learn2cook

I ordered online a bra with no underwires. I could get them from Target or Walmart sometimes but I just ordered the next size down when I was at the smallest hook setting and still could get a finger in there easily. Everyone’s shape is different. I just knew from the past that every 2 inches lost on the band usually meant a cup size down also. I don’t know about metric sizes or others ratios. Think about how you gained, did you go from a 40 D to a 42 DD? You will go backwards the same way roughly. Extra skin and pregnancies will skew this slightly too. Underwires are so much more expensive, so that was my deciding factor. That first year I went through a lot of bras! Don’t forget to buy new underwear too. You can get away with baggy pants but the undies need to stay up!

That’s why I wore Spanx until the 4th month. I also felt loose things inside sloshing around. By 6 months there was no pain or sloshing and no more interest in the Spanx. You’ll get there. Movement does help as long as you don’t push it too far. Some people need a binder or compression, and others just don’t.

I think I’ve always linked drinking water with successfully following my plan. It might be from WW? Early on I had a timer go off every 15 minutes. Also my Fitbit goes off every hour to remind me to move. I link up movements with drinking now. I have a container with hourly markings for 32 oz . I got the 32 or 900ml because I walk a lot at work and didn’t want a supper huge water container to lug. Just say to yourself “as long as I’m drinking water I’m following my plan.” (Later if you go back to snacking, that little mantra can keep you away from trouble too.”

Yeah, talk to your team. In the meantime, try to get all your fluids in, and protein shakes count as liquids for you right now. Best of luck!

Welcome everyone! Insurance and your current health will dictate how long before surgery. The Covid epidemic screwed up a lot of surgery dates too. I had to wait a while to get a hiatal hernia healed (acid injuries) before I was allowed to get surgery. All told, it was a solid year from first call to surgery date. I used that time to eat healthy and work out. I practiced drinking my full water load and quit caffeine. And yes, I practiced cooking and meal prep so that I would be successful after surgery. I told myself surgery would lock that pre surgery weight loss off my body, and it did! Long term weight loss is a head game. I could do all those things before surgery, but I also got a therapist in eating disorders because let’s face it, weighing 355lbs at 5’4” definitely shows disordered eating. So, it’s up to you, but this could be an exciting chance for you to spend time working on you!

I got into trouble with an apple pectin fiber pill, before having surgery. It caused my blood sugars to drop. I felt full but also didn’t have room for protein to even myself out. I was pre-diabetic and it felt like dumping now feels like, sweating, shakes, foggy mind, sudden severe tiredness. I would not recommend it for regular stomachs much less a band or WLS. Honestly, surgery has been the only thing to take the hard edge off of hunger for me. The downside is that food flavors are much less vibrant (for me, I can’t speak for others). I made the choice to eat to live instead of live to eat. Anything is better than an apple pectin fiber pill! Please don’t hurt yourself!

@Layla what happened? Are you feeling better? Are you eating soft food now? Did the doctor listen to you?

@BriarRose I love that story! On the flip side, my cousin used her inheritance for a tummy tuck and I am a little bit jealous. If I had the money, I’d be more tempted, because I do dislike the “flap flap” when I’m exercising.

I did a desk job in the summer and asked for the same breaks the smokers get. Every 2 hours I went outside to walk around for 10 minutes. On weekends when I need to do more computer work, I graze on fresh berries that I leave in the kitchen so I have to walk to go have some. I promise myself a new song to listen to or a manicure to get through difficult days. I text a friend or family member if I feel “snacky .”

Yeah, I hear you. I don’t think I’m grieving anymore but do feel like an outsider. My co-workers come in in the morning and start planning elaborate lunches for take out. I don’t even see the appeal. There’s no interest from me to even be in the daily four hour conversation. I can’t even pretend to like it. Then in the afternoon they do it all over again about coffee. I think I need to get out of that classroom. We’re special needs teachers. It’s hard to explain to them that I was looking forward to a hard boiled egg because I was low energy and knew it would be just right. I’ve moved on from this “foodie mentality.” I just want fuel, boring fuel, but it makes me an outsider.

I’m so sorry it’s been so difficult. I started the turn around by day five, like being able to sleep propped up in bed. I’ve never slept so deeply since having a child. I started sleeping like a child myself. You will get this. I stuck to water and Gatorade mostly the first week because everything hurt. Eventually I realized warm drinks felt better like low salt chicken bone broth, and warmed up dark chocolate pea protein drink. The third week was when I could try thicker things like frozen Greek yogurt, and jello. I used Omeprazole 40mg 2x a day and that horrible liquid spit 4x a day to help the inner lining heal. I walked around to distract myself and help with healing. Circulating blood and sunlight help a lot. I live near the ocean so I watched the waves and boats. Do whatever it takes to distract yourself. I took up crochet and guitar to keep my hands and mind busy off of food. These are still good hobbies for me. The double surgery is a doozy and you’re right, you do hurt more than other people are saying on here. You will definitely feel better very soon, about when your voice comes back clearer, it will be easier to swallow. It will all be worth it when you can sleep flat, sing, walk up stairs without feeling winded, talk melodiously, all because your throat isn’t sore and swollen!

I feel so bad for you! I would hound the surgeon’s office to get more help. I had RNY and a severe hiatal hernia surgery and recovery was rough, but not like what you’re describing. Keep drinking water and maybe Gatorade zero too. Be a total Karen to get the help you need. I wouldn’t eat any solid food until liquids stay down every day, but get help from your team. My doc said he had to sew down my new esophagus opening he created. Stuff gets stuck on the raw esophagus tissue and causes “the foamies.” Ask for meds that help with acid reflux to help you heal. Go to your general doctor if your surgeon won’t help. Go to your ER if that doctor doesn’t help. Keep advocating for yourself you are worth it!

Hi @John40! The skin issue is very varied. Elasticity can relate to age and weight and gender and general health and genetics. So, some of us have lots of leftover skin, and some barely any at all. As a post menopausal pasty face lady I have lots of extra skin that I find annoying but not a hindrance or life threatening. I’ve decided to treat it like a war scar to remind me of what I have overcome. I wear what I want and toning up my muscles has made me look firm and stand up tall and straight. Some here have gotten skin surgery, and they look great too. It’s very personal to you how much extra skin you have. It’s also very personal to each how the extra skin allows them to move or fit in their clothing. You might not know until you get there. Most insurance does not cover skin removal. Document your sores and limited mobility from extra skin to try and get insurance coverage if you think this will be a real issue! I have friends where mobility and sores were still very impacted by the extra skin. Document it early and throughout with doctors, nurses, bills, pictures with everything dated. I don’t know where you’re at with your journey but best of luck!

Welcome Ashley! WLS can seem a very long process but hang in there and keep working hard. It’s not the easy way out non-surgery folks think. I found it helpful to read the threads on here, and I found good questions to ask my doctor on here too. Congratulations on starting your new life of self care!

I wish you both well and no more problems!

I used to get scalp itchiness when I was younger because I found I am allergic to sulfates in foods and shampoos. Yep, wine casts are cleaned out with sulfates too. But skin issues are often related to vitamin deficiencies like B vitamins and D. This may take some detective work. I have found taking a mini omega-3 also helps with skin and eye dryness. My dietitian recommends using a small amount of olive oil in my daily salad dressing. Maybe it’s part of your skin shrinking? Detective work.

I had a hard time too after RNY and hernia repair. My team just had me focus on water and jello the first two weeks and do the protein shake as much as possible but don’t worry about it. Staying hydrated was their main concern. Early on, the protein shakes count as liquid too! Warm chicken bone broth was very comforting and a nice savory flavor. I put decaffeinated coffee in my chocolate shake to warm it and feel more normal in the morning.

I didn’t loose anything during liquid preop which was annoying.

I had the opposite experience. My resting rate was 74, and that day after surgery it was 53. Now 19 months later my average is around 64, vacation time rate is 52 again. That’s beats per minute per Fitbit. I do wish you the best in figuring it out. When I have a virus, my rate increases dramatically. It’s my first clue that flu or Covid has come back (despite shots). I hope this passes quickly for you!

The first 2 days home were the worst. I stayed on each food level an extra week, and went back to liquids when I had an issue with food getting stuck. Just go slowly because it was a double surgery. I only used powdered Tylenol for pain meds because of allergies. Warm liquids felt better and moving often helped me feel like myself. (Communion wafers still get stuck and my doc said it was common 18 months post.)

You’re doing awesome! I’ve noticed the faster losers tend to get to goal because their body is still freaking out about the surgery (not everyone, I know, but only my observation.) You seem to be a fast looser. Like others have said, there’s a lot of factors. It’s possible to reach your goal if you do the work, AND your body agrees to it. Celebrate yourself now you’re doing great; haircut, nails, vacation… Life is short, yeah you!!!

My HH was large and had to wait an additional 6 months for all the meds to heal up the GERD sores and they kept checking for cancer. In the end I waited 8 months for healing before the double surgery of HH repair and RNY. If they had had a better picture, my surgeon said he would have separated it. The HH was up into my larynx. My recovery time seemed to be longer. I stayed in the liquid and all stages 3-4 weeks each due to the throat soreness.My surgery time total was 7 hours. And I accept that it’s not perfect. There’s still 1cm HH and some light GERD but I’m so grateful for being able to sing again. I stay on top of it with Omeprazole. I used the long wait to have surgery as a super weight loss time that RNY “locked” into place. That 73 initial loss isn’t coming back!

We all go through them and yes they are frustrating! I keep trying new things, tracking, more veggies, less exercise, heavier weights. My last stall busted because I started higher iron supplements. Another stall busted because I needed more sleep. One stall busted when I went to Great Wolf lodge and had fish and went swimming. Only you can crack the code. It takes patience and weight loss is a massive head game. Just keep tracking and doing what your center says. A quarter cup of dry cheerios to snack set me back. Keep measuring and moving, you will get there. You’ve moved past the honeymoon stage and it’s hard work, but weigh loss still happens up to 2 years out!

Early on I forgot and had a sip. It hurt so badly that I wouldn’t do it again. It’s for life. I was a nanny for a child with failure to thrive issues, and his dietitian suggested giving him milk (full fat) during meals to help him gain weight, stuffs more food into him. Mmmm, more weight on is not my goal.

Like Arabesque I was given volume to start. I got the little toddler totes by OXO in 2oz and 4oz sizes and cut up my meat as small as possible. At about 4months I was getting hungry and my dietitian said to weigh the food 4oz protein, which if I really cram chicken in there it works fine in the 4oz volume container. I prep most of my lunches in them. In the beginning I could only use the 2oz container. I started using them because I met a 25 year RNY person who kept the weight off the whole time and she used little kid Tupperware. I was soooo impressed I swore I would meal prep like her!