MargoCL

Just curious for myself.... You went to Amusement parks 2-3 months post? Did you happen to ride roller coasters and such? I had surgery 8/20 and we already had / have our vacation planned for Universal in October and that was one of my concerns. I think I'm ready to hop on a roller coaster again, but maybe a little scared of internal injury. LOL... I'm probably overthinking and if it wasn't for Hurricane Florence this weekend, I'd be checking out our first official night time Halloween themed Amusement rides. My next post-op is a 9/26 so part of me is willing to wait to ask them first before riding anything "fun"

Not to sound mean or harsh, but if you're cooking shrimp correctly it should NEVER be chewy or tough. I tend to cook my shrimp and scallops (IMO the two most delicates) to Med / med well. both should almost melt when cut with a fork.

I'm almost 4 weeks post and have never really drank with a meal (prior to wls), but started actively practicing this process prior to surgery to get me in the right mindset. The before is probably a little more challenging for me than during and immediate post. Although, sometimes I swear now that I shouldn't drink 30 before or after I feel like I want / need to. It is a conscious struggle / reminder not to. Sometimes, I do HAVE to take a sip during it's usually because something went down wrong and not quite ready to choke to death because of this rule. But like everyone has noted, I'm very time conscious and make every effort to stay true.

During my preop I stuck primarily to the Premier Protein pre-mixed shakes. But I also had to travel so, I went to the BP store and bought some soup mixes to mix into canned broths and / or strained homemade bone broths. This helped and kept me full during that two-week period. Having homemade soup broth really helped with the hunger because it wasn't just drinking, I could use a bowl and spoon (mind tricks). I also bought some of the sampler packs for different protein flavors at the BP store. Although personally I was really missing coffee / caffeine.. and found the cappuccino / mocha flavors to be my favorite to a caffeine free (mind trick) coffee. I mix everything at home with Almond Milk but for added protein, I am planning on trying the fairlife milk brands. Good luck on your journey.

My boss and 1 co-worker (very close friend) are the only ones who know. Other than that, I've been dieting all year and weightloss has been slow and it's no one's business what I do to my body.

I noticed you had this question posted on another forum. I'd listen to Green - follow up with your surgeon. But, I'd ask you this first. Had you spoken to your doctor in the past of getting help with weightloss? Had you been on a dr. approved plan prior to speaking to your surgeon? For me personally, getting my PCP referral was easy because my PCP and I had focused on weight management for 3 years and little success. So when I went to her for a referral letter after seeing my surgical group it was an easy referral as there was documented failed weightloss attempts with her practice for more than the required time.

As said, pain is subjective. I have a very high tolerance for pain aside of what was given to me in the hospital, I did not take a single pain pill post op. IMO, the gas was worse. The incision port was sore, but subsided after a week. I was up and moving hours after surgery and never stopped.

I use sqwinchers zero. It's like Gatorade or powerade in prepackaged powder. I can use one for 48oz.

@DixieD, in my samsung app - I just press reply and it auto quotes the person I am responding to. on the website I use the @person's name to write directly to that person. Try and add more water, that will help fill you up and not leave you hungry. Do you use a food tracker? There may be a trigger food that is preventing you from weightloss. I would try changing up your menu as well. Change is good and may help boost a change. Alter days where you go less calories and offset the more cal days when you workout. But I would try to limit yourself to 1200 and see what happens.

Like you I was raised with the mentality you must clean your plate. It's hard sometimes, but it requires a conscious decision to leave food behind, everyday / every meal As you go through the surgery you're going to have to learn to alter your cooking style if you cook for more than 1 person. I eat my meal off a bread plate and it measure 2 oz or 1/4 cup. And that is filling and there are leftovers from that. Your body will tell you when you're full and trust me, if you over eat, your body WILL tell you. So unless you want leftovers for days or aren't willing to freeze some things, you will have to definitely alter your way of thinking.

@DixieD, I think I would start by cutting calories first.

Are you working out regularly? If so, how many calories are you burning? Do you remember what your BMR was prior to WLS? Keep in mind that post WLS it's probably much less and you probably shouldn't consume more than 1500 KCAL per day unless your workouts compensate the difference. I know prior to my surgery my BMR was 1563 and now post it's 1382. So, my KCAL intake really needs to remain much lower.

Did you introduce both at the same time / meal? I found that when I introduced my scrambled egg with cheese and guac - my belly did not handle it very well. Since then I've been able to tolerate eggs with a light amount of cheese. Haven't tried the guac again.

Nah, just makes you the exception - the one we're all looking for.

You sound a lot like my "Matt" - he's very similar so it seems. I apologize, I won't leave you out again

I did and I giggled a little. It reminded me that although I look to each of you, you are each VERY human. But it also gave me a little hope that one day if the urge so happens, I'll maybe give it a go, but if it's anything like the experience below... I may be good for a while.... LOL My BF got a Dave's single from Wendy's the other day and it's the first time I've been near FF since long before surgery. It looked amazing, the smell on the other hand nearly made me take it out of his hand and toss it out the window. (I should mention that I was happily drinking my protein shake during this excursion).

Most Americans are into "soda," most of the other carbonated beverages are not as popular here. Although popularity is rising as sugar free alternative carbonated beverages are becoming the "in thing" - My family lives in Hungary and there too carbonated water is very popular. I always have to ask for non-sparkling water.

I didn't purposely (well sort of) leave you out - It was the "women's" point of view just because I know women have such hormonal fluctuations (for lack of better wording). Men just naturally built with more muscle seem to "burn fat faster." But thank you for sharing your viewpoint as well because it really did help me better understand. For the 4 of you, I really do look to you as my mentors(?) in this journey because everything you have said throughout the many posts I've read have taught me so much and continue to. I enjoy reading your IF posts and your before and after food posts along with all your responses to the many people that seek advice (myself included). You've taught me not to get overly obsessed with the scale as it comes to stalls and just so many other little things (too many to list) Please don't stop what you're doing, because I know for one I enjoy them and they really do help me. I haven't checked the video out yet, but it's on my list of "to do" and I'm not sure if I want to start IF at just 3.5 weeks out, but at least I know it's an option.

I gave up sodas many years ago, but I can't say that I haven't indulge in one or two over those years (BF would say that since he's known me I probably have drank 100 over the course of our relationship - 3 years... LOL). From a surgery standpoint, I won't drink it now just because I'm soon post op, but I will say when I feel cruddy, there is nothing better than a seagrams ginger ale. And I suspect in the future should I feel that way, I will reach out to old faithful.

It's not that it will "stretch your new stomach" it's that it goes down easily allowing you to consume more food. And this only happens if you drink during meals (and honestly if you do that it doesn't matter if it's carbonated or a flat beverage). @BuzzVSG, glad you were able to enjoy that J&C. Congratulations on being so close to goal. Keep up the great work!

My BF and I share meals often and this helps especially if you can do the dividing up of meals.

@FluffyChix, @sillykitty, @GreenTealael, May I ask how often do you weigh yourselves now versus when you first had WLS? And at what point did you decide IF was the way to go or try? I'm impressed, but also wondering why so soon post surgery did you decide to try IF? BTW, you ladies and Matt are doing great! Super impressed. I tried IF with Keto and it worked but I think I had other obstacles that were in my way (hence the wls). Thanks in advance?

To say that fluid intake is easy would be a stretch for me. I can say that my tolerance has a day over day change (that may be a slight exaggeration, let's says 3 days over 3). I went from only being able to tolerate hot broths and room temperature water, to flavored room temp water to no broths, to ice cold water and no flavors. I'm only 3.5 weeks post op and my fluid intake and tolerance has changed more times than I can count. listen to @James Marusek and just experiment until you find the right one that works and hopefully (unlike me) sticks.

@FluffyChix, I agree all the research I've done this past year showed the same thing. Hence why I chose the sleeve over the other options.

Just curious, you listed all your exclusions, what is it you are exactly looking for? I know for me personally, I have set expectations or lists of what I want / don't want and rarely do we find that person. I think you have to look outside the box. Stating that you just can't date overweight people because of their possible eating habits is probably the wrong way to look at it. As a person who has always been heavy, I've ALWAYS watched what I eat and have always been active from kickboxing, gym, sports leagues and weekend hiking trips and unfortunately for me the weight just never came off. The best I ever got to was 169 and hovered in the 170's. I was a big girl but at the same time very active person who was health conscious. Don't just look at the book cover, take a chance and open up the book and you may be surprised your soulmate may be out there.