Arabesque

Another thing to remember is a lot of nerves were cut during your surgery so signals to tell you things like you’ve had enough, eaten too much or doing damage just aren’t getting through or aren’t getting through clearly. You getting sick is a sign you’ve over done it. As I always say all because you can doesn’t mean you should & at the moment you really shouldn’t. It takes 8 weeks or more to fully heal & the staged return to eating is in place to protect your tummy & all those sutures & staples holding it together, & support your healing. It’s also important to follow portion size recommendations. Plans & requirements are different but double check how much you are allowed for a meal. I was allowed 1/4 - 1/3 cup from purée slowly increasing to about a cup at 6 months but that was my plan your’s could be different. You’re right about the head hunger trying to convince you you’re still hungry. You can always tell if it’s head hunger if you’re wanting to eat a specific food, flavour or texture. The desire for solid food or anything you can actually chew is a head hunger that is challenging for many from the liquid stage. Plus not being able to have something always makes you want it more. Recognising it for what it really is a big part of doing that head work & learning it to manage it Many of us find distraction helps with head hunger. Read, craft, play a game, phone a friend or family member, go for a walk, check social media or this forum, etc. Sipping a warm drink can be helpful too. (I could count green or decaf tea in my fluid intake. It may be worth double checking if you can count your decaf tea.) All the best.

I was an 18E/40E & am a 10E/30E now & yes you’re right. It’s not easy to find anything larger than a D maybe DD cup especially in smaller band widths. Most brands are also too narrow in the cup for me so the underwire digs into the side of my breasts which is my biggest challenge. I’ve spent hours trying on every brand of bra & only one really fits well. Of course it’s a more expensive one ($120+++ US). Sigh!

No I don’t but as I said I only have small amounts. A sliver as my grandmother used to say. I chose to eat very little sugar (including sugar substitutes & artificial) not because I dumped or it upsets me, I just feel better without it. By product benefit is that it keeps my calories down 😁. If I’m looking for something sweet, cause we all have those days, I have a little fruit. Usually fresh but I have some dried cranberries & apple in my cupboard at the moment which I’ll slowly work my way through as I’m in the mood. Artificial sugar is the hardest one to reduce because they seem to put it in every darn thing. I’d rather use/have a little real sugar than artificial. Generally I make most of what I eat from scratch which helps control a lot of what I may be consuming. Of course there are things I’m just not going to make like yoghurt or hoi sin sauce LOL! I made a red wine vinegar on the weekend & initially omitted the sugar but it needed it so I added a scant teaspoon (the recipe said a tablespoon). If sugar makes you ill, i.e. dumping, it likely always will. However many seem to work out how much & how often they can have a food that causes them to dump without them actually dumping. Remember not everyone dumps.

Fluctuations are part of life. We all experience it regardless of whether we’re losing or maintaining. But you’re eating such small portions there’s no way you could be really gaining. It’s more likely fluid retention, poop, hormonal fluctuations, less or more water consumption, your body reacting to stress, emotions, or just life. I’ve learnt a lot about my body’s quirks & how responds to things through this & why I might weigh a little more today than yesterday. I have my usual fluctuation (up to about a kilogram/2lbs) which I don’t worry about. Any more than that I question what’s changed & make adjustments. Keeps me honest. Remember, your weight loss will never be a consistently straight downward line on a graph. It goes up & down, plateaus, drops quickly then slowly.

Be gentle on yourself. You’ve never done this before so of course you have doubts & worries & questions & … Walk, walk, walk for gas pains. And yes arm movements will help too. The surgical gas is in your abdominal cavity (not in your tummy or intestines so gas-x doesn’t really help & neither does trying to burp or fart it out) & rises to sit behind your lungs putting pressure in nerves causing the shoulder pain. The gas is then absorbed into your lungs where you breathe it out hence why the activity is helpful. It’s usually all fine within a week. While you are healing (takes about 8 weeks to fully heal) & while you are losing, it’s important to follow your plan. You’ll have the best success that way. And ask questions of your team (or here) if something doesn’t make sense to you or you’re confused. Go slowly with your eating & drinking (sip, sip, sip) especially now & for the next months. Your tummy is healing. It’s very sensitive. Yes try different temps - I found warm drinks more soothing as cold drinks made my poor tummy cramp. You may find for a few weeks your tummy is very fussy & doesn’t like certain foods, flavours or textures. Even the smell of somethings can turn you off. It’s temporary & passes after a couple of months. In the long term you may choose to eat a lot of your old favourites. Smaller portions, less frequently, or variations of a favourite (ingredient swaps or changed cooking methods). That’s up to you & how you want to eat in the long term. In a few months you’ll look back & realise what you’ve achieved & how worth it it’s been. All the best.

Once you get to your final weight you’ve already started to decide how you’re going to eat long term. How much sugar is up to you, your lifestyle & what allows you to maintain. It may be very minimal added sugar in your diet. It may be an occasional or weekly sweet treat. Whatever. I’m a minimal added sugar which is my choice & my daily intake is very low (less than 5g & minimal artificial too). My exception is Christmas when I have dessert & a few little treats for a couple of days but the portions are always small. There may be the odd other special event time I may choose to have something like I had 2 bites of cake at a wedding last year. It’s funny as I was a sweet something every night person & loved dessert at restaurants now I don’t really miss it at all.

I agree with all the above you’re doing well - congratulations. Remember there is also no date by which you have to have lost your weight. Any time frames you may have seen are just averages & meant to give you an idea of what might happen not will happen. We lose at our own rate which is the best rate for us. There is also no time line for when your weight loss will stop. Many of us lose for 18 or more - just very slowly for those last months. I always said to myself if my surgeon & dietician were happy with my progress I should be happy too. Have they said you aren’t doing well? Don't give up & no more I’ve only lost X pounds. Celebrate every pound you lose because it’s an achievement.

The finished products. The zucchini tart had my Boursin cheese & was sprinkled with pistachios & drizzled with honey. There wasn’t a piece left of that so a success. The tomato had semi dried tomato tapenade & caramelised onion under the tomato - was left with half so lunch & dinner sorted for a couple of days 😉. I so love the ease of pre made puff pastry. The salad cos, pear, fennel, walnuts & cranberries with a red wine vinegar. My serve in the last pxt - each piece was an 8th of the tart. Finished with a fruit platter & a truffled brie cheese & omg was that truffled goodness.

As you lose weight your blood pressure will lower. Your energy levels will increase too. You’ll become more active & improve your cardiac health & therefore O2 levels. Your hormones are modified as a result of the surgery too. So … ? All I know is there is a lot of talk about benefits but no real scientific evidence. My s-in-l’s uncle drank it every day for 18 months because it was supposed to cure his cancer & improve his health. It didn’t & it didn’t extend his life either. I’d just eat beetroots. The root cooked or raw, pickled, roasted, grated in salads, etc. Leaves in salads. You’ll pee & maybe poop red if you eat enough but … Natural is always best vs processed into a powder or other supplement. And a lot of its goodness is in the pulp which is disposed of after juicing & not in the juice. But your choice of course.

Personally I would trust any supplement that promises to burn calories especially one that relies on ‘natural caffeine’. Caffeine is a naturally occurring drug. (You’re probably not young enough to remember the Medislim craze of the 80s - everyone jittery from the excess caffeine but no one lost weight.) Only two ways to burn calories: increased activity & decreased calorie/food intake. Our hormones have already been modified as a result of the surgery. So I agree with the others. Why are you thinking about using it?

First day in hospital. That was all. Wore the compression tube tights for a few days & that’s all. However if you were advised to use the machine at home, I’d check with your surgeon. There must have been a specific reason why they wanted you to continue it so they will be best to advise how long you need to continue using it.

Another thought. lol! I presume you’re still working from home? If so try adding in 5 or 10 minute breaks where you do some simple exercises. Good for your mental health & your physical health. Lots of online programs you can follow. Buy some resistance bands & hand & leg weights. Short burst of exercise, know as exercise snacking, are just as beneficial as exercising in one single block of time. This is what I do because I don’t enjoy traditional exercise. I do 4 sessions a day of 5 - 10 minutes a day in my home. It’s easy & you should see my arms & legs. 😁

You can do what you can do but do remember those cut nerves are still healing (about 8 weeks to be fully healed) so messages may nit be getting through as well or quickly. Probably best to tread more carefully for a few more weeks. Personally I still can’t chug. Any more than two mouthfuls & groan. But I drink slowly all day & night rarely feel really thirsty. I keep at a good hydration level all day I think.

Have you gone back to your surgeon or your dietician? Maybe they can offer some advice or alternatives (yes like medication). There may be something you are missing too. If you haven’t yet, clean out your pantry, fridge & freezer of any foods you may be drawn to (snacking). Cut out any high or ultra processed foods from your diet that may have snuck in (known to increase your hunger & decrease your satiety). Are you still meeting your protein & fluid goals? Do you still eat protein first, then vegetables & then only if you are able any whole/multi grain complex carbs? 1800 calories may still be too high for you. Remember ‘they’ usually say 1200 for a female to lose weight but that’s based on averages & not individual needs & stats (age, height, current weight, activity levels, health status & considerations, etc.). But your dietician will be able to advise you on what’s best for you. All the best.

I’m going to jump on the going off plan issue first. Your tummy is being held together by sutures & staples (can be 12inches of them - imagine that on your arm or leg)). The staged return to eating solid food is in place to protect your healing tummy & not strain or stress your digestive system. Your tummy is a muscle. Would you start exerting your arm or leg muscles if the wounds were there or would you tread carefully & follow the plan to aid healing? Nerves are also cut during surgery so signals that you are doing harm may not be getting through. Please, please return to your plan. As for hunger, yes there are some who do continue to experience hunger after surgery but it’s not common. It’s more likely you are experiencing head hunger not real hunger. (A easy way to differentiate the two is with head hunger you tend to crave a specific food, flavour or texture. You don’t with real hunger.) Most of the area that produces your hunger hormone is removed during surgery. For many, we ate as a comfort & to soothe ourselves when stressed or emotional. The surgery is stressful on your body & you psychologically & emotionally (consciously or subconsciously). This is a time you would turn to food but you can’t which makes you want food more. Plus the psychological issue of how can this small amount of food be enough can start to kick in & you consequently feel hungry because you think you need more food. There are a few strategies you can try to help with head hunger. Distraction is very useful. Read, play a game, phone a friend or family member, check social media, go for a short walk, etc. Sipping a warm drink can be helpful. These diversions are helpful in the long term too. As we progressed many of us distracted ourselves by cleaning out a wardrobe or drawers or the pantry or learn a craft. I found setting routines for eating good too: didn’t eat between my set eating times. I still do this nearing 5 years out. All the best.

I had yoghurt from purées. They saved me by helping with my protein intake. Many plans say Greek yoghurt only but I ate a high protein no added sugar yoghurt. Personally I found Chobani sweet. The one I eat (Australian brand) is far from sweet. I remember that lip pursing gasp at how tart it was when first eating it but I love that. It does have artificial sweetener though I wish it didn’t. There is a difference between naturally occurring sugar & added sugar. The no sugar recommendation is no added sugar. So the naturally occurring sugars like in milk, fruit, some vegetables, etc. are okay. Best advice is always to check your plan & with your dietician.

I went through three sizes of new knickers & 3 sizes of bras. Gets expensive. Yikes! My advice is to do get properly fitted for bras. You may be surprised how much the shape of your boobs change. And yes empty breast are real but I see you’re thinking of having a breast lift in the future so empty boobs won’t be a long term thing for you.

Twinning! I had steak this week too & was looking forward to it but I overcooked it. Got distracted and … It wasn’t its usual tender juicy goodness. So disappointed. And I made caramelised onions this morning (for the second tart I’m making). Been using my new Kitchen Aid food processor for my prep. I love it. Plus I got it on sale so yay!

I shopped my wardrobe for most as I had kept a lot across sizes (US6-12) but in many cases I missed my window. Wrong season or dropped before I had a chance to wear them. I just bought odd things to fill in gaps. Didn’t spend a lot of money. Thrift & consignment stores are a great option too & then you can donate them back or sell them again. Go for elastic or drawstring waists or stretch when you can which will cover you for a couple of sizes. I also belted a lot of things. Better to go slowly because you never know where you may actually settle. When I reached my goal & was wearing a US 6/8 I started buying a lot more & really restocking my wardrobe because I thought yay I’m done. Bad mistake as I kept losing & those clothes became too big. I had to buy new bras, new knickers & clothes all over again. So be careful.

After deciding my girlfriends & I would go to lunch this weekend, I said why don’t you just come here. Me & my big mouth. Decided to make a savoury zucchini tart which has Boursin cheese as its base. Of course can’t find the cheese anywhere but I found a recipe & made my own. Easy to make. 8ozs Cream cheese, garlic, various herbs (fresh & dried) & 4ozs of butter!! Yep it’s 1/3 butter. Worse it’s finger licking, lick the spoon & go back for more delicious. I’ll post a pxt of the tart, if I remember, when I make it Sunday.

For $15 it’s probably worth keeping it for a while & see if you do wear it. If you don’t you can always donate it. I donated an off the shoulder top which had gorgeous guipure lace inserts in the sleeve. It just didn’t work with anything in my wardrobe. Sigh! I’d put it on & then take it off again. I love a leather trench real or faux. I had a long black one & a calf length red one. Of course both too big now but I loved them so much. Felt so take n sh*t strong in them. I used to think Spike in Buffy & I wore it when I saw the third Matrix movie film when it came out. Now you know how long I had the black one 😁😁.

Try room temp drinks & slow the sipping down. If you keep sipping all day long you’ll get plenty of liquids in to satisfy your thirst. I don’t ever feel really thirsty anymore because of constantly drinking through out the day & night. Hope this helps. Otherwise give your team a call. Don’t forget too, that the nerves cut during surgery are healing now which may be why you’re feeling the discomfort now but didn’t before.

It’s breast milk. Specifically the first that is produced after giving birth though it can leak from the breasts in the weeks prior to delivery. It’s full of antibodies of benefit to the new born but very few nutrients: low carbs, low calories, low sugar, low protein. You can buy it in powdered form. Not sure how it would ease hunger?? Except it being a liquid it would temporarily fill your tummy like any other liquid but without getting the protein & nutrients you need. But if it works for you …

Cool linen pants with elastic & drawstring waist for the win! Our Christmases are pretty relaxed too though not pj relaxed 🤣. But with young children jumping about on & around you, mucking around with them & being inside & outside more formal clothing just doesn’t work. Plus it’s too darn hot here. Was a little dressier the year before but the younger children weren’t there. This was one of my cyber sale bargains.

I can’t recall but I will say it’s exciting to see your jawline again. And cheekbones. And your neck gets thinner & looks longer. Even my hooded eyelids greatly reduced. A little warning though. You can start to look drawn & tired especially when you near your final weight. Your body needs time to resettle itself. Then you’ll be your gorgeous self. Think it took a month or two for me. You may have some saggy skin though too which doesn’t go - waaah! Oh, and there have been a few amusing stories here about people whose phone’s facial recognition didn’t recognize them anymore. A tip might be to keep updating it every month.