summerseeker

I feel for you. Mine was like bad 1960's school dinners. All my menu was cereal, toast, packet soup, sandwiches, dry meat and potatoes with frozen veg. No one understood my no carbs please diet. I ate 3 child size packs of cornflakes and 2 tubs of ice cream all the time I was there. I would have died for some cheese. Thank god for lattes from the Costa down stairs. Could not fault the staff though, they were stellar.

Using these logs is a struggle in the beginning especially if its home cooked food. Bought food already comes with its own nutrition label so its standard. The log you use will get used to the foods you regularly eat and show them first. The one I use stores recipes too. It does get easy.

I had a ton of scar tissue from a butcher surgeon 40 years before my sleeve surgery. The bariatric surgeon noted it and allowed a little more theatre time for me. My surgeon said it was very stuck inside but he did it all keyhole. It just took him longer. This week I was due to have my ovaries and a huge ovarian cyst removed by key hole surgery. I was informed that I may have to be opened up if it became a problem. It was and I was. This is day 6 and I am feeling more like myself and the pain is manageable today without meds. So what are the differences, More pain, your muscles are cut. A big scar and drain holes. And a 12 week ban on house work and lifting, more of a bonus that one really. I hope it goes well for you. It will be worth it even if its not keyhole. Trust me

Snap, almost ! I have had my ovaries and a huge cyst removed this week. For some reason they left them 28 years ago when I had my hysterectomy. I now have a new belly scar and have lost my belly button. I have gotten to my own target weight at last. I wonder if its the missing belly button, the cyst or the deplorable hospital food that accounts for the big weight drop. Hope you are feeling more like yourself today, I am, even though I am walking around hugging my tummy like I am about to loose my insides.

Even at my age, I still have hungry days like a period day. I just allow myself more good healthy foods. There is always a day where I eat very little. At the end of the month my food tracker is always in range of 60 -80 grams of protein and 1500 calories a day.

I had IBS pre surgery, I flip flopped being either loose or constipated. Now I am just seriously constipated. Its a big deal to live with.

Detested eggs pre surgery and now eat them every day. Loved cooked salmon but can not eat it, just the thought of it makes me want to vomit. Avocado is also off. It took me almost two years to want chicken again There are other things that are just impossible for me to eat because of the surgery. Cheap white bread, pasta, Curries sob... Anything with skins, tomatoes, peppers, grapes I craved a jacket potato with cheese and baked beans and had it last night. I separated it into two portions and ate both eventually. Yum. Zero side effects. Another tick on the chart for me.

I live in Europe, where we do think differently about drinking than you do in the States. Having a drink every day does not make you a serious drinker here. My answers may be a little different to your fellow country men. Big hugs for fessing up btw. That takes balls. But, if you think you need the booze to sleep then its a problem that will only get worse. Quickly. Can you try not drinking for one night on a off duty day, Put clean bedding on your bed. Switch off all phones etc. Have a pamper session. Watch a good movie. Take a book to bed and read until you drop off or if you dont, just lie there, resting. Get up at your usual time the day after and try and finish your day as usual. No naps. If you think you need a drink buy something you hate and make it into a long drink. Neat alcohol is terrible for your liver and kidneys. Every week use less and less alcohol in your drink. Find ways to relax. Good sex, yoga, beach holidays, walking holidays Doctors can prescribe anti alcohol medication that makes you vomit if you have any. Its so easy to transfer an addiction. Why is it anything addictive, delicious ?

If you are the same in the US as we are in the UK, then Amazon deliver the day after ordering. If thats the case, save your money and buy as you need it. As a example, I bought a blender and did not use it as I barfed every time I thought of pureed foods, still do. I sent for a bariatric cookery book, same outcome. On a whim, I bought a personalised bariatric plate, it is still in its wrapping. My clinic told me to buy suckable vitamins and dissolvable calcium tablets. I used a thermos cup, I was allowed coffee and it takes an age to drink in the early stages, it kept it hot for me. I bought a bed wedge as I had GERD, still do. I never had protein shakes, my surgeon did not believe in them, I just had milk. Everyone who has stock piled a protein shake they love pre surgery, has found it disgusting after surgery. Your tastes flip and you may have a problem with lactose or vegetable protein. Buy one or two of a wide range if you must. I really wished I had a recliner chair, I had to sleep sitting for 3 weeks. As I said before I had problems with Gerd. It took a while to get my meds right. This forum and its wonderful forumites are a asset I used so much. Its all gifted free. Paid forward if you will. They have so much knowledge, they have been and done it before. Some one will have had every eventuality and will help Good luck

Great information thank you.

Wowee, you look amazing. Perfect dress on your new figure

I was with a friend, she blames me, I her. I think more than a bottle each. She ended up on her back in the supermarket car park, I peed myself laughing. Everything after that has disappeared as we have no memory of it ! No clue how we got home ..... We are only 65 and have been mates since infant school. TBH we have got quite tame these last few years.

My drinking days do seem to be in the past. I need a holiday, wedding or such to drink these days. My first drink was a Bloody Mary, very light on the vodka. I made it last and had no side effects. After that holiday I went on to try long drinks, vodka and diet tonic, Pimms, Dry Martini and diet tonic, Sangria or if its wintery, a spiced rum coffee. . Last Christmas I had a few glasses of wine and got totally smashed, first time in my long life that I couldn't remember where I had been. I just don't eat enough to soak up the alcohol these days. I had the foamies on a Baileys. Wine gave me terrible GERD. Enjoy your holiday

Great weight loss story. Your team must be thrilled with you. Major congratulations coming your way. I personally would love to hear the missing pages of your journey

Even after 2 plus years I still miss noodles I still miss a Chinese take away I still miss going for a day on the lash and a good curry Even after 2 plus years I never miss the 150 lbs I lost I never miss being so dreadfully unhealthy I couldn't clean my house I never miss being not being stared at in the street I never miss a penny of the cost of this surgery. I adore how I look in the mirror Just give yourselves time to adjust, that person we were is no more and the new us have to grieve for our old selves. We are human, change does not come without some suffering. Eventually I hope to not struggle with my food addictions

I never really noticed in my weight loss period because it was Covid times and I wore the same old stuff everyday. I was years out of the habit of looking in mirrors too. Nowadays, almost 3 years out, I buy clothes in my size -UK 14 - and they fit me all over. Like people say. the weight / fat distributes itself around your body after you stop weight loss. I haven't had any skin surgery either. People actually ask where I buy my clothes ! and copy me ! Where is the Vogue camera man when you want him ? Ha !

I could eat the slices of baked bread, we call it Melba toast at about 6 weeks. It is so crisp and thin it melts away. I tried supermarket white bread and a wrap but I was violently ill with the foamies. It just clumps to a ball of mush in your stomach. At 18 months I found I could eat quality super seeded bread without a problem. At about 150 calories a slice and 5gms of protein, it works for me once a week in a packed lunch Try thin toast from quality bread

Every surgery is super scary and nobody is dumb enough to be without the jitters. We are handing ourselves over to others and we don't know who they are or what their track records may be. However in real life this surgery is one of the safest going. The surgeons and their staff are accountable to the government bodies who oversee them. Only you will know if you are ready to do this. More people than you know have bolted BUT they all said they wished they had toughed it out. It is worth it. Try and get through this week

Find a tracker that you can work with and be honest with it. Try and make your own food from scratch. Eat protein and vegetables/salads, try and leave the carbs alone. You still have your restriction, so use it, good luck

You have blown it out of the park, boom. Looking amazing

Drool. Love eel especially smoked but its hard to find here, so very jealous

I totally agree with @SleeveToBypass. The first 5 or so days are tough and its a big test for obese people. Also factor in that you may be detoxing from sugar, caffeine etc etc. Its worth it in the end. Stick with it

I had Hidradenitis suppurativa in my 40's . I was going through the change and had 3 family deaths, My body and mind couldn't cope. My skin and mind exploded, it was a terrible time for me. I had help for the conditions and eventually the conditions abated to tolerable levels. Every now and then I would have break outs but they became less and less. Now I have had no real symptoms for the 3 years since surgery. Is it a body or age thing ? I can see only the worst scars now with some black on the skin, it scratches off easily. I hope you can put it behind you too

Pre surgery I didn't dream further than doing simple things that a fitter person could do. It was all I could do to keep our home clean and cook our meals. Thankfully we have shopping deliveries or I would have come unstuck. I could not go around a supermarket. I was so out of shape. I rarely went outdoors, it embarrassed me. I had learned never to reach too high, crashing into depression is a long road back to normality. So, My new world is eye poppingly wonderful to me. I now have to squeeze in some at home free time. I have a pass that lets me use the trains and buses free. If I feel like it and I mostly do, I am off exploring. I have no need of a car any more I am never hot and sweaty, out of breath or having an internal tantrum because I need to sit down and there is no seat I jump out of bed and into the shower with out needing any aids. It doesn't weaken me for the day I go out and never have to plan the route beforehand. I walk everywhere. I donated my walking sticks to the charity shop. I go abroad alone on holidays and explore alone. I have been married for almost 50 years and its so wonderful to have some me time. He is done with holidays. I do what I want to do, go where I choose. I have made new friends who wish to holiday with me next year ! I'm popular !! I have a small bucket list, To never gain any weight back. In the past I have been lucky, I have seen lots of the world. I still want to see Vietnam, visit Easter Island and live long enough to get new knees on the NHS. Dream big and stay small everyone

No words to say how amazing you have done. Congratulations on the new you