RainbowBrite57

I’m 7 months out from my sleeve surgery. My lower tummy is really loose & has started flapping against my body any time I walk fast, jump, dance (like in my kitchen to my favorite music, not anything strenuous), etc. I’m getting really embarrassed at the slapping sound that’s happening now. I was looking into shape wear like Spanx but I didn’t know if that would help my situation. Can I get some advice? Thanks ladies! 😊

I've recently started adding a serving of Benefiber to my 2 Premier protein shakes a day & it's helping me feel fuller longer as opposed to just the protein shake. Does anyone else do this? Just curious. 😀

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback. I still have Spanx from my wedding that I have packed up somewhere. I'll give those a go before dropping money on more just in case they still fit! And thanks for the encouragement! 😀

Hello everyone! It's been a hot minute since I've posted or even visited this page. I need to rant about myself & I know this is a safe, non-judgemental place to do so. I had my surgery on 9/13/20. When I got home from the hospital after a 2 night stay, I was SO HUNGRY. I told myself I wouldn't be a casualty of going off the rails, especially right away but that's what happened. I hold myself fully accountable. I've most definitely stretched out my stomach although I know it's no where near what it was. My surgeon made my follow-ups for a month out then six months out. The surgeon's office had just switched from doing a month, three months, then six month follow-ups, although I've been told I can make an appointment anytime I want to, free of charge for the rest of my life. I wish I would've made an appointment right away for guidance, instead I listened to the lies my mind was telling me. Now I'm almost 7 months out. I'm down 40 pounds which I'm very happy about but I don't feel like I've "earned" that loss at all. I know all the things I should be doing. I read & read & read before surgery- on this forum, books, other online resources, etc. I felt so ready. Silly me. I know I can get back on track right this minute & stop any more harm to my health and to my stomach size. I have a book sitting at home that I know will be fantastic at helping me. I ordered an adult tricycle that should be getting put together today or tomorrow. I even bought a $1,400 elliptical trainer I've used maybe 5 times. I'm just so very disappointed in myself. I'm hoping this confession to y'all will relieve me of some of this guilt I'm carrying around. I feel like crying & if I could kick my own booty. Thanks for listening y'all.

Great way to look at it

I’d like to find out how others drink around mealtime. I’m told that I can drink up until I start eating & not to drink again until 30 minutes after my last bite. I know this advice varies from doctor to doctor, with some even saying nothing an hour before or after. Has anyone that does it the way I was told ever had trouble with it, such as stomach stretching or food washing away to quickly? Thanks & happy Saturday to you all!

I feel silly asking this. I love fruity lip balm & I use it a few times everyday. Has anyone found that fruity or other food flavored (cinnamon roll, etc.) lip balms make you crave food? I’m wondering if I should switch to unflavored.

I had resigned myself to a very plain Thanksgiving meal this year when I decided to see if there were any good low carb chicken & dressing recipes online. I found one for “Southern chicken & dressing” and it was a huge success! (https://www.mytableofthree.com/low-carb-southern-dressing/) My mom had laughed & said I’d probably be eating that on my own when I told her it involved almond flour as the main cornbread ingredient. It’s not low fat because it’s made with almond flour, coconut oil, & heavy cream but we aren’t exactly eating much right now. I even decided to sub low fat buttermilk for the heavy cream/vinegar combo it suggested & it was still fantastic. I couldn’t find oat fiber so I just added the amount called for in more almond flour. I’m not supposed to have onions yet but I used a plain white onion & I didn’t end up with any gastrointestinal distress. I cooked my chicken breasts in the Instant Pot so they wouldn’t dry out. The dressing was so moist & delicious, y’all!!! I hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful as mine was!

I think my only "never again" food is going to be spaghetti with regular noodles & sausage. I will definitely be trying spaghetti squash & I'm hoping that'll fill the spaghetti void! I might even add a little bit of sausage to that from time to time. I will have to stay away from the carb-filled noodles though, they are a trigger food for me, big time. Pizza is also a trigger food but I now make a flatbread alternative that I love!

Congrats & best wishes for a successful and exciting journey! You'll go far!

Right now I'm allowed 2oz of a protein per meal. When y'all were at the 2oz phase, did y'all eat a whole egg? I'm getting some conflicting info so I wanted to ask y'all. Thanks!

Thanks y'all! It'll be so much easier to put a whole scrambled egg on my plate & eat until I'm full instead of trying to divide it out. 😀

I was in horrible pain when I woke up too. At the very beginning the gas pain was overriding my surgical pain. That quickly changed. They kept wanting me to take pills for the pain which I knew wouldn't kick in for a while. I'm also already on a low-dose narcotic for back pain so I knew my tolerance to pain medicine was built up. I finally made sure my nurse knew that & begged for my next few doses of pain medication be delivered through my IV. She was able to do that & it helped so much. If you haven't asked for something stronger or told them the amount of pain you are in, please do. I hope things get better for you!

Congratulations & I hope you are feeling better! I, like you, spent so many hours on this site & on the internet as a whole. I made myself a binder with different categories that I refer too often. Best of luck to you!!!

I’m 5 weeks out from my sleeve surgery. I had major tooth extraction surgery yesterday & I'm miserable today. I wish I could order in some iHop pancakes so bad! What do y’all recommend for comfort food? I know I can make mashed potatoes or cream of wheat but I was looking for some different ideas. Thank you!!

Also, I’m definitely breaking out my coloring books & rock painting kit today! 🤩

Thanks for the advice everyone! I guess I was more looking for soft things I can eat for the next few days that have become a new food you turn to when you’re sick that’s still a healthy alternative to your old comfort foods. Although I’d love those iHop pancakes right now & I could get some down if I really wanted to, I won’t because that would certainly be a slippery slope for me. Mashed potatoes & cream of wheat in my allotted amounts will suffice, I just thought something different might cheer me up a bit. Thanks again!!

I’m a big fan of the Wal-Mart Great Value water flavoring powders & I've bought them for years. They just came out with a Tropical Limeade flavor that’s amazing. Like, I went & bought 7 more boxes amazing! I just combined some grape flavored water & the limeade and it’s delicious. Almost like the Sonic grape/lime slushees I used to get, without being slushy of course. Next I’m going to try cherry limeade. And I just know these are going to make amazing popsicles!

Hi all! I have all my paperwork for what to drink/eat for my clear liquid & full liquid phases. What I don’t have is an idea on how much to drink/eat during full liquids. I know I can have thinned Greek yogurt, thinned applesauce, thinned & strained soups, etc. But, hypothetically, could I sip on soup or eat yogurt all day long as long as I got my protein in? (I wouldn’t actually do that) In the purée phase & beyond I’m told how many ounces of each category to have in a meal. I just need an idea on how much to consume during my full liquid phase. Any advice is much appreciated!