chycky

No. I don't miss not being able to run, to fit clothes easily, to find clothes at more stores, to fit into booths at restaurants, to use belts, to use normal seatbelts, to wear jeans again, to wear skinny jeans, to wear dresses, to wear boots, to not sweat while doing basic activities, to exercise, to not feel self-conscious about appearance, to wear a swimsuit, to vacation.......to so much more. No I absolutely do not miss it and could kick myself for not having surgery sooner.

Well, I find it interesting that a well balanced weight loss diet would include pasta anywhere. I mean there are loads of protein heavy or other diet plans that are pretty anti-carb and WLS is a pretty extreme decision. A decision made for reasons that typical balanced eating was not working, so while there may be "no plan" or "eat all the refined flours you can fit" a diet that doesn't have an early WLS patient measuring food and paying attention to protein would concern me. I would encourage anyone faced with that understanding to have discussions with their dietician and surgeon office.

Weight loss slows for many people because how can it possibly stay at same pace if you are following diet and exercise? I lost almost 200 pounds in about 18 months. Although I have some that I can lose, I don’t have it to drop like before. So staying active and eating right are goals for maintenance. Slowing is inevitable after success, but that could happen earlier than a year or over two years depending on ones pace.

star, that is great. I lessened my carbs pre-surgery, it was very hard. I would say it is both easier and harder to acclimate to early diet. Though, the hardest part for me was the 2 week pre-surgery and 2 week post surgery diet. I did not care for the meal bars pre surgery, and the puree stage post-surgery was not great. But, on the early stages it is amazing how exciting it can be to incorporate new foods! Good luck!

You should follow those guidelines for quantity of food and make sure it is high quality protein and whatever your acceptable veg is from their office. You can think about eating more meat or proteins that won't digest as fast as say hummus; same for the veg. But, if you are worried about your weight loss are you working out? And, if you are feeling empty are you eating? What are your protein and vitamin levels?

I find most processed diet/bariatic snacks are not good in taste or quality. Many also inflate their vitamin content and my surgeon staff says a lot of vitamins even in good shakes are not absorbed well. I think most WLS patients have some dietary restrictions or surgeon eating plans, while industry guidelines are still loose. My diet did not include any pasta until year one, and it is recommended that it be whole grain and not be the bulk of meal (still focused on protein + veg/fruit). A lot of fruits were not on my diet plan for first 6 months or year because they were higher in sugar -- but many were. I would be very leery of an early diet plan that allowed or did not discuss how to make a good bariatric plate at each critical stage. Grains entered my diet at I think 8 months mostly, I did and do have oats on my high protein yogurt at an early stage or chia seeds. At over 1 1/2 years out and pass my 1st and 2nd goal weight, I still think about my balanced plate when eating and rarely have rice, pasta or bread. But, I do have them on occasion, when I do I try for whole grain versions, brown rice. Frankly, pasta just cannot be on a success plan when your meal is 4oz!

I only know my calories because my food tracker included. My surgeon office was focused on quality and quantity of food. It just so happens that with the diet, following it on portion and number of meals/shakes, that 6 months out really no matter what I was eating 850-1000 was calorie intake. But, i agree with others most important thing was protein and fluids!

So, my arms were my first plastic surgery. My surgeon does the sculpting, I am pretty confident that most plastic surgeons are not going to recommend or give any false promises on what sculpting could do for arms with dramatic weight loss. I will tell you that the arm lift is an amazing, instant, gratifying, and body change-fulfilling surgery -- at least for me. It is, or should I say WAS, the most "public" part of my weight loss. I am so grateful for the surgeon I found, and the results. I am also proud of my "guns" as I feel even better about my weight training and arms now!

I had lower body lift with lipo and body sculpting (AKA moving fat back to my butt so wasn't flat). My surgeon is an artist, love him. I was more swollen with body lift than breast or arms, and definitely it was the most sore I was from any surgery period. Also had drains from body lift as mine was all the way around included butt lift, so not possible to even wear some clothes for those 2 weeks. I lost inches immediately, I would say it took about a month for swelling to be gone and fully realize my new waist, lost about 2 -3 sizes. Looking forward to my thigh getting done!

Sorry to hear this! Call your surgeon, they should know. Like Fluffy said, it could be an intestinal bug but the nursing staff at your surgeon office may have some tips for fighting it!

For everyone recent or pre-surgery, this is a new way of living and doing something fundamental to life --- eating! And likely a key activity that was not being done to the best of one's health. The challenges are big and transition is difficult. But, I am a big advocate for embracing the change and letting it seep into other parts of your life. I think one small way to do this that can be fundamental to success is tracking. Although I do not track my food and water like I did 1 year or 6 months ago, I don't think I would have had the success I do now without religious tracking. I still track my exercise diligently. I think tracking is an accountability tool and a health tool that can help in your conversations with dietician or clinician and can give you a reference to comparing with your surgeon's plan. Best of luck!

Well, I weighed myself twice a day for probably first year post-op. You should understand that 1-3 pounds can fluctuate from day to day at times. You will have slower weeks and faster weeks. Try to keep them in perspective. Track everything to make sure you are staying on your plan for diet, but also track weight so you can see how far you have come over time! Hang in there!

I do weights every other day. I had to start at lower amounts when I was able to get back to weights post-surgery. My protein goal is 80-100 as I am still healing from plastic surgery.

Talk to your surgeon's office. You likely have no issues, but it is something they need to know and discuss with you. Keeping hydrated and eating is critically important to your health and progress!

So drinking is hard and early on for my surgeon straws were frowned upon as could drink too much. Later it was something my dietician recommended to be able to drink more and stay hydrated, especially during working out. I would say for me it continues to be something I have to think about as I need to balance my water intake with coffee; and make sure I don't drink 30 minutes before or after eating! But it gets easier, and I found drinking slowly in early phase made it easier to drink more at one sitting. I would say I placed a priority on my shakes early on, and trying to stay on goal with 64 oz of liquid per day...spacing it out was key for me.

Yes fantasizing about citrus fruits was a thing for me. Popsicles are a nice addition (sugar free of course); brewers yeast is a nice flavor to maybe add to cottage cheese. It will get better!

No, I cannot even begin to appreciate how much more free I feel! From just the general bounce and energy to feeling more comfortable in life. I can travel now without being worried about literally not fitting somewhere. I wouldn't trade a thing!

It gets better! Talk to your surgeon's office. This is a major change, it is a lot to deal with and can be overwhelming. You will feel better on so many levels and it will be something you consider in your meals. You have a new normal, and as a newbie it is one that will be changing a lot. Once it settles it becomes second nature and doesn't feel like it is a burden! Hang in there!

I would add at 6 months out I was a much more detailed tracker and was 850-1000 working out 6 days per week

I was liquid 2 weeks prior which made the post op shake diet boring. Any diet that includes food and no veg probably is because of carb, low carb has new meaning for us. What else can you eat? Any fruit or beans?

Ditto don't do this. Steak can be tricky, esp at first. A nice soft filet when permitted, if you are worried chew a lot. Also have the papaya enzyme chewables on hand for any urgency -- a supplement my dietician shared with me that can help break down harder foods.

Congrats! You look great!

yes, and it is still weird. And, comments about dramatic change can be, at times, a little much. But, it is also positive comments and feedback. Flattery is nice though!

I really feel that the 60-70% averages include too many people who either fall off wagon or really don't follow diet. I mean we all have moments, but if you are working out and keeping moderate track of food, you can hope for more. And, that is where I think the above from 46w4kids is probably really good for those who are really following directions. Important to keep that, and the fact that individuals can vary-- you could follow all the "rules" and experience a stall.

Good luck and keep focused on your goal! My starting weight was 367 surgery weight 353 and now 175 in less than 2 years. It can happen, it is a whole new world and I wouldn't change a thing (other than doing it sooner!)