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Those are good analogies too! One of the things my therapist says about my (hopefully in-the-past-now) attitude toward making mistakes with eating is that I'm like an alcoholic who says, "Well I had a drink so I fell off the wagon. Might as well have the whole bottle." You know those days when you give in and have something sweet or eat too much at a potluck... then you're like, "f**k it I might as well have the ice cream and the McDonald's or whatever I want." Definitely trying to get better about that! Just because you had one drink/one unhealthy meal does not mean you're doomed to failure. Maybe in the mountain analogy that is like if your foot slips while you're climbing, you don't have to let go completely and drop, just hang on and try to find a new foothold. You could also draw some similarities between alcoholism/drug addiction and overeating/obesity because they are chemistry-driven diseases in our bodies but the mechanisms are still somewhat poorly understood compared to other diseases. And, in our society we moralize them and make them into solely willpower issues. The one thing that's different is the alcoholic or drug addict can live without booze or pills... we can't live without food. That's what makes it so hard! Thanks for your analogy as well, it helped to think about that! Congrats on being a week post-op!

I'm still tracking my food as well. 717 days straight on MFP. I am nowhere near goal and haven't lost a whole lot since about 6mo after surgery but have basically maintained +/-10lbs. I really wish I could've done the DS but my insurance wouldn't pay for it so I did the sleeve. I'm happy I did it and it has changed my life immensely but I know the DS would've been a better fit for me. I have a ton of extra skin that makes me very self conscience with my 90lb loss (from my highest, only 70 since surgery) but I have a lot more energy and have put off having to have a total knee replacement for another 5-10yrs which is great for my family history! I have very little restriction anymore but I still don't have any soda (exception: the occasional mixed alcoholic beverage) and only drink water. My favorite food prior to surgery - pasta - is now my sworn enemy because of the pain it causes which is both a blessing and a curse. All in all I'm ok if I don't lose more but in a perfect (rich) world I'd have a conversion to a DS and then a tummy tuck and breast lift soon after.

Pros: The whole thing was shockingly easy. The surgery was fast and almost painless. The recovery was easy. 2 years later I still barely have an appetite. Lost weight without much effort. Cons: Everyone talks about addiction transfers and alcoholism and compulsive shopping. No one addresses identity, and body image issues post-op. Not nearly as much as they talk about alcoholism etc. I felt I was very unprepared for the emotional issues that come with massive weight loss.

Great analogy! I have one also that I thought about when preparing for surgery. My weight issue is very similar to the smoker or alcoholic that won't quit. That person may already have or eventually will have some related health problems that will need to be addressed. Although that person may be embarrassed about how they got to that point, no one would fault them to have the necessary lung or liver surgery if they needed it to survive. The surgery alone does not solve the issue though, there's still a difficult road ahead to be able to quit the habit, change lifestyles, get the needed support, and eventually just maintain/continue to abstain from the habits that are killing you. I decided that I would be up front with my friends and family about my decision for surgery and my quest for better health, and it surprised me that just about everyone I've told has been supportive and understanding. I also feel it keeps me accountable since I know many people are watching my progress and cheering me on and there's no way I'm going through such a huge life changing process only for it to fail! I'm 7 days post op and 47 lbs down, I'm on my way to the new me! HW: 330 SW: 294 6/27/2017 CW: 282 GW: 180 VSG, Dr. Jawad, Orlando, FL

Only a small group of people know. I think a total of six, maybe. It's very personal. The weight isn't flying off such that I look crazy. People see that I've changed my habits and that I work out. So, when I have been asked I say: I made a big decision to make better choices about taking care of my body. I don't eat fried foods, drink alcohol, consume sugars or eat large portions. That's pretty much it. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using BariatricPal mobile app

You should be ok to go just plan your eating which will be almost nothing and no alcohol if it's that type of wedding.

I'd say you are a likely candidate for another revision to RNY bypass. To have uncontrolled GERD is concerning, because it can lead to increased risk of esophageal cancer. You'd be looking at going to Mexico again, most likely, if you did choose to have a revision. (Many times RNY fixes acid issues.. it isn't guaranteed, however). A concern is your lack of aftercare in where you live. RNY requires more maintenance than the sleeve, and of course, what would you do if you had complications? Man, you are in a tough spot. While you are trying to figure things out, maybe list which medicines you've tried.. maybe there is something else... Food and drinks that commonly trigger heartburn include: Alcohol, particularly red wine. Black pepper, garlic, raw onions and other spicy foods. Chocolate. Citrus fruits and products, such as oranges and orange juice. Coffee and caffeinated drinks including tea and cola. Peppermint. Tomatoes. Also, if you really don't want a bypass, you could see if you just need a hiatial hernia repair. That might help without the long term issues of a bypass.

Nope not at all. I've had those bad food choices and alcoholic beverages my entire life and it hasn't gotten me that far. So, I am looking forward to the complete lifestyle change. You won't miss it! Good luck [emoji2]

anyone having the surgery later this month and worried about the food and alcoholic beverages all around you?

Here are my answers: 1. Yes. 800-1000 for women. 2. 70+ grams of protein. Eat protein first but no specific carb limit. 3. Bread, rice, pasta, food with added sugar, alcohol 4. Not really but I've been considering setting a daily carb limit.

I'm only 2 months out, but I have a few things to contribute that I feel are appropriate. I stressed a lot over which surgery to have. BMI 40 at the highest. I wanted something reversible. I was scared. My mother had early bypass in the 90's and she suffers terribly now from mal-absorption, cant swallow important meds, can't eat. I got lucky with a rep for a travel surgery company over the phone who spent time with me discussing sleeve. Thank goodness she was insistent. I'm having an experience that seems not typical, but I am believing one thing from research and limited experience. Gastric sleeve makes the most logical sense as a concept when you break it down. Individuals vary but logically . . . It does not actually change the flow of the human body, or digestive system, it just keeps the natural flow, but reduces the pouch of your stomach size. It does not leave foreign objects like the band, port, etc in the body. Scarring is minimal, invasion is lower, recovery is faster. For me the recovery has been so fast it's almost unbelievable. It simply restricts you from overeating and presents you with a nauseous reminder to STOP, or SLOW DOWN constantly. Recovery seems to be the fastest for a general observation, Side effects for me have been nearly non-existent. I had a home made seltzer yesterday as an experiment (I do NOT call that "soda") and surprise, I did not die, explode, tear out my staples. Like all things in life, be smart, listen to your body. Seltzer provides an oral stimulation I enjoy within reason, and a squirt of some taste also can happen. Vitamin effectiveness is too early to gauge at 8 weeks, but at least taking those larger pill presents no problem like the eternal suffering my mother's radical bypass endures for 25 years, causing non adherence to vitamins, which then causes more problems. My anecdotal research tells me men have a vastly different easier experience when compared to women overall. ANECDOTAL. I'm just 2 months out, and of course years of a journey lie ahead. Oh by the way, I'm also HIV positive, 35 years healthy, never needed meds until proactive treatments started recently, and even those I have no problems with post surgery. Negatives I'm becoming aware of . . . you can find unhealthy high calorie foods that can slow or stop weight loss and slip by the restriction process. My personal example is Low Sugar Fudgesicles. I'm craving chocolate, I did not used to. I used to binge eat popsicles in general, now regular popsicles taste weird, but the sugar free chocolate products like Peppermint Patties, dark chocolate, in general also help because they have a laxative effect. I ate too many "Outshine' fruit low sugar popsicles last night watching Netflix (with no chill unfortunately) - and I vomited in my sleep, which strikes me as a bit potentially dangerous. I hope the negative reinforcement works. Tastes seem to change a bit. Cravings change. Whiskey/Scotch/Vodka tastes gross now unless it's an expensive super high quality bourbon. That may seem minor to you, but taste and craving changes can seem bizarre. I can sense a long term danger that mentally, I will "figure out" how to outsmart the surgery when I'm stressed and resorting to old eating behaviors and patterns. Last week I went to support a friend who is a cabaret theater singer, and there was pressure to order food and drink to keep the prime seating location we were in. I felt guilty for the waiter with me milking an appetizer and one drink for an hour and I pushed it ordering more food, and more alcohol, ill advised. I gained 2 pounds just from that stupid exercise. Thankfully avoided vomiting, but perhaps that would have been better mentally. My weight loss was so slow at first I was genuinely scared then angry. Then I resumed cardio exercises and teaching Zumba, which is twice as much exercise as just taking Zumba. Then the weight started falling off. Muscle tone is weird. I need to lift weights as I did when very overweight. It feels different. Hope this contributes and helps.

Congratulations on your recovery. I was married to an alcoholic so I know how hard it is to quit. Keep up the good work with your weight journey too hugs

Hey everyone, I'm looking for some advice/support with regards to my eating habits and dealing with a stall. I'm 9 months post op VSG and I had my surgery on Sept 16th 2016. My highest weight ever was 310 pounds, my surgery consult weight was 285 pounds, and I was 265 pounds the day of surgery after the pre-op liquid diet. I'm now 183 pounds for a total loss of 102 pounds since my pre-op liquid diet, and 82 pounds since the day of my surgery. My goal weight is 150 pounds and I'm 5' 7". Now I'm not new to stalls at all - I've gone through every stall in the book so far. I've had major stalls at 3 weeks post op, 1 month post op, 3 months post op, 6 months post op, and now here I am stalling again at 9 months post op. But what has me really worried this time is that I thought I had finally broke my stall a few weeks ago but my weight shot back up again today, and I even gained weight! I've been stuck at 183 pounds since the beginning of June, but I weighed in two weeks ago at 178 and I was thrilled. I had been eating 600-800 calories a day, 70-100 grams of protein, and below 20 grams of net carbs (most days being around 15). I thought I had broken through my stall but after seeing 178 that one time, I weighed in over the next few days around 180-181 even though my eating habits didn't change. I got really frustrated and told myself I'd do a little experiment...I thought maybe I wasn't eating enough, and even my nutritionist advised me to increase my calories and carbs because I've been eating this way since the very beginning post op. Starting last Friday, I tried for one week to eat 900 calories a day, still keeping between 70-100 grams of protein, increasing my water intake to over 64oz a day, and eating slightly higher carbs (below 30 net carbs per day) to try and break the stall. (By net carbs I mean I subtract both sugar alcohols and fiber from my total carb count). So I did that for a week and promised not to weigh myself for the whole week until again next Friday, and lo and behold when I weighed myself today I gained weight and am now back at 183 pounds! I don't know if I'm losing inches because I don't measure myself - but my clothes size has stayed the same and I feel like my progress pics since last month look the same. :/ Maybe that's just me though and I'm psyching myself out, but I'm feeling so upset and frustrated and depressed, I don't know what to do! I weigh and measure everything I eat down to the gram and track everything on myfitnesspal everyday. I eat clean - no ice cream, pizza, chips, etc. or other junk whatsoever. Some staples in my diet are premier protein shakes, chicken, shrimp, low fat cheeses, nuts, low fat greek yogurt, protein granola, peanut butter, and eggs. I always stick to non-starchy veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, brussel sprouts, cucumber, green beans, and spinach. Things I eat occasionally are half a slice of a high fibre/high protein low carb pita or loaf, a protein bar on long days at work where I do some heavy lifting for an extra boost, or a high fibre/high protein muffin cake (Smartcakes) sweetened with erythritol as a treat (just tried these very recently though - while they have good stats I don't know if I'll continue to buy them or avoid). During my little 'experiment' this week, I increased my carbs mainly from healthy sources: small amounts of strawberries, high fibre whole grain cereals, and lots more veggies like broccoli and cucumber. I ate more frequently in the day by adding an extra snack or small meal to up my calories to 900 a day, but I never eat less than 3 hours apart. I never eat and drink at the same time and always wait at least 30 minutes between drinking and eating. On days I'm low in fibre I'll add fibre-enhanced crystal lite to my water to get in enough fibre each day as well (still can't tolerate plain water yet sadly - makes me really nauseous). I cook using cooking spray to make sure I'm using as limited amounts of oil as possible. I take my PPI, multivitamin, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D3 + Calcium supplements everyday as well. Here is myfitnesspal account where I have my food diary visible, so any advice on what I'm eating would be really appreciated: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/avatarkorraa As for exercise, that's been a bit of a challenge because I've been experiencing some severe chronic fatigue and muscle weakness ever since my surgery. I feel really exhausted, light-headed, dizzy, and weak all of the time, and even simple tasks like walking up the stairs has become more much challenging since surgery. I know people are supposed to feel like they have much more energy after WLS, but sadly for me it's been quite the opposite (and I'm very young too to boot - only 21 years old). I don't know if this is because I'm not eating enough or because of some other underlying health problem, though. My labs are all perfect but I do suffer from PCOS sadly, and I have pretty low blood pressure. I'm not completely sedentary though - my job requires me to do some moderate heavy lifting once a week (which is difficult to do in the state I'm in now but I try my best) and I'm certainly not housebound or anything as I'm always out and about running errands. I really do want to implement some sort of formal exercise program into my daily routine though, but sadly I have next to no energy all the time and my muscles and joints are in a lot of pain everyday. Eating closer to 900 calories this week helped me feel a little more energized, but not by much. In the meantime I'm following up with my doctor to see if there's something I can do about this so I can start exercising soon, because I really want to . Anyways, any advice/support would be really appreciated! I really want to reach my goal of 150lbs but it's so hard not to get discouraged during times like this. Seeing the scale shoot back up to 183 pounds today really scares me and I just don't know where to go from here, and I'm honestly too terrified to eat anything now. Thank you so much for reading and I wish you all the best on your respective journeys!

I have my surgery scheduled for August 1st. July 10-15 we are going on a small vacation with friends and I'd like to enjoy a few drinks or shots. I'm not a beer drinker but asking if anyone had drinks this close to surgery? I will still be three weeks away and not in my two week liquid diet phase. I won't drink everyday but wondering what the thoughts were on occasional drinks while there?

Why? Schedules and meal times tend to be more lenient. The kids are off school and in full on vacation mode. The social calendar is fuller than ever. Even weeknights are no longer off limits. Nostalgic summer foods and refreshing drinks seem to be everywhere and oh so tempting! We want you to enjoy summer just like everyone else, but if your goal is weight maintenance or if you are still within 1 year postop, it is important to stay mindful. Here are some of our TOP TIPS...BBQs & BACKYARD PARTIES! - Hamburgers, hot dogs and ribs, oh my! If you’re the host, prepare marinated chicken and vegetable skewers. Skewers make perfect postop portions, but at the same time are an appropriate option for your other guests. Have you recently had surgery? There is a high likelihood that overcooked barbecue meats may be difficult for you to tolerate (i.e. causing a “stuck” feeling along with a lot of discomfort). Untoasted buns and bread may do the same. If this is the case, prepare a ‘safe food’ for the event. This means bringing a food that you know you tolerate well. Don’t just wing it! There is nothing worse than feeling sick or vomiting at a party. Examples of safe foods for those of you who are recently postop: Legume/bean salad Barbecue ready aluminum foil packets filled with marinated fish or chicken and vegetables. Encasing your foods in foil packets traps in the moisture making your foods tenderer. Tuna or egg salad served with crackers Hard shell tacos Skewers of watermelon + bocconcini cheese + basil or mint leaves, drizzled with balsamic vinegar Homemade smoothie popsicles (great option if you are only days postop!) ICE CREAM! - Tis the season! We are often asked by our patients “How often can I have ice cream?” and “How much ice cream can I have?” Remember that all foods fit after surgery. Ice cream is no different. We recommend our patients simply be mindful of their portions and indulge every now and then as opposed to daily. Sugar is addictive. The more you have, the more you want. If you had difficulty limiting sweets before surgery, consider limiting sweets after surgery to avoid falling back into the old habits. For example, instead of having a whole tub of ice cream in your freezer (which may be too tempting), allow yourself to have a child-sized cone once a week in town with friends. Another important consideration is: Did you have a gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y)? If yes, you are at risk of experiencing dumping syndrome with sweet foods like ice cream. Limit your portions of ice cream to simply tastings (ex. ¼ cup portions) or try these lower sugar options… Opt for fresh seasonal fruits + a spoonful of CoolWhip Invest in a homemade ice cream maker (Ex.https://www.bedbathandbeyond.ca/store/product/cuisinart-reg-ice-cream-frozen-yogurt-maker-in-white/3251572 ). For an instant cool treat, add in 1 full-sized container of vanilla yogurt + fresh seasonal fruit. Delicious! Try one of the many savory balsamic strawberry recipes on the internet for something different. Ex - https://www.acouplecooks.com/video-strawberries-with-balsamic-greek-yogurt-and-mint/ ALCOHOL! Alcohol is absorbed much faster into your bloodstream after surgery. For this reason, the effects can be intense. It is often said that 1 drink after surgery is equivalent to the feeling of 4-6 drinks before surgery! Patients often laugh about this statistic, but it is no joke. We recommend our patients limit themselves to one standard drink per evening and to serve it in ½ portions (Ex. ½ glass of wine + ice cubes). Never drive after drinking, regardless of the amount! Even one standard drink can raise your blood alcohol concentration above the legal driving limit. Remember that beer is also carbonated. Carbonated drinks (Ex. soda and fizzy water) are generally discouraged after surgery because it is suspected that they can stretch out your stomach with regular consumption. Whether or not this is actually the case has yet to be proven, but carbonation aside, beer and carbonated mixed drinks contain calories, and a lot of them! Patients often ask, “But what the heck am I supposed to drink this summer if I can’t have soda, beer, mixed drinks, fizzy water or more than 1 glass of wine!” This is a valid question. We admit that the alternatives are not super exciting. We recommend: Fruit-infused water Flavoured ice cubes (Ex. http://www.marthastewart.com/356419/flavored-ice-cube-ideas ) Homemade iced tea – Apparently Davids Tea’s ‘La vie en Rosé’ is refreshingly close to a true rosé wine! Similarly, Teavana has a fun mixology theme to their summer ice teas this year. Flavours include Beach Bellini, Strawberry Daiquiri, Mandarin Mimosa and Pina Colada! What are your favourite summer tips? Post below in the comments! Wishing you all a great start to your summer!

5 months out you certainly can overindulge. The sugary cocktail mixes can be full of calories. Crystal Light mixes have flavors like peach, mojito, pineapple, mango, watermelon, and you can make your flavor of the day with little single packets, easy to carry. You can mix these also with Diet Sprite or 7Up if you want the dreaded fizz. They had nothing sugar free on Norweigian last year, like lemonade by the pool. Luckily I do like unsweetened tea at dinner, but water and Crystal Light worked great. if you decide to indulge in a nighttime drink, order a shot of light rum, take to your room and mix with the crystal light. . Or order light rum over ice, carry your Crystal Light, and add to the drink. Enjoy your cruise! Caution, alcohol can hit you like a ton of bricks, and wine is no longer an option for me.

Hi all, I had my GS surgery back in February, and its been VERY successful (lost a third of my body weight already between the surgery and crossfit). I've been extremely good at keeping to guidelines, but I do have a question on an upcoming vacation I have on a cruise to the Caribbean. I've already worked out where and what to eat to keep my protein goals and to avoid too many calories as well as fluid intake, and I've only overeaten once since surgery (and have zero plans to do so on the cruise). However, I wouldn't mind having a few non-alcoholic cocktails (pina coladas, etc.) on the ship each day. Problem is, they do not have nutritional information (sugar, calories, etc.) available. Would I cause lasting damage to my surgery / progress if I were to go over calories on the trip (again, not via overeating). I don't mind if I put on a couple pounds as long as it won't stretch things out or screw my body up. I'm trying to find a good balance between enjoying myself while staying disciplined on not making myself sick / stretching out my stomach. Thanks for any advice!

Me too! Goodluck! Me also, how are you feeling? A day before me, wow , So close, how are you feeling? Day before me The pre op diet is interesting, I was on the low carb under 800 cal pre op but I swapped to the milk diet , which my dietician said was fine , 3 pints of milk, two diet yogurts, allowed low cal drinks, unlimited coffee and tea, one salt drink. I prefer this than measuring food, and I drank abit of alcohol before the pre op diet, and feel I need a boost to shrink my liver! . Goodluck Goodluck Day before me, I am not excited, I am just worried lol just want to get it over with Lucky you have no pre op diet ! I am one day before you Happy birthday and goodluc The day after me Lucky you have n pre op!!

I am just over a month out and already there is a lot that has changed. Mostly I am just experiencing *change*, which I usually find difficult. On Sunday I cleaned out my closets. I have six garbage bags of clothes, most of which is business attire that no longer fits me. I have a small selection of clothes that were either too small for me prior to WLS or are stretchy and can move across sizes. Given that after the initial 15 lb post surgery drop, I am averaging 5 lbs a week, dealing with buying clothes that wont fit me in 3 weeks seems like a hassle. I no longer think about food from the viewpoint of "what am I going to eat". I still think about food, but it's more like the same way I think about going to Paris. I miss some of the things I loved - really good bread with butter, pizza and a great burger. But missing these foods is more like a series of passing thoughts. I barely have an appetite and when I am hungry, I am fully satiated after about 2 oz of a dense protein. I find I have a lot of attention on my wellbeing - managing my liquids, protein intake, what I'm going to wear, looking for openings to walk and move where this was not the case before. I have a very demanding job and work on average 70 hours a week (and was back to work 1 week after surgery) and to some degree I have not yet adjusted to managing my weight loss journey with my career and this will come with practice. Like many others, the NSV are really the best part. I live at the top of the hill and before surgery I needed to stop halfway up. Last night after a 14 hour workday, I hopped out of an uber at midnight and walked 3 blocks up the hill at the same pace I walk down the hill with no shortness of breath. The quality of my sleep has improved (although, I find I am needing more of it and I suspect that is temporary and probably due the fact that I am barely cracking 700 cals/day). I have no more swelling in my ankles and wrists. My seasonal allergies have been reduced by about half (I suspect because I am not eating wheat, processed foods, etc.). Since surgery I have avoided or declined a lot of social things - for no other reason that it supported my management of my diet and having no alcohol in this initial phase. I will need to train my friends to engage in other things - walks, going to the park, etc. I have worries about loose skin - I have no way to predict this. I have phenomenal skin for my age (I am 50), but I am 50 and will be loosing a lot of weight. The only question for me is how bad will it be. But I will deal with that when it is time to deal with that. I have no question that this was the best decision I have ever made - and I won't say that it is always easy. If my goal was to loose a bunch of weight, that would be easy. However, my goal is to reclaim my health and there will be nothing easy about that. Fortunately, I can be tough and patient and take the long view of things. There are things I am considering - I may permanently give up alcohol since I don't miss it. I am considering transitioning to veganism. That is not something I would have considered in the past. I do celebrate the small victories - but I don't spend a lot of time doing that. Mostly I am planning the next step, the next goal and how I am going to achieve that. When the scale moves, I just enter it into my spreadsheet where I am tracking weightloss. That said, I am coming to the conclusion of what everyone has been saying here - the surgery is a tool and if used as a tool - without question life will change for the better.

I'm in desperate need of any ideas, doctor suggestions, ANYTHING would be GREATLY Appreciated this is my story! I'm not a troll or trying to scare anyone OUT OF THIS LIFE CHANGING surgery! I did everything 100% right so I would not have complications, but unfortunately I'm just that .00001% a freak of nature unfortunately haha! Here is my story... I had the Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery December 3, 2014 and since my health has declined rapidly. I have on-going: Chronic widespread nerve pain (Chronic Polyneuropathy) Numbness, Tingling, and Weakness in lower extremities worse on right side Constant shooting nerve pain Insomnia due to chronic nerve pain Chronic stomach pain Nose pain and Chronic Sinusitis due to 31st NG (nasal tube) Difficulty swallowing Constant chronic stomach cramping Constant chronic nausea Constant chronic spitting Chronic Daily vomiting Severe Acid reflux Severe Malnutrition Multiple vitamin deficiencies B Vitamins Deficiencies Thiamine deficiency Severe Anemia Dyslipidemia Severe Neuropathic Pain Arthritis Fibromyalgia On Feeding Tubes since October 2015 11 Abdominal Feeding Tube procedures Gastroesophageal reflux disease. From the moment I woke up from the surgery I've had chronic nausea, issues consuming food and daily vomiting episodes. I've had 11 failed abdominal feeding tubes and I'm currently on my 31st NG nasal tube. I was also on Total parenteral nutrition TPN intravenous feeding for a short time. I am on my tube feeds continuously 27/7 I cannot eat anything without vomiting. I am constantly nauseous and I've become a “spitter” and I constantly spit all day. The tube feeds make me extremely bloated and I am in constant chronic stomach pain and cramping. I vomit stomach acid and my tube feeds daily. The nerve pain started in my toes and the balls of my feet April 2015, in less than a month it spread to my knees and hands left and right side, worse on my right side. Now I have chronic widespread nerve pain all over my body. I had drop foot on my right side, weakness, numbness, and a burning sensation in May of 2015. I was diagnosed with a rare form of Guillain-Barré syndrome. I was treated with 2 rounds of IVIG, I went to inpatient rehabilitation to learn to walk, and write again. Unfortunately I still need the use of a walker and wheelchair for anything more than 50 steps. Also since my gastric surgery, I've had to have multiple surgeries. My gallbladder in Feb 2015, 11 abdominal feeding tube procedures from Dec 2015-Jan 2017, my appendix October 2016, and a abscess surgery that required drains to be placed in my stomach Dec 2015. My stomach is in constant pain. I either am constipated or have diarrhea The pain has highs and lows, but it is constant. When I use my feeding tube machine to get my nutrition I get very bloated and I have horrible cramping. As of recently I'm rejecting my tube feeds, they make me throw up violently! This makes all daily task near to impossible! I only leave my house to go to doctors appointments. I have become very withdrawn from all family and friends, i have zero desired of social interaction because of my extreme anxiety and depression. I've lost over 200 pounds to lose my ability to walk, eat, work, and just having a life! I would estimate that I need assistance with 90% or more of my day to day normal activities. Most days I'm so uncomfortable and in so much pain I can't leave my bed. I'm am miserable! I'm doing everything I can and I'm not getting any better I feel like my doctors are just trying to treat me not fix me I'm 28 and this life sucks! I don't smoke, take narcotic drugs or drink alcohol! Thanks for reading my story please share and comment! Tiera

Did your dependency begin after surgery? To have established addiction to alcohol and pain killers after surgery is pretty radical. Have you talked to a therapist about your concern? Aside from the affects of these behaviors on your tummy, the repercussions to your quality of life are huge. Sharing on this board will get you opinions but your addiction is way bigger than an online support group. Please work hard to get personal help. My daughter is a meth addict that has been clean for over a year. I could do nothing to help her. She had to do all the work to help herself. Thinking of you. Take care

Some WLS patients still feel like there is a missing element to their long term weight loss. Healing old psychological wounds can be key. Author of Full From Within, psychologist Dr. Colleen Long, explains just where to start. “ The wound is where the light enters you.” - Rumi When I work with pre and post-op bariatric surgery patients, I consistently go over this idea of being "full from within." Many people question, "what does that mean for me? What does that look like?" My response is that for one to be truly full, we must first clear out the old toxicity, wounds, and hurtful schemas we've picked up throughout the years. How does one get over a hurt? There is not "getting over." You go through it. You have to feel it to heal it. If you have underwent gastric sleeve, bypass, or balloon surgery and still feel like there is a missing piece- it is likely that there are some deeper psychological toxicities that need to be cleared. The first step to doing so is sitting still, sitting with the feelings, and it is in stillness that our heart finally starts to answer the questions our mind has failed to thus far. Yet so many have been taught not to feel. That there must be an easier way- a shortcut. 1 in every 8 Americans is on some form of psychotropic medication. 1 In his book, Anatomy of an Epidemic, science journalist Robert Whitaker states that since 1987, the percentage of the population receiving federal disability payment for mental illness has tripled; among children under the age of 18, the percentage has grown by a factor of 35.1 While Whitaker recognized that in the short-term, these medications help people to feel better, he started to realize that over time- drugs make many patients sicker than they would have been if they had never been medicated. 1 He does not make the argument that all people should stop their meds. He believes in the utility of them, just more sparingly than they are currently utilized. However, throughout my years in the practice of therapy- I have noticed a trend of moving people away from feeling. Crying is actually a symptom in the DSM-V. We have pathologized a human feeling! When psychiatrists and therapists witness a patient tearful too many times in session, their next conclusion is that something must be wrong and they must be medicated. This frustrates me so much as a clinician and as a person who has done her share of work in her own personal therapy. When we are broken, we are broken open. Being broken is a starting point, not a symptom that something has gone awry. It is at the point of our deepest pain and grief that we have the greatest opportunity for growth. I find myself telling patients over and over- “you can’t “get over” it, you must “go through” it.” Yet, so many of us have been indoctrinated to think that if we spend more than a day being sad, we must have depression, or if we feel nervous a little bit longer than we’d like to- we must have an anxiety disorder. We definitely “are Bipolar” if we have a mood swing. We have been taught to not feel the yin, only the yang of our emotions. It’s societally acceptable to talk about how happy your weekend was, or how much fun you had on vacation- but watch the uncomfortable shifting in chairs that takes place when you open up about how you just haven’t felt like yourself lately. In our world of quick fixes, where we can have a conference across the world, over a computer, communicate a message in two seconds via text, or post a picture that all of our family can see instantly- we also want instant relief for our suffering. Yet, suffering is part of the human condition. It is through experiencing our deepest sorrows, we are able to appreciate our greatest joys. But we must first be willing to sit in the muck. "Out of the mud, grows the lotus." -Thich Nhat Hanh Part and parcel of any addiction (food, drugs, alcohol, etc.) is that the addict is particularly uncomfortable with being uncomfortable. However, the cure is right there for the taking. “So what does this look like in real life?” you ask. “How do I open the wound, bring in the light, and clear out the infection that started all of this in the first place?” You start with presence. You start with a still and open heart. You start with a spiritual vulnerability that allows you to be at peace with not knowing what will happen next. You sit broken open and wait for the light to enter over time. The most important piece in all of this is being able to create a consistent forum where you hold the space. This could be a therapist’s office, it could be a weekly walk with a friend, a journal practice, or it could be as simple as a prayer every night. You set the priority to hold the space and to sit in the muck. Maybe it starts with emotions that have no words? Maybe it starts with visceral, physical feelings, that you have to simply sit with for a while? Maybe you are lucky enough to immediately put in words where your wound all started and its just floating around in your thoughts, waiting to be articulated? Perhaps it starts with a behavior you tend to do all of the time that you know comes from a place of pain? Case Study: I had a client who continuously posted on social media sites. She had a constant need to feel recognized and admired. She knew there was something behind it and wanted to get to the bottom of where this was coming from. Session over session, we sat with that need. We talked about what she wanted to get from each of those posts and why she was still “on E,” left with an empty psychological tank. The short story of Narcissus goes that he disdained people who loved him. After Nemesis noticed this he lured him to a pool that cast his own reflection. Narcissus fell in love with this pool, not realizing it was merely an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, he lost his will to live. He stared at this reflection until he died. 59 Growing up, this client never quite got the love and admiration we all need from our parents. When we love something so much and don’t get that back- it is that unrequited love that leaves a narcissistic wound. It doesn’t necessarily always start with parents. It can be a formative romantic relationship, but it usually starts with parents. When we are flying from couch to couch saying “look at me mommy I’m superman!” and our mom says “get off that couch now!” instead of “look at how strong and powerful you are,” we begin forming the wound. Unfortunately, without recognizing this- many people will go throughout their life trying to heal it through other people or other things instead of within themselves. (recall the wizard of oz’s moral of the story). It was up to this client to stop the instinctual need to post and each time she had this inclination to look within for what she needed. Eventually, she developed a muscle for self validation, and the posting behavior stopped. The lesson in this case study is to hopefully help guide you to your wound. If we have a food addiction and feel out of control, you can bet we have a wound. Instead of distracting through bad habits, addictions, unhealthy relationships, or external wants- it is time to finally create a place of presence to start the healing process. Mind Meal: Sit in silence for at least 15 minutes. Visualize in your mind’s eye your heart with a bridge of white light to your head. What does it say? Where is the pain? Where is the wound? How might you start filling yourself up for good? Want to learn more about how to be truly full from within. Check out Dr. Colleen's latest book aimed at helping one focus on why they eat vs. what they eat, and stop the "diet yo-yo" for good. You can also sign up for her free course : Full From Within, here. 1 Retrieved: June 2, 2017 https://www.madinamerica.com/author/rwhitaker/

“ The wound is where the light enters you.” - Rumi When I work with pre and post-op bariatric surgery patients, I consistently go over this idea of being "full from within." Many people question, "what does that mean for me? What does that look like?" My response is that for one to be truly full, we must first clear out the old toxicity, wounds, and hurtful schemas we've picked up throughout the years. How does one get over a hurt? There is not "getting over." You go through it. You have to feel it to heal it. If you have underwent gastric sleeve, bypass, or balloon surgery and still feel like there is a missing piece- it is likely that there are some deeper psychological toxicities that need to be cleared. The first step to doing so is sitting still, sitting with the feelings, and it is in stillness that our heart finally starts to answer the questions our mind has failed to thus far. Yet so many have been taught not to feel. That there must be an easier way- a shortcut. 1 in every 8 Americans is on some form of psychotropic medication. 1 In his book, Anatomy of an Epidemic, science journalist Robert Whitaker states that since 1987, the percentage of the population receiving federal disability payment for mental illness has tripled; among children under the age of 18, the percentage has grown by a factor of 35.1 While Whitaker recognized that in the short-term, these medications help people to feel better, he started to realize that over time- drugs make many patients sicker than they would have been if they had never been medicated. 1 He does not make the argument that all people should stop their meds. He believes in the utility of them, just more sparingly than they are currently utilized. However, throughout my years in the practice of therapy- I have noticed a trend of moving people away from feeling. Crying is actually a symptom in the DSM-V. We have pathologized a human feeling! When psychiatrists and therapists witness a patient tearful too many times in session, their next conclusion is that something must be wrong and they must be medicated. This frustrates me so much as a clinician and as a person who has done her share of work in her own personal therapy. When we are broken, we are broken open. Being broken is a starting point, not a symptom that something has gone awry. It is at the point of our deepest pain and grief that we have the greatest opportunity for growth. I find myself telling patients over and over- “you can’t “get over” it, you must “go through” it.” Yet, so many of us have been indoctrinated to think that if we spend more than a day being sad, we must have depression, or if we feel nervous a little bit longer than we’d like to- we must have an anxiety disorder. We definitely “are Bipolar” if we have a mood swing. We have been taught to not feel the yin, only the yang of our emotions. It’s societally acceptable to talk about how happy your weekend was, or how much fun you had on vacation- but watch the uncomfortable shifting in chairs that takes place when you open up about how you just haven’t felt like yourself lately. In our world of quick fixes, where we can have a conference across the world, over a computer, communicate a message in two seconds via text, or post a picture that all of our family can see instantly- we also want instant relief for our suffering. Yet, suffering is part of the human condition. It is through experiencing our deepest sorrows, we are able to appreciate our greatest joys. But we must first be willing to sit in the muck. "Out of the mud, grows the lotus." -Thich Nhat Hanh Part and parcel of any addiction (food, drugs, alcohol, etc.) is that the addict is particularly uncomfortable with being uncomfortable. However, the cure is right there for the taking. “So what does this look like in real life?” you ask. “How do I open the wound, bring in the light, and clear out the infection that started all of this in the first place?” You start with presence. You start with a still and open heart. You start with a spiritual vulnerability that allows you to be at peace with not knowing what will happen next. You sit broken open and wait for the light to enter over time. The most important piece in all of this is being able to create a consistent forum where you hold the space. This could be a therapist’s office, it could be a weekly walk with a friend, a journal practice, or it could be as simple as a prayer every night. You set the priority to hold the space and to sit in the muck. Maybe it starts with emotions that have no words? Maybe it starts with visceral, physical feelings, that you have to simply sit with for a while? Maybe you are lucky enough to immediately put in words where your wound all started and its just floating around in your thoughts, waiting to be articulated? Perhaps it starts with a behavior you tend to do all of the time that you know comes from a place of pain? Case Study: I had a client who continuously posted on social media sites. She had a constant need to feel recognized and admired. She knew there was something behind it and wanted to get to the bottom of where this was coming from. Session over session, we sat with that need. We talked about what she wanted to get from each of those posts and why she was still “on E,” left with an empty psychological tank. The short story of Narcissus goes that he disdained people who loved him. After Nemesis noticed this he lured him to a pool that cast his own reflection. Narcissus fell in love with this pool, not realizing it was merely an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, he lost his will to live. He stared at this reflection until he died. 59 Growing up, this client never quite got the love and admiration we all need from our parents. When we love something so much and don’t get that back- it is that unrequited love that leaves a narcissistic wound. It doesn’t necessarily always start with parents. It can be a formative romantic relationship, but it usually starts with parents. When we are flying from couch to couch saying “look at me mommy I’m superman!” and our mom says “get off that couch now!” instead of “look at how strong and powerful you are,” we begin forming the wound. Unfortunately, without recognizing this- many people will go throughout their life trying to heal it through other people or other things instead of within themselves. (recall the wizard of oz’s moral of the story). It was up to this client to stop the instinctual need to post and each time she had this inclination to look within for what she needed. Eventually, she developed a muscle for self validation, and the posting behavior stopped. The lesson in this case study is to hopefully help guide you to your wound. If we have a food addiction and feel out of control, you can bet we have a wound. Instead of distracting through bad habits, addictions, unhealthy relationships, or external wants- it is time to finally create a place of presence to start the healing process. Mind Meal: Sit in silence for at least 15 minutes. Visualize in your mind’s eye your heart with a bridge of white light to your head. What does it say? Where is the pain? Where is the wound? How might you start filling yourself up for good? Want to learn more about how to be truly full from within. Check out Dr. Colleen's latest book aimed at helping one focus on why they eat vs. what they eat, and stop the "diet yo-yo" for good. You can also sign up for her free course : Full From Within, here. 1 Retrieved: June 2, 2017 https://www.madinamerica.com/author/rwhitaker/

Months before surgery I gave up processed food, sugar, simple carbs, alcohol, coffee, soda, to kick-start my weight loss and to get over addictions and cravings pre-surgery. I lost approx. 25 lbs.

Calories can generally be somewhat higher than women, but there's still a lot of individualism to it. Some guys have more significant metabolic problems than others, such that they may have similar metabolic levels to many women - maintaining in the 1200 calorie range, etc, so they need lower calorie levels to lose. My guess is that at your starting point that your metabolism isn't that screwed up so you can lose like a "normal" guy. My doc didn't have a specific calorie level (they're a DS centric practice, which has fuzzy math in this regard) but I quickly settled in around 1100 calories. Protein target was 105g, based upon my lean body mass. Carbs and fats were "whatever" - not particularly important with our caloric deficits - but I simply endeavored to get the best overall nutrition for the remaining non-protein segment of the diet, which in retrospect worked out to be a rough caloric split between fats and carbohydrates. For the vast majority of us, it's the caloric deficit that drives the weight loss and not any magical macro splits Your missing watermelon may be an indication of some missing nutrients contained within - potassium perhaps, as our typical supplements don't make much of a dent in satisfying our requirements. Many sugar substitutes are known for having a laxative effect in many people, particularly some of the sugar alcohols and a few of the zero calorie sweeteners so you seem to be right on track with those.