vikingbeast

My program doesn't set targets like that, especially because BMI isn't really a good measure on an individual level. They worked with me to set a target goal, then told me goals can and do move. So here are a bunch of numbers for you: Heavy weight 396 (probably heavier but I stopped weighing myself) Program start weight 375 Liquid diet start weight 366 Surgery weight 357 Current weight 293 (eleven weeks post-op) Goal weight (for now) 240 "Normal" BMI weight: 184 (but I will never get there because I have more lean body mass than that) So technically my "excess weight" calculated by BMI would be 182 lbs. By that standard, since surgery (not the pre-op diet), I have lost 35% of my "excess weight". If we use the unattainable "normal BMI" number, I am 40 pounds from 60% "excess weight" lost. My PCP chose to use my lean body mass plus 15 percent (which is an ambitious, flat-stomach-and-maybe-some-abs target for a man), which would be 240. By that standard, since surgery, I have lost 55% of my "excess weight" in eleven weeks. If we use the actually-attainable goal weight set by my PCP, I am 6.2 pounds from 60% excess weight lost. But when we had our consultation last week, my PCP said he just wants me below 40 BMI (which I am) and ideally below 35 BMI (which would be 35 pounds more to lose).

I'm so glad to hear it! I eat about 1300-1500 cal a day and am still losing 3-4 lbs a week, so the "yOu ShOuLd OnLy Be EaTiNg 500 CaLoRiEs" stuff just grates on my nerves. Maybe it works for some people; you and I are not those people. I am so glad I found a nutritionist who doesn't just read the n-th generation copy of the guidelines. (I work off about 600-700 of those calories just doing my work and workouts.)

Whole bunch of non-scale victories lately. 1. I am no longer morbidly obese because my BMI is under 40. Combined with the resolution of my comorbidities, I no longer qualify for surgery. 😁 2. My A1c is 5.1. A physician friend of mine said he hasn't seen anyone under 5.4 in a long time. 3. I needed to get into the bed of the ranch truck today and the tailgate was blocked off... so I went over the side using the (not small) tire. My balance is so much better! 4. I can do burpees like I'm on springs now, at least 10 in a row. Before I would do what are popularly known as "grief burpees" (look it up on Google Video search). 5. I got in trouble with my sleep doctor. It took me 6 weeks to get a video appointment and my CPAP (technically APAP) was choking me with all the air it was putting out. It's locked down, so I found the manual (in Russian), translated it, guessed the password, and reset the lower bound. I sleep better now (and my suspicion was correct, previous range was 10-20 cm H2O, now that I've lowered it, I average about 8 over a night). 6. I ran a mile for the first time ever in my entire life. It wasn't very fast (10:26) but it was a real mile and there was no walking or stopping.

Here's the thing. Surgeons RARELY have good bedside manner. They're skilled technicians. But they tend to have pretty bad people skills. But ultimately YOUR comfort is your choice—so if you feel nervous, switch surgeons!

It's also possible that the OP hasn't had any support from their surgical/bariatric team. That is certainly the case for me, which is why I keep turning up on this board like a bad penny. They could be just venting their frustration, albeit in an emotional way that invites emotional responses.

No, it's not the blood thinners. It's your amount of stomach acid that hasn't reduced yet. It goes away with time.

I was back in the gym doing cardio only (and things involving nothing heavier than a 15-lb. training bar) at 2 weeks post op. At 6 weeks post-op I was allowed to resume all normal activities. The first two weeks are truly the hardest. After that it's much easier. And honestly, you'll be so shocked at the scale moving steadily downward that you'll be re-inspired.

You may be one of the unlucky ones whose hunger doesn't go away with surgery. And I will say that your surgeon's idea that you must stay on 800 cal a day to lose weight flies in the face of scienc. Stand back, I'm going to use MATH! If you were maintaining your (heavy) weight by eating, say, 3500 calories a day, then that's your maintenance for that weight. So now, if you are eating 800 calories, you are in a deficit of 2700 calories a day, which means you'd lose three quarters of a pound per day on average. If you're eating 1200 calories, you're in a deficit of 2300 calories a day, which means you'd lose two thirds of a pound per day on average. Yes, different macros (protein, carbs, fat, alcohol) do work differently in your body, but ultimately your body is bound, like everyone's, to the calories in-calories out equation. I suspect what happened to you is twofold: 1. You're in a lengthy stall (search up "three-week stall", it happens to almost all of us, it's incredibly frustrating, it's not always at 3 weeks, and it can last a month for some people). It's because your body has depleted its glycogen and is probably somewhat dehydrated (it's hard to drink enough right after surgery), and your fluid balance is adjusting itself. 2. You're frustrated and not tracking what you eat. Unfortunately, this is something that has to be done. You can't fix your diet if you don't know what your diet is. And that means, at least for me, pre-prepping meals and weighing things out. I just pop a tray in the microwave a few times a day and have it all specced out. I use MyMacros+ for tracking. One of the big culprits is cooking oil/fat. How many people measure the oil they put in a pan to cook their, say, chicken breast? Nobody except bariatric patients—everyone else just sploops some oil in a pan until it looks right. I actually have a bar jigger on the counter so I can measure in 1/2 ounces and full ounces. Track your food. Literally track your food. If you find you're not losing weight on 800 cal a day, spend a week eating 1000 cal a day to see if it'll shock your system. I am at about 1400-1500 cal a day a little short of three months post-op, because I work physical work and am very active (gym, running, hiking, etc.) and need the calories to be able to function. But I still track each and every day. The surgery isn't bullshit. If it were possible to just severely restrict calories without it, nobody would get the surgery. But there are thousands of people here, myself included, who found success with the surgery that wouldn't have been possible without it.

I'm 2.5 months out from VSG. Per my NUT's guidance, I'm eating 1000-1400 cal a day, and balanced between protein, carbs, and fat. (About 120P/120C/55F per day.) I find that by 7:30 or 8:00 p.m., I am just done for the day. No energy to do anything. No laundry folding, no cleaning, no nothing, I just need to sit down and rest, and I'm usually in bed by 10:00 p.m. (also unusual). I had my bloods done by my PCP, at my request. Everything is fine, except my iron-binding capacity is just south of the low end of the reference range (but my iron itself is fine). No issues with B12, calcium, or D. I'm very active, but not any more active than I was four weeks ago. Any ideas what's going on here?

No. 100 from my heaviest. 79 from my first consultation. 70 from pre op diet. And 61 since surgery 2.5 months ago.

Ferritin is 70 on a reference range of 38-380. My surgeon, bless his heart, refuses to pull labs until a year out. My PCP pulled these for me at my request. It just seemed sudden. I was super high-energy and then... fwump.

Is iced coffee not a thing in Oz? I know iced tea is strictly a US/Can thing, but not sure about iced coffee. Or cold brew?

Buying clothes ALL THE FREAKING TIME. I'm a new convert to Goodwill and Ross Dress For Less shopping because otherwise I'll blow my income on clothing. I'm cold ALL THE FREAKING TIME. And it hurts to sit on my bony @$$ now.

It's normal and it does go away.

I just had blood tests done while on B12, biotin, calcium, D3+K2, folate, and a bariatric multivitamin with iron. 2.5 months post-op, my B12 and folate are on the high end of normal (so am expecting to be told to drop those). My calcium is okay, my D3 is okay, and my iron is fine but my iron binding capacity is low.

This is what I did. I actually didn't have a prescribed pre-op diet other than clear fluids for 24h before surgery, but I put myself on one and this is exactly what I did. Three weeks: 1 week replace a meal with a shake, 1 week replace two meals with shakes, 1 week full liquid.

Happy Thanksgiving. I ate about 2 ounces of turkey and dollops of sides (a spoon of green bean hotdish, a couple spoonfuls of mashed potatoes, a tiny spoonful of stuffing, etc.) and had a small piece of pie. I also had some Martinelli's (that's sparkling non-alcoholic apple juice, for those not in the US) and that really did not sit well... I felt drunk, honestly. I bloated like a mofo and it took all day yesterday to feel better.

It's totally normal to be scared (and I've been under anesthesia dozens of times in my life), but know that you will come through this fine and the first few days after surgery are truly the hardest part and they're totally doable. Incidentally, the ASMBS (check for bias, obviously) says the 30-day mortality rate for VSG is 0.08 percent.

I get sick of stuff after 2-3 days and can't eat it multiple meals in a row, so I meal prep two meals (plus breakfasts) twice a week, enough for 3 days each.

Are you pre- or post-op? Post-op, many people confuse "hungry" with "thirsty" or even with "mild acid reflux". My hunger signals post-op are totally different to how they were pre-op.

Food shouldn't make you feel guilty. Have a celebratory meal. Eat the Thanksgiving dinner with the pie. But maybe only have one plate, not too. One piece of pie, not two plus sweets. Have one luxurious meal, not an entire day of blowing up your diet. And then the next day, go back to eating like you would the other days of the year. Don't take home leftovers. Don't volunteer to "take the pie to work". And then don't overindulge again until the next holiday (Hanukkah, Christmas, whatever you celebrate).

I found I really liked the Protein2O before surgery (but not after) and now I really like the Isopure, either in powder form or in the pre-bottled form. I get mine at the Vitamin Shoppe. Also, get creative with where you put protein powder. I made protein Jell-O during my liquid phase. Easy to eat and tasty, and get your protein in.

I swore by OWYN ("Only What You Need") vanilla before surgery, and post-op I can't stand them and basically only drink Fairlife Core Power which is essentially chocolate (or vanilla) milk with protein in it. Find the one you like now but don't assume you're going to love it after surgery, so don't stock up.

I haven't broken up with coffee, but I take it very differently now. I used to have the giant latte with like two cups of milk in it... now I just have an espresso with 5g of brown sugar, Cuban style.

Yah, I had too, and decided to look at MFP+ as a sunk cost. MM+ is better.