_Shane_

Hey fellow DSers... Just a little story from me, a DSer roughly 2 1/2 years out. I underwent the DS on 8/13/2018, and effortlessly lost over 100% of my excess weight. So during the 2020 lockdown I think a number of circumstances contributed to me gaining ~30 pounds of regain! I'm not sure when the regain precisely started, probably sometime in April 2020, since I wasn't logging my weight by that time. Now to the DS's credit, even with that 30 pounds I was still within the "normal" BMI for my height, at around 24 BMI. This regain wasn't disastrous, but I certainly didn't like the trend. Basically I believe I got overconfident in the DS, and what the DS can do. The DS does have an "achilles-heel" and that's simple refined carbs. The powerful malabsorption properties of the DS are defeated by simple refined grains and simple sugars. In addition, those foods seem to be "slider foods" as I can fill up quickly, but they pass though the sleeve quickly so I'm ready for more.. For some reason (depression, low fat absorption, who knows) I developed quite the sweet tooth, and I ate as much chocolate and candy that I wanted (which was a lot). I also ate processed high-carb-laden frozen foods, grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, pizza, fast-food breakfasts and lunches, etc. I didn't eat a huge amount at once, as I still have good restriction.. but it all added up. Oh and of course no physical activity or exercise. On around Jan 21st I decided to take control again and got back to basics... eliminated all simple carbs/sugars/etc, logged and counted calories, though I didn't exercise. The DS worked it's magic, and I'll post a screenshot of my weight log over the past 2 months. The last time I logged my weight in MyFitnessPal was Dec. 7th, 2019 at 133.2 lbs. I'm not sure why I stopped logging - probably because my weight didn't move much at that point. I made it my goal to lose all my regain since that point - so 133.2 lbs. was my goal. It's really a bit low a weight for me, but I wanted to start from where I last left off and rebuild good habits from that point, not a point of regain. The loss wasn't really that difficult, and I wasn't really all that hungry very often. I still have good restriction - the "cottage cheese" tests seems to indicate I have about a 6.5 oz sleeve capacity, may 7 or 7.5 if pushed or with certain foods, and less with dense proteins. I love the DS. Best decision ever.

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I weighed 305 pounds when I decided to look into weight-loss surgery. I lost about 50 pounds during the pre-op weight loss period, and had surgery around 255 pounds. I'm also about 5'9". I wouldn't trade my DS for anything.

Yep, had DS in 2018 - I think a good quality one too, and gained about the same amount over 2020-early 2021. I know exactly why too. Too many simple carbs (breads/sugars, chocolate and candy), processed convenience junk foods, liquid calories (sugary coffees, lots). Also lack of exercise/activity due to staying home, as well as being placed on a prescription known to cause weight gain contributed to the regain. I simply got over-confident after a few years living with the surgery. Simple refined carbs are our surgery's achilles heel. We do not 'malabsorb' simple carbs, we absorb them 100%. Simple carbs, for me anyway, tend to be slider foods - breads, pizza, sweets/candies/donuts/pastries, and of course liquids like 800 calorie Starbucks don't spend long in the sleeve. Those two issues spell trouble for us, at least they have for me. Good news is once I eliminated the junk foods, simple carbs - and switched to a high-protein, low - carb diet, the weight has been melting off. I was concerned that losing regain would be difficult after the initial massive weight-loss after the surgery, but that has not been the case. I can accurately report that I've lost about 14 pounds in the last ~28 days. I have been calorie restricting in addition to the low-carb/high-protein diet, but the sleeve component of the surgery has made that rather painless, and I'm not starving at all. Just get back to basics and I think you'll do fine.

That depends on what surgery you had, which I don't see you have listed. With my BPD-DS I am supposed to, but I haven't been all that good about doing so and haven't had any ill effects. I believe its suggested that bypass patients take vitamins regularly. I didn't think it was as important for the gastric sleeve since that is not a malabsorption procedure. Did you doctor ever advise you about vitamin supplements? I had my surgery in Aug 2018 and lost over 100% of my excess weight, but I regained about 30 pounds from a (too low) 133 pounds in 2020. Even with that was still below 25 BMI. My fault, too many sweets and high carb processed junk food. Still have good restriction, and I've lost 10 of that 30 pounds so far in less than a month eating mostly salads with custom no-oil vinaigrettes, and lean meat and veg dinners. My preferred proteins have been tilapia and premier protein shakes. If I get hungry between meals I'll have an apple, which fills me pretty well.

Hi! So I'm 3 weeks post op (DS but Sleeve as far as this is concerned), going into the 4th week. I'm basically still on full liquids, since I can't comfortably drink more than 4-5 oz at a time, and can't really consume more than a few spoonfuls of thicker-liquids/purees. At what point should I expect to be able to consume purees or thicker liquids in any reasonable quantity? I'm supposed to be able to move to solid foods at six weeks post-op, but at this rate, I don't see that happening.

Clear liquids will mostly go straight through the sleeve and into the duodenum. The pyloric valve immediately lets most thin liquids through pretty quickly. I'm 3 weeks post-op and can drink probably 6-8 oz of clear liquids most of the time pretty quickly, then repeat ~10 minutes later. Thicker protein shakes or soups though - only 2-3 oz at most then must wait about 30 minutes. With the bypass liquids should just flow through the anastomosis.

Instant Pot?! I recently bought one too! Prior to surgery and pre-op diets, I made lots of recipes I found on youtube, like from the "pressure luck" channel. I plan to use it to pressure/steam fish/vegetables and make healthy meals once I can eat solid foods again.

Soft or Pureed foods would just slide through a gastric bypass pouch, right? You won't feel real restriction till you move to solid foods, especially proteins. I'm going on 4 weeks out and my scale hasn't really moved much beyond a few pounds in the past week/week and a half. I'm not at all concerned, I've dieted many times in the past and know what a weight loss stall is. Our bodies are still sorting themselves out after the massive trauma we put them through. If this is really bothering you, my recommendation would be to stay off the scale for a month and just keep following your post-op diet plan.

I don't understand how one could have firm BMs consuming only liquids...

We have diarrhea because we are on liquids diets.

I have a desk job and I took off two weeks. I'm now just over a week and a half in, and I'm ready to go back to work, simply because I'm bored. I still do have some soreness so I think, for me, two weeks is the right amount of time.

I'm 9 days out and I hear you about the water. I barely drank water for the first week, it hurt going down. Powerade Zero is my new favorite beverage. I got tired of super-sweet crystal light. I don't really feel that hungry so much as I miss eating I think. I do find myself watching lots of cooking videos and looking at restaurant yelp pictures. I have a feeling you're experience the same "head hunger" type thing.

I was a heavy "vaper" for the last 6 years and a smoker before that. About 1 1/2 months before I planned to quit, I used patches and nicorette gum, then about a month before surgery - stopped everything. It was difficult for a week, less so the second week, and I was home free thereafter. Chantix might be a good idea for you - I've read lots of positive experiences from people quitting with Chantix.

I agree with Matt Z - men pay more for big clothes. I eventually got to the point I had to shop at the "Big & Tall" stores, as I could no longer find clothes that fit anywhere else, including super walmarts. Jeans cost $100 and shirts typically $40-$60. Way more than other places I would normally shop.

Wait, you're starving? Actually eating solid food is the last thing I'd be interested in. I have to force myself to even drink water or broth..

I won't be able to think about protein until I meet with my surgeon next Thursday. I'm 3 days post-op and will be clear liquids for almost two weeks by then (after surgery). I wish I could drink more. The timer and 2 oz. that idea that Macadamia mentions sounds good, but there is no way I can drink two ounces at a time. I'm limited to very small sips right now. Every day is getting better though.

I wouldn't be able to eat any of that two days post op. Food or pureed anything, no thanks. I can barely take tiny sips of water.

2nd day post-op and I can barely sip any liquids : (

Congratulations! Exciting day. I'm recovering in the hospital room now. One thing I can say, I was *not* prepared for the pain id be in. The gas pain, the incisions, everything. It feels like I fell off a cliff, or got run over by a Mack truck. Just brutal.

Im at the hospital too! Surgeon delayed three hours though, wont go in till 2 pm or so.

I can, and I can't, believe it's tomorrow (well in 4 minutes it'll be today!) Journey started in January, and the 7+ months have went by pretty quick, though I am pretty patient and wasn't in a huge hurry. The last month has went by pretty slow, especially because of the liquid diet. It's definitely getting real. We'll see if I sleep tonight!

I have UHC and I had to do the 6-month supervised diet. You should be talking to Optum Healthcare, and get assigned a Bariatric Services Nurse. Have you called them yet? That's the first step (and required) with UHC. I believe the number is: 866-534-7209

After many last-minute hurdles to jump through the last few weeks (as late as Friday there was still uncertainty - I discovered on Thursday I had to have a CPAP machine at the hospital - so I had one day (Friday) to acquire one. Also PCP only cleared me for surgery last Wednesday (had to get cardiac clearance after a last minute echocardiogram) - surgery is a go for tomorrow - fingers crossed! I'll try to post updates...

Were you planning to make any changes to your diet once you hit this 'magical' goal-weight? If it were me I think I'd just stay the course and lose as much as I could and see where I end up. You'll probably want to lose below whatever you think your "ideal" weight should be, to leave room for some inevitable regain.