learn2cook

Like others above, check with your team. I was to aim for 20 macros of protein for each of three meals. I couldn’t do it but that was the goal. I ended up 20 for breakfast, 10 lunch, 10 around 3pm, 10 around 5ish, and 10 in the evening one hour before bed. In my efforts to curb nighttime snacking habits, I started then (and still maintain now) 50% or more of my daily food should be consumed by lunchtime. It makes me go to sleep earlier and wake up refreshed, and mostly banished the nighttime munchies. Obviously this won’t work for everyone. I was never a morning person, nor a breakfast eater before surgery. You’re doing great, keep up the good work!

I read the whole thing. That was great sharing, I felt like I was there! Honestly you should think about writing a how to book of your adventures. This was/is a great chapter of success!

Lol, I had to look up incarcerated for hernias because I was picturing guys in stripes behind bars! I have had both with small intestines sticking out a muscle wall in my lower intestine (umbilical) that hurt intermittently for years until it became enstrangulated. US insurance often doesn’t pay for surgery unless there is complete blood flow stoppage. Hiatal hernia is a different beast that feels like a heart attack because the esophagus is turned inside out like a sock and jammed pulsating in your throat and chest. Both kinds, the doctors told me to walk when not in pain. What kept me sane, now and then, is knowing the pain is fixable, your response is management only. Sorry, I get a little Hermione Granger sometimes.

I started almost exactly the same weight as you. Congratulations on making a health choice for yourself to live your best life. Now is your opportunity to go on even more adventures. Is there a career change you wonder about? A place or site you want to see? A family member or child you want to watch grow up? You’ve made the decision for yourself to really live! Go on now.

This is fabulous! Look at how you are standing taller and your arms and legs hang looser!

Congratulations on making positive decisions for your health. I had/have GERD. I got bypass and hiatal hernia surgery to correct it. I still need PPI but less of them, and only feel the burn or the flip of the esophagus once in a while like with eating nuts (high fat) or coffee. So, I avoid my triggers or have only very small portions. I was a slow looser, even lost half of total weight loss before surgery. I believe it was due to menopause creating such a dry environment in my throat. The research on gut health and menopause is still so new that I can only mention it without solid peer reviewed evidence. The research is still ongoing. I only know my experience with menopause caused worsening asthma, eye infections, sudden tooth decay, arthritis and GERD. The underlying commonality was a lack of mucus production ie. menopause. Maybe it’s Sjorgrens but it slammed into me at 45 and DHEA helps, and I never developed full diabetes, nor Lupus, nor non-Hodgekins Lymphoma which are hallmarks of Sjorgrens. I applaud your scientific curiosity. Keep letting us know what happens!

I had both and got the bypass. I was post menopausal so I can’t say it helped with most PCOS issues. I swung the other way 2 years post op and got hyperthyroidism! So my team figured it’s a vitamin imbalance and I’m monitored more closely. (Lower vitamin D can increase thyroid levels). PPI can interfere with vitamin absorption, so does caffeine, so planning your vitamin times counts too. Talk with your team about best practices for your vitamins. I have found that I need extra iron with vitamin C at lunchtime and I can be consistent with it. That extra iron is just because my iron levels tend to be low, most people don’t have that issue. I take calcium, vitamin D and magnesium at night, B vitamins and Flintstones with iron in the morning with decaf coffee in my pea protein shake. If I stay really consistent with my water intake I can avoid PPI s for now. For me, it’s really a balance and worth the shock of being a little hyperthyroid for a month! Great luck to you both! May you have good skin, lovely hair and surprising energy you deserve!

I have had 2 surgeries for hernias so far, my doc says I have one more obvious one. If you get one, you are likely to get others. Unless something you are doing hurts or feels uncomfortable you can exercise all you want. You should probably talk with your doctor about specifics around activities like yoga, Pilates or abdominal crunches. Each hernia is different and I would wait until you talk with your doctor about trying something new. After surgery is over listen to your doctor completely and even give your body more time to heal if you need to. Most of the time the docs tell me to walk.

It sounds like you’ve been through a lot and now your body is catching up to it. I kind of feel the same as you, because the holidays are over and I’m looking for something to anticipate. I’m telling myself it’s ok to chill out. No one can be 100%, 100% of the time. (Side note, if it lasts for 6 weeks or longer seek professional help.)

I so agree with the above comment especially the “recovering Type 2 diabetic “ part. Anyone of us past 2 years out is there with you, I know I am. I definitely partook of the holiday cheer this year and I’m so “puffy” right now. I’m concentrating on wellness for the new year. I do look for inflammatory foods that trip me up and eliminate them from my orbit for a while to get back to evenness. (Don’t know what else to call it?) Aside from food and movement changes, I struggle with stress. I noticed if I journal, walk, talk to a friend, goof off on a guitar, extra water weight just falls off. Sometimes I need an extra mineral or vitamin (Magnesium and vitamin D I’m looking at you.) I don’t know if any of this helps, but keep trying. There even could be a metabolic reason behind the weight creep. It doesn’t hurt to ask a trusted medical professional. You are not alone in this.

I was told during the end of the appointment that she would approve me. Then nervous me asked what would have happened if I didn’t pass her evaluation and she said I would be asked to seek out further psychiatric help to get me to safer ground. Either way it’s a win win.

Woop whoop 🙌🏽

Congratulations on your surgery! I agree with @Arabesque , but I might check in on Monday. My reasoning is US doctors take the weekends off and lovely young doctors in training, who do not have experience or specialized training in bariatric care, will possibly put you through 100 nonsensical tests to cover their backsides in case your symptoms are serious. Just keep an eye on your health, but wait if you can, to ask your surgeon on Monday.

I’m stumped but wish you the best and an easy solution!

I imagine this is a very deep and painful experience and wish you full recovery!

Birth control pills and eventually menopause took care of the PCOS for me. I went into vitamin and weightlifting mode in my 30’s to also manage symptoms and preserve child bearing abilities, and that was somewhat successful for me (I did have one child, yeah!) Others definitely have more serious issues and other solutions so there is only encouragement for you to live your best life. I was very undecided about sleeve or bypass but further testing in me confirmed severe GERD. Bypass was the only solution my insurance would cover. In a perfect world I would have chosen DS or mini bypass as a more reliable alternative for more permanent weight loss. I still keep an eye on how my clothes feel, and how my skin looks. I do not lift weights with the vigilance I used to, just a couple days a week to beat age related decomp. I still track vitamins because it’s easy to forget iron or the B’s, or proteins, then my hair falls out (not again!). I think of the changes and tracking I would have to do as a full blown diabetic verses now, and I chose the surgery and health every day. I am so grateful for bypass every, single, day! 2+ years now

By my second week post WLS I had an amazing hankering for ricotta cheese baked into a pasta shell. As a lactose intolerant person, this wasn’t something I normally kept around the house. This thought stuck in my head for days. I finally bought the frozen stuffed shells after reading that ricotta is mostly lactose free, baked it with marinara, and ate the soft inside when it was done. My kid thought he won the lottery and I felt so so satisfied. I never craved it again. It was exactly one ounce of ricotta cheese inside one shell. I did taste the shell, which tasted like wet cardboard, and spit it out, because why bother. The idea is to think about your craving first, then plan it into your week when your body is ready. I find guilt to be a waste of time, we are all messy humans. Slow down and enjoy your craving in small healthy sizes with careful thought.

Kmac1 awesome job! I hope you took pictures and journaled your triumph! You worked so hard for your health! Lily2024 to quote Dory the fish from “Finding Nemo,” “keep swimming!” Your first goal is to get as healthy as possible to ease through the health helping surgery. The surgery will honestly help you lock in your healthy lifestyle. We all need to heal physically from the surgery itself, then slowly build back the strength and endurance. It’s the journey not the finish line. I bet even kmac1 has some other goals to accomplish. Good health and living isn’t a one and done deal. But it sure is nice to celebrate the significant goals achieved. (Because we all know life is hard and it’s the little moments that make it sparkle) well done kmac1!

My preop program wanted me to start right away, and I did. Going cold turkey full throttle was the best thing I ever did. I do occasionally have a sweet now and then, but don’t crave sweets like I used to. That said, you do you. Some people do better going slow.

First congratulations on your life changes and healthy goal achievements! I very much enjoy working out and being active too. Just don’t trust whole heartedly what sport devices say word for word. They are really tracking trends and general steps. They tend to overstate actual calories burned. They also don’t account for older-than-50 bodies that burn calories far more efficiently. Several things could be at play so you will still have to do your detective work. Try talking with your dietitian or nutritionist. You may need more protein. You might be triggering your body into starvation mode too, and need to slightly increase your food intake. Make sure you aren’t coming down with a cold that increases inflammation like Covid. Are you getting 7 hours of sleep per night regularly? Is your bloodwork good? Taking probiotics? I stalled at the same time and found my bloodwork was off. But, I also talked with my surgeon who “walks his talk.” He suggested switching up my workouts. I used to live for the weightlifting high, but only lift 2 days a week now. I do more outdoor activities like rowing, biking, and hiking. Walking with poles burns far more calories. I’ve rediscovered walking with all my daily water in a backpack ups my morning walk too. Two years out I’m still finding my balance of food to exercise and still loosing weight. You’ll find it too.

First congratulations on your life changes and healthy goal achievements! I very much enjoy working out and being active too. Just don’t trust whole heartedly what sport devices say word for word. They are really tracking trends and general steps. They tend to overstate actual calories burned. They also don’t account for older-than-50 bodies that burn calories far more efficiently. Several things could be at play so you will still have to do your detective work. Try talking with your dietitian or nutritionist. You may need more protein. You might be triggering your body into starvation mode too, and need to slightly increase your food intake. Make sure you aren’t coming down with a cold that increases inflammation like Covid. Are you getting 7 hours of sleep per night regularly? Is your bloodwork good? Taking probiotics? I stalled at the same time and found my bloodwork was off. But, I also talked with my surgeon who “walks his talk.” He suggested switching up my workouts. I used to live for the weightlifting high, but only lift 2 days a week now. I do more outdoor activities like rowing, biking, and hiking. Walking with poles burns far more calories. I’ve rediscovered walking with all my daily water in a backpack ups my morning walk too. Two years out I’m still finding my balance of food to exercise and still loosing weight. You’ll find it too.

No reactions for me, but I’m reading too much about how people with a predisposition toward asthma and allergies are getting new food allergies after a virus. I would be more concerned about a severe reaction, especially since it encircled your neck. I hope you find your trigger soon!

I know how truly awful the ulcers and GERD feel like. I’m wishing you a speedy recovery!

Congratulations on making positive life choices for yourself! You’ve really done well!

I take a general glucosamine and chondroitin supplement from BJ’s. It seems to help with joint pain and inflammation because I can’t take Aleve or ibuprofen anymore. It took about a month to feel the difference but between the weight loss and this, I can avoid shots to the knees and surgery a little longer. I still lost significant hair because I do not absorb iron well and that takes some detective work and time to figure out precisely what is going on with YOUR body. My friend who had a sleeve done found out a year after surgery, her hair issue was related to hypothyroidism. You can try all the supplements you want, but you need to be a detective for yourself. Watch carefully which supplements can be taken with what foods and other supplements and medications. My hair came back eventually. I decided I would rather be bald and strong any day over being fat and falling apart.