Spinoza

It's brilliant that you're seeing such a difference already. I hope you get your bike back in working order soon too!

Good topic.
For me it's a combination of the restriction and the decreased hunger. I am still in the honeymoon period, just about 6 months after my sleeve. I have no idea how things will go for me long term but at the minute I am absolutely determined to use the tool I went to such lengths to get, and I am getting constant payback because I am losing weight. It's the speed of the loss too - I'm still consistently losing 2+ pounds a week so that's huge motivation to keep doing what I am doing. I do worry a lot about maintaining weight loss because I have never done that before. I think my chances are better this time though.

I don't think anyone here will tell you you don't need surgery and instead you need to eat more healthily! Most of us have been exactly where you are. My one regret about my sleeve is that I didn't do it many years ago and save myself years of yo-yoing and stress and obesity and self-loathing. My advice would very much be to forego the final attempt to lose weight and keep it off, given the tiny chances of success long term. I say cut to the chase and see your bariatric surgeon again and tool yourself up! Good luck whatever you decide.

I had this issue for the first 3 or 4 days after surgery. I found it was because I was drinking cold fluids and my stomach just couldn't handle it. I switched to warm broth and room temp fluids and that fixed it. But I also had to watch how much I drank. I had to take very small sips the first 4 or 5 days and just do them more often until my stomach started to calm down. Now, at 11 days post op, I can literally drink warm or cold fluids and I can drink larger amounts more often with no issues. Some stomachs are just very sensitive after surgery (like mine) and it takes a bit longer to calm down, but it'll happen.

Lots of people have a stall straight after their surgery. I did - took me around 10 days to start seeing losses. Please don't worry - if you hit your Protein and Fluid targets you will be fine, and you will definitely see a loss soon. Best of luck!

Some of the same reasons as SleeveDiva and ms.sss here - I didn't like the idea of re-routing my guts and I didn't like the risks of malabsorption and dumping. I've been lucky with my choice - it's worked out really well for me so far.
As everyone else says, they're all tools and I believe the final result you get depends so much on you - both how you use the tool and lots of pre-determined factors you can't change. Good luck - whichever you choose you'll get lots of support and information here. I so value this community - it's been my best source of information by far.

“Poolside” pork dumplings.
Someone posted “poolside nachos” a while back and i’ve been waiting for weeks to follow suit! (The weather has finally co-operated!)
I started off with 2, but ended up eating 4 (plus 2 espresso martinis) by the end of the afternoon.
364 calories.

Aw that first proper food after surgery is amazing. And you're approaching it so well - enjoy!

Some of the same reasons as SleeveDiva and ms.sss here - I didn't like the idea of re-routing my guts and I didn't like the risks of malabsorption and dumping. I've been lucky with my choice - it's worked out really well for me so far.
As everyone else says, they're all tools and I believe the final result you get depends so much on you - both how you use the tool and lots of pre-determined factors you can't change. Good luck - whichever you choose you'll get lots of support and information here. I so value this community - it's been my best source of information by far.

Yes! A one egg pan here too!!

My new shirt!! I’m wearing it on Monday and will take progress pics in it too!

That sounds and looks absolutely lush

I don't think anyone here will tell you you don't need surgery and instead you need to eat more healthily! Most of us have been exactly where you are. My one regret about my sleeve is that I didn't do it many years ago and save myself years of yo-yoing and stress and obesity and self-loathing. My advice would very much be to forego the final attempt to lose weight and keep it off, given the tiny chances of success long term. I say cut to the chase and see your bariatric surgeon again and tool yourself up! Good luck whatever you decide.

That sounds and looks absolutely lush

My lunch today- calories are for the total slice of which I’m glad I cut in half because that’s what I ate but I’ll eat the other half later when I’m hungry.
Sourdough toast topped with blue cheese, pear slices and walnuts with a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar.

Also, my nephew is hanging out with me today so I was able to snap pictures of those simulate Dino nuggets.

I'm just about 8 months post-op and I've just started to notice a "hungry" feeling starting to return. Until now, I didn't ever really feel physical hunger until it was too late and I would get dizzy, nauseated, and very weak if I went too long without eating. It didn't take me long to realize I needed to eat on a schedule, as I couldn't trust my body to tell me when to eat anymore! But, I absolutely had head hunger, and still do. There are times I WANT to eat, or I WANT to feel being "full" again. But therapy and LOTS of internal work has helped me manage that. I'm not perfect by any means, but I have learned to listen to those feelings, sit with them, and work through them instead of giving in and seeking food for comfort.
Some people lose the hunger feelings, some don't. What's most important is that you learn to listen to your body, fuel it well, and learn to eat in a way that honors your journey and aligns to your goals. If you find that you want to eat just to eat, eat more than you can comfortably, etc. then definitely look into some counseling or other strategies for learning how to manage emotional eating, etc. The surgery is just a tool, it can't do the head work or you!

This is going to be long so bear with me.
First, let’s do the numbers.
Your starting weight post clean out was 251. Your weight now on that same-ish scale is 215, that’s a 36lb loss.
With ESG the average weight loss is about 10-20% of total body weight at a year meaning at 251lbs your average for 10-20% would be 25.1-50.2. Your actual weight loss is 36 for 14.34%.
With ESG the total percentage of total body weight loss at 5 years from one study of 203 patients is only about 14.5% if follow up with providers is recurring most saw their biggest amount lost at 2 years post ESG.
It seems that you’re on track for what that study suggests. I wouldn’t sweat it too much.
Secondly, however I do want to offer some suggestions for food. Focusing on high volume, low calorie foods can offer bulk because you’ll have more to chew. For example- A 100g of cucumber is only 15 calories while 100g of cooked Pasta is 160. If you miss pasta try tofu Shirataki noodles- an entire 8oz package is about 20 calories depending on brand. These can sit a bit heavy though depending on the person.
Salads full of leafy greens, fruits and vegetables with minimal dressing can help you feel full. They also provide crunch which I myself enjoy.
Season your food!- bland food can be boring and unfulfilling and loads of “diet” food recipes lack flavor. Adding spices can help make things you’re eating more enjoyable and trick your brain into being satisfied quicker.
Try roasted chickpeas- 1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed then tossed with garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and chili powder (if you tolerate spicy) with a tsp of olive oil then baked at 350°F for about 25 minutes makes a great topping for salads while providing Protein and Fiber, both of which help keep you full.
Lastly, make sure you’re following your clinic’s guidelines for liquids before and after meals. Drinking too soon after eating can make you feel hungry sooner and sabotage your hard work. If you can’t bear the thought of giving up liquids with all your meals try soup! broth based Soups are a great way to get in fluids, vegetables, protein, and flavor.

First thing to remember is you’ve lost weight & inches. Whoo hoo. Celebrate each one of those pounds & inches.
Secondly we all lose at our own rate. There is no one correct amount of weight you have to lose by a certain date. There can’t be as we’re not the same. My physiological make up & medical history is different to yours & everyone else's. There are just averages which should be only be used as a guide to what’s possible not what’s a certainty. Some people are just slow losers & some lose more quickly. Certainly the more you have to lose the faster you lose at first.
1200 calories seems to be quite a common goal for those who are given one & it’s not based on height but is generally considered a low calorie diet. As long as you’re following your plan you’re on the right path.
scales can be different. They are just machines. Even things like the floor they’re on can affect their accuracy. I weigh differently on my scales, my doctor’s scale & my surgeon’s scale. Some of that is what I’m wearing, time of day, whether I’ve pooped, eaten, etc. They keep their starting & progress records & I keep mine. I don’t compare what their scales say to what mine does. As long as the numbers were going down in their records I was happy (now as long as it’s stable I’m happy). Unless you weighed yourself on the work scales at the very beginning you can’t place value in what they say now - nothing to compare it to. You likely would have weighed heavier on them back then too.
So have you failed & f*cked up? No!
PS - Hate to tell you 5’5” is not short but is about average height. In fact in the US the average height for an adult woman is 5’4”.

OMG those look so good they should be outlawed. But just before they are, I'll have the one on the bottom left please.

OMG those look so good they should be outlawed. But just before they are, I'll have the one on the bottom left please.

Every morning here too - can't stop myself, it's so nice these days when the scale is always going down. I avoided scales for months at a time before. Once I stop losing it'll probably be once a week or so just to keep tabs on it.

Me too - really noticed this over the last couple of weeks - I thought there was something wrong with my office chair!
Also bath sheet wrapping around me completely with an overlap.
And the tiniest sliver of light between my mid-thighs even when I press my legs together.
Amazing what encourages people, isn't it?

Me too - really noticed this over the last couple of weeks - I thought there was something wrong with my office chair!
Also bath sheet wrapping around me completely with an overlap.
And the tiniest sliver of light between my mid-thighs even when I press my legs together.
Amazing what encourages people, isn't it?

OMG those look so good they should be outlawed. But just before they are, I'll have the one on the bottom left please.

Me too - really noticed this over the last couple of weeks - I thought there was something wrong with my office chair!
Also bath sheet wrapping around me completely with an overlap.
And the tiniest sliver of light between my mid-thighs even when I press my legs together.
Amazing what encourages people, isn't it?