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Hey everyone, surgery was 10/24 and I’m down from 215 to 167. The last 4 weekly weigh ins the scale has bounced between 168-171 so I may be in a stall. I was in one after the first 4 weeks for almost 6 weeks. It’s annoying but I’m happy with my progress as I’m officially the smallest I have been in 20 years with all my yo yo dieting. I also know that I may be getting closer to my new size my body wants to be so the weight loss may stop. I’ve been trying to focus more on working out now. Before my surgery I lifted weights regularly. I know I’ve lost a lot of muscle these last couple months and I feel much weaker. So I’m trying to get back into that. Clothing wise I’m down from a size 18 to a 10. I haven’t really had to buy new clothes yet as I kept clothes from all my previous lose and regain episodes. I also wear uniforms to work every day which are provided so being that it’s winter my non-work clothes is mostly hoodies and sweat pants anyway 😁 Food wise it’s hit or miss. I have started to feel hunger signals again but my portions are still pretty small. My doctor never told me to track my food intake which I’m grateful for because I don’t want to feel like I’m on a diet. But I would rough guess my intake to be about 1000 calories a day. I still try to prioritize protein first which doesn’t leave much room for anything else. But I do try to snack on fruit or veggies throughout the day to get my nutrients in. Sugar free sweets and cookies have helped with any sweet tooth cravings I get. I have ate plenty of things with sugar at this point as I really don’t restrict anything, but I do try to limit it to just occasionally. I also struggle with feeling like I have to clean my plate, even when I start to feel full. So I try to start with a small amount to begin with. Then wait a couple minutes before deciding if I want more, and usually I don’t. I still eat really fast so pausing for a few minutes helps my stomach to catch up. I’ve been out to eat several times. Usually I just split a meal with my wife and it works out great. She’s not going to eat the entire dish and I only need a few bites. The weirdest part with food for me is that my tastes have changed. Foods I used to enjoy don’t sit well or taste as good. I used to drink black coffee every day, now it hurts my stomach so I’ve just quit it. I thought the lack of caffeine would be an issue but it really hasn’t been. I do occasionally drink instant sugar free cappuccino but not daily. Also hot wings used to be a favorite of mine and now they taste off. Same thing with a lot of spicy food actually. So while I wouldn’t say I restrict food, at least for weight loss purposes, I’m trying to learn how different things make me feel and structure my eating like that. Just like with overeating I tell myself while something might sound appealing, is it worth me feeling kinda crappy for the next 30-45 minutes? That helps to think of it like that. I have definitely overdone portions and regretted it. Hence why I try to start smaller to begin with. It’s hard when you have one bite left not to just eat it, but that one bite will cost you and it’s just not worth the discomfort for me. All in all I would say I’m feeling good and I’m happy. I’m starting to see myself as smaller for the first time. I’ll catch my reflection in a window or something and be like damn, is that how skinny I am? It’s a crazy feeling I’ve never felt before. I knew I was getting smaller because my clothes sizes were going down. But I’m just now really seeing it. I have more work to do, more so in the gym now than the scale, but I’m feeling accomplished and motivated.

I struggle a bit with this too, I originally said 180 because even though it seemed impossible to be that weight after 5 years, it still looked attainable with the surgery based on average results I saw online. Then I changed it to 160 because it's the lowest I remember being after puberty and I felt good, not toned at all but weight wise it felt comfortable. I just had my 3-month appointment, and I asked about goal weight, the RN suggested to wait until I'm at 6 months and see how I will feel if I were to choose my goal to be 30lbs from that weigh in, since from her experience that is what most patients say, but she did stress that the body can choose its weight and it can be lower or around what I chose. This goes on hand with my sister's experience where she is still losing past her goal weight even though she has increased her calories.

I waited for my 1 week follow up and then my 2nd week follow up to weight myself. Then I was weighing myself daily but was getting obsessive so switch to once or twice a week since.

Hi , I had my daughters wedding to attend 10 days post surgery , and I had gained half a stone .I was the heaviest I've ever been in my life .But , it will drop ,you just have to be patient and resist the urge to weigh yourself too often .Good luck !

Hi everyone, I’m new to the forums and WLS with VSG scheduled for 3/13. I’m currently 41, 5’3” and 213lbs. I’ve always been one to envision my goals for success. It works for me, but I’m genuinely struggling with picturing myself at the suggested goal weight of 125-135. I can’t recall a time where I was ever that small. Even at 13, I was 177lbs. The lightest I’ve ever been in my adult life was 181 at size 14. I can picture myself there, but trying to picture myself at a size 12 or lower feels like imagining myself getting accepted into the NASA space program. Not impossible but seriously (seriously) unlikely. When my bariatric team asked about a personal goal weight, I said 170. I didn’t want them to look at me like, “uh, you need to be realistic here.” Beyond that, I can only recall 177 in my mind from middle school so 170 sounds possible. I tried making a goal board with images of the clothes I’d like to wear and things I want to do, but it feels.. unrealistic? Ugh. I’m actually annoyed with myself if you can believe it. Did (or have) you ever felt this way? I want to succeed but I know I need to believe I can do it before I can make it happen. Thoughts welcome!

swelling will go away. as far as weight, most of us "gain" a few lbs while at the hospital (some people have reported "gaining" up to 10 lbs!). It's because you're pumped up with IV fluids while you're there, which is essentially salt water, which some people retain. It takes a few days for it to work its way out of your system. I don't think I weighed myself until about the second week, because I was afraid I'd see a higher number on my scale then when I entered the hospital and freak out about it, even though in my mind I knew what was going on..

I'm two days post op and feel mostly good. Any time I transition up or down, it's like incisions burn. Also, my whole body feels swollen and puffy, and I think I have gained a pound since my surgery, even though I've had practically nothing in the hospital and now at home I'm drinking about an ounce every 15 minutes. How long should I wait before attempting to measure my weight again? Will all this swelling go away? Sent from my SM-G996U using BariatricPal mobile app

I had this when I was not drinking enough, and eating enough calories because of a swollen suture line in my new tummy. Then I had it again when I had dropped a lot of weight and needed to come off my blood pressure medication, I just didn't need it anymore. I had it randomly yesterday morning when I got out of bed too quickly and got busy. I ate some yogurt and had a large milky coffee and I was fine. When I am out I always take a protein bar in case this happens when I have skipped a meal

I just had gastric bypass on 2/14 and have had weight problems all my life just like you. I was extremely self conscious for a long time about mentioning that I was considering wls to anyone for a long time because I was afraid of the judgment and stigma that surround it. Having support is invaluable. I would particularly point out your comorbitidies and how this surgery could help them. There are many patients that have completely stopped having to take any medications for diabetes and even put it into remission. Also if you look into the history of the gastric bypass it was originally a procedure that was used to assist people with gerd and gastric reflux to get rid of these issues and it just happened to have the side effect of weight loss. The more informed and logical on your approach would be the route I would go in getting her on board. Good luck! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Your body has had major surgery. Your body doesn't know that this was any different than being stabbed in multiple places. Our bodies are a wonderful thing. They protect us from dying from stab wounds. Your body is trying to heal itself. And it is very confused. Long before I had weight loss surgery I had an emergency abdominal surgery, and had a huge vertical surgical site from pelvic base to past my belly button. Full hysterectomy. I couldn't eat anything for a week. NOTHING BY MOUTH . I gained 10 pounds. It didn't go away for weeks and weeks. My doctors explained what I said above to me. One doc explained it as I might as well have been a soldier in Mid-evil times who survived a long sword wound. Our body does not know the difference. You need to sip constantly. Try adding a spoonful of juice to your water, or some other flavoring, try sucking ice cubes, make yourself healthy popsicles out of half juice and water, and suck on those. Don't want cold ? Try warm decaf flavored teas. I love coffee... but like tea. I drank a lot of peach herbal tea. Iced and hot. Sip all the time. Wake up at night ? Sip. Your body WILL at some point (and fairly soon, I will bet) let go of all that fluid... but you have to keep putting more liquid into you.

I'm glad to hear you are happy with the results. If I ever decide to do plastic surgery, I might consider removing the loose skin on my belly. I'm not too concerned about my forearms and thighs. I still need to loose some weight

I am so glad that you are working with a therapist and have a great working relationship with them. I had a sleeve a dozen years ago in my mid 50's. I am now (well - next month !) 67 years old. I struggled with my weight my entire life. Had this been an option years before, I would have done it ! I am also a mental health professional. The problem with depression and/or anxiety is that you can be those things when you are obese, and losing weight .... well... you may weigh a lot less, but you can still be depressed/anxious. If you are using medication to help modulate your mental health symptoms, you might check how those medications work with your specific surgery. Weight loss surgery will not "make anyone happy" - but it will help you to lose weight ! Personally, I have panic attacks. They started about 20 years ago for no good reason. My weight before, during and after weight loss has had absolutely NO effect on them. Some years are better than others. If you have weight re-gain, you have to get to a emotional/mental place where you can concentrate on going back to basics of how you lost the weight in the first place after surgery. I did experience weight gain at about 6 to 7 years post sleeve. I lost my mother, brother and father in a few year's time. I did not pay attention to what I was eating. I became a caregiver and mourned those losses. I had too much on my mind to "see" myself. When I got myself back together, and could see past all those events; I made a conscious decision to re lose the 40 pounds I put on. ( I had lost 140 ) I took a couple years to lose the weight. I realized I did not know how to maintain my weight. So each time I lost 10 pounds or so I would stop losing weight and work on maintaining THAT weight for a couple months. Once I had that down, I would lose some more. I needed to be INTENTIONAL. And make the way I eat work for me. I got back to where I was, and then kept it stable for another year. A few months back I decided to lose some more. My thought was 10 more pounds. I have lost 12. I am at one of my maintenance phases right now. Try not to let your weight define who you are, who you want to be, and know that there is NO time line for being your best self ! Congratulations on saving up that money to give yourself the BEST way to lose weight, and to be successful.

No dumb questions here. It’s all new & strange to us all in the beginning. I get my roots done every 4 weeks & was no different before or after surgery. Had it done a couple of days before surgery & again 4 weeks later. Can’t do anything to stop that hair loss if it happens to you. It’s just your normal hair loss cycle accelerated. Your new hair is still growing just at it’s usual rate. The supplements, shampoos, etc. don’t seem to change a thing. Doesn’t matter whether you take them or not the hair loss tends to last about three months. Can’t do anything about the loose skin either. Too many factors beyond our control dictate how much you’ll have: age, genetics, how much weight you lose, how long you carried your weight, etc. There’s always surgery to remove it if you choose. Whether you’ll need a walking stick or aid is personal. I didn’t. Didn’t use a binder either. Slept on my side in bed from my surgery too. Didn’t have trouble getting up or down - was careful & went slowly just in case. But we’re all different. Speak with you surgery in regards to what activities you can start/resume & when. It may be 4 weeks until you can start cycling, yoga, etc.as they may pull at your internal stitches while you are still healing. There are lots of seated exercises you can do in the beginning but walking is best. Check with your surgeon & your prescribing doctors about your meds too. Some surgeons prefer you not to swallow meds for a few weeks so you may have to look for alternatives or other means if taking them if that’s what you’re told. I was swallowing meds in hospital. Wasn’t easy at first as I had a bit of swelling but it was fine by day 3 or 4. I spread when I took mine through out the day (but I didn’t have many to tape). All the best.

So I pretty much tell anyone who will listen about my upcoming surgery. I explain the year of pre op requirements I had to meet, the diets I need to follow (pre and post op), the potential of food intolerances that I may gain. The life long vitamin deficiency that I have to address. And so far, for me, the nasty aftertaste of pure death I get from cheap protein shakes. I explain what the surgery consists of (amazing how many people think sleeve is the same as a lap band). Lol, lazy way out, cheating. Let’s just take a look at the rules, while they are looking for the rules that show we are cheating, I’ll be moving on with my new, longer life. Screw em!

Anyone on here get the sleeve with the duodenum switch? If so how much weight did you lose in the first 3 months? Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks for sharing your experience. I giggled when I read what pushed you to do the plastic surgery. My sister who had her WLS just before me is complaining that no one is offering her help or giving up their seat for her now she lost the weight and the belly. She was pregnant for a long 15 years or so 🤣. Maybe I should give these compression tops a try

The pain from plastic surgery was a lot more intense than laparoscopic weight loss surgery for me (however to me it was comparable to a caesarean). I also didn’t think I would pursue skin removable when I started because I was so focused on health. Honestly I could have gone either way but what pushed me over the edge was someone asking when was I due. I was not pregnant. I booked a plastic surgery consult less than 6 months after that. I see a lot of sleeveless compression tops for men and that might be I lighter layer option to consider.

I was given a compression binder like the one you are referring to at the hospital and I wore it for at least 3 months after the surgery. I'm now looking for a long-term solution after losing the weight. I saw some shape wear for men online but I don't really like wearing layers and layers of clothes. Maybe I will find some high waist pants

Good to know. It’s funny my surgery is scheduled for March 20th and I have already jumped from what if I die, get cancer and can’t absorb nutrients, don’t lose the weight - to what am I going to do about lose skin!!! Another dumb question - how did you tell people/ respond to invitations for lunches or dinners?

I don't think it matters if you lose it quickly or slowly. If there's a difference, it's probably negligible, because stretched out skin is stretched out skin. It might not get that stretched out if someone is 20 lbs overweight, but at 100 lbs or more, a lot of the skin just isn't going to bounce back. I wouldn't try to intentionally slow down my weight loss. You want to lose as much as you can during the first 12-18 months, when you're in the "honeymoon" period, because it gets a lot harder after that. Of course, follow your clinic's plan and don't starve yourself, either. You want to stay healthy. the cost depends on how much you have done, and again where and by whom. I had a face/neck lift, but I don't think most people do. But then, I'm also in my 60s, which was another factor in choosing to get one. Lower body lift or tummy tuck (tummy tuck is just the front part - lower body lift is both front and back) is the most common surgery people get- so if you just get that, it'd be a lot less than $60,000. Quotes I was getting for my lower body lift (which as I said is usually more than the tummy tuck since they do both front and back) were $16,000-$21,000. But I also had mine done in Chicago, so I was playing Chicago prices. And I chose well-known surgeons for my consults. But that surgery was also five years ago - so I'm not sure what people are paying these days. But at least that gives you an idea.

I got the required vitamins, a blood pressure machine just because I have high blood pressure, definitely full body shape wear, bowls measured in ounces, a heated blanket, biotin and collagen for hair loss, and a few other things. I’ll start to rack up on sugar free products between this weekend and next. All in all I think we’re ready. I know my husband and children are tired of hearing it, definitely feels good to have someone to chat with about all of this. I also signed up for a gym membership and ordered hand weights.

I forgot that you asked about exercise. I was allowed (in fact, ENCOURAGED) to start walking right away. At one month out, I was cleared to do everything except for weights. I was cleared for weights at about eight weeks out, I think.

there's nothing you can take to prevent it. How much you have and how much elasticity it still has depends on age and genetics, as summerseeker said, as well as how much weight you lose. If you're talking 100+ lbs, you will probably have loose skin. Seriously stretched skin is damaged skin and isn't going to bounce back. I lost over 200 lbs so I had a ton of it. It was easy to hide in clothes so no one knew it was there, but I eventually had it removed because *I* knew it was there, and it was driving me crazy...

Any change for health is positive and eating well is about loving and respecting you. Have the op helps you gain that confidence and change your association with food. Biggest word of advice dont take empty calories in, if it doesn't fuel your body leave it be. If you are eating out of emotional need continue seeing someone to deal with that relationship with food. After surgery you views on food will start to change. Take one step at a time and be kind to yourself. I had my sleeve 13 yr ago and havent kept all my weight off and going for another surgury to help and fix a couple other things. However I can tell you my relationshop food is very different today to what it was when I started and it is better now. Remember this is your journey and this will help you in many ways but you need to allow yourself to explore them all don't bury how you feel, face it and deal with it. You want change and only yoy can make it happen and you will be happy you did it. Live life. Sent from my SM-A515F using BariatricPal mobile app

I have said this my journey and I do not regret having surgery for the sake of my health and being here for the ones I love. People say things like that when they are insecure about how you look and how you feel and it makes them feel insignificant or jealous. When you lose weight and feel better and confident you become the competition not the friend they felt they were better than. Those who are true accept you no matter what and love that you have made the change to be with them longer. Don,t let them effect you. Just smile and say "sure if you say so, i am happy that is what matters." This is you and you do not have to justify you to anyone. Maybe they should try being overweight and seeing how much we go through in our efforts to one get a couple kilos off and the mental torture and guilt. They have no idea so really their comments have no validity. You are doing great keep it up and don't the insecurity of others get you down. Sent from my SM-A515F using BariatricPal mobile app