably never have any of those things. I still follow a keto way of eating; therefore, I keep my carbs below 25 grams per day. So, I have little to no sugar. That is my choice, not my body's demands or anything. As far as alcohol goes, I have some sort of alcohol (usually vodka, water and Crystal Light Lemonade powder that I take to the bar with me) just about every weekend, and when I travel for work (60%-70% of the time), I often have a glass or two of red wine with dinner. I have found that my tolerance is now back to about where it was before the surgery. I have absolutely no issue with the alcohol whatsoever. Like @OutsideMatchInsidesaid, I just allow for the calories on days that I am going to have drinks. (Though, to be honest, I need to get my calories up some to make the weight loss stop, so I haven't been as much of a stickler about it lately.) I haven't tried beer, mostly because of the carbonation issue. And as much as I miss it, and I do, I've adjusted to drinking other things. For the record, I first had alcohol at three months post-op, and there has never been an issue. I've lost 217 pounds (from almost 400 pounds), and am happily at goal (180 pounds). YMMV.

I use all of the sweeteners (depending on what is around) and I log them at 0.5 grams of carbs per little packet. I just tally it in with my other carbs, and keep them below 25 per day. I'm a year out, have lost 217 pounds, and am at goal. It hasn't impacted weight loss at all. In fact, I'm concerned about how to make the weight loss stop!

Roughly every 2-3 hours or so. (I still eat that way. More every 2 hours now.)

This is what I had on Day 36 post-op. (Keep in mind that at this point, I was still advancing through the food stages. I didn't get through all of that until 8 weeks post-op.) The numbers represent calories, carbs, and protein from left to right. I agree with @OutsideMatchInside, if you can eat "anything," you should focus more on lean protein that will keep you fuller longer on fewer calories. Thursday, November 3, 2016 (Day 36 Post-Op) 1 scrambled egg 070 0 06.0 1/3 piece of Daily Chef American Cheese 024 0 01.5 1 Kraft string cheese 080 0 07.0 2 oz salmon 090 0 11.5 1 oz green beans 030 2 02.5 1/3 tsp Olive Oil 013 0 00.0 113 g cottage cheese 110 4 13.0 1 T sugar-free strawberry jam 010 2 00.0 2 oz salmon 090 0 11.5 1 oz green beans 030 2 02.5 1/3 tsp Olive Oil 013 0 00.0 1 Kraft string cheese 080 0 07.0 2 oz salmon 090 0 12.0 1 oz green beans 030 2 02.5 1/3 tsp Olive Oil 014 0 00.0 113 g cottage cheese 110 4 13.0 1 T sugar-free strawberry jam 010 2 00.0 91 oz water 000 0 00.0 16 oz Decaf Iced Tea 000 0 00.0 1 stevia packet 000 0.5 00.0 TOTALS 894 18.5 90.0

Even at one year post-op, I still have 4 oz of cottage cheese with 1 tablespoon of sugar free strawberry preserves stirred in once a day. 120 calories, 13 grams of protein, 6 carbs. It doesn't give me the same protein that I get from the meat I eat most of the day, but it does give a little sweet that keeps some variety in my day.

I am one year post-op on Thursday. My best advice is to do whatever it takes to change your relationship with food. Make food fuel, not a reward, not a comfort, and not a friend. Nothing about this journey is sustainable without making that change.

I was such a ridiculous Diet Coke addict pre-op, that I know I can never bring it back (whether my body will tolerate it or not). Actually, now that I think about it, I stopped soda 3 days before my surgery last year, which was September 25. That means I have been soda (and carbonation) free for one year as of yesterday. I didn't even realize that until just now. That amazes me!!

I, too, remember this day. At my Casual Male, they almost looked at me like some kind of traitor. Damn, that **** was so expensive. It is amazing how many cute things I can get for cheap from the mall on just about any day these days!

I'm the same way. After losing 216 pounds, I still struggle with seeing the old me sometimes. And being newly single (after 8+ years, no less) and back "out there," it is weird to me that I am getting hit on by all of these hot guys constantly. Trust me, I am adjusting to all of it, but it is still so much to take in sometimes. A few weeks ago, I went to Dillards to buy a couple of new outfits to wear out that weekend. I had to buy a small shirt and size 32 jeans. When I tried on the Medium, the sales guy was like "you need a smaller size." When I said that would be a small, he said "then you need a small." As I stood frozen in amazement, he asked me what was up and I took him through the whole story. While he was flatteringly amazed (he was cute, btw), I think I was more amazed. It is certainly a very different life, and no matter how long this journey has been going on, and how strong you are, it is a lot to adjust to...

Congratulations!

I'm glad everything went well. The first few days are the worst, but you'll rebound quickly. Wishing you the best!

I freeze the portioned chicken and then defrost what I need each day. That prevents waste (although I eat most of it in a week since I eat the exact same things every day). The green beans have always gotten eaten within a week. I never freeze those.

Meal prep has been a key to my post-op success. I cook up 5 pounds of chicken breast and then break it into 3 oz portions to use throughout the week. I do cook my daily hamburger steak and salmon fresh. I also cook up a big pot of green beans to use throughout the week. I do the green beans and chicken for convenience. When I do eat out (which is mostly when I travel for work), I order whatever meat/salad/green veggie combo I'm going to get, and I do take the leftovers in a box. I usually end up using it somehow, but often times, I throw it out and get new the next time (especially since it is all going on my company AmEx.)

For the first many months post-op, I would lose 8-10 pounds in as many days and then stall for 10-14 days. Then the cycle would repeat. Just stick to your plan; meet your protein and water goals, and the weight will start to come off again.

I have always skewed my food so that I had more in the evenings. I do this by not eating until about 10am and putting a little extra time between my meals in the early afternoon. I have always wanted to eat more in the evenings, so this trick has served me well during my post-op journey.

I'd suggest that you get your diet centered on lean protein, get your calories around 1200-1400 per day, get your carbs below 25 grams per day, get your protein around 100 grams per day, and get your water consumption around 100 oz per day. I'd also suggest that you start tracking everything you eat and drink every day, and commit to exercise 5 days per week. Basically, get back to basics. It always works!

I order some kind of meat and either a salad or green vegetable. I eat what I can eat and box the rest up. I've been open about my journey, including the surgery, with anyone and everyone, so if they don't know about it before the meal, they'll know before the end of it.

My problem with this is that it is hard to visualize a healthy balanced diet without tracking and planning. At some point, I can see it tapering off, but I can't imagine how to begin such an endeavor without being very, very specific. In my case, I'll likely track for the rest of my life. It would feel weird for me not to do it after all of this time.