Spinoza

Glad you got some reassurance OP. We do torture ourselves with this stuff. Bottom line - if you stick with the programme you've been given you *will* lose weight. Best of luck.

Of course I will - not long now for you @summerseeker I'm just starting the hardest part of my journey now - in the completely uncharted territory of maintenance. Gulp!

Euch. Not a big fan of that misogynistic language. Expressing valid concerns is the right way to go. You only want the best for your partner. I only hope he will listen to those concerns and act on them OP.

Actually maybe the correct question is - how did you know when you were done? I am within a couple of pounds of my original (completely arbitrarily chosen) goal weight. Which by the way I never really believed I could reach. I was sleeved 10 months ago and am still losing around half a pound a week on 1200 calories (ish) a day - a bit more at weekends because I drink some alcohol then. I am hungry at times but I can keep that at bay by eating lots of protein snacks alongside my 3 meals a day, which are protein and veg for the main - still not much in the way of carbs. My question is - did you just select a goal weight and stick to that? Did you achieve/maintain this by intentionally increasing your calorie intake once you got there? I'm thinking I could easily go up to 1600/1800 calories a day and probably maintain at that or thereabouts. Or did you just keep going as long as you could, staying on the right side of hunger (AKA deprivation, LOL) and see how low you could go, and does the weight loss then fizzle out? If I did that would I ever be able to up my calories again without gaining? So many questions, LOL. I would really appreciate your thoughts and experiences.

Really helpful, thank you so much!

@Arabesque please may I ask you another question? If you went back to eating 800 calories a day for a few weeks and lost those 2 kilos (not that you want to or need to!) is it your instinct that they would just bounce back on?

Sounds awful. I specifically asked my surgeon before I got my sleeve whether I would be able to vomit afterwards because I can’t think of anything worse than needing to and not being able to. He told me I would. I didn’t realise the foamies were a kind of horrid replacement. I haven’t had them yet and I hope I never do.

That's the Holy Grail of bariatric surgery. Well done you / lucky you. Proves it does happen for some of us!!!

Amazing photos @Mariann812 You must be so pleased.

I am so sorry to hear you're dealing with this @SleeveDiva2022 You know you can't have gained 9lbs of fat in 9 days based on your calorie intake so this has to be water weight and/or a completely overloaded bowel, and/or using different scales, or whatever. Hormones may well have a part to play but, if so, monitor your weight over a complete menstrual cycle (or two or three) and then decide what's going on. I do totally get the despair that a gain like that will induce but I hope it's a temporary blip for you. You have done amazingly well so far. Anyway - long story short - you got this.

So good that you've found this forum - everyone here is so supportive. Sounds like revision is the right thing, particularly given your GERD. And congratulations on your new arrival (maybe not so new now?)!!! My pre-op diet was 2 weeks of 800 calories a day. I could do it whatever way I wanted. What I did was three meal replacement shakes or soups (or whatever) and a small protein and veg meal in the evening. I should say I live in Ireland so it's likely to be different for you. My original surgery date was cancelled the day before I was meant to have it and not re-scheduled for 2 months so I ended up sticking to the 800 calories (give or take) all that time and losing 25lbs. I now view those as pounds I don't have to work hard to lose now, although at the time it was absolutely agonizing waiting for a date!!! I wish you all the best on your weight loss journey. I think your experience with the sleeve and the challenges you faced along the way will really help you get the best out of a bypass.

I was asked twice in the last week whether I had lost weight on purpose - assume it's because my face is so much thinner. Gonna keep chugging on for a while yet - might be good insurance in case of a regain further down the line.

Looks absolutely lush. Cauli rice to soak up all that lovely gravy?

Oh gosh I think it's human nature to compare ourselves to others in a similar boat! I do all the time, for good or bad. OP - 4.5 months after surgery I had lost 43lbs. I've gone on to lose 115 at just over 10 months so I think you're bang on target to reach goal. I wish you all the best on your journey. I have also noticed that weight loss and changes in clothing size are absolutely not linear - there are times when I have lost lots and not gone down a size like *forever*, and vice versa.

Unbelievable and love the timing! Here's to a healthier and lighter life for the rest of your life.

I love cabbage - I eat it fried in butter, sometimes with bacon lardons too. Probably my favourite vegetable and I have had no problems with it since my surgery. Having said that, cabbage lasagne sounds gross. Is it done with a tomato sauce? I don't think I could eat that, although I would have no problems processing the constituent parts, IYKWIM!!!

Ah I was hoping you would check in @ForMyOhana 134lbs off is just amazing in 10 months - that's a stone a month (I know I'm fixated on Irish measures, but I'm Irish!) Absolutely everything crossed for you hitting that 259 mark before your surgery-versary!!

Thank you guys - all really helpful! Really interesting to hear that you lost so much whilst not really planning to @Arabesque Bumping this up because I'm interested in others' experiences, if you feel able to share.

Yeah I totally get this and my advice is just to lie enough to get through the process. Sorry, I know that doesn't help the person coming behind you - I have no idea how to buck the system. I've met some of the most ill-informed professionals I have *ever* met on the road to WLS. If I had locked horns with all of them I'd have had no energy left for the journey itself.

Amazing amazing amazing. What a transformation. I really look forward to the rest of your weight loss journey @SleeveDiva2022

Ah you whippersnappers - this is actually the old timers group from November 2021 Wishing you all the very best on your journey - it's a wild ride, hold on to your hats!

One of the more irritating side effects of WLS! Mine started shedding really heavily around the 5th month and kept going for a couple of months (and I lost a lot in the end). I'm seeing some regrowth at 10 months. Totally agree, a shorter length looks better with thinner hair.

I'm gonna repeat what the others have said - I hope that isn't too annoying! If you're eating 1000 - 1200 calories a day you will be losing fat. Whatever water shifts are happening are making it appear that you're not. This happens to everyone. You have lost 21lbs since your surgery - I lost 17lbs in my first 6 weeks so you're doing better than I did (not that it's a competition, LOL). If you stick to your plan you will see sustained fat loss - it's not possible not to. Keep the faith - I know how disheartening it is not to see a change on the scale but I promise you - if you stick with the programme in a year you'll be here posting how you're at your goal weight. Post here lots - everyone is so supportive and helpful - we are really rooting for you!!!

Ah - Kim just said exactly the same thing except in five fewer sentences

That does feel really unfair. Is there no way it could be considered skin removal primarily to treat your medical condition and, if so, could the surgeon call it something else? I'm sorry I don't know anything about how insurance works. I'm so sorry you've been left with this after all your hard work. Absolutely amazing loss.