Babbs

@@WitchySar Won't hurt to try? I'm an anomaly. Pot seems to INTENSIFY pain for me. Does that happen to anyone else?

First, and I know this is going to piss people off, but I think anyone who hasn't been maintaining their weight for any amount of time should reply. Period. They can't possibly understand the struggles of maintenance and regain post surgery. Things are just....different after a couple of years. I could have written this post. Our stats are very similar, as is our experience. Last spring, after comfortably maintaining for 10 months or so at 144-145, I suddenly started gaining. I wasn't eating differently, but I was busy with work and wasn't exercising like I should. The scale kept creeping up until I got to almost 150. And it seemed to happen in a matter of weeks! I buckled down and it WOULD NOT COME OFF until I decided to do intermittent fasting, or 5:2 (you can Google it). On my non fast days I would eat 1000 calories of Protein, veggies, and very low carb. I also went back to my normal exercise routine of a little running, stair machine and weights. It took 3 months, but I finally got it off. After we maintain for a while, our metabolisms change, and ANY change in our routine can cause gain. Then if we don't jump start our metabolisms again, the regain is damn hard to get back off. That's what the intermittent fasting seemed to do is boost my metabolism. I suspect part of your gain is from the new exercise routine, so I wouldn't stress too much about that. Keep that up, track your intake and eat at least 90 grams of protein, low carb, low sugar, and try the intermittent fasting to get the rest off. Good luck to you! I'm rooting for you!

Well, that's it. I deem you a complete failure at 2.5 weeks out. I say you go to the surgeon and demand your stomach back! Look, I get it. It took me 12 months to lose 85 pounds. Then it took me another 3 to lose 7 more before my weight loss stopped. If it makes you feel any better, I've also seen people who lose more months 2 or 3 than the first month. Doesn't make it any less frustrating. Us 'slower' losers are a special breed. I think we have an advantage because we learn patience and above all, persistence. Makes us appreciate how hard we worked for our losses, and makes us want to work harder at keeping it off. You'll get there. If you follow your program 95% of the time, the next thing you know, you'll be at goal. Once you're in maintenence, it won't matter one bit how long it took

I think it's sad the stigma involved with marijuana. The way you had to throw the 'disclaimer' in before you posted your question. I mean, nobody does that with alcohol? 26 states have marijuana legal in some form, and I'm sure more will follow. It's SO much less dangerous than alcohol. My dad was a pot smoker and a drinker. Guess what he died from at 56? Cirrhosis from drinking. Yup. That being said, I'm a very casual smoker. Like before surgery, a couple times every few months, to after surgery a couple times a year (2.5 years out from surgery). I would just be careful newly post op. I think you should wait until you are at least fully healed at around a couple months or so. I ended up cutting way back on smoking it because it hurt when I cough (No idea if it has anything to do with surgery or not, but i can actually feel it in my tummy sometimes when I do), and I would get a little bit of the munchies, although not too bad. I have a hard enough time staying on track lately, so I don't want anything making it even more difficult for me! Anyway, my two cents

What an incredibly smart comment. And totally correct. Here is what I've observed in others and even with me: At first, when you're losing and feel so in control of things, you get almost evangelical about weight loss and healthy habits. You feel like you have the tiger by the tail, so why shouldn't others go the same route you did to lose weight and be healthy? You want to take aside every fat person you see and recommend WLS. And sometimes, it's shameful to say, you even may look on them with disgust. As time goes on and people settle in to their new way of life and they really start to understand the struggle it is to continue to lose or maintain what you've lost even with WLS, you tend to soften a little and actually feel empathy for them, because we know how hard it is, with or without WLS. I no longer feel the need to reach out to them anymore and talk about WLS, though, because I think they know they are obese, and only when they are good and ready will they do anything about it. Just like all of us did.

@@autymn No. Just....no. I know it doesn't stretch the sleeve because I can eat the exact same amount I could a year ago and I've been drinking carbonation for a year. There's your "study".

Nope. I refuse to have food be my enemy with 'good' or 'bad' foods. That's the old diet mentality. I make choices with food. I choose to eat on plan 90-95% of the time, so when I choose to go off plan and have a piece of cake or a couple of cocktails, I don't feel guilty about it whatsoever. I know I'm still eating well the rest of the time, so it's fitting into my plan. When the choices I'm making causes me to gain a pound or two, I dial things back and follow plan closer to 100% of the time until those couple of pounds come off. No harm, no foul. Obviously I followed my plan closer to 98% of the time during the losing phase to get where I wanted to be, but this 'mindful moderation' way of doing things has worked for me for 2.5 years during the losing phase, and especially the maintenence phase. As long as what I'm eating aren't trigger foods that will cause me to completely go off the rails, I can balance it. I'm in this for the long haul, and I know if I compartmentalize what is good or bad, it just feels too much like a diet to me, and we all know how well THOSE work for us

Not everyone has a bunch of issues post op. I could drink and eat no problem, no pain. 2.5 years post op and haven't thrown up once. One thing people don't realize is all the nerves have been comprmised and cut when the stomach was cut and stapled back up. That makes feeling wonky for a while, and why some don't get the "full" sensation right away. It's always best to measure out your amounts so you don't inadvertently over eat because your feeling isn't quite there yet.

I found myself at a WLS regain support group site someone had recommend in another thread just to check it out, and read this comment the founder of the regain program said about revisions: "If I had a dime for everyone who asks about ‘a Revision’, I would not have to work. Even if you need a revision due to a mechanical band failure, you still ate your way through the first surgery. If do not change the way you eat and have more surgery, you will eat your way through that one as well. More surgery is not the answer. Bariatric surgery is not a dam that is built to hold back the deluge FOREVER, it’s meant to hold back our eating and remove the bulk of the weight burden while we get our act together!" I know this is going to be a touchy subject for some, but what are your thoughts about the above statement? I have always agreed with her sentiment, but also don't like to paint everyone with the same broad brush because just like with anything, there are always special circumstances. What say you?

This is such a great point. I, being the perfectionist I am and a little OCD, would have loved to lose an even 100 pounds and get to 135. But alas, my body said NOPE and stopped at my low of 141, and I hang out now at 143-145 pretty comfortably. I tried losing more using various methods, but to no avail. But I can deal. I'm healthy and happy with how I look.

Click my profile!

@@Djmohr I love this post and I adore you! Even though we basically had our surgeries at the same time, I've always looked up to you for your great, no nonsense but kind advice. I am also so very proud of how far you've come and how much you've overcome! You're my hero PS You look FABULOUS!!

EVERY TIME I cut back on my exercise, even a little, I gain. I agree with you. I think our metabolisms get into a "groove", and any little change will cause gains. So see? Maintenance is simple, really. Just keep doing what we've been doing to keep the weight off. Too bad life gets in the way of that sometimes

@@hdiaz The statement the poster made about thinking they were doing something wrong because they haven't lost as much was a comparison of weight loss, correct? Look, I've been around the block with this. I've seen people get their panties in a wad because they haven't lost as much as their aunt's cousin's sister's best friend did. There are HUNDREDS of posts I've seen over the last 3 years about "slow weight loss". It's human nature to want to compare, but I'm just saying it can be a potentially self destructive and demotivating road to go down. I know, and I don't want to see others fall into that trap. After all, comparison is the thief of joy.

Good gosh!!! Well that makes me feel like I am doing something very wrong Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Aaaand this is why I hate it when people want to compare weight loss.

It took me 5 months to lose 50 pounds. Just sayin.

@@SarahSleeve Keep in mind men lose MUCH faster than women. Try not to get so hung up on the numbers. How much each individual loses is variable for many reasons. You'll just end up disappointed if you set unrealistic expectations for weight loss. Instead try to learn as much as you can about post op life and prepare for the complete lifestyle changes this surgery requires. The rest will follow.

I woke up in some pain on my right side where my stomach was pulled through the large incision, once I got pain meds I was off and running. No gas pain, and it just felt like I'd worked out my abs too much getting in and out of bed. I was showering and walking the halls (not at the same time) the next day no problem. I ended up with a migraine for some unknown reason which was much worse than any surgical pain I had.

Fair enough. And that's exactly what surgeons advise, also.

This particular stall really has nothing to do with any of those things. It's nothing we do wrong, just physiology. Further down the road? I think those things have everything to do with stalls. Anyway, here's why this stall happens 3-6 weeks after surgery: A "stall" a few weeks after surgery is not uncommon, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs. of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when a patient is not getting in enough food, the body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. Then when 2 lbs. of glycogen is used a patient will also lose 8 lbs. of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs. that most people lose in the first week of a diet. However, when the body stays in a caloric deficit state the body starts to realize that this is not a short-term problem. Then the body starts mobilizing fat from adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But the body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. As it puts back the 2 lbs. of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs. of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though the patient might still be losing energy content to their body, the weight will not go down or it might even gain for a while as the retention of water dissolves the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

My husband who had a bypass almost 11 years ago advanced stages too early, also. He had to get a scope stuck down his esophagus because he had a piece of steak stuck. He was so embarrassed, lol. But it could have been SO much worse.

@@Hiraeth You've contradicted yourself several times just from your original post. First you said it was the split fee, then you said it was them being rude. It is ridiculous and unreasonable to be upset over a policy that's already in place just because you don't like it. It's their policy, they have the right to enforce it. As someone who works with contracts, if it's anywhere on the menu, you have no claim to say it's not fair because you didn't see the disclaimer. The fact that the disclaimer is there is good enough for a court of law. Like I said, them being rude is the bigger issue, but let's just admit you basically started it by demanding they not charge you the fee they state they charge in the first place. I've worked in customer service for 20 years. I always treat my clients and customers with the utmost respect, but that doesn't mean they are always right, and I will politely tell them so. That "Customer is Always Right" rule is a crock and only allows them to take complete advantage of the business owner, and good business owners know how to handle the situation by sticking to their guns, but at the same time doing it in a respectful manner.

Listening to our bodies did so well for us before, we had to have WLS because we got so fat. I don't think we are very good at "listening to our bodies" when it comes to food. Just sayin'.

I think this is more the issue. It was stated on the menu, so it belonged. Just sayin'. Don't leave a bad review just because you don't like a policy. But leaving a bad review because you felt they were rude to you is perfectly acceptable. I think it was handled incorrectly on both sides, IMO.

Harsh. I like it.