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Tomorrow, it'll be five months since my surgery. I can share that the first two months were the hardest. I now find myself eating intuitively. The only food that I avoid is bread. My weight loss has slowed down, but continues to steadily decrease. On my surgery date, I was at 229 pounds. I currently weigh 173. The biggest change is that my knees and back are no longer in pain. I am able to work out without any issues. The only down side is that I have begun to lose my hair in clumps. While this has been frustrating, I am so thankful for this surgery. I feel so much more comfortable in my own skin! I hope all my February surgery pals are having a positive journey as well!

I started seeing a slowdown in weight loss around 13 months post OP and now the scale is hardly moving. I read that the rate will be high at first and will slow down as you about to reach your goal weight. I still want to lose 5 kg more but I'm not stressing about it. Planning to start exercising and hopefully that will help. I read some people here have tried fasting / IF to jumpstart the weight loss. I remember you posted about trying IF. How is that working for you? The important thing is to not stress too much about. I always remind myself that I've gained all that weight over a number of years and to lose it all over a few months would be a drastic change. Good luck

My losses slowed down about the same times as yours. Once I went nearly three months before I lost again. I tend to go down in blocks of 5lbs at once. I try and walk more. I am thinking of going swimming again but the loose skin is holding me back. Try and change things up a bit. Finds some new foods. Expanding my diet like being on holiday has really been good for my weight loss. I think that at some point we have to call it a day but I am sure you will go further than you are at the moment, My problem is that I am not too bothered if I stay at this weight.

Good afternoon, everyone. I'm new here. I was looking for some kind of forum where I could interact with others like me. I think I may have found it. I live in South Texas, and I had a sleeve gastrectomy in Mexico in 2009 when I was 35. I initially weighed 340 lbs and lost 149 lbs. and went from a size 32 to a size 14. My goal was a 12, but I was really happy. I was exercising 5x a week on the elliptical for a whole hour nonstop! I kept the weight off for approximately 6 years. Unfortunately, all kinds of tragic events started changing my life. In 2014 my father passed away, and I took it really, really hard. I ended up on Xanax and Ambien. In 2015, I got divorced. In 2016, my mother passed away. In 2017, I was transferred from a job I really enjoyed to a brand new location with all different people to work with. Then the COVID Pandemic kept me teaching from home for a year and a half. It was literally one heartbreak after another. Rather than looking for actual help, I helped myself... to pills, alcohol, and crap food. Over the past 9 years, I regained all my weight. Even though I still felt restriction in eating (i.e. only half a burger or 1.5 slices of pizza, with no sides or drinks and I was done). I was 10 lbs away from my original weight before my sleeve. Last year, though, my school district sent out an email stating that WLS was now covered by our insurance. I was so excited! I looked into it, made many calls, and thought coverage was out of the question because I had already had a surgery. Our insurance covers "one surgery per life." However, since my first surgery was private pay, they went ahead and accepted covering my revision to a bypass. Today is my 18th day post op. I've lost 42 lbs altogether since May 11, but only 10 of those lbs since the surgery. I feel a little blue because I was hoping for more than a 10lb loss in 3 weeks. I lost more weight at the beginning when I started a semi-liquid diet to prepare for surgery. I was doing 3 shakes and one solid, no-carb meal. I know that revisions are slower than virgin surgeries. I am doing as much reading and research as I can. I just can't help it, I guess. After my sleeve, the weight loss was phenomenal. Right now I am consuming 450 cals, 60 g protein, and keeping my carbs under 40g. I am walking around my house (not outside because South Texas) 4x a day and was told I could start on the treadmill this coming Monday. Maybe I'm doing something wrong? I'm also trying to find ways to consume fiber without a lot of carbs. I've eaten 1/2 cup of pinto beans twice but, man, that's a lot of carbs. I wanted to try raspberries, but I'm afraid of the little seeds getting stuck in my sutures. Any advice, thoughts, suggestions?

Hi there my June friends - I hop you re all well. I had my surgery on 1st June (bypass). my starting weight was 215lbs and I am down to 184lbs. I have been able to eat purees foods straight out of hospital for 3.5 weeks and am now on soft food (food that I can get a fork through). I eat about 4-5 small meals per day and try to drink a litre and a half of water. I have not had any problems so far and am enjoying a wider variety of things to eat. I've been swimming almost each morning since just under 3 weeks out of surgery. I think I am doing ok - just so glad to have had this opportunity to help me to manage my weight. There is still so much to learn about this new tool but I am going to enjoy the journey 🙂. I hope you are all happy with the decision to have weight loss surgery xxx

I am almost 11 months post opp and the last 2-3 month I have seen a dramatic halt in weight loss. It's to the point that I feel like I should have went with bypass instead of sleeve. At what point did you see the slow down? Did anyone plateau before they were even close to the goal? And did you do anything in particular to get the weight loss going again?

Yay a fellow Texan! I’m up in north Texas. I had my surgery in Plano, but that’s about an hour from where I actually live. I guess that amount of weight loss is normal? I started at a slightly higher weight not too far off from yours so we seem to be tracking about the same, but I bet you’ll pass me up soon. From what I’ve seen, the weight falls off of men a little faster. This week has been slower so far. I’m down about 5lbs. Food is still going okay. I’ve had yogurt, strained soups and a tiny bit of pureed beans. Nothing crazy and only very small amounts. I’m able to finish my protein shakes and I can drink around 65-70oz of fluids for the day. You’re so lucky you get to eat eggs. I’ve been craving them. My first post-op appointment is next Tuesday. Maybe he’ll let me then too.

So there have been talks about pregnancy and babies with my boyfriend. With history of PCOS, my cycles have become regular and I have been ovulating for the last year or so. We may try for pregnancy may be sometime next year. My question is, anyone here who got pregnant after WLS? If yes, did you end up losing your post pregnancy weight? Or was it difficult to bring it back to pre-pregnancy baseline? Currently I am happy with where I am with my weight. But also, looking forward to starting a family if destiny permits. But, the weight gain cycle of pregnancy concerns me. Putting on the weight will naturally happen but I was wondering if the bypass tool will help me lose the weight post pregnancy. Any thoughts, experience shall be great!

It's 6 months since my mini gastric bypass. I have lost total of 55 Kg or 121.25 lbs. My weight loss trend is still hovering around 6 Kg (13.2 lbs) loss/month. But from last 3 months, I have seen increase in my hunger. In terms of percentage, the increase would be 20 % as compared to the 3 months back. Is this normal? I am also spending a lot of time for workout - around 6 hours of cardio and 12 hours for strength training + HIIT + weights every week. Not sure if that along with muscle i am developing is causing this hunger? or maybe its normal? Also, lost my job to layoffs recently but finances are not an issue. So just trying to maintain calm and avoid any emotional eating. My current weight is 92.5 Kg or 203.5 lbs. Should I get my metabolism evaluated to see my calorie requirement or wait upto 1 year for weight to stabilize? I had my surgery outside country of residence due to surgery wait times. I do teleconference with bariatric surgeon every 3 months, but no in person visit option available. Please suggest. Thank you

Could be water weight, could be hormones, could be the day of the week, could just be...your turn to have a minor setback. You'll have some fluctuation here and there and as you lose more and the weight loss slows, you may notice it more. This is not a "failure" and it's destructive to frame it that way to yourself. It's part of the process. It's going to be ok. Don't beat yourself up. Don't sabotage yourself. Just keep going.

Hi, I am really at loss of words to express my concern. I had my surgery on may 24 and it's almost a month and half. I had 4 weeks of liquid phase and lost about 20 pounds. After which I was OKed to move to purée stage. I hit a stall ever since and that's not the worst, I regained about 8 pounds without any cheating or deviation from my plan. I am scared on what to do and currently super depressed about it. I know stalls are common and tried to get my mind of it, but regain is what upsets me most. Has anyone experienced it ? I don't know on how to proceed and food makes me scared. Appreciate any tips to get through this. 

Today weigh in is 172. The post op diet helps to lose so this hasn’t been so bad. I did re-gain (my own choice) to the 160 area and took it a little over when I knew I was getting the revision. So I am 8+ lbs less than my original weight pre surgery and 17 lbs down in 3 weeks from when I left the hospital. I don’t thinks that’s too bad. My worries are at ease because I don’t see the 140 happening anytime soon. Lots of my loss has been fluid and the rest I took on due to being afraid to look sickly again.

Hi, I am really at loss of words to express my concern. I had my surgery on may 24 and it’s almost a month and half. I had 4 weeks of liquid phase and lost about 20 pounds. After which I was OKed to move to purée stage. I hit a stall ever since and that’s not the worst , I regained about 8 pounds without any cheating or deviation from my plan. I am scared on what to do and currently super depressed about it. I know stalls are common and tried to get my mind of it, but regain is what upsets me most. Has anyone experienced it ? I don’t know on how to proceed and food makes me scared.

Best thing I ever did. As @The Greater Fool said yes there are horror stories but there are horror stories & stories of complications with every surgery. Bariatric surgery has some of lowest stats of post surgical complications. I’ve read they’re lower than an appendectomy. And the risk of serious health complications & the risk of earlier death are much higher with obesity. I didn’t have any comorbidities before my surgery. No high blood pressure, cholesterol ok, no heart or breathing issues, no sleep apnea. But it was only a matter of time before I did. Now I’ve lost weight they likely will never happen. Regardless of what we all say (& we will be pro surgery here even those who may have had issues), this has to be a decision only you can truely make not anyone else. You have to be ready to commit to this 100% as much of the successful weight loss & maintenance is mental. The surgery provides you a tool & a limited time of bonuses effects to help get you started but the majority of the work is what you will have to do yourself. It is not an easy out to weight loss. Meet with a surgeon & a therapist who specialises in supporting bariatric & disordered eating patients & ask your husband to accompany you to some appointments. He can ask questions then too which may alleviate some of his concerns. All the best whatever you choose to do.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Yes, lots of women have become pregnant early on because of the hormonal flush of oestrogen post surgery from your weight loss. It can make you extra fertile. The pregnancy will slow your weight loss but it doesn’t mean it’s all over or you will gain lots of weight again. Check with your dietician about your nutritional needs during the pregnancy & keep regular appointments. You actually don’t need to consume that many additional calories - you’re not eating for two adults. The aches in your hips & back can be from your weight loss. It’s quite common. Some even talk about their balance being off & walking into walls, etc. Your centre of gravity is changing & your posture is improving. Your muscles, tensions & ligaments are relearning how to carry & hold your much smaller body. I used to kick my toes against my kitchen cabinets because my tummy was much smaller & didn’t reach the bench top before my feet anymore. So silly but was about being aware of my smaller body. A friend & I also found we’d initially slouched more because we didn’t have a tummy to prop us up anymore. We had to consciously adjust our posture & build up our core muscles. Try some gentle stretching & use some resistance bands. I do mine lying on the floor so not strenuous at all & some can be done sitting down. All the best.

No. There are horror stories and every last one is true. They are on the rare side of surgery outcomes, but they happen. Heck, I almost died after a tonsillectomy (tonsil removal) when I was 4, which in retrospect I should have skipped. But the 99% of folks it's not an issue for it was a great decision. Only you can decide if it is worth it. If you're looking for us to decide for you, then NO it is not worth it. Have weight loss diet's EVER worked for you? In the long run? I'd say no, since you are here asking us if WLS is worth it. I was over 1/4 ton overweight and still believed I could do it without surgery. I had lost large chunks of it before gaining it back and then some. Then I realized I was deluding myself to believe I could lose it and keep it off. Eventually, I then decided WLS was my last resort since everything else failed eventually. I committed 100% to WLS and in 2.5 years lost every last pound and then some. I lost 500+ pounds and it stayed lost. I had surgery, and had all sorts of pain early post-op. Over time I lost 500+ pounds and was more than happy. After 20+ years I am still a normal BMI. I still follow my plan, and still deliriously happy. The horror stories are all true for those rare people. Fortunately, they were not true for me. Even if they were, I was prepared to deal with it. I would have been crazy not to take this last chance. It's up to you to decide what cost you are willing to pay. You may not think the cost is worth it now, so you should wait. Eventually, it will be worth the cost, then you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner. This is up to you and not random people on the internet. Good luck. Tek

As you found out, the programs endorsed by different surgeons vary greatly. The programs are guidelines, they will not work for everyone. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all M.O. Def speak to your nutritionist, though in the end, whatever he/she advises you to do may still not work for YOU. Best course of action is trial and error on your part (keeping in mind any advice your NUT gives you). Now is the time to get to know your body and it's responses to different stimuli. Then go from there. Further, what works for you today may not work for you tomorrow. Its an ongoing learning process. Good Luck! ❤️ Oh, and yeah, i hit "overload" many times during weight loss phase. Honestly, i still do sometimes, and i'm 4.5+ years out.

This is a great idea but would love to see one more category added. The different bariatric procedures can greatly effect the rate of loss due to levels of restriction, absorption, etc. 1. Basics: GENDER, AGE (at time of surgery) , HEIGHT - F, 62, 5'5" 2. Total Weight lost in the 6 months BEFORE surgery (if any) - 6.5 LBS 3. Weight on DAY OF SURGERY. - 202.5 LBS 4. Weight at 1 MONTH POST surgery - 187.4 LBS 5. Weight at 3 MONTHs POST surgery - 170.8 LBS 6. Weight at 6 MONTHs POST surgery - TBD 7. Weight at 12 MONTHs POST surgery - TBD I had my VSG surgery on 3/3/23 have just hit my 4 month post-op. I currently weigh 162.4 for a total loss of 40.1 LBS in 4 months.

I understand the pain of trying to find a surgeon! I've been trying for the last two years to find a surgeon that would even touch me because I'm not actually having the DS done for weight loss (Although that is a really amazing benefit of it) I had a Nissen fundoplication done in 2005 that has failed and no surgeon wants to revise another's work here locally, so I'm going back and forth 5.5 hours each way to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. So I have a huge learning curve as this wasn't even something I thought was an option until my doctor told me it was his plan to fix me so that I'd have a chance at normalcy again. I'm just looking forward to being able to eat something with flavor. Everything gives me heartburn at this point (including certain brands of bottled water) it's nuts. I basically eat potato soup every day because I know it's something I can handle. I'm hopeful as we get closer and I learn more. But I have also come to the conclusion that some of this will just be embracing the suck.

Hey guys, Apologies for not updating this thread. I've been personally struggling with this weight loss despite everything. I've lost a bit more weight, but even with the help of the dietician, the weight loss is incredibly slow and it's still making me feel like a failure. On average it seems like I lose about 3 pounds a month despite the high protein intake, small meals, liquids and exercise. Today I woke up feeling particularly upset, as I started a 4 mile walking challenge to see if I could walk four miles every day for a week (in the morning). Today is Wednesday (day 3) and before i started walking, I decided to weigh myself. I've put on 2 and a half pounds since this SATURDAY just gone! I weighed myself yesterday morning too and I've put on a pound since then. I won't lie. I just burst into tears. I feel like i've been doing everything right. I'm burning around 3500 calories a day, according to my Fitbit watch. I'm eating/drinking between 50-80g of protein. I'm drinking my 2 liters of liquids and I'm still eating from a side plate, always prioritizing the protein first. I'm doing everything, but I feel like my body is rebelling against me. Everything in my being is telling me to start fasting and to start doing liquid diets/slimfast shakes again, but because I have a history of eating disorders, I don't want to lean back into old habits in order to lose weight. I bought slimfast meals two weeks and did the liquid diet/pouch reset for two days and lost a pound and a half - but I don't want to rely on only having liquids in order to lose weight. I've been loitering between 243-240lbs for over a MONTH now with no budge. I'm so disappointed in myself and it feels like all the exercise i'm doing is in vain. Has anyone gone through similar? Edited to add: My goal weight is 215lbs. Being bigger/curvy runs in my family, and I actually like being a little bigger as I find curves attractive so I purposely did not want to be unrealistic when setting my final goal. I've read elsewhere on the forum that weight loss can be harder when you're getting nearer to your goal or when you're in the last 20-30lbs of weight loss. Is this true?

I just had my RNY gastric bypass on June 29th. Most days I have felt great. Today, at 5 days, I have been experiencing severe pain in my left shoulder. I was told these pains were from the gasses put in my body for the surgery. I was planning to stay off the scale for the most part. However, I weighed myself today. I haven't lost anything! I have followed the full fluid plan that I was given. It scares me to see no huge loss!

1. 43, M, 6'0" 2. Net loss: 0 (weight fluctuated wildly) 3. 460 4. 430 5. 381 6. 331 7. 258

Current age or age at the time of surgery? 🤔 Also are we including pre-Op weight loss in the 6 months timeframe before surgery?!

I'm starting targeted C02 Cryo therapy next week. A friend runs the business and wants to document my progress for advertising to local bariatric patients so she's offering it free to me. Otherwise, it's pretty pricey. I still have a ways to go with my weight loss, but she wants to treat me as I lose instead of waiting to see how much loose skin I'm left with at goal weight. Despite the cost, people are willing to pay. She can't keep up with demand and recently had to hire a second tech. The before and after pictures that I've seen are amazing. Face , batwings, tummy etc. I'm willing to give it a go. Hopefully with good results.

honestly, weight loss is really more about the person vs the type of surgery. you as an individual will likely lose the same amount of weight no matter which wls you choose. do the best that you can and you will get where your effort will take you ❤️ for what it's worth, i had the sleeve and lost everything that i wanted to. and i believe i would've got to the same place eventually if i had bypass or ds or whatever**. **Edited to add: except maybe the lapband... P.S. hope all goes well with you from here in out ❤️