August Surgery buddies

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

56 minutes ago, Chatterboxdea said:

I definitely cannot eat steak yet, but my husband and I went out for Indian food and that was pretty successful. I felt a little nausea after, but I think that was because I ate too much (it was the first time I had had my favorite Indian food since before surgery and it was soooo good!). The only other time was when I was on puree and my friends and husband ordered food, so I got plain mashed potatoes.

I know exactly what you mean when you get something that taste good you don’t wanna stop What I did after my sleeve when I went out was to ask for a to go box right away and put some of it away so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat more than I should. then I later learned another tip on here that if you’re out and you’re going somewhere else afterwards and you want to put your leftovers in a cooler it’s kinda hard with the big Styrofoam containers so bring your own little Tupperware like one of those flat sandwich ones and it holds just as much food without taking up a lot of room so you can fit it in a small cooler. I actually found some on Amazon that have like four or six sections depending on which ones you get that work really well too because I don’t like my food to get mixed and they seal pretty well so they’re fine if they tip over in the cooler with other things in there. I always carry a cooler with me because I’m too cheap to buy drinks when I’m out so it’s really easy to just bring along the container if I know I’m having lunch. Those little containers worked great to make adult lunchables too. They have bigger ones that have more sections and a couple different brands but those are the ones that I end up using most often to bring Snacks or bring home food. Even if you needed to use two of them, it still fits better on a cooler they are called Bentgo boxes they are also exactly 1/2 cup for each section so it makes it easy to log your snacks when you’re packing them

https://a.co/d/4BdZLlI

Edited October 10, 2024 by ShoppGirl

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

Did you see that the Bariatric Pal Store started making Vitamins with a peppermint insert in the bottle so they don’t stink so bad when you open them. I can’t wait to try them if my team approves them.

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

Found this tip a while ago when searching for someone else who was ahead of me on their weight loss but finally got to where I could try it for myself. Since we all know that there is such a huge space between the extended sizes my shirts are very loose yet the next size down is still snug on me so I tried this tip. You turn the shirt inside out (or just do it while wearing but your working on the inside) and grab a small section and use a rubber band to create a gather on the inside sorta like a pony tail. It does shorten the length in that one spot a bit and you have to play with the placement but it really works. I still have a larger bust so it helps to snug the waist area so I still look like I have a shape. Not certain if I explained that very well but hopefully you get the gist and it helps you too.

[Justarwaxx 268]

Ah 2 weeks ago I did an inbody test and today I did it again to just see if I am going in the right direction.

Well, I've lost "weight" but I think i only lost Water and muscles

I'm down 1 kg muslce and actually gained 300g fat! Ahhhhhh why does everything have to be complicated? The coach in the gym told ne to up my protien and take PT classes to focus on building strength and muscles but is she right or is she just trying to sell her services? I'll sit n discuss with my team on the 15th and decide what to do.

On another note, I tried the power stretch class today and I stretched muscles didn't know existed hahaha it was amazing but tiring like I burnt almost 400 cals.

P.s. attaching my 2 weeks and today inbody results

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

2 hours ago, Justarwaxx said:

Ah 2 weeks ago I did an inbody test and today I did it again to just see if I am going in the right direction.

Well, I've lost "weight" but I think i only lost Water and muscles

I'm down 1 kg muslce and actually gained 300g fat! Ahhhhhh why does everything have to be complicated? The coach in the gym told ne to up my protien and take PT classes to focus on building strength and muscles but is she right or is she just trying to sell her services? I'll sit n discuss with my team on the 15th and decide what to do.

On another note, I tried the power stretch class today and I stretched muscles didn't know existed hahaha it was amazing but tiring like I burnt almost 400 cals.

P.s. attaching my 2 weeks and today inbody results

I have never heard of that test. Is it like a DEXA scan where it’s all done by a machine and they’re considered pretty precise or is it one of those like handheld things that it’s possible they’re not doing it or reading it accurately? I agree with the idea of checking with your team and seeing if they think that makes sense. You gotta be careful with Gym staff making medical decisions because they don’t always have the same ethics as a doctor should (like you said they could be just trying to sell their services) . Or they may really have good intent but just not be trained as well or misinformed. Either way better to get a professional opinion when you can.

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

11 hours ago, Justarwaxx said:

Ah 2 weeks ago I did an inbody test and today I did it again to just see if I am going in the right direction.

Well, I've lost "weight" but I think i only lost Water and muscles

I'm down 1 kg muslce and actually gained 300g fat! Ahhhhhh why does everything have to be complicated? The coach in the gym told ne to up my protien and take PT classes to focus on building strength and muscles but is she right or is she just trying to sell her services? I'll sit n discuss with my team on the 15th and decide what to do.

On another note, I tried the power stretch class today and I stretched muscles didn't know existed hahaha it was amazing but tiring like I burnt almost 400 cals.

P.s. attaching my 2 weeks and today inbody results

I just thought of you when I was doing my stretches. My instructor told me to get yoga blocks and at first for a lot of the stretches I still couldn’t even reach the blocks but I have been doing them a couple times a day at home and today I was able to touch it with my fingertips. Not sure what stretches you are doing exactly but maybe these will give you smaller goals to reach that are closer than the floor if you need them. I found mine at a thrift store but I know you said you don’t have any. I bet you could even use a stack of books or a box or something just to reach for it. I dont put any weight on the blocks anyways because I don’t trust that it won’t tip and make me land on my face. I also use the strap when I’m on the floor because I can’t reach my ankles either. Only because it came with the blocks. For that you can use anything. A towel would probably be perfect.

Edited October 12, 2024 by ShoppGirl

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

I am super excited. Just got some shorts out on accident that were too small back when I bought them but I didn’t return because they were inexpensive and I hoped I would lose weight but of course I never did. Well, I tried them and fit me now.

Edited October 13, 2024 by ShoppGirl

[Justarwaxx 268]

18 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

I have never heard of that test. Is it like a DEXA scan where it’s all done by a machine and they’re considered pretty precise or is it one of those like handheld things that it’s possible they’re not doing it or reading it accurately? I agree with the idea of checking with your team and seeing if they think that makes sense. You gotta be careful with Gym staff making medical decisions because they don’t always have the same ethics as a doctor should (like you said they could be just trying to sell their services) . Or they may really have good intent but just not be trained as well or misinformed. Either way better to get a professional opinion when you can. 

The InBody test measures body composition using bioelectrical impedance, which can give you an idea of your muscle mass, fat percentage, and Water levels. It's more precise than handheld devices but not as accurate as a DEXA scan.(pic attached) However, I’m not really bothering too much with it since the fat gain it shows is pretty minimal. I’ll just make some adjustments to maintain my muscle mass. cant wait for my app to confirm all these questions with my team. Gym staff might have good intentions, but they’re not as trained as medical professionals as u said. It’s always better to get advice from someone who understands the bigger picture.

[Justarwaxx 268]

4 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

I am super excited. Just got some shorts out on accident that were too small back when I bought them but I didn’t return because they were inexpensive and I hoped I would lose weight but of course I never did. Well, I tried them and fit me now. 

That's amazing!! 🎉 I can imagine how exciting that must be—what a great feeling! Those shorts are like a victory trophy now. It's always the best when something you never thought would fit finally does. Keep rocking it, you're making awesome progress!

why do I feel like we are the only two ppl in this Aug forum hahaha! I appreciate your support always x

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

5 hours ago, Justarwaxx said:

That's amazing!! 🎉 I can imagine how exciting that must be—what a great feeling! Those shorts are like a victory trophy now. It's always the best when something you never thought would fit finally does. Keep rocking it, you're making awesome progress!

why do I feel like we are the only two ppl in this Aug forum hahaha! I appreciate your support always x

Thanks!! Yea I hope it means the others are in their grove and just enjoying life and too busy to post. Hopefully we will hear from them on occasion at least to hear how they are doing too. I intend to stay on the site. Long-term because with my sleeve I stopped posting as much and well, can’t say that was my entire issue but I’m sure that it contributed to my regain. I also did not do the in person support groups before m or tell many people that I was having surgery. This time I ask for support anywhere and everywhere. I have constant reminders of what my goal is and I’m hoping this will make all the difference.

Edited October 13, 2024 by ShoppGirl

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

5 hours ago, Justarwaxx said:

The InBody test measures body composition using bioelectrical impedance, which can give you an idea of your muscle mass, fat percentage, and Water levels. It's more precise than handheld devices but not as accurate as a DEXA scan.(pic attached) However, I’m not really bothering too much with it since the fat gain it shows is pretty minimal. I’ll just make some adjustments to maintain my muscle mass. cant wait for my app to confirm all these questions with my team. Gym staff might have good intentions, but they’re not as trained as medical professionals as u said. It’s always better to get advice from someone who understands the bigger picture.

I wonder if that uses the same technology as the little scale that I ordered on Amazon. It’s called a smart scale and it connects to an app on the phone and it logs all of your composition stats. I have heard from some of the veterans on here that those are not extremely accurate compared to their DEXA scans. Honestly, if that’s the case, I wouldn’t put too much Focus om those results anyways. It was a fairly small amount and if it’s not 100% accurate it’s possible it was not even correct for that little bit. I ended up returning the scale because I figured it would just be another thing for me to stress over every day like the weight that we shouldn’t really be measuring as often as I do. I honestly don’t see how if you’re exercising more now then you have that you would be losing muscle. I mean, I guess at some point we do need to add strength training and they warned me of that. And making sure you’re getting your Protein is important they said if you increase your activity, they have me increased my protein. Did you ask about that? My surgery I have to do a little bit more. My first goal was 77 g at minimum. But at my postop appointment, I showed her my activity and she said I need to increase that to 90 minimum along with adding a bit of carbs. Remember, mine might be a little bit higher than yours because I had a different surgery, but I’m just saying I had to increase it by what 13 g because of activity. And that’s just the minimum the maximum goes well over 100.

Edited October 13, 2024 by ShoppGirl

[Justarwaxx 268]

14 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

I wonder if that uses the same technology as the little scale that I ordered on Amazon. It’s called a smart scale and it connects to an app on the phone and it logs all of your composition stats. I have heard from some of the veterans on here that those are not extremely accurate compared to their DEXA scans. Honestly, if that’s the case, I wouldn’t put too much Focus om those results anyways. It was a fairly small amount and if it’s not 100% accurate it’s possible it was not even correct for that little bit. I ended up returning the scale because I figured it would just be another thing for me to stress over every day like the weight that we shouldn’t really be measuring as often as I do. I honestly don’t see how if you’re exercising more now then you have that you would be losing muscle. I mean, I guess at some point we do need to add strength training and they warned me of that. And making sure you’re getting your Protein is important they said if you increase your activity, they have me increased my Protein. Did you ask about that? My surgery I have to do a little bit more. My first goal was 77 g at minimum. But at my postop appointment, I showed her my activity and she said I need to increase that to 90 minimum along with adding a bit of carbs. Remember, mine might be a little bit higher than yours because I had a different surgery, but I’m just saying I had to increase it by what 13 g because of activity. And that’s just the minimum the maximum goes well over 100. 

You're probably right; the InBody is likely more accurate than the smart scale, but it’s definitely not 100% either. I totally get where you’re coming from—I’ve also decided to move on from stressing about the numbers. I think I might be barely hitting my protein intake, and that could be part of the issue. Honestly, I feel like I should just be snacking on chicken breast to get those numbers up!

I appreciate the reminder about protein and carbs; it’s helpful to know that our needs can change with activity levels. It sounds like you’re really on top of things with your goals. Keeping track of our intake can be tough, especially with everything else going on!

f you don’t mind sharing more about your regain, I’d love to hear about it! I understand if it’s too personal, though. I’ve also been curious about why it seems more common to regain after sleeve surgery compared to bypass, especially since so many people still opt for the sleeve despite bypass being around longer. What do you think contributes to that?

Thanks for any insights you can share!

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

12 hours ago, Justarwaxx said:

You're probably right; the InBody is likely more accurate than the smart scale, but it’s definitely not 100% either. I totally get where you’re coming from—I’ve also decided to move on from stressing about the numbers. I think I might be barely hitting my Protein intake, and that could be part of the issue. Honestly, I feel like I should just be snacking on chicken breast to get those numbers up!

I appreciate the reminder about protein and carbs; it’s helpful to know that our needs can change with activity levels. It sounds like you’re really on top of things with your goals. Keeping track of our intake can be tough, especially with everything else going on!

f you don’t mind sharing more about your regain, I’d love to hear about it! I understand if it’s too personal, though. I’ve also been curious about why it seems more common to regain after sleeve surgery compared to bypass, especially since so many people still opt for the sleeve despite bypass being around longer. What do you think contributes to that?

Thanks for any insights you can share!

Well I read that like 26% of sleeve patients end up revising whether it’s because of GERD, inadequate weight loss or regain. My surgeon said that it’s less risky and it’s a very good surgery that works fine for many people but it’s just not enough of a metabolic change for some. I honestly think he leaned towards it because my BMi was low (for this surgery at least). I was barely 35BMI but I tried telling him that was only because I was literally dieting my whole life and even then I didn’t eat that bad. I just ate a lot of food. I’m sure he hears that a lot but I think I just needed the bigger change from a more drastic surgery.

From day one with my sleeve I felt like I was on a diet. I never did find healthy foods that I enjoyed, I ate chicken breast and one of the three veggies that I liked and downthe road I ate a tiny portion of something not so good for me (nothing terrible but not good either). I also never felt the spurt of energy that I felt this time so I never got into the exercise. It just wasn’t the whole lifestyle change. It was like any other diet when my hunger came back and my portions got bigger but it was healthy food at first. Then I started gaining and it just made me so depressed I was trying so hard and I was gaining already. I went to my surgeon and asked about bypass and he said he didn’t think it was a good option for me. I still don’t understand why he said that and later changed his mind.

Anyways, after that I stopped following up with my team, stopped posting on here and I never went to in person groups. All of my friends and familY had already told me how big I was before thinking it was safe to say because I was thinner then so as I continued to gain I knew what they were thinking of me so my confidence just plummeted and that just snowballed into my gaining all of my weight back and then I just said forget it I guess this is just my life and I didn’t even try anymore.

Finally one day my doctor said that I should really go ask him why it is that he doesn’t think it’s a good idea because they felt I was a good candidate and he said he would do it and asked me if I ever heard of the SADI. He sent me home to do research on that surgery and come back and tell him which one I wanted. I said I think the SADI and he said he needed tests to make sure I was a good candidate. He did an endoscopy, a barium swallow study and a gastric emptying test and then he said I was good and put me on the schedule. Then at the last minute they figured out I needed the nutritionist visit and the psyc eval that they didn’t think I needed so I did those in a hurry and started my preop diet.

This time I told everyone about my surgery. Even though I have terrible fears that I will regain again I know that I need them cheering me on to keep me going as well. I started the In person support groups before I even had my surgery and I started posting here again as well. I have done so much more with finding healthy foods that I don’t dread and adding exercise so I can have things other than chicken breast macro wise as well. I also know this time that even if I don’t reach my goal weight or my secret goal weight that I already feel so much better and hopefully I can keep that In mind and not get caught up trying to do this just to be skinny because that isn’t the most important thing. Last time I reached the first goal I had set for myself but I never did reach the goal that I secretly wanted to get to. But I was only 18 pounds away and I let that make me feel like a failure. I would give anything to be that weight now. I just lost perspective I guess. Being healthy is really why I did it then and now and I’m already on the road to being a lot healthier so if I do lose more that’s really just icing on the cake. I just have to remember that and I think I will be okay.

[Justarwaxx 268]

7 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

Well I read that like 26% of sleeve patients end up revising whether it’s because of GERD, inadequate weight loss or regain. My surgeon said that it’s less risky and it’s a very good surgery that works fine for many people but it’s just not enough of a metabolic change for some. I honestly think he leaned towards it because my BMi was low (for this surgery at least). I was barely 35BMI but I tried telling him that was only because I was literally dieting my whole life and even then I didn’t eat that bad. I just ate a lot of food. I’m sure he hears that a lot but I think I just needed the bigger change from a more drastic surgery.

From day one with my sleeve I felt like I was on a diet. I never did find healthy foods that I enjoyed, I ate chicken breast and one of the three veggies that I liked and downthe road I ate a tiny portion of something not so good for me (nothing terrible but not good either). I also never felt the spurt of energy that I felt this time so I never got into the exercise. It just wasn’t the whole lifestyle change. It was like any other diet when my hunger came back and my portions got bigger but it was healthy food at first. Then I started gaining and it just made me so depressed I was trying so hard and I was gaining already. I went to my surgeon and asked about bypass and he said he didn’t think it was a good option for me. I still don’t understand why he said that and later changed his mind.

Anyways, after that I stopped following up with my team, stopped posting on here and I never went to in person groups. All of my friends and familY had already told me how big I was before thinking it was safe to say because I was thinner then so as I continued to gain I knew what they were thinking of me so my confidence just plummeted and that just snowballed into my gaining all of my weight back and then I just said forget it I guess this is just my life and I didn’t even try anymore.

Finally one day my doctor said that I should really go ask him why it is that he doesn’t think it’s a good idea because they felt I was a good candidate and he said he would do it and asked me if I ever heard of the SADI. He sent me home to do research on that surgery and come back and tell him which one I wanted. I said I think the SADI and he said he needed tests to make sure I was a good candidate. He did an endoscopy, a barium swallow study and a gastric emptying test and then he said I was good and put me on the schedule. Then at the last minute they figured out I needed the nutritionist visit and the psyc eval that they didn’t think I needed so I did those in a hurry and started my preop diet.

This time I told everyone about my surgery. Even though I have terrible fears that I will regain again I know that I need them cheering me on to keep me going as well. I started the In person support groups before I even had my surgery and I started posting here again as well. I have done so much more with finding healthy foods that I don’t dread and adding exercise so I can have things other than chicken breast macro wise as well. I also know this time that even if I don’t reach my goal weight or my secret goal weight that I already feel so much better and hopefully I can keep that In mind and not get caught up trying to do this just to be skinny because that isn’t the most important thing. Last time I reached the first goal I had set for myself but I never did reach the goal that I secretly wanted to get to. But I was only 18 pounds away and I let that make me feel like a failure. I would give anything to be that weight now. I just lost perspective I guess. Being healthy is really why I did it then and now and I’m already on the road to being a lot healthier so if I do lose more that’s really just icing on the cake. I just have to remember that and I think I will be okay. 

It sounds like you’ve been through quite a journey, and it's commendable that you're taking such an active role in your health now. The feelings of frustration and sadness you experienced after your sleeve surgery are completely valid, especially considering how much effort you put into your lifestyle changes. Many people feel that the sleeve doesn't provide the same metabolic impact as other surgeries, which can lead to feelings of disappointment when expected results don't materialize.

Your decision to pursue the SADI is a brave step, and it’s great to hear that you’re feeling more supported this time around. Finding healthier foods that you enjoy and integrating exercise into your routine are essential for long-term success. It’s understandable to have fears about regain, but it’s important to focus on the progress you’re making towards a healthier lifestyle rather than fixating solely on numbers on a scale.

Setting realistic goals is crucial. It’s okay not to hit your ideal weight as long as you’re feeling healthier and more energetic. Remember that every step you take towards better health counts, and it's wonderful that you’re prioritizing your well-being over just weight loss. Celebrate the positive changes, no matter how small, and lean on your support network—they can be a powerful motivator!

You're doing an amazing job, and your journey is inspiring to others. Keep pushing forward, and remind yourself that it's all about the journey to a healthier you!

Thank you for sharing!

[Justarwaxx 268]

I have my two-month post-op appointment coming up, and I want to make the most of it. I’d love to hear any questions you think I should ask my team about my recovery, nutrition, exercise, or anything else that might be relevant. I am compiling so it would be a good reminder! hehe

Your insights would be super helpful! Thanks in advance for your support!