summerseeker

I like the thought of eating porridge better than actually eating it. I am always disappointed when I retry it. It just sits like a heavy alien in my stomach all day. I think this would be very useful if I need to loose some weight again. Two small bowls of it and I would be ok all day. I have never been a potato person. I much preferred rice, noodles or pasta. To me potatoes need lots of butter to make them edible, luckily that would make me get the foamies.

Me, I am up north though. This is a great forum and anyone will answer your questions. You are welcome to message me on here if its personal. Congratulations on your surgery.

Easy answer, tell no one. I only discussed it with my husband and son. Even now I limit my answers to how I did it. I do tell obese people the truth though if they ask. When you are the biggest person in a group, your 'friends' will always feel thinner by standing with you. Its human nature. Jealousy is an issue too. Trust yourself. You will come to the right decision for you.

If you could see your internal stitches or staples then you would not be pushing the boundary so soon. Imagine food stuck and rotting in the staples. Can you imagine how ill you would be ? What should be inside your stomach could end up on the outside. It could kill you. Will this dissuade you from the dark side ? Try to stick to your teams plan. Its worth it in the end

I am old, it has taken me years to save the money for this surgery. Had I the chance to do the surgery when I was younger, I would have jumped at it. In my late 50's I started to get more and more disabled. I was almost housebound. Now this woman has a great life, she goes on holiday by herself, volunteers in a charity shop and shops till she drops. I could never have dreamed my life would be so great. So I can not eat like my friends when we go out for meals, they think its an issue but I don't. This is the only issue I have ever encountered. Its always scary to have any surgery especially self elected ones. Our brains are built that way. Try to dismiss other peoples worries. They really do not have the right information. You may not decide to do the surgery now but I bet you have it further down the line and then wish you mustered your courage now. Like the TV ad says ' just do it'

Hey we are all human and no one on here would or should be negative. You are only asking for help after all. Go food shopping, buy the good stuff, don't buy the rubbish. Use a food log, it keeps us accountable. I expect that I will be in the same boat next week with all the Christmas excesses and then I will have to really wind my neck in and get back into the swing of things. I allow myself a treat every day as I am at target - ish. My treats are 150 - 250 calories. I track at about 1500 calories a day. I rarely make my protein goals. My team are ok with what I manage though

You need to call your team. The dietician will give you some really great guidelines and hints if you are loosing too slow. As we do not know your weight and height we can not really say..

You look so good and even better, you look so happy. Huge congratulations

Hello @ Skyeblu99 Welcome in the forum. Its a great place for information and advice. We do not judge or be nasty as we have all been in the same shoes. Is there any chance you can ring and postpone your surgery a month? You are in hole and with Christmas on the horizon its going to be super tough to lose the weight before your appointment. Hats off to you if you can do it. I sure couldn't.

I am in the UK and have to be a carer for my husband too. Its not a bed of roses is it. I send my hubby to the man creche in the pub twice a week by taxi. I then have some me time. I look forward to this time so much. I do not allow anything to interfere with it. As to the weather ! oh dear it is awful at the moment. We have had flood warnings all weekend. I still got out though because I once saw a psychiatrist and said I had become so house bound because of the weather it affected my mental well being. He simply said ' Get better clothes' So I did. I hope you can get your world sorted, everything seems harder at Christmas time. Moving home is the hardest thing to do. I always say ' I am never doing that again' You need to phone your team and find out why you cant eat hot foods. Can you eat soup ? I still have issues with lamb and cooked salmon but I am ok with other proteins. Eggs took me almost 2 years to master then one day I craved them. I allow myself a treat every day, my love is children's rocket ice lollies. Asda and M&S ones are less than 40 calories each. Yesterday I had 2 Mcvities chocolate biscuits and thought to myself they were ok but 87 calories each ! and no real nutritional value, I might give them a miss till Christmas. Don't beat yourself up, just try to eat better. Your body deserves it.

If we are honest with ourselves, we all feared the surgery. We also feared continuing to live as a very obese person. Just because we elected to have this surgery does not mean it was more or less life saving than other emergency procedures. BUT, we are jumping into the unknown and this scares us. It will change your life. It should change your eating habits. We have had plenty to learn along the way. Am I thrilled that I overcame my fears 2 years and 2 weeks ago ? hell yes. I am half the old woman I was and have 4 times the life I used to have. You can always back out of this surgery, right up to the operating theatre doors. A few people in the forum have been honest about this. It may not be your time. If you need too, give yourself some breathing space

Are you eating well ? What is your daily average calories ? Are you getting your protein quota and liquids in ? Are you taking your vitamins ? Have you had any nutritional blood works done lately ? Sorry if this sounds intrusive but it does really matter if we are to give you a quality answer. I am due my 3 monthly B12 shot and I really know its due because I feel incredibly worn out and old again. In 2 weeks I will be running around like the ever ready bunny on the battery advert.

Hello Joanne, You will find nothing but good wishes and support here. You have done really well to only have a regain 8 pounds in 8 years. Good luck with the hard work of loosing it again especially at this time of year.

You are doing just fine. Do what suits your lifestyle and you.

You will be ok unless you get other symptoms like a chesty cough/ bronchitis. Then you may need a chat with the anaesthetist.

Rice is a love of mine too. I have been able to eat rice but only in tiny amounts. Now, 2 years out, a tablespoon is all I can manage. I do similar to what @ Briar Rose does. Pasta is still off limits to me.

Great shrinking pictures. You are doing amazing. I bet you feel a million dollars.

If I am struggling to get in my protein, I have a protein pudding/ yogurt. They really make my poop like concrete. One of these and my internal system is like a traffic jam. I am not sure if its the artificial sugar or the protein in them that causes this

I think that you really need to contact your team. You need some real help here. Its not normal to feel permanently hungry after this surgery. Occasional head hunger is more usual. Do you feel a restriction ? You really need to fill yourself with good quality food now. Has your team said you must keep carbs out of your diet ? I ask because you sound as if you eat protein or carbs. Your body needs the protein to function well. Eat your protein first, then the vegetables and then you can eat the carbs. Try to eat better carbs like fruits, skin on potatoes, brown rice and pasta and quality wholemeal or seeded bread. You are more than likely eating 2000 plus calories a day because you are at a plateau now. The only way to reverse this is to reduce your calories and eat better. Find a calorie tracker you like and be honest with it.

I did one to test for a type of bad bacteria in my gut. They need to rid you of it before they can do the surgery. I was negative. Sorry but I can not remember which bacteria

I don't have those episodes anymore but they are a little scary. I still carry a drink and a protein bar with me where ever I go. Just walk, its great exercise. Just a thought. Are you on Blood pressure medication ? My symptoms were better once I got off the tablets for this

Wow you are looking great. You are a fine advertisement for this surgery, just shows how awesome the results are if you follow the plan. Even your Tattoo has been on a diet !

A very friendly lady doctor once told me eat 10 different vegetables a day instead of the recommended 5. I put this in place by eating a homemade veg soup or a vegetable salad for lunch. This meal replacement was very low in calories and super filling. I could eat a thoughtful meal with my family in the evening and a low cal. snack later in the evening, like jelly and yogurt or the porridge I swopped it for at breakfast. Of course the weight didn't stay off but I did loose lots until I went on holiday and broke out and went back to my old ways. I didnt feel like I was on much of a diet because I love salad and veg

I had the surgery when I was incredibly unfit and I had major health issues. I was classed as disabled. I am sure this impeded my recovery. I had to stay in hospital 4 extra days due to vomiting. I struggled with sickness and GERD for about 6 weeks until I got the correct medications. I needed to sleep sat up all this time. They found my internal stitch line was very swollen and eating and drinking was difficult. This resulted in me being very weak until I could reach my goals. I am retired but if I worked, I would not have been able to go back for 3 months. I had zero pain, either gas or from the surgery. I have a high bed so needed a step to help me get in and out of it. I used a bed wedge for the GERD. The main thing that people on this forum teach us is, do not over buy. This surgery seriously affects your taste buds. Its 2 years to the day since my surgery and I still detest my once favourite foods, salmon and lamb.

You are looking fabulous. Your joy shines from the photo. I never realised that I would get so much from this surgery either. You have so much determination you will get to your goals.