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Oh my gosh! I'm not kidding. I've read it a 100x the pain you will be in if you eat too fast or too much. I'm extremely positive and have been so blessed with zero complications. So understand me when I say DO NOT EAT TOO FAST and STOP EATING NO MATTER WHAT if you are full. I In my case, I'm in Phase 3 which for me is soft foods. I can barely get through my two ounces of protein. And forget about the 1/4 cup of veggies. I'm thrilled. I'm NOT complaining because this is good and what I want (duh). I'm just warning [emoji3544] you if you're even thinking about pushing yourself to eat what you're supposed to eat a certain amount, but can't just STOP. Just keep your logs and tell your doctor or nutritionist if it's too a major pattern. Just now, I didn't even push myself. Out of habit from my previous ways of eating I lost my ever loving mind for 2 seconds and just stuffed in a full bite. Wow! Our brains are so tricky. In recovery, I once heard someone say our brains have good forgetters. Lol. They sure do. In a split second decision you can bring a world of hurt to your life in many ways. Lots of love [emoji180] [emoji177] you guys!

Only you can determine if youve made the right choice and if you end up with complications you may regret. I will say that you will be pleasantly surprised with how fast the weight seems to go off initially 😉

YES! That’s exactly it. (So funny I thought I was weird, nice to know I’m not the only one) The new kind is effortless AND tasteless. I find I have the new kind when I eat too much, or too fast, or if I drink too soon after eating. The painful/old kind is when I have too much sugar or dairy.

I am having surgery Oct 7 and have a 14 day diet...I have tried many protein drinks (chocolate lover) but only like slim fast....is this okay for prep....help...any ideas on what to do and eat..

Hey everyone! It's a new week! New thread! Honestly, I am having trouble with things to be thankful for as I've been dealing with a lot of muscle and joint pain the past few days in both of my arms. My right arm feels like it's an RSI that I've dealt with intermittently in the past, though it hurts worse this time around. Not sure what is going on with my left shoulder. It has made sleep very difficult the past few nights. Coupled with a lower weight loss this week and reemergence of constipation and I've got a bit of the blahs going on. That said, I am thankful for the amazing fresh fish market that's 30 minutes from my house for giving me delicious options for protein. I'm thankful for Halo Top/Nick's light ice creams for giving me a way to occasionally indulge in some ice cream without completely tanking my calorie count. I'm thankful for the Favorite Grocery Items and Food Before & After threads for all of the countless ideas for meals to make down the road. And I'm thankful that my doctor didn't have an issue when I told him I wanted to talk about bariatric vitamin options soon so that I can stop drinking these awful Celebrate 4-in-1 shakes.

I tried many different variations. Intermittent fasting with 2 meals a day (i was starving) , 3 meals a day (gaining weight) and then i came across this article (in Bulgarian) i liked it so much i asked the writer to let me translate his content for everyone to see. “What should we eat to lose weight?” by Strahil Ivanov

Im assuming this was a typo you mean 1.25 YEARS after surgery...? My own experience (may and will differ from others): I had my plastics surgeries (Tummy tuck/Breast Lift/Arm Lift) 14 months after my sleeve surgery. I would’ve done it earlier, closer to my one year mark, but my preferred surgeon was booked up (I had hit goal at 7 mnths post op). My surgeon did not have a time requirement to being at a stable weight prior to surgery. He did say though that LOSING “alot” of weight would affect the results more than GAINING “alot” weight. He explained that that scar tissue does not stretch as well as regular skin, and is even worse at shrinking. He said I should be prepared for this especially since I tend to scar badly historically (keloid and hypertrophic scarring). His example of “alot” was either losing 10-15 lbs OR gaining 20-30...but these numbers were for MY frame (I was 5’2” and 127 lbs at the time of consult), others with different body types would have different numbers. Anyhoo, fast forward to my surgery and I was 12 lbs less than the date of my consult 6 months earlier...so I guess it was good he was booked up (although I did lose those 12 lbs BEFORE my earlier date I originally wanted, but I digress...) I’ll be 2 years post-sleeve next month, and am 9 months post-plastics today. I am basically still the same weight as plastics surgery day: 115lbs (give or a take a couple lbs, depending on the day). Had been this weight for months before plastics, actually. I am thoroughly happy with my decision. There were people who told me I was rushing it, that to just exercise more and I can firm it up naturally (sounds familiar to my obese days when I was contemplating WLS, lol). But I knew what I wanted and was prepared to take the responsibility to maintain what I worked for...and should I eff it up, am prepared to take the responsibility for that too. Everyone is different, and only YOU know if you are ready to take the plunge or not. But I will say that plastics was a total game changer (at least for me). Would do it all again, in the exact same way in a heartbeat. Good Luck! ❤️ P.S. This may or not be helpful: Even if you do gain or lose weight after plastics (whether you wait 2 months or 2 years), to the point that your results become undesirable, who’s to say you can’t get a revision to correct? Obviously, it would be ideal that one wouldn’t have to, but who says life is always ideal? Do what makes you happy and is in your means and ability to acheive. P.P.S. Sorry this was so long!!

Hi Kaki68 - You are definitely a STAR at any weight or stage! Please excuse my delay in reply here. I have a project deadline by the end of the month, but will definitely follow-up with the mindset + strategies that helped me make it to the penthouse as Dr. V refers. Meanwhile, the books I've posted here are a worthy read and a wealth of information on food science that may just apply to your current situation... Keeping in mind, each body is unique to one's self and one size plan does not fit all. Productive efforts, positive changes and advances internally do not always show up on the scale or inches, at first glance. Your body will sense your frustration and shut down. Give to yourself grace body, soul and mind. Looking into possible hormone issues is great step towards self care and self love. And, remember when our parents use to say, Rome was not built in a day! Hugs. @Kaki68 I’m not very good at this but hormones play a very big role. I’ve fought my weight far too long. Changes in body chemistry can send things spiraling. I found out the hard way. Diagnosed with lifelong chronic illness and disability along with multiple medical conditions. I was diagnosed late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia, pcos in my 20s that was the only explanation they could give as to why my weight skyrocketed from nowhere. I was so distraught it went over 215lbs at the time. I fought hard with strict low carb and low calorie and i slowly lost weight got to 124lbs. Didn’t stay but a few weeks and settled at 134lbs. Fast forward through surgeries including hysterectomy and some stressful stuff and moving to a new state and it was climbing. I tried to “batten down the hatches” because I was on beta blockers and needed to reduce calories and carbs. Got it to that higher baseline. But then out of nowhere it skyrocketed again despite 800 calories and eating healthy foods. I looked for help, my gallbladder was tanking (turned out to be chronic inflammation) I fought for gastric bypass surgery. long story short it wasn’t until I had gastric bypass surgery and gallbladder surgery that I was able to reduce calories and Actually lose weight, still low carb not exactly counting but counting protein (I calculate my protein based on my weight 0.36 grams protein per 1lb body weight) and calories and logging my daily food and weight. I reached a goal I never thought I could. i think the surgery does help with hitting the calorie goals and also altering the hormonal balance to your favor. ended up needing my ovary taken out in pelvic surgery I had before my gastric bypass and then the other one had to come out in a second surgery after my gastric bypass ... so now I’m in menopause. It still scares me that I could gain again despite all my efforts. but I do my best to keep up the work. Because it’s a lifetime change ...

@scoutmom... hi we are very similar. I had the sleeve in 2015. I had also gained back 40lbs because I had such bad GERD which turned to Barrett’s Esophagus and all I wanted to eat was comforting carbs. So I just had revision surgery 8 weeks ago to the bypass. I have lost 29lbs so far. The eating seems easier than after the sleeve, I’m progressing really well, even eating chicken. I don’t have that hard stop that I had with the sleeve so I weigh and measure everything. I did get thrush after surgery which was something I was told was common after that surgery, so be aware of that. I can drink very well, unless I gulp too fast or too much. You’re going to do great and I’m sure you may be nervous but all will go well. I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery and a quick recovery. Good luck!!

you may need a new scale or to balance the scale with a 5lb flour bag. but i do want to add it seems really crazy the scale is moving so fast i dont believe it either as it is happening and this is due to trying to lose weight on my own losing 3 gaining 5 prior to surgery

I am having a similar problem as yourself. Eleven days out, nothing is appealing to me, and I am struggling to eat. I did the two teaspoons of hummus dinner too the other day and thought, I can't live like this! I am on purees and honestly, I don't know how babies do it! Food has no evil intent. It's just food. It is what our relationship to it and how our bodies react to it that matters. So I think there is no "good" or "bad" foods. I think it is important to keep in mind that the rules of eating in the initial stages are averages from studying hundreds of patients. None of it is usually tailored to your specific physiology, so you have to try things and see how you react. The only hard and fast rule is GO SLOW. You want to try your husband's lasagna, try a tiny amount and wait to see how it sits with you. If you can tolerate it, cool! If not, well, it isn't on the menu just yet for you and it may never be. There is an inherent level of risk in going through this process, so you have to make the decision what level of risk you are comfortable with when reintroducing food. Some things you try will make you ill, so mentally prepare for that but don't beat yourself up over it. We are all relearning.

+1 on the comments above about getting loose skin. You won't really know how you will fare until after you lose the weight. Some are lucky in this regard, others are not (I got mine surgically removed last year) I started walking on Day 1 (started by doing laps around the kitchen island, lol..worked my way up to walking around the block once, and then multiple times, etc., etc.) Was cleared for ALL exercise at 4 weeks, but didn't really get into a regular routine until month 3. By month 3 I was walking 3km a day and doing some sort of other exercise 2-3 times a week (hot yoga, zumba, salsa, bouldering) Fast forward almost 2 years and my regular routine is running a minimum of 5km a day and 20 mins of some sort of strength training almost every day (I haven't gone to the gym or any classes since pandemic started, not sure when I'm going to be comfortable going back..but this works for me for now). My only tip would be to find something that you like (or at least don't hate, lol), you have a better chance of sticking with it Good Luck!

Or they only dump on really high amounts of sugar that is ingested really fast. I only get late dumping when too much sugar is combined with alcohol.

Month 1: 30lbs Month 2: 17lbs Month 3: 15lbs so far (5 days left in the third month) I’m a 6”6’ guy, and I was 393lbs the morning of the surgery. I lost about 90lbs pre-op, though not sure if that’s relevant to how fast/slow I’m losing post-op.

Search here but my trick was to mix up the Calories - One Day 900 next day 400 and throw in some Intermittent fasting

8 months out, and down 101 pounds. I started out super fast- lost 21 before I even had surgery. Was losing 5-8lbs a week for 3 months, then about 1-5lbs for 3 months, but now, I've settled out at 0.5-2lbs a week. I'm still losing and doing well for myself. It's a lot of hard work, but it's so worth it.

I have also been trying to walk more and have struggled with foot and knee pain when I push too hard. I started with Saucony stability shoes, but they weren't all stable and didn't last long, as I too wear the outsides of my shoes. Then I moved to Brooks Ravenna and Adrenaline GTS shoes and they seemed to work fine for a while, but the wore out to fast and have been causing a lot of pain lately. So I broke down and went to "Fleet Feet", which is a fancy runner's chain store and they measured my feet. Turns out, I've been wearing normal D width shoes and I needed EE Wide shoes. I bought a pair of Hoka One One Arahi and I really like them. For the first time in a long while, I can walk for an hour without pain. I'm hoping as the weight comes off, I'll be able to transition to jogging eventually. They were a little more expensive than I wanted, but I think it was worth it. Maybe I can find a deal online when I need to replace them in 6 months. This is what I got: https://www.hokaoneone.com/mens-road/arahi-4/1106473.html?dwvar_1106473_width=reg&dwvar_1106473_color=LLRC

yes - normal. You were pumped full of IV fluids in the hospital and likely left heavier than when you arrived. Some people "gain" up to 10 lbs while in the hospital. It takes a few days to work its way out of your system this is why I don't like it when people compare their weight loss with others, and why I hesitated to respond to the OP's question - although I put it out there regardless because I was a "slow loser" from the get-go, so I figured it might be OK for people to see that I was below average in the rate-of-weight-loss dept, yet I lost all of my excess weight ANYWAY. Your level of commitment to your program has FAR more influence on your ultimate success than your rate of weight loss ever will. Regardless, this may or may not be your problem. You may be more of an "average" loser or even a fast one. It's too early to tell. But right now, it's the IV fluid weight that you've dealt with. Should be out of your system right around now, though, so you should be on your way...

I’ve been trying to figure out why I just have the worst gas lol- it is stinky and I’m going to kill my husband with it one day I think!!! I’m lucky I work from home. I’m the same as cat lady I take a cap of miralax a day in my coffee but I did that even before surgery so it keeps me regular. I still also get dizzy when I stand up to fast - annnd when I work out and do too much with my abdominal it feels like they are splitting around my upper stitch ... so weird. Anyhoo those are nothing too horrible but it’s what I deal with!

I’ve had the bottom 2 and yes they are good, they get stale fast so store them well! The crunchy ones look so good, did you find them in a regular grocery store @GreenTealael ?

I DID IT ! I hit MY weight goal. NOT my surgeon's goal 10 years ago when I started this advent....that was to weigh145 pounds. Then he agreed that having started at 320, (and then 5'3" ) that a more logical goal would be in the area of 160 to 170. The lowest I ever got was 175. And I did not maintain that for even a moment. The the next 8 years of losing my only sibling to the Flu at the age of 49 (please get your flu shot) and then my surviving parent a few years later... personal illness and drama.... and creeping weight gain.... 14 months ago at 220 pounds and 63 years old I got my act back together. I went back to eating protein - first and foremost - protein, healthy vegetables and fruit, and a smattering of healthy whole grain carbs and healthy fats. I ate mindfully - and intentionally to fuel my mind and body. I ate a treat daily I slowly changed HOW I eat, what I eat, and when I eat it. I did not announce it, I did not talk about it. I just did it. I lost 45 pounds in the past 14 months. Not fast weight loss, but steady And I may decide to lose a bit more. Or not. Thank you for being my sounding board. Thank you for being here for support. Today I am thankful for my sleeve, for saggy baggy hanging skin and not caring. And for being healthy !

The bad: Like others mentioned, gas and constipation. 🙄 Also, feeling sick and having pain after eating. This can happen with food intolerances and also if I eat too fast or too much. But... I have so much more energy, which is so far my favorite thing about having this surgery. Just having energy to do things again has changed my life dramatically for the better. 😬😬

I've been going back and forth for years thinking i could get the weight off on my own. Been afraid to go under the knife but i guess this must be the right time. i started the WLS program with Memorial weight loss center in Springfield IL and it was sooo fast i was in shock. I always thought it would take months not the case. I have BCBS IL. They had 0 for me to do for approval. I had to do what Memorials program wanted and i was done in 2 months. I chose November so i can make sure i have someone to help me during my recovery. I'm happy for a new life but also Scared. I hope everyone that has had this done or getting it done all the best and speedy recovery. If any advice can be given for success and recovery i would appreciate it. ANYONE ELSE IN SPRINGFIELD IL HAVING THIS DONE (DR ORLANDO ICAZA)

Itsmehab, I think many of us weren't sure in the beginning. I'm almost 3 weeks post op and have been doing soft/pureed foods now for just over a week. After reading so many experiences on here, I started SLOW - Like REALLY slow with soft foods. The first thing I had was a scrambled egg - I ate it with a baby spoon (and yup... felt really strange) and took tiny, slow bits at a time. As I was cooking it, I thought - Geez, there's no way this will fill me up. BUT... I was amazed!! I took about 15-20 minutes to eat it and felt full after about 3/4 of it and stopped. So... My "moral" is to take it slow - I KNOW when I've had enough. From eggs, I went to soup (like chicken noodle since I was craving salt) in the blender and sipped on it slowly. Introduce one thing at a time to see if your pouch "likes" it. I've been trying new things every other day or so and knock on wood haven't had a problem. If it's something new, I'll only take a couple of bites and wait an hour or so to make sure all is well. Once you're comfortable with the food settling, make sure you only put as much as you should be eating in the bowl/plate. It's super easy to eat too fast and make yourself miserable (might have learned that the hard way with a cup of soup!) As far as being ready, I also felt like I was ready earlier, but decided to follow my surgeons program to have the best chances of no complications. I read about folks who have problems and they don't sound so pleasant so I just figured it's not worth taking the chance to advance too quickly. A

Before surgery I had a tendency towards low pressure, would have energy drops & took longer to get over viruses, infections, etc. After surgery the energy drops did get worse but now it’s much like it used to be. My blood pressure is always low now. So not a lot of change bug picture. We did discover I have Gilbert’s Syndrome which explains a lot about my energy drops & long recovery times. I tend to eat every 2-3hrs, but can go longer, & that helps with the energy drops. (Also, because I’m still in that golden time of a fast metabolism, if I skip a meal or snack a day or two in a row, I can drop weight quickly which I try to avoid.) The hair loss, while challenging to accept at the time it happens, is sort of nothing now. I’d suffered hair loss after a particularly stressful time at work a few years back & it grew back then so I knew it would again this time. I think I’m pretty fortunate about the amount of loose tummy skin I have. I tend to wear waisted skirts & pants & don’t have any concerns with skin pooching. Might be different in hipsters though. I also have a very fitted fine knit dress I wear with ordinary full briefs & tights without any noticeable issue but that is me. My friend swears by spanx & clothing of denser spandex fabric to control her sagginess.