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I’m in Houston, had my surgery in Pasadena. I lived in Plano for a little while, I love North Texas, it’s a lot more hilly and clean than Houston 😂 I have a couple suggestions (based on my experiences) try the Fairlife chocolate protein shakes (they sell them at Costco and Sams Club) and try the original Sabra Hummus, both are amazing after weeks and weeks of liquid diet! I had my first egg this morning, it was okay. I only got through about half of it though.

.I had my sleeve done on May third. I am 60 and have been in menopause for 8 years. I have never been heavy til menopause happened. 3 weeks before my surgery i started my pre diet. I ate 540 calories a day of protein and very low carbs. On my surgery day I had only lost 1 pound :(. I feel that with age also comes the slower metabolism. I am doing okay with the weight lose. I am a vegetarian, so it is interesting not getting to eat any fruit. But I am sticking to the strict diet given by my doctor. Only 1/4 cup a meal. I have been lift 5 pound arm weights as I know my arms are going to have alot of excess skin. It is strange to see my skin as it appears I am like a deflating ballon :). It is alot to get used to. My fatique is off the chart, but I am doing the best I can. One day at a time

Yay a fellow Texan! I’m up in north Texas. I had my surgery in Plano, but that’s about an hour from where I actually live. I guess that amount of weight loss is normal? I started at a slightly higher weight not too far off from yours so we seem to be tracking about the same, but I bet you’ll pass me up soon. From what I’ve seen, the weight falls off of men a little faster. This week has been slower so far. I’m down about 5lbs. Food is still going okay. I’ve had yogurt, strained soups and a tiny bit of pureed beans. Nothing crazy and only very small amounts. I’m able to finish my protein shakes and I can drink around 65-70oz of fluids for the day. You’re so lucky you get to eat eggs. I’ve been craving them. My first post-op appointment is next Tuesday. Maybe he’ll let me then too.

I haven’t had any regrets. 5-7 days after surgery is when you think “what the hell did I just do?” But then you are able to drink a little more protein each day & then you progress though all the food stages & you slowly start to feel better as the weight starts falling off. Then you feel amazing & wonder why you didn’t do it sooner! I think most of us were scared before surgery. It’s a natural response.

Funny how we have our quirks. My meat & cheese always goes up higher where it’s colder. My vegetable drawers aren’t as cold (so no half frozen vegetables) & have a moisture control so the vegetables don’t dry out. Plus they’re clear so you can see everything. I keep my protein bars in the egg shelf in the fridge door (removed the plastic thing the eggs slot into) & my HRT in the butter section.

It's 6 months since my mini gastric bypass. I have lost total of 55 Kg or 121.25 lbs. My weight loss trend is still hovering around 6 Kg (13.2 lbs) loss/month. But from last 3 months, I have seen increase in my hunger. In terms of percentage, the increase would be 20 % as compared to the 3 months back. Is this normal? I am also spending a lot of time for workout - around 6 hours of cardio and 12 hours for strength training + HIIT + weights every week. Not sure if that along with muscle i am developing is causing this hunger? or maybe its normal? Also, lost my job to layoffs recently but finances are not an issue. So just trying to maintain calm and avoid any emotional eating. My current weight is 92.5 Kg or 203.5 lbs. Should I get my metabolism evaluated to see my calorie requirement or wait upto 1 year for weight to stabilize? I had my surgery outside country of residence due to surgery wait times. I do teleconference with bariatric surgeon every 3 months, but no in person visit option available. Please suggest. Thank you

I agree with @The Greater Fool. Surgery really should be a last resort. It's the nuclear option. It's a life-changing event. You will forever be changing your relationship with food. The physical healing, complications, and learning how to eat are the easy part. When your hunger and food addiction issues kick in (and they will!), then the real work begins - and it's hard. I'm very happy that I had the surgery. I believe it saved my life. But, I had half a century of failed diets behind me and finally threw in the towel. If you think you can lose the weight by dieting, then I suggest that you do.

Things have been going pretty smoothly since bypass surgery June 6. The stages from the surgeon and nutritionalist seem fairly accelerated (compared to others I've looked up in the Internet). I would have a bowl of cream of wheat (3/4 cup of water) or a single egg omelet (adding some cooked mushrooms or shredded smoked salmon). All fine. The canned vegetables are pretty insipid but I don't feel like I'm ready for "raw" veggies and overcooked veggies (steamed) are kinda like the canned stuff- To celebrate my passage into regular food, I took a smoked turkey leg, reheated it, then stripped all skin and tendons off, leaving me with 1/2-3/4 cup of shredded meat. It was too much! I discovered what you folks call the "foamies"-- horrible. If I could have just puked and emptied my stomach, I would have been happy, but oh, no, all that came up was that dreaded froth. I was in major discomfort for hours and wound up falling asleep sitting up. Next day, I decided to go back to basics- just protein drink, Gatorade Zero, a little hummus and 1/2 my usual portion of cream of wheat. I'm now setting up a call with the nutritionist- interestingly, his plan disclaims any recommended portion size. And when I've looked at the internet, every plan is different, with different ranges of portions. I feel much better having gotten through that experience of foamies- whether it was the density of the meat, the quantity, or the smoked flavor, I have no idea but I'm gonna stay away from smoked meats, at least for now. Because I had a hiatal hernia repair, any sort of heavy lifting, sit-ups, etc. are taboo. I am walking (ironically, the mega grocery stores provide me with a venue for that since here in Texas, it's been over 100 degrees F until a couple days ago. Typical Texas summer). So, two questions: 1.portion size- we'll see what the nutritionist says; and 2.did most of you hit overload at some point on your journey? I have been losing weight. I definitely look and feel better, easier to walk without getting winded, etc. My best to all, Deep6

I understand the pain of trying to find a surgeon! I've been trying for the last two years to find a surgeon that would even touch me because I'm not actually having the DS done for weight loss (Although that is a really amazing benefit of it) I had a Nissen fundoplication done in 2005 that has failed and no surgeon wants to revise another's work here locally, so I'm going back and forth 5.5 hours each way to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. So I have a huge learning curve as this wasn't even something I thought was an option until my doctor told me it was his plan to fix me so that I'd have a chance at normalcy again. I'm just looking forward to being able to eat something with flavor. Everything gives me heartburn at this point (including certain brands of bottled water) it's nuts. I basically eat potato soup every day because I know it's something I can handle. I'm hopeful as we get closer and I learn more. But I have also come to the conclusion that some of this will just be embracing the suck.

Hey guys, Apologies for not updating this thread. I've been personally struggling with this weight loss despite everything. I've lost a bit more weight, but even with the help of the dietician, the weight loss is incredibly slow and it's still making me feel like a failure. On average it seems like I lose about 3 pounds a month despite the high protein intake, small meals, liquids and exercise. Today I woke up feeling particularly upset, as I started a 4 mile walking challenge to see if I could walk four miles every day for a week (in the morning). Today is Wednesday (day 3) and before i started walking, I decided to weigh myself. I've put on 2 and a half pounds since this SATURDAY just gone! I weighed myself yesterday morning too and I've put on a pound since then. I won't lie. I just burst into tears. I feel like i've been doing everything right. I'm burning around 3500 calories a day, according to my Fitbit watch. I'm eating/drinking between 50-80g of protein. I'm drinking my 2 liters of liquids and I'm still eating from a side plate, always prioritizing the protein first. I'm doing everything, but I feel like my body is rebelling against me. Everything in my being is telling me to start fasting and to start doing liquid diets/slimfast shakes again, but because I have a history of eating disorders, I don't want to lean back into old habits in order to lose weight. I bought slimfast meals two weeks and did the liquid diet/pouch reset for two days and lost a pound and a half - but I don't want to rely on only having liquids in order to lose weight. I've been loitering between 243-240lbs for over a MONTH now with no budge. I'm so disappointed in myself and it feels like all the exercise i'm doing is in vain. Has anyone gone through similar? Edited to add: My goal weight is 215lbs. Being bigger/curvy runs in my family, and I actually like being a little bigger as I find curves attractive so I purposely did not want to be unrealistic when setting my final goal. I've read elsewhere on the forum that weight loss can be harder when you're getting nearer to your goal or when you're in the last 20-30lbs of weight loss. Is this true?

I had a hard time with the soft food phase too. I was REALLY looking forward to a deviled egg, but now eggs make me nauseous, and I was sick of yogurt. Mashed potatoes were allowed, but not encouraged because of the carbs, so I would have mashed potatoes with cheese or with unflavored protein powder and garlic every couple days and Tyson has a flavorful frozen chicken fajita that I heat with bone broth to make it moist and soft and chew the heck out of it. I got bored with refried beans really quick but adding taco sauce and cheese helped. If you like to cook (I don't) you can find a lot of things you can do with foods to make them more appealing. My phase 3 allowed meats other than beef, which was restricted to once a month. I was supposed to work up to it, but I added it pretty quick because I tolerated it well. Maybe you are allowed a turkey burger as long as you chew it really well? I'm the type of person who craves when I can't have something, so I have to allow myself little cheats. I find that as long as I CAN, I can resist better and don't get carried away with the cheating. For example, I craved salt and would occasionally suck on a salt and vinegar chip or 3 until dissolved. Those salt cravings are almost non existent now. Talk with your dietitian about your cravings and alternatives. I confessed to her about the chips and that I found a carb conscious tortilla that I'd use 1/2 of for my refried beans. She was OK with it as long as I showed restraint and tolerated it. Keep those food logs up and don't lie to your dietitian. Being accountable will help you stick to your diet. They are there to help you, not judge you. At the tail end of my phase 3 when they upped my calorie and protein goals she allowed me to add nuts as long as I chew it into peanut butter consistency.

I craved salad during my soft food stage. When I was finally cleared at 2 months to eat raw veggies, I made myself one and used Skinny Girl FF, SF Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing and hard boiled egg for protein. It tasted wonderful and despite the fact that I chewed well and sloooowly, it just didn't set well with my tummy. I will continue to try them again off and on. Some days it's OK but another it's a no go. I won't give up though. Salads are just too good. Funny.. baby carrots go down way easy with no problems on their own. 🥕

REading your post, I can so relate to rewards/family connection around food- it’s so HARD! Good news is that you can shift that to something new over time— and still enjoy those family bonding moments. But in the beginning with hormones raging- and yes, fat holds estrogen so its flushing out as you loose— it is so emotional. You have not lost that forever, it’s just evolving. Soon it can be more about being together than the eating part. Definitely consider getting a counselor on your team- even if you get one on your own, find one with eating disorder experience, mine has helped more that dietician even. DBT and CBT are great treatment options with therapist, imo. As for the 6-10 pm hide out- is there anything you can do outside your home to keep you engaged in something healthy for you? I started organizing my home, doing small projects, walking or even just going for a car ride to keep my mind occupied. Movement, fresh air and exercise is great for our mood/mental health. Or do you have any hobbies/interests you can engage in to get out of the headspace? Maybe any volunteering? Even just playing with a pet can lift my mood. Medication can also really help. You are incredibly brave and can do this— dont give up and soon you will be on the other side of it with a healthier version of you.

Pals, Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and wisdom. You have given me so much to think about that I have decided to cancel my consult scheduled next week. Very true that the experience my sister endured has a major influence on my hesitancy. You've also shared information I did not know about, such as the bypass may be reversible and the Reshape vest that may be an option down the road. I've also read posts where people with Bands had complications and suffered for weeks and months before their issues were addressed. Thanks for sharing and helping me realize I need to hit the pause button! Happy Independence Day!

Big hugs! I want to say good for you for taking this step at 19! I'm 50 and should have done this in my 30's. A lot of time and opportunities wasted. The week's after surgery are super hard. I promise it gets better, especially as you reintroduce food, even if it is pureed! Please don't stress too much about protein right now. The most important thing it's to stay hydrated. Hitting protein goals is pretty tricky the first 6 weeks imo. It's only in in thr past 2 weeks I'm getting there as my diet becomes more regular and I'm in a routine. I preplan my meals for the week and ensure I have healthy snacks that help me meet my protein goals. I look on Pinterest all the time for inspiration. Use this time to think ahead and get some ideas for the future. You'll get better at being in situations with food. It doesn't bother me. Tonight they got takeaway and I skipped it as I'd preplanned a meal I'm looking forward to. In no time you’ll be able to eat with your family, just smaller portions. It just becomes normal. Hang in there!

How are we all going? I'm good, just waiting for my dinner to cook. How is everyone going hitting goals? Water is a struggle still, it's a really cold winter here which doesn't help. Something I really need to improve on. Protein is going much better these days, I'm getting around 60 grams daily. My dietician said 80, that's a bit out of reach atm. Although I have a Ninja Creami on the way and I'll be making very high protein frozen yoghurt, can't wait! Hard to believe we're in the second month of our new lives!

Sorry posted to wrong thread. Didn't know how to delete. Had my surgery June 12th. I am 3 weeks out and down 18 lbs! I just finished pureed foods and have started on a little bit of soft foods. I haven't really been hungry, up until today. Today I am soooo hungry. I'm not sure how to handle it. All I can think about is "real food". I had cream of wheat for Breakfast, a smoothie for lunch and Soup for dinner. I DO NOT want a Protein Drink (I am sooo sick of them and it is all I can do to choke them down now). I want macaroni salad and a hamburger, lol. Of course I am NOT going to do that, but where did this come from all of a sudden and what do I do?

Hi all, I just had the gastric sleeve done on 6/21, and I am having so many feelings of loneliness and regret. I know this is a normal thing among people who have received bariatric surgeries, but even that thought doesn't bring me comfort. I stayed up all night the past 2 nights feeling like I just made the biggest mistake of my life, wondering why I didn't just exercise and eat healthier and spare my body and mind from this irreversible change. The first 4 days after surgery were the toughest for sure. Physically, that is. The pain was unmanageable even with the pain medications my doctors prescribed. Now the pain is (mostly) gone, and the liquid diet is killing me. I can't even think about FairLife Core Power Elite protein shakes without gagging (I dry heaved just writing the name out). I've tried what feels like every protein powder under the sun, and nothing seems to be enjoyable. Normally if I didn't like something, but needed to get it down for whatever reason, I'd just chug it. And I can't even do that anymore. I've always been an emotional eater, so now that when I'm sad and I can't eat, I get even sadder. Despite all of this, I think what keeps tearing me down is the feeling of loneliness. Now, I'm 19 years old with an awesome support system from my parents, siblings, and awesome friends. And I appreciate the hell out of all of them. But none of them understand. This has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my 19 years and I have no one in my circle who can even attempt to relate to these specific feelings. I am staying with my parents right now, which is nice. But, my family is filled with people whose lives revolve around food. Every birthday, every special occasion, and even the rewards when my siblings and I were little were all food-based. That's how my family socializes and bonds with each other. And that's not something I can do (I know just for a little bit but time seems to be going by so slowly). I literally hide in my room from 6pm-10pm because if I were to go downstairs everyone would be out there eating something that looks so delicious and having a great time together. When I explain these things to my mom, she just says "Well just come down and drink a protein shake with us!". It's definitely not the same because of all of the sadness and FOMO I feel when I see them eating things I can't have for at least 5 more months. And with the 4th of July being tomorrow (a holiday that my family spends drinking and eating from morning until night), I feel like I have no choice but to spend the holiday in my room watching the Dodgers game by myself. It just feels like I'm drowning in a swimming pool and no one can get through the gate to save me. I'm sorry this post is such a downer. Maybe I'm just overreacting. I just needed to get this off my chest and I hope at least one person on this site can relate. Thank you for reading.

I started small bits of lettuce/salad mix in the past few weeks- im just at the four month mark. No issues, but no real room for more than a bit or two after putting the protein first.

I was about 7 weeks out from RNY and desperate for some raw veg so I tried chopped lettuce with turkey and it wasn’t a problem. I’m now eating small portions of salads: greens, carrots, cukes, tomatoes, peppers but always with a dressing and no more than a cup if that. Plus I eat protein first. I feel I got lucky re: veggies. That said, I get dumping syndrome if I have any sugar that isn’t fruit.

I’m sorry you are going through this. Yes the spasms are incredibly painful and are often mistaken for a heart attack although they last for hours. Mine is not caused by reflux and my EGDs all come back clear with no GERD but that is rare. Most nutcracker is triggered by that. It is diagnosed usually with an EGD when they measure the pressure of the restriction. As for treatment, everyone responds a little differently. They treat any acid reflux and try dietary changes, medications such as nitroglycerin sometimes help. One surgeon told me his patients take mint oil or mint tea at the onset of an attack and it really helps. There is a surgery called a POEM surgery that can help. Also, some get Botox injections in their esophagus. It works but overtime can give scar tissue which causes other problems. Discuss the best option for you with your dr. I was diagnosed after a few attacks, I went into the ER and they thought it was a heart attack but wasn’t. Then tested for gallbladder, then spleen, then for pancreatitis. After all was ruled out a Dr tested for nutcracker. I hope you get some relief soon. Hang in there

I like Ensure Max Protein for my full liquids. I am July 26th for the SADI (from my 2018 sleeve) so I go on the 2 week July 12th. My prior sleeve post op was rough because I am sensitive to gas. I was campbell tomato soup, chicken broth from Swanson, and gatorade. I did try crystal light- every flavor and I was dehydrated through the first month. I just could not get protein and liquids into my sleeve. For my SADI... I hope I can drink after. I have multiple flavors of protein shakes ready and beef/chicken broths ready to go. I think because I experienced a major stomach surgery before, I kind of know what to expect. And I expect gas, pain, and poop (TMI? sorry!). You have to get in liquids. If you do stock up prior, get a variety of flavors and brands. Buy the store brand and find coupons. If you have food stamps, a lot of this is covered. Go for liquids that have protein like broths but also basic soups. If you have a favorite flavor right now, get it. If it is something you know you will drink, it is better to have on hand. I knew I would drink gatorade and not surprised I balked at the crystal light. Hope this helped some?

Hi! I had the sleeve at NYU with Dr. Shweck in Aug 2018. I got my gallbladder removed May 2019. As I did regain 80 lbs, I consulted again (as recommended by my vascular doctor). I went to NYU Brooklyn and spoke to Dr. Cheema and he recommended the SADI over Gastric Bypass because I am a smoker and there can be a high rate of ulcers. I am scheduled for 07/26/23 and I am very high risk so being admitted day before. Dr. Cheema and the endoscopy both showed my sleeve was perfect still and there was absolutely no need to redo it. The restriction is still there, just now we are adding the malabsorption which is typically stage 2 anyways. As per Dr. Cheema, the SADI is a safer and newer version of the DS with slightly less intestine bypassed and it connects the sleeve directly. With the DS, there are 2 cuts for connections created to bypass. With the sleeve done already, it is much less of a risk and still goes straight to malabsorption. You will need high A D E K vitamins plus iron and calcium and B12. You will experience different symptoms then just the sleeve such as increased dumping likely for sugar and fat. You will still be restricted to eat small meals and you will still need a ton of protein. Until I get mine, that is the best I can tell you. Look up different articles on DS and SADI and ask your doctor specifically which procedure is being done and what are the cons. Good luck!

My doctor's plan said to introduce lettuce at stage 5, which was around 2 months and raw veggies after that stage. The nutritionist also suggested the same timeline, even though we were prioritizing proteins, she said to leave a little bit of space for some vegetables so your new stomach can learn to eat different foods and relearn how to digest it.

I'm so sorry you had to go through such a harrowing experience with your sister. Experiences like these can shape our decisions, and I can understand your concerns. I personally lived with the lap band for 15 years. Over the years, it slipped twice, eventually eroded, and had to be removed. While it did help me maintain my weight, it was uncomfortable and caused other health issues, and in hindsight, it's not something I would recommend given my experience. That being said, it's clear you're considering the lap band due to your specific circumstances and past experiences. If you're set on going forward with the band, you might want to wait a little longer for a new option on the horizon. ReShape has recently submitted a Premarket Approval (PMA) to the FDA for a next-generation lap band, known as Lap Band 2.0. I saw it firsthand at ASMBS in Las Vegas recently, and it addresses some of the issues associated with the original band. Wishing you all the best in your journey.