Spinoza

Oh dear, I am a real outlier here because I had blood tests for the first time after 6 months. My surgeon seems really relaxed about this (possibly because their dietitian is SOOOOOO good). I'm getting another set done at 2 years and that'll be it for me unless I develop symptoms of deficiency of something or other. I think it's different for people whose surgery induces malabsorption? Although of course I know not having a whole stomach does that for certain vitamins in some people.

Cottage cheese also a big no from me. Have tried it so many times. Won't say what the taste and texture remind me of, but suffice to say I had really nasty hyperemesis in my pregnancies and drank a lot of milk in an unsuccessful attempt to cure it. ?

This is what really scares me. People who have clearly done really well then slipping back into old habits. Thank you so much for sharing. I am one of the people who is afraid to relax. Still clenched 100% of the time. I an eat a lot more now I'm almost 2 years post surgery. I do stick to the protein first veg second carbs third ALL THE TIME though, maybe that's what's saving me. Do you think that might help you @SleeverSk ? I've had a few planned strays from the path and one or two unplanned ones but I've been able to get back on the path immediately after (so far). The tip I would share would be to track everything but I know that doesn't suit everyone. I would love to think that in another couple of years I wouldn't need to but I suspect I always will. Really interested in others' experiences. Thanks for starting the thread OP!

I picked a goal weight right in the middle of my healthy (hahahaha what even IS that?) BMI range. I had many many times lost weight and got there by various means previously. My surgeon and dietician thought it might be too ambitious given the average loss with a sleeve, so I was prepared to lose MUCH less. You can do it any way you like OP! Perhaps pick a weight that you have been comfortable at before. OR a weight/BMI that you really want to reach, for whatever reason. Or lick a finger and hold it up into the wind. Turns out my team's advice meant virtually nothing. I got to my goal weight and then lost some more. I didn't need to try or do anything specific - just stuck to my plan. I wish you the best of luck.

Oooh I hope this is going to be a fascinating thread - what is 'it's gone too far' - is it in the eye of the beholder?? We might all have our own idea of that. Thanks for the chance to discuss this OP!! I get asked pretty regularly now whether or not I am well (I SO AM) and whether or not I planned to lose this much weight (I SOOOOO DID). The inference being - you at best look thin of face and body, or at worst look really unwell (in that person's eye). I filter/ignore those comments depending on how much I trust/want to hear about that person's eye! I think allowing people to do what they want to and need to with their bodies for their own reasons without judgement is probably a good thing on a general and totally generic level. I know it can be difficult when people go beyond what we ourselves are comfortable with, and then that it goes up another level if they do things well outside our norms AND societal norms. If they are not hurting anybody then fantastic. Honestly you do you - if you want to have a skeletal face (and get paparazzi to follow you and your daughter for a day of "shopping") and it feels good to you then dooooooo it! And make your money out of it if you need that too. Absolutely ready for a big old discussion on this one. ?

Interesting! Why not gold or silver at the get go?

Yes! When I was a couple of months post op and struggling to meet my calorie targets I regularly had a spoon or two of nut butter before bed to get me over the line. What are your concerns?

This absolutely makes sense to most of us. We do need the support of people who've been through what we've been through in order to feel normal or reassure us that we've achieved something good. I too had no idea my maintenance calories would be anything less than 2000 - although it now seems ridiculous to say that. I totally hear you on the 3 year regain - steeling myself for that as we speak. Please keep posting and let us know how your journey goes ?

Thanks to the link for the BMR and calorie calculator - it was really interesting! I am at the tail end of my journey - still losing after 22 months but at a super slow rate - like half a pound a month now. I am still like 500 calories a day below my predicted maintenance intake. I can only presume that I will need to stay well below that in order not to regain. Amazing how different it can be for people who look the same on paper. I wish you the best of luck OP xx

Oh my word - reaching goal within Just over 3 months of surgery? That has to be a new record. Well done. I suspect that you will continue to lose for many months and that your current goal will by then have disappeared in your rear view mirror. Welcome to your new life ?

It has never ever from day 1 felt the same as before for me and I'm 22 months post op. I think that I had a really delayed feeling of fullness throughout my adult life, which contributed to me eating myself into obesity. Having the sleeve has totally changed the cues my stomach sends when it's full. Weirdly they still seem to be really delayed, but I can predict and manage the cues better. It'll be really hard for you at 7 weeks out to predict how you will be long term but I think don't expect to 'eat normally and feel full' as you did before. The point of the surgery is to change what you felt and did before and, believe me. you will!! I wish you the best of luck.

I had a relatively easy time after my surgery but it took me *months* before I met my protein or fluid goals. Keep the faith - if you're there or thereabouts then you'll be absolutely fine. ?

Huge congratulations, your photos are amazing. I love to hear success stories and especially of better health because of the surgery. I am 22 months post sleeve surgery and the fear of regain is real - I think I'll always have it and I think I need to have it. I have a lifelong bad track record and this is my one shot at countering that. I haven't yet relaxed into my new way of eating - I still track absolutely everything, so far that's working well so I expect I'll always do it. It's a small price to pay for a completely new life. I wish you all the best - you've done brilliantly.

You're doing so well, it's fantastic to be this close to your goal. I agree with everyone else - keep on keeping on and trust the surgery, it's clearly working/has worked for you!

I woke up in my hospital bed experiencing little to no pain. I know that experiences vary hugely but all I needed then and in the subsequent days was paracetamol - it was in liquid form because I couldn't swallow tablets. I only had a few doses, after that no need for any pain killer. I do realise I may have been lucky

Do you mean snacks to take to work or something? You can prepare those in advance. If you're home you can just stock up your fridge with variations on the suggestions. My go-to snacks are still deli meat (or, better still, meat leftover from last night's dinner) raw nuts and cheese. They will get you through almost every situation. Honestly I haven't had a bar since my surgery - they just don't seem like proper food any more and most are laced with sugar. As you get further out veg (like celery sticks and some sort of hummus or dip or soft cheese) or berries are also good and you can get those at short notice almost everywhere. High protein yoghurts are also great.

Oh I think you won't even consider those drinks as a good/acceptable thing now - I can't have even a sip without regretting it. It's almost unbelievable what we did before in the throes of sugar addiction.

At one month out I was just about onto tiny servings of proper food and I also couldn't stomach more than a few bites of whatever I had prepared. I did what Arabesque did and portioned and froze everything I did cook so that I could eat it later in equally tiny servings. Honestly OP, in a few months you will look back and treasure this time when you were so restricted. It does get easier to eat bigger volumes with time but the point of what we put ourselves through is to BE restricted and to use this restriction/time to lose weight. I wish you the best of luck.

Yes I think this is a really tricky stage for some people. Personally I loved it (I still remember the taste of a proper pureed roast dinner after weeks of shakes). It only lasts a couple of weeks so I say get through it any way you can. If you can meet your fluid and protein goals then maybe you'll just get to the soft foods stage that way. I wish you the best of luck.

Oh wow every day is a school day! I had never heard of this before today, and certainly never experienced it because I reheat things ALL THE TIME (I'm sleeved though). But I can see now how it is a thing.

And another update a month later. In the last 6 months I have lost 3 or at the most 4lbs depending on the day of the week. Pretty much bottomed out now I think at 138. I have lost exactly half of my pre-surgery weight which is totally mind-blowing. I am preparing myself for some regain in the next year or so (I need to so I don't panic when it appears). Hopefully the completely new wardrobe I've bought won't be in vain. But even if it is I can totally get another one size up and still be happy. I am still walking a LOT. I need to get into some strength training but I can't find the time. Any November 2021 people please check in - I am dying to hear how we're all doing these days. ?

Oh my word that has to be one of the best photos ever on this thread. Inspiring to anyone thinking about the pros and cons of WLS. That dress so suits you GreenTealael. Enjoy. And look at that photo often. ?

Definitely agree with the others. Even if this delays your surgery a little it'll be worth it to drag those issues out into the light and address them beforehand. You did the right thing being honest. Have you discussed this with your therapist? If so I BET they'll advise a little more time pre-op to get you to the right place mentally. The surgery itself is only one piece of the jigsaw. You have the rest of your life afterwards to use that tool and only one chance to prepare for it, so you'll want to give yourself the very best crack of the whip.

I found warm fluids much easier than cold early on so I drank a lot of tea and herbal tea and eventually bouillon. I also warmed my shakes a little sometimes, LOL. I stuck to the 30 minutes before and after for the first few months. I still stick to the after, but I can drink right before a meal with no issues now, which really helps. As others have said, keep your water bottle close at hand all the time. It really is hard, and lots of us don't meet our fluid goal for the first few weeks. Best of luck.

Yes I'd be really interested to hear about any ups and downs along the way. It's amazing to see someone who has done so well - thank you for sharing!