Arabesque
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Everything posted by Arabesque
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Try eating peeled apple slices @Beast(RNY). In some material I got from my surgeon, it said that apple skin (& orange & mandarins pith) is hard to digest & pass through our smaller tummies. It’s just trial & error to see which fruits you can tolerate. Hey @ms.sss I was talking to my team last week & I mentioned sugar & dumping They said it’s not an issue for sleevers which surprised me because of reading about experiences like yours & others. I thought I was just lucky I hadn’t reacted to fruit (or those Christmas treats I sampled). Now I’m very confused.
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Yep I eat fruit regularly. Have eaten grapes, watermelon (ups your fluid intake & can help with bowel movements), cherries, lychees & mandarins. Mangoes give me the gurgles which is devastating to a Queenslander in summer. Used to eat a lot of red paw paw but haven’t tried it again yet. Didn’t enjoy strawberries or blueberries like I did before when I tried them. I usually eat fruit as my afternoon snack every second day or sometimes as an after dinner snack. Eat them slowly. My doctor & dietician happy with their inclusion as I neared & then hit maintenance.
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You do have game @Dtrain84. Super cool soxs. Love your wife’s yellow accessories Too. Such a cute couple. Hey @AngieBear that dress has a great shape. Super flattering. Love the colour of those Chico pants @BayougirlMrsS. Understand why you kept them.
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I hear you @Everythinganna. Mine’s all crumpled and creased like crushed unironed linen. I’m jealous of those with flat, tight abs like yours @mousecat88.
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It’s my eight month surgery anniversary. Whoo hoo!
It hasn’t been easy but then it could have been much, much more challenging. I’ve had stalls that lasted weeks & weeks. I’ve mysteriously developed some health issues (fingers crossed they don’t become serious) which I didn’t have before. I’ve forgotten what a regular bowel motion is, vomit bile & saliva about once a week (damn morning vitamin) & some days I gurgle like a blocked drain! My energy levels aren’t great & I often feel tired but I’m sooooo glad I made the decision to have the surgery.
I feel way better about myself. I look way better than I did. 😜 My feet don’t ache. My hiccups and reflux are not as severe as they used to be (no more sore muscles after a hiccup attack). I don’t breathe heavily walking up a couple of flights of stairs. I’m the smallest in my family not the biggest (though I’m still the shortest - tee hee).
There have been unexpected learnings & realisations that resonated. Like realising I am a small person but I ate like I was a large framed 6ft 2. Like realising my nieces & nephews didn’t see me as their fat aunt but just saw me as their Sissy; their favourite & bestest aunt who loved them to pieces. Like I can sip one drink for hours, not eat the cheeses, dips, charcuterie or fries & still have lots of fun when out with my friends.
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You’ll find BMs are a regular topic of conversation here. 😁 I think it’s a combination of low food intake, high protein intake & low fibre.
I go in cycles. Sometimes everyday, sometimes every second or third day. When I hit three days with nothing I usually take a single Coloxyl tablet that night. That’s enough to get things started again. Was originally given Dulcolax by my surgeon but I found it way too harsh. Also, I take benefibre every second day. It’s important to keep your fluids up to keep things moving.
Good luck with your surgery.
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Krimsonbutterflies reacted to this
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But you’ve lost 50lbs?! That’s great! You’re averaging about 7lbs a month or 1-2lbs a week. That’s nothing to be beat yourself up about. Remember where you were before you began this journey and where you are now. Everyone loses at different rates & has different experiences while losing. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else: it only messes with you bad. Focus on your journey & achievements and 50lbs is an achievement. There is a slow losers thread. It may help you refocus and keep you motivated. Don’t give up. You’ve already come so far.
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I developed lots of fine lines under my chin & my marionette lines down the sides of my mouth got way deeper with my weight loss. 😩 Waaaa! About 6 years ago I bought a similar hand held personal machine for about $250/$300 but I didn’t think it did anything. I used to run it over my face every night while watching tv. This time I’ve gone to my beauty therapist. She charges about $250 for a pack of 6 treatments. I’ve done 12 weekly intensive RF treatments. Each session takes 30 minutes. I’ll be starting maintenance next - 20min treatments with my monthly facial. My therapist puts a gel on my skin before the treatment and reapplies during. I think it acts as a lubricant for the wand and to protect the skin. I do get odd little dry flaky spots around my mouth where she spends extra time. I’ve noticed some reduction in the depth and length of the lines around my mouth & the the fine lines under my chin have lessened. Of course the machine my therapist uses is for professional use & produces a much more intensive pulse. (It also cost >$10000 for her new machine 😱.) RF is supposed to stimulate collagen growth and it takes time for the results to be seen so I’m hopeful for some more improvement. It is not a long term or permanent fix. PS I’ll be 55 later this year too.
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Help! Before I gain it all back...
Arabesque replied to hernandez776's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
My heart goes out to you and your family. Seeing any child let alone your own child suffering is heart breaking. No wonder you fell back on old habits. It was your comfort zone for years. Don't beat yourself up about this. We all fight this battle every day. We all trip or slip. As @FluffyChix said losing 15lbs is doable & yes follow her doing the head work thread: lots of advice & support. This whole forum is so useful, full of wisdom & supportive. Your daughter will be your first priority but put yourself second for a while. It will help maintain your resilience & reinvigorate the inner strength you need for you & your daughter. Go back to those basics and take it one day at a time. Blessings. -
Hubba hubba @Everythinganna. All those dresses look fab but your legs in the black & silver ...phwaaa!! More black. Ha! Off to my hairdresser & then lunch with my mother. Bought these sarong pants in Melbourne. They have deep flaps on a yoke so at first glance it looks like a skirt. I bought the knotted waist T in Brisbane when I got back. Having my eyebrows microbladed on Monday. They’re going out in sympathy with my hair and falling out too and I’m so tired of drawing & painting them on everyday. .
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Thank you all for your advice. It’s a worry that no one knows or has heard about stomach stretching. I have to admit I don’t drink protein shakes. I did through my initial stages but once I got onto solid food I stopped drinking them. I found them very grainy & they would coat my mouth & back of my teeth. Plus I found they tasted terrible - it didn’t matter what I mixed them with - shudder. I used to heat the chocolate flavour so they’d be like a real hot chocolate ... it wasn’t. Lol. I know some people put it in coffee but I don’t drink coffee. I’ve tried a few different types, including pea powder, & flavours and I now have a shelf full of tubs in my cupboard. It’s why I started on high protein yogurt, yogurt drinks & bars to supplement my daily protein intake. My dietician hasn’t pushed me to drink protein shakes & was ok with my alternatives. Guess I’ll have to see what my surgeon says next week. Will keep you updated.
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I’ve found the return of hunger to be erratic. Yes, it probably was at after about two months I first felt hungry again but then not for days after that. You too may find this is erratic and even how you feel hungry is not like it used to be. Did you get your protein & fluids in yesterday? If I don’t get my protein in one day I can feel hungry the next. I had trouble sleeping one night after a Christmas party where I had only eaten a salmon canapé. Didn’t know what was wrong, until I realised I was hungry. Got up and ate some steak at 11:30 & felt way better. Eight months out & it’s still the same. I sometimes have to remind myself to eat cause if I don’t feel hungry so I try to keep a strict routine for when I eat so I’m meeting my nutrient goals not hungry the next day. But everyone is different.
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Everyone is killing it. Looking so good. And you men ... hot, hot, hot!
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I ate bread (& a little sorbet). First since before my surgery 8months ago. It was at one of my favourite of all time restaurants in Melbourne. Freshly made, still steaming when opened & served with their own butter & nori salt. Just couldn’t resist. Didn’t eat the whole piece just two bites. Soooo good & no side effects.
No effects from the sorbet either but it was a scrape of a teaspoon.
I still have issues when eating out. Get very tight & can’t eat much - less than what I would at home. Thought I was going to throw up at one restaurant. Just loud gagging in the bathroom but that was embarrassing enough. I think it’s tension - worrying if I’ll find something on the menu to eat, if it will upset me, ...
I’m still losing weight which is a bit of a concern. I’m trying to eat more but struggle to eat larger servings and I feel like I’m grazing all day.
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Good on you @GreenTealael. There’s nothing like dolling yourself up to lift your spirits. I bet it was the lure of that coffee and the sunshine that drew you outside. But I’d be home in sweats too in the arctic temps of Canada @ms.sss. Good luck with the job interview @Winchell. You’ll kill it.
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A friend had it done on her face to reduce the fine lines & loose skin post her weight loss. She said there’s been no difference. It’s supposed to stimulate collagen but takes a couple of weeks for the results to show. She had it done months ago. I’m doing RF on my face. Stimulates collagen growth too & also like needling not long term solution. The deep marionette line on my left side has become softer but the right side hasn’t changed. I’ve completed about 10 treatments (my beautician had a special going 6 treatments for price of 5) but I had hoped for better results. 😩 Considering laser lift but have to explore further.
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Mother: You’re too thin. Me: I’ve been this weight before & it wasn’t an issue then. Mother: You need to stop losing weight. Me: I weigh more than you did when you were in your 20s & I’m 3inches shorter. And I’m in maintenance. Mother: You don’t look like you any more. Me: I look like me just not as fat. Mother: I don’t know what to cook for you when you visit anymore. Me: Cook the same meals you always did. I just don’t eat as much. Mother: I don’t know who you look like anymore. Me: I still look like me just not as fat. And so it goes on. My mother has been supportive through out the process but this last month these conversations have been on a loop. Am I being overly sensitive that they are bothering me so much or am I justified to be fed up. Anyone else facing these sorts of comments from their loved ones?
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Yep, welcome to the club. Part of our new life. I take benefits ever day/2nd day & a softener if I hit day 3 without any movement. For a while I had no trouble but then it all went to ‘cr*p’ (or no cr*p) again.
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Hilarious @ms.sss What excellently good taste we have. 😜 I can’t wait until winter is here so I can wear them with my over the knee boots.
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That’s amazing. Congratulations. Yeah I still have funny twinges, tightness & general oddness at times. I’ve noticed my posture is poor & feel like I’m slumping all the time. (My old dance teachers would be horrified. 😱) I think some of it is down to my new centre of gravity. It will improve and you will come to recognise you again though a much smaller one with a new outlook on life.
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Oh, Just Another Plastics Story
Arabesque replied to GreenTealael's topic in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Aaah. So now we know the reason behind the Florida pxts in ootd. Sneaky sneaky. Wishing you a speedy recovery. -
@ms.sss The wind had blown the smoke away by yesterday. It is considerably cooler in Melbourne today and rain. Not sure how wide spread but it may offer some respite to the fires. @AngieBear Love the punk look. Thanks @Sophie7713. I have my toe nails painted the same red every month. I love the colour so much. Returning to Brisbane today. We had bad fires inQueensland in November. Just terrible drought to face on our return. Travelling outfit: new faux leather Pull on pants & new art collaboration T. Had short fitted leather jacket to put on too - 16 degrees in Melbourne brrrrrrr.
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Diet Doctor - Keto plan
Arabesque replied to DaisyChainOz's topic in GLP-1 & Other Weight Loss Medications (NEW!)
I hear you. I only told my mother & one brother & his wife. My other brother & his wife can be judgemental too. They’ve never had issues with weight so I knew they wouldn’t understand. That sounds like good advice re the not recovering & detoxing at the same time. And you have the time now to work through this. Apparently it takes about 6 weeks on a new diet to break your old addictions - sugar, coffee, etc. - and to accept your new way of eating. Good luck with the new job. 😁 -
You look amazing @KaysMommy. What an achievement. Before & after photos are sooo inspirational. Ha @FluffyChix. I totally relate. I say I have a butt but it’s half way down my thighs now. I think everything I’ve bought in Melbourne is black too. I’ll wear another colour when they find something darker than black! Tee hee. Picked up some vintage Japanese designer pieces for work. Dress is circa 1992 and the skirt from 1997. Excellent condition - never worn. Someone said to me today: gosh you are tiny aren’t you. Never ever heard that before. And what I wore last night. Same shoes. The shirt is a great faux wrap that sits on the waist at the front but is tucked in at the back. Smoke from the terrible fires coming over Melbourne CBD yesterday.
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Diet Doctor - Keto plan
Arabesque replied to DaisyChainOz's topic in GLP-1 & Other Weight Loss Medications (NEW!)
Good reason to keep going back to Sydney though. There’s also follow up with your dietician too. So important to find a surgeon you click with so good idea to ‘try before you buy’. 😜 I have an appointment with my surgeon’s support team next Friday so the office must be opening again. -
Waiting on liquids before and after meals
Arabesque replied to jmjm2's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Water will fill your tiny tummy & you won’t be able to fit in any food. The waiting 20/30 min period between eating & drinking allows the tummy to empty so you can fit in food or drink again. Once you’re on more solid food you’ll understand why more easily. Though the uncomfortable full feeling does occur during the fluid stage. You don’t want to traumatise your new tiny tummy which is still healing nor will you want to stretch it at any time. My doctor & dietician said not to worry if I didn’t get all my full 2litres of water in while on fluids as the shakes & broth are liquids too. But that was my medical support team. It would take 2+hrs to drink my broths & shakes so slowly so there was little time left to drink water as well - just too full, not hungry & peeing constantly. 😜 I understand the waiting will be a new reality forever though the waiting time may reduce & some can eventually drink a little when they eat. Good luck & be patient as you navigate this your new reality.
