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P.S. regarding vomiting - I did experience some in the early weeks after surgery - I had to figure out what my stomach was going to tolerate (I can now eat pretty much anything - and have been able to for years - I just have to watch my portion sizes to avoid gaining weight). I don't vomit any more now than I did before I had surgery. But I just wanted to say that vomiting after surgery is different from vomiting before surgery. Your stomach is much smaller, so there's not much to vomit up. Plus your stomach is not producing as much acid, so you don't get that horrible taste in your mouth, either. It tastes the same coming up as it did going down. So suffice it to say, I don't dread vomiting like I did before I had surgery.

Exactly as @catwoman7 said. Stalls are an important part of your weight loss. It’s when your body takes stock (the changes you’ve made are pretty stressful to your poor body), reassesses your needs & then adjusts your digestive hormones, metabolic rate, etc. The stall will break when your body is ready to move forward again - usually 1-3 weeks. Let it take the time it needs, stick to your plan & it will be fine. Oh, and you’ll likely have more stalls along the way. All the best. PS - congrats on your weight loss so far!

Weight loss is never a straight down ward line. It zigs & zags, goes up & down & plateaus. As long as your general trend is downwards you’re golden. The thing about averages is all they give you is an idea of what might happen not what definitely will happen. In saying that, if you’re currently averaging about a 15lb a month weight loss then in three months you can expect to lose about 45lbs which puts you in the middle of your average 40-50lb loss at three months. But it really doesn’t matter whether you do or don’t. Yes, we do tend to lose more in the first months & then our rate of loss slows. It doesn’t mean your weight loss is over though. When you get closer to the weight you stabilise at it can feel like it’s going to take forever to lose the last pounds - like losing ounces each week. I kept losing at that slow rate for months after I reached my goal at 6 months. I lost another 11kgs over the next 11 months. (I wasn’t actively trying to lose but my body wanted to lose more.) So I was losing for about 17 months in total. The averages were completely off the mark for me. Breath. Work your plan. And celebrate every pound you lose.

Hi! I'm new here. I went through about six months of the process for WLS about four or five years ago, but I didn't lose weight during the six-month pre-op phase, so things stopped. I had also been running across many horror stories (mostly on social media), which made me think that maybe it was for the best, anyway. Well, five years later, I weigh no less than I did back then. I have a huge list of co-morbidities, some of which are related to weight, some I had prior to my weight gain, and a couple that cause weight gain. I'm on over ten meds a day, and I'm only 42 (well, 43 in a few days). I feel like I'm falling apart. I think the last straw was that my oldest son got married in June. I saw myself in the wedding photos. I ruminated on that for a few weeks, and then woke up one morning and decided I was sick of obesity and everything that goes along with it. So, I asked my PCP for the referral, and I have my first appointment in September. Because I did six months of their program and because I read their patient handbook, I have a better idea of what is expected of me than I might otherwise. But I'm angry. I'm angry that I'm going to have to give up my favorite foods or accept sugar-free versions (and I can't stand artificial sweeteners; I'm actually really worried about it because most protein drinks/powders seem to rely on them). I'm angry that I won't be able to eat like everyone else. I'm angry that I'll have to go through so much physically. I'm angry that I have to lose weight to have surgery to help me lose weight that I need because I can't lose weight on my own. And I'm angry that it's such a long process. If I have to do it, tell me what to do, let me sulk over it for a few days, and then let's just do it. I know that's not how it works, and I don't know why I'm so angry. I have no one to blame but myself for being in this mess. I made a list of positives that could come from the surgery, and I got a full two pages. So I shouldn't be angry. And I realize my reaction shows that I have inappropriate attitudes toward food. I've discussed it with my therapist, and we're going to work on it, but I guess I was wondering if anyone else dealt with this and what helped them get past it. TIA!

I agree with everything Arabesque said. Lots of us have issues with eggs the first few weeks or months out. I'd lay off them for awhile. For most of us, it's just temporary. only about 30% of bypassers dump. I never have - and I know lots of others who never have. If you turn out to be a dumper, you can prevent it by limiting the amount of sugar you eat at one sitting (some people dump on fat - so for those folks, they have to limit the amount of fat they eat at one sitting). That egg you ate definitely wasn't dumping - it was just the infamous egg intolerance.

Hey guys! I'm currently nearing the end of my first week of the pureed stage and I was wondering how many calories I'm supposed to be consuming? My doctor never really talked about it. Any suggestions from your surgeons? Thanks!

Way to go on losing 32lbs! Sounds good to me. I know your frustration though. I am 4.5 months out and have lost almost 60lbs but I have been "stuck" at 172 for about 2 weeks. UGH! I have had a couple stalls here and there but none that lasted this long. It is aggravating but as everyone always says, stick with the plan and your stall will come to an end and you will lose more weight. Congratulations on your weight loss journey so far!

No acne, but a pimple which is odd at my age (56) and then I broke out in a rash at my thyroid area, asked my nephrologist about it and he said it isn't my thyroid so now I have no idea WTH it is??? I have had my surgeon say and a surgeon I am following on Youtube, Dr. John Pilcher out of San Antonio, Tx, say repeatedly about how the bariatric surgery somehow resets your hormones so I'd say it is probably "normal" to have hormonal changes affecting your body like a teen in puberty. I normally have very clear skin and it is usually in great shape for my age but it has been very dry since surgery (but I had also discontinued my thyroid meds at the time of surgery and have since re-started) and I feel like I look like my skin has aged 5 years since! IF this doesn't improve and the red blotch doesn't go away by next week I'm going to see a regular md and then a dermatologist bc I hate the look of it. Another weird thing to consider: We are all probably eating more fats/meats than before surgery? Broths and cream soups can have high fat contents, eggs, cheeses, etc. especially if it wasn't your "usual" diet. I rarely ate eggs/breakfast foods but have been waking very hungry and it is one of the few soft foods so I've gone through nearly 3 dozen eggs these last 31 days! I don't think I've ever eaten so many eggs. Ditto with Chicken broth and cream of chicken soup. /for the pimple I just wiped it with alcohol, used my metal face pimple clearer thingy to scrape/pop it off and reapplied alcohol and it was dried up and gone the next morn. p

unless you're the size of someone on "My 600 lb Life", 14 lbs in three weeks is pretty normal. Most of us "average" WLS patients lose somewhere in the 15-25 lb range the first MONTH, so you'll end up somewhere in that range. as for stalling at three weeks post op, do a search on it on this site. I just did. There are literally 17,501 posts on it. Happens to almost everyone. To get through it, stick to your plan and back what off on weighing yourself. Maybe weigh just once or twice a week until it breaks. And it WILL break, as long as you stick to your plan. Usually lasts 1-3 weeks. And it'll likely be the first of many stalls.....

I'm 3 weeks post op and have only lost 14 lbs and now have hit a stall for almost a week. I was losing like a pound a day during full liquids. Now I am in soft food stage and haven't lost a lb since starting soft food. How do I break this stall. I've only lost 14 lbs and almost 4 weeks post op. Sent from my SM-N970U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I appreciate your kind words. I just worry because I always hear that you get most of your weight loss in the first three months and I've only gone back to my 'normal' from about a year ago (280s-290s). When I weigh, sometimes I see the weight even go up by a pound (like this morning). Meanwhile, I used online calculators to estimate weight loss and they kept saying I should be losing like 40-50 pounds during the first three months and so I worry about 'wasting' this apparently golden period of weight loss.

Eggs are notoriously difficult for many to eat in the beginning (chicken is another troublesome food) so it could be that. Actually for a while you may find there are a few foods your tummy says no to for seemingly no logical reason (it can be a fussy, petulant, temper throwing two yr old for a while). Or it could be while your team said your ready for the next stage, your tummy actually isn’t. It’s not uncommon to move to the next stage but your tummy says no so you go back to the previous stage for a few more days. Or it could be hat the serve was too much for you & your tummy protested. Your team will advise on portion sizes but sometimes it takes time to build up to that size. You can only eat what you can eat. Don’t force yourself to eat more than you can. Some days you just don’t want that much - it’s all part of learning to listen to your body & it’s signals & needs. You can graze on it a little later on or not bother with it at all. My fridge was frequently filled with unfinished meals. it would take me three days to eat two scrambled eggs - I just portioned it up & reheated the next portion the next day. Try sipping a warm drink like a herbal or green tea. I often find a warm drink like tea soothing. (And yes it counts as a fluid.) Dumping is a response to eating something that is high fat or high sugar. It’s actually not that common & if it does effect you it’s easy to ensure it doesn’t happen again by avoiding those foods. All the best.

Hi Peggy Anne, I just couldn’t do puréed meats or much of anything puréed, thankfully it was my 4th week and I survived on the eggs then cream soups and ground sausage. having meatballs with a brown gravy and mash potatoes for dinner. I’m happy to say that it was my first full day away from home for dr appointments and I left at 9 and got back at 9 pm and I had breakfast was 1/2 small Wendy’s chili lunch Popeyes 1 chicken strip with red beans no rice small Early snack dinner Jacks chicken finger and a small mash w gravy Having a very light dinner so it was fairly easy and happy no problem with the chicken. about to see where my calorie count is at I’m happily retired for six years now. what kinds of crafts? I like to do some crafts I see on YouTube videos and am threatening to turn one of the spare rooms that I have a bunch of craft items in into my craft room but haven’t had time since we bought this house in February. wishing you great success with your show!!!

I’m 10 weeks post surgery and still have this problem. For me, it’s eating one bite too many. The foamies happen and it feels better to just to get rid of that bite. I’m still learning what I can and can’t eat. Things I heard were tough to eat, like chicken are not hard for me. I can’t eat any kind of pasta, bread, or cracker. It’s very painful, I sweat profusely when I eat a food my new stomach doesn’t like, and I literally have to lie down until that feeling subsides. I struggle with getting my water and protein in daily. It has gotten easier since I was six weeks post-op, and I feel like it will get better with time. I did learn my trigger when I’m full, my sinuses get stuffy and I sneeze over and over. Just eat slow. My trigger doesn’t happen until about five minutes after my last bite. I always put my food to the side and re-visit it in an hour or two. I’ve lost 35lbs so far! Patience and learning your new tummy is key.

I'm now in the September group. I was booked for my RNY yesterday and after sitting in my super sexy drafty gown & see through blue booties for 5 hours (I was the last case of the day and they were running behind from the start), an emergency case came into the hospital and 'stole' my nursing team and my surgery was cancelled. Definite lunchbag letdown. I'm now booked for the first slot of the day on Sept 14. Thankfully I've been given an alternate real food diet and don't have to work through another two weeks of OptiFast, so I'm taking that as a win.

I struggle with eating chicken at almost 5 months out from surgery. I can't imagine eating it at under 3 weeks. And even though I have clearance to eat regular food now, some things I just don't. I try different foods and quickly learn if it's a no go or not. I figure I have the rest of my life to eat it again at a later point. So, I try not to force things too quickly, just because I can. Especially If it makes me feel unwell. In your case, there's a big difference between puree and a drumstick. But everyone's food plan/tolerances are different after WLS when it comes to timing of food consistency phases. So, I get that people test the boundaries. I myself was too much of a chicken sh*t to try it for fear of damaging my new tummy. Which can happen. From what I understand, a leak or damage would cause excruciating pain, fever, sepsis etc. So, you would know it. But I would be curious if anyone here has had a leak or blew out their staples and lived to tell about it??? Would be quite the cautionary tale. 🤔

I'm going to try and keep this from being too long, but there's so much to say!!! First I'll start with my newest NSVs. I'm officially in a size 18 clothes (from my original size 30), size 10 shoes (from my original size 11), size 6 1/2 ring (from my original size 10), 18" chain on a necklace (from my original 24" chain), and 2x jacket (from my original 4-5x). I can now comfortably fit on a massage table without fear of it creaking or breaking. I can now ride a bike because I'm within the weight limit. I now am able to hit my favorite thrift stores and walk out with seriously cute clothes that look nice, sit well on me, and actually fit comfortably!! My asthma is almost completely gone (I only have it when I get super sick now instead of all the time). My blood work came back and my hormone levels are almost in the normal range (I have PCOS) and my cysts that completely COVERED both ovaries are totally gone (without having taken any meds or done any hormone therapies!!) I did a 6 mile hike this past weekend with my son. I am completely pain free and am able to go full on beast mode with my workouts again. I can go up 5 flights of stairs before I need to stop and rest. Now for my new chapter in life and old dreams becoming new again. So years ago, I wanted to become a nurse. I completed all of the academics with a 4.0, aced all the labs, but couldn't do any of the clinicals because I couldn't do all the walking, I was 400 pounds, and my health/joints/back were way too bad. So I gave up on it. Then about 2 years later, I thought "well, maybe I can be a medical assistant. Surely THAT'S not as hard" and once again, I couldn't do the externship because I couldn't do the physical stuff. So I went into other areas for work, ballooned up to 421 pounds, worked remotely, and made good money. I loved what i did, but there was always a part of me that regretted not being able to go into the medical field. That was my heart's desire. So fast forward to now. I'm between jobs and miserable. I had to stop working because of all my complications from my first surgery. Now that I've been cleared, I can't get hired anywhere. So I decided that now is a great time to go back to my dream of working in the medical field. So on Sept 5th, I start school to become a certified pediatric oncology medical assistant. Most of my previous credits transfer over, so I only have about 6 months of academics to do and then the externship. Then I sit for my certification exam and then I get to finally FINALLY do what I've always wanted to do. By my 46th birthday next June, I should be right where I want to be, doing what I want to do, and hopefully at my goal weight. I'm sitting here in tears as I type this, because I thought this was something I would never see happen. I resigned myself to being morbidly obese, extremely unhealthy, and needing a cane to get around. I may not be at my goal weight (the weight comes off a lot slower with a revision, and also as your bmi gets smaller and you get closer to your goal) but I believe eventually I'll get there. But the things this surgery is giving to me, the dreams I can live out, the health and wellness and years of my life I'm getting back..... it was all worth it. The complications, the uncertainty, the pain and healing and stalls.... all completely worth it. We all start this journey wanting the numbers on the scale to go down. But there's SO MUCH MORE this surgery gives you. I will never, ever regret my decision. Never.

Based on a weight loss of 32 pounds in 9 weeks, that is an average weekly loss of 3.5 pounds. Excellent. I average a 2-pound loss a week and completely happy with it. The consistent downward trend I see on the scale is exciting to watch. Especially after years of failed dieting. If you must weigh daily, add up each day's weight for a week, then divide by how many days you stepped on the scale. Then compare week by week. I did this method years ago since this helps factor in water weight fluctuations. which can cause up to 5 pounds of variation daily, depending on sodium intake and menstrual cycles. I weigh once a week now and let my RENPHO smart scale do the math for me. It also takes bodyfat percentage which to me is a more important measurement as compared to the daily ups and downs of those weight scale numbers. Also, a stall here or there is to be expected while our bodies readjust but I'll take it. GL and congrats on your recent WLS @DustyRecording

32 lbs in two months is excellent. You've lost more than I did in that time frame. Also, stalls are common. You're likely to experience several of them on your journey. When you hit one, make sure you stick to your plan, and back off on weighing yourself for awhile - maybe only once or twice a week until the thing breaks. And as long as you stick to your plan, it WILL break. Usually takes 1-3 weeks to run its course.

Yes, 32lbs is a good loss over two months. There’ll always be people who lose more/lose faster while others lose more slowly & there’s nothing wrong with either way. Yes stalls can be frustrating but they are an important part of your weight loss. It’s when your body takes stock of the changes you’ve made (weight loss, reduced food intake, increased activity, etc.). Think of it as your body being stressed by these changes. Your body then resets things like your digestive hormones, metabolic rate etc. so it can better manage your new needs. Your stall will end when your body is ready to move forward again & they usually last 1-3 weeks on average. Leave the scales for a few days or reduce how often you weigh yourself. Take some body measurements as some say the scales don’t move but their body is still getting smaller.

This is so true! I’m 2 weeks out as of tomorrow, and everyday there are huge strides. One thing: dumping syndrome is no joke, so be sure to do what your medical team is telling you to do and don’t do something stupid like have a half-cup of Thai soup broth with coconut milk in it—like this idiot did. (Me😬) You are going to be just fine, @Danielle07!

Peggy Anne, I feel your pain. I'm supposed to move from pureed to more soft foods this week. I have stalled in my weight loss but I also have a thyroid issue now apparently. My dr did a blood check last week and my t4free is low but I quit my Levothyroxine at the time of the surgery bc they told me the thyroid was too high at that point...smh. For the last week I've been so tired I can barely walk, and then I developed a rash on the thyroid area of my neck and other thyroid symptoms so I started the meds back a couple of days ago but they still haven't helped. I called the nurse at my surgeon's office to ask if they had seen my results (i got them the next day) and she said basically she could make me an appointment but that really isn't their issue? I guess she wanted me to see my primary care dr but since I don't actually HAVE A REGULAR DR I told her I'm seeing my nephrologist tomorrow and I'd see if he could tell me what to do. I'm kind of like Why am I following up with the surgeon at all bc apparently if there is an issue, he won't handle it so I'm going to get labs done and sent to him to tell me to see a regular dr.???? About your meatballs....I had 1/4 lb of ground beef I cooked w./brown gravy and put over some mashed potatoes that stayed down so I took out a 1 lb pack of 12 frozen, pre-made meatballs last night that I thought I'd cook down in some spaghetti sauce. Didn't consider adding cheese but I thought I'd cook meatballs in the air fryer and then drain well and add to some store bought sauce. I am missing vegetables, carbs too like rice, breads, potatoes, etc. but the veg is almost a craving since I haven't had anything green in 30 days. I'm maybe eating 2-3 times a day, I also tried a piece of baked tilapia with butter and seasonings that stayed down well with no issues. It seems anything without a sauce or gravy causes issues, nothing too dry. Other than that I seem to be progressing along in the healing up process. Now if I can just get the strength back and walk across the room ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ:)

Hello, I know stalls are frustrating, but we all have them. Your body has to adjust and that is what happens when you stall in the beginning, once you re further out, you have to look at what you are eating, how much, and if you are exercising enough. As far as 32 pounds in 2 months... sounds good to me. Its more than you probably lost in 2 month pre-surgery. 😊

So I got my surgery on June 22nd - about nine weeks ago. I am 5'8", 35F, and started out at 320, I'm currently 288 for a loss of 32 pounds over about two months. Is that okay? For the last week or so, I've had a really rough stall and barely been losing anything. Some days I'll even gain a pound. This is my second stall. I normally eat between 600 and 1000 calories (mostly about 800) and almost entirely protein really. Is there an issue with me? Is my weight loss rate okay or is it too slow? I feel like I should have lost like 50 pounds by now. What about this stall?