CharlotteKat

Concerning long term weight management, daily weighing does help. This is from the study, "Consistent self-monitoring of weight: a key component of successful weight loss maintenance" found on US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health website. Consistent self-weighing may help individuals maintain their successful weight loss by allowing them to catch weight gains before they escalate and make behavior changes to prevent additional weight gain. While change in self-weighing frequency is a marker for changes in other parameters of weight control, decreasing self-weighing frequency is also independently associated with greater weight gain.

Here's another excerpt about daily weighing. This comes from the study, "Daily self-weighing within a lifestyle intervention: impact on disordered eating symptoms", published in US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health in 2014. Over the 18-month study, some people were more diligent about daily weighing than others. Those who weighed every day lost more weight, on average, than those who didn’t. One concern in the past has been that getting on the scale so often might lead to unhealthy obsessing over weight. The study offered some reassurance on that count. Researchers found no evidence of an increase in disordered eating among those who checked their weight daily.

Since a lot of you are never going to read the research articles about daily weighing, here is an excerpt from study published in the The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, February 12, 2015. Background Daily weighing is emerging as the recommended self-weighing frequency for weight loss. This is likely because it improves adoption of weight control behaviors. Participants/setting Overweight men and women in Chapel Hill, NC, participated in the intervention arm (N=47). Main outcome measures We gathered objective data on self-weighing frequency from the e-scales. At baseline and 6 months, weight change was measured in the clinic and weight control behaviors (total items=37), dietary strategies, and calorie expenditure from physical activity were assessed via questionnaires. Calorie intake was assessed using an online 24-hour recall tool. Results Fifty-one percent of participants weighed every day (n=24) over 6 months. The average self-weighing frequency among those weighing less than daily (n=23) was 5.4±1.2 days per week. Daily weighers lost significantly more weight compared with those weighing less than daily (mean difference=–6.1 kg; 95% CI –10.2 to –2.1; P=0.004). The total number of weight control behaviors adopted was greater among daily weighers (17.6±7.6 vs 11.2±6.4; P=0.004). Conclusions Weighing every day led to greater adoption of weight control behaviors and produced greater weight loss compared with weighing most days of the week. This further implicates daily weighing as an effective weight loss tool.

KristenLe, I have lost over 183 lbs. in less than a year. Every day, I weigh myself whether I like the number or not. I have a normal BMI of 20.4. I am a lifetime Weight Watchers member who failed miserably. The good folks at Weight Watchers encouraged me to only weigh once a week. What horrible advice!!! Research shows that the crappy advice of once a week or once a month weighing just isn't effective. I know what it takes to get to the finish line. Getting on the scale daily is how you get here.

Wow, I am amazed by how people can ignore research that proves you need to weigh daily. It takes maturity to accept the uncomfortable things that you must do after weight loss surgery. Weighing yourself is one of those things. Just because you fall apart after seeing the number on the scale doesn't mean you have a valid excuse to avoid it. Weighing yourself daily is highly useful feedback in your long term journey. It should be as basic as brushing your teeth or getting dressed each day. Fluctuations become far more tolerable when you see them repeat on a regular basis. Identifying trends in how your weight changes is super helpful. You'll know when to buckle down and when the fluctuation is just Water weight.

Folks, like it or not, you really should get on the scale daily. The research shows the positive effect of doing this. Cornell Study on weighing daily http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobe/2015/763680/ Article from Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/06/18/cornell-researchers-actually-you-should-be-weighing-yourself-every-day/ Article from Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/minding-the-body/201312/daily-weighing-may-help-manage-your-weight Article from Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics http://www.andjrnl.org/article/S2212-2672(14)01873-5/abstract Research from Duke University https://globalhealth.duke.edu/media/news/daily-self-weighing-helps-study-participants-lose-weight

Icantbelieveit was obviously trying to be funny. The bigger issue here is the sentiment behind the joke. I am 1 year out from surgery and at goal weight. I know too well that you have to have your head in the game to succeed. Bariatric Pal has been a wonderful resource during my journey. We all come here for advice and support. No one needs jokes about giving up at any point. That is why I hated Icantbelieveit's post. The post wasn't helpful in the least.

@@Icantbelieveit, Stop posting negative things! It's not funny and it does not help anyone. Where are your stats??? When was your surgery??? Are you nothing, but a diet troll???

Research has shown that weighing daily is important for weight loss and weight loss maintenance. You can play games and avoid the scale, but the numbers do not lie. Be brave and embrace your scale!!!

Don't sweat the stalls. In the early days, stalls will freak you out, but rest assured, they pass and are usually accompanied by a BIG loss. You'll be losing quite a bit in the weeks after surgery without working out at full intensity. Please remember that no amount of exercise can prevent a stall. Your body doesn't care how hard you are trying. It has its own schedule and it makes absolutely no sense at all. I am so glad that I followed the recommendations about exercise prior to surgery and after surgery. They make all the difference in how you will look and feel as you lose.

I started exercising weeks before my surgery. I was not ready for anything intense after surgery. Walking is OK on day one of surgery. Walking as far as you can is important. You don't have to walk very fast, but the duration matters. If you can only manage walking around a store then do that. Your body needs it. Getting into an exercise routine early is CRITICAL to long term success. Try to get your head straight and accept that exercise is an every day task. This will NEVER change.

Ignore the advice above about waiting a year. That is crazy! I missed my coffee so much after surgery. Here's how to get it back. You really will have to wait awhile to begin again. I started with buying instant espresso. I began to by adding it to my Protein shakes. I waited 1 month before adding it. Any vanilla flavored shake can benefit from 1 tsp. of instant espresso. You will be able to feel how well you are tolerating the caffeine after one shake. If it makes you feel shaky and unwell, it is too soon. If you are OK, then proceed. I was able to have my coffee full strength after 5 weeks.

Today is my one year anniversary of my surgery. It has been an amazing year and I have lost 180 pounds. I have reached my goal weight and I'm thrilled. In the old days, going out to eat would have been the way to Celebrate. That's not the case now. I'm looking for fun ways to celebrate my surgiversary. Any ideas?

Luanndo, You are the most beautiful person! Not me! You are the best!!! I wish everyone had a friend who is as wonderful as you are! If it wasn't for Bariatric Pal, we would have never met each other. My life is so much better because you reached out to me via this site. No one else understands what you are going through as the people who share the same surgeon and the same surgery. We traveled the same path. This site is a powerful source of support. This journey is not an easy one. It is a life changing event. There are remarkable people who you will meet along the way via their posts on Bariatric Pal. "Luanndo" contacted me when I knew no one. How lucky I am to find a kindred spirit! If you read this post, please think about reaching out to other people who are sharing the same journey. The rewards are immeasurable!

These are all great ideas! I decided to treat myself to a season pass at Carowinds. I love roller coasters and my butt now fits in the seats. Yay! I haven't been able to ride anything for the last several years. I'm looking forward to riding the rides all summer long.

I thought I would have to give up my pressure cooker due to the small quantities of food that we GB folks eat. All you have to do is scale down your recipe. I have found that you can use your pressure cooker by adding 1 cup of Water to the bottom of the cooker and inserting the metal basket that comes with the cooker. Place your food in a metal bowl and place it in the basket. Follow normal pressure cooker times for your recipe.

Wine becomes about 4 times a potent after surgery. One glass of wine will hit you like you had 4 glasses. Bar tabs are now a bargain! My doctor advised waiting at least 6 months before having any kind of alcohol. Some advise waiting a full year. One bariatric surgeon has suggested that red wine is your best choice if you are going to drink due to the calories.

I had no appetite for about 6 months and then it slowly returned. I definitely get hungry now, but the level of hunger is so much lower than in my pre-surgery days. I think it is one of the best things about having the surgery. I am no longer find myself feeling like a "Starvin' Marvin" looking for anything I can cram into my mouth.

I based my decision on when it was time to start maintenance based on my BMI and ideal weight for my height. My doctor advised me to go as low as I can manage in order to give me some wiggle room. Some folks might disagree with me, but I believe you need to reach the right weight based on science and not how comfortable you are at your current size. Here's a fairly good calculator. Make sure to determine your frame size before using the ideal weight calculator. http://www.superskinnyme.com/body_type_calculator.html http://www.superskinnyme.com/ideal_weight_calculator.html

I have tracked all my weights since my surgery last year on June 15. I lost 18 lbs. in the 2 weeks before surgery when I was on the liquid diet. After surgery, I averaged 4.1 lbs. per week in the first 6 months. After that point, my average has been 1.75 lbs. per week. My highest loss was 7.6 lbs. in one week. I do need to add that I exercised prior to surgery and after surgery. My doctor said that my rate of loss is on the high end of the spectrum. I would think that a man might lose even faster than I did. You guys have a definite advantage.

Update - It took a full week to return to eating normal food. I will never eat a handful of raw carrots as a snack again. Just the sight of carrots makes me cringe now.

If you want a real treat, try making wonton wrapper pizzas. You bake the wontons at 475 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes in the oven. Take them out of the oven after they crisp up and then you add pizza sauce, cheese and toppings. Put them back in the oven until the cheese melts. They are easy to digest and the wonton wrappers make a great thin pizza crust.

Making the decision to have surgery is a big decision. I knew I needed to do something and went to a seminar about weight loss surgery. I left the seminar feeling very conflicted. A woman walked past me who had a huge smile. I said, "That was a lot to think about." Her reply was "I am so excited! I can't wait to do the surgery! I'm ready today!" I sure didn't feel that way. I spent weeks trying to wrap my head around such a drastic lifestyle change. Even on the day of surgery I was not excited the way that woman was after the seminar. Now, 11 months out from gastric bypass surgery, I know I made the right choice. I should have been ecstatic heading into surgery. Surgery was the best choice I have ever made. I have lost 176 lbs., have a normal BMI and I'm more physically fit than I've been in 25 years. By the way, I chose gastric bypass surgery instead of the sleeve because I had a BMI over 45. I chose the surgery that would give me the highest amount of weight loss. (The sleeve does not have the same success rate.) I also wanted the gastric bypass because there are serious consequences when you eat the wrong things. Sugar, rich foods and greasy things make me sick so I won't even touch them.

I have used Dramamine and the Scop patch in the past, but I have had the most success with Bonine. FYI - Bonine (Meclizine) is safe at up to 50 mg for one dose. That means 2 pills instead of one. This higher dosage might work better to stop motion sickness. Some Costco's stock the generic Meclizine at the pharmacy counter.

KritenLe, This comes from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the largest national society of surgeons for this specialty. From their website they say, "The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass – often called gastric bypass – is considered the ‘gold standard’ of weight loss surgery." The statistics show that gastric bypass patients lose 60-80% of their excess weight after surgery. Sleeve patients only lose around 50% or less of their excess weight. This is why gastric bypass is considered the gold standard. It simply works better. Doctors are people and people have opinions. Doctors will never force you into a surgery they don't think you can handle. The sleeve is easier since you will not experience dumping syndrome. The downside of this is that you can eat things that are sugary and greasy without consequences. I'm glad I have consequences to deal with if I eat that stuff. It keeps me on the straight and narrow. I now have a normal BMI of 21.7 and have lost 176 lbs. since my gastric bypass. It has been the best decision I have ever made. Here's the link to the ASMBS. https://asmbs.org/