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Hey im 2 years post op i had the gastric sleeve. i never got down to my goal sadly! Covid showing up didnt help ether. I started at 245 and got down to 160 but ive gained 20pounds and keep doing yoyo diets where i lose 5 pounds cheat tank it and gain the 5pounds back again. I need a diet i can stick too but dont know what that could be. I heard keto is worth trying but heard to lose weight u have to stick to under 20g net carbs but how do you do that with adding in keto bread and veggies and what not. Its not making sence to me sadly. Any advise would be appreciated sence im struggling right now.. thank you

My name is William Godfrey and I am a 21 year Army retiree. I currently work as a Culinary instructor and also part time at the Home Depot. My journey has been up and down with weight struggles since retiring. I quit HD back in 2017 to get my culinary degree and during that time I hit an all time high of 303 being 5'6". I've tried all the diets and the last was keto. Before retirement I got a disc fusion from my bulging discs and with this extra weight it just made the pain worse. Going through the VA, we tried just about everything until they told me that VA was authorizing gastric surgeries and doing that would help me release weight and pressure from my back. So here I am after almost 2 years of going through their program requirements, hold ups from COVID, and other issues...I received gastric sleeve surgery on 22 Feb and am now in the loser's club. I'm looking forward to longevity in life and less pain..moreover time with my kids and grandbaby.

Me. Mine was 7/9/20 and I've lost 50 pounds? Started out at 213 5'5" and although my nutritionist wants no less than 1200 calories a day and just 81-90g of protein, I've eaten less, done a reset and exercised. I haven't binged or emotionally eaten but... I have a glass of wine now and then and don't adhere to keto or 500 calories a day. I hesitate to come here because although I find it helpful, my surgeon's approach is not typical and I read about super fast weight loss and feel bad. I'm now worried about meeting goal by 1 year. And I know there are people here with similar stats to mine that are now 115 pounds. But as my surgeon says, this is for life. It's not a race. I'm in my late 30's and sure, I can up my workouts to twice a day and starve like I have in the past but that's not why I did self-pay surgery. I do worry but on the bright side, I'll have less saggy skin and hopefully the changes in skin won't age me so harshly. You're not a failure! Just focus on small things like meeting protein and water goals and it will come off.

Food from the past few days and weekend: * Veggie and Turkey hot dog omelette w/ keto toast (finally got my hands on some!) * More Pho *Chocolate chia seed pudding *Oven roasted chicken, salad and mashed potatoes *Steak, Mac and cheese, and sautéed mushrooms and onions (This was a fail. Went out to Longhorns for the first time since surgery, took two bites of steak and was full. Went home to eat the rest and threw it up. I didn’t even bother with the Mac and cheese, my bf ate that) *Ole extreme wellness Turkey and fat free cheese wrap (Thank you @GreenTealael for the recommendation and @ms.sss for helping me find them!) * 1/2 of a grilled chicken blt sandwich on keto bread Side note: I obviously did not finish each plate. I usually over serve myself, take a couple bites, and give it to my bf or save it to eat the next day. I tend to have a lot of leftovers 😕

Obviously, Zero Carb bread (I didn't love it, but you HAVE to try it to know!) Frozen Avocado Chunks (if you like Avocado in smoothies Probiotic Keto Cookies Bacon and Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese (or is that just me??) Brie/Smoked Oysters (Again...just me?? I have the Brie and Smoked Oysters as a "treat" lunch or dinner with Crunchmaster Protein Crackers that I get at Publix) Grass Fed Ground Beef/Stew Meat/Lamb - the meats are usually organic and surprisingly good! Chicken Sausage Deli meat and cheese

I'm 6 days post op. I started the full liquid diet today. Had a keto fudgsicle was okay'd by my surgeon. About 10 min after, I started to feel light headed, flushed and heart racing. Yep.. dumping syndrome hit. Guess that's out. I'm struggling not to eat reg food. I want corn chips and cheese. 35 years of over eating, and eating junk when ever I wanted.. hard to adjust too. Anyone flub up and eat solids on the full fluid post op diet? And what happened??

You have to try Peatos, they are game changers. They taste like junk food without any strange health-food texture or aftertaste, but they are healthy. They are made from peas and lentils and taste like hot Cheetos, funyons, etc. I have done keto a lot in my life and try all of the low carb breads, pastas and snacks. These are the best snack for me. Variety 15-pack is 20.00 on Amazon and they have 4g protein and only about 6-11 net carbs a bag (depending on flavor) Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using BariatricPal mobile app

Basically, yes. With rice you simply have to cook it in enough water, same with e. g. oats. Pasta, I'm more a fan of bean pasta, but I ate and eat "regular" e. g. at restaurants. Breads, no problem (started with crisp breads though). Sugary stuff I have to be careful because there could be dumping, but yes, I eat simple sugars. Some people shun carbohydrate rich foods because they think they "make/made them fat" or that they "slow down weight loss". I'm not one of them. I believe in CICO, not in low-carb or keto magic. Eat less than your TDEE and you're going to lose weight. But what about "the insulin"? Protein rich foods cause release of insulin from the pancreas' cells as well. Look for "insulin index" on a search engine about this one. Beef, fish and cheese cause more of an insulin spike than pasta. So much for this.

I had to follow my Weight management center's "New Direction" shakes, soups, bar or sloppy joe meals only for 12 days and then clear liquids for 2 days. I just counted off everyday as one day closer to my surgery and new life. Everyone survives but it is not easy. I used a lot of healthy self talk to keep going. I have to admit when my husband made pizza the good smell was over whelming but I did not cheat at all. Because all the foods I had to use were very high protein I experienced the Keto "flu" by day 3-4 but it went away. Keep your head up and maintain a good attitude. This to will pass. 😁

I went to a Mexican place a while back and got a tostada. I just ate the toppings and left the tortilla. A lot of restaurants have started paying attention to the keto community, which is great because it means they have low-carb options. Jimmy John's has lettuce-wrap subs. Five Guys will serve a bunless burger (either as a lettuce wrap or in a bowl). Chipotle has cauliflower rice. Most chains have salads. Most sit-down restaurants have meat + sides meals (chicken breast, pork chop, steak, etc.) and will be happy to substitute any high-carb sides (rice/potatoes/bread) with veggies. You should be careful about sauces and dressings, though (get them on the side if possible, and ask for light dressing on a salad), because they can be loaded with sugar and/or fat.

Same. I had my surgery in October. I told 4 people close to me because I didn't want to be known to the rest of the world as the girl that had the weight loss surgery. A friend that had the surgery said that she felt that way and wished she hadn't shared it with others. I'm a pretty private person, so her comments stuck with me. As I've been losing weight and people ask what I'm doing, I just tell them I'm doing keto. The bariatric diet is high in protein and low in carbs, so the diet they see me eating reflects that. Also, I don't feel like I'm lying because I am basically doing keto. Everyone has their own path- just do what's best for you!

Some of us eat a ton of grains and carbs for maintenance. LOL. I do. I eat a lot of plant protein. I don't eat refined carbs much anymore...no sugar or white flour in my normal diet. But I do eat oats, potatoes, beans, chickpeas on a daily basis. Some people do really well with a keto approach to weight loss, some are more like me. You'll find lots of both in the weight loss surgery crowd:) Like most things in life....one size fits all....is pretty much a falsehood. Whichever road you take, wishing you terrific success and great health:)

This is a reply I gave someone about the food loss portion of their post I think it might help you with the being depressed over food. I was a 36 BMI so I’m considered not part of the high club and most people would say I shouldn’t have gotten it which is why only about 5 people know about it and I won’t tell anyone else. I don’t need the Criticism while I recover. “ I’m only one week post op but I can tell you this if you are reading this. The food restrictions how we overthink them aren’t really all that I know we think we will never eat certain foods but there are so many options for those of those that love food. Health is number one but if you google, Pinterest or even just ask there are so many good recipes and substitutes for meals that you can still enjoy the same. Yes we are eating less and not binge eating but it shouldn’t be like that regardless first week has been hard for me but I have spent the time I have no work planning out and researching basically a lifetime of changes. I follow people on social media that have been 1,2,3,4 even 10 years post op and they have their journeys up and what they eat and how they feel and it made me feel great. Even BariatricPal has items that resemble the real thing but are tailored to us. I know it’s not the post you all want to see it is more tailored to the part in your post were you might think you will suffer over food. Honestly I love penne vodka and Pasta and I know I can’t eat a whole plate how I used to but I found ways to replicate good recipes with low carb Keto or no sugar items.”

I honestly can’t be of help for future since I’m only one week post op but I can tell you this if you are reading this. The food restrictions how we overthink them aren’t really all that I know we think we will never eat certain foods but there are so many options for those of those that love food. Health is number one but if you google, Pinterest or even just ask there are so many good recipes and substitutes for meals that you can still enjoy the same. Yes we are eating less and not binge eating but it shouldn’t be like that regardless first week has been hard for me but I have spent the time I have no work planning out and researching basically a lifetime of changes. I follow people on social media that have been 1,2,3,4 even 10 years post op and they have their journeys up and what they eat and how they feel and it made me feel great. Even BariatricPal has items that resemble the real thing but are tailored to us. I know it’s not the post you all want to see it is more tailored to the part in your post were you might think you will suffer over food. Honestly I love penne vodka and pasta and I know I can’t eat a whole plate how I used to but I found ways to replicate good recipes with low carb keto or no sugar items. Hope you make the decision that feels good for you and that helps you. Just remember don’t rush it.

If you don’t want to tell them about having surgery you could say you had hernia/gallbladder surgery and then started the keto diet? People usually lose weight fast on keto too and it’s a fad right now

Congratulations on your success! We are pretty similar — I had my surgery just a week before yours, and I have also lost 100 pounds since my surgery (I lost about 70 pounds before surgery). My initial goal weight was 180 pounds based on average weight loss (this was before I lost the first 70 pounds), but now I’m shooting for 150, although I honestly don’t care all that much about the number on the scale; for me, it’s all about the NSVs. When I stop and think about it, I’m in disbelief that I have lost such a massive amount of weight. I used to see people who have lost 100+ pounds and think it was impossible, and now I’m one of them. i also have the same sense that it doesn’t feel like I’ve lost as much as I have. I am literally half the size I used to be, and of course I can tell that I’m smaller, but I definitely don’t feel like I’m half my old size. I actually like to cook, and I spend a lot of time on Pinterest looking at bariatric-friendly recipes (I find a lot of recipe on keto web sites, even though I don’t exactly follow the keto diet, but a lot of keto recipes are good because they’re low-carb). One of the cool things about being a bariatric patient is that my portion sizes are so small that I get a ton of servings out of a single recipe. I made a batch of turkey meat sauce that came out to 27 portions! I have a freezer full of single-serving meals from just a few cooking sessions. I’ve really enjoyed finding new, healthy recipes that I love, and I hardly even miss the old unhealthy foods I used to eat. I recently discovered that I like spaghetti squash! And I eat cauliflower rice all the time. I hardly recognize myself anymore. Anyway, it’s great to see someone else enjoying great results from WLS. It is truly life-changing!

I'm surprised I didn't get very many responses about this, but I guess if you don't live in the middle of nowhere, a trip to Trader Joe's is not a big event 😀. I found some product recommendations on keto web sites and YouTube videos. Here's my haul: They didn't have several of the items on my list, and there were a few things I didn't buy because they seemed way overpriced, but here's what I got (some of it is just general grocery items just to save me a trip to another store): Meat Individually frozen boneless skinless chicken thighs ($7.99) Ground chicken ($3.79) Ground turkey ($2.99) Pork tenderloin ($4.15) Chile lime chicken burgers ($3.69) Chicken sausage ($3.99) Produce Spaghetti squash ($2.99) Organic romaine bagged salad ($2.69) Heavenly tomatoes ($2.79) Head of garlic ($.49) Organic ginger ($1.79) Frozen Frozen green beans ($1.99) Frozen asparagus ($2.99) Frozen raspberries ($2.49) Pantry Avocado oil ($5.99) Kalamata olive oil ($8.99) Sesame oil ($2.99) Rice vinegar ($1.99) Salsa Autentica ($1.99) Salsa Verde ($1.99) Sundried tomatoes ($1.99) Masala simmer sauce ($2.69) Almond flour ($7.49) Snacks Chomps jerky ($1.69) Quest Hero bar ($1.99) Power Crunch bar ($1.49) Freeze-dried raspberries ($3.99) Refrigerated Plain nonfat Greek yogurt ($.99) Green goddess salad dressing ($3.99) Spicy cashew salad dressing ($3.99) I've only tried a few of these items so far. I love the green goddess salad dressing; it's only 10 calories per tablespoon and surprisingly tasty (I actually licked the bowl when I finished my salad). Sadly, it's perishable and only has about a month shelf-life in the fridge. Haven't tried the spicy cashew dressing yet, but online reviewers love it. I like the chicken burgers, but they'd be better on a nice, fluffy bun. I felt so weird buying all healthy stuff and no junk food! If I had made this trip a year ago, I would have been all over the delicious-looking baked goods and the snacks and desserts stacked above the freezer aisle.

I’ve been trying to find these wraps ever since I saw you post about them and I can’t seem to get them anywhere I went to Walmart and target and they were all out. I also saw this YouTube video on low carb Keto wraps and one of the wraps that were tested were these and they did the best as far as keeping you in ketosis. Minute 8:33 is where she tests the Ole brand I also went on the hunt for more keto bread from aldi and it was wiped out. I went to 3 Aldi’s ...

French toast - (keto bread, one egg, powdered swerve, vanilla, cinnamon, tablespoon whipping cream, salt. Topped with sugar free cream, sugar free syrup and blueberries)

Be careful adding foods. Make sure. No sugar. Coffee you can use stevia drops and sugar free creamer. Or keto creamer. Lots of Very soft. Scrambled eggs. If you can get a ver small food processor. You can make a small amount of chicken salad If you grind your foods it makes life much easier

I am having surgery on monday 2/8. I am so nervous. I had my second dose of covid vaccine and got so sick. I could not tolerate any protein because I was so sick. I ended up drinking ginger ale and had crackers along with other non-keto items. I am so frustrated because I am 3 days before my surgery and I was supposed to loose 5 pounds. I don't think that is going to happen. super frustrated!

I’m watching the documentary Diet Fiction on Prime at the moment. I’m about 1/3 of the way though it & I’ve been agreeing with a lot of what they’ve said. They’ve criticised the weight loss industry too which has done nothing to counteract the obesity problem but make money. So far it seems to be a bit focussed on plant based diets & anti meat. They’ve sort of ignored portion sizes which I think is a huge issue as many obese people (as we know) eat portions that are two, three & four sizes what they should. Said if you eat a balanced diet you shouldn’t need vitamins or supplements unless you have a medical need. Said popular diets like keto, paleo, etc. are short term only & could have side effects like keto affecting insulin levels. Spoke about how diet alone won’t help you lose & keep off large amounts of weight. Interested to see where they go next.

I am 52 - 5’9” and weighed 241 when I was sleeved on Nov 14. I wasn’t “huge” but people would have described me as “a bigger lady”. I was wearing size 16 to my mortification. My problem is that have arthritis (not a qualifying cormorbiduty) and my bp kept rising and my cholesterol was not helped by the keto diet I had tried for 2 full years. I’m 11 weeks out and weigh 207. This makes my BMI 30.6. I’m almost overweight and not obese! My bp is in the normal range. My clothes are too big. I was able to buy a well fitting large, rather than XL shirt. I’ve had zero complications. Wish I had done it sooner (you’ll hear this a lot). By the way, the band - man, people are constantly talking about how it slipped, etc. sounds like a nightmare.

Oh my god...so good, right? More than a quarter of the way there!! You must feel amazing? How are your friends and sister doing with your weight loss? hmmm...very strange re: blood work. Are you doing high fat, low carb (keto) or low fat low carb?

I feel like I need to share my experience with others, as I wish someone would have shared the same with me years ago. My weight loss started over 20 years ago, never stopped since, culminating with a gastric sleeve in 2017 (SW 360, CW 250, GW<200). After the WLS I've lost about 70 lbs and hit the plateau which lasted a few months. I tried breaking it with intensive gym, calories counting, but no real impact. As a result, I've lost motivation, and over the next 2 years gained about 30 lb back (late night snacks, sugary treats), which was a huge frustration. Having a sleeve - the best WL tool one may ever have - I felt like being a "regain" statistics, not an individual with life and willpower. I still had my "pouch" restriction, but after 30-40 minutes after having a meal I was ready to eat again. It lasted till last November, when I hit 290 lbs. The frustration turned into anger. I spent days to research diets and practices. As a result, I'm back on track, losing rapidly about 3-4 lbs a week, full of energy. Here are my 3 key pillars, which brought me back: 1. Low carb diet. After researching multiple trendy diets, KETO seemed to be the most promising one. But I didn't like the idea to consume lots of fats, and avoid vegetables. I'm an old-fashioned guy. So I adjusted the KETO idea by adding a decent daily portion of green veggies (zucchinis, asparagus, green pepper, kale - those which have nearly no sugars, but lots of fibers), and limited my fats to avocados, brazil nuts, eggs and fatty fish (salmon) - no huge amounts of bacon, butter, cheese and oils. For protein those above also provided enough, plus I have some lean pork, beef or chicken. That type of diet keeps my in permanent ketosis, while I still have a decent amount of fibers and healthy protein. My nutrients are around 50-60% of fats, 25-30% of proteins and 10-15% of carbs. 2. Intermittent fasting (IF), 18:6. It means my eating "window" is 1pm - 7pm, during which I have 3 meals. Personally I believe that low carbs diet and IF are made for each other. Being in ketosis I feel no hunger at all, as my insulin is very low. That makes IF a simple task. Also once a week I do a 42 hours fast by skipping meals on Sundays - right before my weight check on Monday morning! ). IF is also a solution to plateaus. I adjust the fasting time to 12:12 for a few days and do a long fast after (48+ hours) to reset. 3. CICO (calories in, calories out) is the 3rd pillar. Keeping everything written down is not just a good habit, but also makes me feel I control the process better. My daily intake is around 1,100-1,300 calories, which creates a huge weekly calories deficit for weight loss. One may consider it's a bit too low, and I would rather agree. I'll certainly increase my calories after hitting my goal. A few more tips from my experience: - After 40+ gym can't be the only solution. Keeping yourself active (especially with this pandemic) is important for general health, but unless I'm a professional athlete, 1-1.5 hour walk every day (outside or a treadmill) is good enough. - Staying hydrated is a must, healthy weight loss won't work without it. Tracking water was always a pain for me, I was forgetting to do that. Now I have 6 magnets next to my water cooler. Each time I refill my bottle, I move one magnet to the other side, which helps me to see how many refills left. No fuss with writing down, takes a fraction of a second to move the magnet - while keeps me fully informed. Helps a lot! - Supplements!!! Lots of them! Since I'm restricted and have rather a distorted diet, I need to fill the gap of minerals and nutrients. Multivitamins, husk fiber, omega-3, collagen, cumin, ox bile, Vitamin D, electrolytes etc. It's 18 pills per day, in 2 batches! My latest blood work returned perfect results - no deficiencies, and the lowest sugar level I ever had in my life. As a conclusion - no hunger, no frustration, no cravings, energetic, clear mind, active, positive - and still losing weight! I even think that it would be very doable without my WLS, but in fact a restricted stomach makes everything much easier. So much easier, then it feels sometimes I'm actually cheating in this weight-loss game! I do hope someone will find it helpful. I wish I knew that years ago, but better late than never.