MegPRN

Cigarette smoke can cause ulcers in your stomach lining and cause you to have more surgeries, endoscopies, and other complications after surgery. Nicotine is not an appropriate treatment for anxiety. See your PCP or a therapist for actual treatment for your anxiety, don't self-medicate with dangerous chemicals.

Cigarette smoke can cause ulcers in your stomach lining and cause you to have more surgeries, endoscopies, and other complications after surgery. Nicotine is not an appropriate treatment for anxiety. See your PCP or a therapist for actual treatment for your anxiety, don't self-medicate with dangerous chemicals.

I cook with coconut milk (curries and other east/south Asian cuisine) but I don't just drink it, except for a very rare coconut milk mocha from Starbucks.

What a difference a year makes! The same dinner, 2018 compared to 2019

What a difference a year makes! The same dinner, 2018 compared to 2019

What a difference a year makes! The same dinner, 2018 compared to 2019

What a difference a year makes! The same dinner, 2018 compared to 2019

What a difference a year makes! The same dinner, 2018 compared to 2019

I'm also stuck at losing around 2lbs per month, with about 20lbs left to go until my personal goal. I started working out regularly (joined my gym at work and have a plan for fitness classes throughout the week, plus yoga on Mondays) and I'm trying to count calories, but it's become so difficult! I calculated my total daily energy expenditure, and now it's only around 1800/day. I do really well in the morning most days, but by afternoon and evening I get ravenous and have a hard time resisting the high-calorie slider foods. I'm managing to eat at maintenance, but I can't seem to keep a deficit, so I'm not really losing. I'm hoping adding regular exercise will help.

What a difference a year makes! The same dinner, 2018 compared to 2019

it sounds to me like this is a money-making scheme for your doctor, not necessarily in your best interest. I would recommend seeing a dietician who specializes in post-bariatric surgery patients.
It also raises red flags for me when a surgeon demands a certain rate of weight loss, or gives you a scale number for your ultimate goal. The focus of this surgery should be improved health, rather than static numbers on a scale. My surgeon is great about this - his goals for me included things like getting off CPAP, being able to comfortably exercise again. He encouraged me to make my own non-scale goals, like shopping in a regular clothing store. If your doctor gives you a goal of - for example - 145 lbs, but you stop losing at 155 lbs - you're going to feel like a failure, and they're going to treat you like a failure, even if you're off insulin and CPAP and 3 of your 4 blood pressure pills, and are in a relationship for the first time in your life. Right? There are so many more ways to succeed at this than focusing on the scale.

it sounds to me like this is a money-making scheme for your doctor, not necessarily in your best interest. I would recommend seeing a dietician who specializes in post-bariatric surgery patients.
It also raises red flags for me when a surgeon demands a certain rate of weight loss, or gives you a scale number for your ultimate goal. The focus of this surgery should be improved health, rather than static numbers on a scale. My surgeon is great about this - his goals for me included things like getting off CPAP, being able to comfortably exercise again. He encouraged me to make my own non-scale goals, like shopping in a regular clothing store. If your doctor gives you a goal of - for example - 145 lbs, but you stop losing at 155 lbs - you're going to feel like a failure, and they're going to treat you like a failure, even if you're off insulin and CPAP and 3 of your 4 blood pressure pills, and are in a relationship for the first time in your life. Right? There are so many more ways to succeed at this than focusing on the scale.

What a difference a year makes! The same dinner, 2018 compared to 2019

What a difference a year makes! The same dinner, 2018 compared to 2019

I discovered a 4-pc grilled nuggets kids' meal from Chick-fil-a with buffalo sauce for dipping and fruit instead of fries is a great lunch - just the right portion size, 145 calories if you get a calorie-free beverage. For a drive-through meal, you can hardly do better! I also like the Vietnamese chicken salad spring rolls from Pei Wei. They're super light and full of lean chicken and veggies.
At sit-down restaurants, I typically order a protein and a steamed vegetable. For example, at Red Lobster, I get crab legs or a lobster tail and broccoli. At a steakhouse I'll get a 7-oz filet mignon and asparagus (and take half of the steak home). At a Japanese restaurant I like to get sashimi, or share a kids' bento box with my 3-year-old. If we're eating at a deli or something, I'll order a sandwich but just eat half. My husband and I shared a sandwich, I ate the fruit that came with it, and he ordered a cup of soup on the side.
You can still enjoy eating out after surgery, you just have to be creative about your portions and sharing!

I discovered a 4-pc grilled nuggets kids' meal from Chick-fil-a with buffalo sauce for dipping and fruit instead of fries is a great lunch - just the right portion size, 145 calories if you get a calorie-free beverage. For a drive-through meal, you can hardly do better! I also like the Vietnamese chicken salad spring rolls from Pei Wei. They're super light and full of lean chicken and veggies.
At sit-down restaurants, I typically order a protein and a steamed vegetable. For example, at Red Lobster, I get crab legs or a lobster tail and broccoli. At a steakhouse I'll get a 7-oz filet mignon and asparagus (and take half of the steak home). At a Japanese restaurant I like to get sashimi, or share a kids' bento box with my 3-year-old. If we're eating at a deli or something, I'll order a sandwich but just eat half. My husband and I shared a sandwich, I ate the fruit that came with it, and he ordered a cup of soup on the side.
You can still enjoy eating out after surgery, you just have to be creative about your portions and sharing!

I discovered a 4-pc grilled nuggets kids' meal from Chick-fil-a with buffalo sauce for dipping and fruit instead of fries is a great lunch - just the right portion size, 145 calories if you get a calorie-free beverage. For a drive-through meal, you can hardly do better! I also like the Vietnamese chicken salad spring rolls from Pei Wei. They're super light and full of lean chicken and veggies.
At sit-down restaurants, I typically order a protein and a steamed vegetable. For example, at Red Lobster, I get crab legs or a lobster tail and broccoli. At a steakhouse I'll get a 7-oz filet mignon and asparagus (and take half of the steak home). At a Japanese restaurant I like to get sashimi, or share a kids' bento box with my 3-year-old. If we're eating at a deli or something, I'll order a sandwich but just eat half. My husband and I shared a sandwich, I ate the fruit that came with it, and he ordered a cup of soup on the side.
You can still enjoy eating out after surgery, you just have to be creative about your portions and sharing!

What a difference a year makes! The same dinner, 2018 compared to 2019

What a difference a year makes! The same dinner, 2018 compared to 2019

Wow, in the second picture you and your son look like brothers! Way to go!

It's possible she uses an endoscope instead of a bougie, but you need something to construct the sleeve around. It's not something you can just freehand.

See if you can get yourself a copy of this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-First-Aid-Kit-Practical/dp/0976852659
Maybe check your local library if you're having financial difficulties. My hospital provides it as a gift to all bariatric surgery patients, and it's got great practical advice for avoiding those emotional pitfalls and being gentle to yourself. You can always come here for support too, when you feel an emotional binge coming on!

See if you can get yourself a copy of this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-First-Aid-Kit-Practical/dp/0976852659
Maybe check your local library if you're having financial difficulties. My hospital provides it as a gift to all bariatric surgery patients, and it's got great practical advice for avoiding those emotional pitfalls and being gentle to yourself. You can always come here for support too, when you feel an emotional binge coming on!

I'm about 7 months out, down around 70 lbs. I feel amazing, wearing clothes and doing activities I haven't done in years. My only issue is new GERD, but it's well controlled with drugs. I couldn't be happier with my tool!

I'm about 7 months out, down around 70 lbs. I feel amazing, wearing clothes and doing activities I haven't done in years. My only issue is new GERD, but it's well controlled with drugs. I couldn't be happier with my tool!