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This is one of the wonderful temporary effects of the surgery that allow us to lose weight. Keeping it 💯, it won't last. Take advantage of this magical time to cement good habits in order to lose all your excess weight and more importantly, keep it off. Protip: The longer you stay away from sugar and the less you eat of it, the less you will crave it.

Hi gang. I'm one month post op and thought I'd update on how I'm doing and maybe post a few questions for the hive mind. So, my surgery was September 11. My height is 5'9". My high weight was on day 1 of my pre-op diet. (270), BMI 40. I just food funeraled my brains out. I was 255 on day of surgery. And today I am 229.9. Total lost is 40.1. Current BMI 33.8 I am still on a liquid diet. My surgeon is extremely conservative with diet advancement. So I have 2 protein shakes a day, cream soups with the solids strained out, and water or crystal light. I will remain on this diet until the beginning of November. I take a leisurely 1- 1.5 mile walk about 4-5 times a week. I will be returning to work on Friday. I work 7p-7a as an RN in and ICU, so I am a bit nervous to return. Next week, I will return to the gym once I see if all restriction is lifted and plan to work out 3-4 times a week for 30 minutes to 1 hour combining cardio and weight training. My energy level has gotten gradually better as time goes on. It was brutal the first 2 weeks, hard the third, and this week has been quite a bit better in terms of ability to get things done. I have not had any constipation yet. Nor have I had any other major complications. I take omeprazole, vitamins, and asthma medication. I only had nausea in the hospital and once at home on the 2nd day back. I sip ALL. DAY. LONG. I do burp quite a bit, but not with any discomfort. More of an annoyance that I hope will eventually settle down. The liquid diet only has been the hardest part. When all is said and done, I will have done 9 weeks of no solid food whatsoever, and it has been a real challenge. I have three children at home and I am still preparing meals for my family because my husband has had a huge work project going on and works late a lot and he is also in grad school. I do the majority of the food shopping, preparing and cleaning up and so I am constantly faced with solid food and a desire to taste something, anything! other than a protein shake or those disgusting soups. I actually gag at the thought of those soups. I try to remember that each day that passes is one day closer to resuming eating solid foods again and that I am incredibly lucky to have lost so much weight so rapidly when I started out at a BMI of 40. I'm sure it's in large part due to my conservative diet. I did have one stall in week 3. It lasted 6 days. I dropped one pound and then stayed there another 3 days. That was a downer. Even though I knew it was normal and to be expected and I'd had good weight loss, it is very hard to be so strict and stringent and be consuming only 450 calories a day and stay the same weight for 9 days. It just seems unfair and takes a lot of mental and emotional willpower to just soldier on. Stalls are not cool. Even if they are part of this whole journey. I could do without them, thank you very much. So, here are some questions I have for all you wiser, more seasoned sleevers.... 1) GERD is a fear of mine. I have not had any symptoms of GERD so far. Anyone out there have no GERD symptoms immediately post-op but then develop them down the road? Just want to know if i am in the clear or still need to be on the lookout? 2) Once you advanced your diet and introduced solids, what are your go to rules -- like I always drink at least blank ounces of water between meals. Or I never go more than blank hours without eating. Or whatever. What are your go to habits that work best for you? 3) What are things you wish you wouldn't have done, if anything? 4) What advice would you give to someone at this point of the sleeve journey? Thanks in advance!

I am four weeks as of this past Wednesday. I was at 30 pounds then when I weighed I was at 29..is it normal to gain or hold at that weight for awhile? Time of the month makes it hard also I guess. Still finding it hard to get 64oz of liquid daily only getting around 30-40oz...will this cause a stall?...so frustrated at this point

If you have medical concerns about the runs and not absorbing your foods, you may want to contact your surgeon’s office. How far out from surgery are you? What food stage? What foods are listed to eat? The choices you make will be a factor in your health and long-term weight loss outcome.

Hey everyone hope you are all doing well and dropping those pounds. I was just curious how everyone was doing that got surgery in December of 2018. I would love to hear some updates and how everything is going. I had my surgery done by Dr. Marc Leduc. He works at the surgical weight control center in Las Vegas. I had my surgery done at Desert Springs Hospital. I had my surgery on Dec 10th 2018, so just under 4 months ago and I have lost 109 pounds so far. I'm loving the results!

It is wonderful to read all your success stories and the mounting rewards as December 2018 sleevers! Wow. My surgery was 12/17/2018 at NW Medical Center in Coral Springs, FL. I am currently three pounds away from onederland!!! A total of 57 pounds from 258 start weight the first of December. Usually major consecutive holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas thru New Years in the past, meant a weight gain for me. I tried to use restraint, but all the rich, high calorie "specialty foods" of the season just continued the never ending weight battle + cycle resulting in feeling more discouraged and hopeless with each passing year. :[ BUT NOT THIS New Year of 2019! I love my sleeve and so glad to have begun a new, hopeful and promising track! Does anyone else feel the same? Refreshing, right? My blood pressure and blood tests all came back healthy - And, left injured, problematic knee is much improved. Bowels have stabilized and vitamin regime no longer causes nausea. I follow closely Dr. V and my nutritionist's recommendations for balanced nutrition with moderate exercise, at this 3 ½ month juncture. Other aspects I am thrilled about is the ability to be satisfied with so much less volume of food. I really have not missed sugar, salt or fat laden recipes and desserts. While I had made major changes in my diet losing 41 pounds (298 at highest point) before considering surgery last November, the sleeve just simplifies and propels me forward in getting to my healthy weight. I desire to drop another 40 pounds and feel the confidence I can now do so. Not to mention, keeping it off and maintaining a healthy weight via reduced stomach - Breaking the vicious cycle. I have not seen the scale read under 200 pounds in over 23 years! That's a lot of baggage for this petite 5'0" frame and interior designer constantly on her feet. My clothes closet has been purged and taken to a quality consignment shoppe or Goodwill - Now shopping in regular departments for limited clothing in size large for tops and XL for slacks. Most of these sale items are quickly becoming too loose. So happy to no longer see 1X, 2X or 3X (at highest weight) on my clothing labels. Right? Excited for my size 10 and petite medium goal. Really proud of all of us! Let's keep on sharing our victories and "all the nuances" of becoming our best physically and emotionally. None can truly appreciate nor understand this journey we embark... except for us. That makes us a pretty fabulous group of comrades. Happy spring everyone! ;]

I posted a related thread just the other night. Mine is about losing friends. (I am not married) It is so sad that people have problems when we change. I was never a mouse, but am way more assertive now. I think my best friend does not like it. She has sort of been 'the boss' in our friendship, and now does not like it that I stand up to her more. She struggles with her weight but tells me all the time she would never do the band. She can do it alone and HAS with WW/shakes/pills (the whole route). She sees the band as cheating and the easy way out. In the past I would not have said much, but now i say that if it so easy, why not do it? or I know you can lose the weight, I could too, but it is always back. She does not like that. I can not offer wisdom on the marriage issue other than you know your husband best and if you think you can resolve some issues or not. Good Luck.

I included the weight i lost before surgery it was 40lbs then after two weeks post-op i lost 19lbs. so some people do.

I lost weight and if I'm gonna advertise how much I weigh/lost. it's going to make me look good. I would never have gone on such a strict diet as the liver shrinking one if I wasn't having the band done It's a part of the process. Did I mention that I lost weight?

The VERY short version: I'm 10.5 months out, have lost 110 pounds. I'm fitter, healthier and happier than I was before surgery. I was given a year to live in June, 2011 if I didn't lose a significant amount of weight. It's been more than a year since that prognosis and my future is so bright I gotta wear shades!

I have RA and the weight loss has helped. I am having a flare right now, but confident it is the crazy weather and issues with insurance and medication.

Sleeved 9-11-12 day of surgery weight 287 Todays weight 233 54 pounds in almost four months, but it does seem to be slowing down.

Hi everyone. I am a newbie. I had my surgery on May 23. I am feeling fine no pain, up mad walking, and food is going down good. BUT I am NOT losing any weight. Please help. The scale has not moved from 228.2. What can I do? I have not had but one bowel movement.

Congratulations on the new sleeve and welcome to the loser's bench! When I started working out again, it was more of just getting into the habit of walking and just going to the gym. The goal is not to be sore or winded after every workout. Get into the habit of going first. I started with walking for about 10 minutes in the morning and going to the gym for about 20 minutes four times a week. I started by just doing 20 minutes of cardio at the lower levels and no weights. As I got in the habit of going and started seeing results, I enjoyed working out longer and pushed myself a bit more every month and added weights. But I also did not overdo it because I didn't want to burn out. Now I go 4-5 days a week and do cardio + weights for about one hour total three times a week and cardio only for 45-60 minutes on the days, depending on how I feel. I gave myself a cap of 60 minutes because I'll burn out if I go more than that. Best of luck to you and continued success!

I was banded Monday morning and have been very bloated since. I know the gas and bloat are normal at first, but was so bad last night I decided to step on the scale. It says I am up 10 pounds from Monday morning pre-op weigh in. Is this normal? Should I be concerned?

From what I've seen on Youtube and in threads, wait at least a year post-op because your skin is still shrinking. I'm 2 years out this month and just now feel like my skin has stopped shrinking and that I'm a my maintenance weight.

I just got my surgery and I don't forsee this happening to me partly because my husband and I split before my weight gain and my friends have seen me all kinds of sizes so now when I lose weight they will probably make bets on how long it will last. However, what is happening to you has happened to many people I have met in support groups. I believe it all comes from insecurities of both your friend and your husband. However, this time is all about you now. Do what is good for you, love yourself and don't play into their games and insecurities. I recommend you attend support groups and also if possible seek professional help, i.e. family therapist, psychologist... it helps

I have problems with my lower back, S/I joint, and hip, which was one of the reasons I decided to get surgery. I was caught in this cycle of not being able to exercise (or even take a short walk), and then gaining more weight, which made the pain worse. Like you, I was also concerned about being able to walk after surgery like they wanted me to. But since surgery (just 1 week ago) I've actually been able to walk better than I have in a couple years without pain. I lost about 25 lbs under the dietitian's monitoring for a couple months prior and on the pre-op diet, so maybe that was enough to get some of the pressure off my back. I only took pain meds in the hospital and before bed for a few days after, so I don't think that's it. The recumbent bike may be a good way to get exercise in, but part of the reason that they emphasize walking right off the bat is to help work out the gas that's pumped into you during surgery, so I don't know if the bike would help with that or not. Good luck! Here's to no more (okay, less) pain! Edited to add: Like @@kimby1029 said, Water aerobics is great for joint pain. I cannot wait to get back to my classes at the Y. If you can find some deep-water classes, even better, because you won't be pushing off the floor of the pool, so it's even less stress on your knee.

I am scheduled to have surgery July 6th...and I have been reading these boards for tips and hints. One thing that I read in the frequently asked questions is about exercise. It's recommended you start walking ASAP. Last year I tore the meniscus on my right knee, had surgery....but it is still very painful. My doctor told me weight loss would definitely help it! So my question is this....what are some other ways to exercise for anyone that walking isn't an immediate option? I have a recumbent stationary bike. I guess I'm pre-worrying, because I am SO ready to do this! I'm very excited/anxious, and the one thing that I see over and over that seems to help people be successful is walking. My doctor told me that even losing 40 pounds will diminish the pain and make long walks a realistic goal! I just want to make sure I can get to a 40 pound loss!!! Thanks in advance! Doji

That is happening to me also. My surgery was sept 27th, and I lost 12 lbs the first week out. I have now gone an entire week without losing anything, and I gained a pound. Don't know what's going on but I hope it passes soon! Today my surgeon has started me on "sensible" solids. So I can have chicken, turkey, cheeses, and other basic foods just no high sugar and fat. Scares me because I've been on liquids and stalled and now I have to start eating more food.

I DEFINITELY am not a veteran yet. I'm 6-1/2 months post-op and have lost 77 pounds, with 8 pounds to go before goal. At some point it became obvious that I'd lost enough that my weight loss began to slow. After all, a body that's 77 pounds lighter doesn't burn as many calories. That's just logical. And the longer I've been post-op, the more my stomach has healed (it's no longer swollen) and the more volume of food I can eat. BTW, I SHOULD be eating more food than I did initially. If I were still eating only 600-800 calories a day, my metabolic rate would have accustomed itself to a starvation menu and I'd be missing important nutrition. By the end of Month One I averaged 800 calories/day with 60-70 grams of Protein. In Month Five I started eating an average of 1,000 calories a day with 80-90 grams of protein. A few weeks ago I began eating more like 1,200 calories a day with 90-100 grams of protein. With 8 pounds to go I'm still losing weight steadily, but more slowly. Although I've enjoyed a few special meals, I haven't gone "hog wild" (and couldn't have with the sleeve's restriction). I haven't had any unusual cravings that I haven't been able to control. I sometimes eat small amounts of "bad carbs" (Pasta, rice, potatoes, breads) but the amounts are small, and I don't do that daily. So I guess, behavior-wise, I'm still in the honeymoon phase. I don't fight eating protein first or eating lots of protein and colored vegetables and fruits. I don't plan to indulge in lots of high-starch and high-sugar carbs until after I've reached goal. And I'm certainly don't have maintenance figured out yet, because I'm not there yet. For me, the sleeve has given me the head space to build and practice the basic eating habits I have always wanted to follow consistently. Those habits are just a lot easier now than they were before the sleeve. I think the factors that will help you be successful with WLS are compliance, consistency, common sense and personal accountability. BTW, I plan and track my menus daily on www.myfitnesspal.com. Good luck to you.

Asisde from having surgery, nothing has changed that will alter your eating habits - hunger. It takes a series of adjustments - fills to get the band working properly. As far as post-op. I drank as much as I could with whatever I was allowed! I did not care about calories...aqnd certainly should not be concerned with loosing weight right now either. It's allmabout healing and getting well so they can move on to the good stuff.

I had bypass April 1st. I steadily lost weight ever since and have been so happy. I am eating and doing same activities and all of a sudden I see the scale going the other way? I am down 68 lbs so far but need to lose another 45. Could I have stretched my pouch already? I have been feeling a little hungrier lately. Anyone out there have some advice to talk me off the ledge?

I think it's very dependent on your starting weight and your overall diet and activity levels. I've also heard that some people are "slow losers". I've lost 27 pounds in about the same timeframe and I'm ecstatic - if I kept up this pace I will reach my goal in just a few months!

My team believes I have a stricture, so I'm having a dilated endoscopy to fix it... Now, I think I'm freaking myself out, but a -dilated- endoscopy makes me think they're going to stretch out my sleeve, rendering less effective... I've read too much 'advice' thanks to google... Is anyone a ways out, and had to have a dilated endoscopy, and is still losing/have lost all of their weight?