Tony B - NJ

I also found it disgusting and asked for a refund from Bariatric Advantage. They gave me a refund and I ordered the capsuled from them which I use now. They are also bad tasting but you swallow them quickly and it is fine. I just could not chew that disgusting pill.

I have the same issue with butt cushion except now I feel pain in my tailbone if I sit in the car too long.

I have always worn shirts and sweaters that were a little big to cover up my being overweight (atleast that was what I thought was happening). This Christmas my wife bought me some sweaters. A year ago I was wearing 3X, probably could have done 2X. She bought me medium sweaters which I was ready to be embarrassed because I figured I was too heaving to fit in a medium. We damn...I fit in a medium. What a feeling.

I have a big 24 ounce cup that I fill in the morning and make sure I drink that no matter what before noon. Then the same after lunch until 5pm. Then after dinner sitting down to watch TV or read a book, I have another. That gets me to 72 ounces and any soups, teas, etc are a bonus.

An option for a low cost, high protein low fat meal during your rough patch can be canned tuna, chicken or salmon. I put the tuna and chicken with a teaspoon of mayo and 2 teaspoons of greek yogurt with some onions, celery etc. It is really satisfying as a meal, very high protein, and only about 150 calories.

I don't agree with your correlation between those who are successful with the tool could lose weight without the tool. I do not agree at all. The restriction is HUGE for me. When I feel the restriction I stop eating. I am getting better at stopping before restriction, but without that restriction, I do not think I would have been successful in the first 3 months after surgery. The restriction also prevents you from deciding....well it is "name a holiday or special day" and I am going to cheat this one time. You simply cannot without a lot of pain and getting sick. Once you start cheating for special occasions, you will find more occasions and you will gain weight. the sleeve restriction prevents those slip ups from happening.

I tend to agree with your Doctor. It is scientifically impossible to consume 800 calories per day and not lose weight, especially if you are walking and/or exercising as recommended. It could be that you are not accurately recording your calories, not counting things like butter, oil, snacks, calories from sugary drinks etc, etc. Read about it...it is just not possible.

I agree 100% with that. To be honest, I think there is more at play though. I think the people ranting and being negative are either those who were simply not able to follow directions and control their urges or someone who just flat out did not have the surgery or even knows a spouse who wants to and are trying to create negative content to change their minds. There are a lot of people who have partners or spouses that are dead set against the surgery.

NSV recently was for the first time in many years I am able to shop in the regular sizes and not Big and Tall.

Go with the powdered version. By themselves, these are even a little off tasting....so...for the chocolate protein powders I add a little bit of peanut butter powder and/or a half a banana and it changes the taste a LOT. Small tweaks to improve it to your taste is all you need. I find it is also better when I blend it up with ice and it is like a real cold shake. It makes it more palatable. Final piece of advice...I picked up some chicken flavored UNJURY powder. 21 ounces of protein per scoop in 8 ounces. Use hot tap water, mix it up good and then microwave it another minute or so to make it hot. It will not clump if you mix it first in hot tap water. If you go right in with boiled water it will be a clumpy mess. It tastes like chicken broth and goes down nicely.

I think there is way too much not said here that could explain why you are not losing: 1. Are you exercising at all? 2. Are you drinking enough water 3. Are you tracking your calorie intake? If so, are you limiting yourself to less than 800-900 calories per day? 4. Are you getting the required protein in your diet? If you are doing 2, 3 these things you simply MUST be losing weight, atleast some. It is scientifically impossible to not lose weight with that much of a calorie deficit.

You can drink alcohol again without a problem. Maybe not right away, but I am 3 months post op and drink alcohol when I want to without limits. As far as normal meals out, I go out to dinner a couple times a month. I do not get an appetizer like I did in the past because I will not be able to eat the main course. I usually just order the main and I am able to eat that. If you go to places that load on the food you won't finish, but many normal eating people cannot finish big giant portions either. I can eat most of a 6 ounce filet mignon and some of the veggies....or a piece of fish and veggies. I think you are going to be ok with what you can eat and drink.

My pleasure....we all need a little help now and again.

After the first 5 or 6 days you are going to feel significantly better all of a sudden. Hang in there, you will start to notice it soon. Make sure you are getting up and walking to keep things moving...

It is only a phone call to reach out to your Surgical Team. It is literally impossible not to lose weight after a bypass unless you are just ignoring everything they are telling you to do. There is an explanation along the lines of what others have been saying here.

Yes....it will get better for sure. There are a lot of feelings you are having that may even be related to gas, medication, bloating, swelling etc. You will start to feel a lot better very quickly. Stick to it and don't waiver. Make sure you are taking your protein shake in the morning which gives you a feeling of fullness and will get you through to lunch. If you are feeling hungry between meals, have some bone broth which helped me feel a little less hungry and it has protein as well...only 45 calories for a 10 ounce serving. You get your water AND you protein. Do not miss on your water. When you don't get enough water it can make you feel hungry as well.

Great NSV for me today. I got some blood work back and my A1C dropped to 4.9 and Glucose to 87. This is a huge change for me. In just over 3 months I have lowered my A1C by 2 points, Glucose by 40, Improved blood pressure to 115/70 unmedicated, come off Diabetes meds, Cholesteral meds and Blood Pressure Meds. It is as close to a miracle as I have ever experienced.

What I hate about this product is that it clumps when mixing into liquid or moist foods

I have had some of the same thoughts as you are having. I have to say you are not correct. I could not eat more than I do at meals because I reach a restriction. Surgery gave me that restriction and I slow my eating and stop eating based on the restriction. If you are eating a lot of fatty or carb loaded foods between meals in smaller amounts you will not reach the restriction during those snacks and will defeat the purpose. This is not only a physical challenge but a mental challenge so you seems to need help on the mental side of it. I think you need to consider counselling to help with that side of it. Finally....I track everything....everything...if you don't then you would be floored when you find out what you are eating and not tracking.

You are not going to have a problem living with high protein low carb. I was a huge lover of bread and other carbs...huge. After I went on the diet and got the surgery, the weight falling off literally changed my whole perspective in a couple ways: 1. I physically cannot eat carbs and bread like before because it fills me up too fast and makes me feel ill. I am just not interested in carbs and fatty foods any more. 2. Once you see the weight coming off, you will be motivated to keep it going off. 3. You learn to eat your protein first and veggies next. After that, there is no room for carbs. I really don't miss the carbs at all. 4. You will be satisfied by the food you eat so it is not like before...nothing like before so you have to forget now and realize your body is changed and you are NOT PHYSCIALLY ABLE TO EAT LIKE THAT ANY MORE.

I have never done 6 meals. I do 3 meals with a small afternoon snack like a cheese stick or some nuts.

I would bump up on the protein (60-70) and get more exercise. 15 minutes is not enough in my opinion and what I was told by the Doctor. What I try to do is to get up and move every hour and get in atleast 1000 to 1200 steps 4 times a day followed by a walk after dinner. If you don't want to walk after dinner, then do some resistance bands or weights which helps as well. You can pick up a good set of resistance bands with all the accessories for 50 bucks or so.

Nothing to worry about. The surgery is very common and very safe. I have not heard very many people at all who regret doing it. I wish I did it years earlier.

Nothing to worry about. The surgery is very common and very safe. I have not heard very many people at all who regret doing it. I wish I did it years earlier.

I used Tricare as well. They paid all but 158 dollars! Good luck to you. I am down 64 pounds in just less than 3 months and at my lowest weight in 18 years!