IcanMakeit

Even though my diabetes is in remission, I always seek out the sugar free options for all medications and gummies. So many people are diabetic, they definitely sell cough drops and cough syrups at most drugstores that don't have sugar. If you don't see them on display, just ask the pharmacist. I hope your cold gets better fast.

I was pretty uninformed before I had WLS. Two sisters and a niece had gastric bypasses years ago, and watching them, I did think that having WLS meant never having to diet. I thought they just naturally ate less and that was all it took to lose weight and stay thin. I quickly learned differently. Both from this forum and from talking to my sisters about their actual daily reality. I had been observing them at family gatherings. Their day to day eating patterns are very different from their party habits. I don't think everyone who has WLS will have to count calories and log their food forever. Some people will succeed in retraining themselves to eat healthily and exercise daily and then stick with that new lifestyle because they enjoy their new healthy habits. Others will be like I suspect myself to be. We'll need stay accountable and formalize our diet rules, stick carefully to them and be able to go back and see our intake to make sure we stay on track. I'm only just beginning maintenance, but I think I could easily "go over to the dark side" without careful monitoring.

Welcome to the forum @matt56. I'm happy that your surgery went well and I hope that your recovery continues to be smooth and easy. In these early days, the best things you can do for yourself are walking and sipping. Take a couple of good walks every day. It helps with the gas and raises your mood level. Also keep a water bottle with you and sip as constantly as you can. The most common problem after the sleeve is dehydration. Your new stomach is swollen and angry right after surgery and it's really hard to get enough fluids in the early weeks.

Welcome @@Big Opie. We share similar starting stats (although I'm probably a lot older than your mother). Losing as much weight as you need to is definitely do-able. You are starting off right by seeking out fellow travelers who will encourage you and give you the straight dope. Over the next months you will feel exhilaration and disappointment in turns. But the healthy habits and slimmer body that you will develop are worth all of the effort.

Are you measuring and logging your food? If not, you might find it helpful to start. There's no way to know for sure where (or if) you're off track unless you can look back at a week and analyze it. If you are already a logger, how many calories and carb grams are you eating per day typically? And are you certain you are continuing to drink the recommended 64 oz. of Water per day? I'm 10 months out as well and I find myself getting lax in that department. But it is really important.

Cell phone and charger, Kindle or iPad with charger, a real robe for walking in the hall. The hospital will provide pretty much everything else you need. You could bring your own facial wash, if there's one you really like. I just used plain water on my face and the hospital-provided liquid soap for my wash-up. I was only in the hospital one night.

A word of caution. Document your weight at your new doctor's office immediately. Your BMI is probably right on the borderline. You don't want to get denied for losing weight before the surgery.

You have identified the problem. You are under stress and have fallen back into the habit of using food to self soothe. Now it's time to take yourself in hand and find other outlets for your stress. Some suggestions: exercise, call your bestie and have a long talk, drink chamomile tea, soak in a bubble bath, read a chick lit novel, sex.

I think I'm still too newly thin to see other morbidly obese people with anything but empathy. I over-identify to the point that I find myself giving obese people more acceptance and forbearance than I do thin people - like there's a fat people clique and I'm still in it.

I haven't tried any of their other products, but Quest bars are my go to Breakfast. Double chocolate chunk is my current favorite. Quest was having a free bar giveaway a few weeks ago. Check to see if that is still on. Otherwise, buy one of their variety packs. Everyone seems to have their own (strong) opinions about the bars. You'll have to taste them for yourself.

I think I had a scrambled egg on the morning of my first solid food day and that wasn't really special, but for lunch, I had sashimi. I still remember that meal. It was the first time I felt normal after surgery.

I am 10 months out. For me, my food preferences didn't really change, but for a while I found food disappointing. I could eat so little at a sitting that I felt unsatisfied, even though I was full. Now that I can eat almost a cup at a meal, I'm back to enjoying all my foods. I have had stuffing on Thanksgiving and cake on my birthday. They still tasted great. I have to watch out. I have to use my brain when I make my food choices, not my appetite.

On the one hand, I can't do the eating challenges now, but on the other hand, no way could my former 244 lb. self tackle any of the physical challenges or keep up with the other teams. So no TAR for me either way. ETA: TAR is one of my all time favorite shows.

I followed this thread last year when I was newly sleeved. Unfortunately, I didn't take the advice above and bought tons of clothes in interim sizes. It took so long to get down below plus size that I thought my progression through the regular sizes would be similarly protracted. Wrong! I dropped sizes in a few weeks time, even though the number of pounds I was losing per week was less than before. Sizes are tricky. I am Ross' best customer. I just went in (on their senior discount Tuesday) and bought almost a whole Spring wardrobe. So much fun. The biggest shocker? In some brands, I'm now a size 4. When I started my weight loss Quest, I was finding my size 28 tops tight.

I also worry about my dissatisfaction with my body. I tell myself that I'm getting a tummy tuck because my hanging stomach is uncomfortable, but honestly it's also that I find it unsightly. I don't want to end up chasing some dream of perfection, either. So when I'm asked about my bat wings, I always say that they don't bother me (even though they are pretty noticeable) and I've decided I can live with my rumpled "lived in" butt and thighs. This is just what a 61 y.o. formerly obese woman looks like. I'm never going to look like Barbie, no matter how thin I get.

In general I agree, but if I see a higher number for more than a few days in a row, I will definitely react by decreasing my calories and increasing my activities. I don't want to wait until the extra pounds get comfortable!

Welcome, @whatcomlady. I hope your recovery is as smooth as your surgery was.

Good luck @@Healthybefore50!

Before I state my opinion on this controversy, let me preface by saying that I really do not enjoy being the target of judgmental, know-it-all postings. That being said, I was nodding my head in agreement when I read the original post. I also believe that people who allow themselves to be so overly affected by some random person's disapproval, even if expressed rudely, are too fragile for their own good and may need more help than an internet support site can offer. I can understand feeling put down, getting mad, or annoyed or even wanting to strike back. What I don't think is healthy is to allow that person's statements to affect your stability. I don't think it's too judgmental or mean to point out that people who are that sensitive may need help. That is what I got from the original post. This does not mean that I think those sensitive people don't belong here, just that they could benefit from additional help. As far as the definition of "rudeness" goes. We all have our own reactions to how things are worded. Your "frankness" might by my "rudeness." Although I think as adults, we should all go out of our way to avoid treating others in a way that we would not like to be treated, we can't predict or control what other people will feel about our statements. On the one hand I agree with "first do no harm," but on the other hand I understand that we sometimes don't agree on what "harm" is.

117 this morning. I reached my Easter Challenge goal. Now I just need to stay here. Thanks @@Susan11803 for being so generous with your limited time. And thanks to all who participate in the challenges. They are really fun when lots of people chime in.

Fruit juices are full of sugar. When out, I drink iced tea, either unsweetened or with a non-caloric sweetener. If you don't want the caffeine, you can ask for herbal tea. You could also carry some of those Water flavorings in your purse (like Crystal Light) and just add that to a glass of ice water. Have fun in Vegas!

Thank you for your thoughtful post and thanks for sticking around this site. I really appreciate hearing from people who are maintaining their weight loss. In the past, my diet efforts were focused on losing as much weight in as short a time as I could. I never prepared for maintenance, so I never maintained. As soon as I stopped dieting, I started regaining. This time, I started thinking about maintenance before I had even lost much weight. I finally realized that diets, being short term changes, only give short term results. Long term results are only possible with permanent changes. I have a laid back, passive and hedonistic personality. None of those traits are helpful in my Quest to change my lifestyle. I don't need or want to be a different person, I just need to permanently change my habits enough to succeed. This will only happen if I stay focused. Reading posts like yours helps affirm that real change is possible. Even though I have only dipped my toe into maintenance, I already see a difference in my approach thanks partly to what I have learned from others in this community.

I think it's common to go through a period of adjustment after WLS. The feelings you are currently experiencing are probably temporary. As the weeks go by, you will feel more and more normal and your outlook on food will evolve. It's good that you question yourself, though. You don't want to replace one form of disordered eating with another.

I agree that we need to be less self indulgent when it comes to sticking with the WLS program, even when it involves foods that are not enjoyable or too restricted. We have the surgery to help us recover our health. How can we do that if we are not willing to eat healthfully? But I think many of the whiners are really just venting. This may be annoying for others, but I find myself doing it as well so I can't complain when others do it.