Chris R

My top weight was 450. Lost 60 per surgery in 10 months. Have lost 54 since surgery in 3 months. I'm very happy with my progress so far!

You can customize your daily goals on myfitnesspal, including total calories and protein. I use the app all the time!

When I went to stage 5, I added a cup of high fiber cereal to my diet for breakfast, and have been very regular since then. No medicinal products required.

There is some truth to heavier people lose faster, because they have a higher base metabolic rate (BMR). This is a generalization, however - everyone is different. I had my 3 month follow up today and they weighed me on the body analyzer scale. Since 1 year ago, I've lost 91 lbs of fat, 110 lbs total. My BMR has gone down over 400 Calories per day since then, which means I'd have to eat 400 calories a day less now to lose at the rate I did a year ago.

My weight stats are almost exactly the same as yours. I'm just today 3 months out, high weight pre-surgery 450, weight at surgery 389, this morning 338. I have not experienced anything like you are describing. Are you on any medications? If so, perhaps your weight loss has made them unnecessary and could be causing an issue. Just a stab in the dark. Definitely call your Doctor ASAP!

My bariatric program required an 8% weight loss before they would approve surgery. This was a program requirement,not an insurance requirement.

I've already had a couple of stalls. I went up and down the same 4 pounds for a 2-week period between 7 and 9 weeks post surgery, then lost about 10 pounds in a little over a week, then stayed the same for a week. Now down another 7 in the last week. On average, I've been losing about 4 lbs a week, post surgery. I'm very happy with that! As of this morning, down 51 post surgery, 112 since starting the program!

Low BMI, so you won't generally lose as quickly as someone who carries more weight. 15 lbs in a month? That's great! I'm averaging about 4 lbs a week, so about the same rate, and I'm pretty happy with that, and my current weight is 342!!!! Don't be unrealistic in your expectations! The sleeve is a tool, not a miraculous overnight cure!

Starting weight, May 5, 2012. Weight 450 lbs. Sleeved February 12, 2013 by Dr. Catania at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. Weight 389 lbs. 12 weeks post op, May 8 2013. Weight 343.4 lbs. Loss: 61 lbs. in 9 months pre-op. 45.6 lbs. in 12 weeks post-op. 106.6 lbs. total loss in 1 year.

Pre-op loss could have been some water weight. I gained 10 lbs during my hospital stay due to the IV fluids, so take that into account, too!

Why does this thread keep sending me a notification when there were no new posts on it? :-S

I like the Syntax Nectars. I get a 2 lb canister for about $37 through nashuanutrition.com.

It was one of my staples in my full liquids phase.

Are you keeping hydrated? Getting enough calories?

That would be a 40 French bougie - that's how they're measured. That means it was just over half an inch in diameter! It's not huge. The difference between that and a 32 french bougie is 2-3 millimeters in diameter! Give it time. I feel more restriction now, 11 weeks out, than I did during the first month.

Have you spoken with your doctor or dietitian? You're going to get dehydrated if you're only drinking 16 oz of Water in a day! Minimum 48,oz, 64 is better. It also sounds like you're not getting much Protein. I was told focus on protein first, at least 60 g per day. Have you tried any of the Protein shakes? I agree with SpaceDust - put yourself on a schedule. Eat even if you don't feel hungry, but not to the point of being uncomfortably full. You may have to eat something every couple of hours, but it's really important that you get in water and some nutrition!

Have you been tracking your measurements? With all the protein and working out, it's likely that you're building muscle, which weighs more than fat. I wouldn't be surprised if your measurements are still shrinking!

Sounds like you've got it covered with the echo and EKG I'm doing well. I'm down a total of 103, 43 since surgery. My old 5X and some 6X clothes are hanging on me. Even my underwear is baggy and my bras are loose! My mother had gotten me a new 5X outfit for Christmas, and I asked her to return it for a smaller size, since I knew I wouldn't be in them for long. She mailed the replacements in a 3X last week. I tried them on - a pair of black knit pants and a long sleeve cotton knit sweater. They actually almost fit! A little more snug than I would like to wear them comfortably, but since my stomach isn't as lumpy, they were presentable! Too bad the weather is now too warm to wear them, and by the time it's cold enough for them again, I will (hopefully) be out of the X's altogether! Hope things go well for you!

I was told nothing over 10 lbs for 6 weeks. I think it would be VERY tough to have the surgery with a young child that wants/needs to be lifted or carried.

I don't want to be a wet noodle, but I'm with your doctor on this one - your bariatric surgeon is NOT a heart surgeon. If there is a such a strong possibility of having a heart attack, I'd rather it happened in the cardiac unit where they specialize in that than on the table during another surgery. The point of having the sleeve is to prolong your life. Whats the point if your doctor is so concerned that you could die on the table? Considering the risk of that during the test, I don't think the doctor would suggest it if he didn't think that there was at least an equal risk of it during the sleeve surgery. Please think about it!

I would be very interested to see what kind of correlation there is between the depth of pre-surgical program and the incidence of those expressing regrets. I'd be willing to bet there is a strong inverse correlation. (OK, I know I'm speaking math-eze) I wonder if more of those with regrets went through less/shorter requirements and preparation pre-surgery?

I know that I am going to have a lot of excess skin - I started out at 450. I'm pretty scared about the idea of plastic surgery, but think I will probably want it when I reach my goal. I've heard from many people who've had the plastic, that insurance will need pictures of rashes, etc. that you get because of the excess skin. Now, being a large person, I've always tried to keep myself scrupulously clean, and even use antiperspirant in all those extra creases and flaps to keep it from becoming a breeding area for bacteria and fugal infections, so that I don't get rashes. But if I decide to have plastic surgery and have a problem getting approved by my insurance, I might just stop with the anti-moisture battle long enough to get 'evidence' that it is medically necessary! You are very brave to show it all. Thank you for sharing with all of us. I hope your insurance will change their decision!

It's bad enough that so many of us get different rules - but for your Doctor and your Dietitian not to be on the same page is ridiculous! You'd think they would have some sort of unified plan!