Arabesque

As you lose weight your blood pressure will lower. Your energy levels will increase too. You’ll become more active & improve your cardiac health & therefore O2 levels. Your hormones are modified as a result of the surgery too. So … ? All I know is there is a lot of talk about benefits but no real scientific evidence. My s-in-l’s uncle drank it every day for 18 months because it was supposed to cure his cancer & improve his health. It didn’t & it didn’t extend his life either. I’d just eat beetroots. The root cooked or raw, pickled, roasted, grated in salads, etc. Leaves in salads. You’ll pee & maybe poop red if you eat enough but … Natural is always best vs processed into a powder or other supplement. And a lot of its goodness is in the pulp which is disposed of after juicing & not in the juice. But your choice of course.

Personally I would trust any supplement that promises to burn calories especially one that relies on ‘natural caffeine’. Caffeine is a naturally occurring drug. (You’re probably not young enough to remember the Medislim craze of the 80s - everyone jittery from the excess caffeine but no one lost weight.) Only two ways to burn calories: increased activity & decreased calorie/food intake. Our hormones have already been modified as a result of the surgery. So I agree with the others. Why are you thinking about using it?

First day in hospital. That was all. Wore the compression tube tights for a few days & that’s all. However if you were advised to use the machine at home, I’d check with your surgeon. There must have been a specific reason why they wanted you to continue it so they will be best to advise how long you need to continue using it.

Another thought. lol! I presume you’re still working from home? If so try adding in 5 or 10 minute breaks where you do some simple exercises. Good for your mental health & your physical health. Lots of online programs you can follow. Buy some resistance bands & hand & leg weights. Short burst of exercise, know as exercise snacking, are just as beneficial as exercising in one single block of time. This is what I do because I don’t enjoy traditional exercise. I do 4 sessions a day of 5 - 10 minutes a day in my home. It’s easy & you should see my arms & legs. 😁

You can do what you can do but do remember those cut nerves are still healing (about 8 weeks to be fully healed) so messages may nit be getting through as well or quickly. Probably best to tread more carefully for a few more weeks. Personally I still can’t chug. Any more than two mouthfuls & groan. But I drink slowly all day & night rarely feel really thirsty. I keep at a good hydration level all day I think.

Have you gone back to your surgeon or your dietician? Maybe they can offer some advice or alternatives (yes like medication). There may be something you are missing too. If you haven’t yet, clean out your pantry, fridge & freezer of any foods you may be drawn to (snacking). Cut out any high or ultra processed foods from your diet that may have snuck in (known to increase your hunger & decrease your satiety). Are you still meeting your protein & fluid goals? Do you still eat protein first, then vegetables & then only if you are able any whole/multi grain complex carbs? 1800 calories may still be too high for you. Remember ‘they’ usually say 1200 for a female to lose weight but that’s based on averages & not individual needs & stats (age, height, current weight, activity levels, health status & considerations, etc.). But your dietician will be able to advise you on what’s best for you. All the best.

I’m going to jump on the going off plan issue first. Your tummy is being held together by sutures & staples (can be 12inches of them - imagine that on your arm or leg)). The staged return to eating solid food is in place to protect your healing tummy & not strain or stress your digestive system. Your tummy is a muscle. Would you start exerting your arm or leg muscles if the wounds were there or would you tread carefully & follow the plan to aid healing? Nerves are also cut during surgery so signals that you are doing harm may not be getting through. Please, please return to your plan. As for hunger, yes there are some who do continue to experience hunger after surgery but it’s not common. It’s more likely you are experiencing head hunger not real hunger. (A easy way to differentiate the two is with head hunger you tend to crave a specific food, flavour or texture. You don’t with real hunger.) Most of the area that produces your hunger hormone is removed during surgery. For many, we ate as a comfort & to soothe ourselves when stressed or emotional. The surgery is stressful on your body & you psychologically & emotionally (consciously or subconsciously). This is a time you would turn to food but you can’t which makes you want food more. Plus the psychological issue of how can this small amount of food be enough can start to kick in & you consequently feel hungry because you think you need more food. There are a few strategies you can try to help with head hunger. Distraction is very useful. Read, play a game, phone a friend or family member, check social media, go for a short walk, etc. Sipping a warm drink can be helpful. These diversions are helpful in the long term too. As we progressed many of us distracted ourselves by cleaning out a wardrobe or drawers or the pantry or learn a craft. I found setting routines for eating good too: didn’t eat between my set eating times. I still do this nearing 5 years out. All the best.

I had yoghurt from purées. They saved me by helping with my protein intake. Many plans say Greek yoghurt only but I ate a high protein no added sugar yoghurt. Personally I found Chobani sweet. The one I eat (Australian brand) is far from sweet. I remember that lip pursing gasp at how tart it was when first eating it but I love that. It does have artificial sweetener though I wish it didn’t. There is a difference between naturally occurring sugar & added sugar. The no sugar recommendation is no added sugar. So the naturally occurring sugars like in milk, fruit, some vegetables, etc. are okay. Best advice is always to check your plan & with your dietician.

I went through three sizes of new knickers & 3 sizes of bras. Gets expensive. Yikes! My advice is to do get properly fitted for bras. You may be surprised how much the shape of your boobs change. And yes empty breast are real but I see you’re thinking of having a breast lift in the future so empty boobs won’t be a long term thing for you.

Twinning! I had steak this week too & was looking forward to it but I overcooked it. Got distracted and … It wasn’t its usual tender juicy goodness. So disappointed. And I made caramelised onions this morning (for the second tart I’m making). Been using my new Kitchen Aid food processor for my prep. I love it. Plus I got it on sale so yay!

I shopped my wardrobe for most as I had kept a lot across sizes (US6-12) but in many cases I missed my window. Wrong season or dropped before I had a chance to wear them. I just bought odd things to fill in gaps. Didn’t spend a lot of money. Thrift & consignment stores are a great option too & then you can donate them back or sell them again. Go for elastic or drawstring waists or stretch when you can which will cover you for a couple of sizes. I also belted a lot of things. Better to go slowly because you never know where you may actually settle. When I reached my goal & was wearing a US 6/8 I started buying a lot more & really restocking my wardrobe because I thought yay I’m done. Bad mistake as I kept losing & those clothes became too big. I had to buy new bras, new knickers & clothes all over again. So be careful.

After deciding my girlfriends & I would go to lunch this weekend, I said why don’t you just come here. Me & my big mouth. Decided to make a savoury zucchini tart which has Boursin cheese as its base. Of course can’t find the cheese anywhere but I found a recipe & made my own. Easy to make. 8ozs Cream cheese, garlic, various herbs (fresh & dried) & 4ozs of butter!! Yep it’s 1/3 butter. Worse it’s finger licking, lick the spoon & go back for more delicious. I’ll post a pxt of the tart, if I remember, when I make it Sunday.

For $15 it’s probably worth keeping it for a while & see if you do wear it. If you don’t you can always donate it. I donated an off the shoulder top which had gorgeous guipure lace inserts in the sleeve. It just didn’t work with anything in my wardrobe. Sigh! I’d put it on & then take it off again. I love a leather trench real or faux. I had a long black one & a calf length red one. Of course both too big now but I loved them so much. Felt so take n sh*t strong in them. I used to think Spike in Buffy & I wore it when I saw the third Matrix movie film when it came out. Now you know how long I had the black one 😁😁.

Try room temp drinks & slow the sipping down. If you keep sipping all day long you’ll get plenty of liquids in to satisfy your thirst. I don’t ever feel really thirsty anymore because of constantly drinking through out the day & night. Hope this helps. Otherwise give your team a call. Don’t forget too, that the nerves cut during surgery are healing now which may be why you’re feeling the discomfort now but didn’t before.

It’s breast milk. Specifically the first that is produced after giving birth though it can leak from the breasts in the weeks prior to delivery. It’s full of antibodies of benefit to the new born but very few nutrients: low carbs, low calories, low sugar, low protein. You can buy it in powdered form. Not sure how it would ease hunger?? Except it being a liquid it would temporarily fill your tummy like any other liquid but without getting the protein & nutrients you need. But if it works for you …

Cool linen pants with elastic & drawstring waist for the win! Our Christmases are pretty relaxed too though not pj relaxed 🤣. But with young children jumping about on & around you, mucking around with them & being inside & outside more formal clothing just doesn’t work. Plus it’s too darn hot here. Was a little dressier the year before but the younger children weren’t there. This was one of my cyber sale bargains.

I can’t recall but I will say it’s exciting to see your jawline again. And cheekbones. And your neck gets thinner & looks longer. Even my hooded eyelids greatly reduced. A little warning though. You can start to look drawn & tired especially when you near your final weight. Your body needs time to resettle itself. Then you’ll be your gorgeous self. Think it took a month or two for me. You may have some saggy skin though too which doesn’t go - waaah! Oh, and there have been a few amusing stories here about people whose phone’s facial recognition didn’t recognize them anymore. A tip might be to keep updating it every month.

I was able to start taking all my meds from day 4 & that included multi vitamin capsules. Took time to swallow them (thank goodness I only had a couple to take) because of the waiting between sips. I spread out when I took them too e.g. one multi vitamin in the morning & the second in the evening. And my throat was a still a little tender from the intubation breathing tube inserted during surgery for another day or so. But surgeons have different plans & requirements. Can you email yours or ring & ask if the staff can ask your surgeon your question? Unfortunately vitamins are expensive regardless of whether they’re chewables, patches, capsules or mouth sprays. Was so glad when my surgeon approved me stopping them at 8 months (I’ve a sleeve so different long term needs). I could afford to buy more shoes then LOL!

Stalls are perfectly normal & are an important part of your weight loss as the others have said. The first one usually begins around week 3but can be before or after this time like yours. They generally last 1-3 weeks & again they can last longer or even only for fewer days. The numbers are based on averages & so just give you an idea what might happen when. Yes they are frustrating but it’s best to let them ride out. The stall will break when your body is ready to move forward again. Don’t stress it out by making more changes other than those required by your plan so stick to it. Reduce how often you’re on the scales & try taking body measurements. Many notice that while the scale doesn’t move, their clothing fits differently. Also, if you would like more precise information about portion sizes, macros, etc, ask for them from your dietician. It’s about feeling comfortable & confident about what you’re doing, For example did they say when you should be up to a cup of food? I was told 6 months for a cup but that was what I was told for me.

Not really but I can get a crampy type feeling if I drink too much or too quickly (early restriction signal) or if I drink anything too cold. Does it happen every time? Are you sipping & leaving time between sips?

Remember your weight loss isn’t a straight line in a downward trajectory. it zigs & zags & goes up & down for seemingly no reason. There aren’t any ‘you must weigh this, be eating this many calories, be doing this much activity, be losing this much weight by a certain date’ rules. There are just guidelines, averages, may bes & could bes. I agree with the suggestion to talk with your team. Track your food for a week or so first, just to ensure you’re not missing something (it can be easy to do). But I don’t it’s real weight gain in such a short period of time. Yes fluid retention, poop, hormonal fluctuations, etc. Could all contribute. Have you had a medication change? Have you changed your activity in any way? Are you stressed, anxious, etc. about anything? And sometimes our bodies can just be weird & not make sense. I can eat the exact same things for a couple of days & my weight can go up & down. I can break a couple of days of constipation & still weigh more. Who knows why?

Dupe

Love that checked overcoat @GreenTealael & the sweater dress gorgeous. As a seasonal contrast. My Christmas Day outfit. Comfortable & cool. Note the matching slides which I had from last summer & I even had a matching cross body bag from years ago. My 8yr old niece told me she didn’t like my outfit because it wasn’t Christmassy enough. Lol!

Oh I didn’t realise you hadn’t had surgery yet. Your energy levels will drop & be low for a while after surgery so be ready for that. Once you lose some weight & have increased your general fitness (because you’re able to be more active), yes you will have more energy. Plus there’s a lot less of you to move about so it doesn’t take as much energy to do things. I’m a short burst of energy type of person. Still am but not lugging around that additional 40+kgs makes doing whatever I’m doing way easier. I sleep a lot better too. Before, if I got 6hrs it was wonderful. Now only getting 6hrs is pretty unusual. I can easily do 7, 8 or 9hrs. That gives me more energy, better concentration, etc. too.

Can’t believe your surgeon didn’t tell you about stalls especially when you said you hadn’t lost in a week or so. That in itself would make me question anything else they tell or don’t tell you. We all lose more quickly in the first couple of weeks, then the stall hits & no loss & things even out. So while 12 pounds seems a lot in 1.5 weeks, 12lbs in 4 or so weeks is fine - averaging about 3 lbs a week. 1200 calories at a month out does sound a huge & impossible goal to reach. I wasn’t eating 300 calories in the first couple of weeks. I barely reached 900 at 6 months & was another year until I got to around 1300. But we are different & have different needs & our teams have us on different plans & expectations. Ultimately it comes down to only being able to do what you can physically do. You ‘re meeting or close to meeting your protein goal. You’re meeting or close to meeting any other macro & fluid goals?. Are you introducing new protein sources, vegetables, etc. into your eating plan as you’re required? I’d say you’re doing okay. But, that’s my opinion. Your dietician/nutritionalist should be available to discuss your options & concerns whenever you need so ask for (demand ) an appointment. Can you get in any earlier to see the nurse practitioner? If not stick to what you’re doing & as I said you can only do the best you can do. All the best.