Spinoza

Stalls are the absolute pits. We've been through hell and high water even to decide to have this big procedure, and we take the leap of faith and actually do it, and and and all of a sudden...a big fat no loss. And next day...nothing. The only way not to see the stalls is not to weigh yourself very often, and I think most of us here are too invested for that! Just come here and complain every single time you hit a stall and we will listen and sympathise. Everyone here has said it - they're normal and most of us experience them - repeatedly. If you stick to your plan you will lose loads, it just doesn't follow a straight line with a loss every day - your body doesn't do things that way. I wish you the very best of luck.

Oh wow what a photo! ? And I totally agree, it's time for a name change Tiny Sue!

Holiday looks amazing and so do you. Nice work!

I love both of those. Especially the gown for the wedding itself - looks amazing.

I still can't and I'm 20 months post op tomorrow Matt! I can drink drink drink before a meal now - pretty close to eating actually (and it sounds like you can't yet). Think it took me at least a year from memory to get that far. I simply cannot do it the other way around - gives me real grief. Once I eat solid food I have to wait at least half an hour and ideally more like an hour until I drink. The only exception to this is when I want to, LOL, and even then it needs to be planned like a military operation. I can swallow a mouthful of pizza followed by a mouthful of beer for like forever. I only do this when in company and not wanting to draw attention to my surgery. I wouldn't recommend it other than in an emergency - it's a surefire way to regain.

Plans are all so different! I was given no guidelines at all about post op eating other than sticking to the stages texture wise. Nobody ever suggested any calorie intake in particular. I asked people here! I think that at 8 weeks I was probably at 700-800 calories daily. I remember I used to eat some nut butter at bedtime if I can't reached something close to that. I agree with the others that protein and fluids goals are still the most important thing.

Honestly and genuinely, and without disagreeing with anyone here (because only they can know what has worked for them and all of our experiences will differ) stalls and plateaus are a completely normal part of losing weight after WLS. If you stick rigidly to the plan you have been given then in the vast majority of cases stalls will break, plus eventually (sooner or later - and people get there at different rates) you will get to your new set weight. That weight might not be your ideal weight but that's what the surgery does. All of the side stuff you do along the way makes little to no difference IMO. It's window dressing. And we kill ourselves angsting about it. Sure, if we've been on a long stall and we then decide to increase/decrease protein/carbs/exercise/type of exercise/duration of exercise/CALORIES/whatever, and we resume losing weight, it is human nature to attribute the renewed loss to whatever we did. But we're working with an experimental group of 1 (me) with no control group. Basically if all the time we're sticking to our programme then that's what kick starts the new loss, not the other stuff. If I could go back in time 20 months I would just say to my post-op me "stick to the plan, use your tool, and see how far you can get. You will lose rapidly and lose slowly with no rhyme or reason. Stop comparing yourself to others - they're different to you. Surgery works, stick to the plan!!!!" I really hope this helps someone else.

Yes I think surgical teams do tend to be quite conservative in their estimates. If the average loss is 65% then lots of people lose less and lots more (that's how averages work, LOL). I think they don't want to 'promise' a greater loss in case we complain afterwards that their surgery didn't achieve it, so they pick the lowest common denominator.

And that is EXACTLY how to do it! You've got this. ?

Some processed stuff too though Suzi. I found it helpful to avoid those foods in the weeks and months after my op. And sweet stuff was a real trigger early on - almost derailed me a few times. Yeah totally agree too - some yoghurts will have more sugar and stuff in them whilst presenting themselves as healthy. Wasn't dissing your recipe - as I said, it looks really fab. My comments were more for Kathy who seems to be early post surgery, and just to share my experience.

Oh OK if you're just a few weeks out from your surgery then I would not recommend this recipe. Much better to prepare healthy food from scratch and for that to be the mainstay of your diet forever. Next year and forever after definitely you can build this sort of stuff in as an occasional treat!

I have just hit maintenance but my long term plan is to allow a 5lb gain without freaking out (because of water weight and other factors) and then if I exceed that to go right back to basics - protein first, veg and fruit second, carbs a very last third - until I'm back to my previous weight. I have no idea yet whether or not this will help me maintain but I just thought I should share. Best of luck to you x

Loving this thread. Some of my good problems relate to newfound boniness. I went on several rollercoasters in a park at Easter and ended up with bruises right down my spine - because I have no padding now and the seats are hard hard plastic. Does this happen to people who were never obese? What on earth is wrong with park operators building in a bit of wadding??? Also - my ass hurts if I have to sit on unpadded chairs anywhere for more than a few minutes. I have to start jiggling and that's not a good look.

OK we have GOT to see some photos of this...

Totally lush. Thank you for sharing. And happy birthday! ?

OMG I am not even looking at that recipe again. Looks amazing and I had such a sweet tooth once upon a time! ?

Was your surgery 2 and a half years ago (your profile says that)? If so you might actually already be at your final new set weight. I think it's possible to get lower than that for some people but it seems to require a huge effort and then sustaining that - in a way you are fighting against what your body has decided is good for it. I do understand that it is frustrating not to reach your goal weight (I would have been really sad, I know, but my body decided it was happy with losing that amount and I know I was one of the lucky ones). Would it be possible to accept that you've made an amazing change for the good and relax into your new weight? I totally understand that might not be who you are, and I know people with much greater wisdom to share will be along soon. Best of luck.

Also can I just echo Arabesque's recommendation of the electrolyte drinks? Thankfully I had read loads of her posts here before my surgery - they totally saved my life several times in my post op period when I felt weak and wobbly. ?

I went to a friend's for xmas dinner at exactly the same point post op. I got to sit the whole time obviously so I hope the standing isn't too long for you, but if you make an average/good recovery I think you'll have no problems at all. Bet you're looking forward to some major last minute alteration of that bridesmaid's dress too (and please can we have a photo in the OOTD thread in the lounge?? I'm a bit obsessed with weddings). I'm sure you'll enjoy it. My dietician cleared me to have a glass or two of bubbles at my dinner but might be worth just checking with your team if you intend to drink any alcohol. And - definitely the chicken, just a tiny portion. And then hide most of that under the salad/veg, LOLOL!!

Hi, I had my sleeve aged over 50. Lost more, and quicker, than younger people here. But also less and slower than older people here! Which means - everyone loses at their own rate. Best of luck to all of us xxx

STB so pleased to see you're out the other end of this! Did they get rid of all your polyps? Do you think this will be your last procedure? ? Wishing you a smooth smooth road for the rest of your weight loss journey xx

You're doing amazingly. You've got over the big hurdle - the rest will follow if you can stick to your plan. Best of luck xxx

Hi OP, not sure what you mean by 'a series of surgeries' for revision. Most people seem to get just one procedure. Can you explain further? Also what does your name indicate - unusual choice considering the surname is sexual. And... no revision (and no surgery) will work if you 'go on a tear'. It's possible to eat around both virgin and revision procedures. Wishing you all the luck. Feel free to provide more information if you need genuine assistance with your current situation ? S

I have a sleeve so this might not be directly relevant but do you know, of all the food types I can eat most pizza. Volume wise, calorie wise, protein wise, whatever. I can PACK that stuff in, whereas I have to budget for sushi, burgers, fries, whatever. Please do not worry unless you plan to do what you did today every day. In that case all might be lost. As a one-off it's totally doable. Welcome to your new life OP. ?

I had a sleeve and had no restriction placed on caffeine intake either pre or post op. I drank coffee from day 1. But everyone is different and you sound like you're listening to your body OP - maybe just try it again in a few weeks when you've healed a bit more.