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I take collagen and a hair-skin-nails supplement every morning. While I don't think it slowed down the hair loss, my hair was quite thin before that and it's grown back thick and curly, much healthier than it was before I lost weight.

Hi. I had VSG on 3/27. I weighed 335 at my first doctor visit and lost 19 pounds presurgery. Anyways, I have been reading on here and I'm worried that my doctor should have recommended bypass vs. sleeve since I have so much weight to lose. He set my goal at 170. That's nearly 150 pounds. I haven't found anyone in here that has lost that much with sleeve. Am I worrying needlessly?

First, your BMR is a bit of a guesstimate, but 2100 isn't unreasonable for a guy. Some calculators/formulas are way off because they simplify things by using body weight, while it is lean or muscle mass that is the important factor (all that extra fat we carry around does little to BMR, though whatever extra musculature we may have to carry around that extra fat does help. There are some tests that they can do (VOx, etc.) that can give a closer reading to your personal BMR, and many body composition scales give an OK estimate based upon their reading of your lean mass. The most important thing is at what caloric level is your weight stable - that gives the best clue as to where you stand metabolically. My BMR was probably around 2100 also, though my stability point by experience and tracking intake was in the 2600-2800 range (consume more consistently and I would gain, consume less overall and I would lose.) BMR represents our resting metabolism, while the extra burn if from exercise and daily activities; most calculators and tables (and ourselves) tend to over estimate the burn from exercise. After surgery, and you lose what you are going to lose, you will likely have lost some muscle mass, I lost around 10 lb) as you aren't carrying that extra 100, 200 or whatever pounds around with you 24/7, so your BMR will likely decline some, but not a lot (maybe down to 2000). This is why most programs emphasize getting in adequate protein, and doing some load bearing exercise, to minimize the loss of muscle mass, to keep our BMR up. If you can maintain a diet of 1100 calories (not at all difficult for the first year or so post op) that will yield a caloric deficit of around 1000 calories to your BMR (and likely more considering activity burn,) which will equate to an average loss of around 10 per month (more initially, and tapering off over time) - that's about what I did at 1100 calorie average, and my final few months before goal was a consistent 10lb per month loss; after goal and into maintenance, I settled into around 2100-2200 per day to maintain a stable weight. Some people, particularly the shorter ladies, may be stable at 11-1200 per day after all is done, so they will need to go much lower to lose their excess weight - this is why we see 6-800 calories as a common intake for the loss phase, and they will often lose more slowly because they have a lower caloric deficit (figure about a pound per month per 100 calories in deficit, on average.) In short, figure on 1000 calories or so while losing, and probably around 2000 or so, give or take, to maintain, as a quick guesstimate.

They told us about 400 to 600 first 3 months, then it will increase to 600-800, once we get to goal weight we will stay within 1200 calories Sent from my SM-S916U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

current BMR won't figure into your post-surgery intake as it's based partially on your current weight. They'll start you off pretty low for the first few months and then you'll likely gradually increase as the months go by. Final calorie range (once you hit maintenance) will depend on whatever your weight, activity level, etc are once you get there.

Hey all, I'm still in the research phase and trying to understand what life on the other side looks like. In my first effort at losing weight the Dr. told me I have a BMR of around 2100. Does that factor into my caloric intake post surgery at all? The info from my surgeon seems to indicate that they are shooting for around 1100 calories but I'm not sure if thats to get to goal or after I met goal. Anyway, a little confused and just trying to understand how those may tie together... Thx! Mark

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Thank you for your kind words! Yes, I am aware of the statistics about weight loss and how difficult it can be for many people. I feel grateful that I have been able to achieve some success with diet and exercise, but I also recognize that it's not the right approach for everyone. In addition to diet and exercise, I have also incorporated some meal replacement shakes into my routine, which have been helpful for me. I understand that for some people, medications, or bariatric surgery may be a better option, and I support whatever approach someone chooses to take to improve their health and well-being. The most important thing is finding a sustainable solution that works for you.

Its very scary but it does stop. Lots of us cut our hair really short to hide the loss. I dont believe there are any products that help with hair loss. I dont know if its my age but I have not gained any thickness back yet but I love that I dont have to spend hours dealing with my long hair any more

Mine: I'm 6lbs away from hitting my next goal weight of 135lbs! I may aim for 125lbs after that.

Seems like you’re doing well on all fronts. I’d be celebrating. As to how well you’re doing & if there are red flags or things you’re missing that’s hard to tell as we’re all very different. Our bodies are physically, emotionally & psychologically different & have different nutritional needs & capabilities. We have different health situations, lifestyle demands, etc. Only you, your body, your surgeon, GP & dietician can best make that call. 180lbs is a possible goal but whether you’ll get to that weight or be able to maintain is unknown. Your final weight depends on many factors. The most influential is what your new set point is. This is the weight your body is now happiest at & is easiest to maintain. Lifestyle choices, medications, genetics, sustainability of your final eating style & activity regime all influence your final weight too. Remember not everyone reaches their goal. Not sure what the average weight loss stats are for mini bypass but it is about 65% for sleeve & bypass. (That is 65% of the weight you have to lose to put you at a healthier weight.) Of course some exceed that stat & some don’t reach it. Celebrate every pound you lose. Celebrate how much healthier you are. Celebrate how much stronger you are & how much more energy you have. And not so much the final number on the scale (though we’re all guilty of doing that 😉).

Thanks @Smanky and toodleure. Smanky, yeah I shared it with bariatric team and they think I am doing fine. Actually I live in Canada and had my surgery done outside Canada (due to wait times), so not so much of physical visits with doctor. Mostly on video call, I share my progress every 3 months. Yeah, so far so good. Let's see whats there in future. Doctor just told me not to overthink, eat healthy. As long as I am not throwing up or having dumping syndrome, it means I am eating well. Yeah I am very scared to eat nowadays, as I want to maintain the weight loss pace so using nutrition info and weight of food I eat to be on safer side. I have lost 30 to 45 Kg twice before the gastric bypass, but would always regain the weight.

Embrace it girl!! Some of that may be water weight but this is not a bad thing. Just as long as you feel good you should be ok. Stay hydrated!

17lbs in 4 weeks is absolutely awesome and not at all 'no weight loss 1 month PO' OP! As the others have said, a stall at this point is completely par for the course. Stick to your plan and you will lose loads more. Best of luck.

I had the bypass on 3/16 and have only lost 16 total. From what I've seen, that's technically low-average for bypass patients with a 300 lb starting weight. I don't really care though because I know it'll come off. I'm meeting my protein and water goals and walking 1-2 miles per day. Something's gotta give, you know? I think a lot of us are just primed to hold onto weight until the bottom gives out. But I will say the non-scale victories are something to celebrate! I can sleep through the night now, my high BP has reversed, no more GERD to manage. Hopefully you have some nsv's to look forward to. I made a list of 15 things I look forward to from this surgery that can't be 'found' on a number on a scale. I made the list for this exact scenario - when you feel like you've stalled or get discouraged. If you don't have one, I definitely recommend making one. Hopefully that helps!

Christi, I am in the same boat. I was sleeved on 3/9 and have only lost 10lbs! I did not loose ANYTHING for the first 10 days & was completely flat. I was not gone above 500 calories the entire time, and have reached my protein goal 2 days only. I am 55 yrs old so I knew my weight loss would be slower but it is frustrating when you see other people doing less exercise and more calories and the weight falling off quickly. You are correct, don't compare yourself to anyone. We all have different bodies, different metabolisms, even different body types loss at different rates (eg, apple shape vs pear shape vs extra weight in extremities, etc). We are all different and none of us will have the same experience. Keep your head up, keep working your program and you and I will both get the results in our time! 🤗

My weight loss was rapid pre-op, but post-op has been a lot slower. My surgery was on the 7th of March, too. I think - for me - it's been better to not weigh myself on a scale every day and just focus on staying hydrated and moving in small spurts.

Hey I was sleeved on the 7th and I’m down only 25 lbs and I’ve been beating myself up about it. Especially when I hear people have lost 30-40 pounds a month out. I’ve been exercising and portioning food. I did have my menstrual cycle which caused me to stall a few days, but since that has passed I seem to be trending in the right direction. I would say just continue to do what you’re doing, get that protein in and liquid intake. It will happen. Also, starting today I’m going to weight myself weekly vs daily. Trust I know exactly how you feel.

Good for you! I'm so happy that you're able to do that. You know, only 5% of people are able to lose weight - and keep it off - with diet and exercise alone. Only 5%, isn't that crazy?!? Praise the Lord there are alternatives (like medications, or bariatric surgery) for the other 95% of us.

I lost about 30 pounds in the first month. Sometimes your body is just ready to give that weight up. As long as you don't feel weird or uncomfortable you're probably fine.

some people also "gain" weight from the IV fluids they give you in the hospital, since it's essentially salt water. I've read about people "gaining" as much as ten pounds from that! It can take a few days to work its way out of your system - although since you're ten days out, you're probably right - at this point it's probably inflammation or constipation.

I'm excited to be back at school next week. I am a college student. One of the things that I love about being a student is that college is pretty flexible, which allows me to manage my health and my education at the same time. However, after my VSG surgery, I am already seeing progress with my weight loss journey. Three days after my surgery, Being a college student has helped me to stay motivated and focused on my goals, even while managing my health. Furthermore, I find that being around younger students has been a positive experience for me. It keeps me motivated and inspired, and reminds me that it's never too late to pursue your dreams and make positive changes in your life. I believe that education is a lifelong pursuit and it's never too late to learn something new or achieve a new goal. Overall, my experience has shown me that education can provide a supportive and flexible environment for people to achieve their personal and professional goals. By being a college student, I have been able to manage my health and education simultaneously, and I have been inspired to continue pursuing my dreams regardless of age or circumstances.

74lbs in 3 months is excellent. I lost MUCH slower than that. You can absolutely make a weight of 180lbs a reality. I never thought I'd ever weigh in the 60s (kilograms), yet here I am and still losing. Stick to your plan and it will happen! As for what you're doing, so long as your team are on board and you're managing it well, then there should be no issues. Just be mindful that muscle weighs more than fat, so get out the measuring tape as a secondary indicator that you're losing, otherwise the scales may trick you into thinking you're not doing as well as you are! I personally love my mini bypass/omega loop, and could not be happier with my choice. It's a more common procedure in my country, but yes, on here we're a tiny group!

I had a mini gastric bypass surgery exactly 3 months back. Since there didn't seem much activity on specific forum for mini gastric bypass (as it isn't common in US), so I thought i would put it in regular bypass forum. Starting weight: 326 lbs Current weight (exactly 3 months post Op): 252 lbs making total weight loss of around 74 lbs. Diet: Currently taking 1000 (or maybe 1100 at times) calories. Protein rich diet with around 70 to 80g of daily protein and low carb. 3 meals and in-between I take protein shake, pure coconut water (around 500 ml a day) and sometimes raw Tofu once or twice in day if I feel hungry. I use weighing scale to make sure I know how much I eat. Workout: 4 to 5 miles of walk daily. Gym of 7 to 8 hours total every week. Main focus on HIIT and weights, and includes 2.5 hour of cardio. I have felt since I started gym, my body feels more leaner and in shape but appetite has slightly gone up. Like maybe 3 extra tablespoon of Quinoa. But what do you guys think of my progress? Any red flags or caution? As now is the time to correct things if something is wrong. Do you think a weight of 180 lbs is something achievable for me? Thanks a lot.

For me every time Im over weight I get that buffalo hump on the back of my neck. 4 days postop I could literally feel that it went down yeah🤩