Spinoza

Huge sympathy on the stall OP. We've all been there and they totally suck. I hope you lose loads on the way out - that's most of our experiences. Rubbish when you're in the middle though.

Lovely update with so many positives - thank you! Buying clothes just because they fit and not because they are even remotely nice or flattering totally chimes with me. I'm 2.75 years post op and I still can't get my head around buying things just because I like them and they look good on me.

Thank you for the update. Your discussion with the surgeon sounds really positive. ? I do hope you can be slotted into a cancellation - they do come up all the time!

Have a fab fab time. I hope it's not tooooo hot. Going down sizes so quickly is mind-blowing, as the others have said, but enjoy it, you work hard for it. Totally the right thing to leave it as late as possible to buy new clothes for the trip.

OMG our flipping brains! Sorting out the anatomy and engineering weight loss is only a quarter of the struggle. I hope you can silence that voice in your head @Bypass2Freedom while you're doing so well. No, actually - acknowledge it, feel what your brain wants you to feel and then try to address it by doing some exercise that you actually enjoy and that makes you feel good. Take that, brain! It's a long road. I know I'm talking from a place of little knowledge about your particular struggles - the best advice is usually to think about talking to a therapist but they don't grow on trees. You are doing brilliantly - I hope you can allow yourself to really feel that.

Haaaa hello fellow champagne drinkers! ? Veuve Cliquot all the way here. But I wouldn't say no to any of the others Sorry we've gone off piste a little. I have drunk carbonated drinks from very early post op. I don't *think* it made a difference to my rate of loss or to anything actually. But I was never told to avoid them. Although - full disclosure - I have regained 12lbs from my lowest weight at the start of this year, so maybe I'm not the poster girl for carbonation!

You look amazing. Enjoy!

Absolutely loving your photos @AmberFL What a transformation. Inspiring. Another wrinkly pancake butt owner here, but totally worth it. And yes, clothing covers a multitude (of wrinkles)!

You are really in the early days of your surgery and (totally normally) having to adjust to that. If you can wait a bit longer before eating in public then do. If not, just order a small meal or a starter. You can (if you want/need to) say "I ate earlier" or "I'm just not that hungry today" to anyone who is nosey enough to push you. You'll be surprised at how few people do though! Just eat what you can/want and take the rest home. You don't owe anyone an explanation.

An absolute transformation. Amazing photos - thank you for sharing, they're inspirational.

Good luck ShoppGirl! You've been here since I joined. See you on the other side ?

I think I'm lucky in that I never actually added protein *powders* to anything - I met most of my protein goals with meat and pulses. It did take a bit of planning and monitoring and spacing things out. In the first six months I had some protein shakes and protein yoghurts as supplements but not that many. If you can meet your goals with pea protein surely stick to that. Your horizons will widen as time goes on. Looks like you're doing absolutely great weight loss wise.

That's my size - family of 4 here though. ? I have done beef cheek in various ways. Even with the pesky tough sinew in - although - TEXTURE!!!

Amazing OP! you have done so well. Fab photos and faaaaaab weight loss.

I absolutely adore beef cheeks. The most tender meat ever, if properly cooked. I can't get them with the tough sinew pre-removed any more so have to do that myself (think - hatchet job, LOL!) I cook them verrrrry slowly in a Bourgogne sauce - always. Favourite dinner. Yours looks lush Arabesque. ?

Absolutely amazing transformation. That's what we're here for. Well done you. I so love before and after photos - thank you for sharing!

How very amazing! Honestly, 6 months after surgery it's very likely you will lose much more OP. Is there any reason that you wouldn't want to? I am a firm believer in our body selecting its own goal weight after WLS. Loads of us here want to get to a randomly selected end point that we'd be happy with, but find that either we can't make it, or alternatively that we overshoot it. I was one of the latter people. I have regained 8 lbs in the last 8 months (which is common in the third year) but I've levelled out now and I am so glad that I stuck to my programme and kept losing those few extra pounds rather than taking my foot off the gas when I got to my (arbitrary) goal. Welcome to your new life. In a couple of years you'll be glad you used your weight loss tool to the max while it's in its honeymoon phase!

Oh OP please update your stats! No idea what surgery you had or when so no idea what advice to give about the gain. Sounds an amazing time. Big PSB fan here too. I saw them many years ago supporting Take That in Manchester. Glad you had fun. ?

That phase is so short - honestly if you have a blender or any other way to puree food (including pushing through a sieve!) it seems like something you mightn't get a lot of use from.

Absolutely normal to experience stalls after surgery OP. We all have them - and I mean ALL. What matters is how we react to them. They can be demoralising, demotivating, de-everything!! I do see that you have included the words zombie, dissociated, automaton, emotional shock, shut down, apathetic, superficial and others - in just one post about a stall. I totally understand that this might result from an in depth knowledge of the psychology of weight loss, or just psychology generally. I do hope that you can focus on how well you have done (and will do!) and are having lots of support from wherever you can get it.

Aha - same hair issues here. I straighten religiously. If I don't I need tons of product. Your hair looks amazing @sleevetobypass

Amber you have done so so well (and am totally expecting that pesky 0.4lbs to goal to melt off soon, along with more besides LOL!!) Since my surgery I have tried to avoid processed foods and ultra processed foods, other than on special occasions. These are what made most of obese in the first place. Meeting our post op macros and choosing foods that will sustain and nourish our bodies in the long term are, I believe, two completely different things. I have no evidence that people who eat mostly whole foods cooked from scratch do better long term than those of us who return to ultra processed foods but just in lower volumes (because we have a much smaller place to put them at the start - but it does enlarge for some). I do know that my approach is working for me. Also no idea whether people who revert to UPFs are on a slippery slope, do worse, just stop posting here. My observation would be that most of the long termers here don't. There are a few exceptions I think but they seem to be people who have had surgery that allows them to malabsorb hugely (and pay the price GI-wise). The sleeve isn't designed to do that. In summary - hats off for your massive and rapid loss. I think that long timers seem to do better with whole foods and home cooked meals. If you're eating something that has ingredients that you don't have in your home cupboard, be wary, think twice, but enjoy if you want to! I wish you all the best.

I'm in Ireland and our healthcare system is totally different. Might your first port of call be your GP? They should know what is allowed on the NHS and what isn't. Also I had a sleeve and I know that can be revised to bypass but not at all sure what the options are for a revision of bypass. But someone more knowledgeable will be along soon. I'm so sorry that having stuck to the rules and lost so much weight your medical condition has contributed to a regain. This is every bariatric surgery patient's worst nightmare. I hope you can get back in control.

Good early morning attitude! ?

I also relate to this big time. Totally agree with others - strained soups (home made for me but take it where you can get it!) got me through this phase. It is so short and every phase after that was so much easier. I actually loved my pureed food stage - it's when I realised I was eating proper food again and always would be able to. I do know others hated it, especially if they have texture issues (I don't)! Best of luck on your journey OP.