1poundatatime

I love spaghetti squash! In a few weeks I'll have loads fresh from the garden.

I cook it a few different ways. Baked (or microwaved) and topped with butter and pepper is good. Or be fancy and top with things like bacon, grilled chicken, parmesan cheese...

It's also a great replacement for spaghetti noodles (or other pasta). Just top with sauce

Congrats!

It's the little things that make me smile every day!

salad with Protein is my favourite lunch. I'm 4 months out and know how much I can eat at a sitting, so I measure out my protein and veggies and eat them together.

I had a doctors note stating I needed 3 weeks off for medical reasons, but didn't say why and they aren't allowed to ask.

After surgery though, I've told everyone!

Definitely! There are so many ways to track your progress! Use them all! scale, body fat %, measurements, photos, NSV

Lots of good points have been made... better sleep, more energy, increased ability to play with kids, new wardrobe...

But for me that biggest realization lately is that I feel like myself again. I didn't even know how encumbered I was by my weight, but being free from it is amazing. I am more outgoing, stand taller, and feel like ME. It's hard to explain. Somehow, over the years I lost myself and eventually I hardly even recognized myself if I caught a glimpse of my reflection.

Doing this was an important exercise in making myself, my needs, my wants, my health a priority. As a mom (of 5) it's easy to put everyone else's needs first.

I've always loved a relaxing bath with a good book and can soak for ages... However, I did that less and less over the years as the tub had to hold more of me and less water!

As I sat in the bath today, I noticed I don't fill the width of the tub!

By the time I reach goal weight, there will be room for two

I eat a little fruit daily. Carbs aren't a huge problem for me. I only have fresh fruit, small portions (track every bite) and combine with Protein.

Don't add fruit until you are consistently reaching protein goals is the advice I received from my nutritionist.

Peanut Butter and apple slices are delicous! And so are fresh berries with yogurt

Your surgeon should have given you instructions stating when you're good to shower. I was allowed the day after surgery.

Congratulations! Glad it went so well! Trying on your clothes will be a whole new experience with such a different shape overnight!

Glad you're ok (and I bet you won't eat a bagel again!) and congrats on the new job.

I've learned the hard way too that I need to really plan out each day - what I'll eat and when. I always have a snack in my purse. Nuts or a Protein Bar travel well. And I keep a water bottle in the car.

Kayaking! I've never tried because I was mortified by the thought of not fitting in the seat!

Definitely go see your doctor.

Meanwhile, bumping up your fluids is a good place to start to rule out chronic dehydration.

I had loose stools until I was got back to eat more solid food, then things settled down.

Huge congratulations on your progress and for being able to see yourself through new eyes! You have every reason to be proud!!

Hi!

I started this journey weighing 258 lbs and in the 6 weeks pre-op I lost 23 lbs, which put me at 235 on surgery day.

The surgical experience couldn't have been any better. I was up walking the halls 1 1/2 hours post-op. Minimal pain. It just felt like I had done a TON of sit ups. I know some people have a horrible time with gas pain, but I had none. I spent one night in hospital and was discharged first thing in the morning. The best things you can do is move - walk, walk, walk, get some sleep, and keep sipping your water!

Post-op things have gone well. Track your Fluid and Protein intake and aim for getting in a little more each day.

I'm 10 weeks post-op now and just entered "onederland". I now weigh 198.6 So 36 lbs since surgery! I feel amazing and am so happy with my decision to have surgery as well as how things have gone! I couldn't have dreamed of a better experience.

My best advice is to take good "before" pictures of yourself - face and full body - and take measurements! That way when the scale seems to be stuck, you can track progress in other ways. Pulling on jeans that I couldn't get over my hips a couple months ago is the greatest feeling!

Good luck with your surgery!! Keep us all posted on how things go!

1 hour ago, forgetmenot said:

Alright so no part of me holds the view that I'm too good to date someone who is formerly or currently overweight. But since 3 or 4 consecutive members interpreted my words that way, then I should accept all the blame for my lack of eloquence particularly with respect to the last sentence.

Just to provide a little bit of context, out of the dozens of encounters I've had so far, the only ones who were interested in getting to know me further were overweight guys and the coffee date guy. A few of the overweight guys even explicitly told me that they prefer someone thinner but couldn't attract them and have to settle with me. A few of them insinuated the same thing and at a speed dating event, the organizer even told me to assume this was true for all interested guys (guess I am not invited back there again). Except for the handful of jerks who explicitly mentioned my weight, I have been pro-actively conversing with all of the interested guys but as expected, most are not going to work out due to preferences over hobbies, smoking/drinking, distance, kids, pets, etc.

My concern was that maybe the coffee date guy still has an overweight mindset in the sense that he prefers someone thinner but still considers himself unappealing to those women and has to settle with me. In fact, I should retract that last sentence altogether and replace it with "I wish I had the assurance that this particular guy would still like me regardless of his past weight history".

Anyways, hopefully that clarification soothes everyone's anger. If not - apologies in advance.

Ahhh, this I understand and do see where your coming from. Disregard previous posts

I'm sorry you've had such terrible dating experiences. Those guys who said they prefer someone thinner, but would settle for you are losers.

As for the coffee date guy... if you enjoyed meeting with him and he seemed like a nice guy, then meeting up again! It isn't fair to judge him based on those other guys and the only way to really get to know him is to spend time with him. Meanwhile, I think you have to trust that he is genuinely interested in you unless he doesn't something that indicates otherwise!

I'm just over 2 months post-op and the mom of 5. I hear you on the exhaustion!

For me the biggest help was increasing my intake to the point where I'm getting approx 1000 calories/day. Once I reached that, I started feeling more energetic.

How many calories are you getting in?

It makes me sad to think anyone would feel that someone who has lost a substantial amount of weight isn't a good catch...

In a genuine loving relationship that doesn't matter. I gained 60 lbs since getting married. My husband loved me the whole time and he loves me the same now that I'm losing. Finding out someone lost a bunch of weight shouldn't be a deal breaker and the fact that it is would be a giant relationship red flag for me.

This is a good point too about possible regain.

I've got 5 kids (ages 11, 10, 8, 6, and 4).

I told them a few days before surgery because I didn't want them to worry OR to blab it to everyone. I explained the surgery itself and that I was doing it to be healthier. The 4 year old didn't really "get" that, so I also said it was make me run faster I also told them that health information is private and it's my news to share. Other than a preschool prayer request for "Mama's operation on her tummy" I think they've kept fairly quiet about it. lol

The kids have been awesome supporters! They cheered me on when I graduated from full fluids to purees to soft foods and to regular textures and comment on my now too loose clothes. The other day my 8 year old said, "Mama, even your FACE is getting skinny!"

1 hour ago, forgetmenot said:

Thanks everyone! The date went well. The only unexpected wrinkle was that he volunteered the information that he used to be overweight and he talked quite a bit about his exercise/nutrition routine to keep the weight off. On the one hand, it seems great because it would be natural to open up to him about my own struggles at a later time. Having said that, I also wonder if a guy as attractive as him would be interested in me if he didn't used to be overweight. I like him alot but I just feel like I want a shot at guy who has never had weight problems.

Anyways, this thread is turning out to be quite a therapy session for me. I appreciate all the words of wisdom from those who have gone through this.

What the heck is this about?? And coming from someone who understands what it's like to struggle with their weight, this is incredibly hypocritical!

Sounds like you're looking for a trophy not a relationship.

I don't see any need to mention anything about your weight - past, present and definitely not in the future! Get to know this guy, have fun, and if thing develop further then cross that bridge when you come to it.

12 hours ago, FatPharm said:

I wish I could learn to like cottage cheese. I'm not a big cheese person and those little curds...I don't know. I was looking at the cottage cheeses in Wegmans yesterday. Maybe I will try it. Any brand suggestions?

I'm in Canada and the brands are different, but definitely try a few types. There is only one brand I like, the rest turn my stomach and seem to have a weird taste.

(go for full fat! So much tastier!)

I definitely could have walk something like that at two weeks out. Just don't push yourself and skip the obstacles.

Have fun! And wishing you a smooth recovery