learn2cook

I’m so glad you got to the bottom of all those issues! It’s going to be rectified! I’m so happy for you to be feeling better soon.

I have found that adding higher fat foods are ok once in awhile, it’s up to you and your plan. If you find yourself not loosing weight when you want to or should, maybe avoid those foods for awhile. My guilty pleasure is Desserts like pie. If I actually said, “Never!” I would probably go buy one and eat the whole thing. Now I just sample my favorite in public and share it with others. My problem with liverworst is that it’s made with milk products as a binder ingredient and causes flames to shoot out both my ends. My father thought it was the elixir of gods because cans of liverworst were given out with rations during his childhood in post-war Europe. To each their own.

Like @Tomo I try to stay clear of an all or nothing mindset. When I feel my underwear get tighter (undies and bras don’t seem to lie to me) I evaluate how I’m doing.

I start with Water. Am I drinking enough and throughout the day? Then I look at my Vitamins, did I forget anything lately? Then I start logging my exercise, have I been cutting out leg weight lifting day again? Maybe it’s time to try a new activity like birding or paddle board? Then I look at stress and emotional needs. Do I need to talk to a friend, go to a book club, rejoin my yoga buddies, check in with a therapist? Then after all those check lists do I re-examine my food intake and usually start logging my intake again. Am I bored with my selections and need to change up my menu? Seasons switched and salad looks so good compared to cooked veggies, grilled meats smell so much better than meatballs right now. Fish seems so exotic and fulfilling now too. I made a cold salsa from mostly peppers and spices then threw in scallions and brewers yeast (for b vitamins) and it tasted more like gazpacho so I chopped up some cucumbers and POW! I dropped 8lbs after eating that all weekend last week with my regular chicken breast and hard boiled eggs. So finding new recipes (and maybe some fiber) is what gets me going with healthy food choices. I’m playing around with blanching broccoli in a cold served salad this week. That’s my reset.

Like the others have shared, your weight is lower so loosing will be slower. My program doesn’t count carbs either, but I only give them side eye because they might make me dump.

food isn’t evil, it nourishes us and keeps us healthy and alive. Diet culture encourages this good/bad thinking. If you’re feeling stuck in rewind over fears and anxiety about eating and falling into old habits, it will only help you to seek a therapist who specializes in disordered eating. Like old me used to wake up in the middle of the night to eat 1-2 lbs of M&M’s in secret. Then I would run 4-6 miles for two weeks everyday to even out the calories. Newer me says, let’s do some yoga to get the feeling out of my body, then journal to explore the feelings that are honestly bothering me. That’s how therapy helps you to differentiate and evolve.

Are you throwing all your energy and attention into making pizza, milk and a few candies into a monumental experience of all your life efforts? Or is pizza just pizza? Only you know.

Like others said, communication with your team is important! I was super scared of the anesthesia too. I found that talking with the team about my asthma reactions to being under worried me. They were honestly unaware of my symptoms after, so we managed them. The thoughts that calmed me were;1 I’m not doing the surgery, I’ll essentially be asleep. 2. The anesthesiologist and my surgeon were clearly friends and joked happily with me and the nurses. 3. I pretended I was going on a flight to Hawaii. The sounds of the air, and beeping noises, conversation, and music were all part of a great flight to a new land. You can pretend it’s a bus or train ride, pick your adventure.

I’m so sorry this has been happening to you. It’s so hard to stay positive and focus on navigating through the hospital world and then insurance is even tougher! You can get through this!

When my favorite aunt started having strokes, but she was a doctor and didn’t want help from family, we asked for a hospital social worker. The hospital didn’t want to do it, but by law they are required to provide one if requested. The worker helps folks figure out the medical issues, the insurance, and navigates all that stuff with you and ALL the different doctors involved so they act as one team for your benefit. The worker is like a conductor of an orchestra and you are whispering in her ear, so that the orchestra plays for you.

Getting all these people to play together nicely takes some time so it’s not instant.

Start with the last time you were in the hospital. Look at your paperwork and call the money payment number because hospitals are quick to respond to money issues. Then ask for a social worker to help you navigate. When you get one, tell her what you wrote here. Or, the next time you go to the hospital because you’re vomiting blood from the GERD, (it looks like coffee grounds in the vomit) ask for the medical social worker right away.

Or ask your general physician for a referral. If you have been visiting regularly for checkups, they will willingly recommend a medical social worker because they will know you and your family situation.

Hurray!

The hospital stay was such a blur. I agree with above posters about bringing as little as possible. Hospitals are notorious for stealing too, so nothing too valuable. I brought my asthma meds, phone, earbuds, charger. You can use a backwards gown as a robe and ask for as many warm blankets and pillows as you wish.

Afterwards, after recovering or during, I made it a game to get up every hour. Just keep moving to keep blood flowing and get that gas out. Later the Fitbit or something step counting can motivate you to eventually get your steps up to 8-10k a day. That’s later on, not right away. Yeah, on the lip balm before during and after!

Rock on!

I’m a side sleeper too. I found a binder or Spanx helped. It took about 2 weeks to feel comfortable sleeping. It turned out stomach sleeping was most comfortable.

As a business I would try to be more open to all people who would like a coach. I might have wanted a trainer but never could have afforded one. My observation in the US is that the poor are generally obese, and the wealthy are generally at a healthy weight. I know it’s not always true, just my observation.

Yeah!

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!