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Thanks! I felt better pretty soon after I started the antibiotics, so I'm not sick during Christmas which was what I feared. I'm now even further down on the scale, which is so strange for this time of year. Normally, December is the time of year I gain weight and not just during Christmas. So it's especially welcome now after a long stall in November. I hope everyone is having a great Christmas. We open our presents on Christmas eve, so we've already had Christmas dinner and opened out gifts. I got a whole box of homemade cookies from my niece, who is a college student and always gives something homemade. They're quite delicious, but definitely not healthy. What would you do with a gift like that? Eat one per day? Give them to friends? I already regifted the chocolate I got from work to a refugee woman I've been assisting, so I can't really give her the cookies as well.

You are so close. I'm having a bypass the day after you. While the pre-op diet has been hard I understand why it's necessary. I try to remember why I decided to do WLS in the first place. If it helps, look back at the checklist and all the things you've done to make it this far! Those are huge milestones in and of itself. Rather than concentrate on all of the posts in the forum that make you question your decision, look at the thousands of positive posts where people have truly been able to change their lifestyle and regain their health. We are in this together! Stay strong. I know it's really difficult to maintain pre-op guidelines when there is sugary food everywhere, but we're doing this for ourselves. Just imagine where we will be in our journeys next December! Tell me, what is one of the milestones you are most looking forward to with weight loss? I want to be able to walk down the stairs in my house without my knees hurting and to be able to wear pants without elastic waists, again. Sent from my Pixel 5 using BariatricPal mobile app

You are very encouraged to chew your food until it is like applesauce. Also when in the different food stages sauces and a higher moisture content helps the food go down easily, especially if you are recovering from additional hiatal hernia surgery. I tend to weight and measure my food, but also work to eat slowly so that I hear and feel my body’s satisfied signals. Listening to my body is still something I’m learning about every day.

I am sorry to hear about your grandpa. May they rest in peace. I am an emotional eater and so it is hard to go through things like this without having the comfort of food. But sticking to a plan has helped. Congrats on the weight loss. To everyone on this group, thank you for being a support through this process. No one else truly understands that this isn’t the “easy” way. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and I cannot wait to see all of the positive that 2023 will bring for all of us as we transform and become a healthier you. ❤️❤️

Best Christmas gift ever-the first time my weight has had a “2” in front of it in 20+ years. That’s the only time in my life stepping on a scale has resulted in a smile!

What to do when you don't want to eat? Honestly, i Just won't. During weight loss phase, if i didn't want to eat, i didn't (still employ this tactic today at 4 yrs out). And yes, i was way under calorie goals too. I had labs done at least 4 times the first 6 months post and there was zero concern from the team (or from myself) about the state of my health. What does YOUR team say?

The word "obsession", used in this context, implies a negative connotation, which insinuates that the referenced behaviour is undesirable, and that the actor of this behaviour is somehow wrong or damaged. Maybe......you can look at it as accepting that for our particular demographic, we may need to put a little more extra effort to maintain our weights than the "normies". Maybe, instead of looking at it with angst as an "obsession", it can be be kindly looked on as a HABIT. Like the way brushing your teeth is a habit, or how washing your hands before eating is a habit, or putting food/dishes away after meals is a habit, or checking your blind spot when you change lanes while driving, or petting your cats each time you walk by them....etc etc. Maybe keeping an eye on your food intake could be just another thing on a long list of things you do everyday with minimal thought or effort. Maybe? P.S. Of course, the word "obsessed" could also be used in a more positive-leaning take, like when the Kid says "OMG, i am OBSESSED with the shade of lip gloss!". lolololzzzz.

Every surgeon has his or her own pre op diet and you are one of the lucky ones. In the 18 months that I have been regular on here, there have only been a few people who were so very lucky. You are also at a lower weight so will not have the same issues as someone a hundred pounds heavier like me. The pre op diet is more to shrink your liver as it gets in the way of this surgery. Surgery teams don't make mistakes like not telling you to do the pre op. You would know well in advance if you needed to start the pre op. Just enjoy Christmas and good luck with your surgery

Good morning Sassy, I was just introduced to this website by my now bariatric Dr. I am 12 years out from a full gastric bypass, after having the lap-band originally. I switched to the full bypass five years after having the band because the band slipped and was shutting off my esophagus. For either of those surgeries, my bariatric doctor did not have me do anything different as far as dieting prior to surgery except liquids the day before as well. However, this was a very long time ago...2005 for the band and 2010 for the bypass in CT and the same surgeon. Fast forward to today, actually yesterday I saw my new bariatric doctor because I am going through the procedure for a revision surgery and she has informed me that I will be on full liquids for a week prior to the surgery. I am going in for revision due to complications with GERD and trouble swallowing. Although I have gained some of the weight back - 15lbs of the 132 originally lost, the goal is to alleviate my symptoms of discomfort. So in answer to your question, maybe it is a doctor preference about dieting. I wouldn't be overly concerned. However, being it that you have surgery on the 28th, enjoy the holiday and on the 26th keep it light as far as intake if you think that would ease your mind. Best of luck, Tammi J

I was banded Sept. 2010 and I am in the process of getting an RNY revision approved. I hate this band and it is time for it to come out. I had no success in losing weight and I am back up to where I was when I had surgery. I’m nervous but excited to be healthier. Good luck!

I might be able to bring stuff in I'd have to ask but I know I couldn't cook there even if I wanted to (I'm an occasional cook there and they season the grills with bacon.I honestly don't think its a safe bet for me after weight loss surgery.I mean basically anything healthy has some form of grease attached from other items being cooked

That is awesome! I can't wait to get my license renewed this summer. It says 350 on it and I was almost 50 pounds more than that when I got it last time. I have also never had my real weight on my driver's license and I can't wait to put it on there in August! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

As someone who is 6 days away from an RNY bypass, I appreciate your authenticity and transparency about the process and your regain. I've been reading through all of the forums and it helps me to be realistic with my own expectations and reminds me that while WLS is a tool, I will constantly need to improve my relationship with healthy food habits and exercise (which I really do enjoy). Congratulations on your ability to maintain a weight that makes you feel confident and happy! I'm eager to meet post-op milestones. Sent from my Pixel 5 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi everyone I had a roux-en-y gastric bypass with fobi pouch 5 years ago (well, 5 years and 11 days to be precise). In the year or two after surgery I was a regular poster here and got immense support from people going through the process at the same time as me, as well as from those who were living with the changes, so I though I’d come back and share for a bit. I have the same story as many of you I am sure - a lifetime of weight loss, weight gain. I had a bit of a distaste for serious exercise but I’d walk happily. I know I ate (well, still do a bit) to deal with feelings - especially loneliness. Stressful jobs over the years, I am 5 foot 7in tall and my weight seesawed until at 100kg (220 lbs) i got a gastric band. That was good, helped me loose maybe 25lbs, but eventually the refill port broke and it had some other issues where it broke, so I made the decision to get a bypass. Because I was back up to 120kg (165lbs) ’My’ bypass has a fobi pouch - so instead of having a small rounded stomach, I have a longer thinner one with a permanent band (made from a baby’s catheter with permanent suture through to make a tied-off loop) in place around it, so it will never stretch. Anyway, it has been a resounding success. I initially dropped to under 60kg (130lbs). I remember worrying ‘how do I make this STOP! Then settled at about 62-64kg. My partner was concerned I looked a bit skeletal, and I run (sometimes) and cycle (a lot) now, so encouraged me to consider putting on a bit of weight for my own health, and I did and feel better for it - so now I sit happily at about 66-67kg - just under 150lbs. There were times when it was tough work. There still are - I occasionally still get sick with that horrid ‘dumping’ if I make an unwise choice, but the benefits outweigh that so much! I want to thank users of this board - the best bit was each problem I encountered, I found someone else had encountered it and overcome it. And it helped me hang in, see it through.

Yes. Now, the weight I put on dating apps is true. 😂

My symptoms were constant burning and gnawing in my stomach, right below the breastbone, above the belly button. It felt like constant severe hunger pains. Taking anti-acids or eating something only temporarily helped. People with gerd and ulcers tend to gain weight because the food in the stomach soaks up the acid but unfortunately, it's a very temporary pain reliever. I suffered from gerd/ulcer for years and controlled it with PPIs, but the last 6 months before my revision, my symptoms progressed as I described above, and I knew I couldn't hold off revision any longer.

I am finally under my drivers license weight, I can't wait for renewal so I can update my weight.

For the first LITERALLY EVER my drivers license weight is TRUE!!! haha Even when I got my drivers license at 16 y/o I weighed more than I put on it.

Well today is my rest day, but I think I'm taking Friday (tomorrow) as well. Since we've had an arctic blizzard the last 2 days (Wed was negative 22, today was negative 15, and tomorrow is zero) I may as well enjoy the rest. Plus my body HURTS. Places I didn't know I had are achy and sore lol I'll do cardio again on Saturday, strength training on Sunday (after we do Christmas and clean up), and weight training on Monday. Switching strength and weight training hopefully will help with the soreness, too. I'm going to work out 3 days, take 2 off, workout 3, take off 2, etc until my body gets used to it and is less sore afterwards. Then I can work out 3 days, take 1 off, etc until I can work my body up to working out 6 days and taking 1 off, like I was before. It's a work in progress, but at least I have a plan and I'm working towards it

December has been an absolutely horrible month for me. I lost my GrandPa at the beginning of the month. I have been so sick all month long with stomach bugs, viruses, flu and now I have kidney stones from all the antibiotics and a cold with a nasty cough that has my chest on fire. I can’t ketch a break in the sick department! I’m freezing even more than normal due to all the sicknesses. I have a lingering migraine that Tylenol won’t touch. It’s been horrible! My Bariatric team just keeps telling me to keep my fluids up so I don’t get dehydrated and let the sicknesses run the courses but I have never been so sick for so long before or with so many sicknesses so close together. My body needs a vacation. I guess if anything good has come out of this month I haven’t been eating so much so my weight has dropped to 184 without even trying.

I hope your co silt went well and you are on your journey towards bypass now. You may have a 3-6 month requorement if you are going through insurance where you have to go in each month and get your weight checked while you try to lose weight under a doctors supervision. That seems to be a requirement by many companies. From then it just depends on how quick you get approval back from insurance and can get scheduled.

Definitely go with gastric bypass. Had mine on Nov 1, 2021, to date im down 157lbs and going. No issues, just constipation and receiving iron infusions, but im very happy. Good luck! My highest weight was 327lbs Sent from my SM-G973U using BariatricPal mobile app

My husband bought me a fancy scale for Christmas that measures the body fat percentage and all that. I never use those functions. It is pretty consistent in terms of weight though. Better than the cheaper ones I have used in the past.

I woke up with one on after surgery. I have to admit it was a nice stand in for not having a bra on. Kinda lifted the girls or at least felt like it cause there was fabric beneath them. Lol. I was advised that I could use it or lose it as I desired. I took it off to shower and never put it back on because I didn’t notice a real difference. I have heard people who carried a lot of weight around their bellies say it helps though. I think it’s just a preference thing.

Okay so I have been following but not posting much for a little while. I have been frustrated, feeling like I don’t have much advice to offer others because I have been searching for my own answers and very embarrassed about my weigh gain. Anyways, for those of you who don’t know me, I had my surgery March 9, 2021 at 235 (5’8”). I lost pretty steadily down to 169 but then stalled for months on end until my appetite came back and I started gaining and continue to gain. I have been struggling uphill while searching for answers ever since. The bariatric team blames my psyc meds but the prescribing dr claims they are weight neutral meds. My family dr agrees and showed me an article about the cravings they cause but he ordered thyroid and diabetes tests too which came back fine but I continue to gain so I made an appointment with an endocrine doctor thanks to a few people on here who suggested it. I finally just seen the endo doc and My cortisol was elevated on the suppression test so I just completed the two day saliva test which hopefully will bring some more answers but what they have said so far is that it’s probably sub clinical cushings which takes a while to confirm. I thought about waiting until I had more info but they said it will be another two or three weeks for these results and I may need more tests after that. I guess MY diagnosis is not really the point anyways. My point is I have recently learned of three things that could be the culprit of my weight that were never tested before surgery and I wonder why they don’t mention these tests pre surgery. I mean They are simple blood tests. I even googled to see why the cushings thing isn’t investigated since it doesn’t resolve with bariatric surgery and all I could find was one article that said it is of course suggested if you present with any of the classic symptoms but in terms of a blanket requirement for people considering bariatric surgery this person felt it unnecessary because it’s not extremely common. I guess maybe that’s the view of my doctor too but I sure wish I was presented with the option at least. I am just curious whether these are things that are tested or even brought up by other people doctors prior to surgery or what others think about whether they should be. And perhaps to give some people things they can investigate first if they are on the fence about surgery. I just feel like the surgery was never going to work for me because it seems likely that the root of my issue is still there. I am maintaining SOME of the loss but according to what I understand about what I have read so far, left untreated I will steadily continue to gain. I know this is still up in the air and not a super common thing regardless but I can’t be the only one struggling with this pre or post surgery and I hope my experience can help someone else struggle just a little less cause watching everyone around me try to be polite as I slowly put the weight back on has felt even worse than being obese was to begin with. I am trying to hang In there for answers and give myself grace but it’s hard to not feel like a failure as I continue to gain and everyone now knows I had surgery and of course I have to wonder if I blew my one shot at surgery because I am doing these tests after instead of before surgery. Regardless, if you are someone who doesn’t really make a ton of poor food choices but just eats more than “normal” because you always feel hungry, consider a cortisol test before surgery. I wish I had.