FifiLux

Ah that is ok then I thought it might be if you got to 35 which isn't that far off considering how well you have been doing already.

For the surgery here you have to have a BMI of 35 or greater or else 30 with co-morbidities.

10 hours ago, Mspretty86 said:

Reporting todays WIN 8/14/24...went to macys and the size 16 jeans are fitting well some are kind of big! It's been a LONG A$$ time since I've seen a size 16 from being in the size 20 somethings lol. I said today I would go to the mall and shop to see my actual size. I still do not want to buy a lot of cloths only month 4 and dropping fast!!

I have been through so many pairs of jeans in the last few months if someone looked in my wardrobe they would think I was a jeans shop!

For clothes what I have been doing is mainly buying second hand (vestiaire collective and ebay) or new but in sales for tops and trousers (Next, M&S, About You and Amazon) but then buying jeans new from some of the cheaper shops (Only, JJXX). The most recent pair of jeans are too big now, look a silly type of baggy so not great for wearing to office but I don't think I am at the next size down yet.

I will be in the US next month for a holiday so I am hoping to hit up a lot of stores there and buy a new wardrobe 😁

9 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

Today’s win for me was getting a little higher on my spirometer. I am exactly a week post op and still not to where my doctor would like me to be but I am doing a little better today. Still working at it.

Any bit higher is a win.

Took me ages to get to where my doctor and physio wanted me to be but every little puff helps.

Yes sounds a bit vanilla of a presentation and she certainly doesn't sound like the best example, even for someone who had no issues with the surgery or recovery as not giving a great example of how to live life after by the sounds of it. Do you have to go to many of the sessions or is it just a once off?

Do you need to have the knee surgery first? I was told I had to lose weight for knee surgery but hospital said to have the weight loss surgery first for two reasons, one to still be considered a high enough BMI (like you I had/have no co-morbidities) to qualify for the state paid surgery and also to release some of the weight pressure my knees are under before going through another surgery.

Woohoo

3 hours ago, kristieshannon said:

5 years ago today I had my VSG. The last 5 years has been full of ups and downs, but overall my life is so greatly improved. I’m typing this while sitting on a plane, I’ve got a good 16” of extra space on my seatbelt. No more extenders for me! I’ve gotten in to cycling, can ride my road or mountain bike for miles. I can shop in any store and pick super cute clothes. I can wear high heels again. I got rid of my CPAP and BP meds. I’m no longer pre-diabetic. While I was one of the statistical divorces post WLS, I now have a wonderful supportive guy in my life. I’m happy & healthy and so glad I made the decision to have WLS!

Congratulations on 5 years and it sounds like you are living the life you deserve.

5 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

Speaking of. I didn’t remember my weight on surgery day but I got a little worried about how I was doing with the spirometer and the front desk explained the situation to the NP as a little more dire so they asked me to come in. They checked my lungs while I was there and I’m fine. Just need to keep working at it. Good news is they also checked my weight and between the 16 day liver shrink and pre op diet and the five days I am post op I have lost 16 pounds!!

That is all great news and glad you are home and recovering.

I hope you don't even need the over the counter meds after another few days.

So by this time next week you will be post-op

My surgery was 4th July last year and even though I am not American I consider it my Independence Day as it was the first day of a new and improved, as in happier and healthier, me but it has taken me many months of recovery and work to get where I am so far, surgery is certainly not the easy option some people think (as in those who don't need it).

The coming weeks and months will be a learning curve so don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself, don't compare your losses to others as everyone is different and just most importantly be kind to yourself. That I think is what I have come away with most from the last year, I take time for myself when needed, I say no to things I don't want to do rather than try to make everyone else happy as I used to in the past, I listen to my body more when it says it needs a walk/fresh air or rest, I speak up for myself more and I am really trying not to let the little things stress me out as I am very much a person who always felt the need to be in control (even if it was control of overeating etc.).

If you haven't done so already I recommend taking your measurements and some pictures today or tomorrow so you have something to look back on in the coming months and years to see how well you do.

I am sure your appointment will go well and you will be all set for 15th.

I was the same, with no pre-op diet to follow so I just made sure to enjoy my last few pre-op meals, meeting friends and having drinks in the few weeks lead up and weaning myself off coffee.

Of course you will lose weight and you just have to take the time to work on the new you (inside and out) so that you will have the strength and mindset not to get back to where you are now and what lead you to need the surgery.

We all hope not to have regain but even a few kg/lbs back on is ok too but try not to focus on a negative like that as positive mindset going forward is the best way to be. Your body will be readjusting and has to find its own level. Over the course of your journey there will be weight losses, gains and stalls and we are all here for you to vent, ask questions etc.

🍀

A win for me today was bringing my good watch to the jewellery shop to get two links taken out so that the watch will now stay on my wrist again.

Then another win was that the shop did not charge me, not sure why as I have never been to them before but I happily took their instance of no payment and left as quickly as I could (which was a bit slow as you have to be buzzed through two different security doors they operate from behind a desk) before they changed their mind! 😁

Thanks all 😁

Congrats on passing your test

My boobs look smaller (😭) but whilst I have gone down a couple of band sizes the cup size is still the same DD just doesn't look it, I think I am closer to a D but it depends on the bra. My bum is also smaller/flatter which isn't so bad. Today I was on a day off work so I went to the shops and got myself a couple of padded bras, never had to do that before but already they make me feel better. I know feel like my boobs are a bit of false advertising, like something out of a JP Gaultier advert. 😀 I have travel for work and vacations next month so trying to build up my wardrobe bit by bit.

I put 1kg on during the week, no idea how but as I am still under the surgeons target weight I am not letting it bother me too much.

The health system here covers some plastics post weight loss surgery and I hadn't thought it would be something I would be interested in but I think I will enquire about when I have my next surgeon appointment in January to see what areas they do the plastics on and what the requirements are.

I don't know all the brands you have in the US but I have used BFree gluten free high Protein wraps.

Each wrap is only 3.5g carbs and 11g protein but you'll only manage small portions of each wrap so the carbs from the wrap itself will be negligible.

If you don't like to cook how about some (low salt) deli meat rolled with mashed avacado and anything else you want to add in there so a meat wrap with on actual wrap/bread?

You could make your own simple quiche - tortilla Protein wrap as a the base in baking tin, add in three eggs, a cup of cottage cheese, salt & peper- mix and then add your toppings of your choice such as spinach, green Beans, peppers, tomatoes, can top with mozzarella then if you like. Oven bake until golden.

@AmberFL In all your exercising have you found that your arms are firming up, if they were flabby before?

Just looking for some tips as they remain a problem area for me and doing arm weights at home (mix between 1.5kg and 3kg) a few days a week for some reps doesn't seem to be making any inroads. My legs are always going to be a problem area for me because of lymphedema but that just stops me wearing shorts or a short dress leaving me still with plenty of options but having to keep my arms covered all the time (because I hate my arms) is a pain.

11 hours ago, Arabesque said:

I wonder if your therapist just chose the wrong word. I think we all enjoy food (stimulating all the senses) but what we don’t do (or try not to do) is rely on it as a comfort or let it take up a great deal of our thinking. So may be glamorise wasn’t the best word and focus or fixate may have been better. But they should have given you some strategies to help. You may have to ask for some the next time you meet.

Yes, I think it is just a case that maybe the wrong word was used which is unhelpful and can cause doubt and anxiousness.

Maybe the therapist is just tying to get the point across to not let food control you going forward and not to just focus on being able to eat what you want again but do the steps to get to the right mindset so you get the best life out of the surgery.

I just used a normal blender.

Unless you have the need for a babyfood puree machine in the future I would think it is not worth the price, or another piece of equipment in a kitchen. If you don't have a blender at all I would recommend buying one as that will probably get more use in the long term.

Way to go

No you are not wrong, we can enjoy food and drink eventually but realise we have to make sensible choices or we could go back to where we were pre-op.

I think the way to think about it going forward is that you will still enjoy food just smaller portions, and depending on what your diet was like pre-op, maybe healthier choices. Some of your tastes may change from like to dislike or the opposite but you can enjoy and savour the smaller bites.

Also during the liquid phase you are most certainly going to miss the thought of other food, I mean seriously who would prefer a bowl of flavoured dishwater Soup vs something like a pizza or steak dinner?

I am now a year out following my sleeve and cook the food I like but just eat in smaller portions and I go out about once a week for a lunch or dinner and enjoy the food - plus I enjoy it usually again the next day with the leftovers I bring home.

Ok so almost 13 months post sleeve I am just 2.4kg / 5lb from my goal and have already passed the target weight set by my surgeon so I may revise my goal a bit, for a buffer, will see. Anyway here is a picture of me taken on holiday end March 2023 (4 months pre-op) which a friend sent me and a picture of me today in size 8 UK / 4 US (wide leg) jumpsuit.

Not brave enough (yet anyway) to share my face.

On 7/1/2023 at 3:25 PM, ms.sss said:

. Basics: GENDER, AGE, HEIGHT

2. Total Weight lost in the 6 months BEFORE surgery (if any)

3. Weight on DAY OF SURGERY.

4. Weight at 1 MONTH POST surgery

5. Weight at 3 MONTHs POST surgery

6. Weight at 6 MONTHs POST surgery

7. Weight at 12 MONTHs POST surgery

1. Female, 49, 163cm / 5ft 3in

2. None, put on about 5kg / 11lb

3. 120.20kg / 265lb

4 & 5. Don't recall as was in hospital still at that point but not much as they were pumping me full of nutrients

6. 92kg / 202lb

7. 72kg / 158lb

Now one year and three weeks I am at 68.6kg / 151lb and just a few pounds away from my goal weight.

2 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

Sounds like your boss may be taking you to lunch more often. I don’t really know off hand how to do the conversions either but a third of a pizza sounds about right. Like a frozen pizza not a pizzeria pizza. Although I wonder if our pizza in the US is larger. Seems that just about everything else is food wise 😆.

That time it was a pizzeria pizza (not too big and not too small) and it was so yummy, no real Protein though as it was just Tomato sauce, aubergine, peppers and courgette - no cheese and no meat.

I wish I had taken some 'before' pictures so that I could see the great changes. I still don't think I see the real me in the mirror at times so wish I could look at how fat (I can now say that about myself 😄) I was pre-op.

I did switch to Decaf for the two weeks pre-op as read it online but the hospital were giving me (disgusting) coffee the day after the op and continued to offer it to me every day I was there but my tastebuds couldn't hack it so I went with herbal tea each time. Now, a year later, coffee is no problem and have it running through my veins.

I also made a batch of liquid Soups for the first week and froze them in 150ml containers so that I wouldn't have to worry about it, just needed to add Protein Powder at the time, plus I prepped the veg for a second batch of Soup and froze them so it meant I just had to put them in the slow cooker with a stock cube, no standing around peeling, chopping etc.

Not really a cup based measuring person as that is a US basis and while I am not "ways out" I can at times, depends on the day and also what I am eating, eat more than a cup and a half (I think if I understand the measurement conversions).

Last week I had approx 1/3 of a pizza when out for dinner. I then had the same portion (leftovers) for lunch and dinner the next day. I would think that they would be more than a cup and a half.

At home I will have usually 150g yoghurt for Breakfast and my dinner is usually 160ml chicken or mince dish (as I portion them all out and freeze) but I will add things to these - like a bit of fruit and/or chai seeds to the yoghurt and have a post dinner desert of some dark chocolate or nuts.

Lunch depends on if homeworking or office based, or even if weekend but if at home it is usually one of my homemade meals again about 160ml or a salad at work of about 250g.

One day for lunch last week I had a Californian chicken roll in my local sushi place, it was cut into 8 pieces so likely more than a cup measurement and I was able to just about eat it all. I was a cheap date for my boss, only cost €6.50 vs his €25 meal & drink 😂

I started to do that just in a standard pocket notebook (so I had it with me no matter what size handbag I was using), a day a page, and did little motivation or positive comments a couple of days a week. Each time I had a decent weight loss week (I try to weigh only once a week or I go mad with overthinking the fluctuations) I would note it and then highlight it in a neon colour.

After three months I switched from the notebook to online tracking with myfitnesspal as I just found it easier to track portion sizes, calories, carbs etc. as it took a lot of the work away from doing it myself. I then moved to a manifestion & positivity journal instead to keep it separate from my food tracking as I didn't want the two things to be linked as for me I find it easier to disassociate food journaling from feelings going forward. I found a journal that also had positivity exercises in them do to each week, some were not relevant to my situation at all but I considered if 'food' for thought.