Spinoza

At 5 weeks post op I was just having 3 teeny tiny meals and lots of fluids. When you say you *want* a snack in between meals do you mean that you fancy something in particular (head hunger) or that you can't distract yourself from proper hunger with fluids or random activities, or that even if you do that you still feel proper hunger? 5 weeks would be super early for proper hunger to return!
In any case, and to answer your original question - I stuck rigidly to the 30m before *and* after rule for about 18 months. I found after that that I could drink right up to the point of eating so I relaxed that part. However I still wait for more than an hour after eating before I drink fluids. It seems to prolong my satiety.
Best of luck - I hope you can find your way through.

I was supposed to have gotten bypass but she wanted sleeve to see if it’ll work since bypass is more major. I already knew my reflux wasn’t going to stop but it’s a chance I take. I’ve already researched bypass is best for GERD patients. But I’m just happy my hiatal hernia is repaired and my stomach is no longer in my chest causing severe pain.

I can lose belly weight it’ll just be my loose skin from having my kids that’ll need to be removed. Actually that pouch isn’t really big nor hanging a lot.

I am short 5'2" so my starting weight of 235 put me at 43.0 BMI, which is classified as Morbidly Obese.
I did not have GERD/acid reflux prior to my sleeve surgery, but I developed it after. I take/took the lowest dose PPI to control it, as well as adhere to a couple self-imposed rules to manage symptoms (sleep on empty stomach, etc). Having it did not seem to affect my weight loss:
By 6 months later I was 130 lbs...(lost 105 lbs) Weight levelled out at at 10 months post up and I clocked in at 115 lbs (lost 120 lbs total). 5+ yrs later I am 116.7 lbs this morning...and i still have GERD/acid reflux.

The tough truth is that you can't "spot lose" weight. Losing belly weight will come with losing weight in other parts of your body as well. Only sure fire way to get rid of your belly fat without affecting other parts of you is via plastic surgery/liposuction.

I love that you are downsizing before you even have your surgery! Kudos to you for sticking to your pre-op diet so well and seeing such a big loss.
I think size 10s are totally realistic for you. Be prepared to buy things for work before you can wear those clothes, but absolutely be prepared to buy smaller sizes too as you shrink further.
Welcome to your new life OP.

I think if you could get back to tracking asap that might be helpful. Also - could you revert to your immediate post-op diet plan and always go for Protein first, veg second, carbs last (or not at all)? That seems to help some people reset. I am sorry that you have so much guilt about what you eat. Get all of the carbs out of your house (especially sugar)? It's really hard to stick to weight loss plans with or without surgery to give us a hand. Please be kind to yourself. You're doing the best you can xxx
Your side bar is saying lap band 2009 and I'm thinking you've clearly had something else in the last year so if you could update your stats that would be really helpful to target advice/support better 🤩

I love that you are downsizing before you even have your surgery! Kudos to you for sticking to your pre-op diet so well and seeing such a big loss.
I think size 10s are totally realistic for you. Be prepared to buy things for work before you can wear those clothes, but absolutely be prepared to buy smaller sizes too as you shrink further.
Welcome to your new life OP.

Oh we so need to see the finished product!!!! Was it as lush as it sounds???

OP you really must stick to your plan one week post op. Yes it is really difficult for some people and I'm sorry you're one of them. solid food a week after surgery can honestly be dangerous.
You won't feel full because the nerves to your stomach have been cut and sutured and you need to let them grow back. This is why you can eat anything. You CAN, but you SHOULD NOT.
Drink drink drink. If you meet your fluid goals I suspect your hunger will be easier to ignore.

Oh I think you've answered your own question there! Heavily plugged =back away??? 😂

I haven't read the research but in general terms if a food has proven health benefits then it might be better to just eat the whole food rather than add a powdered derivative to Water, or to take pills with bits of it contained, or to drink the juice. Totally understand we're volume restricted after surgery but I hope you can get back to whole beetroot really soon!

OP you really must stick to your plan one week post op. Yes it is really difficult for some people and I'm sorry you're one of them. solid food a week after surgery can honestly be dangerous.
You won't feel full because the nerves to your stomach have been cut and sutured and you need to let them grow back. This is why you can eat anything. You CAN, but you SHOULD NOT.
Drink drink drink. If you meet your fluid goals I suspect your hunger will be easier to ignore.

Oh I think you've answered your own question there! Heavily plugged =back away??? 😂

Oh we so need to see the finished product!!!! Was it as lush as it sounds???

Oh I think you've answered your own question there! Heavily plugged =back away??? 😂

Hi OP! Lots of us won't know what trimfit is. Or how it would help a post bariatric surgery lifestyle. I think most of us just stick to the plan our surgeons set out. We see greater or lesser losses depending on a number of variables.
Please could you provide a link or a clearer description of what it is and what you're hoping to achieve by incorporating it into your plan?

Hi OP! Lots of us won't know what trimfit is. Or how it would help a post bariatric surgery lifestyle. I think most of us just stick to the plan our surgeons set out. We see greater or lesser losses depending on a number of variables.
Please could you provide a link or a clearer description of what it is and what you're hoping to achieve by incorporating it into your plan?

Hi OP! Lots of us won't know what trimfit is. Or how it would help a post bariatric surgery lifestyle. I think most of us just stick to the plan our surgeons set out. We see greater or lesser losses depending on a number of variables.
Please could you provide a link or a clearer description of what it is and what you're hoping to achieve by incorporating it into your plan?

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope it can happen soon and that you're back to hiking in no time - better than ever.

All look very familiar starwars! That's very much what my meals look like these days.
How is your sister doing now, if you don't mind me asking? You kind of disappeared for a while - hope she's OK.

Also - I adore cheese 😍🤣

I only ever eat full fat everything and that's since day one post op. I am so done with the mega processed low fat diet 'food' forever I hope. That stuff made me obese in the first place. I would rather have an ounce of regular cheese than a shedload of pretend cheese. Fat as part of a balanced diet is what helps me feel full/satiated and stops me eating for hours afterwards. So, to answer your question - I eat ALL kinds of cheese, just slowly and in moderation!

I think this is what we all fear OP.
This community is so positive. If you can give us some more information about your surgery, starting weight, total loss, etc. then people will better be able to help.
Please can you tell us how and why you think you regained? That might help others from going down the same path.
Without knowing more I would advise reverting to your post op diet plan - Protein first, veg second, carbs third. Alcohol only when you know it's not adding to your issues.
I wish you all the best. I think you have knowledge to share that will help those of us earlier in our journeys and I KNOW that people here will want to give more specific help once we know more.

I think this is what we all fear OP.
This community is so positive. If you can give us some more information about your surgery, starting weight, total loss, etc. then people will better be able to help.
Please can you tell us how and why you think you regained? That might help others from going down the same path.
Without knowing more I would advise reverting to your post op diet plan - Protein first, veg second, carbs third. Alcohol only when you know it's not adding to your issues.
I wish you all the best. I think you have knowledge to share that will help those of us earlier in our journeys and I KNOW that people here will want to give more specific help once we know more.