Spinoza

Loving this thread! I also have 6 different sizes of clothes - 11 years ago I weighed what I want to weigh long term, although it proved impossible to maintain. So I have been dragging out clothing in smaller sizes as I lose weight. I haven't given any away as yet but I really do need to now (closet space!) I will probably keep my biggest jeans for sentimental reasons but everything else will go to a charity shop. I've had to buy a couple of things there too and it just makes so much sense.

Really interesting - thank you for this! The 3 month calculation already hasn't worked out for me - I lost very slowly at the start. I didn't know that there was a correlation (and I wonder how close that is) between the appearance of the neck and upper chest, and visceral fat. Also never considered that excessive dietary restriction or excessive exercise after surgery might raise the body's set point. Really worth watching - thanks again. ?

I think this happens to lots of people and will happen to lots of us here. I would (being me) analyse the heck out of why it happened, try not to let that set of circumstances arise in the future, and then forgive myself and move on. It's one day and one chocolate bar - it's not the rest of your life and guilt can be so destructive. I was a massive consumer of chocolate before my surgery. I keep a 100% bar in the cupboard for times I *think* I need some. No sugar but mega chocolaty and I love it, but don't eat more than a square or two at a time. I had anti-acid medication for 3 months post op and have been fine since then without it (thankfully!)

Absolutely normal, sounds like a stall and should be over soon. ?

Good advice here. It sounds like you're ready to start your journey again. I hope you are healing and continue to heal from those big losses. Your plan sounds excellent - as MGBD says, head first. Keep telling us here how you're getting along - we will all be rooting for you. I believe that in no time at all you'll be shedding your weight and claiming your new life. Good luck x

Oh I love hearing how well you're all doing. Seems like no time since surgery but also seems like a lifetime ago. ?

Sorry you're getting this from the very people who should be urging you on. I'm another person who has only told my partner and children. Most people have no idea what bariatric surgery involves and the dedication it takes to make it work for you. But despite all this - YOU'RE DOING IT and that's the best way to prove you were right!!!!! ?

I have to reheat all the time too - especially soup! I know I still eat too fast and I know I don't chew enough but I get so hungry I just wolf everything down or at best remember halfway through to stop and wait. My stomach has tolerated everything so far - I've had mild discomfort when I ate steak without chewing enough but it passed in a few minutes. I do eat little and often though - probably the most protein I've had so far is half a (big) chicken thigh or a quarter of a chicken breast. I am so afraid of stretching my pouch (I know, I know) that I'd rather do it that way for now.

I had a great day today! Had booked the day off and it was glorious Spring sunshine. Went into town, bought some pots and planters for my flower seeds and bulbs - I get those in tomorrow hopefully. I adore Spring - it's my favourite season. I detest Winter - so glad it's done for another year. I may have a glass of wine this evening - I know lots of people don't this soon after surgery (I'm 4 months post-op) but I do like just one glass on Friday and Saturday night - I always have and it feels like a bit of normality. Have a great weekend everyone. ?

4 month anniversary today. My BMI is just over 30. If you had told me in November this would happen I'd have laughed in your face. ? Also - Happy St Patrick's Day!!!!

Really interesting - thank you!

I love it here too. If you read back someone has asked every question you will ever come up with. Sounds like you're doing really well. ?

Your photos are amazing - thank you so much for sharing. I'm too shy still but I hope one day I'll post a photo from every month of my journey and marvel at how far I have come ?

I also notice this, and it was also last week when I was away from home. I think it's because I wasn't doing protein first. I ate half a tuna melt sandwich all but two bites and panicked that my restriction had disappeared overnight. Of course it hadn't - turns out carbs first is not the right way. Now I'm back at home I'm feeling the restriction again - just the same as before. I will need to plan better next time I'm away from home. I'm almost 5 stones down on my highest weight. I feel amazing. I have always yo-yo'd so I have ALL the sizes of clothing to go back through on the way down. Once I reach a steady weight I'll invest in some new stuff, especially for work. Turns out 10 year old work clothes look like they were in fashion 10 years ago. ?

What an achievement. Can't wait to join you!

I find it absolutely fascinating reading these responses. As I do reading everyone's experiences here. For transition foods - for my main meal I ate whatever I cooked for my family, just as I did for the puree phase. That was - really soft meat based stews, hearty soups (OMG endless variations on soup), chicken/bacon/mayo salad or tuna mayo salad, omelettes, etc. Instead of me cooking and eating what they liked, they ate what I needed - and we all survived! They had potatoes or pasta or rice with theirs often, whereas I gave that part a miss. Loved thin oatmeal with stewed fruit and still have that for supper most nights. Interesting to read your comment about chewing - at 3.5 months post-op I am getting bad at this and I always pay a price with stomach discomfort and rumbling. I really do need to slow my eating right down again.

I totally get that fear - I was self pay too and I think we just put extra pressure on ourselves not to 'waste' money on something that doesn't have a decent chance of success. I'm only 3.5 months post op but I am certain that this surgery was a good investment in my future health. It's up to me whether that investment pays dividends in the long run. I wish you all the best on your journey - stay here and you'll get so much good advice and wisdom. And FWIW - I know I'm not long enough post op to answer your original question, but my partner lost about 50lbs some years back on keto and maintains on keto - we eat meat at most meals every single day - all the meats! I just eat about 1/4 of what he does at a sitting these days. ?

What sorts of food are causing you problems gmast?

It's unbelievable how many of us have had the same experience. Glad your stall has ended. Your stats are so similar to mine - identical weight loss actually. Race you!

Hi everyone, just checking in. I hope you're all doing well. I am loving my new life, loving my sleeve, and not really experiencing any downsides. Am losing pretty much 2-3lbs a week over the last couple of months after a period of big losses at the start. As long as that keeps up I will be super happy. And it's amazing how it all adds up. Seems no time at all since we were all here with our knees knocking worrying about what life would be on the other side of a sleeve. Turns out it's pretty sweet. I hope you're all feeling good.

Over the last maybe 6 weeks, though, I’ve lost nothing. OK - are you panicking and thinking - oh well, if I'm not losing weight whilst sticking to my plan, I might as well buy crisps and chocolate and SCREW THE PLAN - IT ISN'T WORKING ANY MORE!? That's happened during pretty much every diet I've ever done - all fab while the weight is coming off, but total catastrophe and throwing my toys out of the pram, when it stops. If there's a bit of this going on inside your head then maybe you need to work on that. How rationally you can talk yourself through it I don't know - there may well be a place for a discussion with a therapist if you can find someone suitable. It may be that you are approaching your new set weight - not all of us make it below a BMI of 25 after WLS. If so, you might be entering your maintenance phase. And it's perfectly OK to experiment with different foods - even chocolate and crisps - as long as you make allowance for that. I don't know whether you track food or calorie count, but it might be worth having a think about it if you don't. I’m worried about my portion sizes going back to normal and gaining all the weight back You will absolutely not do that if you're sticking to the plan you were given by your surgeon. If you start with protein and then have your veg you shouldn't gain significant amounts of weight. If you start with crisps and chocolate then you very well might. So don't start with crisps and chocolate if at all possible - use that tool you went to so much trouble to get. You have done so very well with this surgery, this tool - you've clearly made the most of it over the last 9 months. I think from reading here lots of people experience significant stalls, I can see that it's really worrying when you do, but lots of people come through those too and lose more weight, so you might be about to do that. You'll have read advice here about switching things up - increase protein, increase exercise or try building muscle as opposed to pure cardio, etc. I think your loss is amazing and an inspiration. If you can embrace that and be kind to yourself then you'll be absolutely fine.

Absolutely inspirational Tony - well done you! ? I'm 3.5 months post op now and 6-8lbs a month for the next few months would do me very nicely!

Oh they really do. ? Hungry now. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for checking in - it's great to hear your update! Are you feeling relief from the GERD or is it too soon for that? Hope the pain goes away soon and that you get a good loss as well.

I took 3 weeks off after my sleeve and that was exactly right for me. I'd say I was working at 90% efficiency when I went back. I was tired but the working helped distract me. It's really variable. I hope you make a nice speedy recovery OP!