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It's driving me completely crazy. Nothing I do is getting it off. Working out...no. Changing up what I do on my workouts....no. Sticking to my diet.....no. Being even more strict with my diet.....no. Easing up my diet a bit.....no. Doing easier workouts.....no. Carb blockers...no. Appetite suppressants....no. Supplements to speed up metabolism.....no. I absolutely REFUSE to stay at this weight, but I truly don't know what else to do......I'm LITERALLY going out of my mind. I need to lose these last 50 pounds, and absolutely nothing is helping. Just needed to vent about it and get it out of my system.

Well done you Fred. You (YOU) have lost loads of weight after your surgery and I'm so glad you're now seeing the benefits! 😍 As an atheist I have absolutely no idea how and why you would want to attribute all your hard work and your loss to some deity or other but - yunno - absolutely good on you if you need to do that! We all get though our surgery and lose our weight in whatever way we can. I don't do that but kudos to anyone who needs to and does. Onwards and downwards.

Just did my 3 month check up yesterday (my actual 3 full months is on October 10th) ... I've lost 60 lbs since surgery day on July 10th... I've actually gained more muscle also (I've been lifting weights while on this journey. I had a goal to lose 100lbs in the first 4 months but I'm satisfied with the path I'm on now.

I’m getting to the 1 year post operative point and just to slow my weight loss my minimum calorie intake was set to 2300 calories, very hard to do and follow my desire to only eat whole non processed food, so they have asked me to stop exercising until I can get 2300 a day and stay at a steady weight. It’s actually really hard to consume that whole foods to hit that 2300 calorie goal. Anyone else have similar problems?

(Also my status update, btw) It's finally here!! My last day with a "normal" digestive system. Tomorrow morning I go in at 10:15am to check in, go through all the pre-flight checks (IV, vitals, sign consents, talk to anesthesia and my surgeon, etc), then into the OR I go! This process has taken what seems like forever. Way back in April of 2022, I saw a general surgeon to have a Nissen Fundoplication to deal with my (horrible!!) reflux and repair my hiatal hernia. Problem was....my weight made it so there would be a high risk of both failure after a couple years and potential complications. He then suggested I see a bariatric surgeon (which was the first time anyone had ever made that suggestion. So off I went to see bariatrics. From the first appointment, Dr. Beekley was nothing but supportive. He never once belittled me over my weight, or made me feel like I was making excuses for my health. The entire team has been awesome. They keep up with me in myChart, letting me know what Pre-op clearances I needed, or if anything extra was needed from other providers (which, given all my health issues, there was always something extra that was needed lol). But all that hoop jumping was worth it. Now I'm packing my bag and getting ready to have my life completely changed for the better. While I may be increasingly nervous the closer I get to that OR, I'm also excited beyond belief. I've been stuck in this messed up body for entirely too long, and I can't wait to start leaving it behind and meet the woman I know is inside.

Hi there, Generally doing okay but have had a couple of bad days where I’ve struggled with cramps and bloating. Drinking water going well but some foods still upset my tummy. Weight loss has been steady. Lost 26kg ( 57.2 lbs) since my surgery on the 17th of July. Have my 3 month check up soon.

Hi there, Generally doing okay but have had a couple of bad days where I’ve struggled with cramps and bloating. Drinking water going well but some foods still upset my tummy. Weight loss has been steady. Lost 26kg ( 57.2 lbs) since my surgery on the 17th of July. Have my 3 month check up soon.

Going in for surgery on Monday for the exact same thing, I have Hiatal Hernia and severe GERD/Acid Reflux. I also gained back a bit of weight, so I'm definitely looking forward to having another chance at this.

It’s an interesting issue. I do understand the questions it might raise when your health professional makes a decision about their life you don’t understand such as feeling she did not think she really had a weight issue that would necessitate her taking Ozempic. I had questions & worried about my injectables nurse (not as serious as with your Dr). I liked her & how she treated me. She was cautious. She was a friend of a friend’s daughter & they both saw her. Then one day I went for my appointment & her face was deformed (well it was in my eyes). Overdone the fillers I thought. I couldn’t understand why she did as she was very attractive without it & questioned how cautious she really was in her treatments with me & others if she did that to herself. I commented upon it with my friend expressing my concern. Turned out she was pregnant & was having a terrible time with morning sickness, fluid retention & other issues which caused the ‘deformed’ look. So yes, I think the questions & doubts that arise are a pretty natural reaction. Usually we don’t know the real story behind why someone choses to do something or what they are experiencing & we never may. Doesn’t mean their care for us is any less. But it is your decision how you manage it. You have to feel comfortable & secure with them, their recommendations & treatments. The over prescribing issues is a whole other debate. I’d hope as your health improves & your blood work & other tests show you don’t need all your current meds she will stop prescribing those you don’t need any more. I’ve been fortunate with my doctors & I’ve been with my current GP for about 25 yrs but I worry about the day she retires. She initially had her own practice but joined one of those big chain medical clinics a couple of years ago. I dislike the impersonal nature of the staff but thankfully she is the same. My 83yr old mother is struggling to find a new GP after hers decided to specialise in skin cancers. She is finding establishing a new relationship, trust & respect difficult as well as having to go over 83 yrs of medical history with each one she has tried. They probably will start to think she is shopping different doctors to get additional drugs except they’ve all been at the same clinic so far. PS - Many of us experience our faces looking gaunt as we near our lowest weight. Remember my uncle telling me I looked like death (not to my face but to my mum). It settles over a few months as we know. Sure I look older than before (I am 58 not 21 so I should) but I look like real me. I don’t have fat distorting my features anymore. I love having a chin & jawline now, my hooded eyelids have practically vanished, my neck is thinner & longer & I have freakin’ cheekbones.

What about adding a higher calorie shake like the Ensure Complete Nutrition, which has 350 calories in a 10 oz serving? It's generally considered too high in calories for using if you're trying to lose weight, but if you had three of those per day, you'd be getting 1050 calories and 90g protein right there before even having soft foods. You should be able to manage that amount capacity-wise with no problem. They have 8g fat and 15g added sugar, which might cause some risk of dumping, but I would think it would be worth a try. It seems like you'll need to hit about 1400 calories per day minimum to stop losing weight, whereas in the early days the guidelines you get from the doctor that are intended for weight loss may put you well under 1000.

Mine is a PA. The key differences between the role of a PA vs. an MD come to light when complex issues arise. MDs have knowledge about complicated conditions that many PAs may not possess. I was not happy to leave my family doc of many years for her to begin with. But my insurance changed with work, and he was no longer considered in network, sadly enough. My company has their own doctors and pharmacy, and the coverage is amazing, but the choice of doctors there are limited. Yes, before ever considering WLS, I wanted to find an internist to sort out all the meds I was on. Some I knew were necessary, some were preventative and some questionable. To be told that I will be on all of them the rest of my life after my bariatric team told me otherwise was disappointing to hear and questionable. She's always been quick to prescribe meds. I didn't see her often but when I did, I always walked away with one or two more. She prescribed Ozempic to me years ago before it became a thing. I didn't take it long, after reading it caused tumors/cancer in mice plus it made me feel horrible every day. Then recently, when I saw her to get a release for WLS, she wanted to put me back on it. I declined. Ironically, we had a discussion about Ozempic face at that time. She told me if I lose too much weight in my face after surgery, to look her up and she will fix it. She owns a business that does fillers. botox etc. So she lives in that world. I guess I've always felt that since she is a PA, she may not be as knowledgeable as an MD when it comes to medication. But I will wait to see what the bariatric team tells me first before deciding anything. Like assuming I would change doctors based solely on her looks? I recently had 3 of her patients tell me they already changed doctors for some of the very reasons mentioned here. So nothing "snap" about it. If anything, I'm biding my time and giving her the benefit of the doubt. For now. Agree... I'm more holistically minded and need a doc who's likeminded. Not someone that hands meds out like candy. I'm not working this hard to be told I can never reverse the need for them. I realize it will take time and I may not be able to eliminate all of them but just never tell me never. Not yet anyway.

I had it done, and honestly, the recovery was SO SO SO much easier with the bypass than the sleeve for me. I had a ton of complications and the revision was the best thing possible. My only regret is that I wish I had just done the bypass to begin with. Losing weight with a revision goes A LOT slower, and you don't lose nearly as much as you do with the initial surgery. But you'll feel so much better and be able to get back to living your life.

Just checking in. It's 21 weeks since I was sleeved now. I'm down to 120.9 kilos, for a total loss of 34.1 kilos, or 75 pounds. I've lost exactly 22% of my total weight. I'm 5.9 kilos away from being halfway to my big goal of 75 kilos. Everything is going well, I need to be better with fluid and definitely need to be more active. My weight loss is very obvious, especially in my tummy. Down about 3 dress sizes I think, I haven't really been clothes shopping yet. I do need to though, especially for pants. I still have tops I can wear that were once too tight. I hope you're all well and @SynleeI hope you're closer to getting answers.

Hey everyone, My name is Sarah. I am 34 years old. I had VSG 13 years ago. Going from 335 pounds down to 180 in 18 months, I was considered a success. I have been through 2 pregnancies and as the years passed, the pounds crept back on. I am currently back to 290, and i suffer from SEVERE GERD daily. If I do not take heartburn medication several times a daily, i will be in agony and vomiting stomach acid despite what I choose to eat. I have had an endoscopy and I have a hiatial hernia and a lot of scar tissue. I am going to be converting my sleeve to a full gastric bypass in the upcoming month. During the procedure my hiatial hernia will be repaired and excess scar tissue removed. I am wanting to know if anyone else has had this conversion surgery. How did you feel afterward? How was the recovery and do you feel the conversion was it worth it? Who has gained weight back after sleeve and do you suffer from severe GERD and heartburn daily? Thank you for any input Sarah

I am 1 day less than 2 weeks out of a para esophageal sliding hernia repair and Sleeve to RNY revision. My reflux, BAM is gone. I'm not vomiting or feeling like yuck. My surgeon could do a DS and has. I'm not having problems and while it doesn't mean I will or won't later, at least I'm free of the medical issues and the like I had before. I'm also down about 35 pounds in the little over 2 months since I got sick. Really happy as the medical issues were outweighing the weight, especially at the end.

Yes!! I tend to stick to the same foods. I'm not sure (for me anyway) is: 1. Fear of food effects 2. Not losing the weight 3. My hatred of cooking 4. I just know I like what I'm eating or 5 A combo of all of them! Of course I'm only 6 weeks out sooo we shall see, but, to be honest I've always been a picky eater (I almost died as a toddler because I was picky) - I just know what I like!

In the early stages after bypass, there is a higher risk of dumping. I think that's why we're told to steer clear of the carby foods (aside from the weight loss aspect of things). I'm with @Arabesque, it's important that you consume highly-nutritious foods right now, while you're restricted. Perhaps adding fat will help? Again, with the risk of dumping, there may be some trial and error to work through. But fat is calorie-dense. Can you tolerate protein shakes? Adding a few of those each day might be a good way to boost your calories. Also, excess protein is stored as fat - that might be helpful for you.

My team hasn't responded to me. That was one reason I came on here... so surgeon is silent so far. That said, i am definitely still drinking protein shakes or wouldn't be getting in the amount of protein I need....although I am also doing Oikos greek yogurt and soft cheeses. I was trying to add the pasta on top of stuff, because at the rate of loss I am experiencing I will be under 100 pounds soon and I cannot afford that in terms of my height to weight ratio. I've already lost 16 pounds in just a few weeks and can't go a couple of months until I have the ability to be less restrictive. I hadn't thought of custard or adding milk powder to my soup however. I'll try both of those. Thank you.

Transitioning to maintenance was both easy & challenging for me. Easy was that I had already made my choices about how/what I was going to eat & had been eating that way for most of my weight loss. What I found difficult was being able to eat portions large enough to stop the weight loss & work out how much I needed to consume to maintain. It’s why I kept losing for another 11 months. Though I also believe this was where my body wanted to be. Yes, I weigh myself regularly & yes I worry about what I weigh right down to the grams. While I don’t consistently weigh & track what I eat every meal I am conscious about portion sizes & the calorie content of foods even when I’m dining out or socialising at a friend’s. I do random checks & introduce new foods/recipes slowly & carefully. And yes, I still do protein first, then vegetables too & aim to stick to nutrient dense foods. This is the longest I’ve been able to maintain my weight ever in my 58 years. But I’m not on a diet to lose or maintain my weight. This is just how & what I eat. (The power of words.) I enjoy eating & food but it’s a different focus in my life - it’s more about what I need & less about what I want. Hell yeah, the old mindless eating habits are still just there sitting on my shoulder. (Can’t eradicate them though would be amazing if we could.) A bit like that angel on one shoulder & devil on the other. I try to keep the Angel of new habits I’ve established as the dominant thinking & actions. On the days the devil is stronger, I usually catch myself but … there are times. Though I try not to beat myself up if the devil wins.

I’d worry about filling your tummy with a nutrient poor carb (pasta, rice, bread) especially at this stage when you’re on such a restricted diet still, eating so little & not being able to get in the more important nutrients. Remember protein, protein, protein. I presume you are still drinking protein shakes to get in the protein you need. What about making your own protein smoothies with more nutrient dense ingredients - like vegetables (blend & strain). What about adding a soft cheese to some meals or as a snack or some good fats like avocado. Add milk powder to cream soups, smoothies, etc. for extra protein & calories too. What about custard - calories & protein. You’ll likely find that once you’re through the first few months & the restricted diet, & able to eat more without vomiting & the other gerd related issues restricting your ability to eat & consume calories, you will put on weight & attain a weight you’re happier at. What does your surgeon say?

So happy for you! I took my son zip lining in Sri Lanka over the summer. He would never had done it himself and unfortunately my husband exceeded the 200 pound weight limit. Was so thankful i could go with my nine year old!

So many layers to unpack… let me first say that if it is your desire to come off some/all medications you need a doctor that will help you achieve that goal safely, if it is possible. Some truly may be life saving and necessary. You need to address it with every doctor that treats you and/or find one that will listen and guide you based on your needs and the facts. Her appearance could very well be something else- If she’d proven competent in other situations, Im not sure the weight loss alone would be a reason to leave. There are plenty of unhealthy, thin/overweight (insert unhealthy practice here, like smoking) doctors too. Keep in mind all doctors “practice medicine”. Practice being the key word.

Ok, so my "healthy weight" is 145-155. Well, back when I weighed that in high school, people thought I had an eating disorder because I looked sickly. When I weighed 160, it was better, but I always thought I looked my best between 170-180. But I didn't dare dream I could get there, so I made my goal 200, which still seemed low, but at least seemed possible. Now I'm eyeballing that 180 and thinking I might actually be able to get there. It's ok to change your goal. Nobody said once you choose it, it's set in stone

So, post-op he is definitely not advocating for a pound of veggies per day, at least no time soon. That goal is for a person who has not had surgery or is years out and has regained a pretty standard appetite. What he does suggest for bariatric patients is that for that honeymoon period of the first year or so, you focus on protein first. But as time goes on and your hunger returns and you have more capacity to add foods, you should increase the veggies you eat while keeping your protein and starch servings small by comparison. He likes to say veggies should be the star of your meal. In other words, instead of going from 3 oz of chicken to 6 oz so you can feel more full, you would eat your usual 3 oz of chicken and fill up the rest of the way on healthy veggies (but only to your personal capacity, whatever that is). Same with snacks. If you get hungry and need a snack, make it a healthy one with veggies instead of a junk food snack. From what I gather, the strategy is one that really helps to combat that weight gain in later years when it becomes a little too easy to eat a lot more like you used to (the way that got us all into trouble to begin with!)