summerseeker

That's so cruel and everyone is so scared that it could happen to them. I think I might have had a melt down. I feel for you because we want this surgery so badly and 3 weeks on a liquid diet is brutal. Biggest hugs sent your way.

This part doesn't last long but it does get samey. Have you tried bouillon cubes dissolved in water. Milk whizzed with some zero sugar peanut butter. Any soup sieved to take out the solids. I liked the flavour of chicken noodle soup, Gazpacho, and Pho.

I agree with @Arabesque I was on 200 Cals at 2 months, Didn't manage to get to 800 until about 9 months. Nine months later I was on less than 1000 Cals. My team only bothered about protein and liquids. They advised me to try 6 tiny meals a day. Full fat products helped me. As in cheese, nuts, milk and yogurts. I never had protein drinks. My surgeon was against them. I had milk shakes but made my own but M&S do some, a strawberry shake per 250 mls = 180 Cals and 8 grams of protein. Don't stress over this period, just do your best every day. We are not all the same

Hi Klare, I know of two people who went to Turkey for the surgery. First one was ok but second person had a shocking experience. The surgeon made her oesophagus too short and she cant keep any food down. She is seriously ill. She has had a bad time with doctors over here [ she says ] because she had the op outside the UK. I know in my heart all doctors can't be like this, they take an oath after all. Some who go get next to no pre or aftercare. They come on here asking for advice which is ok, its what we do but this is huge life and mind changing surgery. We all needed tons of help especially in the first months. Private hospitals over here offer a surgery package. I got two years aftercare. Monthly visits with a dietician and surgeon if I needed it, I did. They offer interest free loans. I wanted the surgery very badly, it cost me every penny I had. I don't know if I could have gone the overseas route if I didn't have the cash. There was so much I didn't know about what this surgery does. There are people who have posted on here that going from a Lap band to Gastric bypass was two surgeries. Surgeons wouldn't do both surgeries at once. You have a lot to think about. Good luck with your chosen journey.

Its hot as h**l in Greece in September. If you are going Self catering then you will not need as much as if you are in a Hotel. I took a huge case full for 3 weeks in May and wore 3 swimsuits and 3 dresses and 3 tops/dresses for over my costume. I wear swim dresses and feel confident in them. The rest I didn't wear for the most part. Lesson learned for me. Its a very laid back country and unless you are going in a 5* hotel, you will be ok dressed down. Shorts are what everyone wears. Loose dresses look great and are practical. I would buy a size down. I went down a size every 2 months.

I was like this. I managed 300 calories until 6 months. I was super restricted. My team were ok as long as I was well monitored and as long as I kept trying and drank most of my liquid allotment. I take PPI's twice a day and still need antacid. Food smells repulsed me. I couldn't eat eggs, meat or fish. I ate yogurt, soups, deli meats and cheese. I drank milk, coffee and Ribena. I forced myself to eat 6 tiny meals a day. My family were super worried about it. I managed a little better every day especially when the pressure was taken off me { I pressured myself } I took me 2 years to eat chicken, lamb, eggs and to this day can not eat salmon and oily fish. Stick with your team, they will get you through it. It will get easier.

You are having a head moment. You know that you are doing everything right but your head is saying WHAAAT ! TF ! Just breathe for a moment and think. There are a few things to consider and you probably know this, Its a stall, Its water retention, you are over doing things and your body says no way or you have eaten salty foods. You have gained the pounds and you need to stay away from the scales for a few days/ a week. Its a tough ask I know, I am the worst at it. Watching the scale will screw with your mind. Keep to your plan and it will work its way right.

I can only reiterate what others before have said, they have great advice. You did great and you can do it again. My advice for what its worth is try and find a few minutes to plan your food for the coming week, buy it and stick to your purchases. I know its tougher if you are feeding a family who eat foods you are trying not to eat. Use a good food tracker, track and eat your protein. It fills you and does wonders for your body. Find an exercise you can stick with. Keep coming back to this site and update us. We all struggle at some point.

No one told me not too. So I used one from the get go. It helped me with little sips. TBH I cant see why you could suck air in ? Your mouth is on one end and its in the drink at the other ?

Benefibre ?

So very jealous that you can eat chillies, I get really bad acid attacks when ever I retry them. I used to love the heat

Sorry I forget people don't live in my small town and I chatter away on here like I am. I slice the egg plants about half inch [ 2 cms] thick. . Squirt the oven tin with low cal spray oil, put the slices of eggplant on it. Squirt the top of the eggplant and add salt and pepper. Bake about 30 mins and turn half way through. You want them soft. My friend does hers in a air fryer a lot quicker.

Our weather here is really weird these days. Its July and its cold. So I have gone back to winter food. Today I am eating Corned beef hash. Its basically veg, potatoes and tinned corned beef. Start with the longest to cook. I add barley and lentils for extra protein and roughage. Its simple, made in one pan or slow cooker. Yesterday I had What I call finger food. Stuff I don't need a knife and fork for. I was really hungry and needed stuff super quick. I put on a plate, celery, cream cheese, grapes, prawns and a few cashews. It could also have different stuff for protein, cheese, deli meats, crab sticks, mussels, pickled fish and anchovies. I make the family lasagne. I cant stomach the pasta so I make mine in small dishes with baked Aubergines instead for layers. Omelettes are great, I love a cheese omelette with Heinz baked beans Look at 5 ingredient recipes. Jamie Oliver does a great cook book for this.

Hugs. Some people never get where they want to be and thats just cruel

I had a latte in hospital too. I drink loads of regular coffee a day. All my bloods have come back OK every time. If drinking coffee was an issue with my surgeon, I don't know what I would have done. Lied probably

You are amazing. You did this and lost so much weight. That is the best thing that I read all day. I know you will be smiling but I wish you could see the smile you put on my face.

Enjoy the dress while you can. It will soon be in the too big pile. Keep buying a size smaller when you see something you like

I have learned to deflect. - Aw thanks, I had a coat like that in the 60's Aw thanks, do you know you have something stuck in your teeth ? Aw thanks, I really wanted to say, did I see your husband/ wife at that charity singles dance last week ? He really is a good dancer. Aw thanks, Did you cut your own hair ? Aw thanks, I really needed a laugh today, I love it when people have been gossiping about me. I wonder who they are leaving alone today ?

I had to save. It cost me around £12,000. The NHS in my area had stopped doing this surgery as they said it was not essential surgery and they had a huge back log because of Covid. Lots go abroad because it is cheaper. I was too timid. Most private hospitals in the UK offer interest free packages, cheaper than a bank loan.

Totally me

Yes thats so true. I could not eat chicken for 2 years. My stomach says cooked salmon is still off my menu. Pork is ok if its lean. I am 2 and a half years out now.

My 10 year passport has two years to run on it. I have wondered if I could accidently on purpose, set fire to it. I have had a lot of strange looks going through passport control. I have to answer lots of I.D. questions. It was a lousy photo to begin with and she looks nothing like me now. Every time I go away, I hold my breath until I am let back in the country. Roll on 2026

I don't think the fact that its pureed helps. It already looks like something you wouldn't eat. I just couldn't. I skipped this stage. I made vegetable soups that were thicker than my liquid ones. I added cheese that melted in. Made them with some milk instead of all stock. It worked for me. Never be afraid to go back a stage for a while. We can not all have the same healing curve.

I live in the Uk, so we do not always have the groceries that you have. Do you have Heinz soups ? Cream of chicken always boosts me. I have real bad acid reflux so Tomato soup is a no no which is a shame because it was a go to. TBH I still eat lots of soups, they are easy, quick and gentle on my prone to tantrums tummy. Homemade mushroom and bacon and carrot and lentil are the go to's at this time

Homemade milkshake, pho and chicken noodle soup with the noodles strained out. I also strained any tinned soup.