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Everyone is different in the way they loose weight. Men on the whole, tend to loose quicker than women. You are doing really great with the weight loss and getting your protein and liquids in to you so well. The weight loss will slow down as you begin to eat more normal foods but then your restriction will kick in to keep you honest. After a while the hunger comes back and that's when all we have learned will be needed to keep us on track. Enjoy this honeymoon period you are in, be ready for the 3 week stall.

I had a successful surgery 12 days ago. My only complication was high blood pressure, so I was in Tobey Hospital (Southcoast) for 2 nights. I'm down about 28 lbs, which is a loss of 2+ lbs per day. Is this normal? I started at 386lbs. I'm not eating much. I get my protein from Fairlife Elite shakes (42g) and :Ratio yogurt (25g). Other than that, I have tea, jello, pudding and broth. Anyway, looking forward to stage 4 foods! Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Tapatalk

I started off the same way! And my medical problems got in the way and I've gained 10 pounds back 😭 However I'm still waiting for surgery. But I don't have much of a taste for meat either! I'm gonna have to try those dinners though. You're welcome to message if you'd like to chat!

I am obese. I also have severe hypothyroidism resulting from emergency surgery of a life threatening Hot-Toxic thyroid in hopes of avoiding a stroke at the age of 20 due to advanced Grave's Disease. My hypothyroidism is so extreme that even with being constantly monitored and regulated with medication by specialists, my numbers have unexplainably plummeted and I have spiraled into a myxedema coma on several occasions. My BMR is ridiculously low at 830 calories a day. I had no choice but to accept the limitations and circumstances I was dealt. Through extreme deprivation and avoidance of carbs, I stayed slim until a head injury in 2012. The TBI shifted my focus and I found I was unable to maintain the tight control of my consumption that I had previous mastered....I gained 80 pounds in 4 months plus a few more over the next decade. I truly understand health conditions and their effect on our weight and metabolism.....I have battled it for 40+ years. Knowing there is no cure for my health issues, I have to adjust my life to live within its constraints. Health conditions can affect the amount of calories we can burn but obesity results from consuming more than our bodies burn. Removing and lessening the desire of food allows many of us to regain the control necessary to avoid the wrong foods and excessive consumption to achieve our goals and improve our health.....eating for need not desire.

When i explored the insurance route, I was looking at Anthem BCBS— i had to have BMI of 4o or higher, or 35 with provable comorbity, a psych evaluation, meet with nutritionist and have a sign off from primary care. I had to wait a month -6 weeks for nutritionist meeting then another month to get approval from insurance, as they wouldn’t start that request until all other was done. I decided my max out of pocket was about the same as me going to Mexico, so there you go. My BMI was 37, and i decided i wanted to get started ASAP, and they told me not to lose weight or i might not quality— so off to Mexico I go this week!

Hi all. I am almost a year out from band to bypass revision. I set my goal weight before getting banded in 2012 at 185 because I wanted to say I’d lost 100 lb from my surgery weight. I hit that goal but am not satisfied at how I look so I have a new goal of 175. I think the numbers mcipanda quoted at the beginning are unrealistic numbers in the first place. Better to be flexible about the goal and when it feels right then you’re there, imo. Congrats to all of you on ryes chat to have made the decision to improve your health!

Hello everyone! I went through my gastric sleeve surgery in September 2021 and I've been really successful; it has truly changed my life in so many ways. My husband is approved for surgery himself now, and will be getting it done in April. He is 39 and is overall in fairly good health except for his weight concerns, so I'm optimistic he will also have good results! I had a really rough go of it after my surgery and I'm determined to help him any way I can; I'm the primary food purchaser and preparer in my house, so it'll basically be business as usual there. Men who have had the surgery, what is something you think I need to know? Do you feel like your experience was different in any way from the women who have had it?

I have Addison's Disease, which went untreated for a long time. I assumed I was just gaining some weight in my late 30's, which can be normal with Perimenopause and whatnot. And I was getting to that age. But I ended up with other issues connected to the disease and finally got diagnosed. I had a long road of medication trial and error before finding something that worked and added my surgery to push my weight loss. I was never obese or even overweight until I was about 37/38 years old. So while I understand that is an issue for many people. That was not my case, that is not my experience. Especially when I was gaining weigh while eating less than most people I know. I now eat more often that I used and I don't enjoy it.

Hi y’all. Recently changed insurance coverages , I wanted to know what requirements for weight loss did BCBS have for some of y’all im in NC. I uploaded a pic of my policy for reference I know they’re usually very different for requirements

I think that is somewhat normal. Every time I look at my goal, I just can't imagine being back at that size, I feel like my weight was just the new normal and I just accepted it. But I also don't think I look different at almost 100 lbs down. Its a process and goals definitely change a lot.

Hope everyone is doing well. I’m officially 3 months and almost a week out of surgery and 60 pound down since first thinking about WLS and that puts me at 50% weight loss from what I put as my goal weight. Had my 3month appointment last week. We went over calorie goals, macro distribution, any issues we are having and learning curves. We went over goal weight and the RN said that most of the patients say they have 20-30lbs to go on the 6-month appointment and during that appointment is when we go over the goal weight we should be aiming for and what we need to change to reach that. I should be able to get back on track with protein, fluids and exercise this week. I’m going to start with having protein shakes again at least daily (some days I was trying to meet it only with food) and carrying my 48oz water bottle with me every where and go back to weighing myself weekly. Wishing everyone good and positive energy in your journey!

Hope everyone is doing well. I’m officially 3 months and almost a week out of surgery and 60 pound down since first thinking about WLS and that puts me at 50% weight loss from what I put as my goal weight. Had my 3month appointment last week. We went over calorie goals, macro distribution, any issues we are having and learning curves. We went over goal weight and the RN said that most of the patients say they have 20-30lbs to go on the 6-month appointment and during that appointment is when we go over the goal weight we should be aiming for and what we need to change to reach that. I should be able to get back on track with protein, fluids and exercise this week. I’m going to start with having protein shakes again at least daily (some days I was trying to meet it only with food) and carrying my 48oz water bottle with me every where and go back to weighing myself weekly. Wishing everyone good and positive energy in your journey!

weight fluctuations are normal - they're due to things like water retention and how full your intestines are. And yes - weight loss does slow down quite a bit after the big drop the first month or so. Plus you may be dealing with occasional stalls, too, which are also very common. If the fluctuations are playing with your mind too much, try weighing just once or twice a week - then you'll be more focused on long-term trends and won't be distracted by the daily fluctuations.

Hey guys, I am thinking about having an endoscopic gastric bypass revision. Has anyone completed this? Wondering about weight loss and if there was any complications? Would you recommend for others? I want a revision but the down time for surgical is tricky, so hoping this could be a good options.

I also thought I ate "very little" at the time I signed up for the program and start the process but when I started logging everything I ate, the areas for improvement were very clear. I also have the issue of being a very small person whose maintenance calories are only 1500; 3 meals a day that are "average sized" to a person of normal stature was always going to be too much for me. It's also common for people with weight issues to think they EAT very little but are also drinking a lot of calories throughout the day and don't count those because it's not "food". Juice, sweetened coffee with cream, sodas, milk...those are all calories, and it would be beneficial if you're one of the people who drinks their calories to start treating those things as food in your mind, not beverages. I hate saying this but most of us pre-surgery probably thought we ate much less than we did, and quantity isn't the only thing that matters: especially when we try to space out our meals we often find ourselves eating more calorie-dense food when we do finally eat. If you have decided to start a relationship with a surgeon to see if it would work for you, this needs to be something you discuss with them during your first visit. One of the first things they're going to ask you to do is keep a food journal and the best thing you can do for yourself is be brutally honest so they and you have an accurate picture of what you are ACTUALLY consuming, and being honest about your portion sizes is a huge part of that.

Thank you! I think all of us have that one thing we dreamed of doing that our weight was holding us back from, whether it was confidence or physical abilities or limitations. It's exhilarating to get to finally after many, many years get to ride that roller coaster we didn't fit into before, or wear a hairstyle we didn't want to try because it would draw too much attention, or play a sport we admired from a distance for the first time. I love hearing those stories!

Thankyou so much for your advice. I will take time away from scales & start just try benefitting my life.. I’m at a 8kg weight loss now at 5 weeks so I’m hoping I’m turning it around a little x

I’m 10 weeks post gastric bypass surgery. Can’t really eat anything- weight loss is slow infact some days scales go up!! I’m exercising daily. What should I be attempting to put in my mouth???

Have you discussed your desire to lose weight & your interest in bariatric surgery with your endocrinologist? Are they aware of how little you eat now which must be a concern with your malabsorption issues. Unfortunately, the surgery won’t stop the weight gain side effect of the meds you have to take. Medications are one of the causes behind weight regain after surgery. Are there alternative meds you could take that don’t cause an increase of appetite/weight gain? Malabsorption issues are a possible side effect of weight loss surgery which would only add to your existing situation. Being aware of your nutrient intake & meeting protein goals is a lifelong consideration for everyone after weight loss surgery. Many will always need to take vitamins to supplement their intake via food. Just some things to consider.

Have you considered seeking the support of a therapist? It seems you may need some help dealing with the why you eat & why you make the food choices you do. They’ll also help you identify strategies to better manage those urges when they arise. Many find therapy extremely helpful. The hardest part of this is understanding your relationship with food, recognising them when they arise & better managing them. We never completely get rid of those urges but we can take away a lot of their power. As @BigSue suggested get rid of the food temptation out of your house. If you don’t buy them you can’t eat them. And delete any home delivery apps on your phone. It was one of the best thing I did. Look for some healthier alternatives instead of traditional ‘junk’ food for those times the urge for something salty or sweet or whatever is too strong. And like @catwoman7 what keeps me motivated is not wanting to be the weight I was again. I want to be able to play with my nieces & nephews. I want to feel better & healthier. I want to easily be able to buy beautiful stylish clothing.

I was in a similar situation as you before my sleeve OP. However - I KNEW that previously when I had lost a lot of weight my reflux had all but disappeared. I really didn't want a bypass so I decided to take the risk of 2 procedures and have the sleeve. It worked out as I had hoped - I lost a lot of weight and that cured my reflux. However, I totally accepted that it might have gone the other way. My surgeon didn't offer me any certainty or promise me anything - it was me who decided in the end. I hope this helps a bit and best of luck to you.

Hey y'all! Glad to see some updates around here. It's been 4 months and some change, and I've lost 70 lbs since surgery! Almost 125 since my highest weight. I feel better than I have in years. I started off as a 5XL and now can wear 3XL and even some 2XL! Went from a 30 in jeans to 24 (which are loose on me, so I think I may be 22 or lower now - I still need to update wardrobe) I had a stall in mid-December and just recently had another that lasted 10 days where my weight only went up and down or stayed the same! Finally started trending downwards again a few days ago. My pouch tolerates everything I've given it. No problems there. I eat whatever I want at this point but still do 1 protein shake/day. I'm hovering around 800-1000 calories per day. Pros: I used to get horrible pains in my lower back and hips and now I have a ton of stamina and can actually walk around a grocery store to go shopping! Sex is a lot more fun! ☺️😆 I can feel my bones. Especially when I sleep on my side at night, my kneecaps actually touch each other (can also be a con lol) I can cross my legs! I can sit on the floor and not feel like I'm going to fall over backwards! It's fun to jiggle parts of my body 🤣 Physical hunger still gone and full cues still intact. I know to stop when the hiccups start. Food bills are so much cheaper!!! I'm content with a happy meal. No heartburn (yet)! Cons: My mood is ALL OVER THE PLACE. Hormones from fat loss make me up and down all the time. I never know what kind of day it's going to be when I wake up. I also have a mood disorder to begin with, so that doesn't help either. Loose skin everywhere!! If I'm too "active" it will make a clapping noise. Like it's cheering me on. 😂 I'm a bit self-conscious about the skin under my neck The rest of it I can deal with, lol. My boobs and butt are leaving. Mental hunger is rude! I have to carefully watch myself from grazing. Some days are harder than others. I think my food addiction has turned into a shopping one. I'm still lazy and don't really work out. I do a lot more than I used to though, so it balances out I think. 😅 Food isn't fun anymore. But that's also a good thing... I can say it has been way easier than I expected it to be though. I thought I'd be more upset about it. Here's some before/after pics! They're from last month, but I don't think I've lost much more 10 lbs since then anyway due to the stall I had. This one was right before the liquid diet and the after is the end of January, so about 75 lbs difference. This was on my way to my first appointment in early 2022 and then last month. I've lost 105 lbs between those 2. This is a fun graph of my weight loss since the beginning of the liquid diet. I weigh myself everyday using this app (Libra) so I can see the trends. Then I only record my actual weight every week in MyFitnessPal. It's worked well for me so far. My current goal is to hit 100 lbs lost before my 6-month surgiversary! 30 lbs to go!

Wow, there's clearly more to this than I had considered! I hope to lose around 30kgs, I eat one small meal a day and will usually have one snack, I haven't counted calories nor do I know my MR, I rarely exercise (very sore joints), I have an exocrine disease and some of my meds are renouned for weight gain. I suppose I wonder if moving ahead with the operation will actually help on my circumstances.

(surgery 2/22) I was indeed released on Thursday! I had the bright idea to go on a long walk outside on Friday which I realized was probably a mistake since I hadn't had much for calories and I also only made my water and protein minimums that day. I didn't measure the distance beforehand and it was nearly 1.5 miles and around 9 degrees outside. Saturday I met goals and working on that for today as well. I was ordered oxygen for sleeping (they said 75% get sent home with oxygen orders, but I am in Colorado so that may be a factor) and I'm also giving myself Lovenox/Enoxaparin shots twice a day. Today I'm able to get out of bed a lot easier, so I think my incisions and everything are healing well. My surgeon used anesthetic and Dermabond on them and I have had no issues with fluid escaping or anything. I'm back to pre-op weight on my home scale, the hospital weighed me much closer to my first appointment weight but I was fully clothed with shoes on.

I think the best way to resist temptation is to avoid it as much as possible. Don't buy junk food. If it's not around, you can't eat it. I take it a step further and use online grocery shopping (pickup or delivery) so I don't even have to go into the store. I shop mostly from my favorites lists that only contain healthy foods. On the rare occasion I go into the store, all of the temptations are in my face and I find myself tempted to buy something I shouldn't, "just this once." The more you have to face temptation, the more mental effort it takes to resist and the more likely you are to give in. Another thing that helps is having healthy, delicious foods readily available. If you like to cook, go on Pinterest to find healthy recipes that you look forward to trying. I live alone, so I always have a lot of leftovers that I freeze in individual portions, so I have a variety of healthy meals that I can easily grab from the freezer and heat in the microwave with some cauliflower rice. I meal prep a bunch of salads every week and have a variety of Skinny Girl salad dressings on hand. I eat a lot of sugar-free Jello with sugar-free meringue (made with pasteurized egg whites so it's safe to eat raw), and sugar-free meringue cookies. I also eat protein bars (Built Bars are my favorite) as a healthy-ish treat. This is so important, and it's really easy to take for granted once you lose the weight -- to forget how hard it is to live with morbid obesity. I recently saw a guy at work who was so big that he looked like he was struggling to walk out to the parking lot, and my heart broke for him because I remember being that big. I don't really think about it much anymore, but there was a time that I dreaded walking to and from the parking lot or up a couple of flights of stairs because it was so hard when I was carrying an extra 200 pounds. And that's not to mention all the social stigma on being fat, which I never want to experience again.