Introversion

Yep. Bariatric surgery has a negative stigma, albeit largely undeserved. People without any understanding of the hormonal nuances of longstanding obesity view weight loss surgery as 'cheating' and 'taking the easy way out.' They see it as the lazy person's tactic of losing weight. Uninformed people assume every WLS patient couldn't (or wouldn't) lose weight prior to surgery. My reality is I'd lost 200+ lbs over the 2 decades preceding WLS (lose 50, regain 60, lose 60, regain 100, etc). I could lose weight, but couldn't keep it off. I was on the same yo-yo dieters' carousel as most WW members and TOPs attendees, yet the fact that I've had surgery would negate my success in their eyes. People tend to view money in discrete drips and drops in the here and now rather than for the long term. Sure, $15 weekly for WW might seem like a bargain in the here and now. But for the long term, $15 weekly for WW represents $780 over one year, or nearly $4,000 over 5 years. This money could be worth in excess of $100,000 in a couple of decades.

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/10/why-weight-watchers-doesnt-work.html I personally wouldn't fork over my hard-earned money to a company with a business model that is predicated on customers' failures and weight regain (and WW's executives freely admit to this).

I wouldn't join Weight Watchers, but to each her own... Realize that Weight Watchers maintains its profitability and success as a company by banking on dieters' repeated failures so they return and sign up for more of the same, year after year. Weight Watchers (and every other weight loss scheme) depends on repeat customers. The Weight Watchers business model is clever since very few people keep the weight off after losing it. People who regain re-enroll at Weight Watchers. Rinse and repeat. The company stays wildly profitable while the customers fail to address the root causes of their weight problems. Also, the gimmicky Weight Watchers way of eating is not really conducive to the manner in which a sleeved or bypass patient should eat. IMHO, save your money. Stop making the dieting industry rich. Weight loss surgery is a lifestyle, not another diet.

You're being vague when you mention you've lost "only a few pounds." Exactly how much weight have you lost since surgery? Can you quantify it with the number of pounds? At two weeks post-op I'd lost 9 pounds. During my weight loss phase I lost an average of 6 pounds per month. Yep, you read correctly: a whopping 6 pounds monthly! It took me 17 months to lose 100 pounds. However, I'm not complaining or comparing myself to others. Our height and starting weights are almost identical. You are not going to be one of those heavyweights who loses at a house-a-fire pace of 30+ pounds monthly. The sooner you come to grips with this reality, the merrier. The speed of weight loss doesn't matter nearly as much as your ability to keep it off for life. This journey is lifelong. Good luck to you.

The days when I'm plagued with insatiable hunger are few and far between, but I notice a common theme: for me they happen when I am deprived of sleep and/or about to start my menstrual period. If you are becoming hungrier than usual, it may be a good idea to evaluate your sleep patterns, stress, menstrual cycle, and other issues that affect hunger hormones. Also, excessive gastric acid production can mimic hunger pains. If you are not taking Omeprazole, Ranitidine or some other acid reducing medication, ask your doctor about these. Good luck to you.

First of all, both the sleeve and the bypass are wonderful procedures with proven results. I chose the sleeve gastrectomy because I wanted my pyloric valve to remain intact. I also didn't want the malabsorptive issues associated with the bypass. Also, I spent 30 to 45 minutes on the operating table to be sleeved. It was a same-day surgery. I was home that evening. My recovery was uncomplicated. I lost 100 pounds, reached my goal weight, and have been pleased with the results.

I'm not going to mince words...I suspect you know what to do, but perhaps your compulsion to snack is keeping you from staying on plan. There's no way you should be grazing on chips so early in the game, even if they're protein chips. You've lost 7 pounds in 2 months. Your progress is to be applauded. Nonetheless, I think you already know you should focus on real food like lean meat and non-starchy veggies. Eating too many snacks (even protein snacks) will take you down the path of a 'failed sleeve.' Here's the caveat...your sleeve will not have failed. Rather, you'll fail your sleeve by not adhering to your meal plan. A gastric sleeve is a beautiful tool, but only if utilized properly. Good luck to you. You can tackle this issue if you conjure up the motivation.

You lost 45 pounds in a little more than 2 months? You're doing fabulous. It took me a whopping 5 months to lose 45 pounds, yet you won't hear me fretting. When's the last time you lost 22.5 pounds per month (45 pounds in 2 months) via diet and exercise alone? I'm guessing the answer is "Never." Again, you're doing well. Realistic expectations are imperative in your journey. You didn't become overweight overnight, and it won't come off instantly either. The important part of this journey is adopting good habits to ensure whatever weight you lose stays off for a lifetime. What's the point of rapid weight loss if you regain? Focus on the big picture. Good luck to you.

I utilized paid time off (PTO) hours that I'd accumulated. I submitted a time-off request to use PTO hours for one week off work. I didn't indicate I'd be having surgery. Then, during my 1-week post-op appointment at the bariatric surgeon's office, I requested a medical excuse slip allowing me to take another week off. The medical excuse slip had the bariatric surgery practice's letterhead (Ultimate Bariatrics), so I suspect my former staffing coordinator figured out I had surgery once she saw it. I returned to work two weeks post-op.

Welcome! I'm not judging you for the weight gain. I also gained weight preoperatively due to food funerals (compulsively eating favorite foods 'one last time' before saying "goodbye"). Luckily, the operation preceded as planned and I've been able to maintain my 100+ pound weight loss. The honeymoon period of 6 to 18 months will be a time of almost effortless weight loss because neurohormonal changes have altered your setpoint. However, after the honeymoon period ends, the likelihood of weight regain is staggeringly high if you don't get your head fully into the game. Bariatric surgeons operate on our stomachs, not our brains. People have regained 100+ pounds with their bands, sleeves and bypass pouches in place. I'd say 90 percent of this game is psychological. Pre-existing issues with compulsive eating, binge-eating, food addiction or emotional eating will never be corrected by weight loss surgery. The majority of people with these issues need some professional help to avoid repeating same pre-surgery eating patterns. Good luck to you. You've got this.

Since this was posted in the medications forum (and the original poster is a newer member with only 1 post), I suspect they haven't had surgery. Maybe they're here to conjure up a customer base to whom they hope to sell diet pills.

We fall off the wagon the moment we begin using food as something other than what it really is intended for: nutrition to fuel our bodies' basic activities. Some people use food as an emotional crutch. Others use food to bestow enjoyment upon their lives (e.g., the satisfaction of feeling full after eating at the all-you-can-eat buffet). Others use food to conquer boredom or loneliness. Some people use food to deal with stress. Some people use food as an escape mechanism because they subconsciously dislike themselves. For some, food is their drug. Here's a saying: "Addiction is an attempt to escape from yourself. Recovery is an attempt to discover yourself." If we find ourselves regularly reaching for junk food rather than real food, it's a surefire sign we're using food for purposes other than intended.

Have you and/or your wife undergone weight loss surgery?

It's easy...focus on meat and dairy for your protein. Tilapia fillets = 20 grams of protein Chicken breast = 30 grams of protein Salmon patties = 22 grams of protein 1 cup of cottage cheese = 24 grams of protein 1 cup of ground turkey = 32 grams of protein 1 cup of Greek yogurt = 15 grams of protein

The high-protein, low-sugar version of Slim Fast (read: the one with 20 grams of protein per bottle and less than 10 grams of sugar) is acceptable. Avoid the original Slim Fast with the 35 grams of sugar per can/bottle.

Each bariatric surgery program has different requirements for their patients. Nonetheless, the dietitian at my bariatric surgeon's practice also has a minimum protein requirement of 80 grams daily. This is the way you'll need to eat for life. If you stray from this requirement, weight regain is a real possibility. Good luck to you.

Yep. Earlier this year I traveled with a friend for nearly a week. She brought a bottle of V.I. Poo along for the trip because she insists her poop smells worse since having had bariatric surgery. While V.I. Poo is somewhat pricey, it works! A little goes a long way.

In addition, low zinc levels can cause hair loss and/or thinning. If your zinc levels have not been checked, perhaps this is something you can mention to your doctor or NUT. Since your surgery was only 6 months ago, you're still in the telogen effluvium stage, meaning that you'll continue to lose hair due to the trauma of surgery on your body. It is normal to continue to lose hair until the 1-year anniversary of your weight loss surgery.

My appetite returned between the 8th and 9th post-op month. Activities that decrease my cravings and hunger include aerobic exercise (e.g. running, jogging, bicycling, hiking, stair climbing) and drinking caffeinated coffee. Caffeine cuts my appetite dramatically, even though some people may be opposed to it. Activities that cause me to feel hungrier include weightlifting and watching television. While I'll continue to lift weights, I've greatly curtailed my TV-watching because it promotes a sedentary life.

Thanks for the comprehensive list, James. I drummed up a few more... AKA = also known as; above-the-knee amputation BBF = best buddy forever BKA = better known as; below-the-knee amputation BL = baseline CC = cardiac clearance CHO = carbohydrates CV = cardiovascular EBW = excess body weight FDL = fleur de lis (a type of tummy tuck) FNP = family nurse practitioner GW = goal weight HLD = hyperlipidemia HTN = hypertension IIFYM = if it fits your macros (macronutrients) LBL = lower body lift LW = lowest weight MCD = Medicaid MCR = Medicare MD = doctor of medicine (physician) MGB = mini gastric bypass MO = morbidly obese MVI = multivitamins OA = osteoarthritis OP = original poster, original post PA = physician assistant PS = plastic surgery, plastics Psych = psychotherapist, psychiatrist, psychologist SILS = single incision laporascopic surgery SMO = super morbidly obese UBL = upper body lift UR = "you're" or "you are" VBG = vertical banded gastroplasty YMMV = your mileage may vary

I was expected to eat in excess of 80+ grams of protein starting at six weeks post-op. I am more than 2 years out and consume 100+ grams of protein on most days. Protein is the most filling of the three macronutrients (fat and carbs being the other two macros). High protein consumption makes you feel fuller longer, reducing chances you'll overeat junk foods. Also, protein demands the most energy to digest. This is referred to as the thermic effect of food (TEF). Eating 80 grams of protein instead of 80 grams of carbs burns an extra 75 calories a day on average (525 calories a week). This gradually makes a notable difference in your overall calorie expenditure and can prevent regain. Also, protein is vital for preserving muscle tissue, and as you likely know, the more muscle we have, the more calories we burn. Your body eats away at its skeletal muscle if you don't consume enough protein.

Per the original poster's profile, her surgery took place on 6/25/2017.

Look up the '3 week stall.' This phenomenon is so common it actually has a name. In addition, try to stay off the scale for several weeks. You didn't become obese overnight and you won't lose it overnight, either. When's the last time you lost 9 pounds in a few days? I'm guessing the answer is 'never.' You're doing wonderfully and I assure you the scale will start moving again. A fear of failure is common. Realistic expectations are imperative when losing weight. Due to your low starting weight, it's likely you'll never be someone who loses 30+ pounds a month. The sooner you embrace this reality, the better. My height and starting weight were almost identical to yours. I lost at an average rate of about 6 pounds monthly. Yes, I was a dreadfully slow loser and it took 17 months for me to lose 100 pounds. What matters is I eventually reached my goal weight and have maintained my weight loss. Good luck to you.

Although I did not have Medicaid, I was approved with a BMI of 37 and high cholesterol as a comorbid condition. I had a height of 5'1 and a weight of 199.5 pounds at the time of approval.

Yep. I'm waiting for her to return to answer this burning question. Did he have a band, sleeve, plication, bypass, or duodenal switch? Was it a virgin procedure or a revision? There are too many unanswered questions.