ms.sss

i didnt have rice nor starch-based noodles until close to 1.5 years post op (by choice, not by mandate). i did have shirataki noodles though (a non-starch/carb plant-based noodle), and they sat very heavy in my stomach. plus they had zero nutritional value, ha. when i finally did get around to consuming rice and traditional noodles, like others above, they were/are veerrrrry filling and hang around in my stomach for what feels like forever. as for whether they are "allowed" it all depends on who u ask. i was cleared for everything (except alcohol) after 1 month. as with everything, if u really want it, try a bit and see how you and ur body responds. then go from there. Good luck! ❤️

leftovers for lunch! (i realize it may not look so very appetizing, but whatevs, it was delicious!) - a ladle of pork and preserved egg congee with soy sauce and white pepper - two deboned Popeye's Chicken spicy drumsticks with some Frank's red hot sauce - an espresso martini beforehand (not shown had i eaten it all, i would've clocked 641 calories. But i updated the MFP entry to 377 calories as Mr. swooped by to eat my leftovers before i was able to put it away for later lol (updated MFP screenshot added below)

this is actually why i go into my closet and try on stuff i haven't worn in a while on a regular basis. i REALLY dont want to try something on a year from now and be unpleasantly surprised it doesn't fit anymore. Plus i like to play dressup all the time, so... ??

same. im almost 5 years out, and i STILL look at clothes on the rack and think its gonna be super snug on me. when i go shopping with the kid she ALWAYS tells me to try on the smaller size, but i always bring a bigger size into the change room with me as well "just in case". she basically right every time. and a lot of times even the smaller one she tells me to try in is too big. its weird because i was "normal sized" for a bigger portion if my existence than when i was obese, and yet i seem to have a longer memory of being too big for clothes. i figure all those times of things not fitting me nicely when i was fatter left a traumatic mark and thats all i seem to remember. ??‍♀️

yup, yup and yup. yup, my hair starting falling out at 3 months. yup, started to notice less hair accumulation on the floor AND itty bitty regrowth hairs on my head around 6-7 months. yup, my hair was dryer and more brittle looking at that time. yup, by the time i hit around 2.5 years post op, those itty bitty hairs were the same length as the rest of my shoulder length hair (at the time) that didn't fall out. like @Arabesque, i also experienced the bonus of no-longer oily hair, AND no more dry scalp/dandruff issues, AND my new hairs grew in with a pretty little wave to them (yay!) AND it actually seems thicker and healthier now than pre-surgery (though this could likely be because of my better diet and overall health, AND because im so vain now i take better care of myself, including my hair, lol) i'm almost 5 years out now, and you would never think i ever had a hair loss problem. i know it doesn't help very much when u are in the thick of it, but TrY to keep in mind its only temporary. Good Luck! ❤️

i already know i'd like the hot sauce one, and the cheesy one! what are the other ones?? teriyaki? ranch? bbq sauce? blue cheese?? ?

Tried my hand at Grilled Caprese. Pretty good, if i say so myself! Mr. forwarded this recipe to me because we were watching a cooking show where they were making focaccia and i was all, "i can do that!": https://www.thekitchn.com/grilled-caprese-focaccia-23552694?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=topic%2Frecipes I only had whole wheat flour on hand, so i was not very optimistic about the end result, but it turned out super yum...that nutty flavour from the flour was delish. I did have to add an extra 1/4 cup of water to make up for the dryness of the whole wheat flour though, but it was all good. Baked it in a cast iron pan on the bbq. Gave it a nice smoky flavour! I calculated a serving as 1/12 of the whole thing. Ate a full "serving" with a generous lump of labneh: 249 calories.

*raises hand* ?

loving those gloves!

with room to spare! lol Congrats!

speaking of yogurt, this one is my FAVE. it's SuPEr thick and lusciously creamy but u pay for it in calories (200 cals for 3/4 cup serving, and 10% fat!)...but sooo good.. i just buy the plain though, i find flavoured yogurts too sweet.

i'm almost 5 years out and i still can't. for me, liquids and solids together is a sure fire way to fill up my stomach real quick and result in uncomfortable fullness. i almost never drink while i eat, and for at least 30-45 minutes after consuming anything "solid" (though i have taken a VERY rare sip if something gets caught in my throat, or if i eat something too spicy, but if i do, that basically signals an end to eating solids for a while...otherwise i'll projectile vomit). like another above, i can drink liquids as much as i want right up until i eat something solid. after that, i need to wait to digest before even attempting to drink anything else. as a result of this i am often drunk before the meal when i am out to eat, because i drink my liquor BEFORE the meal (on an empty stomach, yikes!) it took a while to get used to, but now it's second nature. Even my husband and good friends know to wait to order our food until i'm almost done finishing my drink. p.s. i have even learned to eat soup to accommodate this quirk: i'll sip all the liquid in soups first,and leave anything "chunky" in it until last.

yesterday i offhanded-ly commented to Mr that i felt for some oysters. this afternoon he showed up with a crate of oysters and shucked 'em for us ❤️ ate them with an random assortment of leftovers from the pantry and fridge (peppercorn patè, sourdough bread, a single samosa, malaysian curry beef brisket and rice). also pulled out a subset of the extensive array of condiments we collect in the fridge lol. oh, and i quickly made a mignonette for the oysters. a pic of our table spread, as an MFP entry of what i actually ate.

so @GreenTealael's dessert pic got me jonseing for some baked goods, so when i walked by a specialty grocery store, i went in, high-tailed to the bakery and picked up these two beauties: a chocolate peanut butter butter tart and a lemon square! came home and cut out a quarter of each one to try. Verdict: the butter tart was like a 7/10. the filling was awesome, but the pastry was just a little too flaky for my taste. the lemon square was a bit of a fail. not nearly as lemon-y as it should've been. i rate it a 4/10. i only took one bite, but i should've taken a nibble instead, i feel like i just ate a bunch of unenjoyable and unworthy calories! 202 calories for the servings. just left a bit of the lemon square.

funny, as i get older i seem to like celebrating bigger and bigger. i guess im feeling more greatful for being alive for yet another year

funny, as i get older i seem to like celebrating bigger and bigger. i guess im feeling more greatful for being alive for yet another year

happy birthday!!! ❤️❤️❤️ (...and YUUUUUMMMMMM)

digging through the freezer for something to eat and found some chicken pot pies i made a while back and froze for future use. 2 mins in the microwave to defrost, then 10 mins in the toaster oven to crisp up the crust. still as good as the first time, lol. ate 1/2 for approx 322 calories.

That’s the one thing that blew me away when I lived in AU for a bit: the prices of grocery items were crazy! I remember going to a store and being floored at the $14 AU ($9 USD) price tag for 6 oz of blueberries !! ….when they cost $2.50 CAD ($1.80 USD) back home. Granted, that was 10+ years ago, but still. I thought we would go broke…or starve!! AU prices are actually the reason why I quit smoking back then. Cigarettes where almost 4 times the price of what I paid in Toronto….hmmm maybe I should go back so I can quit again! Lol P.S. The cost of a dozen eggs up here is about $5-6 CAD , ($3-4 USD) when not on sale right now…up about $1-2 CAD since pre-pandemic.

Tomato, Basil, Pesto, & Fresh Mozzarella Sandwiches! 460 for the entire sandwich, I ate 1/2 of one. So yum.

lol i JUST posted my own egg and tortilla concoction!!!

a few "meals" the past few days. - egg and cheese quesadilla with some buffalo wing chips - chicken fingers made out of leftover fried chicken drumsticks (removed meat from bone, battered and deep fried) with some ketchup - store bought sour dough baguette slices more leftover chicken (skin removed) tossed in mayo and seasonings and topped with raw asparagus. **calorie count in this pic depicts what i actually ATE vs the initial portion. - prosciutto slices and extra old cheddar cheese.

@GreenTealael, @Arabesque omg those loom good. i've put them on my list of things to try and make (my list is loooooooong!) @Starwarsandcupcakes: Eggs. Yuuuuum!

i used straws...just like @Arabesque, i found it easier to take sips in the early months. i still use straws whenever they are provided, though when im given one of those paper straws, i chuck em (or give them back). i hate those things...they turn to mush in in like 5 mins.

lol, i have them stored in freezer, fridge & counter all at same time, and move them about as needed. we go through butter like water (esp when im in a baking spree). i buy them in bulk at costco!