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Friday afternoon I got the phone call that my surgery was approved by insurance and was given a March 1st surgery date. The wait is longer than I expected but it makes sense since my surgeon needs more time to complete the bypass (revising from sleeve due to GERD) and a hiatal hernia repair. Financially it works out better for me too. It gives me time to pay some extra on bills since I'll be out for 2+ weeks. Between now and surgery day Inhave lots of appointments for labs, dietitian, pre-op physical with my PCP, and a huge appointment with my bariatric nurse and then a 1 hour appointment with my surgeon and another endoscopy. I get to do my surgeon's 10 day pre-op diet again. This is bringing back a lot of memories from when I had the sleeve 7 years ago. The post op diet has changed during that time. Food texture progression is much slower this time. I think that will be good though. Sent from my Z6201V using BariatricPal mobile app

One thing I learned was that my surgeon's "nutritionist" was someone who'd gotten a minor cert and was literally reading from a booklet. Find an actual nutritionist or better yet a registered dietitian who has long experience with bariatric patients. In case you didn't hear it: 800 calories is WAY. TOO. LITTLE. I eat twice that at three months out and am losing 2 lbs. a week or so. Bump up your calories to 1000 or even 1200 for a week or two and see what happens.

I have some some chewable bariatric vitamins as well but I don’t feel like I’m taking in enough nutrients to take vitamins and I’m afraid they will make me nauseous😔. I have these sneeze attacks often and because I’m still sore, it drives me nuts! 🤦🏾‍♀️🤣 My saying is, the choice was easy but the process is hard. We are food addicts that are experiencing some real life changes within our bodies and all we can do is embrace it and prepare for greatness. ☺️

Do you see a psychiatrist for your antidepressant medication? Finding the right medication is a trial and error process. Since you are still depressed (sad), the one you are on may not be the best one for you, especially if it is interfering with your desired weight loss. Psychiatrists know far more about psychotropic medication than general practitioners. Here is the food plan that I have been on pre-surgery. I'm just three days away from my scheduled revision surgery. When I can eat regular food again I intend to go back on it. It's been very successful for me. Part of the success has been my recognition of trigger foods. I have cut out all sugar, flour, rice, potatoes, and processed foods and have lost 67 lbs to date. If I indulge in these things, I have to go through withdrawal all over again. Then, if I avoid my trigger foods, I do not have cravings. A Pound of Cure by Matthew Weiner, MD, a bariatric surgeon. He's written two other books, has a website and YouTube videos.

Might need to change when i take that iron pill, or stop it🤔 oh awesome! Well it depends which diet your on now, my surgeon has allowed me to go to soft foods but most of what im eating has been puree still, wanting to take it slow. Pureed shepherds pie, mango, yoghurt, baked fish is quite soft and agreed with me. Theres a book by Sally Johnston that has heaps of bariatric surgery meals in it, its been great so far! But taking it slow and trying out different foods to see what agrees with you is what ive been told to do

My bariatric program also doesn't mention any numbers for calories. Numbers for for fluids and protein. So I am guessing they aren't too concerned about calories either. But I'll definitely bring it up during my dietician's appointment so I know what I'll be dealing with.

Now that you are logging your intake, can you post a sample of what you eat in a day? Between all of the folks here, there are decades of experience with post-bariatric weight loss. Maybe someone will be able to spot something that could be derailing your progress.

You'll be in the same boat as 60-90% of bariatric patients. Some realize this and deal with it, others beat themselves over the head and come back again and again. I recommend group therapy. Eating disorders (which what it actually is; but I understand addiction is a valid framing in America) are highly social disorders, and group therapy is a great social setting to solve it in. Best of luck.

I’m so sorry you’re surgery has been canceled once again. In Massachusetts where I live our governors administration is now asking hospitals to reduce procedures for non-life-threatening conditions by 50%. This is including bariatric surgeries, hip replacements. Many of the larger hospitals in Worcester, Boston, Springfield are full ICU patients, staff shortages and overload of patients in the ER departments. Plus the uptick of COVID.

Thanks. I haven't heard from my doctor at all. One thing I do want to mention as an FYI, or in case anyone is interested is that my psych asked me a question. She asked if I'd be happy staying the same weight that I am, or losing 10-20 pounds since my eating patterns have shifted a little. But generally, can I be happy at this weight. Because I think we both know that, barring some miracle, I'm likely to not lose the amount of weight I would if I had the procedure. I'd have to research the meds that were mentioned earlier (that's not really a road I've traveled as of yet). So I'm still thinking about that. Honestly, NO. I'm a big girl. I don't mind being big, to some extent, but I'm uncomfortable in my skin with how I am now. Eight years ago I was able to lose a nice chunk of weight, but I can't say that's possible right now for me. Age, stress, hormones - you name it, are really working against me. But, being also not sure about the surgery, I'm in a limbo of sorts, which is almost more depressing and frustrating. It was advised that I touch base back with the bariatric program in a month or so, or after the holidays to kind of gauge where things are. But honestly I don't even know what they would want me to do at this point (start over in the program, etc.) and it sound exhausting to me to do that.

I'm not going to pee on your leg and tell you it's raining. You have to change your approach to food. It's vital. If you don't change your "old eating style", you will not succeed. It doesn't mean eliminate things, it means WAY smaller portions, sometimes to the point where it's not worth buying, say, separate steaks for you and your partner. At three months post-surgery, I literally could not finish a 28 ounce lobster tail before it went bad. If I'm REALLY lucky and my stomach is 100 percent empty, I can get 4-5 ounces of protein down before my restriction kicks in, and then it's hours before I want to eat again. Yesterday I made a pound of ground turkey breast into burgers, intending to eat half in one meal and half in another. I made it through four ounces of the stuff and was vaguely nauseated all day. You will have to eat your protein first, then your vegetables, then your starches. No exceptions. So if you get surf-n-turf, you might get two ounces of lobster and an ounce or so of wagyu down (I have trouble eating much steak, which is a shame given that steak is what I do), and you MIGHT have room for a few bites of vegetables, and MAYBE a bite or two of baked potato. And I mean little bites. If I get 2 oz. of rice or potato down, it's a lot. And I eat much more than your typical bariatric post-op patient because of how active I am. You also are going to have to give up, at least temporarily, drinking anything with dinner except maybe a sip or two of water to help drier proteins go down. That means no wine with dinner. Once you're used to how to eat, and once you're cleared for alcohol, a sip or two isn't going to kill you, but you simply won't have room for both wine and food even if you drink the wine first. I nursed a glass of Barolo for almost three hours in Vegas. tl;dr you can eat kind of whatever, but because you have so little room, you must prioritize your eating so you don't get sick, weak, or anæmic.

Some people are just slow losers. But everybody and every body is bound by the CICO (calories in calories out) equation. If you are eating in a caloric deficit, which literally every post-op bariatric patient (regardless of surgery) is, you are going to lose weight. It just may not be leaps and bounds. And for those who lost a ton of weight quickly, a lot of that is water weight and many of us stalled after our body recalculated its hydration needs, whereas many slow losers lose steadily. It. Will. Come. Off.

I agree with @ShoppGirl. You may have transferred your addiction back to food. Seeking a therapist who specialises or is experienced with bariatric patients, disordered eating &/or eating addictions. Your surgeon should be able to recommend someone to work with you. Unfortunately many anti depressant meds increase your appetite too so you they could be adding to your battle. Congratulations on being a year sober. All the best. Sorry, just read your response above & I’m glad you’re seeking help from therapists all ready. Definitely see a dietician. Sometimes little things have a, big impact on losing or gaining.

I am only 8 months out so I can’t speak about regain but if you haven’t seen a nutritionist yet you could learn some things that will help you to lose weight. Is the doctor saying they won’t do a revision unless something is wrong?? I was told that they do revision because of heartburn even if you aren’t that overweight. Have you considered seeing a bariatric therapist? Maybe since you experienced addiction transfer and you are sober, you transferred back to food again and need to get to the root of the addiction before you will be able to lose the weight.

Hi Angelina - congratulations on your surgery! Many bariatric veterans recommend not weighing for at least 3 weeks after surgery (due to the fluid retention). I know it’s hard to refrain from weighing, but put it out of your mind for now. You’ll be satisfied in the long run!

First have you been given a surgery date? Second is this the bariatric surgeon your PCP recommended to you? Third have you looked into your insurance plan to see if any other bariatric surgeons are covered within your plan? Finally I honestly wouldn’t commit to this bariatric surgeon especially when you have not met your surgeon as of yet. I hope you keep us posted of your decision. I wish you the best.

I use the bariatric fusion unflavored collagen. It also has protein. I also have Further Food collagen peptides vanilla flavor from Amazon. If you are more of a vitamin person, I also have the vital vitamins multi collagen complex. Also found on Amazon. I just open the capsules and blend them in with my shakes.

Hi all - Just got my bloodwork back at my 1 year check up. Most things look great, except I'm *still* having low blood sugar. I had this at my 4 month check up as well, and I do experience it sometimes. Got a home test kit for blood sug, the first one of which warning that it was only accurate for higher-than-normal ... useless. Anyway, any tips or experience with this out there in the vast body of bariatric knowledge? Thanks!

There are many brands of protein shakes and powders and each of them offer many flavors. Just do a google search to see what is out there. The prices varies from reasonable to ridiculously expensive, so shop around. Many can be found at Walmart or ordered online from the manufacturers or Amazon. My clinic recommends these brands (but I've tried many others): Premier Protein Ensure Max Equate High Performance Atkins Plus Musle Milke Genuine, Muscle Milk Light Boost Max Fair Life Core Power There are even high protein soup powders from ProtiDiet and Bariatric Advantage, and others. The variety is vast. Some you will like, some you won't. If you don't like something today, try it again in a week. You can also make your own high protein shakes. There are lots of recipes online, using unflavored whey protein powder mixed with milk or water, like GenePro I prefer plant-based unflavored powder, Like Orgain or Pure Protein. You can add protein powder to just about any liquid, even your coffee or tea or bullion.

Oh my goodness I was looking at those the other day. Today is week 3 for me. I get the outshine no sugar added fruit pops. I only eat one every 2-3 days. They are satisfying. If you like the fudge taste. You can make some Sugar Free Chocolate Jello pudding. I use Protein reduced fat lactaid instead of regular fat free milk. I add some unflavored Bariatric Fusion protein power to it. I do this with the sugar free cheesecake pudding. You can do it with chocolate instead. Hope this helps. 💛💛💛💛

The Baritastic app is great. There is another thread about apps. All of the vitamins can be ordered online. The BariatricPal One-a-Day is only $99 for a whole year. You will still need chewable Calcium Citrate, 1500 mg/day. Shop around for the best prices. I got Bariatric Advantage chewable on Amazon cheaper than on their own site,

I went through insurance but I know someone who paid privately and she didn’t have to go through all the hurdles either. I am not sure if she had to do labs or not but she didn’t have to see the nutritionist or the psychiatrist. Which was all I had to do with insurance. The other medical stuff is as needed to determine you are fit for surgery or to prove comirbidites to insurance companies so it varies person to person. If you think you may have disordered eating (like boredom or emotional eating or binge eating) I would definitely see a bariatric therapist whether they require it or not. I learned after surgery about boredom and emotional eating and I struggle with both. I wish the psychiatrist I had to see had picked up on this so I could have dealt with it before surgery. I wanted the surgery asap but I feel the process has been harder for me dealing with my disordered eating while also doing weight loss phase.

Hi! I loved Dr. Tanner and the UNMC Bariatric Center. Everybody there is well informed, thorough, and pleasant to work with. They roll the red carpet out for you. I was nervous and worrying about the surgery, because I’m 53 and have grandkids that I care for, so that weighed heavy on me. Dr. Tanner reassured me, beside normal surgery risks, and stated that she has not lost a patient before, which eased my worry. I hope you find a great provider! Best wishes for you on your journey and for a speedy recovery. Thank you for reaching out. Gayle

I have dealt with depression and anxiety my whole life. Prior to surgery, I put a tremendous amount of work into getting into a really good med routine, therapy, learning coping mechanisms and grounding techniques, dealing with the thoughts that were driving my disordered eating behaviors, etc. I think the very best thing you can do is get yourself in the best mental & emotional shape you possibly can. The reality is bariatric surgery is major surgery, it puts tremendous strain on your body and your mind, there are risks and benefits that have to be considered. If you are not quite ready to face the emotions and struggles that come after, then talk to your therapist and decide if now is the right time for surgery. But if you've done the work, have a solid support system, and realize that the only way to make this work for you is to do the hard work, then you're ready and will be just fine. My anxiety has not increased since surgery, but I attribute that to the work I did beforehand and the realization that I've done something that was quite literally life saving for me. It has given me incredible hope. Best of luck to you!

Before surgery, I had been obese since the age of 8. I was 54 when I had the sleeve done. In all those intervening years (decades), I was never able to lose significant weight and keep it off for more than a year (usually 6 months). After surgery, I lost 130 pounds and reached a normal BMI for the first time since I was a little girl. I'm coming up on 3 years since my sleeve and my weight is within 4 pounds of my lowest weight. I had 45 years of trying to lose weight and maintain the loss. If I could have done it on my own, I would have. To a certain extent, you're right. No surgery will allow you to eat unhealthy food on a regular basis and maintain the weight loss. The part you are missing is that for some of us, the surgery alters our appetite and reduces cravings. That makes it much easier to stick to a desired eating plan. Prior to surgery, my appetite beat me up like it was Mike Tyson. Now, it's more like a toddler. It can make a lot of noise, but it doesn't overpower me anymore. I'm not consistently relying on raw will-power, where I'm constantly struggling not to eat. That wouldn't be at all sustainable (as my 45 years of diets demonstrated). Sure, sometimes I want something bad and I have to tell myself "Not right now". But it's a heck of a lot easier to do that now than it was before surgery. It's really unfortunate that you were told you would be able to eat as you did pre-surgery. I honestly don't know ANYONE who completely went back to their old diet and maintained their weight loss. Now that I am in maintenance, I'm not as strict as I was during the weight loss phase. I eat more carbs (in the form of fruit mostly) and I allow myself a treat now and then (Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday, Passover, etc.) But day to day, I eat a maintenance diet that is very different from how I ate pre-surgery. Your surgeon is simply wrong. 2 years and 9 months after surgery, I still have significant restriction and my appetite is still about two-thirds of what it was before. The restriction is not as intense as it was in the early days/weeks/months after surgery, but it's there. I am satisfied with a fraction of the food I used to eat at one meal. It will always be possible to "eat around your sleeve" by eating unhealthy food in small portions, but all day long. No surgery can stop you if you are really determined to over-eat. That's why it's important to get to the root of the psychological reasons you depend on food to help you cope. Because surgery doesn't eliminate those issues. It's very unfortunate that your bariatric team didn't prepare you for that aspect of things. Different people have different experiences of what post-surgical life is like. Not everyone gets the long-term appetite reduction that I enjoy. I'm aware that it may not last forever. But almost 3 years later, the sleeve is still helping me maintain my weight loss, WITHOUT a constant will-power battle. It takes commitment sure - I can't eat everything that comes to mind, whenever I want. But for the first time ever, I feel like on any given day, I can CHOOSE how and what I eat, rather than being a prisoner of my appetite.