momof3_angels

Congrats! I am just about to MY goal weight, but already at a "happy" weight (Normal BMI!). It feels great, doesn't it?! You look great too!

You are fine. Honestly, at this stage you shouldn't worry so much about Calories. Drink your water, eat your protein, and if you have a little room and can tolerate, get a few veggies in. Control your quantity and quality of your food. Eat small meals/snacks every 2 1/2 - 3 hours or so (or whatever your doctor/nutritionist advises). Take your time eating (something I still struggle with nearly 6 months out). Don't snack between meals.

Actually, the foods you meantuin are exactly what I eat (but Chicken instead of fish). Carbs high in protein are fine, as are healthy fats. It is the low quality carbs and u healthy fats that you should eliminate. But do eat protein first and foremost. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am so excited! So... my height in this site and with my surgeon is listed at 5'4" as my surgeon rounds down (and here half inches are not possible to enter). But my REAL height is between 5'4.5" to 5'4.75" according to all my other doctor's offices and what I have always known it to be. So, periodically I put my real height into the National Institute of Health BMI calculator. Today I put in 5'4.5" in, and that has me at 24.9 for my bmi... which is the highest of the NORMAL WEIGHT BMI's! I am 12.6 pounds below my doctors goal weight of 160. And I am 12.4 pounds from my personal goal weight of 135. It will be interesting to see how long it takes to lose the last 12.4 pounds. I do hope I get there, but I am thrilled where I am now too... so any weight lost at this point and beyond is simply "bonus" for me. I will be 5 months post op tomorrow. I have lost a total of 46 inches as of 2/1/2020 (all measurements together, neck, chest, waist, hips, thighs and biceps). I wear mostly women's size 8 in pants, but I do have a couple size 6 pants that fit and look fine. I wear mostly women's medium tops, but some are looking a bit big and I can wear SOME size smalls. My weight loss has truly slowed down. I go many days with a 2-3 pound fluctuation, and then a little drop, then many days again with 2-3 pounds fluctuation. While I hate that the loss is slower, I know it is normal at this point. And the inches are still coming off, which is great. I am also so much more active than I was this time last year.

And now with my listed height at 5'4" height (because I can't do partial inches like 8'4.75") I am in the normal weight range! And I am 9.2 pounds from my goal of 135.

Just curious, have any of you done a thru-hike or pilgrimage after bariatric surgery? In particular, has anyone done the Camino de Santiago after bariatric surgery? How was it? How did you handle eating? Did you gain/lose/maintain weight? Insights you can share? I had surgery Sept 4th. I am losing weight at a nice pace. I have just reached a BMI under 30. I am walking 6 miles a day now (still easy walking, but at a brisk pace). I am just beginning to do Yoga/Pilates again (when I can get my daughter to dance in time for me to get to class). And I have just booked a flight to Paris/back from Barcelona... but in between I am planning on doing the Camino de Santiago (French Way) from St Jean Pied de Port! I am super excited. I am planning to up my fitness routine steadily until I leave. I am already buying any gear I don't have and trying to figure out how to keep weight down in my backpack. Buying smaller clothes will sure help that! Hopefully I am a Medium by then if not smaller. Anyhow, any tips on what you did to get you through a thru-hike? This is my first thru-hike. I have always wanted to do one, but I am using this as more motivation to keep going on my weight loss and getting fit. I selected this one because I don't have to carry my tent and all my food for many days at a time, and I SHOULD have an actual bed to sleep in every night. Anyhow, excitied, nervous, and really not sure how I will be handling food by then. I am doing better with hydrating now. I am eating small meals without problems. I have never gotten sick from anything I ate or overeating.

I am still debating on the water bottle vs hydration pack. They say the hydration pack is inconvenient to refill along the way since you have to remove items from your pack to get to it. It seems most people take a smart water disposable water bottle and refill it, because the disposable water bottles are so light and easy to replace if you want a new clean one. A few take their own water bottle from home. Last time I did that, the water bottle weighted too much ditched it for disposable water bottles. My current pack that I THINK I am going to take has an external hydration pack pocket, so that makes it easier to access to refill. It seems like most people carry no more than 1L at a time, although I might want more for those long stretches without water source. I might carry a 1.5L hydration pack... or I might carry 1-2 smart water bottles and clip them to the front straps of my pack for easy access. Another option is one big smart water bottle with a hydration hose. Amazon has some for water bottles. I do NOT want to have to reach into my backpack pocket to get to the water bottle. They are usually easy to get out... but often need assistance or to remove the pack to put them away. Too much hassle. And the more I think about it, I think I might be able to physically drink the most water if I do have the hydration pack with hose. Funny, such a little decision takes a lot of thought! My bariatric multi is one big vitamin with everything in it including the Iron. It also has calcium, but I am supposed to also take 2 calcium nitrate chews daily at times that I do not take the multi. I just got my lab work back. Everything is pretty normal nutrition wise, and I am already not consistent with taking my vitamins. I take my bariatric at least 50% of the time. My nutritionist is great and had a lot of great tips that would be extremely helpful for most bariatric patients turned athletes/outdoor enthusiasts... but she obviously isn't familiar with a thru hike. Her suggestion was to bring ALL of my supplements from home with me, I had to explain.... I will be carrying EVERYTHING on my back, all day, every day, for 7 weeks (The hike and travel afterwards). I considered shipping from home to a mid-point location, but I decided against that for logistical reasons. Via Francegina is on my bucket list, assuming I like the Camino as much as I think I will! There is also a system of trails at the top of the Alps where you hike lodging to lodging... once I am in good physical shape and my heart muscle is stronger, that is on my bucket list too! I also want to do the Appalachian Trail, but can only hike up to 7 weeks at a time, so that would take me several summers to complete. And I am intimidated by having to carry my tent/food in my pack. I think it will be much harder to support my healthy diet when I need to carry so much crap food that doesn't go bad and will be enough calories to support a wilderness thru hike.

They set a goal based on averages. That doesnt mean you will stop losing weight when you reach their goal. I used their goal as my first goal weight... but knowing my ultimate goal was 135. I hit their goal weight a couple months ago. At 5 1/2 months out, I am 145 and am fairly certain I will hit MY goal within 2 months. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

3-4 weeks Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

We are going to be very similar in our trips. I am leaving May 23rd (walking beginning May 25), and will be 8 1/2 months post op when I hike. I too will be doing SJPDP to Santiago, plus I will then hike to Muxia then Finisterre. I am HOPING to do the Frances route in 32 days (including a stop in Orisson to break up day 1 - uphill is my biggest challenge). I will then walk to Muxia in 3 days and 1 more to Finisterre. If all goes well, that will also give me time to take some buses/trains to Portugal, southern Spain, and back to Barcelona. But if I walk slower, I do have the time to finish my hike before returning to the states. I too have been meticulously planning for months! I was thinking about doing a trip like this all last year, but after my surgery I told my husband that I AM doing it... THIS SUMMER! He was worried about me doing it so soon after surgery, but I think this is the perfect time to do it. Incentive to get in shape, reward for all my hard work, wrapped into 1 fun summer advanture! I made reservations for lodging for the first week only, then will get off stages and stay in municipal albergues as much as possible. I knew it was best to reserve St Jean to Pamplona, but wound up reserving until Sansol. This will allow me to ease into the walking knowing I have lodging every night even if I walk slower than planned. I am not worried about the distances the first week, I walk further now. Weight: I am already down to 146 lbs, so only 11 pounds to my ultimate goal of 135 lbs, Dr's goal was 160, so I reached that milestone a while ago! If I don't hit my goal before the trip, I am certain I will during the trip. I am not travelling with a group, just my teenage daughter, although I am sure I will find a camino family along the way. With my daughter, she will share a little food, but she eats way more than me with high physical activity. I am a still LITTLE concerned about food, but moreso about staying hydrated. I can barely get my 64 oz of water in per day and know I will need to drink more while walking. It isn't the access to food or water I worry about, it is my ability to drink enough water or eat what is available. I do plan to buy snacks and carry them with me. I am thinking Dinner will be a mix of pilgrim meals (so my daughter and I can partake in the communal dinners) and making my own dinner (because I know I can't eat a whole pilgrim meal). Or I will just order a meal a la carte if I can. I just talked to 1 person who had gastric surgery many years ago... and that person said they were able to request half pilgrim meals quite often. I will try that too. It looks like most albergues that serve breakfast, serve carbs for breakfast. Instead, I will look for the Spanish Tortillas or other egg dishes along the way. I will also buy hard boiled eggs when I can. I am told the grocery stores sell them already cooked quite often. For lunch, I will buy meats and cheeses and such in the markets and carry them with me. I may look for mexican corn tortillas to make sandwiches (they sell them in the larger towns). I finally decided against carrying supplements. They just add too much to my pack weight. I will bring my multi-vitamins (enough for at least every other day if not for the entire trip), but not my calcium (too big and bulky). If I need electrolytes I will just drink the Aquarius drinks. Don't want the extra sugar, but it won't matter since I will be hiking so much anyway. And I will also forgo the protein powder. Also too heavy. Pack: I decided to go with a 30L. I am going end of May through June... but I get cold easily. And since surgery and rapid weight loss... I get A LOT COLDER than I ever remember getting in the past. I will seriously be fine temp wise one minute, then teeth literally chattering while my whole body shivers the next. And I live in Southern Arizona... it isn't that cold out. And I do this just as much indoors as I do outdoors. With that... I finally decided I need to bring my down puffer jacket, silk sleeping bag liner, and the lightest down sleeping bag I can find. If I find I don't need the puffer or sleeping bags I will mail them home. I do intend to pack as light as I can. Right now both our packs are at 14 pounds, but I will be paring them back some more. Unfortunately I have to bring my mini cpap machine, so that is adding to the base weight of my pack. Yes, my first aid kit is packed, as are my medications and bathing/hygiene supplies/towel. My clothing list is similar to yours except I will have a lightweight rain jacket and no rain pants. I may get a disposable poncho if there will be a bad rain day in the forecast, or just wear shorts those days to avoid wet pants. I also will wear trail runners... I found that the Alta Lone Peaks are perfect because they allow my toes plenty of room, even after walking 18 miles in a day. I will also bring Teva sandals because they are lightweight and can be used to hike in and showers. I decided on injinji toe socks for liners (will bring 3 pairs), 2 pairs of a merino wool sock (injinji or darn tough... haven't decided which to bring yet), and 1 pair of a double layer wrightsocks (Camino themed). 4 underwear, 2 bras, etc. I will hike in a pair of lightweight convertible pants, and bring 1 pair of leggings and 1 pair of workout style shorts I can hike. Shirts: 1 long sleeve sun shirt, 2 T's, 1 tank, and maybe 1 slightly warmer long sleeve for layering. Of course I have a hat, and my prescription glasses are also sunglasses when outside in the sun. I doubt that is my entire packing list, but you get the gist. I too will wash laundry daily. Still debating whether or not I want poles. I will do carry-on only, do would have to buy when I get to St Jean. I don't know... I like poles on hills but hate them on flat... and do NOT want to carry them on my pack! lol. Might buy 1 pair and split them as needed with my daughter, she doesn't like to use 2 anyway. Have you done a thru hike before?

Therapy is probably good for you at this point. But definitely consult with your nutritionist to get back onto a healthier diet again. I don't eat many things that are just carbs. I try to stick to meat proteins, but I satisfy my carb needs with beans/lentils/nuts. They help satisfy me while providing more protein. Rice is usually a big no-no. As is any bread, especially with yeast. They fill your stomach up with less nutritious foods. My nutritionist allows me to eat 6-8 whole wheat crackers with meals when I want a "bread" source. I also eat very small tortilla wraps (meat/cheese inside). Once in a while I will take pretzels or tortilla chips and dip them in hummus or a bean dip. But my diet is mostly keto-ish.... high protein, low fat, very low carbs. The high fat isn't good in keto, but the fat you do eat should be healthy fats (not bacon bacon fat or the like sadly). Try to break the junk food habit! I restrain myself from eating junk most of the time. But I do allow myself the OCCASIONAL small treat. But for me, my biggest food enemy is "Cola". Pepsi/Coke are my addiction. And I do NOT drink diet. Nasty. I know I cannot ever drink it again or I will slip into all my bad habits before I know it. So... I found a flavored drink substitute that I am allowed to have: Vitamin Water Zero or Gatorade Zero. If I need something flavored to drink, I stick to those or unsweetened mint tea or something similar. Anyhow, consult your nutritionist, schedule an appointment with a therapist, and start tracking your food again and work out! And support groups are great too, if you find one that works for you. I don't like the group setting, that is why I am here on this website. But I also have a co-worker that had the surgery 4 years ago... I get a lot of support from her too. And I am advising another co-worker who is considering having surgery. Both are therapeutic for me.

Mine was approved at a lower BMI, but I had co-morbidities so that is why. The rule is generally 40 without co-morbidities or 35 if you have co-morbidities. But they should look at your entire health history. For example, what other weight related conditions might you have? Do you have high cholesterol? etc. And some insurances are doing a better job of approving sooner because they are recognizing that the major expensive of weight loss surgery is worth it to them in correcting or preventing so many weight related illnesses. Hang in there, will hope for the best outcome for you!

Not going to answer in general terms, but as I have experienced so far: 1) You weigh a little more than I did at start (226.8). We aren't so big that we are guaranteed to have loose skin. I have loose skin shortly after a big drop in weight, but it resolves after a while. My problem is more that the fat isn't as firm, so I have "jello" in different parts of my body while I tone it. Anyhow, these issues are all temporary for me. While I am not ready to wear a 2 piece swimsuit yet.. I now look great in a 1 piece that holds my stomach in a little bit. And I am doing Pilates regularly to tone my body. It is helping already. 2) The only tachycardia I have, is my normal tachycardia. Nothing new. Do go through periods of dehydration and dizziness, but that improves with each passing month. My BP is also lower (always normally low, but now a lower normal to low BP). It is more similar to where I used to be before I gained the weight, but now sometimes it is too low for me to take my medicine for my tachycardia. 3) Don't know about fibromyalgia specifically... but most chronic pains improve or go away, depending on what caused the pain in the first place. But pain due to issues because of obesity usually improve greatly. But you may experience new (usually temporary) pains. For example, I am much more active again and when I take really long walks my knee hurts, so I am getting it checked out. My PCP thinks it is simply due to me increasing my activity so drastically from 6 months ago to now, and I might need a little physical therapy to strengthen the knee. Hope this helps! And I agree with others... benefits far outweigh the risks and loose skin is a small problem compared to obesity and the health problems it causes.

Definitely work with your therapist on this. A lot may be your perception of your body image. But it is also possible that you are not losing the weight consistently throughout your body yet, but if you stick to the diet you will get there. I know I lose my boobs long before my belly. Arms before legs. Doesn't mean the changes aren't happening and that you won't lose your belly. But I agree with others, you are probably losing more than you realize. That is where the therapist can help you. Do you track measurements? I measure every month on the 1st of the month (surgery was on the 4th of September so it is close to the anniversary day... but I can remember the 1st better). I haven't lost a whole lot of weight in the past few months. I lost a ton the first 2 1/2 months and now I am lucky to lose a pound a week (mind you, I AM close to my goal weight now too). While the scale moved slowly the last couple months... the measurement changes have still been very noticeable. If you aren't taking measurements and tracking, it is harder to "see" the changes. Measurement are how I know I am still making progress despite the lack of pounds shedding. Measure today and start tracking! I put my measurements in the bariastic app. It tells me how many total inches I have lost. It helps a ton. I measure chest, hips, waist, biceps, thighs, and calves. It tells me total inches lost when adding all those areas together, and I can look at the actual measurements if I want to see changes in one part of my body over time.

No... it should never be a primary source of protein, but my nutritionist does recommend using it in addition to other sources of protein.

I am 5 1/2 months post op. Before this week, I only threw up once. I had anesthesia earlier in the day and I just assumed that it was why I threw up. In the past couple of days I have thrown up twice. Both times after eating Chicken (and I believe that is what I had eaten on anesthesia day). I wasn't sick before I ate the chicken, was sick within 15 minutes of eating it, and then was fine after throwing up for less than 5 minutes. This does NOT seem like a stomach bug. The first time I assumed it was anesthesia. The 2nd time I assumed it was because it was KFC Chicken Tenders, which are fried. The third time I had a much healthier piece of chicken (not fried). Now I am wondering if I am developing a sensitivity to chicken. It is weird, I have been eating chicken all along, but I threw up both times I ate it this week. I really hope this doesn't become a trend! I prefer chicken as my main form of protein.

Yes, I try to. They make me nauseous lately too. Gotta get a better non-meat protein diet going!

New food intolerance is what I am thinking so far. All three times have been with chicken. Not ready to think gallbladder yet... but maybe. Got my routine blood work drawn today, will see what is up with that in a couple days. I see the bariatric nurse practitioner in a few weeks. And nope... no other life changes. No real dietary changes either.

Yes... I am definitely throwing up mostly mucus (and lots of it)... with food in it. This stinks... Chicken is the only protein source I consistently like. I am not much of a carnivore. I eat meat, but I prefer not to eat it most days, but when I do eat it, I prefer chicken. I also eat eggs, but don't really like them much. Don't like fish. Rarely eat pork. And so far can only tolerate ground beef, preferably moist ground beef (soups and such are best). Anyhow... not going to cut out chicken just yet... but I will if this happens more!

My nutritionist recommends collagen protein powder to supplement my diet in general because it mixes so well in so many foods. You could give it a try and see if it helps!

It is common as those above have said... but also be mindful of symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection. frequency is one symptom, but others are pain or burning with urination and possibly cloudy urine (among others). If you suspect a UTI, see a doctor!

It is fairly common. H. Phylori is the main reason they do the endoscopy. They need to treat it before surgery. 2 weeks should be plenty of time to clear it up before surgery, but ask your doc your questions for the most accurate answers. Whether or not you have to eat with antibiotics, depends on the antibiotic. Ask the pharmacist. But even on a liquid diet, you could eat something on your diet with your antibiotic.

That is funny... mine had to be full sugar... they wanted the carbs for me! I was told full sugar gatorade OR apple juice (which doesn't have the electrolytes as someone else suggested as the reason for gatorade). I had to drink a specific amount before bed, and again 4 hours before surgery.

The docs are finding better outcomes if they carb load you before surgery. My doc had me do this. They pump your stomach just before surgery anyway, so having some liquids before gastric sleeve won't hurt anything. Other surgeries don't pump your stomach, thus nothing by mouth after midnight. That said... you still can't have OTHER stuff in your stomach

Congrats! And enjoy your food funeral... but don't go TOO crazy with it!