Forsythia

Pre-op, yes. If you have to do a liquid diet two weeks pre-op then you can eat them until that point. Post op - no, not until you are allowed back on a full solids diet. Which, depending on your surgeon could be one month or several months! My biggest issue with the bars is that a lot of them are full of sugar/carbs, so you really have to eyeball the labels!

I lost some of that pre-op. I've lost 40.5 lbs since the surgery two months ago. So that is 20 lbs a month average. It's good to make changes pre-op. That way you get used to doing things differently. Just make small changes. Don't try to go all "whole foods veggies are awesome!!!" and burn yourself out. Just get rid of pop. Swap out ice cream for sugar free popcicles. Start going to a gym and get used to it (okay lets be honest I don't know if I will ever be 100% used to it but I can go to the gym and use the weights and not be all freaked out by the muscley dudebros). And log your food. There is nothing quite as eye opening as seeing that you have eaten 600 calories in french fries written down on myfitnesspal.com for posterity.

Initially I was on a Centrum chewable. But two months out now, I've switched to a prenatal (I'm not pregnant, but my NUT recommended either one pre-natal or two normal Vitamins, so I opted for one pill rather than two). The prenatal Vitamin is huge. I swallow it fine. But I was on the chewables for months before my surgery and about 6 weeks after it. If you are worried, get a Flintstones kids chewable vitamin!

In a word, nope. I could die crossing the street tomorrow. I could trip down the steps and break my neck, forever altering my life. I could have a miserable life at 312 lbs or take the chance for a better life after surgery. I was diabetic and had high blood pressure at 37. I opted for the surgery. I trusted the anesthesiologist to do his job, just like I trusted my surgeon to do his job.

Slow is better than not moving down at all. Or going up. I think I must have gained and lost the same 20 lbs over and over again before I had my sleeve. Stay positive!

I used to think Greek yogurt was pretty vile. I eat a ton of the stuff now. Otherwise, I unfortunately still have my sweet tooth. Oh, the Protein powder I used to use pre-op ended up tasting thick and gross afterword. I haven't magically started liking cucumbers or anything post op.

Generally your surgeon will advise you wait 4 to 6 weeks before you lift weights. After that you are free to lift heavy, do vigorous cardio, etc. Plenty of people run post sleeve, or take high intensitity classes like cross fit or do high impact aerobics if they choose! I'm still working on the awesome shape part, but I go to the gym 4 days a week and generally squeeze in almost 2 hours there - close to an hour of cardio and 45 or so minutes of weights. I think eventually I will be doing more weights and less cardio as I get further along - I'm only two months out!

For me, I did not want to reroute my plumbing, as it were. I did not like the idea of messing with my digestion. So when I was looking into getting surgery the choice was easy. Even though long term stats are better for bigger people with the RNY, I just was not comfortable with rerouted intestines and malabsorption for the rest of my life. Like WhoKnows, I'm only 37, I didn't want to have to deal with malabsorption for another 30 or 40 plus years.

You are not your weight. Yes, you have excess weight on you right now, but you can't let your life be defined by it. You are an interesting person with hopes and dreams and family and friends. Don't let your weight crush you emotionally. Obsession just leads to crabbiness and possibly the psych telling you you need to come back for a repeat visit to work on your issues before your surgery.

I must be weird because I can eat yogurt and be full afterwards for several hours. So it is not a slider for me.

I still have boobs.. for now. I am down from a 44D to a 42C though. I never had giant boobs though (at least not for my weight - I feel like I was never a full D to begin with).

I'm a water retainer. It's the worst. Friday at work I was wearing shorts and I looked down at my ankles and it was swollen city down there (I have always had freakishly dainty, thin ankles). So I totally feel your pain. Just drink more water!.

I too, am a daily weigher, bu I do not log my weight daily on MFP, I only record the losses . LOL. I tend to retain Water so I know some days it's gonna be up. It's nice to see it go down though. Like Lipstick Lady said, it really is fascinating.

I've tried to be up near 1200 calories, especially on days when I am working out. I find that since I got up near 1200 calories, my weight loss has been much more consistent. I burn a lot of calories doing cardio. Of course, I could say this and just stall starting tomorrow out but hey

The good news is that your surgeon will want you walking and up and about ASAP after the surgery. So even if that walk is only 5 minutes before you feel exhausted you can start exercising via a walk, right away. Five days post op I was cleared for general cardio - treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical - nothing too robust. No high impact or anything. After 6 weeks you are clear to lift weights. If you are worried about skin, lifting weights is what you want to concentrate on. While it will not take care of all the loose skin, lifting weights will help build muscles and tighten up some of the loose skin. For everything else, well, that's why they make shapewear.

OMG.. did you guys know that Yoplait makes apple pie flavored Greek yogurt? It totes tastes like apple freakin pie. My mouth was rocked accordingly. If you like apple pie, yours will be too. Why was I not made aware of apple pie flavored yogurt sooner?? I like coconut, and they make a coconut flavor, but I suggest - why not coconut cream pie flavored? Come on Yoplait, you can do it. For me. (Honestly, I like coconut everything. Coconut water, coconut scented shampoo and conditioner, lotion... toasted coconut candles. Coconut lime reed diffusers.. I could go on). I've officially lost more than 40 lbs in the 8 weeks since my surgery. 40.5 to be exact. Last night I told my Dad that. They he had the nerve to ask me what I used to weigh. I'm a classy broad, and a classy broad never reveals her weight to people she knows, lest she have to kill them. Frankly murder is so messy what with all the blood and cleaning up afterward (For the record, I AM TOTALLY KIDDING AND AM NOT A KILLER). My husband doesn't even know my weight. I know my Dad is a big guy too but I'm pretty sure I'm fatter than him and I just cannot have him knowing that I am THAT heavy. I told him I would let him know once I was below 200 lbs what my weight is.

I was sleeved on Cinco de Mayo (that's the 5th of May if your Spanish is rusty)! Some people Celebrate with a taco and a margarita, I had surgery. LOL. I started at 312, got down to 294 pre surgery and am currently sitting at 267. My highest weight ever was 335.

You cannot compare yourself to others. Can't Can't Can't! You'll just end up frustrated. I think to think of what I am doing differently this time compared to last time I tried to lose weight. Am I going to the gym more, eating better choices? It sounds selfish but focus on you!

Here is how I would suggest you prepare yourself for your surgery. Start making changes now. Pop? Get rid of if now. Make your peace with water and crystal light or sugar free mixes. Start tasting protein shakes but don't buy a stockpile. Your tastes might change. Buy baby forks and spoons and bowls. Get a food scale (especially if you cook at home) - you will be shocked when you weigh out a portion size at how small 2oz really is. If you can, start walking around the neighborhood or a track to get used to doing some exercise. Your surgeon will want you walking EVERY day post-op. Track what you eat using myfitnesspal, either online or their app.

Mine are fine. I'm a pretty fast healer in general though. Five days post op I saw the surgical team and they were quite happy with how mine healed up. But again, I don't know that I am typical. I come from a line of robust healers. LOL!

I was not interested in having my plumbing rerouted, even though I need to lose more than 100 lbs, so I chose a sleeve. So far it has been working out great. My diabetes is already in check and I've lost close to 40 lbs in seven weeks.

I was given the choice of taking two Multivitamins and a B-12 a day or one pre-natal and a B-12 (on top of the Vitamin D I have already been taking), so I bought the pre-natals. Those things are giant red horse pills. But, hey, one less pill. I don't have issues swallowing pills post surgery. You might try taking them with food if you can. Also, try a chewable like Flintstones. Might be less barfy?

Is your pre-op diet liquid only or can you have meat/dairy? If so, take advantage of that and get yourself a whole rotisserie chicken and a bunch of Greek yogurt. My pre-op diet was just low carb/high Protein. I did suck down a lot of shakes, but I also ate a lot of meat/dairy because I was allowed it.

I was allowed to have pureed fruit (think like baby food - applesauce, pureed mangoes etc) right away. Once on the softs I was allowed canned or frozen fruits. Canned fruit had to be packed in Water or juice (not syrup), but you should not drink the juice.