mrs w

I had the sleeve done Jan 9, 2016. In July I found out I was pregnant... unplanned. I was a low BMI patient to start, about 31 BMI. I am 35 weeks pregnant. Up until about 28 weeks I was doing fine and baby's ultrasounds were perfect. Then at 28 weeks I did the glucose test and apparently my results were high enough I didn't even need to bother doing the longer test, I was immediately diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. I've been able to manage my blood sugar levels almost perfectly since, and I think it was probably a blessing in disguise since I've been eating much healthier since I was diagnosed. No insulin needed. I should mention, all along I was gaining weight on pace. Nothing the first trimester and then about a pound a week from 12-30 weeks. Since 30 weeks I've actually lost a pound or two, so I'm up around 16 lbs now. I'm short, only 5'1 though, so my doctor is fine with my weight gains. I do think I would have probably gained less had I eaten healthier right from the get-go, but the first trimester I was nauseous so relied on carbs. Then in the second trimester and with the holiday season I definitely treated myself more than I normally would have. Anyways, that's sort of the background so far. Last week I had my 34 week check up and my OB had my results for my 33 week ultrasound. Baby's femur is measuring in the 5th percentile. Rest of him is measuring fine. My fundal height is only one week behind. My Iron stores are low and I have to get an IV to make sure I'm absorbing enough. All I can think of is - is this because I had the sleeve and now my poor baby is suffering because my body isn't able to absorb the proper nutrients?! After the sleeve my blood tests always came back fine and I had no poor reaction to the sleeve, but I can't help but blame myself for this now!

I'm not asking for sympathy, but you clearly misread the above. I got pregnant 7 months after my surgery... maybe before you post a response basically calling someone a liar, you should know what you're talking about...

I'm up 17 lbs at 29 weeks. Started at 130. Apparently that's right on track for a normal pregnancy. Obviously having had the sleeve I was hoping I would be under the average, but as long as the baby is healthy and I'm not gaining more than the recommended I'll take it!

Just wondering others experiences - for those that got pregnant, how much weight did you gain throughout your pregnancy? And were you able to lose it all? How quickly! Thanks!

I failed the one hour test. Got super nauseous, shakey, hot and sweaty, dizzy. My family doc gave me a lab requisition to do a two hour test. Before I had a chance to do it I was referred to my OB. My OB immediately said the results for my first test were high enough I did not need to do the second one and diagnosed me with GD. I thought this was ridiculous. My BMI is under 25. I had only put on about 15 lbs at 28 weeks. And according to our last ultrasound our baby was measuring slightly below average. So I decided to take the lab req and do the second test hoping it would come back fine and my OB would change his mind. Well I managed to get the liquid down in the five minute time frame but ten mins later I had my head in the garbage can. So much for that plan! I now have to check my blood sugar levels four times a day... kinda sucks but I know it's to protect the baby and it'll force me to make smarter eating choices as well.

21 weeks pregnant and up 10 lbs. Sounds like this is pretty average but I was hoping I'd gain less than the average, obviously just want what is best for baby though.

There was an older thread about this. Some say they got their restriction back right after giving birth, others not so much! I'm terrified. I'm just two days short of 17 weeks and so far only up 4 lbs. If I focus on animal proteins I fill up very fast and cannot eat much. If I eat chips or crackers I can eat way more! I need to start tracking my food again. Making sure I get enough calories, but at the same time not overeating and putting on unnecessary weight.

The water retention is what worries me the most. Even before pregnancy by the end of the day my legs are swollen from sitting at a desk 90% of my day.

Mine was also a surprise, as previously mentioned. I still wanted to lose anywhere between 7 and 15 lbs more. I'm just shy of 16 weeks pregnant and up almost 4 lbs. I am going to really start focusing on my meals again tho. I was getting too relaxed with snacking on unhealthy choices.

Hi Sarah! Congratulations! Assuming this is an exciting thing! Haha Keep us posted with your progress and what your doc has to say. I am almost 13 weeks pregnant and was just over 7 months when we were given our surprise. Honestly I read on here so many women getting pregnant and I was shocked. Honestly, I'm ashamed to say I rolled my eyes when I read it thinking you guys are crazy not to have listened to your doc. Well after being with my husband for fifteen years, this one time a condom broke. Of course it happened to be when I was ovulating and just like that I'm now "one of those women". Haha. I take back anything I may have thought about these "crazy" women before. I'm 29 and this is my first pregnancy. I was a low bmi before for surgery, and so after about 4-5 months I stalled out. If I measured and weighed and tracked all my macros I could still lose, but I was mostly back to normal life. Eating what I wanted for the most part but just in very small portions. I had the morning sickness until about week 11. Not actually sick, but nauseous until mid afternoon most days. Now I'm waking up in the middle of the night tossing and turning for hours. And usually feel starved when I do this. I had my surgery in Mexico so just had basic check ups and blood tests with my doc here at home, just making sure my Vitamin levels are good, etc. I see her again at the end of this month and I'm going to ask if there's a local nutritionist that she can refer me to that has experience with Bariatric patients. So far I haven't gained any weight, maybe about a pound but I tend to fluctuate daily so one day it's up the next it's down. I just found from about week 6-11 I ate a lot of carbs. Bread and crackers cuz that was all that settled my stomach. Good luck with everything! And keep us posted!

I'm 9 weeks pregnant and about 9 months out of surgery. It was definitely an oopsie! Used protection but the condom broke, first time that's ever happened, and of course it happened to be while I was ovulating. I denied it the first month, but after being nauseous for a week straight I figured something was up. Anyways I feel like already my restriction is lessening and my cravings are in full steam! Need to get back on track but at the same time I want to make sure baby is getting enough nutrition. Is it okay to go back to my Premier Protein drinks twice a day plus snacks and then a dinner? Or should I be more focused on eating "real" food. I'm stuck between the terror of gaining weight and the worry of not taking care of my babe. Any advice is appreciated! (Ps I don't have a nutritionist. Had the surgery in Mexico and there was never any follow up or real support after the fact).

Please keep us posted what your NUT and surgeon have to say. I'm interested in his/her responses as well.

I was off 10 days. Flew from Canada to Mexico on a Saturday. Surgery that day. Left Mexico for San Diego on the Tuesday. Back to canada the Friday. Back to work the Wednesday for full days. I work at a desk job so was more than fine to return at that point. I kept my surgery a secret so just took vacation days. If I was telling others and was able to get approved medical leave I may have taken longer just to relax, but by 10 days I was going stir crazy as it was.

Thanks so much for sharing! Did you hit any stalls at all? Did you do anything different to overcome them or just kept working the plan and eventually things started moving?

Congrats! That's fantastic!! Can you share what a regular day looks like meal-wise? I am struggling with a stall. Been about 3 months now... I definitely treat myself too often, and know what sort of things I need to eliminate or at least restrict more, but it's just so nice to finally be able to eat something you're craving without it resulting in a binge! I haven't stepped on the scale for at least a month, probably longer. The scale wasn't moving and it was getting discouraging, so I've decided to just focus on how my clothes fit and how I feel. I do work out 4-5 times a week, quite intensely, which I do think helps keep things "tight", but need to remind myself just because I burn 500 calories doesn't mean I can eat 500 calories of ice cream or crackers, etc to make up for it. Anyways, it would be nice to see what a regular day looks like for someone that's been so successful. Please share!

6 months out and I basically eat whatever I want, just in small portions. Somedays I need to remind myself that since I can only eat small amounts it's important to eat proper food. The mind game is still there, cravings still creep back in every once in a while, so surgery is definitely not an easy way out. That being said, now if I do indulge in something unhealthy, I can only eat a very small amount compared to what I'd eat in the past, so surgery has had a major impact on my binging habits. The only thing I really struggle with since surgery is carbonation. Thankfully I've never been one to drink much pop, but if I'm out and order a summer cocktail or beer, I can barely finish one, and even at that I drink it very slowly. I should also mention that I had a pretty easy recovery. Within six weeks of the surgery I could go out and eat at a restaurant, albeit very small portions. I went on vacation at 6 weeks out and was fine. I slowly started working out at home at about 3-4 weeks out. By 8 weeks out I was back at the gym. By 12 weeks out I was doing the same workouts I was doing prior, just not quite as heavy weights since I had lost a lot of my strength not lifting weights for about 2 months. Now, six months out I'm back at the gym, my strength is just as it was before and my cardio is much better. I've been running 5-8 kms twice a week. Plus four gym sessions a week. I think the main thing is, once your doc says you can start exercising, do it! Even if it's just walking on the treadmill and some squats or sit ups each day, do it! You don't need to exercise to lose weight and get skinny, but if you want to look sexy naked, you'll want to exercise to tone up!

I can't stress enough that this is the best decision I've ever made. I only told my husband and parents, and my parents told my two brothers ahead of time in hopes they could talk me out of it. None of them wanted me to go through with it, and I don't want to say they were unsupportive in a nasty way, they were just very frightened by the idea. Now I realize there can be complications, but I was very lucky and I feel like my entire life has changed. No, I wasn't morbidly obese, my BMI was 29 on the day of surgery. But I had been on a diet for as long as I could remember. I remember being in grade 3 looking at myself in the mirror thinking I needed to lose weight. When I was around 25 I went on Ideal Protein and was successful with losing the weight, but then I gained it back. I continued to do that for about 2-3 years and each time I just put on more weight once I stopped following the plan exactly. Finally I feel like I can live my life. No, food shouldn't be what makes you happy, but I will say being in my mid-late 20s, social life revolves a lot around food and going out for drinks. Finally I can go out with my friends and order nachos if I want, I just will only eat a small plateful. Or I can order pizza but only have a slice or two. In the past I was constantly only eating salads and chicken, but then would binge on sugar and junk food when I was alone and no one could see me. I started putting more and more weight on, and when I was upset about it all I ever heard was that I was just being too hard on myself. What others didn't know was that I was binging and purging my food in private. Back to the reason I started this post, I just wanted others to understand that making the decision to go through with this procedure should not be taken lightly, but I wouldn't change it for anything. Surgery was January 9th. I am down to a 24 BMI. I still have about 10-12 pounds I'd like to lose, but I am so much happier already, and I know I will be able to lose those pounds once I become more strict with my eating, but for now I want to enjoy the odd ice cream and plate of nachos! PS - Other than my husband, parents and brothers, no one knows I have had the procedure.

I had my surgery Jan 9th. I had a BMI of 29 at the time. Today I'm down to a BMI of 24. I also haven't lost much of any weight in the last 3 months, maybe a couple pounds, but I'm back to working out 5-6 times a week quite intensely (burning a minimum 500 calories in 60 minutes), and my strength is increasing so I'm sure I'm gaining muscle which is why the scale hasn't moved much lately. I'm okay with that, and to be honest I haven't stepped on the scale for at least 2 or 3 weeks. Some days I feel like I could eat a horse. I can only eat small portions, but sometimes an hour later I'm hungry again. Other days I could prob go all day and just have 3 Protein shakes and be fine. I think a lot has to do with hormones and it really is a head game. Days I'm bored I eat a lot more than the days I'm busy and don't have time to think about food. I'd still like to get down to a BMI of 21-22, but for once in my life I feel like I don't need to diet. I try and eat healthy during the week, but on the weeks I'll have some chips and guacamole if I want, or some crackers and hummus. The difference is I can only eat a handful or two now, whereas before I could eat a full bag, and had no self control, hence why I was overweight. I'm sure I would have lost more weight by now if I was a little more strict, but it's so nice to be able to have a social life and enjoy food again without the guilt that always followed in the past!

I can so relate to this. No I wasn't morbidly obese but my weight kept creeping up. I had a really good loss the first two months. It's been super slow since but in the past if I stalled I would undo all my progress out of frustration. Not this time! Slowly but surely I will get to my goal!

Sorry I was traveling last week. May 9th - 129.2 lbs! Wahoo! Hopefully that means I've broken through the stall and the scale is going to keep moving some more!

130.4 [emoji35]

130.0

First challenge for me! Current weight - 130.2 Challenge goal - 125.0

Hi there, I have started working out again. 5-6 days a week with pretty intense one hour "Bootcamp" type classes or spin classes. Like most, I'm experiencing a stall. I stalled in February. Had a fantastic loss when I was on vacation, and been stalled again since. I've read other threads about what others are eating, but being a "shortie" and having only about 15-20 lbs to goal I know I need to be more strict. That being said, I also know that if you're working out frequently, sometimes you stall because you're not eating enough! I'm 5'1 and weigh 130. Just wondering if any other low BMIers can share what their macro goals -- fat, protein, carbs -- are to help them keep losing weight. I know I need to track more religiously but my calories are usually around 800-900. I try to keep my net carbs below 40. Minimum protein 60, but usually aim for more. I know some will say increase my calories, but being a "smaller" individual I know my BMR is much lower than say a 6' man. Thanks for any input!

I had a BMI and went with Dr Jaime Ponce de Leon. He works out of (and may even own) INT hospital. My BMI was 29. I used Trish from WLS4 Better Life as my coordinator. Dr Ponce is trained in the single incision procedure and that's what I had done. $5500 USD. No regrets at all Surgery January 9. Down about 22 lbs. Most was within the first 3 weeks. Somewhat stalled out now, but I know it will continue to come off. I have about 15 lbs or so to goal.