Spinoza

Also used to dodge the camera. When I do see photos of the old me I am overwhelmed with regret that I didn't have surgery years ago.

How difficult it is just to get both fluids and protein in! I have pretty much sailed through my sleeve op. My only concerns have been related to hitting my fluid and protein goals in the same day. In the early days I pretty much alternated them. Even 11 months out I have to pay real ongoing attention to both.

I drank a *lot* of hot bouillon in the weeks after surgery to meet my fluid goals. I seemed to be able to drink that much quicker than anything cold or room temp. That was just me though! You're right to have a think pre-op about mixing up the temperature of your fluids after surgery - it really can make a difference!

Where are you on your journey OP?? I'm almost 11 months post sleeve. If I stick to protein first, veg second then I can eat three kind of half sized meals a day - 2-3 of oz of meat/fish and a few oz of veg - and two or three snacks. I reserve my carbs for bedtime so generally have porridge (oatmeal) made with milk then cos that helps me sleep (I am such a baby). I make a point of having one or two servings of fruit a day and at least three proper portions of veg for my general health - I know lots of people have lots more than that this far out from surgery. If I wanted to eat carbs all day then I probably could and would probably gain weight but I've gone to some trouble and expense to get a tool that I can use to lose weight and then also keep me at a lower weight so I intend to use it!! Stick to the program and you'll be fine, that is the absolutely most important thing. Best of luck. When is your surgery??

Oh wow - I also cannot go to bed hungry. I thought I was alone in this (seems so weird but I just cannot sleep if I am). I would rather be hungry all day than risk not being full at bedtime. So - as soon as I could eat solid food after my sleeve I purposely hoarded calories to eat at bedtime. Probably 20% plus of my daily allowance. And ideally carby - so, porridge with fruit, or toast, etc. I kind of relate this to my night owl metabolism generally. I know that morning people (larks) mightn't understand that but as a fellow night owl I totally totally do. Chronotypes are real and they have an impact on weight loss.

FWIW at almost 11 months post sleeve I can eat one egg easily, and have been able to from early on. I might fit in one and a half if I wanted to push it for whatever reason but I definitely couldn't do two without discomfort. We're all different though and early on you don't get the full benefit of your restriction because of the cut nerves. Stick it out, you'll be absolutely fine.

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.