Arabesque

I didn’t enjoy the protein shakes either. They were too sweet & grainy but I persevered. It is only two weeks & you can do it too. Mind you I was only drinking one shake & a soup each day. I just wasn’t hungry or interested in food. And I hate to tell you but you still won’t be chewing for another couple of weeks when you start on soft food. (Purées should be sloppy & completely lump free - nothing to chew.) This is a good time to think about your eating. How much of this is coming from your head? Why do you want it versus need it? Wanting something to chew is as much a craving (emotionally driven eating) as wanting something sweet or salty. This isn’t easy but it is so worth it. You can do this.

Oh gracious. No wonder you’re anxious & lack motivation to exercise when you’ve been told to do an hour, 5 days a week at this stage. At week 3 I was still having mid morning & mid afternoon naps. Start slowly. Find the activity & length of time you can manage & then gradually increase. Walking is best to start. Then maybe add some resistance training which you can do sitting in a chair to begin. I’m not a exerciser but when I do walking is my go to. I have a treadmill & pop on a movie or read to reduce the tediousness. I used to love yoga too. You wouldn’t believe how much your general fitness will improve just doing yoga stretching & breathing. Good luck. Listen to your body. It will tell you what you can & can’t do. Also congrats on your weight loss so far - you’re doing well.

I was told purée meant sloppy too & that I had to purée everything - even things that were already sloppy like scrambled eggs, rolled oats, etc. I even strained foods after I blended. No lumps, no fibrous bits. If you have to chew, it’s not a purée. Congrats on having your surgery & good luck on your journey.

Yep. Sometimes I can be just a tiny bit wicked Ms.sss.

I strictly kept to the plan I was given. It didn’t have refried beans nor potatoes (no root vegetables) but did have scrambled eggs & rolled oats which still had to be blended. It defined purée as being sloppy, no lumps or coarse or fibrous textures. It also recommended avoiding herbs & spices. I presumed because herbs can be fibrous & spices could irritate the healing tummy. Had my first taste of potato, mashed, a couple of months ago & it sat like a lump in my tummy. (My father, a former potato grower, is rolling in his grave.)

Yep, decaf really just means low caffeine. The amount of caffeine remaining depends on the process used to reduce the caffeine. I remember reading years ago that the process is pretty harsh too - lots of chemicals. The other thing to watch is that it is a diuretic & you’ll often pee out more than you consumed by drinking the coffee or other caffeinated drinks more rapidly. But of course we’re all different & it may react differently with you.

I went from a 38.5/39 to a 38. My feet were slip sliding around in my sandals & flopping about in my closed in shoes. I think they’re a little narrower too as my little toe doesn’t get as sore as it used too (from pressure on a nerve).

I love a pair of poo pants or drop crotch pants as they’re more commonly known. Need a better top though as this one’s a bit loose around the bottom. Had a few lumps & bumps removed from my head, face & neck yesterday (9 things in total) and got white fluff from the cotton blanket they put on me all over the pants - sigh. Put my clothes brush to good use this morning. Oh, just realised you can see my old lady crepey skin arms in this pxt - another sigh.

Just to torment Ms.SSS. You really do need to come back to Aust. No lettuce shortage here. I have access to paddocks filled with them. (Not to sound like I’m dealing or anything - lol) I eat 2 every week.

congrats on your surgery. You likely still have some swelling. Plus you’ve been through a major surgery which changed an important organ. Your digestive system will be screwed up for a while & will protest at some things you try to eat or drink. It’s a bit like a petulant child - one day you’ll have something no problem & the next day it will throw a tantrum. Alley Gator’s suggestion of taking a walk mid sips is good. I sometimes find sitting seems to make me fill up more quickly or sets off my restriction. Take things slowly. It’s a lot of trial & error to work out what works for you. Good luck on your journey.

I weigh just about every morning too. I used to do it after I pooped but before breakfast but my routine has changed so it’s after breakfast & after I poop now. Just underwear. I only record the highs & lows of my regular fluctuations (up & down just under 1 kg) - no point recording 100g increments unless it’s a new low or a new high. My current low is 48.6 & high is 49.4kg. I think if I hit 50kg I’d re-examine what I was eating. It’s a small window but I know what I’m like in regards to weight gain. Weighing regularly keeps me honest & on track. In the past, I’d stop weighing myself if I thought I was putting on weight but I was just trying to ignore the truth of my gains. If I didn’t know how much I weighed I could pretend I hadn’t put on weight.

The surgery, shock to your body & reduced caloric intake accelerates your natural hair loss cycle. Because it’s part of a natural process of loss & regrowth, you can’t stop it happening. But don’t fear it does stop & your hair is regrowing as you’re losing it. It’s just your new hair is growing back at its usual rate but you’re losing more quickly. Whether it will happen to you (highly likely it will). When it will start. How much hair you will lose. How long it will go on for is all individual. Adding supplements which are supposed to improve your hair will only benefit new hair growth not your existing hair. It’s already dead. I understand your worry. I’ve always felt my hair was one of my better features so it was a bit hard to accept when I started shedding more than usual. I decided having thinning hair for a couple of months is a small price to pay for my weight loss & improved health. Good luck in your journey.

Oh gracious! I missed a couple of days & I came back to lots of beauty. greentealael you look gorgeous. That dress is fabulous on you. I call bell sleeves ‘so sorry I can’t help with the washing up’ sleeves. Tee hee. Jake, I bet you were the centre of attention at your reunion. You look so hot ( & so does your girlfriend). I love your jacket Wishmesmaller beautiful colour too. And congrats on your size 10 jeans. Woo hoo! You had me at wine & cocktails too bayougirlmrss. Sophie, your soft pink tree is beautiful. Love your roses too. I think the pants are a bit loose because they are a stretch fabric & have given a bit. I’m hoping they’ll return to their true size when washed. Fingers crossed. I don’t think I’ve seen size 4 (US0) clothing in Aust so I hope I don’t need to drop down to that size. I have a dress & a pair of pants I’m going to have taken in. Straight seams so they should be simple jobs. The dress will have to have the side zip removed but the neckline is big enough to go on without needing too unzip. A few of the pieces I bought last summer are too big but they seem to be the easiest to alter. Sigh. Mmmm. Looks like I have to lock up my Witchery tops otherwise we’ll start seeing pxts of Sophie & ms.sss in my blouses. I like Witchery too daisyJayne. They’re the best for pretty tops & blouses that are just that bit different & they go down to size 6 & xxs. Woo hoo.

Your body is just taking a breath. It’s going through a lot - recovery from surgery, change of diet, reduced food intake, etc. it just needs time to catch up with the changes. It may take a week or 3 but you will start to lose again. And it will likely occur again too.

OMG! We literally lived about 500m away from from each other. I knew I recognised that view. 😂 You were in the Cutters Landing complex & I was in Freshwater on the western side of Admiralty House. Mind blown! I lived there from 1999 - 2014 when I then bought my house ‘down the road’ on the hill at Teneriffe. My apartment faced Admiralty House which was between our two complexes. We probably passed each other roaming around the suburb or at the Powerhouse Markets. Yep, the Flood installation is still there & it’s still being climbed upon by young people. They have a Brisbane one on the river at QPAC now too. Your tree is amazing. It’s so tall. Who gets to climb the ladder to put the decorations on the top half? I know neither you nor I could reach - tee hee. Met up with my maternal aunts & uncles for lunch today. Just wearing a little but of black. Ha! I’m finding my size 6 pants (US 2) are all a little loosish & are bagging in places & not falling nicely. Sigh!

Oh, it’s gorgeous Sophie. I love your bird decorations. As you can see I have a white peacock as my tree topper. (My ceiling is too low for a star or angel lol.) Hear. Hear. Bring on the Christmas tree pxts. We need things that bring joy & happiness.

Oh @BayougirlMrsS. I’m so sorry you’ve been going through this. Sometimes the world just keeps dumping crap on us & truthfully we can only carry so much before we have to drop something. Forgive yourself for dropping the part that manages your weight loss. I know, you’ll pick it up again. You’re strong & determined. That’s why you lost the weight to begin with & why your family goes to you. Find, even 30 minutes a day for you - I know easier said then done. Turn off your phone, shut the door. Spend it doing something you enjoy. Read some of the books Jake suggested. Go for a run, have a bubble bath, meditate. May be find another therapist, one you can click with & feel comfortable with. My mother has a saying: God only chooses special people to carry the cross of Jesus. I don’t know your faith, but I always think of this when my world is turning upside down. It gives me extra strength to get up & face tomorrow.

I did it alone no trouble. Though this was before covid, you should be fine. I just made sure I was stocked with everything I needed: shakes, broths, over the counter meds, etc. so I didn’t need to go out or have anyone pick up things for me. I went out early in week 3 to get some yoghurt, milk, ricotta, etc. which had to be bought fresh. But I was in & out of the store pretty quickly. I had to lie down when I got home though. Ha! I was happy to be alone. I could just potter around doing things at my pace, eat when I wanted, rest when I wanted. No one else to worry about. Good luck with your surgery.

A little straight talking: Loose skin versus your health & well being? Personally, I think it’s a simple decision. I have glaucoma & the medication gives me dark, purple shadows under my eyes which nothing will cover (spent a fortune on different concealers). I’m very fair & it’s very obvious. People think I’m sick. But my choice is dark, purple shadows or my sight. Sight wins every day. How much loose skin you will have depends upon many factors like your age, general skin elasticity, where you carry your weight, how long you’ve been at your weight, your history of weight gain & loss, & how much you lose. I don’t have a lot of loose skin - just sort of droopy, loose, crepey bits on my inner thighs, inner upper arms & on my belly. A good pinch but not a handful. It all hides well in my clothes. I wear fitted knit dresses without any type of shape wear & even wear tops with wide straps - I just don’t wave my arms in the air lol. I’m not someone who’d have my body on display anyway - no shorty shorts, bikinis, plunging or strapless tops for me at any weight. 😁 So the loose skin doesn’t really impact my clothing choices at all. I was almost 54 when I had my surgery so I had age against me in regards to my skin bouncing back. Honestly, when I hit my goal I had very little loose skin - was pretty cocky about it too. But the extra 11 kg loss gave me what I have now. I’ve decided I won’t have any surgery to remove the excess skin. I earned that skin & a part of me, for good or bad, thinks I deserve it too. It’s a good reminder of where I was & where I am now. But it is your decision. We all have things that are personally important to us (for me it is my hair). I hope I haven’t belittled yours.

I can hook you girls up any time you’re down this side of the equator. 😁 What suburb did you live in when you were in Brissy Ms.SSS? That view across the river with the city cat looks very familiar. I’ve decided not to put up my Christmas tree this year. I know. Sigh. It’s just so much work - before & after. But I will gather my nieces & nephews to put up mum’s tree. I think she & I will be hosting Christmas there this year.

You’re likely in a stall. They’re very, very common. The first one usually occurs around week 3 but it can begin before or after that. I thought of them as my body needing a breath to catch up with all the changes - the surgery, the reduced & changed diet, the weight loss, etc. They can last one week or a couple of weeks & you’ll have a couple of them on your journey. You will start to lose weight again. Just relax & stick to your plan. Good luck & congrats on your surgery.

Being prepared by doing lots of research is a good move. If you haven’t yet, look at your current diet & start making small changes. You could cut back on your portion sizes, reduce your caffeine, alcohol & sugar intake or reduce how many carbs you’re eating. Look for healthier food choices & cooking methods. Add some exercise into your daily routine if you don’t now. Introducing some of these changes will make it easier in the long term. You could start thinking about why you’re eating - habit, boredom, emotions or actual real hunger. What do you crave - sugar, salt/savoury, caffeine, carbs, ... This is part of the head work we all have to do. Start making new habits now. Even if your approval is delayed, the changes will be of benefit to you. Good luck. I hope you hear positive news soon.

Sleep is your body’s normal response to aid healing. You’ve been & are going through a lot: surgery, dramatic change of diet. Your body is trying to heal & dealing with the changes which is stressful. Listen to your body & give yourself time to recover & come to terms with the change. Also, add some electrolyte drinks like hydralite to your daily routine to give yourself a boost. Good luck.

Every surgeon has different requirements for pre & post surgery plans. So there is no right or wrong requirement as long as it’s on the plan you were given. Broths or consommé are your best bet for clear liquids. Your surgeon &/or nutritionalist should have given you a list of recommended foods for pre & post surgery. If they didn’t, give them a call, & ask for some guidance. Good luck with your surgery.

Just under 8kgs so about 17lbs like you. You’re doing well so relax & celebrate every pound you lose. Remember you didn’t put on all your weight in a couple of months so you can’t expect to lose it that quickly. Also the rate at which you lose will change. You’ll have high weight loss weeks & non existent loss weeks when you stall. As you get closer to your goal, you’ll lose more slowly too. Follow your plan, do the work, make the changes & you’ll lose the weight.