AEdoesRnY

Week two for me is basically clear liquids + strained, diluted soup and two protein shakes. Still no yogurt or anything like that. No pureed foods until 8/20!

I bought some of the “Cali’flower” pizza crusts for four weeks from now when I’ll be allowed to start solid foods, but I’m going to add this to my list too! I’m only in week two and I’m still on liquids but it’s never too soon to start daydreaming!

Wow!!! Congrats!!! What an inspiration!! I haven’t been in one-derland since middle school and can’t wait until I can join you!!

I was told I needed to strain mine, so I’m doing tomato soup and creamed soups and then straining it to catch any chunks...

I'm only a week out from surgery so I can't share experience about that part of things, but I will say that couple's counseling can be an amazing tool. My husband and I have been going for 1.5 years (mix of individual sessions and sessions together) and we really have learned and grown so much! Things are SO wonderful now compared to where we were!

Me please!! Let me know if you need help!

I’m excited bc my surgeon is adding strained Soup to what I’m allowed to eat today (only like 3-4 tsp at a time). BUT I’m also officially not going to see any real food until 9/3. Puréed (including yogurt and cottage cheese and stuff like that) starts 8/20. Ughhhh.

I love the selfies on weigh in days idea!!!

Just so you know, one shot of espresso actually has less caffeine than a cup of coffee! It's just more concentrated - so if you had 8 oz of espresso it'd have more than 8 oz of coffee, but since you usually get a 1-2oz shot of espresso you're actually getting less caffeine. I believe one shot of espresso=20-40mg whereas a cup of coffee is around 100-140mg. - Former Sbux barista

Thanks for asking this question! I miss sleeping on my stomach!! I've never been able to sleep on my back, ever, and that's been messing with my sleep post-surgery. The pain medicine helped me sleep the first few nights, but for a few days now I've really struggled to fall asleep and STAY asleep. I've started trying to be on my side here and there, but it hasn't been totally comfortable yet. I will try out propping myself up with a pillow and see how that works!

Have you talked with her? Does she share your concerns?

I definitely had the same attitude for a long time - since I'm getting the surgery, I can do whatever I want now. I thought to myself "it doesn't matter whether I lose or gain weight now, the surgery will take care of it". I really wish I'd spent more time building healthier habits - ESPECIALLY around working out - and I really wish I had lost more weight before surgery. Not by depriving myself, but by starting to be more mindful and planful about what I was eating, why, and when I was eating it. I just had surgery last Monday, so I'm not super far out yet, but I really do look back and wish I'd been starting to chip away back in January/February when I started this whole thing rather than waiting until surgery!

Hello! I'm on day 7 post-op and I'm getting excited for when I can sign up for a gym and start working toward some fitness goals. I'm curious how long you all waited before returning to/starting to go to the gym after surgery. I'm feeling impatient to get back to it but also don't want to sign up and then go and realize I'm not ready yet. I also have a couple good coupons/offers for signing up with no fees, so I'm trying to estimate how long it'll be before I'm back and if/when to take advantage of them. Thanks!

Question for those who are further along than I am...how long did you wait after surgery before going back to gym/starting to go to gym? I was between gyms and want to sign up for a new one but debating when to start the membership...

My mom was home with me through post-op day 5, but I feel like I would have been pretty good to go by day 3 or 4. I had some trouble bending/reaching, but I think I would have been okay. If you have the ability to have someone with you through day 4, I'd recommend it, but if it's hard to make that happen then I think you can just go with the first three!

For the first week, they want me to focus on 64 oz of fluids per day and working in one protein shake over the course of the day. After my meeting with surgeon tomorrow they should clear me for "full liquid" diet and I'll be having two protein shakes a day plus I'm allowed some soups (still no yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding, etc)

@geminisky I’m guessing it depends on starting weight, activity, and what kind of diet you’re cleared for. I'm wrapping up day 6 of post-op and I’ve lost 7.3 lbs since morning of surgery but I’m having only one protein shake spread out over the day and then water, crystal light, and broth. All of my “eating” is just 1 ounce per 10-15 minutes, total of 64 ounces by the end of the day (most of that is water...). I’d guess my calories have been 200-350 tops per day...

I've been considering a "smart" water bottle, as ridiculous as it seems to me. There are some on amazon ranging from like $19.99-$69.99. I have been thinking that something like that would help me remember to stay on track/motivate me, especially if I set small reminders to pop up on my phone/on my fitbit versa to check in with where I'm at water-wise. I DEFINITELY find it easier to get fluids in with a straw. I'm going to have to readjust on that front!

I'm in Minneapolis - what gym do you go to??

I will check them out! Thanks!!

Absolutely beautiful tattoo! I am thinking I will celebrate getting below 200 for the first time SINCE NINTH GRADE if/when I get there. I want to come up with an idea for something that has a lot of meaning for me, like you did!

Have you looked at skinnytaste.com? She has SO MANY great recipes! Also, during my pre-op I relied on sugar free jello pudding and sugar free popsicles - they both helped tame the cravings!

Agreed about “losing my fat identity”. My decision to do this was about my personal health and was not because I had a problem with my fatness or resented it. And it almost seems like people assume that’s the motivation for such a choice. Listen- if I had perfect health I would not have done this. Such endorsements make it almost seem like society feels like our bodies aren’t worthy of praise or love until they are a certain size- which is not true at all. The choice to do what we have done is deeply personal. You put it so well - when we get these kinds of responses it feels like we're being congratulated for finally conforming to what society wants from/expects from us. Have you read any Roxane Gay? She wrote a memoir about her body and her weight last year (called "Hunger", AMAZING) and wrote my FAVORITE article on WLS this past winter ("The Body that Understands what Fullness is"). She captures so much of what I've felt/thought about/worried about/etc. throughout my process so far. I can be a Roxane Gay proselytizer, I know, but she's AMAZING and I highly recommend her work if you haven't read it before!

I used chewable gasx and it helped a lot for me!

Thanks for the suggestion! It's basic but I wouldn't have thought about just putting gauze over the incision to protect it from too much rubbing/chafing! I feel like an idiot! THANK YOU!