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I think your examples really show how life does happen, and how common regain is, as well as how normal it is! I was also a success story, keeping off most of everything I lost for years. But there were pockets of time, tragic life events that proved to be too much for me to cope with, and I hate to admit this, sent me spiraling into stress eating. When I was caring for my husband in his 50s with early onset dementia, and his subsequent death at 62, I actually made a conscious decision to just let my focus on my diet go. It really takes a lot of focus and energy for me to stay on track, and I just didn’t have that left. Then came dealing with grief and then pandemic....blah blah blah. The 5 and then 2 and then 10 pounds here and there really add up!! Anyway, while I’m finding it very difficult to do, I agree with you, it possible to lose the regain. I’ve finally gone back to the way I ate when I lost the weight, (low calorie, low carb, high protein) and it is starting to come off. I really have to keep check on my expectations. I want to lose 2-3 pounds/week, and that’s just not going to happen for me. Remembering that time goes on either way and the 0.2 losses add up over time help to keep me focused. Wishing you much success on your continued journey to health!

Greetings to everyone, On May 2, 2016, I received my VSG from my Bariatric Surgeon. Fast forward to February 2019, I start getting experiencing abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting that my general GI specialist couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. Diagnostic testing revealed a raw sore in my esophagus, a hiatal hernia, and the medical professionals couldn’t diagnose why I was experiencing abdominal pain in my gut. As time moved on, my aforementioned symptoms got worse and worse where I couldn’t keep down my food and medications. Now jump to March 10, 2021, I have my first surgical consultation with the Bariatric Surgeon that had put in my VSG in 2016. My Bariatric Surgeon recommended a revision from the VSG to RYGB to fix my hiatal hernia and the rest of my digestive symptoms. Dr. Chen has fast tracked my RYGB surgery to Monday, March 22, 2021. I have to admit to everyone that in 2016 when I the VSG, I was fine with it. However, now with the RYGB surgery within 48 hours of this posting in the BariatricPal forum, I’m getting nervous to having this surgery. One of the main reasons why I’m nervous is about having the RYGB surgery is the possibility of complications and after having surgery, and the dumping syndrome that seems to be common with a lot of individuals who get the RYGB surgery. Fortunately for me, while I was recovering from the VSG, I was not subjected to dumping syndrome. Can anybody share with me about your own experiences with getting the RYGB surgery? How was your recovery period? How was it going from a clear liquid diet to a full liquid diet to purée foods, etc. Share your thoughts and feedback. I would greatly appreciate that very much.

If I remember correctly I was cleared to eat (well chewed) meat at around 4 weeks. However, I was only able to eat very small amounts to at first. Now at 19 months post op I can eat 3-5 ounces, depending on what meat it is. Ground beef and steak, and fish I can do about 5. Chicken about 4, and pork 3 max. Hang in there-the things I was really worried about missing I didn’t miss at all. I was sure it would be torture to live without my Coke Zero but from day one post op I completely lost my taste for it. Like you mentioned, my only regret is not doing the surgery sooner.

I’m 19 months post op and still use this size of reusable food container for snacks. I take 5 pre-measures portions of nuts or seeds as a snack for work each day, and also use them for cheese cubes or salad dressing. They’re great portion control!

@Arabesque Yes, tracking is critical, especially during transitional points or at times when you are "losing your way". I wish I had been able to resume tracking a couple months ago, but I just had way too much on my plate. I did what I could with the resources and energy I had at the time and at the end of the day, I know I honestly couldn't do even one more thing... even so simple as logging food. And it truly took me a couple months to recoup and get the rest of my life back on track. And overall I really didn't do so bad... but I do know that if I stayed on that trajectory there may be no coming back. Anyhow... I am proud of how my pre-op and first year post-op went. There was a learning curve for sure, but I feel I did very well and stayed on track. And I am even proud of how I managed to get through a public health crisis that put me on the frontline of fighting COVID within my work population of nearly 1000 people at 10 locations (what a nightmare the fall was!)... and that while my diet plan did get derailed.... I didn't allow it to get derailed to the point of no return. So here I am... ready to get back on track and more than willing to put in the work. And yes... I will be tweaking my macros and my carbs until I find my new sweet spot. Once I find it, can't promise I will always track... but I am always willing to go back when I need to.

Anyone else constantly feel nauseous? Surgery was 3/10 and the thought of ay kind of food (or even shakes) makes me feel nauseous. Even soups our making me queasy. I have those nausea pills but I am not using them because it is only around food that I get sick. Water is still going down fine and even had some other drinks like tea and juice.

Is it right in the fold? I have 2 right in the fold and they make me a little nervous. I wear a binder maybe like 10% of the time and occasionally ice. I was babying it a lot while I was in the hospital but the nurse told me to not do that too much. It has bled **slightly** but shows no sign of infection (nothing has spilled outside my glue)- and honestly I think yours looks great!! (IMO) Sleeping in bed and on my side last night seems to be easier. I start out w my binder on and toss it after about a half an hour. Hope this helps!!^ best of luck to ya- YOU GOT THIS!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Sleeved 3/16

Hi! 

It’s been YEARS since I was on this forum! I was very active from 2014-2016. Loved the support, hated the drama. 

I had VSG in 2014 and although I was a bit on the slower side losing because I was considered a “lightweight” (ha) at my surgery weight of 235, I was very successful. My low weight was 142 for about 15 minutes, but after a little bounce weight of 10-12 pounds or so, I maintained there for several years and was even running! Me—running at almost 50 years old! I was a WLS success! 

**Record screeching noise** not so fast.....

2018: On my Quest to stay active by finding new and fun activities, I decided to get on roller skates again at 51 years old. Let’s just say that didn’t turn out so well, and an almost debilitating neck injury happened. + 15 pounds. 

2019: Strange, I’ve got blood in my pee? Lab work shows no UTI. Bladder cancer?? WTF? That’s an old man’s disease! 
+ 10 pounds 

2020: Do I even have to say it?? Oh, but I *did* manage to break my ankle in October walking my dog and was in a boot for 2 months. Also, I got Covid in December. + 10 pounds 

I’m not using life happening as excuses at all. I was fully unprepared to deal with my weight maintenance *when* life happened. It just goes to show how woefully unprepared I was with my emotional eating when the chips (along with my poor broken body) were down. I can only hope my experience can be a lesson to all either thinking about WLS, or are happily in the honeymoon phase of WLS and maintenance. 

With a little pharmaceutical help from my Primary, I’m working on going back to basics and concentrate on healthier Protein and Fiber rich options to try to lose at least 25 pounds. It can be done. I’ve seen it. 

Wish me luck! ❤️

Hi! It’s been YEARS since I was on this forum! I was very active from 2014-2016. Loved the support, hated the drama. I had VSG in 2014 and although I was a bit on the slower side losing because I was considered a “lightweight” (ha) at my surgery weight of 235, I was very successful. My low weight was 142 for about 15 minutes, but after a little bounce weight of 10-12 pounds or so, I maintained there for several years and was even running! Me—running at almost 50 years old! I was a WLS success! **Record screeching noise** not so fast..... 2018: On my Quest to stay active by finding new and fun activities, I decided to get on roller skates again at 51 years old. Let’s just say that didn’t turn out so well, and an almost debilitating neck injury happened. + 15 pounds. 2019: Strange, I’ve got blood in my pee? Lab work shows no UTI. Bladder cancer?? WTF? That’s an old man’s disease! + 10 pounds 2020: Do I even have to say it?? Oh, but I *did* manage to break my ankle in October walking my dog and was in a boot for 2 months. Also, I got Covid in December.  + 10 pounds I’m not using life happening as excuses at all. I was fully unprepared to deal with my weight maintenance *when* life happened. It just goes to show how woefully unprepared I was with my emotional eating when the chips (along with my poor broken body) were down. I can only hope my experience can be a lesson to all either thinking about WLS, or are happily in the honeymoon phase of WLS and maintenance. With a little pharmaceutical help from my Primary, I’m working on going back to basics and concentrate on healthier Protein and Fiber rich options to try to lose at least 25 pounds. It can be done. I’ve seen it. Wish me luck! ❤️

I juuuust squeaked into March. I got approved yesterday for the 31st. I had to lose 10% of by total weight before my insurance would approve so I've been doing the weight loss program since July of last year. I am READY!

Even cheaper than that. An "in-better-shape" property has gone for 10-25K, but then renovations would probably bring it closer to 100-150K. Still a sweet deal though. Plus, ITALY. https://www.case1euro.it/ https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/italy-one-euro-home-buyers/index.html

I had my first couple sips of wine 3 weeks post op. I had maybe 5-6 drinks the entire time I was in weight loss phase (and not even close to a full serving each time). Note: my weight loss phase was 7 months total. I took an NSAID a few times in the first month, but none since. Also, I think you are correct about the diff in surgeries. One of the reasons I chose sleeve was because I wanted to continue with NSAIDs with no issue (but jokes on me, I didn't need them anymore). Pot: I tried to smoke a joint in the first week after surgery cuz I didn't want to take pain meds (gives me constipation), and after 1 drag, I had an unbearable coughing fit that felt like I was busting my stitches, so that was the end of that. Didn't have any until almost 2 years later. Nicotine: I was smoke free for over 10 years until 2019 (1 year post-op) when I started again on vacation. Kinda regret that, but obviously not enough because I'm still smoking today.

UPDATE: 🥳✨MY STALL HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY BROKEN!!! ✨🥳 I miraculously lost 3 pounds over the course of three days and the ounces are on a steady decline as well (so far no regain). Things that changed: I had a sudden uptick in activity this week and walked a combined 10 hours (NYC baaaaby). I upped my protein (though hardly at goal of 64 grams). I ate considerably more food at regular times. and... I didn't weigh myself until today 😁. I hope anyone else stalling right now is able to break it soon! It's been 2-ish weeks for me and while not fun it made me focus on my nutrition/lifestyle rather than weightloss.

My story started in 2012 my moms doctor told me if I lost weight we could work on me being her living donor. So I went to my doctor said I need this to save her life help me. We got me set up for the sleeve. At almost 300 pounds I would have done anything to help her. I had the sleeve done March 2014 and after getting to 190 her doctor told me I couldn't be her donor she wouldn't survive the surgery. So fast forward to 2019 I have major heart burn so bad even water gives me heart burn. By 2020 i was over the heart burn and the miserable life I met with my new doctor he informed me due to my sleeve it will be constant and just get worse so we did a revision and basically went to the bypass. Its been a very long and exhausting road. I wouldn't change it for anything but I would reconsider the original surgery.

I’m sorry you contracted COVID-19 I hope you’re doing better. When you say your stomach hurt with the steroids, did your surgeon give you a test to see if it was an ulcer?

If you don't mind me asking , in your 10 years with the sleeve have you ever had a stomach ulcer ? and if you did have an ulcer at some point. 1, they can heal themselves. 2. there is medication someone can take to heal the ulcer. 3. dying from sepsis is the worst case scenario which is extremely rare according to my doctor and dietitian ?!! thanks so much

So my surgery was on the 17th of March, first couple of days was rough as far as me I can not tolerate pain at all especially when it comes to my stomach and head. So the second night after surgery ( for those thats about to get it or thinking about please keep in mind EVERYONE BODY IS DIFFERENT EVERYONE PROCEDURE IS DIFFERENT AND EVERYONE PAIN LEVEL IS DIFFERENT) I was in the worst mood ever and the worst pain ever they kept wanted me to walk and drink water in which I couldn't do either, I thought I had made the worst decision in my life!!!! So once they seen I wasn't doing to well I received meds for pain and nausea and I was OUT! for that night. The next day my nurse came in and said heyyy I have your Cymbalta for you........ ( keep in my somebody got smart along with myself [emoji1787][emoji23]) and some other meds okay that explains a lot duhhhh I haven't taken my meds in a couple days then all of this yeah I know my fault but I have been dealing with a lot...... make it shorter, once I began to feel more of myself alot things started to come together, but still not able to drink water I don't like this because that's all I drink!!! Is water then I notice [emoji848] I can't swallow my Salvia and when I do thats when I get sick to my stomach...... so a nurse helped me with crystal light (THANK GOD) Me walking the hospital still wasn't feeling it I just wanted to sleep I walked maybe 2 times or 3 times I was just ready to go so I can be around my kids and get to start the healing with them, let me explain....... my kids are my [emoji289] my everything [emoji813] I just lost my husband their father of 19 years my best friend in January all of sudden. So being away from them for too long was not option or my dogs. Once I got home I had one bad night very little pain a little nausea rather than that I feel like myself. My advice for those getting ready for this big step........if this is what you want and need then GO FOR IT!!!! STOP DEBATING pray meditate do whatever it is you do, but don't just not go threw with it because of someone's else's experiences or problems, their problem ain't your problems and theirs problem ain't yours, and do not have the surgery because of the opinions of others do it for self and self worth. IM HAPPY I DID. Sent from my SM-S515DL using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi I'm currently going through the process of getting my surgery date and I am so worried about hair loss. My mom and grandma has had the bypass over 10 years ago and everyone says there hair grows back but my mom's only grew back a little and my grandmas never really grew back. I also know someone who has had it over 10 years ago and she says her hair is still thin. I have long hair and lost some hair on a extreme diet i did once before so I'm worried I don't have much to lose this time. My hair only stopped falling out when I ate a lot of calories and was gaining weight:( I'm just really confused [emoji53] Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have hypothyroidism and pcos . i am scheduled to have gastric bypass with lapband removal april 19. i recently was on weight watchers for a YEAR and lost 5lbs.! hypothyroidism was definitely a motivating factor for me to have the surgery.

I have hypothyroidism and pcos . i am scheduled to have gastric bypass with lapband removal april 19. i recently was on weight watchers for a YEAR and lost 5lbs.! hypothyroidism was definitely a motivating factor for me to have the surgery.

I have hypothyroidism and pcos . i am scheduled to have gastric bypass with lapband removal april 19. i recently was on weight watchers for a YEAR and lost 5lbs.! hypothyroidism was definitely a motivating factor for me to have the surgery.

I'm not sure if the 50% they quote is after the initial weight loss or if it factors in the 10-20 lb rebound weight a lot of us seem to gain after hitting bottom, although honestly, it's just an average. There are a lot of people who lose more or less than that. If you work hard and are really committed, you could lose more than that - and maybe a lot more than that...

Thank you to all the people who are keeping their judgmental comments to themselves. Again, I have already discussed this with my NUTRITIONIST before... she is the one who brought it up a while back during one of our many appointments. Following a plan as she previously outlined for me. Not some random internet prescription. My goal is to retrain myself to recognize my early "getting full" signals again... and to retrain myself to eat the way my nutritionist taught me. Still posting for my own accountability and since I can't just delete my own thread which is a stupid. You should be able to delete posts and comments you make on any forum, but it is what it is. Finished day 1 of full liquids. Still feeling good. Weight was down to 128 today. Surprised I am going down this fast with a lower BMI. Don't mind if I go down a couple more pounds but certainly can't go down more than that. Then I need to focus on maintaining again. Therefore I need to up my calorie intake today. But a good side effect of this is because I am eating way less, I have been drinking way more fluids than I can normally get in a day. I had been feeling like I was behind on my fluids for a while now and even though most days I was getting 64 ounces in, I never felt like I was catching up from days where I wasn't getting enough fluids in. And my urine was darker so I know I was somewhat dehydrated. My urine is MUCH lighter now! So again... feeling good and monitoring my health closely. Feels good to be able to drink protein shakes again (they were making me sick when I gave them up). I wouldn't have even tried if I wasn't doing full liquids. Also enjoyed eating greek yogurt again.... I had gotten away from that when I was rushing around like crazy at work. Combining these two items are ensuring I get my daily prescribed Protein requirements in while I am progressing through the stages. So again, today I will be upping my calorie intake. Tomorrow I will advance my diet again. Will add a few puree style foods to my protein shakes and yogurt and snacks that are permitted by my nutritionist during these stages. .Going forward, I will reassess my plan one day at a time. If I find I am still losing weight too fast, I will continue advancing my calories and diet stages a little quicker. I predict my 10-14 day reset diet will be shortened by several days, probably to 8-10 days max. Again, I know how to monitor my health and will respond and adapt appropriately, as needed. This isn't just a "crash diet" for me... it isn't about losing the weight quickly (although that does seem to be happening). it is going all the way back to the basics to retrain myself to do what I need to do... while following nutritionist guidance. And if I find I am struggling, I will definitely schedule an appointment with her as needed. I am doing it this way, because I know I can be successful at getting back to the way I am supposed to be eating if I go through the stages to get there.

I have been very open about my surgery. All of my immediate family and a few co-workers knew before I had surgery. Since surgery and the huge weight loss I have told many friends and co-workers. I work in a large, integrated medical clinic (around 200 employees). Everyone there has been incredibly supportive and excited. I think my results have inspired some of my obese co-workers to look into surgery. My family has been very supportive. My normal weight husband and mother have been my biggest cheer leaders. I was very concerned about telling my step-dad as he is very judgmental, but he has actually been great and super excited for me through this process. Because of COVID, I have been working from home 10 of the last 12 months. My co-workers literally do not recognize me when I go into the clinic...even when I tell them who I am. It is a little awkward for a minute until it clicks that I am me. I will tell my extended family when I see them again, but COVID has kept us apart thus far. I think they will all be supportive and excited, but sometimes people shock us. At this point, if anyone is negative towards my decision to have WLS, I have plenty of ammunition to educate them. The positive health changes since my surgery are more than enough for me to not give a damn about any negative reactions or gossip!

I received my 1st Covid 19 Moderna vaccine a few weeks before my Gastric Bypass Surgery, my 2nd shot was scheduled for the day before my gastric bypass surgery, so i asked my surgeon and it was a new question he never encountered yet. I told him I am not risking the horrible flu like side affects , because if i showed up and the hospital with a fever and flu like symptoms they would put my surgery on delay. So I cancelled my 2nd shot until a later date, weeks after post op. It was not worth the risk. I personal know people who could not get out of bed for a week after the 2nd Covid 19 shot.