NeonRaven8919

It's been 6 weeks since I got my surgery date and started on my 12 week milk diet as set out by the doctor.
But, I've made it 6 weeks. I really didn't think I would be able to. I've had cheat days and felt bad, but then shook myself off and got back on track.
I'm already bored with shakes and Soup and I still have another 6 weeks of the pre-op diet and then more of the same for the first month past surgery.
This has been difficult and I need to remind myself it will all be worth it. And then the always hungry part of my brain/soul/subconscious tells me to give up because I won't be able to eat "normally" ever again and I should just eat a donut.
So I'm trying to have a sense of humour about it.

It's been 6 weeks since I got my surgery date and started on my 12 week milk diet as set out by the doctor.
But, I've made it 6 weeks. I really didn't think I would be able to. I've had cheat days and felt bad, but then shook myself off and got back on track.
I'm already bored with shakes and Soup and I still have another 6 weeks of the pre-op diet and then more of the same for the first month past surgery.
This has been difficult and I need to remind myself it will all be worth it. And then the always hungry part of my brain/soul/subconscious tells me to give up because I won't be able to eat "normally" ever again and I should just eat a donut.
So I'm trying to have a sense of humour about it.

I've done a few of the "weight loss workshops" that they offered, but it was yet another weight loss diet attempt that failed. I think it was called "apples and pears" and they weighed us, gave us a few tips on healthy eating and criticised the slightest and then left us to to run around the gym for an hour. It was more like a creche for fat adults and very patronising. They offered some counselling, but she didn't want to listen to me talk about anything but food, which isn't really helpful if emotional eating isn't really about eating.

I took up cycling about two years ago. It's exercise and a cheap method of transportation. I got an e-bike as I don't have the fitness levels (yet) for an "acoustic" model. I found it's good for knees as they can go a full rotation but without putting weight on them since the saddle takes the weight. I also agree with Water aerobics. My gym used to have a class I went to, but I can't attend since it's at 11am on Monday now and I have to work.

Orlistat does the same thing and I remember my stepdad was prescribed them because of his high blood pressure. He said would have prefered to die.

It's been 6 weeks since I got my surgery date and started on my 12 week milk diet as set out by the doctor.
But, I've made it 6 weeks. I really didn't think I would be able to. I've had cheat days and felt bad, but then shook myself off and got back on track.
I'm already bored with shakes and Soup and I still have another 6 weeks of the pre-op diet and then more of the same for the first month past surgery.
This has been difficult and I need to remind myself it will all be worth it. And then the always hungry part of my brain/soul/subconscious tells me to give up because I won't be able to eat "normally" ever again and I should just eat a donut.
So I'm trying to have a sense of humour about it.

It's been 6 weeks since I got my surgery date and started on my 12 week milk diet as set out by the doctor.
But, I've made it 6 weeks. I really didn't think I would be able to. I've had cheat days and felt bad, but then shook myself off and got back on track.
I'm already bored with shakes and Soup and I still have another 6 weeks of the pre-op diet and then more of the same for the first month past surgery.
This has been difficult and I need to remind myself it will all be worth it. And then the always hungry part of my brain/soul/subconscious tells me to give up because I won't be able to eat "normally" ever again and I should just eat a donut.
So I'm trying to have a sense of humour about it.

I did an NHS weigh loss education session before I was approved for surgery and one last week after I was approved. It was basically the same session twice and most of it was what to eat after the surgery. It's informative, but it's not really new information that I didn't have before. It's very clinical. I agree that hearing other peoples' stories is much more helpful.

I've done a few of the "weight loss workshops" that they offered, but it was yet another weight loss diet attempt that failed. I think it was called "apples and pears" and they weighed us, gave us a few tips on healthy eating and criticised the slightest and then left us to to run around the gym for an hour. It was more like a creche for fat adults and very patronising. They offered some counselling, but she didn't want to listen to me talk about anything but food, which isn't really helpful if emotional eating isn't really about eating.

I always find myself thinking after I have received a compliment: "why did you not just say thank you and leave it at that?" . I have noticed this thing that I do, and I don't know if anyone else can empathise with this - but say someone compliments my hair, I will say something like: "ah I need to dye it again though", or if they compliment my weight loss, I say: "still a long way to go!".
I struggle to just say thank you, to just accept it. Like I am always putting a negative on it. I wonder, if like you, I just am doing my old style thing of wanting to avoid comments on my appearance.
But, I shall take a leaf from your book, and I shall try to smile and reflect fondly on compliments in the future!

As long as she doesn’t think that you’re some sort of drug fiend and that you’ve lost weight because of imbibing Class A drugs with a Baileys chaser 😉

I had my gall bladder removed years ago after collapsing due to infected stones. I was told I wouldn't be able to eat rich foods afterwards but I didn't have any problems.
I have to do B12 injections every 4 to 6 weeks. I used to get them at my doctors surgery but the GP said it was a waste of my money to be paying to go see her when I could do them at home myself. I used to be terrified of needles but like @MrsFitz says I actually find it easier to do it on myself now. I also do the thigh, alternate each time but I would consider it a long needle as it has to go through fat/muscle to get into the system.
I often wonder what my cleaning lady must think when she is cleaning my cupboards, one is my drinks and medicine cabinet and when you open the door you see all the needles, alcohol wipes etc. nicely there besides the Baileys 😂

I was one of those "model patient" presenters at my clinic for the three years before COVID! I loved doing that! I had a partner - a VSG patient (I was RNY). I'd had a stricture at four weeks out - she never had any complications. I'm hoping we didn't sound too "vanilla" - but neither one of us had any issues (other than my stricture - which is a mild issue and very easily fixed). We were both super happy with our surgeries and both lost a ton of weight (she lost 100 lbs, I lost over 200). Although I think people found us entertaining (we were quite a pair!) and most groups asked us lots of questions. We always told the groups about the three-week stall (since it happens to almost everyone, and very few clinics mention it to their patients, so people freak out when it happens to them). Also told them about how we ate a month out, a few months out, a year out (our clinic's plan wasn't low-carb, like many of them are - it was balanced - although even given that, the typical eating YOUR presenter does sounds carb-heavy even to me). We mentioned how we typically eat when we're at a restaurant. Talked about the extra skin (my partner even lifted her shirt to show them her extra skin). Also talked about our experience with Hair loss (since extra skin and hair loss are huge concerns among pre-ops). Also talked about Constipation (we both have chronic constipation) and how we deal with it. And how we dress to "hide" all the extra skin (although I've since had mine removed). We always mentioned how most people lose their interest in food and hunger for several months after surgery, and how they should milk that for everything it's worth since it's way easier to lose weight when you don't give a flip about food. Basically stuff they likely would not have picked up during the classes they had with dietitian and the health psychologist.
when I went through the classes in 2015, the presenter was kind of underwhelming, like yours. I'm sure he would have answered some of the questions we addressed when we were presenters, but he didn't, and the "students" wouldn't necessarily know enough at that point to even know what to ask. Shelli and I decide early on to talk about the issues they SHOULD ask about, but wouldn't know to.
P.S. now I'm sitting her wishing I was still doing that - it was great fun! But COVID hit, so everything went online, and they didn't have the "model patient" class. Since everything is in person again, they may have some people doing it, but the two of us are pretty far out now (nine years), so they may have gotten people who had their surgeries just a year or two ago.

Orlistat does the same thing and I remember my stepdad was prescribed them because of his high blood pressure. He said would have prefered to die.

There was also that diet pill Alli (and others i believe) which acted as a fat blocker, but the side effect of it was if you went over the amount of fat you would leak oil from your bottom. Same with the Olean. I never tried either and I'm glad.
The Amazon reviews of the Gummy bears crack me up. I have never had such reactions to sugar free gummies of any brand thus far. Guess I should count myself lucky.

Ooh them gummies really do cause bathroom issues for some people. It’s the artificial sweetener. They didn’t bother me and they are surprisingly good so I gave the rest of the bag to my curious friend when we were hanging out. She ate the rest of them on her way home and said she barely made it to the bathroom which she spent the rest of the night in.

Never heard of them, but it sounds like a fad I'm glad never caught on over here. This reminds of the tales of the sugar free Gummy bear reviews on Amazon.

Many years back, I had a job that required me to go to a big food science convention. The vendor exhibition was this massive place where all the global food companies, big and small, would introduce new and upcoming products. The first day there, a coworker cautioned me to be very careful and selective about what and how much I sampled throughout the day. She recalled that a few years before, Olean had been all the rage and every food company seemed to have samples of fat free products made with the stuff. And of course, who can resist eating all that free food, right? You could go back as many times as you wanted to get samples, and people sure did. Well, a shockingly high number of conference attendees during the Olean year had ended up back in their hotel rooms that first night having very unpleasant bathroom experiences. In fact, that event in part led to them figuring out that too much of the stuff could be really bad. Luckily there was nothing quite so terrible the year I went, although I did get a glimpse of just how unnatural all that processed food can be.

So had my VGS surgery on 13th June and have been keeping track of my measurements since about the 3rd of July 2024. Low waist included, as I am male and I wear most of my trousers/jeans low. Waist high is measured above my hips.
3rd July:
Chest = 52 inches Neck = 19 inches Waist (high) = 51 inches Waist (low) = 53 inches Thigh = 31 inches Bicep = 18 inches 27 August
Chest = 50 inches (-2) Neck = 18 inches (-1) Waist (high) = 47 inches (-4) Waist (low) = 50 inches (-3) Thigh = 28 inches (-3) Bicep = 15.5 inches (-2.5)
So in total that's 15.5 inches lost since around 3 weeks after surgery. This has been especially useful given weight loss has slowed to around 2-3 lbs per week, and is a great motivator for me 😊
Anyone else tracking measurements?

I was planning on making the exact same measurements post yesterday but I fell asleep 😂 This has reminded me to do so when I get home!
This is really amazing though! I bet you are chuffed!

The hardbody look isn't my favorite for myself, but I admire it on others and I think you look terrific! That level of fitness is just amazing. Great work! I'm one of those nutty walking/cardio people. LOL. If I lifted weights I'd drop them on someone and kill them....not an athlete, total klutz. I have heard other female weight lifters say it's addictive...and ya'll certainly have my respect!

I’m glad I’m not the only one that feels like this shifts the blame back to the patient’s lack of commitment to exercise!

Not jiving in my mind. I was ALWAYS thin and active. Once I got pregnant with my son, my PCOS really kicked in. I gained almost 100 pounds and only lost 35 after I had him. Nothing I did worked, but back then, doctors didn't know much about PCOS (this was April of 1998). I worked out, ate fairly healthy, did a lot of swimming, and still nothing worked.
Because of my PCOS, I then had 10 losses (and gained weight with each pregnancy). I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2005 as well as insulin resistance. I was put on Metformin, which helped me drop down from 322 pounds to 301 pounds. I got pregnant with my daughter and had her in Sept 2006. At that point, I was 355 pounds. I stayed on Metformin, worked out, improved my eating even more than before, and went down to 340 pounds. And never lost another pound. At all. I also was never able to get pregnant again.
Through the years, my weight ballooned up to my highest weight of 421 pounds. I ended up getting type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, painful joints, mobility issues (needed a cane to get around), and I was wearing size 28/30 (4x/5x), size 10 rings, 22"-24" necklaces, no bracelets (none fit me).
I exercised so much for so many years, but the PCOS really did a number on me and stopped me from getting healthy. After a while, you start to feel defeated and give up. Why kill myself dieting, working out, doing everything right to, at best not lose weight, or at worst keep gaining?

No such scheme in my LA sadly. London is really expensive.

The problem I see with this, not the study itself but the implications, is that if you have a high genetic risk for obesity, the amount of exercise required to stave it off may be well outside the limit of what most people can tolerate. Finding out you need 4 or 5 hours a day of exercise when most people might only need 30 minutes isn't exactly actionable if you also have to work in a sedentary job to earn a living.