ms.sss

Yay! another TT story in the making! Love these! Following!!

Protein shakes tend to give the icks to alot of people. I found out early on that I just couldn't stomach the pre-made mades and opted for powders. The in took me several tries until I found one I could stand: ISOPURE LOW CARB Dutch Chocolate https://ca.bodybuilding.com/store/isopure-zero-carb-protein-powder.html?skuId=NB015&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvbiBBhD-ARIsAGM48bzQUD3rJPSRnC7cpEo2g4_a5NqlsoskRy2Is7eP-RsdPf8vpolT0D8aAliMEALw_wcB I found that it was the least sweet of all the ones I tried, and I would blend it up with water, lots of ice and a couple tsps of instant decaf coffee crystals. I drank at least one a day until about 4-5 months post op, and then less often until I got to goal (i.e., on days that I ended up too low on the protein count, probably 2-3 times a week).

My salad bowl over-floweth. Romaine, pan-fried chicken, carrots, cucumber, feta, apples + vinaigrette : 206 calories. Will eat the rest later.

I don't normally eat "breakfast". Never really did, even pre-op. My first meal of the day is around 12-1pm, basically my entire adult life. 🤷🏽‍♀️

That's easy! Just don't lose too much weight. 😉 If you do end up losing past the "curve" line you can always get plastics.

Hi! I totally forgot about this thread, I used to post on it regularly, thx for reviving it! Anyone have ideas for greater calories per ounce, without resorting to junk food, until I can accommodate more volume? When I reached goal, I stressed about stopping weight loss...it was a bit of a challenge (both mental and physical) to change modes to get more calories in. I didn't want to up my carbs, nor eat "junk food". And my restriction didn't really allow more volume. So I resorted to avocados, nuts & nut butters, full-fat everything, olive oil. I also ate alot of chicharron (i.e., pork rinds/cracklings), yeah, its not the "healthiest" and is really high in fat, but its relatively high in protein, was sorta a slider for me, and I wasn't worried about my fat macros (I never really was). It took me about 3 months to figure out what my maintenance cals were, and I lost a further 10+ lbs in the process. What are you maintainers' macro mix? I'm currently about 40% carb, 25% protein, 35% fat. At 1900 calories, that's 190g carbs, 119g protein, 74g fat. Or do you not track macros so closely in maintenance? During weight loss phase I did ultra-low carb (i.e., less than 25g NET carbs a day), 60g protein, and let the fat fall where it may so long as I was below my calorie goal. In the very beginning maintenance, I still aimed for 60g protein, and allowed myself 50g NET carbs. Now at 2+ years out, my carbophobia has greatly decreased, and I only care about total calories. I do try to reach 60g of protein, but I only probably reach it 60-70% of the time. Any thoughts from those more experienced than me would be appreciated. Ok, the following is just my opinion/experience, and may not be for everyone, but it is what it is: I don't consider myself a vet yet, as i'm only a little over 2 years out, so this may bite me in the ass later, but so for it works for me. YMMV. I've come to the realization that the ingestion of carbohydrates makes little difference in weight (for ME). What it does do is make a difference in how I look. When I am low carb-ing, I look leaner. This is good for my body cuz I can see more muscle definition, but bad for my face, as I look skeletor-ish. In terms of weight, all that matters (for ME) is total calories. Regardless of what my diet consists of, so long as I stay around 1800 calories (given my current activity level). I will not gain nor lose weight. Of course, If I eat 1800 cals of butter tarts all day, I may not gain weight, but I'm sure I would be doing some sort of damage to my overall health. With that said, i do eat "junk". Not in such large amounts as pre-surgery, but junk nonetheless (I also eat "healthy" stuff of course), but I prefer to keep my cals at 1800-ish no matter what I'm eating. My restriction is still alive and kicking (as is my dumping response) so I don't really eat a lot at a time. BUT I can definitely pack more in than I did when I had just reached goal (which was VERY little). I've been maintaining my current weight (give or take 5 lbs) for about 1.5 years. P.S. my latest labs (taken in November last year) came back satisfactorily, so I must be doing something right. 🤷🏽‍♀️ P.P.S. sorry this was so long

Ugh. You’re telling me...as i sit here in my pj’s and mismatched socks (i cut a hole in one of them as I’m tending to a sore toe), watching cooking shows, and eating 1/2 a biscotti. (58 calories, lol) Le Sigh.

I had chewables for all my supplements in the beginning (not the gummy kind, more the texture of those Kids' Flintstones vites) and it made me gag too, so those got tossed and I just did the pill/tablets. I had trouble with my calcium tablet though, I would get nauseous if I took it on an empty stomach, so I buried it in a spoonful of yogurt each time. Then I discovered these. They taste like little chocolate caramels. They are 17 cals each though, but totally worth it. I took 2 a day back when I was still taking supplements.

@Starwarsandcupcakes, that stew sounds yum..ingredients .very similar to soups we have regularly here at Casa SSS....except for the American cheese...i guess thats the Army Base portion of it? As for the cottage cheese, Im the opposite of you and @Kris77...i like my cottage cheese très lumpy, lol. I’ll strain out the liquid sometimes so its like super soft cheese curds!

What are your measurements? Sounds to me you are an "Inverted Triangle" (like me! I have wide shoulders compared to the rest of my body).

@MarvelGirl25!! @MarvelGirl25!! @MarvelGirl25!! Look what I made! Ever since I saw you post that luscious Pernil Roast last year, it has been on my recipe-to-do-list. Finally did the deed today (well, I started 3 days ago, technically), and it turned out pretty darn good. I had cooking-method schizophrenia and kept switching how I was cooking it over a span of 19 hours cuz i just wasn't convinced I was doing it right. Started off in the slow cooker, then I moved it covered to a roasting pan in the oven, then i lifted up out of the liquid on a rack, then I removed the cover, and finally broiled it. The result was melt-in your mouth meat with a crispy crunch skin. I left the citrus juices to the side for self-serve cuz I wasn't sure if the fam would approve and couldn't make myself commit to pouring it over ALL the meat. In any case, I'm not sure I would do this again anytime soon unless I am cooking for a tonne of people...so much effort!!!! We have a good amount of leftovers (but the skin is all gone) so will likely transform it into pulled pork sliders tomorrow. Next up: I'm gonna try my hand at your Estofado de Res! I had 55g of it plus some pineapple salsa (we didn't have any peas nor plantains, so just worked with what I had in the pantry...fam had it with rice): 199 calories. Ate all the pineapple, and about 2/3 of the portioned pork (pork is really filling for me).

That steak looks yummer. As for the discarded butter, pass that along my way! I hope someone else got to enjoy it!!!!!

I am a Salt-aholic. 1 cup Extra-Spicy Clamato Juice w/ a heavily celery-salted rim (+1/2 cup water to make it last longer!). Skipped the vodka this time, 😂 60 calories. Plan on drinking it all as I chill on the couch and watch Four Weddings:

...and that's cool too. To the OP, do whatever you feel comfortable with...take whatever suggestions YOU feel is in your best interest, and leave the rest. Good Luck! ❤️

Just a suggestion: perhaps you may want to get involved in the details just so you are informed? The payment/coverage contract is between you and your insurance, not between you and the doc. Your surgeon is not held accountable for any promises they make you regarding coverage and reimbursements, if in the potential case of misunderstanding between surgeon and insurance. Your insurance will not accept "well, that's what my surgeon told me".

Yes, I had a Tummy Tuck...I don't really know what other procedures there would be? Do you have something specific in mind? Below is a Before and After of the TT. I didn't have too much hanging skin, it was more of a wrinkly cloth look right in the middle of my abdomen, as well as some lumpiness all over. After the tummy tuck (which included muscle tightening and a bit of lipo on the flanks, you can see that the wrinkle look and lumps are gone, and my little ab muscles are visible at rest (i.e, I don't have to stretch out and flex to make them show, lol). Also, the lump in my crotch area flattened out, and the hips and front of the thighs smoothed out: I am think I'm basically the same weight in both these pics (give or take a lb or two).

Hi @KellyMarie8288...congrats on the milestone!! Yay you! We have very similar starting stats, I'm 5'2", starting weight 235, (but am a good10 years older than you). We would be considered "low-weights" and cannot reasonably expect the same weight loss rates achieved by those heavier and taller in the first few months, or in the months following the initial drop. With that said, not counting the first two months post-op, when I had a higher than normal pound droppage for ME (compared to later months), I lost anywhere between 10 and 13 lbs a month until I reached goal by 7 months. I need to note though that I was doing pretty low calories throughout weight loss phase, as well as progressively more intense regular exercise.

Started shedding around 3 months...kept going until about month 6-7. Its all back now (plus some, I think/hope lol), and the same length as the rest of the hair that stuck around. On another note, i too had very dry, cracked heel skin pre-surgery. Today they are lovely smooth and actually soft. Not sure if this is due to weight loss, or the fact that i wear socks all day long, all year long, because my feet are always cold. Lol.

Its called Tajin...tastes like seasoned salt with a kick of lime: p.s. good luck with the cottage cheese!

Yeah, basically the same salad i had a couple days ago: 222 calories. Plan on eating it all as i sit in front of the TV...

My team was ANTI-gummy vits. I can't remember exactly why, but I think it may had to do with something about volume? Usually multiple gummies would need to be ingested for the same dosage of one tablet or capsule. I was prescribed a pre-natal multi, calcium, Vitamin D, Iron, B12 & Vitamin A at the time of surgery. I was also taking high blood pressure pills and cholesterol pills. By 1 week post op, I was off blood pressure meds, by 1 month off of the cholesterol meds, as well as told to lay off the Iron, B12 and Vitamin A cuz I was over producing, and to change my multi to one with low to no iron. From months 2-12 I just took a multi (with low iron) once a day, and Calcuium & Vit D 2x a day. After the year mark, I sort of started slacking off taking my vitamins (my choice, just out of laziness, I guess). I am 2+ years out now and haven't taken any vitamins since March last year. All my labs have come back satisfactorily, including the 2 followups AFTER I stopped taking my supplements.

I'm pushing 50 and wear heels any chance I get (I'm not as vertically blessed as all you amazons!). I plan on getting buried in a nice pair of 4-inchers. LOLOLOLOLzzzzz

Sorry you are suffering *hugs*. I had a pretty slow start in the eating-department the first couple weeks. I didn't have any nausea or sickness though, but just couldn't (or wouldn't?) get anything in. The first two weeks I barely ate/drank anything...my logs showed I ate about 300 calories in total EACH of those two weeks (not days, WEEKS). Suffice it to say, I was pretty tired and run down. I had frequent headaches (was probably really dehydrated). I slept ALOT. I didn't try to force myself to eat/drink during that time...only put something in my mouth when I could stand it (which was very rarely). By around week 3 it got infinitely better. It was like one day I woke up and found that I could chug water. I didn't actually feel hungry, i don't think, but for the first time since surgery, the thought of swallowing something didn't repulse me. I would suggest a chat with your doc...more so for any nausea or pain you are experiencing. The food intake part should come in time. Good Luck! ❤️

Technically, you can get one whenever you want. You may want to be at least be at or close to goal for optimal results, but its not a game ender. I have read that there may be some docs who would want you to be at a stable weight for a certain amount of time...but I had 4 consults, and none of them had this requirement. 🤷🏽‍♀️ I had all my consults at 7 months post op (when I reached goal), with the intention of getting it done right away, but my chosen doc didn't have a free spot open until 6 months later, which turned out to be a good thing because I lost almost another 20 lbs by the time my surgery date came around. I'm over a year post plastics today (and weigh basically the same as the day I had plastics).

I heart avocado salads