ms.sss

One-pieces would be the easiest choice, but if u wanna go the two-piece route, a high-waisted bottom keeps everything in nicely. Bonus points for high-cut leg openings (makes ur legs look longer and you hips slimmer!) Though once you get closer to goal, you may find that just the ability to wear a string bikini outweighs the already diminishing self-consciousness. I was wearing them pre-plastics with wrinkly tummy and all (but i did still wear tube or halter style swim tops cuz my deflated boobs needed some containment)

I didn’t know one could botox the chin? I thought it was just fillers down there? Does it give appearance of firmer chin? Change the shape? As for botox, i have the opposite result: my forehead jabs last longer than the brow-betweens. I suppose this is due to the type of faces we make? I tend to crinkle my nose in disgust alot lol. Maybe you tend to produce “oh really?” looks 😂

They do fade, and will require a touch up anywhere between 4-8 years (depends on the person and their lifestyle). Alternatively, can get mini touch ups every couple years instead of a full touchup (i.e., one session)…which is probably more acceptable for me cuz a full session is really long. We’ll see, who knows, I may opt to go G.I. Jane someday (😂 too soon???)

Lol, yeah i was feeling pretty bad a$$ and proud of myself when it was all done (during, not so much). Im starting to get greys myself, granted im at less than 50 grey hairs in total at the moment and i henna my hair to blend em in better with my regular black hair. Though by the time im willing to go full on grey (and if im willing to go through this again!) the tech said the pigment would be adjusted lighter to work with greys. We’ll see…

You are right...while i was pregnant, i had fabulous thick flowy hair, nice skin and big boobs! LOL. Once I popped the Kid out, my hair left with her, ...then the boobs followed a few months after. So its actually a good idea to get the breast lift after the kids...kids do a number on them, man. --- No I haven't done eyebrow micro-blading, my eyebrows are still in pretty good shape. But i did do lip blushing, which is very similar...its like a combo of micro blading and tattooing. And that hurts too btw!, but not as bad as the scalp because my tech used a numbing cream. I was supposed to get a lash line tattoo, but i got freaked out watching a pal of mine get it, so now i'm rethinking, lol.

3.5 years out. ZERO regrets (other than not doing it sooner, like many others) My eating habits have not gone “back to normal”, as in my pre-op days, but has definitely expanded since the early days post surgery. I still eat much less and much slower than everyone else around me, but thats just fine with me. I also eat a wide range of foods (including not-as-healthy options) and am doing just fine. Been maintaining below goal weight almost 3 yrs now. I do still dump as well, but again, this is easily avoided (not too much sugar at a time, and never on an empty stomach). ALL of my obesity-related issues are long gone, and i feel awesome. Confidence, energy and attitude are way up (as is my wardrobe, lol). So yeah, no regrets. Good Luck! ❤️ P.S. @18kDays: are u contemplating surgery or have you already started the process?

I dont think i did Brussel sprouts during weight loss phase (dont really know why…just didn’t get a chance I guess), but i do now. Either pan-fried or roasted in the oven, and always with bacon, and often with balsamic glaze drizzled on top and/or shaved Parmesan. I will say though that Brussel spouts are one of the few veggies that fill me up almost as quickly as dense protein (along with cabbage, beets and al dente cauliflower). yum, though.

First meal of the day. Longanisa and pickled cucumbers: 353 calories (ate it all). P.S. Longanisa is like a a sweet chorizo.

Omg looks store bought. Nice! (i looked at the recipe - thx btw - and it lists the batch produces 16 servings…how big was the cake???)

I totally appreciate your tidy pantry and the way the item are all lined up like grocery shelves (a woman after my own heart lol)

Those shrimp look mouthwatering 🤤

Ooohh this one looks even better! (my attempt was not successful…overcooked and turned out basically like mashed potatoes wrapped hard (and chewy? 🤷🏻‍♀️) skin #oopsies. Will try again another time!)

Ive turned into the leftovers-eater. The fam is adverse to leftovers and i hate waste, so…. Theres always something to eat, but not always of the healthy-persuasion. But i count calories and try to make sure im within range, so its all good.

You’ll likely get this anyway in the immediate days post op. But again, it only lasts a a couple days.

Yes, yes they are.

I too had to do 2 weeks of 3 (clinic-provided shakes a day). But was allowed unlimited coffee tea water as well. The first 1-2 days was a bit of a challenge (esp cuz i hated the vanilla flavour but didn’t mind the chocolate), but by day 3 it was no sweat. In fact, sometime in the second week i went down to 2 shakes a day cuz i refused to drink the vanilla ones anymore (gross). I lost 11.8 lbs by surgery day (but like 8 of those were in the first week). Sone tips that helped the shakes go down easier (for me): —- lots of added water (i probably added 2-3 times the amount the package required. — add a tsp of decaf instant coffee crystals — drink it SUPER COLD — and if u are worried about constipation, a couple tsps of Benefiber. Good Luck! ❤️

BFF just came by to drop off these things, omg. While I wanted to take a bite of each one, I managed to hold myself to 1/8 of the Kit Kat Matcha one (bottom right) and 1/8 of Strawberry Basil one (bottom left ). Im guessing (and logging) 100 calories for the equivalent of 1/4 a donut 🤷🏻‍♀️ If there is any leftover later tonight, i got my eye on the Peanut Butter Espresso one (middle right)…!! 😳

🎂

Today’s salad, technically without actual salad (we’re out of lettuces AND cabbage!) All the good stuff: cucumbers, beets, cheese, chicken, bacon, tomatoes, Brussel sprouts and and some chicken liver pate. #yum 325 calories Ate almost all of it. As is almost always the case, someone was sitting with me and ate some. Im guessing i got to eat about 80-85% of it?

Well thats a fancy looking potato! Hasselback, yes? Now i wanna make some for the fam *prepares to go out to pick up some potatoes*

So my team green-lit everything at 1 month, including raw veggies, bread and alcohol. Had first raw veggies/salad around 2-3 months cuz until then, there was no room after getting my protein in. Went pretty uneventfully when i did. Bread I didn’t have (by choice) until well after weight loss phase and discovered harder, dryer bread went down much easier and in larger volumes than soft fluffy bread. Still the same now at 3.5 yes post. I do have bread on occasion these days. Regarding alcohol, i had like 2-3 sips of red wine at 3 weeks post. It burned a little and I swear i felt it travelling through my intestines. Next try was at around 2-3 months post with a soju/sake drink and i had one of my worst dumping experience ever. In all i must have had maybe 5 partial drinks in total during weight loss phase, and i got pretty tipsy/drunk each time (though I sobered up surprisingly quickly) Now though, I’m basically an alcoholic (at least according to the North American measure of it. Apparently women who consume >= 7 drinks per week are alcoholics. Soooo… *raises hand* 🤷🏻‍♀️ And yep, i smoke too (at least right now i am, i’ve been quitting and un-quitting for the last 2 years) MANDATORY DISCLAIMER: i am in no way advocating what i do for anyone else. You know your own limits and can choose as an autonomous adult whether you choose to stay within these limits or beyond them. …and…don’t judge me! Good Luck! ❤️

Ugh. The dreaded Pureed Stage. When i got to that stage, i puréed some beef, took one look at it and was all, No Thanks. Eww. So i just continued another week at Full Fluids then went to Minced right after. I did eat really, reaaaally runny eggs and creamy cottage cheese though.

I never really removed ALL carbs from my diet (i think that would be really difficult), but I did go ultra-low carb during weight loss phase, < 25g NET a day. I didn’t really use any substitutes during weight loss phase, but i did try making cauliflower crusts…while good, i deemed them too much effort and just went without. After goal (approx 7 months) I did start using more substitutes (shiratake noodles, chicken crusts, zero carb bagels). The noodles were good, but super filling, the chicken crusts are effing delicious and i have yet to enjoy any type of zero carb bread (its NOT bread!). It took me a few months to lose my fear of carbohydrates, but by around 1 year (or was it 2?) post op, i started eating desserts and bread and pasta again. Granted i only eat really yummy bread or pasta (i.e., homemade by Mr.) but still. Nowadays i dont put limits on my carbs anymore (im 3.5+ years out) and just keep an eye on total calories. So far so good.

Lol. CLASSIC.

I didn’t try (nor was i advised) to practice post-op behaviours pre-op. While is may be helpful to get into the habit, it’s probably difficult to do without the physical feedback-response one would get AFTER the surgery. In any case, this is what *i* did after surgery: I used a timer (on my watch) to time my bites. I’d take one, maybe 2 bites, put my utensil down and set my timer to go off in 2-3 mins. At the buzzer if i felt like taking another bite or two, i would, if not, i’d time another 2-3 mins. If I didn’t want another bite after that, i called it and put my food back in the fridge for later. Yes, it took me FOREVER to eat in the first few few months (or was it a year?) but I learned very early on that if i ate too fast or too much, i would be barfing in the toilet in no time. Not pretty. I also learned early on that i could not drink about 30-45 mins after eating solids, or yep, cue more barfing (but i had zero problems drinking right up to the moment i ate solids). But everyone is different and you may find that it wont affect you as much, or maybe it will affect you more. As someone mentioned above, listen to your body, and act accordingly. You’ll know when you know. Good Luck! ❤️