Arabesque

Glorious. Paul Hollywood couldn’t complain about that cake. 😉 Oh, soufflés @sillykitty. Mmmm mmmm, mmmmm. I have beautiful memories of some totally orgasmic soufflés I’ve eaten in the past. Yours looks deliciously fabulous. Jealous!

Snap. Social media pxts, tv ads, etc. just turn my tummy. Watching a football game on tv (& I hate football - not fussy don’t like any code 😉.) recently with a sleever friend & we both groaned & said yuck at the same time watching an ad for a fast food chain. We thought it was hilarious. If I’m going away for a couple of days, I pack yoghurt, protein bars, cheese sticks, whole grain crackers, etc. to take with me just in case. I have a small thermal bag & put ice bricks in it to keep everything cold. Just refreeze the bricks overnight (ask hotel if they can be put in their freezer if travelling). You can always throw in some protein shakes too.

Last night was Riverfire which concludes the month long Brisbane Festival - performances, street art, exhibitions, etc. Fireworks are always so glorious & appeal to the child inside. These are located along the river which meanders around the city, on floating barges, on bridges & tops of city buildings. Every vantage spot, apartment building or hotel along the river or with river views overflow with people watching the extravaganza all timed to music played by a local radio station. Thought you would enjoy a short burst. FullSizeRender.mov

Another way, they’re all different. I was every three months for the first two years, then went to 4 months because everything was consistently so good. But I’m back to 3 months because since my gall was removed 4 months ago I’m not absorbing protein well. Sad face. I have blood tests before every appointment but sometimes my GP asks for another in between. She’ll probably send me for one when I see her in a fortnight to check how I’m going with my protein absorption after being on Creon for about 6 weeks. I’m happy they’re so thorough & want to make sure I’m as healthy as I can be.

I picked my goal based on the lowest weight I’d ever reached before too - my bounce weight range. 60kgs & BMI of about 23. Reached that at 6 months & then lost another 11/12kgs over about another 11 months. The weight loss just continued to get slower. No stalls in that time, but the trend was still the same pretty smooth & even trend I experienced in my first 6 month weight loss. Just more up & down when I was starting to stabilise at around 50kgs I struggled to find that caloric balance to stop losing. Just trying to eat larger portions & then eat more frequently was hard but over that year I eventually got to about a recommended portion size for most foods. I was eating 4 or 5 snacks a day on top of three meals by the end. Now I eat about 3 snacks & 3 meals & I’ve been maintaining for almost a year at about 49kg (generally fluctuate between 48.5-49.5) & a BMI of just under 19. I know a lot of people have issues about BMI but I always look at it as a guide. Higher end of healthy range for large frames, lower end for smaller frames. Taking in the needs of our bodies is also important as is how muscular we are. Some people just sit happily at a BMI above the healthy range - their body seem to function better. We also carry our weight in different ways too. You can look at two people with similar height, build & weight but one can look slim & the other bony. I was always told I had a larger frame. Once the weight was gone it was obvious I don’t. When I was nearing 50kgs, my surgeon & doctor wanted me to get back to about 54kgs but they’re fine now & happy I’m healthy & maintaining. As one said: you’re actually really quite tiny aren’t you. It’s still can be a freaky I’m the size I was at about 12.

I managed most of my reflux before surgery by modifying my diet & avoiding or reducing caffeine, carbonation, spicy foods, extra creamy or oily food, etc. I only took prescription Nexium occasionally. Post surgery, I take Nexium every day but it’s generally ok. Eating smaller meals more regularly so acid doesn’t build & eating soft proteins before bed all help too. It wasn’t good last night but I drank champagne (2 glasses) & didn’t eat much (a piece of cheese & 2 tiny meatballs) over 6 hours so my fault.

It is both a personal choice & whether you can tolerate it or not. I can tolerate only small amounts - air fried occasionally yes, deep fried generally no. But there is usually plenty of other food choices available. You may have to pre plan so you know which places offer more food choices & cooking style options. If you’re really stuck you can always eat the inside of battered or crumbed foods to reduce the oiliness & fat content.

I’m sorry you’re feeling this way @SleeverSk. Your surgeon, doctor & medical team really should have discussed your lifestyle & how the surgery might impact it with you so you would have been better informed - it is your body & your life. I’m sorry you weren’t better prepared by your team. The first couple of months can be challenging - a restrictive diet, changed eating habits, fussy tummy, hormonal changes causing emotional upsets, etc. & your body just not letting you do what you want to & used to do. But a lot of the things you’ve mentioned like chewing & sipping do get better. You won’t need to chew, chew chew forever. (I never did at all.) Will you need to still eat slowly & take smaller bites? Yes. But how large a bite & how much time you will take to eat is individual. (I still eat slowly & take small bites but some of that is my choice.) Like some people can go back to gulping fluids & taking multiple sips at a time. Some not so much. (I’m a 2 mouthful person.) My tummy gurgles but not all the time. I find it happens more after I eat dairy or if I put pressure on my chest (like my iPad resting on my chest when I read in bed). It’s not uncommon for people to experience changes in their taste &/or smell after surgery But this is a short term affect. Cutting some foods out of your diet for a period of time may make you more sensitive to them like sweet things may become too sweet. Some develop food sensitivities or intolerances like to lactose. Oh & yes you will becoming more regular with your BMs as you start to eat more & a broader range of food types. Add some soluble (non swelling) fibre to your diet to help in the meantime. Will you go back to eating exactly the same way you did before? No. But do you want to? I mean look where that got you before. Part of this process is examining your food choices & making better, more nutritious choices so you can enjoy a healthier life. Does that mean you’ll never eat pizza, burgers, ice cream or whatever you enjoyed? No. Many do eat foods that would be considerate less nutritious, high fat, high sugar, etc. It’s just not every day or every week & yes, portion control is important. Working out how you manage your eating (when & what) does take time. There are many people in this forum who work long hours, night shifts, etc. in a range of occupations & they have devised eating routines that complement their job demands & limitations & lifestyles & still meet all their nutrient needs. It just takes time. I frequently freeze single serve portions of meals I make & leftovers. Makes it easy to grab a meal out of the freezer & reheat at work or on those occasions you don’t feel like cooking. The surgery isn’t a magical fix. Changing a lifetime of habits isn’t easy. And life often throws a truck load of crap at you at times. It’s why some regain part or most of their weight back. I doubt anyone on this forum would say it is a totally easy journey though some find aspects smoother than others but we’re different people. Most are positive because when they reflect on all their experiences they see how it’s made their life better & decide it was worth the hard work & any challenges or struggles. I certainly do. I hope you can find peace with your surgery & feel more confident about managing the changes soon.

There is no one right way to recover. There is no only one right plan or only one right calorie goal, protein goal, etc. There’s no specific minimum time frame to eat a meal or drink a cup of liquid. There are, however, generalisations, averages, some can, some can’t, etc. things. We’re all different & have different needs & are able or unable to manage different things at different stages. If your body can manage it without causing you discomfort or pain you’re ok. Your body will tell you pretty quickly what is too much, too fast, what it likes, what it doesn’t, etc. You’re following the plan your surgeon gave you so all is good. My surgeon considers each patient’s starting weight, health status, weight loss history, etc. when assigning plans. My post surgical plan & recommendations had similarities but also differences to what a friend who was also a patient of his had. Our pre surgery diets were different too - mine keto & hers shakes only. We’re not the same people so it makes sense our plans weren’t exactly the same & neither were our experiences but we both reached our goal weights. There will be times you may stall or lose more one day or over one week & less the next. As long as the general trend month to month is downwards you’re golden.

Don’t worry, I’d take half the day to drink mine. I diluted them (at least 50% more water because disgusting) but I’d make it for breakfast & still be sipping it at lunch.

Met with surgeon & hand therapy people today. My thumb is healing, the graft isn’t dying & they said it looked good. I thought it looked gruesome & very much like a Walking Dead zombie finger. Anyway decided to wear a new skirt. Took me ages to iron it. All those pleats & it’s a wrap. 😱 It still looks like it’s been stuck in my cupboard for months. Well I guess it had been. The problem of having to buy northern summer clothing in our winter. Meant to ask if you any pxts of your daughter @kristieshannon? Love to see her bridal gown.

Is the cauliflower mac & cheese just cauliflower au gratin? Steamed cauliflower, smothered in béchamel sauce & backed in the oven until golden?

I am an advocate of finding the food choices & way of eating that works for you.There isn’t just one totally correct way to eat eat. It may be vegetarian or meat focussed or Aitken or vegan or keto, intermittent fasting or frequent eating, etc. or include aspects of a number of eating styles. The only thing you can trust will work for everyone is portion control - eat more than you need you’ll gain weight. Once you get to maintenance you can really embrace your new way of eating but you could start to incorporate aspects while losing as long as you’re still meeting your plan’s requirements & expectations. Have regular conversations with your nutritionalist & surgeon to discuss what you could start introducing & when. Your regular blood work will influence their advice & recommendations. You may (or may not) have to make adjustments to your weight loss plan & future eating style because of your personal physiological needs. Some may be pre existing, some may arise because of the surgery or be discovered as a result of all the additional medical tests & monitoring. I’ve never been great with too fatty or too oily food. I was low fat while losing but added some more good fats from goal. I was low carb while losing too & then added some whole & multi grains carbs. Since my sleeve, rice, bread & pasta sit like lumps in my tummy so I still don’t eat them. Protein has become even more important to me since I had my gall removed 4 months ago as I don’t absorb it properly anymore. I’m a carnivore but include vegetarian meals occasionally. 40+yrs of fasting & skipping meals killed my metabolism. I feed my much faster metabolism now - 3 meals & 3 or 4 snacks a day. These things influenced how I chose to eat now & it’s been working for me. Your enthusiasm for researching & adopting a new way of eating & making the changes to take the best advantage of your surgery is fantastic. I hope it motivates others starting the process too. Good luck.

Congrats on what you have achieved so far. Fantastic. I’m very glad I did the surgery. Like a lot of us, I’d tried many, many diets over the years. The two things they had in common was that if they worked I’d lose some weight & then put it on again (start gaining again a couple of weeks later). With the surgery I’ve been able to maintain my weight for about a year. I know I’m a newbie when it comes to maintaining but it’s been pretty astounding that I’ve been able to do for this long so far. The surgery afforded me the opportunity to reassess how I ate, what I ate & why I ate & I’m way more mindful of these now. The physicality of the surgery also helps me to keep to smaller portion sizes & the restriction reminds me very quickly if I eat too fast or too much. It also boosted my metabolism which I had killed through decades of not eating in an attempt to maintain my weight. I did quite a bit of reading too & worked out a way of eating that works for me. I wanted to ensure the changes I made to how I ate (I don’t like using the word diet much - too negative) was practical, sustainable & didn’t compromise how I wanted to live & enjoy my life. The surgery doesn’t stop me going out to restaurants, socialising with friends & family, etc. I don’t miss out on events. Honestly, my long term sensitivity to spice & chilli is much more restrictive on what & where I can eat than the surgery. Personally, I chose the sleeve because it altered my digestive system the least & had fewer possible restrictions & requirements (less chance of dumping, less absorption issues, etc.). Life has the unfortunate habit of throwing a heaping pile of crap at us at times, so we don’t know where we will be in 5 years. But even if in 5 years, you’ve settled at the average weight loss of 65% of the weight you had to lose, that’s still better than where you are now. You’ll be healthier, eating better & enjoying life more. That’s my thinking anyway. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

There are many different plans some with minimal differences others with more. Best advice is to follow your surgeon’s plan so if there is an issue they know where you should be in the process & what you should have been consuming. Mine was two weeks liquids. Two weeks purée & then two weeks soft.

I understood we’re advised to avoid it to begin with because it’s too harsh (acidic) on our healing tummy & it’s more concentrated because our tummy is much smaller. It can also increase the effects of reflux/gerd. There are many people here who regularly drink coffee & started back at various times. I’ve been a green tea drinker for almost 20 years (because of reflux & the caffeine kept me awake) so it wasn’t an issue for me.

😆😆😆 Only problem is they’d likely be too big on you too. 🙂 Hit goal at 6 months then lost another 11.5kgs (25lbs) over the next 10/11months. Have been sitting around that weight +/- a kilogram (2lbs) since then - about a year.

Would think still losing more hair that exceeds your natural hair loss cycle into your second year or later is the exception. Sorry this is happening to you @brenda.vandruff@yahoo.com but yes, not meeting your recommended protein each day may be contributing. (My goal is still 60g a day.) There could also be hormonal issues at play or you’re not consuming a balanced diet. When did you last have a blood test to check your levels? Ask for your hormones (all not just female hormones) levels to be checked too.

There are lots of exercise videos online for those who are restricted to bed. You’ll just need to find the ones that will best support you & your specific needs & restrictions. You may find getting some resistance bands helpful too. Good luck.

Oh yes, way to large a portion to begin. It used to take me three days to eat two scrambled eggs. All plans are different but mine was 1/4 to 1/3 cup of food to begin. It can be shock at first to realise & accept that a couple of spoonfuls is more than enough. Plus how long it can take to eat such small quantities. Go slowly & don’t push yourself to eat more than your still healing digestive system can manage. You’ll work it all out.

There are many, many plans about with different recommendations & expectations. The best advice is stick to your plan unless it’s not working then develop a new plan with your medical team. We have different needs. Our bodies absorb, processes & burns nutrients/calories differently so one plan does not fit all. Discovering what works for you is important not just while losing but also into the future when maintaining. I wasn’t given a calorie goal just protein (60g) & portion size recommendations (1/4 - 1/3 cup slowly increasing as I was able). I was advised low carb but not given any amount to meet or stay below. I did occasional calories checks out of my own curiosity. By goal I was eating just under a cup & less than 900 calories a day but now (28 months) I eat just under recommended serving size of most foods. I maintain my weight eating about 1200/1300 calories. I don’t exercise. I was encouraged to add snacks a couple of months out & still snack (nutrient dense foods) about 4 times a day to get my protein & essential nutrients in. I remember at my first appointment with my surgeon, he drew a picture of a plate & marked a section as protein & another as vegetables & said that’s how much you’ll be eating in maintenance. It stuck with me & he was right. Scales & measuring cups are vital tools during the weight loss stage. It’s so easy to under or over estimate portions when just eyeballing as you seemed to have discovered. Don’t worry we’ve all been caught by this at some time. I don’t weigh or measure frequently anymore - just random checks & when I introduce something new to my diet. And I study the nutrition panels very carefully of any food stuff I buy pre prepared though I generally make a lot of what I eat from scratch. Hopefully your nutritionalist will be of help. Ask that she sit down with you & go through a week or two of what you’re eating. Ask what is missing from your diet, what you could reduce or drop from your diet, what you need to add & alternative foods you could include. Make sure she understands your lifestyle as well not like the one who gave my pescatarians a diet full of meat as the protein source! Good luck.

Had to clear out my closet a bit again - 17 summer dresses, skirts, trousers, etc. and yes predominately black I know. 😉 Most I bought 12-18 months ago when I’d thought my weight had settled - ha! They’re all 1-2 sizes too large - waaaah! I’m keeping all but 3 trousers because they’re excellent quality or pretty timeless (3 dresses are from my archive collection bought around 2006/7 & I’d wear them today if they fit).

You’ll find people have lots of different experiences about this. I wasn’t interested in eating for months & wasn’t hungry. I ate to a routine because I knew I had to eat but it was why my calorie intake was lower than many. I experienced my first hunger at 8 months (& it was real hunger) but didn’t really get my appetite back or feel hungry more regularly until about 18months. 28 months post surgery, I still have days I’m either not really hungry or not really interested in eating. Yesterday, I didn’t finish my breakfast & had my lunch for dinner. It doesn’t bother me because it helps me maintain & balance out those days I may eat a little more than I should.

Oestrogen is stored in your fat so as you lose weight or that oestrogen is released into your bloodstream. This hormonal flush can cause more or less frequent, heavier or lighter, longer or shorter periods. It will settle when you get closer to goal &/or your weight loss slows. For me, my menopausal symptoms disappeared - whoo hoo - but once I got to goal (I lost the subsequent weight slowly) they all came back again. Sigh. Congrats on your surgery.

You look absolutely gorgeous @kristieshannon. Hubba hubba Mumma. Bet you were by far the best looking one there - except for the bride of course. 🙂