Arabesque

OH MY GOD Jake. You are amazing and an inspiration. How much are you actually lifting? Ooooh leather. I have a bit of a leather fetish too so judgement from me Ms. sss so sniff away. And you all know my shopping addiction. I bought new shoes today - yes another pair. Lol. Ha, my knickers are sliding down on me today too. Had to keep hitching them up. (Had to hide in a corner aisle when I was at the pharmacy otherwise they would have been round my ankles ?.) Must be a stray pair that missed my last underwear drawer cull. What is it with knicker sizing. When I was a size 18 I wore size 16. Now I’m a size 6 I wear a size 10. I don’t get it. Or is it just my weirdly shaped ask no questions???

First, congrats on your weight loss success. Secondly, I’m sorry you’re experiencing these problems after all your efforts. I’ve randomly experienced those feelings of light headedness, jelly legs, cold sweats, doughy thinking, etc. For me it signals either a drop in my blood pressure or in my blood sugars. Stressful situations or over strenuous activity can bring it on too. I have Gilbert’s which contributes to my attacks. I find if I grab a cracker, some blueberries or grapes, etc. it will pass. Drinking water & sitting or reclining helps if it’s a blood pressure drop. Do you have a blood pressure cuff at home? For some people, their pressure goes up & down throughout the day so being tested at your doctors may not reveal what’s really going on. Try keeping a snack in your bag. (I snack every 2 hours.) I have bottles of water all over my house & in my car. This has helped me. I also agree with the suggestion of seeking advice from your nutritionalist to make sure your diet is balanced & providing all your needs. I hope you can find some answers & solutions to this. Good luck.

Yes to hair loss. (It grew back.) Yes, to a change to my taste buds. (It’s pretty much back to as it was except a low tolerance to anything sweet.) And a hella yes to feeling cold - all the time. Bony butt pain (& bony ankle, knees, wrists, shoulder pain) is real. Oh yeah the constipation. It improves but I still have odd days of no action. Low blood pressure & energy drops. I still experience drops in my energy levels & I live with daily lower blood pressure dizziness & loss of vision. Saggy, crepey skin - tick. My stress reflux is different & occurs a little more frequently but medication helps. Yes, to a new wardrobe of much smaller sized clothes. Yes, to skipping up stairs & walking up hills. Yes, to less severe hiccups. Yes, to eradicating my lactose sensitivity. I dropped about a full shoe size. My skin on my arms & legs isn’t as dry, flaky or itchy. I didn’t have any comorbidities before surgery but I was just damn fortunate. It’s an amazing journey & I wish you the best of luck on yours.

That sounds about what I was able to eat at that time. Maybe more like 3/4 cup but I’d eat over about 30 minutes depending on what I was eating. But I was starting maintenance at about 6 months. I wasn’t a strict calorie counter but I’d do random checks & especially if I added something new to my diet. You may find random checks of the calories you’re eating & of the nutrients helpful. Remember, stick to your plan. Listen to your body. Eat slowly so the message you’ve had enough reaches your brain. (Not that you’re full but that you don’t need to eat any more.) I still ask myself if I really need that next spoonful. Not that I just want it or are eating out of habit. If you’re still worried speak with your dietician. Good luck on your journey.

The shock of the surgery on your body & reduced caloric diet has accelerated your natural hair loss cycle. It’s very common. You can’t stop it happening because it’s a natural occurrence just sped up. Some people lose a lot some only a little. Some only lose for a short time, others a long time. But it will stop. Four months seems pretty common but how far along you are on your weight loss journey & your general health may make effect how long it persists. You already have new hair growing, you just don’t notice it because it grows so slowly. Remember you don’t normally notice your new hair growth which is happening all the time. It only grows about half an inch each month in a healthy person consuming way more calories than you are on your diet. Save your money on products that promise to stop it falling out. It’s already destined to fall out. Vitamins to promote hair growth will likely only strengthen your new hair growth not the hair you have. You’ll be ok. Good luck.

Congrats on your surgery & congrats on experiencing your first stall. It happens to us all at about week 3 +/-. Yep, it can be very frustrating especially if you don’t know it will happen because you think you’re failing. I liked to think of them as your body taking a breath & trying to catch up with your weight loss so far & the changes you’ve been making to your diet & activity. It’s like when you’re in a stressful situation & you just want to close your door & get away from everyone. Your body is closing the door to regroup. This won’t be your only stall just your first. Your stall may last a week or a couple of weeks but they do pass & your weight will start to drop again. Give the scales a break for a couple of days while stalling. Some say to increase or decrease your caloric intake or activity level to break the stall. I just stayed my path & the stall would break. You’ll be ok. Good luck on your journey.

I nursed a small gin & tonic for three hours at about 2 months at my cousin’s 40th. Then didn’t have another drink for a couple more months. I used to enjoy at least one large glass of wine, scotch or gin every night. Now I’m just not that interested. My taste buds have changed & I don’t enjoy it as much. Plus, I admit, it’s often not worth the calories. I don’t even really miss it when out socialising & if I do have a drink, I sip it for ages & often don’t finish it. My last drink was a month ago when I had three drinks over a girls’ weekend & didn’t finish one of them. If you do decide to try a glass, go slowly, let any mixers flatten a little. And remember not to drink about 30 mins before & after eating. (It’s easy to forget when you’re partying but so very uncomfortable if you don’t wait.) Enjoy your Vegas break.

I had those same vertical lines on my neck too so I know how you feel. My neck improved a couple of months after I started maintenance. I also underwent several radio frequency treatments & added collagen & silica to my diet. But, & this is the bad news, nothing will get rid of the lose skin but surgery. It will improve a bit, but once your skin has been over stretched it just won’t go back. Just like elastic that’s been over stretched over time. Oh, to be 25 again with elastin rich skin. Sigh. Congrats on your weight loss so far. That’s amazing. (I just remembered that ball thing they used to promote to tighten your neck muscles & skin to get rid of double chins. And my great aunts used to wear chin straps so they wouldn’t get double chins. OMG, the things people got sucked into doing. ?)

Oh yeah, that first time you overeat is not pleasant. But it does help to reinforce the eat slowly rule. I still ask myself if I really need the next bite, not that I just want it or am eating out of habit. I tell myself: put the cutlery down & push the plate away. To make things even more difficult you may find your tummy just can’t tolerate certain foods or that some foods make you feel full more quickly than others. I had a spoonful of mashed potato a few weeks back & it sat like a lump in my tummy for ages. Good luck on your journey. It can be a roller coaster of experiences but so rewarding.

Congratulations! You look fabulous.

Aahh, the dreaded hair loss. It occurs as a result your natural hair loss cycle speeding up because of the shock of the surgery to your body & reduced caloric intake. As much surgeon said: the nutrients you are consuming have better things to do then grow hair at the moment. It usually starts at about month 3 or 4 so you are a bit later. It will stop but how long it will continues & how much hair you will lose is very individual. Some people will swear biotin helps, adding vitamins specific for hair or using special shampoos & treatments help. They likely will make your new growth stronger but there’s really no hope for your existing hair - it already has a death sentence. You just have to give your body time to get used to your new diet & to recover from the stress you’re putting on it. Also, it’s not uncommon to notice a change to the texture of your hair from the going under general anesthetic. It too will improve as the anesthetic works itself out if your body. Congrats on being almost at goal. Woo hoo!

Definitely check with your surgeon. My surgeon told me I could take over the counter nsaids for my odd headache but only because I took them so rarely & usually took only 1 or 2 once every month or two. But that was my situation. I think frequency of usage & the strength of your medication will influence your surgeon’s advice.

Yep, it’s very likely gas pain from when they inflate your abdominal region for the surgery. Walk, walk, walk to get it moving out of your body more quickly. I know it may be a bit challenging to move much post surgery depending upon your recovery progress. Even short walks around your home helps. Congrats on your surgery.

I had stress related reflux before my surgery, suffered terribly from hiccups, was sensitive to spicy foods & had a lactose sensitivity due to a parasite I’d picked up years ago. Post surgery, my reflux is ‘different‘ but it’s managed by daily meds versus ‘as needed’. The big wins were I don’t suffer from the awful hiccups any more & my lactose sensitivity seems to have vanished (I think it was hiding in the part of my stomach that was removed). Still can’t tolerate spicy food but no loss. You have to feel at peace with your decision to proceed with your surgery cause you are going to have to be fully committed to the program & to making the changes if you want to be successful. When they say it’s going to take hard work they’re right but the benefits are amazing. So, so worth it. Good luck with whichever path you chose.

I’m so sorry you’ve been disappointed by some of the responses here. I lurked on a couple of other forums but found this one by far the best. Overall it has been very supportive & there are some truly lovely people here. Yep, there have been the odd posts that have shamed or bullied but the supportive ones far out number them. I admit I once posted a response that upset the author. It certainly wasn’t my intention to do so & I made the comment as something she might consider as an option. I was so upset I had caused her distress. None of us are experts here & we can only post about our experiences, our own research or what we’ve been told by our medical support team & we just want to help. The sharing makes us feel less alone whether we’re the poster or responder. I hope you give this forum another chance or you’re able to find another group you feel comfortable with (so important). It’s so awful we are experiencing this pandemic at the same time you’ve made the decision to have weight loss surgery. Making the decision to proceed, all the steps you have to go through, the surgery & the the journey after are stressful enough without adding covid fears. I hope you have the support of your family &/or friends while you’re going through this. Good luck with your surgery & your weight loss journey.

I would think you were in a stall too. Some people say shaking up their calorie intake (increase or decrease slightly) &/or changing your activity (increase it or change what you do) will get you out of a stall. I just continued on my path & I would start to lose again. How are you preparing your proteins? Spray oil is so useful. Plus, invest in a non stick fry pan if you don’t have one. I ate all red meats, chicken, fish & prawns. All cooked in a little spray oil in a non stick pan. No deep frying. No crumbing (breading) or batters. No sauces (except sometimes a splash of soy sauce) just herbs & spices for any additional flavour. Or I would use tinned tomatoes or cook down fresh ones for a sort of sauce/gravy (counted as my fruit/vege serve). Just microwaved or steamed my veges unless I cooked them in with my meat (like in a savoury mince). Good luck.

I wanted an all in one like yours, Sophie, though just to my knees.(Love the floral print on the top half of yours.) But because the summer stock wasn’t in yet I ended up with the shorts & long sleeved top set. No finger holes though - I love those too. I think that denim jumpsuit would look fab on you Ms.SSS. I think you should seriously consider getting that one or one like it. Congrats on the NSV, Nermada. I love NSVs. They make you feel just so happy.

I went from a 38.5/39 down to a 38. Just enough for the shoes to be that bit too loose. But I can wear some of my treasured ones again. So yippee! And who needs an excuse to have to buy new shoes - not me. ?

Congrats on your surgery. Cheese can be a little rich for your tummy to digest at first so go slowly. I puréed or strained all the soups I made or bought so no chunky or stringy bits. I also diluted it with extra stock or water so it was easier to swallow/eat. Better to be gentle on your tummy to begin. Don’t be surprised if you can only consume a small amount at a time. I kept my soup in a small thermos & would sip it over a couple of hours.

I didn’t gain any weight during our shut down & even though things are pretty much back to usual here, my work hasn’t reopened yet (so I’ve been at home since March). I’m not a gym person but I have a treadmill - not that I use it often Lol. I’ve just been very routine in what I eat & when I eat. The routine makes me feel in control which can be soothing in stressful times. Plus I didn’t buy any ‘treat’ foods so I couldn’t be tempted to eat them. Yep, I’ve been pretty strict & I admit it is easier to do because I live alone but I know my weaknesses. Go back to your pre covid diet. Take it day by day. Find ways to be active like go for a walk, use stairs, etc. You’ll get back on track. You can do this.

Look at you in your jeans, Sophie: looking great. I’ve decided grey is the perfect transeasonal neutral. The mules actually have a bronze 3.5in heel too - go the metallics. Oh, & some animal print - growl. And yes they do it in a flat too - Sophia Webster Ramona flat.

I think negativity about high protein intake is related to the negativity about the keto diet. I was told to aim for 60 grams during my weight loss. When I reached maintenance I adjusted to the 0.8 per kg of my weight. But my dietician said it should be 1g per kg but because I was a woman in her mid 50s I should be getting 1.2g but that seems too much. I aim for 50g a day but I don’t beat myself up if I only get in 40g on the odd day. It’s a bonus day when I get in 60g. I think you should just follow your plan & the recommendations from your dietician & surgeon.

First, congrats on your weight loss. As for your clothes: get rid of them. As ChubRub & AZHiker said you don’t need a back-up plan. A ‘just in case‘ plan implies you have accepted you will fail. You can & will be successful. Every month, I’d clear out a wardrobe, a cupboard or set of drawers & then I’d start again. It was really rewarding to pack up clothing that was too big for me. I donated most things except for my really good clothes which I’m slowly selling or gave to my mum. I simply tossed somethings. One girlfriend got all the unopened packs of tights I had & another a brand new bra. I’m offering shoes in good condition but too big to my cousins then to the ladies in the office at my family’s business.

Congrats on having your surgery & your weight loss so far. You likely aren’t doing anything wrong. Generally, the less you have to lose the slower you’ll lose. But, we all lose at our own rate. Some at similar height, age & weight will lose very quickly, others will lose very slowly. Our age, genetics, gender, health, personal weight loss history, type of surgery, etc. all impact our progress. There is no right or wrong speed just as long as you’re losing. Stick to your program. Do the work. You will lose your weight & get to your goal just in your time. Just watch those numbers decrease, your clothes to get too big, your health to improve & enjoy your progress. Good luck.

A lot of foods are just too sweet for me since surgery. (A bonus.) I eat Danone YoPro yoghurt - don’t know if it’s available in the US. A 160g tub of passion fruit yogurt has 15g protein, 94 cal, 0.5g fat & 5.8g sugar. I don’t find it overly sweet. It has a slightly denser texture - not silky smooth.Their drinking yoghurt has 30g protein in a 350ml bottle & similar ration s if fat, sugar, calories. My dietician initially suggested Chobani but that was really too sweet. You could always purée fruits you enjoy & add them to plain yogurt. You’ll get the sweetness from the fruit & not from the sugar/sweetners in syrups. I gurgle terribly when I have yogurt but it’s a good source of protein for me each day so I put up with the growls, whines, moans & gurgles. ? Good luck with your surgery.