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Thanks again for all the insights. Spoke to the nutritionist, I have no exercise restrictions so I’m good there. She said I just need to listen to my body when it says to stop since I am on such a low calorie diet. Weight lifting and high impact activity is aok. She was surprised my calories were as high as they have been. She said I’ve been making all the right choices and I have been averaging more protein than many of her patients. She also thinks the weight loss is appropriate so not to worry about it too much. She said she’d be surprised if I average higher than that over the next two weeks on the soft food diet. So onward and upward (or downward as we’d all like!)

Collagen peptide is considered an incomplete protein & won’t count towards your protein goals. It lacks many of the essential amino acids. Whether it helps with hair, skin, etc. is another question. I added collagen (& silica) to my yoghurt for about 5 months I think. Don’t think it really did anything though. Certainly didn’t change the texture of my new hair growth. (It won’t stop the post surgery hair loss as that hair is already dead & meant to fall out it just falls out faster for a couple of months.). My nails weren’t stronger. I upped my facials & did some other treatments to stimulate collagen production as well but I can’t say any of it really did anything except a temporary short term glow & plumpness. You might have a totally different reaction. It’s not uncommon for you to look drawn & notice additional wrinkles & facial creases while you are losing. But once your weight has stabilised, you’re eating more & a broader diet & your body seems to redistribute your weight you will look a lot better. I went from being told I looked like death while I was losing in my first year when taking the collagen to looking beautiful in my second year when I wasn’t taking it (according to my outspoken uncle 🙄).

Surgery is June 23. Gastric bypass. Highest weight, 270 July 2021. Current weight 188 with 4 more days to go on my liquid diet. Height 5'6" BMI 30 (barely). Age 65. Why am I going through with surgery after losing 82 lbs pre-op? Statistics show that I will have a much better chance at keeping my weight off vs a 2-5% chance without the surgery . I'm tired of fighting obesity! I went on a weight loss mission, pre-op, to reduce my risk of post op complications and to train myself for life with my new anatomy. I'm ready!

Hello all! I was wondering what insurance in Arkansas covers weight loss surgery? I do have Arkansas Works through Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is funded by Arkansas Medicaid. I’ve been told by different hospitals that it doesn’t cover weight loss surgery. But I also chose this plan because I was told over the phone it paid for the vertical sleeve. I’ve researched a million different types of insurance, and been told a million different things. I fit all the criteria, and have the weight loss attempts documented. I’ve seen a therapist, nutritionist, and have a letter from a surgeon saying I could benefit from the surgery, which is all the conditions of BCBS. I’ve damn near had a surgery date set a handful of times, waiting on insurance approval but every time they say it’s excluded in my plan, and it’s upsetting because I begin the process being told it does cover. Pay out of pocket for other stuff, and get excited thinking it’ll be different this time. For the last 3 years, I’ve chosen insurance based on the coverage for bariatric surgery, then once I’m locked in to a plan and they tell me to go ahead and jump through all these hoops to make sure I fit the criteria while I wait for approval, I’m told differently and I’m disappointed. I’m getting a little upset!

I had my sleeve done eight years ago and since I had that surgery, I did well in the beginning, and it seems like after that year was gone! All hell broke loose; I was in and out of the hospital for not being able to keep food down and pain all the time and when I eat, as I swallow my food, I begin to choke and start back vomiting and weight loss is uncontrollable. So, has anyone ever experienced any problems since having the weight loss surgery?

Oh yes. I felt that way many times in the beginning. The first several weeks are the hardest because you're still recovering from surgery, you have a lot of restrictions on what you can eat, you have to drink nasty protein shakes, and you haven't lost enough weight to feel the benefits of the surgery. Once you get to the regular foods stage and get the benefits of weight loss, things will get a lot easier. I'm almost two years out now, and that miserable newly post-op stage feels like a lifetime ago -- just a tiny blip on my journey to losing 200 pounds. Hang in there!

Yeah it was tight! But the clothing thing is such a mind freak honestly. I am still wearing some of my old size 20 jeans but I also can buy jeans in non plus sizes too. Like I bought a regular 16 at h and m. I bpught a size 34 pair of jeans at buckle thinking itd be sooo tight and something to shrink into, but no it fits well. I don't understand it at all. I think part of it is loose skin. Like loose skin fits in bigger clothes but it can also be completely squished down in smaller sized clothing. I don't know. Women's sizing is not the best way to indicate weight loss although I've loved getting rid of all my tent sized shirts and baggy jeans. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Haha yeah. I watched too much of my 600 lb life prior and was just expecting a weight loss goal XD but yeah, I was in counseling prior but definitely wanted me to put the pedal to the metal on my mental health and get a whole treatment team on board. I'm glad I did. It really helped. I think if your surgeon cares about you and you have a mental health diagnosis like bpd or bipolar you'll just need to show you're putting some work in to achieve some stability and learn appropriate coping mechanisms. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Yeah, it depends on your insurance probably and the program but in my experience most programs just want to see that you're stable. I have bipolar disorder and when I went in for my initial consultation I was shocked the doctor did not give me a weight loss goal. He instead wanted me to go through 4 months of counseling with a psychologist and stay consistent on my mood stabilizers, then pass a Psych eval. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

With a sleeve, you really don't need anything overly special, as we don't have the malabsorption of certain nutrients that you get with the malabsorbing procedures like the RNY or DS; we mostly have to make up for the poor diet that we have during weight loss when we are concentrating on protein at the expense of the fruits, veggies, grains and legumes that typically flesh out our nutritional profile, so a good quality general multi if usually fine. To that we add some calcium and iron as needed (since they need to be take apart from each other) and whatever else we individually may need. With a sleeve, we generally don't need extra B12 (that's more of an RNY thing) but some programs specify it out of convenience, as many just use the same recommendations for their sleeve patients as tehy use for their RNY patients, and then make adjustments later on as labs indicate. Personally, I just use a generic Centrum from Costco, add one or two doses of Calcium citrate depending upon my other intake (I shoot for 1500-2000mg per day from diet and supplement) plus vit D3, K2 and magnesium citrate (al part of the osteo complex) as I have some history with osteopenia. Overall, the bariatric vits (or double multi vit as some programs recommend instead) are largely overkill for us, but it's generally better to start high and then whittle things down as labs indicate and diet stabilizes.

Just checking in again. 7 months for me today. Total loss of 95lbs - 25 pre-op and 70 (5st) in the 7 months since surgery. Brain is still trying to catch up with body, LOL. BMI is 26.7 and weight 181lbs. All good, sticking to the plan pretty much the same as the last few months. Bad diet day today for some reason, culminating in white bread toast for supper (now sitting in my stomach like a ball of lead). Hoping to lose a bit more before commencing maintenance - 21lbs actually, so need to stop with the toast crap!

@catwoman7 My BMI is 31.1. I have heard the same from my doctors office. The lower the bmi the slower the weight loss. The reality is still hard to grasp. We will get to the finish line just turtle speed🤣

Broke my stall and hit 91 lb weight loss today! So close to the 100 club! Now wearing a womans XL top (was 3/4x prior and 22 pants). I actually bought my first pair of size 34 jeans last week. Still don't believe it. The pic in the black shirt was a couple weeks pre op, I was prob about 315 lbs there...249 today. Had my bypass in February so there's still a bit left to lose but I'm finally feeling energetic and happy. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

what's your BMI? The closer it is to normal, the slower the weight loss.

Yeah, I agree with everyone else, you're doing *really* well. Don't tie yourself to a particular expectation and don't get hung up on a particular rate of weight loss - it's so variable. I would say stick to the rules and the surgery will allow you to lose weight. Good luck xx

My programme only stipulated a pre-op liver-shrinking diet for 2 weeks. However, my first date for surgery got cancelled - literally the night before, so I kept on the diet (more or less) for another 6 weeks until I finally got relisted. I ended up losing 25lbs before I had my surgery and boy am I glad now that I did, because otherwise I would still have had those to lose! Best of luck with your weight loss journey and keep posting here - there is so much support and a wealth of experience.

So I've only lost 10 pounds in 3 months. I'm supper slow at losing but I have bit been eating enough the Dr said. So I'll try to eat more. I am able to. I just thought at 7 months only eat 700 calories. He said 1000. Wow.. With that being Said my loss since Nov has only been 56 pounds. But happy to lose it! Thr oddest thing is my body feels heavier, like it was before I lost weight Sent from my SM-A716U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello Jelani, I primarily had bypass for weight loss but I am so excited to no longer have to take my acid reflux medication. Even if your surgery was primarily for acid reflux you still need some guidance on how to transition as your new pouch matures. I recommend seeking out a Bariatric Nutritionist to start and consider a therapist as well to support you.

So this kicks off month two post sleeve surgery and my weight loss has slowed down some. I had the three week stall; had a little movement last week and then nothing again. I havent changed much; the only thing I've added is veggies (zucchini, tomato, and mushrooms have been added back). PRotein is still the same, exercise is still the same or higher since now I can swim. I'm sure hormones are just f'ing with me, but is this common?

I have lost 100% off my excess weight, as I now sit at a “healthy” BIM. My loss just stopped when I hit 168. I thought, ok fine, maybe this is ever I was meant to land. 3 months later…the scale has started going down again. I didn’t really change what I’m doing food wise, just started walking more as the weather has improved. So a year out, things can still go down 😊

Even with such an optimistic estimate, the math says you're still beating that time. Twelve pounds off in nine days -- if you maintain that loss rate (and I'm not suggesting that you should), you'll have easily surpassed 30 pounds off in a month.

I promise it will get better. I’m 3 . 5 years post op and I eat pretty much whatever I want , just much smaller amounts . I do watch my sugar and carbs intake , I do eat them but only tiny amounts . I still enjoy going out to eat with my husband and I still love cooking . Thankfully I have maintained a steady 105 pound weight loss. Good luck and keep your chin up . You will come out of this phase soon , honestly. Try to find a new hobby as soon as you’re up to it . I discovered spin class 4 times a week and it helps me so much with my mental attitude , and allows the indulgences once in a while

I think it would be a safety precaution too - putting you in a better & healthier place for your surgery. My surgeon puts his patients on different diets based upon their weight, eating habits, weight loss & medical history. Some are on all shakes or 2 shakes & a meal (under the hospital’s weight loss clinic) or keto with a dietician which I was on. I did the 2 shakes & a meal for a good 3 months some years ago. My meal was at night. It is hard to begin because you’re breaking a lot of habits & addictions (salt, sugar, caffeine, etc.). The first week is usually the hardest but you will lose weight. You got this. Watch the pickles especially the number you eat. Those extra calories quickly add up. If you feel hungry, try a green or herbal tea. Also see if they have soups as well as shakes. (The hospital weight loss clinic program offered soup & shakes mixes as did the pharmacy brand program I followed.) Drinking soups can seem more meal like & can be more satisfying.

My surgery is the 20th so I’m on Day 11 odd the pre-op diet. Today was really a bad day because I tried to have my shake for breakfast and it made me nauseous. I took a few sips and it was just making me too sick so I thought I might just be sick of that flavor so I tried a different one. That one made me nauseated as well. I’m at a loss of why. Normally I have no problems with the protein shakes I but, but today they just are making me sick.

I have found I can drink right before I eat, even seconds before and I am fine, but after eating protein or a meal I need to wait at least 30 minutes, otherwise I will feel pain when trying to wash down chicken or tuna or whatever. So for meals that I am eating soup, I will just eat the soup first and then can have the protein. My bigger issue is snacking on candy, junk. cookies, Its a constant struggle for. I realize my brain and body are not on the same page. My body needs to eat slowly and doesn't care to eat out since I would end up overeating and being in pain. But my mind is still thinking of eating out 3 times a day and in 3 more times and midnight snacks. I never cured my addiction, its tough, I find myself getting much quicker to anger at my wife or kids since i am having this internal struggle. I keep saying I need to see a good therapist or go to OA, get a sponsor and give it a good go. But i say I am too busy or its expensive. As is I am saving more than $1000 a month than before surgery. That is just for my restaurant bills , that I would go out and eat myself like lunch twice a day, like sushi with a friend and then Italian myself.... Its also tough since my energy levels are the same as before. I was always a high energy person. so i feel the same, except when exercising or walking I NOTICE A major difference. . I now weight 236 pounds( 107 kilo) and 6 months ago I was 366 ( 166 kilo) , like not out of breath, I started playing basketball twice a week and can play for 2 hours straight. But i lost that relationship that was my everything ( food) and I knew how addicted I was, I just didn't give a ****. It made me always soo happy. I did not get the bypass for looks or to feel good. I only got it so my wife is not widowed in 10-15 years, I am 35 and she is 31, and I owe it to her and my 4 kids to live another 40 years minimum. pre surgery my blood pressure was 175 /125, way to f**ing high!! Its just freaking hard as hell. Im venting since I need to right now. Im still the same funny as before, I know that and friends and family say it as well. But there is still a huge change. I am eating way to much junk but at the same time I dont even feel like I enjoy it close to as much as I use to, like only 20% as much ( If I could put a number) and that is because I cannot pound it. I used to love eating like 3 burgers in buns in 2-3 minutes, thats the part that felt so amazing when my mouth was stuffed and my belly filled. I cannot look to other areas, I already had a life of drugs from 13-23 , went to rehabs and now clean for many years, although I picked up smoking weed again right after surgery to help cope with the loss of my comforter, my right hand man, my happy self, my food... but I only smoke on weekends 1-2 times, since that is when I am not working. So not heavy at all. Cigarettes I stopped 16 months ago. But have had like 4-5 of them in the last 2 months, but wont let myself start again, so no wiggle room. I guess I am saying I need support, any support will be welcome. Its just hard. that is all !