Hey Man

Greetings, So I really hit a low point with some financial stress that I went through with a small business I have and reverted back to my old ways of dealing with things - very poor food choices over a couple of months. I feel terrible, but I am ready to get back on track. However I have some concerns. I am able to eat anything and even drink at the same time now - a year and a bit out from surgery. I don't get the "foamies" if I eat too much, etc. I don't get the full feeling that I was still getting right before my crash. What I am saying is - I am worried that the "tool" that was supposed to help me is no longer there to help keep me in check. I know the stomach can't be stretched to what it used to be, so I am fine with that knowledge after doing some research. However I am wondering once I go back to eating properly, drinking more water and getting my protein - will things go back to how things were prior to my 2 months of screwing up or is that probably gone forever now with feeling full, etc. Like I never had the surgery. I looked into a pouch reset - but it seems there is a lot of misinformation out there. That this is not a real thing from what doctors have said - like drinking just shakes for a week again or whatever will NOT reset your pouch. I would appreciate feedback on the above and if anyone went through something similar - what was your experience to get your sleeve back on track. Thank you very much. HM

Oh I know the food choices were always on us, but there is the "tool" there to help keep us in check. Not being able to eat as much as we did prior to surgery. For example, my wife had the bypass a few years ago and she is doing well still, but once in a blue moon - she will eat a little too much of something and she feels like she needs to throw up. Meaning that the "tool" is still there for her to help keep her in check and not just keep eating like she would prior to the surgery. Basically this portion of your comment: "We rely on the restriction and the small size of our pouches to tell us when to stop eating". I think we all hope to still be able to rely on this is what I was trying to say, but I know the food choices is ALL on me.

Yes, it has been a lot of slider foods, but even something like pizza or a burger - I am now finding within the two months of being off track, I can eat more pieces or eat the whole burger pretty quickly - when the months prior, I would sometimes not be able to finish the burger or just have two pieces of pizza max. I am not so much concerned about getting back on track from a food choice perspective. I know what I should be eating, but admittedly I screwed up and let my old habits take control. I was more concerned if I had ruined my sleeve and it wouldn't really work for me anymore. Granted I always understood that a year out - I was going to be able to eat more now that I could at 6 months out. Perhaps you are right - when I go back to eating what I should eat as I do my own reset so to speak - not slider foods, my stomach will be sort of activated again. Thank you very much. HM

Thanks for the feedback and understood on your points. However am I also right in that my stomach has probably adapted now and I am not going to get the same full feeling anymore ? That in a sense it is almost like I never had the surgery as it is not going to help me keep things in check. It is ALL on me now. I don't really have the "tool" anymore. Or will it kind of come back once i am back on track for a while? Thanks, HM

Greetings, I live in Canada, so things may be different from US recommendations - but after having the sleeve, I was told that 2 multivitamins a day with no less than 9mg of iron was all I need. I have a slight iron deficiency with blood work I had done and looking into it online - it seems some patients are required to take a separate iron supplement in addition to a multivitamin. It just seems to be random depending on where you have your surgery. My doctor isn't that concerned, but I have noticed some hair fall/thinning - so I am assuming it is the iron deficiency even if slight and so I am kind of freaking out about it. Going to a dermatologist to see what they have to say. So I was just curious to get some feedback here. Are you just taking multivitamins or additional iron on top of that? Thank you, HM

I assume my ferritin level is OK. It has been tested as part of the bariatric blood work required repeatedly over time. So I imagine he would tell me if it was low, but the next time I talk to him, I will specifically ask. My protein should be fine, but I am going to go back to ensuring it is daily. I haven't fallen off the wagon, but a year out now - I am not as focused on counting every little thing. I just eat well and proper portions and much of the food I enjoy in general is protein rich. Thanks!

He wasn't concerned in that it was just slightly low - so he didn't feel a need to pump me full of more iron with a new level of pills to take. He didn't specifically say that doesn't think the iron is the reason for the hair loss. That is still up in the air and up to the dermatologist. I think when a man tells a doctor they are losing their hair - it is often an assumption of age (I am 53) or male pattern baldness or some more common issue. My blood work has been good overall, so I guess nothing is jumping out at him. I will let you know what happens. Thanks!

Hey ShoppGirl, I haven't had Covid recently as far as I know, but I did have Covid in 2023 and there was no hair loss issue then and I got over it quickly. If it isn't the iron, then I would be even more concerned, because it could be a 100 other things. Just seemed to make the most sense given that I haven't had any other recent changes. I should say that I am low in vitamin D, but I always am. No matter how much I take - other medication I take for epilepsy diminishes the vitamin D in my system. I have been this way forever, but it hasn't caused hair issues as I know that vitamin D deficiency can be a factor with hair loss. So maybe the D in addition to the iron is a problem. Unless you are saying that you need to have extreme iron deficiency for it to impact hair and not just a slight deficiency. Yes, I am being referred to a dermatologist. I hope whatever it is - will just be temporary. Thanks for your response. HM

Hey Tek, Thanks for responding. I should have mentioned though that I had my surgery in May 2023. So any effects from the stress of just having surgery are long gone. I have been fine blood work wise and hair wise all this time. The hair loss has been sudden now thus why I am assuming that the slight iron deficiency is the factor here. As I said my family doctor isn't that concerned because it is a slight deficiency and a blood test a month later could be fine, so he isn't yet feeling the need to tell me to take more iron daily. For me, I was told the mutlivitamin, B12, vitamin D and calcium is for LIFE from the hospital/doctors where I had my surgery. Not a temporary thing. It seems random since that doesn't appear to be the case for you. Thanks again. HM

Greetings, So as most people do from time to time - I fell off the wagon for about two weeks while on vacation and in the process of that, I noticed that I was able to eat more without any discomfort. I wasn't gorging on food like I did to gain the weight that I had, but I was able to handle bigger portions or that 3rd slice of pizza. I screwed up and I know that. I actually feel guilty, especially considering all the weight I have lost. It was just the first time where it was harder to stay focused as I wanted to enjoy my vacation. I know next time I have to plan better. Now I am aware that the stomach does stretch again, but it is my understanding that it takes years for that to happen per what I have read from doctors - which is why some people who have bariatric surgery tend to gain some or all the weight again years later if they haven't maintained their better eating habits. I am only 5 months out from the sleeve, so I was just curious why I was able to eat more than usual at this early point. I am back on track now, but just wanted to ensure that this is normal - that the stomach can stretch temporarily in the short term and things should be back to normal now that I am eating smaller portions again/proper foods. That I haven't already stretched out my stomach a bit. I would appreciate any feedback here. Thanks, HM

No, I didn't think it was a magic solution and I entirely know it is a tool, but at the same time - bariatric surgery has been criticized by many for the supposed rapid weight that occurs that isn't normal, which is one of the reasons why people have a whole set of new problems with hanging skin. The body can't bounce back that fast. I think there has been some "marketing" in this industry that have contributed to the expectations that some may have too - especially with before and after photos of people who may be the exception to the rule. Like I said, I don't regret the surgery at all and I am never going back, but I expected more of a woosh of weight loss at least initially.

Greetings, So I finally had my sleeve surgery 3 weeks ago and while there has been weight loss, it hasn't really been what I expected. I don't have unrealistic expectations, but I expected to lose more weight than if I just did it on my own without the surgery with little calorie intake and some activity like with doing Optifast prior. Or just eating healthy and going for a walk everyday - which I wasn't doing prior. Perhaps it takes a month to really get things going, but I am hardly really eating anything when compared to the 4,000 calories+ a day I was eating that got me this way. I do eat a breakfast, lunch and dinner, so I am not starving myself - but I am not yet in the solid food phase yet. I have sort of reprogrammed my brain and I am not really craving the things now that made me obese. Now granted I know I JUST had the surgery and don't know how things will be 4 months from now, but I am just sort of wondering in the back of my mind if the surgery was really necessary in the sense that I maybe could have lost the same amount of weight if I finally just stuck to living a better life when it comes to food and my health. I would appreciate any feedback or advice from anyone else where weight loss started a bit slow even with having a smaller stomach now or feedback in general. Thanks! HM

I was eating 5000 or 6000 calories a day. So even without the surgery, I would have lost the same amount of weight now if at the last minute after doing Optifast - I decided to cancel the surgery was my point. I have already learned how to eat better and detoxed from bad foods. I am not going to back to how I used to be. I don't regret the surgery at all, but it does give a perspective that I probably could have achieved the same result if I maintained the same discipline that I had to get the surgery. That is where I failed with past diets. When you are "forced" to drink shakes for 4 weeks that is different than just trying to diet for 4 weeks.

I have already reprogrammed my brain a bit just doing the Optifast for 4 weeks. I detoxed in a sense with all the foods I was addicted to and I don't really crave them now. What I crave is just eating solid foods and not liquids and soft foods. When I do have some of those "bad" foods again, it won't be in the huge amounts that I used to it - because A: I will feel full sooner due to my stomach size now and B: I am learning a whole new way of eating in general. I am never going back to what I used to be.

I saw my doctor today and got weighed just to see if the scale is different there than at home. I am 380, which of course I am happy about - but like I said, much of that was from the Optifast prior to surgery. I am not going to focus on the scale, but like I said before I was expecting a bit more of a woosh of weight loss since having the surgery. As I said before, I lost 20 ponds in two weeks just doing keto and moving a bit more - again I know that is water weight and also that wouldn't continue, but it was a great feeling nonetheless at the time. I agree with your points about nonscale victories and a month from now, I may be singing an entirely different tune on here. I was just thinking outloud and giving my initial thoughts per this thread. Thanks for the support. HM

I don't really think so, but I never said it was a magic procedure. I know it is a tool for long term. However they did warn me that after the 5 year mark, many do gain some or all the weight back - just so I am aware.

Does it really say that? I went through the program once before, but at the time decided it was not right for me and bailed. Got back on the horse and did it 3 weeks ago.

I was under the impression everyone has to do Optifast or something similar to reduce liver size prior to surgery, but maybe that is more of a Canadian requirement vs. what bariatric surgeons require in the US for patients - as I am Canadian. So yes, I was sort of expecting that whoosh of weight loss at least temporarily following the surgery. I do also think there is a little bit of hype of weight loss made by the bariatric program I was in as they do want to get paid to do the procedure ultimately. Yes, I concede that getting the surgery will help keep me on track long term, but I didn't think the weight loss would be the equivalent of the weight loss of someone who sticks to a diet and exercises everyday - the 1 or 2+ pounds a week, so maybe my expectations were off there. However I think that is a reasonable expectation nonetheless because my stomach is much smaller than a normal person - so I can't consume what a regular person would daily anyway when it comes to calories or portion size. Of course the before and after photos of many people online can be quite shocking even from 6 months to a year, so of course one hopes for similar results. Or like that actor Billy Gardell - but yes, I know he can afford chefs and other things to keep him on track. Again, I am just thinking outloud here. Maybe my entire view will change in a couple of months. I think you kind of nailed it - I was expecting a whoosh of initial weight loss. Thanks, HM

Thanks for responding. I was 425 at my biggest. I am now just under 390, but most of that weight loss was from the 4 weeks of Optifast. Not the 3 weeks now after the surgery. When it is all said and done, I am looking to be 210/220 max which is the weight I was prior to gaining the weight. I haven't been overweight all my life, but I have been for a good 10+ years now. I am an emotional eater. Eat my stress away as opposed to say drinking or smoking when it comes to other dealing with life vices. I remember one time I lost about 20 pounds in two weeks when I did the Keto diet and joined a gym. Yes, I know that much of that is water weight and that rapid weight loss wouldn't continue as well as the fact that I didn't stick with it, but these are just questions that are popping into my curious head now - will I pretty much lose the same amount of weight monthly if I just stuck to a more traditional way of losing weight. I know it is a journey and tool for long term. I guess I am thinking how am I not losing more weight from just a calories point of view of just soups and other liquids in small amounts as I am not in the solid foods yet phase. I am also just thinking outloud here and just wanted to see what other people had to say when it came to weight loss just after surgery. Thanks HM

Greetings, I am going for my orientation on Monday and prior to that - I have done a lot of my own research. In addition, my wife had a gastric bypass. I can't have a gastric bypass due to medication that I take, so it has to be the sleeve. I am primarily obese due to lack of portion control. It isn't that I eat the wrong things or unhealthy things per se, but I eat enough of it to feed a whole family at once and I never feel full. That button in my brain is broken. So I am hoping that the sleeve will help with portion control and feeling full, but I still want to eat the foods that I normally would generally speaking. I also love spicy foods and pretty much put hot sauce on everything. I have read some patients have a hard time with that and some are fine. I love Buffalo Wings for example and would really like to be able to still have a few as opposed to the 50 wings that I usually have eat at one time. I would really have a big problem if I couldn't eat spicy foods/hot sauce anymore. I have been told by some patients that compared to the bypass - sleeve patients can pretty much go back to how they used to eat - but just a lot less of it. But then some patients say that they tried to eat a very small hamburger (slider) and felt sick. I also drink primarily carbonated drinks - never sugar ones, just Diet Coke and carbonated Water. I do drink regular water, but I don't really like it even when it is flavored. I need the crispness of the carbonation. Now here is the problem - some doctors claim that you can't drink carbonated drinks, because it will stretch out your stomach, etc. And there are doctors that say that it's a complete myth and drinking carbonated drinks is fine - that it's impossible to stretch out your stomach with the carbonation levels found in a can of Diet Coke or club soda. Patients say the same thing - some drink carbonated drinks and it's perfectly fine and some don't - because their doctor told them not to. I suspect because doctors assume that drinking Diet Coke will lead to patients to start drinking regular Coke/other sugar drinks and thus impact weight loss. So just tell the patient that they can't have anything carbonated. Anyone here drinking carbonated drinks with no problem? Now this is going to sound weird, but I have great hair and one of my biggest worries is losing my hair/thinning hair, which I am told happens after surgery. Can this be avoided with any kind of vitamins/fish oil, whatever? Losing weight is great, but I don't want to be a thin bald person if you know what I mean. I know it's supposed to be temporary and it grows back, but I am a guy that doesn't want to lose his hair and I am a little paranoid. I may decide that the sleeve isn't for me ultimately - I just find it hard to make a decision with all the conflicting information from doctors and patients. I may decide that life is too short to no longer enjoy the foods that I love in moderation at least and try to find another way to lose weight. I wish there was a way to know for sure how things will be after the operation. I don't want to find out after the fact that I can't have spicy foods anymore or bread makes me sick or a piece of chicken give me a stomach ache. I would greatly appreciate any feedback to what I posted above and responses to my direct concerns. Thanks! HM

If I do have the surgery - it wouldn't be until next year, so I have a year to lose some weight in that time - but also decide if the surgery is right for me. My doctor has some other options that we are going to discuss, so this is not something that I am rushing into.

Because there is more to it than just surgery. It's learning about food as well and changing your mindset. Like some have said here - they have reprogramed their brain so to speak to be content with just one or 2 cookies or a slice of pizza. They weren't that way before - they needed to eat a large pizza or a whole bag of cookies to get that feeling of being satisfied. If I was 250 pounds, I would have no problem losing the weight, but I am too far gone. As I said before my wife already had the surgery, so prior to that - we were just enabling each other and just didn't realize how fat we were getting, because we love each other - before we knew it, we were both obese. If I decide that the surgery isn't for me and that it's just not an option, there are other medically supervised programs that I can do through my family doctor. It will just take a lot longer.

I hope I lose such interest and all my worries and concerns are for nothing. Tomorrow is my orientation, so I will let you know how that goes.

The answer is a healthy weight, but I don't think that one has to make such a choice. Yes, at 450 pounds - I am too far gone, but there are millions and millions of people at healthy weights that enjoy buffalo wings for example and maintain that healthy weight through proper eating, moderation on "bad" foods and exercise. I want to be one of those people eventually. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App Thank you for the info. What do you still sometimes eat that you consider junk food? The interesting thing is a chicken wing really isn't unhealthy food per se. Fried and breaded sure. But I really wouldn't call a baked chicken wing or drumstick for that matter to be anywhere in the world of junk food compared to what you would get at a fast food joint. I want to eat chicken on a bone with some zero sugar hot sauce. Am I completely unreasonable here?

But as part of our new eating habits - shouldn't we learn and understand moderation? Shouldn't we learn to be able to have a handful of chips or a cookie or two and that's satisfying enough? Are we really changing our food habits by simply avoiding foods. Sooner or later, we are going to be invited to a birthday party for example and I think it's important that we learn to have a small sliver of cake and be satisfied with that as opposed to what we would have normally eaten at a birthday party or Christmas dinner or whatever. If this works for you - great. But wouldn't you like to have your cake and eat it too so speak. Be able to treat yourself once in a while and be satisfied with a paper thin slice as opposed to half of the cake. Do you really think eating a cookie or two will result into you eating 30 Cookies at one time or do you think that you can probably stop at 2 cookies, because you are happy with the weight you have lost? I guess I just have a big problem wrapping my head around avoiding foods out of fear. I want to eat healthier, but I also want to learn how to eat in moderation.