KCgirl061

I don't think the pickles caused you to gain actual weight. It's likely that the high sodium content caused you to retain water. Maybe try to find a low sodium variety but I don't think you need to avoid pickles altogether. Be sure to drink plenty of water to help flush it out. I know it sounds counter productive but it works.

Has anyone been told about Phytic Acid? So a couple months ago I was researching about different things that interfere with vitamin and mineral absorption and came across an article about Phytic Acid (found in plant based foods). “Phytic acid is not a health concern for those who follow a balanced diet. However, those at risk of an iron or zinc deficiency should diversify their diets and not include high-phytate foods in all meals.” Guys it MIGHT BE A COINCIDENCE but my hair loss slowed dramatically when I stopped eating phytic acid containing foods with my multivitamins. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/phytic-acid-101

I went to a Brazilian steakhouse with my husband. You know the ones where they bring the cuts of meat to your table. So I got a little bit of different cuts of steak, chicken, pork, and lamb. I loved having the variety and don't regret doing it at all.

It doesn't seem like you're being impulsive. You're doing your research. Joining this forum and hopefully others will give you a good idea of people's experiences and not just the clinical information. Most bariatric programs and insurance companies make it a 3-6 month program so that people aren't getting the surgery impulsively anyway. (At least, American ones, I guess I can't speak to how it works in the UK)

I'm about 7 months out. I haven't picked up cocoa roasted almonds but I got some chocolate PB2 and I've been enjoying that on rice cakes.

Rice cakes with chocolate PB2 - a fabulous sweet treat!

I just bought the cutest pair of cowgirl boots. I can't wait to wear them with sundresses and skirts this summer. Its always a look I thought was super cute on slender women but harder to pull off when you're plus sized.

I didn’t get on the scale until I was a whole month out. First month was a 14lb weight loss

I think as long as you are past the soft food stage that cauliflower rice would be okay

Egh. So disgusted with myself. At some point I nibbled on some chocolate and that just opened a gate. I've snagged a couple mini Milky Ways from my boss's desk. Had myself a small slice of rice crispy treat I was making for my daughter's Valentine's party. Ate 3 chocolates from a box of Russell Stovers in the lounge. I need to stop! HELP! Any motivation or tips on how to do so welcome!

I didn't lose a shoe size but I went from needing an 8.5 wide to any 8.5 that I want!

I was one of those lower BMI patients. My BMI was 39.6- 40 depending on my water weight that day. I did get a lot of people telling me I wasn't big enough to need WLS. But for me it wasn't about my size, I was about my struggles. I felt like I had been dieting all my adult life and only getting heavier as the years passed. "Why don't you just diet and exercise?" they'd ask. Well thats what I tried to do when I was only a BMI of 33! I don't know if that helps. You have a lot of good responses on this thread and my two cents might just sound like white noise. But it seems to me you are doing the right thing by getting on forums and learning about people's struggles and successes and how WLS has changed their life. One resounding theme that keeps coming up is that people only regret not doing it sooner.

I think it started out I had a high stress situation and that nasty little voice in my head told me chocolate would make it all better. I'm detoxing right now. No more chocolate for me!

I take a lot of what the other posters mentioned and also P3s which you find in the lunch meat section of the store. They are really handy to grab quickly. Also lentil soup is a favorite. The Bariatric Pal store has a couple of entree options I've purchased and they're pretty good.

no thats something I should look into to see if it would help out!

I like to keep a couple vanilla or caramel shakes around to use as coffee creamer, but I stopped having them daily when my hunger returned and I found myself pushing the limits of my calorie intake.

Protect that IV at all costs!!

It's SO hard! Right now chocolate is all I can think about!

What kinds of healthy sweet and salty options do you eat? I'd like to maybe keep Quest bars around for when I want chocolate but maybe thats just keeping me from detoxing completely.

Okay I love this response! 😂

So my husband decided that he wants to lose weight and look better too. He went to his doctor and got a prescription for Phentermine. I never took this before my surgery and really know very little about it. I was never interested in weight loss medications so strong you need a prescription for. Does anyone have any experience they can share with me? Good or bad?

I didn’t seem like I was losing until about 6 weeks out. The first month my body was adjusting to the shock of surgery and nothing really happened. After that I was pretty consistently losing 10 pounds a month.

Maybe try a toothbrush with a smaller head? Like a kid’s brush might help?

Six months post-op and my hunger is back. With a freaking vengeance. Maybe its because I've had a couple days off but I can't seem to get it under control. But all I can think about is the food over in my kitchen. I dunno. Even when I'm physically full I'm still craving something - a salty crunch or sweet chew. I'm going crazy! I miss the absence of hunger! It was so nice. I'm so sad.

I've gotten really lax on tracking my food intake. I've always just made sensible choices with 3 meals and 2 snacks. But now that I have the urge to snack like 5 times a day I really feel thats the best way to keep myself in check. I hate tracking food by the way. Hate it. Its measuring and calculating and just.... MATH. EGHHHH.