MrsFitz

Very well done! It must be mind-boggling to think that all this has happened since January and just look where you are!!

I’m doing OK. London weight-gain is gone - hurray! Currently taking things easy as I’ve had steroid injections in both my knees today 🙂 Looking forward to seeing Fatboy Slim live in 3 weeks for a bit of ‘hands in the air like I just don’t care’. Hope your driving lesson goes well and your hairdresser doesn’t take too much off your fringe! You will have to let us know how things go with your personal trainer 🏋️‍♂️

I’ve just had to admit defeat and have bi-focal lenses put in my frames as it was becoming more and more difficult to read the small stuff while out and about! I’ve taken pictures of shelf edges for pricing info because I couldn’t get close enough to read them 🤓 The brand I use is WOW Hydrate. We have it at our Costco (just ordered more) plus it can be ordered from Amazon. The summer berries is really good, it’s one of my favourite products at the moment. They are lactose, gluten, fat and sugar free.

Just checked with mine - readymade has no whey protein, the stuff you mix yourself has ☹️ I guess it’s just a case of reading labels. Why do they have to make things so difficult???

Would an unflavoured pea protein work? Or a protein water to have with your existing breakfast?

It could be that your body is having a bit of a panic thinking it’s in starvation mode and therefore is holding on to everything it can! It becomes a battle of wills to see who will back down first - you or your body. Just keep doing what you’re doing and try to keep off the scales if you can (easier said than done at times) You are doing brilliantly 👍

Hope you’re feeling a little better now @JennyBeez?

There are some specific Bariatric journals on Amazon - I don’t know if something like that would help in the beginning?

They’re really good, and same - their music just takes me back to my late teens. Second time seeing them, 1st time was in Birmingham a couple of years ago. I danced non-stop for 2 hours straight and I wasn’t the only one 🤩 It will be chair dancing this time but will be just as enthusiastic!

Off to see The Pet Shop Boys! I’m a massive fan and it’s the final week of their world tour with a special 5 nights finale at the ROH. Whilst we’ve had a wander around Covent Garden previously, we’ve never been to the ROH so a whole new experience just for that alone 😊

I’m glad you questioned everything and have finally got your answers from the horses mouth as it were. Just try to maintain an air of zen now for the next couple of weeks!

Aw, thanks for your comments @SleeveToBypass2023 😊 Isnt it odd how you see yourself in the mirror everyday, you buy clothes in (much) smaller sizes, you’re able to do things that you struggled with previously because of excess weight etc but it’s a simple comment that really hits you and makes you just stop? I wonder how long it takes for someone to just think of themselves as a thin person? I remember when I had lost weight previously, I saw a slim pair of legs reflected in a coffee shop window and thought to myself ‘ooh, I wish my legs were as slim as that’….it took a while for the penny to drop that actually they WERE my legs! I think it can take quite some time for our physical selves and mental selves to marry up 🤔

No, I’m a Yorkshire Lass for my sins!

This sounds really sensible to me, especially the meal plans as I also need some sort of plan too, especially if it’s something I’m not 100% confident about.

I also think that all the stages reiterate how serious this kind of surgery is too. It certainly isn’t for the faint hearted or those wanting the loss thinking this is the easy way. My first group session sounds very similar to yours. The nurses said right at the very beginning that jabs like Ozempic or Wegovy were not available and you could see that some were disappointed. My next group session is in August so it will be interesting to hear from others at that session. We were given a lot of reading matter to familiarise ourselves with the whole process and encouraged to contact the Bariatric department if we had any questions or concerns, which I found reassuring.

You’re certainly kicking arse sweetie!

I hope everything went well for your appointment and that you were able to get the relevant information for portal access. It certainly seems that you have had a bit of a rollercoaster ride recently. Keeping my fingers crossed that it goes smoothly for you now 🤞

For surgery on the NHS, it has to be shown that the patient is fully aware that the surgery is only a tool and that the patient has realistic expectations of life post-surgery. We have to show and understand that we are prepared to put in all the necessary work (daily vitamins and regular blood tests, to adhere to the rules of eating both immediately after surgery while we heal and then the lifelong commitment required to maintain their losses) I’m glad that my NHS Trust has hoops to jump through if I’m honest, as it inspires confidence for me. Would I love surgery now? Of course! I’m I mentally prepared for it? No, I don’t think I am. The past couple of weeks have shown me that I do respond to emotional situations by trying to soothe myself with food. Will I be able to do that post-op? Very, very doubtful as I would be worried about undoing both the surgery and the psychological readiness I know I need to undergo said surgery. I do read some posts on various forums that do give cause for concern as a pre-op patient, just as Tek identified above. I’m in no position to advise but it is comforting that the more experienced posters do their utmost to give advice and guide the user in contacting their surgeon, doctor etc or to re-read the advice they should have been given 🙂

Thank you @Bypass2Freedom. It’s hard to get out of the habit of throwing on the same clothes day in, day out. I know I need to shake things up but it’s difficult knowing how! @NeonRaven8919 I adore London and always have. There is always something going on and caters to all tastes and interests. It’s certainly different to where we live! @catwoman7 and @summerseeker I don’t even know how many pairs or leggings I have, it’s ridiculous and yes, they are so comfy. Unfortunately I have yet to find a pair made of strong enough material to hold in my belly - it’s not attractive at all ☹️ @FifiLux Thanks, I certainly plan to 🙂 Tickets have come through today for our show at the Royal Opera House on Thursday, which is ramping the excitement up a lot. Hubby has also paid for me to have my makeup done on the day too. I’m feeling a bit 😬 about that as I’m not sure about the attention to be honest? I’m sure it will be OK, just another new experience huh?

Had my MSK appointment yesterday to discuss my poorly knees and go through my X-rays. Turns out my knees are, and I quote, ‘riddled with arthritis’ and I will need both replacing. It may sound odd but it’s kind of a relief that the pain I feel is justified if that makes sense? The areas of pain on my knees marry up with the worst areas on my X-rays. She did explain that weight loss wouldn’t get rid of the pain but would obviously help with regards to the replacements and quality of life afterwards. I really did appreciate her honesty because the last thing I would want is to think that getting the weight off would make the pains go, and then be disappointed or blaming myself when that didn’t happen. So, can’t have any replacement op until I can get weight off - that’s a given so I was prepared for that. She did say that I was ahead as I’m on the Bariatric pathway which is a huge help. I’m booked in for steroid injections in both knees in 2 weeks. I’ve had these before which weren’t successful but I’m happy to try again, just in case! A couple of weeks after that I will be contacted by physio to see if the injections worked and to have some physio if so. 3 months after that I will be back to see MSK and discuss next steps. It was a huge help that the MSK person was also recovering from a knee replacement op that she had in January. She also needs both replacing and should hopefully have the second before this year is out. She explained recovery and how long it takes etc. It sounds 😬 but needs must and all that. Hopefully, by the time I’m 60 (4 years to go) my weight will be gone, my knees will by done and I will be able to run around with my 2 grandchildren 😊

Thanks @Bypass2Freedom, @SleeveToBypass2023and @FifiLux for your kind comments. I think the MSK person just wanted to make me aware of what the future may hold for me and to temper any expectations I may have regarding WLS and my knees. As it stands at the moment, I find it difficult to weight bear as the pain can knock me sideways. I’ve had a little folding scooter for around a month now which means I can now get out of the house with hubby and be around people. I cannot begin to explain how this has added to my quality of life! I have some independence back!! I could go weeks at a time not getting out, so this is a massive change. I could actually wizz off to the park with my granddaughter at the weekend and just be there with her 😊 I also haven’t driven for almost a year now, which I miss but cannot manage at present as I can’t get in the van we have at the drivers side as it’s too high and my knees can’t cope right now as there are times when just bending them can bring me to tears. It’s not the end of the world, just something that happens 🤷‍♀️ These are all things that will hopefully change in the future. I know that weight loss will have positive impacts in lots of different areas of my life. I know that my knees will definitely thank me, knee surgery not withstanding!

I’m drawing a line under last week and moving swiftly on! Emotions were all over the place, pains were getting to unbearable levels and eating sensibly went by the by. 2.5lbs up on my lowest (it could have been so much worse 😮) Just putting it down to experience and carrying on. My clothing is fitting better and I’ve managed to wear a ring that I’ve not been able to get on my finger for quite some time so the NSV are continuing, which are all positives. Hope everyone has a great start to their week 🙂 Onwards and Downwards!

Thanks @Spinoza. I’m pre-op so testing the waters for now 🙂 Trying to get my head around things and get some control. I do find that, once I’ve wandered off-plan and my focus isn’t as sharp, it can be really hard to get back to it, which is something many of us suffer with! Definitely need to regroup and rediscover my mojo - thanks for the reminder 😉

Pain will be with me for a while yet but I just need to focus on other things for the time being 🙂 We have to take our wins where we can! 😉

Thank you!