Orchids&Dragons

I haven't found anything that I can't tolerate. Sorry about your Mom, that sounds terrible and so unhealthy.

You look fantastic, congrats!!!

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Actually, they're really sweet a lot of the time. Hubby grilled salmon last night and the boys will often ask what I'd like for dinner. Then other days they don't think about it and pick up cookies/cupcakes and stuff like that. I don't mind them having it; they're not overweight, but at least don't leave it in the middle of the kitchen counter. They're 6'3" for cryin' out loud. How about the top shelf of the cabinet? I've pretty much gotten used to pizza being served 3-4 times a week. (This would be snacks, not actual meals.)

Poorly and with ill-grace!

I do well at work because I control what foods are available. At home, I have a lot more trouble because of all the non-dieters I live with.

OMgosh, if this were all I felt, it would be awesome! Does anyone else actually sit on wrinkles of skin around their ass? AAARRRRGGGGHHH! YUCK! It's like I sat on a folded up newspaper or something, but there's nothing there but me!

My 26-year-old daughter is a size 4/6 at 5'9", 130 pounds. I still can't believe I gave birth to that child. OK, when she was born she weighed 10lb 3oz. That part I can believe 😁

@Roxine You're looking amazing for 50! I think it's the waist measurement that's making the big size difference. I've always been more junior shaped. At my biggest I was a C cup, now a B. Very little difference in measurements from bust-waist-hip, but all much smaller than they used to be!

The first week or two are tough to drink much because of the swelling in your stomach. Some lucky people don't swell much and can drink pretty much normally within a couple of days. For others, they need to continue the slow, measured sips because the water needs to trickle down between the swollen areas. No one can predict how you, personally, will do. I was able to drink normally in less than a week. Water will not stretch your pouch, so after the doc says it's ok, drink normally unless you experience pain. By the time I was 2 weeks post-op, I was drinking 80-100 oz./day. Now I'm 130-170 oz. per day, not because I have to, but because I like to drink a lot. Hope this helps to ease your worries.

Welcome, @Roxine This thread is really nice for us mid-range people approaching goal! Our surgeries were about 1 week apart. I started out a size 24, now fit size 12-14. I'm almost 5'7 and have no idea how some of you can fit into such small sizes. I am over-the-top jealous! I'm about 5 pounds from my initial goal of 150. Congrats on your amazing progress!

You explained this perfectly!

I've already gone back to setting my timers. I'm really bad about drinking too soon. Nutritionist says I'll make malabsorption worse

Hearing from someone first-hand has a lot more impact than random "don't drink" articles. Thank you for sharing your experience and congrats on your sobriety.

At the family get-together, I got quite a few "you look greats" mixed in with "you look frail" and now you just need "to get healthy". Oh, well. I just can't believe that when I was this weight the first time, I thought I was fat. If only I'd known to be happy with my weight then, maybe I wouldn't have yo-yoed up to 272.

In general, I have been very honest with people about my surgery. I didn't broadcast it on social media but if anyone asked me, I answered truthfully. That way I didn't need to keep track of who I told what, kwim? (My choice, you can all choose for yourselves.) However, now that I am close to goal weight, people have started asking if I intend to lose any more weight, and then promptly tell me not to. Believe me, I am nowhere near anorexic. I'm still a solid size 14 in most clothes. I think their perception is the "difference" in my weight, not in the physical reality of what I weigh now. Anyway, my truthful time is over. When they ask, I'm just going to say "Nope, I think I'm good." Then I'll proceed to do whatever the heck I want to do anyway. Sort of like being a teenager again. I doubt anyone but me (and probably hubby) will actually notice if I lose another 5-10 pounds but the subject is not up for public debate, especially with people who want to tell me how bad I'll look. /Rant Over/

Lol this is exactly true!!! Some follow up with ... so what are you at now??? Like that is appropriate 😩 I guess the appropriate response is "You, first!"

I feel for ya! Hope you're better soon!

You are rocking that V shape! Looking fantastic!

I'm so sorry to hear about your son. He died tragically young. Is it harder or easier on you that his sister looks so much like him?

We've all got our hidden talents 😉

The $30 or so that I spend on the upgrade with no ads is soooo worth it. Given my taste in music, the ads I got were all for sites to date black men. Then, as my taste evolved, they decided I preferred black men who could speak Spanish. My 50+ year-old, white-as-toothpaste husband found the ads hilarious! Once their algorithm finally figured out that I was a middle-aged white woman, all my ads were for dishwasher detergent and cleaning chemicals. No fun at all!

For me, it was the large burritos at Taco Bell!

You're one of the lucky ones! People only feel restriction with fluids if they have a lot of swelling which makes it difficult for the liquid to trickle through the stomach. Liquids don't stay in your pouch, but just "slide" through into your intestines. You won't feel real restriction until you get to soft foods.

Of course it counts! Good start!