NeonRaven8919

im 6 years out next month.
for the past 3-4 years i can (and do!) eat anything/everything in small amounts.
(this includes all the things most say they don't eat or drink). i average 2000-2300 cals a day. and i've stayed below goal weight this entire time. and have not needed to buy bigger clothes lol.
but i also exercise quite a bit. the exercise is all things i really enjoy doing so its not "work" for me.
balance is important, but also getting rid of the idea and thought processes that something is bad or not allowed or forbidden or whatever. because this usually leads to angst and shame and guilt that does nobody any good.

Hi every one I am new here I had my surgery on October 24,2023 my date of surgery weight was 322 and I am currently 198.6 which at times I can not believe how much I have lost but at other times when I am in a stall I feel like it goes so slow even though I am grateful the way my body looks or the way I see myself in the mirror places tricks in my head I also want to know how you guys stay consistent with working out and eating healthy all the time because now at almost a year out I am scared from all the weight gain stories and I am scared because now I eat a little more than before and I just want to go back and I am so scared. My nutritionist suggested this app and so far I love reading everybody story.

This is fantastic! I made a heavy metal song about losing weight called "Shredded to the Bone"

https://suno.com/song/2a5b2b64-b16d-4650-80d3-93feb3caf4a4

Yes me too. I ended up making another song about eating vegetables. "Veggie Carnage"

This is fantastic! I made a heavy metal song about losing weight called "Shredded to the Bone"

https://suno.com/song/2a5b2b64-b16d-4650-80d3-93feb3caf4a4

omg hilarious!!!
now im probably going to spend endless hours playing on this site 😂😂😂😂

Hello! I'm getting the Gastric Sleeve in October! I was only approved in May.

It has been almost two years since my startup consolation with my surgeon which started the entire process for me. During that meeting in September of 2022, I was at 514-lbs. I am happy to report that two years later my weight is 232-lbs. My blood work was good in the spring, but I have not had any updates since then. Soon I will be scheduling my yearly doctor appointment with my family doctor, so that should provide another blood update. Weight loss seems to have plateaued, so in order to keep losing I need to increase my exercise program. Right now, my focus is on maintenance and trying to avoid any bounce back weight gain in year three. I am feeling great and have been so much more active in life. food portions are small, and I make better choices than I ever have, but I am also not depriving myself of the occasional food treat. My family, particularly my wife, has been so supportive, which has helped make this challenge more manageable. I just wanted to post an update and encourage all those out there that may be on the fence -- GO FOR IT! I could go on for 1000s of words and pages about how it has changed my life for the better and I believe WLS is an incredible tool. Push through the fear and the struggles -- it will be worth it on the back end!

I have been creeping around here for months and finally decided to create an account and share. First though, I have to give great credit to my wife and family. My wife has been so supportive and flexible through the whole process. She has always been by my side, but during this process she read and learned about the changes, as much or more than I did. She has gone above and beyond with her support and care for me, all while still running a busy household. My kids are a constant reminder of why I did this -- so that I would be around for a long time. I wanted to be able to participate in life with my family. I also have to thank my surgical team and the care they provide. It has been great and truly lifesaving.
I weighed 514-lbs on 9/12/22. I was a big boy to say the least. Shockingly, I was not in horrible medical condition. I did not take any medicine. Did not have diabetes or high blood pressure. I did have swelling in my legs, constantly sore/bad knees, and was very quick to be out of breath. I lived a very sedimentary live and limited my physical activity. I wanted to be able to be more active and be around with my family for a long time. I finally got up the nerve to discuss with my wife and she immediately got on board.
I went through the program without an issue. Checked all boxes and completed all steps. Surgery was on 2/28/23 and it went well. I was up and moving that night, because that was one of the biggest hurdles to clear in order to leave. I was able to sip and keep liquid down. Discharged after one night! Incisions were sore, as expected. Gas was the worst, and not the good kind of gas that can clear the room when expelled (yeah, I am a guy), but the awful painful surgical gas, which took almost a week to fully go away. I was basically fully cleared by the doctor and back to work (in a nonphysical job) one week after surgery. My process was textbook, none of the complications that many have experienced, and I am lucky for it!
This process has not been easy but has not been impossible. I have followed my plan, with the support at home, and it is working. I feel physically so much better. I am so much more mobile and active. I have never been happier. I have made changes to my daily life to support the process. My diet has changed but not radically. I eat a lot less and that is the biggest driver of my weight loss. I walk and am active in live, but I do not have a detailed exercise plan. I am still learning exactly what works for me, but most importantly I want others to know there are many routes to get to the same place. I try to get the big stuff right and not sweat the tiniest of details.
My blood work at my six-month checkup was solid. Protein was on the low end in the range, but still acceptable. I was encouraged to keep on keeping on (shout out to Joe Dirt). They were comfortable enough to set my next follow up appointment out to one year.
I was scared and nervous. I have had good days and bad days (constipation is AWFUL)! Most importantly, I wanted to share my story and I hope it can help others in some way. I never wanted to be skinny. I could care less what my BMI is. I wanted to feel better. I wanted to be able to participate in life with my family. And I am! I am no expert and I still have a long way to go, but I am happy and glad I had this surgery. As I have seen here, over and over again, we are all different, so what works for me may not for others, but I still wanted to share, and I hope it might be of some benefit to someone else.
The non-scale wins are just the best! When I started this process, I was so huge that home scales couldn't hold me, so I would go months without weighing, but I knew good things were happening because of all the non-scale wins. Cherish those!
This is a long (probably too long) post, so I will wrap. I recently weighed on my home scale (yeah, that's right, it now holds me) and I was at 288-lbs. If anyone has questions or wants more details about my journey, please let me know. I would be happy to share more.

There are many ways to tell one's story. I found a website that allows you to write your own lyrics, pick the kind of music you want and... create a song. Try it! I've already found other bariatric patients who have composed their own music there. Suno.com
After you create your own song, post it here!

Thank you so much everyone for all the comments - I was really overwhelmed (in a good way) to see so many, and this community really does keep me going sometimes. I am so appreciative ❤️
So, as some of you may know, I am a new driver and I am a bit anxious now I can go out there on my own! I realised I could drive to the gym now which would make things so much easier, in terms of getting there in the morning, so last night I practiced the route there and back and it went well.
I didn't manage to get to the gym this morning, but I am trying not to kick myself! Perhaps I do just need to go for a walk first and get my steps up!
I also realised I am having PMS so perhaps that is adding to the sudden weight gain & emotional state 😂
Again, thank you everyone ❤️

I took up cycling 2 years ago just as my daily commute. I just wanted to save money and time on transport costs. I wasn't even wanting to lose weight 3 miles away so I did about 6 miles a day. Turned out I really enjoyed it and since I git an ebike, it was easier for my joints. Cycling helped me maintain some of my weight (I was still eating too much garbage so I wasn't expecting a miracle). I now just really like it. The ebike aspect makes it not feel like work either.

Well your not totally off base if your okay with the bypass. It’s a little more aggressive so it carries with it a little more risk than the sleeve. The reason they do the sleeve I believe is because it’s a bit safer and it is adequate for many people to lose and keep it off but there are some (like me) with regain that need a revision and some that need revision because of GERD and other complications. I would ask the surgeon what percentage of patients need revision because of inadequate loss and/or regain and what percentage for GERD. I believe I read somewhere that it’s 26% need revision but I would definitely not swear to it and I am not sure if that was just for weight or for complications too. I think even if you do end up having to wait it is a good call to get all of your questions answered and feel confident in your decision that it is what’s best for you.

I sent my surgical team an email to say I would like to be considered for the bypass instead. My fear is that this will put me behind schedule and they will schedule me for next year when as it is the surgery is a month away.
I don't want to feel like I'm going backwards, which is how I would feel if they had to reschedule my surgery, but I want to set myself up for the most effective way forward.
Maybe the surgeon will reassure me that the sleeve is the best option for me? I don't know. But I should definitely have the conversation. Barring a complication, I don't think revision surgery will be possible unless I win the lottery and go private.

When I had the sleeve I tried it at home first. I figured if it was gonna make me feel bad I would rather it happen at home than when I was out.

Thanks! I think it's just coming closer to the actual date, and I finally had a freak out. As I'm relying on the NHS, I don't want to get told the won't cover a revision down the line. But this forum seems to have people with good stories about long term success with the sleeve. I think I just need to speak with the doctor again.

Yes "Fair Play"

You will get loads of sympathy here OP - for a woman (usually more than a man I think?) our hair is often tied into our identity more generally, for better or worse.
Massive weight loss causes our non-essential body functions like Hair growth to stall completely. Body thinks - no calories - what can I ditch? I know - hair! Once we get through the biggest rate of loss and our body is regrouping then the stalled follicles get pushed out by new growth.
I lost masses of hair in I think 3 distinct phases, about 3 months apart. It's truly properly shocking, that first hair fall. (And for me the second and third - I hope you don't get those too!) Please please be reassured that most of it grows back for most of us. It just takes a while and it's so worth it.

Thanks. I’m actually looking for shorts that are to be seen but just something basic to walk around the neighborhood for exercise. I broke down and bought some bike shorts to wear until I find something I like better and I guess they aren’t awful. I just don’t feel super confident in them.

Hello and congratulations on your surgery date.
I travelled a few times in Europe in the first 6 months. I too looked for advice on here. There they had many Protein products easily available. I supplemented the hotel food with protein yogurts. From the buffet I was ok with omelettes, bacon, Beans and tomatoes. I found Soups, deli meats, cheeses, fish and minced meat dishes ok for my evening meal. At that time I couldn't eat chicken, rice, Pasta, potatoes, salads and pastry. For the most part they are still off my menu.
Everyone is different in how they recover from this surgery. By then you will know your own routine. You will have plenty of energy to do all kinds of activities. My calories were very low at that time so I had energy and then it quickly ran out and I would go for a glass of milk or a milky latte to perk me up long enough until my next meal.
I took with me Jerky, nuts, cheese Snacks and protein bars. You could take protein powder to add to your food. If you can get to a large supermarket, you will be sure to find Protein Drinks and protein yogurts. They are popular the world over now due to body building.

I did not exercise while I was losing. No gym membership. No walking miles. No cycling. Nothing. Didn’t hinder my weight loss. However I did up my everyday activity. Parked further away from where I was going. Walked up escalators. Made multiple trips up & down my stairs instead of making one or two trips to bring up the groceries, etc. Or go down to take or the rubbish and then go back down to get the mail instead of doing it in one trip.
Saw a program by the late Dr Michael Mosley that compared the benefits of doing a block of 30 mins of exercise a day vs doing 3 or 4 bursts of 5 -10 minutes totalling 30mins of exercise a day. The difference was minimal. They called it exercise snacking and it’s what I started doing about 20months ago. I incorporate a number of yoga based stretches, resistance band exercises and exercises to improve flexibility across my day. Honestly I wouldn’t burn 30 calories but I have more defined & toned muscles in my arms and legs and my flexibility has improved which is what I wanted. I don’t find it a chore and I sort of enjoy it (something I never really down with any other exercise except yoga). I do it, or a modified version if I’m away, every day bar the odd day once or twice a month.
Exercise contributes only about 10% of any weight you’re to lose. However, there are other benefits to your health and well being. You just have to find something you enjoy doing & doesn’t feel like a chore or a punishment.

Doesn’t sound like you have gastritis based on you saying you don’t have any symptoms but belching. Seems strange your team would suggest that and not confirm you have the symptoms of gastritis.
Most times our tummy growls & rumbles it’s a sign of our digestive system working not a sign of hunger despite. What we were always told. You may find those noise are very loud and you may be someone who continues to experience this noisy digestive system. I say I have my own poltergeist rattling chains & moaning. My younger nieces & nephews think it’s hilarious.
Another thing many of us discover is that real hunger feels different. For example I get restless like something is wrong but I don’t know what. Wanting to eat and/or wanting a specific food, flavour or texture (like salty, sweet, crunchy, etc.) is head hunger.
However, it takes 2-4 hours for your tummy to empty so feeling hungry about 2.5hrs after eating could make sense. Plus add in you say you’re very active, real hunger does seem a possibility. Are they aware of how active you are? Are they concerned you aren’t meeting your Protein goal (I mean that & getting your fluids in are supposed to be our main focus)? I’d ask whether having a shake after you swim, which would help with your protein intake, would be okay. Also ask would having the additional shake sabotage your weight loss at least until you are able to eat more at each meal and are better able to reach your protein goals without it. Can’t hurt to ask.

It’s never too late to change your mind and choose an alternative surgery. Please, please, please talk to your Bariatric team and tell them your worries and concerns. Being apprehensive is completely normal I would have thought, as this is some major surgery we’re choosing. You have your own fears because of what happened with your mum - again, completely normal. Let the team at the hospital go through it all with you and explain the pros and cons. Whatever decision you make, just make sure it’s an informed decision and that you feel comfortable with the outcome. I bet you’re not the first person the team will deal with who is having doubts, they will be prepared for it so make use of them!

I was one to think the purée phase was awful too. In fact when I had the sleeve I at the same two things over and over just because it sounded so repulsive to me. This time I got a food processor and was so glad. I still wasn’t a fan of the meat being puréed but I did purée almost everything else and after all the liquids some of it actually tasted pretty good. You can do it either way though. It will fly by.

Ugh, teenagers can be so stupid sometimes. I remember doing some pretty disrespectful things as a teen that I am still ashamed of when I look back though. They just don’t get it yet. I’m glad that you didn’t let it stop you. I am one to worry about what others think which is why I am only starting to exercise outside now because I finally decided that this is for me and only me. If someone doesn’t want to see me trying to get healthier they can look away.

Good call on the recipe books. Someone in my August surgery group also posted a really great website for recipes. I will share that one too. Most of it is free but they do have a subscription deal so some of it is blocked. I have been scrolling through since they shared it. There are over 600 recipes it says but like I said some of them are blocked unless you pay to be member. The lady is a dietician that creates the recipes so they really are good and healthy. Good Luck at your appt with the surgeon. 🩵

https://www.bariatricfoodcoach.com/weight-loss-surgery-recipes/

I'm starting to doubt my decision to have the VSG rather than the Bypass. I keep hearing that the sleeve leads to an inevitable regain and I'd rather not do this surgery just to gain it all back if the bypass is better for long-term weight loss. Because it's the NHS and they only offer two surgeries I can only get VSG or bypass. I only chose the VSG because I fear the complications my mum had with the bypass.
Is it inevitable that I will gain it all back? Is it too late to change my mind about the surgery? I really don't know what to do!