bloreorbust

I've had pizza three times now at 8 months most op. I can handle 1 slice minus the end crust. Can't fit in anymore. But it is nice every once in a while.

I'm wondering if this is probably the normal faltering period. Where we figure out we can eat some things we shouldn't and a little bit of old habit comes back. Gotta keep on fighting and changing. I know I have to keep reminding myself I didn't do this surgery to only lose half my weight. I want the whole shebang gone. You must be getting close to being out of the 3s, too? Or did you make it?! Hope you are doing well. Take care of yourself.

Can I just say how happy I am for restriction? I've been struggling lately and sometimes eating things I would be better to leave alone (carbs), but thankfully I can never eat more than a few bites. I know I have to work on my mind to get back on track, but I am so happy that restriction is keeping me from completely sabotaging myself. Now to snap out of this funk!

Blore is the short name used for Bangalore (India), which I've been planning to move to for the past 3 years. Almost there. 2 more months! My hooker name, Sitka 47th. Must be where I "work". And perhaps I'm popular with Alaskans. /wink

I lost more weight on top first than the bottom. I've never been different sizes on top and bottom until after weightloss surgery. At one point I was a 24 on top, 30 on bottom. I've just now, 7 months later, caught up and am 24 top and bottom now. Sometimes our bodies lose weight strangely. There's no accounting for it.

Hard cider and milkshakes.

I'd recommend Seattle in Spring or summer. Tons of camping and hiking from oceanside to mountain top. There's fishing both fresh and salt Water, and whale watching. The weather and surroundings are most gorgeous that time of year. It's home for me :-). Personally, I really want to visit Yellowstone and Glacier National Park. The Ozarks would be great as well. As far as cities, I think Albuquerque, NM sounds really interesting, as does Birmingham, AL. I really enjoyed my travels through New England and LOVE Boston, though that area is incredibly muggy in summer. May and October are best.

There's no way to be sure how your body will be after. Some people have very little excess skin, and some have more. Do your best to drink lots of water and moisturize your skin, since those are the best ways to keep your skin healthy and in good shape.

When I asked my surgeon about whether I might get opened up, he said that they avoid that unless it is a very last resort. Open procedures are not the standard anymore; most are done laproscopically. If you are under the impression that you would have 5 incision, then your surgeon must have talked with you about laporoscopic surgery. Ease your mind. I thought I would just have 5 incisions, but came out with 7. No biggie. They are all tiny. And at 7 months, 2 of the scars can barely even be seen anymore they are so faint. Blessings to you on your surgery tomorrow! Think positively and follow directions. You'll do great!

Finally out of the 3s! I weighed this morning after my 3 week trip and was at 295. 81lbs since surgery, 111lbs overall.

So excited for you all! Way to go! Can't wait to be home in a week and weigh-in. I must have lost at least 10lbs in sweat the past couple weeks lol.

I sweat the first thing I'm having when I gey back to the states is corned beef. Sounds so good!

That would be fun! Then I'd have an excuse to get all crazy on people. Think Richard Simmons meets drill sergeant.

I'd have to say I'm in an inbetween phase. Lots more fits, but my body looks weird in most of the stuff I try on. Can't explain it, but I do wonder if it is partly in my head.

I wish I knew how much I was down now! I'm in India and have a feeling I lost a few during the trip here and since I have been. It messed my eating patterns all up and it's tough to get in enough protein here. I think the trip reset my pouch though as I seem to be less hungry and eating less to get full as well. Before I left I was down 102 from highest, and 72 since surgery.

For me, I see it as I have now lost 8 years worth of weight. I know others talk about "I haven't been this weight in 5 (or 10 or 25) years", and this is similar, but possibly a little different. For many of us, the extra weight is a reflection of so many emotions we carry around with us. Baggage. So what I am trying to visualise when I think about how far I have come, is all those emotions being peeled off pound by pound with my weight. In a way I think, if I can let go of these layers of fat I have encased myself with, I can let go of these emotions, these feelings, and not be weighed down by them anymore either, you know? There's this version of me that only I and people who really know me see, and she's not obese. She's a strong, healthy woman. And as I peel back each pound, she comes a little more to the surface. For me, losing weight is being able to show who I really am, but I would also like it to be a way to let go of the emotional baggage of the past.

Put me down for shopping, too. Thankfully it is something am an conscious of, so I can pull myself back when needed. And this will be weird, but I have a thing for trying out different chairs in different places. It makes me giddy to realize I fit into any spot comfortably now.

This is why I stay away from protein bars now. Not just Quest.

Liquid. There's not enough protein in it to consider it a meal. Meals should be protein shakes at this stage, or protein enhanced broth and such. Now if you add a scoop of unflavored protein to the broth...then you have a meal :-).

All things in moderation, especially after surgery. I occassionally will have half a piece of toast, or a little brown rice (2Tb or so), but that's as much room as I give such things in my new tummy. Also, I find myself being satisfied with that, which makes me happy.

My surgeon had me to Atkins induction phase for 2 weeks prior tp surgery. I just had to keep carbs below 20. I lost 17lbs.

You've probably finished the episode by now, so you'll see he finally gets his act together. He had a lot of growing to do, and it was nice to see by the end the real man he became. I hope he keeps up where he has come to and will be the husband and father he ought to be.

Hey maybe you'll become a cook post surgery! You never know. At least you might be able to avoid the things that nauseate you. Hands down the best and most popular RTD Protein shake amongst bariatric folks is Premier. You can find them at Sam's Club, Walmart, costco, and online. Very very smooth texture. Seriously they are like drinking a protein milkshake. nectar and Celebrate powder protein are excellent as well. They blend to a very smooth consistency, although personally I always add extra liquid to a ratio of 6oz milk and 6oz Water per serving.

Expect little 1-3lb fluctuations on a daily basis. You can't physically consume enough calories right now to gain 2lbs, so it is just Water weight. Yes, that is too many grams of sugar for a Protein drink. You need to find something in the single digits, 5 or less grams of sugar is best. Also, if at all possible, give up the restaurant soups. They are full of salt (which may make you retain excess water), and just a bad habit to get into after surgery. Ideally, make as much of your own food as possible so you can control what goes in it.

Roasted chickpeas, gouda parrano, premier protein drinks, deli sliced turkey, marinated chicken or salmon, a good steak, chicken cesar salads with roasted onions and tomatoes (Whole Foods has this perfect combo in their salad bar. I'm wanting it every day lately.)