learn2cook

Congratulations on your hard work. You get to pick out a new summer wardrobe!

I’ve definitely deflated but the leftover skin still takes up an additional cup size than when my weight was here last time.

I used the wedge pillow and spanx. Weirdly, not so weird, I had trouble getting up from the teeny tiny toddler size toilet installed in our 400 square foot apartment (landlord idea). So I bought a medical plastic tall seat for the seat. Best 20$ spent ever (before inflation).

I like meal prepping because I make healthier choices and save money. I use the OXO toddler 4oz containers and weirdly it also holds 4oz in meat weight. Earlier in healing I used the 2oz but now that size is convenient for carrying salad dressing or a sauce (not 2oz of sauce but what you need for you.) I prep for 3-4 days out so food stays fresh. I fill up on veggies after the 4 oz of meat. Last week I made a pot roast for Sunday dinner for the family and before serving the family took out 3 servings for 3 lunches. I rotated between mini bell peppers, broccoli and cauliflower, and one day of raspberries. (I’m currently trying to up my iron.) Chicken or eggs are a quick dinner. This week I’m going to cook up buffalo meat into homemade marinara and serve it with different veggies like squash or beans (chili) one plan is to put it on cauliflower crust pizza. I’ll keep the meat premeasured in the little 4oz containers. Restaurants measure food all the time with ice cream scoops and weight scales to be careful about uniform portions. They prep food too. I guess all that restaurant work normalized planning, prepping and measuring food for me. It also lets you take advantage of seasonal/regional foods that are on sale. I got the buffalo last fall and froze it. Right now I’m waiting for pork and lamb prices to drop. I have some salmon burgers in the freezer to get creative with, or I might check out the tofu prices. Anyway you would use ground meat you could replace with firm tofu, just add the tofu last at the last minute before eating.

My mother and grandmother were hospital nurses. They said the hospitals ask this in case something in surgery goes sideways. Like they find cancer while in there… so to help provide support while you feel unwell some people do feel comfort in the rituals of religion. Obviously religion doesn’t comfort everyone. The hospital clergy also want to be warned to stay away if so directed. The records last if you go in years later for a different issue.

I have lactose intolerance so I use OWYN plant based shakes. I found them the cheapest at BJs. Others on here pointed me toward Fairlife milk which is ultra processed, so higher in protein. They might make shakes, but I’m happy with the milk. Sounds like you’ve a lot of tasting to do!

I just sing for fun with my church choir. It took me four months to build up my stomach muscles to reach F and G. I noticed remarked improvement after I was cleared for weight lifting and yoga. You will get more gigs and you will have more stamina (Adele). Only you know your body, but I can only suggest you let yourself heal. Professional singing takes serious abs!

Yes, I have moderate to severe asthma and have needed to use oral steroids two times since my RNY. It can make you feel very awake at night. It does make water retention and hunger happen. I stay faithful to my plan and the extra weight comes off in a week. I hope you feel better and heal quickly!

Congratulations! I just wear what looks good on me, boot cuts and flair pants and skirts. My top is skinny and my bottom half is a whole size larger. Thank you POC for helping me embrace my big butt! You look so much healthier and I hope you too embrace your unique body. PS This can be ignored. I scoured YouTube to learn how to buy clothes that would flatter me, not just cover me up. Kibbe types helped and color analysis (did mine over time with a friend while thrifting). Again, wear what makes YOU happy. Said friend is now wearing tutus with cowboy boots:) You’re doing awesome! I hope you keep making plans for the future!

Yes! You’ve got it!

I worked with a woman that was allergic to meat. I’ve read of others since then, but they could eat fish, tofu, beans and rice. Non of them had bariatric surgery, and it was rare. I would sleuth around with an allergy specialist. The people involved needed huge amounts of oral steroids to function before their diagnosis was confirmed. They had record high inflammatory markers in their blood work. I wouldn’t guess with this one, get it properly documented for your future health. I would even wonder if you could be in the same room as meat, like severe peanut allergy folks can be? What if you were stuck on a plane with 20 people chewing chicken?

Love, love, love that you’re out there doing stuff! Congratulations:)

Congratulations! Just remember that the actual surgery is a small event that you will sleep through.

Yeah!

You’re doing marvelous!

I disliked the purée stage so much I mostly stuck to liquids until the next stage was oked. It worked out. Holidays food for me is like FOMO. That fear of missing out on special foods only offered during that holiday. I have a bite, move on, get back on track. That seems to be a successful tool most people figure out who keep the weight off long term.

I don’t have any medical advice for you. I can only share that all my food funerals before my own bypass were a total waste of time, money, and energy. In six months you will again have the choice to eat absolutely everything you could possibly crave. So why now? Are you self sabotaging? Ask yourself the hard questions then do the hard inner work. Therapy, treadmill, phone a friend, OA there’s lots of positive choices. Some of us “get you,” no judgment, I’m currently looking at my son’s box of Funny Bones on New Years Eve.

I had bypass and hiatal hernia surgery. It took me about 7 months before eggs were ok, I think it was due to dealing with healing. Everything is fine now, no problems.

Same!

@omrhsn I like the “went cycling around the town “ WOOT WOOT!

Patience is a virtue here. It took me a year to get approved and my doctor had to go toe to toe with the insurance doctor at the last minute. If you really really want a goal, consistent hard work over a long time does generally work. I keep telling myself I didn’t gain the weight overnight, so I won’t loose it overnight either. I’ve cultivated an attitude of self care is important every day short term and long term. Call and follow up, but don’t miss the opportunity to learn healthy habits now.

I like the loose it app for food and water, Chlow for slowing my eating, and Fitbit for tracking my activities. By the way, I don’t really trust the calories burned from any app or device, I just try to up my personal goals and sometimes challenge friends (friend competition was awesome during lockdown)!

You are very encouraged to chew your food until it is like applesauce. Also when in the different food stages sauces and a higher moisture content helps the food go down easily, especially if you are recovering from additional hiatal hernia surgery. I tend to weight and measure my food, but also work to eat slowly so that I hear and feel my body’s satisfied signals. Listening to my body is still something I’m learning about every day.

Yes I did. I had a giant bottle of Miralax and some colase tablets with Gatorade. It was ok, everything worked out literally. There’s a fasting the day before too so there’s not much to wash out. You’ll be fine. I asked about it too and the nurse got very specific about the stool color and consistency. I was fine. It doesn’t hurt to ask the day of…by the way they want it to be just like water, slightly yellow water.

Yes, I have definitely felt this, though not currently. I always recommend therapy, even a two month “tune up.” It can be cost prohibitive so other resources I found useful are body movement classes like yoga and Thai Chi that ground me in my physical body. I like to walk meditate, journal. Use what you have done in the past that helped you recover or grieve like art, music, a house of worship. O.A. meetings have discussions on the topic. WLS is a wonderful tool that helps with weight loss, but it doesn’t fix our brains. The fabulous thing is you have already begun your amazing journey of great success to heal your whole self.