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Hi! First as many others will state on this forum, don't compare your weigh lose to everyone ele's, it will only serve to frustrate you. Everyone loses at a different pace. I only had to do a day before fast, so I'm can't be of any help there, but gaining weigh right after surgery is normal because they pump you full of liquids after surgery to keep you hydrated-- I left the hospital 5 lbs. Heavier. Also they fill your abdomen full of gas during surgery. The surgery is working and you will lose weigh but unlike many of us who think that the pounds will drop off in huge amounts and admittedly I was under that impression as well, it does not for the majority of us. From what i've read here and on other forums most are losing in spurts for example you may lose five pounds (or one) overnight or over the course of a couple of days and then nothing for a week or two or three. However, I go shopping in my closet and have found that I've lost inches as opposed to pounds as clothing fits that did not before, or is now too big. Chin up, this is a process that will take time to work. Focus on getting in your liquids, Proteins and start exercising as soon as your able to even when or if you hit a stall, just keeping doing what your supposed to do and before you know it you will be at goal. Good luck!

I'm in the same boat. I knew my insurance required the 6 months. I tried to get them to count my recent months doing Weight Watchers but since I didn't see my PCP each month it will not count. That really bummed me out. So I have my first appointment with the bariatric dietician/nutritionist this coming Monday. I'm probably looking at September for soonest possible surgery. I am weaning off diet soda now - have gone from about 5-6 every day to only about 1-3 a week right now. Drinking lots of water (never did that before) and experimenting w different protein drinks. I hope these 6 months go fast!!!

Hi everyone, I've hesitated to post this because I certainly do not want to scare anyone. However, this is one side effect that no one ever warned me about...and maybe because you can't really predict when something like this could happen. I'm referring to PANCREATITIS! If you haven't heard of it...it's an inflammation of the pancreas that is, by far, the most painful thing I've ever experienced. The ER docs and nurses compared it to child labor. When I asked if it was similar to diverticulosis.....the nurse said "Sweetie, people with pancreatitis pray that it was only diverticulosis". Pancreatitis is something that can be reoccurring...or it could be something that happens once. I had it once for a little over two weeks....couldn't go anywhere or do anything beside try my hardest to fight the pain. From what I've been told...the Doc's think that the rapid weight loss lead to gall stones which upon traveling to my small intestines got lodged in my pancreatic duct. (the gall bladder and the pancreas to not get along apparently) Anyway, once inflamed, it can take anywhere from a week or months for the pancreas to recover. Again, this isn't something anyone can predict. I had an ultrasound on my gall bladder in June (my surgery was Aug 4th) and it was clear. However, if you lose weight fast your gall bladder can create stones and from there.....a litany of things can happen. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I'm not trying to scare anyone from having the surgery......even though it was brutal....in the end, I do not regret the surgery. But I was so blindsided by this that I thought I would share my experience. Hope you're all doing great with your pre & post surgery experiences!! Thanks for reading

I'm also an insomniac with sleep apnea, although that's so much better now, I still need a machine. Work on getting into a schedule if you can, for me I'm doing Intermittent Fasting between 6pm and 8am and it's worked out great, not only for sleep, but for the weight loss as well. It seemed harder than it was to get myself into a schedule, but once I did, it works out quite well. Not sure what state you are in, but there is some really positive results with cannabis for sleep issues, and if medical cannabis isn't legal in your state yet or if you are like me and have a federal job and can't use it because it's still not federally legal, there is Dronabinol / Marinol (and it's covered on most medical plans) it's not as effective since it's just THC and no CBD, but it does work wonders for the insomnia!

Very helpful thanks Matt! I've tried talking to my doctor about the medical cannabis but hes a little reluctant to try it right now since I'm still healing. I'll try the intermittent fasting tonight and see how it goes 🤞🏻 Sent from my SM-A520W using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello everyone. I was in the gym today and it felt so good and hurt so bad at the same time. My point tonite is to say to all of those who get down from time to time.. weather it be a stall or if you arent losing as fast as you can is to get moving and do your part. Like everyone hear is an individual and have had different experiences.. so will you. I say this because I dont always have the greatest support system. I dont always have that person who is going to make me feel better. Today I felt down and a little upset about my progress, but then I thought.. Get Up! Move! Go to the gym! So I did.. I finally was able to do 22 min on the elliptical machine which I have never done in my life. I then proceeded to do an hour on the treadmil. I say all of this because a couple of weeks ago I felt that it was over for me, maybe I wouldnt lose anymore.. I wont hit my goal. But then I had to make sure I was doing my part. For some its all about the food intake and it comes off, but for some of us we have to get moving. So if you dont have that support system and you have HATERS! in your life who dont support you, get up and get moving and make sure your doing your part for your success. I have lost almost 60 lbs and have a long way to go but i promise myself that I will not fail myself, because failing myself and not caring enough about my health is what got me here. I thank all of you from this site that write in often because you guys keep me going. I can see the end of my journey through you guys and I know ill be there soon. So next summer I plan on waving to all of my haters to didnt support me cause I got my LIFE BACK! Love you guys.

I have a bit of a vomiting phobia so I stayed on the anti-nausea meds a bit longer than I needed I suspect - to be safe! Everything is more bearable when you don’t feel like chucking!! The rest gets better pretty fast. Two weeks out, I was feeling pretty good, going for walks outside, trying flavours of protein soup (WAY better than the shakes!) You’ll get there...

Hey guys, 2 more days left on this diet and then I am getting sleeve yay for me! Anybody with me??? I am so ready for this new chapter in my life to begin! I am ready for the lifestyle change and I plan to prosper in my weight loss journery and I am so ready! Its time to shed this weight and and everything that comes with it!!!!

The pain for me was not that bad, but I have a hight tolerance for pain. I would suggest moving as much as possible after surgery. The more you lay around the more sore you will be, at least that is the way it is for me. As for being stuck, I have felt that a few times, but have never had to pb. It is very uncomfortable, but has passed in a few minutes. It usually happens because I eat to fast or did not chew well. Good luck on your journey.

So I'm now about 4 months out from my surgery and I've hit a plateau. I cannot seem to break 180 and I'm yo-yo-ing between 182 and 185. I really don't think there is enough fluid in my band because I can definitely eat way too much. I've only had a few moment where I really have felt the restriction. Maybe I'm eating too slow? I don't know. Anyway I've started a new training schedule to prepare for running a 5k run in June. It's a benefit for WEAVE and I think it will be really great to give something back to my community. It's been a little depressing lately with all the changes going on in my life. I spent most of yesterday in tears and I can't really figure out why. My job is really getting to me and in the midst of trying to be grateful that I even have a job I can't help but feel resentful that the job I have is one I hate so much. I just didn't realize that having this surgery was going to be this hard. All I think about is how far away from my goal I am. I was starting to feel better about myself after having lost over 50 pounds but this plateau has made it really difficult for me. I still have a long way to go. I'm really hoping that training for this 5k is going to help me reach my goal. I have a hard time focusing on the here and now and that keeps me stuck in the same place. I have a follow up appointment soon I think and I'll ask for more fluid in my band. I'm hoping that is going to help me more. I was running today and thinking about Lent because it is starting on February 17th. I am trying to think of what to give up for the season. Possibly sugar? My 31st birthday is on the 24th and I wonder if God would be offended if I broke my sugar fast for it. That's the problem with having a birthday that is right in the middle of Lent. Turning 31 is going to be worse than turning 30 I think. I really thought that this last year would be really great and that I'd meet someone but it actually turned out to be not a very good year. I hope that this next year is going to be better. I would like to be at my goal weight by the time I turn 32. That's a little over a year to lose about 80 pounds. In my New Year's resolutions I resolved to be a more positive person this year and to do all the things I've been saying that I was going to do but haven't done yet. So by the end of the year I hope to have enough saved to go to Paris. It's the one thing that I've never done that I wish and wish that I had. I don't want to wake up one day and be 50 and realize that my life has passed me by. Anyway. Having the surgery was a really good thing for me because I'm learning how to appreciate food and enjoy exercising. I just didn't think it was going to be this hard.

I agree - its all about fantasy. I think men like a woman who can be bad for them and them alone but be a lady in public. And the kind of guy that really wants to be seen with someone who looksand behaves like a playboy bunny or a prostitute would appear to me to be insecure - kinda like a fast red car compensates for a small appendage, the kind of trophy woman that's all plastic and make up and overtly sexual behaviour compensates for a man who needs to create the masculinity he secretly feels he lacks. Probably a gross generalisation but certainly based on observation!

I am 5 months post op, and have lost 45lbs to date. I have had 3 fills so far, and have had fluid taken out of my band due to a complete blockage in April. I decided to leave it out due to the fact that I was going to be away from home for a few weeks and didnt want it to happen again. I had never had a problem before this happened, I had never even thrown up or anything. I believe that I ate too fast that night, and nothing that I did resolved the situation. I went back on the 19th of May to have the fluid put back in, did my days of liquids and mushies. The first day I was able to go back to solid foods it happened again. I got home from my sons' baseball game and it was late, I had made pulled pork in the slow cooker, it was cooking all day long and I shredded it, it was moist, but it completely clogged my band. I could not eat or drink anything again. I went like that for 12 hours before I could get into see the dr again in the morning. She took the fluid out of my band, and put it back in. This time when she did it though, she hit the port and it made a very painful popping sensation. Since then I have been itching at the site and it is red and a bit swollen. I know I am supposed to eat slowly and I do for the most part. I feel like I am constantly hungry though, all the time. I try to eat protein, I will eat a scrambled egg in the morning and be hungry 15 minutes later, to the point where I feel like I could pass out. I just dont know when I will feel satisfied with this band, and not be focused on eating 24/7. it is all I seem to think about,.... is this something I can eat? will I be able to digest it? Will I be hungry again in a few minutes? I feel like I eat more now than I did before I had the surgery. Sorry for the vent, I just feel a little discouraged right now. I havent lost much weight in the last 2 months and feel like I have hit a plateau. Anyone else out there have problems with being blocked??? No one ever told me about sliming!! LOL

Hi all I have not posted in quiet some time... busy... you know... but I am at 9 months and I thought I'd give an update. for all the challenges that this type of surgery can present (in my case pretty minor, a little extra skin, frustration over slow weight loss etc.) I would absolutly, hands down do it again. I was so scared at first. I remember I started crying in the elevator on the way up to surgery... just overwhelmed with the idea of permanantly altering my body. The people on this forum did soooo much to help me stay sane before and after. My biggest challenge has been that I am a slow looser. I "only" had 57 lbs to loose, so I expected to be at goal pretty fast. I think there were two months when I lost more than 10 lbs, but other than that its been pretty slow (relatively speaking, I could have never achieved this without surgery). A couple of months ago I was diagnosed with hypothyridism and have since started on meds. Although I feel better, I still only lost 2 lbs this month. I have 8 to go. It may take me 4 months to get there... but I guess I'll get there. Before surgery I was a binger. I would go on a super restrictive diet until I couldn't stand it... then binge on everything I could get my hands on. Yesterday, after doing my monthly weight in and discovering I had only lost 2lbs I slipped back into "bing" mode and had about 5 chips with queso and two Peanut Butter Cookies. The cookies make me kind of sick (I think I have a little dumping syndrome, which is probably for the best). That was all I was able to eat for the rest of the day. Granted... not the best way to deal with frustration (I'm really working on finding better coping skills and thats the first "binge" since surgery) but, if I'm going to binge 500 calories is a lot better than 5000 (not and exageration). If your considering surgery... don't let this put you off....most of you will loose much faster and if you do happen to be a slow looser, its a little frustrating, but eventually the weight comes off (I was considered low bmi pre-surgery, I think most people with higher bmi's loose at a much quicker pace). Although I am so happy about loosing the weight... I am most pleased with the psychological changes that have taken place. I have a sense of being satisfied most of the time now. Its not that I feel restricted to "only" eating small amounts of food, its that small amounts of food are emensly satisfying, much more so than huge amounts of food used to be. It's allowed me to let go of that constant focus on what I will eat next... what diet I will go on next etc. I feel like I can just live now. Bottom line.... I would do it again in an instant!!!!! I hope you are all doing well on your journey thanks for reading stacey

Hello ladies , Congrats on your weight loss ... I’m having gastric sleeve April 5.. I am also a low bmi of 35 .. what can I expect as far as how fast weight coming off ?? Does it fall off slowly or pretty quick ?? Also did u have a lot of extra skin ?? Kinda nervous about that .. Appreciate any feedback

sounds like you are doing okay.......sometimes the scale doesnt move as fast as you want it too but that does not mean your surgery and your excellent eating habits are in vain...look at the big picture....with you exercising and eating better, are you feeling better? are your clothes looser? i mean those are wonderful signs that the band is working... stop comparing to your brother. that is him and you are you. you will not lose like me or your brother or elvis. you will lose as yourself..so leave the comparison shopping for the grocery stores. eat good foods in your allotted amounts eat lean Proteins, veggies and fruit and drink alot and exercise and your health and life will be the better for it. as for what cals you need or dont need, ask a nutritionist as they can advise you better than anyone on this forum. but what i do know is that if you take in more calories than you burn off, you will gain or *not lose* wishing you all the best MD as always and those are my thoughts/opinions

I was sleeved on 2/18 and know for sure it is more than just head hunger b/c I have been on liquids for a week now. And I still can't eat anything more than thin soup or SF pudding. Tonight I had some potato soup and filled up quickly so that was great. I can't wait to start heartier foods in small quantities. Liquids just don't stick around long enough and clear broth gets old so fast. Good luck and keep me posted on your progress.

Keri, This thread got a little OFF TOPIC! You were banded a couple of weeks after me. I got stuck for over a month before the scales finally started moving again THIS WEEK! Go over to www.livestrong.com/dailyplate and log every bite you take. Also log your water intake. You'll be amazed at what you see. Make sure you're eating the right amount...not too much, but also not too little. And, vary your calorie intake up and down every few days...keeps your metabolism confused. You say you don't get to work out much. You'll have to find a way to incorporate physical activity into your day even if it's not a structured workout. Do the best you can, then don't worry about the rest. The weight will eventually come off, just not as fast as you'd like. You can do this!

Good luck !! Will say a prayer for you.. Wish you a fast recovery

I was 13 weeks post op yesterday and doing just fine. But this morning, that is another story. I decided to have a scrambled egg with cheese and some ham. I have had this before with no problems. I usually have my 32oz of decaf tea with a scoop of unflavored Protein in it but this morning for some reason I wanted food. Well I made it and sat down to eat it and when I had about three bites left I ended up throwing up half of it, sorry if this is TMI. I have not thrown up at all since surgery and I did not like this. I am thinking that it is because I ate to fast rather than the food not agreeing with me? I know better than to eat fast but I guess I wasn't paying attention like I should have been. Now Sherman (my new tummy) feels awful and I am hoping this feeling passes soon. I had to cancel my gym date with my friend for this morning and I hate doing that. When you guys have experienced this do you just wait for it to pass?? Should I drink something or should I wait a it longer?? Right now I am just reading posts on here snuggling with my doggie. I hope everyone's day is going better than mine!

I was banded on July 7th. So far counting the pre -opt liquid diet I have lost 15lbs. On July 22nd My doctor said it was too much to fast, he wanted me to eat small amounts more often. As of this morning, I have not lost anymore since July 22<SUP>nd</SUP>. I also have been eating correctly but I am slacking on the walking. I have only been walking 15 minutes to 20 minutes 3 days a week. My next doctors visit is Aug 19th. I could use some suggestions also.

Hi folks I was banded on 11/18. My progress has been steady (slow, but steady) and my goal is 1-2 pounds a week. At that rate I can reach my goal by the end of 2011. I've only had 1 fill and don't anticipate getting another until the first week of Feb. I have found that a large part of feeling "full" is truly eyeing your portions and knowing when to stop eating, even if you don't feel full. Then, I wait for about 5-7 minutes and I begin to feel full, even though I don't "think" I will be full based on what I ate. After 10-15 minutes, I'm definitely full. That's all a part of learning to eat slowly, which I am still working on. I rarely feel "restriction" and I've never had to throw up. Mostly because I am so afraid of that happening that I stop eating before I reach the point of being stuffed. The only times I've felt weird and uncomfortable was when I ate too much raw broccoli too fast. That hurt like hades. Folks - we all know this is hard work. It was hard work to walk in the door and say that we were ready for the surgery. It was hard work to have the surgery and survive the recovery. And the hard work will not end there. It continues, and is especially hard in the first several months after surgery - thats when we are "learning" to live with the band. We have to STOP eating the way we did before. We have to eat differently, otherwise the band will not work. We have to exercise! Exercise is not an option when you're trying to lose weight and be healthy. It is a requirement. I do not like it, I never have. But 3x a week I get up at 6 in the morning and I just do it. Because I don't want all the hard work I've put in so far to go to waste. I can't afford it, mentally, emotionally or financially (I don't know about you, but this band has cost me a little change and I had insurance!). YOU CAN DO IT!! Focus on yourself! Imagine all the great clothes you will wear when you get the weight off!

I was sleeved last Monday 2/1/10 and went for my one week post op yesterday and had lost 22lbs.:biggrin0: Im a little concerned because I dont want to lose too fast and I am only on full liquids this week. DOes the weight loss slow down? and when?:001_unsure: Also today I am extremely nausous and wnat to know if anyone has any suggestions for improving that?? THanks, Lou:001_smile:

I like the Oh Yeah shakes. I got them in the hospital and liked them so I ordered them on amazon. Get a couple different flavors. One flavor gets boring real fast.

The weekend is very difficult for me. My husband is home. We have places to go, which causes us to be out much of the day on Saturday and Sunday. This in turn causes us to miss meals or go out to eat. And this is where I have difficulty. Going out isn't the problem. The problem is that I want to eat. And I want to eat the wrong foods for me. Usually we eat Mexican, which contains a lot of carbohydrates. Usually I don't order my own meal because I can never actually eat a whole meal for myself. I order, and my husband eats my meal and I have a few bites. But then there's the tortillas, drinks, and dessert. I need to learn to control myself when I'm out. I almost always end up sick in the bathroom before I learn the day's. Another problem is that the lesson I learn I have to learn over and over again. I guess I haven't actually learned the lesson yet. Only eat foods I can digest: meat. And eat slowly. Usually when we eat, I'm so hungry that I just want to inhale rather take small bites and chew my food well. I still have a lot to learn. I believe this was theproblem today, because I tried to eat foods that I can tolerate. I just tried to eat too fast. When will I learn these lessons so that they don't have to continue to present themselves? Something to think and pray about. Until tomorrow. meals: breakfast two bites of donut, Venti Java Chip decaf Frapaccino lunch: chicharron, 4 oz. Dr. Pepper, dinner: cup cappaccino, two bites arrachera, pinto beans, small eggplant snack: slice cheese cake, Polish cookie (from neighbor), two cups cappaccino

I recently bought the EatSmart Nutrition scale. It is pricey ($75.00) but what a great tool. I will use wine as an example. Once or twice a week I treat myself to a glass of wine if I have room in my daily calorie count. I always measured out either 4 of 8 ounces. With my new scale, I enter the code for wine, place my glass on the scale, press "tare" so it doesn't weigh the glass, then I start pouring wine into the glass and as I pour, it tells me how many calories are in the glass, and I stop pouring when it reaches the number of calories I've allowed myself to have. I definitely noticed the calorie count was higher than I thought. I love the scale because it's taken the guesswork out of everything. I toss a chicken breast on there and it tells me how many calories in that chicken breast. And on and on. I started using the BodyBugg (calculates how many calories a day you put out, versus how many you take in) at the same time I got my new scale. And guess what? The weight has been falling off of me, so much so that now I'm having to work to make sure I don't lose too fast. So anyway I do think Ms. Peele is on to something.