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It has been 5 months and I am so surprised at what a 5 months it has been. I have learned more about my body in the last few months that I ever knew in my previous 40+ years. I have learned the best foods for me, which ones keep me satisfied longer, which ones disagree with me and the ones that hinder weight loss. I am also learning how to leave food on my plate. Some things are easier to learn (portion sizes) while others are still an issue (remembering to eat slowly). I have lost 84.6 overall….61.4 pounds since surgery…. and a combined total of 46 inches. As of today I am also officially in the overweight category. I am off my blood pressure and cholesterol medicine and my thyroid meds have been reduced. My knees and back feel better and I have so much energy! I have a lot to be thankful for but today I am most thankful that my husband has taken over the thanksgiving meal duty! HW: 275 SW: 251.8 CW: 190.4 GW: 140

Awesome! Thanks for the response. How are you doing with your macros/cals and exercise & weight loss. Some people say it causes stalls but everyone is different.

What vitamins/supplements are you all taking? My doctor only has me taking a multivitamin and calcium. I'm taking Biotin because I thought it might prevent some hair loss (it didn't) 😕

Let chat about weight loss issues Post Op, that you didn't have before surgery. Sent from my LM-Q730 using BariatricPal mobile app

On average stalls last 1-3 weeks, but I've had three stalls in the 40-odd day range. My longest stall I just recently got out of and it was 46 days and then I lost a pound and four days after that lost another. So while not common, they can last longer than 3 weeks. I doubt it will happen to you this early out and I'd venture to guess at most your stall may last one week longer before your weight loss kicks back up again. Sometimes our body just has to take time to adjust itself and sometimes it can take longer than we'd like. I know it's hard not to feel discouraged or question ourselves about what we're doing wrong, but as long as you follow your plan I'm sure the weight loss will kick back up again.

being nervous before surgeries is pretty common - and - you won't die. RNY has a 0.3% mortality rate - VSG is even lower (don't remember that one right off hand since I had the RNY). So you will have at least a 99.7% chance of making it through just fine. And you will. Those are outstanding odds -- better than hip surgeries, which they do all the time. weight loss surgeries have become very routine and are much safer than they were 20 or 30 years ago. You'll be fine!

Hi Cheryl, I started losing my hair quite quickly after surgery and I made sure that I reached my protein goals. My doctor advised that the surgery itself can trigger hair loss in some people and then it can continue due to the rapid weight loss. I’m 8 months out now and thankfully my hair has stopped falling out and slowly seems to be coming back. I highly recommend using Nioxin shampoo and conditioner and Rogaine if you can. I have no regrets, even with the heavy hair loss. Good luck and hang in there!!

Hey all. I'm almost 2 months post-op and find myself easily able to eat 6oz of food in one sitting (I'm comfortably full at the end of my meals - not "stuffed" or in pain - but nose a little runny). I'm freaking out because I've read that 6-8oz is usually not possible until 1+ years post-op, and that at this stage I should only be able to eat 2-4oz. I do track everything I eat (I average 750 calories a day) and I primarily eat whole foods (fish, beans, chicken, lentils, eggs, fruit and veggies). No dairy as I'm lactose intolerant and no breads, rice or pasta because they're too filling and provide little value in terms of nutrients when compared to the other things I eat. Not sure any of this matters in terms of volume, but I just thought I'd put it out there for reference. My weight loss has been very slow but steady. Is anyone else like this regarding how much they can eat in one sitting? Should I be worried?

Hi everyone! I had Gastric sleeve in Mexico on October 28th and weighed 283. Today I weight 268. My weight has been 268 for 2 and a half weeks, I managed to get down to 266 Saturday but then went back up!. I’m not eating over 7-800 calories, take in a good amount of water, my protein could be better but I definitely hit at least 40 grams which is what was put to at least hit (40-60 per nutritionist). I move around and walk for at least 15-20 min. What is going on? Is something wrong with me? Did I pay 4500 for nothing? I’m very depressed and thinking I’ll never lose weight. I eat a variety of food I don’t limit anything but it’s all home food not eating pizza and stuff. I eat grilled chicken tenders, sweet potatoes whole wheat toast boiled eggs veggies yogurt all healthy and no more than 4-5 bites per meal. I’m very very depressed that even a surgery can’t help me lose weight.

Hi all, just saying hello after lurking for a day or two. I'm so glad to have found you all - was floundering around on Google looking for answers and they're mighty thin on specifics. I need DETAILS guys! I had a sleeve gastrectomy last Wednesday November 17 so I'm day 7 today. I have some residual pain in the left side of my abdomen - I've had a lot more pain than I expected actually but other than that everything is going really well. Super tired today but I suppose that's to be expected! Still on the emotional rollercoaster - full of optimism for my new life but simultaneously grieving the loss of my closest companion of many years, overeating. I'm in Ireland so I will keep strange hours compared to you lot, but that's good for me - you'll all be here for me when I can't sleep!

nice to see you on here again! You're going to have to change your name to "LittleSue" - congrats on that huge loss!

Like Viking Beast said, although it was counterintuitive, when I increased calories I lost more not long after weight loss surgery, The nurse explained when your body thinks it’s starving it holds onto what it has. She said it’s common; also, when you do start losing again you may lose at a faster rate. It all evens out. I ‘m about 8 months out and just barely over the weight I’d like to stay at. One week I gained one pound. I didn’t freak out. The next week I lost about a pound more than usual. It’s a process. Eight weeks is still early out and your body is getting used to it’s new normal. You’ll get there!!!

You will do great. The medical reasons are the most important but I won't lie... having another bite of the weight loss proverbial apple makes it a win/win. Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing with recovery. I will join you on Dec. 2nd. Take care.

UPDATE: So I had my 6 month check up with my surgeon today. He was happy with all my progress and says that I'm ahead of the game despite being in a current stall and not having lost anything since October 25th. He said he feels it has all to do with my hormones being wacky right now and expects I will start losing again soon. Although he did say that I should still keep an eye on my water intake and diet to make sure they aren't the culprit or contributing in any way. Told him about my hair loss and he said it will eventually stop and for now to add in more protein. That that should help greatly. He said I could try biotin but in his opinion, he doesn't really think it works. I told him I agreed because I used to take it years ago and didn't notice any difference either. At least for me. He told me my numbers were excellent! And he particularly was happy to see my Vitamin D levels. He said that is almost always an issues with all his patients and that I am actually an odd one when it comes to that as my level is perfect. LOL I said I guess it's the good vitamin I'm taking that has me good with everything. He said yes, and to keep taking it. We also discussed the missed periods and he thinks that's also due to the large amount of weight loss/hormones. Especially since I am not peri-menopausal or menopausal. And wouldn't you know it, a few hours after seeing him I finally got it. SMH So that's that. All seems ok still. Just gonna wait on this period to come and go and HOPEFULLY some more weight will drop.

I was made to walk immediately after surgery (within an hour of coming out of the recovery room). For two weeks I was on walking only, but no restrictions as to hills or stairs. At my two-week follow-up visit I was cleared for anything that did not require weights or abdominal tension. So I could run, bike, and jump rope, but I couldn't row or do sit-ups. I was also allowed to go from 10 to 15 pounds weight max which allowed me to use a training barbell for some exercises. At six weeks the restrictions were lifted. I spent 2-3 weeks getting back into things and trying to discover where my strength was (there's some loss but not as bad as I feared), and now at ten weeks am back into it, both manual labor as well as CrossFit.

Hello everyone 😊 I finished my last nutrition class on the 11th of November and now I am curious what is happening next? How long was it for you to get the call for your surgery date? I met my weight loss goal and passed most of my scheduled drug test ( I fail once for alcohol but that was because I thought my appointment was the week after and my friend had a birthday party the day before 😮‍💨 lol)

Wishing you both every success. I know it is easy to get down about a revision not working as well as the original but I dug into a bunch of scientific articles and most say the average person loses 10-15% less than the original weight loss surgery. I know when I had my gastric sleeve in 2012, I lost too much weight so I am hoping my revision to RNY just gets me within10 lbs of goal and helps my acid reflux. II'm having my revision 12/2/21 and keep you both in my thoughts.

Hi everyone, im new on here. Wls is something i have thought about for a few years now but not seriously, i always thought eventually I'll do it on my own. I started putting on weight at around 12 years old. I was sexually abused from age 10 too 11. This affected me dramatically and i shut myself off from everything and food was my comfort. I have tried and failed at diets ever since. Iv tried most of the diets going, slimming world more tines than i can count, ww when it was weight watchers, rosemary connelly, cabbage soup diet, calorie counting and not eating for days at a time. Each time i lose some but eventually give up when the weight loss sticks and each time i end up heavier than before. Im now almost 23 stone (317lb) and im 5 foot 8 inches tall. My bmi 48 so im classed as morbidity obese. I wear 24/26 clothes. I have arthritis in my knees, feet and back which makes it difficult to exercise due to the pain and i know losing weight would help me a lot. My parents both have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels and my mom is type 1 diabetic and has to inject insulin. The last few months i have thought more seriously about wls, i have spoken to the weight management woman at my gp surgery who got my doctor to refer me to bariatrics. I have a blood sugar blood test tomorrow and then i will be referred to hospital. I only spoke the her last week so im shocked im getting referred so quickly. I will be around reading posts and asking questions of you i hope thats ok. What questions should i ask when i get seen? Sent from my SM-A526B using BariatricPal mobile app

Your surgeon will tell you the answer for this question as it pertains to you. I was up and walking an hour after surgery. I did only walking for two weeks and had a 10-pound weight restriction. At my two-week appointment, I was cleared to do running, jumping rope, and biking and anything that didn't involve my core. I was also allowed to go up to 15 pounds (at my request) so I could use a training bar for barbell work. At my six-week appointment, I was cleared for anything I wanted. I took a few weeks to get back into the swing of things, and now at ten weeks out I am doing nearly everything I did before, but I have noticed some loss of strength (MUH GAINZZZZ). It is coming back relatively quickly as I increase the amount I eat.

I am retired. So, I am not in a hurry to eat when I wake. In fact, I wake at 7 am and have 4 cups of weak decaf coffee before I eat breakfast at 10 or 10:30. I have been trying to slow down my weight loss. I am far past my goal and have lost a lot of muscle. So, I eat between 110 and 125 grams of protein and workout in the gym.

I encourage you to read this book. Its advice may be your salvation. A Pound of Cure by Matthew Weiner, MD. A cookbook by the same bariatric surgeon is Bariatric Diet Guide and Cookbook. Finally, this next book may help you get back on track by reminding you of the steps you learned when you had your surgery. The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients, by Colleen Cook.

I’m 6’4” and my highest known weight was 356 (but likely higher as I didn’t weigh often). Like you I was pretty active and my daily calorie count was high. I never counted (still don’t) but an honest assessment of my past puts me around 4-6000 calories a day! I would eat huge meals. Despite that insane guess, I put weight on slowly over the years, averaging 4lbs a year… it’s not a fair estimate because some years I would lose 30 then put 40 on etc. but overall average of 4lbs since I turned 18 (I was 45 when I had surgery). Fast forward 18 months post op and I’m not able to enter maintenance. I’m trying so hard to not lose more weight. I set a goal of 240, blew past that then thought “ok 220 would be good” and blew past that. I’m down to 182 now, my wife and mom (they never stop being moms do they?) are worried - and have been since I broke below 200 in April. Anyway, for the first six months I survived on about 500cal a day. I should say thrived. I had zero problems with that low of a calorie count. I was more active than ever, still am. I feel healthier than I was when I was 16, seriously. The hard part for me was remembering to eat. The day would go by and I would realize I only had my protein shake in the morning. I’m still not hungry, and I know I’m in the minority for going this long without feeling any hunger. I literally eat 1000 calories of peanut m&ms a day. Literally. And I’m still losing. I know it’s probably the least healthy thing I could eat but they are small and pocketable and I like them enough where I don’t get bored of them. I simply don’t have the capacity to eat enough “healthy” meals to make up the difference. I do get regular blood work done and everything is perfectly in the middle of where it should be, vitamin levels are good as well. I’d say I’m close to maintaining, I’ve been between 190 and 182 for about six months but it’s still trending ever so slightly down. I guess what all this rambling is getting at is this: you sound a lot like me. If you are the type of person that can drop weight fast on a diet you’re likely to be wildly successful with the weight loss portion of this endeavor. Everything else is up in the air and seems to be variable for everyone. For me I have had no complications, no foods bother me, nothing tastes different (I hoped it would but it didn’t), I can and do eat whatever I want, but my restriction is so good (and it does feel good) that it still takes me two days to eat a burger, or four days to eat a chipotle burrito (and I don’t even finish it). I don’t have a problem being around food or seeing people eat. My whole relationship with food is completely different. I see it as an inconvenience, but I still enjoy good food and I seek out new and exotic things for fun, I just know I’m taking home 90% of what I order most of the time. My only complaint is my wife and mom think I’m too skinny, which is just an opinion, my doctors are thrilled with my weight and all associated / tested statistics, and as I said I feel absolutely amazing. I feel like I have another 10-15lbs to lose but I’m riding the struggle bus to keep that from happening for the benefit of others. 5000 calories? I’m disgusted with that person. 1500 - 2000 a day give or take is plenty 18 months out and I had nooo problem living on half that for the first year. This was - by far - the best money I’ve ever spent on myself. I’ve easily saved more than my surgery cost ($4400 in Mexico) and I have only great things to say about every aspect of it. I wish it was this easy for everyone. My wife had it done too but she has lost nothing at this point. She eats less than I do, but she never lost when dieting before so we should have known a smaller stomach wouldn’t have helped. I don’t think she needs to lose weight anyway, she’s perfect. But my opinion doesn’t count in her mind :) she has some underlying heath issues we’re working through which we believe contributes to her crazy slow metabolic rate. So I see and live with both sides of how surgery works and doesn’t work for some (if you’re a slow “loser” reading this and you’re on plan and doing everything you should, I BELIEVE YOU, even though everyone assumes you’re not on plan. I know how hard it is for you, and I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Don’t give up, find a doctor that listens to you and believes you too and start looking for why, and stop going to doctors that don’t listen. Don’t let them give you self doubts (end tangent)). Best of luck to you. I wish you the best.

There is no right or wrong rate of loss. There is just what is right for you because we lose at our own rate. Many factors influence your rate of loss: age, gender, starting weight, genetics, etc. You’ll find in all your weight loss experiences there are averages but with all averages some do better & others not as well & that’s ok. There’ll also be things you’ll have in common with some people & things you won’t. Remember, how fast or slow you lose doesn’t affect whether you reach your goal or not. There are some things you can depend upon. The more you have to lose the faster you lose to begin. The closer you are to your goal the slower your loss will be. And you likely will experience at least one stall (usually lasting 1-3 weeks). Good luck.

Hello Bill. I am March 9 surgery. I am still 14 pounds from goal (11 from normal BMI). To slow down the loss I have heard others suggest adding in healthy fats like nuts/nut butters, avacado, and healthy oils.