August Surgery buddies

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

On 3/7/2025 at 6:16 AM, Justarwaxx said:

Hi ladies. How's everyone doing? Share updates and losses and NSV x

I've been doing very well. I'm 83kg and almost 7 months post op (well in a week) 26kg loss and my surgical team are happy and proud. I look fantastic and feel it. We are currently fasting (holy month of ramadhan) so I've been focusing on dehydrating more than food as doctors are more concerned about dehydration then starvation haha which is unlikely teehee but I've been doing well especially after getting a fancy stanley 😄

Congrats on your loss. Glad to hear you are doing well. Did you see all the attachments that you can get to put on a Stanley. To hold your phone and chapstick and all sorts of things. Like you wouldn’t need a purse I’m not kidding. I don’t know if I could do a month of fasting. Fasting for lab work is enough for me. Im trying to schedule some and they are all after 9:30 and I’m looking at a whole other lab just so that I don’t have to wait as late to have food. 🤣

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

I had a post op appt with my NP yesterday. She is please with my nutrition even though it’s not quite status quo. I am still doing chemo with steroids so I have some pretty intense cravings but for now the chemo has made me hyperthyroid so I am maintaining despite a lot less exercise and a less than perfect bariatric diet. Sounds like a blessing to be able to eat more but I’m still having to rein it in because I am ravenous 24/7 and of course there are some real health risks with hyperthyroidism so I have to closely monitor things. I am really hoping it goes away or I’m going to go broke trying to afford healthy food in the quantity I am able to consume. I have mostly nutritious food but I’m not counting calories or quantity for now. Plus with the tiny stomach I eat like 10 times a day so it’s pretty time consuming. On a better note I had a PET Scan the other day and my treatment is working!! A couple more months until the chemo should be done as long as I stay healthy enough to keep getting it. I hope a couple of months later things will be back and I will have a normal amount of cravings that I should be able to handle. I’m gonna need some emotional support kicking the carbs though for sure.

[Justarwaxx 268]

8 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

Congrats on your loss. Glad to hear you are doing well. Did you see all the attachments that you can get to put on a Stanley. To hold your phone and chapstick and all sorts of things. Like you wouldn’t need a purse I’m not kidding. I don’t know if I could do a month of fasting. Fasting for lab work is enough for me. Im trying to schedule some and they are all after 9:30 and I’m looking at a whole other lab just so that I don’t have to wait as late to have food. 🤣

Hahaha I've been seen those videos of the attachments hahaha it's so over the top 😂 I can't wait to be one of them but for now. Carrying this stanley is hard enough lool

Hahaha I get what you mean about fasting but it's so weird how EASY it is!

[Justarwaxx 268]

8 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

I had a post op appt with my NP yesterday. She is please with my nutrition even though it’s not quite status quo. I am still doing chemo with steroids so I have some pretty intense cravings but for now the chemo has made me hyperthyroid so I am maintaining despite a lot less exercise and a less than perfect bariatric diet. Sounds like a blessing to be able to eat more but I’m still having to rein it in because I am ravenous 24/7 and of course there are some real health risks with hyperthyroidism so I have to closely monitor things. I am really hoping it goes away or I’m going to go broke trying to afford healthy food in the quantity I am able to consume. I have mostly nutritious food but I’m not counting calories or quantity for now. Plus with the tiny stomach I eat like 10 times a day so it’s pretty time consuming. On a better note I had a PET Scan the other day and my treatment is working!! A couple more months until the chemo should be done as long as I stay healthy enough to keep getting it. I hope a couple of months later things will be back and I will have a normal amount of cravings that I should be able to handle. I’m gonna need some emotional support kicking the carbs though for sure.

That’s amazing news about your treatment working! We’re here for you every step of the way. I know balancing everything with the cravings and frequent meals isn’t easy, but you’re doing your best, and that’s what matters. We’ll take it step by step with food, and it will all work out. Do you have any go-to meals that help keep you satisfied without overdoing it?

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

21 hours ago, Justarwaxx said:

That’s amazing news about your treatment working! We’re here for you every step of the way. I know balancing everything with the cravings and frequent meals isn’t easy, but you’re doing your best, and that’s what matters. We’ll take it step by step with food, and it will all work out. Do you have any go-to meals that help keep you satisfied without overdoing it?

For Breakfast it’s almost always an omolette or an egg and cheese wrap. Either one I use whatever leftover veggies are in fridge. chicken Cesar salad with a low carb wrap is my favorite option right now. That and fajitas are two of my favorites. My hubby makes a couple chicken breasts on the grill every few days and starting with the cooked chicken they are both quick and go down easy. I also do steak fajitas or cauliflower crust pizza with chicken or I do taco meat and make tacos or taco salad with the taco lean beef or chicken on them mini low carb tortillas. I am pretty fine having the same things over and over as long as it’s stuff that I like. And I always have a whole variety of chopped and washed fruit in the fridge and I have that when the sugar cravings hit. Probably way too often in terms of calories but hey at least it’s not ice cream, right? I have been doing a lot of skinny pop which I know is not really in the bariatric diet but it’s not horrible for me nutrition wise at least. Other than that it’s mostly yogurt drinks and nuts or cheese sticks on the run.

What are your go to’s?

How is the activity? Are you still plugging along with your classes??

[Justarwaxx 268]

1 hour ago, ShoppGirl said:

For Breakfast it’s almost always an omolette or an egg and cheese wrap. Either one I use whatever leftover veggies are in fridge. chicken Cesar salad with a low carb wrap is my favorite option right now. That and fajitas are two of my favorites. My hubby makes a couple chicken breasts on the grill every few days and starting with the cooked chicken they are both quick and go down easy. I also do steak fajitas or cauliflower crust pizza with chicken or I do taco meat and make tacos or taco salad with the taco lean beef or chicken on them mini low carb tortillas. I am pretty fine having the same things over and over as long as it’s stuff that I like. And I always have a whole variety of chopped and washed fruit in the fridge and I have that when the sugar cravings hit. Probably way too often in terms of calories but hey at least it’s not ice cream, right? I have been doing a lot of skinny pop which I know is not really in the bariatric diet but it’s not horrible for me nutrition wise at least. Other than that it’s mostly yogurt drinks and nuts or cheese sticks on the run.

What are your go to’s?

How is the activity? Are you still plugging along with your classes??

Those sounds delicious and easy! You know exactly what you're doing!

I try my best to be creative or ill lose interest but my restrictions is even higher after fasting for long hours so struggling to even eat whatever I make because the doc told me I should focus on my liquids more. But oh well, so today I made Peanut Butter chicken! Oh god it's so gooood!

I forgot to update you guys but I've injured my hip doing a class and I've been ongoing physical therapy to cure it .. it's so painful when doing some movements. So I've been working on my steps and upper body strength training. Currently in a 10k step a day challenge and I haven't missed a day! 9/30 of 10k steps and it feels good!

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

On 3/10/2025 at 12:07 AM, Justarwaxx said:

Those sounds delicious and easy! You know exactly what you're doing!

I try my best to be creative or ill lose interest but my restrictions is even higher after fasting for long hours so struggling to even eat whatever I make because the doc told me I should focus on my liquids more. But oh well, so today I made Peanut Butter chicken! Oh god it's so gooood!

I forgot to update you guys but I've injured my hip doing a class and I've been ongoing physical therapy to cure it .. it's so painful when doing some movements. So I've been working on my steps and upper body strength training. Currently in a 10k step a day challenge and I haven't missed a day! 9/30 of 10k steps and it feels good!

Peanut Butter chicken sounds good. Remember them spring rolls had a sauce that was equal parts of peanut butter and soy sauce. I’m glad you just reminded me of it because I really liked it and it was good on chicken too.

Sorry to hear about your hip. Really sucks that we get tested with hurdles so soon after surgery but maybe it is just that a test. Test to see if we are truly committed even when it doesn’t come as easy as it did right off the bat. If so, I think we are crushing this test!!

10K steps is awesome. I bet you will not stop at 30 days. When I was doing my normal walking it felt so good I didn’t ever want to stop. As soon as I figure out this thyroid thing I’m gonna start again. Or if the cardiologist says it’s safe. Just scares me that my resting heart beat has gone up and I get notifications from my watch about weird heart stuff so oncology ordered test and did referral for an oncology cardiologist. I need to call that office too another reminder. Anyways, as soon as I get the all clear I will be working back up to join you. I’m telling you it helped me with everything. After doing it consistently my mental health was far better and it made me think twice about my food choices. I was feeling so good I didn’t ever want to do anything to ruin it so healthy nourishing choices were so much easier.

I hope your hip is better soon and you meet or even exceed your walking challenge! I am bummed that my clinic has cancelled yoga for next week because the instructor is out but they are adding gentle yoga the following week and I think I am going to check out meditation this week since she will be gone and it’s at the same time so I couldn’t before. I wish these things were offered more than once a week. Kinda unfair for the people who do treatment that day or the day before if their treatment makes them feel icky.

They also have a physical trainer that they offer who will do some free sessions but I’m saving them for after surgery since I will be needing more direction then. Right now I just need clearance and then motivation to get back at it After surgery I will have limitations. My range of motion will be an issue and I will need help pushing through them but not pushing too fast. I talked to the guy and he said we can’t go any quicker than my dr clears me but I am going to tell the dr I see him weekly and ask to see the dr more often to get clearance quicker if I’m ready.

i am so ready to get back to my pre chemo activity. I can already tell my lack of activity is affecting my mood. I want my happy positive rainbows and unicorns outlook on life back. Drove my hubby crazy but I liked it and I’m pretty sure after dealing with my being cranky and irritable for over a month he is probably missing it too. 😂

Edited March 11 by ShoppGirl

[Chatterboxdea 226]

Hi everyone!

I have been a little MIA lately; things got busy. I am in a slump lately and haven't really lost any weight in a couple weeks. I know this is normal, but because we have had a lot of events and fun things lately, I also haven't been eating as healthy as I would like to... so really either could be the reason for my slump.

I'm trying to stay optimistic and get back on track. I'm so close to FINALLY being under 200 lbs and I refuse to stop losing weight before I reach it!

I hope all of you are doing well and I look forward to updating you guys when I have hit Onederland!

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

5 hours ago, Chatterboxdea said:

Hi everyone!

I have been a little MIA lately; things got busy. I am in a slump lately and haven't really lost any weight in a couple weeks. I know this is normal, but because we have had a lot of events and fun things lately, I also haven't been eating as healthy as I would like to... so really either could be the reason for my slump.

I'm trying to stay optimistic and get back on track. I'm so close to FINALLY being under 200 lbs and I refuse to stop losing weight before I reach it!

I hope all of you are doing well and I look forward to updating you guys when I have hit Onederland!

So good to hear from you. Yea for me it was when there were “alot of fun things lately” a few times in a row that it started to be an issue. Just watch it that you’re still doing right like 90 percent of the time or whatever number works for you. It was about this time that I started gaining with my sleeve so I’m not trying to be a downer. Just as cautionary tale that about now when the hunger comes back and your feeling good is when it’s easy to get off track. You’re doing great staying in touch here and you will get to wonderland soon I’m sure. Just stay mindful that your not eating off plan too often. Trust me I know It’s easier said than done. I’m off plan way too often and I haven’t lost anything else when I should be losing for sure with the chemo increasing my metabolism. I’m actually scared I’m going to gain when I’m done in 6 weeks. At least the steroids will be done then which are what’s making me so darn hungry. I just gotta kick the carbs somehow and I don’t think I can start Wegovy until after surgery at least. Wish me luck.

Edited March 25 by ShoppGirl

[Chatterboxdea 226]

2 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

So good to hear from you. Yea for me it was when there were “alot of fun things lately” a few times in a row that it started to be an issue. Just watch it that you’re still doing right like 90 percent of the time or whatever number works for you. It was about this time that I started gaining with my sleeve so I’m not trying to be a downer. Just as cautionary tale that about now when the hunger comes back and your feeling good is when it’s easy to get off track. You’re doing great staying in touch here and you will get to wonderland soon I’m sure. Just stay mindful that your not eating off plan too often. Trust me I know It’s easier said than done. I’m off plan way too often and I haven’t lost anything else when I should be losing for sure with the chemo increasing my metabolism. I’m actually scared I’m going to gain when I’m done in 6 weeks. At least the steroids will be done then which are what’s making me so darn hungry. I just gotta kick the carbs somehow and I don’t think I can start Wegovy until after surgery at least. Wish me luck.

I hope everything goes well for you! Keep us updated!

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

23 minutes ago, Chatterboxdea said:

I hope everything goes well for you! Keep us updated!

I’m actually doing pretty well considering. I only have six weeks left of infusions and I just got a scan back and it was good. Of course not everything shows up on the scan and my cancer is aggressive so I still have to do surgery and then radiation but the treatment is working!! And I genuinely feel like this surgery is what saved my life because the more I think about it 75 pounds heavier and I never would’ve felt that spot in the shower. Also, the mammogram machines are not designed for obese people so I think they were able to actually find it. It took three tries and they had to use an Also, the mammogram machines are not designed for obese people so I think they were able to actually find it. It took three tries and they had to finally use a special machine to find what I was feeling. And now, even still, my body is healthier and able to withstand these treatments. Not exactly what I was thinking about when I said I wanted to do the surgery to be healthier, but I guess it is a good thing.

[Justarwaxx 268]

Hi Skinny queens. ive been so distracted with work, business and my journey and i forgot to check in! how is everyone doing?? my weight loss has been good but slower for sure but i had a fantastic ramadhan as i closed my workout ringS EVERYDAY in march so 10k steps daily which was beautiful and got down 4kg of FAT. but things slowed down abit but im not bothered alot.. im now 78.3 kg (172.6 lbs) which is close to my first goal of 75kg then my final goal is 65kg, which im hoping to reach on my anniversary in Aug then guys, i might start trying for a baby teehee. i am just scared and planning too many things so i dont know. also is it weird that lets say i eat dinner now and i am so full, i could die then 30 mins later or so i am starving so much... whats with this new feelings ahhh.
please update me ladies with ur progess @ShoppGirlhows your treament goin?

[ShoppGirl 5,072]

On 4/27/2025 at 1:48 AM, Justarwaxx said:

Hi Skinny queens. ive been so distracted with work, business and my journey and i forgot to check in! how is everyone doing?? my weight loss has been good but slower for sure but i had a fantastic ramadhan as i closed my workout ringS EVERYDAY in march so 10k steps daily which was beautiful and got down 4kg of FAT. but things slowed down abit but im not bothered alot.. im now 78.3 kg (172.6 lbs) which is close to my first goal of 75kg then my final goal is 65kg, which im hoping to reach on my anniversary in Aug then guys, i might start trying for a baby teehee. i am just scared and planning too many things so i dont know. also is it weird that lets say i eat dinner now and i am so full, i could die then 30 mins later or so i am starving so much... whats with this new feelings ahhh.
please update me ladies with ur progess @ShoppGirlhows your treament goin?

So glad to hear you are doing well. Yea when the cravings come back it sucks. I have been doing okay. Tomorrow is my last day of the infused chemo. Surgery on 3 weeks then radiation in five. I will be on the immunotherapy another year and maybe oral chemo depending on the pathology from surgery. 🤞 I don’t need the chemo because that may mean I’m immunocompromised still and I’m so sick of the isolation of trying not to get sick and miss treatment. I got a tiny little cold that made me septic and spent 10 days in hospital which made me miss two weeks of chemo so I’ve had to be super careful to not get sick again and all along they have told me once I get to radiation I won’t have to be so careful. I mean sick would mean I would miss treatment but only for a day or two while I had a fever or felt really crummy and it wouldn’t be life or death. Anyways, I only read about the oral chemo on the patient portal tonight so I will ask Dr more about it this Friday when we chat. Maybe it’s not a big deal. I have pretty much maintained my weight till recently. I’ve gained a few pounds. I’m still on the heavy steroids and the immunotherapy caused thyrotoxicosis I think it’s called. I was hyper thyroid to start but then like 3 weeks later it went back to normal and then to hypo thyroid and apparently it usually stays that way. I reached out to my bariatric team and asked him if I could start on with Govee to help get me off of some of these processed carbs and he acted like I was being crazy to be worried about my weight at a time like this. I said I’m not trying to lose weight. I know I’m not supposed to and I haven’t Since December when I started the Chemo, but I don’t think that if you’re so concerned about me, maintaining my weight to fuel my body and help myself recover that the foods I’m eating in order to sustain an overweight body weight are really helping me recover from anything. I said all I want to do is be able to stop eating the garbage and start eating healthy nutrition again and I would be willing to log all my food again and check in with you to make sure I’m not losing too fast or anything, but he says no way not until I get the all clear cancer free from my oncologist. But I’m helping my oncologist can reach out to him and tell him that I’m not gonna get that for another year and if I wait that long, I’ll probably be as big as a house again without any help. Or I may just have to go through an endocrinologist or my family doctor or something. Anyway, anyways, trying to not worry about it too much but I didn’t appreciate that. He acted like I have some kind of eating disorder or something and I have like a death wish. I mean, I wasn’t saying that I wanna take something that’s gonna make me starve myself to death. I was just saying that I want to change what I’m eating and eat healthy obviously if the medicine made it where I couldn’t eat anything. I would stop taking it. I’m not insane. 🤣 but it is very discouraging to see the numbers on the scale go up even if it’s only 5 pounds.

[Justarwaxx 268]

On 5/5/2025 at 4:28 AM, ShoppGirl said:

So glad to hear you are doing well. Yea when the cravings come back it sucks. I have been doing okay. Tomorrow is my last day of the infused chemo. Surgery on 3 weeks then radiation in five. I will be on the immunotherapy another year and maybe oral chemo depending on the pathology from surgery. 🤞 I don’t need the chemo because that may mean I’m immunocompromised still and I’m so sick of the isolation of trying not to get sick and miss treatment. I got a tiny little cold that made me septic and spent 10 days in hospital which made me miss two weeks of chemo so I’ve had to be super careful to not get sick again and all along they have told me once I get to radiation I won’t have to be so careful. I mean sick would mean I would miss treatment but only for a day or two while I had a fever or felt really crummy and it wouldn’t be life or death. Anyways, I only read about the oral chemo on the patient portal tonight so I will ask Dr more about it this Friday when we chat. Maybe it’s not a big deal. I have pretty much maintained my weight till recently. I’ve gained a few pounds. I’m still on the heavy steroids and the immunotherapy caused thyrotoxicosis I think it’s called. I was hyper thyroid to start but then like 3 weeks later it went back to normal and then to hypo thyroid and apparently it usually stays that way. I reached out to my bariatric team and asked him if I could start on with Govee to help get me off of some of these processed carbs and he acted like I was being crazy to be worried about my weight at a time like this. I said I’m not trying to lose weight. I know I’m not supposed to and I haven’t Since December when I started the Chemo, but I don’t think that if you’re so concerned about me, maintaining my weight to fuel my body and help myself recover that the foods I’m eating in order to sustain an overweight body weight are really helping me recover from anything. I said all I want to do is be able to stop eating the garbage and start eating healthy nutrition again and I would be willing to log all my food again and check in with you to make sure I’m not losing too fast or anything, but he says no way not until I get the all clear cancer free from my oncologist. But I’m helping my oncologist can reach out to him and tell him that I’m not gonna get that for another year and if I wait that long, I’ll probably be as big as a house again without any help. Or I may just have to go through an endocrinologist or my family doctor or something. Anyway, anyways, trying to not worry about it too much but I didn’t appreciate that. He acted like I have some kind of eating disorder or something and I have like a death wish. I mean, I wasn’t saying that I wanna take something that’s gonna make me starve myself to death. I was just saying that I want to change what I’m eating and eat healthy obviously if the medicine made it where I couldn’t eat anything. I would stop taking it. I’m not insane. 🤣 but it is very discouraging to see the numbers on the scale go up even if it’s only 5 pounds.

It sounds like a very stressesfull time and the only way we know or remember how to make ourselves feel better is food! It's just so comforting and I'm so sorry you're going through it but I can feel the strength through your words and u will fight this .. I think it's smart that u want support to maintain ur weight and make u eat better it will help ur health too so yes let ur doc speak to the bari team to support the idea if it won't harm you. Health is health weather losing the extra weight or being cancer free im rooting for you