sillykitty

This was my experience exactly! I lost hair despite meeting protein goals & taking all my supplements, including everything possible to combat hair loss.

Yay!!!

I wish you lived closer O&D! 😂

You probably won't find lite cranberry at a bar. I know some people have suggested ordering vodka with water and added their own Mio or Crystal Light drops. I think we are all grown ups and we can make our own decisions If you want to drink, just be careful about it, and log it. Directly post op everything changes. I would have never been able to drink fast enough to get drunk. I mean I'm sure you could, but straight hard liquor or shots weren't appealing. Once I was past 6 months I could drink pretty normally. I definitely have less tolerance than before. But I don't think it's a magical sleeve effect. I'm nearly half my body weight, and cannot pad my stomach with food. So it follows that I get drunk on less now days.

I did drink alcohol early post WLS. My job actually involves a lot of drinking (entertaining customers). But a coupe of months in I decided to stop drinking nearly entirely. It just wasn't worth the added calories. I might eat 500 calries for the day, but then have another 500 calories in alcohol. It just seemed like a waste. I was working too hard and didn't want to undermine my weight loss. So while I doubt it will do you any physical harm, it will most likely negatively impact your weight loss in the short term.

On most plans you're cleared to eat all foods by 13 weeks. If so, just take familiar food as a back up. But if it agrees with your system, there are healthy choices on just about every menu! Enjoy!

I think the basic guidelines, I'd suggest are, make sure you're able to get all your protein in easily, without needing to supplement. (I still supplement, but just cause I'm lazy, lol) Also to make sure you're all recovered, no major complications, etc.. But I also feel strongly to keep IF in your back pocket, as a secret weapon, when your losses slow, or you are otherwise struggling. I know for me, I needed IF when my hunger monster returned. And now that I'm maintaining, I'm not purposefully IF-ing because I want to save it for if I begin to regain.

I'd do the push ups before the no junk food 🤣 🤣

Man, I want to participate in this challenge just for the B-sides!

I wouldn't say I have everything down pat, more than anything I've been lucky! 🙂 I started at 243 lbs, I currently float between 125-130 lbs. My total loss is about 115 lbs. It took me 9.5 months to hit goal, and then continued to lose below my goal weight. Each Month Total loss Month 1 -17.6 -17.6 Month 2 -16.2 -33.8 Month 3 -14.2 -48 Month 4 -8.4 -56.4 Month 5 -12.6 -69 Month 6 -9.4 -78.4 Month 7 -12.2 -90.6 Month 8 2.8 -87.8 Month 9 -10 -97.8 Month 10 -6.4 -104.2 Month 11 -6.6 -110.8 Month 12 -1.4 -112.2 Month 13 -2.2 -114.4 Month 14 0 -114.4 Month 15 -0.6 -115 As you can see my losses were overall pretty predictable, larger losses at the beginning, then slowing down as I got closer to goal. I had one month with gains because I had a hard time getting back on track after vacation, combined with my hunger monster being awakened again. Good luck!

I want to lead off by saying I am an outlier. I had a very easy surgery and recovery. I have an iron sleeve, almost nothing bothers it, and hasn't from the beginning. I have lost 100% of my excess weight, am below my goal weight, and have maintained for nearly 6 months now. So, take what I say with a grain of salt, knowing that I have been supremely lucky, and the stars have aligned for me, for now (who knows what the future holds though). I am also a foodie. I eat out very frequently, both for business, and just as my personal lifestyle. I have not have any issue eating a very wide range of food (with one exception, I'll get to later). My first business trip was 3 weeks post op. It was a week long wine and dine event, with elaborate meals, dinners being upwards of 20 courses. I ate ahead of my plan, and had little tiny bits of just about everything. I don't recommend this, but it caused no issue for me, other than a weight gain of 3 lbs when I returned. I have been on multiple international trips post op. I ate meat pies and drank beer in Scotland. I ate pasta and drank wine in Italy. I ate falafel and drank tea in Egypt. BUT, it wasn't all just eat whatever I want, but smaller portions. I balanced "off plan" meals with being very disciplined, especially when I was home. For many months, until my hunger returned, I was routinely under 500 cals a day. I took advantage of not being hungry, and not having head hunger triggers, by eating to only get my required protein in, and therefore consuming very few cals, many days. Now that I am in maintenance, I have been fortunate so far. My BMR appear to be north of 1500 cals a day. I still have a fair amount of restriction, so I am able to eat relatively freely. But I log everything I eat and weigh myself nearly everyday I am home. I am willing to adjust my diet and cals in order to maintain at a weight I'm happy with (which may eventually end up higher than my current weight). But even if I do end up having to be more careful with my diet, it will always be a combo of disciplined and splurge meals. It will just be about finding the balance between the two. On the topic of digestive issues, I have had no accidents, no diarrhea (other than the occasional that everyone gets from time to time). I was constipated early post op, and added Benefiber to every non-water liquid I ingested. I can get nausea if I over eat, but it passes quickly. I have only gotten sick twice, and it was vitamins on too empty of a stomach. The only negative consequence I have had, is dumping-ish symptoms, from time to time. Occasionally it is random, but the most common trigger is liquid sugar, such as Vietnamese coffee, or Baileys Irish Cream for example. I just get extreme nausea and my heart races. So I've given up any large quantities of sweet beverages, or anything similar, like ice cream, pudding. So, it is possible to live a normal foodie life, post sleeve. But this journey is very, very individual. It is a true YMMV situation. So just as there are outliers who have lots of complications & food sensitivities, I am an outlier that has had practically none. I am at one extreme of the bell curve. Hope that helps!

Those look perfect!

I think that reflects poorly on your surgeon to set unrealistic expectations. You were 199 on your surgery date. Your surgeon expects you to lose 15% of your body weight (30 lbs) in 30 days? I'm not even sure that is possible.

You have lost 19 lbs in 6 weeks ....

Yes! They have started to make slightly more attractive ones, in colors. https://smile.amazon.com/Dash-DFAF455GBAQ01-Electric-Temperature-Control/dp/B07GNSHPBQ?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_16068615011 I'm on the look out for one in either orange or green 🙏

For those thinking about air fryers, I would not recommend the airfryer & toaster oven combo model, like this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/BLACK-DECKER-Convection-Countertop-Oven-Stainless-Steel-TO3000G/51800328 It doesn't heat evenly, and I have repeatedly burned things in it 😠 The basket style is bulky and unattractive on the countertop (IMO), but are far more functional.

You’ve lost 23 lbs in less than a month. This isn’t an issue with WLS, it’s an issue of having unrealistic expectations

I think they make sense if you’re cooking for 1-2 people. They do a great job of getting a crispy exterior nearly identical to frying, but without the oil or mess.

I’ve had air fryer pork chops before, they were great! I just put the basket and bottom part in the dishwasher. Super easy! And ... we need pics of the ragoons!

@Frustr8, will you please consider creating your own thread where you can share your journey? You can then update that thread with your progress, and anything else you wish to share. It will help keep threads such as this one, on topic and relevant to the OP.

My thighs are totally not ready for prime time, saggy skin city! But I haven't worn any bottoms over them, I guess I just DGAF. 🤣 (I'm not sure why I will show my saggy thighs, but never my saggy tummy, hmmmm)

All of them

I bought a few cute and affordable ones from Amazon (and easily returnable if they don't fit!) https://smile.amazon.com/YOU-Swimsuits-Control-Backless-Swimsuit/dp/B07B4BQHYW?ref_=w_bl_sl_ap_ap_web_17413424011 https://smile.amazon.com/B2prity-Swimwear-Backless-Monokini-Swimsuits/dp/B07BKSNH7Q?ref_=w_bl_sl_ap_ap_web_18702476011 https://smile.amazon.com/Ekouaer-Vintage-Bikini-Monokinis-Swimsuit/dp/B07194VB6R?ref_=w_bl_sl_ap_ap_web_10797138011&th=1

I didn't say I've made it recently 😂 This thread is actually a good reminder, the bf is making a half hearted effort to de-carbify his diet. The next meal I cook for him I'll make a version of this, basically a lasagna with zucchini replacing the noodles, and extra veggies added.

Jennie-O is the most common brand in my area. I generally buy whatever brand the store has, and/or has on sale, and it's all been tasty!