Search the Community

Like the title says. I’ve lost 110 pounds and have another 20 to go to be a ‘normal’ BMI. 14 months post op. However my calorie intake has shot up as I’m hungry again. Now eating between 1300 to 1500 a day. I’m tall (5ft 9). I guess I’m panicking that the days of 1200 calories and lower are gone and from here on in it’s about slow weight loss and/or maintenance. I feel like I’m heating so much at 1500 calories but logically I know I’m not. But it’s frightening. I work out two to three times a week and walk loads. Am I eating too much now? Did anyone else panic as more calories came into your eating habits.

So I just went to a general surgeon for a clinic visit bc I have a hiatal hernia and he recommended I have gastric bypass. My BMI is 44 and he said he couldn’t repair my hiatal hernia unless I did the weight loss surgery. I’m waiting for their office to call me to tell me if my insurance will cover it. I’m hopeful that I will be able to get it done and lose weight and get healthy. Does anyone have any thoughts on gastric bypass? I downloaded an audiobook about it and the author said he made this website so I joined.

screwed up menstrual cycles seem to be very common in the first few weeks or months after surgery. It's supposedly due to the fact that estrogen is stored in fat cells, and it starts flooding your body during rapid weight loss. It'll stabilize once your weight loss slows way down. a couple of people mentioned Depo-Provera. I don't know about the side effects after WLS as I didn't have WLS until I was post-menopausal, but I was on Depo when I was in my 30s. I gained about 45 lbs on it, and I switched to another birth control method after my ob/gyn couldn't guarantee that the weight gain would eventually stop. It has to do with its effect on hormones.

Sorry for the novel folks, but maybe before getting to tips and tricks, let's talk a bit about what causes plateaus: First, the most common reason for any stall, including the dreaded 3-week stall is simply that you are retaining more water. There are a few reasons this happens, but around the 3-week mark it comes down to the fact that your body is adjusting to a low carb intake after converting from glycogen to ketones for energy. More water is needed to burn glycogen, so you were retaining more water pre-surgery than you are now that you're using primarily ketones for energy. At about the 3-week mark, your body eventually recognizes that the water loss is long term, so other mechanisms have started kicking in to start holding on to more water. This water loss due to the change between glycogen and ketones is the primary reason for "keto flu", and something that increases your risk of dehydration early after surgery. The other "reasons" for plateaus really don't apply as much at the 3 week mark, but will become more important later in the process. Let's cover those too though so you're prepared: As you lose more weight, your overall metabolic rate will slow down. People sometimes think fat is not metabolically active, but that's not true. Less fat means your metabolism slows down, even if you retain the same amount of muscle. As you lose weight, it takes less effort to move, so the amount of calories you burn from activity also drops quite a bit. As you progress, you'll be able to eat more and especially if you're not tracking intake closely by weighing and measuring your food, you can easily be eating a lot more than you think. This one may be TMI for some, but you may simply be retaining more stool. This is going to be hard for some people to hear, but I can tell you one thing it's not, and that's hormones. Yes, various hormonal processes negatively impact weight loss in a myriad of ways, but they don't overcome basic physics: if you eat less than you are burning, you'll lose weight. What these hormones can do if they're out of whack, is not good things like slowing your metabolism, increasing your hunger, screwing with water weight, or even fooling you into thinking you're eating less than you are. So, with all that sciency stuff out of the way, what do we actually do if we're in a stall? Well, I think it depends on when it happens and how long it lasts: If it's early (a.k.a. the 3-week stall), just keep doing what you're doing and you should be fine. I know people don't like that advice, but as I said, it's just water, so don't worry about it. Later on, especially if the stall is lasting longer than 2-3 weeks. that's when I think it's important that you look closely at what you are actually burning, as well as really tracking what you are eating. If you don't know your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate), you should. The closer you are to goal, the harder it is to get the balance right between intake and output to make sure you're not eating too much, so fixing this starts with knowing your BMR and accurate food logging. There's a lot of anecdotal advice thrown around about "ways to break a stall", but there seems to be little scientific evidence for any of it. Most of it certainly won't hurt to try, e.g. breaking up your routine in terms of diet or exercise, but just understand that this change may or may not have had any impact. If it makes you feel better to be proactive, go for it. Longer term, there is one piece of solid advice that's backed up by lots of research: Even if you don't really like working out, do it anyway. Those WLS patients that make a regular habit of exercising for 45 minutes to an hour most days a week are significantly more likely to reach their goal and maintain the weight loss. (One caveat here: significantly changing your exercise routine can make you retain water and possibly even add muscle, so don't freak out if you see a stall or even a gain.) I'll take that exercise advice one step further and say you really should be doing some form of strength training. This is also backed up by lots of studies, but the great thing about strength training is that it makes your burn more calories even at rest (in other words, it increases your metabolic rate). There are lots of other benefits, but the metabolic benefit is the most germaine to the stall question. Those that do strength training are less likely to stall during weight loss.

Aliana I think you are confused and need to reread the ENTIRE thread. I have not lost 21 pounds in a month. I wish!! Surgery Aug 12 wishing that week I was at my family dr who weighed me in at 367. this morning……almost eight weeks later… I WEIGH 364. Sooooo my math says 3 pounds since Aug 19 dr appointment. so I have lost 3 pounds in 2.5 months. It’s very frustrating to me when people say oh well you’ve lost 21 pounds in a month when that’s clearly not the case and like I had mentioned before it was water weight my body likes to hold onto every drop of water. I mean we’re even at the point now we’re doctors and dieticians are saying somethings wrong so it’s not just me being crazy

So, I have seen a lot of people getting the revision from sleeve to bypass due to GERD and I have seen people getting the sleeve to bypass revision due to weight gain years after the original surgery. I am not experiencing either of these issues. I had my surgery in the middle of 2021. I was around 300 pounds then. It is now more than a year later. I have only lost around 70 pounds. I am still losing, but very slowly. I feel like due to my starting weight, I should have lost more than that in this time period. I am not ungrateful for the weight I have lost so far, but I want to lose much more and I am feeling a bit stagnant. I want to truly get down to a normal weight. I feel like it will take me forever to do that with the sleeve, so I want to get the gastric bypass. I feel like getting a revision to bypass would jumpstart the weight loss for me again. But I am wondering if I would even be able to get approved for a revision in my position, since I am not suffering from any other medical conditions and I haven't actually regained any of my weight. Is there anyone else in my position who has gotten a revision from sleeve to bypass so soon after the original surgery with no other medical conditions, just because they felt like they didn't lose enough weight with the original surgery?

Hi all, Just a shout out to the November 2021 guys - how is everyone doing now? I'm exactly 11 months post op now, 5lbs below my original goal of 160. I lost 10lbs last month after losing only 3 the previous month so stalls are clearly still a thing - I thought that was me done but apparently not! My ideal weight (what even is that???) is 147lbs apparently, which is now 8lbs away, so the closer I can get to that the happier I will be, but I'm not setting an official new goal of anything, seems clear the loss will just stop when it stops. Then starts the *really* hard work. I hope everyone is happy with how they are doing. Please check in and let me know - seems like yesterday we were just starting this journey together. 😍

My surgeon and dietician didn't stipulate any particular post-op diet, the only advice was to drink "plenty" (honestly). I got my general advice about fluid and protein goals on this forum. I do eat small amounts of all kinds of carbs but am still losing weight. I do think when I eat bread in particular that I want to snack more afterwards, even if it's wholegrain bread, so it's something I will be careful about and think I'll always have to be careful about. I don't want anything to be off limits completely though - that way obsession lies (for me anyway).

You have lost 21 pounds in a month. That is very good for weight loss surgery. As for the timing of it, it seems like sometimes the loss happens in a weird way, like not evenly. Some people will lose 5 pounds steadily every week, but other people will lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks and then lose nothing for the next 2 weeks. It can be weird like that. But overall, you have lost 21 pounds in 1 month, which is good.

Yes, my plan is to get in and get out. I don't feel a strong desire to do the touristy things. I'd rather save that for a family vacation when I've lost some weight and can do some of the really fun things. Like put on a bathing suit!

This right here! I am the same, I can lose significant weight doing low carb, but I can't live the rest of my life like that. Or should I say, I don't want to live the rest of my life like that. I have taken the same approach of "smart-carbs" and limiting simple and highly processed carbs. I want my body to learn that no food is off limits and respond with huge weight gains. Overall trying about to be smarter about food choices, focusing on protein first. I'm learning that carbs aren't the enemy. But high carbs + high fat can go wrong fast.

I suspect this is one of the reasons many doctors (like mine), recommend a lower carb diet, at least initially after WLS. I personally have a love/hate relationship with low carb dieting. I lost a great deal of weight doing low carb ~20 years ago, but ended up gaining it all back and then some, because I found it unsustainable long-term. As a result, I'm intending to take more of a "smart-carb" approach this time. The reality is, not all carbs are the same. My plan is to limit my intake of simple carbs, especially processed foods as much as possible, while adding in complex carbs via whole foods as tolerated.

My surgeon and I agreed that at 6 months post-op, it would be a good time for me to get retested. Your results may vary, because where I started, the rate I'm losing at and the amount of weight I lost pre-op are all different than you. I suspect I'll be at most, within 20 pounds of my initial goal weight at the 6 month mark and very likely less than that.

Yeah I went through this ten years ago, when Lap Bands were still a thing. They're antiquated torture devices and I can't understand a medical doctor placing a device now that is comparable to giving a patient symptoms of an eating disorder. I would seek a second opinion about a revision at a different bariatric center about a different weight loss surgery BEFORE you have permanent damage done from the Lap Band. Best wishes to you.

So what did your Drs advise you do as far as carbs? Mine says that they don't really limit carbs and that they believe that carbs will give you energy and then you will be more active which will then lead to weight loss. They believe that balance is the key. Looking though through threads and youtube, most of the people seem to be on a low carb diet like keto without the added fat. I do want to be successful but if I could be successful and still eat more carbs I think I would be happier. Carbs are the only thing I am craving but I'm only a month out from surgery and carbs to me seem to be a slippery slope and I'm afraid that if I allow myself to eat carbs then I'll start eating them too much and snacking on crackers or something. Since surgery I have limited myself to 40 or less carbs per day and yesterday I had my one month visit with the dietitian and he said I needed to up my carbs to around 30 per meal. So what did your plan say about carbs and if you were allowed carbs, did you lose weight fast or was is slower? The speed of weight loss I know is individual, but if it seems to be a factor I want to know.

I can tell you what my dietitian and exercise guide told me. There are 3 things to try, eat more calories, eat more protein and make sure you are getting enough vitamins. I seem to stall and even gain weight when constipated, so usually my stalls have been fixed by doing a laxative. Not every day though, like once a week. Good luck and if you find something that really works well, please share!

Often in the past during my weight loss efforts and when I'd get off track and eat off of plan, maybe have more alcohol than usual, I'd realize how much harder it was to get refocused. I also realized that during that time, I'd have caused some acid imbalances by poor food choices and booze. I wouldn't have traditional heartburn sensations, but a constant gnawing hunger. Starting to take an acid reducer like Prilosec or something (not the gummies or tums) would help me get back on track. An acidy tummy can feel like hunger. I remember that now that I've had sleeve and am trying to stay focused and on track. Also, if you got off track - there is a good chance you are dehydrated. Are you meeting water/fluid goals? If not, start there. Are you constipated from eating crap food? Another good place to start. Probiotics can also help reset your gut flora - that can cause cravings when disrupted by processed foods, sugar and drinks. Maybe focusing on a couple things at a time and giving yourself a little grace can help. Self sabotage can continue when our minds are in a bad space because of getting off track. You can do this! You had fun, now it's over. No biggie.

I started my period 2 weeks early while on pre-op diet. Started the day of my surgery. That was NOT fun. Nurses told me that it is a common thing among women during rapid weight loss pre-surgery. Now about 5 weeks later, I'm a week late. I have felt PMS'y for the entire week (actually about 10 days) without the relief of a period starting. It's maddening, but I am reassured by my bariatric staff that this is all usual.

I feel the same .. and no matter what I do I feel scared to eat because I think I’m gonna gain weight and then nothing really taste good .. I don’t feel Like I’ve lost anything it’s a struggle but keep on swimming and stick with it !!!

Thanks for the info guys. I'm not curently on birth control, never have been. My weight loss is starting to slow down since i'm almost 10 months in from surgery i'm maybe only losing a Kilo per week and then some weeks nothing. Me and my husband want to start a family next year.

I asked about DEPO when I had to stop the Estrogen based pill and my GYNO said it tends to cause weight gain and recommended against it since I was having WLS. She didn't want it to effect things. How did you do? Did it seem to effect you at all?

I am a year and a half out and have been around these boards for the same amount of time. This has popped up quite a few times for many women having unusual or missed cycles, spotting, heavier, lighter, cramping etc. it seems to stabalize as the weight loss slows down. I am on birth control and I had breakthrough bleeding and longer periods for about three months as best as I can recall.

Mine has been starting later. I asked my Gyn about it and he said because I'd lost a lot of weight so quickly, it's thrown everything out of whack, but not to worry.

Part of the reason I'm so vocal about it is because I know (from when I was a waitress for 3 years a LONG time ago) that as soon as an obese person is seated, they start talking about them. I use to feel so bad for the customer, because we didn't know why they were overweight, if they had surgery or not, if there was a health reason for the weight, yet some of the waitresses would talk crap. If I can be open and share why I order the way I do, even though I look big still, maybe that will stop some of the jumping to conclusions and making assumptions. I'm proud of my success so far, and I'm proud I had the surgery, but I also know what it's like being thin and being obese. And if I can change even 1 person's way of thinking, then I'm all about it. I'm thankful and grateful I have the support I've had, but I know not everyone does. And I hate that. So if some of the stigma can be lifted, even a tiny bit, I'll do what I can. Even if it's over-sharing with my waitress lol

My general response when I'm asked about my weight loss is that I did a year-long medically supervised weight loss program, which is also basically true. The two people who were the most hostile about my decision to undergo surgery were my sister and a close friend, both of whom are quite obese themselves. I don't think it was about protecting me. My guess is that they felt threatened by the fact that I was taking a positive step to improve my life and lose the weight.