FutureSylph

Just in the first few weeks (or months, I guess, if you're a really slow learner). I'm only two months post-op, and I go for several hours without eating. As for drinking, that's what 32 oz. Water bottles are for. (You only need to drink two of them per day.) Cold feet are fine, but I'd advise you to find a better excuse. ;-D

I was trying not to sound stalkerish lol

Thank you everyone for your replies. It took some time to figure it out again but I updated it to reflect my more realistic goal. I am still going to try to lose a little more and talk to my doctor about weight loss medications but I figure whatever else I lose I will just think of that as a bonus.

This will definitely have to change. I would highly recommend that you work on changing this (start eating three meals a day and drinking regularly) as soon as possible, so it's a habit BEFORE you have surgery. After surgery, you will have a lot to focus on, and trying to change bad habits is hard.

Thanks everyone for the replies! It's good to know things aren't so strict as you progress months out from the surgery. I was thinking I barely have the cognitive skills now to be that organized let alone when i get older! (Currently I don't eat until about 3pm every day and often work all day without having a drink - obviously I will have to do better than this after surgery). Sounds like you all have hit a rhythm that isn't too overwhelming. I'll just have to use all my concentration skills for the first few months. Luckily I will be off work for the summer. I have my consult with my surgeon on Monday and then I'll be able to set a date... Wish me luck, I'm terrified and so excited at the same time!

My bariatric center recommends three meals per day and one or two Snacks if needed, and strongly suggest that we do not graze between meals and or snacks. The early days and weeks post op are the only time we have to sip constantly, due to swelling in our stomachs/pouches it just can't accept more than an ounce or two at a time. One of the reasons weight loss surgery is so liberating is because (once fully healed and eating solids) we establish a normal routine with food, the only difference is we eat less than non-wls folks. The whole idea is for life to normalize and not be a slave to food any longer.
Best wishes!

Just in the first few weeks (or months, I guess, if you're a really slow learner). I'm only two months post-op, and I go for several hours without eating. As for drinking, that's what 32 oz. Water bottles are for. (You only need to drink two of them per day.) Cold feet are fine, but I'd advise you to find a better excuse. ;-D

Just in the first few weeks (or months, I guess, if you're a really slow learner). I'm only two months post-op, and I go for several hours without eating. As for drinking, that's what 32 oz. Water bottles are for. (You only need to drink two of them per day.) Cold feet are fine, but I'd advise you to find a better excuse. ;-D

Just in the first few weeks (or months, I guess, if you're a really slow learner). I'm only two months post-op, and I go for several hours without eating. As for drinking, that's what 32 oz. Water bottles are for. (You only need to drink two of them per day.) Cold feet are fine, but I'd advise you to find a better excuse. ;-D

You absolutely should change it, IMO. You've worked way too hard (with such terrific results) to let a number get you down. I'd be thrilled with a BMI of 27, that's for sure. Congratulations!

You absolutely should change it, IMO. You've worked way too hard (with such terrific results) to let a number get you down. I'd be thrilled with a BMI of 27, that's for sure. Congratulations!

You absolutely should change it, IMO. You've worked way too hard (with such terrific results) to let a number get you down. I'd be thrilled with a BMI of 27, that's for sure. Congratulations!

Just in the first few weeks (or months, I guess, if you're a really slow learner). I'm only two months post-op, and I go for several hours without eating. As for drinking, that's what 32 oz. Water bottles are for. (You only need to drink two of them per day.) Cold feet are fine, but I'd advise you to find a better excuse. ;-D

"The old-fashioned way -- by eating less and moving more." It's true (albeit incomplete).

"The old-fashioned way -- by eating less and moving more." It's true (albeit incomplete).

What worked for me was experimenting with various temperatures of water/clear liquids. Usually I found cold-but-not-icy Water suited me best, and when my pouch grew tired of that, I concentrated more on warm herbal tea. Good luck finding your new normals!

I found it helpful to have a small table next to my bed with Water, my doctor’s notes, medicines, cell phone with long charging cord, pen. It was helpful to keep track of when I took which medicine, how much I ate or drank, etc.
I used the alarm on my cell phone quite a bit: at first to wake me up to take pain medicines to stay ahead of my pain. Later, to time 30 minutes between drinking and eating.

Usually, yes -- but today I went and got only the items on my list. 😮 (It helped that the store was mobbed, so I couldn't do my usual browsing.)

Best of luck! So exciting.

Usually, yes -- but today I went and got only the items on my list. 😮 (It helped that the store was mobbed, so I couldn't do my usual browsing.)

Day 2 is done, now on day 3. Hubby went to the store and bought me some V8 (I love the stuff), some sugar free iced tea, and some pho broth (my absolute FAVORITE). It's really helped. And tomorrow he's ordering chinese food for dinner and getting me wanton Soup (my other favorite - but I won't be eating the wantons, sadly). He's really going above and beyond to help me get through this diet, and I just love him even more for it. Surgery is 5 days away. I got this!!!

If the funeral hasn't yet taken place (or even if it has), a sweet gift for the grieving family is a basket of a dozen white cotton handkerchiefs, which you have starched and ironed to snowy perfection. So much nicer than tissues.

Just as a preface, I had the sleeve in Dec. 2016 and dropped about 120 lbs in 6 months, then screwed up and slowly went back up almost to where I started. I had a revision to bypass in Nov. 2021 and have been doing very well, about 80 lbs down so far.
Last week was spring break for my kids so we decided to take a vacation, my first since the most recent surgery. We went to Virginia (drove from NY). I was very worried for a few reasons. First, I weigh myself every single day (yes I know some recommend against it, it works for me). I didn't want to bring my scale so it would be a week without monitoring my weight loss (or gain). Second, I rarely eat out and I weigh everything I eat when I make it. I wasn't going to be bringing my food scale and I knew I'd have to eat out more than usual. Finally, we were going to a lot of places where there weren't the healthiest options to eat. So I resolved to try my best not to blow it and see what happened.
We stayed at a timeshare resort which had a full kitchen (stove, oven, microwave, utensils, pots/pans, etc) which was fantastic because we were able to go shopping for a lot of stuff to make in the room so I knew exactly what I was eating. I was able to make my usual Breakfast (2 scrambled eggs with shredded cheese) almost every morning. I bought a few pre-packaged salads and some other stuff for the room. I only had to actually eat out 4 or 5 times the entire trip, not counting during the drive to and from VA.
When we ate out I was able to check the calories for what I was eating to make a healthier choice, and made sure to stop when I was full instead of cleaning my plate. I was able to find something to eat at both Waffle House and Cracker Barrel that wasn't too horrible. Even at Busch Gardens we went to the German area restaurant and I got something called a German Chef salad that was pretty good and not too heavy or unhealthy. Bonus at Busch Gardens: Last year (pre-surgery) we went to an amusement park and I wasn't able to ride most of the roller coasters because I just couldn't fit - no problem at all this time, got in with room to spare!
I stayed away from Snacks and Desserts (I got Halo Top ice cream for the room to have at night). When we got back I was concerned what the scale might say, but I was down 2 lbs from when we left, so I'll consider that a win!
I had a nice NSV before the trip too - I was looking for clothes to bring and found a bunch of shirts I got when I lost all the weight the first time, and they all fit comfortably and looked great. Before the surgery I wore XXL shirts, and even those were getting a little snug, I even had one XXXL I think. Lately I've been wearing XL's which were getting roomy, all the shirts I found were L and fit great, so that was awesome. I also had to buy a new pair of jeans that was 4 sizes smaller and fits great. I found my old bathing suits which were too tight last year, now half are too big and the rest fit OK (almost too big but not quite yet).
So it's been a good week, hoping to continue on my path to onederland again! Here's a pic of the family having fun.

If the funeral hasn't yet taken place (or even if it has), a sweet gift for the grieving family is a basket of a dozen white cotton handkerchiefs, which you have starched and ironed to snowy perfection. So much nicer than tissues.