FutureSylph

So today is my weekly weigh in day, and I weigh 349!!! It's the first time in 2 years I have been below 350 (1st time was when I did Keto, but as soon as I hit 320 it literally came back up and I never lost a single pound after I went back to my original weight). I'm figuring out the food portions, timing, measurements and I think I have it down!!! You guys have all been so amazing with all the meltdowns, crazy questions, doubting myself, etc I've done on here (I know, I was a bit loco lol ). But I seem to be losing at a nice steady pace (5-7 pounds per week) and I have to say, I'm really liking it. I feel like this is much more sustainable and maintainable than when I was doing keto (and surprisingly, a lot less restrictive! ) I'm 7 weeks post op today and honestly, other than my scars on my tummy, I would never know I had surgery. No pain, no more limitations, no problems at all. I still have to be mindful of how much I eat and how often, because as I have said before, I never lost any of my hunger hormone. But I make homemade smoothies with fruit or I drink a Protein Shake if I need a little extra Protein, or I just keep busy until I can teach my stomach and body that I'm NOT hungry and I HAVE eaten enough and I will NOT be eating anymore because I had my allotted amount and that's it. It's harder when you're still hungry, but it CAN be done. Especially when I see the progress on the scale. So so glad I had this surgery. I don't regret it at all. Not even a tiny bit. I just wish I had done it sooner. But I guess we all do, don't we? lol

Not trying to be flippant, but I truly miss NOTHING. I am 2 weeks post op tomorrow and I have never felt better.
Nothing tastes as good as THIS feels!

I was practically bedridden before surgery, so I don't have a "normal" to get back to at the gym. What I do now is Water aerobics five times a week plus (very light) strength conditioning twice a week. It may not sound like much, but it's currently the right amount for me. Slowly and surely getting stronger all the time feels fantastic.

Take an insulated lunch bag (with freezer puck) in the car, packed with a spoon and containers of hummus, Greek yogurt, applesauce, cooked baby carrots, or whatever other soft foods appeal to you. Problem solved.

I'm so glad to hear you're feeling better!

Mine is Steve, recently promoted from Baby Stevie since he quit being so temperamental those first few weeks.

Mine is Steve, recently promoted from Baby Stevie since he quit being so temperamental those first few weeks.

Take an insulated lunch bag (with freezer puck) in the car, packed with a spoon and containers of hummus, Greek yogurt, applesauce, cooked baby carrots, or whatever other soft foods appeal to you. Problem solved.

Take an insulated lunch bag (with freezer puck) in the car, packed with a spoon and containers of hummus, Greek yogurt, applesauce, cooked baby carrots, or whatever other soft foods appeal to you. Problem solved.

I'm so glad to hear you're feeling better!

You look healthy and happy (and perfectly lovely!) to me.

I didn't have any buyers remorse until I hit my first stall. It lasted 2 weeks and I actually gained 5 pounds and then was just stuck. Once the stall broke, I started losing weight really slowly compared to before my stall, and I got SO upset. You can find my posts about it somewhere on here. Now things have picked up a little bit again (not as much as pre stall, but definitely better than right after) and I'm happy as can be again. I'm 6 1/2 weeks out, and I can eat what I want. But I'm very careful on making sure it sits right with my stomach and I only eat the amount I'm supposed to. I also make sure I'm taking in between 60-80g of Protein per day, less than 50g of carbs per day, and less than 50g of fats per day. I also eat 3 meals and sometimes 1 snack per day, and I eat less than 1/2 a cup of food per meal (or no more than 4oz of food if I need to use my food scale instead of a measuring cup).
I never had a sweet tooth, and I never really cared for bread, Pasta, rolls, etc. So none of that has been an issue for me. MY big vices have always been fried, greasy, savory, tart, slightly sour flavors (for sour, think green olives). I also used to salt EVERYTHING....a LOT. Now I'm much more sensitive to salt and only use a very small amount on the rare occasions I use it at all.
I will say this....if you are thinking about the same thing, or same types of things, over and over then it's head hunger and not real hunger. I know I'm hungry when my stomach starts to hurt a little and I would eat anything you put in front of me. It's usually after about 4 hours from the last time I ate. When I start thinking "I would sell my teenager for some tater tots and chili cheese fries" then I know it's a craving, which is head hunger. So I drink through it (protein shake or a smoothie or whatever I have on hand) and busy myself so I don't focus on it. When it's genuine hunger, then I eat.
Eventually you WILL be able to eat what you want. But you have to hold yourself accountable and make yourself stick to your diet and portion sizes. No grazing. I never lost my hunger hormone and I never had an aversion to food like a lot of people on here do. So it's been a real struggle to stay on track. But it's possible, and sloooooowly my brain and body are learning that I AM actually eating enough and I DON'T need to eat until I feel like I'm going to pop.
I promise you'll get there. And when you get on the scale and see it move every day or every few days (depending on how often you choose to weigh yourself) it'll give you that extra motivation to stick with it and keep going. You got this, and it'll definitely all be worth it in the end

YEAH! Weighing the same as your driver's license is such a great NSV (non scale victory)!
When I was asked my weight at a doctors office (the ones that don't weight you) or for an activity like riding a horse I used to say "Do you want my real weight or my driver's license weight?" I always have to be the smart ass!

I have just realised that I have joined the Hundred Club. I weighed my self this morning and forgot to log it. I am crying with joy at the minute. Last week my dietician said I was smashing it and now I truly believe I am. My surgery was only 6 months and 3 weeks ago.
Tomorrow I go abroad on holiday for 2 weeks. The last few holidays I put 12 pounds on. How will WLS help me keep my down wards trend I wonder ?

I am also not losing weight as fast as others but it is what it is. I just make sure I meet my Protein and Water goals and figured it will happen in its own time.

My biggest tips-
Make a plan and start small- Having a general idea of the meals you want to make for the week and going from there makes things easier. If planning a whole week seems impossible (for me it is) then break it down by 2-3 days or even daily.
Know yourself- I know that I personally am not a fan of leftovers but I don’t mind makeovers- roasted vegetables one night might not be appealing the next day, but Soup? Boy, howdy I’m all aboard that train! If you don’t mind eating the same thing for several meals then plan that way. If you ride the leftover-hating struggle bus then simple preparation one day might yield a more complex dish the next by reinventing those same foods.
Meal prep takes time- A lot of it can be hands off- pickling vegetables, roasting things, marinating meats, soaking Beans, etc. Just make sure you allot for that time when planning your meals. That being said, yes it’s cheaper and more convenient to buy canned beans or granola but by making/prepping it yourself you get to control the nutritional value.
You are worth the effort/time it takes to make healthy, nutritious meals for yourself. Above all- be patient and kind with yourself. Rome wasn’t built in a day. New habits/skills take time to learn and master.

I was practically bedridden before surgery, so I don't have a "normal" to get back to at the gym. What I do now is Water aerobics five times a week plus (very light) strength conditioning twice a week. It may not sound like much, but it's currently the right amount for me. Slowly and surely getting stronger all the time feels fantastic.

Only if you're adding foods that aren't already in the database. (Most are -- it's just a matter of finding them.)

Spoken like a true pre-op. ;-D

That's the hardest adjustment for me, too. I'm not 100% compliant, but I'm doing my best -- literally watching the clock after meals most days until it's "legal" to wash it down.

I was practically bedridden before surgery, so I don't have a "normal" to get back to at the gym. What I do now is Water aerobics five times a week plus (very light) strength conditioning twice a week. It may not sound like much, but it's currently the right amount for me. Slowly and surely getting stronger all the time feels fantastic.

Spoken like a true pre-op. ;-D

I was practically bedridden before surgery, so I don't have a "normal" to get back to at the gym. What I do now is Water aerobics five times a week plus (very light) strength conditioning twice a week. It may not sound like much, but it's currently the right amount for me. Slowly and surely getting stronger all the time feels fantastic.

As someone who is 3-ish weeks out from surgery, I completely understand how you feel. I don’t have much of a desire to eat anything or drink anything, because everything gives me heartburn or indigestion. I’m really tired and I miss going out to drink with my friends. The only things I can keep down are Soup and ice pops. Even Water makes be feel a little ick sometimes. I used to be able to drink 64 oz. of water in like a half hour, and now I can barely get down 1/4 of that amount without feeling gross.
I’m going to be patient with myself and say that this takes time. But 4-6 months feels so far away. And when food is a basic thing you need to function, and something you relied heavily on, every day feels like it’s going at a snails pace.
I mean all of this to say that you aren’t alone in this. I know exactly how you feel.

My clinic doesn't have specific fiber recommendations. For calcium citrate, it's 1200-1500 mg per day, split into 2 or three doses, at least 2-3 hours apart, separate from Multivitamins. Hope this helps.