CHM

This is a fun thread! I have nothing to contribute, but I sure enjoy lurking...

This is me 100%. I've always joked that I must have some kind of reverse body dysmorphia. Its like my brain hit the pause button a decade ago at about 220 lbs, then no matter how much bigger I got I just couldn't process it. I've always been an obsessive weigher, and I took comfort in the fact that I didn't 'look' as heavy as I actually was. Couldn't wrap my head around how those giant clothes were tight on my body. Even in the mirror I see about 220. Now of course this led to a few total mind f*cks when I saw pictures of myself at my HW and saw I really DID look as heavy as I was. We'll see how this plays out when I get below 220. Lol

I was a 32 at 355, and just got into a 20 as I close in on 240. Thus far I have dropped a full size every 20 lbs.

I'm not exactly a veteran, but to answer your question, when going out to dinner and I'm not hungry, I just explain that I'm not hungry and don't order food. Sometimes I need to reassure my company that it doesn't bother me that they're eating and I'm not, but they'll get used to it. If I do want to eat, I'll try to steer the group to a restaurant that offers a soup I like or a non-fried protein appetizer. Personally I love eating out with people - the conversation helps me eat slower (something I'm still struggling with) since I'm talking between bites.

It seems that it isn't terribly uncommon. I know for the first week or two I felt absolutely ravenous. Evvvverything looks and smelled so good, even food I hadn't cared for before surgery. It was, however, just the infamous 'head hunger'. Once I was able to eat food that actually tasted and felt like food again it passed, and I realized just how so NOT hungry I actually am.

At least its not just me!

I have a feeling I'll end up struggling with the sex thing. I'm only a month out and my hormones are positively raaaaaging. Poor (?) hubby can't keep up. I get looks, but thank god I'm not really getting hit on yet (I project a 'high maintenance' vibe - its a nice deterrent). I mean, I like to think I'll be plenty strong enough, but sometimes you just don't know until you're in the thick of it.

Ahh, sweet collar bones...the prettiest bones on the body, imo. I love resting my hands on the shoulder end of them. Congrats!

I'm almost 4 weeks out and I definitely want milk. I want it all the time. At 4 glasses a day, it makes up the bulk of my nutrition right now. I still have little interest in solid food, namely because I can't stand giving up Water for an hour and 45 mins every time I eat (15 mins before, 30 mins during, an hour after). I'd rather have the water. Milk satisfies my need to drink, gives me some calories, 12g of Protein (Fairlife), and doesn't require holding off on water. While my nut obviously wants me to work on incorporating more solid food, she is content with this use to fill the gaps in the meantime.

Please forgive yourself. You are not a failure - you are human. It will happen again, because you will still be human next time. Don't let it throw off your entire plan.

I just want to thank everyone for all of your support and encouragement. I know I'm not the most active poster on this site, but I read everything and this community is an endless fountain of knowledge and reassurance. You guys are just great, and I wouldn't be doing as well without you. <3

I've been taking tablets since the day after surgery. After they confirmed my pouch had no leaks the morning after, the hospital pharmacy sent up my usual blood pressure meds in their usual pill form which they had me swallow with water. I do cut one of my pills at home though - in the hospital they gave me 2 smaller ones to make up my dose, but I only have larger ones. My multivitamins are chewable, and they don't want me adding back any other supplements until after my 2 week checkup.

Thank you for starting this thread. I'm only 5 days out and, while I lucked out on the pain end, I've definitely been struggling with the desire to eat. I too had the impression from others' posts that I wouldn't be able to stand the sight or smell of food for a while and would have to force my intake. I DID require a pre-op diet (3 months) and I did very well on it and made a ton of healthy changes, so I was expecting an easier ride. I don't understand why everything my husband eats smells sooooo damn good (even stuff I couldn't stand before - our tastes in food are quite different), and I'm counting the minutes until I can have my next 'dose' of Protein, and the hours until I can start purees. Until I happened upon this post this evening I thought for sure that all of this meant I used up all of my luck pre-surgery and I was going to be a horrible failure. I just wasn't expecting such a struggle. Its true that no one talks about it.

In my experience, any compliments that focus directly on my weight loss or visible changes to my body make me uncomfortable, such as: How much weight have you lost now? Look at those bones starting to pop out! You just shrink more and more every time I see you. Certainly any accompanied by a physical touch are just weird. With my pre-op weight loss, the most obvious changes were the emergence of my cheekbones, collar bone and the shrinking of my belly.Between an aunt and a cousin, each was touched while complimenting. I mean we're a close, huggy family and all, but I just need more personal space than that. Compliments that I am happy to receive focus more on my efforts and their own positive feelings towards me, such as: You're doing such a great job. Its obvious how much effort you're putting into this. I'm so proud of you!

I don't know if it counts as an NSV since its technically weight related, but when they put me on the scale before surgery on Monday morning we learned that I officially weigh less than my husband for the first time in our entire 10 year relationship! He wasn't quite as ecstatic as I was, of course, but that's how its supposed to be, dammit!!

I know you don't need this anymore, but in case it helps someone else, I slept in my bed from the day I came home. I was planning on sleeping in the recliner, but after 2 nights away from my husband I wanted to at least try to sleep near him. I staggered 2 firm pillows to give my upper body a gentle incline, and I snuggled another queen pillow in front of me to support and cushion my tummy (and protect it from hubby's occasionally flailing arms). The first night I found it much more comfortable to sleep facing in (with my back to the edge of the bed) than out. The edge of my bed is much firmer and having my tummy towards it caused uncomfortable pressure, but this was moot by the second night.

Best of luck to you! I'll be right there with you.

I'm currently awaiting insurance approval for what should be a February surgery, and no one but my husband knows. At first I figured I'd share with friends and family as the surgery got closer, but as time passes I'm just not sure that I want to. I may still change my mind, but if I don't, I'd like to know how others who've chosen to keep their surgery to themselves have managed to explain the weight loss and minimal appetite. My husband has a big family that typically has large, food-centric gatherings weekly, and they're not shy about asking questions or pointing things out. Now I did have to do a 3 month weight loss plan for insurance, so they know I've been 'dieting', and are used to seeing me forgo the fried chicken in favor of a pile of green Beans and leftover turkey breast. Although I've lost a lot of weight so far, I was big enough when starting that its not really noticeable to those who aren't looking for it - no one who didn't already know about my diet has commented on my loss. I imagine that will change after surgery when weight will come off even faster. In addition, I know I will only be able to eat tiny amounts of food for a while, and that will definitely be noticed. I am the polite, shy, pushover type, so telling people to mind their own business or putting them in their place would not exactly come natural to me. Any suggestions?

I bought the Withings scale when it was an Amazon deal of the day a few weeks ago and I love it. My husband and I are neck and neck for weight right now, so after we step on it actually asks us who we are so it reports properly (I shift my weight to the left, he shifts his to the right). I LOVE that! But my favorite feature is that it reports directly to the myfitnesspal app. I'm one of those crazy people who steps on the scale every time I'm in the bathroom. Having it report automatically has kept me from doing that, which is wonderful for my sanity.

*bump* My surgery is on Monday and I don't want to have to dig so far to refer to this incredibly helpful post.

Lol. I like that motto. When you live in Smalltown USA what one person knows, eeeeeeverybody knows.

Yeah, I think I'm going to take this on a case by case basis as questions come up. I'm the worst liar - I turn bright red and avert my eyes - couldn't do it well if my life depended on it. It's not that I'm trying to hide the surgery really. I'm not embarrassed or anything (got over that by my first appointment in September). I'm just trying to avoid feeling cornered with negativity, but I have to say as surgery is getting closer I'm feeling much stronger and caring less and less. As of now my husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law, and her husband know, as well as a friend from back home who had WLS last year. As others ask, I'll just determine on a case by case basis whether I straight up tell them I've had surgery or ambiguously tell them I've been working with a weight loss center (also true). As I said, I'm starting to feel much stronger. I told my husband as we were going to bed tonight that I've lost 83 lbs, 12" off my waist, 4 dress sizes, dropped my BMI almost 13 points, and I did that all BEFORE surgery. Anyone who says I'm "cheating" or "taking the easy way out" can kiss my shrinking ass! (I'm so brave when there's no one to actually say that to. Lol )