Spinoza

Thank you for this OP! I used to play competitive sport and stopping that but continuing to eat as I had before definitely contributed to my weight gain, as did so many lifestyle changes. So glad to hear your story and I only hope I can get there some day too. 💪

I've read this so many times and kind of expected it but never experienced it! My shoe size is pretty much exactly what it was 120lbs ago. Weird!!

I didn't buy anything to help with bite size or portion size, and I wouldn't have used them even if I did because I was really restricted post op. Less so now of course. I was eating food that covered the tip of a teaspoon initially, and then progressed to filling that up more. Nothing wrong with baby spoons though if that focuses the mind - it's all about that. Best of luck on your journey 🤩

Yeah interesting thread - I see my weight, my weight loss, and how I did it as totally my information to share or not as I see fit. Some of us are just more reticent than others - that's life!. I've had a lifetime of being judged for being overweight and obese so I'll decide how I live my life at a normal weight with no obligation to explain it to ANYONE. Nothing wrong with one or other approach - I just don't think I especially owe a waiter any explanation/justification of why I want my meal a certain way. I just assume they'll bring it as I ask for it cos that's what waiters do (and this is said in the knowledge that I and all of my family have done that job at some time). 😁

Fantastic. Such a worthy cause as you say - I'm glad it raised so much money. Your dress is amazing too. 😍

Yeah interesting question! It's definitely not the same at all. With hindsight I felt properly full with tiny amounts at both pureed and soft food stages (I had a sleeve). Now that I'm eating everything I often know I can't eat any more volume wise but still don't feel full. It's weird - I call it empty full. If I really want that full feeling I wait half an hour and top up with something not protein. Most times I can just ignore it though, it's not hunger at all, it's just not feeling full in the old way!

Also used to dodge the camera. When I do see photos of the old me I am overwhelmed with regret that I didn't have surgery years ago.

How difficult it is just to get both fluids and protein in! I have pretty much sailed through my sleeve op. My only concerns have been related to hitting my fluid and protein goals in the same day. In the early days I pretty much alternated them. Even 11 months out I have to pay real ongoing attention to both.

I drank a *lot* of hot bouillon in the weeks after surgery to meet my fluid goals. I seemed to be able to drink that much quicker than anything cold or room temp. That was just me though! You're right to have a think pre-op about mixing up the temperature of your fluids after surgery - it really can make a difference!

Where are you on your journey OP?? I'm almost 11 months post sleeve. If I stick to protein first, veg second then I can eat three kind of half sized meals a day - 2-3 of oz of meat/fish and a few oz of veg - and two or three snacks. I reserve my carbs for bedtime so generally have porridge (oatmeal) made with milk then cos that helps me sleep (I am such a baby). I make a point of having one or two servings of fruit a day and at least three proper portions of veg for my general health - I know lots of people have lots more than that this far out from surgery. If I wanted to eat carbs all day then I probably could and would probably gain weight but I've gone to some trouble and expense to get a tool that I can use to lose weight and then also keep me at a lower weight so I intend to use it!! Stick to the program and you'll be fine, that is the absolutely most important thing. Best of luck. When is your surgery??

Oh wow - I also cannot go to bed hungry. I thought I was alone in this (seems so weird but I just cannot sleep if I am). I would rather be hungry all day than risk not being full at bedtime. So - as soon as I could eat solid food after my sleeve I purposely hoarded calories to eat at bedtime. Probably 20% plus of my daily allowance. And ideally carby - so, porridge with fruit, or toast, etc. I kind of relate this to my night owl metabolism generally. I know that morning people (larks) mightn't understand that but as a fellow night owl I totally totally do. Chronotypes are real and they have an impact on weight loss.

FWIW at almost 11 months post sleeve I can eat one egg easily, and have been able to from early on. I might fit in one and a half if I wanted to push it for whatever reason but I definitely couldn't do two without discomfort. We're all different though and early on you don't get the full benefit of your restriction because of the cut nerves. Stick it out, you'll be absolutely fine.

Glad you got some reassurance OP. We do torture ourselves with this stuff. Bottom line - if you stick with the programme you've been given you *will* lose weight. Best of luck.

Of course I will - not long now for you @summerseeker I'm just starting the hardest part of my journey now - in the completely uncharted territory of maintenance. Gulp!

Euch. Not a big fan of that misogynistic language. Expressing valid concerns is the right way to go. You only want the best for your partner. I only hope he will listen to those concerns and act on them OP.

Actually maybe the correct question is - how did you know when you were done? I am within a couple of pounds of my original (completely arbitrarily chosen) goal weight. Which by the way I never really believed I could reach. I was sleeved 10 months ago and am still losing around half a pound a week on 1200 calories (ish) a day - a bit more at weekends because I drink some alcohol then. I am hungry at times but I can keep that at bay by eating lots of protein snacks alongside my 3 meals a day, which are protein and veg for the main - still not much in the way of carbs. My question is - did you just select a goal weight and stick to that? Did you achieve/maintain this by intentionally increasing your calorie intake once you got there? I'm thinking I could easily go up to 1600/1800 calories a day and probably maintain at that or thereabouts. Or did you just keep going as long as you could, staying on the right side of hunger (AKA deprivation, LOL) and see how low you could go, and does the weight loss then fizzle out? If I did that would I ever be able to up my calories again without gaining? So many questions, LOL. I would really appreciate your thoughts and experiences.

Really helpful, thank you so much!

@Arabesque please may I ask you another question? If you went back to eating 800 calories a day for a few weeks and lost those 2 kilos (not that you want to or need to!) is it your instinct that they would just bounce back on?

Sounds awful. I specifically asked my surgeon before I got my sleeve whether I would be able to vomit afterwards because I can’t think of anything worse than needing to and not being able to. He told me I would. I didn’t realise the foamies were a kind of horrid replacement. I haven’t had them yet and I hope I never do.

That's the Holy Grail of bariatric surgery. Well done you / lucky you. Proves it does happen for some of us!!!

Amazing photos @Mariann812 You must be so pleased.

I am so sorry to hear you're dealing with this @SleeveDiva2022 You know you can't have gained 9lbs of fat in 9 days based on your calorie intake so this has to be water weight and/or a completely overloaded bowel, and/or using different scales, or whatever. Hormones may well have a part to play but, if so, monitor your weight over a complete menstrual cycle (or two or three) and then decide what's going on. I do totally get the despair that a gain like that will induce but I hope it's a temporary blip for you. You have done amazingly well so far. Anyway - long story short - you got this.

So good that you've found this forum - everyone here is so supportive. Sounds like revision is the right thing, particularly given your GERD. And congratulations on your new arrival (maybe not so new now?)!!! My pre-op diet was 2 weeks of 800 calories a day. I could do it whatever way I wanted. What I did was three meal replacement shakes or soups (or whatever) and a small protein and veg meal in the evening. I should say I live in Ireland so it's likely to be different for you. My original surgery date was cancelled the day before I was meant to have it and not re-scheduled for 2 months so I ended up sticking to the 800 calories (give or take) all that time and losing 25lbs. I now view those as pounds I don't have to work hard to lose now, although at the time it was absolutely agonizing waiting for a date!!! I wish you all the best on your weight loss journey. I think your experience with the sleeve and the challenges you faced along the way will really help you get the best out of a bypass.

I was asked twice in the last week whether I had lost weight on purpose - assume it's because my face is so much thinner. Gonna keep chugging on for a while yet - might be good insurance in case of a regain further down the line.

Looks absolutely lush. Cauli rice to soak up all that lovely gravy?