Marblicious

Hi Ebroms17, firstly I am sorry to hear you are having such a hard time. I can only say, is should get easier as time goes on. But for now here are a few things that I know. I stalled week 3 after surgery. It happens and we all go through it. Check your measurements not just what is happening on the scales. Stick to your plan. Many factors can affect your weightloss. I am dealing with insulin resistance, graves disease, blood pressure and injuries. Make sure you speak to your doctor about what you might be dealing with so you understand how that can affect you. The advice from my surgeon and nutritionist for me is 1/2 a cup of food at meal times. Eat your protein first. Protein is critical for body repair, growth and weightloss. It keeps you feeling full. If you can't eat anything else, then make sure you get your protein. Take your vitamins. These are to ensure that what you are missing out on you get back through vitamins. Hopefully you are having some regular blood tests done to check your levels so there is early warning if you are lacking in anything. I was also told to take Benefiber every day. Because you are not able to get the normal amount of fiber that you need, this is very important. What kind of protein are you eating? I found early on it was easier to eat things like mince, or chicken cut up small with a sauce because I could chew it up and swallow it easier. Try adding some diet cordial to your water. I found it much easier to drink that way. I use Lemon/Lime Cordial for mixed drinks as I like the flavour. For Breakfast try taking a protein bar with you in your bag to work, that way you can eat it when you are ready for it. For colleagues all I can say is, that I am on a diet recommended by my doctor. They can't argue with that. I'm no export, these are just the things I have been told to do by the experts. It is important to talk to your doctor, and nutritionist. But I hope some of the above might be helpful to you.

I had miso soup, and tomato soup and all sorts of soups, you will find the time goes quick although at the time it seems to take forever. Keep sipping water, I ad some sugar free cordial to my water. Can you have Jelly? That can be a nice change. Icy Poles were wonderful too

Are you exercising as well as losing weight?

I have been obsessed with the Great British Bakeoff since my surgery 2 months ago. OMG my mouth waters some days. !!!!!!!

My pre op diet consisted of 3 serves of Optifast a day either in shake, bar or soup form. I was also told to make sure I get 1 teaspoon of oil per day to avoid gallbladder issues. I was then also given a list of approved vegetables which included, broccoli, celery, onions, tomatoes, carrots, asparagus, mushrooms, capsicum, cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage and brussel sprouts. (a few other things that I can't remember off hand). I used to stirfy them up using my teaspoon of oil. Or make a salad. I only had to do the totally liquid for the day before and of course after the surgery. The purpose of this was to reduce the size of my liver and to make it softer so it could be easily moved out of the way during surgery. As others have said in this thread, please go check with your nutritionist or surgeon to make sure you aren't missing out on key things because you still need nutrition and broths won't be enough.

I so know how you were feeling about fitting into the seats. Congratulations for doing such an awesome Job

I started at 371 pounds when I finally went to the doctor. I had been thinking about having the surgery for 15 years. By the time I got to the surgeons office, I had reached desperation point. I was scared, unsure and resentful of having to do something so drastic to myself. I am 53 years old. At the first consultation the surgeon told me I should have done it 15 years ago if I had been thinking about it that long. On the morning of my surgery laying in the bed just about to go into the theater as the surgeon walked past me, I said to him "Am I doing the right thing'. He told me then yes. But he also said I could stop it even then. When I came out of the surgery and he came to see me the next day, he reminded me that I had asked him that question and he said, I absolutely did the right thing as when they were doing the surgery the could see that I had a lot of fat inside and around my organs This is very dangerous. Since the surgery, I feel so much better, I have lost 59 pounds. I have been one of the fortunate ones and have had little problems with eating and drinking. I absolutely did the right thing and he was right. I should have done it 15 years ago. It would have meant the difference between having to lose 220 pounds vs 110 pounds because all id did in that 15 years was continue to gain weight. No one here can tell you what is the right thing for you. Hopefully you have spoken with family, spoken with the right medical and psychological staff and looked at you long term goals. Asked yourself the questions, "Can I do this without this extra tool?, or can I do this just through diet and exercise?". Neither path is easy. All I can tell you is, at the 2 month mark, I do not for one minute regret doing it. But I do have emotions about food that will take some time to get over. Sorry for the long ramblling post. I hope there is something useful in it. Laggy

Last time I lost a lot of weight, the boobs didn't change at all. Only the back size. I can't believe I am stuck with these grandma boobs. I am totally having a reduction when I have lost enough weight.

I sooooo want to be a C cup. Currently I am an L cup. I have lost 25 kilos so far but no change to breast size. I really hate my humungous droopy horrible boobs !

I switched between Optifast shakes, bars and soups. The bars were a nice change having something to chew. In the evening I stirfried some of the vegies from the allowed list. My directions were Optifast 3 meals a day. Plus 1 teaspoon of oil (to prevent gallbladder issues) and approved vegetables). I felt like crap for the first week, but the second week I started to feel great. Keep walking, it helps your energy.

One slip up in the 2 weeks pre op diet is not likely to cause a problem. The diet is to help soften up and shrink your liver. If you stay on track you should be absolutely fine.

Yes Raw Vegies are a no no for me too until 8 weeks.

cold tuna potato rissoles are quite good and filling if you are doing something physical

I found mince was acceptable, mince beef, mince chicken. Chicken thighs are good if you cook them with a sauce that makes it easier for your stomach. I am also enjoy fritatas

I just did Optifast, bars, soup or shakes. and the allowable vegetables

The only incision that really bothered me was the big one where the must have pulled the stomach out of. It was painful to get up in bed and out of a low chair but manageable. I could not lie on that side either. I found that if I cuddled a pillow in bed and on the couch I felt much better. I only took painkillers at night to help go to sleep and that was only for about 5 days. Honestly the rest of the incisions didn't even figure in the scheme of things.

My surgeon told me to take Benefiber every day. So I have 5-8 teaspoons a day. This was pre and post surgery. I was was also told to keep taking it even if things were "loose/liquid" as it would help. So far no real problems, an occasion bit of diarrhea, but mostly it seems to help.

I can only tell you how I feel, never having had the band. But I was sleeved about 7 weeks ago now. You definitely know when you are full. Especially if you take your time to eat. I have had only one incident when I ate too much and that was very uncomfortable, I felt that I needed to throw up but couldn't and a little foamy like stuff came up which I had to spit out. I couldn't eat anything else for the rest of the day. I didn't feel like food was stuck, but more like if i kept eating it would fill up my esophagus as my stomach was out of space. Not very pleasant at all. I don't feel like I can't eat anything, I just need to eat small amounts.

Sorry I really wish I could eat popcorn right now

You will do great, Walter, I guess I was trying to say hold on to those feelings and use them to help you, to motivate you and the incremental improvements start to come quickly. It isn't all about how much weight you lose, but the daily changes you are seeing in your general wellbeing, health, mobility, clothes, jobs, everything we do.

I struggled with a lot of resentment about having to change. I always ate a lot of healthy fresh food but ate far too much of everything. Add to that all the things I went to for comfort, like chips, and cheese and wine and pastries. Always loved savory flavours. I resented that I had to eat a 1000 calorie a day diet to lose weight. And I resented that I can't keep weight off if I eat 2000 calories a day. It just creeps back on. I resented that everyone around me could eat what they liked and not put on weight and I resented that no matter how supportive people are, I didn't feel they really understood what i was giving up. I came to the conclusion that If I don't get over my resentment and stop eating, then I would probably not make it 55. I am 53. I knew I had to stick to the pre op plan or risk dying on the operating table. I have 100kgs to lose and a long way to go, and I resent that I have done some much damage to my body that I will never look like the teenager I once was. (Of course being 53 that is unlikely lol). I don't necessarily think that my resentments are fair or sensible, but that is just how my mind works. I have lost 23 kilograms so far, I have virtually already given up using my Ventolin, I can actually walk from my car to the first floor of the office without sweating and being totally out of breath. I can get out of the chair without the groaning and pain in my knees and my blood pressure is sitting at a perfect reading at the moment. So in just 8 weeks I am already feeling so much better. I don't regret having the surgery and I can still eat things I like. Just not as much. I guess what i am trying to say is, I had to reach a point where i made the decision that was right for me at this time. I was struggling with standing, and with walking, I was getting sicker, I became Insulin resistant for the first time and my cholesterol started rising. Nothing fit me and my face was so fat that i hated looking at myself in the mirror. And after 6 years of my doctor suggesting surgery, I finally went and asked her for the recommendation. Only you can know when you are ready to do this. All I can say to you is, I thought it was the end of life as I knew it, and in a way it was, but what I have now after such a short time, is already so much better. Good luck with everything, speak to the psychologist some more and if you need to delay then do what is right for you.

I hit the 3 week stall and didn't lose anything for 8 days. very frustrating, but it started again thank goodness. No myth for me

Clearly the people that appear on this show have no other way of getting the help that they need.

Hi SGC I do understand what you are saying, but I would not like to be paraded around in such a way for the entertainment of others. Why must people be humiliated and degraded in order to be able to get a life saving surgery.

These threads get so confusing Thanks