Jaelzion

Yep, it takes a while to learn what "full" feels like now. I did the same thing once. Once. ☝️

Yep, it takes a while to learn what "full" feels like now. I did the same thing once. Once. ☝️

Having the doctor say "You're overweight" out of habit and being able to say "No I'm not." 😂

I call these "munchie" days, LOL. Interestingly, they often happen right before I drop a couple of pounds (even when I eat a little more that day).

I call these "munchie" days, LOL. Interestingly, they often happen right before I drop a couple of pounds (even when I eat a little more that day).

If I'm going to be out for a while, I take a portable snack with me: nuts, granola, Protein Bar, Quest chips, cheese sticks. Something I can eat while on the go. I also carry a bottle of Water because I find dehydration can lead to irritability too. You have to prioritize having what you need with you to avoid ending up starving.

Just a heads up for those of you who, like me, have lost a large amount of weight. I'm now less than half my previous weight and sometimes I run into downstream effects I wasn't prepared for.
Recently I had to take a medication that I haven't needed for some time (certainly not since I've been this small). My doctor and I were not thinking about my weight loss and how that would affect the appropriate dose for this med. Because I am so much smaller, the dose I regularly took before was way too much and I had crazy side-effects and toxicity. At first my doctor was stumped as to what is going on (even though she has seen me and is aware of my weight loss). It was my cousin, who is also a doctor (a hospitalist), who figured it out. As soon as I desceribed my symptoms, she said "That's an overdose, you're taking too much." and she reminded me that my weight affects the necessary dose.
When I went back to my doctor, she agreed that was it and reduced my dose to match my weight. And the problems went away. So don't forget that weight-based dosages will need to be adjusted as you get smaller! Even doctors may not remember to make the necessary adjustments.

Is it that you're actually feeling hungry? Or just that you're not feeling full? Those really are two different things. You might not feel "full" in the way you did before surgery because your tummy has been re-routed and your diet radically changed. But that doesn't mean you're hungry. I've seen many vets on here tell people not to chase the full feeling but instead to just eat until satisfied (no longer hungry). Could it just be that you are used to feeling "full" after you eat and it's different now?

Is it that you're actually feeling hungry? Or just that you're not feeling full? Those really are two different things. You might not feel "full" in the way you did before surgery because your tummy has been re-routed and your diet radically changed. But that doesn't mean you're hungry. I've seen many vets on here tell people not to chase the full feeling but instead to just eat until satisfied (no longer hungry). Could it just be that you are used to feeling "full" after you eat and it's different now?

I do have fruit pretty regularly but not much in the way of veggies. It's hard for me to meet my Protein goals and still fit veggies in. We're told to eat protein first, then veggies and when I get done with the protein, I'm pretty much stuffed.

Not for a second. And these Quest Peanut Butter Cups are delicious!

Good on you for taking the initiative to get back on track, glad things are going well for you. I struggled so on the pre-op diet that I could never go back to it, LOL. But I do understand the impulse to make a clean break with previous bad eating habits and start fresh. Once in a while, I allow myself a treat and then I do go right back to extra clean eating for a couple of days. I'm not convinced it does anything for my stomach but it definitely helps snap my mindset back to where it needs to be. Don't forget to plan for how you will eat once your reset is over, successfully making that transition back to "normal" (new normal) eating will be crucial.

Is your profile correct that you had your surgery in August of 2020? What you're describing is really common in the early days and even first weeks after surgery. But it's surprising you're experiencing it this many months out. I'd definitely check with the doctor. It's possible you could have developed a stricture (a narrowing of the esophagus) that won't allow food and Water to pass easily. It's worth checking out. Hope you feel better soon!

As the title says!

Exercise (walking and strength training) is a big help. Also music helps me a lot. I put music on, blast it loud if I want, sing and dance along, whatever I feel like. It helps.
I know you said non-food related, but one thing that helps with cravings is this advice that I received: "Before you eat something bad, eat something good." What that meant was, before giving in to a craving to eat something totally off plan, have an on-plan snack and often the craving will lessen or go away. I've tried it and it's worked for me many times.

This is exactly where I am. I know there are people who want to be thinner than I will ever be, and that's okay. There are people who are comfortable at a higher weight than I would be and THAT'S okay. So much drama would be avoided if we could just respect each other's choices. Whoever said your goal weight is too high - what business is it of theirs? Why are they invested in how much YOU weigh? And likewise, not everyone who wants to be thin has an eating disorder. Personally, I set my goal at a weight that would put me exactly at the edge of having a normal BMI. I made it, plus a little more and I'm happy at this weight. So far, it's not a struggle to maintain. I'm healthy and getting more fit every day. I don't have the inclination, time or energy to watch OTHER people's weight.

Having the doctor say "You're overweight" out of habit and being able to say "No I'm not." 😂

I shared mine in an earlier post:

Weight loss surgery is medical care and medical care is private. 🤷‍♀️ I encourage people to not be ashamed, but it's every person's choice how much they want to share about their medical situation.

Between the Demerol and the Versed, there's nothing to it. You'll be good.

This is what scares me about going to Mexico for surgery. It's not that I think complications are more likely there because I think they can happen anywhere. But the lack of access to follow-up care is a problem. I can tend to be a complex patient and I need to know that my surgeon is there to deal with issues that may come up. Going back to Mexico wouldn't be a feasible option in that case, so I'd be on my own, looking for a provider to help me. That's not a prospect I'm comfortable with.
Oh, edit to add: I'm really sorry you're going through this, I wish you a complete recovery.

No one can answer that question for you. Only you can decide whether you're up for a permanent change in your relationship with food. But we can share our experiences. Like many people, I had a tough first week after surgery, but by week 3, I was much better. I had no major complications and I lost all my excess weight. I have no regrets or complaints of any kind. There are lots of people on here just like me. The thing is, people are more likely to post about unusual or negative experiences, so you won't see a lot of folks logging on to post "Everything is still fine." So reading the posts can kind of skew your impression of how the surgery goes for most people. Complications happen, but it's more common to come through the surgery just fine, with no major problems. I wish you all the best in making your decision!

Not for a second. And these Quest Peanut Butter Cups are delicious!

Not for a second. And these Quest Peanut Butter Cups are delicious!

"How did you beat your cancer?"
"My doctor put together a treatment plan and it was successful."
No lies told, no details given.
"How did you lose so much weight?"
"My doctor created a treatment plan and it was successful."
No lies told, no details given.
No one is entitled to the details of another's medical care.