Arabesque

Fabulous. So happy for you. Whoo hoo!

@NickelChip is on totally on point. I cannot stress the importance of asking yourself do you need this next bite or do you just want this. If you just want it put your fork down. If you’re about to put that mouthful in your mouth out of habit, put the fork down. Even if your response is I don’t know put your fork down & wait. In a couple of minutes try again & if the answer yes, I need it take the bite. Of course you have to really consider the difference between wanting & needing. I started practising this from my surgery (so 5,5yrs ago) & still do it. Been extremely helpful. Slowing your eating is based on the fact it least. 20 minutes for the message to get through to your head that you’ve had enough. If you are a fast eating, eating mouthful after mouthful, by the time the signal you’ve had enough registers you’ve eaten way too much. Notice I say enough not full. Enough is the goal. Enough is what your body needs to function. Full or over full is usually the volume of food to make you feel good or better or happier or whatever. Some hints & tips to incorporate which can help. Buy yourself some small cutlery. Baby forks and spoons, cocktail forks, sporks or similar. (I think almost everyone uses smaller cutlery after surgery but you could start now.) They will make your spoonful smaller and slow your eating. if you haven’t yet, get hold of some smaller bowls & plates. Will help to keep your portions the correct size and can make you think you’re eating more because the smaller plate is full. I used ramekins, tapas plates, side plates while losing & now use entree/appetiser plates (9in dia). So still no dinner plates for me. After putting food on your cutlery, push some off so the fork and spoon aren ‘t full. Try sending timelines for smaller portions of your meal. Like, I’ll take 10 minutes to eat a quarter of my meal. If you eat it before ten minutes, wait before starting the next quarter. Or, try cutting up your meat (depending on your meal) first. Count how many pieces and work out how often you can eat a piece. I still do this type of portioning. Right now I’m eating some crackers with a topping for lunch. I eat one cracker every ten minutes. Sometime I wait longer but never more quickly. If you are eating with others, put your cutlery down when they are talking and don’t take a bite until they have finished or someone adds to the conversation. You become a good listener & distracts you from eating. I live alone & didn’t like using a timer so I used to set other guideline. If watching tv, take a bite with an ad or a scene change or similar. If playing on line game like solitaire, play a game before taking a bite. If reading, take a bite after reading a certain number of pages. Between bites, put your cutlery down, and sit back from the table so you're not leaning on the table. Sure others may have some tips as well. All the best.

I’m a while out now (5.5yrs). I was one who never felt hungry. The first time I did was at about 8 months & I honestly took a while to work out what was wrong. I felt restless. Something wasn’t right and it certainly wasn’t anything like what I thought was hunger before. It wasn’t until I reflected back on my day that I realised I’d been busy and hadn’t eaten much. Then it was a couple of months again before I started to feel hunger more often. Because of my lack of hunger I ate to a routine, still do, to ensure I met my protein goals and other nutritional needs. I wasn’t someone who ate to sooth themselves in fact I tended to be the opposite and wouldn’t eat. If you are someone who always has used food as a comfort the first weeks can be a challenge as it’s a stressful time ( physically & mentally). You may be emotional too because of the hormonal flush from the estrogen stored in your fat that is released as you lose weight. Generally if you are craving a specific texture, flavour or food that is head hunger. Check your emotions: are you feeling sad, angry, bored, lost, etc.? Then it’s head hunger. Is your tummy rumbling? Again head hunger & also from excess tummy acid. (You’ll continue to produce the amount of acid you used to need for the volume of food you ate & your larger tummy. You’ll likely be prescribed a PPI to counteract the excess acid but if not ask for a script to help.) Distraction can be very useless at these times. Read, craft, go for a walk, contact a friend or family member, meditate, check this forum, etc. Often a warm drink can be helpful. I also agree with @NeonRaven8919’s advice of finding a therapist. Many find the support & strategies they can offer vey helpful. All the best.

Hey bygone era flavours??? Mint choc chip was one of my favourite ice cream flavours in the before days. (Favourite chocolate was mint dark chocolate.) But yes, it had to be green coloured ice cream. Even though the flavour is the same, the colour seemed to enhance the mint flavour - mind games.

Oh gracious, @Sophie7713. Six feet of sutures. Yikes. But no more bat wings & bulgy side boobs for you. Yay! At least your drains are out so that makes life easier for you. (I remember your first plastic surgery and you had drains hooked up to a coat hanger. So clever I told a friend’s daughter that tip when she had her 360 tummy tuck & fleur de lis surgery.)

Oatmeal, rolled oats & porridge are the same thing. Just a culturally differently named food. And I eat them every day. I eat traditional oats. Initially after surgery I was advised instant which are a little more processed then I transitioned to traditional. (Check the ingredients on your pack if it’s just oats your fine.) Then add your own flavours. I add yoghurt, collagen powder, dried cranberries, fresh blueberries and yes seeds. Otherwise seeds on yoghurt or in salads are good too. You could sprinkle them on anything you may use breadcrumbs too like a cauliflower gratin or add them to any crumb mix for breaded whatever. Try mixing some in your meatballs or meat loaf for a little crunch. PS. I’ve noticed a few influences being anti oats (probably either being paid to promote an alternative likely a supplement or are pro keto) but they’re fibre & fibre is good for you. It’s filling, helps you poop, can help reduce cholesterol so is good for cardiac health, can help regulate blood sugars, can lower risk of stomach cancer.

Yes, brown rice is more textured/chewy because it is less refined than white. It’s practically the whole grain unlike white which doesn’t have the bran, germ, etc. so it has less fibre which is the chewy texture of brown rice. Also the rice (white or brown) in those boil in the bag or microwave sachets always seem more coarse & dry than what you make yourself. Of course they take a lot less time to cook than when you make it yourself.

Do people eventually incorporate some of their old favourites back into their eating? Yes, they do but how much & how often is always considered. Some work out, find recipes or find alternatives that are healthier, more nutrient dense versions of that food. There are some who can’t eat some of their favourites. For example they may dump on sugar which would rule out ice cream. Or certain foods sit more heavily in their tummy. Like I don’t eat breads, pasta, rice for that reason. And some choose simply not to because of changes they’ve made to eating style. Like I chose to rarely eat sugar & sweet foods. Some develop food sensitivities , lactose seems to be the most common one. For some it passes but for others they just avoid it by selecting lactose free or plant-based alternatives. Do I eat some of what I would consider less better/healthy favourites? Sure. I had Chinese takeaway last weekend just no rice and braised chicken not battered & deep fried. Earlier this year we had fish & chips so I ordered grilled fish & salad. So I try to make better choices in those situations. You know you best and if consuming those old favourites will lead you back down a path of excess & regain or not. Or if you can manage your consumption. Of course you may discover new favourite foods along the way & your old favourites may not have the same old pull they did. All the best. PS: You’re going through a very stressful time (emotionally & physically). If you were someone who ate to sooth & comfort yourself during times of turmoil, you may find your craving for those old favourites much stronger. Remind yourself why you're doing this. Do something to distract yourself. And remember it does get easier as you progress. PPS: Check out the food before & after thread to see some of the foods people eat. Note how far post surgery they are, their portion sizes & how often they eat certain foods.

I went the route of slow cooked soups with meats & vegetables & stews/ casseroles. Slow cooked so the meat was ‘fall off the bone’ tender. Also ate a lot of minced meat dishes especially mince bolognese & rissoles (meat balls). Also I had a separate purée stage then followed by soft food. Go slowly and see how you go. You may find a few days of purée first easy on your tummy then jumping straight into the more solid soft food.

I think it may be too much volume too. I was advised 1/4 - 1/3 of a cup from purée. Also try thinning the purée more so it’s more liquid like for a coupe of days & see if that helps. But yes, going back to liquids for a couple of days or so won’t hurt either. Maybe try one meal puree, the other two liquids? I found tinned fish pureed disgusting and survived a lot on thicker soups & yoghurt. Luckily I could have thin scrambled eggs and thin instant oatmeal as well.

I have 5 from my sleeve & gall surgeries. Same surgeon & he used the same scars for the gall & thankfully didn’t make them bigger or more noticeable. Differences can be in location. Mine are basically in line with my belly button, just below my waist. Got three new ones from my recent hysterectomy: one above each hip bone & one above my pubic bone. They used my belly button one again too which makes three surgeries using it. It’s pretty tiny now from the sutures. The scaring is barely visible fir the sleeve & gall. Was talking about scars with my younger nieces & nephews on Sunday & the 7yr old asked to see them. I actually struggled to find them. (Used Bio Oil for the first 2 surgeries and silicon gel this time - amazingly good.)

Best advice is to go back to how & what you were eating when you reached your stabilised weight. This was likely the calories and nutritions you needed at that weight. However a bounce back regain isn’t that uncommon. It’s like your body hits a low point but it was actually too low & then you gain a little & your body bobs up to get to what is actually your new set point & where your body is happiest. Check to see if you’ve let a few things slip like with your food or drink choices or or you’ve not been as vigilant about portion sizes, calories, activity, etc. It’s easy to get a bit over confident or complacent with our choices & behaviours. And life sometimes gets in the way of our best intentions. Unfortunately too, many medications, like those you may be on for your depression, can contribute to weight gain. Worth a conversation with your prescribing doctor to see if there are alternatives & also your surgeon to discuss your options to manage it.

Frustrating & upsetting I know but like everything about this experience (including the amount of weight you lose, your rate of loss, your time line for losing, etc.) the three week stall is just an average. Some will stall earlier & some will stall later. They usually last 1-3 weeks but could be more or less. Don’t worry, you will start to lose again. Just give your body time to reset it itself and work out your new needs. You’ll notice the scales dropping again when your body is ready. Can’t force it. You’ll only stress your body & yourself more.

Yes, I forgot to add that I, like @summerseeker, cook most of my meals. There are some that I buy but they aren’t a major part of my regular eating. Like I’m not mucking about to make gyoza which I may have on the odd Sunday night so I have a bag of frozen ones. And yes, I don’t eat ‘diet’, low fat or low sugar anything, unless I accidentally pick it up at the grocery store. The only exception is peanut paste where I do buy lite but it’s a taste thing and not for an ingredient or nutritional reason. And, finally, also stay here to keep me honest, motivated , to continue to learn and to support others like those who supported & continue to support me.

Me too. Lol! Always seem to have a bandaid on one finger or another. Swear I’m responsible for a major percentage of Johnson & Johnson’s profits. Almost needed one on a toe yesterday when I dropped a knife. I must be excessively clumsy.

You’ll get good drugs to begin but most of us find by day 3 or 4 you don’t need anything beside maybe the odd over the counter pain med (not a NSAID). I took a prescribed opioid on the morning of day 4 and never took another nor anything else. I actually don’t think I needed it that morning. I haven’t needed anything after day 3 of any of my other laparoscopic abdominal surgeries (gall & hysterectomy). But we are all different and have different pain thresholds.

I agree with the others, you need to put yourself first. It’s your health and your life. If you get a surgery date, grab it with both hands. All because you can’t eat them doesn’t mean you can’t make them. While I was losing, I had 40th, 60th & 21st birthdays. Went out to dinner and socialised. I just chose not to have any dessert or birthday cake. Actually there were lots of things I couldn’t eat during that time. Didn’t stop me attending nor stop anyone else eating those things. I make the desserts at Christmas - always have so I understand traditions. I was fortunate that I had reached goal by my first Christmas & I had a little taste of some of the things I made but not everything. For example, my family loves pavlova. All because I wasn’t going to eat it didn’t mean I wouldn’t make it for them. It is the season of love & giving after all. I rarely eat desserts or sweet things. My choice. I make exceptions at Christmas, weddings, and the odd other special event but that usually means only a couple of times a year & I’m very cautious of portions when I do. There are lots of us who make foods for others or bring foods to share they don’t eat themselves & not just at Christmas or other seasonal celebrations. If you do experience dumping, & not everyone does, you’ll work out if you can eat any of the foods that set you off in the future. Many find they can have a small taste or find alternatives. Not eating cake or having dessert is a very small negative if you dump on sugar. The benefits of the surgery & your weight loss far, far, far outweigh that negative.

Almost 5.5yrs post sleeve and also have maintained below goal. I try to eat regularly & to a schedule. Helps me avoid unnecessary snacking and making poor choices because I’m overly hungry. I try to meet protein & fluid goals every day. I don’t track but check ingredients & nutritional content of new foods & recipes where I can and do random checks to ensure I’m not overestimating portions or calories, etc. I try to ensure I eat meat (yep I’m a carnivore), vegetables, fruit, dairy, and complex multi/whole grain carbs everyday. Add beans or lentils to various meals at times. I adopted a way of eating (not a diet) that is working for me & is sustainable. It doesn't stop me socialising or make it a challenge to make food choices. I do some sort of exercise almost every day (about 20 minutes a day total & not traditional ‘exercise’ but stretches & resistance bands). I weigh myself at least a couple of times a week. I can’t control every aspect of my life every day so I don’t beat myself up if I go off piste or decide to treat myself or can’t follow my regular schedule or can’t meet my goals or whatever. As long as it’s not the norm and a regular occurrence, I’ll be okay. And if something changes (ill health, the crap life throws at us, etc.), I’ll look at my options, make changes where I can or just work with my new reality.

How wonderful to see you here again @Sophie7713. You’re still looking as fabulous as ever. Congratulations on getting your arms done. Hope you heal well and can be up partying & waving your arms in the air soon. Bobby is looking as handsome as ever & keeping you company. Hope Mr Sophie is well & just as handsome too.

Hey a fellow Aussie. Where are you @PLP. I’m in Brisbane.

Speaking as someone who is 161 cm, you’re never ‘only’ 162cm. 😁 Your other stats aren’t that far off from where I was too initially. I understand your reticence about GLP-1s as I did too when I first heard about them. However, from what I’ve since read and know from those who use it, or have used it, it can take a little time to work out what is the right dose for you (re side effects, maintenance, long term needs, etc.). It does work and is amazing at stopping the food noise in your head if you experience that.

Great advice from @summerseeker & @ShoppGirl. I’ll add that your head can be your toughest enemy during this process. It is most likely that you are experiencing head hunger not real hunger as @ShoppGirl mentioned. Emotional triggers are the likely cause this early out. You’re going through an emotional & stressful time now & so many of turned to food to comfort and sooth us in time of stress and emotional upsets but you can’t now. Also your head tells you that eating such a small portion is no where near enough food for you. It is and your head is just comparing these portions with the portions (& frequency) you used to eat. Are you craving a specific food, flavour or texture? For example, many talk about craving something g crunchy during the purées & soft food stages. This is head hunger. Yes, a warm drink can be helpful. This is a good time to go for a short walk or some other activity or try to find another distraction (distraction is a very useful strategy). Read a book, play a game, craft, contact a friend or family member, check your social media or this forum, etc. Another consideration that it ‘s more likely head hunger is that many nerves were cut during your surgery so messages about feeling hungry or full either don’t get through or are twisted in their meaning until you are fully healed. And yes, contact your team, they are there to help & support you.

Welcome. Yes, there will be many changes ahead but there will also be so many benefits and wins. And yes, it’s not uncommon to have concerns and fears and mourn what you used to do. (Yes, you may find the thread @summerseeker recommended helpful. At least in knowing you’re not alone in how you’re feeling.) I can only speak from my experience. Did I feel worried or grieve before my surgery or after? Honestly no. I truely had, had enough. And it all happened very quickly like not quite 6 weeks between seeing my GP for a referral & my surgery. Though I am someone who once makes a decision I stick to it. It’s interesting you should say you feel having the surgery is a punishment. I saw the constant dieting a punishment for gaining weight. I’d got to the point that nothing I did changed my weight. (Menopause did the final number on me.) I’m five years out. Do I think I’m on a diet now? No, this is just how I eat. Do I feel like I’m not eating enough? No, because I’ve learnt what I eat is appropriate for my needs and I used to eat way too much & way more than my body needed. I pretty much eat the recommended portion size of foods. Do I feel like I’m missing out on anything? No. There’s always alternatives, or you can have a small amount of what ever it is others are having or you used to enjoy. It comes down to how often you have it and how much you have. Plus you may find new things you really enjoy. Do I want to go back to eating exactly like I did before ? No. I mean that’s how I got to the weight I was & why I always struggled. Do I like to exercise. No & never really did before either (another punishment in the most part) so you’re ahead of me in that game. But I have found some things I do (little things like stretches and using resistance bands I do throughout my day) & I actually don’t mind doing them. A lot is of this is about learning & introducing new habits, new routines and developing a new relationship with food. Never be reluctant to seek the help & support of a therapist. Your head can be your greatest enemy. I do have a couple of little issues I deal with since my sleeve? Yes, I call them my quirks. I had a quirky tummy before my surgery so nothing new really just some are different & some are gone. Doesn’t stop me doing what I enjoy. PS And congrats on being able to do a push up. I’ve never been able to do a proper one. I can get down but can’t get back up again - tee hee! I do wall pushups though - stand about a meter away from a wall.

What about trying a GLP-1 versus surgery? Check out Dr Matthew Weiner’s Pound of Cure website, podcasts & you tube channel. He’s been speaking a lot about recommending sleevers with regain to use GLP-1 meds instead of a revision surgery. You may find it interesting & something to discuss with your surgeon as another option. PS. Out of curiosity what was your original starting point weight, your maintenance weight, and current weight?

Looks delicious. Was it for your birthday @Lilia_90? If so, happy birthday. I had Chinese last night too for my nephew’s 7th birthday. Not as fancy as this though. Just from the local takeaway. LOL!