Arabesque

You can include bone broths & cream soups during the post surgery liquid stage @LookingForward22. That way you don’t have to rely on shakes. Add in some protein powder to help with meeting your protein goals. Or make your own shakes using a non dairy milk, yoghurt, protein powder. There are some flavour powders about that don’t contain sugar or artificial sweeteners - saw a peanut one recently. Congrats on your weight loss so far too.

Invited to attend a Brisbane Fashion Festival event last night with all the beautiful people. Great people watching. Some amazing fashions & some that were questionable (usually worn by young women taking selfies of each other 😉). Had a little angst as to what to wear because it’s winter here & a colder night was predicted. All my latest better clothing is northern spring/summer so my choices were limited to things I could wear a wool skivvy/sweater underneath & not look like a school girl in a pinafore. Ended up wearing the coat dress & went for traditional French fashionista chic - all black. LOL! Fortunately they had erected a marquee this year as the sky opened up just prior to the start.

That’s great you’re meeting your fluid goals so soon. Yay! As to not feeling any restriction, this is not uncommon. Liquids go through your tummy much more quickly & it is unlikely you will feel any sense of fullness or restriction until you are on soft or solids foods. It is also important to remember you had a lot of nerves cut & damaged during the surgery & they take time to heal. Best to tread carefully while the messages aren’t getting through to your brain so you don’t overdo it & strain your healing system. You may discover that your real hunger & full signals are very different than before when they come back: nose running, sneezing, etc. This includes learning what is real hunger vs head hunger. (For me I get restless & think something isn’t right with real hunger & I never crave a specific food or flavour.) All the best.

Have a look at Dr Matthew Weiner’s Pound of Cure book & his you tube videos. He’s a bariatric surgeon who supports a low animal protein diet. It may not be anything all that new but may make you more comfortable about how to manage your weight loss post surgery. A good dietician should help you devise a way of eating that is best for you, your health requirements & your eating preferences. The biggest ficus post surgery is your prirein intake (& fluids) but I’ve never heard anyone say they were restricted to getting their protein only from animal sources. Plenty of plant based protein shakes & powders, yoghurts, milk, etc. as you know you can eat to meet the goals you’ll be given. Initially after the surgery you will be on a staged return to eating diet. This is support your healing tummy & not put undue stress on your digestive system. There are some foods we’re not advised to eat during this period. But again a good dietician should be able to advise you of alternatives. Mind you many have refried beans on their list of recommended foods during the staged return to eating stages. While I was on keto for my pre surgery diet, I was not encouraged to follow it long term by my dietician: good for kickstarting a diet but not long term she advised. I had my own doubts about it so I was glad. Many of us use the weight loss stage to devise a way of eating that best suits our needs & preferences & don’t follow any specific ‘diet’. I mean if there was a diet that worked for everyone none of us would have been obese & needed surgery. Personally I’m a low fat, low carb (2 serves of whole/multigrain carbs a day), low sugar & high protein (absorption issue). Many vegetarians successfully have surgery so your eating preferences should not be a deterrent to you either once you find a supportive surgeon & dietician.

I just used my exisiting pots & pans. I did eventually buy an air fryer but in maintenance. I already had a stick blender & an ordinary blender. I did buy a small thermos to keep soup warm on my desk at work & at home. Some swear by those thermal cups too. Makes sure you have a good set of kitchen scales with small weight increments, measuring cups, spoons & jugs. Other useful, but not necessary things: I found using splades/cocktail sporks helpful - small bites & the combination of fork, spoon & knife was useful. Some buy a set of children's cutlery but a teaspoon works equally well. Small containers to refrigerate or freeze single serves or leftovers though I tend to use zip lock bags if freezing. Small bowls & plates are handy too: psychological effect of a full small plate vs an near empty large plate. Children sized or tapas size are best as are the cup sized soufflé dishes. I still use side plates & small bowls.

It happens to almost everyone. Just have to ride it out until your natural hair loss cycle returns to it’s usual rate. The accelerated rate of loss is a stress response to all the changes you’re putting your body under. The hair you’re losing is dead & would have fallen out anyway - it’s just happening faster. Your new hair is still growing just at it’s usual rate. Some will swear by supplements like biotin but their hair loss slows in about the same 3 or 4 months time frame as those who don’t take or do anything. Save your money I say. Keep meeting your goals & relax - don’t add more stress. Many of us with long hair cut our hair shorter so the new growth didn’t have as much to grow to catch to the length of the remaining hair.

Speak to your doctor but dropping the iron supplements are the most obvious response. Is this something new or pre existing? What were your iron levels in your pre surgery blood work? Are high iron levels in your family? Hemochromatosis is a genetic condition & regular blood donations can easily help maintain your iron levels. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemochromatosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351443

My goal weight put me at a BMI of about 23. I’m at about 19.6 now but was a little less. I’m an outlier & initially lost about 137% of the weight I had to lose. I maintained that for about a year. At the end of last year, my HRT dose was increased & I had to increase my protein intake (absorption issue) & I put on a good 2 kgs in the same month. I’ve lost a little of that but have maintained that new weight for about 6 months now making my loss about 132%. I look at BMI as a guide only. I chose my goal weight based on a weight I was always able to get down to in the past - I used to bounce between 60 & 75kg until menopause. Too many factors can influence what is the ideal weight for you. Age, skeletal frame, gender, level of activity & muscle mass, health considerations, etc. Plus, & most importantly, you have to be happy & able to enjoy your life. If the dietary restrictions or exercise regime you have to follow to maintain a lower weight are too restrictive & limit how you want to live your life it won’t be sustainable.

I cut out a lot of sugar (real or sugar substitutes like monk fruit) from my diet & avoid as much artificial sweeteners as possible. I know there are artificial sweeteners in my yoghurt & protein bar but that’s really all & I usually keep my added sugar to around 10g or less. We all need glucose but I get the bulk of that from fruit, dairy, etc. - naturally occurring. I really embraced that period of food tasting excessively sweet period post surgery & just didn’t reintroduce sweet back into my diet. I prepare most of what I eat eat from scratch as I can control the ingredients that way. There are some exceptions like I love the crumbed lamb cutlets my butcher makes & their honey soy pork chops (I make them myself unless I’m feeling lazy). I rarely eat dessert, cakes or biscuits (except for multi grain crackers). I’ll have a small amount on certain occasions like at Christmas so only a couple of times a year. (It’s ironic really because I’m the family dessert maker.) Pre surgery, I always enjoyed something sweet after dinner & every couple of weeks I’d buy a treat or two from a local patisserie on a weekend. But I really don’t miss it now. I can think something may be delicious but aren’t really tempted to try it. But this is me. You have to find the right balance for you & of what you want or don’t want to include in your future way of eating.

The surgery only removes part of your tummy not the part of your brain where cravings originate unfortunately. They’re always there. We just have to recognise them for what they are & what may be behind the craving like seeking something to sooth & comfort you, stress, anger, etc. Then work out how to manage them. You had your surgery a couple of years ago didn’t you? So maybe these craving are from some old issues you never really dealt with. Find something to distract yourself or look for a healthier alternative. I don’t crave anything very often. Never a specific food but a flavour (i.e. salty, sweet, bitter, sour, umami). If I want salt I might have 4 or 5 salted macadamias or roll a wedge of cucumber in salt. If you want sweet try a little fruit.

With those additional symptoms you’ve mentioned a hernia does sound more likely. Could it have been something that occurred during your gym session - lifted or strained something - as the first symptom you noticed was just after your session?? Sometimes it doesn’t take much & can be nothing all that unusual. I did my back the first time leaning sideways to pull out a weed. I hope you get on to your surgeon soon.

I like Dr Weiner too. Don’t follow his diet, too much of a carnivore & can’t give up the animal proteins, but I like his straight forward advice. I agree check out his you tube clips. They’re an amazing resource. https://m.youtube.com/user/DrMatthewWeiner You can post questions which he’ll answer too. I also follow him on instagram. I don’t like artificial sweeteners either (so much information about the negative side effects) & try to avoid them where possible. It’s difficult because it seems like they’re in every damn thing. I know they’re in the yoghurt I eat most days & in my protein bar but that’s really all. Neither are what you would call sweet tasting. I also avoid sugar substitutes & try to keep my added sugar to less than 10g a day. Quite happy to consume naturally occurring sugar lime in dairy, fruit, etc. A lot of my decision was to break any craving or desire for sweet. I’ll have the odd traditionally sweet thing like some dessert or cake but it is very rare & I’m happy to have just a few small bites. In the liquid stage post surgery, I only had one shake a day & ate soup/broths which limited artificial sweeteners to just once a day. After that I dropped the shakes & had yoghurt & yoghurt smoothies instead so artificial sweeteners still only once a day. I should say I make most of what I eat from scratch. It’s the only way to control the ingredients (& avoid processed foods).

We’re all different but I was barely eating 200-300 calories for the first weeks (I wasn’t given caloric goals). I only got to about 900 at 6 months. You’ve only just had your surgery so take the time you need to reach your goals. My surgeon was happy if I was getting closer & making an effort. If you’re close to getting your fluids in you really shouldn’t be experiencing dehydration but it’s still important to watch out for. Don’t worry if you miss your goal/s one day, as long as that’s an odd occurrence & not a regular one you’ll be ok. Headaches & nausea aren’t that uncommon this soon after surgery. The stress & anxiety of the surgery & then worrying if you are doing the right thing contribute plus you may be experiencing some withdrawal type symptoms too because of the restricted diet. If it persists, & reduces your ability to get your protein & fluids in, contact your surgeon. Many of us experience changes in our sense of smell & taste over the first weeks. Many find the shake they enjoyed before surgery is suddenly disgusting. It can affect your reaction to any food. Some can become excessively sweet or salty. Then there will be days when your tummy says nope don’t like to something you regularly ate/drank. If that happens, avoid it for a few days even a week or so & try it again. Your tummy is just sensitive & fussy while it is healing - I described mine as being like a petulant, temper throwing 2 yr old. Artificial sweeteners are awful. I try to avoid them where I can but they seem to be in almost everything. I loved when foods became crazy sweet & used the time to eradicate any craving for sugar/sweet. I only have a small amount of sugar (<10g added sugar) or sweetened food in my diet (yoghurt & protein bar only). Instead of yoghurt, what about make your own smoothie from protein powders & milk? You can better control the ingredients that way. These things all pass. Just give yourself time to heal from the surgery & feel more comfortable & confident with the changes & how you’re managing them.

Have to admit my first thought was lactose intolerance, which can occur after surgery but you said you’re dairy free. My second thought was artificial sweeteners - many, especially the sugar alcohol ones can cause gastric distress like you described. https://www.livestrong.com/article/510270-can-artificial-sweetners-upset-your-stomach/ But whatever the cause, I agree with the others, contact your surgeon as soon as you can.

Glad you are contacting your surgeon. There are a few things you can do to help alleviate some of the GERD symptoms. Besides the bed wedge or bricks under the head of the bed, don’t eat any soIid protein before bed & don’t lie down within 2 hrs of eating. Cut out carbonation, caffeine & spicy & rich foods. I managed my reflux for years through these dietary changes. I’d only have to take a PPI maybe 5 times a year (when I’d ignore my avoid carbonation rule & have too many glasses of champagne or gin & tonics 😉).

Feeling crappy after surgery & sleeping much of the first 24-48 hrs isn’t uncommon. You had a pretty major & more complex surgery. If this is your first surgery, it will be more of a shock to realise how generally blah you feel. But certainly trying to go for a short, slow walk as soon as possible will help you generally feel better more quickly. They had me swallowing tablets in hospital. Wasn’t easy as I had a lot of swelling. I did it but they weren’t those large ‘horse’ tablets just small pills & capsules. Most definitely have a conversation with your prescribing doctor/s for all your meds as soon as possible. Depending upon your surgery factors such as where your med is most absorbed in your body, if it is slow release, etc. are all factors that need to be considered & may result in changes to certain meds. You should have been told this before surgery so it could have been sorted then. All the best.

Embrace those changes to your tastebuds that make everything taste sweet or overly salty. You can break a lot of any desire for sweet & salty in the future. Though as you are drinking soda you would be still feeding your sweet craving with artificial sweeteners. The changed tastebuds are also an opportunity to try different foods/flavours. If you can’t eat all of your meal, pop it in the fridge to have later in the day or tomorrow. I’d scramble two eggs & eat them over three days. A serve of rolled oats took two days. Cover with cling wrap & microwave the next day. Or freeze the leftovers. My freezer is full of leftovers I defrost & reheat. Handy for those days you don’t feel like cooking or have been busy. I sometimes think of it as takeaway food - take it out of the freezer & you have a healthy meal in a very short time. As time passes you will be able to eat more & more but you have to ensure you don’t exceed appropriate recommended serving sizes. Eyeballing or using body parts (palm size, fist size, length of a finger etc.) to judge portion sizes can be helpful especially when eating out, but it may be best to rely more on scales when home. It can be very easily to slip into overestimating, or misjudging the weight of denser foods. You’ll also learn to stop eating before it hurts. It may be little signs & reactions like a sneeze, a slight heaviness, runny nose, etc. Listen to your body. It can be very surprising what you learn about yourself & your body’s needs after surgery. Like I’ve realised if I eat breakfast too early I feel sluggish & generally feel blah. I believe the learning to listen to your body’s cues, being aware of your physical, emotional & mental reactions & understanding your thinking about & relationship with food & eating is one of the most important factor in your success. Oh & having drop in energy again at about this point isn’t that uncommon. I remember feeling so tired one afternoon, I thought I was going to fall off my treadmill (that’s when I briefly played with exercising 😉). Keep an electrolyte drink with you, especially if you know you’re going to have an active day. Don’t be afraid to stop & rest if you need. I often would stop for a quiet cup of tea if out & about or would just go home - can always finish those jobs tomorrow. Keep up your great progress.

The gas rises & you get the pain in your shoulders. Besides walking & gasX, you can also try matching on the spot (or while sitting (lift your knees as high as you can) & lifting your arms up & down over your head. Heat packs can help too.

Hilarious What a fantastic pxt. Congratulations . Isn’t it a great feeling when those sizes drop.

It’s likely a combination of the surgery itself (pain & discomfort), surgical gas & excess stomach acid. You’re still producing the same about of acid as you needed in your much larger tummy & you’ve eaten very little. The excess acid can feel like a cutting type pain. This also can make people think they’re hungry. We’re usually prescribed a PPI for the first couple of months to reduce the acid production until it settles but you would not have started the PPIs yet being day 2. Plus you can be dealing with head hunger: I’ve hardly eaten a thing for two days so I have to be starving type thinking. If you are still in hospital, let the nurses & your surgeon know. If you’re home, make sure you’re sipping your protein shakes, broths so you are consuming some of your needed nutrition & contact your surgeon if it persists. All the best. PS - In most gases a rumbling tummy is just your digestive system working & doesn't mean you’re hungry. That’s an old wive’s tale. I rumble a lot now & it’s really loud. 😁😁

Your body is in ketosis meaning it is effectively burning your fat stores. Yay!! Body odour is just an unfortunate side effect. Google & you’ll find thousands of articles about it. Any of your body secretions can smell unpleasant - breath, perspiration &, unfortunately for women, our genital secretions. It does pass. I took a toiletry bag to work with toothpaste & brush, mouth wash, body wipes, deodorant, etc, to refresh & reduce the bad smells.

Yes, there are odd things that I have to manage with my sleeve but there were things I had to manage with what I ate before surgery. I had a dodgy digestive system with sensitivities & intolerances. Still dodgy with a couple of other considerations now. Some of the changes I made to what I eat can limit my options but generally I can find a few options I can eat or can eat around. I’m also much more aware of my body’s response & reactions to various foods & situations then ever before. I look at it as being a good thing & part of eating mindfully. I think much of the portion size issue is really about people’s inaccurate perception of what is an appropriate portion size. We are confronted with what are jumbo size portions that are 2, 3 or more what is a recommended size & we think they are normal. Take note of how much & what other slimmer people eat & you’ll realise you are much like them. The reality is the portion we eat is about what everyone should be eating. It only looks small because of the excessive portion sizes. Sure, I have days when my energy is lower. Some is because of my low blood pressure. But when I stop & reflect before surgery I had days when my energy was low too but then it was because of my weight. Generally though I’m certainly fitter & stronger than I was before & that outweighs (pun) the odd day I feel weak or need a nap. Most of my family & friends are aware of my food preferences & portion needs. They make allowances for them much the same way as they would with someone with a food allergy or who was vegetarian or vegan, etc. It just all takes time. From you understanding your body, needs & changes to others understanding the changes you’ve made. You don’t have to explain your surgery if you don’t want to. Sometimes just saying I’m not hungry or I’m seeing a dietician or I’m trying a new way of eating is more than enough if you feel you need to explain. Ultimately what you choose to put in your mouth is nobody’s business but yours.

Body dysmorphia is real. Don’t be surprised if it takes a long time for your head to catch up with the physical reality. Three years on I still sometimes stare in mirrors surprised by how I look & can find it difficult to accept when people comment on my size. It is much better than it was though I sometimes wonder if my thinking is because I’m afraid to jinx the loss if I recognise my size now. You have to remind yourself that your clothes don’t lie. Smaller sizes, clothes that are too big, rings slipping off your fingers, etc. are all factual evidence you can’t ignore that you are losing weight. As to cleaning out your wardrobe, you’ll find a time you’re ready to do that. It’s sort of the reverse of when we kept smaller sized clothes for when we lost weight & didn’t. Maybe start with just the older clothes that are too big & you likely wouldn’t wear again anyway. Even if the first step is to remove them from your wardrobe & bag them up. You can donate them or whatever when you’re ready. You’ll get there in your time.

I’d think you’d still have plenty of time. While you may lose more quickly at the beginning after a bypass, it slows just like with a sleeve. The stats around average weight loss at about three years for sleeve & bypass are both about 65% of the weight they had to lose. (You’re really just talking about a few pounds of difference.) Just like there are people who don’t meet their goals with a sleeve there are people who don’t with bypass. Same with meeting their goals or exceeding. The amount of weight you lose is highly dependent upon where your basal metabolic rate resets as a result of the surgery. This is the weight your body is happy & settles at. Before surgery I could diet to 60kg but every time I would bounce back to 75kg & would sit there - that was where my base rate sat (until menopause began & it became 91kg). Then there are factors like age, gender, general health, medications, lifestyle, & the effort & breadth of changes you are willing to make & maintain to how & what you eat & activity you do. Probably best to sit down with your surgeon & have a conversation as to what they advise based on their experiences & those of their patients & your needs & situation. All the best which ever surgery you chose.

I’m a slow eater (30-60mins). One of the reasons I eat slowly is to get my serving size (calories, nutrients) in. I found it was on the only way to stop myself losing. In saying that if I don’t need the next bite of food I won’t have it so there are many times I don’t eat all my meal. I never eat more than the correct portion of food & I never eat just because it’s on my plate. I also eat pretty much to a routine in terms of the times I eat. I may skip a meal or snack if i’m not hungry, but I don’t add meals or snacks. Honestly, it has got harder to do this as time’s passed so it is something I work at every day. How do you know your tummy is empty? Is it just that you ‘feel’ hungry? If so, it could be like @Spinoza suggested: not real hunger. If you’ve eaten a recommended portion size of a meal & are getting in all your protein & other required nutrients, you shouldn’t be hungry. We don’t have to keep food in outer tummy stall times. It does perfectly fine being empty. Are these old habits, thinking, etc, raising their head. That’s the down side of surgery. It removes some of your tummy but doesn’t remove why we ate the way we did. Are you still in contact with your surgeon, dietician, therapist? May be worth some conversations to work out what’s going on. All the best.