Designer Edit

Okay, so are there others out there like me? I'm almost a year post op but haven't lost much in the last 5 months. To be honest, I haven't tried very hard at all since about 1 month post op... Just ate and drank what I wanted. The restriction was enough to lose 65lbs but now I'm just yo-yoing around 5lbs. I still have 40 to lose. It was just so magical for the first 6 months... I didn't do any of the things I said I would (change habits, start working out, quit drinking Diet Coke). Anyway, I'm about ready to start losing again (which is clearly going to take some effort this time). Is anyone else out there admittedly as bad of a self-saboteur as me? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Good for you! If you love spinning and your body is feeling good because you're going 5 times a week, who cares about 4 measly little pounds? I can gain and lose that from the first to last day of my period!!! You're eating healthy, you're super active, and you're drinking lots of water... That 4 pounds won't hang on forever and even if it does, your body will start to change! A previous poster said that your body is reacting to a change in routine and that's probably exactly right. And changes can have an effect for up to 6 weeks!! Just keep doing what makes you feel good and the positive difference will come!

I was worried about this when I got my surgery too. I've lost weight a little slower (on purpose so I didn't wreck my metabolism and in hopes that my skin could keep up with my weight loss). I'm down 65lbs and have about 55 to go and yes, my belly (and now my rear too), hangs more than I was hoping. My husband did some research for me and the only real way of getting the skin to tighten back up again without surgery is to drop down to a very low body fat percentage... Like dangerously low. The reason the skin can't tighten back up is because there's fat trapped in little pockets which prevent the skin from bouncing back. Obviously most of us have also damaged the skin but apparently if you get body-builder skinny, your skin has a fighting chance of tightening. The likelihood of me doing this is pretty slim but I will give my skin a couple of years to tighten before I consider surgery. After all, it took me a couple of decades to gain all that weight - I should probably give my stomach some time to do its thing before I cut it off!!

I'm no sleeve expert as I'm only a month post op but I was definitely a dieting expert since I've been on and off every diet for 25 years. Here are some ideas: 1) If measuring food is a really big pain in the rear (I get it), maybe pre-plan one day and then repeat it all week so you aren't having to figure out your nutrients and calories every day. This isn't a permanent solution (because that would be so boring) but if the scale moves in the direction you want, it will confirm that you've just gotten a little off track. Try 5 meals, no Snacks. 7:30am shake, 10:30am quiche, 1:30pm cottage cheese/avocado/tomato, 4:30pm shake, 7:30pm dinner... Or whatever works with your lifestyle. I also have a 500ml bottle I fill with infused Water. I know I have to drink 4 of these a day and if I drink one in between every meal, I'll get them all in. You just have to find a pattern that fits into your day. 2) A lot of people say to go back to the basics - get your 70g of Protein (or whatever you were originally told). Then focus on your 60oz of water. Then look at your carbs. This doesn't have to be something you tackle all at once. Monday & Tuesday - just focus on protein. Wednesday & Thursday - keep up the protein but add in a focus on water consumption. Friday & Saturday - maintain protein and water and now have a look at your carbs. You probably gradually got off track so try being patient with yourself while you get back on track. 3) if you work out a lot, you need some carbs but we all know some are better than others. I have a friend who doesn't eat carbs past noon. It helps her feel satiated and never deprived but it keeps carbs under control because she's very strict about her rule. 4) Are you possibly just stalled? From a lot of what other people have said, stalls are a real thing that can completely derail you if your motivation comes from past success. I just came off my first stall-out and it was mental torture. But what everyone says is true - there's very little you can do except be diligent about eating well, be patient, and be kind to yourself. Most of us will beat ourselves up because we have a lifetime of practise. Just remember that you've done a great job of changing your life and there will be obstacles along the way FOREVER! It's how you handle the obstacles that will determine your future successes and the ease with which you're able to move past issues as they arise. I get it. My laziness and love for food have landed me here but you can do it - you just have to get out your measuring cups and scale. It's hard at first. It's the last thing you want to add to your day. But in the grand scheme of things, isn't it worth just checking to see if this is the problem?

I read this on My Fitness Pal: "Water weight loss returns: A rapid drop in weight is normal during the first few weeks of weight loss, but what you may not realize is that a fair amount of this initial weight decrease comes from water lost as the body uses up carbohydrate stores in the form of glycogen (sugar). As carbohydrate intake fluctuates day-to-day, it’s not uncommon for some, if not all, of that water weight to return, which can offset fat loss and cause a plateau." So perhaps a focus on inches rather than weight? You could still be losing fat but gaining water which appears to be a stall but really isn't. I'm 3 weeks post op and have been stalled for 4 days. BUT I'm not meeting my goals so I'll be working very hard to get my Protein and water up and my carbs down. I'm still baffled at how I could eat less than 800 calories (of anything) and not lose weight. Our bodies are so bloody complex!!!!!

My sister and I were sleeved (our first WLS) on the same day, by the same surgeon and our experiences are completely different. My sister is really struggling with food - everything feels like she's eating rocks, nothing is consistent (the same Soup will upset her stomach one day and go down great the next), and some days she's really rundown. On the other hand, I feel like I could eat anything if I chewed it well enough (we're 20 day post op). I have a little heart burn and sometimes I forget to eat slowly but for the most part, I've felt pretty good. I even had a small bite of my husband's homemade burger last night - no issues. I think it just comes down to the fact that everyone is different. I don't think people who are struggling had a lesser surgery. I think it's just that our chemical makeups are different! The one thing that seems pretty consistent though, is that at the 6 month mark, everyone feels good!!

I'm 20 days post op and things improve everyday. I had mild pain (nothing you're describing) but it was about a week before I could take deep breaths because it really hurt my whole abdomen to breath very deeply. The stairs to my room were torture. But the gas went away, the pain subsided, and my energy came back. Hang in there. If the pain isn't getting better everyday, you should call your doctor. You really should feel better each day, even if it's marginal.

Oh really? 5 weeks?? That's really interesting. Did your surgeon tell you why? My sister is having troubles stomaching them but I also don't want to start losing my hair so I'm torn. I'm not taking them all yet, just trying to take the ones that will help with absorption and immediate symptoms (like weakness and dizziness).

Yeah, I can definitely see phase 2 becoming intolerable quickly... But I bet those first 2 days will be glorious!! The Jello is called Ideal Protein. We stumbled across it at a local pharmacy in Calgary. You can probably order it online though. The Protein drinks they carry are not that good but the Jello is delicious! I'm actually feeling decent today. My sister and I both had our surgeries on Monday evening in Mexico (which in hindsight, sounds even crazier than before we went) but everything went well. I would have preferred to do it here but the wait list is 3-5 years and I couldn't afford to pay out of pocket. The incisions are healing pretty well - a bit red and bruised but not painful and our stomachs don't hurt and we're not nauseous. I took pain killers for a headache last night but all in all, feel fine. Just really tired and weak. I'm having a hard time with the medications and Vitamins but I talked to my doctor and the pharmacist and they both think switching to chewable vitamins would be fine. So I'm off to the store for a yummy treat! Haha!

Ha! Bet you didn't think you'd ever be saying that!!! I'm on day 5 post op and the nasty Protein drinks and broth is getting old fast! We found this Jello that has collagen protein in it - that's helped a lot. But yeah... Protein shakes and low-fat cream Soups are looking really good these days! Can't wait for phase 2!!

Oh wow! You had to do full and clear liquids before surgery? That would be really hard. I only had to do 1 week no carb, 8 hrs only water, 8 hours of nothing leading up to surgery. You're a very dedicated person to be able to do that long of a no-food diet prior to surgery! Good luck with everything. 6 more days!!!!

Just got back from Mexico two days ago in the evening. The traveling home was rough and yesterday wasn't awesome (day 4) but this morning I woke up feeling a lot better. It was the first good sleep I've had because I could easily move into different positions! So 4 rough days to start my new life isn't too bad!! I definitely feel lied to though. Whoever said they didn't feel hungry the first week must have been crazy! All I want to do is eat something!!!!

We're back home in Canada after a long day and doing well. One question I have to ask you all though - did you actually crush and eat the antibiotics every 12 hours? The taste was horrid... Like made me gag, got the hiccups (ouch), never want to take it again horrid!! Going to see if I can get an appointment with my GP tomorrow for an alternative - liquid or injection or whatever!!

My fear was that I'd instantly regret it, especially once I was in a bit of pain but the pain meds knock you out so you won't really have a chance to process it and when you do, it's fine. The fear is the real enemy!! By now you've had it anyway so let us know how you're feeling when you feel up to it! Talk soon, Gen

Hey Trice, Did I see you in the waiting room entering the clinic? I was really out of it still so I'm not sure if that was you. My sister and I are with Kiki and Machè (sp?) at the recovery house now. The surgeries went well even though my sister and I had a mild melt-down about 1 hr before wondering, "why are we doing this to ourselves". It only took a few minutes of talking to remember all of the benefits (I think it was hunger, thirst, and a bit of a language barrier that made me panic). The doctors and nurses were so warm and friendly - a real pleasure to be in their care. My sister didn't have her surgery until 8pm last night so she's still more sore and loopy than I am but we're both doing well and the other ladies seem to be too! Good luck and you're in our thoughts!

Thanks T! Lots of good vibes your way too!!!!

We'll see you there! My sister and I are scheduled for 5pm and 6pm tomorrow. The nerves kicked in last night and, of course, my mind went to the worst place possible as I was snuggling my son. But I'm confident everything will turn out great and my new life with my family will begin this week!! Really looking forward to kicking a ball around without feeling my joints scream!! Best wishes ladies!!!

Hey CrissyG! Glad to hear you're doing well and so close to goal. I can't believe that if I have similar results to yours, that I'll be down 60ish pounds by mid November! Looking forward to autumn shopping!! You must be feeling pretty good? Have you indulged a little and bought some cute new things? I have a question for you about fullness. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the tiny meals... Do you eat 2oz of food and think, "ugh, I'm stuffed... I can't eat another bite?" It just doesn't seem to make sense to my brain (which loves eating and sometimes gets annoyed that my stomach gets full too soon). Fullness is literally the only thing that stops me from wanting more but I'm still kind of unclear what to expect. Does it feel full like before or is it a different sensation?

Cal-K (calcium potassium) can help a lot with headaches and leg cramps (which can form a few days in).

Oh, that's a great idea... And a grim reminder of the cost of weight loss!! That's a meal?! Haha!

I'm not a fan of Jello either but I suspect it will become a sudden favourite when it's 1 of 3 things I can eat!! I'll probably make my own broth because I like to add lemon and cumin for a boost of flavour to my chicken broth. But I'll have to check if lemon is okay... I'm sure it's fine in the quantity I'll use. I'm most concerned about the flight home. We fly to San Diego on Monday morning, have surgery at dinner time, spend that night at the clinic, second night at the recovery house, and then leave for San Diego the next morning. That sounds like a lot to me plus stomach pains, gas, nausea... I hope no one sits with us! We'll probably be groaning all the way home! But I had a c-section 2 years ago which is far more major and with exception of tenderness and tiredness, I was okay, dealing with a new born, and up on my feet that same day. It's the gas pains that freak me out for this surgery. Let the count down begin! T minus 11 days!!!

Hi MissRobin, I'm getting it done at Long Term VSG. Where are you going?

I think that's a good idea. I've really started to settle into the idea that I'm getting surgery soon. It feels less weird since I wrote that post and while I felt like it was ages between making the decision and actually getting the surgery, I'm glad I've had this much time to let the idea marinate. Now I'm just looking forward to the changes it will bring. I dream about having the energy to dance all night at my husband's Christmas party in Banff and not dreading those really hot days where shorts and a tank top are the only thing a reasonable person should wear. I took the stairs at my friend's office yesterday and was so embarrassed that it took me a solid 5 minutes for my breathing to normalize. I won't miss this body I'm lugging around everyday! I'll miss the food - actually, I'll miss diet coke and drinking with my meals the most but I think that will pale in comparison to wearing high-heals and sitting comfortably in a movie theatre and not wondering if I'll get stuck if I go down the slide with my son. I've done a lot of research since making the decision and even finally had the guts to look up stories of botched surgeries and people who have regrets. I've watch YouTube videos of people during their weight-loss and now I know to expect loose skin and to look a little older. I'm okay with those things because I know they're coming. I would be disappointed if I wasn't expecting them. Anyway, do lots of research. Read blogs on Pinterest, watch videos on YouTube... Do whatever you have to do to not only feel educated, but to feel like you know what to expect. It's made a world of difference for me!

Haha... Yeah, I can see how that could swing to the other side in a hurry. From what you all have read or experienced, does everyone get cold?

Hi Alberta ladies! I'm in Calgary and getting sleeved in 24 days. I'm actually kind of pumped to feel cold all the time since I'm so sick of feeling hot all the time and instantly breaking a sweat at the thought of physical activity! Also, camping on May long?? Pretty much guaranteed to freeze!!