ms.sss

...or too fast? Try slowing waaaaayyyy down and see if that helps

I think its common to go through phases/cycles of food aversion? (I *think*) I had a big case of it the first 2 months. It got better, but would still be a regular occurrence throughout the next several months. I still get it sometimes (I.m 2+ years out). In fact, I sort of had it just a couple weeks ago and it lasted almost a week.

I am probably the worst scar healer on earth, (or at least in the top 10) lol. I had mine done a year ago also (TT, Breast Lift, Arm Lift), and the majority of it is still very dark and some raised. I did have 2 rounds of steroid injections the past couple months as well on various places and I have to say it has made a HUGE noticeable difference. But they are still probably still worse than most other people who are way further out than me. I was prepared for this as I have a long history of hyperthrophic scarring. The eventually fade, but I know it will take years for me. Tummy tuck: Darkest at the edges, less dark above my pubic area. They were pretty raised at the ends, but since the steroids, they are almost flat. There are a couple small 1/2 long sections along the middle that only have thin white line. Belly Button: dark, flat thin line...from far away it looks like I have a dirty belly button, hahahaha. Breast Lift: Again, darkest at the ends close to my sides, as well as the t-junction at the bottom of each breast. The ends were raised, but not anymore since the steroids, but the t-junctions are still raised (I plan on getting another round for these guys in a couple months). The scars around my nipples are both thin skin-coloured lines (just a little lighter, but not white). Arm Lift. Ugh. These are the worst of them all. They are dark, wide, and before the steroids super raised (think bungee cord). They have lighted up dramatically since the steroids (all of the areas treated have), but still dark compared to "normal" healers. At least they are flat now! For some reason though, the scars in my both my armpits are invisible. These areas were the fastest to heal and disappear (I wonder if it was because of the "moisture" in that area...lol). But even with all my scars, I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. I know they will fade eventually. The tummy and breast scars are hidden even in my tiniest bikini, but yeah, my arm scars are in full view when I lift my arms to go "Whooooo!" hahahaha. When they are down, you can't see a thing...except for one small section on my right arm from the back, even when my arms are down. But no biggie. P.S. On a related note, I also had 2 sections of my scar "cord" cut as it was affecting the mobility of my right arm. I'm all good now. P.P.S. Sorry this was so long.

I looked up what I was eating at 6 months, and for the 4 weeks immediately after my 6th month anniversary, my average daily range was anywhere from 500-750 cals a day, with NET carbs maxing out at 25g per day. HOWEVER. At the 6th month mark I was 130-ish lbs, (and I'm, 5'2") so 500-700 cals for me would be a little different than someone who is bigger/taller (or smaller/shorter). Further, I wasn't constantly hungry, so being able to sustain this at the time would have been easier for me than for someone who was. Whatever caloric level you are comfortable at, and able to maintain during weight loss phase (be it 700 or 1200 or whatever), so long as you are at a deficit, you'll find that you WILL lose weight (barring any medical conditions). Good Luck!

I've eaten popcorn a handful of times (I started AFTER weight loss phase though). Have eaten up to about 1/2 a bag of microwave popcorn (equivalent to about 2 cups) WITH butter with no issue. I've also had movie popcorn (pre-pandemic) with butter (that had white cheddar seasoning on it) no problem. I'd like to say that I ate the equivalent of 2 cups then also, but i can't say for sure as I didn't measure and it was dark, lol. Whether or not YOU can tolerate it, only you can determine. P.S. I'm a sleeve and 2+ years out, 1.5 years into maintenance.

I too have read relatively extensively about some of the studies on the positive relationship between plastic surgery and long term weight loss maintenance. In my insignificant opinion (which is echoed by others above), it has less to do with the actual surgery itself vs. the common characteristics of subjects who tend to pursue elective plastic surgeries in the first place: level of motivation due to investment (financial, time, etc) , socioeconomic status (like someone said above, those who can afford elective plastics usually have more disposable income to put towards other weight loss/maintenance tools/services), weight prior to surgery (i mean usually only those who are close to, or are at goal weight already continue on with plastics), etc. etc. Of course there will be "successful" subjects who have none of these characteristics, but as stated, its just usually.

Salad for dinner: romaine, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, water chestnuts, tomatoes, feta & 3oz pan fried chicken: 252 calories for the whole thing Ate about 1/2..no after pic cuz the Kid ate the rest. ...Also, one of the sides I made for the fam's dinner tonite: Brussel Sprouts with Crispy Bacon. Ate the equivalent of 2 whole brussel sprouts & 1/4 slice of bacon. 26 calories. ...Also, Also, 1 espresso martini (not shown): 141 calories

I go out for a run or a walk or a hike every day. If I'm not running, I'll just pile on a bunch of warm clothing plus the appropriate outerwear. I even started wearing my mask during these outings cuz they really help to keep me warm! (If I'm running I wear much less...for mobility, plus i generate enough warmth with the exertion). P.S. I'm in Toronto so prolly similar weather as you ❤️

OMG...ME!!! I love EVERYTHING about food...cooking it, researching it, plating it, looking at pics of it, shopping for it, watching people eat it, asking people if they like it, smelling it, reading menus of it, taking pics of it....and to a much, much, lesser degree, actually eating it. I find the anticipation of it is much more pleasing to me than the eating. I dunno though if this is destructive behaviour...bingeing on food or starving oneself (among other things) would be the destructive part, i think. Ain't nothing wrong with appreciating a good thing! ....of course I could be wrong and this food fetish may in fact cause me some real harm one day...but so far so good (and i've been food fetishing since a couple months post surgery, over 2 years ago).

Dammmmnnnnnn...your boobs are spectacular. An your tummy tuck incision is healing really well for 11 days PO . The area above your hoo-ha especially!

I had the same issue at first...it helped to wear my arm compression garment (looks like a shrug) underneath it.

We do alot of hiking. My legs tend to get cold so I'm always borrowing one of the Kid's snowpants. They are way too long for me and I have to tuck them in my boots. So i ordered me some "slim-fit down filled pants" last month and they finally came! This is probably the first pair of "snow pants" i've bought for myself in 15 years. Based on sizing chart (from China, i think), I ordered an XL (an XL?!?!?)...but they are a little snug on the lower legs so I probably should have gone with an XXL (an XXL?!?!?). On the bright side, the down filling makes my butt look plumper (and higher!) than it really is. Maybe I should look into some down filled underwear.... P.S. I realize you can't really see the pants in the pics of me wearing them, so including a shot of them on the floor... P.P.S. They kept me nice and warm on this afternoon's hike!

Same! I really like the colour...

Actually, they drains look pretty invisible with the jacket open...I had to look hard for the small bump. But of course the laynard disappearing into your pants is a bit of a hint, lololzzzz. The curves are looking fab, lady!

ooohhh i'm in the market for a bed wedge right now (i have found i prefer to sleep pretty propped up these days). Do you have this one?

Further to what @catwoman7 said, since diets and the makeup of each individual vary so much, its difficult to advise someone on an internet board with just one strategy. Soooo....if you want to calculate your macros, you can use one of the calculators i've included below (NOTE: this is not the be all and end all medical advice to live by, just a guideline offered by just TWO sites...there are infinite sources out there....) This first calculator takes your inputted data and it will calculate the suggested macro breakdown for various types of diets as well as a "make your own" one you can customize: https://www.calculator.net/macro-calculator.html *** (see note below) The link above doesn't have a preset for ULTRA-LOW carb/Keto diets (you'll have to use the customize option), but this second one does (this is the one I used throughout my weight loss phase): https://www.ruled.me/keto-calculator/ Good Luck! Edited to add: I was playing around with the first calculator with my own data and it looks like it will give you a warning to consult your doctor if you put in data that would put your calories too low (I put in 115 lbs and selected "extreme weight loss"). Only when I set weight loss to "mild" did it give me an answer. Looks like it won't give an answer if the calculated calories is less than 1500. If you want to go lower than 1500 (which alot of people do), I suggest using the second calc and playing around with the carb value.

oopsies

...and the making of bread products continues... These babies came out of the oven about 1/2 an hour ago and the house still smells yum! Soft Pretzels! Had I portioned them out properly so they were the same size (I didn't), they should log in as 147 calories each. I had one bite (about 1 tbsp worth) to test it out. Turned out pretty good, an Mr. is a fan (he's the one who asked me to make them in the first place). I am not a big soft pretzel fan myself, so the test bite was enough for me....I'm guessing 15 calories for a bite?

I planned to make donuts this morning but my last attempt (read: FAIL ....way too underdone in the middle last time) got me skittish, so instead of making them round shaped, i tried em out "churro" shaped. SUCESSS! Cinnamon & Sugar Yeasted "Churro-Donuts" breakfast for the fam... that small one on the right is about the length of my thumb, ate 1/2 of it. Im guessing (and logged in MFP as) 50 calories.

I liked to cook/bake well enough before WLS, but AFTER it, I developed a LOVE/ OBSESSION / ALL-CONSUMING DESIRE to cook/bake (as well as all the planning, shopping, researching that goes along with it. not to mention sharing the goods with fam and friends and watching them eat it!) I'm not sure this was totally because of wls (but i'm sure it had a big part of it), but also because circumstances allowed me more time to indulge in my interests (change in work, and then pandemic, and then stopped working altogether). I am the family cook/food provider, to 3 thin, fit, active people who eat truckloads of food. During weight loss phase, I got whomever was around to taste the food; if there was no one around, then I would just take my chances and hope it was ok. If I REALLY needed to taste it, I would, but spit it out. Towards the end of weight loss phase and into maintenance I no longer required the help of the fam tasters, and would taste it myself AND sometimes swallow, lol. Now, 2+ years out, I taste and swallow everything, AND will often times actually eat the final product as well! I will eat (beyond tasting) maybe 20% of the savoury stuff I make for fam meals, but I eat (beyond tasting) 100% of the desserts. I recently became a lover of bread baking, and even started eating bread because of it (which was weird because I didnt have any legitimate (fluffy) bread for like two years...i did have crackers and other small hard type bread products though) I sometimes make sugar-substitute no/low carb stuff, but I will almost always make an larger-portioned, "normal" version for the fam as well. Of course, its not like I eat even close to the amounts that I did pre-wls. While before I would have eaten 10 cookies in one sitting , now I'll eat like 1/2 of one. Instead of 4 slices of sour dough, I'll eat like 1/4 slice, instead of 1/2 an entire fruit pie, I'll have 1/2 a slice, instead of 3 butter tarts, I'd take a bite off someones, and so on, and so on.... (ooooh now i want to bake something...lol) .......soooo so long as i don't stuff myself with huge amounts and keep within my maintenance calories (i track EVERYTHING), then its all good (which is basically what I've been doing for the past 1.5+ years of maintenance)

Sweeteners and real sugar affect me in the same way...in small amounts ok, but too much at a time or on an empty stomach results in dumping

I lost 21 (which to me was a crap ton...i have never lost anywhere close to 21 lbs in one month in my life). How did you arrive at the expectation of a 25+ lb loss? Was it something your doc/team told you to expect?

Here's something a little more normal, lol: I have turned into an avid bread baker lately and bake a loaf (or batch) 1-2 times a week. (Have also started eating bread since my bread is AWESOME) I don't usually eat in the mornings, but the aroma from this morning's bake was calling to me. 36g of homemade onion bread (yes, i weighed it!) + 1/2 tsp butter: approx 150 calories