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I had my RNY in September 2023. The day before my surgery, I took a tailor's tape and measured my neck, chest, belly, waist, hips, thigh and calf. I've reached a loss of 165 lbs and took those same measurements again on the weekend (in inches); Neck 17 -> 14.5 = -2.5 Chest 52 -> 44 = -8 Belly 57.5 -> 44 = -13.5 Waist 47 -> 39 = -8 Hips. 51.5. -> 41 = -10.5 Thigh 32 -> 24 = -8 Calf 18.5 -> 16.5 = -2 Total inches lost: 52.5 That's almost 4 1/2 FEET. I am currently about 20 lbs short of my goal.

^ This. Post bariatric surgery eating is really hard! Never let anyone tell you that bariatric surgery is "the easy way out"! Regarding your protein intake, let's start with an understanding of why a protein-first diet is recommended post-surgery: Primarily, we are hoping to stave off something called muscle catabolism. This is when your body basically breaks down your own muscles. This happens mostly but not entirely to meet your daily essential amino acid needs. If we eat enough protein, this significantly reduces the amount of muscle mass your body will burn. That's important because the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism, meaning you'll burn more calories even at rest. Most scientific literature suggests that 60 grams per day of protein is sufficient to meet your essential amino acid needs and thus hold off the bulk of the muscle catabolism that happens while on a weight loss diet. Note that some muscle catabolism is inevitable and no amount of protein intake is going to prevent that. The second reason protein is important is because protein is filling and relatively slow to digest. Studies have shown that eating more protein than the 60 grams per day minimum can help you feel more full. That basically will result in reduced overall calorie consumption. For this, amounts between 1.6 grams to 2.2 grams per day per kilogram of ideal body weight have been shown to be effective. For example, if 60 kg was your ideal body weight. protein intake between 96 and 132 grams would be suggested. I'm not sure what your surgical team told you, but since you're already getting over the 60 grams per day minimum, I'd say you're doing fantastic! As you get further out from surgery, you'll probably want to consume more, but keep in mind that all it's really doing is keeping you full longer. It's not going to sabotage your weight loss due to excess muscle loss. TL;DR: You're going fine on protein, don't sweat it.

That is super awesome! You are an inspiration to me!

It’s not always easy to meet your exact goals every day in the first months. You’re recovering, your tummy is teeny and often won’t tolerate certain foods (flavours, textures or smells), you’re trying to work everything out, all the emotions and mental stuff, etc. It’s a lot to deal with. As long as you’re close most days and over time you are getting closer you’ll be fine. You can only do what you’re physically and mentally able to cope with on any day. Give yourself some grace.

I've been surprised by my lack of constipation. I was so prepared for it to happen that I ordered the biggest value container of Miralax to keep on hand... and I used it twice in a year. I am regular like clockwork and have been since about the second month or so. BUT, I have had the vomiting I mentioned in another post, which I wasn't really prepared to have happen. I have been surprised by how different it feels to eat different types of foods in various quantities. For example, if I eat 3oz of chicken or beef, I'm very full and sometimes can't finish it or have more than a bite of a side dish. But I can eat a very large salad or other non-starchy veggies and it doesn't make me feel stuffed. A few bites of bread can sit really heavy but I can eat crackers without feeling that way at all, where I would have assumed they would be about the same. Also surprising is that what you eat, how much you exercise, and how much weight you lose in a week do not necessarily go hand in hand the way you think they will. Some weeks you will drop several pounds, other weeks you will not lose an ounce. You can do exactly the same thing both weeks. Your body will do what it wants. Beyond making good choices and sticking with a healthy lifestyle you can sustain (longterm sustainability is the MOST important thing), there's not much you can do to make a meaningful difference in how much weight you lose and how quickly.

Everyone is different! I’m 5years out. My dumping is more like a hot flash with a very upset stomach. I have to lay down until it passes. I never had the foamies but I am nauseous A LOT! Sometimes I can eat a piece of cake with a ton of frosting & it doesn’t bother me. Other times I can’t. I only eat 3.5 oz of food at a time. I never know what my body is going to do. I am also constipated all of the time. My daughter is 4 y out. She slowly eats 5 meals a day. She has very loose, stinky bowl movements. She can’t eat a lot of sugar & drinks diet Dr Pepper but she would really like to drink regular sodas. I don’t like the taste of diet beverages so I drink an electrolyte replacement beverage. Bariatric surgery is kinda like pregnancy & your own kids. You don’t know what you are gonna get. I would like to know if there is a correlation between how much or a percentage of weight you loose & your symptoms afterwards. Best of luck to you!

I was the opposite in a way, I blindly went into the operation having being told the standard bit about possible complications but was confident in the team and was excited to start a new life so didn't over think it it all. Then suffered severe post op complications, spending months in hospital and having numerous procedures and only finished treatments 10 months after original op date BUT all of that said if your medical team are happy you are a suitable candidate I think it is worth it. You have done good work already to get to where you are and you sound like you could reach the 65lb loss yourself over time but the surgery would be a boost to that and if you work with the tool correctly over the years you should be able to maintain. That is how I looked at it, I had no problem being strict and loosing weight but it would just go back on and I would be on a yo-yo cycle. Plus who is to say what will be in a year, maybe your surgical team will change and you have to start the process again, maybe insurance coverage changes..... Travel wise I haven't had any issues, been to the US and other EU countries in the last few months and usually been able to find something suitable to eat though I always carry a few protein bars and powdered protein coffee with me just to be sure I meet my goals. A bonus on the travel is that I now fit comfortably in my plane seats and can do a little sprint through the airports if running late With regards to waiting for your wife to conceive, not sure about that one but recovery time is only a few weeks for 'strenuous' activities and wouldn't it be great to be over the surgery and well on the road to a fitter healthier you when she becomes pregnant so you can help her out more?

What you are experiencing are very normal worries - I think we all would have had some form of concern or anxiety leading up to the surgery! Just my personal experience, I started talking about surgery YEARS before I even booked a consultation with a surgeon. I am talking like 3 years worth of "umming" about whether or not I should go for it, and subsequently talking myself out of it. I would berate myself saying that I should be able to do it the natural way, I should be strong enough and surgery is risky etc, but I think I was just making excuses for myself really! I'd tried to lose weight since I was a teenager to no avail, and I honestly wish I had just had the surgery sooner! It was my first operation as an adult, so I was definitely scared of the pain and of the whole experience itself but honestly, it was all manageable and it didn't last long! You'd be so surprised how quickly you get used to your new way of living - and genuinely this forum has been an amazing place to just not feel so alone in your experiences. So, ultimately, think about the pros and cons for each potential decision and make sure it is the right one for you. You've got this!

My question to you is why would you want too? The whole point of having WLS is to make us healthier by losing the weight AND keeping it off! What's to keep people from going down that slippery slope once again if we could eat as much as we once did? Enjoy the portion restrictions as a way to maintain a healthier lifestyle!

It’s another big surgery that will make other changes to your digestive system so it’s understandable you are still questioning whether to go ahead. How much I eat depends a lot upon what I’m eating (liquidy, soft or solid) & if I’m in a hungry or not hungry phase. I don’t measure & track, just random checks, but I can eat about 1.25 - 1.5 cups of say soup. About a cup of a mince & vegetable dish (like savoury mince or bolognese). I can eat about 1.5 cups of milky oats, yoghurt & fruit. And about 3ozs of meat (steak, chicken, lamb, pork) with a good cup of vegetables, Generally I don’t exceed a recommended serving size of what I’m eating. I still eat slowly: 30-45 minutes & still ask myself if I need the next bite or just want it.