CowgirlJane

You and have a similiar profile - fairly high starting BMI, and a lot to lose. I would love to get down to 160, that is my personal goal. I totally agree with everything that everybody said, but I also have another thought. I started this journey at 308 - if I only get to 200# and can actually maintain that, it has been totally worth it even if 160# alludes me. Even now, I am more physically capable and my health is improving. I simply refuse to fall into that "all or nothing" thinking that only if I hit a certain magical number on a scale will I be a "success". That thinking has not served me well over the years and I am not playing this time. I have set for myself a series of goals because for my brain, that works better and is less overwhelming then having to think about losing 148 pounds (from my starting weight). For me, that number is just... awful.... it carries some emotional baggage I guess that would bring me down if I spent to much time thinking about it. I am viewing the fact that I am on the journey and making the most of it as my success for right now. I was discouraged because the scale is moving slow right now, but I saw a friend yesterday that hasn't seen me in 2 weeks and she was shocked - she said I looked thinner in two weeks even though the scale only gave me a couple of pounds. I keep celebrating the small victories rather then being crushed by the possibility of failure or the enormity of the task.

I know that it is normal for weight loss to slow down, but I started out at a pretty high BMI so I want to be sure I maximize these first months to get the maximum loss. At the last meeting with the NUT, I was not feeling good. She encouraged me to up my carbs to more like 80 a day, instead of staying in the 25-40 range. She was right, i felt better almost instantly, but I also think my weight loss has slowed to 1-2 pounds a week. I am keeping my eaten calories in the 700-800 range and I get another 65 or so calories in Vitamin supplements (chewables and liquids have calories and carbs) but the total is always under 1000. I am probably getting 70-80 carbs a day now, including the Vitamins. I am trying to focus on getting my carbs from vegetables and fruits, very limited amount of bread or Pasta type products. I am concerned that if I go back to the under 40 carbs again that i will feel so weak and tired again but I am not sure what else to do to get that weight loss going faster. I walk 30 minutes a day, including a hillclimb, doing small increases in activity in everyday life such as parking along ways away from the store and trying to do more things using my body rather then sitting - and am back to doing horse stuff. I could probably increase activity to see if that would help. I am thinking of buying an elliptical as those are gentle on my knees. I started out at a 51 BMI so even though I had good losses the first month, I won't get to my goal if I don't pick up the pace here in month 2.

I came back on this website right after it went back up, and it was the only website open when I became aware that I was under attack - malware, not just a virus. Anyway, I got it all fixed up but have been leery of coming back. Malware is very commonly spread by the commercial ads that are on websites - so that is what I always suspect. I have only lost 3.2 over the past 2 weeks, but i am down to a weight that I haven't seen since I think 2008 so I am happy about that! People are starting to notice the lost weight too, which is a real boost.

The only form of calcium that is highly absorbable is calcium citrite. The gummies and typical chewables you find in the store are NOT the right form of calcium so your body can't use most of it. I used to do those chocolate chews and much to my dissapointment found out that I wasn't getting what i needed, but this is expecially important post surgery. Take it for what it is worth, but this is what nutritionalists have told me and when i googled it to find out what was needed post bariatric surgery, it was confirmed. BTW, i am doing good with my vitamns now - everything is better now that I am 6 weeks out! :purplebananna:

Yes, that is exactly the Dr Kessler I was talking about. I found his writings and thoughts on obesity to be mind opening. I truly believe that there are many factors, but a big one is this certain type of food (processed, low nutrient or with fake supplements, usually salty or sweet or carb laden) triggers over eating. It impacts alot of people, not just the obese, but it is one of the triggers that can help send a person who is prone to obesity right over the edge. I just want to make the point that there are plenty of obese people for whom counseling, talk therapy etc etc have zero impact because the "cycle" they are on is very largely driven by physical imbalances, metabolic disordrs and an undernourished (but overly caloried) body.

I know you didn't ask for advice... but... I will give it anyway... find a surgeon who really believes that the sleeve is the right surgery for you! The first surgeon I saw felt i would fail with the sleeve since I had regained all my losses with the band. He wanted me to do the gastric bypass and I thought about that for a long time but for whatever reason, I could just never wrap my head around the risks and he messing with my intestines. I guess we all have our "thing" and for me, changing the intestines was just something I couldn't visualize doing to myself. It was dumb luck that I encountered someone who told me to reconsider the sleeve and to meet with a surgeon that she loved and whose patients are having great successes... and the rest... well ..history as I am now sleeved by a great surgeon!

I am almost 6 weeks out and cleared to start introducing salads. I had the most wonderful brocoli slaw salad - very small portion - and it was heavenly. i have so much missed salads and the crunch of raw veggies. I loved it and no problems except I wasn't hungry for my Protein. Ooops. Well, I was just excited to eat a salad so I did it out of order. I had the lapband for 10 years and the sleeve for 5 weeks. So far, they are nothing alike and everybody was telling me the truth that the slleve is ALOT better. I guess I should give it a little longer before declaring a final verdict, but so far... the sleeve is good and the band was not good. I suffered through that reflux versus no restriction thing with the band. Looking back, I don't know how I dealt with it. The sleeve is alot better, at least for me, no reflux, and just a consistently smaller capacity rather then the capricious lapband. I also just love that the stupid port is GONE.

Obesity is such a complex topic, there are alot of forces at work here. We talk about "head hunger" "emotional eating" and all that but we should not discount the genuine chemical/hormonal psiological factors that drive so much of this! We hear alot about grehlin, but there is a whole lot more that drives our appetite/hunger. I am no expert, but I know from my own reading and my own experiences that what we eat can trigger responses - it will trigger what we WANT to eat. Dr Kessler talks about it as the overabundance of highly palatable (not necessarily tastes good, but triggers the eat more feeling) but low nutrition food. Obesity is actually a type of malnutrition!!! I personally believe that this eating clean idea is the key. Avoiding highly processed foods, avoiding alot of the sugars and simple carbohydrates. Staying away from the stuff that just isn't natural, real nutrition!!! I truely believe that eating a lean Protein and wholesome veggies based diet, with a limited amount of whole grains, with very little else, will help keep a person from over-eating. It will keep your body from going haywire and demanding the junk. That is so much easier said then done. We are SURROUNDED, knee deep, buried in the types of food that trigger many of us to overeat and/or to eat the very things that are not good for us. I don't ever try to push the envelope of what my sleeve can "handle" but I feel like I am really really still fighting the battle to not desire crappy food. I don't even like crappy food, but I have spent too much of my life under it's spell, it is not so easy to just make the total break. Lately, my big thing has been dying for nuts. Now, nuts are a healthy food, but for whatever reason, I am not happy with 2-3, I want too many and they go down really easy. I think it is the salt/fat that is triggering that desire. Anyway, I get your point and I sometimes wonder why people seem to be tring to find the "edge" of what their sleeve lets them do. Maybe it is just the choice of words, maybe people don't really mean that. I am trying to find the other end... trying to find out how I can eventually become one of those people who forget to eat.... lol I wish I was a more perfect being, but I am not and so I do the best I can and give myself all the kudos I can when I do "pretty good, even if not perfect"

You should maybe think in terms of excess weight lost rather then number of pounds. My NUT gave me rough guidance that 2-3 months post op people should have lost 20-30% of their excess weight. Excess weight is start weight minus "ideal weight" according to the charts.. I am one month out and have lost about 24% of my excess weight already.

I am so sorry you are suffering like this! It does sound like dehydration, so be sure to get that addressed. I don't regret surgery, but I don't feel great myself. I am really tired of feeling tired. Regret doesn't do any good - too late for that - so now is the time to proactively work on the things you need to do to feel better. I know that isn't easy, but you don't have much choice. Deal with the dehydration first, that will make it easier to keep stuff down, will make you feel better. Once that is under control, find Protein drinks/foods that don't repulse you... and take it like medicine. I would be careful to not go too crazy with low carbs either, I feel worse if I am eating too low carb. Days were I am 20 G of carbs I wanna keel over, if i am 40-50G I feel much better. Then, start walking... nice and easy... but a bit of activity will make you feel better. And then, do some visulazition of the day that you will feel better, you will be slimmer... focus on the positive, it will help you feel better sooner. Best of luck to you - and you definately have my empathy!

Well, that pesky stall broke - lost a little bit last week (after like 6 days of no weight loss!) but this week was great results at 5.8# lost! So that is 28# lost since my surgery date and 36# counting my 2 week preop diet. My valentine's day goal is really aggressive, but I am still shooting for it! Today is my 4 weeks surgiversary!

Are there any that give a real workout and are still fun?

I hope you are recovering well. I think the gastric sleeve is a great choice when you need to get rid of the lapband. I am not sure I understand the worst case comment - you weren't planning on having the sleeve procedure done?

okay, gotcha, I misunderstood - I thought you were doing the revision in one surgery. So, here is my story - I had my band removed on a Thursday in September, I returned to work the following Monday. I was feeling poorly, I think reaction to the anesthesia (and maybe even a little depression over the whole band failure?). I was okay, sorta, but then got sick with a virus. I wound up working Mon-Wed that week and taking Thurs and Friday off. i think if I hadn't gotten that virus, I would have been okay with just the "long weekend" to recover. The port incision was sore for awhile though. The other thing that happened was that starting about a week after the band came out, my hunger went through the roof. I hadn't had Fluid in my band for years, but once it was removed, I felt like my stomach was a bottomless pit. I finally got control over the weight gain by doing a low carb thing with my family doc, just to kinda hold me over until I was sleeved. For me, the Sleeve was a much harder recovery. Part of the reason for that is you have very restricted fluid and calories - so in addition to all the surgery recovery you just aren't getting the fuel you are used to getting! Some people bounce right back and go to work in a week or so after the sleeve surgery. Many people needed more time, I am one of them even though I didn't have any complications. I am almost 4 weeks out, have been back at work for a week and am just exhausted. Some days are better, some are worse, but I am certainly not back to my normal self. Having said all that, I still think it is worth it. I am already enjoying being a bit lighter on my feet!

I am so glad you found an experienced revision surgeon. I am shocked he thought you could go back to work after so few days... I sure couldn't! I went back to work after 3 weeks, desk job, and have really struggled due to exhaustion.

Fruit Was not on my liquid phase plan. I had a strawberry and protein smoothie - homemade - once I entered the "soft food" phase as that is when fruits and berries were allowed on my plan. Something to watch is that some of those can be really high sugar and carbs... so having them too often might not be best thing for your eating plan.

I like the "cheese crisps" as they are a salty tasty treat that goes great with tuna or chicken salad. You make them by taking 1 oz which is about 1/3 cup of shredded cheese and "fry" them on a non stick pan in 6-8 little lumps. They spread out flat as they brown, then flip em so they cook on the other side, and then they harden when you let them cool. I will probably eventually buy saltines or something, but yummy crackers like those keebler buttery tasting ones are a trigger type food for me. I guess with the sleeve I probably couldn't eat very many, but i just don't want them in the house to find out while I am in the weight loss phase.

Well, I have done some sort of activity pretty much all my life. not always intense, but always ***something*** In 2004, i did the Susan B Kommen 3Day walk - 60 miles over 3 days, man that was intense! I weighed about 250 then, fitter then recent years, but still packing alot of pounds around. I have always believed that even fat people feel better and benefit from activity. I have only lost 30 some pounds and even though i am tired, I am already finding my hilly terrain walks sooo much easier. Just getting rid of some weight just makes it alot more enjoyable. I think for people who don't like "exercise" finding an "activity" you do enjoy is really beneficial. Walking the dog, raking the leaves, gardening, ballroom dancing, walking along a beautiful beach or whatever rings your bell - that all counts! Sure, being a gym rat is great, but it isn't for everybody.

I had the band for 10 years - don't be fooled that it is without issues as many band patients have terrible side effects especially a few years out.... PeaceQueen - hugs and lots of prayers for a speedy recovery!

I need to second the statement that removal of most of your stomach DOES decrease your absorption of certain Vitamins. If you reseach gastectomy that is done for stomach cancer, you will find that those patients need B12, Vit D and Calcium supplements too. I know this because of a relative who had this procedure. Iron I am less sure of - I thought we needed that because of the volume of meat reduces so much. Anyway, you will find plenty of people who feel fine and notice no ill effects without vitamins, at least in the near term, but I for one don't want to take the chances with my health over the long term. I don't want to have brittle bones 10 years from now. I HATE taking the vitamins. I am finding this to be the hardest part of the lifestyle change so far, but I do think it is really important.

I am wondering if there have been any published studies that shows that weight loss surgery patients who follow low carb diets lose better then those that dont? I am 2 weeks out, just moving into pureed foods and while I have been planning on low carbing it, I wonder if the evidence supports that. NUT is more moderate about carbs - she wants us to eat Protein first, but isn't worried about fruit and higher carb veggies. Of course, simple sugar type carbs and junk food are off limits to get maximum weight loss. I am still very tired, can't tell how much of that is due to being fairly low carb so far - I generally have 20-30 total carbs while on liquid diet.

You have done just great - a real inspiration to me! I hope a year from now I can be posting my success story!

So, my original question had to do with finding objective evidence for low carbing improving success after weight loss surgery. Even without eating simple carbs (sugar, junk food, bread etc) it is still pretty easy to get carbs in. Carbs are in many of the Vitamin supplements, in fruits and veggies etc. I find that when i try to stay under 40 TOTAL carbs per day I don't feel as good as when I eat a bit more of them. I have alot of weight to lose and want to do as well as I can this first year post op, but am not sure it is worth it to try to stay truly low carb as opposed to just eating Protein first. Once i am further along I plan to replace some of my higher carb Vitamins, but right now I have a liquid Calcium citrate and it adds quite a few to my daily total.

It was really great to be able to sample them in advance. My nutritionalist sponsors "tasting parties" and they handed out samples - I found I don't like most. Some of them are horrible and we all seem to have different tastes! I like the premixed ones best - Premier Protein chocolate is probably my favorite. For the powders, I really like the nectar ones, and you can order a sample pack for about $13 with no shipping charge. I like several of those flavors. This is the instructions for the protein powder "sample" order, YOU CAN ONLY ORDER THESE BY PHONE. THEY ARE LIMITING ONE PER PERSON. IF YOU HAVE NUMEROUS PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, YOU CAN PUT IN AN ORDER UNDER THEIR NAME AND CREDIT CARD. SYNTRAX'S PHONE NUMBER IS 1-866-333-7403. ASK FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE (THEY CLOSE AT 5P.M. CENTRAL TIME, I THINK)

I had my band removed in Sept and then was sleeved in December. I didn't realize that the band and port bothered me mentally - but I can't even express how much I LOVE not having that dang port anymore. I somehow feel more normal. I have heard that some people are very successful with the band, and I did lose 70# years ago. I went from 272 to about 202 over a year. I lost 30 of those pounds during my first month post op liquid diet - and dieted and exercised to get the rest off! It was such a struggle. It was embarrasing to be at a business meal and make a mistake like getting a piece of lettuce stuck and not be able to eat the meal. It was so unpredictable -other times it seemed I could eat anything. I really hated the band over time, but once the Fluid had to be removed, i regained everything. I think that some people, who really had the right education and support and for some unknown reason found it to work - do okay. I think most people get poor to fair results over the long haul. When I feel pissed about it, I remind myself that in 2001, there were only the band and gastric bypass to choose from. I guess I took my chances and lost the lottery. I CANNOT understand why so many people are still being banded knowing that the long term results are SO poor and there are so many complications at the 5-10 year out mark. Anyway, I went through a real emotional rollercoaster about getting a revision. So far, 3 weeks out, I am very happy with my decision.