MrsGamgee

Right now I'm thinking 140 for my goal, but I just can't visualize that, and I'm hopeful that goal will change as I get near to it. But if I did the math on the formula you shared above correctly, I would end up in the mid 170s, and that is NOT acceptable for me. My new mantra is "be an outlier".

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This one struck me as hilarious because it's me exactly when I feel Thanksgiving-full from a 1/4 cup of greek yoghurt.

Probably not the smartest plan to be looking for sweet treats so early in your journey. Can set up some unhealthy patterns for the future.
Try to figure out what it is about ice cream that you're really craving... is it the cold? (blend a Protein Shake with a bunch of ice cubes for a frapaccino like texture) Is it the creaminess? Add 1/2 a banana to your Protein shake. Is it the sweet?
Whatever it is that you really are craving, there are better alternatives for you. And I also suggest spending some time learning how head hunger is different from real hunger. It really messed with my head, particularly the first couple of weeks when I was living on greek yoghurt and pureed Soup.
Stay strong. You can do this.

My first cycle post op was on schedule... ish. It was a really wacky cycle, with several days of spotting before anything really happened, and then it was hard core intense for 2 days, then done. Surgery itself can mess us up royally, and then throw in the estrogen (was stored in fat) that's currently being dumped into our systems, the sudden lack of nutrients/vitamins, and our poor bodies get thoroughly confused. I've read some women take a few months for things to regulate again post op.
My personal hormonal battle right now is wicked acne. I've never had acne like this before, even in high school.
Hope things even out for you soon!

While not strictly a before and after, I did some meal prep for the week and I'm excited! I know these are all variations of brown mush, but they are yummy brown mush.
In the middle I have chocolate Peanut Butter overnight oats. All approved by my RD. 1/4 cup servings all around. When I'm able, I'll reduce the amount of oats and add in chia seeds like I did before surgery.
The bowl on the left is Asian inspired ground turkey (onion & garlic powders, dried ginger, five spice powder, a splash of soy sauce, and some chicken stock).
The bowl on the right is tex-mex inspired ground turkey (onion & garlic powder, ground cumin, coriander, chili powder, chipotle powder, Tomato paste and some chicken stock).
I'm so excited to be cooking again, and to be trying different things!
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Went for my first real walk post op today. Did just under 3km slower than a herd of turtles, but I did it. And I saw some lovely blooms along the way. It's almost lilac season... yay!  

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I wish I would have had the opportunity/wisdom to pursue surgery at a much younger age. It could have saved me so much heartache and $$ (all those years of failed diet programs, diabetes/hbp meds!).

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My weirdest one... not having to analyze a parking spot to see if I will be able to open the car door wide enough to get in and out.

Others...

Go on rides with my wee-lings at the fair.

Weigh less than my hubs (which I achieved last week!)

Not worry if a lawn chair will hold me.

New, pretty clothes!

Feel confident going into a job interview.

Not constantly be calculating if I will fit into somewhere... not as in 'will they like me?', but rather 'will my fat behind fit down that aisle'.

Be at a restaurant and not worry about others judging my food choices.


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Back in January I started recording my measurements. Today I'm down 17 inches...

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I eat between 600-750 calories a day, and I'm 6 weeks out. I know that once I'm able to ditch the Protein Shakes that will come down. Exercise isn't consistent yet (that's July's goal), but I'm shooting for 5km walk per day, 5 days per week. At least for the good weather months.

I eat between 600-750 calories a day, and I'm 6 weeks out. I know that once I'm able to ditch the Protein Shakes that will come down. Exercise isn't consistent yet (that's July's goal), but I'm shooting for 5km walk per day, 5 days per week. At least for the good weather months.

I'm hopeful that my first stall (hit right on time in week 3) is finally easing. I was bouncing around in a 3lb range for 3 weeks (a lot of threes there). All I can say is keep on plugging away. The scale will begin to move again soon. One thing that has helped me this week is that I've been taking my measurements once a month for the last few months, and while the scale is being uncooperative, the measuring tape has been super nice to me... an inch off my neck in the month of June alone.

Hi all,
Just about 6 weeks out from surgery and I've been having some issues with eating real foods. Not any one thing consistently, but getting the foamies/slimies/vomiting just about every day for the last couple of weeks. And it's gotten me wondering... what are the foods that you all just can't do any longer? And if you're further out from surgery, have you found that you were able to eat them later on?
I totally get that everyone is different, I'm just curious about the experiences of others.

I'm still very early days post op, but I think it's important to consider why you're thinking about surgery in the first place.

I'm known for being a foodie, an adventurous eater, and honestly a damn good cook. All that said, I had to decide if that part of myself was more important than my long term health. Diabetes was my motivation and my family was the match that lit the spark. What wouldn't I give up for a better chance to see my wee-lings grow up and to grow old with my husband?

Now that I'm on the far side of surgery, I'm finding myself excited by the prospect of experimenting and coming up with tasty combinations of foods that will fuel my body and still feed my desire for creativity in the kitchen.

I don't think it had to be an either/or situation.

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I'm still very early days post op, but I think it's important to consider why you're thinking about surgery in the first place.

I'm known for being a foodie, an adventurous eater, and honestly a damn good cook. All that said, I had to decide if that part of myself was more important than my long term health. Diabetes was my motivation and my family was the match that lit the spark. What wouldn't I give up for a better chance to see my wee-lings grow up and to grow old with my husband?

Now that I'm on the far side of surgery, I'm finding myself excited by the prospect of experimenting and coming up with tasty combinations of foods that will fuel my body and still feed my desire for creativity in the kitchen.

I don't think it had to be an either/or situation.

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I'm still very early days post op, but I think it's important to consider why you're thinking about surgery in the first place.

I'm known for being a foodie, an adventurous eater, and honestly a damn good cook. All that said, I had to decide if that part of myself was more important than my long term health. Diabetes was my motivation and my family was the match that lit the spark. What wouldn't I give up for a better chance to see my wee-lings grow up and to grow old with my husband?

Now that I'm on the far side of surgery, I'm finding myself excited by the prospect of experimenting and coming up with tasty combinations of foods that will fuel my body and still feed my desire for creativity in the kitchen.

I don't think it had to be an either/or situation.

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This is from 10 years ago, when I was at my non-pregnant heaviest. My hubby and I took the trip of a lifetime to NYC as a much delayed honeymoon. We walked and walked and walked through that week and I was in so much agony the whole time. I've lost and gained and lost and gained and lost since then, and today I'm 71 pounds lighter than in that picture and moving toward something that is going to help me get much healthier. This is motivation for me... never again.

I'm clinging to that promise that things will get better too... it has for countless others, it will for me (and you!) too. I've been dealing with similar situations with regards to eating, pain, and the added bonus of vomiting. It basically comes down to me eating too fast, taking too big of bites, and not chewing enough. There's also the possibility that your body just isn't ready for whatever it was you were eating. If you are having problems with meats or whatever, going back to fluids/full fluids/purees for a few meals can help.
Are all your follow ups with just your surgeon? That seems odd to me, but it may attributable to the differences between the US and Canadian systems. I will only see my surgeon (a decent guy and great surgeon, but definitely not in this because he's a people person) if something needs to be fixed. I see my assigned nurse and my dietician, both of whom are much more personable and helpful when it comes to explaining things and answering my questions. Surgeons are the big picture guys, the support staff are there to walk through the day to day stuff.
Hang in there! I know you don't want to hear it, but it will get better. Trust the process and listen to your body. You aren't alone.

I'm clinging to that promise that things will get better too... it has for countless others, it will for me (and you!) too. I've been dealing with similar situations with regards to eating, pain, and the added bonus of vomiting. It basically comes down to me eating too fast, taking too big of bites, and not chewing enough. There's also the possibility that your body just isn't ready for whatever it was you were eating. If you are having problems with meats or whatever, going back to fluids/full fluids/purees for a few meals can help.
Are all your follow ups with just your surgeon? That seems odd to me, but it may attributable to the differences between the US and Canadian systems. I will only see my surgeon (a decent guy and great surgeon, but definitely not in this because he's a people person) if something needs to be fixed. I see my assigned nurse and my dietician, both of whom are much more personable and helpful when it comes to explaining things and answering my questions. Surgeons are the big picture guys, the support staff are there to walk through the day to day stuff.
Hang in there! I know you don't want to hear it, but it will get better. Trust the process and listen to your body. You aren't alone.

Of course, everyone's tastes are different, but that first taste of pureed cottage cheese or refried Beans was absolute heaven! And I lost about 14lb in the first two weeks, but keep in mind that there are many factors that determine how much an individual will lose, and at what rate. Comparison is the thief of joy, as they say.

Of course, everyone's tastes are different, but that first taste of pureed cottage cheese or refried Beans was absolute heaven! And I lost about 14lb in the first two weeks, but keep in mind that there are many factors that determine how much an individual will lose, and at what rate. Comparison is the thief of joy, as they say.

Maybe a little bit of both? We are all super critical of ourselves so we are quick to point out our self-perceived flaws, but we're also so accustomed to what our arms look like and so it looks normal-ish to us all.

I'm on board too...
June has been kind of hit and miss for me. The 3 week stall really got in my head and, combined with other unpleasant post op stuff, I sort of lost focus. I need to get myself recentered and up my activity level. I'm hopeful that the stall is maybe busted and that the scale will start moving again. And while I don't have the equipment to do all the exercises listed, my arms need a lot of work.
Me in a nutshell:
RnY mid-May 2019 Current weight: 215.8lb July Goals:
Walk 5km (using nordic walking poles) five days a week Do arm workouts/photo challenge daily Participate in Camp NaNo (a creative writing challenge... 25000 words in 31 days) Look super-awesome at my hubs' high school reunion

I find the idea of it surprising as well. I had a relatively easy go of it (no nausea, minimal pain), but I still needed the full two nights of care. If you do go that route, I would look into home nursing care for a night or two.

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I eat between 600-750 calories a day, and I'm 6 weeks out. I know that once I'm able to ditch the Protein Shakes that will come down. Exercise isn't consistent yet (that's July's goal), but I'm shooting for 5km walk per day, 5 days per week. At least for the good weather months.