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I had five incisions in line with my belly button. They were small 10-15mm. They healed over a couple of weeks. I used bio oil too & now I have to look hard to see the scars: they’re little faint lines. Yes, you’ll have saggy skin. It stretched out carrying your weight. Factors like your age, gender, genetics, how long you were at your highest weight, how overweight you were all impact how much sagging you’ll have. As catwoman7 said saggy skin is better than being obese & unhealthy & you can have skin removal. I didn’t have much loose skin when I reached my goal weight but I do have more on my upper inner thighs & upper arms now that I’ve lost more. I just don’t wear short shorts or strappy or strapless tops. I’m just wearing ordinary cotton hipster briefs under this dress. Oh, & my breasts are pretty deflated. Walking is excellent post surgery. Start walking at the hospital to help get rid of the gas they fill your abdomen with during surgery. Your surgical team will probably advise when you can start to increase your activity or introduce other options. I was put on a keto diet for 2 1/2 weeks pre surgery so I can’t advise on what your diet requires. Your dietician or surgeon should have given you a plan to follow. Good luck.

Having stalls where you lose nothing or slight daily variations are all perfectly normal during the weight loss phase. You will lose more slowly the closer you get to your goal too. But is your weight still trending down? Are your clothes getting loser? Do you have more energy? I’m 19 months out & mine’s working fine. I still lose if I don’t keep my food intake up. My restriction is still there and I often am not interested in eating. Three years out seems to be the point people may start to put on weight. Why, I don’t know. It could be because their will power starts to fade or they start introducing more less healthy choices into their diet or they reduce their exercise or maybe life gets in the way. Maybe it’s just where their body wants to settle. Shrug. Your tool will always be with you. You just have to decide how you are going to use it, not just while you’re losing weight, but for the rest of your life. Good luck. You’ll be in ONEderland before you know it.

50 lbs 10 weeks. Couple weeks before liquid, 5 weeks pre-op, and 3 since.. they wanted 5/week pre-op they got it.

Did your surgeon not tell you that you needed to quantine before surgery? I had surgery recently (not WLS) and was told to it would be best to quantine for 7 to 10 days prior to it.

Hi! Congrats on your success! I am 6 years post with sleeve. I've lost 175 lbs and working towards an additional 25 lbs. I track my food daily with MyFitnessPal since 2014. I am too generous with myself to "eyeball" food, so weighing/measuring is a must. I weigh myself daily to stay on track/watch trends, but only record Saturday's weight. I work out 5x per week...a mix of walk/run intervals, cycling, yoga and kettlebell. I also use YouTube videos and subscribe to the Peloton app. FYI, there is a WLS Veterans board on this site. I've seen everything from 2-10 years of tenure. Worth checking out.

This is such an important topic and thank you for bringing it up. Some of you may relate to this or part of one of my experiences. About 10 years ago I joined "Medifast", I think they're known as another company now but i gave them about $1500 to go in once a week and weigh in, and chat. This did NOT include the cost of their food. I recall getting on their forums and watching people mention gaining it all back. I was fresh into the program and actively losing weight. I got on my high horse and started (wrongly) judging folks. How could you spend all that money then screw it up? Of course I know better now... but here I am 10 years later and I'm thinking.... "why go through 6 months of appointments, then 2 weeks pre-op liquid diet... then a major procedure only to gain it all back?" This is a VERY VERY valid concern. As many pioneers before us surgery n00bs have already stated.... surgery is a TOOL and that's it. It doesn't fix "stupid" or it does not fix "mental issues". I'm hoping by reminding myself this and working heavily on why I'm carrying around a "fat shield" or "fat security blanket" or [insert your addiction de jour here] in the first place, will keep me in check. I truly wish us all the best of luck. I'm a very big believer in working on the mental/emotional aspect first, and having the surgery is just a very nice tool to assist in the physical part.

A couple of years ago when I had surgery, I was really pushing for a December surgery date, for insurance reasons like yours. But, due to being denied by insurance (because my doctor office lost some reports and didn't submit them), I had to go through the appeal process (after I produced my own copies of the reports!), which delayed my surgery til Feb. I was not happy about that, but let me tell you, it worked out. Surgery cost is not the final expense. In my case, I had an ER visit for blood clots, a couple more scopes due to an ulcer and follow up from a Barretts polyp discovered pre op, and then there were more non surgery related medical expenses as well. So I met my deductable and OOP max in 2019 instead of 2018. I think you have to hang in there and just see it through to the end, whether that is in 2020 or 2021. You pay now or you pay later, but chances are you will meet your deductible one year or the other. Keep in mind the reasons why you want the surgery. The risks of obesity are life threatening, and the older you get, the less quality of life there is as an obese person. WLS is ALWAYS a royal pain on the pre-op side, but the end results are so worth it in the long run. I hope you get a negative test real soon and that you remain symptom free. Hang in there! The race does not go to the fastest, but to the one who perseveres.

Yep, same here. Gained 10-12 COVID pounds. Working on getting them back off. Addiction to sweets has returned.

Im on day 10 and have 13 more to go... Ive gotten use to it now... first 3 days was hell.

I had RNY on 9/28 and my surgery was outpatient. I’m young-ish and relatively low-risk. Surgery was at 10:30am and I was home at 6pm. If I had to do it all over again, I’d push a lot harder to stay in the hospital at least one night - I was in A LOT more pain post surgery than I anticipated. I had a swallow study and a follow up with the doctor the next morning at 8:30am back at the hospital. I found out a couple weeks later that I was one of the only patients they did as outpatient (basically a test) and that since then they started requiring 1-2 night stays post surgery... which I do feel is/was totally necessary!

I'm not really sure that I'm asking for advice, more just griping. I'm over 2 years out from surgery. I eat healthy - pescatarian and mostly fruit/veg/protein. Almost no refined carbs (my body does not like them). I'll let myself have a small dessert on my birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (knowing I wont feel great after) - something fairly low cal/sugar. Stay under 1000 cal /day (any more than that and I gain - even though I'm still teetering on an obese weight). I have two issues: 1. It seems like every month new foods do not do well with my stomach. So far: dairy, most raw veg, some cooked veg, some fruit, cocoa, peanut butter. New this month - apples. They just are cutting up my stomach. It makes my stomach hurt. Shouldn't this have all settled out by now? My surgeon and NUT say yes, but it doesn't for everyone. I'm basically on a very limited diet in terms of variety. I mean, its better than I was in months 4-18 of this journey where I was in extreme pain no matter what I ate and struggled to get more than 600 calories, but still not fun. 2. I'm in my early 40s. About a year after surgery, I started getting the worst hot flashes 5-10 times a day. That has tamped down, but now it seems like about 15-20 minutes after I eat, I get a hot flash. Every damn time. Could be wholly unrelated to surgery, but still irritating. Anyway, not really looking for anything here. I'm just a person that sometimes needs to send my frustrations out into the world to start moving past them. And this seems like the place to toss out my bariatric surgery related issues. I hope all of you are well.

I lost 150 lbs and gained back 70 lbs. due to living with someone and having no control over the food brought into the house. I lost 30 from that regain by moving alone and regained 10 lbs. I am right now trying to just not gain weight. I am using a calorie app and trying to be more mindful.

@ChubRub, @FindYourFire: Oh, going-back-to-work day is going to be FUN! Reminds me of a wedding I went to when I was about 7 months post op in June 2019. I hadn't seen a lot of the extended family since the Christmas prior, so I looked pretty different, to say the least. I saw one of Mr's uncles who is one of my faves and walked up to him and said hi and leaned in to give him a peck on the cheek. He looked at me very surprised (which I expected), but then he spoke to me very coldly (which I did not expect), and excused himself rather quickly. Ok, so that was weird. During the ceremony, he leaned over the pew from behind me and gave me a hug from behind. When the ceremony was over he explained that when he saw me earlier he didn't know it was me and incorrectly assumed that Mr' and I had broken up or something and that I was the new girlfriend!! 😂😂😂😂😂 His wife had set him straight during the ceremony, hence the hug, LOL. Glad to know that if Mr and I ever broke up, fave uncle has my back! @ChubRub, @FindYourFire: Maybe you guys can show up pretending to be a new hire and see how far you get, lololololzzzzz

I am going to have the VGS on the 24th. I was approved last week. I began in June. Merry Christmas to me? Ha, ha. I am on the liquid diet. I feel okay now but the first two days were hard. I am not losing like I had hope though. Even as I am walking and being super strict, I've lost around 3-5lbs (as every day it tells me something different). Was really hoping to lose 10+. So annoyed. Also, I am getting a bit anxious now with all of covid and whatnot. Any other Christmas surgeries?

I feel this one, @OAGBPal One of the reasons I'm finally going through with this is that when I grew up, we lived about 3 hrs from Cedar Point (ahem... best amusement park EVER) and my mom and I would be able to ride together. Even into her late 50s early 60s, we'd still be able to ride. I'm 47 and have NEVER ridden with my kids because I can't fit the belt, and I'm terrified of that walk of "shame." I also don't think I could climb in and out of the coaster cars to begin with. I'm only 47 and this is where I am. I feel like I've already put this off for too long, but it's not too late to make some of those memories with my kids. Plus, if I'm this way at 47, where will I be in 5, 10, 15 years? On a walker? In a wheelchair? My dad died of a heart attack at 52, and on the anniversary of his passing, is when I got the news that not only did I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, I'm now also diabetic. My girls have stopped asking to do things with me because they know I CAN'T do them. Yeah... I feel this one.

I haven't gained it all back, but two years post-op and during COVID I've regained 10-12 lbs of it back. I'm actively losing again and the smaller stomach (VSG/sleeve WLS) really still works and is a great tool. I've remembered the right portion sizes and macros so I feel confident that I will not gain more and will re-lose this temporary setback.

Yes, you can go for walks with your wife. Your 10 pounds will come off....just not always when we want it by. But at Christmas you will be better than you were 1 month ago and certainly better than last Christmas!

Unfortunately, no. I am looking at my app and it was from Dec. 5 to Dec. 14. So 10 days.

I’ve hit the dreaded stall! 3.5 weeks out from surgery so it was kind of expected but still really annoying. I’d hoped to lose another 10 lbs by Christmas but I can’t see that happening now. Anyone else in the same boat?

Some of my victories: 1. Being able to wear a normal sized hospital gown when I have to have tests done or go to the ER. I used to be soooo embarrassed when I had to ask for the plus sized gown and they had to tell me they had to track some down because they didn't have many. 2. Being able to have my blood pressure taken on my upper arm again. 3. Being able to sit in a booth again when I go to a restaurant. 4. Being able fit in the back seat of the car (the seat belts wouldn't fit me in the back seat, but they do now) 5. Being able to buy clothes off the rack in a normal non-plus sized specific store. 6. Being able to fit in women's regular sizes (not plus sized anymore!) 7. Getting under 300 pounds, which I hadn't been in 15 years, made me CRY! I'm so close to being under 200 (which it's been 20 years) that I know when I hit Onderland I'm going to cry like a baby. 8. Knowing I'm not being stared at and judged for being so big. I'm in a large now and the two most common sizes where I live are large and 2xl (I work in a department store and have for 13 years, that's why I know this). I used to get stared at and had little kids loudly commenting about my weight to their parents. 9. I like that I no longer have to worry that if I plop on the couch I'm going to break it (I broke two couches, it was a valid concern and super embarrassing) 10. I love that I can move around more and not be so out of breath and I don't sweat up a storm like I used to when I would walk for more than 5 minutes. So yes, there are a lot of wonderful things that happen when you lose that weight and so much to look forward to! Congrats on your upcoming surgery! I wish you the best!

No snow here. 30+ degree temps (my mum had 43 degrees C last week) which is why the sudden drop to 19/20 over the weekend was a shock. At least it was accompanied by rain which was wonderful in our drought stricken land. Though not nearly enough to change anything. Sigh. I think you & I will have to look to Ms.Sss for snowy landscape pxts. Hint hint! The pants are actually proper trousers in a heavy suiting type fabric with only a touch of stretch - to allow you to sit comfortably. I had a dressy pair of leggings in winter too. I wore them a lot with jackets & my over the knee boots. I’m sure you’ll love yours too Sophie. You could wear them with your new boots. 😁 We’ve been very fortunate here & have had only very small number of covid cases. In Queensland, I think we’ve only had about 1200 cases & fewer than 10 deaths from the beginning. Though people have become more complacent lately. Fewer people using provided hand sanitisers & more not complying with social distancing guidelines which I think is risky with the heaving, maddening crowds at the moment. There certainly wasn’t any social distancing yesterday at the shopping centre! They’re ‘oiled’ Swarovski crystals so they flash pink, yellow, green, purple as they catch the light. Thank you Wishmesmaller. 😊 I actually still have a little of the lamb left. I’ll be bundling up the last couple of slices for the freezer today. It was super delicious if I say so myself.

I'm 9 months out, and I am very, very happy with where I am at. I had my surgery March 11, 2020. I've lost a total of 52 pounds since I started - 48 pounds since the surgery date. SW: 208 CW:156 GW:149 and I'm 5'5". This means I lost about 90% of my excess weight, which studies show is a very typical result for a patient like me who started out with a relatively low BMI (35). Of course I would still like to lose those last few pounds and officially make it to a normal BMI, but I am very happy with where I am now and would still consider it a resounding success if I can maintain at this weight. I am big boned, and people tell me that I look like a completely normal thin person when I am clothed. You can certainly tell I have lost a lot of weight when I am naked. Even at my heaviest, I never had big breasts or thighs, so most of my lose skin is on my arms and belly. I am very happy not to have saggy breasts. The belly skin makes it so pants that fit great when I am standing feel uncomfortable when I sit, but that's a minor annoyance. I was very strict with my diet for the first 3.5 months. At that point, I had to have another surgery and was feeling bad for quite a while, so I was not so careful and more carbs and some sugar crept into my diet. However, I continued to lose well through that time. At this stage, it feels like I am learning how to maintain, although I am still losing a pound here or there. It is true that your appetite comes back at some point, and sugar definitely increases my appetite a lot. However, I had been having really bad problems with hunger and sugar before my surgery - I was about to get diabetes, and that is basically why I got the surgery. Right now, the techniques I was using before surgery to try and keep my hunger under control actually work. I eat pretty strictly during the week, and get about half my protein from my wonderful morning protein powder latte. I still eat a lot of eggs and cottage cheese - luckily I have always like them. During weekends, I eat more freely and allow myself to have some sugar. I don't count calories anymore since month 4, but I still weigh a couple times a week. I plan to keep this routine up for the rest of my life, and I think it is very doable. I kept a detailed weight chart. I did not record every up and down - I only recorded a weight if I had lost from the previous recorded weight. For the first two months, I lost about 3-4 pounds a week. Then I had a 1 month long stall, which was really nerve wracking because it was right at my lowest adult weight, where I'd gotten stuck with weight loss before. There were lots of ups and downs during this period that are not recorded on this chart, but still freaked me out. After I finally broke through the stall, I lost at a 1.5-2 pound per week rate during months 4 and 5. Since then, I've sort of slowly slid into maintenance with a total 7 lb loss over months 6-9. Before - my 40th birthday Dec. 2019 After - Nov. 2020 After Oct. 2020 (I'm on the left) Thank you so much to BariatricPal and all the amazing posters here, especially for the long term members who provide a great outlook for how things will change as time goes on!!!!

I still eat fast so it's important that I measure/weight my food and when it's gone (in 10 minutes) no more.

Just had the DS with SIPS done on the 3rd. I will admit straight away I did not do as much research as I could have but after following my "local program" for 6 months and the 2 meetings with the surgeon, this seemed like the best option for me. 50yr old male, lost lots of weight in the past before via various fads/programs. Quit drinking and smoking 4 years ago and naturally chose [insert fav crap food here] as a sub. Also.. after turning 50, my metabolism seemed to really slow down. My starting and top weight was 345. After doing the 2 week liquid diet and now about 10 days post surgery i'm at 306. I walk between 3 and 5 miles throughout the day. I think my biggest challenge is and will continue to be the drinking 30 mins before and after any food intake. The fact that I still haven't had anything "solid" still throws me off. I think the real clue-by-four really hit me in the head last night that this decision I made is definitely the big hammer and I've also realized I will never eat the same again. This is messing with my head a bit but it's far better than to have the chronic obesity related conditions in the long run. Apologies for the rant... I'm a noob here.

Holy Moly my husband and I are traveling this week and I brought most of my own food. I needed to take my meds this morning and grabbed his orange juice to take them with...... I am pretty sure that is what HELL feels like!! Within minutes I was gagging and throwing up (sorry for the graphics here) and I felt like I drank 10 too many screwdrivers!!!!! when I got in control of my gagging I made a cup of the good old chicken bone broth and sipped it slowly and in about 30 minutes I was good to go. moral of this story: Betty can’t drink OJ!