Mstlawrence

So, as it turns out, I made some chicken with veggies in tikka masala sauce, and I measured out my 4oz and got all excited, dug in... and ate ONE PIECE of chicken. Like, three bites. FULL. Loving this wacky weight loss journey

THANK YOU! This made me feel so much better

I will! How many calories are you taking in per day? I feel like I was high today at around 700 (I've met my protein goals), but still hungry. Blerg.

For the first time since my surgery, I feel hungry right now. Today, I've eaten roughly what I have been eating the last few days, keeping my protein and fluids up, but right now I'm just downright super hungry. I've waited to make sure it wasn't head hunger, and it's pretty legit. I'm sure a small protein meal will do away with it, but it's a "new" feeling post surgery. Has anyone experienced this at all?

Thank you so much for responding--this is a lot of what I meant! The incision on the left (the bigger incision) seemed to be weeping a bit last night, was more red around the edges, and felt warm. I put some Neosporin and loose gauze on it, and I'm going to call my surgeon today to see if it's an issue. I had my post-surgery follow up with my surgeon on Thursday, and it wasn't problem at all, then Friday I overdid it physically, and it seems to have caused an issue. Good to know you had a similar experience--it certainly eases my mind a bit!!

That's a relief! I must've pushed myself too far. I'm really, really feelin' it today! I'll take it easier and build it up over time. Thank you!

Question for all you November sleevers--I'm 12 days post op and have been recovering quickly and well, albeit a bit run down and weak. Yesterday, I went shopping/walking around a mall with a friend, and we walked the mall a few times. This was more standing/walking than I've done since before surgery. I could feel myself getting tired, and I started feeling a stitch (like I'd been running) on my left side of my abdomen, and have been feeling that since last night. It's like a cramp or muscle soreness. My question is, has anyone else experienced this, and is this any cause for concern?

That's a lot of what I heard as well, but I was noticing little rumblings of hunger very quickly after surgery--your protein fills you, I promise. I'd be willing to bet that it's a holdover from your old habits and comforts. Use the year(ish) to learn and enforce new, healthier habits, and start your relationship with food over again. The hunger might be there, but you have total control over how you satisfy it

Thanks! Not sore or anything really. The incisions are still healing, but I've been up and around since the day of my surgery. I'm eating a little bit more gradually, but otherwise don't have much of an appetite, and when I do, the protein fills me pretty quickly! The thing that sucked most was the liquid diet, and that part is over now

I assumed it was my sleeve getting used to processing stuff. Go figure!

That's what I was thinking! Just this morning, I walked into my living room and my boyfriend looked at me and went, "yeah, you're totally slimming down, I can tell." And that's less than two weeks post surgery!

No issues with either--I just have to chew chew chew and take it slow. I'm super happy with my progress thus far, and I can't wait to get down a bit more, get back to the gym, and hopefully it'll melt off

Feeling good! I'm reshaping my relationship with food and understanding what my body needs. Things have been going really well so far (knock on wood)! I just moved to soft proteins (tuna, eggs, deli turkey, etc.) and learning what works now and what doesn't--I've been tolerating most things well--down 21lbs since the surgery!

I'm also curious how you're doing--I had mine the same day!

If it helps, I wasn't given a calorie target by my surgical team, but I've been averaging 400-500 calories per day, and I'm seeing the results. I'm sure you're doing just fine

I haven't gotten back to coffee quite yet, as my surgery was just on 11/20, but it's good to know that there are fun holiday options available! Thanks for sharing!

Yes yes yes! I thought I had done something wrong... it happens to me intermittently, but I promise they become solid and less... spicy. It ebbs and flows. I had what you're speaking of today, but not every day, just a couple of times post op.

I had my surgery on 11/20, and I'm already down more than 20lbs! I can't believe how fast it's happening... I'm on the soft protein diet, and I'm just starting to tolerate some solid foods. Did any of you start feeling hungry after surgery? I've been keeping to my protein and fluid goals, and don't take in very much/get full very quickly, but just curious if others have experienced this? Congrats to all the November surgeries, and good luck to all the December ones!

I've gone through most of the pre-op program, and the only thing left really is to be scheduled... and I'm looking for a buddy who has already gone through this! I'm a little bit nervous, but more excited. A mentor to ask questions of, get advice from, share experiences with, etc. Let me know if you're interested! Happy to connect!

Never apologize--it's all incredibly helpful information. It's great that you're feeling so solid in your journey! Once you catch the wave, you have to ride it out, right? While I lost the weight initially, but I eventually gained most of it back. I've always been on the heavy side, so even at my lowest, I still felt like I was 300+lbs. I know that will definitely be a struggle for me. I've heard a lot about the changes in taste, and I was very surprised by that at first. It makes me a bit nervous that I won't like some of the protein drinks that I've come to love. Though Quest has about a thousand flavors, so hopefully I won't run out of ones I like I'm nervous that I won't lose as much as I want to. Or that my body image will never catch up to reality. That's a big one. I'm afraid that I'll always see the big person and never be satisfied with the amount that I've lost. Ideally, I'd like to get down to about 180lbs. It's not the smallest, but I'd be happy with that. I'm very lucky to have an amazingly supportive partner who has been learning about all of this with me as I go, and we talk about things as they come up. That's been a big relief in all of this. I guess I don't feel as much pressure to do something like skin removal surgery if it's actually not that uncomfortable, because my guy loves me for me. But then again, I may be wildly unhappy with the excess skin post surgery, so I have no real clue. Most everything I'm nervous about are the big question marks. The things that I have no way of predicting. That's probably why they have you do so much prep work and have you attend the group sessions, eh? The surgery itself doesn't seem scary--it's everything else after it that gets me nervous!

That's awesome! Congratulations! My program is very well-structured, so I have plenty of appointments and different types of doctors to ask questions of. I had started tracking my food/exercise with my Apple watch about four months ago, so I'm already in some good habits, but need to increase my exercise (which I assume will get better as I become less encumbered by my weight). I lost about 110lbs on my own a few years ago, and I felt incredible. I LOVED the gym. I'm heading in that direction again, and I can't wait to see the results once it's paired with surgery. I'm interested in what you said about going through a variety of emotions--what did/does that mean for you?

That would be great! I'm meeting with my surgeon on Friday, and should have my date scheduled next week. I'm definitely looking for someone a bit ahead of me in the process to discuss challenges and frustrations and celebrate small victories. Thanks for connecting!