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I am going to recommend something I personally subscribe to, which is the online support groups through the Pound of Cure Weight Loss's nutrition program. It's $49 per month and you get unlimited online groups and classes, including groups run by Dr. Weiner, the bariatric surgeon, and Zoe, the registered dietician. They are both so nice and really helpful in answering questions and offering thoughtful advice. While he's not in your area (the practice is in Arizona), I know he's one of the few doctors out there who is happy to take patients who had surgeries elsewhere. If you're not already familiar with Dr. Weiner's book Pound of Cure, I can't suggest it enough. I bought it from Amazon last summer and it helped me start turning around my nutrition while I was waiting for surgery. Their podcast and video series on YouTube are also invaluable.

Have you considered getting started for your follow ups with another practice? It sounds like you could benefit from someone with some medical expertise to help get gpu into a routine that with work for you. Others who have experienced this may have some suggestions but Most offices have a NP that can probably help quite a bit with the blood sugar while maintaining your weight as well.

I am really hoping that my husband and I can go on a vacation. Any vacation honestly. It has been so many years since we have had one. Between my insecurities and anxieties about my weight and the physical limitations we just haven’t found anything that seems exciting enough both of us to justify the expense. We could really use some“us” time and my husband would never admit but he would benefit from some time off. I think I may suggest to him that we go somewhere to celebrate when I hit my goal. Then we have a while to work out the details. I always wanted to go to Alaska but I think that’s mostly because I knew that it wouldn’t be too hot for me like so many other common vacation spots. I really hope that my heat tolerance goes up a bit and I can expand my options to different places. I am still only a week out so I have time to add to my list. I’m sure as my mental health improves jt will be easier for me to imagine some of these things for myself.

What one thing can you say once I've lost my weight I want to...___________________! It will happen sooner than you know, start making plans now it gives you a goal other than lost weight!

Wow these are all amazing ideas. I have struggled with Depression so long due to my Bipolar Disorder but exacerbated by the weight that I have just been dreaming of doing normal things like going to family functions without tremendous anxiety about my weight or physically being able to handle the outdoor activities without dying because of the heat and physically being able to keep up with the house chores and mentally feeling well enough to do any of that. I can’t even wait to start dreaming of action packed vacations and things like that. You guys are giving me tons of inspiration.

Hmmmm this is great to think about! 1. Coach my daughters or sons basketball team or any sports teams (I signed up as my daughters basketball coach for the winter, I missed the window for my son since he's in Junior High and I was too scared to do that when I was 300lbs) 2. Finish my bachelors and get a job in my field (got the B.S now need the job lol) 3. Get into fitness and health (its amazing how much my body has transformed with taking up fitness) 4. Buy a pair of REALLY expensive jeans when I am done losing weight!!! (right now I wear Old Navy, A&e on clearance but I want a pair of really nice perfectly fitted jeans, just once in my life!) I know there is lots more but this is the tip of iceberg!

As long as she doesn’t think that you’re some sort of drug fiend and that you’ve lost weight because of imbibing Class A drugs with a Baileys chaser 😉

Hello all! After seeing all the responses on the post topic " What do you wish you should of done before surgery" it got me wondering what Do You Have Planned or What have you done since having had your surgery that you used to reward yourself, or thought you'd never be able to do prior to surgery that either you can now or have added to your will do list that you thought "if only"....? I'm curious about what we've put off doing beforehand or what you couldn't do before losing the weight and have added it to your " bucket list". Life is short and I want to read how you're going to enjoy it now! I'm looking for inspiration. I look forward to living vicariously through you! I'll start: * I used to train and show hunt seat and dressage, I just started back up! * I used to sail and scuba. Next year I will be adding it to my plans. * I purchased a professional bow and I'm having a friend who's been scouted for the Olympics teach me! * I've added ballroom dance to my list. * I'm back to my daily yoga. * I've got some vacations on the schedule to Hawaii and Spain to visit some old friends! Its just a start, so many amazing things to do now.

The SADI is a modified version of the DS where when they bypass a portion of the bowels they only need “Single Anastmosis,” which means connection and is the first two letters of the acronym SADI, instead of two anastomosis that the DS uses. They are both almost a combination or the sleeve and bypass to simplify it. They combine the sleeved stomach for restriction with the bypassed intestine for malabsorption. In terms of least to most aggressive it’s sleeve, bypass, SADI, then DS. The SADI is fairly new and is considered to be a relatively safe option with that single connection lessening the risk for leaks by at least half and overall risks are less than the DS considering the weight loss is not a lot less. Like the DS it can be done in one surgery or in two steps beginning with a sleeve first and then completing the bypass portion In a second operation later (often after a patient loses enough weight to make the bypass portion safe or as in my case if they do not lose adequate weight or experience regain after the sleeve). You may also see the SADI referred to as the modified switch or SIPS surgery. And the -S in SADI-S just means with sleeve as in when the two components are done at the same time in one operation.

I’ve been very slow to lose weight and it hasn’t dropped for days. Currently 13 days post op and lost a combined weight of 16 lbs. Gastric Sleeve. I am still on liquids. My nutritionist said my body is in shock and trying to hold on to everything including water. so well see… but i understand the feeling of slow.

Today is my 1 year anniversary since surgery! It has been a wild ride! I am so glad I decided to get the surgery done. I used to get winded just walking up the stairs from my basement. Now I walk between 2-3 miles per night. Next on the agenda, possible skin removal next year and both knee replacements (holding out as long as I can). I have had continuous weight loss, however, I have stalled somewhat but still had small losses during those stalls. Keep on track and use this tool to its full advantages! I have been of Blood Pressure meds since surgery. I may not need my cpap any longer, but I haven't done another sleep study. STATS: I have lost a total of 227.2 pounds: 17.25 inches around my chest 32.5 inches around my belly button 27.25 inches around my waist 6.25 inches around my neck 4.5 inches on bicep 10 inches around my upper thigh 4.25 inches on my calf HW: 469.8 PreOp: 450.6 (19.2 pounds lost) SW: 430.8 (39 pounds lost) CW: 242.6 (227.2 pounds lost)

You discussed loads of other things there @catwoman7 in your ‘model patient’ session, which, IMHO was missing from last nights session. It’s just that everything was glossed over and it really didn’t get to the bones of things I guess. And you definitely hit the nail on the head about people not knowing what questions to ask, so not asking them. I think things like taking measurements and photos for example, would be useful, what to take to hospital, explaining changes in tastebuds, foods to eat for those first couple of stages, etc. I know, I know, I AM being so very picky, I know it. I guess I was just disappointed and left feeling a bit sad for those who are just relying solely on the hospital sessions because I don’t think it was a proper representation. We all hope that surgery goes well and that we have no complications or issues or need additional help. I also think hospitals have to be honest with the things that can go wrong because it’s generally the negative things in life that impacts our weight and generally leads to weight gain. But, it’s done now so 🤷‍♀️

I was one of those "model patient" presenters at my clinic for the three years before COVID! I loved doing that! I had a partner - a VSG patient (I was RNY). I'd had a stricture at four weeks out - she never had any complications. I'm hoping we didn't sound too "vanilla" - but neither one of us had any issues (other than my stricture - which is a mild issue and very easily fixed). We were both super happy with our surgeries and both lost a ton of weight (she lost 100 lbs, I lost over 200). Although I think people found us entertaining (we were quite a pair!) and most groups asked us lots of questions. We always told the groups about the three-week stall (since it happens to almost everyone, and very few clinics mention it to their patients, so people freak out when it happens to them). Also told them about how we ate a month out, a few months out, a year out (our clinic's plan wasn't low-carb, like many of them are - it was balanced - although even given that, the typical eating YOUR presenter does sounds carb-heavy even to me). We mentioned how we typically eat when we're at a restaurant. Talked about the extra skin (my partner even lifted her shirt to show them her extra skin). Also talked about our experience with hair loss (since extra skin and hair loss are huge concerns among pre-ops). Also talked about constipation (we both have chronic constipation) and how we deal with it. And how we dress to "hide" all the extra skin (although I've since had mine removed). We always mentioned how most people lose their interest in food and hunger for several months after surgery, and how they should milk that for everything it's worth since it's way easier to lose weight when you don't give a flip about food. Basically stuff they likely would not have picked up during the classes they had with dietitian and the health psychologist. when I went through the classes in 2015, the presenter was kind of underwhelming, like yours. I'm sure he would have answered some of the questions we addressed when we were presenters, but he didn't, and the "students" wouldn't necessarily know enough at that point to even know what to ask. Shelli and I decide early on to talk about the issues they SHOULD ask about, but wouldn't know to. P.S. now I'm sitting her wishing I was still doing that - it was great fun! But COVID hit, so everything went online, and they didn't have the "model patient" class. Since everything is in person again, they may have some people doing it, but the two of us are pretty far out now (nine years), so they may have gotten people who had their surgeries just a year or two ago.

Here it’s a BMI of 40 or over or 35 with co-morbidities. I know it probably sounds counterintuitive but I don’t want to lose much more pre-surgery once I get to around 18 stones (252lbs) because I don’t want to run the risk of falling off the weight loss wagon and having it bounce back up again, thus putting any surgery in jeopardy. It’s just a little frustrating when I have no idea when WLS may take place 🫤

That’s the word I was looking for @FifiLux- vanilla. Thankfully just a one-off though you can choose to attend more sessions if you want…I don’t want! As for knee surgery - I was only told to get my BMI down to below 40 and nothing else. After checking whilst at the session last night, dropping below won’t be an issue as my initial BMI was 45.3 when the hospital received my referral from the GP. The fact that I have started losing weight shows commitment, as far as the hospital is concerned, to WLS. The only time surgery would be refused based on a lower BMI is if it went below 30 which I can’t see happening for me!! The Musculoskeletal Therapy team will give me a call around the end of October to see how things are with regards to the steroid injections and physio I should be having by then, and to check on my weight loss so I can be referred. I did say that I hoped to be 40 or just below by this time. I guess I will find out more once I’m referred. Honestly, I would prefer at least one knee replacement before WLS, purely because the recovery from the knee op can be pretty unpleasant and take several months but I know I have to be guided by the hospital with it all. I would like to have at least some movement when the heavy duty weight loss kicks in 😉

I wasn’t really given a post op diet specific to the gallbladder removal either but when I googled it a couple of sites had a post op diet specific to the removal and mentioned the high fat and as well as no caffeine, alcohol or carbonation And slowly introducing fiber. I assumed they didn’t mention itr since most surgeons do not allow any of these Early out anyways but mine does allow a Little caffeine. The latte shake has caffeine. I am truly hoping ir doesn’t cause many issues. Especially with absorption and cholesterol like yours. Mild but slowly increasing cholesterol and knee pain are my two comorbidities and what I hoped to resolve with the weight loss (the cholesterol runs in the family even for thin people though).. Also, if my bipolar meds do not absorb I have no clue what I will do. I don’t even want to think of what a disaster that could be. It’s day 8 now and so far I feel okay. Usually if I miss it two days pills in a row I feel different. My prescribing dr says that they are mostly absorbed by the stomach membrane so I shouldn’t notice much change with my revision since they aren’t touching my sleeve. I just didn’t know to ask about the gallbladder thing. I was in such bad pain when they told me they removed it I I honestly didn’t even want to worry about that part until I was feeling better. It sounds like I really shouldn’t even begin to jump to any conclusions though since you’re and your family’s experience were so different. Maybe more of a wait and see what happems sort of thing and why they really didn’t mention much about it.

Yes sounds a bit vanilla of a presentation and she certainly doesn't sound like the best example, even for someone who had no issues with the surgery or recovery as not giving a great example of how to live life after by the sounds of it. Do you have to go to many of the sessions or is it just a once off? Do you need to have the knee surgery first? I was told I had to lose weight for knee surgery but hospital said to have the weight loss surgery first for two reasons, one to still be considered a high enough BMI (like you I had/have no co-morbidities) to qualify for the state paid surgery and also to release some of the weight pressure my knees are under before going through another surgery.

So, I went to my primary doctor today and I will be going on to the next step Monday and get my bloodwork done. She will also be in contact with my other doctor, and I have to say I so love my primary as she told me that minus my weight that I am actually pretty healthy as in my blood pressure is not high or low; my lungs and heart sound great so unless my blood work comes back with something that we can't see she will be clearing me from her end for surgery. So one more step closer or at least a half a step.

Only being able to eat small portions is very normal & to be expected especially only being 3 months out. Remember how small your tummy is now. Your stomach is also still tight from the surgery but it does soften over time & becomes a little more flexible as so you slowly will be able to eat more than you can in the initial period. Initially I was eating 1/4 - 1/3 cup from purée & was barely eating a cup of food at 6 months but by years two or three I was eating pretty much an appropriate portion of food for e.g, about 3ozs of meat & a cup of vegetables. Most fast food & chain restaurants servings are hugely bigger (like 2, 3 or more times larger) than what is an actual recommended portion size so leftovers are expected. If eating out, order an appetiser or ask to share a main with someone else. And ask to take leftovers home. I always had left overs in my fridge from unfinished meals. Actually I still do - right now I have left over rolled oats from breakfast (I’ll eat it as an afternoon snack) and some leftover beef cheeks & vegetables from last night’s dinner. Usually it’s because I’m not all that hungry or simply have had enough. The reason behind eating slowly is for us to learn to be more conscious of actually eating & to consider whether we really need the next bite or just wanting the next bite or mindlessly shovelling food into our mouths. Also it takes at least 20 minutes for the message you are full to register. If you eat quickly you can easily eat to excess & way past being full and not eating only what you need. I also love my microwave if food gets too cold. Constipation is common. It becomes less common once you’re close to your final weight & when you’re eating a more balanced diet and larger portions. Add a non swelling soluble fibre and keep on top of the constipation by taking an over the counter medication. I’d take coloxyl if I got to day 3 without movement. And as @learn2cook suggested, speaking with a therapist (your bariatric team should be able to recommend someone with experience in disordered eating if you need) can be very helpful. All the best.

Yes the pouch reset is a lie. You can’t reset your tummy. It’s working as it should. It doesn’t control you deciding to eat. What you need is to reset your head (thinking). Start reintroducing the behaviours you followed when you were nearing your stabilised weight. You can start by introducing just one or two changes every week or two (small changes are easier to accept, adopt & adapt to). For example: start by tracking your food to see what you’re actually eating (nutrients, calories), how much you’re eating ( portion size) and how often. Then ensure your meeting your protein & fluid goals. Then introduce reviewing portion sizes. Then maybe drop a snack or two. If you’ve let your activity slide start reintroducing something even walking at first. You’re on your way because you want to get back on track. May be see a therapist to discuss how you can avoid reverting back to your pre surgery eating behaviours again - can’t hurt. All the best.

I didn’t have any issues getting my fluid goals right away and was drinking pretty big sips in the hospital with my sleeve. They said I just didn’t have as much swelling as many people do. They said to me just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should do it. You want to get used to slowing down and taking smaller sips because when it’s more solid food and it’s bites you will feel your restriction and one bite too many will be the difference between full and vomiting. And just so it doesn’t scare you I lost plenty of weight with my sleeve. It worked fine until I let the bad choices slip back in so don’t worry about that.

So here's my concern. I am able to drink and have Jello and popsicles just fine. I'm taking it easy because I don't want to overdo it, but shouldn't I be having a harder time getting it down? I bet all of you have the same history as me, diet after diet that didn't work or only worked for a while until eventually the weight came back and brought all its friends so I weighed even more. So I'm feeling concerned that maybe the surgery didn't work. I know that's not true, but... Is anyone else not having a problem getting liquids down? I guess I need y'all to talk me off the ledge a little here.

I am officially 9lbs away from my goal!!!!!!!!! I have not been 160 since middle school. This really made my day! 160 is my goal weight though i think ill probably go to 150. Either way, to see this on the scale really blew me away

Hey you! So in regards to the weight loss - I'm actually down 22 lbs since my pre-op liquid diet. I think your results make a lot of sense because the low carb has probably kicked you into ketosis, and you did that pre-op diet for longer than I did! I had also read somewhere that if you get off track post surgery to return to a liquid diet and it will likely jump start the weight loss again, so I bet you've got combined factors going with that. Congratulations! I'm sure your surgeon will be happy with your weight loss as long as you're making or getting close to making your protein and hydration goals

Tonight I went to the required education session that my NHS Trust has as a non-negotiable requirement of being accepted for surgery. I will be honest and say I was left feeling completely underwhelmed with it. There was about 16 of us, all pre-op but at different stages of the required tests etc plus some family members (hubby went with me) There was also a Bariatric nurse, a dietitian and a former patient who had had the bypass in 2022. She explained her journey but it seemed very…I don’t know, sterile? Wrong word I know but I don’t know how else to explain her approach. She’s obviously happy with how it all turned out for her but it all seemed very whitewashed, which I found odd. She only mentioned one case of dumping syndrome but everything else was a walk in the park, which had me internally questioning things. She said she was currently in a months long stall but again, everything was hunky-dory. Someone asked about a typical days eating and it seemed really carb-heavy - toast for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, cheese and crackers for a snack, sausage and chips or mash for dinner etc etc. I asked about what additional protein she had - didn’t/couldn’t answer, asked about exercise - some walking and that’s about it. She mentioned hair loss being an issue but that it all grew back and was great. I know I’m being picky but I honestly wanted a more rounded discussion about of lots of different challenges that we could face with WLS and living the life post-op. I’d say out of the group that was there, maybe 5 had done any wider reading or research. I did find out that the hospitals approach to caffeine post-op is you can have a couple of cups of tea/coffee a day but they would rather patients filled up on foods/drinks that added protein, especially at the beginning. I also found out about the vitamins they give you and that they put the timings on the boxes to aid patients with timings etc, which was useful. Something that was bothering me was if my BMI dipped below 40, would I still be considered for surgery as I don’t have any co-morbidities like diabetes, heart issues etc. I need to get it below 40 before I will be considered for knee surgery, and I’m hoping that will happen end of Oct/beginning of Nov all being well. I was reassured about that, saying that they go off the booking weight reported by the GP when referred initially 🙂 I will be completely honest and say that, apart from some very specific questions I had of my hospital, I actually find this forum of much more use and beneficial to me personally. I have found out so much information from people who are further along in their own WLS journey, plus I know I’ve felt really supported by lots of very lovely and helpful users. There is such a wealth of experience on here that I know that if I have a question, someone will be along to answer it! Roll on the dietitian appointment next week 🤞