NeonRaven8919

Hello! I love Berlin! I can't wait to go again! Nice to meet you! I'm still pre-surgery so I have a lot of the same worries about this that you do! Thanks for posting this!

My doctor put me on 12 weeks! Not a typo. 12 weeks of protein shakes and broth. I have 10 weeks to go. The doctor will have their reasons for the diet so I guess it's just individual difference.

I had a really bad week last week nutritionally. I gained back about half the weight I lost in the last two weeks. I just didn't stick to the milk diet I'm supposed to be on. My surgery date is 7th of October and the bariatric doctor gave a diet he thought would be easy to follow so I can quickly lose weight before surgery. So protein shakes and chicken or beef broth and this is what I'm supposed to have for 12 weeks. Last week, I was sick, I was on my period and a little depressed so I went for comfort food. Starting to panic about trying to hit the weight target the doctor set for me, I thought I would try going to the gym. I've not been to a gym in years and I have memories of PE class and school bullies screaming back to me. But I went in. The staff member was great about showing me around, all the bulky gym buff types that I thought would be bullies because of every high school movie I ever saw didn't even look at me. I think I just assumed that being a fat person I would laughed at judged, but I was no different than anyone else. I was just there to work out just like they were. I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Some of the equipment is intimidating and I have no idea what it does, but starting slowly, I think going in at least twice a week for now is a good starting point.

Oh I'm sorry to hear that!

This is really great! Looking at our states, I think I'm the same height just a little bigger than you are. It's nice to see that you've been successful and your doing well, but it also nice to see where I could be in a year!

Nice! An October surgery buddy!

That's a great idea. I live in a big city so there's loads to choose from, I just always stick with the comfort food. I hadn't thought of rice/salad bowls. There's loads of places like that around here.

This week has been disappointing. I didn't lose any weight despite not doing anything different. I got a dreaded summer cold, so I wasn't motivated to cook. So I ordered Pizza last night.. I'm really disappointed in myself, because there's a million better options. But what's done is done. So I'm back on the diet today. I'm still sick, but I can't use that as an excuse. And at least when I don't lose weight and gain, tomorrow, I'll know why. I've also joined a gym and I've got the induction on Saturday. I used to go to the gym pre-pandemic and just wasn't able (or maybe willing) to get back into the swing of things once they reopened. I do miss the water aerobics class I used to do. The new gym doesn't have a pool and I can't afford a gym with a pool. So up and down

I did stand on the scale at my usual time of day, but i think you are right about the bowels. And I'm on period, so I think there is some water retention. I read another comment about the scale becoming a new addiction. I think this could happen for a lot of people. Ultimately, I did manage to lose 11lbs (5kg) in two weeks so I'm still happy

Thanks! I think I just had a panic then I realised I'm also on my cycle so some of that is water retention. I'm just going to take a longer route to and from work today to keep things up!

On Sunday morning, I was 118kg. Monday I was 118.8 and now I'm 119kg again! I'm still sticking with the diet! I don't understand it! My scale is a smart scale with body composition and says I'm losing muscle, but not fat! I'm getting more than enough protein? I've heard of stalls, but you shouldn't gain during a stall, right?

I feel really bad that I was approved in May of 2024, and I'm getting the op in October of 2024! The doctor told me it most likely wouldn't be this year! Also NHS. I'm glad I got approved and pushed through so quickly, but I do agree this is deeply unfair. It's also really inconsiderate that they would just skip you because you can't answer the phone in the 30seconds they have before they hang up. Not everyone lives on their phones! I really hope you get a date scheduled soon!

@BlondePatriotInCDA Thank you. I'm already done 11lbs in two weeks so I'm at least seeing progress so it's not as disheartening as I though it would be.

Cute stickers are ALWAYS necessary. For everything! But this is such a great idea! I've been tracking food since I got approved for surgery, but I never thought of journaling.

I wanted to post a quick update. I had my birthday and definitely didn't follow my plan and the next day was my friends wedding so that day wasn't much better. But I've regained my focus and I'm back to what I should be eating. I'm still losing weight and major slip ups aside. I'm not going backwards.

Thank you!

Yes, weight is definitely about perception. We get so used to looking big that losing weight you think "this isn't me". I lost a good 30lbs (13kg) once that was the most I ever lost in one new fad diet and once I gained it all back and more, I thought i was back to looking how I'm supposed to. I realise this is going to be a big obstacle once I have the sugery

Yes! I second this!

I'm also in the "what to do for the birthday Struggle Club! My surgery is 7th of October and my birthday is tomorrow 25th July. My dr put me on a 12 week milk diet (1.5litres of milk with semi-skimmed milk and 1 salty drink a day) to quickly lose weight before my surgery. So I don't want to jeopardise that and have my usual slices of cake from my favourite bakery. It's also my friend's wedding on Saturday. I can't avoid the wedding are ask people to do something that isn't food related. But I can control my birthday and avoid temptation. I made the decision to go out and get my nails done and go to a comedy club instead! I'm not much of a drinker so the club won't be a temptation and I can't eat while getting my nails done! Next year, I'll be thinner and probably more in the mood to celebrate anyway.

I've been knitting since 2010 and crocheting off and on for about the same time. I started while I was university since I couldn't afford my tv licence and I needed something do. I did much better in my exams the year I took up knitting. I think it was because it involved my hand-eye coordination rather than just watching tv

I was told I can't have anything even water after midnight the night before my surgery. But, I'm scheduled to be admitted at 7 am which is about 7 hours so maybe it's not that odd? I would ask the doctor or surgeon that question just to be sure.

Yes! Crochet and knitting for me!

I'm going to the US in November to see my family. I haven't been home in 20 years so I will see my sisters fir the first time in 20 years (Yay!) And my dad and step-mother (ugh). My stepmother was always overweight. Larger than my mother was, but she made a point of telling me specifically how big I was getting and my dad would constantly tell me I was getting so big I was starting to look like my mother. (who again, was smaller than his wife) and they made me eat differently than everyone else and bought me clothes two sizes bigger to make look better. Apparently step-mother lost a lot of weight about 10 years ago. (i don't know if that's really true, I haven't spoken to either one in about 15 years. I will have my surgery before then and I'm certain I'll get more comments about having had the surgery so I'm just not going to tell them. The worst comments always come from those closest to us. Family really stinks sometimes.

My next group session is in August too! Just curious if your hospital is UCLH?

I'm an NHS patient as well. I can fully understand needing hoops to jump through before spending public money. I think the thing for is I had to stop and think at each stage if it all was really worth it so each barrier gave me time to re-evaluate. My first group session, you could tell there were a lot of people who weren't suitable yet, because they wanted the "magic wand solution" and were disappointed this isn't it. And then about a third just wanted ozempic because they thought it meant they didn't need to do any work. Every stage made me sure I am ready to put the work in now.