_Kate_

The site has changed a lot in the past few days but it used to be that you clicked on the persons profile and added them as a friend. Hope it works for you! Kate

@chucklecheeks There is also a UK forum here, might be worth posting there too Kate

Have you looked into having Patches rather than tablets?

Congratulations ! Keep up the good work, you look great Kate

Did he tell you that you had to lose 15llbs before surgery?

Usually surgeons like you to be a year out and maintaining. As Stella said, they might do a few things at once (I had the below done all at once.) However my surgeon wouldn't do the thigh lift at the same time, as that would have been risky with me also having an extended TT. My pain was minimal and I didn't need pain relief after a few days. Don't just go with the first surgeon you see, research them and make sure you are happy with your weight before deciding to have skin surgery. Kate

See the GP or PCP and get checked out if you are worried. Kate

Lol, it's good to start weighing weekly after a certain amount of time out of surgery. I used to weigh daily and would have driven myself crazy carrying on doing that once I was maintaining. Be strong !!! Kate

I did go for a nice meal and pudding before starting the liver diet and I don't usually eat puddings. I enjoyed it, then did 18 days of Protein drinks... Kate

Have you tried therapy?

Yes, the same surgeon did all the work. I am seeing him for my 4 week check up on Monday. I might have to hug him !! I was in surgery for over 6 hours. I had an extended TT with a lot of muscle repair and was told 6 weeks off work. Kate

I went into hospital today, one of my plastics scars is infected so I am on antibiotics and have to go back in the morning. They wanted me to stay in but I persuaded them that I would be better at home. Got home to find a message from my friend on the house phone to let me know my beautiful Black Lab Jasper, who was being walked by my friend whilst I was at hospital, collapsed during the walk and was at the vets. I went up (in my nightdress) and lay on the floor with him. He was in a dreadful state. I sobbed, half for him and half for the pain I was in. Two of the vets had to help me get up from the floor. Husband arrived and after 30 minutes I headed to go home for pain relief and to lay down. Jasper had calmed down a little since I arrived and my husband said he would phone as soon as he knew anything. I got home and went straight to the larder and got out a block of chocolate and ate the lot. I mean FFS. I haven't done that emotional eating since surgery. Of course I then threw up like the exorcist, trying to hold onto my painful scar, then husband called. Long story short, Jaspers staying overnight at the vets (£500 min) then will be going to a Vet Nuro Hospital in the morning. I feel stupid having the chocolate and I need a good slapping (from myself, I don't advocate violenceagainst another). I am sat on my riser recliner, watching TV and giving myself a good talking to. Pillock.

Im on a lot of pain killers and Morphine so I am very happy right now lol. Goodness knows what happened with the scar. The hospital was spotless (and so is my home) Its skin necrosis and I believe its common at T junction scars. Im not a smoker, just unlucky!

So glad it did... keep up with the pain meds and you will feel MUCH better when the drains are out. I bet you can't wait to see your new tummy (through the swelling of course lol) *Gentle hugs* Kate

18 months out and my nose still runs after eating and drinking

Thought I would add the boobs here too so I can refer back when my plastics are finished at the end of 2017. I had cream on the 2nd picture and just three weeks out.

Congratulations !!

@fatontheinside Thought about you today, hope it all went well !! Kate

I have always admired you and have followed your posts. Its great that those who are 4/5/6 years on, can come back and support those who are at the start of maintaining. This isnt a years diet, its a lifetime and hearing the success you have had shows how it can be done. Thank you Kate

It seems to be that there are lots of people going through stalls right now !! If you are going through a stall or pre op PLEASE read the following wonderful post from Inner Surfer Girl in 2015, who sums it all up perfectly: It seems that at least 50% of the posts on BariatriPal are bemoaning a stall. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I am reading about how someone ONLY lost x number of pounds and now the scale hasn't moved in ___ [fill in the blank] days/months, etc. Oh no, they write, I am a failure/unique/my surgery didn't work/life is not fair, ... Why am I in a stall? I know I am exaggerating but I think you get the idea. Guess what? STALLS are a NORMAL part of the PROCESS of losing weight. If you want to lose weight, you will stall. Not just once, but over and over. And, guess what? A stall is where your body actually does the hard work of becoming smaller. It takes a lot of work and energy to dismantle a structure that has been holding up, in some cases, hundreds of pounds. For those who think they have to DO something to somehow "break a stall" (in my opinion, you do not break a stall, you just ride them out), here is my response: What can you do to "break" a stall? 1) STAY OFF THE SCALE Relax and stay off the scale if it bothers you so much. Weigh no more than once a week, or even less often. Weighing only at your doctor's appointments early in the process is a good strategy if your mood and self-worth are dictated by the numbers on the scale. 2) PICK UP A TAPE MEASURE In addition to using the numbers on the scale to measure your progress, take your measurements. Inches lost are also a great way to see physical progress when the scale isn't moving. Most people see the biggest physical changes in their body when the scale seems stuck. 3) TRACK YOUR Protein AND Water AND MEET OR EXCEED YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER GOAL EVERY DAY As long as you are getting in all your protein and water and following your NUT and surgeon's instructions, you are doing what you are supposed to do. If you aren't getting in all your protein and water, then increasing your protein and water is something you can do (and should be doing anyway whether or not you are in a stall). 4) EXERCISE If you aren't exercising, then you can exercise (and should be whether or not you are in a stall). You can start slowly by walking or even moving more around the house. Exercising will help you feel better, tone your skin and build fat-burning muscle. 5) MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR NUT If you are unsure or unclear about what you are supposed to be, or should not be eating, then make an appointment with your NUT (which you should be doing whether or not you are in a stall). 6) REASSESS AND REEVALUATE About the only good result I see that comes from complaining about a stall is when you take an honest look at what you are doing and realign with the program recommended by your NUT and surgeon. Have you started eating more outside of your plan? Are you restricting calories? Are you eating enough carbs and protein for your exercise? Are you taking your Vitamins? Are you eating often enough? Are you eating slowly with protein first? Sometimes, all you need to DO is go back to basics. 7) JOURNAL One of the biggest things I have noticed from the various posts is how anxious and out-of-control some people feel when they notice a stall. Journaling can help you gain some perspective and deal with some of the emotional turmoil. -- Write about how you are feeling about the stall and your weight loss, and surgery in general. -- Write about why you had the surgery in the first place. -- Write about what life was like before surgery. -- Write about what you hope and dream about accomplishing in the future. -- Write about your fears. -- Write about your NSVs. -- Make a gratitude list. -- Make a bucket list. -- Write a letter to your old self; write a letter to your new self. Just write. 8) SEEK HELP Stalls are when too many people seem to revert to old, counterproductive dieting behaviors (restricting calories, over exercising, bingeing, etc.). If this is you, then another thing you can DO is to talk to a counselor or therapist or consider joining a bariatric support group or a twelve-step group like Overeater's Anonymous. The discomfort of being in a stall can also drive people to develop new, unhealthy coping habits or even transfer addictions. This is where you want to marshall all the resources you have available to you and use them. The last, and most important thing you can DO is: 9) EMBRACE THE STALL Stalls are a normal and natural part of the process. Our bodies are complex systems and not simple machines. Stalls go hand-in-hand with weight loss. If you had Weight Loss Surgery, then you probably want to lose a significant amount of weight. So, get ready to embrace the many stalls you will experience as your body is transformed. It will be worth it.

Nope, they didn't fill me and I loved the mouth zing they gave me.

Looking good!! Keep up the hard work Kate

What do you mean by, "Can't correct" Kate

You sound exactly how I felt at two weeks.. It gets better, so just hang on in there and you will be fine! Congrats on the surgery! Kate

Calcichew D3 Forte. I get it from my GP. I dont chew them, just let them melt in my mouth. I quite like them Kate