catwoman7

with some things, it makes more sense to go by volume rather than weight. If it says the carton weighs 16 oz, and you're trying to eat a 1/2 C serving, then eat a quarter of the carton (I know that can be tricky to gauge, but look at it this way - if you're the only one eating the ice cream, and there are four servings in there, one day you might be inadvertently eating a little more, and another day a little less, but over the course of the time period it takes to eat the carton, you've still eaten four servings at "however-many-calories" each. So overall, the calories would work out.

do whatever you can to avoid dehydration. That can put you back in the hospital faster than anything...

developing - or worsening - GERD is a potential complication with sleeve, but it doesn't happen to everyone. I had GERD before surgery and wasn't willing to take the risk, so I went with RNY. I guess it comes down to if you're willing to take the risk or not. It doesn't get worse for everyone - but it definitely does for some. I was just afraid I'd be one of those for whom it would get worse.

my insurance also required six months of a professionally-supervised diet (that is, by a PCP or a registered dietitian). They didn't specify the TYPE of diet, though - as long as it was professionally supervised. I worked with a dietitian. She had me eat c. 2300 calories a day, gradually increase my protein intake, and gradually decrease my carb intake. I also had to wean myself off caffeine and carbonated beverages. I had to add in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Just basic healthy eating. it kind of prepped me for what eating would be like after surgery.

yes. Stalls usually last 1-3 weeks

if you have issues with reflux, then the bypass is the better option. Otherwise, it comes down to personal preference. vitamin deficiencies with the bypass are rare as long as you keep on top of your vitamins. most common complication with the sleeve is GERD. Happens to about 30% of sleevers. Usually it can be controlled medically (by taking PPIs), but there are a minority who have severe cases that only a revision to bypass will cure. most common complication with bypass is dumping. Also happens to about 30% of patients. It can be controlled by limiting or avoiding sugar (and for some people, fat). I had bypass almost seven years ago. Like many of us, I've never had any issues with it, and I would do it again if I had to make that choice today. I've been very happy with it. they're both good surgeries and you'll find many people on here who've had a lot of success with both. Unless you have a medical condition that would make one more appropriate than the other, I think either option would be a good one.

it's the infamous three week stall. It just came a little early for you (actually, it did for me as well, I had it weeks 2 and 3). Just stick to your program and stay off the scale for a few days. It'll break and you'll be on your way again. That happens to probably 90% of us. if you want to read about this stall, do a search on this site for the "three week stall". You'll find over 17,000 posts on it. And no, I am NOT kidding.

I never cheated on mine.

not only right after surgery, but even years out, some of us deal with chronic constipation. right after surgery it's probably more a factor of the anesthesia - plus the fact there's not much in there to come out. once you get beyond that, the high protein diet plus some of the supplements we take - namely calcium and iron - can cause backup. A lot of long-timers take a capful of Miralax every morning to keep on top of it (other things can help as well - magnesium tablets, stool softeners, etc....)

losing 10 lbs, when you're at or very near a normal BMI, is REALLY tough. I've said this before, but I remember back when I attended Weight Watchers meetings when I weighed 300+ lbs, listening to these slightly overweight people screaming and moaning about hard it was to lose 10 lbs. I just wanted to roll my eyes at them. Now I totally get it..

I'm also over 60. I like "Reps to the Rhythm" videos on youtube. They're walking/dancing videos - and he has several that are different lengths of time and different levels of intensity.

wait loss DOES tend to be slower with revisions - BUT....you may just be in a stall right now.

a lot of people seem to eat between 600-800 kcal/day the first few months (well, other than the first month - which is usually lower), and then gradually increase it. I was eating around 1000 by about a year out. However, there are some surgeons who recommend higher amounts of calories sooner. I would say if you're meeting your protein requirements, are feeling comfortable, and your weight is trending down, you're fine.

I do 45-60 minutes of cardio 5-6 days a week, plus 2-3 days of strength training. for cardio, I walk, do water aerobics, Zumba, cardio dance/walking youtube videos, or (when the weather cooperates), bike. There's also a seated elliptical at my gym that I'll "ride" occasionally.

I had those as well during week 3. The PA at my surgeon's office thought it might be the ursodiol (as that can be a side effect, although it's a not common one), so he had me get off those completely and then after about two weeks, gradually get back on. So I did - hives never came back after I got back on....so it likely wasn't the ursodiol. I also learned after having plastic surgery c. three years later that I was allergic to the adhesive they used or the surgical tape. I guess that could have been the case with my gastric bypass, too.

I agree with Grady Cat. The whole point of the surgery is that your stomach is smaller so you won't eat as much. Also, as far as not enjoying food - unfortunately, that comes back for almost all of us. I say "unfortunately" because it will never in your life be as easy as it is right now to lose weight when you don't want to eat and don't give a flip about food. Take FULL advantage of that! Your hunger and appetite will eventually come back sometime during the first year (or at least it does for the vast majority of us - mine came back at five months out), and once it does, things will become a lot more challenging. So I know this sounds weird to say, but enjoy it while it lasts! I wish my hunger had never come back! P.S. I should add that you do need to meet your nutritional requirements, so at least eat what you need to eat for that. But food will just be fuel for you for awhile...

pretty much all insurance companies have those same requirements, and most of us were approved as long as we met the BMI requirements (which are typically BMI over 35 with two comorbidities, or BMI over 40 with no comorbidities. they're looking for whether or not you've tried things in the past that haven't worked. And with the six-month professionally-supervised diet that many companies require before your final approval, they're looking to see if you're able to stick to a program long-term. I lost 57 lbs before I had surgery (between the six-month professionally-supervised diet that my insurance required - and the two week pre-op liquid diet that my surgeon required). I was approved. I was worried they'd say since I lost weight on my own, I didn't need surgery - but that wasn't it. They wanted to see how committed I was to a program.

"buyer's remorse" is pretty common the first couple of weeks. I had it, too. But then suddenly, things changed and I was really glad I had the surgery. also - most people don't have a bowel movement until they're about a week out. Not much in there. That first one can be a doosie, though, so be prepared... (And just so you know, constipation can be a long-term issue for some of us (not all - but some). I've taken a capful of Miralax every day for several years to keep on top of it. But even for those who don't deal with it long term, it's very common to take a week when you're right out of surgery)

mine lasted two weeks. But they last for three weeks for some people.

most people hit several stalls along their journey - it's just part of weight loss. When you hit one, make sure you're sticking to your eating plan, and stay off your scale for a few days. They'll eventually break, and you'll be on your way again.

almost a 90 lb drop in nine months is pretty good - so your overall loss is fine. But no loss in 2.5 months makes me think you've put yourself into maintenance. You should still be able to lose - I kept losing weight for 20 months - although it does slow down the further out you go. You may have to cut calories - or increase your exercise - or both - to get things going again. Are you still weighing/measuring food and logging everything you eat? If not, go back to that. I still do that at almost seven years out.

it's almost certainly the three week stall. Happens to almost all of us. If you do a search on it on this site, you will find over 17,000 posts on it (and no, I am NOT kidding). It usually lasts 1-3 weeks, so you should be at or near the end of it. I dropped about 6-8 lbs in just a couple of days after mine ended.

I'm 6.5 years out. The only things I pay attention to anymore are protein grams, fluids, and overall calories. Unless I have a REALLY intense exercise day, I'll be fine if I stay at or under 1700 calories (but of course, this is going to be different for everyone). I need to average about 100 grams of protein a day or my prealbumin level tanks, so...I also strive to do that. Fluids, of course, need to be at least 64 oz a day. But...that's it.

I haven't heard of this. It may or may not be related to your surgery. I'd contact your PCP. Looks like it could be due to any number of things: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gas-and-gas-pains/symptoms-causes/syc-20372709

17 lbs the first month is fine. I lost 16 lbs the first month. It seems like most people lose in the 15-25 lb range that first month. Of course, you'll always find a few folks who lose more or less than that, but they're outliers. I'm very surprised your surgeon didn't know that. I know a lot of patients worry about that - but I think that's because they watch shows like "My 600 lb Life" and expect to lose 30 or 40 lbs that first month -- but those people start out WAY heavier than the average WLS patient. But your surgeon should not have been disappointed by a 17 lb loss. That is totally normal.