OilSooner

How would that work? Can you build muscle after the sleeve? I mean, isnt it impossible to gain muscle at a caloric deficit? I'd rather not be "skinny" (though would MUCH prefer skinny over fat), but I truely like lifting, and would like to gain some muscle after I get sleeved. Is this possible? Or is being fat, then sleeved, then muscular not in the cards? TIA

I'm one of the unlucky ones who is now lactose intolerant after surgery...and I love dairy! Why does this happen? Was anyone lactose intolerant (who wasn't before surgery) shortly after surgery, then became more tolerant of dairy later on? I want to be able to drink milk again, and am very bummed by this development. I am two weeks post op.

I was prescribed percocet for pain after my surgery. It was a script for 30, taking one or two every four hours for pain. I have called in for one refill (have to call the dr, because the script is for no refills), and I will refill at the pharmacy today. Still, this script will only get me through Tuesday, which will be one week exactly from my surgery date. I feel apprehensive about calling for yet another refill at that time (if I need it), because I dont want them to think I am taking advantage of the situation. How many refills did you get on the pain meds? Did you take them for more than one week? Thanks for all for the advice!

I am just over a year out from surgery, and am doing well (in my opinion) on the weight loss front. I have lost 100 pounds (285 to 184ish at 5'9"), and am just 10 pounds from what I considered my "stretch" goal weight, meaning what I thought before surgery to be my "thats too skinny" weight. That weight is 175, and is what I am after now. Yet, I have fallen off the "diet" wagon, as well as the exercise wagon, and am stalled. In all seriousness, I can handle the stall. No big deal. I'm not gaining. I'm at my original goal weight. I'm sure I will pick it back up again and find a way to drop that final 10 once summer gets here. What worries me is this: I am back to over eating. And its causing digestive trouble that is affecting my day to day activities. I am eating too much (yes, FAR less than what I used to eat, but I am still eating too much), and my stomach is not having it at all. I think what happens (totally guessing here) is that my stomach gets too full, then dumps everything (or at least some of its contents) into the intestines to make room. While I have heard of dumping syndrome, I do not have the light headeness, or any of the other physical symptoms (pain, etc.) that dumping is usually associated with, other than the digestive trouble. While the good part of this is that I think the food is not digested properly so I am not extracting all o the calories from the food, resulting in no weight gain, I am having to make frequest trips to the bathroom lately, and I dont like that. Also, usually the problem surfaces the day after I eat too much, so that makes me think its not dumping as well. Basically, what I am looking for is this: Any one who has faced this problem, what did you do to curb over eating? Have you heard of the above situation before, and know it to be caused by or termed something that I am not seeing? I really appreciate the feedback, and will keep an eye on the thread to respond to replys. Thanks!

I am about 13 months out, and can eat what I consider to be "normal" portions. Today for lunch I didn't go very healthy and had a McDouble, most of a large Fry, and a spicy chicken sandwich. It prob took me 30 mins to eat all of that. And granted, that was a much bigger meal than I normally eat, but it gives an idea of what is possible for me. Also, everyone is different, and as I recall, I was able to each much more than most early on as well. I am 5'8" and went from a highest weight of 288 to a weight of 182 this morning. I am still losing, though VERY slowly. Best of luck on your journey.

How would that work? Can you build muscle after the sleeve? I mean, isnt it impossible to gain muscle at a caloric deficit? I'd rather not be "skinny" (though would MUCH prefer skinny over fat), but I truely like lifting, and would like to gain some muscle after I get sleeved. I'm not looking to look like the guys on the cover of bodybuilder mags, but I would like to have some mass and be somewhat cut. Is this possible? Or is being fat, then sleeved, then muscular not in the cards? TIA

Sleeved 1/17/12, so a little later than December, but wanted to chime in, in hopes that it might provide some peace of mind to the newly sleeved. I am down nearly 100 pounds since my highest weight, and 85 or so since surgery day. I went from 3X to XL, and will probably be in L before too long. My attitude towards food and exercise are the exact opposite of where they were 8 months ago, but I try not to be an extremist. I am now lactose intolerant, but as others have said, a small price to pay. Diabetes is now gone, sleep apnea is now gone (sleep study confirmed even!), hypertension gone, and I feel like a million bucks. Best thing I ever did for my self and my family. As long as my sleeve doesn't stretch (still a concern and prob will be for a few years), I could NEVER eat enough to get as big as I was. Good luck to everyone, wherever you are on the journey! Dave

OK, so I have hit my second stall, and this one is a doozy. I have been at the same weight (205) for a month now, and am starting to freak out a little. I dont know if I am at my equilibrium / maintenance on calories, or if my body is just adjusting and I will be able to continue eating the same number of calories and eventually the weight will begin dropping some more. Current facts that may help those considering a reply: Surgery date: Jan 17th 2012 Surgery weight: 272 Current Weight: 205 Height: 5' 8" Calories per day: 2250 Exercise: I jog 2-3 times per week for 30 mins and lift weights 2-4 times per week for 1-1.5 hours. The only reason I am not certain that I am at mainenance is that all of the BMR calculators say I should be burning around 3000-3300 calories per day. I eat less than that, and the scale stays constant. As far as measuring, I tape measure once every two weeks. Last measure was a week and a half ago and I showed decreases in chest and stomach, but I was pretty sure this was just a result of my wifes measuring technique (not an actual loss). I measure again this weekend, so if there is another decrease, I will be a little more certain that there is actually fat reduction happening. And, as far as gaining muscle and losing fat, thus the scale not moving, it seems too coincidental to lose the exact same amount of fat as muscle (keeping the scale the same). Have any of you been in a similar situation? What was the longest stall that you've had that broke? Thanks in advance.

Thanks, Aroundhky. I do take creatine (mono), protien, and a multi. I think I started somewhere around 40-43% BF, and am now around 24-27%. I'd love to get down to 12-15%, but know that will take quite a bit of time, esp at 2000 calories per day. But, I do want to get below 200, because I will be below 30 BMI (200 lbs = 30 BMI), so thats kind of a big deal. Yet, it is what it is. I dont want to stress over it too much, but its hard not to. I think I'm just gonna keep on keeping on, and see where it gets me. Either way, I think if I keep lifting, I cant help but get into better and better shape. Bench in March was 95lbs (I know, I know), now working out with 145 (3x5), DL was 135, now working out with 255, press 65 to 105, and I dont squat at this time, so not sure there. But, I am gaining strength, so I'm very hesitant to cut calories. And, thanks again for all the different view points! I think were all on very different, yet very similar paths, and its interesting to see how others view my situation! Best of luck to everyone!!

Great stuff guys, and you too thinoneday. I'm just gonna keep on doing what I'm doing until I start to gain weight. If that happens, I will make some changes. If it doesnt, I'll just hope that the stall breaks and I lose just a bit more!!

Good to hear supersweetums, and yes I am trying to bobybuild. I have been going up on my weights when lifting, and my wife says its all in my head because I am putting on a lot of muscle, but when I look in the mirror all I see is a fat stomach. I mean, I do see that my biceps, triceps, and back look bigger, but I dont know if its just that the muscle was always there and now the fat is gone, or if its new, larger muscle. But, again, my wife thinks I am crazy, but I see the scale not moving, and the same person as before in the mirror, and I think I am done losing. Maybe I'll start running/jogging more (I HATE cardio), but I know I wont stick with it as extensively, so its hard to ramp it up. I guess I just hope to see a loss on the measuring tape this weekend to extend my hope a little more. PS I dont know how people eat less than 1500 or so calories per day. I dont diet per se...I eat when I am hungry, and track what I eat, but I dont say "no, you cant have that because its not in your diet!" And, having said that, I dont really eat sweets or anything because I just dont want them anymore. But, if I did, I would eat them. I guess my point is that, yes, I eat 2000+ calories per day, which is a lot on a gastric surgery board, but I eat 2000 calories of healthy foods per day.

ha, good stuff. I do MFP...I get around 200 grams of protien, 175 grams of carbs, and 100 grams of fat at last check. Fat is so high because I eat several hard boiled eggs per week (12 or more...but that is good fat). So, I really dont think my carbs are out of line. And, honestly, I dont know that I am willing to go inside of 100 grams per day to lose weight. That may be bad, but I just feel terrible if I dont get at least 100 grams in a day...I am just winded during my workouts and dont like the feeling at all. Maybe I should eat a reeses or two and just wait it out.... Honestly, as long as I didnt gain weight ever, I would be okay where I am at, but I would be SO much happier aesthetically if I could lose another 30 pounds.

Well, I had my surgery yesterday morning, and it went really well. I'm not in near as much pain as I expected to be, though I am pretty drugged up still. I mean, dont get me wrong, there is pain, but its not like I'm bed riddden. Anyway, here are some things I am dealing with that I did not expect: 1. They shave your stomach after you are under, then you have to wear a body wrap for 6 weeks after surgery. That is great, except that the tiny left over hairs ITCH like all get out! I have started putting the body wrap over my tshirt, but it still itches. And you're scared to scratch, because if you were to scratch an incision.....well let just say that would be bad. 2. I instantly realized that my view of hunger was so messed up that I couldnt tell if my stomach was in great pain, or if I was hungry. How messed up is that? I associat(ed) a hurting stomach with food (because I used to eat so much at one time), that I couldnt understand what my body was telling me. 3. Looking to be honest here, but not advocating it: I was terrible on my liquid diet (I had the two weeker, and would eat the shakes during the day, and a regular meal in the evening, but was supposed to be all liquid only). I didnt eat for 24 hours before the surgery because I didnt want to need to go to the bathroom after surgery, which was a good call. Nevertheless, the surgeon said my liver looked good, and wasnt an issue. So, I'm not saying this to encourage people to not follow the liquid diet, but instead to let people who trip up on it know that all is not lost. I'm really loving the sleeve at this point, and think that if I can stick with the Meal Replacement shakes for a good while, this will go great. And, staying away from food at this point is COMPLETELY different than pre-surgery. I have NO desire to eat right now, and honestly havent eaten anything in nearly three days. Anyway, I hope this helps someone, as I received so much peace of mind from this site as I was going through the process. Congrats as well to all of my sleeved brothers and sisters! EDIT: I am a male, if that matters.

Great post in the linked thread, PDX. I am still one who obsesses over the potential for the sleeve to stretch, but I am only 4.5 months out. I think it comes down to previously failed diets....I have done GREAT so far, and now I am waiting on the other shoe to drop...for things to go off track somewhere then wake up right back where I started pre surgery. Its a fear...and it may be irrational...but its a fear. And, time will hopefully show it to be unfounded, but until its been so long since I've had the sleeve, still enjoying the same size stomach as I have now, I will likely have that fear. For what its worth, my dr also laughed at the idea that the stomach could stretch, though conceeded that it would feel larger until all of the swelling was gone - about 6 months or so on average he said. Maybe a bit of it is also that it all seems a bit too good to be true at this point??

Def a 10 for me as well. Went from my highest around Christmas of 2011 of 285lbs to today (May 29th, 2012) at 213lbs. I still have 40 pounds to go, but given that I had surgery on Jan 17th 2012, and its only been a bit over 4 months, I am pretty happy with the results. I do workout everyday but Sunday, walking 5 miles per day 5 days per week, and lifting heavy weights 3 days per week, so its not all just eating less. But, the more you lose, the easier it is to keep heading to the gym! Also, I have been gaining muscle, which some try to tell you is not possible at a caloric deficit. I hope to be inside of 200 lbs by the 4th of July, and hit my goal weight of 170 by my birthday in November. At this point, I am pretty confident that will happen! EDIT: Also, diabetes is gone, as is sleep apnea and hypertension! Its truely life changing. And I dont say that lightly.

How is your restriction compared to around the sixth month mark? I have had what I would consider the perfect amount of restriction since about month two, and am pleased with my weight loss so far (still not at goal, but didn't expect to be at this point). Still, my greatest worry is stomach stretching. My surgeon said I would have close to my permanent stomach size at 3 months, and most certainly at 6 months. I am at 5 months now, and again, couldn't be happier with the stomach size. If it stayed like this forever, this would be one of the best things to happen to me. So, reassure me or give me a reality check. Is the stomach gonna get larger over time, or will it stay about where it was at the sixth month or so mark forever? Thanks for your advice!

I had surgery mid Jan. I honestly think there are differences between men and women on this journey, but there are a lot of similarities. If you have any questions, feel free to PM.

Still hungry an hour or so after meals here as well, so I feel your pain. I am working out a lot, so that is very likely a contributing factor, but I plan to speak with my surgeon about increasing the dosage on my ppi just to see if it helps.

There is a great deal of easily accessible info out there. Just Google "25 grams of protein myth" and you get both anecdotal evidence and peer reviewed studies.

Just Google it. The 25 gram rule is a myth. If you only absorbed 25 grams of Protein (100 cals) per sitting, it would be the best dieting trick ever. Eat a huge steak, only absorb 100 calories! I don't think so.

^^^ This is also not true.

Sorry, but this post is just full of assumption and misinformation. No, not all sleeves are the same size. Yes, some people can eat whole foods after two weeks. Yes, you can eat 1000+ cals with at least 40% of that as protein after two weeks, with nothing being wrong with you. Just because it went one way for you, does not mean that's a constant for everyone.

I am two months post op and have been eating clean NET calories of 1500-1750 since about week three. I have list 40 pounds since surgery (over 50 total), and average a three pound loss per week. I eat small amounts frequently (every two hours), but eat VERY CLEAN. My macros are 40c/40p/20f and I track everything on MFP. So, you can eat high call and still lose, for those who are wondering.

Ask your Dr, but the general consensus is 5 weeks. I am also working toward a triathlon. Just bought myself a Specialized Roubaix, and am going riding this weekend! Best of luck!

^^^ pretty much what he said. If you feel yourself running instantly out of energy during workouts, its your body telling you that you need more calories. Best of luck!