Spinoza

Oh my word - reaching goal within Just over 3 months of surgery? That has to be a new record. Well done. I suspect that you will continue to lose for many months and that your current goal will by then have disappeared in your rear view mirror. Welcome to your new life 😍

It has never ever from day 1 felt the same as before for me and I'm 22 months post op. I think that I had a really delayed feeling of fullness throughout my adult life, which contributed to me eating myself into obesity. Having the sleeve has totally changed the cues my stomach sends when it's full. Weirdly they still seem to be really delayed, but I can predict and manage the cues better. It'll be really hard for you at 7 weeks out to predict how you will be long term but I think don't expect to 'eat normally and feel full' as you did before. The point of the surgery is to change what you felt and did before and, believe me. you will!! I wish you the best of luck.

I had a relatively easy time after my surgery but it took me *months* before I met my protein or fluid goals. Keep the faith - if you're there or thereabouts then you'll be absolutely fine. 😍

Huge congratulations, your photos are amazing. I love to hear success stories and especially of better health because of the surgery. I am 22 months post sleeve surgery and the fear of regain is real - I think I'll always have it and I think I need to have it. I have a lifelong bad track record and this is my one shot at countering that. I haven't yet relaxed into my new way of eating - I still track absolutely everything, so far that's working well so I expect I'll always do it. It's a small price to pay for a completely new life. I wish you all the best - you've done brilliantly.

You're doing so well, it's fantastic to be this close to your goal. I agree with everyone else - keep on keeping on and trust the surgery, it's clearly working/has worked for you!

I woke up in my hospital bed experiencing little to no pain. I know that experiences vary hugely but all I needed then and in the subsequent days was paracetamol - it was in liquid form because I couldn't swallow tablets. I only had a few doses, after that no need for any pain killer. I do realise I may have been lucky

Do you mean snacks to take to work or something? You can prepare those in advance. If you're home you can just stock up your fridge with variations on the suggestions. My go-to snacks are still deli meat (or, better still, meat leftover from last night's dinner) raw nuts and cheese. They will get you through almost every situation. Honestly I haven't had a bar since my surgery - they just don't seem like proper food any more and most are laced with sugar. As you get further out veg (like celery sticks and some sort of hummus or dip or soft cheese) or berries are also good and you can get those at short notice almost everywhere. High protein yoghurts are also great.

Oh I think you won't even consider those drinks as a good/acceptable thing now - I can't have even a sip without regretting it. It's almost unbelievable what we did before in the throes of sugar addiction.

At one month out I was just about onto tiny servings of proper food and I also couldn't stomach more than a few bites of whatever I had prepared. I did what Arabesque did and portioned and froze everything I did cook so that I could eat it later in equally tiny servings. Honestly OP, in a few months you will look back and treasure this time when you were so restricted. It does get easier to eat bigger volumes with time but the point of what we put ourselves through is to BE restricted and to use this restriction/time to lose weight. I wish you the best of luck.

Yes I think this is a really tricky stage for some people. Personally I loved it (I still remember the taste of a proper pureed roast dinner after weeks of shakes). It only lasts a couple of weeks so I say get through it any way you can. If you can meet your fluid and protein goals then maybe you'll just get to the soft foods stage that way. I wish you the best of luck.

Oh wow every day is a school day! I had never heard of this before today, and certainly never experienced it because I reheat things ALL THE TIME (I'm sleeved though). But I can see now how it is a thing.

And another update a month later. In the last 6 months I have lost 3 or at the most 4lbs depending on the day of the week. Pretty much bottomed out now I think at 138. I have lost exactly half of my pre-surgery weight which is totally mind-blowing. I am preparing myself for some regain in the next year or so (I need to so I don't panic when it appears). Hopefully the completely new wardrobe I've bought won't be in vain. But even if it is I can totally get another one size up and still be happy. I am still walking a LOT. I need to get into some strength training but I can't find the time. Any November 2021 people please check in - I am dying to hear how we're all doing these days. 😍

Oh my word that has to be one of the best photos ever on this thread. Inspiring to anyone thinking about the pros and cons of WLS. That dress so suits you GreenTealael. Enjoy. And look at that photo often. 🤩

Definitely agree with the others. Even if this delays your surgery a little it'll be worth it to drag those issues out into the light and address them beforehand. You did the right thing being honest. Have you discussed this with your therapist? If so I BET they'll advise a little more time pre-op to get you to the right place mentally. The surgery itself is only one piece of the jigsaw. You have the rest of your life afterwards to use that tool and only one chance to prepare for it, so you'll want to give yourself the very best crack of the whip.

I found warm fluids much easier than cold early on so I drank a lot of tea and herbal tea and eventually bouillon. I also warmed my shakes a little sometimes, LOL. I stuck to the 30 minutes before and after for the first few months. I still stick to the after, but I can drink right before a meal with no issues now, which really helps. As others have said, keep your water bottle close at hand all the time. It really is hard, and lots of us don't meet our fluid goal for the first few weeks. Best of luck.

Yes I'd be really interested to hear about any ups and downs along the way. It's amazing to see someone who has done so well - thank you for sharing!

Fab to hear your update FMO! Arrrgh re the poison ivy thing. So pleased you've had a lovely summer break. Looking forward to hearing your re-focus come September - we're all in the same boat xx

Fab fab fab! Sometimes simple stuff is the best.

I would just add that hitting your fluid goal is the most important thing at your stage, there's no room for manoeuvre at all on that one - but I'm sure you're doing that already. My appetite was not affected after my surgery, I just filled up really quickly. Hunger took about 7 or 8 months to reappear I think. And of course before that was when I lost most!

Oh this is another area where surgeons seem to differ substantially! It will also be influenced by what procedure you had and when OP. I was not told to restrict fruit in any way post op - food was only restricted by consistency/texture for the first 6 weeks. So I could have pureed any fruit at all if I had fancied it 2 weeks out (I didn't fancy it though - was too busy grubbing away at my lovely blended baby food-like dinners, LOL). After that I could eat as much of whatever fruit I liked, and I do. Usually 2 or 3 portions of berries a day as snacks. In fact I like to get those in early before I start my protein/'proper' meal eating. I think they have useful micro-nutrients - for the same reason I eat a small handful of seeds and same of raw nuts every day. And cheese - couldn't do a day without it (although the micronutrient thing may not apply, it's just THE best) 😂

I know loads of us do experience aversions but I didn't at all. My tastes are much the same as pre-surgery. I would have loved to lose my sweet tooth but sadly I think it will always be with me. I eat very very little sugar now but when I do it's like 'hello old friend...' 😈

Really pleased for you, sounds like bad luck and bad timing. That was a long one! Hope you hit a nice straight stretch now and lose lose lose.

Not a woman or man thing but a people thing in my experience OP. If people haven't been obese ever than they just haven't experienced what we have. If those people pass judgement on your experience then I would equate that to someone giving me advice on mothering a child if they've never been a mother or never had a child. Acknowledge their contribution but don't accept or validate it and just keep on keeping on with your plan!

Fantastic milestone. You look so happy. Huge congrats!

Yum to all this!!