Creekimp13

Interesting article! https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/12/19/16742884/weight-loss-bariatric-surgery-pros-cons-stories

My meal plan is six 200 calorie meals per day....or three 400 calorie meals. All approved by my nutritionist. With most of the healthy foods that I eat, 400 calories is too much volume for my little stomach and I don't see any reason to stretch it or feel overly full...so I spread it out. I feel great on six little meals a day. Or three little meals and three snacks....whichever way you want to look at it. My doctor approves of this eating plan and is very happy with my weight loss. Sometimes I'll do little meals through breakfast and lunch and have a bigger meal for dinner. Or if I'm going out to lunch with a friend, I might skip my snack meal...so I'll have 400 calories to work with at the restaurant. At the end of the day....it's all about balancing calories. This depends very much on how many calories you are burning, what kind of food you're eating, how active you are.... and varies greatly by individual.

Because it is. You cut out most of your stomach and you're eating starvation level calories. Don't listen to the "head hunger" BS...when you're eating starvation levels of calories...you're hungry. Real hunger. Sally Struthers starving children in Africa hungry. Hungry. You're hungry because you physically can't and shouldn't yet eat the amount of calories your body requires. In a few weeks when your stomach can handle more food...you will still be facing the same choices you always have. Ghrelin be damned. You will still be on a diet that will require thought, attention, and will power. The good news....is that it gets better. Right after surgery, I could have eaten my leg off I was so hungry. After I was eating 1000-1200 calories around week three...I no longer felt like I was starving to death. I was much more comfortable, satisfied with much less, and found it pretty easy to stick to my calorie goals. Almost six months out....1200 calories a day still feels pretty satisfying. So that's an awesome change for the better. Now..back to your statement "this feels like a starvation diet and nothing more at this point." There are two ways to lose weight. Reduce input calories (Starve)....or.....Increase output calories (Exercise your arse off) The surgery isn't magic. If changes your tummy, not your head. You will still have to work hard and diet. It's not a magic fix. You will still be tempted. You will still crave old favorites. You will still get hungry. As time goes on and your tummy is healed and holds a little more...you will have to learn to resist temptation just like before. The big advantage of this surgery....is that if you screw up and lose your mind and eat without thinking it through......you're more likely to screw up by 1000 calories, instead of 5000 calories in a day. It buys you some time to really look at your behavior so you can address it. It gives you some relief from the massive portions you'd worked up to needing to feel full. And rapid results will hopefully give you incentive to finally commit to better habits. That's the goal...changing how you mentally cope with food. That's the reality. Work and diet. For the rest of your life. I'm sorry you were sold a steaming pile of BS. You're not alone. But again...the good news...is that what the sleeve realistically does for you is a leg up on any previous diet efforts. You've got a real chance to change your habits. A LOT of people have tremendous success with the sleeve. Most folks will lose 60-70% of their excess body weight....which is a tremendous accomplishment and standard dieting efforts don't come close to those results. Hang in there. It does get better.

Could you possibly be pregnant? I would let your group know what's going on and do another round of testing. Particularly, pay attention to your iron and B vitamin levels. Don't wait on talking to your doctor. Call tomorrow. Stay hydrated.

Someone here...a man...recommended Bio Oil for wrinkles and saggy skin. Have been using it for about ten days on my Turkey Neck and can see a noticeable difference! Have been putting it on after I shower in the AM, and again before bed. Really not a big believer in "wrinkle creams"...but have been pleasantly surprised. Figured it didn't hurt to pass this on. And whoever told me about it...thank you! (and sorry I'm not giving you credit by name) Edit: I've been racking my brain and I think it was James Marusek who mentioned the Bio Oil to me. Thanks James!

A lot of programs will ask you to quit coffee, or switch to decaf.

Doing great, enjoying life:) Hair shed like crazy for a couple of months, kinda freaked me out, but it's much better now, can see little sprigs of new growth at my hairline. Feeling incredible and have a ton of energy:) LOVING my sleeve:)

I think everyone goes through this. But at the end of the day....Sadly, what it comes down to....is being more afraid of parting ways with your life, your health, your mobility, your ability to participate in the lives of the people you love. I get thinking that it's not that bad yet... And I totally understand the idea of....I did this well with diet, why have the surgery? Look at statistics. Research this question: What percentage of people keep weight off with diet and exercise alone compared to bariatric surgery? It's not a magic bullet. You can still regain. You might not make goal. But statistically? You will lose more weight, and you will keep more off permanently....with weight loss surgery. It's your best hope. It gives you the best odds. It's a safe surgery. You can do this.

Good luck! Best wishes on a quick recovery and effective outcome:)

You are in excellent hands at Johns Hopkins. Lot of support and education. You're going to do great. Best Wishes!

https://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1101-vegetarian-or-vegan-eating/

One disturbing trend I've noticed recently at this site...is a lack of balanced weight loss experiences in your moderation team. The bariatric community is diverse. There are older people, younger people, people who want to lose weight to uber fitness levels and people who just want to improve their health. There are 200 pound people who want to weight 130....and there are 400 pound people who would love to reach 250. I wish the moderation team represented ALL of these experiences...instead of JUST the smaller people. The VAST MAJORITY of people who have weight loss surgery....statistically are not going to reach goal. Most of us will end up on one side or the other of a 60-70% excess weight loss. It would be nice to see some moderators who understand and continue to live this struggle. There is little input here from people who have weighed over 350 pounds. I'd like to see a moderator whose journey includes these weight ranges. It would be nice to see more male voices in moderation, since while they are in the minority...we do have a significant male population. I'd like to see an older moderator who is sensitive to weight loss after menopause. Can we please have some moderators who are not JUST women who started in the 200 pound range, in their 30's and 40's...who are now fitness junkies? We desperately need some balance.

Again, I am not criticizing any particular moderator. I'm concerned about a lack of diversity of experiences in our moderation team that creates blind spots. No one person can be all things or appreciate all perspectives.

And yours is a direct criticism of my legitimate concern. Not cool. You are implying intent that I don't have. You're making assumptions.

I didn't say there was anything wrong with the moderators. But there does seem to be only one experience represented and that can create blind spots. More diversity of experiences would be appreciated and beneficial to serve the whole population of the board. More balance is never a bad thing.

Try protein waffles! 1/2 cup oatmeal 150 c 5g Protein 1/4 cup cottage cheese 45c 7g Protein 2 egg whites 34 c 8g Protien (splash of almond milk if needed...if too thick) 1 teaspoon baking powder vanilla, cinnamon, butter buds (calorie free butter flavoring)...whatever flavor you prefer Total of 229 calories 20 g of Protein Blend batter and put in a regular waffle iron, or make pancakes Easily makes two servings. Top with strawberries and splenda or sugar free chocolate sauce...or lite maple syrup I swear this recipe is so good you won't miss regular waffles/pancakes.

You know....I have never never seen a single person who has had bariatric surgery do this. I've seen a few struggle like hell, and make terrible habit choices, and get caught in a cycle of addiction, or mood disorders that make regulating their behavior hard. I've seen a few people on prednisone and other meds for medical disorders that they can't get off of....who fight their weight tooth and nail even after surgery. I've seen people dealing with menopause and other hormonal disturbances... and grief from tragedies..... and financial issues that limit the medical/psychological support they can get....fighting really hard and still not making much progress. But I have NEVER seen someone intentionally set their expectations low and CHOOSE not to get the most out of surgery.

You know, I understand the idea of... "We should be able to say things that could possibly upset others" as long as we're polite about it. And we should. I'm just suggesting that we can be enthusiastic and loud about our own success without criticizing the experiences of others. If it's about you, make it about you. Give us some good news. Be inspiring. Don't piss on others. There is nothing to be gained by it.

This whole thread has an us against them vibe. That was my point. Do you really think ANYONE who has bariatric surgery isn't "bothered" if they don't make goal? The implication is....why don't those lazy fat people care?

This.

Technically, by BMI standard, my goal weight is still obese. But my fat percentage will be within normal range because BMI is a very flawed measurement. Arnold Schwarzenegger had an obese BMI when he won Mr. Universe because the BMI scale doesn't take into account different body types or muscle bulk. I have been 170 pounds before, and was in athletic shape doing huntseat riding competitions. I love how I look and feel at 170 and my doctor agrees with my goal. In fact, my doctor's goal is 172-178 for me based on metabolic testing and water scale measurement of my actual fat percentage. But even just randomly... "what do you think about people who set their goal at numbers that are still obese?" I think it's none of my fecking business. Or anyone else's....except perhaps their doctor.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3345131/ This has some excellent info under the "managing a pregnancy after bariatric surgery" section.

I'd get a consultation with a dietitian who has some experience with pregnancy post-bariatric surgery:) I seem to recall Iron was stressed during pregnancy, calcium, a good balanced diet.

A bitter irony that affects most of us. LOL:)

Best advice is to follow your program to the letter:) Your nutritionist and doctor won't steer you wrong.