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So I’m scheduled to have my VSG on 8/27. Because I have a fatty liver, I started my pre-op liquid diet on 8/10. For the most part I have followed the diet pretty strict (mine is the true liquid diet) except I substitute an Oikos triple zero for a shake but am still getting 80 grams of protein and staying between 60-85 grams of protein a day and 650-800 calories. When I first looked into bariatric surgery back in January of 2020, my weight was 252 and I’m 5’ 8 1/2. Prior to the diet my weight was 236 (my insurance requires 6 months of nutritional visits and I did lose some weight). Now I’ve dieted off an on for over 15 years and can usually lose 20-30 lbs but it has never stayed off and I revert back to the 250 range which puts me at a BMI above 37. I have fatty liver & sleep apnea and when I made the decision to pursue bariatric surgery it was for my health. Here is my conundrum, in 11 days I have lost 10 pounds which to me is amazing so I’m now at 226lbs and a BMI around 34. Why am I now second guessing having surgery??? I know deep down the reason why I’m doing so well and sticking to the diet is because I’m terrified of having a fatty liver during surgery because of the complications (soft livers tear easily). Have any of you experienced this?

I love reading these threads so thanks to all of you for sharing. I go for my first consult next week. I’ve been sitting at goal for months now even though I am only 10 months post op. I suspect this is my happy weight even though I wanted to stretch it to 5 lbs less. My limbs are very slim and butt, etc. just have this belly situation. I think a tummy tuck will do the trick. I’m 56 so I’m not trying for a bikini body. I just want to tuck a shirt in again before I die. Lol I also don’t want to get too thin because tbh, wrinkles really POP when one loses weight after a certain age. Have you ever noticed how much better elderly people look when they are chubby versus skinny? I always say that chubby is good at only two points in your life... as a baby and as an old person.

Wings (Honey Hot/BBQ) @Cheeseburgh I remember a couple of months ago you mentioned that you only eat a few at a time and I forgot to reply I also only eat between 2-5 wings at a time (depending on how hungry I am). I noticed if I have an order of 10 wings it's usually 2-3 meals worth. I get extremely bored eating them by wing 3 😅

Hi all! First post here – I'm just about a month out from my VSG (July 22), and things have been going pretty well. I had surgery on a Wednesday, was itching to leave first thing Thursday, worked a mostly-full day (desk job) on Friday, and haven't taken any pain meds since that Saturday. The last of my lingering incision pain has faded this week, though it can still be mildly uncomfortable when sleeping on my side or stretching. I've been getting a two-mile walk in first thing each morning, and I probably get a couple more miles in on weekend days, but pandemic life pretty much has me limited to that during the week. I'm thinking about getting an under-desk treadmill to keep things going, but there seems to be a toilet-paper-in-March-style shortage of them right now. Food has been going reasonably well. I'm on soft foods, though I pretty much stick to protein shakes during the day so I can basically just hole myself in our attic for the work day. Dinners have been good – we were a Blue Apron family before the surgery, and now I can start to have small portions of my wife's BA meal for dinner. I definitely feel it when I exceed my portion size, and avoid sitting when that happens (I kinda just pace around for 5-10 minutes before it subsides), but I'm getting better at judging those things. Like seemingly everyone else, I'm having a bit of a weight loss stall – I was pretty quick to drop 20, and now have been meandering very slowly, but still approximately downward. My normal clothes are now all very clearly too big (even on zoom), so I'm digging back through the old wardrobe, which is nice. I'm down to the last hole on my belt (has six holes, usually wear it at the second hole), so that'll be my first real wardrobe crisis. Long way to go, and I'm glad I did it during this crazy time. I'm a private person, so I'm glad there are few people who would notice and ask about it, so by the time everything gets back to normal (months and months from now), I'll be at a point where I'll know how to eat and drink and socialize normally – or, at least, I hope so!

I've always wanted to take a surfing lesson in Hawaii. I've now been twice, 10 years ago when I was 6 months pregnant (and too fat anyway), and in 2018 at my high weight at 393. I plan to go again someday and I WILL take my surfing lesson. I'll most likely fail miserably at it, but it's still something I want to try! Sent from my moto g(6) using BariatricPal mobile app

I had surgery in May of 2017. My highest weight was 327lbs I made it down to 211 and then was pregnant with my first 10 months post op. I'm around 230 but I'm also pregnant again. I'm hoping to really kick it in gear after this baby

We are similar. I had surgery 7-18-20. Weight 264, 2 days later released from hospital and weighed 275. It’s been a month and I’ve only lost 10 lbs from surgery weight. No cheAting very strict but not too much exercise due to rough surgery . I’m older at 55 so perhaps that’s reason.

I hour away from going to the hospital. Nervous, feel like I need to use the bathroom but nothing comes out. Wish I could leave now and get it over.

once you get close to a normal BMI (which you are), it's really hard to lose weight. It could be your body is happy where it is, so it's going to be a fight to get more off. Not that it can't be done, but... And getting down to a 27 BMI is pretty amazing. The average loss for bariatric patients is about 70% of excess weight, and only 10-15% make it down to a normal BMI. So your accomplishment at this point is actually pretty amazing... also, I should add that at 20 months out, most of us have stopped losing. That's not to say it's impossible to lose more, but 18-ish months out is kind of where most of us naturally stop. My weight loss stopped at 20 months out, too.

Hi Everyone It has been 3 years since I last posted. During that time I had 3 more Plastic Surgeries despite the fact that I never got to my goal weight. The Dr felt that with all the excess skin from having lost 280 pounds it was best to get it off and see if maybe I would be able to walk again. So in May of 2018, I had an extended Brachioplasty. Within 1 hour of waking up, I was sent home and within less than an hour of being home, I was rushed back to the hospital as I had blood pouring out of my left upper arm. The Surgeon's assistant was called when I got to the hospital at about 9 pm. He came right away and said I had a baseball size hematoma and c would have to go back into surgery. No room was available until 4 a.m. so I remained in the ER until an Operating Room was available. I remained in the hospital for 3 days and almost have to have a blood transfusion. I was released but was told I immediately had to go to the PS office. As I was being loaded into the van my arm started bleeding again. The Dr greeting me at the door and I was immediately taken into a room. I remember him saying I looked like death warmed over. He called insurance and they approved for a nurse to come every other day to clean and rewrap my left arm. It took me 10 weeks to recover from that surgery. I must say I am glad I had the surgery but even though he took off 7 inches of skin from each arm he could have taken off more. I have Micheline Tire Baby Syndrome and the excess skin removal did not take all the rings away. I still have one roll on each arm and some excess skin as my arms are 14 inches instead of 21. To this day I still cannot wear sleeveless shirts and added sleeves to my bathing suits. Insurance will probably never approve another surgery on my arms. After this surgery and complications, I had two more. In early Dec of 2018, I had my panniculectomy and a second hernia was repaired. I had no complications with this surgery and was thrilled to get 10 pounds of skin off my tummy and not have the huge overhang any more. Wearing the binder was not fun as it kept riding either up or down my butt. By the end of January, I was able to buy my first compression garment and was back to work 2 weeks later. Despite the 10 pounds being gone I still was not able to walk without a cane or a walker. All this excess skin being removed is not helping my 6 herniated discs, yet there is one more surgery and this I am told this one may be the one that allows me to walk. In late May of 2019, I had a belt lipectomy. The first week was very painful but by week 3 I was doing great. Two days I had terrible pain on the V spot on my back all the way around to my left groin incision. I was in terrible pain, my skin was hot and I had become so swollen I could not sleep on my left side and I had developed a blister. The Dr had been called the weekend I had terrible pain and felt so sick but I was not able to see him until Wednesday. He Popped the blister and over 5 Emesis Basin of fluid came out. He sent it for testing and 2 days later I was told I had to go to an Infectious Disease Doctor. The Doctor had no appointments on Friday and by Sunday 2 more blisters developed and I was so scared I went to the ER. It was determined I had MRSA and was in the hospital in an isolated room for 5 days. I had to have a MIdline put in as my veins were collapsing. OMGod that procedure hurt like you cannot believe, I was told I had rolling veins and it took them over 40 minutes to get that midline in. To make matters worse I still had a lot of excess skin in the area they wanted to put the midline. I could not move my arm for at least 2 hours after that procedure. For the next 8 weeks, I had 2 hours of IV Vancomycin 2 times a day. Finally Mid August I was well enough to return to work. This surgery did not help my ability to walk any better. I started going to a pain management clinic and he tried all kinds of procedures I can not even remember what they all were. By January 2020 the pain management Doctor thought that radiofrequency ablation might work. So in late February, he stuck me 4 times on each side of my back with the heat probe that cuts the nerve. I knew within weeks I had not worked and then Covid19 hit us all and I was in South East Florida a very bad hot spot. Even today as I wrote this we are still under phrase one. With my body the way it is I am afraid to go anywhere. My last day of work in the office was March 12th. I have been out of the house 3 times since that day. Thank God I can do remote Zoom lessons with my blind clients otherwise I would be homeless. So where do I go from here? I do not think the pain management Doctor who I went to for over 6 months is someone I would want to return to. In Jan I will be 65 years old and even though I have been on a Medicare advantage plan since 2008 I could change insurance companies and get all new Doctors. The only problem is I have no idea what kind of a Doctor to go to or whether or not these Florida Doctors would do anything for me. I am still obese despite having lost 250 pounds and have another 80 pounds to lose. I am over 4 years post-op for my sleeve surgery and barely manage to lose 5 to 8 pounds a month if I am 100% on plan. I was hoping to be walking by my 65th birthday but it does not look like it will happen. I wish I could say losing all this weight was the cure to my being able to walk but it was not. I am so totally disappointed that it did not happen. But I suppose when you have 6 herniated discs losing weight is not going to help them. Yes, I am thinner but am still in a great deal of pain and cannot do anything without a walker or a scooter. Some Golden Years I will be having. Am so tired of being like this. Jan 2021 will be 27 years since I was so badly injured at the Quiet Waters Park Kiss Country Chili and Band Competition. I wish I had never gone it was the ruination of my life.

That’s no lie lol I’m the same way, I have a scale in the kitchen and in the bathroom! I’m on the scale 10 times a day lol I’m 5 weeks post op I’m losing so slow ugh

Ok so my surgery is sched for Sept 4th, and I just found out No one is allowed to come with me because of the new covid-19 restrictions, that makes me kinda sad had anyone eles had surgery yet, and had to go in alone ?

Really complicated answer but in short, it depends. I used to keep a digital folder of scholarly journals on this but lost them Here's a few, dive in! https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/90/1/106/4596769 https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/3/322/htm

Well I am at 7 months out from my surgery now. I think I am on track as I just passed 80 pounds lost mark. Hair is starting to thin 🥺 so guess I am going to be one of the stats of people who lost hair. I was hoping it wasn't going to be me, but what else can I do. My birthday is coming up and I am excited but also it's weird 2020 so not having a big party like normal. All partying will be virtual via zoom. One thing that has also happened is the shorts I bought 2 months ago at beginning of June are very baggy now and can almost just fall down by themselves- so I've had a super productive summer. Dang that's just crazy. Thrift stores around here aren't open and I wish they were so I could just shop for some properly fitting clothes in the interim sizes. I've been doing Yoga for the past 13 days every day, it's a 10 minute morning yoga challenge I found on Youtube and I really feel like I'm getting stronger by adding it to my workout routine. I feel like I am also stretching and becoming way more limber than before. What's new with everyone? How are things going in your journey? Got any new exercise routines you're doing, any new activities?

I had the gastric sleeve July 15 2019. I only lost 52 lbs and have gain 20lbs back. I had IBS real bad. After the surgery that issue is gone.The sleeve surgery did not work for me. My appetite has increased. Question wonder if I need a revision for bypass. Just wanting your thoughts.

Modified sugar free crust less fiber infused cheesecake Rookie mistake thinking I could hand wisk this to a smooth texture...WRONG, taste delicious but not pretty garnished with sugar free whip cream & macerated strawberries nightmare world ahead: Does everyone know about the larvae in strawberries and the proper way to prep them? I just did it and it's true 😟 https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/strawberries-bugs-salt-water#:~:text=Soaking berries for 10 minutes,in these creepy-crawly videos.&text=Admittedly%2C finding tiny worms in,if the bugs are harmless.

I hate it but this is the only picture I have before my gastric bypass surgery. It was my birthday at the zoo before surgery. The stupid zoo snapped this horrid picture without me knowing. I wish I’d been able to enjoy the day more than I did. I treated my mom and her friends to a free day at the zoo and a close encounter with flamingos that I’d won. (Yeah It was supposed to be my birthday) that was April 2019. I tried to hide behind my camera. I didn’t know if the surgery was even going to happen but it did get approved the end of April one week before surgery. That happened April 29th. I despise pictures of myself and am not good at taking them. I tried to take a after picture. With and without the Faja. Trying clothes I never thought I’d wear. Not sure anyone wants to see. I dislike my arms and hands and my knees are weird ... and I don’t like my ugly mug 🤣 sorry they are terrible pictures but I never thought I’d be this weight or size ... or that I’d have an actual waist.

Day 10 - a good day indeed. Today I got what I can only describe as a whoosh. Energy level is up. My daily walk was brisk and free of foot neuropathy. I ate 950 calories today. The most I have been able to get in so far. I met my protein intake of 60 grams and had delicious Blended butternut squash and carrot Cashew soup! I went shopping for new wrist weights and I ordered a new bed. I promised myself a new bed because my old one has a huge depression where my very large bottom was. I feel better today then I have in a long time. Tomorrow is my first check up with the doctor. I’m only ten days out but I hope he advances me to purée. I’m dying to make chicken salad and feel some real food in my mouth. Feeling real good about my choice.

Well said, I'd also argue that the OP has likely already reached this magical 19-24.99 range when factoring in the extra weight of any lose skin they may have. BMI is also a pretty poor metric, I think it's a little silly to be so stringently exacting with such an inaccurate measurement to begin with. If people want to be splitting hairs over whats a healthy body composition, you'd need a DEXA scan

I had it done December 23, 2019. I was originally supposed to have it in November but my blood pressure was way out of control when I got there and so it got canceled and re-set. They do schedule quickly, although they may not be setting as many right now due to COVID. Your coordinator will go over everything with you. I had a great experience and am down 134 lbs so far!

My gastric bypass was 2 weeks ago so I haven't had a chance for regrets. I am writing to let you know that I too had a Nissen about 10 years ago. It helped a little since my GERD was so bad that I literally had acid burn in my mouth. Over the years the problem has returned to its original state. With the bypass, my surgeon said the Nissen had come apart so he did away with it. What? I am still in panic mode though he said he took measures to disable the nerve that activates acid secretion. Yeah, I know, I don't get it either but my husband says there are no longer any protons to inhibit with acid blockers. I will keep asking the surgeon to explain it until I finally get it. The surgeon said I will have the reflux for about a week and its been two. I don't know the difference in reflux and food backing up due to overeating. Due to the Nissen I could only have a gastric bypass, none of the other lesser procedures. It sounds like the Nissen would have been required regardless of the WLS. Mine was. I understand your frustration and pain. I was so happy when they told me they could fix my GERD that I literally cried and to be honest, any relief was a plus. I support you.

btw - no one on here has argued with the fact that a normal BMI is between 19-24.99. Anyone halfway aware knows that. We are trying to reassure someone who made it to a 25.5 BMI that she's not a failure. Far from it - she's a huge success. The fact is that the average loss for a WLS patient is about 70% of excess weight. And depending on which research study you read, only 10-15% of us make it to a normal BMI. So she's done better than at least 85% of people who've had weight loss surgery.

Right? Ha. I’m day 4 on the shakes (10 days left) and I’m already over them. The good news is I’m down almost 8lbs - so I’m hoping I can lose 15 before surgery with them. Hopefully that will be enough so I can get my wedding ring off before surgery (otherwise I’ll have to cut it😢)

Day 9-10 (mini post) Probiotics- I started probiotics two days ago and I have to say my stomach feels a lot better. I am having less gas and I am also moving my bowels normally now. The product I use is a chewable strawberry flavored water taken three times a day. Only 1 go of sugar. https://www.naturesbounty.com/our-products/specialty/diet-supplements/chewable-acidophilus-with-bifidus-100-wafer/

Hi, I'm about the same height and weight as you and also have my Gastric Bypass surgery scheduled for Wednesday. I'm also getting very anxious about it and have been going over and over the reasons why I have taken this decision. I don't know how old you are but I'll be 60 soon and have been losing and regaining the same 60/70 lbs most of my life and I just don't see how I can change that cycle without extra help. I am very active and play sport most days and I don't have any other co-morbidities. One of the main reasons I am having my surgery is to enable me to continue playing sport without doing any further damage to my body. Carrying this extra weight isn't pleasant nor is it good for me and it becomes more and more difficult as I get older. I suspect that I've already damaged my hips and knees playing tennis like this and I want to preserve what I've got left. I researched WLS years ago and 10 years ago I had a gastric band which I didn't get on with at all. I immediately had a de-fill and never had it filled again. It was removed last year. I wish I'd gone for the bypass or sleeve instead of the band to be honest because I feel I've missed out on so much because of this weight not to mention the strain it's put on my body. I don't know if this helps and only you can decide if it's the right thing for you at the moment. I wish you all the best with whatever you decide.