Introversion

Playing the chew-and-spit game with crappy junk food at 1 week post-op won't harm your sleeve, but this behavior is indicative of someone who is traveling down a treacherously slippery slope. I'm going to say it because I'm not one who candy-coats or offers false reassurances of everything being 'alright,' but I predict that, without professional help to nip this concerning behavior in the bud, the original poster will start regaining weight several years from now. Still, I'll be hoping for the best.

I told my parents and my best friend. That's it... A notable stigma is attached to bariatric surgery. Uninformed people see it as the "easy way out" and will suggest you avoid surgery by getting a personal trainer, eating less, and exercising more. Losing weight is not the real problem for most of us in the obese/formerly obese category. In fact, I'd lost 200+ pounds over the years before considering surgery (lose 30, regain 50, lose 60, regain 100, etc). Also, some people on the periphery, such as jealous coworkers and acquaintances, secretly hope we regain whatever we lose with surgery. Some people may do it in a passive manner by mentioning those who have gained it all back. Since I didn't want peoples' bat-**** commentary, I told only those I cared about.

My BMI is 22. I wear between a size 2 and 4. My preoperative BMI was 41 and I wore a size 20.

While I don't enjoy weightlifting, I lift as heavy as I possibly can 3 times per week. Metabolically active muscle mass is beneficial for our health. Also, the more strength I build now, the less likely I'll end up using a wheelchair or walker in old age. My late mother was one of the Walmart shoppers we see navigating the store on a motorized scooter due to muscle weakness and lack of stamina to walk around for 30 minutes. She was in her 50s, so she wasn't particularly elderly in the traditional sense either. We can put in the hard work now, or pay later.

I take two Flintstones complete multivitamins. My nutritional bloodwork always comes back within normal limits. They have a fruity flavor and a 3-month supply is about $15.

My advice is to stay off the scale for an extended period of time. Glycogenation is the most prevalent reason we see weight gain when starting a new exercise program. For instance, someone suddenly moves from a sedentary lifestyle to working out more. The abrupt lifestyle change from being sedentary to exercising several times per week increases the muscle’s energy storage capacity. Since a physically active body demands more fuel, it adapts by storing more of the carbohydrates you eat as glycogen in your muscle. For every gram of glycogen stored, our bodies store 3 to 4 grams of water with it. This adds up to 6 to 12 pounds of water weight for the typical person. So when you start a workout program you may have lost fat, but any progress you made is cloaked by water weight gain. You may have lost one or two pounds of fat the first week but gained several pounds of muscle glycogen during that time. Then you weigh in, see weight gain, and conclude your workouts were for nothing. Therefore, stay off the scale. You aren't gaining fat. Measure your progress during these first few weeks of exercise by how your clothes fit, not by the number on the scale.

And most importantly...find exercises that you actually like doing. We're more likely to adhere to regular exercise if we enjoy the workouts. I personally enjoy running, while the next person may like zumba or power yoga. Still, another individual may prefer bicycling, and someone else may enjoy powerlifting and box-jumps. There's something for everyone in the realm of physical activity.

I use full-fat half & half in my coffee... If you're into flavoring, there's Torani sugar-free syrups. They come in flavors such as caramel, raspberry, etc, and can be used in coffee, tea, yogurt, and so forth.

Both types of bariatric surgeries (bypass and sleeve) affect multiple gut hormones favorably in PCOS and insulin resistance. Click on the link below if you can digest scholarly articles on the subject. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3334389/

Gastric bypass is the gold standard bariatric procedure for obese PCOS patients. Nonetheless, I know a number of women with PCOS who have reached their goal weights and found amazing success with their sleeves. Here's the catch: due to the severe insulin resistance that is the hallmark of PCOS, weight loss is usually much slower with a sleeve and faster with a bypass.

Scrambled eggs are a soft protein. People can eat a lot of eggs without consequences. Lean meats (e.g. chicken, fish, ground turkey, beef) are hard proteins. 7 bites of a hard protein is not equal to 7 bites of a soft protein such as scrambled eggs or beans. A bypass pouch can typically accommodate a lot more eggs than meat.

The type of surgery you select really depends on your starting weight, current metabolic issues (e.g. PCOS, diabetes, insulin resistance), whether or not you presently have acid reflux problems, and your preferences regarding supplementation. Before I proceed further, both the bypass and the sleeve are wonderful bariatric procedures with proven track records. I have been pleased with my sleeve. I've lost 100+ pounds and easily maintain my goal weight with the help of this amazing tool. I choose the sleeve because: I wanted my pyloric valve to remain functioning and intact. I wanted a brief surgery time (30 minutes on the operating table). I didn't want to become metabolically challenged several years from now. When the intestines are bypassed, the non-bypassed section adapts by increasing surface area and villus size to absorb more calories. This phenomenon, called intestinal adaptation, primes many gastric bypass patients for rapid regain years down the line. I maintain on 2000+ calories per day whereas many bypass patients maintain a higher body weight on 1200 calories daily or less. However, anyone can regain some or all of their lost weight, regardless of the surgery they had. People with lap bands, sleeves, and bypasses have regained due to backsliding into old habits. A reduced size stomach won't stop one from overeating.

I conjecture the problem is related to the food you ate. Mashed potatoes at one week out is a poor food choice due to the immensely high starch content. It breaks down into simple sugar and could cause dumping in susceptible people. During the weight loss phase, food choices should be high in protein. Mashed potatoes are not high in protein and may cause your weight loss to stall or plateau. Good luck to you.

Do you have hemorrhoids that bleed? Otherwise, blood in the stool/BM/feces is never, ever a normal finding. You should definitely mention it the next time you visit the doctors office. A slow bleed could cause you to become anemic.

One time I weighed myself while wearing only a bra and panties. Then, out of curiosity, I took off these undergarments and weighed in while naked. I was 0.5 pounds (8 ounces) lighter without the undergarments.

It's due to increased hydrochloric acid (a.k.a. stomach acid) production. In addition, your stomach is still healing. Expect for the growling to be present for at least a few weeks if not longer.

Here's the issue...many people have zero interest in the truth or evidence-based facts. Rather, they seek validation of their beliefs from the various cheerleaders, Pollyannas, 'yes-people,' faux supporters, and basically anyone who will tell them what they want to hear. It's called confirmation bias. For instance, many people who ask for advice aren't really looking for advice...they're really looking for others to validate a decision they've already made, and anyone who won't provide that validation is labeled as a 'meanie' or 'bully' or 'unsupportive.' So someone eats an entire pizza at 3 months out? "Everything is going to be alright" seems to be the only acceptable response. Someone with untreated depression has already regained 30 pounds at one year out by self-medicating with cookies and regular Coca-Cola all day? "Cheer up!" seems to be the only acceptable reply, and anyone who dare suggests he/she seek therapy for the depression is labeled a bully. In essence, many people lie to themselves because the truth can hurt.

I never weigh myself clothed unless I'm at the doctors' office. I always weigh myself naked each time I step on a scale...I want to know how much my body weighs without clothing and undergarments contributing to the number flashing back at me.

Generally, younger people with 'heavier' weights often lose rapidly in the beginning. At 67 inches and 352 pounds on surgery day, you had a super-morbidly obese BMI of 55. You also look youngish. Due to your high BMI and youth, your rate of weight loss seems normal. On the other hand, I was considered a 'lightweight' in the world of weight loss surgery due to weighing 225 pounds on surgery day. I lost 15 pounds in my first month post-op, 12.5 pounds in month #2, and an average of 3 to 6 pounds monthly thereafter. I was a slow loser. Also, keep in mind that not all of your initial weight losses are fat tissue. Some water weight will be dumped with the fat that you are burning.

Deficiencies of iron and zinc will result in hair loss... Anyhow, the majority of post-op people experience some hair loss several months after surgery due to a phase called telogen effluvium. Surgery, childbirth, and other 'shocks' to the human body may stop the growth of head hair. Hair loss due to telogen effluvium is temporary and the hair usually starts returning by 1 year post-op. https://patient.info/health/telogen-effluvium

I didn't resume exercise until 3 months post-op. I started with a simple walk/jog routine. 2 years later I maintain my weight of 118 pounds on 2000+ calories a day by running 20+ miles weekly, weightlifting with free weights (dumbbells and barbells) 3 times a week, and other aerobic exercises (stationary bike, elliptical machine, stair mill, cross country hiking, etc).

I never stopped eating spicy food. Life would be bland without cayenne pepper, sriracha sauce, buffalo wings, salsa, Mexican food, chipotle mayo, chili powder, and Tabasco.

You don't need to wear expensive name-brand Spanx shapewear. Shapers and other undergarments are relatively affordable when they are generic, no-name types. Also, we only need perhaps two to four pieces of shapewear at the most.

Well, you're losing at a faster rate than me...I had lost a whopping 27.5 pounds at 2 months post-op. Still, I was pleased with this once I put it into perspective. When's the last time you lost 36 pounds in 2 months via diet/exercise prior to surgery? I assume the answer is "Never." That's an average of 18 pounds monthly, which is significant. I had 100 pounds to lose. After my first 2 months, I lost at a rate of 3 to 6 pounds monthly. What's important is the big picture: I kept plugging away at it, lost 100 pounds in 17 months and reached my goal weight. There's a saying: "Slow and steady wins the race, while fast and crass doesn't last." This is your personal marathon, not a sprint. You didn't become obese overnight, so you aren't going to lose it all overnight. Good luck to you.

Your post doesn't provide much information on which one could formulate advice. I'll assume you are stress-eating and feel that your food intake is out of control. If that's the case (and I'm not saying it is or isn't), it's a good idea to consult with a counselor or other mental health professional to adopt coping skills other than stress-eating or emotional eating. We travel down that slippery slope any time we use food for reasons other than intended. Good luck to you. You can slay this dragon.