BeanieSprouts

Thank you everyone so much! Rationally I know everything you are all saying, but it's so nice to hear it from someone else. ❤️

Congrats on having surgery, and I'm so happy to hear you're doing well! I did the same thing, actually, and weighed myself right when I came home from surgery. Bad idea, I'd gained like 15 lbs and my family was like terrified I'd be upset. I just took more pain pills and took a nap. lol. My highest weight was close to yours, 360! I feel like admitting it is so powerful, like there's no reason to be ashamed. I'm not less of a person because I weighed 360 lbs, and neither are you. You're about to go through so many changes, and I hope you know that you deserve all of the good that comes with this. You're amazing, wonderful and so strong. You're just getting started on his journey, and that's amazing! I wish you luck, happiness and so, so much positivity.

That is SO frustrating and upsetting! You are so close, and you can do this! I promise. It's a minor set back, the universe telling you that it's not the exact time. You're still on the road there, just a slight detour. Some traffic. You got this, and when you get your clearance you're gonna ROCK it!

Good Morning! I need a bit of a dose of reality from you guys, and I would really appreciate some feedback. I work in an office with a girl who went to the same surgeon I did. We had our surgeries done about 2 months apart, me first and hers second. I know she's still in the honeymoon phase (and maybe I am too, I'm less than a year out), but she eats SO MUCH more than I can and eats SO MUCH that I can't. We talk often about foods we can and can't eat. She recommended eating sweetened condensed milk because it "slides down", talks about how she can polish a whole bottle of wine off on her own nightly and eats fried chicken sliders multiple times a week. She still eats french fries, ice cream, cake, cookies and chips. I'm not looking to change her behavior, I know that's not possible nor is that my problem. My issue is that because she's a lighter weight than I was starting, she's visibly lost more weight than me and people in the office are commenting. If I pass on a piece of cake, they say I shouldn't because "well SHE'S having one!" and while I don't listen, it makes my life harder. Admittedly I'm jealous that she seems to be putting very little effort in and seems to be doing well. I am not undermining my own progress, I've lost 120 pounds so far, and 90 alone from surgery. I have completely overhauled my diet and life. But I am still jealous of her ability to eat whatever and still lose weight. I know in rational Beanie-Brain that she is not set up for success and that makes me sad, but it doesn't change how I feel about this. Someone please tell me that I'm not a loser for refusing all cake and candy in my office and that my emotions are irrational?

Waiting is so frustrating, especially when all you want is to know WHEN it's going to happen! Hopefully it's this year or very early next year! When is your appointment with your doctor? You can do all the reading in the world and still be nervous! it's major surgery, and being a little scared is completely normal. I journaled for the month or two prior and it really helped me work through it! ❤️ keep us updated!

Binge eating is an unhealthy coping mechanism, so I'm going to talk about it the way I would any other one. You haven't failed. You've taken one step back but the point here is to get back up. You can do this, you're stronger than your cravings are. Relapse is a part of any recovery, and surgery for obesity is no exception. It's not going to be easy. Change never is, especially when it's been a pattern for so long. You're used to reaching for chips, or popcorn, or anything else salty. Eating 35 tortilla chips once is not a make or break moment. How you respond to this is going to be very important. You are not a bad person for eating chips. You are not a bad patient, you have not failed. You are going to sit down and look at it like this: You binged after your surgery. Surgery is emotionally taxing, and because your diet has been very restrictive the cravings have been intense for you. You are going to make a CHOICE to not eat any more chips. It will be hard, you're going to have to work. But, always remember that you can do it. You're in control here, you can decide what to eat. Your cravings are just that, cravings. You got this! If you need more support we're always here for you.

Start VERY slow, especially if you're nervous. Have only a TINY mouthful of puree and wait to see how it sits for you. It may make you feel sick, and eating more than a bean-sized amount at a time can make that worse. Listen to your body, you'll know when it's time to stop. Trust me. lol. You can do this!! I had a tiny amount of pudding first and it was pure bliss.

Yesterday I fit an ENTIRE TOWEL around myself. EXCUSE ME?????!!!! Unheard of. Fake. Unrealistic.

Great job!! Don't forget YOU did this!! The surgery is a tool, but you're putting the work in and seeing the rewards! You can do this, you got this, keep moving forward!!! ❤️

My first puree meal was like two spoonfuls of refried beans and OMG that was honestly a religious experience. The heavens opened up and Gabriel himself came down to bless my baby dish. lol. You're doing great!!

OMG you are SO beautiful, before and after surgery! Your hard work and dedication to a new way of life is so inspiring. Also, honestly YOU ARE JUST SO PRETTY WOW GOSH. Your smile is so contagious. You can see how happy you are! Great job, i hope you're truly proud of yourself!

That salad sounds AMAZING. Mashed cauliflower is making it to my baby plate too! My parents are the sort who forgo vegetables and instead have like...twice baked mac and cheese or something. So I know I need to be prepared. For everyone going through puree and liquid while the holidays are going on, you can do this!! Thanksgiving will come again next year, and all those flavors you love will be that much more special. I'm several months out, and I had mine right before Easter. I mean..it's a huge eating holiday for my family (what holiday isnt, tbh) and I made it through. Stay strong!

Hello Guys, Gals and Esteemed Individuals of Differing Genders, We are less than two weeks away from the Culinary Battle of the year, Thanksgiving. Do y'all have plans? Do you have anything you're stressing out about? Anything you miss the taste of and want to wls-ify? Thankfully, this is both the first year I live on my own AND my first Thanksgiving featuring Tiny Tum. So I'm going to be making food myself, bringing a pre-portioned plate to my parents' house and going from there. And I WILL find a way to make Protein Pumpkin Pie.

I know this is hard, the pre-op diet is so emotionally and physically draining. Right when you're the most nervous, you're supposed to NOT EAT??? Like um...excuse me that's not how this works! Don't they KNOW that? Especially since your stomach is used to eating as much as you have been. I also know how hard it is to get wrapped up in all your day-to-day tasks and forget to take care of yourself. But you deserve it, you are worth all the pain and suffering you feel like you are going through. There's no reason why you can't do it. Your Surgeon and we all believe in you. Medically, they wouldn't expect it of you if you couldn't do it or if it was too dangerous to do. Try and channel all your energy into following it AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE. I found that very helpful because I felt like at my most nervous I NEEDED to eat more. You CAN do this, you're so much stronger than you think you are.

I have lost the ability to fold shirts neatly because I'm used to having so much extra fabric. Where do the arms go???

Yesterday when my roommate wanted Cannoli cream, I bought the SkinnyCow high protein ice cream that has 5 extra grams of sugar in it than Halo Top or Enlightened. I wanted Rocky Road and they were the only one's to have it! I didn't get sick, but I won't buy it again because it wasn't very good. :c

When I first woke up, I vaguely remember someone saying "Jacqui, are you in pain?" to which I helpfully replied "Eggggghhhhhhhhh. DDDD:" Because YES I WAS. Then it was more pain meds and blissful sleep. The pain was pretty bad, but I'm a weenie hut Jr and I knew it was gonna be bad. the issue for me was I couldn't keep anything down. water, ice, broth, nothing. so every time I would try and throw up, I would almost pass out because it HURT. But, even with it hurting the way it did, I have to say that I would do it all over again. It's temporary, and it'll all be worth it in the end.

You can do this!! It's hard, it's so hard, and you're so strong for going through it! Does your pre-op liquid allow for jello? Mine did, and I really feel like having something almost-solid helped me. That, and an obscene amount of broth. 6 days will fly by before you know it! Solidarity and love, my friend!

I think therapy will be super helpful for you, and I'm going to talk from my experiences with MY therapist. I understand what you're saying about missing the way you used to eat. From what I've worked through with my therapist, it's the ability to control what goes into my mouth. If I was having a bad day, if my abusive parents went off on me, I could gain control of my life again by eating an entire large pizza. If I was tired, if I felt like I wasn't going anywhere in life, I could eat an entire pasta bread bowl and cheese sticks. I could eat one, two three cheeseburgers because I wanted to, I was in control of how much I ate and went. That feeling of being full, of tasting that food over and over again, was what calmed me down. Unfortunately, like more instant forms of self-harm, it's an unhealthy coping skill. You haven't gained any control by eating two large Double Double meals with milkshakes. All you've done is postponed your time to deal with it. having surgery and having to be "forced" into a new way of eating takes this control away. You can't do what you used to do, so you feel like you're out of control. You are worth so much more than gorging yourself on food. You are worth working through your feelings. You deserve so much more than what your brain may be telling you, and I'm so proud of you. ❤️

I don't have young kids, but I remember BEING a young kid with anxiety and a father who was in and out of the hospital for heart-related stuff. I would have her spend the night with your sister as planned and build that up as a really fun experience. Let her watch Jojo Siwa and whatever the kids are into these days, she can stay up late, she can play Barbies all she wants, stuff like that. Maybe even give her a special toy/ stuffed animal right before so that she has something positive that a) keeps her distracted and b) reminds her that you love her and any separation is only temporary. After surgery, I would tell her the VERY basics. Mommy went to the doctors and they fixed something inside, so let's play this game together because mommy's sleepy or doesn't feel great. If she's into doctor kits, let her "give you a check-up" and have her give you your vitamins in a little bathroom cup. that was my FAVOURITE thing when my dad needed to take pills. My brothers and I and my brothers used to fight over it. Similarly, a friend recently had emergency surgery on a vein in his leg and he told his 5-year-old he was going to get fixed like the toys do in McStuffin's Hospital in the show Doc McStuffins. That helped A LOT.

I'm at the very end of month 6 for me and my hair loss is still going strong. A friend recommended Folic Acid and since he works at a crazy health and wellness center I'm going to try it out. Something I found for people with darker hair, though, is to buy dark colored dry shampoo. It helps with the fullness and also hides any bald spots.

I like the pre-packed hard boiled eggs that have been mentioned before, as well as the P3 things also mentioned. My local stores also sell little packs with cheese, grapes, and almonds which I really love. And Quickchek (a convenience store in NJ) sells Quest protein chips so I always grab one if I need something and there are no other options.

Two NSVs from this weekend! I was able to buy knee-high boots from PAYLESS!! EXCUSE ME???! Last year Torrid's boots were too small for my calves. Also, I can cross my legs while sitting! I can't actually remember the last time I was able to do this. I don't think I even could in high school! YAAAYYYY!!

Thank you! You have had AMAZING success too! Keep it up!

Thank you! I appreciate the reality check, especially about the Non-Scale Victories. My brother and I went to Salem in August and I walked 5 miles and HE was the one to ask for a break! You're doing great as well, Congrats on being so close to goal!