Recidivist

I think all of us felt that way. It took me three years to make the decision to have the surgery and I almost didn't go through with it because I was afraid that I would never be able to eat "normally" again. I was still unsure whether I was doing the right thing even as I was being wheeled into surgery--no kidding! All I can tell you is that I'm now on the other side and I could not be happier that I did this. No, I don't eat like I used to--and I'm thrilled that I don't. I no longer crave unhealthy stuff and don't miss eating as much as I used to. Also, the payoff in terms of improved health and energy is more than worth it. Hang in there!

The fact that you understand surgery is just a tool and that there is still a lot of work involved says to me that you are ready and will do very well. It's totally understandable that you are not excited per se based on the difficult months ahead. However, you can feel excited about the ultimate outcome. That should help you stay focused when things get rough.

First, congratulations on your success so far. That's amazing in 7 months! Others may disagree, but by 7 months out I was no longer weighing myself daily and was doing it only weekly. As long as you are following the program, which you say you are, you shouldn't worry about minor fluctuations. They can occur for a variety of reasons and don't mean anything in the long run--nor do stalls. Just keep doing what you need to do and you will be fine!

Congratulations, AZHiker! It's great that you have surpassed your goal weight!

Same here...and probably true for most of us! I avoided getting photographed when I was fat and only kept the most flattering shots. As a result, I have no photos now to truly show how far I have come....although I guess the most important thing is that I know.

You have been such an inspiration to me and others here. Congratulations, and thanks for being such a prominent member of this community!

Sores in your mouth can be a sign of vitamin deficiency. Perhaps you should get blood work done to see how you are doing in that regard.

Congratulations, Idawn! You've been one of our February stalwarts. Glad to hear you are doing so well!

Didn't we all have elevated cholesterol going into this? That sort of goes with the territory when you are obese. By that logic none of us should have been approved for the surgery. I agree that you should tell your PCP and surgeon about this encounter. Also, is the doctor part of a practice group or hospital? if so, find out whether there is a way to submit a formal complaint against him. You would be doing a favor to future patients.

I completely understand what you are feeling, as I was there myself a few months ago when my nutritionist told me to double my calorie intake. At first I simply couldn't do it, because I didn't have the capacity to eat that many calories without resorting to junk. In addition, I was terrified of carbs and fat, and it took a long time to adjust my thinking. At this point, I find myself eating fairly normally and I no longer obsess over numbers. I should note that I'm not a big gym person (cardio or weight training) and therefore need fewer calories than you would to maintain a healthy weight. Like so many things on this journey, it's more a mental shift than anything else.

Exactly. I didn't eat bread at all until maintenance, and then only because I was actually losing too much and wanted to gain back some weight. (I never dreamed a year ago that I would be writing those words!)

Wow, Superman--136 pounds in 5.5 months is an astounding result! Congratulation! All of your surgeon's recommendations and your own ideas seem right on the money to me. It really is fun to see the reactions from people who haven't seen you since surgery. I was surprised at how many people didn't even recognize me. I particularly agree with the building muscle, which I think it particularly important for men after such a dramatic weight loss. That's my next goal as well, although I've been saying that for months now. I also think that adding variety to your diet and not obsessing so much over numbers is a great strategy--it has served me well since I started maintenance. Keep checking in with us as you continue your journey!

This probably falls into the TMI category, but what the heck. I had my first "never trust a fart" incident today while walking home from work. There was nothing I could do but soldier on and deal with the situation when I got home. I'd heard of this phenomenon and didn't really know how it could happen--until it did. On another topic, I know that we are all coming up on our one-year anniversaries. It would be really nice if everyone could check in on their anniversary dates and let us know how they are doing, perhaps with a recent photo. Just a thought! I'm the last of the February group (because my surgery was actually on March 2), but I promise to do so when my date comes!

My energy was very low for several months after surgery. Your body is still recovering and adapting to all of the changes, including the new diet. I can't remember exactly when it happened, but after 11 months I definitely have much more energy than I did before (when I was eating sugar--and a whole lot of other unhealthy stuff). I think it's largely because I'm not dragging around so much extra weight, and also the fact that I'm using food to fuel my body. I no longer eat any processed sugar, and I have more energy than I have in decades!

I wouldn't say I went crazy, but I didn't diet at all before starting the liquid diet and made a point of eating all of my favorite foods one last time. My last meal the day before surgery was a pizza and a quart of Baskin Robbins ice cream. (Yes, a quart--not a pint.) I don't think it makes much difference what you eat before the liquid diet as long as you can be fully compliant once you start--and I was.

Believe me, it's not hard to describe--we all felt the same way. I found beef and pork nearly impossible in the first several months, and I really struggled to get in enough protein every day. I'm relatively lucky that my hunger has not really returned in nearly a year, but I can now eat more--and more easily--than I could at your stage. As Catwoman said, enjoy it while it lasts!

Agree. You should be focusing on getting at least 60g of protein at this point. If you are doing that, you shouldn't have enough room left for many carbs. At least that how it was for me for the first several months.

Hi, OzCaz. I'm from the U.S. but live in Canberra! A few options: - Just order appetizers or sides (that's what I normally do). At breakfast, I typically order a meat side only, like bacon or sausage. Not great in terms of fat, but it is protein. - Don't order anything and eat a small portion of your partner's main course. - Order from the children's menu if they let you. If you are comfortable with it, you could tell them you've had the surgery as an explanation--it's much more common in the U.S. - Some restaurants will allow you to order half-portions at a reduced price. The portion will still be too large, but you wouldn't be wasting as much money as with a full portion. - Eat something high-protein and bariatric friendly before you go out to eat and just have tea while your partner eats lunch or dinner. (I've done this as well. The servers won't love it, but it's your right!)

Get to the emergency room immediately!

Completely agree with all of that. Well said!

I had a severe emotional crash in the couple of months after surgery, including crying for no reason and huge regrets about having the surgery. As everyone has said, it was temporary--and my outlook is more positive than ever now that I've lost all the weight and feel healthy!

I started drinking regular coffee after about nine months with no issues. I was not a coffee drinker at all before surgery--my drug of choice had always been Diet Coke (three of them before 9:00 in the morning.)

I've dumped very seldom and it was always because of eating too much too quickly--never because of sugar. (Unfortunately, I have learned that I can eat an entire regular chocolate bar and not dump--which I did only ONCE, I swear!) I eat lots of fresh fruit and have never dumped because of it.

One year out and I still don't eat pasta and very little rice (both because I don't crave them and try to avoid the carbs). I love sashimi for the protein, but I find that a normal single serving of sashimi is too much for me and I only eat half at one sitting. (I have actually starting making my own sashimi by buying sushi-grade salmon and thin-slicing it--much more bang for the buck!) I still find most Chinese food too heavy--and I don't eat the rice. I do enjoy a small serving of Thai green curry with chicken as a treat from time to time, which was a pre-surgery favorite of mine. I love most fresh fruit but haven't been able to enjoy raw vegetables at all.

I'm a year out and my new stomach LOVES sugar-free chocolate pudding. It feels like an indulgence!