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That’s the way I looked at your original post @omrhsn. What problem, inconvenience, complication, annoyance, etc. do you have now but are still good because a factor in the problem is your weight loss. Yes, I have to get my rings resized which is an (expensive) annoyance but it’s because I lost weight which is good. Everyone has problems or annoyances which, in the big picture & in the real world, are minor & unimportant. My sister-in-law has large feet & has trouble finding shoes. It’s a problem that sadly has no good side for her. Many of us struggled to find clothing to fit us before because of our size & that was a doubly bad problem: no clothing & our weight. I thought it was meant to be a more light hearted fun thread like a chat with friends. I also saw it as an opportunity to see how others may have managed these situations, found solutions or just to know others are experiencing the same things.

OOTD, hair edition. Fist, sorry for monopolizing this thread lately. I/we are bored, outside and having some fun! On the weekend me and the Kid got hair extensions for funsies. We both think they are waaaay too long and the Kid has already had hers shortened. My shortening appt is on Thurs, but after this afternoon i am stating to like the ridiculous length. I realized i really like it when im basically topless. the contrast between the hair colour and my skin is quite pleasing to me! (and Mr. lolololzzzz) so i may just keep it this length if i can manage to go about my day without it getting caught somewhere at least 50% of the time. which is NOT easy. i will say all this hair makes me feel super bad ass and sexy. so if any y'all want a quick pick-me-up in the confidence department, i would suggest some hair extensions to do the trick. P.s. my actual, real hair stops just above the neckline of my bra...which btw, is my old breast-lift recovery bra (it's laundry day! 😂)

Thank you for your encouraging words and advice!!! Menopause is a nasty thing 👿 and it even has the word men in it, go figure!! Congratulations on doing great on your weight loss journey!

15lbs in about a month is fine @Metamul. You haven’t failed at all. Remember there is no right or wrong right of loss. You’ll lose at your own rate & at a rate that’s best for your body. Your rate of loss has nothing to do with whether you’ll lose your weight except it may take a little longer and that’s okay too. You’re doing great. You’re probably starting to recognise the difference between real hunger & head hunger. Yes, they do feel different. You tend to crave a specific food, texture or flavour with real hunger. I get restless as if something is wrong then I realise I’m hungry. And there is always a legitimate & logical reason I’m hungry - haven’t eaten for a while, missed a meal, didn’t eat much earlier in the day.

yes - supplements for life. But they become old hat after a while. I honestly don't really think about it at all anymore. I take a small handful when I get up in the morning, and another small handful in the late afternoon. Then iron & vitamin C before I go to bed. no surgery required to fix strictures. They do it via upper endoscopy. They give you "twilight" anesthesia - which is different from general anesthesia. You're awake but unaware and you don't remember anything once you snap out of it. Easy peasy. yes plastic surgery is a pain and it's costly (two (of the three) of my plastic surgeries were much more difficult than my RNY), but I think only a small percentage of people actually have plastic surgery. No one could tell I had excess skin except, obviously, me, my husband, and my doctor, but I eventually had it taken off regardless. But when it was there, it was very easy to hide in clothes. I think microbiome changes and faecal transplanting aren't commonly done at this point - but maybe in the future. They do seem promising. here's a photo of me BEFORE I had my excessive skin removed. See any of it? I can assure you after a 235 lb loss, I had a ton of it...but as you can see, my clothes hide it.

Check with your dietician for meal ideas & guidelines about portion sizes, calories, nutrient goals, number of meals a day, etc. Then measure, weigh & track your food every meal & then make the necessary changes. If you are eating too many calories, swap out your food choices to more nutrient dense foods & foods that are lower in fats, sugars & carbs. Look to whole & low or no processed foods. If your portions are too large, reduce the sizes. Make sure you’re hitting your protein & fluid goals every day. It will always be better to eat real food than have a protein shake once your through those initial stages post surgery. I didn’t have another shake after the liquid stage. I know some people do continue to have shakes but I’m a believer in learning & establishing new & life time eating habits & food choices that work in your lifestyle as soon as possible. Shakes aren’t really sustainable in the long term & can feel like you are restricting or limiting yourself. I believe people put on weight after being on a shake diet because they relied on the shakes & didn’t learn how to make better food choices or change their eating behaviours. Fluctuations while you are losing are to be expected. Your weight loss isn’t a consistent straight line down. It will go & down & plateau. As long as the general trend is downwards you’re okay.

Thank you all for your responses!! Revision is done and I gained a bit of weight between the IV liquids and gas and swelling. Since coming home I am down 10lbs so that’s going away. When I had the sleeve I was 268 and went down to 145. I looked gaunt it was horrible. I need to stay in the 150-160 range to avoid looking like I’m malnourished. The hiatal hernia I had was repaired and I have zero signs of any reflux. The pain hasn’t been bad it’s been 5 days since surgery and I feel great. I was released at 194 and am at 183. Of course that’s loss of all the fluid and swelling I am grateful for that. In reality 30-35 lbs more would be a perfect goal. However something is telling me it’ll be more. I always stick with the plan follow the dietary guidelines and do well. Fingers crossed I can gain some control of the weight loss and not lose too much! Ty again you guys are great good luck on your journey

As @ms.sss said just ride it out. It’s not for ever - thank goodness. Though you want ketosis to occur because it’s tied to your weight loss especially in the beginning. The taste & smell changes are temporary but a great opportunity to break cravings & try new foods/flavours. For the unpleasant body odours, pack a toiletry bag with toothbrush & paste, mouthwash, body wipes, deodorant, pantry liners, etc. so you can refresh at work, when out & about or socialising as you need.

I had surgery eight years ago at age 55. No diabetes, though - just obesity. SUPER obesity. Also, borderline sleep apnea that I didn't know about until I did a sleep test for surgery. I lost 235 lbs and gained back about 20 lbs in year 3 post op (a 10-20 lb rebound weight gain after you hit your lowest weight is very common). Maintained ever since, but it's work. On the other hand, before I had surgery, the most I could lose was about 50-60 lbs, and every ounce of it would come back. Happened dozens of times. So yes - weight loss is sustainable after bariatric surgery as long as you monitor yourself. I had strictures at two months out and four months out. Very easy fix. The PA at our bariatric clinic told me it was the most common complication, and that they happen to 5% of gastric bypass patients (and if they're going to happen, it'll be during the first three months post-surgery - they're very rare after that). I personally wouldn't call something that happens to 5% of people "common", but that does give you an idea of how common complications are. Basically - they're not very common. about 30% of bypass patients have dumping syndrome. I've never had it and most of the people I know haven't had it, but some of us do. It's caused by eating too much sugar at one sitting (or for some, too much fat at one sitting seems to set it off). It's because food passes through to your small intestine much more quickly once you've had bypass, and your intestines go into overdrive trying to deal with the sugar (or...fat). It can be prevented by limiting the amount of sugar you eat at one sitting (which we should be doing regardless, even us non-dumpers). good luck in your decision. Honestly, I should have done it years ago. My only regret is that I waited that long to have it done. My life has changed dramatically for the good. I'd go back and have the surgery done every year if I had to - it's been terrific!

a fellow BP member recently DM'd me asking how i get up to 1800 cals a day when my stomach capacity is relatively "small". This is how. I eat often eat high calorie/low volume foods. Today's evening snack: 53g of chicharron w/some dipping sauce for a nice 319 calories. Ate it all. (I also went to an AYCE lunch with the entire extended fam for father's day today that clocked up 870 calories comprised of a couple cocktails, 2 cute little peking duck "wraps" a couple spoonfuls of tofu pudding and a couple bites of strawberry shortcake...no pics tho. Aside: i hate AYCE establishments: never feel like i ate enough to warrant the price, the food is at best, just OK, and you never have everyone all sitting at the table at the same time for hearty conversation cuz they all off getting food at different times. Just my 2 cents. Further, i had an entire sausage mcMuffin and 1/2 a hash brown that i ate off an on while sitting in a hairdresser chair getting hair extensions installed over 4+ hrs this morning ...more on that later! AND, i had about 1/3 cup of the bbq brisket that i brought over to my FIL that i made the other day.) so as of right now im at 1839 calories, if i don't eat anything else today. So yeah, thats how. btw: My chicharron snack:

Confession. My team said could drink alcohol after a year. Me being me, i had a couple sips of red wine around 3-4 weeks post op. Was really weird, i swear i could FEEL the wine travelling through my intestines. Then I had a couple sips or a sake-soju concoction around 2 months post. The aftermath still ranks to this day as one of my top 5 dumping episodes. *shudder* I had maybe 5 or so PARTIAL drinks of red wine or gin/vodka tonics throughout my entire weight loss phase. Long story short, I was "affected" really fast. I also sobered up unbelievably quickly. Now in maintenance (im over 4.5 years post op), im NOT proud to admit that i am probably (on paper), a full on alcoholic. i probably drink about 1-2 servings of alcohol a day (espresso martinis or red wine, mostly). I used to drink pre-wls, but nowhere as regularly as i do now. On the flip side, i would reach "embarrassing drunk" pre-wls, but have yet to get there post-wls. Yes, I realize i am justifying, but there u go. As i write this, im wary of newbies reading this, as i really dont want to seem to be endorsing my lifestyle. So sorry everyone! I guess what im ineffectively trying to say is (again) everyone is different, and it is my fervent hope that everyone knows their own personal limits and strives to stay within them. P.S. dont drink too much if u can help it! honestly its not worth the extra stress. I have way too many conversations with myself about this that its ruining my VIBE. P.S.S. i will now remunerate for the next couple hours if this post was a good idea or not. P.S.S. Happy Father's day today to all awesome dads our there!! ❤️

Good afternoon Have diabetes 2 and obesity for many years, now endocrinologist consultant recommends bariatric surgery, most likely Gastric bypass. Since 2015 keeping balanced diet and portion control, doing walking, swimming, lost 20kg in 2018-2020 but unfortunately not much weight loss recently. It would be interesting to hear from people of similar age and health profile who had bariatric surgery 4-5 years ago - is weight loss sustainable in long term? Any side effects - short and long term? Male in early 60s with sleep apnea and high blood pressure. BMI 49. Angiogram found no cardiac blockages but chest tightness happens often especially in warm humid weather. Physical activity is mainly walking, average 5-6 K steps daily, also swimming, outdoor stretching and breathing exercises Thanks

I weighed in this morning and am down another 2.3 kilograms (5 pounds). In pounds it puts me under 300. Pretty much a quarter of the way to my first weight loss goal now. Hope everyone's having a great day.

Re: addictions i can’t say I’m well versed enough on this topic to dole out advice and offer solutions. But I can give support and personal anecdotes. Case in point: (While not about eating and food, I still think this has some sort of relevance) I had my first cigarette when was 15 yrs old. I worked my way up to a pack a day by the time I got to university (19 yrs old). Did this for TWENTY YEARS. Finally, I quit cold turkey in July 2011 when I was 38 yrs old. I was golden. I didn’t touch a cigarette for 8+ years. Not a single one. Then, in 2019, high off my success in weight loss probably, armed with an uncontainable confidence, I decided to have a cigarette while on vacation. Cuz i mean, can one really hurt? I could stop, obviously did before. Plus I’m on vacation, gotta live a little, right? I wasn’t even craving it, I just thought it would be no harm no foul since I had absolutely no intention to be a regular smoker again. I remember my husband tried his best to dissuade me. Le Sigh. That cigarette led to another, then another, then me buying a pack saying “I’ll only smoke on this trip”. Then I got back home and I still had some in the pack, so I said I’ll just finish these. Then I bought a pack at home, then another, then another…. Le Double Sigh. It is now 2023, 4 yrs since I stupidly smoked that effing cigarette, and I’m back to smoking almost a pack a day. Sometimes abstinence/the all-or-nothing approach is best for some people. I am not that type of person who could just have one cigarette and leave it at that. Should’ve known. What works for one person, may not have the same result with another. Do what works for you, people. ❤️

I hate to say this, but 1800 calories a day is too much unless you are doing really strenuous exercising. I can maintain my 150 plus pound weight loss at about 1000 to 1200 calories a day, and I currently weight about 160, I am 67 years old and have had no skin removal. My doctors feel that if I did, I would be around 145 to 150. But I need new knees and there is no way I am going to have more elective surgery. But If I eat 1800 calories a day, I gain weight. Fast. Like in a couple days. And yes, there IS more restriction in eating chicken, and fish and other meats. I eat more cheese and dairy than I probably should. But it works for me. I also eat eggs. I make sure at least 2 meals a day have a simple protein like eggs, or chicken or fish, and the occasional beef meal. I happen not to eat shellfish or pork. If I have oatmeal for breakfast, I make sure to have a yogurt for a midmorning snack. I eat few processed carbs and keep my pasta, rice or bread to very very low amounts. Protein, vegetables, fresh fruits. This morning I am having my coffee then, fresh watermelon and scrambled eggs with some shredded cheese. Get back to basics and re check with your doctor or nutritionist about calories. Frankly I rarely if ever count calories; but I know what I am eating and what I can eat to maintain my weight loss. Best of luck and healthy eating to you !

Hi all, New to the forum and have been feeling a bit overwhelmed at times with all the info I found on my google searches I get sleeve surgery on July 4th! I am equal parts excited for the new journey and scared for what is ahead. I have yo-yo'd for years and like other posters here I like to follow a food plan but do wish others would give it to me rather than the handout I got from the hospital with a sample of a one liquid soup recipe and a list of food groups. I do well with lists and instructions (yes, I am a bit of a control freak) so it is the unknown that freaks me out the most. I have tried to do some food prep but find it all a bit overwhelming. For who I have told, it has just been my Mum (though I presume she told me Dad ), my two sisters, my boss (to discuss time off work) and three friends. I don't want to say it at work in advance but figure I will have to say it when I get back to the office after a month off 'sick'. Also my new eating and drinking habits will be noticeable in a small office. The clinic here that I go to haven't given me any pre-op advice on cutting down on foods in advance so I decided as of June 1st to give up alcohol for the month in advance so it is not too much of shock post-op. I am not an alcoholic but I do love a glass of wine (or 2) in the evening or a cocktail (or 4) on an evening out and a lot of my social life revolves around drinking with colleagues & friends so I think going forward that may be hard. I am trying my best to make healthy choices for food in the run up to the op, but again as a control freak, I would have preferred that the clinic gave me strict instructions to follow in the lead up to surgery. I know my faults (when it comes to food ) are that a lot of the time I eat too quickly, without even noticing, and I eat too much and often don't know/realise I am full so I am really hoping I find the transition to slow and mindful eating goes smoothly. For me, my weight has caused considerable knee pain and starting to cause ankle pain but then it is a vicious circle as they are too sore to do much to help me loose weight. I am hoping the op will make it easier on my knees to walk comfortably and eventually take up exercise. I know I need a knee replacement but the ortho surgeon said my knees were too fat for him to be comfortable in carrying out a successful op so that is my longer goal, as well as weight loss and being health to have bionic knees

It’s not uncommon for our tastebuds &/or sense of smell to temporarily change making foods we used to like taste disgusting. It can also make foods we used to dislike yummy. Also ketosis (fat burning) can cause a foul taste in our mouths. Also causes bad breath, and other bodily secretions to smell unpleasant, and flu like symptoms (keto flu). It will pass. No timeline as to when though just when your body is ready. Congrats on your weight loss so far.

Nothing like a death to bring out the worst in people! I'm sorry for your loss and you're awesome for stepping up to help her. My last Grandparent, my maternal Grandmother passed a few months ago also. Thankfully my Mum and her 2 living siblings have been on the same page. Take time to breathe and let the stress go. Keep reminding yourself 9f y9ur worth and don't let the BS get to you too much.

These are terrific questions! I think everyone's answer will differ, so I don't want to speak for everyone's experience but I can tell a couple of my own experiences. I used to absolutely love Egg McMuffins. 300 calories, 17 grams of protein, 12 grams of fat....they're really not even that bad for you. I used to joke that they were my personal perfect comfort food....I loved the taste, felt accomplished that I had a favorite that wasn't that bad....and just generally was happy about them. I remember starting solids again after surgery and taking a little bite of one....expecting that wonderful feeling. It was like (pardon me) sex with no orgasm. Zero pleasure. It didn't taste gross or anything, but it wasn't wonderful anymore. All of my EggMcMagic was GONE. I wasn't angry, I wasn't relieved. I was sad. It was a weird loss. The better part of my brain was happy and proud I no longer had such an intensely happy feeling about them....because I know that's disordered eating and I wanted to get away from that. But the nostalgic part of me that was still busy coping....felt the loss deeply. Most days, I was happy and relieved that food seemed to be losing control in my life. It felt good to say no, to throw things away after a few bites. It felt good when I had that crazy moment and bought something terrible like a box of little donuts....took one bite and had the strength to say....What the hell am I doing? And throw them all away. I'm proud I can do that now. That I can have a screw up, get something really awful, and have one or two bites and throw the package away. We're not perfect. We'll have moments. But the ability to pull up sooner and right the course sooner...has been a welcome and wonderful change. And as the years have gone by, I'm getting even better at this. I buy a lot less stuff to throw away now. LOL. Some people have a lot of emotional upheaval after surgery. Marriages can get worse, relationships can change. Be very aware of and use caution with cross-over addictions. Watch alcohol, gambling, flirting, over-spending, substances. Anything that gives you a pop of pleasure and distraction....keep a close eye on. Lots of data to show those things can bite you in the butt. The struggle is real, but so are the rewards. It is WONDERFUL to be able to walk five miles a day and get things done. It is wonderful to find cute clothes that fit, and like how you look in pictures. It is wonderful to inspire folks you love to make healthier choices. Lots of stuff is so nice. I remember the first time I could shave my legs and breathe at the same time. LOL! I remember the first time I tried on a swimsuit and went...holy ****! this looks great on me! The little victories are so lovely. About acid reflux... I have had almost no problem with it, with one notable exception. If I eat and lie down, I can end up with very nasty acid. If I wait an hour after eating before laying down...zero problems. I just need to be careful not to snack right before bed, which is a bad idea anyway, so the reminder isn't even that bad. I get a little bit of heart burn laying down maybe once every month or two now. I take a swig of Pepto and it's gone in a few minutes. Wishing you the best.

I never once had acid reflux before my sleeve and I had to get revised for severe gerd. If you are already on omeprazole, then you are probably more likely than not to have to get a revision to rny in the future. I'm not a doctor so I can be wrong. RNY is an extremely safe procedure these days. I wish I didn't put it off as long as I did. My revision was the best thing I have ever done. It fixed all my problems from the sleeve and more. I'm in the minority who had vsg problems. Most do not. But since my revision, I have never felt so normal. Not normal WLS normal but before any surgery normal. There only thing I have to do is wear a Vitamin Patch every day and take 1 or 2 tsp of Miralax in my coffee. It's been wonderful. As far as mindset throughout the process, I always felt relieved, happy, lucky that I had WLS surgery. I would have done almost anything to get the weight off. Before WLS, I was miserable and sick due to the excess weight. It was only challenging when I had severe gerd and esophagitis but even then I was happy with my weight loss and always always always found it worth it.

They say under 10, but usually allow you to order without a problem or if you tell them you’ve had weight loss surgery.

i had my surgery over 4.5 years ago when i was 46 (yes, not quite 50, but still). while i was not quite menopausal, i was definitely peri-menopausal. i lost more than goal by 7 months post op: to that, while i can't quite comment on how menopause may affect weight loss, based on my own personal experience, i can submit MY own account on how menopause affected MAINTENANCE. its been over a year since my last period (im 50 now) - which i guess officially makes me menopausal - i haven't been "regular" for over 2 yrs), and so far has not affected weight (so far! *crosses fingers*) i have been more or less the same weight (give or take 5lbs) since stabilizing about 4 years ago. i think alot of how menopause will affect u is genetic and quite individualized. i have ZERO menopause symptoms. and according to my mom, it was the same for her. you may luck out, you may not. only time will tell. with that said, menopause does not mean weight loss and maintenance is unattainable. you may have to work a little harder than those who are unaffected, but it CAN be done. good luck and enjoy the ride! ❤️

Have recently taken a comprehensive nutrition class. I am 5.5 years out of sleeve and have maintained my loss. I wish I had taken a decent nutrition class in my teens or 20's. Not a *weight loss* nutrition class...but a general nutrition class where you learn to read labels, learn about dietary effects on disease processes, aging, inflamation. I had no idea how ignorant I was about the different kinds of fat, the effects of sodium and refined sugar, appropriate portions, recommended fiber and its effect on propogating good gut microorganisms, malnutrition in fat people, ect. I learned a tremendous amount in class about so many blind spots and feel so much more informed to make better dietary choices. I highly recommend a good general nutrition course for folks starting out in this process.

Usually they let you. When they don’t automatically, I pull the manager aside and explain I had weight loss surgery. Never had a problem.