FifiLux

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.

You will likely be carrying around gas for a few days post op as they have inflate your insides to get at the stomach and it should eventually ease. I took a wind-ease tablet for the couple of days after my op last year and it helped.

I had known what to expect as I went through similar after having my gall bladder removed a number of years ago and didn't understand at the time why I was in agony in the shoulder area - the gas had made its way up there and settled.

Could you find the motivation to even start with a few small steps, like finding a way to get your Protein up even by way of including it in Water and that way two steps covered in one? Your body needs the protein and if you are not getting enough it could be contributing to your mood/fog.

So what if you haven't gone to the gym, I don't go, but I have made an effort to find a couple of fitness things I like to do. I know I could do more but hey I am doing more than I did pre-op so its a win win as far as I am concerned. I am not going to put unrealistic pressure on myself as I know I will fail, maybe that is the same for you?

For the alcohol you don't say how much or often you have a drink but if you can't go cold turkey could you even cut back or opt for a lighter drink? I have a drink (or three) when out with friends, its not the end of the world but I am realistic that it will probably impact the weight loss for a few days and I restrict myself to only when out, certainly not at home as that is a bad habit that I am trying to make sure I don't bring back.

Could you start writing a daily positivity list/journal of all the positives you are finding from the loss you have had so far? I started to do it to help me with the PTSD I am suffering from my surgery, I note just random things such as;

was able to jog to catch bus and not be mortified / was able to get through turnstile without turning sideways / so and so told me I was looking great / sun is shining and I feel energised / had to tighten jeans belt again

Small steps could help you out of the funk and get you on track as there was a reason you would have had the surgery and you don't want to get back there. It takes work but you have already made good progress but it will get harder to loose the lbs and you could end up with other health problems if you continue as you are. Does your doctor have a support team that you can reach out to? I think an honest conversation with them is needed and will help you, they can hopefully provide tools to get you in the mindset needed to continue. Don't feel ashamed to talk to them as I am sure you are not the only one how feels like you do.

I saw them supporting Robbie Williams in Dublin a few years ago and they were really good, took me back years.

Congrats on your success so far and it is a big plus in understanding your struggles to be able to work on them. Glad the Euros kept you distracted through the first few weeks.

A year out I find that my eyes are still bigger than my stomach and it takes me having to really think about it sometimes to realise I am full.

Another win you will be able to add to your list soon is that when you go out for meals you will probably be able to bring enough leftovers home to do a few meals 😀Two weeks ago a work lunch in the local Chinese meant I brought home enough from my one duck & rice dish to do another two lunches, three dinners and even my cat got a bit.

I had no pre-surgery diet plan to to follow but did have to 'check-in' to the hospital the night before so they actually cut off my food at 8pm that night and then I was only allowed Water until midnight. They also had me take a small amount of a sugar free isotonic drink at about 6am on the day of my op (8am), don't know why.

Have a great trip

Woohoo and you are looking great 😁

16 hours ago, NickelChip said:

Oh my gosh, this is really surprising! At my hospital, they took me into a pre-op area about an hour before my scheduled starting time, where I chatted with the surgeon and was introduced to every member of the surgical team, even the medical students. How disconcerting to have a last minute switch you didn't even know about!

Oh I know but then nothing about my op went as planned from start to finish.

They all probably thought someone else had told me but no-one had and so far I have been too polite to raise it as a question or complaint but I will one day when I feel comfortable but at the moment I still have various different appointments with the team over the coming months so will wait.

I made small chocolate truffles that I kept in the fridge and had one or two when feeling like something sweet;

0.25 cup agave Syrup, 30 g chocolate hazelnut Protein Powder, 110g 100% cacao (no sugar) and 60 g smooth Peanut Butter. It made 15 balls;

I have no guidance or experience to offer for the surgeon selection aspect as I went through the public insurance system where I live and once you go to the obesity clinic and they accept you (high BMI etc.) then the government takes care of the costs for pre-op testing, surgery, post-op tests and consultations. I did get a list of their surgeons to pick from, which I did and met her a few months out but then she didn't do the op for some reason and no-one ever had the decency to tell me, I only found out after the surgery!

For the Vitamins I was told to take the special bariatric ones just for the first year and then after that it was ok but if anything showed up in future blood tests to possibly start taking them again. I am only a year on from my surgery so I have decided (for now) to continue with the batch of bariatric vitamins I have at home and then just switch to basic over the counter ones going forward and not panic if I miss a day or three!

You will do great and it is all the little things that add up to a bigger and better quality of life for a smaller you 😁

I still can't bend my knees like I did when I was a teen and can't do some of the pilates moves that my class does as I can't do childs pose, sit on my heels etc but I can already move better than before and that is huge progress.

I found a stock cube in Water with some Protein powder had a bit of a salty flavouring to it. I am more savoury than sweet for my taste buds so I know how you are feeling.

The thing that got me through was knowing I was able to swallow very little of the liquids and it was only for a couple of weeks.

It won't cure the arthritic knees and pain but it will help as you will have much less weight to be walking around with so less pressure on them.

I have no cartilage in either knee and have been getting steroid injections and also hyaluronic to cushion the joints and they only last a while. Doctors told me I needed both knees replaced at a later date but I had to loose weight first and my knees need to thin down more (as I have bad lymphedema).

I can already feel the difference now with the weight loss, I can walk further and faster without much pain. Whereas before I would not be able to sleep at night due to knee pain.

I will get another round of injections in September before my holidays just to be on the safe side and will see what the ortho says about my knees (I don't think they have slimmed down enough yet) and I think my knees have a few more years in them.

I am sure you have just reached a stall period, don't let it worry you, EVERYONE has gone through it, or is going through it, as it is raised as a topic here every few days it feels like.

Your body is trying to adjust to the new you, new routines etc. so even if the scale has stalled (or even goes up a bit) you may be loosing inches etc. Over the last year I have had a few stalls and it is frustrating but part of the process. It also gets harder/slower as you get closer to your natural weight as there is less to loose. When it has happened I have upped my exercise (an extra walk or longer walk, more time in the pool etc.) to try and give the body a little nudge to get loosing again not sure if it helps or not but makes me feel better.

Try not to stress and just keep up the positive changes you have made. It is seriously not that long into this part of your journey.

34 minutes ago, Bypass2Freedom said:

Hmm, that is true actually! It feels as though we have skipped Summer here 😅 I shall hold off from buying anything just yet, as I am conscious of how fast the weight loss is right now!

I think I am suffering a bit from imposter syndrome right now - I feel like a fraud if I were to buy smaller sizes if that makes sense! Like my body won't actually ever fit into them (which I know is insane, given that I am and have lost weight) but my brain hasn't caught up yet.

I have heard nothing but good things about M&S - I may create a holiday wishlist on there! I admit I have never even worn those kinds of trousers before! But I think that was just due to me not feeling like they'd suit my shape!

I hear you and went through the same and wasted money on clothes that I never got to wear or wear only a couple of times before they became to big for me. I have bought so many pairs of jeans over the last few months - gone from a 3XL to a 28" waist (so size 10 to 12 depending on brand) - it is crazy.

These are the ones I got - https://www.marksandspencer.com/linen-rich-wide-leg-trousers/p/clp60636306?color=NAVY#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r2c3

Next also have similar (I also have them) - https://www.next.co.uk/style/su051427/709159#709159

I know the autumn styles will be in the shops closer to when you go so it could be difficult to find summer clothes by then but if you can wait a few weeks I would as you could drop a couple of sizes before your trip.

If you can't wait you could get a summer dress (or three) in a size or two smaller than you are now and then have some belts if the style suits that way you can cinch them in if needed.

Another thing is drawstring loose trousers as that way even as your waist shrinks you can adjust the waistband. I got lovely ones in M&S in both navy and black and even though they are the bit too big now they have a nice summer flow to them.

2 hours ago, Bypass2Freedom said:

Ooh, I haven't even tried grapes yet! If I am honest I feel a bit nervous to try most fruits for some reason! I have only had kiwis which are lovely!

I have been trying to get some fruit and eggs into my diet as eggs used to be a no go and honestly a lot of the time I don't have the room for fruit so today I made banana pancakes that were nice and light;

0.06 tsp/pinch cinnamon
1 banana
0.25 cup oats, dry
2 eggs
0.06 tsp/pinch salt
15 g, 70% dark chocolate chips (optional)
1 tsp smooth Peanut Butter (optional)

I got 8 pancakes from the mix and depending on the daily carb/protein/fat allowances you are taking it works out at the below. So that is at least two lunches sorted for me, today and tomorrow, with a couple of pancakes left over for a snack maybe.

Now I just have to find something to do with the last egg I have

40 minutes ago, Bypass2Freedom said:

I feel like I am stuck in a repetitive loop with food at the moment - I find one thing I like and it is all I eat 😂

My current obsession is a mix of things in a bowl, including: beetroot, small balls of mozzarella, chicken pieces, cucumber, crème fraîche, olives, sundried tomatoes, and a Protein popped corn and pea mix. Sounds gross but for some reason I really can't stop eating it 😂

Other than the mozzarella it sounds nice to me though I am jealous, I have found since my op I can't chew/break down sundried tomatoes and they seem to stick in my throat, no issue with regular tomatoes.

Same with grapes, not sure if it is a skin thing but I miss them both as used to love including the tomatoes in a salad and snacking on frozen grapes.

I was advised against, because of potential air bubbles, but after a few months I started using a sports bottle that has a straw and have had no issues once I don't gulp the Water, which I should be doing with or without a straw anyway. I find it an easier way to control my sip/intake.

I would say try it slowly, for a little bit of a drink and see how you go.

27 minutes ago, MrsFitz said:

Congratulations on your loss, I’m glad something positive has come out of the horrible experience you have had. Would it be worth talking to someone who specialises in PTSD? A year isn’t long, especially as you spent 4 months in hospital with all the attendant stresses on both yourself and your family.

Be kind to yourself. Sometimes we’re harder on ourselves than we would be with others in the same situation 💛

Thank you

Yes, I have been getting support from the weight loss clinic in the hospital. I met with the in-house psychiatrist and he in turn referred me to one of their psychologists for PTSD and it has helped me. I actually see them both again (separately) at the end of this month as I will be doing some EFT sessions starting the end of the month.

One year ago today I had my sleeve surgery and my nightmare began.

12 months later I am doing much better I know that, my infections have gone, I have lost 47kg/103lb and my energy is improving BUT I am finding today very difficult.
Today I just feel really sad and keep crying when I realise how much of the last year I lost what with the four months in hospital, all the stress (not just for me but for my family) and how I am still recovering all from what was supposed to be just one night post-op in hospital and then a few weeks of recovery.

I thought I was doing better mentally and emotionally but today I just wish I could have just stayed in bed.

Anyway I just wanted to say thanks to all here how have answered my questions, given support etc., it has made my journey a bit easier.

I used this = https://rachlmansfield.com/cottage-cheese-banana-bread/#jump-to-recipe

I made 'flour' by blending almonds, used agave instead of maple Syrup and added in some chocolate chips. I got 18 servings out of it.

I love the bread and I HATE cheese. I had not had cheese in about 30 years but kept seeing online about cottage cheese being used in so many ways now and how you can't taste it so I gave it a chance and made the bread, plus a chocolate cheese mousse that was on the same site. Safe to say I am an convert now and actually bought a bread baking tin, plus more cheese today.

If something can't be eaten fresh/as is or cooked in my slow cooker I tend to avoid.

I use my slow cooker for just about everything though I do make a delicious bread/cake from cottage cheese and bananas.