ms.sss

I may have staged the picture but I always have canvas totes to carry it in and kids who enjoy going through the spoils of grocery day. 😂

being on these forums long enough i would assume that one should realize by now that everyone is different. we say/post it multiple times a day, every day.
i don't like weight lifting . it's don't like olives. i don't like talking about my wls.
others don't feel the same way. i get that.
we are all different people getting our own versions of joy. i may not make the same connections to things as you do, and thats cool.
i mean, some people have sex every day while others don't. some people weigh themselves every morning others don't. some people read books while others don't.
why do people drink too much and become alcoholics? alcohol is so gross. this line if thinking is the close sibling to why do people eat too much and get fat? being fat is so gross. to paraphrase you: "but how did you get to the point where <eating> was enjoyable enough to do it often <that u end up being 300 lbs>?"
the incredulity in your post is loud and clear...but really, if u think about it, its not that impossible to understand (especially from the point of view from a person who was morbidly obese)
your intention may be not to sound judgy...but in my very insignificant opinion, you kinda do.
but i mean, you are entitled to say whatever you want. i guess i just wanna ask you to take a pause and reflect on how ur post may or may not have come across.
sorry. 😔
i don't normally weigh in this heavily in anonymous internet chats as i hate confrontation, but this touched a wee nerve for me.
(i may just delete this post after i overthink it to death...we shall see...i have already edited this post a gazillion times in my overthinking, ha.)

Thank you for this! I'm working on eating slower and recognizing signs.i ended up taking a before and now picture (even though was just 11 days) and I could see a small difference, that difference helped though! I'm trying to do things to stay positive. I really do appreciate your post, gives me more hope!

Kristen it's not uncommon for people who are post op a few days to have so much angst. Follow your doctor and nutritionist protocols. Everyone loses weight at a different pace. The main thing is to stick to the program and despite what is preached about super fast weigh loss, it does happen but it's not the norm. The majority of people lose a a decent amount of weight, experience a stall, after time the body adjusts and then you experience Constipation, and the body adjusts and you lose more weight. . Your best result is patience and sticking to the plan. I have family members who can eat a lot more than they thought they should. It comes down to what you eventually eat. Eating a ton of salad is much better than eating a ton processed food. Still eating a ton but with much different results. Stay the course and dont be discouraged, your body is going through a process and needs to sort things out.

i also was not a fan of pureed stage to the point that i skipped it altogether. on the first day of pureed stage i blitzed some beef in my food processor, looked at it, took a whiff, then dry heaved as i dumped it all in the trash.
decided i would just extend my full liquids food stage for an extra week and then go to straight to soft foods once done. worked for me (and also for my NUT who i told what i what i decided to do...she was fine with it).
though pureed stage was around 1 month post of for me, and i was barely eating much anyway (like 300-400 cals a day i think), so it probably made no difference for me? *shrug*.

It could possibly be premenopausal or if you're dehydrated.. Your gums recede due to not having enough moisture aka dehydration. 😕

I call it hot girl fit (stole & twisted it from some recent movie). Look good, have muscle definition but have no strength or stamina. Gym fit but not life fit. Lol!
Oh, yes the changing body shape when your body resettles. I remember looking in the mirror bemoaning the loss of my hour glass figure. I was all straight up & down when my weight first stabilised. Then one day I realised I had a definite waist & hips again (breasts remained larger - E cup & smaller band - just empty on top). Yay! Still no butt. And like @ms.sss, if you look at me sideways, you can’t tell my front from my back around that area. There are trousers I can’t wear because I have no butt to fill out the back & have that saggy, baggy butt look from the excess fabric.
PS - Hate to tell you @ms.sss, your dental issues may be related to menopause & being in that ‘certain age’ bracket. It affects so many parts of our body besides the obvious cessation of our cycle. Pretty crappy really. Men get it so easy!

I used to be top heavy but now I’m bottom heavy! This is in part due to plastics but some is definitely just the way my body decided to redistribute fat because it started before plastics.

"despite probably being the most "fit" i have ever been since my 20's, i still feel unbelievably weak compared to my heaviest days. i swear i can't open jars anymore nor can i carry multiple bags or groceries at once like i used to."
THIS!!! Why? I work out, weights etc..but darn I'm so weak..I too can't open jars...bag packages to save my life, wth is up with that??
I also have injuries galore and boy am I clumsy! Your post made me laugh because I'm right there with you and understand all too well! Plus the side view of no butt..yeah perfect description, again the same for me...its kinda sad... No butt anymore..I used to have the perfect peach... Put on some weight...lost some weight and POOF! Gone!

That's where I feel a lot in of my weakness - my hands and I turn 60 Thursday! Its my arms and hands (duh! They're dependent on each other 😆). That's what I was referring to in my OP... I have a hard time opening things I never had issues with before surgery. I shouldn't think its age related when I had no issues 9 months ago BS (before surgery), I opened things my husband had issues with sometimes - though if you were to ask him..he "loosened it for me!"

omg. im totally gonna have a t-shirt made with this slogan.

@Starwarsandcupcakes, while i love the neat, organized look of your grocery booty in your trunk, how the heck did they STAY so neat and tidy back there??? and how many trips did it take you to bring em all inside without bags??????
your pepsi stash looks just like our coke zero stash in the laundry room. haha.
@Arabesque: i am always in awe with how much you Brisbainians (?) spend on blueberries. the shock of seeing a package of bluberries for $12+ AUD back in 2011 is still i story i tell people today (fyi blueberries are on sale in my grocery for $2.99 CAD today)
prices of veggies change as they come in and out of season, just like other places. and every once in a while out of season stuff go on sale. i bought a single (large-ish) sweet potato for $1.25 this morning. as well as 1 english cucumber for $1.50. small bag of baby carrots for $2.50, and a crown of broccoli for almost $3.00. including some chips, a tub of sour cream, juice, chipolte powder and kitchen garbage bags, i spent about $25.
am probably going to go grocery shopping again tomorrow (i forgot to buy garlic, plus i tend to go almost every day anyway and just buy a little bit at a time) i'll pay more attention and report back to you! lol.

I spent about $100 ($64 US) on just a few vegetables (handful of green Beans & sugar snap peas, bunch of broccolini & asparagus, some grapes, tub of baby tomatoes, 2x tubs labneh, 2 pork chops & 3 chicken schnitzels). The grapes were the most expensive but will last me a couple of weeks.
Then went to the grocery store & spent another $130 on 2L milk, pack cheese sticks, macadamia nuts, mixed seeds, 3 bottles sparkling Water, tub of hummus, 8 Protein Bars, bag of frozen mixed vegetables & a few other bits & bobs (deodorant, toothpaste,…). Two large bags worth.
All for just one person. And I’ll be at the shops again next week (to get those cucumbers 😉.)

Last week I spent $96.94US for groceries of which one was a delivery order so that covered fees and tip, too. (The delivery item prices don’t include the discounts or sales promo code I had for $30 off $60

What a productive morning @ms.sss. I had a fridge clean out this morning too but there was no saving my leftover cabbage or sugar snap peas. There are two limes I’m giving another few days.
Was considering making some pickled cucumbers a couple of weeks ago too but turned out I had eaten the two I had. Now I’m thinking I should just buy some more. Mmm??
PS. How are vegetable prices in the northern hemisphere? Still recovering from the $14 punnet of blueberries 125g/4.4oz last week.

forgive me, i thought that was what we were doing.

being on these forums long enough i would assume that one should realize by now that everyone is different. we say/post it multiple times a day, every day.
i don't like weight lifting . it's don't like olives. i don't like talking about my wls.
others don't feel the same way. i get that.
we are all different people getting our own versions of joy. i may not make the same connections to things as you do, and thats cool.
i mean, some people have sex every day while others don't. some people weigh themselves every morning others don't. some people read books while others don't.
why do people drink too much and become alcoholics? alcohol is so gross. this line if thinking is the close sibling to why do people eat too much and get fat? being fat is so gross. to paraphrase you: "but how did you get to the point where <eating> was enjoyable enough to do it often <that u end up being 300 lbs>?"
the incredulity in your post is loud and clear...but really, if u think about it, its not that impossible to understand (especially from the point of view from a person who was morbidly obese)
your intention may be not to sound judgy...but in my very insignificant opinion, you kinda do.
but i mean, you are entitled to say whatever you want. i guess i just wanna ask you to take a pause and reflect on how ur post may or may not have come across.
sorry. 😔
i don't normally weigh in this heavily in anonymous internet chats as i hate confrontation, but this touched a wee nerve for me.
(i may just delete this post after i overthink it to death...we shall see...i have already edited this post a gazillion times in my overthinking, ha.)

ok, gonna throw my story on the table...take from it as you will, as a lesson to live by, a cautionary tale, or a personal justification...you choose.
pre surgery i was also a weekend warrior, actually, more like a yearly quarterly warrior, lol. i had like a couple drinks every 2-3 months. probably got stupid drunk once a year or less.
during weight loss phase (which lasted 7 months) i had maybe 5 partial drinks. i don't think i finished any of those drinks. my first "drink" was 3 weeks post op. I had maybe 2-3 sips of a glass of red wine. it was really weird, i swear i could feel the burning of the alcohol pass down my esophagus, through my stomach and along my intestines. my second drink was about 1 month later (christmas) and it was a very sugary soju-sake drink. again i had maybe 2-3 sips but this one resulted in my second worst dumping experience ever. *shudder*. the next 3 or so drinks were vodka or gin sodas (learned my lesson! less sugar!)
ok. now its 2019, im in maintenance and i'm looking hawt and feeling awesome and me and mr. go on a couple vacations and i drink way more than i normally do. but its vacation, right? so its ok. i also took up smoking again after being smoke free for 10 years (but thats another story).
now its 2020 and its effing covid, and i, like many others i know started drinking at home (i never did this before, i was always a go-out drinker)
...and now its 2024 and i drink every day. i don't get stupid drunk every day or anything (not that i'm trying to justify anything - i fondly call myself a high-functioning alcoholic), but i do drink every day. its at a point where others (i.e., my doctors and my hubs) are chastising me with the amount i drink. i know i drink too much and its probably doing a number on my health despite nothing showing up on any of my labs or whatever. i quit drinking for a month last year because my son said i couldn't stop drinking for a week. so i know i can stop (or at least slow down) if i really wanted to. trouble is i don't seem to really want to. last year, my OBGYN said i really should stop smoking AND drastically cut down the amount i drink. i told her i'm not sure i could do both, so i made her a deal and said i would stop smoking. i'm proud to say i have been smoke free for 9 months (after smoking for 4 years after quitting for 10, after smoking for 20...say that ten times fast, lol). its been surprisingly easy, but i think its because i can still drink.
ANYWAY.
i'm hoping to get into a mindset soon to address my drinking problem. i don't doubt my ability to reduce, but i'm not sure i will actually WANT to anytime soon. le sigh.
so there you have it. i am the poster child of transfer addiction.
despite all this, my weight has more or less remained unchanged (go figure). i continue to stay below goal weight this entire time.
....and i am literally typing this post out with an espresso martini in hand.
dont judge me! lol. i am relatively chill about all this so even if you do judge me, i wont take it personally.
p.s. oh, i should also mention that i get "affected" real quick and on very small amounts. and i also sober up real quick. this phenomenon is a purely post surgery thing. i needed lots more to get drunk before surgery....although my smaller size now may also be a factor....

This gave me so much hope. I hate feeling like I look like a hunchback. I used to have amazing posture, but as I gained, I think that I lost confidence and sort of cowered in my own little shell trying not to be noticed. I've been working on bringing the posture back to what it used to be, but I cannot wait for the neck hump to be gone!!

aaaahhhh ok...
put this way, i'll have to say i did notice some unexpected body composition changes in the year immediately following rapid weight loss:
- went from looking deathly skeletor-ish (gaunt and drawn and frail looking) to pretty healthy looking despite weighing less now than those skeleton days.
- my hair is actually thicker and "healthier" and even slightly curlier than even before surgery (which was a very welcome surprise after all that Hair loss from months 4-6 post op omg)
- i don't get pimples anymore. like ever.
- those weird dark little bumps on my upper arms are gone.
- when i do any sort of sustained exercise it's immediately noticeable. for instance if i do like 30 situps or 60 bicep curls i look shredded right after. no joke.
- my dentist says my gums have receeded faster than expected since the weight loss (dunno if this is related or a coincidence??)
- despite probably being the most "fit" i have ever been since my 20's, i still feel unbelievably weak compared to my heaviest days. i swear i can't open jars anymore nor can i carry multiple bags or groceries at once like i used to.
- i used to be bottom heavy (hips/butt was my widest part) now i am top heavy (shoulders/back are my widest part).
- i no longer have armpit hair ...but this is likely due to my arm lift? so i never have to shave there...which has the side benefit of the skin lightening up in that area...no more dark armpits for me! yay!
- i have no ass. like zero. looking at me directly from behind is semi-normal looking, but from a side view, its a straight line from the base of my neck to my knees.
- the hump on the back of my neck is gone
- not sure if this is related to my overall weakness, or because i just do wat more stuff now, or im just getting old, or a combination of it all, but i get injured ALOT. multiple sprains, torn ligaments, torn muscles, pinched nerves, tendonitis like everywhere, abdominal hernia, bruised ribs, carpel tunnel, ingrown toenails, omg. ive had more doctors/physio appts in the last 5 years than i've had in my entire life. times 2.
ok...this post is getting too long. gonna stop now lol

ok, gonna throw my story on the table...take from it as you will, as a lesson to live by, a cautionary tale, or a personal justification...you choose.
pre surgery i was also a weekend warrior, actually, more like a yearly quarterly warrior, lol. i had like a couple drinks every 2-3 months. probably got stupid drunk once a year or less.
during weight loss phase (which lasted 7 months) i had maybe 5 partial drinks. i don't think i finished any of those drinks. my first "drink" was 3 weeks post op. I had maybe 2-3 sips of a glass of red wine. it was really weird, i swear i could feel the burning of the alcohol pass down my esophagus, through my stomach and along my intestines. my second drink was about 1 month later (christmas) and it was a very sugary soju-sake drink. again i had maybe 2-3 sips but this one resulted in my second worst dumping experience ever. *shudder*. the next 3 or so drinks were vodka or gin sodas (learned my lesson! less sugar!)
ok. now its 2019, im in maintenance and i'm looking hawt and feeling awesome and me and mr. go on a couple vacations and i drink way more than i normally do. but its vacation, right? so its ok. i also took up smoking again after being smoke free for 10 years (but thats another story).
now its 2020 and its effing covid, and i, like many others i know started drinking at home (i never did this before, i was always a go-out drinker)
...and now its 2024 and i drink every day. i don't get stupid drunk every day or anything (not that i'm trying to justify anything - i fondly call myself a high-functioning alcoholic), but i do drink every day. its at a point where others (i.e., my doctors and my hubs) are chastising me with the amount i drink. i know i drink too much and its probably doing a number on my health despite nothing showing up on any of my labs or whatever. i quit drinking for a month last year because my son said i couldn't stop drinking for a week. so i know i can stop (or at least slow down) if i really wanted to. trouble is i don't seem to really want to. last year, my OBGYN said i really should stop smoking AND drastically cut down the amount i drink. i told her i'm not sure i could do both, so i made her a deal and said i would stop smoking. i'm proud to say i have been smoke free for 9 months (after smoking for 4 years after quitting for 10, after smoking for 20...say that ten times fast, lol). its been surprisingly easy, but i think its because i can still drink.
ANYWAY.
i'm hoping to get into a mindset soon to address my drinking problem. i don't doubt my ability to reduce, but i'm not sure i will actually WANT to anytime soon. le sigh.
so there you have it. i am the poster child of transfer addiction.
despite all this, my weight has more or less remained unchanged (go figure). i continue to stay below goal weight this entire time.
....and i am literally typing this post out with an espresso martini in hand.
dont judge me! lol. i am relatively chill about all this so even if you do judge me, i wont take it personally.
p.s. oh, i should also mention that i get "affected" real quick and on very small amounts. and i also sober up real quick. this phenomenon is a purely post surgery thing. i needed lots more to get drunk before surgery....although my smaller size now may also be a factor....

Can’t stand the smell of rum. It’s just blech! And tequila. No, no, no. That came from a hideous experience. I had to clean up after my then boyfriend was violently ill after heavily imbibing tequila. It’s been 30+ years but smelling or even seeing a bottle & the horrors of that night/morning come back. I’m emotional scarred from it.
Enjoy whisky though. Neat. No ice, no Water, nothing added.

I feel the same way about the "brown" liquor, its too harsh to me....but I do enjoy vodka, darker beers and wines. My ex drank gin and I couldn't stomach the smell...(not why he's my ex tho 😏), it made me gag when I'd smell his breath. Plus the dark liquors give me headaches IF and when I could get past the taste!
As far as "lightening up the mood" you can try, but its pretty difficult when people are discussing addictions...but I appreciate your attempting too!
What?? No "love fest" for me? 😭🙍🏼‍♀️

every week or so, i do the "fridge clean up", and toss the foods that are no longer edible and make attempts to salvage the foods that are on the brink of inedible.
this morning i tossed a bunch of leftover chinese food, ½ a wheel of brie, an almost full tub of sour cream, and an unopened box mixed greens (this made me sad )
BUT here are some items i was able to save/repurpose/extend shelf life of:
1. leftover fresh parsley and super ripe lemon into...PESTO!
2. uncut cumber bought over a week ago into...SWEET AND SOUR PICKLED CUCUMBERS!
3. almost dried out baby carrots and the remnants of a tub of spreadable cream cheese and 2 old apples that i made into applesauce into...CARROT CARE WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING (Mr. ate like 2/3 of the cake before i got to take a pic of it)
and finally:
4: ½ a head of cabbage that i shredded to include in the filling of these EGG ROLLS! that i prepped to freeze and cook another day.
phew. i feel very accomplished with my very productive morning...now im gonna go veg on the couch and watch tv!

@The Greater Fool, if you're haven't already said before, i heart you. u always so calm and wise and funny. the 3 things i admire most about others.
ok, now that i got that love fest out of my system...
@BlondePatriotInCDA, further to your discussion of the smells of different alcohol... now for me, the smell of what i weirdly all "brown liquor" always made me gag a little..."brown liquor" is what i call whiskeys, cognacs, brandy, scotch, dark rums, aged tequilas, etc. for those keeping score i only prefer to drink clear liquors (vodka, gin, clear tequila and rum) and red wine.
anyway, my Mr. prefers the brown liquors...and over the years (decades!), i have come to not hate as much the smell of them (i still don't drink them tho lol). in a weird way i associate the smell with him and since i kinda like him, i seem to not be hostile to the smell as much.
i mean i wont douse myself in it as a perfume or anything, but still.
just a useless anecdote i guess.
(i have no real reason to bring this up other than to make an attempt to lighten the mood on this thread 🤷🏻‍♀️)