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Upcycling Ideas



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I don't know about you, but after WLS I go through an awful lot of yogurt cups, Water bottles, and even have empty tubs of Protein Powder on occasion.

What are some creative ways you have upcycled after surgery?

Have you upcycled clothes or other things you no longer need now that you are losing weight?

Have you found new uses for old things?

I would love to hear your ideas and even see pictures!

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The Protein powder plastics are great for things in the garage. Instead of individual Water bottles, I have 2 Brita water pitchers and use a refillable water bottle with a regular sipping top, we've always given our clothes to big brother-big sister. They take all sizes, all ages, and they come to the house to pick them up.

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I can't remember where I saw it (probably eggface's blog) and I haven't done it yet but it's on my list. Someone took empty Protein tubs and the fancy tape (think patterned duck tape) and wrapped the tape around the tub. Then uses it to store craft supplies, desk items like paperclips etc.

This one I know was on eggface's blog, she had a lot of jeans with fancy embroidered bottoms of the legs. When the jeans got too big, she cut the embroidered bits off the legs, stitched them up with a zipper and made little pouches that can be used as wallets, makeup bags etc.

if you garden, you can use the empty yogurt cups to start your seedlings indoors rather than buying seed flats. another garden idea - if you eat a lot of eggs, save the shells and add them to your garden. As they decompose they add Calcium to the soil and if you have a slug problem, put a ring of eggshells around your plants. The slugs won't crawl across them because the sharp edges hurt.

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I've heard of things that people do with clothing, but none of them are weight-loss people.

Make a patchwork quilt. Someone's mother had kept the daughter's things since infancy, including a cloth diaper or two. The mother made a quilt from pieces, working outward a piece of diaper at the center. She presented the quilt to the daughter when she married. (A little sappy, even creepy, for my taste, but that's irrelevant here.)

Make throw pillows. Sweaters included.

Edited by WLSResources/ClothingExch

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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