NP_WIP

I like to think its all about balance, so I indulge in popcorn when I go.
I do look at the menus before hand, if there is a kid's menu that is not fried I will order from it or order an appetizer to share, there is always salad available or I will eat half a burger, but it will depend on your restriction.
I take beef sticks, Protein Bar and Gatorade zero Protein packs, just in case and make sure to hydrate.

Every doctor has different guidelines. My nutritionist provides net numbers case, and an overall range based on physical activity.

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Went on a cruise, wore shorts and dresses all week no chaffing, I went snorkeling and remembered how to swim, and walk everywhere with no issues.

I mostly use sports bras since I work from home. The old ones were too tight, 40H so they were good for 3 months, I then found a pair I was going to give away but forgot size 40DDD wireless and wore those for a couple of months, then had a 38DDD lying around for 1 month. I finally gave in and bought a few at One Hanes Place online, 5 bras for $89, got a 36DDD even though it said I should be wearing 38E and put an extender so I can get a few months out of it.

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I agree with adding seasonings, it really helps make food more palatable. One of the things I noticed after surgery is that in the past when I was following a plan, I restricted spices/condiments and made my food bland, which eventually got tiring and made me quit. This time around I'm using regular seasoning and just keeping to my portions and macros.

You will, it may sit differently when you start eating it. I'm not much of a rice person, used to go for the "pegao" with Beans, and I still have it sometimes. I find the trick to sticking to a small portion, I still have tostones, maduros, pastelitos etc, but I reduce the portion just to satisfy the craving.

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Learning to eat slowly can be challenging. Over time you can speed up again or find you’re subconsciously timing your bites with whoever you’re eating with. I found putting my cutlery down & sitting back from the table helped. I still take a long time to eat - 30-45 mins to eat a meal though it used to be longer - up to an hour. The slowing your eating is also to ensure you haven’t eaten too much before you recognise your full signal. This signal can take 20+ minutes to kick in so if you eat quickly you can eat more than you actually need & are then are over full. I often have a very slow full message which is also why I eat slowly.
I also can’t drink more than two mouthfuls at a time. I was having trouble swallowing a med for my Meniere’s vertigo one day. It starts to dissolve when it gets moist & even just putting it in your mouth it will stick. Took a 4th swallow to get it down & then I swear within seconds up all the Water came … & the med.

I finished my schooling and am officially working in my chosen field as a medical assistant!!! I got my certification and I'm working in a critical care pulmonary office. I'm absolutely LOVING it!! And even though I can look at myself and see the weight loss, and I can see my diabetes and blood pressure are normal now, I still have a hard time believing I'm physically able to do my job and do it well. Yet here I am....doing the d@mn thing!!!
I have a CT with contrast on the 29th because my bariatric surgeon thinks I have a distal hernia (if you look at my stomach in my pic, you can see that area poking out a little). And I have my complete hysterectomy scheduled for March 6th. If the CT confirms the distal hernia, that will also require a surgery, but I have no idea when that will happen. I'm hoping before the hysterectomy because the hernia repair can be done laparoscopically (I think) but I have to have an abdominal hysterectomy because the fibroids are way too big to come out laparoscopically and I have to have EVERYTHING removed because I tested positive for the BRCA cancer gene (will need all of my breast tissue removed at a later date, but my insurance will cover reconstructive breast surgery, so YAY for a free boob job).
This last 50 pounds still won't leave me, and it's absolutely driving me crazy. No matter what I do, I can't get it to go. I'm hoping the hysterectomy will help a little because the fibroids are so big, they're making my uterus the size of a 16 week pregnant uterus. They also said the hysterectomy should help somewhat with my PCOS, since that's likely what's preventing that last 50 pounds from coming off. So here's hoping this is end of my weight issues and the last of my surgeries!!!

I think in our journeys we all have different moments that accumulate over a course of time. 2 months prior to surgery I had a doctors appointment because I was not getting my period at that point for 7 months. They were referring me to an endo since obesity causes PCOS and they wanted to rule that out and my BP medicine was being raised and my cholesterol was being monitored. A few weeks later I was on vacation and taking some pictures. While I was posing a certain way, my body wasn't doing that at all. I took those moments to actually see what I was doing with my life, and made the decision 2 weeks later.

Most people hit a stall 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. There is also retention after surgery because of the IV. Just keep working your program and the weight will come off. Also note you started at a low weight to begin with, so it may be slower but do speak to your team if you are concern.
I like this post I saw on Pinterest once, if you keep working at it you will see the results, good luck!

Most people hit a stall 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. There is also retention after surgery because of the IV. Just keep working your program and the weight will come off. Also note you started at a low weight to begin with, so it may be slower but do speak to your team if you are concern.
I like this post I saw on Pinterest once, if you keep working at it you will see the results, good luck!

I am 7 weeks out of revision. Things are getting better each day. It took 5.5 weeks before the pain went away. Additionally, I have stalled and lost over these weeks. However, I am at my lowest weight in 8 years. No GERD and no current regrets. I am 53 years old.
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Most people hit a stall 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. There is also retention after surgery because of the IV. Just keep working your program and the weight will come off. Also note you started at a low weight to begin with, so it may be slower but do speak to your team if you are concern.
I like this post I saw on Pinterest once, if you keep working at it you will see the results, good luck!

Most people hit a stall 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. There is also retention after surgery because of the IV. Just keep working your program and the weight will come off. Also note you started at a low weight to begin with, so it may be slower but do speak to your team if you are concern.
I like this post I saw on Pinterest once, if you keep working at it you will see the results, good luck!

Went on a cruise, wore shorts and dresses all week no chaffing, I went snorkeling and remembered how to swim, and walk everywhere with no issues.

For me it was normal, I was hungry after surgery, granted I did not feel the urge to eat since I was still swollen etc. I was told by my team that it could be head hunger or the stomach still adjusting the acids.
The feeling dissipates once you start eating real food. I got used to an eating schedule that worked for me and now mainly feel hungry if its past the schedule or if I'm behind my fluids.

Do not go by the fitbit, I used to have one and it counts your resting metabolic rate, meaning the 3k calories its showing you burned include your breathing and your bodily functions not your calories burned by exercise. It also will randomly record an exercise or activity if you move your hand too much etc.
I was advised by my dietician to increase my carb and Protein since I was doing HIIT or strength training 4-5 times a week, so now I try to do 80g of protein with a shake. I do for carbs sweet potato, quinoa, protein bread or wrap, oatmeal (fiber) and cream of wheat.
I tend to weight more or less the same when I train hard since there is Water retention for muscle repair, so make sure you are drinking above the recommended 64oz to avoid this.
It also helps to look at your weight total per month, not by week or weigh in when you are training, and to start taking your measurements to help see how your body is changing.

Went on a cruise, wore shorts and dresses all week no chaffing, I went snorkeling and remembered how to swim, and walk everywhere with no issues.

Went on a cruise, wore shorts and dresses all week no chaffing, I went snorkeling and remembered how to swim, and walk everywhere with no issues.

Went on a cruise, wore shorts and dresses all week no chaffing, I went snorkeling and remembered how to swim, and walk everywhere with no issues.

I was able to have yogurt for my post op liquid, see if you can and add some Water to dilute if too thick. If you use greek yogurt (Oikos triple zero or ratio) you are looking at 15 to 25g of Protein.< br>
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I'm going to try and keep this from being too long, but there's so much to say!!! First I'll start with my newest NSVs.

I'm officially in a size 18 clothes (from my original size 30), size 10 shoes (from my original size 11), size 6 1/2 ring (from my original size 10), 18" chain on a necklace (from my original 24" chain), and 2x jacket (from my original 4-5x). I can now comfortably fit on a massage table without fear of it creaking or breaking. I can now ride a bike because I'm within the weight limit. I now am able to hit my favorite thrift stores and walk out with seriously cute clothes that look nice, sit well on me, and actually fit comfortably!! My asthma is almost completely gone (I only have it when I get super sick now instead of all the time). My blood work came back and my hormone levels are almost in the normal range (I have PCOS) and my cysts that completely COVERED both ovaries are totally gone (without having taken any meds or done any hormone therapies!!) I did a 6 mile hike this past weekend with my son. I am completely pain free and am able to go full on beast mode with my workouts again. I can go up 5 flights of stairs before I need to stop and rest.

Now for my new chapter in life and old dreams becoming new again.

So years ago, I wanted to become a nurse. I completed all of the academics with a 4.0, aced all the labs, but couldn't do any of the clinicals because I couldn't do all the walking, I was 400 pounds, and my health/joints/back were way too bad. So I gave up on it. Then about 2 years later, I thought "well, maybe I can be a medical assistant. Surely THAT'S not as hard" and once again, I couldn't do the externship because I couldn't do the physical stuff. So I went into other areas for work, ballooned up to 421 pounds, worked remotely, and made good money. I loved what i did, but there was always a part of me that regretted not being able to go into the medical field. That was my heart's desire. So fast forward to now. I'm between jobs and miserable. I had to stop working because of all my complications from my first surgery. Now that I've been cleared, I can't get hired anywhere. So I decided that now is a great time to go back to my dream of working in the medical field. So on Sept 5th, I start school to become a certified pediatric oncology medical assistant. Most of my previous credits transfer over, so I only have about 6 months of academics to do and then the externship. Then I sit for my certification exam and then I get to finally FINALLY do what I've always wanted to do. By my 46th birthday next June, I should be right where I want to be, doing what I want to do, and hopefully at my goal weight.

I'm sitting here in tears as I type this, because I thought this was something I would never see happen. I resigned myself to being morbidly obese, extremely unhealthy, and needing a cane to get around. I may not be at my goal weight (the weight comes off a lot slower with a revision, and also as your bmi gets smaller and you get closer to your goal) but I believe eventually I'll get there. But the things this surgery is giving to me, the dreams I can live out, the health and wellness and years of my life I'm getting back..... it was all worth it. The complications, the uncertainty, the pain and healing and stalls.... all completely worth it. We all start this journey wanting the numbers on the scale to go down. But there's SO MUCH MORE this surgery gives you. I will never, ever regret my decision. Never.

Even if you were gaining muscle weight, you would notice a change in the way your clothes fit.
When my nutritionist told me to eat carbs pre-op, my Keto mind screamed no. I did it though and lost weight. But I highly limited them. If you are not tracking on an app like Bariastic. you can easily consume way more carbs or calories than what you need. Some people can drink their calories for the day before ever eating any food.
I would limit those carbs and be mindful of how much you are eating in a day. I know before surgery, I told everyone I didn't eat that much till I started tracking my food intake and was shocked to find out I was overeating.
Also..not sure what surgery you had but my doc told me of a sleeve patient/friend of hers that did everything right and lost only 30 pounds within the first year. She ended up putting her on Ozempic to help. So there are some people who simply don't respond as well to the surgery based on age, meds etc. But before going that route, I would examine the food intake amounts first. Good luck!!!

A month after, I was already in regular foods, chose lean meats and was only able to eat 2oz

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A few NSV, I can finally close the towel around me, my hubby folded my tank top and put in his drawer thinking it was his, and my digital scale kept giving me a warning to have the app open when weighing in because people were within same range, I thought it was me because I was trying to see how much my weight fluctuated and how that affected my body fat % but turns out I'm 8 lbs lighter than my husband.