Arabesque

Nothing big. Went for my regular monthly facial. 🙂 I first saw her before surgery so she’s been with me along the way. She was surprised it had been five years too.

First, avoid the Facebook groups. They tend to be negative, critical & offer bad or simply wrong information. I even stumbled upon one where they told people how to purée burgers & fries. It’s why I appreciate this forum so much: supportive, great advice & suggestions, not judgemental, lots of experience. Second, 100% agree with what @ChunkCat’s said in her post. For. many of us, we used food as a source of comfort, a way to sooth ourselves when in emotional turmoil. After surgery, we can experience quite an emotional rollercoaster, all the changes, an overload of information which can cause doubts, then surgery itself is hard on our bodies & emotions, our hormones can be crazy too. Before surgery you would have turned to food to ease your panic, anxiety, sadness, etc. but you can’t now which only makes that hunger & your food voices louder. This is head hunger not real hunger. Of course knowing this doesn’t make it easier to manage or ignore. Many find using distraction helpful: read, craft, garden, go for a walk, check your social & this forum, sip a warm drink (green or herbal tea can be very soothing & count towards your fluids - yay!). Also, many find therapy helpful. Did you see a therapist as part of your pre surgical process? If not ask for a referral. You don’t have to do this alone & they will support you work through these & any other issues. All the best.

Simply put head hunger (& food noise) is not real hunger. It just often is more powerful & what we listen to. They often have an emotional cause - sad, angry, anxious, stressed, frustrated, etc. & you use food to comfort or sooth yourself. They can have a hormonal cause like craving carbs in the lead up to your period. They can get louder when you’re bored or because of habit & what you’re doing like watching tv. After surgery they can be particularly strong. You can be on a emotional roller coaster after surgery, your hormones can be all over the place, everything is strange & you can worry about doing the right thing or making a mistake - information overload, you may have some pain or discomfort for a little while after, and so on. Generally, if you’re craving a specific food, flavour or texture it’s head hunger. Your tummy rumbling (hunger pains/pangs) aren’t usually a sign of real hunger either - just your digestive system working. Real hunger feels different. Because we tended to listen to the food noise & head hunger cues we forget what real hunger feels like. I get restless like something is wrong. Don’t crave anything. And there is always a logical & legitimate reason to be hungry - I haven’t eaten (missed a meal) or didn’t eat much of my previous meal or it’s around or after my usual meal time. Distraction is the easiest & most commonly used technique to help. Read, check social media & this forum, phone a family me, ring friend, harder, craft, go for a walk, undertake a household task (clean out a cupboard or drawer), sip a warm drink. Delay satisfying the head hunger or food voice - often it will lessen in intensity & can pass after 30+/- minutes. I used to ask myself do I need this food or need the next bite or do I just want it. If I want it why? Actually I still do this a lot. Makes you really think about what’s driving you to eat, why the food voice or head hunger is shouting & it works towards understanding your relationship with food, Have a chat with your therapist too. If you didn’t meet with one as part of your pre surgery process, it may be helpful to ask for a referral to help you work your way through this. Many find them extremely helpful.

That’s it. We can’t be friends now. 🤣🤣🤣. Maybe it’s the jar olives we get here - always wizened up & dry & have an awful non olive taste. Your delicious looking chia parfait reminds me I haven’t made one in a while. Mmmm. I’ll add it to the list. Still haven’t made pickled cucumbers yet.

If you’re on a GLP-1 drug wondering why you’re also considering surgery? Yes, some do combine the two but why not wait & see how effective the medication is & how you feel & then decide about the surgery. Don’t feel undeserving of the surgery if you decide to go down that path. For your health you are deserving & that is hugely more important than a number on the scales. Do you feel undeserving being on the medication? It’s helping you lose weight too. I’m 5 years out, tomorrow actually, with my sleeve. I enjoyed food before and I still do. I eat with family & friends at their homes, restaurants, events, etc. I just look at food differently & make more careful & better choices. You said since being on the GLP-1 med you don’t really want fast food any more. For a lot of us, the surgery does that too. And it gives us the time to examine our relationship with food - this is the most important benefit. There’s food I don’t even think about eating now. Just the thought of eating some foods makes me feel ill. Some foods simply don’t appeal. And yes, there are some foods I choose not to eat. Would never have believed it was possible before surgery but here I am. I don’t even crave any foods now. Mind blown! Keep us updated on your progress & what you decide to do in regards to surgery. Will say, if you are having doubts about the surgery, don’t do it. You have to be mentally & emotionally ready before embarking on it. It may be that you’re just not ready now & that’s okay. All the best. PS - I didn’t exercise at all when I was losing & do very little now (some at home stretching & resistance band things). Wouldn’t burn 30 calories LOL! Lost all my weight & more & have maintained that weight.

I have random bouts of hypoglycemia - after eating or not eating, after more strenuous activity, after doing very little - like shopping. I had it before surgery though I do experience it more often since my sleeve. Haven’t fainted yet but have been close. It’s not a pleasant experience. I used to tell friends I didn’t do strenuous activities because I knew it would bring on an episode. They thought I was joking until they saw it happen during a bush walk. They freaked out big time. As @ms.sss said, you just need to work out your limits (what things can bring on an episode) & then what works best for you to manage it. I try to prepare before hand if possible. For example going on a hike take an electrolyte drink with me. Popping out before breakfast, eat 3 or 4 blueberries. I was keeping a protein bar in my bag but it went off quickly - heat affected I think. I eat regularly & after lunch I don’t leave long periods of time between - usually 1-2 hours. I eat very little added sugar - around 5g a day (not including that Portuguese custard tart I had last weekend 😉 - a very, very rare occurrence.). Only have a bare two serves of carbs (multi/whole grains only, not counting vegetables or fruit).

Only use a scale when cutting some large portions of meats into smaller portions before cooking. Generally I eyeball or use my hand as a comparison. Like palm size piece of meat is about 3 or 4ozs. A cupped palm is about 2/3 cup. Etc. Depends upon the size of your hand of course but it’s pretty accurate for me. Handy when dining out. And I count. 4 beans, 2 asparagus spears, 4 slices of zucchini, 10-12 blueberries, … Oh and olives. Yum. Salty balls of goodness (no South Park references). Especially in a martini. LOL!! Little sweet Ligurian, big fat salty green babies, mid sized oily babies. But never those in a jar. Shudder.

First, congrats on your weight loss. Yay! Stalls happen & can happen many times at any time while you’re losing so it could just be another stall which will break when your body is ready to move on again. Though being this close to your goal it could be that you’re at your new set point - the weight your body is happiest at. It’s very hard to fight that. This new set point may not be your goal but it is your body’s goal. Your body will do all it can to maintain its set point. Or it could be just the natural slow down that occurs as you near your stabilised weight. The last few pounds can be a b*tch to lose. I remember towards the end I was losing ounces not pounds each week which don’t always show on the scales. Increasing your calories is part of the weight loss journey as your weight loss slows & your weight stabilises for maintenance. If your weight is stabilising at 1300 calories & you want to decrease your calories to lose more, is that sustainable? You’d have to continue to eat less than 1300 calories to maintain the lower weight you want. Remember too, that muscle is more dense than fat. A litre of fat weighs about 2lbs while a litre of muscle weighs about 2.3lbs. You may have lost fat but gained muscle which may explain the stall like situation. Muscle takes up less space in your body than fat. Have you been taking body measurements to see if there have been any changes to measurements since you began strength training. I’d probably, stick to your adjusted plan & see what happens.

Another interesting piece of information I stumbled upon & thought of you. Apparently heart palpitations & other irregular heart beats can be a symptom of peri menopause &/or menopause. Not sure of your age but if it is a possibility may be a blood test to check your hormones levels??? I saw it discussed on Dr Corinne Menn’s instagram. She specialises in & advocates for menopause management. Her website: https://drmenn.com/

I was never given calories either. Just the 60g protein & that I should be eating about a cup of food by 6 months. I due random checks of calories for my own interest & I was barely eating 900 calories but as @ShoppGirl said there are many factors that influence how many calories you need. Factors like age, gender, height, activity levels, etc. I too suggest getting in contact with your team. They know you best & can advise you better for your needs, Stalls happen & can happen several times. Though we usually say they last 1-3 weeks, it’s not unusual for them to last longer. Out of curiosity do you track your food & know your calorie & macro intake? What are your portion sizes like? Remember too, your portions sizes & number of calories you need do increase as you progress. For example at 18 months I was eating about 1300 to maintain & now at almost 5 years I eat about 1600 to maintain the same weight. And my portions are around 3-4ozs protein & a good cup or more of steamed vegetables.

Have you spoken to your surgeon about struggling to eat real (solid) food? This is uncommon at 5 months & you should be able to eat a wide range of meats, vegetables, fruits & some complex carbs. Push them for an answer. Stalls happen & can happen several times. While we say they last 1-3 weeks some do experience longer stalls. As for your weight loss slowing to 1-2lbs a week, this is perfectly normal. Everyone’s weight loss slows as they progress. Wait until you’re almost at your goal weight (or your body’s new set point - these may not be the same), then you’ll be counting ounces a week. Out of curiosity what’s your calorie intake like?

Why do you feel you can’t go to a restaurant? Do you worry there’ll be nothing you can eat i.e. not on your plan or may compromise your weight loss? Scope out menus on line & then suggest where you go to eat? (I still check out menus online before I go out & make my choice before I go & work out what I may need to ask the restaurant to change.) Choose an appetiser or share a main with a friend or family member. Most places offer soup which is always a pretty safe choice. Many places will allow you to make small changes to what you want to order. Make the best choices you can in the situation. You don’t have to eat everything on your plate & you don’t have to have dessert or choose fruit or cheese. Remember this isn’t something you’re doing every day. You have to be able to enjoy your life. At almost 3 weeks after my surgery I went to a casual back yard joint 60th birthday. Took my shake & sipped away. At around three months went to a canapés & cocktails 40th. Sipped a G&T for hours & nibbled on a cheese croquette & a tartlet. At 7 months went to a 21st at a formal restaurant & ordered a fish dish. It can be done. Happy birthday.

Don’t fret yet @Lilia_90. I too thought I’d lost my hourglass shape but it came back although the hip waist breast ratio was smaller. Once my weight stabilised, my remaining fat resettled & my waist & hips came back. My boobs were there too but needed hoisting up in a well fitting bra-LOL!

Thank you. It happens when the pressure in your ears builds up. It can even be affected by air pressure so when storms are brewing. In my case it’s genetic. My mother has it & my grandmother had it. We take meds (betasert/serc). but only when we start to experience symptoms though some take them every day. The vertigo is the worst! These are more than a tart though @GreenTealael. Flaky puff pastry just like a croissant but with a delicious creamy custard filling. You have to try one.

For the food porn lovers: a rather large Portuguese custard tart. Now the story turns sour. I ate a third, then another third later in the day, gave the last third to my niece & then was violently ill. I was blaming the tart - too rich, too sweet,… This will teach me to stick to my eating. No more testing the waters. This is why you don’t go to these places. Etc., etc. Turned out it was a rather severe bout of my meniere’s. Usually I get the crazy room spinning first & if I don’t take my meds I can be sick. This time sick multiple times first then the vertigo hit. Couldn’t take my meds in fear of more vomiting. And yes it was the old, pre surgery, muscle wrenching sort. Groan! Think I will still blame the tart otherwise I’ll be back buying another one. PS. This is from one of the many artisan bakeries that have opened up in a very small radius of my house & your old Brisbane residence @ms.sss over the last few years. Terrible, terrible temptation.

I’m sorry I can’t offer any help but I remember someone mentioning something similar a while ago.. Hopefully they’re still about here & may offer some suggestions. You’ve probably read this article, but in case you haven’t, there may be some interesting points you could rule out &/or raise with your cardiac specialist or bariatric surgeon. If you don’t track anymore, I liked the idea at the end of the article to track your food to see if anything more specifically that you’re eating sets off the heart issues. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22416-heart-palpitations-after-eating I hope they can come up with some answers soon.

It’s almost like the plain water feels heavy in your tummy. I was the same. Try drinking water at different temperatures or adding a little flavour to do it like a squeeze of lemon or lome, or flavours like crystal lite. You can also drink green or herbal teas. I found they were very tolerable & soothing. Ginger tea may help if your tummy is a little upset or queasy.

@SaraSara4 Lots of nerves were cut during the surgery so messages about feeling full, having had enough, eaten/drunk too much, etc. either don’t get through or don’t get through in the same way. So the listen to your body advice doesn’t really work fully yet. Plus liquids go through your digestive system much more quickly so you won’t ‘feel full’. It’s why it’s important to stick to the recommendations regarding portion size, sipping your fluids slowly & eating slowly too. Tread slowly & carefully. I used to dilute my cup of shake or soup to around 1.5 cups or more & literally took about 2 hours to sip my through it. They count as fluids so all good. It takes around 6-8 weeks to recover & for the nerves to be back working properly & even then the messages could be different than what they were.

First, congrats on your weight loss. Wonderful! Second, is it a stall, a very normal & important part of your weight loss, or is it just your body slowly down the loss to seemingly nothing as you’re nearing or at your body’s new set point weight? If it is your new set point, you will constantly be fighting it to try to lose more. This is where your body is happiest. If your weight loss has slowed/stopped at this weight that means you will need to continue to eat the 1000 calories you are eating now to maintain it. Or less to lose more. Is that sustainable? Is it healthy in the long term? There’s the weight you want to see on the scales & the weight your body wants you to be & is compatible with your life & lifestyle. This alone can take time to accept & wrap your head around. Just some things to consider. Not everyone has a bounce back regain. I didn’t. I still weigh about what I weighed when I first stabilised with the same fluctuation range of about a kilogram/2 lbs at almost 5 years out. And I consume more calories now than I did when I first stabilised (1300 then & 1600 now). I don’t do any real exercise, am a little shorter than you & quite a few years older than you I expect. Also, look at increasing your fluid intake. You should be aiming for 2 litres a day & more on the days you’re more active. Your weight loss isn’t over until it’s over. A stall doesn’t mean it’s over. Just your body taking a break to reassess your current needs.

That’s pretty much what to expect in the first month (around 15-25lbs). Those who lose those large amounts of 30, 40 or so pounds the first month usually start of at a weight much higher than your’s like on My 600lb Life. And 100% of what @summerseeker said. Never compare yourself to others. It will mess with your head bad! Congrats on your surgery & your weight loss so far. Wonderful!

Definitely go back to your prescribing doctor. Meds are absorbed in different parts of your body (stomach, intestines, kidneys & liver). It may mean changing to a more rapid release vs slow release or a different med. My experience was the absorption of my HRT but after my gall was removed. My doctor switched me to a patch to ‘completely avoid my digestive system’ & all was good again. But that likely won’t be an option for the meds you are on.

That’s such silly advice. Make high protein choices. We make those choices every day. Okay up your protein but also up your calories. Your calories or volume of food you eat should be slowly but steadily increasing as you progress until you get to the point you’re maintaining. Until that time, you will keep losing but the rate slows & slows. Like many of the others above I kept losing for almost another year after I reached goal so about 18 months in total. (Wasn’t intending to lose more but it took time to increase my portions & calories to a point it the loss stopped plus it was obviously where my body wanted to be as I’m still there.) And the loss in those last months was grams a week (or none) not kilograms. It’s not over until it’s over.

Ask about bone broths & consommés too as they are allowed on many plans. They may say no to creamy soups (I used to dilute mine to make them thinner) but yes to clear soups like bone broth.

Check with your dietician. We all have such different needs. From activity levels, whether you’re maintaining vs still losing, current weight, age, metabolic rates, to genetics, etc. I’m a little shorter than you, am almost 59, not very active, on the lower end of the BMI scale & I need around 1500/1600 calories to maintain. However, the actual total calories I consume a day aren’t important to me (never had to track) but I randomly check out of interest & people can better relate to number of calories. Portion size & the nutritional value & quality of what I eat is more important.

My regular dinner plates sit all forlorn in the drawer too. I use entree plates which are slightly larger than a side plate. My dinner forks are the same - never used as I use my entree/dessert forks only.