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Hi Everyone, I had RNY surgery on Oct, 13th, 2020, so I am just over the 12 month post op mark. I notice my weight loss has slowed down a lot, and around the 8-9 month post op mark, I have stalled and I am not loosing any weight. I know this is normal but still worried that my body has reached it's set point. If anyone here has experienced this, let me know. I seem to have gained a pound each month and my weight is back up to the weight it was when I was at 9 months post op. I have lost 100lbs since surgery, but still have around 60 lbs. to go to reach my goal weight. Should I be worried? ( I will be speaking to my Bariatric clinic soon for my 1 year appointment so I will be talking to them about this) All advice and opinions welcomed. Thanks 😀

I was excited/nervous about the bypass on 10/5/21. Initially I was ok. Surgery was good, sent home on track. Walking and working the discharge orders successfully. 10/10/21 back in the hospital with a bowel blockage after taking the suggested Metamucil. It gels and potentially can cause blockages. Another surgery, NG tube, and 6 days in the icu I was terrified. I am a mom, I was doing this to be better for myself and my family but I suddenly feared the choice I made could possibly have taken me from them. After coming home I have had challenges with intake, collapsed lung, incision infection, and the loss of control in bm’s . I researched this for 10 years and ignored my fear because I would read so very many success stories and think I was being over dramatic or paranoid. Although I will say my last 3 days have been better, infection seems to be doing better, lung better, fever gone and increased intake on fluids. This is definitely a life decision that can not just effect you but your family, and your mental state. Be sure, talk with your loved ones and your doctor. The most emotional moments have been during my struggles in the hospital, pain, missing my family, fear the wonderful, caring nurses that really supported me so that I could get back home to them.

Anyone here have weight loss surgery in Augusta, Maine..I am having Dr, Trieu..would like to hear from people from here and other places too...r

Hi everyone! My surgery is scheduled oct. 26! I’m optimistic that the sleeve will help me get control not only for weight loss, but the comorbities that helped me qualify! Good health to all!

I had VSG 04/26. I’m about 53 lb down since surgery and 63 lb down including preop loss. I get down on myself sometimes too. My PCP and surgeon reassure me I’m doing great though. Old clothes are starting to fit, my measurements are trending down, my labs are improving, I’ve come off a bunch of my meds, I went on vacation and walked and walked without needing a break. I find it important to focus on the other things when I can, but know it’s still difficult. Just know you’re not alone. It’s easy to compare yourself to people who lose a ton so quickly after surgery- partly because they’re the more vocal people usually. Another thing my surgeon and PCP emphasize to me is- I started at 246 lbs. That’s not as high as many who have the surgery, and often those who start higher lose faster. I also have PCOS, insulin resistance, and Hashimoto’s. So they tell me especially considering all of that- I may not lose so quickly because it’s still going to be harder for me vs someone without those issues.

LMac67, I am thrilled with the results. I have about 10 or so more pounds I would like to lose. At this point, my weight loss is REALLY slow - 1 or 2 lbs./month, but I'm just sticking with the program and letting it work for me. I feel fortunate that I am not struggling with anything, and had a pretty easy time of it right from the start! Good luck, and keep us up to date on your progress finding a surgery center!

My wait was about 5 months. My insurance required six visits of supervised weight loss but I had already satisfied one of these visits.

I guess I am just alittle confused with the beginnings of pursuing a gastric sleeve..... For the past 2 yrs or so I have had my PCP make referrals on my behalf for weight loss management whether I wanted it or not. I went for a colonoscopy and only saw that Dr one time which was the day of my colonoscopy. Next thing I know after the colonoscopy Im getting phone messages from the weight loss management section of the hospital telling me I have several referrals and to contact them. To say I was pissed is mild lol. I guess I wanted to make the move myself and not be thrust into it. Of course Im way over weight, of course my health is suffering not to mention my mobility is next to none. Im just a procrastinator. I have been on several weight loss journeys within that 2 yr period. I did have a medically supervised diet for 5 months that I did. I lost weight but quickly started gaining it back after I fell last Christmas and injured my knee. Fast forward to July of this year and I had a gall bladder attack and made a trip to the local ER and yep you guessed it....by Monday morning I had another weight management referral......blah lol plus a referral to a general surgeon regarding the gall bladder. This lady was a real trooper lol she got to hear me complaining about all these referrals and my weight loss struggles; ironically the more I talked about it with her the more infuriated I got for getting all these referrals for a gastric bypass that I didnt want. Luckily I suppose she listened so Im going for a gastric sleeve appointment next week Thursday. She told me she wouldnt require a supervised diet and that I could just move on to the surgery itself. I guess Ill find out next week if she remembers telling me that or not. As far as I am aware I am going for a preop educational appt but from what Ive read in here there seems to be alot more to it. I see ppl say their surgery dates are in the far future and not anything soon. What are some of the timelines any of you are experiencing? I think I may have a rude awakening come next week Thursday lol

Unfortunately the feeling of failing is very common. A lot of it comes from poor information from your surgeon & your team. I don’t understand why they don’t prepare people better on what to expect. It would greatly reduce a lot of the anxiety people experience after surgery. Makes me angry. So sorry your surgeon & team didn’t private you & don’t seem to be on your side through this. Ok, first. The heady amounts of weight you lose at the beginning doesn’t continue. The rate at which you lose will reduce as you get closer to goal & are eating more. Losing about 1-2lbs a week is pretty average by months 3 or 4. Some my lose more, others less. You will lose at your rate. Many factors affect the rate (age, starting weight, previous weight loss history, gender, etc.). Stalls (plateaus) happen. Think of them as your body taking a break to come to terms with the stress of the diet & weight loss. You may stall from 1-3 weeks at a time. Every pound you lose is a win. Sorry but eating one meal a day is ridiculous. How are you able to consume 60g of protein plus a variety of other nutrient sources in one meal? It’s physically impossible for you! No wonder you’re feeling hungry. You are hungry!!! Do you have a dietician/nutritionalist? Once eating solid foods the goal should be introducing healthy eating habits (when you eat, what you eat, why you eat) which is why we’re advised to eat 3 meals a day & some (like me) are encouraged to add snacks as we progress to ensure protein & other nutrient goals are being met. Your portion sizes will increase as you progress too. Eat slowly. Don’t be afraid to graze on a meal for 30+ minutes if necessary. It takes time for the message you’re full to get through. I still try to eat only until I’ve had enough. (Do I really need the next bite or just want it?) Keep protein the biggest part of any meal or snack & eat it first if possible. Having a small amount of whole or multi grain carbs is ok - I was allowed to eat rolled oats from the purée stage. I even could have any fruit from around months 3/4. I went to my dietician every two weeks but honestly, I worked most of my eating plan out myself - she just confirmed I was making sensible choices & suggested some alternatives. You have to work out a way of eating that works for you & while you’re losing is the perfect time to begin. Do lots of reading (avoid the fad stuff - they’re never sustainable), reflect on your eating habits (trigger foods, foods you crave, what drives you to eat, weight gain/loss history, etc.) & how your lifestyle may impact your eating plan in the future (you have to be able to maintain a weight you’re happy & healthy at while still being able enjoy your life). A too restrictive diet will fail because it will limit you enjoying your life. You will get where you want to be. Good luck.

Hello yes I am meeting protein and liquid goals. I do think that exercising slows down the weight loss, but a complete stall for weeks is discouraging. I decided to stay off the scale for a while. I do notice changes in my body even if the scale isn't moving so that is good! I am going to add protein on the days I exercise. Thanks for the response

On one of my many self-devised diets, years before VSG surgery, I fasted for 8 days straight. Only had water and non-caloric beverages. To my amazement, I lost ZERO pounds!! When my weight loss had slowed down (post-VSG) my nutritionist usually increases my daily calories. We should be eating 4-5 times a day. I’m rambling, I know, but I think we are often instructed to eat too few calories, and I believe, especially in the year post- op, we definitely should not be on OMAD or IF. Just sayin….

Thank you for explaining this! Congrats on your weight loss and new improved maneuverability!!

So I've been feeling absolutely fantastic... plenty of energy, lots of exercise, weight loss kicked off again after the Dread Third-Week Stall... ...until today, when suddenly I'm just nauseated by everything. Finished half my usual morning shake... bleh. Waited a while to finish the rest... bleh. Ate some known-good stuff (deli turkey)... bleh. Sigh. Hopefully this is short-lived. And fortunately I still have a few pills of ondansetron left if it gets unbearable.

You're just fine, better even, without the sugary drinks - at least you don't have that addiction to get over! You have gotten a good clue with the banana, and it doesn't have to be fruit or juice, any kind of complex carb will do, and it doesn't have to be much. As with everything, a bit of moderation is often the key. From what I have seen, those who are the most adamantly low carb, counting them out, not exceeding some magic number, etc. are the most affected. Sometimes we hear responses to your problem such as "isn't it wonderful -that's the smell of burning fat!" More accurately it is the smell of not eating your vegetables. We will drop ketones as long as we are burning our fat stores, irrespective what kind of diet is being used, but we don't need to take things to extremes. When I had labs pulled, I was dropping ketones as expected, so I guess one could say that I was "in ketosis", but I never had those type of symptoms as I never kept my carbs all that low - it wasn't sugary stuff, just vegetables, legumes, some berries in the yogurt, etc., yet my weight loss was still very rapid as my caloric deficit was fairly high. So, there is a balance one can achieve in this. It sounds like you have decent habits to begin with, but adapting things to work with the radically reduced intake that we have for a while can be tricky. Good luck with it....

Hi Bluesupef04, I am sorry that you are frustrated and feel like you are failing. Congratulations on your weight loss, it sounds like you lost around 70 pounds, that's awesome. You are absolutely not failing. I am also almost 3 months out. The weight seems to come off fast on pre op diet and the first month after the surgery. From what I understand average loss can be about 10 pounds a month for the first few months after surgery. Some lose more & some less. Stalls are also common for many WLS patients. I am sorry that you feel like your doctor isn't being helpful. I was surprised to read that he suggested eating once a day. Have you also been working with a nutritionist? You may want to meet with one to help you see if there is anything you can do with your food plan to help. I wish you luck moving forward & hope you achieve your weight loss goals.

I'm so sorry you're struggling. I know it must be extremely frustrating and scary to be at this point with so little support from your surgeon. I think weight loss normally slows significantly after the first couple of months, exactly when depends on each persons body, so don't be alarmed that you aren't losing at the same rate you did in month 1. However, I'm honestly shocked to hear that your surgeon recommends only one meal a day. I know that programs vary widely, but nearly all suggest several small meals a day by the 3 month mark. I had VSG, so my guidelines are a little different, but my surgeon recommends 4-6 2-4oz meals a day for RNY patients at the 3 month mark. Does your program have a registered dietician you can work with, instead of the surgeon? If not, could you find an independent one or maybe have your PCP refer you? If that's not an option, there are a ton of really great bariatric dieticians that do 1:1 coaching; you might want to look into that. In the interim, maybe try experimenting with a couple small meals a day. Focus on getting in proteins first, then high quality veggies/complex carbs. It may also be worth getting set up with a counselor. WLS is a HUGE life change and having some extra support can make all the difference in the world. The surgery is a tool, not a magic fix, and we are only as successful as our ability to USE that tool. So much of it is mental that it can feel overwhelming, and having a resource to help you work through the internal pieces of it can be a game changer. Best of luck to you! I know its exhausting, but you're doing a great job!

my hunger returned at five months out, which definitely made things more challenging, but I managed to stick to my plan and kept losing until I was 20 months out. So no - your loss hasn't necessarily stopped. It does slow down quite a lot after the first few months, though - and my stalls became more frequently and lasted longer. Every time I'd think "well, this is it", but then it'd eventually start up again...

I've never felt so seen. Seriously. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, I find myself convinced I'm going to, I don't know, eat an extra 200 calories and suddenly be back in the Big and Fat Men's store. I am trying to find someone to help me navigate this. Add to this that even though I am thrilled by the weight loss, it does come with its own annoyances. [CENSORED], I wanted to wear this particular outfit and it looks like a tent on me! Ugh, will this skin resolve on its own? For fox sake, will I ever be able to shop anywhere but the Goodwill and Ross Dress For Less? (I'm cheap—I don't want to buy clothes I'll only wear for a month or two unless they're seconds.)

@kristieshannon: I'll say it again: MILF. That dress is PERFECT on you....wear it every day. With your hair just like that. And that lipstick. 😍 @Arabesque: Yep, you def look taller in that frock! Love it. P.S. glad the thumb is on the mend and you can now wear real bras!

Hi armartin! I was 68 in July 2020 when I had VSG surgery. Minimal pain (only needed plain Tylenol), no nausea, able to tolerate the various food stages, did stairs in my house, slept in my bed, drove a few days after surgery. My weight at the start of the pre-op diet was 200. By now, my rate of weight loss is quite slow, maybe 1-2 lbs/month, but I am staying the course and am happy with the results thus far. Only wish I had done this ages ago, but I never thought of bariatric surgery or dreamed it could be done on lower BMI patients (I had to self pay).

I agree with what’s been said so far. One tip: you shouldn’t weigh every day, especially when those .5-2 lb gains take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. I know they did for me……in the old pre-VSG diet days (Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss, Atkins, keto, etc etc), I would weigh myself daily, sometimes even more often. I weigh now once weekly on the day of my surgery (Thursday), and it’s a relief not to be shackled to the scale!

Hi, I am 64 and had gastric sleeve surgery on September 1. I'm also interested in seeing what results people over 60 are getting, although I know there are a variety of factors. I feel that I am losing slower due to my age. I've lost 38 lbs in 8 and 1/2 weeks (counting the pre-op loss of 15 lbs in 10 days). How much exercise and what kind are you getting?

Hi all! First time posting. RnY surgery was Sept 15th and so far I'm down 40 lbs total. I'm so glad to hear I'm not alone with the stall because I have been getting so discouraged. No issues getting protein or water in. I consider myself very lucky with my recovery. I haven't had any issues eating anything but eggs- which I didn't really tolerate before surgery so no big loss. I'm excited for my journey and to meet all of you. Glad to have a support group. Sent from my SM-G998U using BariatricPal mobile app

As of this morning's weigh-in, I am officially halfway through my weight loss journey—started at 392, wanted to lose 152 lbs., have now lost 76 lbs. Here's hoping the second half is as smooth as the first half! Thank you all for your guidance and support. I couldn't be doing this without you.