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it's hard to say how much you're actually burning that doesn't include sedentary/resting etc. I think Fitbits (and other trackers) give you a general idea, but they're not super accurate. And how many calories you burn in an hour depend on how much you weigh, your metabolic rate, what you're doing, and your intensity. I've been tracking my calories like a hawk for years, so I think the 300 kcal an hour I seem to be getting from fairly intense cardio is probably in the right ballpark. It takes about 1600 kcal a day for me to maintain my current weight, but if I'm exercising a lot during any given week (about an hour a day), I can eat up to 1900-ish without my weight starting to head up (of course, you have to take into account normal weight fluctuations, too - but at any rate, I do seem to be able to increase my calories by up to 300 or so if I'm doing a lot of cardio). also, the person who said that over the long run, strength training will increase your metabolism is correct. The more muscular you are, the more calories. you'll burn even at rest. So strength training by itself doesn't burn all that many calories, but over time, it'll boost your metabolic rate.

Hi! I had VGS on 8/23/23. 4 weeks from surgery TODAY! I feel great. The past few days have been weird, though. I can't eat or drink as much as I have been able to the past 2 weeks. I used to be able to somewhat easily get down a protein shake in 30 minutes. Now it takes me a few hours. Does that sound right? I don't feel sick or anything. It just feels like I am going backwards. Should I be concerned about this? Anyone had similar experiences? Thanks for your help!! Melanie

I am converting my VSG to a Roux-en-Y on October 17th. One week!!!

As others have stated, sorry you are going through so many issues and I appreciate when folks state the other side of things. That being said, I would say that many (if not most) of us who have had the surgery haven't experienced the post operative effects that you have had. Personally, it's been 3 years for me. Without a doubt, the best decision of my life. I've been fortunate to have basically had zero negative side effects. This IS a life altering surgery. You won't be able to eat what you previously referred to as a "normal" sized meal. What we considered normal pre-surgery certainly wasn't healthy or we wouldn't have been obese... I believe anyone considering the surgery should read EVERYTHING (positive and negative) and make the choice that is right for THEM.

I'm surprised you are 2 years post op and just now experiencing dumping syndrome. Kudos to you for avoiding rich, fatty or sugary food until now. (If that's the case.) Oddly I have only experienced it if I eat refined sugar. I made the mistake of eating birthday cake a couple weeks ago and found out very quickly that I cannot. Fortunately, I didn't have the rapid heartbeat, sweating or nausea but I spent the entire evening and half the night running to the bathroom. My body wasn't having it and went through me like water. I guess now I know to avoid it, since that was my first try. I have absolutely no problem with artificial sweeteners though. Is this a typo and meant to say, I can't eat anything? If so, that's a problem that needs to be checked out by your doctor. If you meant you are cleared to eat anything that only goes to show even if you can, you shouldn't. GL

5.5 Years Out Hi all - I used to be very active on these forums, but as I continue on my journey I have found myself relying less and less on this platform. I do like to check in occasionally to provide insight, encouragement, perspective, and more to those who are about to begin their journey or in the first few chapters. A little about me- I had VSG surgery in May of 2018. My highest weight was about 260 and I was put out on my body and my weight affected all aspects of my life. I lost a total of 140 pounds and have maintained (most) of that weight loss. I am up about 10 pounds in the last year or so, but mostly muscle as I have begun weightlifting so I am not too concerned. I had two plastic surgeries after my VSG to help with loose skin and such. My favorite non-scale victories over the past few years: Being able to walk into any store and find something that works for me Having my boyfriend be able to pick me up as if I weigh nothing Being able to cross my legs when I sit! Feeling cute in my clothes My quality of life is exponentially better My most unexpected experiences: I am ALWAYS cold I quickly pass out if I stand for too long I struggle with iron intake Vitamins can make me feel super sick! I get an upset stomach very easily I suffer from acid reflux (something I never experienced before) My unsolicited advice: Listen to your doctors Get active Drink your water! Eat your protein Having one bad or off day is not an excuse to have a bad week You can still enjoy things in moderation

Hey y'all. Sarah here. I was active on the boards until about a year ago...now I'm BACK! I am a 30 year old retirement planner, living the dream in the SF Bay Area. Oh wait- almost living the dream- first I need to take off this 160 lb fat suit I've been dragging around the last 7 years. See, I've always been fluffy, voluptuous, "a big girl". Still, I was ususally happy with who I was and how I looked. It wasn't until I broke up with my college boyfriend of 4 years at age 23-24, that I started gaining serious weight. I was about 170 back then, and had always worn a size 12 or 14...now I'm a 22. I just started eating to deal with the serious depression, then I would get more depressed because of the way my clothes stopped fitting, and thus began the ugly cycle that I've been in since 2006. At this point, I'm in treatment for depression (for WAY more issues than just the weight) and luckily, over the last 3 years, my depression has become manageable. It still rears its ugly head once in a while, but I can handle it now. The meds have really worked. I KNOW that WLS isn't a cure-all, but I also know in my heart of hearts that if I wasn't super-morbidly-obese, I would be loving life a lot more. Just ask anyone who has lost weight and kept it off. ANYONE. I also have co-morbidities: carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain, foot pain, back pain, mild-to-moderate sleep apnea, hidradenitis suppurativa (its BAD right now). Most of the time, I can still buckle my airplane seatbelt, but I know it's because I have a pretty small frame (I'm 5'0")...still, I had to "fake it" during one flight because I couldn't bear the burning shame of asking for an extender. I'm effing fed up with this bs. I have been trying to lose 35 lbs for the last 18 months. I have not been successful thus far. Gee, it almost seems like I have an overeating issue.... HENCE WHY I NEED VSG! Unfortunately, Kaiser Permanente NorCal approved me but only if I can get my weight down to 250. I have been in counseling and I've been trying to eat right...GOSH ITS ALMOST LIKE I NEED SOME SORT OF PHYSICAL RESTRICTION TO KEEP ME FOCUSED ON THE GOAL. Kaiser offers no ongoing counseling or diagnoses for overeaters, compulsive overeating, or binge eating disorder (even though it is in the DSM...they don't care). I was allowed one appointment with their eating disorders clinic therapist: She told me to buy Judith Beck's book, "Diet for Life"....that's right, that is the treatment offered to me by Kaiser: buy a book. They don't offer personal training or exercise programs, they don't offer ongoing counseling for overeaters, they actually told me, "Ma'am, if we did that for you, 20% of our patients would qualify for these programs". Ok, so....too many people need help, so they're just NOT GOING TO OFFER IT. Look, I know that ANY surgery is safer if you're at a lower BMI. I know about fat on my liver, too- but I also know that the liquid pre-op diet DOES help to shrink that down. I know KP is VERY conservative when it comes to treatments, hey, they're a health maintenance org. However, I have begged just about every department I can (including seeing my surgeon, Dr. Baggs, personally & begging for the surgery)- no one cares. It's up to me to lose 35 lbs, or self-pay. Because you know what?? Chris Christie (governor of NJ) just got the lap band. His BMI must have been sky-high, but HIS TOP NOTCH WORLD CLASS DOCTORS still gave HIM the surgery... I truly believe that I am a fine candidate for VSG, and that is why i am now considering, very seriously, self-pay. I'm going to post this in the main forum also. However, since I am on a limited budget, I am seriously considering surgery in Mexicali or TJ.

tested positive on the 4th of october... my final visit with surgery is on the 18th. next week.

Oh yes, indeed. It was only that beginning half hour in the recovery room that caused me any problems. For the remaining hours of my hospital stay I had zero problems. I may have been sore, but it was nothing that bothered me. I'm three weeks post op now and doing very well. Thanks for asking, and the best of luck to you in your process.

The dizziness is likely orthostatic hypotension or in simple terms drops in blood pressure with postural changes - getting up after sitting or lying down. You can get it reaching up too. It’s pretty common in the first weeks after surgery & I think aggravated by the low calorie intake but for most it’s temporary. (I had a tendency to it before surgery & now I have it everyday.) Keep your fluids up. Add a little more salt to your diet if possible. Get up slowly, in stages & wait before moving. When I do move I generally try to keep near a chair, table,wall, etc. so I can grab it & ground myself if my vision narrows. Even been known to grab a person too - LOL. Depending upon how much weight you’ve lost so far, your upper body pain could be from your body finding it’s new centre of gravity. Your body used to hold itself in a certain way to compensate for the weight you carried. Now it doesn’t have to & your muscles at relearning how to hold yourself when standing, walking, etc. And yes it’s pretty common & can be experienced at different time while you’re losing.

I'm not exactly sure where to ask questions about plastic surgery but I'm hoping someone here might have some ideas. I'm wondering if I got a tummy tuck in early jan if I will be fine for my cruise I have already booked that leaves at the end of april. Its a 2 week transatlantic so a long time and a lot of walking. I would love to look my best for the cruise and see this as like the perfect ending but I also don't want to risk being in pain and ruin my cruise. Is early jan to the end of april for sure enough time to heal and be ready? I will for sure be doing the tummy tuck but depending on cost I might be adding other things in like the breasts and a bbl or at least a butt lift because I have nothing but saggy skin in the butt area anymore lol. Any thoughts or experience?

Congrats on getting answers and having the problem fixed. I can tell you that I had SO SO many complications that led to a revision. Once there's answers, that's truly half the battle. I had 6 surgeries in 6 months to correct everything, but now I'm 3 1/2 months out from my revision and feel fantastic. I'm happy you're on the other side of everything now. Hopefully it'll be smooth sailing for you from here on out!!

So... a little update... the daily recommended dose of biotin for adults is 30 mcg/day. I was consuming my regular multivitamin PLUS 10,000 mcg of bioton /day... 5,000 in the AM and 5,000 in the PM... when I stopped taking it, it took about 3 days to stop getting the hives, but I stopped getting the hives. As soon as I'm able, I will make an appointment with a dermatologist. However, I'm pretty sure it was the OVERDOSE of biotin. I was taking it because I'm afraid of the hair loss, but obviously, TEN THOUSAND micro-grams a day is just too much.

My post-surgery pain has been quite minimal. A little pain on my right side, especially when I need to use those abs. And the rear roof of my mouth feels really badly bruised from the intubation I guess -- I've never had that before after surgery so it is not likely to be related to WLS, just my particular experience this tie. I'm basically able to do most of what I did before, but already with less pain. 3 days out, 5 pounds down from surgery weight.

Yeah, since surgery I have 2 or 3 cups a day. If acid is a problem, I have read there are good low-acid coffee.

a lot of people who had COVID had to wait until they were over it, but since your last office visit isn't until next week and your surgery might be scheduled for several weeks out, I doubt you're going to have any issues.

Lots of nerves were cut during surgery so you have to wait for them to heal for messages/signals to get through. It usually takes 4-6 weeks to start to feel it. I always say all because you can doesn’t mean you should especially when your healing & signals aren't getting through. Stick to your plan (food, eating & drinking strategies, etc.) is the best advice. It takes time for the message to get through you are full - at least 20 minutes (& that’s after you’re fully healed). If you keep eating until you feel full you likely have eaten more than you need. Eating until you feel satisfied or had enough like you said your doing is best. I still ask myself do I need the next bite or just want it. It’s all about tuning into your body & its needs (listen to your body). You get better at it over time. Also many find when they are healed, the signals are different. Some say they sneeze, or their nose runs. Were you given portion sizes to guide you? If not ask for some they are helpful to ensure you don’t eat too much. I was told. 1/4 - 1/3 cup from purée (week 3) slowly increasing to about a cup at 6 months. You may be told something different.

I'm 8 weeks post surgery and I've been very back and forth on whether or not I regret it, but what gets me through it is remembering how hopeless and helpless I felt before the procedure. At least by having the surgery, it feels like I really tried. I know I couldn't do this any other way so the way I see it, f**k it, even if it fails at least I tried it all!

This will be my first fall/winter since surgery in May. Let me start out by saying - I've always been hot. I haven't owned any long sleeve tops. We keep the house temp at 65ish. I sleep with the window open and a fan on all year round. I have to take off my coat in the store while grocery shopping in winter. I wear a light coat while everyone's bundled up for winter. BUT NOW --------------I'm finding out that I'm C-O-L-D !!!!! It's 49 out. I'm ready to drag out my winter coat !!! LOL I've been scouring the Goodwill the last week for sweaters and sweatshirts so I can be comfortable. What a change !! My insulation is gone LOL How do you handle the cold ? Does it affect you now that some of your "insulation" is gone ?

I was an equal opportunity savoury & sweet eater. I eliminated most sugar in the weeks after surgery when anything with sugar, artificial sweeteners or sugar alternatives tasted extra crazy sweet & was off putting. I haven’t really let it back into my eating. I get my sweet from blueberries every day & the occasional additional serve of fruit. It can be hard to eliminate it & the alternatives completely. It is added to just about everything in firm or another. I know I have about 5g of added sugar (multigrain crackers I eat) a day & some artificial sweetener (yogurt, protein bar & peanut paste) but that’s it. And none of these things taste sweet. I will have dessert at Christmas but that all I have of traditional sweet food. (I did have a small piece of wedding cake earlier this year.) There is some sugar in the rare G&T I have. None of these things make me crave sweet again. I remember during Covid, when the grocery shelves were bare, I could only buy a box of honey instant rolled oats - it was awful, super sweet & I couldn’t eat it. Personally, I’d rather eat something with real sugar than artificial sweetener - that stuff is so bad for you. Good luck.

Thank you for all the responses! I appreciate everyone’s advice. It’s amazing how quickly the weight can start creeping up on you. I have been watching my daily calories but have been drinking half the water i used to and decreased my exercise to only 2 days a week vs 5 I’ve also noticed that I’m feeling hungrier in the evenings and will often have late night snacks, so hopefully taking this drug and trying to follow my old post bariatric diet will help make the difference here. I was surprised that my doctor only wanted to prescribe the Topiramate since there are so many other options out there!

Hi friends! 😁This is my first post on here, so I apologize if I have NO IDEA what I'm doing! 😅 My VSG is scheduled for 11/22...the day immediately before Thanksgiving. Who does that? lol I figured if I use food as an excuse to not get the surgery at that time, then I'm probably not ready for it...plus, Yule/Christmas/what-have-you is the month after that, so if I use holidays as an excuse to delay surgery, it's gonna be a few months. Originally, my surgeon wanted to get me in in September, but I was waiting for my EGD still (even though my surgeon ordered it originally, he then said he was fine with me skipping it...I still wanted to make sure I didn't have Silent Reflux or anything funky going on). Plus, I had a cardiac event monitor for 30 days in September and wanted to get THOSE results prior to surgery, AND I got married on (Friday 👻) October 13th, AND I have a major thing at work that I'm in charge of the whole week of November 13th where my presence is mandatory, soooo...11/22 it is! I've waffled back and forth on whether to get VSG or RNY (my surgeon does not do SADI/DS at all), but I'm going with my initial gut feeling and sticking with VSG. I imagine a lot of us have either already started, or will soon be starting, our LRDs - good luck, everyone! Magnesium & Potassium are REALLY helpful for leg cramps - that's something I learned when I did keto ages ago and kept getting woken up by charlie horses.

Week 1 of pre op is done… just protein shakes (mixed with water) and veggies. Surgery date is 10/16- VGS. Any suggestions for vegan/plant based shakes? I’ve been using Planta and it’s pretty tasty but at four shakes a day it’s getting old and I need to change it up. I can get my required water intake in easily- love love love those sugar free A&W rootbeer packets.

I'm 4 weeks out from surgery and just had my first non liquid, non pureed food. Ranier cherries. Only 5, but they may have been the most delicious thing ever. Which makes me wonder, everyone. What was/will be your first "real" food?

Hi everyone. I'm starting my 2 week liquid diet 10/11 and I am so nervous about it. Any suggestions for replacement shakes