Arabesque

The Mary Berry era was much better on TGBBO. Mel & Sue too (though I do like Noel - think that’s tied to him being in The IT Crowd sitcom which I enjoyed 😁). Though if you want really bad watch the NZ version. The Australian one has a lot if forced laughter at very bad jokes & puns by the bakers but the NZ one is the worst. We don’t get a lot of US cooking shows here in Aust but I will avoid Ree Drummond if she ever starts here.

Bony joints are real. I had to learn to sleep with one hand between my knees because of that. Placed just below the knee as if it’s cupping the side of it otherwise my hand gets sore from the pressure of the bony knees. Or I sleep with the upper leg pushed forward so I’m on my side but more twisted over. I used to wake every 90 minutes because of pain & to reposition myself. I can go up to 3 hours on a good night now. Wait until you get pressure pain from that little bony knob on the side of your elbow though. The worst. Ouch!

Have to admit I’ve never made them either. I remember mum making toad in the hole when we were young but never plain Yorkshire puddings. Watch them making them on all the UK cooking shows and I think one day. PS. Mentioning UK cooking shows, does anyone else find Prue Leith annoying. Forcing myself to watch her Cotswold Kitchen at the moment & find myself criticising her & complaining the whole time. She’s annoying on Bake-off too. Yet I enjoyed her back in the day on Great British Menu. I’m team Mary Berry all the way.

In the two weeks before you’ll likely be put on a pre surgical diet. It may be all shakes, or a combination of shakes and a high protein diet or another plan so you can’t really prepare for that. However, nothing stopping you starting to introduce some new habits now. Start tracking your food or begin introducing appropriate portions for meals. Make sure you’re getting in 2L/64ozs of water a day. Reduce your intake of carbonated drinks. Maybe drop a snack or two. Or whatever you could start to do to modify your current eating style and food choices. If you’re not very active, try adding some additional moment or try some classes to see what you may enjoy. Post surgery, you’ll again be on a restricted eating plan which your surgeon will give you. There will be similarities with this but also some differences with what others are given. Be warned though, your taste buds and sometimes sense of smell can go haywire and there may be foods you used to enjoy (flavour or texture) that taste disgusting or smell awful. This does pass in a couple of months but don’t buy certain flavours or foods you like that are allowed on your plan in bulk - you may end up being unable to eat them. Get some small cutlery like baby spoons and forks or some cocktail/buffet forks, small plates & bowls. Your portions will be tiny & you’ll only be allowed small bites so the smaller bowls and cutlery make it easier to adjust. Buy some small containers for freezing leftovers or the small snack size zip lock bags; left overs will be common and freezing appropriate sized portions will come a new habit. If you don’t have any: a set of scales that goes down to small increments (ounces or grams), a blender, stick processor, or similar, measuring spoons and cups. Get some over the counter stool softeners, anti nausea meds & pain meds (can’t take NSAIDs), and a heat pad/wheat pack. I’m sure others will add lots of others. Congratulations on having your surgical date. All the best.

While we have a Costco in Brisbane it’s a 45+ min drive away so couldn’t be bothered but it sounds like an Australian visit to Bunnings (hardware). My sister-in-law & I went for a bag of potting mix and some of those big gardening hand rake scoop things which would have cost us less than $20 total. We came out with an overflowing trolley and had spent about $400 between us. Outdoor Xmas lights, pool inflatables (xmas presents for my young nieces & nephew), plants, dog shampoo & conditioner, microfibre cleaning cloths, silk flowers, hanging basket, … I promise we needed all of it 🤣🤣🤣

We always called it egg in a hole. Unimaginative I know. Toad in the hole is something different @ms.sss. It’s sausages, usually beef but can be pork, baked in yorkshire pudding batter. Served with onion gravy, mashed potatoes and whatever other vegetables.

Love it @Sophie7713. the surgical tape. OMG! Made me laugh though I hope you’re not hanging from your bedside light. 😁

Have a look at Dr Matthew Weiner’s Pound of Cure website and podcasts. He has excellent information, books (incl the metabolic reset diet) and online nutrition classes you can sign up for. They also have support groups you may find helpful too. Personally, I wouldn’t go back to the pre surgical shake diet. (I’m with you, those shakes are disgusting.) Instead go back to how you were eating once your weight initially stabilised. That calorie load was appropriate for the weight you were so will be a deficit for what you are consuming now therefore weight loss will occur Focus of your protein goals eating protein first then vegetables and finally any complex carbs as you are able. Ensure you’re getting your fluids in. Aim for lowish carbs, low sugar (real, artificial or alternatives), lower fats & add a little fruit. Check your portions, try to eat regularly & watch snacking. Track your intake even from now so you can see where you may need to make adjustments. You can start slowly by focussing on one modifying one or two aspect s at a time then two or so weeks later add another change.

Yrs, some people do. Sad to say but a lot of this is head hunger. Your brain is really powerful and can twist you up badly. You’re going through a stressful time (physically, emotionally & mentally). If you were someone who used to comfort or sooth yourself with food your head will be telling you to eat (hungry) because of the stress but of course you can’t which will make you want to eat more. Plus your head tries to convince you that you are not eating enough food to survive (you are) so it says you feel hungry. Hunger pangs can also be from excess stomach acid. At the moment your body is still producing enough acid for your old larger tummy and for the volume of food you used to eat so too much for what you need now. Have you been prescribed a PPI? They reduce the acid in your tummy which reduces/stops the hunger pangs.

Oh wow, black. Still looks great. Definitely can see the different colours in the two images. I have a vegan leather skirt and vegan leather pants. The pants are made from cactus but not sure about the skirt. Personally I think it’s just polyurethane so not plant based vegan at all. Certainly faux leathers are a much better quality now. Don’t feel like plastic as they used to.

Ooh, leather (real or fake). So yummy. Love this lovely green too. Plus the coat - gorgeous!

Oh yes, you never open a medication that is a capsule form. can’t belief they told you to do that. The outer shell is to protect your digestive system and to ensure the medication is absorbed slowly. People with sleeve usually don’t need to take as many supplements as those with a bypass, Sadi, etc. as sleevers don’t have as much of a malabsorption issue as they do. I had to take a multivitamin and vitamin D with K. That was it. I only took the D with K for about 3 or 4 months and stopped the multi at about 8 months. But I stress that was me and what my blood work showed I needed (or was lacking in) or in my case didn’t need. Some sleevers are also required to take calcium and iron. Does your blood work show you have existing needs i.e you are lacking in some vitamin? This would be a staring point as to what you may need even pre surgery. Then subsequent tests will show if you drop in anything. As to whether you can take tablets or need to have patches, chewables, liquid, or mouth spray versions is really up to what your surgeons requires and what you are able to tolerate. I could swallow capsules from about day 4 or 5. (Regular sized capsules not those giant horse sized ones 🙂). General advice: take your multi after you’ve eaten. They can cause nausea if taken on an empty tummy. If you have to take two or more multis as your dose, spread them out across the day. Try one in the morning and one in the evening. don’t take your calcium at the same time as your iron. Your body can’t absorb them at the same time. Try one in the morning & the other in the evening. don’t take your iron within an hour or so of consuming any caffeine if you’re allowed caffeine. Caffeine reduces your ability to absorb iron by more than 60%. Ensure you’re getting regular blood tests. My surgeon required once every three months before visits but my GP had me do one in between so I was having one every 1.5 months. That way if anything unexpected was happening, we knew about it quickly. All the best.

I agree with the others. You’re just not ready yet to eat solid foods. Your symptoms of discomfort, vomiting, hiccups, burping are evidence of that. It takes at least 6 weeks for you to heal ( all those sutures and staples holding your digestive system together) which is why we’re put on the slow, usually two week cycles, of progressing from liquids, to purées, to soft foods to regular solid foods. Even following this schedule, many have to go back a step simply because they haven’t healed enough tolerate the denser food yet. And that’s okay. You may have to do this too. There are even solid foods that some people take even longer to be able to eat without experiencing side effects. Foods like chicken breast & steak. Some foods can be too rich like eggs or they’re too dry or coarse (sauces & gravies are your friend). Your tummy is very sensitive and can react to any food (texture, flavour even smell) and this can continue for a couple of months. I used to describe my tummy as a petulant two year old who throws random tantrums. Unfortunately there’s no hard and fast rules about this. You just have to try things and see how you go simply because of our individual differences. Never give up on a food you struggle with initially though. Give it a break for a couple of weeks and then try again. Glad you’re on a PPI (sumac) which will help with the excess acid your body is still producing (it hasn’t learnt you don’t need as much yet). Will also help with the hiccups and burping. Actually many people find hiccups are a signal they’re full. Make sure you’re eating slowly (take 20-30 minutes), small bites and not eating too large a portion yet. Out of curiosity what are your portion sizes at the moment?

Congratulations @GreenTealael. You’re as inspiring as ever. I always look forward to your posts.

Such a shame. Seems long waiting lists to get appointments for specialists are bad everywhere. 4 months at least to see a dermatologist here in Australia and my mum was told TWO YEARS to see a gerontologist - she said she could be dead by then. And this is as private not public patients.

Can’t beat the putting you cutlery down and sitting back from the table (or moving away) advice. I also asked myself if I needed the next bite or wanted it. If I just wanted it, I put the cutlery down again. I know I say that often but it’s still helpful and plays a role in mindful eating, I found distraction helpful too much like @BigSue. Like I’d read x number of pages between bites, or played a game of solitaire, waited for an ad break or a scene change if watching tv, etc, If I was sitting waiting for a timer I’d just want to eat more because I was bored. I too would take an hour or more to eat. Even now I can easily take 30-45 minutes to eat a meal. I’d also look at working to a longer break than a minute between bites. PS - Have you considered returning to the therapist to talk through this more if you aren’t already?

I think you mean revision. A reversal would mean they rejoin your digestive system to what it was before surgery i.e. back to normal anatomy. (It’s high risk and your digestive system may not function the same or as effectively.) You can’t reverse a sleeve. But if you’re going from one type of weight loss surgery to another where they alter your digestive system further like sleeve to a bypass, or bypass to Sadi, etc, that’s a revision. It may change the responses you get unless you do mean reversal of course. 😊 Revisions aren’t uncommon, for various reasons, but haven’t heard of a reversal here.

Nope there’s no normal. You have to work out what you need in regards to nutrients and calories to maintain & your body to function effectively. Gender, height, age, weight, activity levels, how your body functions, etc. all play are part. For example 2000-2400 calories is the recommended calorie intake for a woman. If I ate that I’d be as big or bigger than I was before surgery. In fact I never ate that much when I was obese. When my weight first stabilised I ate about 1300 calories yet a year or two later I began consuming about 1600 & still maintained - my needs obviously changed or stabilised. If I weighed more, was taller, younger, more active I would need to eat more. As to working out what I needed, I just slowly ate more as I was able until I stopped losing and my weight stabilised. A basal metabolic rate calculator can give you an idea of what you may need calorie wise but much like BMI calculators they’re not perfect - don’t consider genetics, health needs, muscle mass, etc. I found the one below pretty on point for me but … https://www.calculator.net/bmr-calculator.html

Exactly as others have reacted. What is your definition of a normal size? I can eat about a recommended portion size and that took me well into my 3rd year. Sometimes it depends on what I’m eating or if I’m feeling hungry & then I can’t eat the whole portion. Not unusual to have leftovers in my fridge. As an example I can eat about 3ozs of protein plus a cup of vegetables for dinner, 2 golf ball size rissoles/meat balls & cup of vegetables, about 2/3 of 2 scrambled eggs, a tub of yoghurt, 1/2 a large apple, 8 macadamia nuts, 8-10 grapes. If I go out to eat I can eat about 3/4 of a main meal in a fine dining restaurant when meals are pretty much recommended portion sizes. In Australia our servings aren’t as large as some of the American servings though they are getting larger in the casual eating places. For example, I ordered a small salt & pepper calamari meal at a pub & took half home for dinner. This is an Australian site (below) but I’m sure there’ll be US sites about recommended portion sizes to give you an idea. However, you need to work out what size portions will provide you with the appropriate nutrients and calories your body needs to function effectively and for you to maintain your weight. https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/serve-sizes Your nutritionalist will help advise you on this too.

Yes, it makes it harder because of the greater angle and greater the resistance (pushing your body back) so works the muscles more. Just slowly work your back away from the wall. Years ago I used to do them on a side board so a greater angle. I probably should start using that again or the kitchen bench. I also do a small number from fully extended (straight arms) cobra position. Because it’s on the floor there’s no pressure on the knees. You could work your way up from that to your knees as you’re able and then to true pushups. Every bit counts.

Nope. Not before & not now. It’s a textural thing for me & the visual 🤢. Give me real cheese!

I think it’s because they think you’ll be so absorbed in what you’re watching you’ll just shovel the food in. It’s the reverse for me & get totally distracted from my eating by what I’m watching. 10 minutes can easily pass between bites. But if it doesn’t work for you best to avoid tv watching. I’m like @ms.sss in that I too can eat more or eat more quickly when eating with others. I have to very consciously be aware of putting my cutlery down & sitting back between bites and giving my full attention to those around me.

I love wall pushups. Been doing them for almost 2 years now almost every single day. I stand about 1 metre away from the wall (which is almost 2/3s of my height - lol!) and do 35 ordinary pushups & 35 with a clap. Should do more but I am ultimately lazy. I have distinct deltoids, triceps & biceps. Don't know how much stronger I actually am but my arms are toned which is what I wanted & not muscle bulk. My 14yr old competitive swimmer niece complemented me on my arms last week & was comparing them to hers. I’ll take that. Though she did point out they’d look better if I had the loose skin removed. Aah 14yrs olds, they give & they take away. 😂

This is the one I used as a starting point for some beef cheeks but as per usual I added and swapped out ingredients. Only thing I’d do differently is not mess around straining off the cooking liquid to thicken it on the stove. Next time I’m going to try thickening it in the slow cooker. Or only scoop out a small amount, over thicken that and add it back. https://www.recipetineats.com/slow-cooker-red-wine-beef-cheeks/ Adjust the serving size in the recipe by tapping the serving size number & adjusting the slider to how many you are making. Recipe Tin has lots of great recipes. I often slow cook lamb shanks for my mum but never follow a recipe. Just add enough liquid to cover most of the shanks and whatever vegetables we want (usually onions, carrots, celery, tinned tomatoes), garlic and rosemary, and red wine or brandy is part of the liquid we add. Tip: semi cook your vegetables first & ensure your meat isn’t cold otherwise it takes forever for the slow cooker to reach temperature. Last time I even heated the tinned tomatoes before adding them.

Oh, I never sanitised my mat. It was back in the pre COVID days, but I was the only one who touched or used it. I remember wiping it down with a wrung out microfibre cloth when it looked a little dirty but that was all. What are your mats made of? Mine was a rubber material which I wouldn’t put in a washing machine. Plus it wouldn’t have fitted in my front loader. I don’t wash the foam & rubber mat I use for my at home stretches either. You got me thinking now. Glad you’re enjoying yoga so much.