Spinoza

I came back to share something else because I've just done it for one of only a handful of times ever. Don't ever eat quickly from a big container of food. It's impossible to tell how much has gone in. I just made stew and thought I would eat it from the pot. To save me washing up one plate. A big mistake and one that slower eaters wouldn't make, so there's another good reason to stick to the rule. 😢

I have not stuck to this rule at all and I think I've just been lucky. Since a few months after my sleeve once I know I can eat a certain amount then I have just it at a normal (quick) pace. I remember asking a question here about 6 months in about why I needed to eat one egg slowly if I already knew my stomach could comfortably accommodate one egg. I should say I have been, and I think will always be, very careful with portion sizes. So I'm not in the business of pushing it even a bit - if anything I will quickly eat something that I know is less than my stomach will hold in preference to sitting at a meal for half an hour to find out when I might feel satisfied. If I need a little top up of something 10 or 15 minutes later because I'm still hungry I just have a little piece of cheese or some deli meat. It has worked for me because I'm busy (and impatient). Not advocating it for everyone - everyone above has given very considered advice and experience - just saying what has worked so far for me.

Best 50th birthday present ever 😍 So glad to hear of your success!

This is super interesting. BMI really cannot cover all body types and shapes can it? It's a population measure, not an individual measure at all. I suspect my body fat percentage is higher than yours. Maybe that and visceral fat are what we should really be focusing on.

So lovely to hear your update and how well you've done Lanitele!! 😍

Sleeve here and I have had no issues with carbonated drinks of any kind since a few weeks after my surgery (I had champagne at christmas last year with my surgeon's blessing). I just burp up the gas immediately but I can have a few swigs of beer or diet cola etc. before that happens, and then I'm ready for another few, LOL. Must be one of those things that varies from person to person as well as depending on the procedure you've had.

Hi D&S, lovely to see you again and glad to hear you've done so well! Think I'm also done losing - at 147 for a few weeks, going up and down the same pound or two. Very very happy too. I can't afford any skin removal surgery so I just have to content myself with my body's appearance. Definitely much better than it looked 15 months ago!

SO frustrating when you did so well up to that FMO! I am also good on weekdays, lax at weekends and I also drink alcohol at weekends but I'm maintaining at this point. Could you go back to something more like your post op diet? Protein first (so important I find) fruit and veg next, carbs a very last last? And track track track - you know it works. Focus on the 3 months you have to lose some more before that check up. I wish you the very best of luck 💪

Best of luck to you OP!!!!

Absolutely gorgeous looking both!

Yes definitely sounds like a stall. I urge you not to over-analyse what came before or after - that way madness lies. If you're sticking to your programme you WILL lose weight but it will NOT be in a linear fashion. It's zigs and zags, big losses one week, none (or a gain) the next. What matters is looking back over the entire period and seeing a downward trend. Some people seem to have taken the path of checking weight at looooong intervals. Most of us weigh much more frequently because we can't bear not to. None of that matters - the fact remains - if you stick to the rules you will lose weight (in all but the rarest circumstances). You have absolutely done the best thing you could ever have done for your health. If you can relax a tiny bit more and accept that then you're gonna have a fun few months and come out of those lighter and healthier. Best of luck. 😍

In the first weeks and (hopefully) months after your surgery you honestly won't have the appetite or the space to indulge in big volumes of unhealthy food. I do worry that after that, when you get your appetite back, you might get tempted. I would say use that time to normalise bringing in healthy snacks like fruit and veg so that's what they (and you) expect when there are loads of junk foods swilling around. Sounds tough though. The alternative would be to ask all of your co-workers to stop bringing in (or ordering in) this sort of rubbish. I have no idea what your relationship with them is like but I can only imagine the response I would have received to a similar request in my workplace. 😂 Best of luck.

I have a sleeve but I also find I can drink right up until I eat with no issue. Once I eat I actually purposely delay drinking afterwards for as long as possible. At least an hour and better still up to 2.5 hours or so. Seems to keep my new stomach fuller for longer. Then I rehydrate and then think about solid food again. It has worked for me so far but I know it mightn't for everyone.

OP can you give us some background information please? My nose runs if I eat more than usual, sneezing could be something similar I guess. But if you really are just a few days post op then it looks like you're not eating the right things and could actually be risking damage.

Fab I'm approaching maintenance now so that is really useful to know! 😍

I had oro-dispersible or liquid meds for the first four weeks and then back to anything. I had a sleeve though.

I can drink right up to the time I start eating but I don't drink for as long as possible after - usually well over an hour after my main meal and at least half an hour after others. That's because I saw a version of that video here months ago. However when I am in situations where I want to be seen to be eating 'normally' I drink on purpose so I can purposely empty my pouch and fit more food in. I've eaten half a pizza just by having a beer along with it - normally one or two two slices would be my limit. I've done that like 4 times in the last year - definitely not a habit to get into but handy for when you need to cheat. The other thing that really helps that is reversing the rules and eating carbs first protein last.

I love good food. Problem for most of my life was that I ate far too much of it, and then a whole heap of sugar right on top of that again for good measure. I am 14 months post sleeve surgery and I can eat almost everything I could before, so I really don't miss anything at all. When I eat out I eat about half a main or just get a starter (which are often the most interesting dishes on a menu anyway!) Honestly it brings me just as much joy as it always did. I hope it's the same for you.

I found that part really hard too. My ability to drink bigger volumes just came back gradually over time. At 14 months post sleeve I can swallow about 5 big glugs of liquid at a time, which is super satisfying after months of sipping.

Yes! I'm also feeling the cold 14 months out from my sleeve. I need three layers minimum inside now if I'm sitting doing nothing. I really hope it isn't permanent.

Fab fab fab! What an achievement!👏

Over 50 too when I had my sleeve surgery 14 months ago. Also wish I'd done it years ago. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself EVER.

I have honestly been able to tolerate absolutely everything, which is a real blessing - I only realise this because of this forum and seeing what other people have had problems with. I had one ropey moment with some carrot but I have since tolerated that with no issue. Avocado and hummus were some of my go-to foods in my immediate post-op period. Can't imagine how they affect others differently but clearly they do. Welcome to the wonderful world of WLS!

This amazes me every time I read a new post about it. I was sleeved 14 months ago. I did not have to give up caffeine - the very first liquid I was given post op was black coffee. The difference in programmes never ceases to amaze me. Sorry you're having to go through this, sounds completely miserable. Only times I have ever given up caffeine were during my pregnancies and I still remember the headaches - world class. 😣

Huge congratulations to you - I know you've posted several times recently about your journey and it's inspiring. Please can I ask what you do in your planned weight loss phases now? Do you calorie count, track protein and/or other macros, restrict any food groups, follow any particular route?