Starry*Night

So, I've noticed an odd behavior in myself after losing some weight. I've lost 33 pounds so far - not the biggest deal in the world, but I definitely see a difference. When I've lost weight like this in the past, I usually feel really good and can't wait to show off my body. This time however, I find I'm doing the opposite - I hide my body. I wear my biggest, puffiest coat, haven't bothered putting on makeup, and try to draw as little attention to myself as possible. It's odd because when I catch my reflection I like how I'm looking smaller, and when I catch men checking me out more I feel flattered. So I'm not sure why I'm feeling compelled to hide my progress? (Side note: I also find that I wish I could just hide away until this transformation is complete and I'm at my end goal.)

I still have a hard time getting water down, but lemme tell you - I can eat food noooo problem. Maybe it's time I trade water in for a steak 🤣

I have ground turkey with fat free cheese, or egg salad. The former is an easy 13g of protein for 2 ounces and it tastes like a hamburger, yum! A lot of times I also enjoy SF Bariatric hot chocolate - I get mine from the brand Bariwise on Amazon. 15g of protein for 75 cals, always goes down well for me!

Aw thank you! I'd have thought I'd be the opposite too, I'm surprised I'm reacting like this!

The weird thing is I'm totally open about my surgery on social media and with close family, but it's when I go out in public I want to be covered up. I don't know if it's cause I still don't feel 100% so I don't want extra attention on me, or if it's cause I don't feel like I have to prove myself versus how I used to feel - but I just seem to want to hide away!

Holy moly, you look incredible! Did you get loose skin removed? This is amazing for losing 100 lbs!!

Since surgery on 11/26 (23 days) I've lost 11 lbs. I went through a 2 week stall though, so I try not to think of it post surgery. I started trying to lose weight on 10/17 and since then I've lost 32 lbs - that's 16 lbs a month, which I'm ecstatic about! Biggest change I've noticed is that hygiene is easier (I have an autoimmune condition that gives me a lot of back inflammation, but changing my diet has helped that tremendously) - I can twist easier. Majorly life changing. Also, even drained from surgery, I notice more energy when I'm running errands AND - I have more energy to clean my house! It actually feels fun/rewarding now instead of feeling painful and like a chore 😊

Thanks for your insight! Perhaps I'll give it a shot. Eating more is definitely something I want to do, I just can't seem to find a way to do it while getting my liquid down - and in my case if I drink after eating, I do get sick. Today for example I only got down one ounce of tuna and still didn't meet my liquid goals - ended up at 46 oz liquid and 45 oz protein at about 300 cals. I really want to get my calories up

I was sleeved 11/26. Personally I'm obsessed with scrambled eggs; tuna with mayo also goes down well. I don't puree, I just chew extremely well. That said, I'd love to eat more, but I can't cause it interferes with meeting my liquid goals right now - so I don't eat as much as I want to. Food goes down well for me, just make absolutely sure you wait at least half an hour after eating to drink. My guidelines say to wait half an hour, but I personally think I need to wait longer, as if I drink sooner I may get sick.

I was told a meal should last 30 minutes - after 30 minutes, stop eating

I'm still fresh out, 18 days post op. Protein shakes make me nauseous, I Just can't tolerate them anymore. Here's what I do: BariWise Hot Chocolate and Cream of Chicken Soup (find it on amazon). These are a lifesaver!!! Isopure Unflavored Protein Powder Danon Light and Fit Strawberry Cheesecake Greek Yogurt with cinnamon Protein goals are no longer an issue 😁

Here's one thing I now love that I didn't before: Cleaning. It doesn't hurt my body the way it used to. Now it makes me feel accomplished, without the pain 😁

For me, when I stalled right after surgery, it lasted for a little over 2 weeks. My weight didn't go up, it didn't go down - it stayed exactly where it was. 255.5. Funny cause I also temporarily got stuck pre op at 266.6 🤷🏻‍♀️

And also, thanks to those of you who shared your struggles drinking water too. That had me so concerned. I think I forget that I tend to be a perfectionist so I really sweat it when I'm not reaching my goals. I think I need to go a little easier on myself - of course still try to reach them, but just do the best I can. Also, someone mentioned being able to get liquids down fine after surgery. 7-10 days after surgery I was getting liquids down easily - I was also still taking pain killers and anti-nausea meds. Without either of them, I have a hard time getting liquids down.

Apparently most docs don't have you weigh yourself all the time, but my nutritionist told me to weigh myself every day. Don't know that I agree with that advice but I've been following it. I prefer to just look in the mirror - I felt I saw a difference in my face even though my weight didn't go down. That said, Christmas came early folks! 🎄 My weight loss stall that started 3 days post op finally broke - I went from 253 down to 250. My surgery weight was 259. I'm very happy to know that I'm not broken LOL! It's funny how this surgery plays tricks on our minds. Like, we all know weight loss takes time, but because this was SUCH A MAJOR SURGERY, it makes you question EVERYTHING - did I do the right thing? Am I drinking too much or too little? Is my pouch gonna burst? Is all this estrogen being released from my fat cells turning me into a crazy lady? Whatever random fears you have toy with you. Now that I know that I will indeed continue losing weight, I am resting easy and letting it take all the time it wants. It was just the fact that I stalled immediately after surgery that scared me.

I never gained from surgery - that was something I didn't know could happen till I came on the forums, so maybe you're right! Good luck - I had a hard time a few days post op, but by the next week I felt so much better. Every day I felt exponentially better. How are you feeling?

Wow!! Thank you for the update, that gives me so much hope 💗

Omg, are we twins? 🤣 I went through the same thing with Walmart last week! I felt dizzy and like I could pass out, my boyfriend had to push the cart for me and pull the car up front because I couldn't even make it back to the car. Three days later, I felt fine going through Walmart on my own; although today, a week later, I've been putting off shopping because I haven't been feeling too great the past few days. I hear you on the working out at the gym too! I got a little desk cycle so I could sit in a comfy chair and cycle, and I don't manage to get that exercise in most days. Or I'll do it for 20 minutes and literally fall asleep right where I was peddling! lol I'm so glad you commented - I'm going to add you on FB right now 🤗

Well, from my surgery date to 3 days post op, I lost 6 lbs. I've been stalled since, which is now 2 weeks. That's 3lbs/week which is pretty great - it's more that it made me concerned (probably needlessly) that the surgery won't work for me, especially since I've heard it's pretty typical to lose 20-30 lbs in your first month after surgery. I thought the first month is supposed to be the best for weight loss - apparently that may not be the case, for me anyway. Hoping things get better from here on out. I did try some decaf chai tea - I seem to be able to get that down pretty well, so that's a positive development! I'll go out and get some almond milk tomorrow to see if I can add that to the tea.

Glad I saw this - I was frustrated with my own stall from 3 days after surgery. Have you girls progressed?

Wow @Frustr8! You certainly put things in perspective. Thank you for allowing me to vent and responding with both compassion and conviction. I'm sorry you've had such a hard time healing from surgery. I know I've just met you, but I'm so proud of you for staying strong through all that - I'd imagine it must be difficult to make a decision like this at 72, but you're going to have years of good health ahead of you because of your decision! "I came into this world, red-faced,red hair and shaking my fists, probably go out the same way" made me laugh - you're a firecracker! I had a good cry tonight to let out my frustration, and now I'm pushing forward. It's hard sometimes when you see anecdotes of people breezing through surgery and feeling totally normal 2 weeks post op, but I have to remember to be gentle on my body and that everyone heals at a different pace.

Let me know how you like him! He also leans toward a greener lifestyle, and there's one thing he said that really stuck with me; it went something like this: "Don't worry about your stomach stretching; it's good that it will expand, if it stays the size it is after surgery you'd never be able to get all the nutrients you need. When you're able to eat more, it means you have more room for healthy foods like vegetables." I thought that was such a good way of looking at it! FWIW, as far as exercise goes, he's cautious about it - he wants to see you doing a lot of walking and using your own body weight for resistance, but is hesitant to have you go beyond that in the first year. Why? Because although we have more lean muscle mass than our thinner counterparts, we are generally weaker from lack of activity, and it is easy for us to injure ourselves which would set us back further than if we hadn't exercised at all. He doesn't condone exercise, he emphasizes physical activity. He defines exercise as something you have to change your clothes for (because you'll sweat); he prefers you to just be physically active, and focus on exercise in your 2nd year after surgery.

I watched the Duc Vuong video before surgery and it made a lot of sense to me. However I watched a lot of his videos, and he makes claims without backing them up. Like others, I feel he has discredited himself with his MLM scheme. Who would give up surgery to flounder and run out of money trying to do an MLM? Not someone who I want to take advice from personally, and I previously watched almost all of his weight loss videos. As @SteveT74 mentioned above, I highly recommend and absolutely adore Dr. Matthew Weiner on YouTube. Fabulous guy, and his book Pound of Cure is phenomenal.

Yep, my smell is supersonic right now. It makes me not want to kiss my boyfriend because I can't handle his breath 😅

I feel exactly like you do - I'd believe I wrote this! I cry easily too, it seems like I don't have enough energy to spend any covering up how I really feel. I have no energy, and the struggle of always trying to get down water has my mind constantly on food, even though I'm not hungry. I'm currently 17 days post op (sleeved 11/26). How are you doing now?