bellabloom

Yes I'm still in eating disorder therapy. It's 8 hours a day every day. You could say I'm getting some therapy. It's difficult to progress emotionally because I'm struggling so much physically. I wasn't eating before much at all so now that I am eating more I'm seeing how sick physically I still am and how hard this is.

A therapist can't help me with the physical issues I'm having. My eating disorder is only compounded by these complications from my surgery. It's hard enough for me to eat emotionally as it is, I'm fighting that now and have upped my intake, which is bringing all these problems to the surface. I was avoiding eating altogether because of these physical issues and that's a huge part of why I slipped into anorexia. Anorexia isn't just a mental problem, people can become anorexic because of physical problems too.

Not unless you would like to stay the same weight. Also, dumping is lovely. Trust me you don't want to find out if you do!!

It's interesting to me what exactly "success" looks like. Does success mean getting to goal weight? Staying at goal weight? Losing 100 pounds off 400 pounds? Losing 50 pounds from 250 pounds? Being "thin"? Being only slightly overweight but healthy and happy? Being almost to goal or at goal and miserable? Success means different things to different people. Some people lose the weight only to find they don't like it! Some people never move away from food as a coping tool. Some people just find it didn't matter to them that much. People are just different and need different things to be happy. We have to accept people for what they are and focus on our own path. What does "success" look like to you?

@ashlegal. Good points all!!

It hurts when I eat too. I'm sorry you're going though this.

The dehydrating effects is the reason. It's really hard to stay hydrated after surgery. You can have caffeine, just in moderation and with plenty of Water.

I'm also terrified to regain weight. One has to be careful with this fear. It keeps me on track and honest for the most part but it is also exhausting to do afraid of it after awhile. I've ended up underweight because I'm too scared to up my calories. It's easy to slip into black and white thinking. At some point one as to come off of a diet- you just can't diet forever! Trusting in your body and allowing for some wiggle room in the diet. I think people regain weight for one of two reasons. A lack of commitment to change in the first place and not really liking being thinner OR such dramatic dieting that eventually they can't handle it anymore and begin to overeat instead. I think the key to maintainence long term is moderation and portion control combined with mindful eating, and the occasional check to make sure things are still on track. Being more relaxed and allowing some fun foods and not having to count every bite each day. I wish I could get there myself.

I HAD to chew something after my surgery. I chewed up some pickles and spit them out. It helped. Hahaha. Whatever works.

Yup. It's one of the easiest things for me to eat and digest.

I could probably eat a half of one. I'm a year out. It might make me puke if I tried to eat the whole thing. Hamburgers are tough for me.

Sorry, but rice is reallllllly hard to eat. It expands in your stomach. I puke with white rice almost every time. Brown rice is a little better. It took a year to eat rice.

It really depends on how your struggling. Is it physical? Emotional? Mental? Give us more info. I've also struggled with food intake for a variety of reasons. It can be very challenging and scary to lose too much weight. There are a lot of dangers involved to being underweight. I have a slow heart rate, abnormally low blood pressure, malnutrition, and hair loss. This is just the beginning. Don't wait and go see whomever it is you need to see to get this sorted out immediately. And if you give us more info maybe we can give more specific advice. hang in there.

Cowgirljane really hits it on the head. When you have this surgery you lose the ability to use food as a coping mechanism and it's difficult to adjust and one must start exploring other behaviors to cope. There is a shock and a loss that happens. There is the realization life will never be the same. There are so many adjustments to make. I've also dealt with a stricture and it is ROUGH. it's draining and exhausting. Give yourself a break, some understanding, and some time. You will adjust and feel better in time.

How underweight? What does your doctor say about it? I am also in this position somewhat

Almost at one year!! Let's get updates on everyone on how they are doing.

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Wow a huge difference already!! Happy for you

I'm not really a vet at one year but what the heck. I took the liquid calcium posted above and it's actually not too bad. It tastes like yogurt and could be easily mixed into one.

Cowgirl, you give some of the best advice on here. And it's important for the semi new like me and the brand new ones that those vets stick around and give us advice!! I need to hear about your experiences to prepare for long term life with bariatric surgery. I personally think that when your brand new you have tunnel vision. I know I did. I was so desperate to have the survey be a magic answer. I didn't want to hear about struggles or complications. And many many people are like that!!! No one want to really face the facts- this surgery comes as a cost to almost everyone. But once the honeymoon phase ended I wanted all the help and advice I could get. I'm realizing now this is a lifelong thing I have done and I have to learn to live with it. Please don't go away because we need the support of those like you!!!

My only concern is are you sure you won't lose more weight and your ready to stop trying? I think you look great and really beautiful but it's all about you and your wishes for yourself. You sound frustrated at not having made goal. You know you won't gain weight- why don't you have that confidence in losing the rest? This is because, once you have plastics, if you lose more weight you'll have to have them again. My best friend had plastics higher than goal weight, then regretted it as now, three years later she wants to try and lose more and she is. She will have to do plastics again!! Make sure you really are done before you commit to this. If you are done, then power to you!! Have it done !!!tell the naysayers to stf up, they need to respect your boundaries.

hair loss happens. It's not related to Protein I'm afraid. It's good to get your protein in for other reasons, but you may lose hair regardless. Or you may not! It's just luck. Take your Vitamins and eat your nutrients. Take Biotin in your vitamins. And try not to worry. It's so worth it to lose this weight and it stops eventually.

Hey everyone. Here is me before at 245 and me now at 118. I'm 5'6 and 35 years old. I'm definitely at goal of not a bit under weight now. I'm working hard on maintaining and not losing anymore. I had surgery about one year ago.

Are you tracking your calories? I'm of the belief that low carb is not enough. If your eating too many calories, you won't lose weight period the end.

I throw up if I eat too much or too fast. I'm about 10 months out. It's hard but one learns to avoid doing it eventually. Throwing up sucks.