Arabesque

Yep, stomach acid & thirst can be causes of what you think is hunger. A rumbling tummy is also in most cases not a sign you are hungry either (not like we were always told). The surgery, restricted diet, etc. are all very stressful & your hormones are likely out of whack too. In the past when you were stressed or hormonal or emotional you likely turned to food to comfort or distract you. You can’t do that at the moment but you still want to eat to soothe yourself. However this is just head hunger not real hunger. Try distracting yourself. Go fir a short walk, read, craft, chat with a friend, watch a movie, check social media, etc. Sometimes a warm drink can help: herbal or green tea if you’re allowed, warm water, warm your shake, etc. The shakes were awful for me too. I forced myself to have one in the morning then had strained cream soups, broths or consommés. Yoghurt drinks are also an option (blend a high protein yoghurt with milk until it’s thin enough to drink easily).

Oh straws. It’s one of those things that some surgeons say no & others don’t care. Mine said nothing & I used straws. Not all the time but a few times a week depending on what I was doing or drinking. Never had an issue. Actually found it easier to sip through a straw at first - can’t gulp or take large mouthfuls with a straw. You’re a couple of months out now so I guess you could give it a go & see. Do you have to use the straw or can you remove the straw & sip through the home?

Life just sometimes throws crap at you & it sounds like you went through the worst of it. So sorry. Sounds like you are the right thing (& yes avoid fruit at the moment). Ten pounds is far from a bad loss & you’re certainly not failing. I’d lost about 11lbs at 18 days & my surgeon was happy with my rate of loss. Remember too that many don’t lose as quickly or as much after a revision.

While it is upsetting you avoid it. The caffeine can be far too harsh on your healing tummy (all those cut open internal wounds) which is why most are to,d to avoid it. Check with your team as to when you can resume drinking it & then only if you are able. I was told I could have herbal or green tea straight away (I drank green tea always anyway so I was very happy) if you’re looking for a warm drink but check with your team about this being an option too.

The constipation can be the worst. Metamucil & Benefibre both swell but I was told by my surgeon Benefibre was the better choice so that was what I took. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It may just come down to which works better for you. I mixed mine up in a good cup of yoghurt drink mid afternoon so it didn’t interfere with my ability to eat.

Just depends on how you heal & how you scar. You do need to use the cream regularly to get any benefit. You could try a silicon scar tape too. I’m very pale but do tend to scar. Mine aren’t all that noticeable unless you really look just a short white line & they were opened a second time for my gall removal surgery. I tried to take a pxt but because they’re along my waist all you could see was the pressure marks of my leggings waistband. 😆😆

The last pounds can take ages. In the end I was losing grams (ounces). Have a chat with your surgeon & dietician & review everything. This may be your new set point so losing less than this and maintaining a lower weight will be very difficult. It could also be an extended stall. You’ve been doing so well I can understand you being concerned.

That was me too. I bounced between 60-75kg (healthy weight to overweight range) most of my life but peri menopause then menopause & suddenly I was obese. Could lose a couple of kilos but would take several weeks & that as on those extremely low calories diets of 500 calories a day too. I’d gain the weight back like in days. The surgery boosted my metabolism & I keep it burning by eating regularly now - no more meal skipping for me which was how I used to try to maintain my weight. The fatigue will improve as you begin to eat more each day. Try an electrolyte drink to give you a boost on days you need a little more energy. You may be able to start some fruit soon. I think I could from my third month. Check with your dietician. The sad news the weights won’t help with your loose skin. It will only help with the muscular structure under your skin which has been stretched out. My arms are quite nicely toned from using resistance bands. I even get compliments which I think is hilarious as my loose skin is still there but then I don’t wave my arms about too much 😉. Only way to get it rid of it is surgery. All the best with your progress.

Fridge for my butter. Doesn’t it go off sitting out on a counter? I’ll sit it out for a short time if I want it to soften for cooking but that’s it. I have a spare tub in my freezer but it takes months to get through a tub. I love mango but I find it sets off my restriction very quickly.😩 Don’t know why? Too rich?? I found a freeze dried version I can eat if I have a craving. Not the same but better than none.

Funny how we have our quirks. My meat & cheese always goes up higher where it’s colder. My vegetable drawers aren’t as cold (so no half frozen vegetables) & have a moisture control so the vegetables don’t dry out. Plus they’re clear so you can see everything. I keep my protein bars in the egg shelf in the fridge door (removed the plastic thing the eggs slot into) & my HRT in the butter section.

Thank you but unfortunately they’re an American company not Australian. ☹️ My optometrists are getting in a new French boutique brand soon which specialises in frames for smaller & more narrow faces so fingers crossed for when I need new frames. Sunglasses will be an ongoing challenge I think.

Best thing I ever did. As @The Greater Fool said yes there are horror stories but there are horror stories & stories of complications with every surgery. Bariatric surgery has some of lowest stats of post surgical complications. I’ve read they’re lower than an appendectomy. And the risk of serious health complications & the risk of earlier death are much higher with obesity. I didn’t have any comorbidities before my surgery. No high blood pressure, cholesterol ok, no heart or breathing issues, no sleep apnea. But it was only a matter of time before I did. Now I’ve lost weight they likely will never happen. Regardless of what we all say (& we will be pro surgery here even those who may have had issues), this has to be a decision only you can truely make not anyone else. You have to be ready to commit to this 100% as much of the successful weight loss & maintenance is mental. The surgery provides you a tool & a limited time of bonuses effects to help get you started but the majority of the work is what you will have to do yourself. It is not an easy out to weight loss. Meet with a surgeon & a therapist who specialises in supporting bariatric & disordered eating patients & ask your husband to accompany you to some appointments. He can ask questions then too which may alleviate some of his concerns. All the best whatever you choose to do.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Yes, lots of women have become pregnant early on because of the hormonal flush of oestrogen post surgery from your weight loss. It can make you extra fertile. The pregnancy will slow your weight loss but it doesn’t mean it’s all over or you will gain lots of weight again. Check with your dietician about your nutritional needs during the pregnancy & keep regular appointments. You actually don’t need to consume that many additional calories - you’re not eating for two adults. The aches in your hips & back can be from your weight loss. It’s quite common. Some even talk about their balance being off & walking into walls, etc. Your centre of gravity is changing & your posture is improving. Your muscles, tensions & ligaments are relearning how to carry & hold your much smaller body. I used to kick my toes against my kitchen cabinets because my tummy was much smaller & didn’t reach the bench top before my feet anymore. So silly but was about being aware of my smaller body. A friend & I also found we’d initially slouched more because we didn’t have a tummy to prop us up anymore. We had to consciously adjust our posture & build up our core muscles. Try some gentle stretching & use some resistance bands. I do mine lying on the floor so not strenuous at all & some can be done sitting down. All the best.

I wonder why no iceberg? Maybe because it’s lower in nutrients??

Oh don’t you hate that. When you reach into the vegetable drawer for the cucumber & squish. Ugh! Please tell me you had loads of salt & pepper on your avocado. Can’t eat it plain. It’s just flavourless mush. Extra brown cheesy topping on your lasagne is always tasty & a little crunchy. The sashimi plate is so pretty.

Thought of another new good problem today. Well I did know about it but going to my optometrist reminded me. My face is so much smaller & more narrow now I have trouble finding spectacles & sunglasses to fit & suit my face. Frames are so large they over balance my face, fall off my ears & nose, & stick out on the side of my face. They cover most of my face & I look ridiculous - like those ugly 1970s glasses. When I got new glasses last year I had one frame to choose from just one. It did make the decision easier but …

Maybe 40% can develop gerd after a sleeve & some of those can manage it with medication & dietary changes (no or reduced caffeine, spicy food, carbonation), or behavioural changes (don’t eat before bed, raise the head of your bed). I had minor reflux before my sleeve surgery which I managed with dietary choices. Rarely needed meds. Still have it after surgery but it’s different. Don’t have the hideous muscle straining hiccups anymore - huge win. I take medication every day but otherwise it’s manageable. I know you are disappointed you did not get the surgery you were expecting but you will find there are similarities in how you manage/live with your sleeve and what you would have done with your DS. The sleeve is part of a DS. It used to be done as a two surgeries - tummy then after a couple of months the intestinal redirection. You may not see it now, but a positive is discovering the issue with your pancreas & are investigating the cause & any treatment you may need. Maybe if the issue with your pancreas is remedied, you may be able to proceed with the rest of your DS. The surgery pain will be gone in a couple of days and in a couple of months when you’re past the staged return to eating diet, your tummy is less sensitive & you have a better understanding of food choices, portions sizes, nutrition etc. & you’re losing weight & are healthier, you’ll look back & wonder why you were so disappointed. I love my sleeve. Yes, I have a couple of quirks with my tummy but I did before surgery too so no real change just a little different. I lost all my weight & more so it’s been very successful. Don’t hesitate to post any questions you may have here. Everyone is very willing to make suggestions, offer support or to alleviate any concerns you may have. All the best.

This too does pass. Exactly as @catwoman7 said: it’s usually all just temporary. There may be odd things that don’t sit as well in the long term, like pasta, bread & rice still sit heavily in my tummy but I don’t miss them - there are alternatives I can have if I want them. At the moment you’re still healing. Your digestive system has been through a lot! Your tastebuds & also maybe your sense of smell have also temporarily changed & may be more sensitive to certain smells, flavours or textures. I had no appetite or interest in food either but that comes back - unfortunately. The only thing that really affects what I eat now are my food choices - what I choose to eat or not eat, how often or how much to maintain my health & my weight. Doesn’t stop me going out to eat, socialising, celebrating events, etc.

I’ve not gone down the surgery route but have tried a few things. Some worked, some didn’t. You gotta do what makes you feel happier & more comfortable with. I did find that my face, like my body, settled after my weight stabilised so I didn’t look quite as gaunt & tired. Eating a broader range of foods probably helped a bit too. Had filler in front of my ears - was sunken because there was no fat there at all. I did quite a number of RF sessions. Can’t say it did anything specifically but I enjoyed the process. Didn’t see improvement after IPL treatments either. Did 4 sessions of micro needling RF (Secret RF) earlier this year & it’s given the best results. I tried it not for saggy skin but acne scaring & other improvements were a bonus. I have more defined cheekbones. My lip lines are more shallow so less lipstick bleed (yay!). My skin is very soft, and tone & general texture has improved. I still have my marionette lines though one side is a little shorter & there’s a little break in them. I still have the little poochy droops on my jaw near my mouth but they’re smaller. I’ll do it again next year for maintenance & to see if I get more improvement. (Tip - you need 20% topical anaesthetic & you should only be red for a few hours. Any longer means your practitioner was too harsh & may have done damage.) Botox/Dysport - forehead, chin, between the eyes & a little in my crows feet. I go down the under dose, natural route so my face is still very mobile & expressive. Also have regular facials (alternating between glycolic peels, collagen masks, etc.) which I think maintains the benefits from other procedures & routines. Bought the Nuface micro current device - a waste of money. Yes your skin is softer & plumper after but the gel primer you apply first is hyaluronic acid! After 4 months of daily use (takes 15+ minutes) I gave up & just used the gel. Got the same result. I’m almost 58 now & think I look pretty good for my age. I mean I should have some wrinkles & skin laxity by now. I use hyaluronic acid, collagen oil serum, day & night moisturisers, a vitamin C serum, retinol & sunscreen. You don’t have to spend a lot. I use a mix of drug store & mid range brands.

I remember I struggled with some of the denser leaved greens like rocket, cos, (arugula, romaine) but good old iceberg lettuce went done easily. I could eat heaps of the stuff. Made a chopped salad so the leaves were bite size.

So sorry for the loss of your sister & I understand why this would be influencing your considering lap band. There are reasons why so few surgeons do lap bands anymore even with the supposed advances. All surgeries have risks & potential for post surgical complications. Weight loss surgery risks & complications though are quite low in comparison to many other commonly done surgeries.(I remember reading the appendectomies stats are higher.) Ask your surgeon for the stats & experiences with their patients across all weight loss surgeries. . Bypass might be an option as @Jeanniebug said it is possible to reverse. Like sleeve, the average weight loss with bypass is about 65% of the weight you have to lose. It’s only 50% with lap band. (Remember averages only give you an idea. Some lose more while others less as many factors influence your loss.) But you have to do what is most right for you. All the best whatever you decide.

I do three days too. Four if you count the day it’s made & that’s for everything all meats, soups, vegetables, eggs. As long as it’s kept refrigerated you’ll be fine. Only thing I eat in two days is salad - gets too watery & loses it’s texture. I usually get 3 or 4 meals out of everything I cook. Saves me cooking everyday & I don’t have family to eat the leftovers. And as you know I regularly freeze one or two serves so I’m not eating the same meal 3 or 4 times in a row. Can always do the sniff test & a tentative taste test to see if it’s still okay. We’re big into sniffing in our family - I even sniff milk I’ve just opened. My aunt does the same.

Just noticed I said I gained 3 lbs it was about 3-5lbs (depending on the maths with my fluctuation 😉). I sometimes can’t eat a full meal either which is why I also snack a few times a day - to get those calories in. I’m pretty controlling as to what, how much & when I eat my snacks & each has a purpose: adding extra protein & nutrients. My favourite snack at the moment is home made labneh on multigrain crackers with tomato, fresh basil & a sprinkle of zaatar - yum. I call them my midday snack but I eat them at 1pm with a large mug of green tea (it’s the only time I can eat & drink at the same time 🤷🏻‍♀️). I also have things like nuts, fruit, protein bar, jerky, string cheese, occasionally roasted fava beans or chickpeas (easy if travelling). Slider foods are the devil’s work. Far too moreish & easy to eat too much. Rice crackers were my weakness. I still keep them in my house (with hummus) but for friends or family which is only when I’ll have some now. I have thrown out a couple of pots on unopened or barely touched expired hummus though. Sometimes being stubborn & pig heatedly determined can have its benefits. 😁

I get it. I too had about a 3lb gain after being stable for a year or so. Yes a small gain but just like you it was concerning to me. My fluctuation had been 48.5-49.5kg but suddenly I was 51kg. I liked being under 50kg & I too worried it was the beginning of the end. I am a believer in your body settling into it’s correct set point & what it needs to function effectively which may be at a higher weight. Building muscle will result in some gain. Becoming more complacent & less vigilant in your choices, making adjustments to your way of eating to better suit your lifestyle, medication changes, or your original way of eating was too limiting all can contribute to weight gain. For me, I discovered a contributing factor was my HRT was no longer working (absorption issue after my gall removal. I also had increased my protein intake due to the same absorption problem. Changed to a patch, made a slight adjustment to the protein sources I’d added (legumes be gone - well reduced) & slowly I lost not all but most of that gain. I now fluctuate between 49.5-49.9kg & have been stable for about 6 months. Funny thing is I do eat more than I did at the lower weight (about 1300 then & about 1500 now) which, according to those BMR calculators, is about right for me. If you want to nip the regain in the bud, maybe start with tracking your food intake for a couple of weeks to see what may be contributing. 100 extra calories can result in a 10lb weight gain over a year. You mentioned you’ve been snacking more & that may be contributing. May be drop one or two of those snacks, reduce your snack portions or look for a lower calorie alternative. But only change those things that are sustainable & don’t affect how you want to enjoy your life. You have to decide if the changes you may need to make to your eating are worth weighing a little less or whether being a couple of pounds heavier is an acceptable increase. And what an acceptable fluctuation may be for you. Unfortunately, I think we will always have to be vigilant. We have too much history with eating & weight gain not to be. All the best.

You & your spreadsheets @ms.sss 😁. I’ll convert metric to imperial for our non enlightened neighbours. 😉 Hopefully it will help people understand you can’t directly compare & it may reduce the anxiety & fear of failing some have to see the range & variety of results. But yes some do fixate on the numbers and don’t use them only as a general idea of what they might experience not will experience. It’s why I ended up giving my stats to that recent thread to show there was more than two stone difference in weight loss across us at the same time frame. F - 53 (2months off 54) - 5’3” 11lbs 189lbs 171lbs 153lbs 132lbs 111lbs I’ll add stabilised at 108lbs at 17 months & 109 at 4 yrs out.