mousecat88

My mom is diabetic and loves this bread, but I can't eat any bread because it's too dense and just feels uncomfortable. If you can tolerate bread, my mother highly recommends. lol.

Just got these. So gooooood. High calorie, imo, but low carb and low fat, and 10g protein so good for a sweet tooth emergency. 24$ for 12 cups, free shipping! Dozens of flavors to choose from.

I wasn't able to hit my protein goals until 4 months out because of limited food intake and the shakes make me sick. Don't stress if you aren't getting there just yet. You're only 6 weeks out! My surgeon said I can rely on the shakes (which I can't have sooooo) even up to a year if need be to get there. Chicken and fish still make me feel crappy. Turkey patties have 22g of protein and sit well with me. 1 cup of cottage cheese is also 23g of protein. That's a lot right there and cottage cheese is easy to get down. Greek yogurt has 8-12g of protein depending on the brand. Don't feel bad if you need to supplement with protein shakes at 6 weeks. I'm 6 months out and not supposed to be on all foods yet for another 3 months according to my diet plan (still limitations on complex carbs, rough veggies, and nuts).

A Side: Does it count as crafting if I have to reconstruct my computer desk that my 18lb fatcat knocked down and broke apart yesterday? Because that's my plan for the day. lol. Cats.... B Side: This is tricky because this journey has helped me overcome a lot of my issues- self-esteem, confidence, motivation to get up and go... One thing it hasn't helped me with is working on maintaining a healthy relationship. I am perpetually attracted to people who need "fixing"; I've resolved to stay single until this journey (my goal weight anyways) is complete, and probably much longer than that because I thrive when I am alone. Maybe some day I will explore dating again, but for now I am just doing me.

So, my bariatric office gave me a referral to a plastic surgeon on Monday. This surgeon is about 2.5 hours away, though. Given my history with complications (with regular surgery and previous cosmetic surgery) it makes me really nervous to go to someone so far. They said he deals with bariatric skin removal all the time, which is a plus. But I am considering just going to the guy who did my breast reduction since he is very close by and did an excellent job. In the event there was some kind of complication, I don't know how I would get to the other guy being so far away! I'm going to set up a consult with my guy in July and schedule this surgery out for November-ish.

Thanks everyone. I feel a lot better, physically. I look forward to my trainer sessions each week. Had my six-month appointment and they were thrilled with the results so far and said I don't need to change a thing I am doing and they are confident I can get off this 46lbs by the end of November, which is my goal. Now that the complications have resolved, I feel a lot better and less regretful. It's nice to be able to compare these photos since you don't always notice the change yourself without really seeing the befores and afters. I can't wait to get to my goal weight because buying clothes is a hassle! I have no clue what size I wear any given day and I am still gravitating towards the plus section, even though my tops aren't plus anymore and my pants are a borderline 12.

6 months was on 5/1. Down 97lbs from 286 SW. 48 more to go.

Today is my 6 month "surgiversary". I guess I am officially a sophomore. HW: 286, CW: 190, GW: 140. 96lbs down in 6 months, 50 more to go. My goal is to lose 7-10lbs in May to keep on track with hitting my goal weight by end of November (13 mos post op). Also going to try to exercise one additional day per week.

I told everyone in the world I was having surgery. Like even people who didn't notice I found a way to sneak it into a conversation. That got all of the questions out of the way pre-op and no one says a thing to me anymore except complimentary things about how much weight I am losing. It was just easier to let everyone know that I couldn't eat XYZ anymore than have people ask me until the end of time what diet I was on or what my secret was or why I wasn't having any bread or whatever. Plus, I think my experiences have encouraged others around me to diet and exercise more, etc, and even consider WLS themselves.

A girl in my FB group has bypass and is vegetarian. She eats dairy and eggs, though. Vegans can also have the surgery, but they rely on beans and soy product a lot. They sell separate supplements with amino acids in them for vegans/vegetarians. I get the vast majority of my protein from dairy (cottage cheese).

Yes, I was on Carafate 4 times a day for almost 12 weeks, and Prilosec once a day, and Pepcid once a day.

I had an ulcer and it literally felt like fire anytime I ate or drank anything.

They did an endoscopy on me 2 weeks out because of a suspected ulcer. The endoscopy shouldn't hurt anything...

WLS is a tool. Just like OA. Seemed very hypocritical. Why not take advantage of EVERYTHING available to you if it works? Whateva. lol.

Do you ever measure your body fat percentage and muscle mass? A lot of you may be muscle and not fat if you work out like you say. My trainer is 275lbs and a powerlifter and basically it's all muscle (but you can't see it - he doesn't look buff). And, honestly, I am a 5'3" female and I am told I need to eat at least 1100 a day just 6 months out from surgery given the amount of exercise I do (I get to about 800 before I am stuffed). Being a guy and working out a lot, it sounds like you need to eat more. I do feel hungry, but that hunger goes away since I stick to 5 small meals a day. I was also told the surgery "stops working" at 12 months or so and that the rest is up to you to ensure you don't regain. I think you do need to stick to a lower calorie, lower carb diet forever.... but tailor the calorie and carb intake based on how much exercise you are doing. Is there a trainer at your gym you can talk to? Mine is a wealth of knowledge. My trainer gets mad that I am eating "so little" based on "the hell he puts me through". lol. I just can't fit it in just yet. He wants me at 100g of carbs, 1100 calories, and over 100g of protein... my dietitian at the bariatric clinic agrees, given the exercises I do.

I am going to consult with two surgeons - the one who did my breast reduction doesn't take insurance for tummy tucks, but I still want to consider him for the arm lift because I trust his work. I have my 6 month appt on 5/6 and I'm going to get a referral for the bariatric office's preferential plastic surgeon then, too. I am working on gathering docs to take out a second mortgage to pay for the plastics so I need to start getting quotes. All of my excess skin is below the belly button, too, so that's good to hear, in case insurance won't pay because it isn't "severe" enough.

They were judgmental of me having WLS when I went. When my friend who was with me left the room one of the hosts said they discourage members from having WLS because "if I had just used OA I would have never needed surgery". I felt very uncomfortable. I gave my "story" to everyone and openly said I hesitated coming because I figured I would be judged as having "cheated" for having WLS, and the same woman who runs the group shook her head at me. I mentioned I no longer binge eat and the woman clapped, and then I said it's because I am physically incapable of doing so and she frowned at me again and reiterated to the entire group that she doesn't like WLS (in front of my face). There was also a woman there who said she loves OA and says it has helped her a lot and she's gone for 8 years... but has only lost 20lbs??? Also, they said they do not give advice - that's what I want. I don't want to sit there and listen to people read, which is what they did. I can't focus when people are reading; I don't learn well that way. Everyone just went around and read from the AA Book and shared their struggle for that week - and no one was allowed to comment or give advice on it. We just had to sit in silence and then thank them for sharing. It was just bizarre. Like sitting around moping about your weekly failure. I am happy it helps you, though! It's definitely not for me, however.

we both have the same timeline. we can do it!

following.... because I'm at 6 months and have 51lbs left to lose. have lost 92...

Just got back from the OA meeting. It isn't for me. It was completely nonreligious and I gleaned that at least half the group were atheists. BUT, none had had gastric bypass and I did feel judgment. They said that they do not like the surgery because through OA if I had done that first and worked the steps, I wouldn't have needed the surgery and could have conquered the food addiction without medical intervention. They shared stories and talked about their struggles with eating now, but I don't share the same issues because this surgery has forced me into a healthy eating lifestyle. So our issues don't quite mesh. They are working on getting to where I already am by virtue of "cheating" and having surgery. I am looking for one on one advice with maintenance for when I have any weak moments. They do not give advice. They just read from the book (and I can't focus when someone reads) and share what they struggled with recently. But no one responds with advice. It seems kind of useless imo. Anyways, I gave it a shot. Not for me.

I don't feel competitive, but it's in my nature to compare. I know we are all unique and it is unrealistic to compare - but like someone else said, people talk about honeymoon periods and even my surgeon stresses the importance of losing "as much as you can as fast as I can" (which is probably a bad thing for them to do)... and it makes me feel a lot of pressure because I don't want to be a failure... again.... especially after, as my mom so aptly puts it... "mutilating my body".

He told me to portion out 2 baby carrots to have in between my meals and put them in a filing cabinet away from me so I have to get up if I want to snack on them. He is full of good advice that I never follow. LOL. He also said sugar-free mints (I am a gum swallower). I am just so petrified of *accidentally* snacking on Taco Bell. lolll. I'm going to this OA meeting and I'll see how that goes.

Why did you stop taking it? They gave me my Lexapro in the hospital after surgery. For the first few weeks after surgery I was really emotional and everything was off-kilter, but then went back to normal. (My normal "just super anxious but not insanely cry-y" self) Your new feelings may be temporary and you may need the Cymbalta again. I'd definitely ask your psychiatrist if you should have stopped taking it.

I would like to lose 52lbs and reach my goal weight by the end of November 2019. That gives me 7 months. Is that something that is achievable? My surgeon's office keeps telling me that my surgery is going to "stop helping me" soon and that my "honeymoon period" is over and it's really discouraging me. I am still losing weight at about 7-10lbs per month, so if I keep that rate up, I should get there. Will things slow down or is 7-10lbs in the "final 6 months" before the 12 month mark still attainable? My 6 months is May 1. What was YOUR personal experience in the 6-12 month period? I have this personal deadline because I want my brachioplasty in December to minimize my leave request and also get rid of the batwings forever.

I talked to my trainer about this yesterday and he said I have an issue with undereating now and I told him that I am scared to start snacking throughout the day because it's not a good habit to pick back up. He said it'll be fine if I just eat like a few carrots in between my 5 small meals, but then I was like... but it can easily lead to me snacking on junk and then I will hate myself for doing that. It's such a slippery slope in my mind. He said my worry is good, but I took my worry up to level 10 and it's preventing me from eating things that are healthy and that I SHOULD get more calories in due to the intensity of my workouts. I just don't feel mentally comfortable doing that. I'm scared I will slip up and not be able to stop myself, or slip up and feel REALLY DAMN BAD and get really depressed. He said I am probably wanting to snack not so much because of bad habits coming back, but because I don't get enough macros in for the amount of work I am doing and my body is craving more food.