Arabesque

Yeah, I was not told to count carbs either. Just was told to avoid pasta, bread & rice, like we usually all are, & to keep carbs lowish. I still keep my carbs lowish & still don’t eat bread, pasta or rice. I look to multi or whole grains & mostly those that are low processed (which will give you extra fibre) like traditional oats. Remember your vegetables & fruit have fibre which will compensate for having fewer carbs because you have to count whole carbs. Our bodies have different needs which is why someone may lose weight following one way of eating & someone else can’t. Low carb may work for you or may not in the long term. Now you are getting closer to your goal you can start to work out what your body needs in regards to nutrients to function effectively. What you discover can be quite interesting. I discovered I feel better with lowish carbs & very low sugar. I also feel better if I eat breakfast a little later (around 9am) after years of not eating breakfast or feeling blah if I did. Oh, yeah, you can’t break a stall. It’s a natural & important part of your weight loss. The stall will break when your body is ready & has adjusted (digestive hormones, metabolism, etc.) to meet your new needs. You’ve been putting it through a lot. Best thing is not to make changes which will stress your body more.

You’re a week out from what was a pretty major surgery. You’ll be healing & recovering for a few weeks & will feel random spasms of pain or discomfort during this time. Sometimes it’s simply moving in the wrong way or bending or lifting that can cause what is like a muscle pull. There are often internal sutures to support your tummy & intestines which are easy to ‘pull’ or ‘strain’ if you do a little too much, too soon, or move too quickly. Same with feeling tired & having little energy. If you feel tired it’s your body telling you to rest so it can heal. It does get better & you’ll start to feel like your usual self soon. Of course if the pain gets worse, is stronger than you have been experiencing or is persisting, get in contact with your surgeon or go to your nearest medical centre just to be sure everything is okay.

Your title may be laugh too. Thought you were going to talk about the awful constipation &/or diarrhoea. LOL! Corn is one of those foods that can be difficult to digest & therefore pass. It can cause gas & bloating too - it’s the cellulose in it. It is also high in natural sugars (especially sweet corn) so it’s often not included in some diets like keto & in many of our plans for a while. Yes, the mayo, cheese or even the chilli could be causing your body to go nope not for us too. Not sure how far a long you are but maybe give it a break for a while & then see how you go. If you aren’t that far out, your tummy may still be a little fussy & sensitive.

@catwoman7 put it perfectly so I won’t add to her advice & information except echo yes, you count your fluid protein as a liquid as well. Purée can be a very difficult stage for many of us. It can be a struggle to find anything that tastes okay & that the texture isn’t off putting. Thankfully it is only for two weeks. I think I ate the same few things every day. Lol! Try blending your yoghurt with milk to make a drink so you get protein (milk & yoghurt) & fluid (count how much milk you add & sip like a drink. Have you tried protein water or blending some protein powder into your oatmeal, farina, soup, the yoghurt drink, etc,? Try puréing meats like chicken (thigh is less dry than breast) with lots of gravy or stock to make it a purée. It’s a shame you can’t do eggs. Wonder if it’s because many struggle with them at first - worth asking about it. They can be a great option - egg salad, runny scrambled eggs, etc. Make a vegetable & meat soup (can add beans or lentils too) & purée that - you get meat & vegetables that way. Oh & don’t beat yourself up if you don’t hit those fluid & protein goals. As long as you’re close & getting better at it you’ll be okay. I didn’t hit them regularly for ages.

Thank you @BayougirlMrsS. I’ve been assessing what I have in my wardrobe recently & decided I have way too many clothes so haven’t been buying for a few months (except that skirt). Please tell me I’m not the only one with outfits they’ve only worn once (or not yet). They’re beautiful pieces which thankfully won’t date but still crazy ridiculous. How have you been @BayougirlMrsS? Long time no post.

Oops. Impatient clicking.

What do you mean by not always having real protein? What are your current protein sources? I was eating lamb, steak, chicken, pork, fish from solid foods so week 7.

What do you mean by not always having real protein? What are your current protein sources? I was eating lamb, steak, chicken, pork, fish from solid foods so week 7.

What do you mean by not always having real protein? What are your current protein sources? I was eating lamb, steak, chicken, pork, fish from solid foods so week 7.

I’ve never been able to drink cold water or other drinks (except champagne & a G&T they’ve got to be cold - LOL!). Can’t change it. Just have to live with it & dress accordingly & be prepared just in case it’s colder than you expected (like in cinemas, hospitals, doctor’s waiting rooms, etc.) You may be one of those for whom it improves & you’re not as sensitive.

I can’t recall when it started either. I’m pretty sure I just felt my usual feeling more cold than everyone else response through the first winter which was when I had my surgery. While some say it passes or improves over time, I still suffer from it 4 yrs out. I just dress accordingly & am prepared just in case. The alternative benefit is you don’t feel the heat as much.

Very easy to make @spinoza. This is the recipe & the one for the caramelised onion tart I made for the previous drinks. As per usual I took the recipe & made small changes to suit me. Who follows recipes 😆😆 Next time I do the caramelised onion I think I’ll add olives. https://www.easypeasy-lemonsqueezy.co.uk/puff-pastry-tart-with-tomato-burrata/ https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/recipes/caramelized-onion-tart

@catwoman7 asked the same questions I was thinking. But I will add that dumping occurs after eating sugars & fats which you would be avoiding anyway. Could it be the foamies? Lots of thick saliva which you spit up, a feeling something is sort off stuck & then you may regurgitate what you ate. It usually happens if you eat too quickly, too much, or your food is too dry or too coarse or fibrous (some vegetables can be like this). Could also be your sensitive, fussy, still healing tummy. It’s not uncommon for our tummy to say nope don’t like that (even things we always enjoyed) & up it comes. If it is that, it does get better as you continue to recover. There is a lot of trial & error in the beginning to discover what your tummy likes & sometimes your food options may end up being quite small but as I said it does improve & before long you’ll have plenty of options. If you’re feeling nauseous as well ask for some anti nausea meds to help. Be warned often your multi vitamins can make you nauseous & vomit.

Day three I had diarrhoea - single event, dark, smelly occurred without warning. Then it was another couple of days I think. Initially I only went about every two day but if I went for three days I’d take a stool softener to keep on top of it. From purées I think I added a soluble fibre. Don’t be surprised if you only go every couple of days for the first couple of months & what you pass is much smaller than what you’re used to. You’re not eating much to excrete. Also at the moment the strong opioid pain meds will can make you constipated too.

Drinks with my cousin & friends again yesterday afternoon. (Sipped a small glass of wine for about 4 hours 😁.) Made a cherry tomato, burrata, pesto & prosciutto tart with basil leaves. I love these simple tarts I’ve been making lately. Sheet of puff pastry & a few ingredients & voila … a savour tart for drinks. Get 16 pieces from it. Baked it in my non fully functioning oven but it worked. Yay! I ate two pieces.

I wasn’t told either. I’m a side sleeper too & from the day after surgery I slept on my side without an issue. Couldn’t the first day/night because of the compression machine on my legs. It really comes down to whether you find it comfortable or not (given your surgeon doesn’t advise differently).

I too am sorry you are experiencing so many difficulties. There always is a chance for side effects like with any surgery & it seems like you & your friends got the bad hand unfortunately. Like @maintenanceman I too wondered if you are working with your team & surgeon to find solutions or ways of managing your challenges. Sure I have a couple of issues I manage from my surgery. I experience the foamies more frequently than most & it varies from one occurrence to the next as to what set it off. It’s not a daily or even weekly thing but it happens. But my tummy always was a little quirky & it still is. I take a PPI every day because my previously managed & mild reflux is now a constant. Though some of my old reflux symptoms side effects (like hideous hiccups) are much improved which is a win in my mind. Rather have these couple of issues then still be at the weight I was. Because believe me I tried to lose my weight many, many times over the years. Sure sometimes I succeeded at times but it never lasted. This is the first time in my life (& I’m 58 now) I have lost weight & been able to keep it off as I have with this surgery. How much are you able to eat? What do you consider is a ‘normal’ sized meal? So many meals & portions we are served are double or even triple what we should be eating & our view of a ‘normal’ sized meal have been screwed. The smallest piece of steak I can order anywhere from high end restaurants to a pub is 250g (they’re even often called a petit serve 🙄) which is more than double the recommended 85g (cooked) portion size for an adult. I hope you receive some help & support soon.

I still take a break between every bite. For me it can be about 2-5 minutes, just depending how I feel, between bites. I found putting my cutlery down & sitting back from the table helps. If with others I don’t eat while someone is talking - give them my full attention. When at home alone I’ll read or play a game (solitaire is my go to) & then might take a bite every couple of pages or after a game or two. Didn’t like setting a timer as I felt like I had to take a bite then. I only take the bite when I feel like I need it not just want the bite or ‘told’ to take a bite. Not uncommon for me to pick up a bite then put it down again either. Took me a while to learn to eat more mindfully & focus on what I needed & not just mindlessly shovel food in. And don’t worry if everyone has finished their meal & you’re still going. Don’t rush to eat in time with them (this can be difficult). At a function yesterday I was still eating my entree while everyone else had finished, had had their plates removed & the staff were starting to bring out the main courses. There’d even been a speech between the courses LOL! (I barely ate half my entree & only a couple of bites of my main 😁.)

I’ve been in maintenance for a couple of years now, so like @catwoman7 can’t really answer your first question. Mind you I don’t eat all that differently. Just larger portions (& probably a little more good & bad fat 😉). Don’t be afraid to widen your meal selection & food selection. It may need you to do a little work to make a recipe healthier, lower in calories & to complement your plan (ingredients, cooking method). Don’t forget to check the nutrient content too. And it’s working towards how you’ll eat in the future. As to the stall issue - you can’t break those. It’s your body’s reaction to your weight loss. It’s the time your body needs to takes to assesses your current needs & adjusts things like your digestive hormones, metabolism, etc. Your body will take as long as it needs to do this. Stick to your plan. Don’t stress your body more by making changes to what you’re eating or your activity. Your stall will break when your body is ready. Still is frustrating I know.

Yep, me too. The burning of the cold is awful. I dress according to my needs & take a coat with me & keep one in my car. But not having the heat bother me as much is wonderful.

I vaguely remember it being mentioned here in the past. I can’t recall why it happened or how long it persisted. Sorry. Worth a conversation with your surgeon (phone call or email at least). Better to know then worry about nit knowing.

Oh my gracious, no wonder you were having a reaction with that dosage. Yikes! Nothing will stop the hair loss. It’s hair that would have fallen out anyway in your usual shedding cycle. That cycle is temporarily accelerated. (The acceleration can happen after any major surgery, pregnancy or other hormonal changes, stressful times, etc.) Your new hair is still growing just it’s usual rate. How much hair you lose is an individual thing just like when it starts & ends. There actually is no scientific e evidence that biotin stops or slows hair loss. All it may do is strengthen your new hair growth. The hair you shed is dead - can’t save that. Most people here say there hair loss lasts about 3 months +/- & that’s regardless of whether they take biotin or other supplements. So glad you’ve discovered the cause.

Just like it takes time for our heads to catch up with how we look so too does it take others. They have a picture of you in their heads so they also have to come to terms with as you are now & really see you. I had several people ‘helpfully’ tell me I had lost enough weight. I had people tell me they didn’t recognise me during the time I had lost down to around my usual weight range (mid 60s kg +/-). This was the weight range I had been most of my adult life (30 odd years). I was only my largest obese size for about 4 or so years. They should have easily recognised me. Now 2+ years later no one says a thing. Apparently the taller you are the larger the circumference of your bones. That’s the true meaning of being big boned. For e.g. woman 5’2” - 5’5” with a wrist measurement of 6.25” - 6.5” have a medium frame (mine is just under 6”). When overweight I used to be told I had a larger frame. It was just people trying to be nice & not say I was fat. Only about 5% of the population have large frames & the same have small frames. Everyone else has an medium or average frame. Initially my surgeon & his colleague were a little concerned I was still losing past my goal. Then one appointment, I remember his colleague really looking at me & then saying you really are quite small aren’t you. They never said a word about my weight after that. Doesn’t matter what others think you should weigh. I believe, you’re the only one who matters. You’re the only one who really needs to be happy. As long as your weight & maintaining it doesn’t restrict or limit you in any way (socially, lifestyle, etc.) & you’re healthy ignore everyone else’s ‘well intentioned’ comments & advice.

Have you checked your calorie intake? If you’re reducing your fat & sugar intake you will have reduced your calories which would explain your weight loss. Why are you trying to reduce your pancreatic enzymes (which are produced naturally within your body & are needed for digestion & absorption of nutrients)? How does cutting fats & sugars stop the production of the enzymes or are you doing that for a separate reason? I take pancreatic enzymes because I don’t absorb protein well (side effect of my gall removal) hence my questions. I worry that reducing your enzyme levels may be causing your weight loss too because your not absorbing nutrients well.

We all carry our weight in different places: upper body, lower body, abdomen, etc. And we all lose our weight in different places as we progress. Add to that the differences in our skeletal frames. Like I’ve a smallish frame yet my collar bones don’t protrude as much as others at a similar weight to me. I have dips around my collar bones not hollows. You will find that once your weight stabilises that your remaining weight seems to resettle. So while you may feel you look too thin or gaunt at first this will change. Initially I was all straight up & down & had lost my hourglass shape. But a few months later I realised I had a waist & hips again. (Still don’t have a butt though lol!) Give your head a chance to catch up with your new body. How you look now & as you lose more weight. It takes time & you’ll feel like you don’t recognise yourself or know your body at times. And it can work both ways - thinking you look too thin or thinking you’re still too big. I remember seeing a woman’s reflection in a shop window & thought oh we’re wearing the same clothes & she’s much slimmer than me. It was a shock to realise the woman was me.