Smanky

This is going to sound so weird...
...but I can tie my shoes in the centre now, by leaning over my leg and having one hand on each side of my leg. (You know, like normies tie shoes.)
Also, I was picking up an order at the same time as a bunch of people and I overheard one of the employees say to the other, "This one is for that guy." So I turned and the other employee said, "This one?" and the first employee said, "No, the big guy."

I have also noticed that I can reach down and pick up something that falls on the floor! Even in heels! I had fallen when I was large trying to pick something up in the middle of a parking lot and was unable to stand on my own. (So embarrassing!!) After that, I would NOT bend down to pick something up, unless there was something to hold on to and get up again. Now, terror does not strike my heart when I drop something and have to pick it up. Yay me!
And by the way, these non-scale victories are great! It's not ALL about the scale!

Genuine first weird NSV:
Walking outside and experiencing that magical sensation of my undies slowly falling down inside my jeans, which are also slowly falling down. Holding my jeans up by the pockets on my way home, with my undies trying their best to be budget thigh-garters.
Sexy!

Depending on what food you mean, and what procedure you're having, a lot of food that got us all obese in the first place isn't on the post-op plan (for good reason). Some people who are in maintenance are able to pretty much eat normally (though still a balanced diet), but bypass and SADI folks especially need to be mindful of making nutritious choices due to the malabsorption factor. High carb, high sugar and high fat foods can also bring on dumping syndrome. Thankfully the surgery really helps a lot of folks with reigning in cravings, and bad food loses most of its allure.
As for coffee, I was offered it in the hospital along with my Water and broth, whereas others are told never-ever. So it seems to depend on your surgeon's team.
Hopefully someone with experience with emotional eating issues can help you out there, and I'm sorry for your trauma. That's rough.

Yes I too gained weight during covid. About 25 lbs, My surgery is 24th and I have been on my pre op diet 8 days. I am loosing at least pound a day which is a bonus. I am prepared with lots to do. Sewing, jigsaws, books etc, My diet is not as bad as yours sounds but its hard enough. You will get through it because you need to get your surgery done. Keep talking to people on here it does help. There are thousands of people on here who have done your diet and survived. Just reach out

Since I am now halfway between my heavy weight and my goal weight, I thought I'd show myself. I lost 26 lbs. on my own, then 9 lbs. on the pre-op diet, and 41 lbs. so far since surgery (five weeks ago). I only "see" the changes when I look at before-and-after pictures. I'm starting to see what I'll look like further along and I ain't mad about it.

76 lbs. down, 76 to go.

Surgery was one year ago today. Down 170.4 lbs, weighed in this morning at 168.6. 24 BMI.

Not at all! I was busting a prevailing myth - clumsily, I realise. I apologise that it came off snippy (as I can see on a re-read)!

Hello, vegan bypasser reporting!
The struggle to eat solid food is real, and so I haven't been able to explore food like I might have. I get my 60+ grams of Protein currently via my morning shake and afternoon protein Water (I loathe both, but have to do it). I make sure I bump that protein up with Vitasoy Protein Plus soy milk, which is 10g of protein per 250ml. So I use that in my shake, and also in my daily unsweetened matcha latte. That covers my protein so I don't have to worry about it - all other protein via food is a bonus.
I relied on Soups and blended stews in the liquid phase, and in the soft food stage I've been eating scrambled tofu with vegan bacon and scallions (added nutritional yeast), eggplant shakshuka (our fave vegan cafe does a delectable one), hummus and fresh veg, tvp bolognaise without the Pasta, and vegan sausages and seitans. My dietician supplied a nice vegan plan that included high protein vegan burger patties, curries, vegan yoghurt ( which I cannot eat because they're too sweet for me now), kiwi fruit, homemade baked Beans, vegan cheese, teriyaki tofu etc.
I can barely eat a 1/4 cup at a time, and at most 3 times a day, so I often times will just eat what I crave - a slice of fresh Tomato, or a bean, or just a spoonful of whatever I've prepared.
And honestly for non-vegans: vegans have no trouble finding enough protein. The only thing we struggle to get enough of is Vitamin B, plants have us covered on everything else!

Well, I didn't cancel quite as dramatically as you did.
In 2013, I started down the path, doing pre-op visits, etc. At the same time, I started Tim Ferriss's slow carb diet. I did great, had a ton of weight coming off. I realize now that his plan re-inforced my binge eating habits in a way that made it impossible for me to maintain once I went off the diet. But at the time, I had this confidence that I could do anything.
The nutritionist asked me what I was doing to lose weight and I explained the diet. She told me that I needed to realize that once I had the surgery I couldn't eat like that any more. Now that I am post-surgery, I see that she was absolutely right. But at the time, it offended me. I was losing weight like crazy (ended up losing 150 pounds in 13 months) and she had the audacity to tell me that I couldn't keep doing it? I cancelled the rest of my appointments. It was another 8 years before I re-started the process and went through with the surgery in August 2021.
Before my actual surgery, I had a lot of the same fears you did. RNY is a pretty freaking permanent and I had no clue what awaited on the other side of surgery. Laying alone on the gurney during pre-op, not knowing what life would hold when I awoke...that was tough. I had always seen VSG/RNY as my last resort. What I realized was that I had come to my last resort. The next diet was very likely to turn out like all of the others: works for a little while, but the weight comes back. I didn't want to do that to my body (and mind) any more. I have a wife and four kids and they deserved to have me around for a while longer. So I went through with it not because I had confidence that everything would be roses and rainbows on the other side, but because it was the best (and probably only) option for me to turn around my health. Bariatric surgery is a bet on yourself. It's a bet that you have more discipline than you realize (or that your body shape shows) and that if given a real opportunity, you can turn this around permanently. Are you ready to bet on yourself?

Hello, vegan bypasser reporting!
The struggle to eat solid food is real, and so I haven't been able to explore food like I might have. I get my 60+ grams of Protein currently via my morning shake and afternoon protein Water (I loathe both, but have to do it). I make sure I bump that protein up with Vitasoy Protein Plus soy milk, which is 10g of protein per 250ml. So I use that in my shake, and also in my daily unsweetened matcha latte. That covers my protein so I don't have to worry about it - all other protein via food is a bonus.
I relied on Soups and blended stews in the liquid phase, and in the soft food stage I've been eating scrambled tofu with vegan bacon and scallions (added nutritional yeast), eggplant shakshuka (our fave vegan cafe does a delectable one), hummus and fresh veg, tvp bolognaise without the Pasta, and vegan sausages and seitans. My dietician supplied a nice vegan plan that included high protein vegan burger patties, curries, vegan yoghurt ( which I cannot eat because they're too sweet for me now), kiwi fruit, homemade baked Beans, vegan cheese, teriyaki tofu etc.
I can barely eat a 1/4 cup at a time, and at most 3 times a day, so I often times will just eat what I crave - a slice of fresh Tomato, or a bean, or just a spoonful of whatever I've prepared.
And honestly for non-vegans: vegans have no trouble finding enough protein. The only thing we struggle to get enough of is Vitamin B, plants have us covered on everything else!

He not only doesn't care about your health, but he also has zero respect for your home and your boundaries. If that's how he treats you when you offer help, he's done this to himself. Not bring home junk food and not smoking in exchange for a roof is hardly a big ask. He made his choice.

I think maybe you need to talk to your surgical team about a diet sheet and guidance - plus there are posts on here about cook books for bariatric surgery. I suspect a change of food mindset is required - you may have loved Greggs pasties before your surgery, but Greggs pasties maybe have contributed to your problems in the first place - I don’t know. But melted cheese and onion sounds very dense and clogged to me, and not the sort of thing your small stomach will find easy to deal with. I used to love getting a spaghetti bolognese if we were out for a meal and picking the mince and sauce out of the Pasta when I was further down the line - a tiny bit pasta, well chewed, may be fine - but the prize was the Protein and the Tomato sauce… in easily chewable and digestible forms. You started this thread saying you are 9 days post op - you shouldn’t really even be thinking about pasties - please get your surgical team to do their job and give you guidance on what to consume. You are in this for the long hall and you need to take things slowly. All the best.

I'm a total foodie and cook, and loved a grazing booze-up at a mate's place. While cooking is currently WAY less exciting, I know I'll cook for others and that makes me happy. I can only eat tiny portions, and I struggle with that, but I eat food that's nutritious and delicious and because I have to stop and chew, I find I'm REALLY tasting it and that makes it more satisfying.
There was a get together at a mate's last weekend - the first in five months after a long lockdown here in Sydney AU. I knew I couldn't drink or graze like I used to. So I made some hummus, chopped up some carrots, bought a bag of corn-chips for the others, and a fancy bottle of still Water and a lime. My drink all night was the still water with a slice of lime in it, to pretend I was having something "fancy". I paced myself to nibble on a carrot stick with a little hummus every so often. It was fine! I had a fabulous time, laughed myself silly, and didn't leave drunk off my tits and WAY too full. The company was the important thing.
Thankfully my surgery has changed the way I feel about food. Had my friends ordered pizza, I would have felt a bit sick looking at it, and while baked snack food did come out, I wasn't tempted. As for alcohol, I know I'll have a glass ONE day. Maybe not for a year or so, but at some point I will. Right now, I'm content to stay sober.

Secret: Not being the biggest person in the group anymore.
And a big one -I've ALWAYS been able to lift my partner. I long for the day he can not only pick me up, but I don't panic and beg him to put me down before he hurts himself!
Not secret: No longer checking the weight restrictions on things. Climbing a ladder without fear! Sitting on any chair without worrying if I'm going to break it.
Really and truly being the little spoon.

I was born and raised in Queensland, and I bought a mango two days ago because it's almost automatic when fruit season hits! It's sitting in the fruit bowl, staring at me as I realise I'm super nervous to try it. My first fruit season and Christmas in Brisbane is going to be an interesting time! It ain't a QLD Christmas without summer fruit platters. 🤪 I'm yet to try fruit and I'm hoping my anti-sweet tastebuds won't apply to that!
And like your mum with the oats, my partner has also been baffled at what I think is too sweet. Ordered a matcha latte at a cafe, and could not drink it because it had been sweetened. My partner took it off my hands and said it wasn't sweet at all. Swear to god it was!

Secret: Not being the biggest person in the group anymore.
And a big one -I've ALWAYS been able to lift my partner. I long for the day he can not only pick me up, but I don't panic and beg him to put me down before he hurts himself!
Not secret: No longer checking the weight restrictions on things. Climbing a ladder without fear! Sitting on any chair without worrying if I'm going to break it.
Really and truly being the little spoon.

Update: the drugs are working! The pain is almost completely gone, no more weird gallstone-like-pain attacks waking me in the night, and today I managed to eat half a small falafel which I could not have done three days ago. Tiny steps re-introducing soft solid food again, but it's a welcome relief being able to swallow even a tiny bit.
So it was definitely ulcers and I'm definitely on the mend. My surgeon is awesome.

I developed a couple aversions that are noteworthy.
The first is yogurt. I used to eat lots of yogurt, specifically a Kroger artificially sweetened one they call Carbmaster. In preparation for surgery, I bought 40 or 50 cartons. Almost 6 months after surgery, I have forced one or two down. The rest are in the garage refrigerator waiting to be thrown out.
I also used to drink Protein Shakes from an outfit called Diet Direct. They cost about $11 for a box of 7, powder in envelopes. (They have to be mixed up in a blender.) The Premier Protein shakes taste better to me and they have more Protein. But I own 50 or 60 boxes of the kind I don't like any more.
My recommendation to anybody who hasn't had surgery yet: don't stock up on anything, even things that are mainstays of your diet. You might be wasting your money.

I did it to get my life back. I didn't want to waste any more years of what's left of my life as a self-loathing shut-in, which is what I'd allowed myself to become.
And it's already working. My self esteem is slowly returning, my energy is back, my happiness is growing. I can see the sunrise on the horizon for the first time in 17 years.

Bringing your fave cake is brutal! Major props to you resisting that, even if it meant settling for sad yoghurt.
The fear of dumping is real though. It's why I'm not willing to touch potatoes, Pasta or bread.

Secret: Not being the biggest person in the group anymore.
And a big one -I've ALWAYS been able to lift my partner. I long for the day he can not only pick me up, but I don't panic and beg him to put me down before he hurts himself!
Not secret: No longer checking the weight restrictions on things. Climbing a ladder without fear! Sitting on any chair without worrying if I'm going to break it.
Really and truly being the little spoon.

My cravings have changed a lot! I used to love Pasta and now even thinking about it makes me feel queasy. I think it’s all ‘carby’ stuff for me, like bread or pizza too 🤢
I do still like the thought of sweet things, but I am not looking to find out what dumping feels like if I can help it!! I found a nice chocolate Protein pudding that I can have now and again so that helps to not feel like I’m missing anything.
My one most favourite food in the world however is chicken wings, and I am very much looking forward to making some of my own in the oven for Christmas. 😍

I was hoping that my tastes would change after surgery, but they really did not, with the exception of french fries/fried potatoes (tried two different types out of curiosity and they just tasted mealy and gross). I enjoy the Protein Shakes and artificially sweetened yogurt. I haven't had any real sweets yet, so I guess I'm hoping to break up with those. I'm at my parents' house right now and there are some other guests so my mom bought my favorite cake from the fancy French bakery and I didn't try it. I am afraid that I will like it and I won't stop eating sweets. Also, I had a bit of fear of dumping, even though I had the sleeve. I ate a light and fit greek yogurt watching them eat the cake... it was a little sad.

Glad to hear it.