Arabesque

Still keep things fairly soft, moist & tender. Slow cooked or medium rare to medium meats. Try the most tender cuts of meats like chicken thigh not breast. I made a lot of mince based dishes (easy to portion & freeze too), hearty soups, casseroles, stews, omelettes & sausages for a couple of weeks.

I never used a bariatric cook book either. There were some recipes in a book about bariatric surgery my surgeon gave me & I did make one recipe a few times (a tinned fish frittata muffin thing - tasty & I often swapped ingredients for variety). But I’m not someone who uses a lot of recipes. May start with one for a new idea but rarely follow them exactly. Took things I usually made & just prepared them using healthier ingredients & better cooking methods. Though there wasn’t much to change as I was pretty healthy in the meals I prepared myself. Used spray olive oil or non stick pans or cooked some meats in the oven or grill so need for oil. Already didn’t use prepared sauces & such like pasta sauces. I kept things pretty simple as it was easier to work out protein, other nutrient & caloric content.

Every surgeon is different. And it is always best to follow your surgeon’s requirements. Of course you could negotiate with them but if they say no it’s no. I wasn’t told I could or couldn’t use straws. I used them at times as they helped me sip more carefully. Vitamins can be a challenge - taste, being able to swallow them or not, etc. Buy a single bottle at a time as you may have to purchase another brand or format. Your surgeon should advise which vitamins you’ll need to take. Subsequent blood test will inform what vitamins you need or don’t need to take Some do. I wasn’t tested. As long as the soup is lump free your fine. Think team soups, broths, consommés. Invest in a small strainer (I used a tea strainer) to ensure the soup was completely smooth. You could also strain the broth from wonton soups, ramen noodles, or meat & vegetable soups - just be careful I showered the next day (felt so good). It was also one of the hospital tests to ensure I was able to go home. Spare knickers & pjs (nicer to wear your own after surgery), basic toiletries, phone, iPad, chargers, lip balm. I didn’t have a drain. You’ll probably sleep a lot after the surgery. I couldn’t concentrate to read or watch a streamed program for days after. All the best with your surgery.

Just maintaining has become it’s own reward for me. After years of seeing the scale go back up every single time I lost weight, actually keeping a fairly stable weight makes me feel great & keeps me motivated. While it’s really nice to have people comment on your weight loss & how great you look now, it’s true they don’t happen as often as the years pass. It”s why the little things that happen & remind me of what I can do now which I wouldn’t or couldn’t before are more important to me. (Though I can’t say someone telling me I’m slim, need a smaller size or similar doesn’t make me glow with happiness I am a vain human.) Most recently, jumping on a trampoline with my young nieces & nephew at Christmas was a reminder of what I’ve achieved & why I did it. It might be things like realising or reminding yourself you’re more confident in how you hold yourself, dress, makeup or hair styles or in how you interact with others. It could be a physical achievement like how far you can run or cycle. Or life changes you’ve made - gone back to school, changed careers, dating, etc. These are the sort of things that remind me that the surgery & subsequent changes i’ve made have been so worth it. Personally I don’t want to forget where I was because it helps me appreciate where I am now more. And yes, I continue to be careful about what & how much I eat & weigh myself several times a week. It keeps me on track & honest. The main battle may be over but I need to remain vigilant of possible stealth attacks from my own head: old habits, complacency, etc.

You could try warming most drinks or drinking them at room temp. Will be some trial & error to see which ones you can tolerate. I even used to make my shakes on warm water or microwave them (tried to convince myself the chocolate one was a hot chocolate - still tasted pretty hideous). I also diluted shakes, soups, etc. too to get in extra fluid. Also give an electrolyte drink a go . I’d make up a bottle of hydralyte every day, again doubled the required water, & took with me to work to give me an extra boost of energy during the day. There are quite a few no calorie drinks out there you could try. Ask your dietician for recommendations too.

Oh you poor thing. Hope the biopsies come back okay & they can work out why this has happened.

Ah now that’s a complicated question & there is no definitive answer. There’ll be those who tell you sleeve is the best or bypass is the way to go, etc. The thing to remember is that was the surgery that was best for them. And yes there’ll be those who say they wished they’d chosen another surgery. There are some issues that can make one surgery a much better option over another. For example if you have pre existing reflux/gerd sleeve is not for you or you have a lot of weight to lose bypass may be a better choice. There are other pre existing conditions that may need to be taken into consideration too. As well as factors like your weight loss & gain history, lifestyle, eating style & preferences, etc. Best advice is to do lots of reading & gather information like this yourself & then have a long conversation with your surgeon & see what they recommend based on your medical status, general health & with consideration of the factors mentioned above & then make your decision. As for the long term effects of, I presume maintaining your weight, it really comes down to you. The changes you’re willing to make to your eating, how compliant you are in the long term with your new way of eating, the activity you choose to add to your lifestyle, etc. The surgery is a tool & it’s success depends on how you use it & the sustainability of the changes you make. My surgeon recommended a sleeve after going through everything with me & answering my questions. I was leaning that way anyway as I didn’t want as major a change as with bypass. My weight had only become a serious obese issue with menopause before that I bounced between a BMI of 23 healthy & 29 overweight). I had some existing food sensitivities. I dislike taking medications. Didn’t have any co morbidities - my general health was good. Was fairly controlled about a lot of my eating & was aware of food choices, portion sizes, etc. Didn’t want the increased possibility of dumping (already had random episodes of hypoglycaemia) or absorption issues (especially calcium & iron as a menopausal woman). And yes, it was the right choice for me & my situation & needs. I lost all my weight & more. I’m only 3.75yrs out but have pretty much maintained my weight except for a very fast 2kg (4lbs) gain after my gall was removed in June 2021 which reduced my absorption of protein (so made a dietary change) & we also recently discovered my HRT. I had lost about 0.5kg of the 2kgs over almost a year but since I went on a HRT patch 3 months ago I’ve lost a kg without trying (Damn hormones - or lack of in my case.) Will be interesting to see if the last 0.5kg goes too & I end up where I was at 49kg. That’s my story anyway. All the best whichever surgery you choose.

I echo the above - it’s likely a stall. As for not for not being able to eat all your advised portion, that’s okay & something we’ve all experienced at times. At the moment you’re still healing & early out so it’s not unusual to not feel hungry, not interested in eating, not wanting to eat all your serve, or to become temporarily sensitive to certain tastes, textures or smells which can effect what or how much you eat. The bigger concern would be if you were eating more than your portion. As long as your meeting or being close to your protein goal you’ll be okay. You’ll find it all gets easier as you progress. As for drinking, is it the taste or texture of what you’re drinking that upsets you? Or do you have discomfort on swallowing? Many of us found warm drinks easier to drink initially - more soothing than cold drinks. I found plain water almost too heavy to drink at first. Try varying what you drink throughout the day. Try a flavoured water (or just add a little lemon or lime juice), protein water, green or herbal tea, yoghurt drinks (make your own by adding milk to your preferred yoghurt), etc. I used to open bottles of sparkling water & let them go flat & drink them too. And ensure you are sipping slowly enough for you. At 3.75yrs I still have leftovers in my fridge from meals I couldn’t finish a few times a week. Last night I had the leftover vegetables & a lamb cutlet I didn’t eat from the night before. Just added another cutlet so I met my goals.

Just a thought but did they remove your gall bladder when they found your stone and if so how long ago? Diarrhoea can be a side effect of having your gall removed. (Takes time for the body to get used to not having gall to regulate the acid entering your stomach.) Mine persisted for about two months after my surgery though not as severe as yours. My surgeon advised if it persisted or got worse I was to contact him.

How much does your plan recommend? If they didn’t give you portion size recommendations I’d ask ask for some that will meet your needs especially if you feel more comfortable & confident with them. Best advice then is to follow your plan. Remember all because you can doesn’t mean you should. As you know there are differences with plans. Like I was told 1/4 - 1/3 cup from purée slowly increasing to about a cup near goal. I was never given calorie goals. Some are advised a larger portion because they are given a higher caloric goal. (I wasn’t given calorie goals just portion size recommendations.) I’d think everyone is able to eat/drink more soup, shakes & broths because they’re liquids & go through our tummy more quickly. I’d sip on them for hours … until the soup got too chunky.

I highly recommend this video (which another very kind member shared a little while ago) which may help with your question. The thing about weight loss is there is a lot of averages & the stats you mentioned are an example. There are averages for how much weight you’ll lose, how long it will take, how fast or slow you’ll lose, etc. They’re averages because there are so many factors which influence those stats: age, gender, starting weight, weight loss before surgery, weight loss & gain history, health issues, medications, your new set point, how closely you follow your plan, the lifestyle changes you implement (food choices, activity, …) & so on. As with all averages some will exceed them others won’t reach them. What averages give you are an idea of what might happen. Not a rule but a guideline of what might happen. I’m one of those who exceeded the average. At 12 weeks from surgery I’d lost about 15kg. I’d lost 31kg (including the 5kg pre surgery so about the double amount & got me to my goal) at 6 months. At 12 months I’d lost a total of about 41kgs (not intentionally but it was where my body wanted to be - my new set point). I bounced around there for another couple of months before settling about another kilo lighter (total 42.5kg lost). This was my experience.

Happy birthday. 🎉

I echo @catwoman7’s comments. The benefits of the surgery which make the initial weight loss much easier don’t last so I wouldn’t deliberately try to slow your weight loss. It will only make it harder to lose the remainder. I don’t have a lot of loose skin. I lost about 90lbs. I didn’t have much at all when I reached my goal (which was always my lowest weight). I think genetics helped as I certainly had my age against me. When I dropped the additional 11kg the loose skin was more noticeable though still not enough for me to justify plastic surgery. They ‘d probably only remove about a kilo of skin if they took it from all over my body. I cover mine very easily with my clothes. I wear body con clothing often & don’t need shape wear to restrain/control my saggy skin. And as catwoman7 said, I’d rather have some loose skin than still be at my higher weight.

You’ve lost 45lbs since surgery - that’s a good amount so far. Something worth celebrating. 🏆 Never compare your weight loss journey with anyone else. It will only drive you down the road to crazy town. There are too many factors that can influence your rate of loss: genetics, medical history, weight loss history, medications, age, gender, stalls, etc. And you lost a lot pre surgery which can affect your rate of loss after surgery - you’re at a lower weight which means you won’t lose as quickly as you did when you started back in April. There are averages which can be used as a guideline but as with all averages some lose more & some lose less & there’s nothing wrong with that. What does your team say (they know you & your situation better) ?

Some of what are you are experiencing could be a post surgical effect &/or from the anaesthetic (it’s renown for causing skin & hair dryness). Also there could be some hormonal issues at play too. Slather on a good body lotion & as you start to eat a wider variety of food you may find it decreases. As for loose skin & stretch marks nothing can stop that happening. How much you end up with depends on many factors like age, how long you’ve carried your weight, how long you’ve been at your highest weight & genetics. Think of your skin as a hair band that has been well used & stretched out - ain’t nothing going to make that go back to how it was when it was new. Same with your skin regardless of how many vitamins you take. I’m using a ‘wonder’ cream at the moment that’s supposed to reduce stretch marks. ‘See results in two weeks.’ Well it’s been more than a month & there’s been no change. My skin is a little softer so I guess that’s a win. Won’t be buying it again. Find a good facial oil, with or without collagen. (I love Drunk Elephant’s Marula oil & Charlotte Tilbury’s Collagen superfusion facial oil - wish I could bathe in it.) At the very least you’ll notice a change in the tone & texture of your skin. Then you can join those of us who’ve tried UV, RF & derma needling treatments to help with facial skin laxity. (The treatments have become my new addiction 😁.)

To add to @Smanky’s response, remember the main reason you’re doing this - for your child. It’s a very good reason coupled with improving your general health. I mean it won’t change your MS status but the weight loss will likely make your life easier. I didn’t have any comorbidities befits my surgery but I knew the chances of them starting were very high. And I wanted to be able to do fun things with my nieces & nephews. And I can now. On Christmas Eve I was jumping on a trampoline with four of them. We were laughing so much as they tried to double bounce me so I’d fall over - I did. They’re aged 5-9 & I’m looking at 58 this year. Before the surgery I wouldn’t (embarrassed) & couldn't (physically) do that. It is so worth all the perfectly ok concerns & worries you may have before the surgery. All the best.

I’d go to a hospital or medical centre/emergency. It may be nothing but best to know & be sure.

3.75yrs out & I still gurgle & rumble & whine. My doctor said it’s just my digestive system doing what it’s supposed to: digest food. It’s just noisier now. Can happen when I’m eating & drinking or up to an hour after. (It’s doing it right now 😁.) A lot of nerves were cut during the surgery so you won’t have your old signals of full or hungry for a while. It’s why being careful with portion sizes & eating & drinking slowly is very important especially in the first weeks. In fact when they do come back you may find the signals are very different. Some say they sneeze or get a runny nose when they’ve eaten enough.

As long as you don’t start walking around like a penguin wearing baggy pants you’ll be fine. 🤣

I guess that depends on your surgeon. I’m 3.75 yrs & I still see my surgeon’s colleague. Went from every three months to 6 months this year. Blood test reviewed, weighed, quizzed on issues concerns, etc. Not sure how much longer this will continue but it is reassuring they are just a call away & likely will be for years. My dietician said I could come back to her at anytime too. As for regain, yes it is a possibility but not a guarantee. Why it could happen is a more difficult a question to answer. It could be because of lifestyle choices, weight re settling, medications, health issues, complacency, life (which can throw lots of crap at you sometimes) & so on. How much you may regain is individual too. Did I gain? Yes but only a small amount. I gained 2kg (about 4lbs) in a month a year ago because of a health issue. I had to make a dietary change (increase protein) due to a discovered absorption issue (from having my gall removed). I was only able to drop about 500g of it over several months without making significant changes to my diet or exercise (& do something more than stretches). This was a lifestyle choice. Recently we discovered the absorption issue also meant my HRT medication wasn’t being absorbed either (which I believe contributed to the gain too) so I changed to a patch. Benefit has been I’ve dropped another 500g in the last two months (yes even over Christmas) without doing anything. So I sit about a kg heavier than I was when I was initially maintaining. I’m careful about what I eat, portion sizes & still aim to meet protein & fluid goals every day. But that’s my story & my experience.

I agree with @SpartanMaker. It’s not uncommon for people to see no loss or even a gain after surgery because of the gas & fluids they pump into you. Some surgeons even say don’t weight yourself for a couple of weeks after surgery. I remember I weighed a good 2kgs more 48hrs after my gall was removed & I’d barely eaten. Was just bloated. For a lot of us who struggle with the shakes after surgery it’s because the taste & texture change to us & become unpalatable. Plus I wasn’t at all hungry or interested in food. PS - Congrats on your surgery.

I think you look great. Certainly not like Charlie.

Stalls happen & they will break in their time. Think of them as your body being stressed (it’s going through a lot of change at the moment - surgery, weight loss, change of diet, etc.) & it just wants to shut the door & pull the covers over it’s head until it’s ready to deal with the changes & stress. You just need to ride it out. Don’t stress yourself or your body more. Follow your plan, meet your protein & fluid goals & your weight will start to drop again.

I once heard someone use ‘corporation’ as in that man’s shirt is straining across his corporation. 🤷🏻‍♀️😁

Hell yeah!