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About how many pounds do you have to lose to comfortably go down a full pants size (not snugly fit). Asking because I personally find the mythic 10 pound estimate to be way off but maybe it's just me? Also, any other bariatric discussion boards you can recommend to visit?

Yes, for sure. I'm 42 and on bcp but it's progesterone only and I've bled consistently for most of this year for whatever reason. However, when my "real" period is about to start, I can't stop eating, whether it's sugar-free Popsicles or sugar-free beef jerky. My surgery was on July 9th 2020 so I'm at a year just about. All I can say is try to keep low calorie sugar-free options handy around that time. It sucks.

I also can sort of relate. I had surgery on July 9, 2020 and have been in the same size pants since the first week of February. They are loose but it's still very frustrating and disappointing. I work out daily 5 to 6 times a week 30 to 45 minutes and sometimes twice daily. And I don't take walks, I do cardio, HIIT, weights and Tabata. I was 213 day of surgery and am 143 last time I stepped on the scale. I have had issues with my period and bled heavily from January 25th until I got an IUD a little over a month ago. Problem is the IUD has caused more eating and even a taste for sweets again which I lost after surgery. I plan to have it removed next week. Surgeon's office said I'd be at goal by my July appointment and I'm 20 pounds from it. My body does not like being as thin as I like it to be. It's always been this way and I've had to basically kill myself over exercising and not eating to get to near the weight I'd like to be. I wonder if it's just genetics for some people. I'll see what my surgeon says in 2 weeks.

I was almost late for work today because I experienced a major blockage that surpasses anything I've gone through after surgery. Admittedly I started a new job and went back to the office a week and a half ago and my water consumption has been dismal. What supplements and foods do you find most helpful? I'm not big on buying tons of veggies because they go to waste. At this point I think a supplement would be best just to get me halfway regular again.

What are you eating? This happened to me post op and when I called my surgeon he told me to wait until I ate real food. He was correct. Greek yogurt, sugar free Popsicles, broth, protein drinks aren't going to give you a stuffed feeling. They are necessary for the healing process but that doesn't last long. It feels that way but it's really not. Stick to the foods you're allowed for that time period. I ate a box of sugar-free Popsicles in a single day post op. Soups or broths were most filling to me during this time.

Food shaming on this board is OTT. Surgeon's are different, have different expectations, etc. Not to mention different ages, starting weights, goals, whatever. Ugh.

OMG me too! I started a new job a week and a half ago and now work in an office (vs. at home). I swear I cam literally see the weight gain in my thighs and love handles. When I saw this topic my heart stopped for a sec. Not sure if it's anxiety eating (I am absolutely an anxiety eater), a lack of sugar free Popsicles because no freezer or change of environment. I'm also considering the fact that I'm alone in the office (everyone else works from home or lives in a different state) but I live alone with my puppy so not much different. I look forward to reading other responses because my one year is coming up July 9th and my loss has slowed considerably. Also, the "honeymoon" period is over and my metabolism is back to slow as molasses mode. Not to mention it's been that time of the month since January 25th. I had a polyp removed in my ovaries and I'm on a new birth control that makes you irregular for 2+ months. If you made it this far, thanks for reading. I needed to vent!

My surgeon advised not to even attempt alcohol until after 14 weeks I believe? It was in the same category as red meat. After posting here I realized my surgeon allowed foods post op that other surgeon's do not. For example, Cream of Wheat the same week as mashed potatoes. So I can't say if that's normal or not. I can absolutely guarantee you that 3 months out, you may take a few drinks and still lose weight. However, give it another month or 2 and it will slow or stall weight loss.

None. I check for a few minutes every once in a while but not on here enough to notice. I always hope for good recommendations on foods to eat. I get stuck on certain foods and need to expand my horizons. If anyone knows the thread of food recs (read it and never found it again) please tell me where it is!

First of all, good luck to you! I stayed 2 nights only because it was covered for self-pay. I could've gone home the next night (yikes, not the same day) but I preferred being given meds to taking them myself. I'm not usually a pain med person but oy the nausea and thank goodness for Zofran. Walking around the hallways was key because it eased the pressure I felt from the gas. I didn't fart or burp a lot but walking did the trick. I threw up brown bile after gagging but surgeon checked and said it was normal. The worst part was the feeling in the recovery room and the vile crap they make you drink before the throat or swallow test. The rest was discomfort.

Not claiming I'm a fast loser compared to others with my stats but... I recommend buying Genepro (you can get it in the BP store or on Amazon) and add it to your oatmeal and drinks for protein. I tried many other unflavored protein powders to avoid the Genepro cost and believe me, it's worth it. You don't need nearly as much Genepro, it's 56 calories vs 130 calories, has 30g of protein & mixes well with liquids warm and cold. Most importantly, there's no taste. I recommend not comparing yourself to others on this board. If your doctor is more concerned you didn't lose X amount of weight, I'd tell him/her what you're doing and ask for advice. To be honest, I picked a surgeon that only expects patients to lose half their goal weight in a single year. 8 pounds a month MAX. I was self pay and my yoyo dieting had my metabolism all screwed up. Why have surgery if you're just gonna restrict and over exercise? I was "only" 203 lbs 5'5" at surgery and my loss was slow from the start. This is for life. And saggy skin is not attractive.

Yes. Except it happened to me at 5 months out. It's sort of happening again but I think my loss is just super slow now. Most here thought it was maintenance mode instead of a stall and that was probably 100% correct since I wasn't tracking my food. I've since upped my protein from 60 to at least 81 or above. Surgeon's office is okay with slow loss since I was under 200 pounds when I had surgery. Tracking is helpful. I never realized how many calories I was adding to get in my protein. All the unflavored protein powder, collagen powder, etc., can really add up fast! Losing slowly does suck. I hear you. I'm also trying to up my exercise.

How much do you pay every 3 months for a multi-vitamin and calcium supplements? I get mine from my surgeon's office and pay $85 with tax for a 90 day supply. I like only having one pill and a chew (I take Nature Made gummy hair and nails too) but wondering if there's a cheaper option! Thanks in advance.

Geez, seems we have a similar "friend". Dump. It's jealousy and she is spewing a lot of nonsense. You don't need or deserve this regardless of how long you've known each other or how close you once were. No friends is a better option at this point.

Me. Mine was 7/9/20 and I've lost 50 pounds? Started out at 213 5'5" and although my nutritionist wants no less than 1200 calories a day and just 81-90g of protein, I've eaten less, done a reset and exercised. I haven't binged or emotionally eaten but... I have a glass of wine now and then and don't adhere to keto or 500 calories a day. I hesitate to come here because although I find it helpful, my surgeon's approach is not typical and I read about super fast weight loss and feel bad. I'm now worried about meeting goal by 1 year. And I know there are people here with similar stats to mine that are now 115 pounds. But as my surgeon says, this is for life. It's not a race. I'm in my late 30's and sure, I can up my workouts to twice a day and starve like I have in the past but that's not why I did self-pay surgery. I do worry but on the bright side, I'll have less saggy skin and hopefully the changes in skin won't age me so harshly. You're not a failure! Just focus on small things like meeting protein and water goals and it will come off.

So glad you're motivated because yeah it does suck. I only did a week (depends on surgeon, I believe) but I remember that even then it was like, if I drink another shake, I'm gonna puke. Fair warning though, sugar free Popsicles are addicting. 7 months post surgery and I still have 3 a day at least. In. Dead. Winter. Lol! I find they help a lot and I was not a fan before pre-surgery. Good luck to you! You are gonna do just fine.

I started a non estrogen bcp on January 28th and had a polyp removed this morning due to nonstop bleeding for months. I got on the scale and only lost 1 pound since Jan 12th. I was shocked! Granted I did a reset mid to late January and lost 5 pounds in about 6 days (a lot of water I'm sure) but, I've been faithfully tracking and exercising since (had a 4 day trip to Florida but didn't eat much and walked a lot) and was sure I had lost another 7 or 9 pounds. Nope! Now I'm really questioning if it had anything to do with the bcp. I'm only 7 months post surgery and starting to worry about reaching goal at this weight. I figure I'll call surgeon's office in a week if the scale doesn't budge. One thing I know from my past experience with bcp is every body and type of pill is so unique in how it effects a woman. I too fear the IUD weight gain because I'm so prone to weight gain as it is. Not sure if that helps at all. I feel it was part my venting, as well.

I actually buy Provel cheese from the deli (it's a local thing, not sure they sell it outside of my city) and add it to the slice before baking for more protein. If not provel, mozzarella would be my pick. My surgeon doesn't restrict foods and I agree that it just won't work to cut out things long term. Since I'm not eating half a pizza like I was pre-surgery and I'm meeting my protein goal, I don't sweat the occasional pizza craving. I use Baritastic to track calories and protein daily and it hasn't hindered my weight loss so... Sometimes reduced fat or low calorie doesn't quite hit the spot like the real thing!

I believe it was 5 months post-surgery when I craved pizza. I bought a frozen Marketplace pepperoni pizza from Sam's and cut it into 8 or 9 slices, threw each in a Zip lock bag and put it in the freezer. I could eat about 3 or 4 bites and then I was done. I still have the pizza slices in the freezer and now if I bake one, I just eat the topping. Maybe a bite of crust but mainly pepperoni and cheese. I also bought a Margherita pizza from Sam's but it's still in the box.

Not a good idea. I also attempted real food at week 3 and that was sugar free plain yogurt because I couldn't stomach the texture of eggs. I believe I could eat watered down oatmeal as well week 3. Didn't your surgeon provide any post-surgery guidelines? If not, I would contact the office and request it.

Walking is best to relieve the gas. I didn't take anything for the constipation and it worked itself out. I believe if I had gone on much longer without a bowel movement, my surgeon would have recommended dulcolax, not fiber. Anti-nausea meds especially the day of surgery and the day after.

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! Right after surgery, you'll feel awkward and possibly have pain. My advice is to walk as much as possible. I was in pain (intense side stitch) when I first tried to walk but it subsided. Walking released all the uncomfortable gas build up and made me feel so much better. Also, sugar free Popsicles were a life saver for me if your surgeon allows them. Good luck to you!

I was diagnosed with hypo at 10 years old. Weight has been a struggle all my life. I've been on Synthyroid (levo), Cytomel (lio), Armour and a combo of Synthyroid and Cytomel (best imo). In 2019, I had been on only Cytomel for 3 years and had heart, liver and kidney failure caused by Cytomel (lio) toxicity. It had been eating away muscle including my heart. When I was taken to the ER, my heart rate was 20 and they couldn't get a temperature because I had hypothermia. I was in my 30's, btw with no prior health concerns other than hypothyroidism. I believe it was made worse because I thought I had a virus for 3 days but my heart was failing. I went into a myxadema coma. After 11 days in ICU and 3 weeks in the hospital, I couldn't lose weight to save my life. After trying to lose for 8 months, my Endocrinologist recommend sleeve surgery. My loss has not been as fast as many on this board. I had surgery in July and my pre-surgery weight was 208 at 5'5". Pre-surgery diet was only a week long and I may have lost a few pounds. Since surgery I have lost about 56 pounds. My surgeon is fine with my loss. He says to hit protein and water goals but don't go below 1200 calories and eat whatever you want (after post-surgery diet, of course). I suppose I feel that surgery is pointless if I have to starve and restrict. I've done that most my life. I know many don't agree with that and I understand why. I found my tastebuds changed and sweets aren't as important as they were pre-surgery. I hope to meet my goal by 1 year. My periods have been lasting 2+ weeks and are super heavy so now I'm anemic and I'm sure it hasn't helped my weight loss. I am having a DNC soon to see if there is an underlying reason for all the blood. I can't be on normal birth control due to my heart. I went for an echocardiogram this past week and it came back normal! Considering I had cardiomyopathy, a temporary pacemaker, kidney dialysis, and liver failure less than 2 years ago (in my 30s lol), I am happy with my progress. I think having surgery with hypothyroidism is worth it.