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Greetings, So as most people do from time to time - I fell off the wagon for about two weeks while on vacation and in the process of that, I noticed that I was able to eat more without any discomfort. I wasn't gorging on food like I did to gain the weight that I had, but I was able to handle bigger portions or that 3rd slice of pizza. I screwed up and I know that. I actually feel guilty, especially considering all the weight I have lost. It was just the first time where it was harder to stay focused as I wanted to enjoy my vacation. I know next time I have to plan better. Now I am aware that the stomach does stretch again, but it is my understanding that it takes years for that to happen per what I have read from doctors - which is why some people who have bariatric surgery tend to gain some or all the weight again years later if they haven't maintained their better eating habits. I am only 5 months out from the sleeve, so I was just curious why I was able to eat more than usual at this early point. I am back on track now, but just wanted to ensure that this is normal - that the stomach can stretch temporarily in the short term and things should be back to normal now that I am eating smaller portions again/proper foods. That I haven't already stretched out my stomach a bit. I would appreciate any feedback here. Thanks, HM

Had my RNY & hernia repair done on Monday the 11th. After Friday's scramble and near cancellation of my surgery because insurance hadn't answered the prior authorization and wouldn't escalate it. Ended up getting approved at 4:45 EST, they were literally in the process of rescheduling everything for me before canceling everything out when they finally got the call saying it was approved. I think that was the most stressful day of the whole process. I ripped some of the internal sutures trying to get out of bed to go to the bathroom the first night I was inpatient so that was not a happy time. Still a lot of incisional pain and pain around where the muscle was pinched and torn. But the Dr. was happy with the results and once I put on a binder I was able to move a lot more comfortably. Especially since it helped with the feeling of gravity pulling at incision sites when it was wrapped tight enough. Still having some gas issues have a bubble in my upper chest it feels like and it just isn't budging. And the gas coming out, lord help me. Lord help my husband. I'm not ladylike at all ever but even now farting is embarrassingly loud and obnoxious. And it's OFTEN! I was supposed to be allowed to leave on Tuesday but with the suture issue and not being able to manage my pain effectively, they kept me an extra day which greatly threw off our game plan. But we made it home late Wednesday night after a 5-hour drive home from the hospital and I've been doing a little better each day. I can't go too long without wearing the binder or else standing begins to pull and hurt too much. Showering is about the only time it's off, I've been alternating between the one I asked for at the hospital and the one I bought off Amazon and left at home when I packed my post-op bag. While the one I got off Amazon is soft and stretchy, it's neoprene or something like it so it gets HOT! The one the hospital gave me is pretty much all elastic banding and I prefer it over the one I bought because it also covers more of my abdomen heightwise so it feels like it stays in place a little better. And you'll KNOW if it shifts when you move. I'm trying to get myself back into the swing of things though and trying to get caught up on everything I missed last week while I was tuned out. Today is the first day I have actually gotten online and done more than just buy something I needed at the moment on Amazon. Today is also the first day I didn't wake up hating myself for putting myself through it. I knew it was going to be rough and I knew it was going to hurt, but even in all my overthinking, I didn't think I'd hurt as badly as I did. Don't hesitate to ask for pain meds and go to oral meds as soon as they'll let you while you're there if you want to get out of the hospital with a quickness.

Yes, very common, and here is one of the factors - In the middle of the video he goes over the typical progression of meal volume that we can expect, and it is consistent with my experience. I you simply let things happen and eat the same way we did the first year, but more, then there will certainly be the tendency to gain. While I'm not a big fan of everything this guy preaches (or any online guru, for that matter,) one of the things that I do like is his "eat your vegetables first" concept, which he applies after the first few months of protein first. My general evolution was to increase the veg content of my meals over time, rather than the protein, as the protein that we are advised to consume early on is usually our basic requirement, as we can't get that from pills like we can most micronutrients. So, I still have about 3 oz of meat in a meal today like I did the first year, but a lot more veg in there. And, it's still something of a struggle because the junk still wants to creep back in there stimulating old habits (we usually spent a lot more time getting fat, and getting used to it, than we have trying to be healthy now!) With a sleeve, or a bypass, at this point it is basic dieting/healthy balanced eating that we are all familiar with; it is somewhat easier than before as our volume rarely returns to where is was pre-op, but our old bad habits sure can come back.

I had my surgery on 8/15 as well. I am still losing steadily. I am still around 400 calories a day, even on soft foods. First week after surgery was 3.4 pounds down, 2nd week was 14.4, 3rd week was 6.8, 4th week was 6.2, today was 5.4 lost each week. 36.2 pounds lost since surgery (I am on the larger scale for loss tho LOL). 56 pounds down since Pre Op started. 75.2 pounds down since life style changes. You will get there, my daughter had the surgery the same time I did, and she has hit stalls where she gained .5 pounds one week. I weigh in about 3 times a week, but only 1 is what I record. I am going to start weighing in only once per week. Your body is adjusting so it will take some time.

I know how discouraging stalls/gains can be . I'm still at a 2 and a half month stall

Hi, I am looking in to arm surgery too. I would like the boob done but a t my age is it really necessary ? At a Spire hospital near me they charge £5.000 for that. A friend has just had the boobs done and that cost £9,000. There is lots of bad press about Turkey and I think I would be too scared to try it. The arm surgery alone is big surgery and my friend couldn't lift for 6 weeks after her surgery. The thing thats holding me back is not the cash its how long I will need to rely on someone else until I heal. Good luck with your journey and please keep me posted, I am very interested

do a search on this site for the "three-week stall". You will find over 17,000 posts on it (and no, I am NOT kidding). Happens to almost all of us. stick to your program, stay off the scale for a few days, and it will break. I promise.

Wow… so I’m not alone. Same here, nausea seems to be worse lately. Yeh I can only really eat dry biscuits without nausea, maybe some baked beans… but 90% of things cause me nausea. I don’t see how I’ll ever make my daily protein goals. Just seems impossible. water makes me puke too! i really hope it won’t be like this forever? I am 3 months post op exactly. Shouldn’t we be ‘Healed’?!?!

First, great job on the weight-loss. I've noticed I can eat more and I'm starting to get my appetite back. It's so important to follow the plan... get in your protein (and some extra if needed). I aim for 3 oz per meal or about 80+ grams per day. Keep it lean- chicken, fish, shell fish, and plant protein. Make sure you're getting your veggies in. Cut up a veggie tray for the week and enjoy with a tablespoon of hummus or guac. Low fat cheese and yogurt. Keep measuring your food. It's so easy to overeat. Fluids are really important to stay on top of. Another thing that helps is to stay busy and keep your mind off food when you're bored. Exercise is also helpful to boost your mood and metabolism. Just be careful of the after workout munchies. It's totally a thing for me. A once on awhile treat is important too. My nutritionist said that if we always deprive ourselves, we'll regress back to old eating habits. So, for example, I love onion rings. And we we go to dinner that my husband orders them, I'll have one... or whatever I may be craving. Small amounts of something special once a week is totally within the plan. Everything they taught you before surgery is for life. Focus on not deviating from that too much.

Something that worked for me was to raise the amount of protein intake, and work hard to limit the amount of saturated/trans fat. I went from one protein shake a day to 3-4 protein shakes. Luckily, there are so many wonderful flavors out there.

Hi! I had vsg 8.15 and have lost 24 lbs. This am I seem to be up 3 lbs. Not off course. Still eating pureed. Cals are between 6 and 700. I meet protein daily but water is tough. I usually get 52 ounces vs 64. I eat 3 meals daily plus 1 snack of string cheese. I still have some muscle discomfort in tummy area but find I'm emotional a lot. Dr is happy w progress but I'm super upset with stall or gain when I'm not even eating or drinking off program. Any thoughts?

Hi Jessica I am 3 months out and feel the same. Some days I can only handle a couple of bites of anything I’ve the day. It’s really distressing to me.

I had my VS in 2012, lost 150 lbs and maintained that loss almost effortlessly for 8 years, then Covid hit and in a matter of 3 months I gained 80 lbs back WITHOUT CHANGING MY EATING HABITS!!! I feel like I’ve been robbed. By no fault of my own, the weight came back and stayed. I still can only consume 4 or 5 bites to eat and I’m full. I just don’t understand why this happened and if I do a revision to a DS will that help?

You can use whatever protein shakes you want. I used ready made the first 2 weeks, then I bought protein powder from Arbonne and made my own. You can take liquid vitamins as long as they have the same amount of vitamins as bariatric vitamins do. I wasn't told not to take capsules or any kind of pills with the sleeve when I had it, but I WAS told that when I had my revision to bypass. It took a little bit but I'm able to take all my normal pills and supplements like normal now.

I had the SADI-S 3 days ago and I can already drink 12 ounces over a 5 minute period. Seems like a lot. I'm hoping I can't EAT 12 ounces! Does anyone know how that works?

It took me for ever to reach my goals. Like 3 + months. They just told me to do my best. Protein yogurts were my saviour, 2 of these and a pint of milk a day and I had all my protein. Drinking seemed to take all day and all my waking night too. I had my surgery in coldest winter, so hot drinks were easiest for me to manage, although they did get cold before I drank it all. After meals if I found myself thirsty, I would suck a popsicle , its a fluid. Once you can drink your ounces you will feel amazing. Its really worth while persevering, it does get easier soon I had to keep going back a stage because eating 'normal' foods was so difficult for me

I had lymphoedema because of my weight and I also had major problems when walking. I would be so out of breath and my heart would hammer in my chest. I was classed as disabled. I relied on a stick. Housework was difficult, It would take a week to clean my home, a room at a time. I ironed a shirt and sat down, panting. Now since surgery I am super active, can clean the house in an afternoon. I can walk miles without stopping to rest. My lymphoedema was in my arms and legs, I was very embarrassed about the size of them. Although I do not have the most beautiful ankles now, I would say they pass. My arms have a great deal of loose empty skin. At my age, I am wondering if I should have corrective surgery or not. I have been on 3 overseas holidays in very hot climates since surgery. My ankles and calves have never swelled and they always did before, especially on the plane journey. Its good not to wear the ugly socks. Good luck with your decision making

With my sleeve, I had major pain for almost 2 weeks. With my revision to bypass, I had very little pain. Mostly, it was uncomfortable for about 4 days. Wish I had just done the bypass to begin with.

That's normal at 5 days out. You still have the surgical gas in your system. It took me about 10 days to get rid of all the gas (you have to walk a lot, and for the first 2 weeks after the sleeve, I really struggled with that) and the fluid retention from the surgery doesn't help. Took me a good 7-8 days to lose the water I was holding on to from the surgery. Within 2 weeks, you should be back to normal.

It doesn’t matter if you take ages to drink or eat your protein. I would sip my protein shake & then high protein yoghurt drink for hours. Just sip, sip, sip. I also ate some things very slowly too - just dipping in a teaspoon & not a full spoonful. In fact I still take an hour to eat my high protein yoghurt. I wasn’t interested I eating or hungry for almost a year but I knew I had to eat & drink to at least be close to my goals. It actually helped me change my relationship with food - that maxim of eating to live not living to eat. (My surgeon was okay if I wasn’t hitting those goals for the first month or so as long as I was close & getting closer.) You can also boost your protein intake by adding protein powder to soups, your own smoothies, yoghurts, etc. I still can’t gulp down a glassful of liquid. One big mouthful or two swallows & that’s it & yes I still have to wait before I have another so I still sip all day long & I drink over night too. And I still take 39-45 minutes to eat what is about a recommended portion for a meal - like @sweetsmith78 about 8ozs of usually 3-4ozs protein & about 4oz steamed vegetables. In the beginning I was eating 1/4-1/3 a cup of food from purée for a meal & slowly increased to a cup at 6 months. It does get easier. During the first couple of months you’re still healing & your tummy is sensitive & fussy with certain tastes, smells or textures literally turning your tummy & being impossible to eat. All the best.

It not very common. I had a little nausea but it was related to taking multi vitamins but then I used to get nauseous with multi vitamins before surgery too. (I split my vitamin dose of two capsules in the AM to one in the AM & one at night which helped.) You may be more susceptible to more nausea because of your history, unfortunately. Make sure you tell your surgeon your history & be a script for anti nausea meds so you have them jus in case. Your tummy can be pretty sensitive & fussy for a while when you are healing which can contribute to the nausea. But like most things it passes as we progress. Working out the foods or drinks that upset our tummy more during that time helps. It may be the smell, texture or taste that sets off your tummy. Just avoid that food or drink for a couple weeks & until you’re further out. All the best.

I just found out yesterday that the last Dr I saw finally cleared me for surgery! So my surgeon has submitted everything to my insurance company. I’m just waiting for the date for my pre-op and surgery, the nurse said it would definitely be in October, I should hear back next week. I’m so ready for this…I started this journey June 2022 and it’s taken this long to get cleared. I cried like a baby yesterday!

I guess another question I have is, is it normal to still feel this way 5 weeks out?

Love roller coasters. It's been quite a few years since I've rode one. I think I'm going to add that to my list of things to do in the near future. Glad you enjoyed your day @SuziDavis Woo hoo!!! My fav coaster was in FL at Disney World. I went during the off season in Oct so I was able to ride this one 3 times without having to wait in line for hours as some told me they had to, if you go at the wrong time of year.

Hello all! Newbie here! I had gastric bypass surgery on August 8. Since then, I have not been able to meet my fluid or protein requirements, or even get close honestly. My Dr and dietitian just say "well, you have to." I'm still feeling weak and tired and just want to feel better! Does anyone have any tips, tricks, recipes (I'm on stage 3) that might help?