Introversion

Your sleeve's capacity for accommodating food will increase, but not to the degree that your normal-sized stomach could accommodate food prior to bariatric surgery. Your normal-sized stomach could accommodate anywhere from 32 to 48 ounces of food. A brand-new sleeve usually accommodates 2 to 4 ounces of food during the first few pre-op months. Most people who have had been sleeved for more than a couple of years (including me) would say their stomachs have 'relaxed' enough to accommodate a larger volume of food. People hesitate to use the word 'stretch.' Nonetheless, the early pre-op days of getting full from 3 to 5 bites of food do not last forever for the majority of sleeved people. For instance, I could eat no more than 3 ounces in the first few pre-op months. I'm currently 2.5 years out and can eat 8 to 10 ounces, depending on how soft or rigid the food is. In other words, my capacity has tripled. However, just because I can doesn't mean that I should. At the end of the day, it is up to me to avoid eating to my sleeve's maximum capacity.....

The majority of people who have had a gastric sleeve for longer than a couple of years (including me) will tell you that their stomachs have 'relaxed' enough to accommodate a significantly larger volume of food. People are reluctant to use the word 'stretch,' but those early pre-op days of becoming full off 3 to 5 bites of food do not last very long for most sleevers. I could eat no more than 3 ounces during the first couple of pre-op months. Now I'm 2.5 years out and can consume 8 to 10 ounces, depending on how soft or rigid the food is. In other words, my capacity has tripled. It is up to me to not eat to my sleeve's capacity.....

Was there a specific reason the doctor was disappointed? What was your starting weight on surgery day and how much did you lose in 12 months? I was a slower loser who dropped an average of 3 to 7 pounds per month after the first 2 months. It took me nearly 18 months to reach my goal weight of 100 pounds lost. I continued to lose beyond the 12-month point by increasing my calorie intake and, at the same time, increasing the intensity of my workouts. Basically, I moved more + ate more. The move more/eat more plan has been working for maintenance, too. I'm able to maintain a body weight range of 118 to 122 pounds on a calorie intake of 2000+ calories daily by living an active exercise lifestyle that includes running, weightlifting, and other workouts most days of the week.

My advice will go against the general grain, but I suggest counseling... Here's why. You can lose the weight you regained. However, if you continue to use food as a crutch in times of emotional upheaval, you'll simply regain the weight you lost once again. You already know how to lose weight. Nonetheless, keeping it off is the elusive part. Your head must be in the game to keep it off for life, and maybe counseling can help you develop coping skills that don't involve the comfort of food. Good luck to you. You've got this.

Most insurance companies use your initial consultation weight to determine qualification. In other words, they use the very first weight that was recorded for you.

Yep...you aren't eating enough for high levels of activity, so your body has responded by slowing your metabolic rate the hell down. My activity levels are similar to yours. The difference is that I give my body what it needs as far as fuel (e.g. calories) is concerned, so I'm able to maintain a body weight of 118 to 122 pounds on about 2300 calories per day. Read the following blurb: https://chriskresser.com/are-you-an-under-eater-8-signs-youre-not-eating-enough/

I weighed about 160 when I graduated from high school...nowadays I maintain a body weight that fluctuates between 118 and 122 pounds. No one has a crystal ball to predict the weight at which your body will comfortably settle. Nonetheless, I think most of those who replied are making rather educated conjectures.

Same here...due to yo-yo dieting, I had a normal BMI of 24 in October 2013. By October 2014, my BMI was up to 37 (rapid regain after a diet) and I qualified for bariatric surgery. Thank goodness my insurance company didn't demand proof of my previous weights over the years.

Firstly, congratulations on your amazing progress! The reality is that we are not completely driving the show during the first 6 months post-op regarding the rate of weight loss with a sleeve. Your body's set point has been driven downward by surgery. Hence, your body wants to continue to lose until it reaches its new set point. Neurohormonal changes override the patient's ability to control the rate of loss. This is why many people still lose weight in the first 6 months after grazing on Taco Bell, pizza, donuts and other junk. Your body will, in all likelihood, continue to gradually shed pounds until you are 6 to 8 months out. This is the reality you're facing since your sleeve is only 4 months old. Once you are closer to 1 year out, you'll be able to increase the amount of complex carbs such as yams, sweet potatoes, steel cut oats and brown rice to stop gaining (and regain if needed). By the way, I consume anywhere from 2000 to 2300 calories daily to maintain a body weight of 118 to 122 pounds. You'll likely need to eat a whole lot more to stop losing. Good luck to you.

First of all, I am so sorry for your loss. I express my condolences. Perhaps weight loss shouldn't be your focus right now. Before you embark on an attempt to lose this latest weight regain, maybe some some counseling sessions would be useful? Without professional help, you can certainly lose the weight you've regained, but nothing will stop you from returning to the comfort of food when the next situational crisis happens, predisposing you to a yo-yo cycle of weight loss and regain. Again, I am so very sorry for the loss of your son. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Unless you're a confirmed death row inmate, you can do without the food funerals. My food funerals were definitely maladaptive. I basically went crazy eating all of my favorite foods "one final time" before supposedly saying goodbye forever. I was initially approved for weight loss surgery with a height of 5'1 and weight of 200 pounds (37 BMI) in October 2014. A week prior to surgery I weighed 225 pounds (42 BMI). Due to food funerals and an inability to control my appetite, I actually gained 25 pounds during the pre-op time period. In hindsight, the food funerals were unnecessary and I regret them because I had to lose that additional 25 pounds post-op, making it that much longer to get to goal.

While I'm reluctant to suggest another diet plan, the steak & eggs diet will induce rapid weight loss (a.k.a. fat loss) while ensuring you feel full and satisfied. http://www.healthjuices.net/guest-blogger/steak-and-eggs-diet/

Oops...I had a sleeve. It pays to read the name of the forum before replying.

In my humble opinion, arranging for a friend or family member to stay with you to help after the surgery is a tad bit overkill. However, your mileage (and recovery) may vary. It's a relatively minor laporascopic surgery that takes less than 60 minutes in most people. Mine was a same-day surgery and I drove myself home 45+ miles from the hospital that night. Nonetheless, the extra helping hands could be useful. Good luck to you.

Yes, yogurt is fine during the pre-op diet since it's considered a pudding-thick liquid. However, the yogurt needs to have less than 10 grams of sugar or else the liver won't shrink.

I'll go against the grain and say that the egg will be fine...but not the Chick Fil A nuggets. Stay away from the nuggets. You must keep your carb level low for your liver to shrink. The nuggets have breading and are fried in peanut oil, and will keep your liver from shrinking. Don't eat them. The breading on the nuggets will keep your liver from depleting its glycogen stores, so it will be like taking 10 steps backward in progress. The egg, on the other hand, doesn't have enough carbs to hinder liver shrinkage.

Thanks for the article. I wanted to add that my sleeve gastrectomy was an outpatient procedure, too. I was on the operating table in the morning and home that night. It is also a relatively fast surgery. The bariatric surgeon said my surgery took 30 minutes.

I completely agree with you...my mention of 'heart healthy' processed foods was sarcastic. The obesity epidemic exploded after people began overeating so-called 'heart healthy' processed foods such as Snack Wells cookies and Frosted Flakes cereal (these products had the American Heart Association seal of approval on the package for many years).

It's okay to use...but I wouldn't purchase it again. MuscleTech products are designed for serious weightlifters and bodybuilders who wish to bulk up and build muscle mass. Their products aren't really for the bariatric population.

Nope...let me clarify. I could lose weight just fine without surgery. In fact, I'd lost 200+ pounds over the past 2 decades preceding surgery, and I'm only in my 30s. I'd lose 30, then regain 50. I'd lose 50, then regain 90. I'd lose 60, then regain 100. Rinse & repeat. I could lose weight without surgery, but couldn't keep it off. Bariatric surgery offered the last hope for me to actually keep weight off for a lifetime. I regularly eat out. In fact, a casual observer wouldn't know I've had surgery if they were sitting at the same restaurant table as me. Moreover, I eat bread and pasta, but I can tolerate them just fine because I live a very physically active lifestyle. My more sedentary counterparts who consume too many carbs often experience stalled weight loss and weight regain. Good luck to you.

Since 80 percent of all bariatric surgery patients are female, I conjecture there are very few men who actively post. Don't get me wrong...males post here, but they're vastly outnumbered by women. Your best chance for meeting someone for companionship is an online dating site, although the thought of that makes some people cringe.

I lost 7 pounds on 1 week of the pre-op diet. At least half of it was water weight from depletion of my liver glycogen stores.

I think the Flintstones Complete taste good. Different strokes for different folks. Anyhow, since I have a sleeve gastrectomy, I don't have the malabsorptive component that would necessitate use of bariatric multivitamins.

I'm 2.5 years out and usually have a cup of steamed or roasted veggies with my meat. My favorite veggies are honey sriracha Brussels sprouts, broccoli with cheddar, asparagus, and green beans. So, yes, there's light at the end of the tunnel for vegetable lovers.

The scars are not that bad at all, at least to me. I've got 5 of them. Each scar is less than 1 inch long. 1 scar is located directly below my breastbone (sternum) and the other 4 sit horizontally along my lower abdominal area just above the navel. Even with my tendency for raised keloid scarring, the scars are water under the bridge.