ms.sss

Raspberries and whipped cream: 72 calories

Hand-me-down SCOoooooooooooRE! The Kid cleaned out her closet (again) and filled a garbage bag with clothes that she doesn't wear anymore. Naturally, I went through it and put a few pieces in my closet cuz these clothes are still good, man. And bonus points that they fit me, lol. Here's a pic of 3 pairs of jeans that I poached. For funsies, I got my biggest pair of pants currently in my closet for comparison. Now these PJ pants aren't even as big as my biggest pants (I recently cleaned out my own closet and donated all my big clothes so no pic for comparison)...these leopard print pj pants were actually part of my previous horde of "skinny clothes"! At my biggest, they were too small to go over my hips/stomach. Craziness.

Perhaps some of it may have to do with Pandemic? My alcohol consumption increased dramatically since March. I’ve been trying (albeit not very hard) to deal with it by keeping it out of the house. I find if there’s none around, then I can go without just fine. Problem is I eventually go out to get some. Boredom, I think.

Same. Same. My how things have changed.

I would have but I wanted to eat my ice cream! But since you asked: 3.38 tbsp, 50 cubic centimetres...😎 None so far, but I don't anticipate any as I had a very small amount and I ate some broccoli beforehand. lol

This is how I eat ice cream post-op. 50 ml at a time (i.e, 1.7 fl oz OR 1/5 of a cup). 50ml of Haaggen Daaz Coffee Ice cream: 107 calories.

Of everything really: what you expect to lose, how you expect to feel, what foods you expect to eat, how you expect people to treat you. I read alot of posts on here with peeps dealing with stress and anxiety due to a host of things they thought would happen, but didn't. Though your posts read like you are the type of person who can take this stuff in stride...I suspect you'll do great ❤️

Pre-op it was Optifast, and I could only get them either from my surgeon or from the Bariatric Clinic Office at HRH (I got mine from my surgeon). POST-op I used Isopure Dutch Chocolate (powder) exclusively...i found this was the least sweet of all the powders I tried. I blended it up with water, ice, a tsp of decaf instant coffee crystals and 2 tsps of Benefibre. In the mornings I may add a capful of Miralax if I was backed up (which happened often!). I also had some Isopure Unflavoured to add to food. I got these online from https://www.bodybuilding.com/en-CA/index , found this to be cheapest, even with the conversion and shipping costs. The giant tub (with the handle) is the best value. But maybe try a sample first before you commit to such a large amount (my husband drinks it too, so it was worth it for us). My surgeon was XXXX. Had 7 follow ups with him (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year). Again very uneventful. In and out really (I did not have any complications nor issues with weight loss). He's great. It was kind of a downer to have to go so far for so short an appt (I'm in north T.O., he's at Sheppard West), and his office was always very busy, so I often had to wait past my scheduled appt time to see him. Not really a big deal, but worth noting. There is no plan to see him again, but I was told to give them a call if I ever find the need to (I haven't). Edited to add: I put my surgeons name, but just removed it. Figure maybe I should DM you this info instead, lol...I sent it to your mailbox. Edit to add, part deux: I should mention that there are also (separate) follow ups with the clinic at HRH (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years). My next scheduled appt will be next year at my 3 yr anniversary...i actually have no idea how long these will go for. I see the Nurse and the Dietician at these follow ups. I get my labs done, then they adjust vitamin regimen if needed, as well advise me on my reported eating. Personally, I don't get anything out of these follow-ups in terms of dietary advice that I don't already know. But getting my labs done is good. Also it sucks to have to drive all the way there and pay $25 for parking.

I had mine at HRH! 2 years ago though 😉 The entire experience was ery uneventful (well except the the "Main Event": Surgery, lol), which is a good thing. I was there for one night, the nurses I interacted with were great, and the pain meds were awesome. Hallways nice and wide for walking without getting in anyone's way. And HRH is like 95% private rooms so you will likely get one even without even asking (I asked). Not sure how it's going to be during pandemic, and if visitors will be allowed, but there was a little sitting area with armchairs and a coffee table in my room for visitors to hang out comfortably. Can't really think of any standout items, but if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask Good Luck!

Everything Bagel Seasoning?

I gained 6 lbs January to end of March (stopped exercising regularly, tracking my food, weighing myself daily, and probably ate more, but I don't know since I wasn't tracking!!). I went back to my routine and lost those 6 lbs in 3-4 weeks in April, while we were in lock down. But then 4-5 of those effing lbs came back again between May to August (dessert & alcohol consumption increase) and it took me almost 2 months to lose them again. Which was a wake up call about how my super weight-loss powers have diminished. Moral of the story is if your aim is to maintain a certain weight, do something about it now when it's only a few pounds vs later when its much, much more. There is no mystery on how to do this: exist in a calorie deficit until you reach your goal. I dropped down to about 1300-1500 cals a day...if I went lower, the weight would have come off faster, but I didn't, so it didn't.

Stuffed Pork Loin w/ gravy, sauteed onions & steamed broccoli: 219 calories Ate it all and I'm uncomfortably full. Pork seems to always have this effect on me...but do I stop eating it? No. Geez. (As I type this I think I may be in barf-territory....)

Meh. I may have them with dip or pâté, though. But only because eating dip or pâté by itself is weird. 😂

I agree. Now you can go shopping again for some ACTUAL work out clothes! P.S. I really like the colour of the jacket!

How about some broth? Also, when I was at 4 weeks-ish, I had canned smoked oysters regularly. Salty AND soft. (though I realize this may not be appealing to most...Mr. HATES the smell and left/leaves the room when I pop open a can, lol)

I don't think it makes a difference, in the end so long as you have a calorie deficit, you will lose weight. Though it *may* take a little longer this far out. In maintenance, I had a couple times when I gained like 5-6 lbs after a period of eating too much or a period of decreased activity. The first time this happened was maybe 11 mnths post op and it took me a week to lose it. The last time it happened, it took me almost 2 months (at almost 2 yrs post op). It was much easier to go low cal before than it is now, probably cuz I'm used to eating more now? Anyhoo, its not impossible, Keto/low carb or not. Good Luck!

I was on Optifast too...had to do 3 a day for two weeks, my daily totals from this were about 600 cals. Though I remember the last maybe 4-5 days I only had 2 a day (was getting protein shake burnout). I had two flavours: chocolate and vanilla. The vanilla was way too sweet for my liking so I ended up adding twice the amount of water to the powder packet (I still have a few vanillas in my pantry that I never ended up using...i really should throw those out.) The chocolate was better, though I added 2 tsp of decaf instant coffee crystals to it to make it more palatable. Oh, and I blended them up with a bunch of ice when I drank them.

OOOOooooooh that looks delicious (sans the croutons 😂)! I haven't had a salad it what seems like for-eh-vah, as for some reason my Costco has been out of romaine lettuce for AGES. Whats up with that?!!? I may just bite the bullet and buy a ridiculously overpriced one at a regular grocery...which btw, has gone up in price as well! (I know its only a couple dollars, but it pains me, its the principle of it all !)

Hi! Haha, me too! So here is my assessment: Cellulite: I had some on my lower butt, upper back thighs, and inner thighs. After the weight loss, my butt no longer has that dimply look, but it is still saggy. It looks more wrinkly/deflated than cellulite-y. Same for the back and inner thighs, but to a lesser degree. They don’t look so very wrinkly, but they do look “soft”. I didn’t have any varicose veins, but I did have a VERY blue-y/purple-y spider vein about the size of a quarter on my thigh. It’s still there but not as vibrant blue. Finally, you didn’t ask, but I can also report on my stretch marks. I had stretch marks on my upper boobs, hips and the backs of my calves. The boob marks have significantly decreased (i see some but they are not as noticeable as before) My hip marks are gone...BUT, I had a tummy tuck so that would explain that. The stretch marks at the backs of the calves though, are also gone (and I didn’t have any work done there like the TT, so that is worth noting). Its weird to me that they are gone cuz i always thought those things were permanent. Even weirder that I just noticed this today. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Manage your expectations and try not to compare yourself to others (technically, that's 2, but you get what I mean, lol)

How did I miss this?? Congrats on GoOOOOOOOAAaaaaaaLLLLLlllLLLL! So excited for you and your upcoming PS. Smokin' hot bikini pics, here we come!!!!

Another bowl of random stuff for afternoon munchies: a snack can of tomato & onion tuna, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, some cucumber and tzatziki. Logged as 182 calories (a little less since I didn’t eat all the tuna, but I like to round up!)

Good point. If one’s pre-op diet is of the “higher-calorie” persuasion, one may continue to experience physical hunger (my pre-op diet was 3 shakes a day).

Definitely. Nothing says you can’t do weight loss on your own. I’m sure we all know at LEAST one person who lost a ton of weight and so far kept it off, sans WLS. It’s not impossible by any means. Also, nothing says you can’t change your mind and go the WLS route at a later time, either. There are many on here that had their surgeries in their 50’s (even 60’s and at least 1 - that I know of - in her 70’s). I am pushing 50 myself (though I often feel - and act - like i’m 17, lol). You know yourself the best, and will undoubtedly make the right decision for yourself TODAY. And if you have to make another decision later, so be it. P.S. Sorry to hear about the reflux. Waking up with a mouthful of acid is the WORST.

Hey! Get outta my brain! I am planning to make falafel tonight!!! Got a recipe to share??