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I saw one post on here from someone who couldn't stop losing. But it wasn't because there was anything wrong with the surgery. The individual admitted they had developed an eating disorder due to the "thrill" they got from losing weight and they were seeking professional help. There have been a few others that have lost more than they wanted or expected to, but not to a point of being dangerously underweight. I personally dropped 10-12 pounds below my goal weight before I finally stopped losing (no complaints here!). I think losing too much and being malnourished happens more often with bypass. My friend and her husband who both had bypass 8 years ago are definitely malnourished, (they each end up in the hospital at least once/year) but it's 100% their own doing because of their crappy food choices and failure to take their Vitamin supplements. But again, this is just one of many anecdotal stories. Based on most posts on here, More often than not sleevers will struggle to get to goal and then struggle forever to maintain.

I weaned myself off caffeine prior to surgery. Doctor didn't order it, I just did. Postop I drank a lot of decaf herbal tea. Every time I tried coffee, my tummy would hurt and I would have to take Rolaids or maaloxx. Around 4-5 months I Was finally able to tolerate it in small quantities. Now I drink it like gang busters....at least 1 large travel mug (20oz) daily and sometimes 2 mugs. I never missed the caffeine so I just stuck with decaf. I've got a Keurig so there's dozens of decaf varieties to choose from. I still drink the decaf herbal teas, too...esp at bedtime, so there are some days 50+ oz of my fluids come from coffee and tea. I would be one wired chick if it wasn't decaf! But If I'm on the road and the only decent coffee available is caffeinated, I will drink it.

I chose my goal weight (150) as what I weighed in my mid 20's when I was a fit, ripped, in shape raft guide and ski instructor. That just so happened to be the high end of normal BMI. My surgeon's goal was 10 pounds more than that. As I was losing I actually would have been happy at 170. But I passed my personal goal at 7 months I ended up stabilizing around 138-140....10-12 pounds LESS than my original goal weight. You never know what you can accomplish until you try!

I tried it all, too.....benefiber, Metamucil, miralax, laxatives, colace, MOM, etc but I would still only poo every 3-4 days and it was rock hard. The best thing I finally found was insoluble fiber. Raw Fiber and Triple Fiber were the two best commercial products that worked, but then I discovered good ol' flax seed meal and Now Healthy Foods Apple Fiber work just as well and is cheaper. I mix these in my protein smoothie every day and even in my yogurt or hot cereal or pancake mix, etc. The insoluble fiber has given me regular, daily, easily passable poo. I also like to mix Kashi Go Lean cereal (13g protein/10g insoluble fiber) in my Greek yogurt as a snack.

I was on soft foods at that point....chicken salad, soups with Protein powder added, eggs, cottage cheese, crab salad, cooked veggies (cauliflower, spinach, brussel sprouts, carrots, artichokes, green Beans, etc), refried beans, cheese, tuna fish, hamburger, ham, pork loin, BBQ ribs, brisket, turkey sausage, Greek yogurt, hummus, fish, and Protein shakes. I ate protein and veggies 80% of the time, but had some fruit like mangos, pears, apples, peaches, and bananas. It took a little longer before I could eat berries (because of the seeds)

You're right, the surgery won't do that AT ALL. The mental preparation and your commitment plays more of a role in your success (or failure) than the physical surgery. Have you ever watched my 600 pound life? It's actually quite easy to fail. But it's also easy to succeed. Sure, you will have daily struggles with food choices, emotional battles and cravings, but it's easier to win these battles with a tiny tummy to help. Knowing what your weaknesses are and learning how to move past them is something you have to do. It's easier for some than others....most WLS patients get professional counseling and therapy to help with the mental part. I never thought I wouldn't want to drink to deal with life's stresses, but it happened. I now find satisfaction and happiness from things other than food and alcohol. I know it's a corny motto, but the "eating to live, not living to eat" really can become a new reality.

I followed the good ol "Protein first, then veggies, get all my fluids and take my vitamins" rule until I reached goal. I then added in more fruit and whole grains and still lost another 10 pounds. My weight has stabilized and I've maintained for 7 months. And Like Michiganchic, I basically just eat like a normal thin person. Nothing bothers my sleeve so I pretty much eat whatever I want, making good, healthy balanced choices 80-90% of the time, and Desserts, sweets, bread, Pasta, and alcohol the other 10-20%. I can't tell you what I typically eat, because it's different every day. I do drink a large 24-32 oz smoothie everyday with 30-40g protein. This helps me get a big chunk of my protein, fluids and Fiber all in one so I'm free to eat a variety of other stuff throughout the day. I eat when I'm hungry, usually 5-6 times/day and never overeat. I don't track or measure my food, I don't count calories and I don't obsess over the scale. I nibble on most everything at parties. I ate a shit ton of sweets and all my moms great home cooking over Christmas. Yes, I gained weight because of it, but just went back to protein/veggies basics afterwards and lost it again...pretty much what my thin friends do after the holidays or a vacation. I go out with friends and order whatever looks yummy. It's just now I always have leftovers to take home. I have an occasional glass of wine or cocktail. Alcohol doesn't affect me any different than preop, and unfortunately I am NOT a lightweight...it takes a LOT for me to get tipsy, so I really don't bother drinking much anymore. I was pretty much a functional alcoholic before surgery, so this is probably the biggest change. This has actually been a very easy transition and a lifestyle I can easily maintain. Sure, lots of changes from a nutritional standpoint, but I don't feel deprived in any way. I look back now at all the crap I ate and think Yuck...no wonder I felt so lousy for so long!

I hit goal around 7-8 months and dropped an extra 10 pounds over the next few months. I stabilized around 140 and have now maintained for 7 months. Sometimes I slack and eat a few too many carbs (esp around the holidays or during a few emotionally stressful times I've gone through). I allow myself a small bounce range (138-141) and whenever I hit the top end, I immediately go back to strict Protein and veggies only. I can usually get back down to the bottom of my bounce range within a week or two. As far as maintenance goes, I think it's important to recognize any slider foods or other triggers that could get you off track and avoid those things. And it's just as important to find out what kind of eating and/or exercise plan helps you lose any extra pounds. If you stay on top of little gains before they become big gains, you will be able to successfully maintain where you want to be.

I bought my spirometer ahead of time (Amazon $11) and used it daily as per OCC cardiologist instructions. I actually increased my lung capacity by 1/2 liter before surgery by doing this. I continued using it for a couple weeks postop. As for the calling card, I turned my phone to airplane mode and used the OCC And Marriott free wifi for email, FaceTime and iMessage. Other people have upgraded their phone plans to international just for the month they go down. AT&T offered this option for $18.

Not sure how much I actually gained, but I was 5 pounds up at 5 days post and weighed the same as surgery day 11 days post. Didn't weigh again for a couple weeks and I was finally down. Fluids play a huge role in the number on the scale. I got severely dehydrated a couple months out due to diarrhea and had to get IV fluids. I "gained" 11 pounds overnight.

Read the details and fine print of your policy. They are all different when it comes to elective and WLS procedures. Mine SPECIFICALLY excludes WLS including postop complications from WLS unless it is for a "life saving procedure". So I assumed anything short of a life flight to a hospital in order to have emergency surgery for a severe leak would fall under not covered. Didn't matter if the original surgery was done in US or abroad. That was one of the deciding factors for me to go with a top notch, world-renown, "expensive" Mexico surgeon rather than a "cheap" US one. A complication would have financially destroyed me. As for routine postop bloodwork, my PCP coded it under annual wellness checkup and insurance paid for the first one, but not the second and third because they were too soon after the 1st one to be considered annual wellness.

Night 1 (day before surgery)....stay at Marriott Night 2 (day of surgery)....stay at OCC Night 3...stay at Marriott. Went back to OCC second day after surgery to check drain site Night 4...stay at Marriott. Back to OCC third day for drain removal and fluoroscopy leak test before heading to the airport. My surgery was on a Friday and I left on Monday, so your calculations sound right. I'd call your coordinator and go over the schedule to be sure.

I just got my new concealed weapons permit and when asked my weight, I proudly announced 138. This is just 3 pounds more than the weight on my very first drivers license when I was 16! And 50 pounds less than my current drivers license (which is 50 pounds less than what I actually weighed ????)

I thought it felt real when I bought my plane ticket. But when I went to the bank and emptied my entire savings account and got the cashiers check, then it got REALLY REAL! Seriously, that was more stressful than my shitshow trip to TJ with cancelled flights and musical airports or even the surgery itself.

I got a food Saver Game Saver Deluxe Plus. It's worked great so far. My mom has used vacuum sealers from the time they first came out 20+ years ago. She recommends the Food Saver brand but says to stay away from the cheaper models they have at Walmart, etc because they tend to stop working..."they just don't make em like they used to...." She also uses the vacuum canisters, but advised me to find older versions if I could because the newer ones don't seem to hold a vacuum. So far I've just used the bags. And here's a little trick for stuff that is soft or juicy....freeze the portion first in a separate container, then vacuum seal in a bag and put back in the freezer. That way things don't get squished and it's not so messy.

Personally, I don't think it's necessary...if you follow your diet plan and exercise, you WILL lose weight. That's kind of the point of surgery. But here's the ingredients, and with all the Garcinia Cambogia hype out there, I'm sure you could find something similar if you really want to take it....

Ditto to everything sprocket said. PayPal deposit/cashiers check for balance. And besides Premier, I used Unjury, Muscle Milk, Syntrax and Raw Fit protein products. For vitamins, I stuck with the whole food based vitamins I've always taken. As for the Meds, I got a list of what we would be Rx'd before I went down. I looked them up online to know what I would be taking and to see if it would be cheaper to get here. The US equivalent of what they dispensed was cephalexin (antibiotic), metoclopramide (antinausea/GI motility), omeprazole (PPI) and a sublingual NSAID. I actually bought more of the NSAID At one of the MANY pharmacies to have on hand for future aches and pains. At 14 months I have yet to even use the original NSAIDS they gave me. Lack of pain is a wonderful thing, Good luck with everything.

LOVE my vacuum sealer! Tied with my blender bottle for the most used kitchen item I have. I can buy in bulk at SAMs Club or cook a big meal and end up with individual portions that last a long time without freezer burn. Cheese without mold.... A loaf of bread that doesn't get stale/moldy.... I even used it to make little gift bags from the 2 pound tin of chocolate covered peanuts some ding dong gave me for Christmas.

I was very confident with my decision to have WLS, so the hardest part was trying to figure out how to fit it into my busy work schedule. I am part owner/vet tech/practice manager/after hours answering service/accounts receivable person in a small veterinary practice. With it just being me and the vet, if one of us is gone we are pretty limited on what services we can offer. No such thing as PTO. No work=no money. Neither of us had taken a single sick day in over 5 years. We schedule our vacations at the same time usually 1 week out of the year. I had decided on VSG and had selected my surgeon by June, but had to wait until December to get it done. I squeezed it in over the holidays, so between the weekend, Christmas Eve and Christmas, I only had to miss 3 days of work. And New Years helped make my first week back a short one. The second hardest part was telling my parents. I postponed it until November but turned out I worried for no reason...after their initial surprise and concern, they were extremely supportive.

Well, I can no longer say I've never vomited after WLS. I got home yesterday after an 11 hour work day and I made up a small bowl of cottage cheese and peaches. This was just my "appetizer" as I planned to fix a decent dinner after feeding the dogs and horses. I had taken one bite when the phone rang with an emergency call (horse colic). Well I knew it would be a long visit and I wouldn't get a chance to eat again for several hours, so I shoveled in four big spoonfuls as I went to put on some long underwear (it was about 15 degrees and it had already started to snow). I knew I was in trouble when I felt a sharp pain at the bottom of my rib cage. Then the wave of nausea hit and I just made it to the bathroom. Yuck! Guess you're never too far along in your VSG journey to learn knew tricks! Next time I'll just put the cottage cheese back in the fridge and slowly nibble on a Protein bar in the truck on the way out. Oh yeah, and I didn't bother to eat when I finally did get home. Just sipped some camomile tea before finally getting to bed about 3am.

I researched several different options both in the US and Mexico. I did not let price play a roll in my decision. I went with the surgical team with the best qualifications at a facility I felt safe with. It just so happens my choice was dr. Ariel Ortiz and Dr. Martinez at OCC in TJ. They were far more experienced with less complications than any of the surgeons within 200 miles of where I live. Best choice I ever made....like slvrsax I was well cared for and have had excellent followup communication with the OCC staff. One night in hospital, two nights in hotel. I never had any pain and being in TJ was like a mini vacation with my sister. The worst part was the coming and going...bad weather cancelled my flight in so I had to drive 5 hours to another state for a flight and I didn't get in until the day of my surgery and bad weather coming back made it impossible to actually drive home...had to stay in a hotel off the interstate. But I was back to work in 7 days, passed goal at 7 months, have maintained for 7 months. Couldn't ask for more.

Good for you....be glad you can get in all your liquids. It's a a wonderful "problem" to have. I could, too. Like Elode said, you will not feel the restriction until you are on solids. I watched the barium liquid flow right through my sleeve into my intestines within seconds when they did my fluoroscopy leak test, so it doesn't stick around long enough to give a full sensation. Seriously, just relax, be grateful you feel so good and enjoy the journey! You lost 28 pounds for schit's sake...took me almost 3 months to do that.

i absolutely agree and I am in no way discouraging anyone from seeking therapy if they need it. In every thread I've read, any suggestion for therapy does appear to be warranted. And I don't think any such advice is mean. I was just pointing out in my post that for some folks, therapy is not necessarily required to be a successful WLS patient. But obviously for others it is a must. Therapy, in whatever form, is simply another tool in our struggles that should be taken advantage of if and when needed.

I haven't done 1 minute of therapy to help with my food addictions. I read self help and bariatric books, did a lot of soul searching, read pretty much every thread ever posted on BP, and so far so good for me. I havent had any emotional traumas, I dont have body image issues, I've accepted the changes I've needed to make along the way, I've resisted temptation to go back to my old ways, and I have experienced what I consider complete success with my weight loss and new lifestyle so far. I did have enough sense, though, to follow my doctor's orders pre and postop to a T. Even after reaching and passing goal, I have done what I need to do to maintain my loss and stay healthy. I was also self pay so I didn't have any nut/psych requirements, but I sure as hell didn't spend every penny of my savings (plus some cc debt) to do this half assed. I guess what I'm saying is for some people therapy certainly isn't necessary for success, but following certain criteria and making your own mental adjustments to this new life is. Especially in the long run.... It's easy to lose in the first 6-12 months. But Lack of commitment and failure to correct mental/emotional eating disorders will play a big role in what happens after that. Some people are able to do this on their own, but for those who can't, some form of support (group or private therapy) is necessary. The people that can't even see that they have issues with food are the ones that definitely won't make it. All you have to do is watch "my 600 pound life" to see how easy it is to fail.

Not sure why your nut would tell you to stay away from whey. It's only the most complete and fastest absorbed form of protein out there. It's better and easier absorbed than milk concentrate, casein, beef, fish, chicken, eggs, and any plant-based protein, including soy. Did she say why?