Lynnlovesthebeach

some surgeons don't require a two-week pre-op diet, so that isn't at all unusual.
as for exercise, I was only allowed to walk until I was four weeks out, but if he's seen your stitches and thinks it's OK for you to swim, then whatever...

If he did your surgery, I'd follow his orders. If he gave you a plan, stick with it. If he has done this surgery many times he is obviously doing it right. Don't compare him or yourself with others. Don't believe everything you read online!

I didn't really have an exact goal when I started. At my first surgeon visit he told me he thought I could get to 140. He asked me what my goal was and I told him I wasn't sure but once I got to 140 then we'd figure it out. It had been so long since I weighed that and it seemed so far away. At my first post op visit he said he thought I could get to 130. I said ok, I'll shoot for that and we'll reassess then. I reached that in 9 months. I told him since I only needed 7 more pounds to be a normal BMI, I was going to shoot for that. I told him I didn't come that far just to still be "overweight." He told me not to lose too much or I'd look sick. A friend of mine that had WLS told me "your body will figure it out. You'll stop losing when you body is done." It took me 2 more months to reach 123 but apparently my body wasn't done. I finally stopped losing at 108 lbs. And that is an appropriate weight for me because I'm only 4'11." I don't know why but this week I'm weighing in the106 range. I'm not trying to lose more. I think as long as I'm 110 or less I'm good. I'll be 3 yrs post op next month and I don't look sick...I look normal.

I didn't really have an exact goal when I started. At my first surgeon visit he told me he thought I could get to 140. He asked me what my goal was and I told him I wasn't sure but once I got to 140 then we'd figure it out. It had been so long since I weighed that and it seemed so far away. At my first post op visit he said he thought I could get to 130. I said ok, I'll shoot for that and we'll reassess then. I reached that in 9 months. I told him since I only needed 7 more pounds to be a normal BMI, I was going to shoot for that. I told him I didn't come that far just to still be "overweight." He told me not to lose too much or I'd look sick. A friend of mine that had WLS told me "your body will figure it out. You'll stop losing when you body is done." It took me 2 more months to reach 123 but apparently my body wasn't done. I finally stopped losing at 108 lbs. And that is an appropriate weight for me because I'm only 4'11." I don't know why but this week I'm weighing in the106 range. I'm not trying to lose more. I think as long as I'm 110 or less I'm good. I'll be 3 yrs post op next month and I don't look sick...I look normal.

When I got close to my goal, one day I noticed everything I bought recently (mostly summer T-shirt dresses) had horizontal stripes and I never had a second thought about it in the store! Now, I try to buy bright colors like red, lemon yellow, lime green because ...well, because I can! I figure if I'm purchasing a size XS, I can get whatever I want...it doesn't have to be black!

When I got close to my goal, one day I noticed everything I bought recently (mostly summer T-shirt dresses) had horizontal stripes and I never had a second thought about it in the store! Now, I try to buy bright colors like red, lemon yellow, lime green because ...well, because I can! I figure if I'm purchasing a size XS, I can get whatever I want...it doesn't have to be black!

If he did your surgery, I'd follow his orders. If he gave you a plan, stick with it. If he has done this surgery many times he is obviously doing it right. Don't compare him or yourself with others. Don't believe everything you read online!

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

Thanks for sharing. That looks like something I'd love. I'm going to go look for some today.

I realize this is my 3rd food post on here in the span of about an hour, which speaks my unsatisfied munchies.
Well, finally found something that hit the spot! 20g chunk of double smoked gouda wrapped with a slice of prosciutto: 150 calories. Ate it all. I should be good now!

Sometimes I think you just have to be flattered and then move on knowing that some men are just that shallow.
Anyone that goes to costco probably knows they usually have an automobile of some sort in the front of the store that advertises a local dealer. One day while there I was looking at a cute little Mazda Miata. I loved driving a little sports car before I traded it in for the mom-mobile many years ago. Been in an SUV ever since! Anyway, while I was looking, a guy walks up to me and says, "you should buy this." I asked why and he said , "because you'd look really hot in this." I said to him, "I bet I'd look even hotter if you were driving me in this!" He said, "gee, thanks." And then off he went...to find his wife, I'm sure! I know he wouldn't have said that to me 130 lbs ago!

Awesome nutrition, cleaned, chopped and ready to go...and it's just plain delicious. Look at those low calories! You can eat half of this with a couple of mini-tortillas, or a side of refried Beans and a little cheese. Or some lettuce, tomatoes, onions and avacado. Or, just eat the whole damned thing. You can. (might take ya a couple of sittings) Just a super easy, nice convenience product. Keeps in the freezer until you're ready to eat it. You can make it in a pan, or on some foil right on the grill outside. About $5.

I know the easiest thing to do is get a new doctor but I'm the type that would hang in there with him long enough for him to see my success with weight loss and then dump him. I don't think what you did is childish at all. If you don't advocate for yourself no one else will.

I was never a member of the clean your plate club, so I could see why taking portions you don’t finish might be odd.

There are some *hackd* that can be use early on to not attract attention to our food habits. Some of us choose to take *normal looking* portions to disguise amounts eaten. I did this every time I ate with someone who didn’t know I had WLS. I could blame not finishing the food on anything if questioned.
There is also the element of not always knowing exactly how much you will eat from meal to meal. I try to estimate what I will eat and stick close to that but there are variables I can’t always predict.
And if you’re at a restaurant, forget about it! You’re getting a full size meal unless you make special requests to have only some of your meal brought out and the rest to go.

I guess the reason I wanted to start a thread like this was because it would show different eating styles/patterns. Hopefully someone reading it could see their specific concern (am I eating too much/little) and could find proof that others might experience the same thing.
*I also enjoy looking at food and was curious when the mythical fullness began*
How do you like to serve your meals? Please add pics ❤️

Our trip to Chicago was a huge hit..... If any of you are in the area.... and money is no object, make a reservation at NEXT restaurant..... it was amazing. The photo in front of the flowers was at The Drake hotel and the other was Buckingham Fountain
Dress from Dillard by TH

Just look at how many people on this forum think they should of come out of surgery skinny! You see posts all the time...I only lost xxx number of pounds since surgery, I thought it would come off faster! I didn't tell anyone until after I had surgery because I didn't want to hear their opinions and frankly, I think I had that fear of once again being a weightless "failure."

Oddly enough I also never lie to strangers or casual acquaintances. It feels very low risk for me.

However the people I interact with often or know well is another story. I’ve learned to read the room.
If someone earnestly/ privately asks I usually just tell them. They are also so happy to see someone in person that is happy with the their results and doing well/not struggling.
But I’ve also had experiences where people very publicly/ loudly (nearly shouting across a room) ask how I lost weight. These interactions feel disingenuous and shaming so I don’t take them seriously. I usually tell these people the most complex set of layered diets and activities (Keto, fasting, glucose monitoring, cheat days, mercury retrograde, belly dancing, etc.) in great detail until they are satisfied. Those people can speculate but will never get the (whole) truth from me.
BTW Congratulations on your success!

I know the easiest thing to do is get a new doctor but I'm the type that would hang in there with him long enough for him to see my success with weight loss and then dump him. I don't think what you did is childish at all. If you don't advocate for yourself no one else will.

I know the easiest thing to do is get a new doctor but I'm the type that would hang in there with him long enough for him to see my success with weight loss and then dump him. I don't think what you did is childish at all. If you don't advocate for yourself no one else will.

I know some people say they are afraid to have plastic surgery because of the scars they will have afterwards. Well, I know everyone doesn't scar the same way but I think mine are pretty typical. I would rather have this scar all the way around my body than the rolls of loose skin I had before it was removed. I took these this morning when I realized yesterday was my one yr plastic surgery anniversary for my lower body lift and brachioplasty. These pictures are my hips and the scars are easily covered by underwear or bathing suit.

You will find a whole slew of caloric recommendations across the board, from you team, from the people in this forum, to the person on some Instagram account doling advice.
There IS NOT a one size fits all program that will work for EVERYONE.
Find out what works for you. If you cant reach the calories as prescribed, just do the best you can. If you are going over, do the best you can. Try to get your Protein and Water in. Unless you labs come back indicating so (which i assume you would be getting regularly), you don't need to worry about undernourishment in the few months between labs. I mean, most of us have got ALOT of fat storage to rely on in the first couple months.
Exercise is good, but not necessary for weight loss. But of course I would highly recommend exercise for physical and mental health and well-being benefits.
P.S. I know there is a few different camps of opinions on this, but I am NOT on team "up your calories to lose more weight". But I know there are many BP members on here that swear by this method, so there you go. I did not purposefully up my calories save for the natural progression of upping calories as time goes on. I did not stall once and I lost more than all my excess weight in 6 months..
P.P.S. I also know that there are different views on this: I also think that losing 30 lbs off of 241lbs in 6 weeks in NOT in any way "slow". But that's just my opinion, which doesn't matter. All that matters is YOURS.
Good Luck!❤️

I had a sugar addiction! Some days I ate no regular food...just sugar! Now I treat sugar like an alcoholic treats alcohol. When someone tries to get me to have "just a bite" I simply say "no thank you." If they say "oh, but it's so good" I say "yes, I'm sure it is but I know what all that sugar does to me and I don't want to go there." I have never had a dumping episode because I am very careful. I do eat bananas, which are higher in sugar but they haven't bothered me.
I actually don't crave sugar anymore and sometimes find things too sweet. I used to put a whole pack of splenda or truvia in my coffee, after surgery could only tolerate a small sprinkle and now don't use any.
I'm almost 3 yrs post op.

The cravings usually stay with us we just learn how to recognise & better manage them or they’re not as strong. I think cutting a lot of the foods that fed cravings out of our diets pre & post surgery helps educate us & re sensitise our tastebuds to what may really be too sweet.

Normally I'm not a toot your own horn kinda gal... but bring out the trumpets!! I hit ONEderland this morning. Friday will be my 6mo anniversary from surgery, but I started the journey in Oct. 2020. Thanks to everyone on this forum for all the knowledge and support!

Size 2 & 4? I was hoping for 10 & 12! Damn! I really don't know what size I am now. Congrats!