August Surgery buddies

[Justarwaxx 183]

4 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

Yea. The mind is pretty powerful and it is possible to swap disordered eating patterns. Going from emotional overeating or binging to under-eating. Talking to someone about your fears and guilt is a great idea. But from a non professional two chicken wings is definitely not a lot and your food choices sound great to me. The one thing you have to realize is you’re not going to eat your 2 ounce or half a cup portions forever. eventually you will land somewhere close to a normal serving size.

Everyone is a bit different, but you will get back to a new normal at some point it just looks like a lot of food after eating so little for a while. Will you get to follow up with anyone at 3 months? I actually asked to meet with my nurse practitioner more often than they require just because of my anxiety. I always have too many questions to email or call and ask, but they normally require it at three months because they do labs to check your Vitamins. If so, you could ask them what to expect in terms of portion size. What you should be aiming for over the next how many of months until you see them again.

Do you find that you do not crave your sweets as much after the surgery? Before I had my sleeve, I was actually a salty snacker, and after the sleeve I started craving sweets, which I think may partially have to do with why it wasn’t so successful for me. so far since my Sadie, I do not crave sweets, so I think it reverted back to where I am a salty snacker again. Well, I mean right now my Snacks are not something that I actually feel like I need because I’m not hungry but something that’s necessary to reach my Protein goal.

I totally get what you're saying! I realize that the portions are getting bigger, but I'm just so scared of messing it up. I definitely need to see someone about these thoughts because it's really overwhelming at times.

I actually have an appointment in mid-October with the obesity center and dietitian, and then again in December with the surgical team for my 3-month post-op checkup. I’m excited to talk to them about these fears and what expectations I should have around portion sizes and everything else.

To help stay on track, I've been taking daily pictures of my meals and sending them to my sister for her to review at the end of the day. She even rates them, which has been fun and keeps me mindful! Everyone around me keeps saying that I'm barely eating enough, but to me, it feels like I'm eating a lot. It’s such a mentally exhausting situation!

Also, I was never really into sweets before either. My thing was more about carby foods like rice and Pasta, so that's why I’m not struggling with sugar cravings now, which helps a lot.

[ShoppGirl 4,789]

1 hour ago, Justarwaxx said:

I totally get what you're saying! I realize that the portions are getting bigger, but I'm just so scared of messing it up. I definitely need to see someone about these thoughts because it's really overwhelming at times.

I actually have an appointment in mid-October with the obesity center and dietitian, and then again in December with the surgical team for my 3-month post-op checkup. I’m excited to talk to them about these fears and what expectations I should have around portion sizes and everything else.

To help stay on track, I've been taking daily pictures of my meals and sending them to my sister for her to review at the end of the day. She even rates them, which has been fun and keeps me mindful! Everyone around me keeps saying that I'm barely eating enough, but to me, it feels like I'm eating a lot. It’s such a mentally exhausting situation!

Also, I was never really into sweets before either. My thing was more about carby foods like rice and Pasta, so that's why I’m not struggling with sugar cravings now, which helps a lot.

That’s a great idea to get your meals rated. If you make anything that looks too good you may end up with company for dinner. lol. Well for future reference. If you are like me, carbs crave carbs. So if you do indulge one day just know that you will crave more for a short while. Kinda like we are addicted and need to quit again. I am able to have good carbs like veggies, fruits, brown rice, etc. But processed carbs make me hooked again. I think the most important thing to remember is that we didn’t get to be overweight by eating seconds on broccoli or watermelon. It was the Pasta and cake and the third helpings of them things. I’m sure if your team isn’t concerned then you are doing just fine.

Edited September 29 by ShoppGirl

[Hiddenroses 106]

On 9/24/2024 at 8:52 PM, ShoppGirl said:

Did the nutritionist ask about your activity? According to my NP your carbs can increase if you’re doing more activity. I would call or email the NP and tell him or her that you’re getting conflicting information.

Have you started your bike yet? I was gonna say I started my walking at night but because of weather had to do it a couple of times in the morning and I noticed that it gave me energy for the day and at night it helps me sleep so now I do a bit in the morning and more at night (break it up)

Which recipe did you use for the unstuffed: cabbage rolls. I see multiple ones and they are all quite different In how they cook the cabbage.

She didn't ask much about my activity, but then again I'd mentioned that i was still working on getting active and that my energy had been hit and miss. Since then I've noticed I have some days where i have more energy than others, and I did start on my exercise bike! I started with just 5-10 minutes every day that I don't go for walks. I think it has helped with my digestion, and i feel like allowing myself up to 30 carbs on some days has helped my energy level. It's nice to eat a little bit of fruit here and there - I'd mainly been doing dairy and either meat or Beans (very small serving, if beans!) Rounding out my diet some has been helpful. I'm still not eating any garbage foods - the most I've indulged in was a couple pieces out of an order of honey chicken and maybe 1/8 cup of the rice that came with it. Everything else has been very low or zero sugar so far. I've also let myself have one cup of coffee per week - all things considered, I'm feeling a bit more human. The walking has been nice, especially when I can do it outside in cooler temperatures. I think we've got one more week of 80s, and then back into the 60s and 70s. I can't wait!

[ShoppGirl 4,789]

3 minutes ago, Hiddenroses said:

She didn't ask much about my activity, but then again I'd mentioned that i was still working on getting active and that my energy had been hit and miss. Since then I've noticed I have some days where i have more energy than others, and I did start on my exercise bike! I started with just 5-10 minutes every day that I don't go for walks. I think it has helped with my digestion, and i feel like allowing myself up to 30 carbs on some days has helped my energy level. It's nice to eat a little bit of fruit here and there - I'd mainly been doing dairy and either meat or Beans (very small serving, if beans!) Rounding out my diet some has been helpful. I'm still not eating any garbage foods - the most I've indulged in was a couple pieces out of an order of honey chicken and maybe 1/8 cup of the rice that came with it. Everything else has been very low or zero sugar so far. I've also let myself have one cup of coffee per week - all things considered, I'm feeling a bit more human. The walking has been nice, especially when I can do it outside in cooler temperatures. I think we've got one more week of 80s, and then back into the 60s and 70s. I can't wait!

So glad you’re feeling more like yourself!! Oh how I miss my walking outside. I’ve got a huge blister so I can’t wear sneakers so I’ve been just trying to walk here and there inside with my slides on. I can’t wait for the cooler weather either. My husband says he may even join me when the weather breaks.

Edited September 29 by ShoppGirl

[RRenaeL23 26]

On 9/20/2024 at 5:30 PM, ShoppGirl said:

Did you get any answers about the dry skin?

Hydration, lack of Vitamins and not eating enough. Just received my vitamins a few days ago and have been faithfully taking them. Revamp my eating habits with alarms to remind me to drink or eat. 😊

[ShoppGirl 4,789]

1 hour ago, RRenaeL23 said:

Hydration, lack of Vitamins and not eating enough. Just received my Vitamins a few days ago and have been faithfully taking them. Revamp my eating habits with alarms to remind me to drink or eat. 😊

Well I’m glad you got your answers and set your alarms to get you on track (I have alarms for every three hours and for each one I take a Vitamin and eat something small) they really help. In between I drink (although I can actually drink closer to when I eat without issue). If you are struggling to meet your hydration goal, though, I found that drinking an iced proffee for breakfast helped me when I was being really strict about the 30 minute rule. Just because I can drink before and after and I still get my Protein too. Plus it actually tastes really good to me and I can make it right when I get up to start my day off right. If you like iced coffee it’s just a premiere Protein Shake in a 24oz cup (I use caramel) with coffee that I chilled to fill the rest of the way although you can adjust if course if you like more or less coffee. I also mix in my soluable fiber

I bet you will be feeling more energy soon too. For the vitamins, I ordered the second one a little early and got on auto ship so I get the new one a while before I run out of the old one (enough time that I can call and see what’s going on if I don’t get them). That auto ship really worked out for me because I didn’t have to bother with it, it also saves a bit of money.

Edited September 30 by ShoppGirl

[ShoppGirl 4,789]

Good Mornong everyone. I know I have been the one to say trust the process and we are all different and all of that so far but today I need the reassurance. I have been exercising quite a bit. Walking at minimum two extra hours a day and also including yoga now and more movement in general throughout the day. The way I figure it, with the added exercise alone I should be losing like pound a week but last week I lost only 2 pounds and it’s been five days now and I haven’t lost anything so far this week. I have not had ONE thing that was not from the fresh sections of the supermarket other than the occasional brown rice and zero carb wrap. I am tracking every thing that goes into my mouth even my calcium chews which are four carbs and I log and my fiber powder too. I measure and weigh everything I onclide in my calorie count for the day. I am doing exactly what the nurse practitioner says I should be doing but I’m getting scared that if my weight loss has slowed to one and a half or 2 pounds a week already with this level of activity that I’m in trouble. I mean, physically I feel like I could keep this level of exercise up forever but timewise, I don’t know that I can work it in ever day forever. I figured I would get to maintenance and gradually cut it back to maybe yoga or aerobics or one hour of the walking but not necessarily two or three hours every day. I know that I’m at least losing and that’s better than any other diet. That’s what I would tell one of you, but it just feels like I shouldn’t be slowing down this much this soon. I’m wondering if I should maybe decrease my carbs I increase them when the nurse practitioner told me too based on my activity and I was losing more before I did that.

Edited September 30 by ShoppGirl

[Justarwaxx 183]

5 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

Good Mornong everyone. I know I have been the one to say trust the process and we are all different and all of that so far but today I need the reassurance. I have been exercising quite a bit. Walking at minimum two extra hours a day and also including yoga now and more movement in general throughout the day. The way I figure it, with the added exercise alone I should be losing like pound a week but last week I lost only 2 pounds and it’s been five days now and I haven’t lost anything so far this week. I have not had ONE thing that was not from the fresh sections of the supermarket other than the occasional brown rice and zero carb wrap. I am tracking every thing that goes into my mouth even my calcium chews which are four carbs and I log and my Fiber powder too. I measure and weigh everything I onclide in my calorie count for the day. I am doing exactly what the nurse practitioner says I should be doing but I’m getting scared that if my weight loss has slowed to one and a half or 2 pounds a week already with this level of activity that I’m in trouble. I mean, physically I feel like I could keep this level of exercise up forever but timewise, I don’t know that I can work it in ever day forever. I figured I would get to maintenance and gradually cut it back to maybe yoga or aerobics or one hour of the walking but not necessarily two or three hours every day. I know that I’m at least losing and that’s better than any other diet. That’s what I would tell one of you, but it just feels like I shouldn’t be slowing down this much this soon. I’m wondering if I should maybe decrease my carbs I increase them when the nurse practitioner told me too based on my activity and I was losing more before I did that.

Good morning, good night for me teehee! First off, I totally get how frustrating this can be. It’s tough when you’re doing everything right and the scale isn’t moving as fast as you’d like. But trust me, this is completely normal after surgery. Our bodies go through phases of quick weight loss, then slow down a bit to adjust.

You’re putting in so much effort—walking extra hours, doing yoga, eating super clean—and that’s amazing. Even though 1.5 to 2 pounds a week might feel slow right now, it's still progress, and it’s the kind that sticks! Remember, slow and steady weight loss is healthier and more sustainable in the long run.

Also, don’t forget that with all the extra exercise, you’re probably building muscle, and that can make the scale misleading. Plus, little things like Water retention or digestion can hide the weight loss for a bit, but that doesn’t mean your hard work isn’t paying off.

As for carbs, since you’re following what the nurse suggested, I wouldn’t stress too much about changing it just yet. Carbs are important for fueling your body, especially with all the activity you’re doing. But if you're really worried, it never hurts to check in with your provider to make sure you're on the right track.

You’ve come so far, and I know it feels like it’s slowing down, but your body is still adjusting, and this is just a phase. You’re doing all the right things, so trust the process and focus on how great you’re feeling. You’ve got this!

[ShoppGirl 4,789]

4 hours ago, Justarwaxx said:

Good morning, good night for me teehee! First off, I totally get how frustrating this can be. It’s tough when you’re doing everything right and the scale isn’t moving as fast as you’d like. But trust me, this is completely normal after surgery. Our bodies go through phases of quick weight loss, then slow down a bit to adjust.

You’re putting in so much effort—walking extra hours, doing yoga, eating super clean—and that’s amazing. Even though 1.5 to 2 pounds a week might feel slow right now, it's still progress, and it’s the kind that sticks! Remember, slow and steady weight loss is healthier and more sustainable in the long run.

Also, don’t forget that with all the extra exercise, you’re probably building muscle, and that can make the scale misleading. Plus, little things like Water retention or digestion can hide the weight loss for a bit, but that doesn’t mean your hard work isn’t paying off.

As for carbs, since you’re following what the nurse suggested, I wouldn’t stress too much about changing it just yet. Carbs are important for fueling your body, especially with all the activity you’re doing. But if you're really worried, it never hurts to check in with your provider to make sure you're on the right track.

You’ve come so far, and I know it feels like it’s slowing down, but your body is still adjusting, and this is just a phase. You’re doing all the right things, so trust the process and focus on how great you’re feeling. You’ve got this!

Thank you. 😊 it’s so funny how we know all of those things but sometimes we just need to hear them from someone else.

[Hiddenroses 106]

13 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

Good Mornong everyone. I know I have been the one to say trust the process and we are all different and all of that so far but today I need the reassurance. I have been exercising quite a bit. Walking at minimum two extra hours a day and also including yoga now and more movement in general throughout the day. The way I figure it, with the added exercise alone I should be losing like pound a week but last week I lost only 2 pounds and it’s been five days now and I haven’t lost anything so far this week. I have not had ONE thing that was not from the fresh sections of the supermarket other than the occasional brown rice and zero carb wrap. I am tracking every thing that goes into my mouth even my calcium chews which are four carbs and I log and my Fiber powder too. I measure and weigh everything I onclide in my calorie count for the day. I am doing exactly what the nurse practitioner says I should be doing but I’m getting scared that if my weight loss has slowed to one and a half or 2 pounds a week already with this level of activity that I’m in trouble. I mean, physically I feel like I could keep this level of exercise up forever but timewise, I don’t know that I can work it in ever day forever. I figured I would get to maintenance and gradually cut it back to maybe yoga or aerobics or one hour of the walking but not necessarily two or three hours every day. I know that I’m at least losing and that’s better than any other diet. That’s what I would tell one of you, but it just feels like I shouldn’t be slowing down this much this soon. I’m wondering if I should maybe decrease my carbs I increase them when the nurse practitioner told me too based on my activity and I was losing more before I did that.

I was going to say some of the same things @Justarwaxx said! I watched a reel on - I think maybe Facebook? - that addressed the notion that some people have on a Monday after having a couple of cheat meals over the weekend and suddenly the scale says they gained 5 lbs - and the fact that thinking like that isn't realistic. You don't gain 5 lbs in 48 hours unless you are eating something like 4500 calories per day and not moving AT ALL.

There is a LOT of wiggle room in what the scale reads. When it comes to weight loss, the goal is to create a calorie deficiency so if you are burning more calories than you are putting into your body consistently you're GOING to lose weight. A lot of factors are at play with what the 'scale' reads, including digestion, Fluid retention, even hormonal changes.

Plus, yes, with the extra exercise you're doing I bet your body is simply trying to find it's consistent expectation so it knows how much energy you need, how many calories it can expect, and how much fat to break down to keep you running like a well maintained machine! Plateaus are GOING to happen throughout this process. It's a marathon, not a sprint, too -- keep in mind that you're going to be losing weight for the next 18+ months more than likely. Just keep at it, and try not to weight yourself too often. I know it's hard, because we want to see those RESULTS, NOW! (At least *I* do ) but... be patient. We're only a couple of months out from our surgeries!

[ShoppGirl 4,789]

Thanks. I think it may actually be more than 4500 a day. Isn’t one pound 3500 calories? I swear I read that somewhere. Not sure if it was accurate, though. But yea, it unrealistic to think when the scale goes up a couple of pounds it’s because we had one thing off plan. I think I just panicked a little because I know that I cannot maintain two or three hours or exercise a day forever so if I’m doing all of this and still not really losing then what happens if I slow down. I figured once I get to maintenance I would probably cut that slowly but probably down to half that. I mean physically I feel like I could do it forever but it’s a very big time commitment between that and the healthy meals taking more time too. Maybe I will get to where I can do like one hour of more intense exercise. And then my Yoga a couple times a week. I really like that. It is a pretty good workout for me still but I can tell it’s eventually going to be really relaxing and feel good. I think I may ask my hubby to hide the scale. Someone else on here said they did that and it seems like a pretty good idea.

Edited October 1 by ShoppGirl

[Justarwaxx 183]

8 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

Thank you. 😊 it’s so funny how we know all of those things but sometimes we just need to hear them from someone else.

Haha, exactly! You literally told me the same thing not too long ago! 😄 It's funny how that works!

[Greekmom4 38]

@ShoppGirl I am having the same issues right now. I have been up and down the same 2 pounds for almost two weeks. It’s like the doctor jinxed me. He told me I should lose 20-25 pounds between my last appointment and the next visit in 8 weeks. Well, tomorrow makes 2 weeks since I have seen him and I have only lost 2.3 pounds.
I am really struggling to get calories and rarely hit 600 for the day. I also struggle with my fluid goals. I can hit Protein no problem. I still can only eat about 1/3 cup at a sitting and since I have zero hunger, it makes it hard. I feel like I am forcing myself to eat.
I have committed to making the gym at least 4 days a week. Because my knees are “bone on bone” I am limited to which exercise machines are comfortable and walking is not.
I think I may call the orthopedic surgeon and see about more shots for my knees.

It is funny when you hear people that think this journey is easy. There is nothing easy about this.

[ShoppGirl 4,789]

1 hour ago, Greekmom4 said:

@ShoppGirl I am having the same issues right now. I have been up and down the same 2 pounds for almost two weeks. It’s like the doctor jinxed me. He told me I should lose 20-25 pounds between my last appointment and the next visit in 8 weeks. Well, tomorrow makes 2 weeks since I have seen him and I have only lost 2.3 pounds.
I am really struggling to get calories and rarely hit 600 for the day. I also struggle with my fluid goals. I can hit Protein no problem. I still can only eat about 1/3 cup at a sitting and since I have zero hunger, it makes it hard. I feel like I am forcing myself to eat.
I have committed to making the gym at least 4 days a week. Because my knees are “bone on bone” I am limited to which exercise machines are comfortable and walking is not.
I think I may call the orthopedic surgeon and see about more shots for my knees.

It is funny when you hear people that think this journey is easy. There is nothing easy about this.

There absolutely is not anything easy about it. But the important thing is that we are on the journey and we are moving forward. Together, cheering this on, we can get this. Great job with the gym. You may want to touch base and see if your team wants you to increase carbs with added activity. Mine did.

[Justarwaxx 183]

Hey everyone! I wanted to share a few updates as I approach my 2-month post-op milestone.

I missed my period in September, but I think it’s finally here today. It’s still a bit uncertain, but I’m starting to wonder if this is connected to my weight loss journey.

Yesterday, I did my first aerobics class—LBT (legs, bum, and tums)! It was a fantastic workout, even though I was the slowest in the class. The trainer was super supportive, giving me different modifications to make things manageable. My knees were definitely feeling it, but I can't wait for the day I can work out without pain. Today, I'm planning to try aqua aerobics unless my period decides to make a dramatic appearance (fingers crossed it doesn’t!).

I’m really excited for my 2-month post-op appointment at the obesity center. I’ve been taking pictures of all my meals, and I’m looking forward to getting some feedback on my food choices and progress.

Thanks for reading, and let’s keep pushing forward! 😊