TakingABreak

A lot of people had luck with making “snow cone” ice to chew on. I personally bought a bag of Sonics nugget ice to chew on. It helped a lot.

Of course there is still stomach acid 😏. It’s the amount that is different after surgery. I always recommend checking first.

I use liquid stevia a lot in my tea. I like it a lot better than the granular kind, it mixes much better. I like the taste a lot better than Splenda.

Girl! You are brave for sharing that story, but have come so far! I’m so proud of you and he didn’t deserve you at your worst, def not at your best! He was sexually attracted to you, so it sounds like he was more insecure of what people thought of him than anything else. Screw people like that. Be proud of what you love.

I think you know where the problems lie. You need to recommit to the process so you don't end up like your mother. It's not too late, you haven't started allover. You can refocus and get back to the basics. 1. Eat your lean protein first, then if room, have non-starchy veggies. 2. Don't eat or drink for 30 mins before and after a meal. 3. Make sure you are drinking calorie free liquids. 64oz per day. 4. Exercising, walking is good, for 30 minutes per day. 5. Cut out any added sugars that have slipped back in. 6. Track all food that you put in your mouth. 7. Perhaps, meet with your former NUT or see a new one. 8. Have a conversation with your family about your commitment to eating healthy again. I think you know what to do. Its just a matter of getting back with the program. Good luck dear, I hope you recommit and make your goal.

I think your feelings warrant a more in depth and serious conversation with your husband about his wants and desires. My husband likes red heads, but that doesn't mean he wants me to dye my hair red. Which obviously a boob job would be a lot more expensive, invasive, and permanent than hair dye. I understand how it's hard to feel confident when you don't match up to the type of women he's commenting on. It also seems like there is some additional insecurities if you are letting this paranoia consume you to the point where you feel like you are "losing your relationship". I hope you can work these issues out in a quick and healthy manor. Remember, its not uncommon for WLS patients to have body image issues after surgery. If this is the case, then you might want to seek some therapy. Good luck dear, Xo

Your welcome :) That's what we are here for!

I weigh myself most mornings. Always in my nightgown and undies. If I see something funky with the scale, like saying I gained, when I know that's impossible, I stay off for a couple days. I also don't weigh the entire week of my lady friend.

Check with your surgeon's office. I don't even trust my NUT with those kinds of questions. NUTs are trained in general nutrition, but don't always have the best concept of our anatomy after surgery. I've just heard more people say that they aren't allowed, than those who say they are. It makes sense too, with the amount of stomach acid to break down a gummy, we just don't have that.

WOW! Just wow! You look great! Such an inspiration.

I could send you some to try?! If you think they would hold up OK in the mail?

Interesting. Its amazing all the different programs out there.

did your NUT actually suggest a "gummy" because most WLS patients can't break down gummies due to a lack of stomach acid?

None with these whatsoever. I take it before bed, which is recommended to do with prenatal vitamins as well, because they can cause nausea.

Gummies are usually discouraged because we don't have enough stomach acid to break them down after surgery. Just an FYI.

When you can swallow....these are the ones that I take. Just one pill a day. Then I take 3 calcium chews with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I love these one-a-day's and they are fairly cheap for Bariatric vitamins. You can order them on Amazon for $45.99 for a 90 day supply.

I can absolutely relate to this. I watch friends and family's eating habits and I'm almost disgusted sometimes. Especially when someone orders an appetizer, dinner, and then dessert. I get nauseous seeing all the food, and the food choices. Another annoyance is when I hear someone repeatedly say that they need to go on a diet, and then do nothing. And it makes it worse if they've asked me for advice often. I can also admit that I judge overweight people now. Its terrible, considering I would have never wanted to be judged, but I see them differently now.

I have back problems as is, but I've noticed my butt hurts a lot when I sit for long periods of time. I work a desk job and I frequently find myself rotating back and forth between my hips to find a comfy position. I'm thinking a donut cushion will be in my near near future. Also, I can't hardly sit on my front stoop anymore. The second I sit down, I feel every bone in my butt. I never had a very cushy behind, but now its just flat as a board.

Great recommendation! I love it Thank you again.

I'm in LOVE with my new scale. I got it off Amazon. It does Body weight, Body fat, water, musle mass, visceral fat, BMI, and BMR. It syncs with your phone and its great for tracking history. The name is 1byone Bluetooth Body Fat Scale. The cost is $29.99. (someone here recommended it, wish I could give credit to them!)

oh lordy! I keep telling myself that "you will dump"... "you will dump"... *saying it out loud as I type this message* The further along I get, the more "risks" I seem to take with food. I haven't outright eaten a piece of homemade anything. Only when I can look at the label and know how much sugar I'm ingesting (most of the time 1/3 of the serving size). For example, I've had 1 twizzler or 1 square of dark chocolate. But I'm afraid to take a bite of birthday cake, or anything that I can't predict the sugar content. I guess its keeping me on the right track for now *fingers crossed*.

After reading the post about Chia Seeds, I looked into Chia Seed Pudding recipes. It has matcha powder as one of the additives. So I've got that and chia seeds on on my next grocery list. https://wellnessmama.com/59344/chia-seed-pudding/

I don't do anything public, besides this site. I've decided to keep my WLS journey private. But you can always send me a PM on here and I'd be happy to help in anyway!

Yes, its just chocolate covered, and there are only approx. 8-9 blueberries. So, the chocolate is next to nothing. It has 9grams of sugar listed on the label. However, it doesn't have a break down of added vs. natural sugars. The blueberries have some natural, and then the chocolate. I normally don't go over 5 grams, but it this case, I know the blueberries are contributing to the content. I'm 6 months post op, and I didn't experiment with added sugars until probably the 4 month mark. I was leery at first to dump. But I've found that if I keep it around 5 grams per serving, I'm OK. This means, I can have a taste of something---without getting sick/dumping. However, it does open a gateway to "testing the limits". Generally speaking, I just steer clear unless its something like the snack packs. I do eat SF, or "Carb Smart" ice cream bars on occasion as well. Again, if this is a trigger food for you, I'd wait until closer to goal to start trying those things. Remember, you have to eat 3500 calories to gain a pound. That is without exercising or our natural BMR. I doubt you've eaten enough to gain 5lbs. It could be a variety of things (hormones from our lady friend, constipation, fluid retention, muscle weight if you are exercising). But one thing I can guarantee is, you aren't really gaining fat. Everyone's program is different. My program encourages patients to work their way back up to 1000-1200 calories a day at approx. 8 weeks post op. I eat very well balanced with fat, carbs, protein, ect. I've been blessed to lose 125lbs in 6 months and eat fairly "normal". I eat whole grains, beans, fruit, ect. . I don't have cravings. Besides the pre op diet, and the food progression stages, I feel like my diet is normal. I just eat less. It's something I can maintain for a lifetime.

- Raw veggies (I like sugar snap peas, carrots, peppers, cucumbers...ect) & Veggie Ranch Dip made with Greek yogurt. - Cheese sticks -I make a veggie Greek salad with chic peas, kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumber, edamame and red onion. - Turkey sticks - Jerky - Hormel Naturals Snack Packs- Oven roasted turkey, pepper jack cheese cubes, and chocolate covered blueberries (my favorite combo, but they have 3 types in our local stores) - Laughing cow cheese and whole wheat crackers - Mixed nuts (cashews, almonds, pistachios, ect) - Fruit -Hard boiled eggs - Tuna packets -Cottage cheese