Baconville

Has anybody experienced social changes after weight loss? I have been at my current job for three years. Clearly, when I was hired I was by far the fattest person in the office. It is a relatively small office of 14 women and one man. I am currently one of the slimmest in the office. Friday my boss had to speak with me about complaints from my co-workers. Apparently, I am "getting on their nerves". They no longer wish to have any conversations with me, about anything that isn't work related. Apparently even the sound of my voice when I am on work related phone calls has become grating. Nothing has changed in the past three years except my weight. Most days on my lunch I take a walk. I don't join in and eat the snack food that somebody brings into the office. I think there are some women that are threatened or feel guilty or just don't like the fact that I am now the size that I am. I think that I am paying a price for weight loss success. I am emotionally crushed by this. My boss told me that I do my job wonderfully. The teachers that I work with love me. I get my work done and she has no complaints about the quality. In the past, this would have been the kind of thing that would have sent me into a half gallon of ice cream. I have been dealing with it by having some awesome workouts. Just wondering if anybody else has seen social ramifications from weight loss. My clinic warned me about this happening, they have a whole chapter about it in the materials they give out at the first visit. Believe me, it's hard to work in a small office and speak to no one. Makes me more grateful for the love and support of my family though!

Good luck tomorrow!! I hope all goes well.

Hi! You are only a week away!! Hooray for you!! At this point I am getting between 80-90 grams of protein every day, on about 750-850 calories per day. It was a slow build up to this point over the year and I followed my clinic's guidelines very carefully. Exercise is a big part of my life. It makes a huge difference. I actually began regular exercise BEFORE surgery, although it was at a MUCH lower level than it is today. Walking was very difficult for me pre surgery due do knee and back pain. I found a recumbent elliptical (one you sit on) that I could do for 20 minutes. I had a very easy recovery, I think the exercise before surgery played a huge role in that. I had no complications at all. The most important advice I got was to walk, the more you walk the better you will feel. I planned to take two weeks off and then return half days for one week. By the time that third week came, I was ready to go back full time, I was bored out of my mind at home! However, I do think taking at least two weeks is very important. I work in the district office of a public school district. It is a very sedentary job. Best of luck to you! If you have other questions, please feel free to ask. Carol

Hi! I work out in some fashion every day. I have high intensity days, and some days that are lower. I have Fit Bit that I wear on my wrist like a watch that tracks my sleep an exercise. My goal is at least 5,000 steps on low work out days, and at least 10,000 on high days. I would say that I strive for 5 out of every seven days to be high intensity. I really encourage you to look at the Fit Bit, it helps so much with exercise and costs about $100. I am still losing weight every week and am just over 10 months out. I have lost 60 pounds in the second six months since surgery. My goal is to have lost 200 pounds by my 1 year check up. I currently lose about 1-2 pounds a week, so I think I have a reasonable chance to make it. I have never had a stall that lasted more than a day or two. That said, the weight did come off faster during the early months. I have not had a "dumping" episode, but I have been extremely careful about what I eat. I have not had any problems with good getting stuck or eating any kind of meat either. I have yet to find I food that I can't tolerate at least a bite of. Hope that's helpful! Carol

Welcome to the group! The group of people on this site are fabulous! I owe a great deal of my success to the support that I have received right here.

CONGRATULATIONS!! You inspire me!

Most people do not experience the feeling of 'hunger' following surgery for several months. My clinic told me that the sensation of hunger comes back around month 8 - it takes that long for the nerves to fully heal. It is why it is so important to stick with your clinic's plan as closely as possible during those first months - it is easier then. That said, you will still be tempted by food, the site or sent of something you really like. This 'head hunger' can feel very real. Drinking water has really helped me get through these times - and it sounds like you already discovered that. The beginning months, you are eating just to meet your Protein goal, not because your body is telling you it needs to eat. If you are busy enough, it would be very easy to forget to eat - something that is completely foreign to most of us - I know it was to me! Best of luck to you on Monday! Having surgery was the best decision I have ever made for myself. You are going to love the new you! Carol

The waiting and all the appointments drives you crazy! Just know it's part of the process. YOU WILL GET THERE!!

Actually, I do the same. Mustard is a freebie!

I think if we polled all that have had this done, we would find that for the majority there was a life event that put us over the top (so to speak). For me, it began when my son was diagnosed with Autism at age 3. A very difficult time, believe me. Now my son is a Junior in high school and doing great. He will graduate with his class next year and go on to post secondary education. But my weight had become completely out of control. I joined the YMCA thinking that if I started making better food choices and exercising regularly I could get back in control - oh was it a wake up call when I discovered that I couldn't exercise any more! If I put in 20 minutes on the treadmill, my knees and back hurt so badly that I was down for a several days to a week after. Without exercise, making better food choices just didn't help enough and the scale continued to climb. Surgery was my best option. It has been the best decision that I ever made. BUT IT IS NOT EASY! This too takes a lot of work and dedication. You must follow the plan, exercise EVERY DAY, and find a way to deal with the temptations and head hunger that will be there. When making a change like this having a good support system is critical. Without my husband and son on board I would never have had the success that I have had. I also had my co-workers on board with me - and they have also been a great support system. As are the people that I have met on this site. You will need that support, don't shut yourself off from it. True friends and those that love you will want you to be healthier. Finally, I want to say that I now work out nearly every day - and not just 20 minutes on a treadmill. I go for 2 mile walks at lunch, do Zumba twice a week and a kick-boxing class. I also do a weight lifting class. I still put in time on the treadmill or an elliptical. I can move again! I don't have pain! And the dreaded C-PAP is gone. The hard work is definately worth it. Best of luck! Carol

I want to add that my clinic also said no gummy vitamins. They do not contain iron, and we need iron. My doc said what happened to me is quite rare, especially in women. This is why it is so important to keep going back for follow-up appointments. Just because your blood work is good at 3 months or 6 months, does not mean that it will still be at one year. Just know that what you start with might not be what you are on for life. I had the standard RNY gastric bypass. Every body is different, sometimes adjustments need to be made.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That is what makes all the hard work worth it!

About two and a half months prior to surgery I found MyFitnessPal.com and began recording everything I ate. My surgeon needed me to lose 20 pounds prior to surgery to guarantee that he could do a laproscopic procedure, I did not want an open procedure, so it was a big motivator. I lost 39 pounds prior to surgery. I really believe that any changes you can make BEFORE surgery help hugely on the other side. I also found a protein shake I liked. I found a recumbent elliptical at the YMCA that I could do. I weighed over 330 pounds and had horrible knee and back pain, by the time I had my surgery, the pain was much better. I was able to walk around the floor the evening following my surgery. By the time I had to start my two week liquid diet, I had been off caffeine for a month, was not eating out, and was making very conscious eating decisions. All of this has played into the success that I have had. I am just over 10 months post surgery and have lost nearly 190 pounds. I am hoping to hit a 200 pound lost by my surgerversary on June 25. For me, the choices I made leading up to surgery laid the groundwork for success following surgery. Best of luck to you!! It's still a lot of work, but life is SO much better this year than last! It's worth it!!

Hi, I am 10 months out - so the transitions were a while ago for me. However, I was like you - VERY careful with what I ate in the beginning. Scrambled eggs or egg salad were big. Greek Yogurt and Greek Cottage cheese were also stapels. I also was able to eat tuna with some fat free Mericle Whip. I tried chili - but really didn't like it. I added unjury Protein powder to everything to help get my protein goal in. Good luck! You are doing great!

Mitz, I couldn't agree with you more! There is absolutely no aspect of my life that isn't improved (with the possible exception of my clothing budget!). The things I can do now - its amazing! And no pain!! I was so worried about not being able to take Advil - now I never need it! What a difference a year can make.

The only vitamin that I had to swallow after surgery was the vitamin D pill and that was never a problem. Every clinic is different. I followed my clinics advice and would encourage you to follow yours. My main point is that it changes with time so don't over buy.

Vitamins can change over time too. Right after surgery I used bariatric advantage chocolate chews (expensive, but very good!); Flinstones Complete Chewables; B12 sublingual; and vitamin D. After my six month blood work, it changed. My body was holding on to too much iron, which I am told is rare, especially in women. As a result, I take a Flinstones Complete in the morning, and a One A Day Gummy with dinner. Gummy Vitamins do not contain iron. I now also take my calcium in Citrical Petites (much more economical, but I miss the chocolate!) I tell you this so you don't over buy. They will check my blood work again at my 12 month visit, and it would not surprise me if they change again.

I apologize ahead of this post, this is not a pretty post! I have been very lucky regarding dumping. I have had none of the problems I have read here that so many have. However, we went to the Wisconsin Dell's for a few days and on Sunday night I had broiled walleye for dinner. Ate half, felt great. The next morning I got up early to use the treadmill at the hotel we were staying at. Put in 40 minutes, drank Water while exercising, felt great. Walked back to our room to wake the family and get the day started. Hubby got up and went in the bathroom. All of a sudden, I had horrible stomachs cramps. Told hubby that I had an emergency and I was going to need the toilet as soon as he could be done. Went to lay down, thinking that would help. Stomach cramps just kept getting worse. A minute later I realized that I was not going to be able to wait for hubby to be done. Was going to go down the hall and use that restroom. Stood up, and had no control. liquid (diarrhea) just leaked out. Finally got in the bathroom and filled the toilet. So, here's the question: can dumping happen over something you ate more than ten hours ago? This could have been bad fish (although teenage son ate the other half and was fine), or even though the menu said 'broiled' maybe they used a fat (butter or oil) to broil it in. The fish tasted very good. Though I have not been sick since, my stomach has not felt exactly right since either. I wouldn't think dumping would stay with you. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks!! Carol

But nothing I ate that day was fried, greasy, or high in sugar. My clinic decided that it was really a hypoglycemic episode. We had been VERY active in the Water park (climbed at least 600 stairs) and then I had gotten up and worked out on the treadmill without eating any Protein first. I had not increased my protein or calorie intake at all to make up for the added activity. After the workout, my doc felt that my blood surgars just plummeted, which caused a dumping like syndrome, but they felt was completely unrelated to my surgery. They told me that this could happen to anybody that ate very little and was very active - apparently it is known to happen to marathon runners. I have never had another episode like it, but I have not ever reached the same activity level that I did that weekend either. I am also a bit more careful to add a high protein snack if I feel that my activity level is above normal. Just another of the many lessons learned on this journey!

It shouldn't be. I don't think I scheduled my pre op until after I had my surgery date. They want the pre op physical to be less than 30 days from surgery. GOOD LUCK!!

Thank you! I have received so much support right here. I owe much of my success to being active on this site. I have just under 12 pounds to my goal of 200 pounds lost be my Surgiversay. Tonight I am off to Zumba. It takes work, but can be done. I am living proof! I am happy to answer questions for any that have them. I would love to pay forward all the support I have received. Carol

I am 10 months out and could not be happier with my decision. I have lost more that 185 pounds and just purchased SIZE 6 jeans. My results have surpassed my wildest fantasies! That said, those first weeks are really tough, or were for me. When I was able to eat it didn't feel anything like a meal. I just wanted to feel normal again. Not with junk food or eating a lot, but having a meal that looked a bit like the plate you see with the recommendations for healthy eating. It takes time, but you will get there. Stay true to your plan. You are going to love the new you!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have worked SOOO hard for this! Do something special for yourself, you deserve it!

You are less that 4 weeks out! At that point I was only getting maybe 300 calories max and most of that came from my Protein Shake. I think you are getting plenty of calories. Listen to your NUT, worry about protein and Water. In the beginning that is the most important. Good luck!

I am just over 10 months out. I don't think anybody gets this new lifestyle perfect - you can't expect perfection or you will always be dissapointed. That said, I would recommend that you get on MyFitnessPal.com and begin tracking what you are eating. This free app gives you the suggested serving sizes and tracks your Protein and calories for you. It would also help you to know what foods are going to make you sick. My 'for life' plan is about 1 cup of food per meal. My protein target is 80 - 90 grams of protein each day. The only way to know exactly what you are eating is to measure. I found a great digital food scale at Target for about $25.00, but I know that others have found them online and at other stores. It doesn't have to be expensive, it just needs to be accurate. Go back to the basics, get your Water in, eat protein first, don't drink when you are eating. If you are really struggling, contact your clinic. They should also be able to help you get back on track - its what they are there for! Good Luck! Carol