learn2cook

All the above posters have shared many useful activities I have enjoyed that work. My latest has been to get a rowing machine from Amazon. There’s many kinds and price points. I picked a magnetic one so I’m quiet. I started dancing around with more upper body movements in my house during lockdowns. My son called it “flopping around “ but it worked and was a good starting point. I just did one or two songs every hour, short bursts.

I’m not sure there’s any benefits. It’s personal taste and calories you can spare. You can technically eat anything as a snack. Sometimes I have a Two Guys cookie, or a real cookie. You’re going to have to weigh risks and benefits of getting hooked on certain processed foods. Thankfully most days I choose a handful of almonds.

Congratulations!

As an asthmatic I feel for you. I had the same problem after surgery and it might be a reaction to anesthesia. I went to my ER after calling my asthma doctor. I was awake all night (as I would have been at home). I was exposed to freezing indoor temperatures (because it reduces virus spreading). There were a battery of tests that were very painful to determine if I didn’t have a lung embolism. Then they gave me a shot in the arm of steroids to help my lungs breathe. My original surgeon had gone out of the US and wasn’t a specialist in asthma anyway. Everyone was afraid it was an blood clot or embolism. No one wanted to give steroids because it hinders healing. If you’re a regular asthmatic, you may want to keep your all nighters with the nebulizer until Monday when the good doctors are back in office. Or, if you know you are in the weeds bad, just to to the ER. If you’re not asthmatic, go to the ER, because breathing is serious! Let us know how this turns out, prayers.

Like the posts on here I go back and forth on this. I have imbibed. I do dump so hard liquor and wine hit me harder with sugar so then I feel it within 10 minutes then crash. The extra calories to counter the crash kill the buzz. Like 3 sips and I’m done. But beer is friendlier. I do enjoy nursing a good microbrew with a handful of almond or one ounce of cheese. It works for me for camping and baseball games and fun outings. I try to keep it for a once a month thing and have only one or two beers. I have been dallying with pot edibles too. (Can’t smoke due to asthma) One or 1/2 a gummy or taffy keeps a mellow vibe for 4 hours and I save them for special occasions and arthritis and pain relief. There’s less calories and dumping and a longer chill time. P.S. UP was my favorite place camping last summer!!!

Congratulations!

As a woman in my 50’s it’s hard getting out there and making new friends never mind dating. That said, yes I’m dating and making friends. I made a promise to myself during COVID lockdowns that I would make and keep friends with intent and discernment. I date women and men and everyone in between, so yes there’s lots of dating but few people with kindness and calmness who are near my age, actually single, and don’t have mommy issues. I’m focusing more on friendships now. There’s lots of dates, but friends are gold!

I wish I could still run, but my joints are too far gone for it anymore. I love walking with a weighted backpack (to get my heart rate up enough). I love the rowing machine and indoor bike with audio books or online classes for continuing education (teachers are always learning). I hike and canoe and play field games all summer at the day camp I work at. I’ve been lifting weights for 20+ years, but to be honest it’s to keep up with the 20 yr old coworkers lol. I’m thinking of getting into ping pong because I see people of all ages competing and staying active and social with it. I’ve gone through dancing and yoga phases. I like to be curious and try new things. Like others have said, you really have to enjoy what you’re doing to make it your “thing.”

I looked at my journal from my 6th month time. My weight loss slowed significantly. I kept loosing but I was lucky if it was 4 lbs every other month. Stalls and plateaus were more common than actual WL. I just kept to my original plan and weight kept coming off even past the 2year mark. Instead of my scale obsession, I started measuring inches/centimeters and thrifting highly structured clothing made out of thick denim and leather to see my progress. A stiff pair of jeans with no stretch can show true WL because they get too big. I find they keep me honest with myself in maintenance too ; j

I’ve only ever seen an old video on YouTube. Besides being on here, I’m part of a post-surgical WL group through my dietitian, nobody has had that issue, or knows someone who had that problem.

Yes, I had back pain due to reasons the above posters said. I went to yoga for a year to help with the transition. I needed to tuck my but under my spine more and drop my shoulders down and back. I noticed the swing of my arms and legs changed. All of it was building new muscles and increasing range of motion. The floppy skin was even moving to a different tempo than the rest of me and I had to learn how to accommodate that! Side note; when I had Covid they x-rayed my lungs to check for pneumonia. They then told me I have significant arthritis in my spine. The pain there reduced significantly with stretching and strengthening exercises.

If you find food getting stuck at the 4 month mark then reach out to your doctor. There could be something wrong going on. Before that point keep taking small bites, chewing thoroughly, and using sauces to help the slide. If you had GERD before surgery it takes time to heal. If you have GERD afterwards talk with your doctor sooner, like today.

Congratulations!

I have heard of this as a new way to do bypass. Sorry, I don’t have any experience with it. I’m curious so I will follow this.

Like others above, check with your team. I was to aim for 20 macros of protein for each of three meals. I couldn’t do it but that was the goal. I ended up 20 for breakfast, 10 lunch, 10 around 3pm, 10 around 5ish, and 10 in the evening one hour before bed. In my efforts to curb nighttime snacking habits, I started then (and still maintain now) 50% or more of my daily food should be consumed by lunchtime. It makes me go to sleep earlier and wake up refreshed, and mostly banished the nighttime munchies. Obviously this won’t work for everyone. I was never a morning person, nor a breakfast eater before surgery. You’re doing great, keep up the good work!

I read the whole thing. That was great sharing, I felt like I was there! Honestly you should think about writing a how to book of your adventures. This was/is a great chapter of success!

Lol, I had to look up incarcerated for hernias because I was picturing guys in stripes behind bars! I have had both with small intestines sticking out a muscle wall in my lower intestine (umbilical) that hurt intermittently for years until it became enstrangulated. US insurance often doesn’t pay for surgery unless there is complete blood flow stoppage. Hiatal hernia is a different beast that feels like a heart attack because the esophagus is turned inside out like a sock and jammed pulsating in your throat and chest. Both kinds, the doctors told me to walk when not in pain. What kept me sane, now and then, is knowing the pain is fixable, your response is management only. Sorry, I get a little Hermione Granger sometimes.

I started almost exactly the same weight as you. Congratulations on making a health choice for yourself to live your best life. Now is your opportunity to go on even more adventures. Is there a career change you wonder about? A place or site you want to see? A family member or child you want to watch grow up? You’ve made the decision for yourself to really live! Go on now.

This is fabulous! Look at how you are standing taller and your arms and legs hang looser!

Congratulations on making positive decisions for your health. I had/have GERD. I got bypass and hiatal hernia surgery to correct it. I still need PPI but less of them, and only feel the burn or the flip of the esophagus once in a while like with eating nuts (high fat) or coffee. So, I avoid my triggers or have only very small portions. I was a slow looser, even lost half of total weight loss before surgery. I believe it was due to menopause creating such a dry environment in my throat. The research on gut health and menopause is still so new that I can only mention it without solid peer reviewed evidence. The research is still ongoing. I only know my experience with menopause caused worsening asthma, eye infections, sudden tooth decay, arthritis and GERD. The underlying commonality was a lack of mucus production ie. menopause. Maybe it’s Sjorgrens but it slammed into me at 45 and DHEA helps, and I never developed full diabetes, nor Lupus, nor non-Hodgekins Lymphoma which are hallmarks of Sjorgrens. I applaud your scientific curiosity. Keep letting us know what happens!

I had both and got the bypass. I was post menopausal so I can’t say it helped with most PCOS issues. I swung the other way 2 years post op and got hyperthyroidism! So my team figured it’s a vitamin imbalance and I’m monitored more closely. (Lower vitamin D can increase thyroid levels). PPI can interfere with vitamin absorption, so does caffeine, so planning your vitamin times counts too. Talk with your team about best practices for your vitamins. I have found that I need extra iron with vitamin C at lunchtime and I can be consistent with it. That extra iron is just because my iron levels tend to be low, most people don’t have that issue. I take calcium, vitamin D and magnesium at night, B vitamins and Flintstones with iron in the morning with decaf coffee in my pea protein shake. If I stay really consistent with my water intake I can avoid PPI s for now. For me, it’s really a balance and worth the shock of being a little hyperthyroid for a month! Great luck to you both! May you have good skin, lovely hair and surprising energy you deserve!

I have had 2 surgeries for hernias so far, my doc says I have one more obvious one. If you get one, you are likely to get others. Unless something you are doing hurts or feels uncomfortable you can exercise all you want. You should probably talk with your doctor about specifics around activities like yoga, Pilates or abdominal crunches. Each hernia is different and I would wait until you talk with your doctor about trying something new. After surgery is over listen to your doctor completely and even give your body more time to heal if you need to. Most of the time the docs tell me to walk.

It sounds like you’ve been through a lot and now your body is catching up to it. I kind of feel the same as you, because the holidays are over and I’m looking for something to anticipate. I’m telling myself it’s ok to chill out. No one can be 100%, 100% of the time. (Side note, if it lasts for 6 weeks or longer seek professional help.)

I so agree with the above comment especially the “recovering Type 2 diabetic “ part. Anyone of us past 2 years out is there with you, I know I am. I definitely partook of the holiday cheer this year and I’m so “puffy” right now. I’m concentrating on wellness for the new year. I do look for inflammatory foods that trip me up and eliminate them from my orbit for a while to get back to evenness. (Don’t know what else to call it?) Aside from food and movement changes, I struggle with stress. I noticed if I journal, walk, talk to a friend, goof off on a guitar, extra water weight just falls off. Sometimes I need an extra mineral or vitamin (Magnesium and vitamin D I’m looking at you.) I don’t know if any of this helps, but keep trying. There even could be a metabolic reason behind the weight creep. It doesn’t hurt to ask a trusted medical professional. You are not alone in this.

I was told during the end of the appointment that she would approve me. Then nervous me asked what would have happened if I didn’t pass her evaluation and she said I would be asked to seek out further psychiatric help to get me to safer ground. Either way it’s a win win.