Arabesque

I’m sorry you’ve had this turn around in your weight loss & that your surgical team & dietician are not being supportive. Your calorie intake does seem a little high for someone wanting to lose weight with an active restriction. When I was losing I was barely eating 500-600 calories eating about 1/3 - 1/2 cup of food at each meal. but that was me. As Tek suggested, go back to your plan & check the foods you are eating, how much & how often. Weigh your food, count calories, check the nutrients, just to make sure you’re on the right path & ensure you’re meeting protein & water goals. You’re fortunate your restriction is still working. It helps a lot. I hope your health improves & that going off your meds has done no harm.

Congrats on your surgery. At one month post surgery I was beginning my soft food phase. Tek was actually correct to ask what’s on your plan. Your medical team should have provided you with guidelines as to what food to be eating at each stage. If you’re on soft food now look for stews, meals from minced meats, steamed/poached fish, eggs, long cooked vegetable & meat soups, milky porridge, etc. Nothing that requires lots of chewing or is crunchy. It’s a lot of trial & error to see what your tummy will tolerate & what tastes ok to you. It’s not uncommon for our taste buds to change & for foods we used to enjoy to taste hideous. Go slowly. You’ll soon work out what works for you & what doesn’t. In time, you’ll be able to eat most things & they’ll all taste delicious again (for good or bad 😁). Are you on meds for the reflux? Ask your doctor for a script for esomeprazole. I take 20mg every day. It makes a big difference.

So wonderful. Congratulations on achieving this milestone. You’ll be at your goal before you know it. 😁

They call it hell week for a reason. It’s always a challenge to break a habit & at the moment you’re trying to break so many - sugar, carbs, caffeine, fats, sodas, alcohol, etc, etc. & likely suffering withdrawals as well. But you can do this. It will be soooo worth it.

🤣🤣 I thought exactly the same thing, Ms.sss. And there’s your task for the day Greentealael. That’s amazing Jake. The embroidery on the vest & the skirt is beautiful MsMocie. It’s a dying art these days. Did you keep the outfit?

I loved the hardware too & was what clinched the deal for me. The shirt is very similar & is from the same store - Witchery. They always do great tops. Loved the v neck. Not to flaunt my now missing boobies but to make my neck look longer. Lol. Sophie that beach pxt is glorious. What a beautiful place to live.

So glad it’s been helpful. Watch when propping yourself up in bed that you don’t put a bend at the base of your throat as acid can pool there & do damage. Years ago I used to put bricks under the top of my bed - it helped heaps. Some people swear by using a wedge to sleep on.

Aaah, Melbourne has been in extreme shut down for ages so they’re not open for dining. Attica was listed as one of the top 50 restaurants in the world until last year & Vue de Monde’s been best restaurant in Aust a few times. Honestly, I can’t justify paying $250 -$300+ for a meal of which I’ll eat 1/3 now even if it’s fabulous. Though, at least I’d save on the alcohol part of the bill these days - lol. Last time we went to V de M, we left >$500 a head poorer. Was worth it though.

Firstly, congratulations are your weight loss. So wonderful. Apologies to those who love them, but protein shakes & powders are awful. I just couldn’t tolerate them at all. But, if you eat a balanced diet & include protein in every meal, you shouldn’t need protein powders or shakes. Plus, you get lots of other necessary nutrients eating real food. I aim for 50g a day based on my weight. (Some guideline recommend 0.8/kg, others 1g & others recommend 1.2g if you’re older or very physically active.) I get in about 10g at breakfast, 10-15g at lunch, 15+g afternoon snack (yogurt), 15-20g for dinner. If it’s a low day, may be I missed a meal or snack, or wasn’t hungry, I’ll have a protein bar for a late supper or some chia pudding. My dietician suggested adding skin milk powder to my milk to boost my protein & calories. I find it makes the milk taste sweeter, which I don’t like, but it’s fine for when I make chia pudding. (I whisk a big heaped soup spoon of milk powder in a cup of milk.) You might like to try that too instead of protein powders. I did lose more than I intended when I was trying to find my sweet spot to successfully maintain. It doesn’t take much for me to lose or gain so I’m very routine with what & when I eat. My doctors have suggested I put on a couple of kgs, but as that’s likely to happen over the next year or so, I’d rather not put weight on now & more again later. Plus, I actually have quite a small frame (now all the weight is gone). I’m really happy with my weight & size as it is. Catwoman7 is right. Many of us who do manage to lose 100% of our weight can look almost ‘too thin’ at first (you get told this a lot by well meaning family & friends - grrrr) but everything does settle again in time. Adding a few good multi/whole grain carbs to your diet in maintenance helps a lot. I think as you, & others, get used to your new body shape & size, you start to really see yourself as who you are now & the change doesn’t seem as extreme.

I appreciate your concerns about being able to enjoy dining out post surgery. It was one of mine as well. The challenges for me when dining out is quantity & time. I need time to eat & I can’t eat much. I often find hovering wait staff wanting to clear the table stressful & sets off my restriction more quickly. At least in high end dining the portion size with a main course is reasonable & quite manageable though I still usually order an entree (appetiser). Usually I quietly explain I’m on a medically restricted diet & they’re ok with that though I have been faced with being told I had to order a main as a minimum. My biggest regret is degustation menus. There are many restaurants I’d love to go to but would not be able to enjoy or consume a 6, 7, 8+ course tasting menu. (I wish I’d never put off going to Attica & I’ll never go back to Vue de Monde in Melbourne. Heavy sobbing.) Pre surgery I enjoyed a sweet treat but didn’t have sugar cravings. I struggle with all sweet things now. Simply because of it being dramatically reduced from my pre & post surgical diet. So many things just taste far too sweet. I only eat fruit if I want a little sugar boost. Artificial sweeteners only feed your sugar cravings & there’s so much in foods today it’s very difficult to avoid it. Some sleevers can’t tolerate it at all & dump but it’s more of the exception. There are changes you will have to make to how you eat & what you eat to be successful with your weight loss & then to maintain the loss whether you have the surgery or decide to do it yourself. It is a big decision to have the surgery. You just have to weigh (pun not intended) up the pros & cons. For me, losing the weight & being healthy won out every time & I haven’t regretted it. I wish you luck with whichever path you decide to take.

Cute romper Ms.sss. Your legs look so good. My thighs look like they’re wilting. Simple black & white with a 1.5in block heel. They’ll replace another pair which are just that bit too big now that my foot slides about when I wear them. Sigh. Found this blouse today to wear with pants. Yeah, I know. More black.

You definitely need something stronger than an over the counter antacid. Like Greentealael, I’m surprised your surgeon didn’t prescribe you something from after your surgery either. Reflux/gerd can be a complication from sleeve. And yes, that burning in your throat & evil taste in your mouth from your stomach acids rising up is awful. I take 20mg Nexium everyday. My surgeon told me I’d always have to take one every day. I had stress induced reflux before surgery & had been prescribed Nexium, to take as required, by my GP years ago.

Like @ms.sss I’d kept a lot of my smaller sizes so I’d just shop in my own closets & storage. So I was pretty fortunate. Sadly, there were a couple of pieces I was looking forward to wearing again but missed my window of when they fitted me again. I only bought a couple of pieces during my weight loss period (had some events to go to) & looked for things that would look as good belted for when my weight dropped more. I’d look for elastic waist skirts (tube skirts are great as they can also be taken in very easily) & leggings. You’ll likely find you may drop a size every 1-2 months depending on your weight loss rate so you’re right not to want to spend a lot on clothes. But it is so exciting when you need to buy a smaller size. I do recommend that when you need new underwear, you get properly fitted for your bras. My shape changed & I had to try a lot on to find a brand & a style that worked. I had to buy new ones three times. Each time the motivating push was pain: back pain & breast pain from wearing unsupportive bras. An expensive exercise but so worth it to feel comfortable. I kept my eye out for sales & would but two new ones.

My surgeon told me not to worry too much at first but to really work at it once I was eating solid foods. I struggled with protein powders & shakes so found some high protein yogurts & could get in up to 30g if I sipped on a drink version throughout the day. I cut it with a small amount of 100% fruit no added sugar juice -about 50mls- as it was a little thick (also added silica & collagen). Some days I’d only eat meat for lunch & dinner to get my protein in especially in the first couple of months. I had an egg for breakfast most mornings. Remember eat your protein first then some vegetables if you can.

OH MY GOD Jake. You are amazing and an inspiration. How much are you actually lifting? Ooooh leather. I have a bit of a leather fetish too so judgement from me Ms. sss so sniff away. And you all know my shopping addiction. I bought new shoes today - yes another pair. Lol. Ha, my knickers are sliding down on me today too. Had to keep hitching them up. (Had to hide in a corner aisle when I was at the pharmacy otherwise they would have been round my ankles 😂.) Must be a stray pair that missed my last underwear drawer cull. What is it with knicker sizing. When I was a size 18 I wore size 16. Now I’m a size 6 I wear a size 10. I don’t get it. Or is it just my weirdly shaped ask no questions???

First, congrats on your weight loss success. Secondly, I’m sorry you’re experiencing these problems after all your efforts. I’ve randomly experienced those feelings of light headedness, jelly legs, cold sweats, doughy thinking, etc. For me it signals either a drop in my blood pressure or in my blood sugars. Stressful situations or over strenuous activity can bring it on too. I have Gilbert’s which contributes to my attacks. I find if I grab a cracker, some blueberries or grapes, etc. it will pass. Drinking water & sitting or reclining helps if it’s a blood pressure drop. Do you have a blood pressure cuff at home? For some people, their pressure goes up & down throughout the day so being tested at your doctors may not reveal what’s really going on. Try keeping a snack in your bag. (I snack every 2 hours.) I have bottles of water all over my house & in my car. This has helped me. I also agree with the suggestion of seeking advice from your nutritionalist to make sure your diet is balanced & providing all your needs. I hope you can find some answers & solutions to this. Good luck.

Yes to hair loss. (It grew back.) Yes, to a change to my taste buds. (It’s pretty much back to as it was except a low tolerance to anything sweet.) And a hella yes to feeling cold - all the time. Bony butt pain (& bony ankle, knees, wrists, shoulder pain) is real. Oh yeah the constipation. It improves but I still have odd days of no action. Low blood pressure & energy drops. I still experience drops in my energy levels & I live with daily lower blood pressure dizziness & loss of vision. Saggy, crepey skin - tick. My stress reflux is different & occurs a little more frequently but medication helps. Yes, to a new wardrobe of much smaller sized clothes. Yes, to skipping up stairs & walking up hills. Yes, to less severe hiccups. Yes, to eradicating my lactose sensitivity. I dropped about a full shoe size. My skin on my arms & legs isn’t as dry, flaky or itchy. I didn’t have any comorbidities before surgery but I was just damn fortunate. It’s an amazing journey & I wish you the best of luck on yours.

That sounds about what I was able to eat at that time. Maybe more like 3/4 cup but I’d eat over about 30 minutes depending on what I was eating. But I was starting maintenance at about 6 months. I wasn’t a strict calorie counter but I’d do random checks & especially if I added something new to my diet. You may find random checks of the calories you’re eating & of the nutrients helpful. Remember, stick to your plan. Listen to your body. Eat slowly so the message you’ve had enough reaches your brain. (Not that you’re full but that you don’t need to eat any more.) I still ask myself if I really need that next spoonful. Not that I just want it or are eating out of habit. If you’re still worried speak with your dietician. Good luck on your journey.

The shock of the surgery on your body & reduced caloric diet has accelerated your natural hair loss cycle. It’s very common. You can’t stop it happening because it’s a natural occurrence just sped up. Some people lose a lot some only a little. Some only lose for a short time, others a long time. But it will stop. Four months seems pretty common but how far along you are on your weight loss journey & your general health may make effect how long it persists. You already have new hair growing, you just don’t notice it because it grows so slowly. Remember you don’t normally notice your new hair growth which is happening all the time. It only grows about half an inch each month in a healthy person consuming way more calories than you are on your diet. Save your money on products that promise to stop it falling out. It’s already destined to fall out. Vitamins to promote hair growth will likely only strengthen your new hair growth not the hair you have. You’ll be ok. Good luck.

Congrats on your surgery & congrats on experiencing your first stall. It happens to us all at about week 3 +/-. Yep, it can be very frustrating especially if you don’t know it will happen because you think you’re failing. I liked to think of them as your body taking a breath & trying to catch up with your weight loss so far & the changes you’ve been making to your diet & activity. It’s like when you’re in a stressful situation & you just want to close your door & get away from everyone. Your body is closing the door to regroup. This won’t be your only stall just your first. Your stall may last a week or a couple of weeks but they do pass & your weight will start to drop again. Give the scales a break for a couple of days while stalling. Some say to increase or decrease your caloric intake or activity level to break the stall. I just stayed my path & the stall would break. You’ll be ok. Good luck on your journey.

I nursed a small gin & tonic for three hours at about 2 months at my cousin’s 40th. Then didn’t have another drink for a couple more months. I used to enjoy at least one large glass of wine, scotch or gin every night. Now I’m just not that interested. My taste buds have changed & I don’t enjoy it as much. Plus, I admit, it’s often not worth the calories. I don’t even really miss it when out socialising & if I do have a drink, I sip it for ages & often don’t finish it. My last drink was a month ago when I had three drinks over a girls’ weekend & didn’t finish one of them. If you do decide to try a glass, go slowly, let any mixers flatten a little. And remember not to drink about 30 mins before & after eating. (It’s easy to forget when you’re partying but so very uncomfortable if you don’t wait.) Enjoy your Vegas break.

I had those same vertical lines on my neck too so I know how you feel. My neck improved a couple of months after I started maintenance. I also underwent several radio frequency treatments & added collagen & silica to my diet. But, & this is the bad news, nothing will get rid of the lose skin but surgery. It will improve a bit, but once your skin has been over stretched it just won’t go back. Just like elastic that’s been over stretched over time. Oh, to be 25 again with elastin rich skin. Sigh. Congrats on your weight loss so far. That’s amazing. (I just remembered that ball thing they used to promote to tighten your neck muscles & skin to get rid of double chins. And my great aunts used to wear chin straps so they wouldn’t get double chins. OMG, the things people got sucked into doing. 😂)

Oh yeah, that first time you overeat is not pleasant. But it does help to reinforce the eat slowly rule. I still ask myself if I really need the next bite, not that I just want it or am eating out of habit. I tell myself: put the cutlery down & push the plate away. To make things even more difficult you may find your tummy just can’t tolerate certain foods or that some foods make you feel full more quickly than others. I had a spoonful of mashed potato a few weeks back & it sat like a lump in my tummy for ages. Good luck on your journey. It can be a roller coaster of experiences but so rewarding.

Congratulations! You look fabulous.

Aahh, the dreaded hair loss. It occurs as a result your natural hair loss cycle speeding up because of the shock of the surgery to your body & reduced caloric intake. As much surgeon said: the nutrients you are consuming have better things to do then grow hair at the moment. It usually starts at about month 3 or 4 so you are a bit later. It will stop but how long it will continues & how much hair you will lose is very individual. Some people will swear biotin helps, adding vitamins specific for hair or using special shampoos & treatments help. They likely will make your new growth stronger but there’s really no hope for your existing hair - it already has a death sentence. You just have to give your body time to get used to your new diet & to recover from the stress you’re putting on it. Also, it’s not uncommon to notice a change to the texture of your hair from the going under general anesthetic. It too will improve as the anesthetic works itself out if your body. Congrats on being almost at goal. Woo hoo!