blondie66

I've also read a couple of articles that say that bariatric surgery resets your body weight set point. As you're healing from the surgery you can't eat much food and your body doesn't go into starvation mode cause it's healing. Insulin levels are completely dropped with RNY and the body releases excess weight even though sustaining on lower calories for a few months. If you keep building muscle and don't stretch out your new stomach and eat reasonably the body keeps the weight off - it's not fighting to keep you fat like it does pre-surgery with the higher body weight set point. http://www.obesityaction.org/educational-resources/resource-articles-2/weight-loss-surgery/body-weight-set-point-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-know

Honestly it's not that life changing. For the first year you'll lose a lot of weight and have to eat a special diet then your weight will level off and you'll have to work to maintain your weight loss. You will be able to eat most if not all the crappy food that made u fat in the first place after 2 years. And u can gain it all back if you resort to your old eating habits. The first year is the most change but in the course of a life it's not much time. It's an opportunity to heal yourself from obesity and create an improved healthy lifestyle. It is not a curse but an opportunity to people who have had a hard time losing weight. And taking some vitamins for rest of life is not really a big deal! I take 4 vitamins a day. 2 breakfast 1 at lunch and 1 at dinner.

It will get better! I basically stayed home and didn't have much of a social life prior to surgery. I had become so depressed with my weight and had no energy. After the weight loss it's amazing how you'll start to feel better and gain confidence...shopping becomes fun! Going out becomes fun and you won't be self conscious. It does get better...all the best with your surgery! I've made new friends and have done activities such as zip lining and hiking volcanoes that I never could have before...you're going to feel amazing when you get the weight off.

Wow looking good!

Wow terrific work!!

I don't think they test for alcohol but If u drink right after surgery you'll be in emergency room! Lol Wait at least 6 months the longer the better as it slows down weight loss.

Wishing u the best!!

Yeah I hear you! The first 18 months post op I could never eat enough protein to get my 60 grams of protein a day in and I was worried about losing my hair and messing up my metabolism so drank the pre-made premier ones sometimes with ice to make them bearable. It's probably best to speak to a nutritionist asap so u can get a program to balance out your protein to ensure you're getting enough.

In the early days people would make comments and I would be well that's how I'm losing weight eating less of everything and giving up alcohol!! Now i eat almost as much as most peeps. The comments start to get tiresome but imagine if they knew u had surgery then to would be - will that make u crap yourself? Or do u wish u could eat this cake? It will pass people get over it and eventually u can eat more.

Had RNY I would say there are 3 phases - 1st phase is honeymoon phase which lasts about 8 months when it's pretty hard NOT to lose weight. Then the 2nd phase u still lose weight but slower until about 18 months post op and then maintenance starts around 2 years...my body seems to like the weight it is now. I exercise and if I wanted to lose weight I have to cut out carbs and alcohol.

All good points but RNY is not reversible.

Okay well I know no one responded but if anyone does read this post - I changed my calcium supplement and now the lower back pain is gone. Weird I know...I'll see if this keeps working and if it comes back I'll go to doctor.

This might be a weird question but when I'm hungry I get lower left back pain. I know I need to go to dr but I keep procrastinating - just so much on the go. And I did mention it at my 2 year check up and nurses weren't concerned. But it's becoming more regular now as I'm trying to lose more weight but once I get even a little hungry I get a pain in my lower back left side. And to keep it from hurting I have to eat carbs. If I stick to low calorie foods it keeps hurting. It's like I need sugar in system to stop the pain. It's so frustrating and I don't like constantly taking Tylenol but I might just have to If I want to lose my last 10. Does anyone else have lower back left side pain after surgery? Any ideas?

My D has been low before also - took a couple of months to get back to normal range.

I wanted sleeve but surgeon recommended RNY cause I was so big - his words. I'm glad I did RNY cause they found a hernia and fixed it. And I have not had indigestion since surgery and I had it often prior to surgery. Of the people I know who have reached goal or are very close it's RNY.

I'm 2 years post op never had to have b12 injections. I like the b12 strips that dissolve on your tongue. Jamieson is a brand name...1,000 mcg take every other day according to nutritionist.

If people are interested in getting the surgery they can talk to their doctor. Once you start losing weight and creating a new life you'll get out more and make new friends and won't need to discuss your surgery. I haven't had anyone directly ask if I've had surgery but people have asked how I lost all my weight...but they see me exercising and watching my calories in fitness pal so they see me making an effort to lose weight. I also gave up alcohol so that's a big reason for weight loss - u say I gave up carbs and alcohol and started exercising which will be all true and subsequently lost all my weight.

Eat a muffin and have a Venti Starbucks before weigh in !! Lol

Don't tell if you're just dating someone. It only matters if u get serious...then tell them. But if I was on the market and dating I wouldn't tell cause I'm 2 years post op and you'd never know I had surgery so what's the point of me telling people now. The surgery is all encompassing at the first 18 months and then well it sorta disappears from being such a big deal.

It's a great feeling!! Congratulations!! You're doing a great job.

Think it's fine as long as you're losing weight and getting your vitamins. When u start eating solids is when you'll feel the constriction in your stomach.

Sorry I was anemic prior to surgery but okay now. I'm sure you've tried the liquid iron supplements. Good luck with finding something that works for you. I know when I was anemic I felt so tired and drained. Wishing u the best!

The surgery works!! And blood sugar levels will normalize. It was a great decision for me as I couldn't lose weight. It does work but the difficult part is maintenance. The surgery will take off a lot of weight in 2 years...most in 1st year...And with good food choices And exercise it will stay off. It's a tool for long term weight loss but you will be able to eat most foods again so have to learn to make healthy choices. But have faith it will work!

I'm 2 years post op and would like to lose 10 more pounds. The weight can certainly start coming back on as life and bad food choices happen. Wishing you all the best on your journey. Possibly the pouch reset diet would be good for you? I've read about it online.

I exercise for my health both physical and mental. It strengthens my body and gives me more energy. It helps my body to heal and handle stress. It tones my muscles and keeps me strong. Post surgery I walked as much as I could until I lost about 50 pounds then I started light weights and trampoline work out. I still walk the dog every day and hike on weekend. Exercise has helped me with maintenance and having a healthy metabolism.