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@Eli05 Good luck! It’s true each day gets better, but the struggle is real! Ugh it’s torture seeing and smelling the kids food lol! I had my surgery June 8 and glad I stuck to the liquids bc it really made a difference and now I have no interest in food.

I would say that my tipping point was losing about 70 lbs on keto, and then regaining all (plus more) back and seeing just how much better i felt when i was doing what was right. I know that keto wasnt sustainable and after talking w/my therapist and reading online, i decided to pursue surgery. i know it wouldnt be an easy way out, but it has made me return to how much better i felt and know that i can keep going. i just moved apartments and i managed to pack and move most of my person stuff and i didnt feel like i needed a week to recoup. and you had mentioned eating out. It's soooo difficult for me bc i enjoy eating out with my friends (esp now that covid restrictions are being lifted and we're all vaccinated) but i still have to be wary. Order apps for entrees (or find a good friend that would split their entree with you!) and maybe a side of veggies. Order only water and absolutely STOP when you're full. i get these weird hiccups when i'm full and they're very loud and embarassing so i try to avoid pushing myself.. plus, it can always be lunch the next day!

I also use continuous BC for terrible periods, and the doctor made me go off mine. I'm now about to be 21 days post-op, so I'll be able to likely restart at 30 days. Surprisingly, I haven't had much of a period. I had some spotting in the hospital, but not since I've been home - assuming because I'm not eating much.

I definitely don't regret surgery, at all. I wish I had done it sooner. And like others have said, it does depend on your diet. I have had McD's, and peanut butter cups.. no red meat bc I didn't eat much before surgery, and am iffy about trying anything beyond maybe a burger. Do I miss my diet dr pepper or mcdonald's sprite? sure. I'm human and enjoyed them (for real, tho.. mc'd sprite is out of this world, ya'll). However, I find myself a lot happier and still tweaking my relationship with food, so it's getting better. You can still have what you liked before, but instead of 4 peanut butter cups, you can have 1, and still enjoy it. I just hit 100lbs down and i'll take that over any of those old foods anytime. It's a personal decision and not one to make lightly. Just do what's best for you. Life can be so much more than food.. which has been so amazing to discover.

Thanks for the reply’s everyone. But it’s more curiosity than anything. I see a lot of shorter people on here and not really height testimonies. I know everyone is different and their bodies and using your tool as best as possible with eating right and exercise. I’m new to all this .. scared but determined. Just nice and encouraging to here EVERYONES testimony about there weight loss esp in height bc I am a tall obese woman.

A protein shake can do the trick before or after weight loss surgery, or any other time you need a boost of protein beyond what you can get from your foods. How do you find one that has the amount of protein you need, tastes great, and is low enough in carbohydrates to be good for any weight loss diet? Stop looking, because BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein is a match! BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein delivers 25 grams of high-quality whey protein in each scoop. It is made with real Dutch-process cocoa or classic vanilla and it tastes rich and creamy, but it has only 1 gram of sugar. The total carb count is 1 carbohydrate, meaning this shake can be part of your low-carb or keto diet. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein Highlights: 110 calories 25 grams of protein from Grass-Fed Whey 1 gram of carbohydrates 500 million CFU Bacillus Coagulans Patented Aminogen® protein-digesting enzyme 10% of the daily value for calcium Suitable for gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric band, and BPD-DS patients Suitable for pre-op and post-op liquid, pureed (mushy), semi-solid, and solid foods diets Gluten-Free Lactose-Free Non-GMO Each tub of BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein contains 15 servings. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein has other advantages. It contains patented Aminogen®, an enzymatic blend to support the digestion of protein. Plus, the shake has 500 million CFU of Bacillus coagulans, a probiotic which can promote a healthier gut environment. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein can be used anytime. Start the day off with a low-sugar burst of protein for breakfast, or have a quick shake for a snack or small meal later. Just mix a scoop with water or your favorite beverage, such as milk for extra protein, or almond milk for creaminess. With BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein, you can get the protein you need to tide you over, without taking in excessive carbs. What exactly is Aminogen® and how is it beneficial? Aminogen® is a special patented protein-digesting enzyme blend that can help you get the most out of your whey protein while eliminating any bloating or constipation. The addition of Aminogen® to whey protein, such as is done in BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein, is scientifically proven to improve digestion and retention of protein within the body. Another benefit of Aminogen® is that it reduces some of the gas, bloating, cramping, and constipation that can occur when some people eat a higher protein diet and include whey protein products. As some people know, this protein “gassiness” is not a pleasant side effect, so Aminogen® is a sought-after addition. Overall, Aminogen® is a valuable component to whey protein products, like BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein. It can help you digest and absorb more amino acids, which will then assist you in building and repairing your precious hard-earned lean body muscle. Available online at The BariatricPal Store https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-clean-whey-protein

You look great, but I am sure you definitely want to take off that regain! I have heard those "reset" liquid diets are a bunch of bs - really the reason for the liquid diet right after surgery is to protect the staples/sutures and the new stomach, not to lose weight faster. Instead, I would focus on the basics: protein and veggies, and water and I know for me, I only have ever lost weight when I kept track of calories/macros. (I haven't had surgery yet, but I plan to track after surgery too). We're here for you! You can do it!

Thank you fir the updates! I’m sorry your struggling, but I do appreciate you sharing your honest experiences as I approach my surgery June 8. I already feel like I am not alone bc of your posts. The past 4 days were tough bc I am on liquids and we went away which involved friends and daily cook outs. I didn’t struggle with hunger but like you said the feeling of being left out. I still cooked for everyone and sat with them while they ate but felt so sad they I couldn’t participate. My husband was so supportive, but also knew there wasn’t much he could do. I don’t want my family to give up their fun bc of me but to Atleast acknowledge that my struggle is real. I hope things get better by the day for you!

I wanted to write about this because I think no one talks about the some of the bad parts of surgery. It’s important before you make a decision in my eyes. I had gastric bypass 8 years ago and lost about 100 pounds. I was NOT ready. We paid out of pocket and I did not have to do much in the way of prep. My choice was purely because I hated my body, was ashamed of who I was, and wanted to change myself completely. My mental health was NOT in a good place. The surgery did not fix that (obviously). At my highest, I gained 70 lbs back. I am going to get the surgery again and I have lost 25 lbs on my own to prep. I would not so it again if I hadn’t done extensive mental health work for the last 5 years and already had it done once. Here is kind of why. First is obviously the mental health issue. It is more than just thinking you’re prepared, it’s a self love thing too. Working through the trauma, the shame, and societies BS that has been forced on you. Owning why you eat as well as understanding a lot of food is made to make us gain weight. The nutrition, the addiction, and building a relationship with your body. It’s hard work, but I know I deserve it now. The big thing is when I make a mistake, I can get back on track. That changes everything. I’m doing this for me this time. Honestly, I would probably not get this surgery again if I hadn’t already done so. I wish I’d gotten the band or sleeve. The gastric bypass has caused some health issues for me and a lot of pain. For a while I had abrupt sharp stomach pain that sent me to the hospital a couple times. Never found out what it was, and it stopped a few years in. Gallbladder became diseased and I had surgery for that. It was painful but a risk that often happens. One thing I wasn’t ready for was how much my body became different. I became sensitive to a lot of foods and developed some allergies which may or may not be because of the surgery. I also had constant stomach pain until about two years ago. This was largely based on my return to poor eating habits but some of it seemed to be in a change in my gut balance and developing food aversions/allergies. I cannot eat certain things (not always due to being “unhealthy”). I had some stomach issues prior so that could have contributed. One thing that may be weird that went with this constant pain, and did cause me a lot of regret as I started becoming in tune with my body, was the actual surgery and internal changes themselves. I sometimes struggled with this thought that I mutilated my body. I would think about the staples in my body and changes that were made and when paired with the pain I always felt I would feel a great deal of anxiety. Now, this has subsided greatly as I learned my food aversions and ate less unhealthy foods. However, I do have some trepidation as I go forward with the re-do that the pain was not just because of my eating but creating imbalance in my body. Overall, if you are ready I don’t think the surgery is a bad choice at all. I am not trying to scare anyone, or be negative. These are the thoughts I went through before deciding to go forward with it again. Overall, if you are ready I don’t think there is much to regret. Most of what I’m talking about is not being ready and being stuck deep in my food addiction. Furthermore, I have had a severe food addiction that I think might surpass some surgery recipients. If you are ready there will likely be few, if any, regrets. Things like not enjoying a huge meal, not eating what you used to, and changes in meals I think can be real regrets for some but not huge.

This is an interesting thread. When I first had surgery, I didn't feel I deserved to have a healthy and slim body, I just wanted to feel a bit better. Now much of my excess weight has come off, I am so sad for the pre surgery me, who was so low and underconfident she couldn't even dream of being a healthy weight. Funny how things change. I have been feeling a bit fed up with my dietician saying it's not likely I'll hit my own personal goal (which would be a BMI in the region of 22-23). I hit 29 with little effort (beyond surgery, not eating much, and the challenges that come with a tiny stomach of course!) and am now enjoying exercising in a variety of ways. I am 9 months out, and while I appreciate weight loss will (and has) slow down, I didn't go through all of this to remain at an unhealthy weight! I may not get to my ultimate goal, but I'm certainly not going to give up before I've tried. We have gone through a lot to get to where we are now, and we deserve to succeed. So I say go for it - set your goal and work towards it. Set smaller goals on the way (the first 25, the next hundred bracket, lower than 5 years ago, that sort of thing) and celebrate each win. As you get closer to goal, you can always revise it if it doesn't feel right.

Hi I spoke with several surgeons prior to my duodenal surgery and two of them swayed away from the sleeve bc they said most people that do the sleeve end up eventually coming back to get the bypass surgery because the sleeve doesn’t last. If you cheat which most of us do from tune to time, stretches it out. Then you end up getting two surgeries first the sleeve then the bypass, spending double the $ and increasing your odds of going under twice. So that’s why the sleeve is just a waste of time because eventually it wears off and you end up wanting a procedure that will last. So at first I planned on doing the bypass but then I heard although not that many people promote the DS bc they don’t do it, it’s better than the sleeve because it lasts the longest and gives the most weight loss. And...it was modified so it’s not as bad with absorption as it once were. So your doctor may have also asked you questions to see the pattern of your weight gain. For me I could lose 90 but then it always came back with additional gain. At the rate I was going I was afraid I would continue to gain and I was. The surgery adds years to our lives and eliminates diabetes etc...so for me adding years to my life so I can be there for my kids mattered most. I had surgery on May 12th, 2021 two weeks ago and I’m already down 17 pounds with no excercise. I’m feeling better already. My starting weight was 289 and for years I was 145-150 but then it kept creeping higher after every diet...You can’t go from a bikini and running 4 miles a day to being that heavy without becoming super depressed. I knew if I didn’t just go for it before I had really bad health issues than I may never get the chance. My only regret is I didn’t do this earlier. I’m still recovering but I know the sacrifice was the only choice I had left. Get the switch but get it from a reputable highly rated doctor not one who just wants more $. My doctor in Orlando was very confident and told me he had done thousands of the modified DS all with success. His confidence was key. Then I prayed and out my trust into God and my surgery went great. Good luck

I had a similar experience. I started the requirements in feb and had them done mid April. The scheduler called late May. Surgery is June 8. So about 4minths. I ended up calling the office manager bc I kept getting the run around and they called me to schedule that afternoon. After you get scheduled there are even more appts that need done! Mine were pre surgical class, pre op testing, surgeon appt, primary care appt and a covid test. I hope they contact you soon!

You look SOOOO GOOD!! I feel the same way about my legs. Almost wish in hind sight I did the circumferential TT bc it would have lifted my butt and thighs at the same time. I don’t want the inner thigh scar. It’s tough but for now I’m doing nothing. Just going to enjoy my big perky boobs and nice tight flat tummy!! Keep us updated on WhT you decide. I’ll never say never! Who knows I may end up in the future doing it too!! As Greentealael said “once your down the PS rabbit hole” lol

Hi everyone, Just sharing my experience so far of my 2 week pre op liver shrink diet. A week before I cut back in carbs and sugar, but still ate as much of anything else I wanted. On Sunday I started my diet (2days early) and I have to say I feel great so far almost 4 days in. I am allowed 600 calories, but can’t seem to get more then 430 calories in. I drink a protein shake in the Am, one for lunch with a sugar free apple sauce, dinner is 2oz of high protein meat and 1 cup of vegetables. I am allowed as much sugar free jello, popsicles and broth that I want, but I can’t seem to fit anymore after the water and Gatorade zero throughout the day. I walk about 4mi a day. I am noticing a slight drop in my energy today, but nothing bad yet. I still cook for my family whatever they want and then eat my food with them. They hide snacks when they eat lol, but seeing the food doesn’t bother me shockingly. This whole process is very unlike me bc I love food and love to eat so I’m so nervous this honeymoon stage is going to end and hell take over! We will be out of town for a few days at a demolition derby this which means lots of grilling food and alcohol! I have my stuff all packed to eat and plan to walk a ton especially as a distraction from the food. If I can make it through this demo derby party I can do anything lol! Just wanted to share for others to have another perspective on the diet and that it MIGHT not be as horrific as it seems. We shall see...... good luck to you all!

Ty for answering this I think I’m more scared of routine afterwards. Maybe bc I’m brain farting or not knowing what to expect of the unknown. My usual job is working warehouse so I’m not sure how that’s going to go or maybe switch to doing a different job. My surgery date is June 30th or possibly sooner now that I got insurance approval today.

I got a call on Friday that they had a cancellation and my surgery has been moved up!! My liver shrinking diet starts today bc I’m having surgery 6/7!!!!!

Omg that’s a great idea bc yes I end up tossing the left overs which is a lot by the end of the week or I send it over to my mom. No one else likes it. They like “regular” crust.

Hi Lara! I was worried about my exercise eval as well. Basically they ask you a lot of questions about your current activity level and any difficulties you have doing different exercises. They check your heart rate and they had me walk up and down a hallway several times to check my heart rate during exercise. I would wear a good pair of gym shoes fit walking and comfy pants bc they check your range of motion. I was told you can’t fail, but they could recommend that you participate in several exercise classes prior to approval. Think of it as an evaluation rather then a test. They pretty much just recommend exercises for pre op and post op and try to prepare you for what needs done before and what to expect after. Don’t be nervous, just be you and be honest and you will be fine! I hope tomorrow you will post that it wasn’t as bad as you though it might be 😉 Good luck!

I’m open with many people but not with all. For example I didn’t tell my in-laws bc they can be nosy, judgmental and invasive and it also just isn’t anyone else’s concern. When they asked why I wasn’t eating a bagel for breakfast I just said I had a toothache. It just doesn’t need to be any of their business or part of the conversation. But for other people, I will share where my weight loss is coming from. It depends on the individual and everyone’s unique circumstances. I don’t think we should be judging the choices others make. As long as YOU aren’t the one saying that people who have surgery are lazy or cheating, you can’t control how others feel or believe.

Surgery was may 6. Got back in country on May 9. They gave me medical exemption. However........ I am self quarantining BC I think it is the responsible thing to do as I traveled in airports, airplanes (x4) and in another country. Covid police have called me at home and I fill out daily from Arrive Can app too.

For sure! Being a psych nurse I have a highly attuned BS detector 😂

I asked my dietician about prevention before surgery and she told me it’s just inevitable and a hormonal response from the surgery. I’m just expecting it. I’m also going to take flaxseed oil and biotin supplements bc they’ve helped me with hair growth in the past when I’ve had thinning hair from a hormonal imbalance.

Are you breastfeeding? It’s really hard to lose while breastfeeding. I had my twins before surgery but I only gained 11 pounds with them and when I had them, my weight went down to the lowest it’s ever been. But then with breastfeeding, it steadily climbed until I stopped. It’s counterintuitive bc you supposedly expel 300 calories a day breastfeeding but it made me insanely hungry and my body clung to the weight.

I understand. My fear is the "I told you so.". When my surgery was postponed bc of covid I was on my 2nd week of liquid. I modified the diet and kept losing. At 47 lbs lost they've decided that's enough. It's not enough for me.

I would guess it has to do with the fluids you were given in the hospital. I was told to expect to regain about half the weight that's come off in the liver-shrink diet after the fact bc of hospital fluids. It'll come off!!