Clementine Sky

Many people, if not the majority of us, who've had WLS experience a stall around the two to three week mark post-op. You can find dozens of threads on here discussing this if you do a keyword search of "three week stall". I was actually advised to not weigh myself at all the first month to avoid being discouraged or alarmed, but of course popped on there anyway because my curiosity was too strong. Your body is needing a bit of time to adapt. It's gone through an intense surgery, during which time you probably gained a few pounds from all that was pumped into you, and then rapidly lost a lot of weight. It's kind of like your body needs to catch its breath. There's a blogger called The World According to Eggface who has a lot of recipes for smoothies you can make during the first month out. I never would have imagined it to be possible, but I ended up having fun during that first month out trying out her ideas and others I found on Pinterest and from posters on here. I'd suggest trying out different types of protein powders so that you have some variation. I really liked the protein powders by Unjury and Syntrax Nectar. At the time I had the surgery in 2015 you could buy sample sizes of Syntrax at The Vitamin Shoppe, but in recent visits to the stores near me I found out they only have them in the large tubs now. You can still get the smaller sizes on Amazon, I believe. I'd add in nut butters (I liked making them fresh at Whole Foods), low carb fruit, Torani sugar free syrups, and even frozen sweet potato cubes from Trader Joe's (blending them with vanilla protein powder tastes like sweet potato pie to me). If you look on Amazon you'll find a lot of protein powder options, and can read through reviews. Some plain Greek yogurt brands, like Fage, have a lot of protein and are low in carbs. It's important to check the label before buying, and to avoid the flavored ones that are almost always higher in carbs. I think Fage has around 22 grams of protein, and under 10 grams of carbs. You can use it as a base to make all sorts of smoothies.

I also was told that sleeve stretching, at least to any meaningful extent, was a myth. A bariatric surgeon (not my own, but someone with videos I've found to be useful) explains it here beginning at the 1:10 mark: If you're losing weight beyond your goal and what is healthy, then consuming healthy "slider" foods could help, like more caloric smoothies. I can't drink milk, but I know that full fat milk packs a lot of calories, a fair amount of protein, and is fast to consume.

I definitely understand how frustrating it can be because I've been there, done that, and felt just as you have. I think you've made excellent progress and should be very proud of yourself. Weight becomes more challenging to lose when you don't have as much of it that you need to lose. Though you're still technically overweight, you're no longer obese, and that definitely has an impact. Your body might also simply need some time to adapt. I had a very lengthy stall at the six month mark, too, and saw my weight bounce up and down five pounds. What actually broke it was increasing rather than decreasing my calories. I just added in some more healthy foods, and that did it for me. When you're not consuming enough your metabolism can become sluggish. Just keep going. I thought I'd reach my first goal in six months because of the rate I was losing at first, but it ended up taking a full year. I thought that was it, that I wouldn't lose any more to reach my "dream" goal. I just saw my endocrinologist who told me that I've lost 19 more pounds since this time last year. Depending on the brand I'm in a size 0 to 4 now, which would have been unbelievable to me two years ago. Relaxing actually seemed to help me. I had my husband put the scale on the highest shelf so that if I wanted it, I'd need to get out the step ladder. I'd be so discouraged when the numbers didn't go the way I wanted that I'd be more inclined to either "cheat" out of frustration, or to obsess. Instead I just tried to be reasonable about what I ate, and how much I exercised and to stay focused on that instead of size and scale numbers. One perk I've had from losing weight more gradually has been no loose skin. It actually looks firmer now due to being more toned. Maybe that will be a silver lining for you, too.

My endocrinologist is the one who recommended the VSG to me specifically because it has benefitted other patients with PCOS. I read through promising medical studies when making the decision to pursue the surgery. I had the VSG in August of 2015, and I do consider the outcome to be successful because I exceeded both the goal my surgeon had set and my own "dream" goal. Depending on the brand, I'm wearing between a size zero and a four, which I would have found impossible to believe a few years ago. I did start off with a lower than typical BMI for the surgery (32), but was literally busting out of size 14, so this is a dramatic change. I've sustained that weight loss fairly easily. My diet this year has been more focused on PCOS than weight loss; I've read a few books about dietary guidelines for women with PCOS, and try to follow them. Having the VSG abated some issues with PCOS, but unfortunately not all of them. I've reduced risk from obesity-related health problems, and that is important. I still struggle with acne and hirsutism, and fertility problems. I actually didn't start taking Metformin until after I'd lost the majority of weight, and have lowered the dosage because of side effects. I plan to discontinue it altogether soon, after gradually tapering off. I'm taking 100 MG of Spiro now, and I use Vaniqa to help with the facial hair. It's obscenely expensive, but it's been effective for me, so worth the cost. I'd been on a lower dose of Spiro for nearly two years post-op, and have only recently upped it from 50 to 100 because of acne and cycle irregularities. My cycle had been fine for a while, but I had several international trips over the summer, and it's believed that the travel contributed to throwing things off. One thing I experience with Spiro is an increased appetite. Though some people lose weight and have a reduced appetite while taking it, others have the opposite experience. I don't know if this is a medicine you've ever taken, but wanted to discuss it since it's often prescribed for PCOS. For years endocrinologists insisted weight gain was not a side effect, but it's now listed as one on Mayo Clinic's website. There are many accounts online of women, both with PCOS and not, who've gained considerable weight while on it. Since I'm now two years out, carbonated drinks don't have as much of an effect on me as they did the first few months post-op when I was still healing. I find that drinking carbonated water gives me the sensation of fullness when I've felt an increase in appetite from Spiro, without consuming calories and carbs, and it also quenches the increased thirst I feel. I also am careful to keep healthy snacks around so that if that's not sufficient and I'm so ravenous I need more, I'll have better options within reach. I definitely think the VSG is worthwhile. I'd be optimistic that it could help you with PCOS, but braced for the possibility that some issues will continue. It absolutely improved my life and I'm grateful every day for it, even though it didn't help as much as I would have liked with PCOS. I wish you all the best!

I'd anticipated hair loss following having the VSG in August of 2015, and was delighted to experience a very minimal amount during the first 18 months, and then startled when shedding began well into the maintenance phase. I believe my hair loss is primarily due to changes in medication rather than an effect of having the VSG due to the timeline, but since many who've had WLS have endured this, I am hopeful of getting coping ideas here. I've since modified the dosage of the medication (more on that below) which has helped to subside the loss, but it will take a while before my hair returns to normal. I've tried various shampoos, conditioners, and masks that are supposed to help with regrowth and stopping loss, with little success, but would be open to suggestions for new ones to try. I just bought a Jon Renau "topper" (it's like a mini-wig that clips into the top of your head to help disguise hair loss) but haven't yet gotten the hang of wearing it. I feel like it's obviously fake, and that makes me self-conscious. I'm also worried about damage that could be caused by the clips. I'm looking into a topper that only uses one clip and a headband by a company called ThinHairThick, but it's pricier, and I haven't found much customer feedback about it yet. For those curious about the medicine - In November of 2016 I was prescribed Metformin by my endocrinologist to attempt to balance out hormonal issues that were an impediment to conceiving. By that point my BMI had been in the "normal" range for more than six months, and I'd exceeded both my surgeon's goal and the one I'd set for myself. I was already a size four, and had been for a while, so the bulk of the weight loss was prior to this point. My doctor said I might lose some weight on it, but that was not the reason it was prescribed. I did, in fact, lose some weight initially, but it was a modest amount, and continued use of the medication didn't lead to any more weight loss. The hair loss was insidious; I hadn't realized it was happening until my bathroom sink kept getting clogged up, and my hair stylist made a comment that it was suddenly much thinner. In having read about the medication, many other younger women with PCOS have had hair loss while taking it, but men and post-menopausal women have not, so I'm thinking it impacts our bodies differently. It apparently used to be listed as a side effect, but isn't currently since the majority who take it do not have hair loss. I'd love any tips or advice from other ladies who've dealt with hair loss. To add: I've had blood work done routinely, and have no deficiencies that would explain the hair loss. I unfortunately cannot take Biotin, even though it's been a help to many other women with hair loss, because it causes massive acne breakouts. My dermatologist told me to avoid it.

(((Hugs))) to you and to everyone else who has been helpful in this thread. I appreciate it.

Hair loss used to be listed as a side effect for Metformin, but no longer is due to it not being reported as frequently. It impacts younger premenopausal women differently than it does those in the primary demographics for taking the medicine for diabetes. Also, I am a believer in not assuming that correlation equals causation, but in this case the timeline of it matches perfectly. The hair loss began to abate when I lowered the dose of Metformin. Similarly, for years endocrinologists have asserted that spiro cannot cause weight gain, but the Mayo Clinic now lists it as a side effect as well. If you Google Metformin and hair loss you'll find posts about it dating back more than a decade from many women, including those who were not taking it for PCOS. I do understand that PCOS itself can cause hair loss, but I've had this since I was a teen and not dealt with it except for when using specific medications or products. I'd hoped that losing weight and devoutly following dietary guidelines would get PCOS under control, but I am still experiencing unpleasant issues with it. I'm happy for you that yours is under control now. I will try Rogaine.

I was a similar size to you, but a bit younger (in my 30s). I'm 5'8 and my BMI had been 32 when I had the VSG in August of 2015, but the highest it had ever been was 34.5. It's now 20.5; I've lost and kept off 86 pounds. My lowest weight was 5 pounds less than I am now, but the small gain was actually beneficial to my appearance, making my face look more youthful again. I'm still wearing an XS / size 2-4, which is surreal to me considering that fitting back into a size 14 had been a goal two years ago. I have no loose skin. I've never taken any special vitamins or used lotions other than the typical one I apply when stepping out of the shower. I think losing weight at a very slow pace aided my skin's ability to adapt. Some people lose more than I did in a year in a few months, depending on their starting stats. Some the same size as me lost as much weight in half the time. It took 11 months for me to reach my first goal, and 18 for me to reach my second. I've maintained that weight for about six months. I focused the most on sustainable weight loss and developing new habits, so I was disciplined about what I ate, but careful to not be so strict that I'd be more likely to fall off the proverbial wagon. It caused me to lose weight less rapidly than many others, but I'm still pleased. I'm grateful every day that I had this surgery, and I hope it improves your life as it has mine.

I was grateful because I anticipated the pain and discomfort to be far more intense than it actually was. My TOM started during surgery, a few days earlier than it was supposed to, and it was harder to distinguish between brutal cramps and pain caused by the procedure. I'd brought two heating pads with me, and they were a help. I also brought a couple of boxes of Gas-X strips (the kind that dissolve on your tongue rather than in pill form) and they worked very well. I gave one of the boxes to a woman who was experiencing miserable pain from gas, and she said they helped her a lot. I definitely recommend bringing a box or two. I was given ample pain medication and spent most of the time in the hospital sleeping because it knocked me out. I dry heaved a bit the first day, but then that stopped. I was able to do the laps through the hall within a couple of hours post-op. I was worried about being in pain on the drive home (I had surgery in Mexico and live a couple of hours away in LA) but felt totally fine. We shopped at the outlet mall near the border, and again at another shopping center. By that point (two days post-op) the biggest issue was due to an allergic reaction I had to the tape used over the bandages. They caused raised welts. Once I removed them my skin healed. I had the VSG in August of 2015 and am perpetually happy I had it. I've had no complications. I did need to progress through the post-op eating stages at a slower pace than normal because my stomach would react negatively at first and needed more time to adapt. By the two month mark forward I've had few problems. The entire process has been less emotionally painful than I expected, too. I didn't lose as much hair as I feared I would, and have no loose skin even though I've exceeded my weight goal.

The only difference that isn't entirely positive for me is that my derrière lacks padding, and that can make sitting for extended time periods uncomfortable. I just got back from Africa and the total amount of flying time there was 24 hours, with only a two hour layover in between to walk around. I sat on my pillow and it provided a bit of cushion, but not enough. I'm going to buy a pillow specifically for sitting on during long flights so I won't be as uncomfortable next time. I'd still like to lose a bit of weight of stomach, but instead of the pounds leaving from there they leave from the one area I want more fat. I even looked into padded panties, haha. I'm not even kidding - they are a real thing, just like padded bras are. I'm down to a healthy-looking size two now (I'm tall but have a narrow frame, so I still don't look all that thin), and grateful every day for having the VSG, so this is a minor complaint in the scheme of things.

You look stunning!!! Gorgeous in every picture. I love your positive attitude. You should be extremely proud of yourself.

Kat410 gave excellent feedback, so I'm just echoing what she's written. I think it's reasonable to be optimistic that you'll have recuperated sufficiently within a couple of weeks to travel, but you should definitely plan very carefully and meticulously. You also will have to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the frequent food temptations you'll face and be determined to have a strong will. It's important to diligently follow the dietary restrictions during that first month out to protect your health. Even small deviations from it can be problematic, so you'll have to be willing to stay the course even as everyone else on your vacation is indulging in more treats and meals out than typical. It's also a time when your stomach is still adapting and might be unpredictable, so you'll want to have access to a decent bathroom everywhere you go. I never had any extreme complications, but I had some stomach issues, plus the surgery caused my hormones to go out of whack and I had a brutally intense period two weeks early. I hadn't been prepared for it. I personally would have struggled on a vacation like that so soon out. For one, I kept having the VSG entirely private with the exception of my husband and parents, but on such a trip that wouldn't have been as feasible because everyone on it would understandably be puzzled as to why I couldn't eat solid foods. You'd have to make plans for all your meals, which could impact them. If your family and the one you're traveling with is going to be aware of your surgery, how crucial it is you follow post-op dietary restrictions, and fully supportive of you, then you'll be in a far better position for success. After the two-month mark I was traveling fairly often, including a trip to Australia in December (I'd had surgery in August) and it all went beautifully, but it was easier when I was no longer on a liquid or soft food diet, and my stomach and hormones had calmed down. So really consider your own level of willpower and how much cooperation and understanding you'll receive from your kids and the other family before booking. If you think you might be tempted to eat something "forbidden" during that time, then you might want to consider having the surgery after the holidays.

@Introversion wrote exactly what was on my mind when I read your post. I'm so sorry you've been through such a profound amount of stress and grief. I remember when my grandfather was sick and then died my aunt gained a substantial amount of weight and my mom lost so much she became sickly thin. Neither overeating nor under-eating are healthy coping mechanisms, but both were understandable reactions to what they were enduring. When your dad was sick your priority was very understandably on him, and you probably weren't tracking what you ate or focusing on yourself. Friends and family probably brought you food after he passed, since that's a common act of love following a death. It sounds like you hadn't yet caught your breath and gotten back on your feet following his passing when your son graduated and moved off to college. Even though that's an accomplishment to be proud of, it's another major alteration to your family life. So much of what you were accustomed to in your life a few years ago has changed, radically and quickly. You haven't yet had time to get adjusted to your new normal. Don't be disgusted with yourself. Be proud of what you have achieved. You gained some weight back, but you still lost an incredible amount. You're the kind of daughter who prioritizes her parent during hardships. You raised a son who got into college. Give yourself permission to now put more focus on taking care of yourself. If you can afford counseling, I encourage you to consider getting it. Overeating is a very common maladaptive coping method. There are other coping methods that are more beneficial, but they're oftentimes not what's instinctive. They can be learned. You might find that a hobby is a good way of distracting or soothing yourself when you're stressed, or that some other form of pleasure besides eating could be a substitute. After having the VSG I started buying candles more often, and lighting them when I was craving something but wasn't actually hungry. It was a way of having a pleasure without the same consequence to my health. You might want to consider using something like MyFitnessPal to track what you eat so you can be more mindful about it. Planning out your meals could help, too. If you look on Pinterest or Instagram you can find pictures from people who've had the VSG who meal prep for the week. There's a woman who goes by Fit Miss Bliss who frequently uploads pictures. She makes meals for the first few days of the week on Sundays. I think having meals and healthy snacks readily available is helpful. Best wishes to you. Believe in yourself, and take care of yourself.

My parents had the same concerns about me having the VSG in Mexico, but ended up going with me there to be my support team because my husband couldn't take the time off of work, and they had a fantastic time. Tijuana actually has some surprisingly lovely areas. It reminded me of cities in Spain. I don't know which hotel or facility Dr. Illian uses, but it seems that most surgeons popular with Americans choose ones in safer, more upscale areas. We stayed at the Marriott, which was peaceful and safe. My surgery was at the CER clinic, a relatively short drive away. The clinic was much nicer than ones I've been to in Los Angeles. The Marriott handled all the ground transportation for my family, which also reduced the risk of being taken advantage of by a taxi driver. They took my parents to and from the clinic every day, and to a nearby shopping center that has an Applebee's, Starbucks, and other places familiar to Americans. The one time we took a taxi it was one the hotel had arranged for us, to go to the touristy area to shop. Our experience in Mexico was entirely positive. I hope yours will be as well.

August 18 marked the second anniversary of having the VSG, and in all this time I've never regretted it. I actually attend far more family functions and social event now that I'm proud of myself and owning my life rather being reclusive as I did for years when I was embarrassed of my size. I do still eat bread and pasta, though in moderation. The only ones in my family who know I had the VSG are my parents and husband, who've fully respected my desire to keep this personal matter private. I'd never ask anyone in my family to cater to me, and instead eat mindfully. If I overdo it, I won't feel well, so I just pick and choose carefully and eat sparingly. If anyone asks why I'm not eating more I truthfully explain that I'm trying to watch my weight. After having lost so much weight, that answer tends to be respected. The sleeve has been a tremendous asset in helping me to have more self-control, and it's actually something I take a degree of pride in now. Rather than feeling sorry for myself and deprived because I'm not gorging on food, I feel proud that I'm using control and eating just enough to feel satisfied but still be on track. It felt like there was a ping pong game going on in my mind in the months before having the surgery, going back and forth repeatedly as to whether I should proceed. I would tell myself that I wasn't "that" fat (my BMI was 31, and therefore low for having WLS, but still classified as obese), and I could lose the weight myself if only I was more disciplined, then would rapidly remember all the times I'd dieted and slimmed down only to zoom back up, and how ready I was to fully live my life rather than letting my weight hold me back. I'm infinitely grateful I had the surgery. Best wishes.

No, I do not strictly follow a low carb diet, but I do strive to eat lower carb, healthy meals as much as possible and am always on the look out for new places in LA to try. Tomorrow I'll be two years out from having the VSG, and have been maintaining a weight that is well under my original goal for nearly a year now. For me, cultivating better eating habits has been critical to my success. Before the VSG I dieted frequently, being incredibly strict for a short amount of time, then eventually burning out and reverting to unhealthy eating patterns that lead to a regain. So instead of dieting, I've simply tried to be more mindful and careful about what I eat so that the way of eating is sustainable. During normal times I aim to have less than 100 carbs or so a day. I no longer track everything I eat, but I do read labels and make choices that are lower in carb. I just got back from three weeks in South Africa, during which time I did indulge far more - enjoying local specialities I'd never tried before in the US, but I still was fairly reasonable with my choices, having mainly healthy meals with a few splurges. I gained a tiny bit of weight then, but it will fall off once I get back into my routine.

What are some of your favorite places in LA for healthy eating? It's a bit pricy, but I like the Fresh Corn Grill because they have lower carb options (so long as you decline the bread) and are tasty. I also like Zankou Chicken and Wahoo Fish Tacos (they have paleo bowls that are low carb).

For the first 18 months post-surgery diligently tracked what I ate on My Fitness Pal, but now that I've developed habits I can ballpark what I'm eating without measuring it out and recording it and stay on track. I went back through my diary there to see what the macros were when I was actively losing weight. So on December 18, 2015 (I had the VSG on August 15, 2015) this what my daily totals were: 904 calories, 68 carbs, 29 fat, 94 protein, 2,033 sodium, 18 fiber That was fairly typical. My Fitness Pal would always tell me I wasn't eating enough. I ate more over the Christmas holidays, but actually lost a bit of weight then. That's when I realized my body was wanting more calories than I was providing it at that point, and so I added in an afternoon snack. I now have around 1300 calories or so, with the focus still being on protein, and healthy choices of fat and carbs. There were some days during the weight loss phase when my carbs would be as high as 110, but they'd be healthy and provide a good source of fiber. When I was really intent on losing I'd lower the carbs a bit more, but typically had around 50 to 75 a day. The carbs would come from salads, nuts, low GI fruit, and such. I definitely lost weight at a slower pace than some people who were really strict about carbs, but it did come off. I just bought three new dresses in a size XS, and two years ago I couldn't fit into a XL.

I've never strictly followed the paleo diet or any other diet since having the VSG, because I was more focused on creating sustainable eating habits that could lead to not only losing weight but maintaining that loss. In the past whenever I tried to strictly follow a diet I'd inevitably cheat on it, with a slice of birthday cake at work, or a night out, or whatever, and then feel so discouraged. I'd obsess about food and feel deprived. Most diets are far too restrictive to follow for life. So this time I decided not to adhere to any diet plan, but instead to just focus on making sensible choices with eating. I took inspiration from paleo about how much protein, carbs, and fat I should consume, but modified the diet to fit my own lifestyle. It was a challenge at first, but with time it became much more routine to me, and thus easier.

I started out with a lower BMI for having the VSG, and lost weight at a slower pace than many others, so I kept my older clothes for the first year. I just added a belt to the jeans. When that was no longer feasible, I decluttered my closet, washed all the clothes since some had been hanging in my closet gathering dust, and bagged them up to donate. My friend's sister is mentally delayed and living in a group home for adults with similar condition to hers. I donated the clothes to her, and then she had a fabulous time giving them away to other women in her home. She said she felt like Santa.

I don't mind the questions at all! I'll send you a PM with the name of the YouTuber. Whenever possible I have full fat dairy rather than reduced or nonfat, for a few reasons. I've read several articles about scientific studies showing that full fat is healthier, and as an added bonus I prefer the taste. My dermatologist told me it would be less likely to aggravate hormonal acne, so that's another major reason. I have PCOS and must be careful about what I consume because I'm very sensitive and prone to breaking out. He suggests having full fat dairy in moderation, and said that goat's milk-based dairy is less likely to trigger breakouts. I like to get goat's milk yogurt from a Sunday farmer's market. It's expensive, but excellent. You can also get it at Whole Foods, Bristol Farms, Gelsons, but everywhere it's pricier than dairy milk yogurt. I have whole milk in my coffee when I'm drinking it out, and at home I use a cashew nut and almond milk protein drink. I always get the unsweetened one that is lower in carbs, and add in a tiny bit of sugar free, no carb Torani syrup for flavor. When I was in the active weight loss phase I ate whole fat plain Greek yogurt with carbs under 10 and protein over 20. (This was before my derm told me to cut back on dairy). There are several brands that meet the criteria, with Fage being one commonly available. I've more recently switched to having plain Silk yogurt, which is nondairy, to see if that can help reduce the risk of breakouts. It has around 10 carbs and 13 grams of protein, but at this point when I'm trying to maintain that's acceptable for me. Dr. Matthew Weiner, a bariatric surgeon, has videos on YouTube about "setpoint smoothies". I'll have them for meals or for snacks. I always have full fat cheese. I mainly eat that a little more sparingly because of the worries about dairy and acne, not because of weight concerns. If you don't have a fear of acne breakouts, you'd probably be fine having it in higher quantities. One of my favorite snacks is a protein snack pack by Sargento that has a little portion of cheese cubes, nuts and dried fruit, for around 13 carbs. I have that almost every weekday afternoon. Typically my meals now are something like: smoothie and coffee for breakfast; a salad with an egg, some chicken or another protein; an afternoon snack of coffee and a Sargento snack break or something comparable to it; dinner of a turkey burger or lean steak, green beans or another lower carb vegetable, and a crispbread (sort of like a large cracker that has under 10 carbs) with a little butter on it. Some nights I'll have a dessert like a raspberry cream bar from Trader Joe's (10 carbs) or a Paleo Pop (about 15). When I was pushing more to lose weight, I ate similarly except would have a breakfast that was lower in carbs, such as a couple of pieces of bacon or a turkey sausage patty. In the wintertime I'd eat overnight oats more often, and didn't notice a negative impact on weight loss. It fills you up and gives you needed fiber. I made them with steel cut oatmeal, and added in a dash of milk, a quarter of a cup of berries, and a tiny bit of SF Torani syrup. I'd just be sure to be mindful about anything you add to the oats. If you're not losing weight, I'd try having that breakfast just a couple of times a week and having something lower in carbs other mornings. As for quesadillas, you can make them with lower carb wraps, though I've never personally liked them as much. I think having something you're craving occasionally can help you to not binge. At least for me it does. I'll often eat something that is higher in carbs on the weekends but still sensible (like a quesadilla but not with a whole basket of chips and salsa alongside), but then eat lower carbs for other meals and during the week. I try to have between 60 and 90 grams of carbs every day. Typically breakfast is the meal that has the most carbs. With the yogurt plus fruit and kale for a smoothie it's over 20 grams, whereas with other meals and snacks I try to stay under 20. There is a chart for the paleo diet breaking down how many carbs you should consume based on your gender and if you're trying to lose weight, and it recommends that women have between 50 and 75 grams of carbs while striving to lose weight, and 75 to 150 if you're trying to maintain. I've followed their basic guidelines, but not the rigidness of the diet in totally eliminating foods. https://chriskresser.com/the-3-step-process-to-determining-your-ideal-carbohydrate-intake/

That's why I clarified that I've never strictly followed the paleo diet, but instead followed the eating style of having lower carbs but not strictly low carb. It's why I described my way of eating as "paleo-like" in my first post.

Oh, to clarify - I've never strictly followed paleo, but rather followed more of the lower but not low carb eating style that is similar to it. I definitely eat cheese. To add - I've never put any food on the forbidden forever list. For me, anytime I tell myself I can't have something, I then crave it. That food becomes the proverbial forbidden fruit that I'm the most tempted to have. Instead, I try to eat sensibly, with a focus on protein and then healthy carbs such as low GI fruit in moderation. I've had cheesecake, ice cream, alcohol, you name it in the nearly two years since having the VSG, but less than a handful of times. By not banning myself from a food, I actually desire it less because I don't feel any sense of deprivation.

I was inspired to try the keto diet after seeing photos about it on Instagram from people who'd had the VSG. One of my concerns about it also came from someone I follow on Instagram. She also has a YouTube channel, and back when I was researching having the VSG her videos were helpful to me. She's around the same age and had been about the same BMI as I was when I had the surgery. She was able to get down to 128 (from a surgery weight of about 200, I believe) following an incredibly strict keto plan, but eventually could no longer be that restrictive. She rapidly gained back more than 25 pounds, putting her back into an overweight BMI, which made her feel so discouraged and depressed. After months at the higher weight she is trying keto again, though, so obviously she still feels it was valuable. Prior to having the VSG I frequently yo-yo'd by doing really low carb diets. It was precisely the same pattern - I'd strictly limit my carbs, obsessively follow recipes from online, obsessively dream about carbs I was depriving myself of, and then eventually cave in, and would rapidly regain. With my lower carb, but not strictly low carb diet more like paleo, I've gotten down to a 20 BMI, and maintained it for a year. My weight has only fluctuated by about 5 pounds. That's just me, though. My morning breakfast has more carbs than what's allotted in the entire day for keto (high protein yogurt, low sugar fruit, and kale smoothie). You might find that the keto diet fits you perfectly.

For me, paleo is far more sustainable. Keto is great if you're really trying to push hard to lose weight rapidly for a special event, or you're incredibly disciplined. I cannot maintain that strict level of eating for more than a month. Whenever I've done keto, I've lost the weight, but obsessed about food far more, and gained more of the weight back once I was no longer revolving my life around the diet. I've primarily stuck to a paleo-like diet. My weight loss was slower, but steady. I surpassed my weight goal by one year out, and have maintained the loss quite easily. I'm nearly two years out now. I no longer track my food because I'd gotten into an eating habit, and just naturally eat the way I did when I was losing weight, but I have around 60-90 carbs a day. On keto you're supposed to have less than 20. That's just too restrictive for me. Speaking of paleo, I just discovered Paleo Pops, which are surprisingly yummy, at Bristol Farms. They're great when it's incredibly hot out and I want a cold treat.