Lynnlovesthebeach

it's really just the first few months when you have to deal with all those food restrictions. I have no food limitations anymore, and haven't since the first year (or maybe even the first six months or so). Of course, you'll need to eat healthy most of the time (for life, that is..), and you may develop some intolerances (some people become lactose intolerant after surgery. Some people "dump" and therefore can't handle much sugar. I, for one, can't eat really fatty meals any more), but your clinic will lift all restrictions once you're a few months out.
complications aren't common and most are minor (and "fixable"). A lot of us never had any complications. They have to tell you all the possible complications, but that doesn't mean they happen very often. You can have complications (or even die) from a tonsillectomy - or even a wisdom tooth extraction - but how often does that happen? These surgeries have come a long way from where they were 20 or 30 years ago.
Deficiencies aren't common as long as you keep on top of your supplements.
Follow your program to a "T", and you won't fail. It's when people start pushing the envelope that they screw up. So follow your plan - and keep in mind it's mostly the first few months that are really restrictive.
I eat about the same now as I did before surgery (although I was always a healthy eater - I just ate way too much). I"m higher on Protein and lower on simple carbs/starches than I was before - and of course my intake in general is about half of what it used to be, but I certainly don't feel deprived.
I think your concerns are pretty common, though. It can seem overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's really not. I'm so happy I had this surgery and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

I use the free version of My Fitness Pal. All I really care about is my Protein intake so it's really just to make sure I get enough. I'm 3 yrs out now and still weigh myself daily but record it only once a week on Sunday. This works for me.

You will be pleasantly surprised to find that many foods you currently crave will be unappealing after WLS. I was shocked, but it's true!
Just stick to your plan, and you will do great!

Like @catwoman7 I was laser focused on my plan for the first year or longer. I didn't have a piece of candy, or a cookie, or any previously favored treat. I was a binge eater, if one was good ten would be better. I was honestly afraid that one might turn into more. I wouldn't even do a low calorie version because in the past they were always stepping stones to a lot of the real thing. Rather, I turned my obsession to following plan. I was surprised by the pride I felt by following the simple rules of my plan day after day.
For now stay focused and compliant to your plan and be rewarded with the positive feedback loop of losing weight. You are building new habits and a new lifestyle that will serve you for the rest of your life.
Good luck,
Tek

I don't think I ever went off plan my first year. Maybe occasionally after that - but only very occasionally. I don't want to start gaining my weight back. It took too much work to get it off!!

I have a date tonight. I bought this dress at Nordstrom Rack today-was stunned to be in a size 4! Last dress I bought was a 6, but tried on several today and they were baggy in the waist. Here’s hoping this guy is worth the effort! 🤞

The perfect opportunity to go do more shopping! Right? You definitely need an animal print in your wardrobe, ms.sss!!! This was the dress back when I was still losing at 135 pd - size 10/12. Have not done arm surgery yet. The skirt is at settled 118 - size 4/6.
Animal print shoes count too, for the fashion show! Fun.

Suit is fabulous! 😍
My name is Wish, and I am a shoe and clothing addict. 🤦🏼‍♀️ I have so many gorgeous things to wear and no where to go, so I am feeling your pain, @ms.sss. 😂 last weekend Hubby and I went out to a nice, but not super fancy, restaurant for dinner. I was way over dressed, so hubby over dressed in solidarity 🤣🤣 We stopped at a very un-fancy bar on the way home. The server asked if we had a party we were going to…nope, just home and in bed by 9. Lol

I only have one item in animal print: A sheer convertible high low dress I made for vacation and never wore 😭
 
Also here’s the light blush moto jacket. In just noticed that in some lighting situations it only looks cream colored

Sometimes I stare longingly at the children’s section honestly believing I could fit the 14-16 sizes (especially tank tops and T-shirts) I am only brought to my senses when I too realize “princess” and “super cool!” aren’t really my mantras 😂

Sorry for the multiple posts by accident!

I say... Let's all go on the wild side AND show our inner animal instincts! I'll go second with two looks...same skirt. Wishme - so glad you are feeling better. GROWL...This dress looks amazing on you!

Do you have a ribbed dress, too? DO MODEL for us... And, that pale blush jacket again - I want to borrow! I am wearing the Moto jacket and rib dress to a special baby shower and luncheon. Our wedding flower girl all grown up - and having her first baby girl. I have NEVER worn this outfit outside my closet or home as of yet. With Covid all events for the opportunity to wear FAB things cancelled! Until now. I'll still wear my mask (my first calculated risk after 19 months) since it is with a group of ladies - many I do not know. And, it's indoors. Oh boy! ...Had so much fun collecting things for her gift basket. These miniature outfits cracked me up! Arabesque - do you have a ribbed dress to model? Fun.

After 5 years of retirement, I've decided I'm going back to work. I took a couple of before interview selfies.

I can't stop buying clothes. Which is pretty ridiculous really cuz I don't really have anywhere to go to wear most of them. Le sigh.
This morning's Bargain du Jour: 2 pieces of a 3-piece blue-grey linen suit that was on clearance. Which i got a further 50% off of because the jacket was missing for the set, and I didn't want a larger one that was available. Yay deals!
I'll need to get the pants hemmed (i'm already wearing 3.5 inch heels under there but they are still way too long, jeez. And I want to change the tortoiseshell looking buttons on the vest to covered ones in the same material to make it all fancier. Add a belt and slingbacks and i'm ready to go.....nowhere. Whomp whomp.
With a shirt tucked in, with no shirt, with a shirt un-tucked. I like it best with no shirt, but if I did wear one, I think a long sleeved one would look better.

I just remind myself that I'm choosing not to eat "junk" food.
I think sometimes we compare ourselves to alcoholics or drug addicts when we are food addicts. We say things like alcoholics or drug addicts never have to have alcohol or drugs ever again to break their addiction but we have to have food. I know in my case, my addiction was sugar and junk foods and that's probably what got me to my highest weight. Now I try my best to avoid those and so far it's working. I just remind myself I never want to go back there! Whenever someones asks me, "can you eat this on your diet?" I tell them, "I'm not on a diet. I can eat anything I choose to eat...I choose not to eat that."

I put my dress similar to yours on and it's way too big...here's one I wore last night though.

Guys, I know how much I want to lose when I have surgery, but honestly, just the IDEA of losing 10-15 lbs. the first month has me giddy with anticipation! I lose weight very slowly, and as I have gotten older, darn near impossible! I have 3-4 different sizes of clothes in my closet, and won't have to shop ever again! The word here is have to shop, it does not mean I won't shop!

As others have said all programs are different. My program allows straws. I think after you cut out fast food fountain drinks most adults probably don't use them often. The only time I found a need for straws was when I had my skin removal surgery on my arms. Then I drank everything...even coffee...through a straw because I couldn't bend my arms enough because my incisions go past my elbows. I think we have to remember that we get "guidelines" not laws! As adults we have the ability to try things and decide whether it works for us or not! You know your own body and will figure out if using a straw makes you uncomfortable and will put it on hold to try again later after you heal.

Total scale Victory and Random Observations: I now have lost more than I weigh. I have lost 190 lbs. from my highest weight of 374. The first 50 was using Victoza for Type 2 diabetes. My bariatric program has my starting weight as 343. SW=325. CW=185. My program doesn’t give goal weights. For my own satisfaction, 174 would give me a normal BMI. I’d like to end about 170 knowing that some gain/loss is possible as things settle. I’m 5’10”. I have gone from a size 30/32 to a 14. I haven’t been this size since early high school. I look forward to doing things rather than dreading them. I’ve been off all diabetes meds since surgery. I am still using my CPAP although I’ve had the pressure lowered twice. I see the sleep program in December and we will re-evaluate then. I suspect I will still have a need for it. My cholesterol medication will be re-evaluated in December as well. My doctor thinks it likely I will remain on that med due to family history. That is the only medication I take other than my Vitamins and supplements.
I track in LoseIt. I track every bite, every day. It keeps me accountable to myself and I foresee it as something I will need to do forever. Today is the first time I ever exported my progress to a spreadsheet. On other groups, I see so many questions that ask how much someone has lost at a given point. I honestly never knew what I did. These are my totals lost from first to current month: 16, 19, 17, 15, 15, 18, 4, 9, 17, 10. I exceed my liquid goals every day and never tracked that after the first week. I’ve never had any trouble with liquids and I know roughly what I drink each day as I know what my mug holds. I also ran my macros for the first time. Since surgery, I’ve kept Protein to 40-50% of my diet with fat and carbs 25-30%. I’m still at 800-1000 calories per day. My program has said that is relatively low at this point but as long as I am losing and not feeling hungry, it was fine. My hunger has not returned. I am grateful for that.
I’ve tried to build successful habits that will serve me for the long haul. I’ve been walking since coming home from the hospital. I started at 5-10 minutes per day. Now, I try to walk 45-60 per day at a moderate pace. I use 5 lb. weights and do toning exercises for 10-15 min. most days. I’ve started seeing virtually a therapist recommended by my program. I don’t have a history of trauma or eating disorders but I didn’t get to my weight by having a healthy relationship with food.< span> Plus, I was very moody and short-tempered following surgery.
I feel great and have more energy than I have in years. But This. Is. Work. I’m ok with that and try to keep my focus on progress and health. I follow what my program suggests and make my own decisions within that framework. There is no short cut to this. There’s no pouch reset, fasting, diet pills and how soon can I eat at McDonalds. I ranted on here one time about hating the word “pouch.” I still do. I hate pouch reset even more. 🙄😫 I don’t believe in it. We don’t need to reset. We need to make the best decisions and choices we can without needing to be perfect. Sure, you lose weight with it, but it’s simply because you are going back to not taking in many calories….and most of us have been down that road before.
I continue to absorb the wisdom I get here from those who have gone down this road before me or are on it now. I still hate shopping even though it is not as difficult as it once was. I’m still not sure who I see in the mirror and am uncomfortable with focus on my weight loss. I could eventually benefit from plastic surgery, but I don’t know if that will be in the cards. Enough for now……thanks for reading.

Spring time here on the opposite end of the earth. Friendly Butcher bird came to visit as I sat on my deck with my mid morning snack. Didn’t like the way he was eyeing off my multigrain crackers though & I wasn’t sharing. 😁😁

Your Soup looks yummo @kristieshannon but you all know I love soup regardless the weather.
Congrats on your surgery @Kaminsky Dyer. We’ve all been where you are now & undesrand the newness & strangeness of the post surgical eating play. Just take it day by day & you’ll be able to eat soup like Kristie’s (without the kale to begin - too coarse) before you know it.

Fall comfort food. Split pea and ham Soup. Pumped up the Protein by using Bone Broth instead of regular chicken broth. A bunch of chopped kale goes in at the end.

Find #4: colour block turtleneck sweater: $15.00
This is my fave item from stash. I hate to say it since its such a beautiful day today, but I can't wait for it to get colder so I can wear it!!

Find #3: ribbed long sleeve dress: $22.00

I tagged along with the Kid and her friend to a thrift store yesterday and came to the realization that I have been missing out on a whole supply of (cheap!!) wardrobe opportunities all these years!!!
Left the store with these gems that I am still amazed at the price I got them for. I love DEALS!!!!
Sooo...here's a OOTD photo dump of a sample of what I scored (sorry, not sorry, in advance for clogging this thread, lol)
Find 1 & 2: tank top $5.00 high waisted 70's style jeans $12.00