ms.sss

It feels so good to feel good about oneself! Enjoy your awesomeness (and the attention it brings) 😎

What is "bp powder"? And man, you gonna be a zombie today on 4 hours sleep! Good Luck!

At one month out 1 was eating about 1 to 1.5 oz of protein per meal, which is probably equivalent to 1/4 cup in volume (eaten over a course of an hour)...also, sometimes a meal would just consist of a protein shake which was about equivalent to 1.5 cups (drank over a course of 1/2 an hour). Now, however, at 1 year and 3 months, I can eat up to 3-5 oz of protein (1/2 to 1 cup) plus salad (maybe 2 cups squished?) And can probably finish this amount in about 45 mins. There are days however that I feel meh about eating and I eat less. But you are right about not letting your sleeve tell you when you to stop, as it will probably be too late by then. Pre-portioning your food is great way of control and be mindful of your intake!

Had my 3 week post op follow up with my surgeon tonite. Before he came by to check me out, one of his PA's took all my steri-stips off, and I finally got a good look at all my incisions. I was glad to see that they are pretty flat, considering. About 80% of them have some sort of scab in varying states (newish, crusty, peeling, etc.. or whatever). When Doc came by to check me out, he said he was happy with the way I was healing, among other things: NOT cleared for regular exercise. He said I could walk as much as I want and can do lower body (i.e., leg) work, but that's it. NOT allowed to submerge my body in water yet (i.e., no swimming, baths, hot tubs, etc.) NOT allowed to expose my healing incisions to the sun (which I can't do anyway since I'm to keep my garments on...see below) I am cleared for sex. LOLOLOLzzz...I didn't even know I wasn't allowed. Ooopsies. With the steri-stips now off, I am to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Am to keep the compression garments on at all times (save showering) until I see him again in another 3 weeks. I asked about the silicone tape (for scar maintenance) and he said ideally they should be used at least 6 weeks after surgery. Apparently the body is supposed to do some healing first. I will be given a supply at my next follow appt. He gave me my "before" pictures he took of me back in June 2018 and holy moly, I look different! Here is a bit more detail organized by each procedure site: ARM LIFT: The arm incisions seems to be the scabbiest of all the areas. It is also the "raise-iest" incision, specifically in the armpit. Doc said I am still pretty swollen there, which is a little surprising, because I thought it was normal sized. So I asked does this mean my arm will get even smaller, and he said I could probably expect to see a bit more shrinkage, but that I can also expect the skin to loosen a bit as well, so net result may be zero from this point. I'm pretty happy with the size right now...so I do NOT want it to get smaller...thought I wouldn't mind a bit more definition (can't wait to be cleared to work em out!) I can wear deodorant if I want to. He asked me to make an effort to lift my hands up as far as comfortable every day until I get full upward extension, but to be careful as the armpit incision is statistically the most likely to separate and become a wider scar. BREAST LIFT w/ SIDE BOOB EXCISION: As the title says, I ❤️ my boobs! The whole lifting aspect of this was supposed to be secondary, but OMG, I love my boobs! They are a lot smaller than pre-op WLS, but may actually be bigger than I was pre-op PS (I think I'm a 30C now) but, they are so perky and stand-at-attention-y, LOL. They have fullness at the upper part now, I won't need a push up at all anymore. Actually, I probably don't even need a bra, they handle gravity all by themselves. And my nipples! After my breast lift correction: reduction many years ago, my nipples looked stretched out and flat. Now they are perky too and pop out a bit in a nice way even when I'm in a "non-aroused" state...or maybe I'm now perpetually aroused, LOL. .I told Doc that I feel there is still a liiiiiitttlbe bit too much skin left in my left upper side boob for my liking. He said if after 3 months, it doesn't work itself out, OR I am still displeased, he will do some maintenance in that area under local anesthetic. Bonus. I can wear regular bras now if I want, but if I want to wear an underwire, to make sure there is some foam or padding around the wire. TUMMY TUCK First thing Doc said when he walked into the room was "Look at your waist!" (I was naked save my panties on the exam table/recliner). That made me feel good despite the fact that my waist is actually bigger now than it was was pre-op, as is my lower abdomen. But it is super smooth and tight now When I told him about the size increase, he and the PA said that I can expect there to be swelling for up to a YEAR. Wtf?! This is the first I've heard this. Granted my stomach is not so very big in the grand scheme of things, but it IS much bigger than it was before. Le Sigh. I told him that I am generally standing upright, except for the little while after I get up after sitting down for a while. He said what I figured he would: get up more often. I don't have to get up for long, just lots. "Its better to go for 10 minute walk every hour than a 60 minute walk every 5 hours" That's all for now. I'll try to post some pics tomorrow now that my steri-strips are off...

Yesterday, Thursday, Jan. 9 Maintenance : 5'2" / 1yr PO Sleeve / 115.3 lbs ---------------------------------------- Just a regular day. And I manged to limit myself to only 3 SF chocolates ALL DAY! #thatsAwinForMe ---------------------------------------- 10:00am - 1 cup dashi broth 12:30pm - salad w/ vinaigrette + 10 green seedless grapes + 1 oz almonds + 2oz white cheddar cheese + 2 oz baked ham 3:30pm - 1 Starbucks Blonde Americano Misto w/ Soy w/ 1 shot SF Vanilla + 1 SF Reese's mini peanut butter cup + 2 SF Russel Stover chocolates 6:30pm - salad w/ vinaigrette + 2 oz gala apple w/ peel + 2oz white cheddar cheese + Egg Salad (2 medium eggs + 2 tbsp mayonnaise 9:00pm - 2/3 cup cottage cheese + 1 oz blueberries + 1/3 cup cashews + 1 fl oz pumpkin seeds + 2 tbsp chia seeds ---------------------------------------- Totals: 1962 cals - 95g Protein - 55g NET carbs - 137g fat

@BelgianGuy thanks for posting, it is makes me so happy to hear/see from those who are years out and have kept the weight off!! You look awesome, BTW.

I love it to! I want your dress! Where did you get it, pls?!?!?!?

So went to see Doc about my sore boob. He checked me out and said I'm ok (which I sorta already knew, really). He snipped off the suture that was sticking out and said to go back to wearing my supportive sports bra for now (he cleared me for regular bras yesterday) until it doesn't hurt any more. He also told me to touch and massage my boobs often to aid in healing (as well as any other areas that feel sore or stiff). I thought his prescription to constantly feel myself up was hilarious, and I told Mr. about it. He told me he would be happy to take that task on for me, LOLOLOLOLzzz. Anyhoo while my boob is still achy, it is much, much, much better than yesterday (and still perky AF!)

Yesterday's Dinner: Coconut Sweet Potato Curry w/ KETO Bagel Chips. The chips would have been better if they were thinner, and were pretty filling, or maybe I just felt bloated after, not really sure. Ate all the chips, and about 2/3 of the curry. 202 cals - 7.2g NET carbs - 15.3g Fat - 6.5g Protein

@MarvelGirl25 & @FluffyChix OMG both of those look soooo good.

Learn something new every day here! Um, my second drink ever after WLS was a lemon flavoured soju/sake drink (this was about 2 months post-op) I had about 1 fl oz and I had my very first dumping experience. It was horrible. I dunno if you are prone to dumping, but my tip would be to be mindful of the sugar content in any mixed drinks you want to try....

Hot water bottles and sleep! Oh, and my favourite prescription for everything: GO FOR A WALK ❤️

Historically, I don't think I ate enough real sugar items to affect my weight with any significance and with that, any subsequent dumping was just a sad consequence (with no real weight gain "suppression" benefits). My "normal" average calories are and remain 1800-2000 regardless of my occasional trip down sugar lane, LOL. I think this recent phase of sugar-free chocolate mega-consumption just replaced the water weight I lost (i.e, 6 lbs) immediate after PS. I was averaging probably 700 cals that first week. So i guess my carb increase (along with these damn chocolates) just put back what I lost as a result of the extreme calorie and carb deficit. My body seems to like 115 lbs (based on an average calorie intake of 1800-2000 and my normal activity levels). I will go up or down a few pounds all the time but my average for the last 6-ish months is solidly around 115 lbs. Which is fine by me. So I am not really mourning the regain. However, I really want to get toned and buff once I am cleared for exercise and I will need to figure out what my future new "normal" weight will be WHEN I add extra muscle. Also will need to figure out how to tweak my daily menus to support this endeavour. PROJECT!!

@rs sounds like you are doing better as well, elbow re-swelling aside. Also yesterday (I forget the context why he was telling me but...), Doc mentioned that during the day swelling tends to increase so maybe that is what you are seeing with your elbows? How are your incisions, aside from the dryness? Are they scabby/not scabby? Are they flat? @sillykitty I hope this morning finds you better ❤️ (did you end up starting into space and ordering take out? LOL) ------- As for me, I've got a bit of a pain issue. Yesterday my steri-stips came off and the PA was trimming/snipping stray sutures that were sticking out from the various incision ends. Well, I guess she missed one under my left boob, which I discovered late last night as I was taking my sports bra off. The end of the suture I guess snagged on one of the hooks of the bra and when I was unhooking I inadvertently yanked at the suture. OMG I yelled. Felt like I pulled at an artery or something (if I knew what that felt like)..I could feel the pain from the entry point all across my chest. It continued to hurt and I noticed that it felt better to hold my boob up. But when I let go I could feel the ache again. So I taped it up with steri-stips to sort of lift it and taped down the suture so it doesn't get caught on anything again. Had a horrible sleep cuz it hurt to twist or stretch out that area, so I'm pretty tired and cranky this morning. I emailed my surgeons office at 7am this morning for direction. I don't think my issue is ER material, so am just going to wait patiently for them to answer. My pain is at a 0 if I don't move, but like at a 4 or 4.5 when I do. So its bearable. (Yesterday it got to a 7-ish ) P.S. Also my arm incisions sort of hurt/are sore since the steri-strips came off. Not sure if its because they are rubbing against my compression garment, or if I'm just feeling sorry for myself what with the boob thing, but I feel uncomfortable.

Yesterday, Wednesday, Jan. 8 Maintenance : 5'2" / 1yr PO Sleeve / 116.5 lbs ---------------------------------------- Am having a low-key pity party for myself this AM. First, I found the the 6-ish lbs I lost after surgery, ... and I think I have these effing sugar-free chocolates to thank. What was once what I thought a cool treat and thanked Mr for, I now think is my kryptonite and curse the day Mr. brought them home! Though I don't think its actually possible for me to put on 6 lbs of actual fat weight on in a week (just like it was unlikely that I could lose 6 lbs of actual weight in 2 weeks, given my current size) , it still sorta messes with my mind. I counted just now and I have 6 Russel Stovers and 8 Reese's left. I am having internal arguments with myself to just chuck em. Part of me says just get rid of them cuz if they are around I'll just keep eating them, but another part of me says its a waste. The really stupid thing is there is a whole bunch of regular, NON-sugar free chocolate in the pantry (as there always is as the Kid and Mr love REAL chocolate) but I don't seem to go to town on those! WTF. So far, the non-waster in me is winning, but we'll see... Second, I haven't pooped since the unfortunate dumping episode on Sunday, so there's that. And finally, my boob hurts, but I'll write about that in the PS thread... ---------------------------------------- 8:00am - coffee-cayenne w/ stevia 2:00pm - salad w/ vinaigrette + cucumber + 3 naked chicken wings + 1 tbsp blue cheese dip (seriously this one order of chicken wings supplied me for 4 meals!) 7:00pm - salad w/ vinaigrette + cucumber + 5 naked chicken wings + 1 tbsp blue cheese dip + 2.5 oz grilled chicken 10:30pm - 5 Keto Bagel Chips + 1/4 cup coconut curry sauce + 3 sugar-free Russel Stover chocolates + 1 sugar-free Reese's mini Peanut Butter cup + 3oz baked ham + 1 tsp horseradish mustard ---------------------------------------- Totals: 1312 cals - 117g Protein - 30g NET carbs - 80g fat

@rs great minds think alike...we posted updates at the same time

Today marks 3 weeks since PS! Update from tonite's follow up appointment with Doc found here:

Okay, I take it back. This is my fave outfit of yours to date. Your waistline is disappearing....!

Well that's a fancy smock (is it called a smock?) What do you at work?

Nope, no squeaking....that would be funny if they did, lol. I haven't worn them long enough to know if I'll sweat in them, and I have yet to even wear them out of the house! But they are (lightly) fleece lined, so they are supposed to be warm-ish, I suppose 😎 ....also @BayougirlMrsS...that dress is def too big. It is NOT doing your figure justice.

Forward: Hope no one reading this is offended (its legal in my part of the woods...) Small tip: @sillykitty ... pot can be your friend. and its legal in California, too, yes? Helps with both the pain AND the sleep.

Yikes. This sucks. Are you taking any pain meds?? Do you have to do anything specific to address it?? P.S. Point taken. No more crunches in bed.

I've had one version or another of the Apple Watch for the past 3 years. Love it and would recommend it to anyone who is already in the Apple eco-system. Could still be good with Android users, but you wouldn't get the most out of it, so like the other poster said above, get one that works best with whatever OS you are currently operating in.

I was told to stop 1 week before as well, but I totally forgot to to stop. Oopsies. I ended up taking them right up to the day before surgery. I didn't remember that I was supposed to stop until like a week AFTER surgery 🙄 P.S. So excited for you!!!

@rs Yay to the no chafing Are you swelling on both elbows? Or just one? @mousecat88 Man, you are looking FIT. Your work at the gym is totally showing. I love the 3rd picture of you and ARM. I won't even call it your arm. It needs recognition all on its own, LOL. I have my 3 week follow up with my surgeon later today. I'm hoping to be cleared for the gym. However. Even if he does clear me, I can tell my arms won't be able to do all I want to anyway. And while I've been doing regular straight up crunches in bed (shhhhhh!!!!), I also can tell that I wouldn't be able to comfortably do any lateral ab exercises either. On another note, I also tried to pick up the pace to a slow jog during one of my walks yesterday (again, shhhhhh!!!) but the bounciness of it felt weird in my stomach...so that didn't last long. Who would have thought that I would be disappointed to NOT be able to workout/exercise?!?! My, my, my, how times have changed.