TakingABreak

I can't wait until I can shop anywhere. Regular women's sizing will be fantastic. It's so hard to find fashionable, reasonably priced, plus size women's clothing without shopping online. Sometimes you don't have time to order!

This is so insightful! A lot of people assume insecurity in overweight people. Weight doesn't dictate personality 100%, it may mold us to a degree, but an introvert is an introvert.

I feel like I'm taken more seriously.

I like this a lot! I feel like true authenticity is so hard to achieve. Congrats!

Sugar isn't in everything. Stear clear of dairy, fruit, processed foods, and you will eliminate 90% of the sugar in your diet. If you eat yogurt, choose Greek yogurt with less than 20 carbs per container. Fruit and other dairy products are not necessary for nutrition. Don't get me wrong, I eat those things, but I don't have problems with loosing at the moment. Simply put, eat lean meat and non starchy veggies. It sounds boring, but it works! Meat---->Veggies---->Repeat. As far as the fiber goes, you can add a soluble fiber to your water intake. You can find some that are tasteless.

Amen! This is priceless.

The last picture ^^^ was this right before your tummy tuck? the reason I ask is, I wonder sometimes if my stomach is a lot of skin, or if it's still a lot of fat. I don't know how to tell. When I think of loose skin, I think that it wouldn't be firm like fat is. Your opinion is appreciated.

Besides physical change of weight loss.... How have you changed since you started this journey?

This is very interesting to me, how you describe your dumping symptoms. I feel like this has happened to me before and I didn't realize it was dumping. Hmmm, I will def keep better track next time.

I still eat very quickly, but just less. I know this isn't recommended, but I always found it impossible to spread 2-3 oz out over 30 mins.

I wouldn't recommend stocking up. I have WAY too many boxes of SF popsicles and things of bone broth.

I think it was @Creekimp13 suggested to me sugar free Kool-Whip.

Everything @allwet said. Also, your protein drinks and other liquids count toward your water intake goals. I could never drink straight water, so I drank bone broth, crystal light, and tea. I also did Protein Water and shakes. Remember, when you are on liquids, you don't have to worry about stopping drinking 30 before, 30 after rule. Its not until you get to the purred stage that you need to stop drinking before and after. Which, it sounds like you may be there now. I would add unflavored protein to your soup or baby food. It will help you hit the goals for the day. And drinking is a full day challenge. You have to sip ALL day long. Even when I would go take a shower, I would leave my water bottle on the bathroom counter.

AWWW such a good story! What-a keeper!

I drink from a straw all the time, and have a blended protein smoothie every day, also drank from a straw. If I'm extra gassy because of that, I don't notice it. I do have gas, but its become a part of normalcy for me.

I'd suggest posting a daily example of what you eat in a typical day. Also, include exercise and activity levels. We can't help by what you've given us to go by. I suggest using a food diary app, so we can see your MACROS, ect.

I use Bio Oil on my face and I love it. There are many vets who can vouch for its effectiveness. You can buy it from Walmart for under $10 for the small bottle. I apply it twice a day.

It does get easier. I was "lucky" to almost have slight case of food aversion from week 3-7. So nothing looked appealing and it was easier that way and even the sight or smell made me sick. However, when my appetite came back, I didn't crave the same foods. I'm over 4 months post op and I actually, had some potato chips over the weekend. I felt so sick, and I threw the bag away. So even when I "indulge" my pouch slaps my hand and discourages me from doing that ever again. A lot of people go through emotional struggles after surgery. I'd recommend establishing with a therapist and talking out the changes to your body. You will inevitably have changes in family, friends, and co worker dynamics. It is a lot to juggle.

Glad you are feeling better Matty and that you are reaching your goals!

Here's my top 10 tips! Start altering your diet now. Cut out processed food, or at the very least processed sugar. Practice eating your protein first and then focus on non-starchy veggies. Find something that you like to drink that doesn't have calories. Try different caffeine free teas and water additives. I still can't drink plain water....so you want to have something on hand that you know you like. Cut out caffeine. Most programs allow caffeine back in relatively quickly, but caffeine can hinder your body's ability to heal. You don't want to go through caffeine withdrawal along with the aches and pains of surgery. Don't use protein shakes before you absolutely have to! I made the mistake of supplementing some of my meals with shakes to "prepare myself" for the pre-op diet. Big mistake. You will get to the point where they are DISGUSTING, and you don't want to increase the timeline of that by drinking them before you need to. Start incorporating exercising (even if it’s just walking) somewhere in your daily routine. It will make it easier if it’s already a habit. Practice chewing your food at least 20-30 times before swallowing. Muscle has memory and it will be so much easier if you already have this habit. If you screw up and swallow too soon after surgery, you will pay the price. Set timers and don't drink and eat at the same time. I highly recommend having at least 1 visit with a therapist to establish with someone for after surgery. It’s not required, but everyone seems to have some emotional struggles afterwards. Whether its 2 weeks, 2 months, or 2 years you may struggle with the changes. I personally wouldn't share with people, unless you know they will be 100% supportive. It is nerve wracking already and you need nothing but positivity. Plus it’s a lot of pressure from people who know you've had WLS, versus people who think you are on the weight loss track. People think that the weight is going to melt off after surgery, and sometimes it doesn't. You don't want the extra judgment. ***Newly Added**** Don’t engage people with people who say “WLS is too dramatic” or “You could just diet and loose the weight” or “You aren’t big enough for surgery” or “It’s the easy way out”. SCREW THOSE PEOPLE, they don’t know. They will never know how triumphant our victory will be. I would also remember that you need to make time for you! Make the time to shop healthy, meal prep, cook healthy, and plan ahead. And I’m talking to all the selfless mothers, fathers, husbands, and wives. We give so much to our families, but NOW is the time to focus on ourselves. We are doing it for them, after all. We are doing it to prolong our lives and improve the quality of our lives. Come up with a reward system of sorts. You want to acknowledge your successes. For my 50lb mark, I went and got pedicures with my girlfriends. For my 75lb mark, I bought myself some new dresses. For my 100lb mark, I already bought myself a really nice full length mirror.

Just because you haven’t lost a lot of weight, doesn’t mean you are failing. At a low BMI, you may have slower loss. Don’t let this discourage you. The point of the preop diet is to shrink your liver and something to do with bacteria in your gut. You are doing the right thing, hang in there!

Thank you so much! I followed the plan to the letter! I worked out 5 days a week. I have my top 10 tips I can comment with tomorrow, saved on my other computer. But all in all, I’ve been blessed to have really good success.

I’m not a “vet” by any means but I’ve had a lot of success since my surgery and I’ve been on this site for a good 9 months. And I love being a part of this community. So I want to say this first, I posted in Rants & Raves for a reason.... - “I’m 5 day’s post op and it’s not working”. Miracles don’t happen overnight. The amount of people who think that they will wake up from surgery feeling amazing and all their problems solved. SMH - “I haven’t lost anything in 3-4 months and I’m 6 months post op”. I’m all about helping but I hate when people post about how they aren’t loosing and then don’t offer any information on their diet, exercise, vitamin intake, ect. And half the time they drop off the face of the earth when you ask them.....SMH - The pre-op diet sucks, that is all. SMH -“I’m still hungry”. I hate that a common misconception that hunger is going to disappear. It doesn’t happen to everyone. But common sense would tell you that, liquids aren’t filling. Wait until you are on solids again to worry about your hunger levels. SMH Ok I’m done! Thanks guys for letting me get that off my chest. Some days you just have to rant. And PS. I know that people don’t always know the stuff I mentioned above, so when I’m not overly irritated by these gross misunderstandings about the process...I’m happy to help!

“This is my 8th day post gastric sleeve”

Sorry, one more thing. It’s not like them praying for you is going to send you to hell or anything. It’s harmless right? ?