catwoman7

I agree with the other posters. If you want to maintain and you *are* maintaining on that level, then you've found your sweet spot. If you're gaining and don't want to, cut back. If you're still losing and don't want to, then increase your calories. Metabolism rates vary tremendously, so it's impossible to say whether you're eating too much or not just based on what you listed. Some people would gain on that, some would lose, some would maintain. It's all very individual. I'm a 5'6" female at a normal BMI and could (and do) maintain on about that much.

you are doing fine. I know you will see people on here who lose 30 lbs the first month, but that's not common. 15-25 lbs the first month and 10-12 lbs a month thereafter (until you get out 6 or 7 lbs, when you lose even less) is a lot more common. You're right on target. Just continue sticking to your program. I was exactly where you are at that point, and I lost all my excess weight - over 200 lbs.

most of us don't dump. I never have. I can eat sugars with no problem (unfortunately....)

Most bypass people can eat anything as well. Only about a third of us dump. I never have.

sounds like you've entered the infamous "three-week stall" a little early. Almost all of us go through our first stall sometime within the first month after surgery. It's usually the third week, but not always. Mine was weeks 2 and 3.

it's not too late. There are a lot of people who've lost all their weight, then gained 50 lbs, then lost it again. You just have to go back to your program. Protein first, etc etc etc. You need to follow the rules for the rest of your life if you want to be successful. It does work...

if you already have GERD, it's a no-brainer. Get the bypass.

use that to its full advantage. It'll never be easier to lose weight than it is now -when food holds little interest and your hunger is gone. All that will come back in time - probably within a few months - and then things will get a lot more challenging. Be glad that you have no interest in food right now and milk it for all its worth.

for most of us it goes away completely for several months after surgery. Mine came back at five months. For some, it's more like a year. So lose as much weight as you can during that period since it'll NEVER be easier to lose weight! Once your hunger comes back, it's a lot more challenging. I don't think mine is as intense as it was pre-surgery, but it's definitely a challenge (of course not eating when I'm not hungry is still a challenge post-op, too...I often ate when I wasn't hungry - and I still do sometimes..).

it's difficult - cravings are real! I try to eat a lot of protein, fiber, and healthy fats (and stay within my calorie limit, of course) to keep myself from getting too hungry. But yes, after the honeymoon period ends, it becomes a lifelong challenge. Just keep reminding yourself who much better you look and feel after losing all that weight, and how you don't ever want to gain it back!!!

27 lbs the first two months is fine. Not everyone drops massive amounts of weight the first couple of months - in fact, most of us don't. I lost 28 lbs the first two months, and I've lost over 230 lbs altogether. Stalls happen. Just make sure you stick to your plan, and they'll eventually break.

I'm almost never at less than 100 grams of protein...

I took three weeks but could have gone back after two if I needed to. I was pretty tired for the first month or so, though..

I did low carb (less than 80 g a day) when I was in the weight loss phase. However, I'm not particularly carb sensitive, which makes a difference.....

I can eat anything at this point, but I focus on protein, vegetables, and fruits. I also eat some complex carbs like beans and bran cereal. I try to avoid sugars and "white carbs" (white rice, white flour, potatoes) but I do eat them occasionally. I don't eat microscopic portions anymore. I'm just more of your normal "light eater". I doubt anyone would guess I had surgery , because I know a lot of "light eaters", none of whom have had weight loss surgery. At this point, I can maintain my weight as long as I average about 1700 calories a day, which really isn't too much less than the normal 2000-ish for someone my weight/height.

sizing in women's clothes is all over the board. I wear a 10 or a 12, depending on the manufacturer. A lot also depends on your shape and frame size. There are lots of women on these and other boards my height and weight who can wear a 6 or an 8. Either it's vanity sizing, or it might be frame size. I have a large frame. No way I could get into a 6 or an 8.

bypass often (but not always) cures it. Sleeve often (but not always) makes it worse.

most RNY'ers don't dump. The statistic I see thrown around a lot on these boards is that only about 30% of us dump. I don't know if there's any hardcore medical research behind that statistic, but suffice it to say, lots of us don't dump. I've never dumped. Teeth: I used to worry a lot about this. I've done a fair amount of reading on it and have come to the conclusion that yes, it happens - but it's not very common. I've been very active on this and other boards for a few years, and I rarely see posts about teeth problems. I asked my dentist about this, and he said he's never seen this in his WLS patients (of course, I have no idea how many WLS patients he has - could only be 10 as far as I know....). He told me to keep on top of my supplements and also, he gave me a prescription for a high-fluoride toothpaste to use nightly, and he does a fluoride varnish on my teeth every six months just as a precaution. He said all of this will go a long way in preventing problems. weakness and fatigue: the first few weeks after surgery, yes - but that's from anesthesia and the healing and the fact we're taking in so few calories. Since then, none. I have more energy than I've had in years. Malabsorption: I'm 2.5 years out and labs have been great. I can't speak to prescription drugs as I'm not on any...

you may have trouble finding a surgeon who'll do a lapband. Many of them have been removed because of complications, so a lot of surgeons won't do them anymore. I agree with the others - at your weight, I'd do a sleeve or bypass. Most people have no complications at all, and for those who do, a vast majority are minor.

sounds like a stricture. I had two of them (one at 4 weeks out, another at 8 weeks out). If it's gotten to the point where you can't even keep liquids down, go to the hospital. You can live without food for a few days, but not fluids. They'll fix it for you - it's a very easy fix (and they'll put you under so you don't feel anything). It's quick and you'll feel 100% better afterwards. UPDATE: Never mind, I see you already had an endoscopy. Hmmm....this one is puzzling, then....

could be water retention due to sodium or full intestines. I wouldn't worry about it unless it starts trending up. I'd have that occasionally, and it'd be gone a day or two later.

I did occasionally the first couple of months - like if I ate too fast or if things didn't sit well - or if I didn't chew enough. Now, I almost never vomit. Vomiting is way easier after surgery than before. For one thing, you don't have nearly as much in your stomach. For another, there's not as much acid there, so you don't get that awful taste in your mouth. It doesn't bother me nearly as much any more.

after that long, you're probably in maintenance. If you want to lose more, you'll have to cut your calories. Log everything you eat....and weigh and measure things like meat, cheese, etc. Portion creep is real. I know I'll have to weigh, measure, and track for the rest of my life, or I'll start gaining weight.

all I could have as 5-6 protein shakes per day, plus unlimited sugar free beverages, sugar free popsicles, and sugar free jello. I could also have something like 8 oz of tomato juice, V8, or broth (I'm guessing they limited it because of the sodium). No solid food at all - so you're lucky.

My surgeon required a two-week liquid diet for everyone to shrink the liver. As far as the six-month supervised diet, that was required by my insurance company, not by the surgeon. But in retrospect, I was glad it was required because I used that time to gradually get used to the new eating routine (I cut calories, cut out simple carbs, increased by protein intake, weaned myself off caffeine, cut out soda, etc)