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I've done a low carb/high protein/high healthy fat diet for my entire six-month insurance-required nutrition program. I've over 90 pounds doing it. I keep my carbs under 20 per day (and under 15 most days). I have whittled from 2000 calories down through 1800 and 1500 to about 1200 calories per day for the past few months. I have cut out alcohol, only because at my calorie-level, I just can't justify using up any calories that won't provide some nutritional value. It has worked super well for me. My surgery is two weeks from tomorrow, and I am gunning for 100 pounds down when they wheel me into the OR. Good luck!

I am also really surprised at how much people care about drinking alcohol. My husband doesn't drink at all (he comes from a family of alcoholics, getting drunk never seemed "fun" to him) and I only have a drink once in a blue moon now. I couldn't care less if I never had another drink, but most surgeons do allow alcohol in moderation at some point after surgery (talk about empty calories though!) So you won't be able to consume huge amounts of alcohol after surgery....have one drink and take it slow. Saves money right? Some of my friends drink, others do not, we are all adults, no one cares what the others are doing and somehow we are still able to laugh and have fun together, even those who aren't drinking still have fun. Lots of people don't drink for lots of different reasons.

I just tell people "my weight was effecting my health so I did EXACTLY what my doctor told me to do"... If they want details, I tell them I stopped drinking alcohol, counted every calorie, and started exercising an hour a day. That pretty much shuts them up!

For starters my name is randy im a 27yr old male from kentucky. Ive always been borderline overweight at any point in my life but i played sports all through school so that kept me a little athletic build. At my best 5'11 230lb and held records for weight lifting. Once i graduated high school i went on to quick stent at college sports and decided i was done with it and thats when the weight came. I got in a comfortable relationship, stopped working out and started drinking and eatting and blew up to 360. But with my past no one accepted i was that big even my self i still just looked like a brute. I kept that weight for prob 7 years and lately i got all the way to 391. Had a baby last sep and just found out we are expecting another. Heart disease and just poor overall health runs in my family and im always saying we cant let our kids start out like i did but how can you say you cant have a pop or cakes when dad is eatting them at an alarming rate so i decided to look into the sleeve and be a role model and to be able to be around for 50 more years not 10. So august 1st 2016 i went to the dr for the first time and they started my pre op diet. I lost 21 lbs everything went smooth and was scheduled for surgery 9/2/16 at 9am. Not going to lie a few days prior i did cheat one last time. Had some home made biscuits and gravy and cheesecake factory lol but i actually didnt even finish ethier meal. The surgery 9/2/16 I arrived at 7am at st josephs hospital in lexington, ky. Had already pre registered so just aited for them to call me back got me dressed started all my ivs and vitals and my family came back and set with me til 9 on the dot. I was getting so nervous not because of fear but because of the change for the good this would have on my life. I actually remember telling my wife i dread the catheter more than anything as ive never had one. And that i would be home the next day, be back to work and not need the pain meds. Ive had knee surgery and wrist surgery before so i figured it would be a breeze. Boy was i wrong. I woke up feeling very confused not knowing where i was and in terrible pain they finally got.me knocked back out. And kept my pain at ease the rest of the day. At approx 1pm that day i said was ready to walk and i sat my goal at one block around the nurse unit which is 300 ft. I ended up doing tha 3 more times in 24 hours. The bed was killing me so i opted for a recliner and thats when i felt regret with the ordeal. I couldnt raise my self up i felt so useless because of the pain and soreness ive always done things for my self but after a talk with my wife i snapped out of it and told my self pain is only temporary. Anyways that night the pain was managed but i dealt with alot of nausea. I never puked luckily but it was rough at times i learnt alcohol swabs under the nose help until the meds kick in. 5 am the day after surgery my urine output was great so the cathetor got pulled. 3pm the dr came in said im doing the best hes seen post op so he offered me to go home and we thought on it a while and i was back home at roughly 7pm. That night was rough laying in a flat bed and trying to get up with a pegnant wife pulling on me but i made. My 2nd day pos op i had a hot cup hot chocolate no sugar added. 8gr potein 5carbs its the best i could find but i just do one cup in the morning. I ate 1/3 cup sugar free Jello and about 4 spoon fulls of wendys chili that evening. Only down fall was i only got in roughly 26oz fluids. So starting monday i attacked with a different method. I started with my hot Fluid and meds. Ate half of a egg white. And got my 2 Protein shakes down at 30g potein each and about 4 spoons of chili again. Yesturday i got 68oz of fluid. Today as i write this at 9am day 4 post op i have started the same with my hot fluids and already finished roughly 20oz of fluid. My pain is much more tolerable today and the gas is almost all gone. And sorry if you picture it but i had my first bowel movement this morning and tht was great as well. Everything seems to be getting better each day. Im increasing my walking each day whether it be around the house, to check the mail or going out in he garage. I did order a stationary bike so i could ride it while the kids play inside or we watch tv or something so im.not.just sitting around. I will try to keep this updated so that maybe my story will inspire someone else that has just had surgery or looking to have it just as many of other stories helped me. The biggest thing i have to say about it all is pain is temporary, but the change you will go through is life changing and thats for the better for your self and the ones around you Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

So I'm just over a year from my surgery day. And just under 2 years from when I made the decision to make a life change. In October of 2014 I attended my first class about bariatric surgery. This class is the initial class that helps you decide if it is for you or not.(or to at least go on to the next step) That first day my weight was 422, and I decided to go forward with the bypass. I had to then wait to be assigned to a class, a class that lasts 12 weeks. It tought me everything about the surgery and new life I would be expecting. This class began in January of 2015. Well after completion in March I had lost about 10lbs to 412. Then came the long waiting period. One that they made clear. "Don't call us we will call you!" So I waited, and waited and waited some more. Then got the call the 2nd week of August, 2015. And the wheels got going and fast! Less then two weeks later I was at the hospital on August 24th having surgery. On the day of my surgery I weighed in at 409lbs. The surgery went great. Afterwards I had little to no pain and was up walking immediately. The year has been a great journey. Today I weigh in at 208lbs and feel great. It has been a fantastic journey. I have no regrets and qould do it again without a doubt. I have been around temptation plenty. Several trips to Vegas including a stay for 9 days. I've been to winery's. All the time not touching alcohol and steering cleer of the food that ruined my life.I'm thankful for the tool I was given and plan on using it to the fullest. Best of luck to anyone thinking of having the surgery, and continued success to those who have had this life changing experience. As for me last year I changed my health, this year I change my job. Think positive???? Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Hey all! This is my first time posting! I heard about the site at one of my doctor visits and realized it's a good idea to start finding some kind of support for now and after. Some about me! Sorry if I ramble.... 33 soon to be 34, and have been obese literally all my life. Yoyo dieted several times with no success. Highest weight was this past January at 374. Woke up one morning with shortness of breath and severe heart palps. Thought I was having a heart attack. Went to the ER, no attack, just anxiety apparently. Also emergency doc says my weight was dangerously high even though my bloods, X-rays, and MRI's look like a normal weighted person (go figure). That was my wake up call so to speak. I became so jaded about people staring and pointing and not fitting on airplane seats or amusement park rides that it just didn't phase me any longer, but waking up feeling like I was dying...yeah that did it lol. So, from Jan 15th I started my "lifestyle change. I decided no more dieting, I was going to have to make the choice to dedicate myself to healthy eating. No more fried food, sweets, white breads, eating out, & gorging. I ate 1200-1500 cal daily, started working out 5 days a week on my recumbant bike (that was used as a clothes hanger for the past 2 years) for 35-40 minutes a day and trying to hit a 300 burn cal/ 7-8 miles goal (which I was happy to see I could do only 1 month in). Co-worker told me about the sleeve as she had it done 3 years ago and dropped over 130 pounds. She said it changed her life and she was so happy she did it and I should look into it as well. She gave me the name of her Doc, Larry Gellman at North Shore/LIJ in Long Island. Went for a consult in March and got a great vibe. They laid out everything, how surgery was not a fix it but a tool to help and told me exactly what to expect, and what I needed to do. I work for the NYC school system so our insurance requires the 6 month supervised weight monitoring. I figured that was okay though as it prepares me long term, and gives me time to get all those pre-op tests done. So, the next months flew by; I was steadily dropping, getting all my testing done, met with the NUT and the PSYCH who gave ne the all clear. Once July hit I upped my workouts to 6 days a week, sometimes 7 and added in treadmill walking and some yoga streches a few times a week as well. I had a few hiccups as I was blessed with 2 vacation oppertunities this summer- one to an all inclusive (which you know is nothing but food and alcohol) and Disneyworld (one too many Dole Whips, Micky ice creams, and Turkey legs). However, August hit (which was month 6) and my final doctor weigh in was 297; I lost almost 80lbs, and went from a BMI of 64 to 49.7. The nurses cheered and I actually teared up. Today, I weighed in at 289.3. Holy shucks. Tomorrow, I have a telephone conf. with the surgery booking coordinator to finalize a date. I am nervous and excited as I can't belive it's becoming a reality. I am hoping I can schedule something in the next 4-6 weeks. Would love to get this out of the way before the holiday seasons start so I can go into the new year ready to continue changing my outside to match my inside. If you're still reading this, thanks lol! Any advice to offer for a pre-op gal such as myself? Also anyone in the NYC/Long Island area? Would love to know if there are any support groups or whatnot around and have the oppertunity to talk and get to know others in the area.

I'm trying to figure out where I come down on the "body positivity" movement and the "health at every size" philosophy in relation to WLS. It's caused me to really think deeply about this, and I thought I'd throw my thoughts out and see how others view it. For starters, I absolutely believe that people of all shapes and sizes deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. People should not be bullied for their shape or size. Physicians should not give different treatment plans for larger people than they do for thin people. The answer to strep throat is not "lose weight". I believe businesses should better accommodate people of all sizes with larger and more sturdy seating as well as better access for people who have mobility issues due to any cause. Airlines in particular. "Normal" people don't fit in those darned seats, for Pete's sake. I believe that people of all shapes and sizes should have access to good quality clothing at a reasonable price. I also believe the diet industry is bogus. The medical field should start telling the truth about the success rates both short term and long term of the "diet and exercise" prescriptions. If the success rates for diet and exercise were given for a drug, it would be banned by the FDA for sale. We need to learn a LOT more about what drives obesity and quit experimenting without full disclosure on people who are obese, especially children. We need to learn more about the damage done to our bodies by dieting, which is likely to be worse than if we just stayed heavy and never dieted. What we do know is that weight is a complex issue that individuals have very little control over. It needs to stop being viewed as a moral issue, with heavier people seen as moral failures. All of these things, I am in agreement with the HAES/body positivity movement. Then we get into the "health" discussion, and my stance starts diverging from theirs. HAES claims that there is no direct causation between body fat and ill health and that the path to better health should not involve any level of focus on weight. Well, not really. While there are some people who carry a lot of body fat and have no significant health concerns, there are also people who drink excessive amounts of alcohol and smoke daily who have no significant health concerns. No one would say that there is no causal relationship between alcohol and liver problems, or between cigarettes and lung issues just because not everyone who partakes is ill. The science is clear that excessive weight significantly increases the risk in a number of health areas. The body will compensate until it can't anymore, and then a cascade of health issues descends. I believe that to state otherwise is deceitful and damaging. And if your weight directly keeps you from being able to take care of yourself and move around, then there's no way you're "healthy", medically speaking. That is not to say that healthcare should be denied to larger people. We still treat lung cancer, even if the patient smoked for 40 years and "brought it on themselves". But we also encourage intervention for the addiction and prescribe cessation programs. We don't have a lot of good options to offer people who struggle with weight issues, and we need to be more up-front about how well they work, but we shouldn't quit trying. HAES/Body Positivity has and excellent observation about the health issues - it's no one's business. Unless I'm on your medical treatment team, it's not my business how much you weigh, and it's not my place to say you should lose weight. It's not my business what you do or don't eat. If I am on your treatment team, I should treat you with the utmost respect and not ignore symptoms and issues because you're larger. The whole argument about "my taxes pay for this treatment and y'all bring it on yourselves" is bogus. My taxes pay for sports injuries (caused by patient choice), car accidents (sometimes caused by patient choice), tobacco complications (caused by patient choice), and drug overdoses (caused by patient choice) and we don't see a large call for those people to go without treatment. Even if we were to start drawing lines, where exactly would they get drawn? HAES also pushes for healthy lifestyle choices, just without a focus on weight. I'm down with that. People of every size can take steps to improve their health: make healthier food choices, exercise, reduce stress, get regular medical care. Some of these will even have more impact than the actual weight loss. Many of these will result in weight loss. People should not be discouraged from doing these things until after they lose weight. I can even (medically) support an attitude of, "I'm going to work on these other things, and I don't care about the scale while I do." (And once again, if I'm not on your medical team, it's none of my business.) HAES has the right idea about much of this. And then I diverge again from HAES and the like when they say that being on Weight Watchers or having WLS or in any way deliberately focusing on modifying your size is AGAINST the body positivity movement. Everyone has different reasons for choosing these things, and not all of them have to do with hating your larger body. I loved myself at my highest weight and was generally okay with my body. I never looked in the mirror and hated myself. I have features I'm not crazy about, but it's at worst neutral, never a self-hatred. I didn't have VSG because I wanted to fit in a size 10 jean again (if I get there or even close it'll be a welcome side effect in my book). My decision was not swayed in the slightest by social pressures. I had VSG because I have physical health issues that are directly impacted by my weight and are reducing my mobility and taking my activity level down to practically nothing. I was lacking a quality of life and wanted to improve the things in my life that HAES talks about. Because of those health issues, I didn't feel like I had time to do it "the long way". I don't advocate WLS for everyone, and unless you ask me directly I'm not going to say whether or not I think it would be a good idea for you. But I'm not "body positive" because I "amputated a healthy organ" in order to change my size. Like so many things in our current society, the opposing sides would have you think that it's a binary situation - on or off, good or bad, this or that. I have never embraced a black and white binary way of thinking and am not about to start now. I want to support the HAES movement, but it seems like I'm not welcome and some of the concepts they propose as near-gospel I find to be scientifically questionable. Maybe I'm trying to justify my position against what I want to believe and it just doesn't fit, I don't know. What do you think?

Expecting a surgery date in October. So far, I'm cutting down on diet soda and alcohol, and drinking less with meals. For me, emotional eating is an issue, so I'm working on that. Trying to recognize the head hunger, and find other ways to satisfy my needs. I'm also getting exercise back into my life, mostly walking and dance videos. 10-15 minutes at a crack so far. Things are starting to get real...

Carbs are sneaky. "Carb Creep" will get you every time. I suspect they are higher than you realize. Re-count. When (hint to self) I get on a low carb diet I have to be no more more than 25-40 grams a DAY to lose anything. Also, look at total carbs, not the carb minus Fiber or sugar alcohol-but total carbs. sugar free is not carb free. Additionally, since the carbs are at night they are not getting burned off. (So for example, 3 Popsicle pops at 4 grams each is 12 grams at the very end of the day). The Premier shake has 5 total-so then there is 10 grams there. Plus, now you have dressing (check the carb count and the amount you are using). Then everything else. Try pickle pops to curb sugar urges and add more Water? More water might help.

The best reassurance I can give you is that anesthesiologists who are associated with bariatric groups generally have extensive experience with obese patients and are probably your best bet for a safe anesthesia episode. If you share ever aspect of your health with them, being 100% truthful about the good, bad and ugly, they can do the job they need to do. They need to know if you have sleep apnea or suspect sleep apnea, your drug/alcohol usage (both prescribed and OTC drugs as well as any herbal/vitamins/etc), your activity level, and so on and so forth. There's no guarantee for any of us, but we can up the odds we'll get through surgery safely but being honest and trusting our caregivers with all of our information. Good luck to you!

True it isn't my weight alone that could be the problem during anesthesia but the good news is that I don't drink alcohol at all, I don't smoke at all and I don't eat meat at all (yes I'm an obese vegetarian). I also don't take any kind of medications and thankfully I don't have a single health issue (yet), no blood sugar, no blood pressure, no cholesterol etc. so I think everything else is fine. And yes you're also right about the risks of my weight against the risks of the surgery, I mentioned that myself that if I stay as I am now then I give myself 6-7 years or 10 maximum and then poof I'm a goner. So yes this surgery is definitely the only way to life for someone in my weight. And last, I already started with a diet 2 days ago even before my first visit to the surgeon next week, I have already started to train myself to be more "food disciplined". Anyway let's hope for the best... Hope I can get some more inputs from more people who have gone through this. Appreciate it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Cut out grains, sweets, alcohol, and tropical fruits. Have limited quantities of dairy, beans. legumes, starchy veggies, and other fruit. You should do just fine.

For me, carbs are an addiction. I know that I can't completely cut them out, but I have reduced them to 12-20 (12-15 most days) for the entirety of my six-month pre-op diet program. (My surgery is September 28.) I have an appointment with my nutritionist for an extra session on Tuesday to discuss the role of carbs as I transition to a new diet post-op. I have just had to accept that carbs are to me like alcohol is to an alcoholic. Unlike with an alcohol addiction, however, I can't remove carbs from my life completely, but I have to keep them as low as realistically possible if I am going to continue to take off all of my extra weight and keep it off long-term.

I quit all four things at once for surgery. Not a good idea but I had to to get the operation. Smoking Pain pills Alcohol food. I need to see a psychiatrist because w out those things im very emotional.

Yesterday travel and attended two pre wedding functions. I fell way below my Protein and Water levels but survived lots of temptations. I had a tiny bit of crab cake at one restaurant with some lobster bits and sauce. Yummy and tolerated but only a little. Then a little chicken francese, about 2 bites. Tonight I've heard my choices for main meal. Chilean sea bass; filet mignon, some chicken dish, two Pasta choices. Oh, I'm 31 days out. Phase 3, alot I rarely blend, do more with my teeth. I want to try and eat more fish but not a fan. Alot I'd be starving if not for my tuna fish. This will be an elegant wedding and the venue has excellent food. But will I like the bass? Or should I try the steak? I bet I couldn't get much down. Or just stick with chicken that I know my tummy tolerates. I'm assuming I will avoid all food and alcohol at the cocktail hour. Maybe a meatball if they have them How should I approach this. I'm sort of freaking out because I didn't have enough good choices yesterday and fell below. Sent from my SM-N910T using the BariatricPal App

I got down to 175 briefly and wanted to lose another 10-20 (still not sure what will be ideal weight for me). Instead I promptly gained 12 or so pounds, which meant I needed to lose 25. That felt like "same old, same old" and I definitely wanted to nip that in the bud. I love my collar bones and hips -- and my size ten jeans, etc.! Friends (non-WLS) and spouse went on Whole30 program which is basically Protein and veggies, a little whole fruit, some nuts, etc. but easy on all that -- basically meat, fish, chicken and veg. It's how I need to be eating anyway and I have been able to get back on track for myself that way. Feels good. With a band it's really important to chew, chew, chew and to avoid slider foods. Of course it's easy to come to rely on those yummy things like yogurts, fancy cheeses, etc. Oh, and alcohol apparently does me no favors as far as the scale is concerned. Avoiding the constant wine & cheese party mode is very helpful. I am back in the jeans I had before and hopefully on my way to the next pair that are waiting.

It's not uncommon for people to become lactose intolerant after surgery but then for it to go away in a few months, or even as long as six months later. Your sweetener packet may have sugar alcohol which makes my tummy cramp up too. I second the fair life suggestion!

Quick update. I'm 10 months out and I still can't believe how I feel, how I changed the way I eat, and the way I look at food. Occasionally I do have a sweet desert or an alcoholic beverage but I keep my carb intake to a minimum, and when I do have carbs it's before I go to the gym so I can utilize what I just took in. Just keep in mind that surgery is just a "Tool" use it correctly and it'll work. Good luck to everyone on their journey.

Good to hear from Lisa and Bandista. I've noticed that my arthritis is generally better this year since I made some major f ood changes. I do get occasional (bad) flares, but they come and go pretty rapidly and are, I believe, correlating with stress. Anyway, when I'm not in a flare, I have a much better overall pain level than I did a year ago. What changed? I gave up fried f ood 9 months ago, all alcohol a year ago, and most refined carbs 9 months ago. I'm down over 20 pounds since last September. I'm not at goal but I'm slowly losing. I really wish I could get motivated to exercise. I really hate getting sweaty. There, I've said it. JustWatchMe

Thank you this was so informative. My surgeon doesn't allow for drinking anything during meals until 2 hours after! And don't get me started on wine or alcohol I am 10 days post op and I am struggling with hunger. But I'm hoping the office will call me to help me out with this. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I can't imagine the feeling of starting surgery and not having it go through. I am so sorry. I had such fears of my liver causing an issue. Just keep thinking of the goal, look at the success stories and photos here. That is what kept me going when I was suffering the liquid phase, not to mention the longer caffeine and alcohol free time. I actually stopped drinking all alcohol and taking almost all OTC drugs months before my diet restrictions because I wanted to do all that I could to avoid issues. Not sure if it made difference or surgery would have happened regardless. But, I do know that my liver numbers got better in those few months. Good luck!

I'm not nice, I'm simply tired of being smacked down for pointing out the obvious. So...tacos, ice cream, popcorn and alcohol for everyone!!! :D

@@jintycb Helllllooooo again! Great to hear from you Yes, the honeymoon period is great while it lasts, and then poof, it is gone ...... Your diet is very similar to mine, and congratulations for losing 67 Ibs! Yiha! I too don't drink alcohol, gave it all up 9 years ago. So, no empty calories for me. I've lost 62.7 Ibs so far, and I am noticing that lately my weight-loss has been slowing down. I have about 22-30 Ibs to lose, and I am learning to be patient. Happy Birthday for Friday! May this be the best new decade for you! And good on you for going back to dancing. It is so enjoyable, good exercise and good for the soul In my slimmer days, I did Latin American dancing, and performed in many shows when I used to live in Sydney. I absolutely loved it! Say hello to UK for me. I miss my airline international travelling days .... Have a great day!

Since I am not a professional therapist I can not give your professional advice. Besides, if I were, you'd have to pay me! I would consider therapy for the two of you---alone and then together. You HAVE changed. He hasn't and maybe doesn't want to. Remember, there are few things more irritating than: an x-alcoholic, a born again Christian, or a recent weight lost "know what's best for every one". He may be able to listen and talk to someone objective rather than be "preached" to by you===even well intented. Get going on getting your marriage back on track. Do NOT put therapy off---hoping it "he will come around". I know. Wishing you nothing but many years of happily married life.

There's probably hormones involved in the anxiety. It's not unusual for alcohol to become an issue post WLS. Did you work with a therapist or Psych pre-op? I'd make an appointment to discuss both the anxiety and potential alcohol addiction. Keeping you in my prayers! Stay strong, Dave!