Like weight loss before and after photos but of your new diet !

I'm especially interested in before and after meal photos (take a pic at the point you feel restriction) but it can be of recipe substitutions, your refrigerator/pantry/shopping cart/etc

VSG2017 HW 249 SW 238 CW 167

You must be pleased to be home. How long is the recovery time expected to be? Do you notice any difference yet? A few people I know who’ve had various heart surgeries all have said said they didn’t realize how much they’d deteriorated & struggled until after their surgeries.

13 hours ago, Arabesque said:

You must be pleased to be home. How long is the recovery time expected to be? Do you notice any difference yet? A few people I know who’ve had various heart surgeries all have said said they didn’t realize how much they’d deteriorated & struggled until after their surgeries.

I’m so glad and grateful to be home. Even while in the hospital I noticed how much I was able to walk and hold a conversation while even just walking 300 feet (little over 90 meters). My surgeon even said I looked much better than before surgery and my 15yr old told me that she was happy to see me back and that it was sad watching me slowly decline (she had never shared that with me! ?). Recovery is expected to last 4-6 weeks for bone healing but cardiac rehab lasts 8-12 weeks and starts week 2-4 post op.

On 1/31/2024 at 2:09 PM, sillykitty said:

Was anyone else afraid of stomach stretching when you had your surgery? I was. I had nightmares about accidentally eating a giant plate of food (hello anxiety! ?)
Well six years post op next month and very little stretching!
(A Rachel on sourdough with collard greens)

I could eat this entire thing if I’m really hungry. Congratulations! I think you might have a rare level of restriction. ?

On 1/31/2024 at 2:09 PM, sillykitty said:

Was anyone else afraid of stomach stretching when you had your surgery? I was. I had nightmares about accidentally eating a giant plate of food (hello anxiety! ?)
Well six years post op next month and very little stretching!
(A Rachel on sourdough with collard greens)

I could eat this entire thing if I’m really hungry. Congratulations! I think you might have a rare level of restriction. ?

1 hour ago, Starwarsandcupcakes said:

I’m so glad and grateful to be home. Even while in the hospital I noticed how much I was able to walk and hold a conversation while even just walking 300 feet (little over 90 meters). My surgeon even said I looked much better than before surgery and my 15yr old told me that she was happy to see me back and that it was sad watching me slowly decline (she had never shared that with me! ?). Recovery is expected to last 4-6 weeks for bone healing but cardiac rehab lasts 8-12 weeks and starts week 2-4 post op.

Speedy recovery ❤️‍?

1 hour ago, Starwarsandcupcakes said:

I’m so glad and grateful to be home. Even while in the hospital I noticed how much I was able to walk and hold a conversation while even just walking 300 feet (little over 90 meters). My surgeon even said I looked much better than before surgery and my 15yr old told me that she was happy to see me back and that it was sad watching me slowly decline (she had never shared that with me! ?). Recovery is expected to last 4-6 weeks for bone healing but cardiac rehab lasts 8-12 weeks and starts week 2-4 post op.

Speedy recovery ❤️‍?

On 1/31/2024 at 1:09 PM, sillykitty said:

Was anyone else afraid of stomach stretching when you had your surgery? I was. I had nightmares about accidentally eating a giant plate of food (hello anxiety! ?)
Well six years post op next month and very little stretching!
(A Rachel on sourdough with collard greens)

I worried about it in the beginning. I make a point to not overeat often because of it. My habit is to stop at about 80% full. I can eat 2 cups at one sitting, on a hungry day and depending upon what it is. But as some say, just because I can doesn't mean I should or will lol. I have to rely on filling with fruits/vegetables, healthy low calorie foods, on those super hungry days or I would gain weight.

On 2/4/2024 at 12:54 AM, Starwarsandcupcakes said:

First one is day 2 post op heart surgery dinner. Are about half.
The second and third are the after picture and nutrition info from dinner today (post op day 4 and a full day home). Used about 1/2 a serving of sauce to a full serving of dumplings. As you can see, I ate a half serving.
Im gonna have an ensure max Protein Shake with my medicine and go to bed.

Sounds grim. I hope you have a speedy and full recovery and feel much better soon. ?

1 hour ago, Spinoza said:

Sounds grim. I hope you have a speedy and full recovery and feel much better soon. ?

It’s not all bad. I went for a walk with my youngest yesterday that prior to surgery I wouldn’t have been able to do. I’m slowly but surely getting better and getting my life back.

So excited. I actually found Boursin cheese at the supermarket! We’ll ignore the calories & low protein & reflect simply on its deliciousness. Going to make the zucchini tart again but as mini tartlets for drinks next weekend.

Just sharing the Irish equivalent. Had no idea it was so (relatively) low in protein - I do track *everything* but I must have missed this in the general deliciousness of Boursin!

My 3 weeks post op meal now is 5 oz in total, but most of the time I have to stop and go back to it to finish. It includes 3oz of protein, 1oz of vegetable and 1 oz of starch. All need to be mushy or moist.

Bake salmon, cream of wheat and broccoli puree with onion and sour cream. It was delicious! Portion control is going to be very important now. I believe I can still eat the food I used to eat, but it will have to be post ob portion.

I told myself “ I guess I can go to very nice fancy restaurants now and be full with just their appetizer.” ? lol

My before meals

breakfast/brunch of champions lol:

1/2 a sausage and egg breakfast sandwich, a hash brown, 4 Pringles chips and some ketchup.

375 calories for the plate, at it all.

So excited. I actually found Boursin cheese at the supermarket! We’ll ignore the calories & low protein & reflect simply on its deliciousness. Going to make the zucchini tart again but as mini tartlets for drinks next weekend.

Ooh, I love that cheese!!! Mmmm! Good find [emoji3059]

Ordered this falafel bowl from a new Greek restaurant in town. Holy smokes it’s HUGE! It’s taken 3 different sittings today and the help of a 9yr old (who ate all the pita and tzatziki, a few of the cucumbers and tomatoes and half a falafel). At this point I’m done trying to eat more so I threw it away.