lizonaplane

I still had a lot of fat on my body at 170. I don't enjoy weight lifting at all. I'm trying to get myself into it, but my surgery is in three weeks and then I'll be restricted for a bit. I am on planes all the time for work, and often I'm upgraded, but not always, and I'm often aware of how much space I take up. After losing the 45ish pounds I'm down in preparation for surgery, I at least don't need the seatbelt extender ever.

I did calorie cycling years ago (I haven't had WLS yet) by having fast days and non fast days. I can say that I lost a bit of weight, but it was clearly just from eating fewer total calories. Also, on fast days I was really cold. I don't see what the benefit would be after WLS. In fact, I don't recall seeing any evidence for it being good as a diet strategy in humans at all. No better than just counting calories (even intermittent fasting has only been shown to work in mice!)

Everything I've read says you can't out-exercise a bad diet, so I think that's where you need to focus. I have a giant sweet tooth too, so I've learned that when I don't eat any sweets except fruit, I don't crave them. Really. Personally, I can have splenda in my coffee and be fine, but some people can't. I would stop with the candy. It's got no nutritional value and you need to find vegetables you like. Try roasted veggies. You can roast them while you are studying (I roast them while I'm working from home). Try red bell peppers or cucumbers with tzatziki or hummus or greek yogurt with everything but the bagel seasoning. Eat fruits that are in season, they will taste better and be cheaper. Or use frozen fruits to sweeten light Greek yogurt. Make a pancake from a really ripe banana, an egg (or egg product), and a scoop of unflavored protein powder, then top with sugar free syrup. Excellent for breakfast or dessert.

I'm feeling the same way about not sure I can imagine myself as a "normal" sized person. I've been obese since I was 14 (I'm 41 now). I have lost 100 lbs before, and 80 lbs another time, and 50 a few times, but I never could keep it off. None of those times was I "average" weight, I was still obese. So I have no idea what it would feel like to be average, and I'm not sure I'll ever get there, because the surgery center says the average weight loss would have me still in the obese category, and that's just depressing.

I suggest working with a bariatric therapist (see if your surgery center can recommend someone) because the cravings will not go away on their own, and if you had problems with binge eating before, it will hinder your progress, even if you lose weight in the beginning, you will start to regain. Good luck!

I have read elsewhere on here that most people's restrictions didn't really kick in until puree or soft food. Maybe you just aren't remembering that part?

Most people on here say their only regret is not doing it sooner, so I don't think you are too young... EXCEPT that I think you need to get the binge eating under control first, or you might just gain all the weight back. I haven't had surgery yet, but I was told I will not be having a catheter put in because they want you up and walking to the bathroom and around the halls a few hours after surgery. There is always a risk of complications in surgery, but they are rare, and the risk of death is EXTREMELY rare. Especially if you get it done someplace really good. If you have fewer co-morbidities and your BMI is on the lower end (like yours is) it is less risky. It's natural to be anxious about surgery - I am worried I will chicken out, but my dad said he knows me and that I always get scared but do it anyway. That made me feel better. Is your family supportive?

In my 30s I lost 100 lbs and I didn't notice any loose skin, but I was still overweight at my lowest and started regaining pretty soon, so I don't know if I would have had loose skin if I had gotten down lower. I'm 41 now, so I don't know if I'll have loose skin or how much I'll lose after sleeve.

I would recommend preparing to eat as though you already have bypass - low carb, high protein, but with added non-starchy veggies, and count calories. I used a 1400 calorie a day diet and lost 46 lbs in the six months leading up to surgery (just holding steady now). Think of it as practice for your new life. It was very motivating for me. I also started doing more exercise, as I had become very sedentary during the pandemic.

You say you had the surgery just a few weeks ago and already have the same food intake capability that you had before... are you already cleared to eat everything you're eating? Just because you CAN eat a lot doesn't mean you SHOULD. I know that one of the reasons I didn't lose weight while on weight loss medications in the past is that I've eaten when not hungry. I've confused head hunger and GERD for actual hunger. Also, just boredom can cause me to eat, as well as when I'm eating something very tasty, and I just want to keep enjoying it. I'm not sure if with the sleeve to SADI revision you would have to do a liquid, then puree then soft food diet right after surgery, but it seems likely...

I have just been over eating by eating the full portion at restaurants and eating ice cream and cereal and stuff. I just stopped caffeine again today. It doesn't keep me awake and I don't get a headache when I stop, but I like the taste of coffee and diet soda - both of which I had stopped month ago and started again! Why surgeons' instructions and protocols are so different drives me batty. It's like, don't they do clinical trials to determine which way is actually better, like every other part of medicine? Isn't there evidence for what is better??? I work in clinical research and I'm used to there being a proscribed treatment course that is used at all reputable hospitals. But maybe that's only true in oncology.

My surgeon didn't give me a goal, but the psychologist said I'd likely lose a certain amount, and was I okay with that amount. I was NOT okay with that amount, which I told her, but I can't remember the amount. I remember she said it would get me to about 180lbs and that would still put me as obese. Yes, I know that BMI is dreadful, but I also got down to 180 at one point through diet and exercise, and I was still fatter than I was comfortable with. I've never been thin, at least since I was about 14, so I don't know what weight will be comfortable to me, but I also don't know how I can change what happens - I'm not sure how much is in my control.

My surgery is 13Sep in Boston. My pre-op diet is just High protein, low fat, low car, low fruit, lots of non-starchy veggies. Also no carbonation and no caffeine. And no alcohol, but I don't drink anyway. The last six months I was trying to prepare, but for the last few weeks I've been throwing a lot of food funerals with eating out and traveling for work. Trying to get back on track!

I would also ask how much weight do you think I will lose, and what are the determinates of that. How will any of my medications be affected/changed by the surgery? What are restrictions on my activities after the surgery (this will depend on your job, but how long do you have to avoid lifting, etc)?

Gross

Try bone broth. It has a lot of protein and it's savory, which may taste a lot better for you now than anything sweet. Also, you can have unflavored protein powder and add it to other foods, like decaf coffee, fairlife high protein milk, soup, etc. Just make sure you mix it according to the directions before putting it in your food or it will get clumpy and gross.

I lost about 45 lbs in the first 6 months preparing for surgery, but then I got close to the lowest BMI could have before I wouldn't qualify for surgery, so I started eating too much again. I am having trouble getting it in check, but I will have a strict 2 week pre-op diet, so hopefully I will stick to that. I don't think I will meet with the anesthesiologist until I go in for surgery. I've met with the surgeon a few times and he has asked a lot of questions about my medical and surgical history (I've only ever had dental surgery), especially abdominal surgery, which operation I wanted, medications I'm taking, etc. He also explained the surgery in detail to me. He went over possible complications, how much weight he thought I might lose (it was way less than I expected!). I asked what were the determinates of losing less or more, and he didn't really have an answer for that.

Awesome job! Congrats!

"Henry" works for him. It's an advertisement. I have reported it.

I have lost about 45 lbs and my clothes basically fit the same, although some pants that were a bit tight are now a bit looser. But my clothes that are knits, which is basically almost all my pants, you can't tell any difference. It's a bit depressing.

I am having VSG 13Sep; so nervous and excited at the same time... work has suddenly gotten really busy so I hope it will make the time go fast!

As soon as I called the surgery center I became totally determined and I started counting calories again, and reduced carbs and increased protein. It's been the easiest time ever to lose weight, I'm way less hungry with more protein and less sugar/carbs. I've lost more than 45 lbs, to the point where if I lost much more I wouldn't qualify for surgery. But the surgery center says they have put a weight in for my insurance so now I can keep losing weight.

So, I have been working on getting surgery for 6.5 months and decided right at the beginning to change my eating habits in preparation. I lost 45 lbs, but then I was getting down to where if I lost 8 more pounds I wouldn't qualify for surgery anymore; my BMI would be below 40 (I don't have any comorbidities). Since I figured I would lose weight on the pre-op diet, I decided to eat whatever I wanted until my pre-op diet starts on 30Aug2021. So far, I have gained 4 lbs back and I feel gross. This is four pounds in like a week! Granted, my parents were in town and I ate out so many meals. I wish my insurance would have just taken my starting weight, when I had a BMI of 49.6! I honestly don't know what weight they will use, since because of COVID I haven't been weighed in person yet; all of my visits have been over zoom. I've tried to ask the surgery center, but I don't get any response.

I know that people are often prescribed weight loss medications after surgery, especially if they have stopped losing weight or if they regain weight, but I'm not a doctor, so I don't know if that's right for you. First, how long has it been since you last lost weight? Maybe you're just in a stall! Stall can last 3 weeks or more. Also, weight loss slows down as you get further out from surgery, so maybe your weight is just slowing down. Also, if you have stopped losing weight because of psychological reasons, like binge eating or grazing, weight loss medications may not help, because most of them (not too sure about Victoza) work by curbing appetite, and if we are eating for psychological reasons, it's not really our appetite that needs control - it's our minds. In that case, you might consider seeing a therapist. Again, having said all that, I think the first place to start is to see your surgery team and ask what they think. Good luck!

It irritates the stomach. You should get over the caffeine withdrawal in a few days. Hang in there!