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I posted something similar last night... Then read about 10 of these post that were posted this month alone so we are in good company. I feel better. This link was the funniest one. It helped.

I've read all about it I just didn't think it would last this long. I go for my 1 month check up on Wednesday and I am going to weight the same as I did on my 10 day. Just disappointing.

I am 25 days PO and am currently afraid it isn't going to work. I dropped 20 lbs in the first 10 days and haven't lost a pound since. I am measuring and tracking everything, following my program and getting my fluids. I am hoping things start moving soon.

My VSG doctor required a therapist appointment prior to surgery. The main thing I remember her saying was the hard part starts at 18 months to 2 years post op. I remember thinking that after that amount of time, it should be routine and a habit, but she was right. My weight gain started about 2 1/2 years post op and got worse in 2020. Now I am also working on losing what I've gained using the 10-day pouch reset diet. I had been of BP for a couple of years, but got back on for the tips and support of the forum.

Hi soniadelbosque. Different doctors have different diet plans. Which surgery did you have? Most doctors will email you their plan if you have misplaced yours. I had VSG and I went online to look at the 5-day pouch reset and the 10-day pouch reset. I decided to do the 10-day reset because I felt the 10-days would get me under better control. I am 4 days in and have lost 4 lbs. I'm sure it's because it is mainly liquids for the first 3 days. The one I am doing does throw in a vegetable soup on the 2nd day that helps with the hunger. It really hasn't been bad though.

Hey SideEye. I want to chime in here. My VSG doctor also said I would have to take vitamins the rest of my life. After about 3 years I stopped them except for my Vitamin D because all my labs were fine. I get regular physicals and I am on top of that. I just had a bone density test last year and my primary doctor said I have osteoporosis, not osteopenia, OSTEOPOROSIS! He thinks that my stopping my Calcium and other vitamins contributed to this condition. I am now on medication for this because osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures, not just if you fall down. You've probably heard about people that sneeze and fracture a rib, probably osteoporosis! I am 5 years post VSG. I never got down to my goal weight, but the lowest I did get down to (148 lbs) was too low for me. I have gained about 23 lbs in the past year. This Monday I started the 10 day pouch reset diet. I have lost 4 lbs so far. YEAH! I have not felt motivated or felt as if I had the will power to do what I needed to do until this past Sunday. I was reading a book for book club (nothing to do with diet or exercise), but there was a passage that just hit me. I felt like dang, this girl had so gone through so much and had so many strikes against her and she could turn her life around, I can do it too! O.P. We know what we need to do. We've done it before. We just have to be focused, patient, and persistent. My realistic goal for myself is 1/2 to 1 lb/week and to increase my physical activity. I know with the support and encouragement of people on this forum and your desire to do better, you WILL succeed.

Hi Cherie, I was just telling my boyfriend that even though I'm not eating as much I feel like I'm always eating or drinking! I'm still on puree/ soft foods so I have to chew everything up to mush. I prefer to chew then blend it down but then it takes 1-2 hours to eat every meal. It also takes some time to drink. I thought I drank a lot of water before but clearly that was a lie. Lol. If I don't put a timer for my water, I don't reach my goals. The only time I feel like I'm not eating or drinking is the 30 minutes of wait time between food and water. Thankfully I teach from home so its doable. When I taught in the building I barely had 10 mins to myself, I couldn't possibly do this.

It wasn’t so much as a final goal, but I really wanted to fit into a pair of these awesome size 8 jeans I bought on sale a long time ago when I was a size 10, thinking I would lose a few pounds to fit into them. I never did. Fast forward to weight loss after surgery, and I effing missed my window to fit into them! By the time I remembered to try them on, i had already sized out of them. Geez. I like your idea of the kayak goal. Though honestly, even now I doubt I could go kayaking all day and NOT be exhausted, lol. But you do remind me that I still have one more weight loss goal to cross off my list: to go diving and NOT have to wear a mens’ XL wetsuit AND not have pack my BCD with like 20 lbs of weights while everyone else needed less than 10!! (I always found the amount of weights i needed slightly embarrassing 😢). So as soon as we can go on vacation, this is gonna be crossed off my list!!!

Prepackaged meals help me out so much 😩. Rotisserie chicken and salad is prepare from grocery store. I added ground beef to the baked beans. 10 min dinner, ate it all.

I used the 2-ounce disposable cups right after surgery, first to measure out protein shakes (you have to sip really slowly for the first couple of weeks, so it's best to track your intake 1 or 2 ounces at a time), and also to portion out purees and soft foods. Your portion size for purees and soft foods is about 2 ounces, so you can measure out individual portions of stuff like yogurt, cottage cheese, mashed cauliflower, applesauce, pudding, Jello, etc. I still use them all the time now for meal prep. I like to make a big batch of something and split it up into individual servings to freeze. You can fit 8-10 in a quart-size Ziploc bag. I have a freezer full of these containers with individual servings of turkey meat sauce, Mexican shredded chicken, Asian chicken, BBQ chicken, black beans, salsa, raspberry puree, and strawberry puree. That gives me tons of easy meals, like: Mexican chicken + salad, Asian chicken + cauliflower rice & veggies, BBQ chicken + green beans, turkey meat sauce + ricotta bake, turkey meat sauce + spaghetti squash, Greek yogurt + raspberry puree, etc. (The black beans and salsa are just so they don't go bad before I use a whole container and I can just thaw a little at a time.) I also use them as condiment cups, like ranch dip for veggies, or salad dressing to bring to work, or for small amounts of toppings like parmesan cheese or nuts. They also work as pill holders (I mostly use a pill organizer -- another great thing to have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072VQY7M7/ -- but sometimes I don't want to bring the whole day's worth of pills with me).

Hi! I'm Holly. 48 year old from Michigan. I had surgery Feb 10th...self pay. BMI was 37 but no comorbidities so insurance was a no. I had lap band removed in Nov. 2019. It was kinda hell...that band...after another pregnancy and a few years. Worked at 1st but always so painful that darn vand. So...this was the surgery I should've chosen. Let's see you are 3 days out so a bit sore and maybe tough getting your protein and liquids in right now? Took me 3 to 4 days to get there. I'm 2 weeks out and followed my preop liquids and post op liquids very strictly. OBEY THE 1 PILL PER 20 MINUTES. ABOUT 4 DAYS OUT, I took 3 gel caps too close together and had pain so bad I thought I might have caused a leak. That night sucked but it got better hour after hour thank God so I didn't go in. You do not want that pain or fear so be good girl so you don't hurt that tiny tummy or have a terribly scary night like I did! I lost 16 pre surgery by dieting 2 weeks very clean before liquid diet 2 weeks. I've lost 12 since surgery so I'm at 28 pounds down. Best advice besides *follow those rules 100%" is rest a lot. The 1st week is exhausting. I kept telling my husband, "I literally feel like I am evaporating." Feel free to send me any questions. Also... please see my reply under "March surgeries heading" I think ORGAIN collagen peptide protein powder is very healing and nourishing to include in your liquids besides your protein drinks (those are best to be whey protein). But I did the unflavored ORGAIN collagen protein to make my pudding, gelatin, added to broth, cream soups, etc.

Hello. I had the cursed lap band too! It never slipped but I ended up with a hiatal hernia, a gastric polyp, AND my esophagus had begun to dilate. We tried didn't we? Who knew it would be such a better choice to have a large portion of the stomach removed rather than have a tube put around it? The one I was scared most of was the safer choice! I had my sleeve FEB 10TH. I had band removed November 2019 with hiatal hernia repair. That surgery hurt so much worse than this sleeve it's unreal. Fixing the hernia and removing the band required a lot of muscle cutting. So here I am. Lost 16 pounds before surgery (over 4 weeks by 2 weeks eating extremely clean then 2 weeks of required liquids only) I have lost 12 more pounds since surgery morning. 28# total. Wow, being off of sugary foods, sodas, carbs, all of that junk does work! I hope you find yourself much more comfortable after this surgery than your lap band one!! I am tolerating my liquid diet so much better than I did post lap band surgery! Stick to your surgeon's guidelines 100% !! Be true to that 2 week pre op liquid diet! I truly believe it helped my surgery go better! We were a bit worried from scar tissue from lap band so WE ARE MORE LIKELY FOR A LEAK UNLESS WE STICK TO THE RULES ❤❤❤ I know you will have the discipline and you CAN do this because you had to learn discipline with your band. Also, I recommend Collagen Protein (unflavored) for your liquids you do OTHER than your protein drinks. Collagen is very healing and nourishing to skin and hair and helps new cell turnover. Collagen Peptide protein tastes great and mixes easily in a little warm water....then add your milk and some ice. I use ORGAIN brand unflavored. I add to broth, soups, yogurt, pudding, jello. It dissolves well and does not effect flavor at all. GODBLESS (or whoever you belive in) and you are going to be happy! Thank God liquid diet is temporary !!! So excited for you to kick butt !!!!!

Notebook/food journal - didn't need (I use the MyFitnessPal app, and there are plenty of other apps available to fulfill any notebook or journal need) Pill crusher - didn't need Water bottle - This is a matter of personal preference, but I don't like those giant water bottles. The appeal is that they make it easier to make sure you get enough water, but I just use a smaller bottle and track in MFP. Prep bowls - You can probably just use whatever bowls you normally use for food (soup bowls/cereal bowls). 2 or 4 ounce plastic containers - Now here's one that I agree with! I use a ton of 2-ounce containers with lids. They are extremely useful for meal prep. These are good: https://www.target.com/p/diamond-multi-purpose-mini-cups-with-lids-50ct/-/A-14465305; if you're looking for something from Amazon, these are not as good as the Diamond but they're fine: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N7W9BUX/ . Also, in the first week, it's nice to have little 1-ounce medicine cups to help track fluids. They gave me a whole pack to take home from the hospital, but you can also get them on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FSSQLQ7/ Food scale - must-have! You want one that measures in grams and ounces. I've had this one for over 10 years and I'm pretty happy with it (but there are plenty of other options): https://www.amazon.com/Escali-P115C-Precision-Lightweight-Lifetime/dp/B0007GAWRS/ Small plates and bowls - not entirely necessary, but highly recommended. When you're eating tiny portions, it's just easier to eat from small dishes. I use these every day: https://www.amazon.com/Anchor-Hocking-Glass-Bowls-Custard/dp/B000LNS2HE/. My favorite small dishes are these (I have 3 sets!): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0854P3XS1/ . They are a great size and the lids are very secure. I freeze single-serving portions of soup, chili, etc. in these. They are also perfect for the famous ricotta bake. I split the ricotta bake recipe into 8 of these and bake it in the containers, then put the lids on and freeze them. Baby utensils - another nice to have, but not must-have. I use something similar to this (I can't find the same set I purchased): https://www.amazon.com/RETON-Teaspoon-Flatware-Accessory-5-2-Inch/dp/B075HDD4TC/ . They are really useful for learning to take very small bites. I much prefer using metal utensils rather than plastic utensils made for babies. One more thing to add is something to mix protein shakes. I started with a blender bottle (https://www.amazon.com/BlenderBottle-Classic-Shaker-Bottle-20-Ounce/dp/B01LZ2UMH0), but I got a milk frother as a free gift with my BariatricPal order (https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/bariatricpal-portable-protein-mixer-blender-whipper-pink?_pos=1&_sid=06414db01&_ss=r). I wouldn't have bought it for myself, but I have ended up using it all the time. It's so much easier to mix protein shakes, protein soups, etc. than a blender bottle or a spoon. You can get something similar on Amazon. If you don't already have a blender and/or food processor, you will probably need one for the pureed stage. I have both. I don't use them very much now that I don't have to puree everything. I have this blender: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N7Y3H73 and a Hamilton Beach mini food processor that does not seem to be available anymore.

I would guess that a whole lot of people on this forum have tried Weight Watchers, NutriSystem, Jenny Craig, etc. I have. If I could just stick to the program I never would have needed surgery. This was supposed to be the tool that was going to make me stick to it. Now I feel like I don't have that. I'm so sad that I went through this invasive surgery for what seems like no good reason. I mean literally crying, sad. I'm losing weight now, but I'm worried about 5 years from now, or 10 years from now...

Hi everyone, New here. Looking for a safe space to ask questions regarding revision. A little back story... I had the VSG in May of 2019. I only lost 60lbs and regained 20 of them. My goal was to lose 150. I'm waiting for a surgery date for the duodenal switch. I guess I am asking for advice and experience from those who had revision from sleeve to DS. How was your weight loss after? Pros and cons? Anything that you struggle with? Thanks in advance, I greatly appreciate it!!!

Two words: jealous & mean. Definitely not your true friends. Friends don’t do that to friends. It is not cheating and you won’t be where you were in 10 years unless you totally abandon your new knowledge and eating habits. I think you’ve made the decision to have surgery because you needed help to get your health on track. Stay the course and remember who you are and why you had surgery in the first place. Eliminate people who put “you” at risk. I hope to read good and positive things about you in the future😊

I couldn't get the revision surgery fast enough! I had reflux since 2010, and had the sleeve done in 2014. Never knew that sleeve surgery can actually make GERD worse. After exhausting every medical option, sleeping in a recliner and constantly coughing from the acid erosion of my throat, I went back to my original surgeon who gave me the LINX or bypass options. I didn't go with LINX because it's only been around for 10 years and bypass (gastrojejunostomy for insurance purposes) is considered the "gold standard" for chronic GERD. After GERD was confirmed by testing (including BRAVO), I had the bypass on 10/29/20. Have not had any reflux since surgery. I struggled through the first 3-4 weeks post op, and I am a "dumper", but I feel great. I've lost 41 pounds since surgery, I'm now in the normal BMI range, dropped from a size 16 to size 10 and have more energy than I did before surgery. I think some of the energy is also because I can finally sleep at night like a normal person: no waking up with a hand/mouth full of stomach acid! I did lots of internet research, including articles in medical journals, and the gastrojejunostomy made the most sense for me. And the weight loss is definitely a bonus!

I got sleeved November 2019 got Pregnant December 2019 gave birth August 2020 during this time I've lost 120lbs. I now want to get skin removal any doctor's you recommend in Arlington/DFW area? Is it worth it to consult right now or wait since it's only been 5.5 months since delivery?

I’ve had a Mirena IUD for over 10 years (on my third one). I LOVE it!! No period, and no problems dropping my weight after surgery. I highly recommend it. I’m near menopause age (51) and having no symptoms. My doc recommends me keeping it in until I’m assumed to be past menopause as she states it will prevent me from having most menopause symptoms. Yay for that!

My OB/GYN did the annual blood workup and made me come back in for a follow up. He delivered both my kids so he's been my doc for a while, and like the poster above, he said if I didn't do something in 10 years I was going to be in big trouble. He also said that I was now diabetic - skipped the pre stage and just went straight in to diabetic. He referred me to my surgeon. I went to the endocrinologist and sure enough - diabetic. I'm 47 and I already see the cardiologist for a stress related thing - my dad died at 52 of a massive heart attack. Blood pressure is now high, cholesterol is high, and diabetic on top of it. My knees hurt so bad some days it's hard to walk. I can't stand for long periods of time. I was already thinking that in 5 years I might have to have a cane or walker. I have a 14 and a 10 yr old. When I talked to my husband, and he almost started crying because he was scared of losing me, that was it. That was the moment. It was all just a perfect storm to make me realize that I couldn't do this on my own. Surgery is next week and I'm getting more anxious about postop, but it will be okay and I'll come out better on the other side.

OK...i want to stress that this is my personal experience only and do not advocate what I do/did to others. Do as I say, not as I do!!! lolololzzzz. I am 2+ years out and I can definitely eat much more than I could the first year (in terms of volume). BUT no where near what I could pack in pre-wls. Pre-wls I could easily eat 2-3 full plates at an AYCE resto (plus room for dessert!). Now a meal that is under my barf line is about 1 to 1.5 cups in volume (more if its salad greens, less if its dense protein or fluffy bread). I went through my logs to see if I ever went over 4000 cals. According to MyFitnessPal, i came close in June 2019 with 3896 calories. Though after looking through the list, it probably was well over 4000 cuz i notice I didn't log any alcohol that I KNOW I drank that day. Further, I did my logging after the fact as it was one of those morning-to-afternoon-to-night-to-the-next-morning backyard bbq parties. I was basically eating/grazing all day (and night) long. I also recall being sick a couple times in the evening. Now, I had just reached maintenance the month prior, and was concerned about my continued weight loss at the time so I figured, what the hell, I'm gonna go all out. It was not pleasant. Since then, I counted 9 times that went over 3000 cals in a single day (cheese, alcohol or dessert where the main contributors). But a normal day for me now is about 1800. My restriction is still alive and kicking, but I can definitely eat around it if I wanted to by grazing all day. In case you are interested, here is the log for that day (again, my alcohol consumption is glaringly missing from this log, so I would guess add another 800-1000 cals on top of this)

Oh my! 3pm is late. I had to be at the hospital at7:30 am. After all the prep stuff, I went into surgery At about 10:15 am. So far all is good. The 5 laparoscopic holes don’t even have bandages. Feeling ok so far. Pain is mostly on the left side. Not much gas yet but I feel like liquids get stuck and it’s hard to feel them gong all the way down to my stomach. Ice chips and jello in very small amounts are good. Been walking 1000 steps when I get up. Hope everyone else of doing ok.

Had my 6 month follow up today with the nutritionist, and surgeon (it will be 6 months tomorrow). They were both extremely happy with my success. I was told that I have done exceptionally well thus far, and to keep up the good work. I have lost 76 lbs., and 77% of my body fat!! All my labs came back good, except I am anemic, but have always been. So now I have to take the bariatric vitamins with 45 mg of iron. I was told to do was to add in some exercise, just light stuff with the tension bands. Only 15 minutes, 3 days a week, then slowly work my way up. I have fibro, so I have to be careful or I will be in too much pain to do anything at all. I am so happy! My journey is far from over, but I am well on my way to being a healthy, productive, active person. My only regret, if any, is that I wish I had this done 10 yrs. ago.

If you've been struggling with your fluid intake and don't have much energy and enjoy those and they give you energy when you're feeling fatigued then I'm glad they work for you. They wouldn't work for me though as my nutritionist only allows me a carb allotment of 60-80g a day and I stick to my zero powerade because it's like 2 carbs for the whole 28 oz so only 4 carbs for 56 oz. BodyArmor however is high in carbs with 10-18+ carbs for 16oz. I'd rather waste my carb allotment on something else. For reference what's worth it to me is something like my oatmeal I eat for breakfast is 25 carbs while the protein pancakes I occasionally have for breakfast are 26 carbs (with the sugar free syrup), the Hummus chips I like are 20 carbs (with ranch dip), while the crackers I like are 22 carbs, and my protein bars are 20 carbs. I try not to waste my daily allotment on drinks, but you're pretty early on so you need what energy you can get. Glad you found something that works for you.

Argh yes it sure is! I hope it hurries for you!! I’m 40 this year and hubby and I have been trying for almost 19 years. We have a couple of frozen embryos left so were hoping to go and use them when I’m able to. such a balancing act isn’t it!