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New to this thread, hi beautiful people! This is my outfit for heading out to walk my dog and run some errands. Never in a million years would I have worn a crop top in public before now! Also strategically posing to hide my arms heh heh heh I feel that clothes sizing struggle so much... I feel like I buy a new pair of pants or shorts and then by the time I get the chance to wear them they’re already loose. I’m bleeding $$!

Hi all! So this will be a rant about that TV show that I’m guessing MANY of us on here (including me!!) used to watch: The Biggest Loser. After going through VSG and learning so much about how weight loss works and how a healthy body disposes of fat and heals itself after years of obesity, I feel the need to chime in here. While the premise of the show was noble and dare I say even inspiring (to have a cohort of morbidly obese people with inspiring life stories and paths that led them to obesity take an allegedly doctor supervised and approved weight loss journey for the world to see), the execution was exploitative, embarrassing for the contestants involved, toxic to their body image, and most importantly, the competition aspect was rooted in MEDICALLY UNSOUND principles. Let me just quickly run through my accusations- Exploitative: Many contestants had extremely painful stories that ultimately led them to being Obese. The show runners and even the “trusted” trainers frequently used those stories to “motivate” (publically humiliate) contestants into working out harder, eating less, and losing more weight each week. My major problem with this is that not only does it exploit these people’s painful experiences for views and money, it promotes an association between not eating/extreme exercise and “getting over” past pain. As many of our doctors on here have drilled into us, WEIGHT LOSS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLING. And transfer of addiction is definitely a thing when it comes to weight loss, and that could easily transition one into an exercise addiction or even an eating disorder. Embarrassing: Trainers treated their clients on the show like whiny children. Screaming, yelling, calling them names and accusing them of being lazy and useless. Obese people are not children. Obese people are not all obese because we are lazy. Obese people are mothers and fathers, hardworking employees, people with numerous responsibilities, etc. Just because running is harder for someone that weighs 300lbs than it is for 100lb Jillian Michaels, doesn’t mean that she is any better a person, or worth more than the obese person she is training. Body Image: This one is simple— contestants were forced to strip down to their skivvies each week for weigh in, showcasing their bodies to millions of viewers. In a few seasons, contestants were reduced to tears before the first weigh in at the thought of having to remove their shirts. Actual medical professionals who specialize in weight loss and WLS often tell patients to not even step on the scale or look too hard in the mirror for weeks, even months after starting their journey, for fear that stagnant numbers or lack of perceived physical results will discourage and depress them. Being forced each week to confront your body and the amount of weight you have lost in front of millions creates an unhealthy, adversarial relationship with one’s body, which is the opposite goal of actual medical professionals. And finally, Medically Unsound: Everyone on this website knows about the concept of a “stall” or more accurately, a plateau. We all know that the graph of long term weight loss looks more like a staircase than a downward slope. A healthy plateau can be for dozens of reasons, including muscle growth, more efficient liver function, an adjustment in your body’s metabolism, redistribution of fat, and so so many other perfectly normal, healthy things. These plateaus can last for days, weeks, even over a month in some cases, and that is perfectly normal. The Biggest Loser’s largest fault is that they demonized that natural process of plateauing. They instructed their contestants that every single week, they should see the scale drop, and if it didn’t, or they lost less than a pound or oh God forbid GAINED a pound?? Oh no, they had failed that week, and would likely be sent home and punished for this absolutely normal and NECESARRY part of weight loss. In fact, I worry more about those contestants that never plateaued, whose highlight reels at the end of the season had nothing but jumping for joy and over 2+ pounds lost every week, as those contestants likely lost more muscle mass and retained more fat than that contestant sent home in week 4 in the middle of a plateau, who continued her journey at home and healthily lost weight slowly. Also: where is the mention of the need to maintain healthy macros, vitamin levels, heart healthy fats— all of their “doctor’s visits” were basically just “your heart isn’t healthy enough for this competition” or “congrats you don’t have diabetes anymore” or “here’s what the fat you were eating before looks like in sticks of lard,” there were never actual depictions of realistic medical issues associated with major weight loss. I definitely didn’t hit on everything, so please let me know what you guys think. Do you agree, disagree, have more to add, and why? I’d love to hear what other people’s experiences with this show are.

Hello! I’m wondering about other people’s experiences dating or starting new relationships during that first year of major weight loss with the sleeve. Also, did dating get easier after weight loss? Asking for a friend...... hahahaha.

I juuuust posted a topic along those same lines like 2 days ago. I was sleeved on 1/28. I know I sound like every inspirational sound bite you’ve heard abou WLS over the past months but it really, really does get easier every day. And here come the blah blahs: make sure you’re getting your fluids, your protein, and surprisingly most life changing for me, your vitamins in. Once my body got back up to the B12 and Vitamin D levels that I had pre op, I saw a huge change in my mood. I have to say I’m still really irritable around times that I would normally have a meal (middle of the day between classes, in the car on my way home...) but even that softens a little every day. I know how much of a punch in the gut this new reality can be, especially if you were like me (which it seems you were) and you were super excited and educated about it and just ready to start your new life, and now it feels like it’s on hold again, even worse than pre op. I feel your pain and I validate your feelings. But I promise you this is your body trying to adjust to the new normal, and once it does, you will start to feel better. One thing that I do (because I can’t take a bath yet) to relax and de stress instead of eating emotionally is to take a plastic chair or stool into the shower and just sit there and let the warm water run down my head and back and face, and use it almost like a steam room. The sound of the water clears my mind and makes me stop thinking about everything going on. I hope some of this helped, hang in there girl.

It seems as though my liquid diet is a little more stringent than that, however my soft food diet allows much more food than just the consistency of baby food. I’m definitely looking forward to a nice piece of (fork mashed -_-) fish when I can. Thanks for all of your advice, I’m just taking it one day at a time at this point.

Thanks a lot for the support. I’m taking my multivitamin but perhaps I need more than that can provide... I’ll talk to my nutritionist about it. I know that I’m okay and it’s all going to be okay I just feel stuck in a rut.

Hey all, I was sleeved on 1/28/19, and I will begin the soft food phase next Wednesday, 2/13/19. I’m a week into the liquid phase and it is frustrating me to no end. I am getting my fluids and protein in just fine, I meet/exceed my goal every day. I still feel so WEAK! It’s not even that I’m hungry, or even actually craving any crazy binge-food, I’m just so effing tired of not eating anything. I’m tired of water and crystal light, I get nauseous when I think about my next protein shake, and I am sick of broth. I don’t even want unhealthy foods, I just want a couple bites of salmon! Or a salad! I also am not at the point where I can go back to the gym and do cardio and yoga again (pre op I was exercising to the point of sweating 6 days a week) and that is driving me crazy too. I’m getting really frustrated and borderline depressed and I just want to feel good and energized again. The things that I would normally do for timely gratification are all gone, food (obviously unhealthy), exercise, and taking a bath/soaking in the jacuzzi at the gym are all not allowed right now. I know I’m only a week+ away from the soft food diet and hopefully from being able to soak, but it feels like an eternity. I’m hoping that some of you guys can share your experiences and how you got through. Thanks!

Hi there! I’ve been consistently overweight/obese for my whole life, but my weight really skyrocketed when I started college 4 years ago. I used to get comments from men about my breasts before college because they were still comparatively large to the rest of my body. That mostly stopped when I got big. I do miss it a little bit, and I would now describe myself as an extrovert stuck inside of an introvert. When I first meet people now, I’m very shy, soft spoken, and really acutely (and uncomfortably) aware of how much space I am taking up at all times. Then when I get to know people, I go back to my old sarcastic, funny, fun self. I’m looking forward to hopefully being that person full time when the rest of the weight is gone.

That is also my understanding, thank you for validating my nervous thoughts!!

I know that having a dog and having a child are NOTHING alike, but I can just say that pre-op, I had to carry my 35lb dog very often (putting him to bed, in the car, etc.). I’m one week out from surgery and I can’t totally lift him yet, but I can lift enough to change his position and get him situated in the car. Based on my strength right now, I feel like I’ll be able to lift him normally in 1-2 weeks (hopefully). Also, in the beginning he did express interest in walking and climbing on me when I was laying down, but after a few times of being told no, and also probably sensing my anxiety, he keeps a safe distance now. I hope that helps in some small way!

Hello! So I was sleeved on 1/28/19 and the first few days were really rough for me getting fluids, especially ANY protein at all. Then I came to realize that my new stomach, at least for the time being, cannot tolerate whey! (Which was obviously a wonderful, vomit-filled experience). I recently discovered fairlife lactose-free protein milk and it has been an absolute life saver, and is allowing me to get at least 60g, woo hoo! Now, a week out, I’m able to drink water pretty “normally” (no chugging of course but normal sized sips) and fuller liquids a little slower, but still pretty normal. Unfortunately, today was my first day at work and while absentmindedly scrolling on my computer, I accidentally gulped down 8oz of the fairlife very quickly, like in a couple minutes. I felt no protest in the moment, but now I feel full and a little gassy and just overall gross. I am hoping that someone else has had this experience and can let me know how quickly they felt better, and, god forbid, if there was any lasting damage. Thanks everyone!