ms.sss

i backed out of scheduled surgeries TWICE. so i get it. third time around, i finally went through with it. soooooooo glad i did. honestly, my ONLY regret about wls is the fact that i backed out those first 2 times. you are ready when YOU say you are ready. Good Luck! ❤️

month 1-2 post op: aimed for 2 protein shakes a day (rarely made it, esp in month 1) months 3-7: 1 shake a day months 7+: none i probably had a diff experience than u cuz i actually LIKED drinking my protein shakes (dutch chocolate low-carb ISOPURE w/ water,2 tsps benefibre, 1 tsp decaf instant coffee crystals, and LOTS of ice. #yum) note that even when i was on them i still didn't reach my protein goals 100% of the time. even now, at 4.5+ yrs post op, there are still days that i don't.

went to dinner, and naturally i wanted to order everything. i always put alot (too much?) thought into what i will order due to valuable and limited stomach real estate. i couldn't decide on my painstakingly reduced shortlist of items so Mr. suggested he won't order anything and that i can just order what i can't decide between and he'll eat what i don't. 😳 i don't understand how we didn't think of this ordering method sooner. So i present to you: bone marrow (pic shows it already some eaten), roasted corn & avocado salad, slow-cooked short ribs, and tres leches cake (not shown). Mr. ate like 90% of it, but i got to taste it all!! (didn't bother logging these in MFP)

my beet kick last lasted for 35 years.

hmm. that seems like more trouble (and expense) than im willing to dole out. BUT...maybe (maybe!), on a non-lazy day, i can try my hand at some macgyvering one of my old bras myself and see if its worth it!

The Greater Fool brings clarity once again. Yes, the company far outweighed the menu, and really, that's all that mattered. ❤️

strawberries and ketchup chips. ya, i know, kinda weird. i was in a rush out the door and i was hungry. 188 calories. ate it all. Lesson for the day: keep healthier options around for a quick grab, lest you lunch becomes strawberries and ketchup chips. 😜

love, love, LOVE these shoes! Very great-gatsby-esque! ...also...how did u manage to forget you had these beauties in your closet?!? ...also, also, in the first pic, i notice a horizontal part coming at a right angle from the heel...what is that? can i see a pic from the other side?

omg, over 4 hours. mind you, it was actually kinda fun cuz my stylist was a chatterbox - which i don't normally like, but she was hilarious so i made an exception.

i wonder if i eat kiwis AND tomatoes it would cancel each other out?? (not sure how yummy that would be tho...)

well this thread got hijacked/derailed...sorry @omrhsn. also sorry that anyone felt singled out, thats a sucky feeling. a further sorry that the intent and execution of this thread by most folks has obviously rubbed some in a really bad way. thats a sucky feeling too. looks like we got a agreement to disagree so lets move on, shall we? ....did i mention that i have this ongoing problem about finding a nice underwire bra that actually fits? i have regular sized boobs for my frame, but a small-ish torso circumference. i often end up with a band that rides up in the back even on smallest hook, OR my boobs swish around in a too-big cup. OR the get squished out and overflow up top and on the sides in a too-small cup. Fun Times. i often go boob-commando. ..,oh and i went to a buffet again last night (don't ask..starts with my wacko BFF showing up at my place unannounced and ends with AYCE sushi). i still stand by my dislike of buffets. i paid $47.99 CDN (plus tax!) to eat 4 peices of so-so tuna sashimi, 1/3 an over-riced Unagi handroll, and 1 oily sweet potato tempura slice. So yeah, its a problem/issue for me to justify spending over $50 on something not even that great, that would cost $15-20 at a much, much tastier restaurant.

i did this too. i set the timer on my watch to make me wait between bites. and yes, it took me FOREVER. i was known to sit with my sad, room-temp bowl of food for 1.5 to two hours. it was interesting. after a couple months i was able to do it without the timer. BUT i do still have the rare occasion when i still eat too fast (and im 4.5+ years out). its hard to be mindful 100% of the time. but i do my best.

no, i don't think it would look silly! esp since your arms are probably the most exposed in regular clothes...esp in the summer. everything else could be covered up without looking "out of season". i LoVe my arm lift, despite my hideous scar (i scar terribly, but i knew that going in), which can really only be seen when i lift my arms in the air, swaying-like-i-just-don't-care....it was the reason that i actually for the first time in probably 20 yrs that i felt UN-self-conscious about my arms (scar and all). i basically live in tank tops now. i even sport them regularly in the winter 😂 On the flip side, i have read many accounts of people being perfectly happy with thier loose-er arm skin, cuz it beats being obese any day. Good Luck! ❤️

now that is an excellent idea. its been a while since i've been to the theatre, but i would def go more often if it had heated seats!!

OOTD, hair edition. Fist, sorry for monopolizing this thread lately. I/we are bored, outside and having some fun! On the weekend me and the Kid got hair extensions for funsies. We both think they are waaaay too long and the Kid has already had hers shortened. My shortening appt is on Thurs, but after this afternoon i am stating to like the ridiculous length. I realized i really like it when im basically topless. the contrast between the hair colour and my skin is quite pleasing to me! (and Mr. lolololzzzz) so i may just keep it this length if i can manage to go about my day without it getting caught somewhere at least 50% of the time. which is NOT easy. i will say all this hair makes me feel super bad ass and sexy. so if any y'all want a quick pick-me-up in the confidence department, i would suggest some hair extensions to do the trick. P.s. my actual, real hair stops just above the neckline of my bra...which btw, is my old breast-lift recovery bra (it's laundry day! 😂)

what the?!? methinks i should test myself for a latex allergy??? ...but i love bananas and kiwi!!!

ugh. i think the point is the AUDIENCE. talking about so-called "good problems" to a room full of people who don't have the same "good problems" would be a source of pain or discomfort to the listeners who can't relate. i would never walk into a room of non-wls patients and moan about my inability to find xs on sale. same as i wouldn't walk into one of my husband's get-togethers with his cycling buddies and go off on how i absolutely hate biking. the point of this thread was to commiserate, however light-hearted or senseless it may be. thats why.

another possibility: you may be able to get the panniculectomy portion of the tummy tuck covered by insurance. Basically its the part of the TT procedure that removes an excessively hanging pannus. Usually u have to prove that its causing issues (like rashes, mobility impediment, etc). If covered, you could just have to pay the difference to get a full-on TT (which includes muscle tightening and and liposuction, to remove excess skin, fat and tissue in the area above the pannus) I had mine covered. I only had to pay about 30-35% of the total "retail" cost for my TT, insurance covered the rest. Mind u im up in Canada so its a little easier to get approved (as well as being cheaper overall) May be worth having a chat with your doctor and see if you qualify. Good Luck! ❤️

what movie did u see?

been spending a ridiculous amount of time out on my porch these days cuz (1) the weather has been gorgeous, and (2) Mr. recently assembled some seriously comfortable and hard-to-get-out-of adriondack chairs for me. so i often have nothing much to do out here but stare at my thighs. sooo...im sharing the view. Ha!

your eggs looked like luscious slabs of brie to me at first! either way looks yum

homemade bbq smoked brisket (this took me over 12 hrs to make the other day!!), and some leftover pita that i turned into chips by sprinkling with olive oil and seasoning then putting in the toaster oven for a bit. yesterday i had some of this brisket with some bbq sauce i found in my father-in-law's fridge, which resulted in a mild dumping episode. guess the sauce was too sugary cuz i promptly fell asleep and then barfed a little when i woke up. so today i paired it with some seasoned vinegar which seems to be more to my stomach's liking lol. 506 calories for this bowl plus an espresso martini i had beforehand. ate roughly a little more than 1/2 of what i served out. wont be adjusting the amount in MFP because i totally plan to eat the rest for dinner later. i already told the fam hands off my leftovers. only time will tell if they listen to me!

i think its because we are inherently all so different individuals with different make-ups and responses that there really isn't a one-size-fits-all pre/post-op M.O. it would really be better if there was a TRUE individualized, bespoke plan for each person, tweaked and adjusted as time goes on, but i guess finances/staffing/time/logistics can get in the way.

looks amazing!!! even with the swelling!!! (though i can't actually see any, but i believe you ) re: compression garments: i started with just wraps...those long stips that you just velcro around your midsection. but i found they kept riding up. i eventually invested in a faja (size small) but it was still too big, and i just ended up using the faja and the wrap together. the faja helped to keep the wrap from riding up so it worked. Good luck! ❤️ can't wait to see some sexy bikini pics!!!!