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Feeling really discouraged. I had the vertical sleeve on 11-23 and I have only lost 6# in the first two weeks. I am only allowed to have protein drinks, cream of wheat and thin soup for another week. I have been getting my liquids in and about 45-60 grams of protein a day. I was 219 the day of the surgery. Has anyone lost so little the first two weeks and then had the weight start to come off? I am nervous I will be one of the few people that this doesn’t work for!

well...i sort of do intermittent fasting naturally (both during weight loss phase AND during maintenance) i normally don't eat until after noon (just not a morning eater...never was even before surgery). After surgery i don't normally eat past 7 or 8 pm..i got into this habit cuz i had a horrible experience with nighttime regurgitation one night and it was enough to make sure i always went to bed on an empty stomach. ...sooo i ended up practicing 16/8 IF without really meaning to. been doing this pretty much about 90% of the time for about 4 years now. not sure if doing so has any added health benefit but i do it anyway cuz its just how i roll lol. p.s. i meet all my nutritional needs most of the time and can easily get 1800+ calories in during those 8 hours (fyi, i graze). my last set of labs 1.5 months ago say im in great health...and i dont even take any vitamins. YMMV. Good luck!

I agree that everyone's journey is different! Before my weight gain, I did have a pretty fast metabolism, as far as what I am doing now is just prioritizing protein and trying to stay away from carbs.

25 lbs in two months is GREAT! Don't compare yourself to everyone else. Everyone is different, different start weight, different metabolism, different diet plans, just different. You are doing great!

Hey guys, I recently got my sleeve in October and I am now so close to my goal weight! I am just scared of hair loss and would like to know tips or tricks please

Sorry you are struggling. We all know how frustrating that can be when it seems you are doing everything right. With your height and weight, you have a BMI of about 32 which will not meet the insurance requirements anyway. Probably why they won't bother referring you. You need to have a BMI of 35 or higher and at least weight related health issues. (High BP, diabetes, etc) or have a BMI of 40 or higher without the related health issues. The only way you will be able to have any type of WLS is to pay out of pocket if you can even find someone to do it with your current BMI. I am sure, there are surgeons out there that would do anything for the money, but I am not sure you really want "that kind" of surgeon being trusted with your life. With that said, have you discussed medical weight loss with your doctor? Prescription meds to help with weight loss? If not, you could try that. I feel for you and wish you the best!

I've had a long history with weight problems. By the age of ''4'' I was already 68 pounds despite having the diet of the typical child. By the time I was 15 I was in the 180's and eating honestly no different from my peers. By 17 I had joined a teen fitness group and failed to lose any weight what-so-ever. I resorted to starvation about a year later and by 19 I was 150 pounds and subsisting on 500 calories per day, taking diet pills and using tea laxatives. This lead to a cardiac issue which lead me into an Anorexia treatment center by 20. I cleaned up my act and began a ''healthy eating journey'' but sadly for me that resulted in a slow creeping weight gain of about 7-8 pounds per year. Sometime in 2014 I had reached ''180'' again and decided to join a gym. Worked out for months and lost nothing. I reduced my sugars, cut out processed food.. somehow I ended up weighing even more. I was 186 by the end of that year. By 2021 I was ''210'' pounds. My doctor weighed me. I was in shock. Literal shock.. could not even believe it because I was working with a nutritionist at the time and following through with everything. This last year I have worked out constantly, eaten no carbs and I am 208. I have only lost two pounds. I am nearly 33 year old and my weight has been a seemingly life long struggle and close to resistant to change unless extreme measures were taken (Anorexia). I am very disappointed with this. I have been tested for PCOS, Cushing's, NCCH etc many times and nothing showed up. I had severe acne (took accutane three times) and mild hirsutism as well but all blood tests come back normal, ultrasound reveal no cysts and I've gotten a monthly period since 13 years old. No doctor can explain this. I feel as though they do NOT believe me when I tell them what I eat. I just had an appointment with an endocrinologist and he said what I was telling him was ''impossible''. I have asked my doctor to refer me for weight loss surgery but at 210 pounds and 5'7 they just won't do it. I am at a loss.

It can be difficult at first to get the full 64ozs in. Swelling from the surgery & a sensitive tummy can’t make it more challenging. As long as you’re making an effort & getting closer to the full 64ozs you’ll be ok. And don’t forget your protein shakes, soups, broths, all count to your fluid intake. Often warm drinks are more soothing & easier to drink: try adding green or herbal tea to your daily fluid intake. Protein waters are great addition as well. Some find it helpful to set a timer so they sip every 5+/- minutes. I also drink during the night. 64ozs or 8 cups of liquids is actually the recommended intake goal for all adults not just those who’ve had weight loss surgery. It’s necessary for your body to function effectively.

It’s becoming more & more common & not just for weight loss surgery patients. I know 3 women who have iron infusions (none had wls). Five years ago I knew no one. (If you will continue to take iron supplements as well as the infusion, don’t take the iron when you take calcium as the calcium inhibits the absorption of the iron.) As for restless legs, my mum (suffered for decades) found a lot of relief from Sifrol. It’s a Parkinson medication. Worth talking to your doctor about.

There is no doubt that cannabis has several positive qualities concerning human health. It is used to relieve pain. It is effective in combating insomnia. It is also used to combat some personality disorders. Unfortunately, cannabis is not omnipotent when we talk about human health. Many diagnoses involve the use of medical drugs, with which, alas, marijuana does not constantly interact well. Such medications include narcotic drugs, including anesthesia, used in surgical procedures. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before taking this product. So, for example, when I had weight loss surgery, I was apprehensive and ready to take my chewable bought on OrganicCBDNugs. But luckily, the doctor was able to reassure me without them.

You and i are both the same height and almost the same starting weight. I was so happy when i hit 100lb lost. Now i am trying to get under that 200 mark but struggling to loose these last 5 lb lol. Congrats on your achievement!

I was a revision which means weight loss is slower, but I am 5'4" and started my journey at 286 lbs and today I am 246.3. I am 1-month post-op. I'm using the 3 patches that the bypass patients use plus one multivitamin.

100% Very few get too skinny, the majority is the opposite. They have to work hard just to maintain their goal weight or lose the last 20 lbs. Our bodies are smart and they adjust (i.e. hunger comes back.)

One year, 2 months, and 2 weeks 114.5lbs 64 inches Pant size 22 to 8/9 Shirt size 2xl to M I have been trying to lose weight, quite literally, my entire life. My earliest memories are of being uncomfortable, knowing I was in a bigger body than I "should" have been. I tried and failed at every diet, and consulted with 3 other surgeons over the course of a decade before I finally committed and had surgery. I went to therapy, read the books, stuck to the plan, fell off the plan. got back on, cried, rejoiced, and everything in between. And today, I hit my "goal" weight. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't elated to see that long desired number. It was overwhelming and thrilling. But truly, even more than any number, is the life I've gained, the love for myself that I've learned to cultivate, the life changing decision to care for myself well and no longer allow myself to be at war with this one precious body I have. As so many WLS patients say, I just wish I had done it sooner. I'm rooting for each and everyone of you as well. 💓

My double (triple) chin situation always made me VERY self-conscious so when I started seeing my face/neck slim down, I was THRILLED. Over time, I definitely developed a little bit of saggy skin there, and maybe some day I'll look into doing something about it, but not having all that extra weight on my face is just such a relief for me that it honestly doesn't bother me much. I've just recently (TODAY) reached goal, so it will be interesting to see what happens and if the skin firms up any over time.

I don't know how much of this is due to weight loss vs just getting older, but according to the marks on the wall at my Mom's house, I'm almost 3/4 of an inch shorter now than in 2007. Guessing I had pretty fat feet! ... or fat on the top of my head, Lol!

it gets better with time… you adjust .. and if you start getting too small you can adjust your macros to slow the weight loss

I do! I got it from Amazon! It's the Sunny brand w/resistance bands! It cost mr about $60 on sale! It was hard at first but since losing weight it has gotten so much easier and makes my leg muscles and arms feel so good! It's what I'll do if I can't make it to the gym! Holds up to 250lbs and I was so scared I would be too heavy for it but as I kept losing weight, 250lbs came and went! I hope you get one and I hope you love it! Sent from my SM-F711U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Everyone! My name is Kristin. I'm happily married to an amazing man, that is my #1 supporter! I have 2 kids, a 19yr old son & a 16yr old daughter. I am 36 yrs young from CO! I had Duodenal Switch WLS on 7/26/22! I am 4 mons post-op right now! The biggest reason I had surgery is bc I'm a T2 Diabetic! I was taking 2 types of insulin, taking injections 5x/day! I was diagnosed over 10 years ago and I was just tired of taking insulin, tired of having to constantly check my sugars, tired of being overwhelmed by constant thoughts of nothing but my blood sugar levels! I was tired of being overweight, tired of being tired, tired of getting winded from my front door to my car, tired of being in pain from my knees, my back, & my hips! It was time for me to do something and when my husband and I found out our job got the SurgeryPlus+ benefit, it was time to take action!! Started the journey in April and had surgery in July, it went quick! My hubby and I flew to SLC,UT for my surgery! My heaviest weight was 293lbs before my 2week pre-op diet, my weight at surgery was 269lbs, & now I weigh 205lbs! Almost 90lbs down and almost to ONEderland!! This journey has been tough, hard, overwhelming, emotional, crazy, & amazing! Still looking forward to what's to come! Hope you will join me along my journey & I hope we can be friends!! Just taking it one day at a time! Sent from my SM-F711U using BariatricPal mobile app

I wish I knew that pretty much at the 6 to 9 mark month the weight loss stops. I also wish I knew about the possible hormone levels being throw out of whack and what that could do to your metal health.

Have you looked at Holistic Medicine, Functional Medicine, Integrative Medicine or seeing Naturopathic doctor? As a healthcare provider I know that the current state of medicine is in shambles. Providers are burnt out and cannot care for their patients as well due to the demand of insurance companies and performance metrics. The healthcare industry is a business; patients have suffered and providers are emotionally bankrupt because of it. Productivity goals have made the level for care, and time to spend, and talk to & examine patients horrible. There has been a wave of healthcare professional leaving the constructs of the healthcare corporations and opting for lower pay, to get their lives back, care for patients and use their expertise to its highest potential. A lot of these top tier professionals are opting to go into holistic medicine/functional medicine. The providers have the freedom to help patients get to the root cause of their ailment. It would be worth it to give these providers a chance to look into your case. I know this has lowered your trust for healthcare professionals but give one of us the opportunity to gain your respect back. I want to encourage you to overcome all the limiting beliefs and not give up. Help is out there. There is someone who will hear you and has the skill and expertise to aid you in your recovery. Do not stop talking about this and do not stop looking for help. I know it may be hard to see right now but You Got This!

Hair loss is probably the number one distressing appearance-related side effect of rapid weight loss (honourable mentions to loose skin, of course). Most, if not all, of us suffer from it. Some suffer more than others. Like the others above, I want to offer re-assurance that its mostly temporary. Little chicken hairs will start to sprout up and then in a year or two those chicken hairs will be down to your shoulders. Im my case (and some others I have read), it actually came back thicker...but i think this is also due to the fact that my overall health is better than it was before. BUT, in the meantime, here are few couple tips to get you through this annoying stage (choose what you feel comfortable with...or none at all ) 1) cut your hair shorter (i did a pixie cut at 3 months). the carpets of hair accumulating on the floor and catching in the shower drain will appear less. shorter hair theoretically will weigh less, so it will be less likely to pull down flat against your scalp and show larger swatches of said scalp. and when the chicken hairs start coming in they are less noticeable and blend in better with the rest of your shorter hair and not look so thin on the ends. 2) keep your hair clean. greasy hair will flatten and mat against your scalp which will show more of it (BUT don't shampoo too much...and that's for everyone, not just those losing their hair!) 3) I think I see what looks like a braid in your hair in one of the pics above? if you can, maybe save the braids for later as the style will pull on the hair you have and possibly come out at an even faster rate. 4) there are these hair fibre "powders" that you can buy that temporarily camouflages the scalp. its basically hair coloured powder that you sprinkle on your hair to give the appearance of fullness until you wash it out later. Best results on darker hair with enough existing hair for the fibres to adhere too. 5) and for the truly brave, there is SMP (scalp micro pigmentation)..its a process whereby a tech tattoos hundreds (thousands?) of tiny little dots on your scalp to mimic hair follicles and create the illusion of fuller hair. I had this done last year because I have had the same side part in my hair since I was like 8 years old, and as the years have gone by its was noticeably thinner in that section. Full disclosure: it effing hurts. but I'm happy with the results, lol. 6) and lastly, at least for me, vitamins, creams, lotions did nothing to stop or slow down the hair loss. i know lots of folks have sworn by some or all of these methods, so ymmv. Good Luck, and hang it there! ❤️ P.s. sorry this was so long.

i was notoriously un-hungry during weight loss phase. the discomfort of eating more than my stomach would allow was also a factor...the potential annoyance of the "full feelings" (which was a given) always trumped the desire to eat (which didn't happen often anyway). I was definitely Pavlov'ed (still in am a way) Eventually, my stomach allowed more stuff in (we're talking like 1 cup in volume here, which i realize still isn't much in the grand scheme of things), AND i was able to digest a little faster, so I could eat again in a few hours. As a result, I am a grazer. I was a grazer pre-wls, but that was more all-day snacking, just wanna eat type of deal. Now its sort of necessity. I have small "eating sessions" many times throughout the day, lol. I'm 4 years out now, so the portions are a little bigger and less spaced apart, but comparatively, volume-wise, its still a lot less than "normal" people. RE: turning skinny. I'm assuming you are referring to becoming TOO skinny? Everyone is different, and has different ideas of what "too skinny" is, so it would be difficult to get a baseline on this. Regardless, lots of people worried about this (myself included), but based on the anecdotal evidence of many, many members posts on this forum, as well as personal experience, the idea of being too skinny is fleeting. The entire time i've been on this forum, I have yet to come across someone who is 2-3+ years out (AND otherwise healthy/doesn't suffer from medical condition) who lament being too skinny. There was ONE a couple years back who was 2 years out and had a BMI of 18 and was indeed concerned about her ever-shrinking frame, but I have not seen/heard from her in a couple years, so not sure how she is faring today (hopefully she achieved some peace, though). In short, the fear of becoming too skinny during weight loss phase is a normal feeling, but mostly unfounded. Ask anyone 2-3 years out if they are worried about being too skinny, and I'm willing to bet that you will be hard-pressed to find one who still is (and who isn't suffering from a medical condition). Good Luck! ❤️

Recently, I've received some messages asking how I got rid of the unwanted weight I gained to now have a fuller life without a negative body image. I gave a few lectures at community events and gave some presentations with support groups. Considering making a video about all I know about WLS ,free to the community. Maybe try to make it available for continuing education units. No one wants irrelevant info, I want to present something people would want to hear. Would anybody be interested in this? I hope YES Answer "YES" if I should make the video

I am 20 years out and have experience just about everything that comes with having weight loss surgery. I am also a pharmacist and have been like a community resource for the docs in my circle. It was a struggle to keep the weight off and to get back on track after regain. sw 296 lw: 126 regain weight 177 cw 145-150. But it is possible.