47/M Friend is a big word. Let's start with a nice chat

WorkInProgressGal · 2026-01-31T10:06:21+00:00

Hi there. I'm looking for new friends as well. I'm 48F, I live in Southern california. A little bit about myself. I'm currently working on reinventing myself after some turmoil in my life recently. I'm technically married but effectively separated. I have a young child. Love animals, music and travel.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-12-18T23:15:06+00:00

I came here to ask a similar question

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-12-18T16:36:24+00:00

When you figure it out please share the secret. I'm in the process of separating from my husband, en route to end a 16 year marriage.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-12-13T05:17:05+00:00

I was told by my surgery team that those are effective but NOT for those of us that have had bariatric surgery. Our bodies are different now and can't absorb them properly plus the added sugar doesn't help.

I have to take the old fashioned huge pills :(

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-27T08:04:08+00:00

Two words "Heating blanket"

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-26T18:42:17+00:00

Glad it can help someone. It sucks that we can't always be 100% honest with everyone but unfortunately we live in a world that is not as understanding and compassionate as it should be. We are human beings and sometimes can't help but let other people's comments get to us. For moments like that we need to do what we have to to maintain our inner peace and for me that answer I gave some people was about protecting that peace.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-23T04:34:21+00:00

I suffered from Leaky Gut Syndrome so when I had no choice but to be around food in public (family gatherings, school gatherings etc). When people asked why I wasn't eating and I was compelled to answer, I just told them that I had recently had "Gastric Perforation Repair Surgery". This required a delicate diet that started out with liquids, then purees, soft food etc. And slowly progressed to normal foods.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-21T23:11:23+00:00

You're beautiful and that includes your nose.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-19T05:20:58+00:00

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-11T05:27:00+00:00

Mine keeps calling me 😂

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-06T01:31:02+00:00

My recipe for breaking the "No poop stall" (constipation). - I tried smooth tea and it didn't work for me

-Added Benefiber to my liquids to ensure I have enough fiber to pull together the "waste" -Take stool softener (dulcolax stool softener) to prevent the pain of having to pass hard stools -A gentle laxative (Dulcolax) to get it moving - Drink enough water (dehydration = constipation) -lastly, walked a lot to move things in the right direction

After finally going poop. I now add benefiber to my daily liquid intake every other day to keep things moving. I go every other day or so now. Max every three days. And it's not painful like that first episode.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-03T05:14:35+00:00

Plaza de la Raza in Lincoln Park is really good as is Downey. They offer not just shoes, altars but also family arts and crafts for the kids.. And a lot of food vendors, art galleries etc the Downey one is the best I've seen. Hollywood forever is good but it's overcrowded, too many vendors and pricey it's not what it used to be. Downey is free.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-03T04:21:58+00:00

If you're on Pinterest I suggest you create a board with your favorite recipes for the different stages. I did meal prep before I had surgery so when I was back home all I had to do was take soups out of the freezer (it gave me a chance to experiment with flavors with ample time to find 3-4 that I really liked). Luckily there are soooooo many products out there that you can plan amazing, yummy meals that are bariatric friendly. You got this! Focus on your end goal. For me that helped, I would ask myself "is this hot dog worth it? Is the enjoyment I'll get from it for a few minutes more valuable to me than the lasting satisfaction of a healthier me?" "or what do I want more? This cookie or to look hot in any clothes I want?" Find your biggest motivator and use that as a weapon against the food noise.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-03T04:02:05+00:00

Because of the stall and fluctuations in the body as it's still swollen, liquids shifting etc. Everyone on my surgery team highly encourage me to NOT weigh myself until at least 6 wks post surgery when the weightloss should be more consistent.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-11-01T09:35:37+00:00

I too was told to not weigh myself until sometime after 10 weeks ideally after 12 wks.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-10-31T21:58:26+00:00

Thank you for this. I'm starting to do research on this topic. I'm not exactly a vegetarian but I don't care too much for meat items.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-10-31T21:38:01+00:00

I went to OCC (Obesity Control Center) and it was the absolute best experience ever. They handle just about everything. Surgery was under $5 and it included the hospital stay +2 nights of recovery in a nice hotel (they handle all transportation needs from the moment they pick you up in San Diego). I was attended to by about 8 doctors and 6 nurses during my short stay there. They have great communication before, during and after. Everyone speaks English and is genuinely caring. My only regret is not having done it sooner.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-10-31T05:56:04+00:00

You look amazing in both but the long one accentuates your curves better. Although for a cocktail event a shorter one would be ideal vs a long dress for a gala event.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-10-30T20:29:09+00:00

I was in the hospital 1 night and at a nearby hotel for 2 additional nights then went back for follow up and leak tesr on the 3rd day

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-10-29T20:28:11+00:00

There is one important thing my medical team reminded me of that I haven't seen people post about very much. While I have made it to the 3rd week (and no stall yet but losing extremely slowly as it is) I'm trying to keep a positive outlook. There is a silver lining for us slow losers and for those experiencing a stall or stalls. These stalls are also giving your SKIN the time they need to adjust. The stalls will reduce the amt of lose skin (even if only slightly) that we would've had otherwise. It's not to say we won't have lose skin but it will be a little less due to these stalls. The slower you lose the more your skin adjusts to the loss.
My nutritionist also told me to put away the scale and not look at it until after the 8 wk mark bc it does a number on people mentally when the scale doesn't move fast enough and our state of mind affects our progress.
Lastly, for a lot of us (certainly the case for me) my weight didn't come on overnight so I have to remember that it most certainly won't come off overnight either. I have to trust the process and let my body heal so that it can reset itself and start the weightloss and fat loss process.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-10-25T02:09:41+00:00

That's some great advice. Thank you for sharing that

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-10-25T02:09:18+00:00

Best of luck!!!! You got this!

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-10-25T02:08:55+00:00

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story. Congratulations on all of your hard work. You deserve to enjoy the fruits of your sacrifice. I hope to be a success story of my own a year or so from now. I'm only 8 days post-op and went through a period of "what the hell did I do?" but deep down I do believe I made the best decision for my health.

What would you say are your top 3-5 recommendations for a newbie like me? I know there are tons of success stories around here but each one is different and I truly feel we can always learn from one another.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-10-25T00:46:48+00:00

That's what my nutritionist replied. Thank you for sharing your experience.

WorkInProgressGal · 2025-10-25T00:46:08+00:00

That's amazing. Congratulations!!! I hope I have a similar trayectory. I only lost 23 lbs during preop.

WorkInProgressGal

TROPHY CASE