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Oh my gracious @ShoppGirl what a battle you have been fighting. But it sounds like you are facing this with your usual strength & focus though I’m sure there are days that are extremely difficult. I think it ‘s amazing you are still trying to balance your weight loss with your treatments. And it sounds like you have a great attitude around doing the best you can when you can & f*@k the days you can’t. You were enjoying your yoga and am glad you have access to some virtual classes. I too love the inner peace yoga provides. (I still get it with the few yoga stretches I do at home.) Sending blessings your way.

I wasn’t going to discuss this on these boards since I don’t want to turn the discussion away from weight loss. I figured I would talk cancer at the cancer support group and weight related stuff here, but I am quickly realizing that it’s very much intertwined. I had my revision surgery to SADI on 8/7/2024 and I felt something on my breast in the shower in September. I went to gyno, got sent to get a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound and then biopsies and it came back as cancer 11/6/2024 (about 4 months post op). A few days later I was with the breast surgeon and was told it was triple negative and it’s very aggressive so the process is a little different for me in that it’s all very fast moving but it’s pretty much the same collection of treatments for most cancer I believe. I am currently two rounds into chemotherapy and just started immunotherapy and also doing appointments for all kinds of scans and imaging as well as meeting the rest of my doctors and setting up my future treatments which will be double mastectomy, then radiation and then maybe oral chemo. Basically I have not sat down since I learned the diagnosis and I have had to learn a tremendous amount very fast to make some pretty heavy decisions very quickly to keep the ball rolling. It’s been a whirlwind From a bariatric standpoint things have been incredibly challenging. For one my appointments are all over Florida. I have a medical oncologist, a breast surgeon, a cosmetic breast surgeon, a radiation oncologist, and a second opinion oncologist and now a gynocologist in the mix but that’s pretty specific to me. So far and I have had to have imaging done at 3 different places as well since it’s all been so rushed it’s just about who can get me in the soonest and then since these places aren’t connected I have to wait around for records and discs and carry them all to each of my appointment to make sure everyone has everything I have been traveling non stop with little time to prepare things so prioritizing my nutrition and exercise has been a huge challenge just in terms of time. There are just not enough hours in the day!! Then there is the chemo, the shot that builds up your white blood cells, and the immunotherapy infusion which also take time (2-3 different appointments depending on how it works out that week) but also all of this effects my cravings and energy. First there is the fact that I have to be on steroids which we all know are the enemy of weight loss but also the fact that eating is different. I consider myself very fortunate that food doesn’t taste bad to me and nausea is not an issue like it is for so many but it’s still not the same. I crave something very specific. I taste it and it’s good but I eat three bites and don’t want it anymore. My refrigerator is a leftover graveyard lol. In terms of energy I am on the strongest treatment regimen the oncologist says so fatigue sorta goes with the territory. I have been walking everyday still except for the biopsy day and my chemo port surgery day and I have done my yoga when my schedule permits but I have not done my cardio class because I think I sweat too much considering how dehydrating the chemo already is. Also I can’t touch community stuff for 24 hours after chemo without possibly exposing others to the chemo drug and we use balls, bars, discs, etc. Also more recently there is the fact that I have lost about 85% of my hair and I get too hot to wear a hat. I think once I’m bald it will actually look better and I am going to try really hard to just get over that but right now I don’t look like I have cancer. It just looks like a botched hair cut to me so I’m living in hats. The good news is it’s going very fast. It started falling out last week and it’s almost gone already so by next week I think I will just be bald. Well, yesterday I did totally forget to exercise with all that I had going on and I’m feeling guilty today now that I remembered but I know that’s silly. I am just hoping that as treatment goes on I am able to keep up my exercise. All the doctors say it’s good to keep pushing myself just not too hard. Exercise and good nutrition are going to make this alot easier on me. Back to food again. Not sure if it’s just the stress of the whole situation or the fact that chemo puts you into early menopause but Thursday was a particularly bad day. My moods were erratic to say the least and I had a bunch of blood drawn after having nothing but a protein shake all day so at 7pm I was pretty much famished by the time we stopped to eat. Olive Garden was the most convenient option and I planned soup and salad but when I got in there that went out the window. I went totally off plan. Again I feel guilty but these darn steroids and all the crazy emotions are making it so much harder to make the better choices when it’s staring at me tempting me I did still get my protein for the day though if there is any good in that What’s really hard about this is that even with the pasta and bread I am actually still losing weight so for my previously obese brain it’s tempting to not just enjoy that while it lasts. But I know that the processed crap is not good for my body, especially right now. I don’t feel as good since I have not been exercising as much and I’ve been eating off plan. I don’t sleep as well at night and I seem to crave more and more junk as well as have less energy throughout the day. thankfully my program has provided to me free of charge an oncology dietician, but I am her first patient who is actively still in weight loss phase undergoing chemo. She had agreed to check in with me once a week since this is new for both of us and she seems amazing so far. She suggested that I do not lose more than two to three pounds a week which was my average before the chemo. Because the chemo has apparently sped up my metabolism she says that I need to increase calories but to add healthy ones which is extremely difficult because adding calories goes against all we just learned and over 2000 calories of healthy food is a very large volume of food that my body is just not wanting right now (I was eating around 900-1000 before this and already felt like I was eating all day. And remember that most of these meals are on the road these days so I have to eat what I can fit in a cooler or stop somewhere on the side of the highway most times. Not easy to find clean healthy food on the road. Enough stating the obvious that it’s tough, here’s what I actually have to offer so far in terms of advice. First thing when I wake up in the morning I have a protein shake which is a really good head start to the day and if I am lucky enough to still be around a couple of hours later I have a second breakfast instead of waiting until there’s time to eat on whatever adventure the day brings. That helps with the protein if I don’t have time to stop at all. Although recently the shakes haven’t gone down so well so I just wake up and have scrambled eggs with 2% cheese and whatever leftover veggies are on hand.. If I know I won’t have time for that I also have some boiled eggs In the fridge that I can eat real fast or slice up with some cheese and take on the go. I carry in my cooler a high protein yogurt drink, chomps pepperoni flavored turkey jerky and baby bell light or mozzarella sticks. It helps to put the ice pack in a ziplock with these items if you live where it gets hot. I also carry a bag with high protein snacks quest protein chips, kind minis, cliff minis, pistachio nuts, nut butter packets, quest cheddar cheese crackers, granola to add to yogurt, etc Freezer meals!! Omg. I was doing these before my diagnosis and they were super convenient then and have been a lifesaver now. I have tex med chili, chicken chili, turkey meatballs, turkey taco meat, grilled chicken, meatloaf, etc in the freezer and it’s all measured and weighed out so that I can pop in the fridge the night before or even jet defrost in microwave if need be. When I have time to cook I do double batches so I can keep my freezer stock replenished. I have a note in my phone notes that it titled In freezer and I just keep adding to it what I freeze and how many portions are in there so if I’m not home I can check my freezer stock. I also do a version of meal prep with chick fila as well I like their market and southwest salads (I get the market one without the blue cheese) I buy one of each with two extra chicken fillets and take them home and I make four salads out of that. I take off all the toppings with a bit of lettuce and put into a smaller container to make a market salad and do the same with the southwest. Then I put the leftover lettuce with the chicken into another container and I have fresh shredded Parmesan in snack ziplocks and ceaser dressing also in ziplocks (sorta less pleasant looking but I figure less risk if bacteria than them tiny containers which are hard to get really clean since I am immunocompromised and infection is so dangerous right now) i cut off a corner and squeeze it out like an icing bag. I just use half of the packets of dressing with the market and southwest salads and then toss the rest. I have the ziplock containers that have the twist top lids and these are easy to toss into the cooler when they do not open at all I still log my macros in Baritastic this has really been helpful for me to be honest about what I’m eating with my oncology dietician so she can keep me on track . It also lets you log your activity, weight, inches lost and set notifications for vitamins and stuff. I added a reminder to put on my fitness watch and to take my regular meds too I also carry my water with me and I set alarms again to drink. You have to wear a mask and for me that seems to make me drink like a quarter as much as I do without one so I have to have reminders again. Vitamins need alarms too. Chemo brain is a real thing and when your days is never the same it’s hard to have a routine anyways so I actually have alarms for just about everything in life right now. I made different tones for water, vitamins and appointments and I have a checklist to go over before I leave the house to make sure I did and packed everything. My friend and family also have reminders for me in their phones for the real important stuff and they call or text to make sure I haven’t forgotten. I just found out that two of the programs I belong too offer virtual yoga sessions. I haven’t tried it yet because they are at set times as well but I added them to my calendar as recurring appts just like the live one so I can attend whichever one I have time for. Someone else suggested you tube for videos but I haven’t tried that either. Yoga by the way is my only sense of calm throughout all of this so I HIGHLY recommend it. That and meditation I know that both of these sound a little fruity before you give them a good fair try and meditation takes a lot of practice before it really Did anything for me but I swear my mind runs non stop with anxiety and worry and for that one hour I’m in yoga or the few minutes I’m meditating it is at peace. It’s amazing!! So I am a little over a month into this and I’ve got a good year and a half to go if all goes well so I’m sure I will have more to add to this but I just wanted to pop In and share what my experience has been juggling a new cancer diagnosis while pretty early out from bariatric surgery. I hope this helps someone. Even if it’s less advice and more to let you know that you are not alone in the struggle.

Unfortunately you can stall many times while you are losing. Each time it is just as frustrating, They will break. I wonder if you are making too many changes and just need to stay your coarse for a while. Remember a stall occurs when your body needs to take reassess and take stock of your current needs in regards to metabolic rate, digestive hormones, etc. The weight loss and duet is quite stressful to your body and it too needs to take a time out, shut the door, and take a breath much like we need to do mentally in stressful times. Certainly getting your iron levels and any other deficiencies sorted is important. It may help as the deficiencies might be adding to the stress your body is under. All the best.

Yes, it could be the beginning of a stall but remember all the weight loss rates you read about and weekly/monthly weight loss goal you may be given are all based on averages @eJean. For everyone who meets those averages there’s someone who exceeds it and someone who doesn’t meet it and that’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with having lost 16.5lbs in your first month. Don’t ‘only’ it. You’ve lost more than a stone in a month. Amazing! I remember my weight loss slowed so much around months 5 & 6 I was losing grams/ounces a week @Bypass2Freedom. I never thought I would hit my goal - it was hellish frustrating to be so close yet so far in my mind. Yet I did and then continued to lose 11kgs more for another 11 months at various rates. So don’t give up. Do remember though that if you reduce your calorie intake to reduce your weight more you will have to continue to eat less than you are now to maintain the lower weight. You never know the weight you will stabilise at and you can maintain. You can stay your oath or make some adjustments and see what happens. Oh, and don’t forget you can still experience stalks along the way nit just at the beginning. PS Check out a basal metabolic rate calculator. They’re not perfect much like a BMI calculator but might give you an idea of whether you are eating less than you need to maintain your current weight & the activity you are doing. If you are consuming less than they say you need you should keep losing.

I’ve still got my fingers crossed for my brows. Have a few coming in but they seem finer. I’m patchy. Lost some of my brows from a combination of following those micro fine brows of the 80s & then a skin infection. Get my brows micro bladed which is great (about 5 years ago) but I’d still like some more of my own brow hairs as well. The hair loss with the weight loss is an acceleration of your natural hair loss cycle not a permanent loss. So you’re just shedding hair you would usually be shedding in your normal cycle more quickly. People lose different amounts, some more than others for about 3 or so months from around months 3 or 4. Doesn’t seem to differ if people take supplements or not. Certainly won’t hurt @Mskmartin & it may make your new growth stronger.

Semaglutide (and other various GLP-1 agonists) effectiveness can be dose dependent. 4 weeks is likely not long enough to see changes especially if you are still at the starting dose. Here’s a link with some decent easy to understand info: https://www.richlandmd.com/cosmetic/semaglutide-dose-for-weight-loss/ Also these meds are used in conjunction with lifestyle modifications. According to a meta analysis reviewing multiple trials “We observed that aside from the administration of semaglutide, reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity were also part of the intervention. Hence, semaglutide alone probably will not be able to achieve an 11.85% weight loss” https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9758543/ Take a look at your early post op diet plan and give that a try again. If you didn’t have one, I can share that mine was protein forward (80g minimum) with minimal carbs (under 50 g and mostly complex) and low fat (20g) and almost no calories from drinks unless they are protein shakes. *edited to add: These meds can cause constipation so any weight gain could be due to that You really should consider checking in with the prescribing/administering physician to ask about your progress. Best of luck!

Thanks for your input. I’m just so nervous about the hair loss. I do have semi thick hair now but it already sheds a lot. I just noticed it says it also helps prevent hair loss so it makes me wonder.

This sounds like the three week stall. Totally normal! Your body burns glycogen for energy, and during extreme calorie restriction, you burn a lot of it. Glycogen is stored in the body along with water, so each gram of glycogen you burn for fuel also releases 3 grams of water, which you flush out. This is why you lose weight so quickly the first few weeks, not because you are burning all of that weight just from fat stores. After the first few weeks, you start to be able to eat some solid foods along with your protein shakes. This gives your body a chance to replenish the glycogen you burned, which is vital for survival. But it means that for every gram of glycogen you store, you also store about 3 grams of water. Your body is continuing to burn fat during this time, but you won't see it on the scale because it kind of zeroes out with the whole glycogen/water storage thing going on. After a week or two, your body will be back to normal in terms of glycogen reserves and you should start to see your weight decrease again at a moderate pace. I really wish doctors would explain this to patients before surgery because it's just basic science, and people totally freak out when they are eating nothing and not seeing the number on the scale go down. I think doctors forget that their patients have failed at about a million attempts at weight loss prior to surgery and we are naturally prone to believing we are failing again. But you're not! Also, counting calories at this stage is pointless. You're in a massive calorie deficit. It's impossible not to be unless you are doing something terribly wrong against every bit of medical advice. Focus on protein and water but don't stress over calories until you get to a point many motnhs from surgery where there may be a legitimate possibility that you are overeating.

I can speak to minoxidil for eyebrows because I had almost no eyebrows left after years of thyroid issues and I started using it a few months ago on my brows and I'm slowly getting my eyebrows back! I also have some chronic thinning hair issues on the top and a patch at the back of my head. With the surgery hair loss, it's gotten so much worse that I wear a hat all the time. I decided to go ahead and use minoxidil for that, too. I'm okay with having to use it every day forever since I know it was not great pre-surgery, anyway, so it's something I might as well address now. I'm at almost 10 months post-op and the hair loss has completely stopped and the new growth is visible. If I had been pleased with my hair thickness pre-surgery, I would have just waited it out without using anything. My guess is by summertime it will look a lot better. In the meantime, hats and big headbands are my go-to. For reference, I use a 5% foam on my brows (Rogaine brand) and a 5% liquid spray on my head (If you are in USA, the brand is Dabida and I buy it on Amazon in a 3-bottle pack for about $40). One container of foam will last at least 6 months or more since I use the tiniest bit on the brows. The spray is 60mL per bottle and I use 4 sprays daily, which is supposed to be equal to 1 mL, so a 3-pack should last about 6 months. You could use the liquid on brows but the foam is easier to manage. I put it on brows and head at night before bed. It does seem to dry my hair a bit, so I bought a really good hair masque to use weekly for deep conditioning.

I’m right there with you. I’m 1 month post-op and I’ve only lost 16.5lbs. 14 were in the first 11 days. I’ve only lost 2.5 lbs in the last two weeks. I’ve been on soft foods and trying to count the calories along with measuring, as I only am able to eat about 1/4 cup of food per meal. I don’t know what’s causing the slow. I barely get 600 calories. I’ve been moving quite a bit since we’re trying to move into our new home. I’m still under the target weight loss the doc gave me. Just discouraged.

One thing I've learned through experience is that it's hard to predict what will happen next. My weight loss slowed significantly in July but then I dropped a lot in August and September, but slowed again in October and even more in November. A lot of it not really because of any major changes in my behavior, either. There's a lot going on that you can't really see throughout this whole process. I notice, for example, that my body shape changes when my weight is steady. I do try to be honest with myself. Sometimes, I know for certain I have been doing everything correctly and am not losing. That's fine. Sometimes, I lose weight and I know I did so despite making some poor choices. I try to be aware of that because it will not be as easy as time goes on (it already isn't for me!). I know that if I have things in the house, I will be tempted by them, but I rarely would leave the house to go buy something I didn't already have just because it sounded good. If I buy cookies, I may end up eating four of them instead of the two I said I would eat. If I don't buy them, I will eat zero. So, after the holidays, not buying or making the stuff is my main strategy. For me, it's all about figuring out how I want to live. I want to be healthy, but I don't want to be miserable. I'm working on being more intentional with what I eat and how I exercise. My goal now that my appetite and capacity have kind of settled into a fairly predictable pattern, is to strengthen my routines around food prepping and setting regular meal times. If I can stick to that most of the time, have a solid list of things I make on a regular basis and keep in the house ready to go in an instant, and things I do NOT keep anywhere near me, I won't feel like I need to worry about the occasional indulgences. Because skipping all holiday snacks or treats, or never ordering a dessert or a special cocktail, isn't a way I want to live! But I also don't want to lose track and let myself indulge all year because I forgot to set limits.

I am a little over 3 months post op sleeve. I have been stuck at the same weight for over a month now. I have tried everything the dr has recommended however I am unable to break the stall. My bloodwork came back and I noticed a trend that points toward iron deficiency. Has anyone ever been stalled like this started iron supplements and started losing again? I am concerned my body is broke and this is all I will be able to lose. I am hitting all of my goals protein calories water exercise and carbs. I just can’t lose anymore. Any help is appreciated!

I know that things slow down, and I am not necessarily feeing low about this, but I just wanted to see what others experiences were with when their weight loss started to slow down & then stop. I am 7 months post-op tomorrow, and I am still losing, but it is definitely at a slower rate than the first 3-4 months (which is of course to be expected). My surgeon said you can keep losing weight anywhere up until 16-18 months post-op: does this resonate with anyone?

Never heard of it but I see it has minoxidil as it’s active ingredient so same as Rogain. Minoxidil does regrow hair but you have to keep using it forever. Stop using it and your hair falls out again. I use the 5% Rogain for a small patch of menopausal hair loss at one temple (I’m vain 😉) & I dab it on my brows too (the women’s 2% wasn’t strong enough). It does make my hair a bit gloopy if I don’t wash it every 2 days though. There is a prescription tablet you can take which is easier of course but if you have low blood pressure you should avoid it. If you are thinking about using it for the weight loss associated hair loss it probably isn’t worth it (my opinion only) as your hair loss is temporary and it regrows.

Had my pre-op and it was A LOT! I was there for 2.5hours and I know that the surgeon has to be clinical with speaking about what is possible or not. It ended up being a little bit more money due to needing an Internal bra. He said that with the weight gain, weight loss, and breastfeeding two children my skin is thin and without the internal bra he would not do the surgery as the implant would move and be unsuccessful. I am getting 495cc high profile, he said this size would get the size that I want and he feels good about this size healing and looking good. He is one of the best of the best and has been doing this for over 35yrs so I trust him but it was a long appointment and being told that I needed extra things to make this successful because my skin sucked just was shitty to hear and hard when I pick apart myself every single day (which I know is not healthy). Now that the appointment is over and I had a day to stew- I am confident that I will look how I want and getting excited to get them done in 17days!

@Arabesque hit all the important points. I will reitterate that it's hard to fail the psych approval or any WLS approval really. Honestly, the thoughts you are having are not unusual. Many of us worried about not being approved because we did so much wrong to get to our weight (I was 500 pounds overweight). It doesn't matter. Even knowing this I still fretted over the psych evaluation. I was certain I would be rejected for this life saving surgery. But I fooled them and was approved. You too will be approved. If you believe you can lose your weight and keep it off, then do it. Surgery is forever. Evaluate your history of weight loss attempts, if any. Many of us could lose weight. It was being consistent and maintaining that was the problem. If I honestly believed I could lose the weight and keep it off without WLS I would have done it. But I had 20 years of not being able to do it no matter my beliefs that I could. For me, my comfortable weight is just barely into 'overweight' because I'm tall and I didn't like being a stick (I was 'underweight' for a while). This decission is also all you. It's your body. There is no law that you have to have a normal BMI. Do you. Trust yourself. Tek

Some people are just pigs. I wish it hadn’t happened to you at all, but you know what, better then than down the road when you may have been settled In with the guy expecting forever. I hope you find someone who wants you for YOU!! They do exist, just gotta try and ask the right questions and hope to weed out the jerks. I think if I was looking for someone new I would probably show them pictures and my extra skin and see their reactions as soon as it started to get remotely serious just to judge their reaction. If it’s all about how good you look now (basically implying gross before) or how you have such a pretty face or hair, etc you may have your answer. I wish you the best of luck in finding your Mr right but in the meantime keep up the good work on your own health and happiness.

I was wondering if anyone has tried keranique for hair loss to help prevent or treat it? It says it’s fda proven to regrow hair…makes me wonder.

I'm glad you brought this up and I'm surprised it's not brought up more often. This totally derailed my weightloss. I havent dated in several years due to my weight and lack of time raising a special needs grandson. After loosing 80 pounds and one pound to finally get under 200, I started talking with a man and that turned into flirting. We had alot in common but we lived about 5 hours apart but his work was going to bring him into my town for a few years....Well, I screwed up again and gained 20 pounds back. When he saw me the next time he was in town, that was the end. That hurt my feelings to the core. Hell, I'm crying now. There wasnt any love loss, it was just how superficial people are and how they treat you. As long as Im getting around good and my body isnt sick, to hell with being little. Healthy is the key goal and frankly the only goal for me. I did the mandatory visit with the psychologist, which was a joke and just an insurance hurdle. Knowing what I know now, issues like this need to be addressed and talked about. Also, not ONE person mentioned my weight loss until my daughter and I were out of town and had to go do laundry. My daughter couldnt figure out whose pants she was folding. I told her they were mine and she was flabbergasted that I had lost that much weight...shrugs... Anyway, if you are just starting out or thinking about surgery, please keep this in mind and talk about it with the psychologist about how your going to handle this issue....Ya'll, take care and good luck with everything.

5’3” and was 200lbs when I made my decision. For me, it’s been the best decision. But only you know what’s best for you in regards to your weight and your overall health now & in the future. I was healthy without any co morbidities before my surgery but I knew carrying the weight I was meant health issues were in my future. Only you know if you can continue on your current weight loss journey and fully adopt your new behaviours around food, eating, etc. (Congrats on the changes you have made.) Of course after surgery you have to adopt new behaviours as well, but the surgery gives you benefits (some temporary) to support you as your losing & helps gets you through the period when you’re adapting to the changes. BMI shouldn’t be used as a hard and fast rule as to what is a healthy weight range but merely as an idea of what might be good for you. (The science/studies behind the development of the BMI metrics is flawed and did not take in many factors like ethnicity, muscle mass, your frame/build, age, etc.). You’re right, everyone carries their weight differently (I carried it all over) and what’s a comfortable weight for one may not be for someone else. Some people feel happier at a higher weight whilst others don’t. Some here have got to a lower weight but happily settle at a higher weight. I thought my goal of 132lbs was fine for me and achievable. I had always been happy at that weight. I ended up less than that (108) and I feel great at this weight. Discovered I actually am quite finely built and so I look slim/tiny but not bony. And I still have an hourglass shape though the ratio is much smaller than before (lol!). Usually, your approval for surgery is based upon your starting weight (before your classes not your weight after you’ve completed them. So your starting weight would make you eligible in most cases, Why not meet with the surgeon, see what they suggest. Ask too if you can delay your decision & for how long so you can see how you continue on your own. I know I haven’t answered your questions & have only given you some more things to consider but I hope they help you decide your next steps. All the best whatever you choose to do.

Hi there. So I will make this as short as I can I have had a good amount of health issues and surgeries throughout my life. I am a 34 y.o. mom of 3 who has no appendix or gallbladder. Also I have had a few brain surgeries and procedures before ultimately having to have craniotomy all thanks to a A.V.M. in my cerebellum. There was a time when I had a "G-tube" as well. I was 210 and was starting my lifestyle changes because I was completely unhappy with myself. My primary prescribed me semiglutide pills since my weight and my fasting glucose levels weren't ideal He also referred me to a WLS dept to gain information on the VGS. He believes that I am perfectly healthy just overweight. I have gone through 5 months of nutrition classes. One a month. My final class is Thursday (tomorrow) and I'm uncertain if this is for me. I am down to 184 which I am absolutely proud of myself for. I know that with my height (5'2) the normal but high bmi is 135/136. I believe 137 starts the overweight bmi section. I see the surgeon in Jan & psychologist in Feb. I am not sure id pass that clearance with these thoughts. And since im on the lower end for weight loss I am afraid I would be denied anyway. I don't have any health conditions req for WLS if you don't meet bmi requirements Haha I know im annoying. I want the surgery but then don't at the same time. I have improved my lifestyle choices, getting more active, proportioning meals etc but I'm not sure if I continue with just these things I could lose more weight. Ugggh I frustrate myself. Anyone start on the lower side? Does BMI really matter. 5'2s where are you? I know everyone carries their weight differently so it looks different on everyone. What is comfortable?

I had a colleague come up to me during my coffee break and hovering over my head saying "can I ask you a question?" and I instantly knew what he was going to say, and he goes "are you okay? You look really thin and frail these days" he is a sweetheart and he is someone I have worked with a long time ago and have great rapport with, so I just smiled and told him yes I am okay and thanked him for his concern. Not a day goes by that I don't receive comments from multiple people on my physical appearance. How thin I look, how awesome I look ...etc. and it's just a multitude of opinions varying from you look awesome to are you sure you're not terminally ill? I asked my husband the other day if he thinks I look like death and he goes you look like a sports illustrated model, which at the end of the day, is the only opinion I value besides my own opinion of myself. People see it as drastic weight loss, I see it as one of the greatest successes of my life, using a tool that helped me lose weight and running with it resulting in great satisfaction and a much healthier body image. I don't take these comments to heart, I look and feel great, and often think that most of these comments aren't personal, they are probably the byproduct of shock. Yes a fraction of them are ill-intended but then again, why should they matter to me? The good and bad, they're just opinions and they belong to others, not me.

Many find having elevated liver function tests whilst in the losing phase. Weight loss, especially the larger amounts we’re losing, is hard your liver. It does settle again once your weight stabilises. If your liver was fine before surgery and now a couple of months in & your labs are elevated I would think it may be because of your weight loss and it will improve. But see what your surgeon says.

Im glad to hear it hasn’t been a big issue for you. I have a family member who just died from it so it scared me a bit. I bet the pain is for sure the most difficult thing to deal with nowadays. Everyone is so afraid to prescribe pain meds. I guess what really doesn’t make sense to me, though, is that my liver enzymes were always normal pre surgery and now that I am 4 months post up exercising like crazy and eating great I have it?! Just seems backwards. I did read that “bypass” and “rapid weight loss” are risk factors but would that be something that’s just temporary and not the typical presentation I wonder.

Congratulations on your surgery and success. To answer your questions first: How much weight did you lose after gastric bypass, and over what period of time? I lost 500+ pounds over a period of 2 years. Have you managed to maintain your weight loss, and for how long? I have managed my weight at just about a Normal BMI for just shy of 20 years. What were the biggest lessons or hurdles you faced during your journey? The biggest hurdle I had was the actual surgery. It was an open surgery where they cut from stem to sturn so they can reach in and manage the surgery then staple things back up. The staples at drain were extraordinarily painful with the slightest movement for the month until they took them out. Another couple weeks after that I was as good as gold. Next was learning how to eat, chewing, swallowing, learning when I was full, learning that I dumped on fats, then learning I dumped on sugars. Listening to my stomach on what I would be able to tolerate, then how much. Learning not to take that one more bite. My highest point was running 5 marathons, the third of which was across the Golden Gate Bridge (twice). Never even a hint of a possibility before my surgery. Good luck, Tek