Hop_Scotch

I think you are being a bit harsh, the person who commented is not aware of your severe anxiety and depression. Unfortunately on forums we can never can a full picture when a poster asks a question, vents or seeks reassurance, we reply to the best of our ability.

If you are doing a lot of weight training, it is likely that you have increased lean body mass. The scales don't tell the full story as you can see, clothes are fitting better but the scales do not reflect that. Don't let the scale be your only measure of success. Other things could be impacting on the stall you haven't mentioned about your food intake/portion control or water intake. What foods you are eating etc.

From what i have read on this forum and the bariatric fb pages I am on, many people manage on their own after the surgery. You don't have to stay with your father...your choice I guess, but one thing to consider if you defer will you have go through the whole process of getting approved again plus re-do all the tests? If your insurance paid for these the first time round, would they pay the second time round?

If you are considering Mexico, you may find useful information in this subforum: https://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/486-mexico-self-pay-weight-loss-surgery/

Great post, thanks

I don't use the app but I have found the profile info/settings not user friendly at all. I have tried to do a signature but was unsuccessful, I have tried various things on my profile information but they do not appear eg surgery date. I continually see the link 'complete profile' and occasionally I click and fill in some fields, I save and they do not show or stick. I know there is some info showing location, heights,weights etc and the weight ticker, and the type of surgery that I am not having as there is no option in the profile for ESG...I wanted to put that in my signature.

Are the sweetners sugar alcohols such as sorbitol or mannitol? These are known to have a laxative effect (or should that be affect?).

Weight loss causing changes in the male hormones that impact on hair growth?

Your resilience astounds me! I wish you well for your procedures and I look forward to reading more of your posts.

No, not really, but its all good! Edited, but in hindsight - probably appear as higher percentage, in that if someone weighing 100kilos lost 10kilos that would be 10% loss, but if someone weighing 200kilos lost 10kilos that would be 5% loss. It would probably take longer for the lower weight person to lose 10kilos than it would the higher weight person though.

Are vitiamins contributing to the dark colour?

I guess there isn't an optimal intake based on size as I imagine there are other factors to be taken into consideration...climate, activity levels and intensity, etc.

Is skin removal an option for you if you do lose more weight?

Doesn't look like anyone does, but I hope you have a wonderful family get-together.

How many calories and how much protein do you plan to eat each day? If generally you aren't eating enough you are more likely to eat more than you had intended when you do eat.

Woohoo, well done on making it to the loser bench! Should only be a few more days and you will be feeling a bit more like yourself.

I assume a sinus infection has been ruled out?

If you start by eating a little less now and start exercising (walking is great), by the time you have your surgery people will have been use to your new habits and generally won't pay too much attention later on.

If you are going to the gym 10 times a week and eating less than 500 calories a day, I would say you'd need to be eating more. I know that sound counterintuitive but you aren't eating enough for your activity levels..you will be surprised how your body will react when you give a little more sustenance.

27lb loss in your first month? How can that not be enough? What did you expect to lose? You are doing really well, don't underestimate your success. Impatience is the undoing of many a good result when disappointment sets in. Set reasonable goals and but not all scale goals, set yourself some non scale goals, they can be as simple as walking up a flight of stair without getting breathless or walking around the block in x minutes, seeing your toes for the first time in a long time, reducing blood pressure or cholesterol leves, etc etc.

I am worndering if it really matters when this post/thread is placed in the subforums? I have set a bookmark for BariatricPal just for unread content across all the subforums, I then enter a post to read if something catches my eye, I don't read everything. I wonder how many others do the same? I set it so that if I open a thread where I have already some of the posts that it goes to the first unread posts. The is my bookmark https://www.bariatricpal.com/discover/unread/ The only time I go to a particular subforum is when I go to the ESG forum to check for any brand new posts that I may have missed. I go there only because the ESG is my preferred procedure. Sorry for the off topic post but just a different slant as to where this prayer thread should actually sit.

I have chosen to undergo an ESG for the fact that it is a minimally invasive non-surgical option, however, in Australia it is not covered by medicare thus private health insurance will not also contribute, so in fact it is more expensive for me. If I had chosen a VSG or RNY I would be covered and would have out of pocket costs of approx $5000 (though that does depend on the surgeon and the required support plan). My ESG, including the after procedure support for 18 months is $17,000. I also have travel costs - airfares and accommodation to pay. It is not readily available in my state and the one doctor who may do it, wouldn't have done that many procedures, so would lack experience. I am a member of three FB groups for ESG and there are some people reporting that they do not feel any restriction or very little restriction. It is possible that it is doctor error or the stitches have loosened for some reason. My doctor for instance will no longer do ESG for anyone who previously had a gastric balloon he has found that the stitches do not hold. The reason has yet to be determined. Note that in general the average weight to be lost with an ESG will be lower than VSG or RNY but many people have achieved more than the average. I am not counting down the days to my ESG yet, but the time is passing quickly and in about five weeks I commence my pre-op diet.

If you are having protein shakes in the morning would that not break the fast, as the protein shakes have calories?

Have you spoken to anyone/a counsellor about your anxiety? It will no doubt help and you can move forward. I have my procedure in mid-October, its a sleeve but an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.

Please talk to your surgeon or nutritionist. It doesn't matter that you felt all right, you could be doing damage that you are not aware of yet. We know that there seems to be hundreds of different pre op and post op diets set by surgeons, some have pureed or soft foods sooner as well as solid foods. But if you have any issues going forward, you can say hand on heart that you followed your post op diet instructions to the letter. Also, how will you fare going forward with your food intake if you are non-compliant so early in the process?