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Intermittent fasting knocked down the last 15 pounds for me. There are LOTS of threads on IF on this forum. Lots of us have used (or are using) one form or another. It is a powerful tool, not difficult, and actually very healthy for you. I am not sure keto is the way to go, as the fat content is so high. With bypass, we already have fat absorption issues, and I know my intestines are not happy with too much fat. Also, your liver has worked very hard to process all the fat you have already lost. You might have had fatty liver disease, as I did, before surgery. From what I have read, adding more fat for the liver to work on is not a great idea. IF gives you the benefit of ketones, but without the high fat diet.

yes. Indeed I am looking for someone still. Since my original post, I have visited my doctor for month 2 of 7 required before I can submit for authorization with my insurance. My doctor has advised me to try a keto based diet. Ordinarily this would be awesome for me. but for whatever reason I can't seem to stop craving the things I can't have: fruit, juice, sweets, snacks, breads. But I keep trying. Had a first cheat day this past day. had some pasta and pie. but I monitored my portions so that made me feel better. Back to the diet now. I have been regularly getting my 7k steps in. Most days I have closer to 10k steps. So I been doing decent enough on my activity aspect of all this. I just need to nail down this nutrition side. lol. I don't know what we can and can't share on this site as far as personal info goes, or how that works. do you?

There are some decent low carb pancake recipes out there using almond flour. They aren't just like the real thing, but they aren't terrible either. I got in the habit of making them during a 7 month run of doing keto and I still make them now because my kids seem to like them. But yes to echo some of the others trying to avoid food for comfort is a great way to keep yourself out of trouble. I struggle with that plenty myself. I've actually taken to carrying a "challenge" coin around with me that I grab when I'm thinking of going for something to eat and not really hungry as a reminder of what I'm trying to accomplish. It doesn't always work, but I think it works more often than not at getting me to refocus and direct myself towards a healthier activity.

Agreed, meal planning/prep can get old. I do Paleo recipes and low carb on YouTube along with Keto. These keep it fun and interesting. And theworldaccordingtoeggface.com is a great website. Keep on keeping on. Sent from my SM-N920V using BariatricPal mobile app

Yep, could be withdrawal symptoms from carbs. Could be because of ketosis too. Lots of strange side effects when that starts occurring including unpleasant body odours, keto flu, etc. If the headaches persist or you can’t manage them with over the counter meds, speak with your medical team

So sorry for my late reply ... I went to doctor , was not keto rash , my potassium was 1.4 and it should be 3.5. White tongue also from potassium issues . Resolve was two IVs with two potassium IV cocktails , and oral potassium they had me drink. Rash clearing up 😊

Thanks for the advice I'm trying to get as much Protein in my diet as possible. I have bought a Keto diet/recipe book so hoping that will give me more tips thanks again! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My pre op diet was keto so high protein too but also high fat which I struggled with. No calorie limit though. Why are you focussing on mushy food? After surgery you only eat purées & then soft foods for about 4 weeks & believe me that’s too long! Ensuring you meet your protein goals will be life long thing so I say enjoy any & all proteins in all forms. The protein snacks I go to are cheese, high protein yoghurt, hummus, liverwurst or pate (with crudités or a couple of multi grain crackers), protein bar (be careful some have a lot of sugar or artificial sugars). Occasionally I’ll have nuts or roasted fava beans or chick peas. You can also nibble on some meat like some chicken (watch deli meats that are cured or fatty like ham, salamis, etc.) or a boiled egg. Hope you get a surgery date soon.

Miss Robin is at goal, so she gets peanut butter. For anyone wanting to keep losing... fill up on non-starchy veggies. Don't add fat unless you're keto. My favorite way of preparing veggies.. Uncooked: pick up a tomato or bell pepper and eat it like an apple. Cooked: boil things like green beans and broccoli in an inch or two of water (covered). When its pretty much done cooking, let the water cook off and the veggies brown (not burn). It caramelizes the naturally occuring sugars and yum yum. I frequently don't even have to add water to frozen veggies cooked this way. ... maybe not as healthy as lightly steamed, but I'll eat a bunch more of it and not feel deprived.

That's what I've noticed with a lot of the bariatric patients that I follow on social media. Keto/ low carb and some version of plant based diets seem to be popular. I've recently stopped eating most meats ( except fish) and my body seems to prefer this. Congrats on your weight loss and new life!

My surgeon didn't give me a requirement, but since my insurance required a six month pre-op diet program, I decided to lose as much as possible before surgery day. I lost 99 pounds during those six months (from 397 to 298), changed my relationship with food, and set myself up for success post op (I've lost an additional 105 pounds since the surgery day). I followed a keto way of eating during those six months, and I have done the same thing post-op (including during the post-op food stages). I don't eat more than 20 carbs per day.

Of the mainstream procedures, the sleeve will be the most benign of them when it comes to supplement needs and the amount of trouble one can get into by ignoring them and the labs. Supplementing with the sleeve is largely an individual thing - there is much more influence by individual variations and dietary habits than there is from the surgery. I've never heard of B1 being a particular problem, but given that the primary dietary source is from the grain complex, and many people are into low carb dieting (Atkins, Keto, etc.) that minimizes that food group, it isn't surprising that such deficiencies would be showing up - not from the procedure, but from the chosen diet. My wife is chronically low in Potassium, but that is just her, not her WLS (as DS in her case.) That is managed by checking levels periodically and adjusting supplements as needed - just as if she had never had WLS. I have heard it hypothesized that there might be some iron absorption issue with the sleeve owing to the somewhat more rapid transit times of food through the stomach, but I haven't seen any validation of that concern. The malabsorbing (RNY, DS) procedures specifically do malabsorb minerals such as iron to varying degrees as much of the mineral absorption happens in the duodenum which is bypassed entirely (in the RNY) or partially (in the DS) so iron levels can certainly be more of a challenge with those patients. I had a bleed a few years ago that sapped my iron/ferritan levels, but was able to restore them to normal in a few months by doubling my oral iron supplement; most with an RNY or DS would need iron infusions to recover from those levels. I tend to lose a bit of D normally so have been supplementing that since before my VSG and continue to do so at moderate levels (2-5k IU) both from that perspective, and also our surgeon prefers to see us in the higher end of the normal range on the blood levels; some in the malabsorbing camp will use 50k IU supplements to keep things in line (particularly the DS folks who specifically malabsorb fat soluble vitamins such as D) I know quite a few long time DS people (10-20+ years) and have seen very little problem as long as labs are regularly taken (annually usually) and responded to; however ignore those at your peril as weird things can happen if you don't. And that's with the DS, which is the fussiest of the procedures in that regard. With a sleeve, you are much more likely to get into trouble by something that you bring to the table - whether that be intrinsic or behavioral - but that is good reason to keep up with periodic lab checks just the same (my labs are a lot simpler than those of a typical DS or RNY person, as there is less that is needed to be monitored with the VSG.)

After being on this pre-op a week and a half, as well as weight dropping daily, I was curious and pulled out my keto sticks (from previous diets) and wow, i was off the charts. It was darker than the darkest sample. I guess that's a good thing. So once we start eating a healthy normal, do we remain in ketosis until we introduce the dreaded carbs back in?

I am sorry but this post really upsets me. You see all the health issues this woman has and fears of a heart attach how can you minimize her struggle? We are suppose to be supportive and come to this group for support and guidance. I am in the 35 BMI and struggled my whole life with ups and downs. I lost 30lbs thru keto and put it back and the dr said that was worse than the weight so I made the decision not for hopes of a bikini but for health reasons. She needs this surgery for the same reasons, so she can lose and keep off the weight. If it was so easy no one would need surgery.

I was a fan of fruity drinks and Long Island Ice Teas. However, as I did keto WOL for so long before surgery, I went to having an occasional diet coke and rum (technically keto friendly), HOWEVER, this was more of a once or twice a month thing before surgery. For me, since I"m only 8 weeks out and I'm in my THIRD stall AND I am a very very very slow loser even sticking to my dr's plan 100%, while I have had brief temptations, I know I'm 1) Not Ready to try this 2) Unsure if I should ever try it 3) Not willing to add something else into the confusing equation of why I am stalled yet again All this being said, I will not lie and say that I feel 100% confident that I will never have another drink. We are going on a Christmas cruise with my 89 year old MIL as she wanted the whole family to be together at Christmas and wanted it to be on a cruise...so we are all going. I have wondered about the possibility of having a drink at this time.. Unfortunately I will be only 5 months out at this time. I wish it was more like 1 year. I'm also unsure if I want to try my 1st drink, if I even do, on a ship with my whole family around...have no idea if it goes awry, how fast I could get to a place of privacy....you know? I have wondered what in the heck I would 'mix' any alcohol with and my eldest pointed out that my Premier Clear Protein Tropical Punch drinks would probably work...I was like "yeah, thanks for pointing that out...and now it is in my head". Only thing I know for sure is that for today, I choose not to drink alcohol.

I am doing keto and keeping my macros in line with what the calculator spit out for my stats. I find that it really helps in minimizing cravings for sugar and starches. I don't love cooking, but this week I made a spinach and ricotta bake that was very tasty! http://queenketo.com/low-carb-spinach-ricotta-bake/

I can imagine. That happened to me when I tried a keto diet I never hated eggs so much Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yeah, I think I am going to stay away from carbs. Has the keto diet worked for you?

Congrats on your surgery. Whoo hoo. It always surprises me the different post surgical diets people are given. I wasn’t on puréed foods until week 5. Follow the plan you were given but don’t be surprised if something on the plan upsets your tummy - just avoid it. As Gradycat said take it slowly. And if you feel you’re struggling, never be afraid to go back a step. Potatoes are a starch which provide energy but if you don’t use that energy it will be converted to fat. The same with all carbs. This is why many of us are told to avoid them during our weight loss phase. Plus the fat you add when you mash them isn’t the best. They weren’t on my post surgical diet from either my dietician or my surgeon. I still avoid potatoes at 19.5 months out as they tend to sit in my tummy & consume very few carbs (except for whole or multigrain crackers or rolled oats). My 2.5week pre surgery diet was keto but all the reading I did & conversations with my dietician suggested keto was good as a kick start but because of the high fat not good long term. Don’t worry too much about fluctuations. Fluid retention, constipation, etc. will up the number on the scales. Plus you know sometimes it’s just our bodies. We can eat & drink exactly the same thing one day to the next but can gain or lose. As long as the your general weight loss trend is going down you’re doing well. (Ignore when you have a stall of course.😁) Good luck on your journey.

Hell everyone 5yr out from Sleeve this month so frustrated gained 30lbs after Neck Surgery 2017 been on Keto lose 13lbs still struggling Ughh

had regain too- 45 lbs!! lost all of it on strict Keto, but just now starting some HIIT using a jump box and fitness ropes at home. Hard stuff but hoping to see some serious body changes in the coming weeks. This is a lifetime battle for us- I laugh in people's faces when they remark about surgery being the 'easy way out'....

Read the ingredients, I've found that some of those cauliflower crusts have rice flour, or other alternative flours which have equally as much if not more carbs. Check out Pinterest for keto pizza crusts which use some great alternatives and truly low carb pizza crusts

I'm 4 years post VSG and also looking at a RNY revision. I had significant GERD all my life. With my surgery I lost about 90 lbs, regained 40. have lost the majority of that using Keto but still, the GERD remains. Surgeon says RNY revision will cure the GERD. I want off of meds, which I've been on for 15 years. I understand the decision to consider a revision. There are many vets who have revisions for various reasons.

Hey there! I was wondering if I could get some feedback from individuals who have combined bariatric surgery with the ketogenic diet, and what your progress has been with it. Specifically wondering if you've seen it maximize your weight loss.

What does your nutritionist/surgeon want you to have? Your carbs are higher than most people's teams would suggest (so early on- I can eat around that much almost 3 yrs out to maintain my weight/indulge) so that may not work for you right now. But the bottom line is sometimes the professionals recommendations along with trial & error will work better than anecdotal info from a peer. If you were tracking during the time you were consuming 800 vs 1200 cals check the trends in your weightloss. Then talk to your team. Try lower or Keto level macros for carbs, after consulting with your team of course, and see if there is any difference after about 2 weeks. Good Luck ❤