Arabesque

First rule of weight loss: don’t compare yourself to anyone else. We’re all too different: age, starting weight, medical status, weight loss & gain history, mobility, gender, genetics, … As everyone has said you’re pretty much on track. We lose our weight at the rate that’s best for us & it has no impact on whether we lose our weight or not. It just may take longer if you are are slower loser & there’s nothing wrong with that. Stick to your plan, make the best choices you can & you’ll lose weight. All the best.

I find I can have a little sip or two of water after an attack but I am a lot further out. You can try & see how you go at the moment @Cheesekitty7. Some people do struggle with eggs in the beginning but it usually passes so that could have been the cause of yours - just your tummy saying nope. I find the foamies can be delayed and can occur 15+ minutes after I’ve eaten or drunk too @brandiwine. Don’t know why. I’ve always put it down to just me. What is it with scrambled eggs at the moment?? They set me off last week too & I’ve never had trouble with eggs. Just my quirky tummy keeping me on my toes.

Protein water is another option too. Watch the protein bars as many are just glorified candy.

It can happen though it’s usually just a temporary sensitivity. Try some lactose free or plant based products instead. So many to choose from these days. PS - Lactose free skim milk can taste very sweet so if you are sensitive to sweet at the moment just use the full fat/cream version. The fat content isn’t that much & shouldn’t have much impact on your total fat content for the day … unless you’re drinking gallons.

I stopped shakes from purée which was always my intention & they tasted awful. My surgeon & dietician were also a bit freer with hitting protein goals at first - as long as I was close & making an effort to get closer they were happy. But it is hard when you are eating so little. To help with my protein I found a high protein yoghurt (20g) & yoghurt drink (30g & which counted as a fluid too). I had them in the afternoon & ate/drank them over an hour or so. (You can make your own yoghurt drink by blending your yogurt with milk.) I also often ate meals that were protein only some of which was because once I ate my protein I couldn’t eat anything else. I also made my scrambled eggs with milk & made them runnier & the same with rolled oats (made on milk & extra runny).

Another case of I’m glad I didn’t get rid of these shoes or boots this time. Bought these about 10years ago back when I was in my old usual weight range (before my menopause weight gain). I kept them because they were so lovely even though I thought they were too big at 38.5 (now a 37.5-38) & them being wide around the calf. I decided to put them on yesterday for the hell of it & they fit. A little big but thick socks helped then I remembered they did run a little small. Yes, I can put my hands down the sides but putting them over pants helped. Wore them today & two people stopped me to tell me how much they loved them. One was disappointed when I said they were about 10yrs old as she was going to ask where I bought them to get herself a pair.

Drying out food?? Do they say you can’t eat steak because you may cook it to well done & dry it out that way?? Or overcook & dry out chicken or pork or any other meat in a pan or oven or grill??? I cover food I’m zapping with cling wrap which sort of steams it. (There are silicon reusable covers available if you prefer.) No dried out food. Also tend to under reheat first then add another few seconds as needed. When cooking vegetables I include a couple of teaspoons of water. I couldn’t survive without my microwave.

Stalls are very common & you can have several of them while you are losing. When they occur & how long they last can be quite different though yes the first tends to occur around week three & the usually last 1-3 weeks. It’s the time your buddy uses to reset your digestive hormones & enzymes, metabolic rate, etc in response to your weight loss & new needs. Your stomach is a muscle that stretches & contracts but it will take years of overeating to stretch it out to where it doesn’t contract as effectively & is larger. As for portion sizes, it’s best to check with your dietician for their recommendations for your needs. Some people are given caloric goals as well as goals for all macros. I was only given protein & fluid goals & told 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup from purée slowly increasing to a cup by about 6 months (my goal weight). The majority of that portion should be protein. I was only eating a bare 900 calories at 6 months but many are advised to eat more than that from months 2 or 3. You’ll discover your own portion sizes too i.e. the portion your tummy will tolerate of specific foods at a sitting. Some foods sit more heavily in your tummy or take longer to digest & are more filling so you’ll eat less of them. Some are digested more quickly so unless you are aware of your portion it can be easy to eat more than you need.

I’m sorry you are feeling this way. You are not alone in feeling emotional & having regrets. The surgery & weight loss stirs up your hormones & spin out your emotions. Plus you can’t eat, which is what you likely turned to whenever you were feeling emotional, stressed, etc. in the past. So many of us used food as a comfort & to soothe us. A lot of the hunger you are probably feeling is head hunger not real hunger. Hungry for emotional reasons, hungry out of habit (meal time, snack time, what you’re doing), hungry to eat because others are, etc. You may find a therapist helpful as you work through these early stages (because it does get better & easier). Many find the support of a therapist helpful as they work through the relationship with food, why they ate, habits around eating, etc. Please, please stick to your plan. There are about 12inches of sutures & stables holding your tummy together. The staged return to eating is to protect your tummy while it is healing, and ensure your recovery goes smoothly. I know you have eaten off plan already but you just may have been lucky so far. It’s only for a few weeks. You can do this. Look at your children & think about why you chose to have the surgery.

That’s a new one on me too. Do any explain why. I’m curious as to their reasons. But maybe ask your surgeon what they think, then go with their advice. I use my microwave everyday & always have. No problems. Mind you I don’t stand in front if it waiting for it to stop cooking.

The ECG is the easiest test. I swear it took longer for me to get undressed than it took for them to place the electrodes & the actual test took seconds. Unless they pick something up in your results or if there’s something in your medical history or your age, you likely won’t need further testing.

Itching, rashes, etc. aren’t very common. Nothing to do with having a c section or not. Unless you’ve had surgery recently you may not know if you are allergic to the adhesives, anti bacterial washes, etc. they use now. If your skin tends to be more sensitive you may be more susceptible. Glad you found out what caused yours @Dknapp. As you’re susceptible to these types of infections, I wonder if the stress of the surgery on your body set it off. It’s funny how our body reacts to certain things. Every year I get a single red spot about the size of a finger nail on my upper chest (usually in about they same place). It’s not dry or itchy just looks like it should be. It lasts about a month or so & then vanishes until it reappears the next year. Weird alright.

I hear you about finding the right fit in bras @ms.sss. I actually asked about prosthetics for the upper breast today at a department store (David Jones actually - it’s about the only place that still do bra fittings). I had googled the other day without luck. But the answer was simply no they don’t. Prosthetics for after mastectomies, chicken fillets to boost the bust but nothing for empty upper breasts. Was told that many mothers who breast fed have the same problem so not just after weight loss. Sounds like a great business idea. But I claim percentage ownership if anyone here does it. Have you considered getting the bras tailored? I did that with a strapless bra years ago to tighten the band. (To get the cup to fit I had to go up in band size.) They also suggested I may have to do after my weight loss if I dropped down to an 8 band size - they don’t make them. But thankfully when my weight & remaining fat settled, the 10 was fine.

I do so love that my thighs don’t rub together anymore. No heat rash. No pilling on the inside of pant legs or the fabric thinning. No friction sores or redness on my inner thigh. Even the discolouration there has faded. And I can walk at a pace with ease. Bliss.

It’s actually a bar between the heel the rest of the sole. Makes it a little more stable @ms.sss. I think I forgot about them as they became too small for me when I put on the 15 menopause kilograms. I kept them because they are so beautiful & special (are a runway shoe & were supposed to be the last of the YSL branding before they went to just SL but then they ended up using both logos.) I think the last time I wore them was to a wedding too. Four hours for the extensions 😱 I would have been over it at two. Plus I would have been in pain from my my bony butt. 😁 Oh yeah Hemsworth & Cavill make every day beautiful @GreenTealael. ❤️❤️❤️ So yummy to look at. Not happy they dropped Henry but was very happy when they said we want you back. How could they then change their minds & dump him again. I mean WTF? Just awful way to treat someone. Damn James Gunn & his ‘vision’ for DC. My godson did a yoga course in Byron Bay a couple of years ago & attended classes with Elsa Pataky. Unfortunately Chris never came but I’m claiming 3 degrees of separation 😆😆😆 Looks like a fun evening with the family @GreenTealael. (Love the comparison with the WWF - LOL!.) Do they do they serve medieval style foods & tankards of ale too?

Oh, they’re just tuilles. You can make them using any grated cheese in the oven or in a fry pan (probably an air fryer too). You can add your own herbs & spices too. Interesting you can do them in a microwave & with cottage cheese though.

I agree with everyone. Do not reduce your calories. Everyone is supposed to slowly increase their calories as they progress until they reach a point of maintenance. I also suggest you get back in contact with your surgeon & dietician. Personally I think it’s terrible your surgeon or a colleague who does their follow-ups hasn’t seen you since month 3. (I saw my surgeon regularly to begin monthly then two monthly. From 6 months & my goal I had three monthly appointments with his colleague in their rooms. At three years I started 6 monthly appointments.) The other consideration is you may be at your body’s set point. Your goal weight is one you chose not what your body chose. Remember not everyone gets to their goal weight. The average weight loss for sleeve or bypass is about 65% of the weight they are to lose to put them in a healthier weight range. You have already exceeded the average which is fantastic. Also could you update your profile with details of your surgery weight, etc. It helps those of us who respond get a better idea of your situation & offer more appropriate advice & suggestions.

First, congratulations on your weight loss. It’s a fabulous achievement - please remember that. The hard truth is not everyone gets to their goal weight. Your goal weight is a number you chose for various reasons significant to you but your body has it’s own goal weight - its set point. This is the weight your body is happiest at. It is a weight that’s easiest to maintain & your body will keep pulling you back to. Your set point is what makes it hard to lose weight & easy to put back on any you did lose back. The surgery lowered your set point from what it was but you can’t control what the lower level will be. Be careful as you can increase your set point again by eating to excess & making poor food choices. Yes, increasing your physical activity & building muscle will increase your hunger. The trick is to balance the hunger with the calories your body needs. Check your basal metabolic rate to give you an idea if what calories your body may need to maintain. Seeking support from a therapist may help especially with your cravings & late night hunger. Many find therapy very beneficial to support their weight loss & manage their maintenance. Therapy will help you identify what’s behind your cravings & hunger & reflect on your relationship with food. Your surgeon or team should be able to refer you to a suitable therapist (one who specialises in disordered eating & is knowledgeable of bariatric surgery). All the best. PS - I found it helpful to get the ‘bad’ food out of my house. If it’s not there I can’t eat it. I know it’s not always possible especially if you have a family but even if you got rid of the your favourites would help. Try to pick a healthier option. Want sweet try some fruit. Want salty or crunchy try roasted fava beans or chick peas. Of course even ‘good’ food eaten to excess will lead to weight gain.

Yep that’s hot flush. Definitely not comfortable. Maybe chat with your doctor or gyno & get a blood test to check your hormone levels too.

That’s the way I looked at your original post @omrhsn. What problem, inconvenience, complication, annoyance, etc. do you have now but are still good because a factor in the problem is your weight loss. Yes, I have to get my rings resized which is an (expensive) annoyance but it’s because I lost weight which is good. Everyone has problems or annoyances which, in the big picture & in the real world, are minor & unimportant. My sister-in-law has large feet & has trouble finding shoes. It’s a problem that sadly has no good side for her. Many of us struggled to find clothing to fit us before because of our size & that was a doubly bad problem: no clothing & our weight. I thought it was meant to be a more light hearted fun thread like a chat with friends. I also saw it as an opportunity to see how others may have managed these situations, found solutions or just to know others are experiencing the same things.

Good Lord. I had no idea a latex allergy extended to fruits like bananas & kiwi & so many other foods. Can you eat small amounts of the lower risk foods@Starwarsandcupcakes?

The oestrogen made my hot flushes & other menopausal symptoms go away @LindsayT. Unfortunately, they came back when my weight settled. I was on HRT but I still got (& get) the odd breakthrough symptom. But yes your body may be having trouble self regulating temperature. PS - A hot flush feels different than feeling hot or feeling the heat. It’s like a sudden wave of internal heat radiating out of your body & equally sudden sweating. Sometimes it was my whole body & sometimes just my face.

Going to a formal wedding in about three weeks & have been worrying about shoes. Sad I know. Wasn’t happy with what I thought I’d go with though gorgeous shoes. I’m wearing a bias cut 1930s influenced gown. At about 12:30 this morning I suddenly remembered I had the perfect shoe & had them for years. I’ll wear them with black micro fishnet hose. My dress. Yes black but look a print. And I have opera length black leather gloves to wear as well.

Heated seats & vibration! Makes going to the movies a whole new happy place. 😆 My cinema (independent) has put in new seats which I discovered reclined & had a foot rest. Unfortunately I only discovered it as I was leaving. My bag was hiding the buttons. Sigh. They used to have ottomans you could rest your legs on. A bonus to people like me whose legs don’t quite reach the floor. I saw The Flash. I enjoy a Marvel or DC movie … well some of them. It was okay. A few laughs. Thought it was wonderful to include past Batmans, Supermen & Supergirls from movies & TV - though not all were included. It was like honouring the past. Sad to see Christopher Reeve though. . How long did it take for them to put in the extensions @ms.sss?

Some people do experience an allergic reaction after surgery & develop a hive like rash (glue used on incisions, antiseptic wash, etc.). Just one of those things. Most seem to find over the counter treatments like anti histamines, calamine, etc. help. Some find ice soothing too. Maybe ask your pharmacist for something that may help until you can see your doctor.