sillykitty

You're still early on in the healing process, there isn't a normal for your body yet. I would probably talk to your surgeon about it to see if they have any recommendations or insights.

As @elcee stated, everyone is different. A bm everyday isn't necessary, especially if you're only on liquids.

I agree with all this. I almost always order what I want, irregardless of waste. The only exceptions is at fine dining (i.e. expensive) restaurants, I won't order the $60 steak, or the $45 halibut because that just seems over the top wasteful. So I'll have an app or a less expensive main. And near home I'll often choose food that makes better leftovers than something I want more but will reheat poorly. I think the real key to this is the cash strapped friend picking up the bill. Those few bites were totally worth $10 to you, but were an expensive few bites from your friend's viewpoint. To me it feels more like guilt over economic disparity, and the food waste is just a proxy. Yes, the waiter questions about "did you like the food" kill me more than anything. I'm over it with people I'm close to, including customers or collegues. But on early dates, or work meals where I don't know them well, ugh, it makes it awkward for everyone. Why don't the waiters recognize that?

Congrats!

You know, if I stuck to eating 2-3 meals, and no snacking or drinking, then I agree, I would still have a pretty large calorie deficit everyday. But what I have begun to do is snack, eat because food tastes good vs. because I'm hungry or to get my protein in. For instance, under normal circumstances, an hour or so later I would have finished the pasta/corn/cheese. I didn't this time because I was busy trying to work and finish packing, then head over to boo's house. Also because posting made me more conscience. I guess the good news is I still don't have a lot of real hunger. So when I need to reign in my eating because I'm seeing gains, I should be able to eat stuff I want, just as long as I'm eating it when I'm hungry vs. cravings. That's what I'm hoping at least.

Yes, that was my experience.

So I've never done the volumetric measurement ... but here you go, visuals Pasta, corn and cheese sauce Total volume eaten I'd say between 1/2-3/4 cup? Wanna call it 2/3 cup? Obligatory disclaimer - I am not recommending or encouraging any WLS patient to eat pasta, corn and cheese sauce. I realize this is not a wise food choice. But I am in maintenance and testing my boundaries of what I need to do to maintain vs. gain or lose.

Meh, I'm good with a day by the pool! Poolboys are overrated! I'm the weirdo that would go to Mexico City any day over Cancun.

Good luck! You'll do fine with just water. Everyone is hydrating these days! I think sushi is good date food (unless you're @GreenTealael ), it's shareable, so you don't have a giant obvious uneaten plate of food in front of you. And sashimi is pretty much the perfect bariatric food.

I like both my single self and my boo'd up self ....

Oh, I'm not good with protein, and I quit logging ....

Mexico! Not a experience the culture type trip, a lay by the pool and have drinks brought to me type trip! I bought a bikini for Mai Tai weekend a couple months back, 🍹so already have that. And I bought 3 more bathing suits as well No boo! This was supposed to be a gf trip, has changed to a mom daughter trip. Boo was supposed to be on the east coast for NYE, but that got cancelled, so he'll be home, and I'll be with my mom. Not the NYE I had in mind, but can't really complain about it, right?

I would say on average a 18 hr fast, 6 hr eating window. Easy to do at home as long as I'm mentally or physically occupied. Drinking after dinner stretches the non-fasting window during work travel. If there is no drinking then even when traveling I can usually do 18:6 (or is it 6:18?) I'll fix lunch now. If no one don't judges the craptastic meal I'm making, I'll post it up here!

I'm still IF-ing. Only have being super busy to credit for it. Not will power for sure. My weight has jumped from a low of 135 to today at 137.8 ... nothing to pinpoint why. Maybe fluids? As y'all know I barely hydrate. But yesterday I was legit thirsty. I drank and drank, and barely peed, so clearly some dehydration going on. I'm pushing fluids today (ok, diet coke), and already at 64 oz, but peeing, so it looks like I'm getting to a regular hydration level. Leaving on vacay tomorrow, so we'll see what the scale says when I get back. There will be Micheladas, chips and salsa, maybe balance that out with ceviche?

Thanks! I did make better choices in the scheme of things. I do still do a pretty long IF fast nearly every day. But, really, my restriction along with lack of real hunger most of the time is what got me to goal. Now as I'm figuring out maintenance, I'm eating willy nilly, but definitely a small eating window and my restriction is keeping my cals lower than pre WLS for sure!

And applying fire sauce ....

Ok, all caught up I think .... What's everyone doing for NYE? I'm going to Mexico (how come there is no Mexican flag emoji?)! I booked this when I planning on having had plastic surgery in the fall and thought all I'd be able to do is lay by the pool and mix alcohol and painkillers But ps didn't happen, so I'll just be relaxing. Now relaxing isn't my kind of vacation, I like to see new places and do new things generally. But despite that I'll try to have a good time!

I had that issue through out my weight loss phase. I rarely was strong enough to make good choices off of a restaurant menu. Considering how much I eat out, I really have my restriction to thank for making it to goal. As I'm learning to maintain, I'm currently stretching boundaries and seeing how much I can get away with before I start to gain. But when I find that, yep, way simpler at home to eat well, then to choose an egg white omelet over biscuits and gravy when I'm away!

OMG ... Gak breasts, yes, perfect description! As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I'm pleasantly surprised at how my deflated breasts look when sitting or standing. (They pancake when I lay down, or snoopy nose when I bend over, so that's not good) But the feel of them, yes, like Gak! It's disconcerting! The only thing I'm grateful for is new boo never knew my old non-Gak breasts. I don't think the consistency would be as weird to someone who has no point of comparison, I hope, right? Also hopefully the age range I date in has some realistic expectations, and don't have 20 yr old boobs as their point of reference. You know what is a mood killer, You're doing some cardio, feeling sexy af, and you look down and see thigh skin pooling ... yes, pooling .... where thighs meet groin. Makes me want to turn off every light in the universe

Sizes .... yes, universal sizing, please! I'm 5'3", pre WLS - 240 lbs & size 20 At goal now 135-140 lbs, sizes, all over the places, but mostly size 8 I can almost forgive sizing being between brands. But the same brand, different cut pants, same sizes don't fit. Vince Camuto I wear both an 8 & 10, depending on the style, Wit & Wisdom, same thing. Now that drives me crazy. In pants I have sizes between 6-10 in my closet, dresses 6-8. Anything sized S-M-L is a total crap shoot, I feel like I have an equal representation of all 3! I think there is a lot of vanity sizing though. I fit into quite a few Smalls. I'm barely to a "normal" BMI. I think I am in true terms a M-L.

I have a turkey neck as well! Lots of wobbly bits other places, but those I can hide under clothes. I have a neck lift on my wish list. I'm curious about recovery time, if I can sneak that procedure in without much time off traveling? I only notice when I take selfies. I need to learn to work my angles better!

Yes, all this! I admit, I don't feel like a fit into most of the the rest of the board any more. For me, the losing phase was straight forward. Maximize protein while minimizing calories, get lots of fluid in. Simple, done! Maintenance is a whole new thing. There is no clear path. I feel like I'm predominantly going it alone, except for the few who have gathered on this thread, and a couple of others.

I'm just trying to find where I can maintain. I have this fantasy where I have no off limits foods, and I can maintain. We'll see!

It sounds like everyone had a good holiday! I love @sideeye opportunistic atheist. I will also happily appropriate any culture's food and make it part of my tradition, see Xmas eve tamales for example! As a tangent on that topic. I've been going to a friend's Passover Seder for years. I don't know if I don't dig Passover food, or it's just a family of mediocre cooks, but it's kinda sad what I look forward to most is roasted carrots every year My holiday was good. Tamales for Xmas eve were delicious, as expected. My uncle's smoked prime rib blows every prime rib I've ever had out of the water, including my own! I had a very protein centric Xmas meal. Smoked Ahi Belly, Poke and Prime Rib mostly. Unlike me, as I'm a total carb wh*re! One gripe though, no leftover were sent home! WTH! There was plenty of food left to distribute.

Any new news @GreenTealael? My new boo is out of state, so I'm living vicariously!