ms.sss

Yum, all right! Now im gonna make stuffed chicken breast tomorrow!

Oooh those little lettuces are so cute!

Lunchtime! Romaine w/ vinaigrette, spinach, carrots, feta, mint leaves, pumpkin seeds & a snack can of tomato and onion tuna: 201 calories.

Started with just walking around the block a few times a day on Day 2. But it really started in month 3. I tried lots (and lots!) of things for about 2-3 months, looking for something I enjoyed and thought i would keep at: weight training, zumba, salsa, tap dancing, rock climbing, walking (which eventually turned into running), swimming, hot yoga, spin classes, lol. I would say I was doing maybe 1-1.5 hours of some sort of exercise every 2-3 days during this period. Intensity varied, depending on the activity: from low (walking, yoga) to high (spin class) Turned out I love running and hot yoga (swimming is good too). Haven’t gone to the studio nor pool since Covid, but these days I run at least 5K daily. Sometimes twice a day. This is quite a 180 for me, as for reals, I was the epitome of couch potato pre-wls. I mean, I would get winded going up a flight of stairs! (Btw, it also turned out that I detest weight training, but I do it anyway) ...and no, I didn’t find that starting regular exercise made me hungrier (i didn’t really start to feel hungry until a couple months into maintenance?). Though I do remember that I started to really want salt. Probably I wasn’t replenishing with enough water... So this is my VERY long winded lead-up to sharing this semi-pro tip: Find something (anything!) that you like to do and start doing it as early as you can muster. By the time u get to maintenance, it will be a no-brainer part of your life and it will help keep u there. Plus it makes u feel good...and when u feel good, you look good, and will have confidence oozing out of your every pore, that it will make others around you want to barf...lololololzzz. P.S. I also recommend strength training as soon as u are able, even if u hate it, just do it, as it really does make a difference. When all your fat has melted off, your hard earned muscles will see the light of day and it’ll be all good. ❤️ Edited to add: Correction: I haven’t gone to the studio nor pool since before my PS in December! I just haven’t been BACK since Covid. Pools are open now, but I’m wary of going back at this time, and I have no idea when the studio will open up...

I don’t consider myself a vet yet (20 months post-op last week), but I credit my weight loss to: of course the surgery, but also to being very strict about calories and ultra-low carbs (>25g NET carbs a day). And to a lesser extent, daily exercise. Starting at 235lbs 2 wks before surgery, I reached goal at 7 months post-op with a loss of 108lbs at the time (I dropped another 17lbs after that...I’m 115 now) I continue to stay away from most carbs (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc), but I love me some dessert, so I will occasionally indulge, lol. I also run almost every day and force myself to do 20-30 mins of strength training daily (i admit, i hate it). I also still log/track everything I put in my mouth and weigh myself every morning. I hope to maintain this weight for the super-long term, but only time will tell, I guess. In the meantime it’s working for me, so its all good. I think so long as you keep the on top of things, for like FOREVER (and understand and accept that this is your new normal, and not just a temporary thing) one could reasonably expect to achieve and stay at goal (give or take 10 lbs) Good Luck!

Still working on that watermelon...today’s lunch: Romaine, carrots, watermelon, feta, pumpkin seeds, mint leaves and spicy vinaigrette: 154 calories.

If i had a Trader Joe’s in my country, I’d gladly wait in line all afternoon 😭

Yeah, you will notice that EVERYONE will seem to want to comment on your weight loss. It does get annoying. How about an all-in-one response: “Thanks for noticing, I’m working on it!”

Mini Brie-Cranberry-Cashew Tarts (can’t really see the brie, but it’s in there!) I had one. ...right out of oven, #curunchyMeltyYUM 60 calories each.

YEAH, sister! P.S. The meat pic is my favourite, natch. LOL.

✊🏼 Same, same, same here.

Ah, I see. Have you already put in the request and been denied? I have read of some members who have successfully navigated the appeals process after denials...but not necessarily for this same instance, though. But then again, the appeals process may just take longer than 6 months....

Hi! Did you gain the 40 lbs just during COVID (i.e., in the last 3 months)? Maybe book an appt with your PCP...perhaps it may be due to an underlying (or new) medical condition?

Not sure if you want to go this route but its an option: Insurance should cover the hernia repair without any waiting period. You can get the hernia repair now (or sooner), to at least address the pain you are in, and then complete the 6 months and get the WLS.

LOL...most things in life are better naked...

The evolution of a watermelon...

I used to looooove Biscoff Cookie Butter. I would make cookie butter, nutella & banana sandwiches. Ah, how times have changed. 😜

YES. I went from a 7.5-8 to a 6-6.5 On the bright side I got to buy new shoes, lol. INCLUDING tall boots that I hadn’t been able to wear in YEARS.

In the early months, I would take a protein shake (or powders) as well as beef jerky in my purse whenever I went out. As you are six months out, you *should* be able to order something off the menu, even if it is just a side or appetizer or maybe even a soup? Or even a regular meal and just pick out the stuff you don't want/can't eat. Though honestly, I cared more for the company than the food anyway...the surgery didn't alter the regularity to which I went to restaurants/bars/parties/family get-togethers. It may just be a matter of getting used to? Maybe the more you go out and not make food the central focus, the more it won't bother you as much?

So I’m not sure if BMI had much to do with it vs. the rapid weight loss (but don’t quote me on that! Lol) According to my weight loss records, at one week post op (when i got off the BP meds), my BMI was 39.7 And at my one months (when I got off cholesterol meds) my BMI was 37.0 ...and both these numbers are way higher than yours. Of course, there are other factors at play (age, pre-disposition, medical history, level of exercise, diet, etc), but this was my experience, in any case. Edited to add: Today, my BMI is 21, so this likely has a circular effect on the lower BP these days?

For the cholesterol, I was tested before my 2 week pre-surgery liquid diet, then the day after surgery, then at my 1 week post op, then again at my 1 month followup...thats when I was taken off it. (Was tested further at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year. Its worth noting that at 6 months my cholesterol went up again...apparently, i was told, because of the release from all the fat that was coming off. It went back down by my 9 month checkup) For the high blood pressure again I was tested before and after surgery (I also have a blood pressure machine at home, so I took daily readings). It was remarkably low the day after surgery, and because I was semi-blacking out that first week post op, doc took me off the pills at the 1 week checkup. Been off it ever since. Today (at 1.5+ years post op) my blood pressure regularly hovers in the very low end range of “normal”.

Hi! I was off my blood pressure meds the week after surgery. Then off my cholesterol pills 1 month later. I used to be pre-diabetic and had fatty liver. Pre-diabetic no longer by my 1 month follow up, and my fatty liver diagnoses was gone by the 3 month followup (could have been earlier, but this was when they checked). And as an added bonus, apparently I stopped snoring the first night home from the hospital (so says Mr., at least, lol). Go figure. It's par for the course to be nervous, but this will likely be the best decision you ever made, if you let it ❤️ Good Luck!

Wrap dresses and wrap skirts are your friends! (As are belts, lol). Though, if you want to save some $$, maybe don't buy too many clothes during weight loss phase. At first I was all, yay, I can buy some smaller clothes! Then it became apparent that I would drop a size every 3-4 weeks and I couldn't wear my just purchased clothing. So that was a bummer.

During weight loss phase, I had the occasional glass of red wine or gin (or vodka) & soda water with lots of lime. AFTER weight loss phase, I do drink more, but generally stick to dry red wine or gin/vodka/tequila (less carbs in these). I stay away from sugary mixers, and sugary liqueurs (with the exception of Kahlua...an IMPORTANT ingredient in espresso martinis, lol) It's also worth noting that post-wls it doesn't take a lot for me to feel the effects of alcohol. One and I'm done. Though I do also sober up very quickly now...

AWESOME!!!