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I think we can't help comparing ourselves to others, we're only human. If you stick to your programme post op you will surely lose weight and the more closely you stick to it the better you should do. Best of luck! Edited to say I lost 17lbs in the first 6 weeks after my sleeve and I reached my goal weight about 10 months post surgery. Am still losing very lowly after 13 months.

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.

I am 9 weeks post op and measure everything. 1/3 cup meat and 1/8 cup veggie or potato. 1/2 cup yogurt. Since I just started regular food, I don't want to overeat. I take my 1/2 cup container to restaurants. Measure my food and put rest in to go container. I ask for rice and noodles on the side. I leave these or take home to my neighbor. I have a power aide jug that I refill and try to finish one before noon and 4pm and 9pm.

9 weeks post op bypass and eat every 2 hours. Some meals are processed quickly, scrambled eggs..., so I follow it an hour later with protein shake.

I found warm water, flavored with Skittles zero sugar helped. Sipping every few minutes for 10 minutes. Then again 5 minutes later starting again with zero sugar gatoraide, switching flavors. I set my cell phone timer. 3 weeks I thought I got it down so didn't use timer. Missed some with intake and got constipated. So use my fitbit to acknowledge time, as well as 30 minutes before after meals.

Three days for me. Four for you. Honestly, I am freaking out a little. I am glad to have the holidays to distract me somewhat. Pre-op diet has been insanely hard for me. I discovered I am very sensitive to sucralose. Then I figured out I was having problems with whey protein. Honestly, I feel better when I don't try to eat at all right now. I know this isn't great for me, so I have been forcing down broths with collagen while I wait for my unflavored pea protein to show up. Overall, I have done well on my pre-op diet, even with the hurdles. I think it has prepared me for what is sure to be a challenging post-op period. I did have a food dream last night. In my dream I ate something really yummy (can't remember what) and the surgeon cancelled my sleeve. It was bad, not a relief, so I am confident I am doing the right thing for me. Today and tomorrow are Christmas activities. And then on the 26th, I am packing my bag for the hospital. Ack. I will try to update you all as soon as I can. Best wishes to all of you!

Not everyone has to do the pre op diet. It varies greatly between doctor and amongst patients. I personally had a low carb type diet for a week and just the normal liquid thing the day before. The purpose of the diet is to shrink your liver so that it’s not in the way during surgery. If your doctor doesn’t require it then they don’t think you need it. Count your blessings. For many people the preop diet is the hardest part.

I was told to add milk, nuts or cheese to increase calories as they all help with proteins too. There are many times when I am still not hungry, especially if I am travelling or busy. I always carry a protein bar in my bag for these days. If I am home then a protein yogurt has enough protein in to substitute for the skipped meal. A handful of nuts are easy to eat and are calorific My team would like me to up my calories to 1200 now so I mostly do it but twice this pre Christmas week, I have been so busy that I have failed both protein and calorie quotas. I feel my energy drop if I do this too.

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

Hi Guys, I'm scheduled for Gastric Sleeve surgery on 12/28/22. I am reading all these threads where people are stating that they are on pre-op diets/liquid diets for 2 weeks or so. Neither my surgeon or nutritionist said anything about this. The only instruction I received was Clear Liquids only the day before surgery. They didn't even say it has to be sugar free. After reading through a whole heck of a lot of pre-op threads, I'm kind of freaking out & feeling like I'm doing something wrong or jeopardizing my surgery in some way. Am I wrong here? Should I postpone? Did anyone else not have to do a pre-op diet?

Hi Guys, I'm scheduled for Gastric Sleeve surgery on 12/28/22. I am reading all these threads where people are stating that they are on pre-op diets/liquid diets for 2 weeks or so. Neither my surgeon or nutriotionist said anything about this. The only instruction I received was clear liquids only the day before surgery. They didn't even say it has to be sugar free. After reading through a whole heck of a lot of pre-op threads, I'm kind of freaking out & feeling like I'm doing something wrong or jeopardizing my surgery in some way. Am I wrong here? Should I postpone? Did anyone else not have to do a pre-op diet?

Don't get discouraged! I felt that way too just prior to starting my pre-op. I was on the liquids for two weeks prior to surgery, I went through the thanksgiving holiday on liquids and I made it, you can too!! Just focus on your goal. I did a lot of praying to get me through that phase. I had my surgery on Nov 29th and so far things have been working out fine. I am now at the soft food stage and the liquids are but a memory. My focus now is making sure i am eating healthy foods with protein and getting my fluids in, you can do this!!!

Single digit countdown and now the post-op diet is in sight. I'm already starting to get a little bit depressed because the two week liquid diet pre-op is so hard for me. How are the rest of you getting through? Sent from my Pixel 5 using BariatricPal mobile app

I follow my programs calorie guide very strictly & the excitement to eat food has made it easy to keep up with that. I'm now 3 months out, that excitement had faded a bit & for a week or so I was 100 cals under my goal (800cals) - now I'm 200cals under my goal. How do you make sure to eat when you're truly just -not- hungry?

Sorry you are having such a rough time! Being sick through the holidays is extra frustrating. For sure keep up with the fluids but I really hope you feel better soon. Makes me less sad at being in yet another stall because it could be worse.

I took Benefibre for about 5/6 months . I stopped once I was eating a wider variety of foods & larger portions. I kept on top of any constipation I had but generally found I’d go every two days. If I didn’t go by day three I’d take a stool softener. I didn’t experience any of the prolonged periods of constipation & I think the Benefibre helped to avoid that. I didn’t have any issues with using it but I only had it once a day not three times as I believe it can be taken. I added mine to 250mls of a high protein yoghurt drink. Think it’s better to add it to a liquid versus applesauce or other puréed type foods.

Try drinking warm liquids. I couldn't tolerate anything cold for the first 2ish weeks. But warm broth, tea, etc was completely fine. That's how I got my fluids in until my stomach calmed down and I was able to drink normal drinks.

I couldn't get my crushed Metformin down in my choc pudding after surgery. So I quit taking them as my glucose readings were 90 AC 6.5. Family Dr thought I would be off it after surgery but agreed I could go off early and evaluate with 2 month checkup. Now 7 weeks later had labs done for annual physical. My A1C is 5.3. Had to move Dr appt to January. But feel confident not taking meds since my diabetes is diet controlled.

I was surprised by the exhaustion. It lasted until week 4. Stopped once I got to soft foods. Finally getting food- calories for energy. Be kind to yourself as you are healing. Don't plan much in the first few weeks. If grocery shopping grab a few prioritized things and go home. I did too much walking the store and when I went to checkout could barely stand. Twice I almost left my cart of groceries to go home.

I think everyone has issued with the water. I had to stay an extra day in the hospital until I got my quota in. I find even room temperature is harder than slightly warm. Take sips not a drink so 1 oz in 15 minutes. I set my phone timer. I used my timer for 3-4 weeks. When I get distracted and don't get my water in, I get constipated. At 6 weeks, I have a power aide container that I need to get down before lunch, and another by 4, by dinner. Another before I go to bed.

Oh gosh, I'm sorry to hear that, sounds terrifying. I'm almost 11 weeks post op and got a second round of lab test results back this morning confirming I have hypoglycemia. My primary said my sugar was at 51. But I need to talk with my surgeons office because my primary suggested to "drink a coca cola" when my sugar is low! And I gasped like - "Really? I literally cannot drink a coke with my stomach!" 😬 Not the medical advice I needed.

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.

Hi there. I'd recommend checking out a program like StrongLifts 5x5. It's an excellent program for building lean muscle mass while also helping to improve your skin tone. It's a strength training program that focuses on compound lifts to help you build strength and muscle with minimal bulk. Plus, it only takes three workouts a week, so it's easy to fit into your schedule. Good luck! It's also completely free, so you don't have to worry about spending money on a program. Have you looked into using ibutamoren from behemothlabz.com? It increases the secretion of growth hormone, which can help you achieve your goal of lean muscle gain without putting on too much size.

unless I was going to some holiday party where people bring treats, then no. But if I AM going to a party (and I've gone to at least one this year where people bring things), then yes. I don't bring a lot because I always hope the people at the party will eat most/all of them, but if they don't, I toss them in the freezer when I get home and kind of mete them out. I'll occasionally have one, but my husband eats the majority (if not all of them). the last party I went to (last week) I made oatmeal/cranberry bars. They at least sounded somewhat healthy in case I gave in and splurged (but so far, I haven't - they're in the freezer and I've let them be). The party before that I made biscotti. Most got eaten - but my husband ate the leftovers (I did have one after it came out of the oven because I wanted to be sure it tasted OK, since i was taking them to a party)

it takes a long time to wear down your iron stores , although I don't know what your iron level was before surgery. it's super common to lose your sense of hunger for several weeks or months after surgery (up to a year for some). I know it seems weird at first, but take FULL advantage of that. It'll never in your life be easier to lose weight than it will right now, when you're not hungry and don't give a flip about food. I found it very liberating, too! My hunger came roaring back at five months out, and I honestly wish it never had. It was so much easier to stick to plan when I was never hungry!!! and no, what you described was not dumping syndrome. you're extremely tired because you just had major surgery, so I wouldn't worry about that, either.