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I've been doing well. I am down 39lbs from surgery on 12/16. I'm down 59lbs total since July 2019 when I start on the journey. I know I'm a slow loser and some days that is a struggle. My clothes fit loose on me and I know I need to go shopping for a smaller size but with everything going on that's not going to happen soon.

@Casey2020 no girl, no bra. You gonna be naked under that hospital gown. I went in my pj’s essentially with granny panties and a very comfortable sports bra. My surgery was scheduled for 10:30. I arrived at 8:30 and was clothed for about 30 minutes. Whatever you pack, pack comfortably. You’re going to be VERY bloated and full of the gas they pump into you for the surgery. Think Of what you would wear when you left work on Friday with no plans the weekend and you plan to lay on the couch and binge your favorite movies all weekend. They are going to have you up and walking ASAP, so make sure it’s easy to walk in.

This past Monday, I was given a surgery date of April 23rd. I was told several times that most of the procedures scheduled in mid to late March by my surgeon will have to be moved. I am "self-pay" so I decided to pre-pay for everything now so that my April 23 slot is locked and does not get bumped by someone who was scheduled in March. However, the "lock" is not a 100% sure thing, if the CORVID-19 situation in my area starts to get out of control, my surgery date will get reschedule also. As of today there are only a couple of cases confirmed so I am hoping for the best that the numbers stay low for the next 4 weeks.

Nope, you can't sleep, you have some work to do... I watched a documentary earlier this week on Netflix about virus outbreaks and what can be done for prevention. There was a segment on what is being done with migrants as they enter the US. Don’t want to open a can of worms on this topic either for or against. The fact is if there are services for migrants, there are “services” available for US citizens who are in need. The problem is one must do a lot of research and fill out what seems to be a mountain of paperwork versus what gets simply handed out to those who are not even legal citizens. Yes, life has thrown you a bad set of cards now, but all IS NOT lost. From your profile you’re in PA, get on a computer, do a Google search on “Support services and programs in Pennsylvania” and start researching your options. There are plenty, apply for anything and everything, state and federal level! Got turned down, apply again! Assuming you have a roof over your head but can’t pay your mortgage or rent due to the job loss, that’s the least thing to worry about. Rent/Mortgage is the last thing you would be paying in a situation of extreme limited financial resources, the necessities come first. It takes months for a formal eviction to be legal and with the court systems in turmoil from CORVID-19 closings and most likely the Federal Government will be stepping in since many will be in the same predicament, you will have some extra time to get some assistance before worrying about finding a new place to live.

Oh honey, lack of protein is definitely going to affect your body and your mind. Have you talked to your surgeon about not being able to keep down the shakes? I’ve been using this bone broth and it’s really good and it’s 10 grams of protein per 8 ounces.

Hi guys, quick question, i have no idea how many cals to eat post surgery? Im 2 months post op. I was 227 pounds im 204 pounds now. Im 22 yo I feel like im not losing weight like i should, i know everybody is different and all. Just help me out. How many calories. Due to covid 19 i cant see my doctor so he cant really help.

I think my problem is the lack of protein 😞😞 the shakes don’t stay down and I hateeeeeee vomiting so I’m afraid to even try other brands. I’m literally on water and broth ( chicken) 90% is in my head but 10 % is hunger because of lack of protein. I’ll figure it out. I’ve been outside for a bit today and I’m in a much better mood 😌

Hey yall!!! It's been awhile since I've been around my last post was in December. So far things have been going well. Typical stalls and temptations!!!!! I can say I have failed at resisting at times. I was 205 the last time I was here and now I am at 190lbs! 15lbs down since I was here last and down 71lbs total. I was so happy when I finally hit "Onederland". Seems like once I hit the 6month mark weight loss has slowed. I am responsible for that though. I haven't been hitting my protein or water goal so I know that will slow me down plus, I've been bad and eating some sweets here and there. I am determined to lost 29lbs before they year mark which may not be possible, but I would like to. I did get to my size goal. Before the surgery I was around a size 18/20 and said all I want to be is a size 10/12 and I am there!!! I have finally got into Levi jeans sizes and I love them!! Boyyy!!! they make your booty look so good lol! But honestly if I stay where I am at right now I would be completely happy. Even though I haven't been losing much weight lately I can tell I am still losing inches. Hope yall are doing good and getting close to where you want to be!! (Attached a little progression)

Hi, me too! 10 days post op. And every dam commercial on tv is about food! I’ve been blending soups , potatoe and cream of chicken n stuff. It’s good n it helps.

As coronavirus dominates the headlines, being prepared is one of the best things you can do to ease worries stemming from uncertainty. While there is a lot that people at home are not in control of, one thing you can control is how well prepared you are. The BariatricPal Store has some items to consider stocking up on to make sure you get enough protein and vitamins to stick to your weight loss diet should you be stuck at home avoiding COVID-19, or temporarily quarantined. Protein Shakes and Juices Getting the protein you need is easy with protein shakes, powders, juices, and smoothies. Just mix them with water - that is one thing that is still projected to be free and available right from the tap! - or, you have some at home, with shelf-stable almond or soy milk. Most have 15 to 30 grams of protein per serving and are completely or nearly sugar-free. Choices include: Chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, and other shakes. Fruit drinks in flavors such as orange, mango, and pineapple. Smoothies with strawberry, mango, and other flavors. Hot drinks such as cocoa and mocha. Instant Meals Instant meals can deliver a satisfying meal even if you are stuck at home without a chance to go grocery shopping. High-protein breakfasts to start the day right include protein cereal, protein omelets, protein oatmeal, and protein pancakes. Protein soups deliver comfort, warmth, and protein anytime, while protein entrees keep things feeling normal without the guilt of carbs. These are just a few of our options. Spaghetti bolognese Alfredo chicken pasta Vegetable chili Chicken enchilada verde Macaroni and cheese Vegan chicken curry They are all high in protein and low in guilt. Bread, Pasta, and More to Make Your Own Staying at home does not mean you cannot prep your own meals. Protein pasta and low-calorie shirataki noodles, plus calorie-free pasta or alfredo sauce, can be the foundation of a delicious dinner. Additions include parmesan cheese, frozen chicken or shelf-stable tofu, and frozen vegetables. Low-carb protein bread products, such as sliced bread, bagels, and dinner rolls, can hold hummus or high-protein peanut and nut butter spreads with calorie-free jam. Protein Bars Protein bars are easy to store and are ready to be eaten. They come in all kinds of sizes and varieties, so get some to match every mood you may have for the next few weeks! They come in chewy, crispy, and chocolate-coated varieties, with chocolate, pretzel, caramel, peanut, almond, oatmeal raisin, and lemon being just a few of the sweet flavors in stock. Beef, salmon, chicken, and venison, with flavors including cranberry, jalapeno, bacon, apple, and cherry walnut, are available if you prefer savory bars. Whichever protein bars you choose, you can be sure that they will be great-tasting, high in protein, and low in added sugars. Protein Snacks Protein snacks let you turn snack temptations into quality nutrition opportunities. Why would you fill your pantry with fried potato chips, sugary cookies, and starchy pretzels and crackers when you could have high-protein alternatives instead? Protein chips including in ranch and BBQ flavors, chocolate chip and other cookies, and plain and honey mustard pretzels, as well as cheese snacks and bean snacks, are high-protein, low-carb snacks. Creamy treats include protein pudding and gelatin. Vitamins Taking your vitamins may be even more important now than ever as supplies of fresh food dwindle. The BariatricPal Store has bariatric vitamins including multivitamin and minerals, as well as specific nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12, and calcium. Choose your favorite forms, such as traditional capsules, vitamin patches, and flavored chews and tablets. Preparation is the name of the game, and The BariatricPal Store is the place to go for high-protein and nutritious products that can keep you on your weight loss diet should you be quarantined for 2 weeks. Be well, and be assured that we are doing everything we can to support you in this difficult time.

Unfortunately the media is whipping everyone up into a "The Sky is falling..!" scenario. Yes, this is a critical event and everyone needs to pay attention but the CDC is the "subject matter experts" on this one, we don't need the talking heads from our news media to provide us with their opinions, seems everyone in the news is now a viral infection expert. I wish they would simply REPORT the news, don't try to create it. People are getting the idea that they will be locked in their homes for weeks and need to stock up on basic supplies. I saw a guy last week at SAMS Club with 10 large 24-roll packs, either this guy has a LARGE family or he has other "issues" that we will not discuss on this forum Stay informed, stay safe...

Sorry to hear of another botched slim band placement . Take care of yourself . I got my band out in Dec 2019 after 5 years of having it in. I now have reflux most if not all of the time . I know compared to others this is minor but frustrating to me as it causes me to vomit most of the time after eating . Depending on the setting it is tough to take .

Stressing about the "what if" scenarios concerning CORVID-19 in itself may cause weight gain, certain people such as myself stress-eat so situations that increase stress levels should be avoided at all costs For me, keeping myself busy helps reduce my stress. However some busy items also induce eating. For example, if I am watching TV for an extended amount of time I tend to desire food, something to munch on while I binge watch a Netflix show so I avoid any long periods of time in front of the TV screen. Since this CORVID-19 stuff is forcing us to stay home and avoid contact with others, I am gong to use the extra "at home" time to complete some on-line technical courses that are reverent to my profession. I also received a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone as a gift this past Christmas so maybe I will also start to lean a 2nd language just for fun. Figure if your keeping your brain active perhaps it will be too occupied to think about food or other items we have no control over that induce unneeded stress. Edited just now by VIN_IN_AL

Hi everyone, I’m 32 and this is my second time going through this pre-approval process. I originally started in 2017, and between my best friend passing and an unreachable advocate, I gave up. So, I restarted the process in November and while waiting for my initial referral to go through, I began my weightloss attempts only to find out my insurance no longer requires them. I’ve just got to have my PCP write up my recommendation letter and my advocate should be submitting it Monday March 23rd. I have HighMark BCBS insurance and was wondering if anyone else has it and if you could provide me a timeframe of the insurance approval, to pre-op consultation, liquid-diet, and a set surgery date. My advocate told me on 3/3/20 that my insurance may take two weeks for approval, then another two for the pre-op and surgery dates, which would put me around late April- beginning of May. I’m just sort of twitching at this point because I feel like it won’t happen anytime soon with this COVID-19 spreading, and I am literally so close I can feel the anesthesia working lol!!! I’m just really anxious because I’ve been fighting a while now to get this done and I fear it may be postponed, which I know is going to be a huge blow. So any advice or updates would greatly be appreciated.

Did they give you an Incentive Spirometer at the hospital post-surgery? When I had my sleeve in Mexico they gave me one and told me to use it regularly to promote deep breathing. I didn't use it as often as I should have and when I returned to Japan I developed a low-grade pneumonia that lasted a couple of weeks (nothing that needed hospitalisation). For my more recent surgery we didn't get anything like that but were encouraged to do deep breathing exercises (which I did when I remembered). I'm now 2 weeks post-op and so far feel good. Although to be fair if I did develop symptoms I'd probably go to the hospital because I would have no idea if it was a post-op issue, or a Covid-19 issue. Anyway, I hope you feel better soon and that it doesn't develop into anything more serious.

Well said. When I had my first surgery and was finally eating regular foods I focused on carbs and protein and let the fat macros fall where they lay (probably around 40-50g per day, but I did eat a lot of cheese ). The other day I was going through all the books I had related to eating, weight loss, keto, and bariatric surgery and came across the Pound of Cure book by Dr. Weiner (who has great videos on YouTube as well). I know I read some of it, but I'll definitely have to reread it for when I'm past all the post-op stages and into eating regular meals. The problem for me in Japan is that there is a very limited variety of vegetables here, many of which are hard for me to eat due to some gastrointestinal issues I have unrelated to my gastric surgeries, and anything not local tends to be very pricey, so it limits my options. Honestly, when I go to other countries (US, Canada, Europe), I feel like crying when I go to the supermarket and see all the amazing fruits and vegetables available that I just can't get in Japan, or in a limited way because they are so expensive ($3 a peach anyone? $2 for 3 spears of asparagus? $5 for 1/3pint of blueberries?). However, I'm sure I'll be able to figure something out. Note: for everyone who thinks Japanese food is healthy, most of it is carbs+protein, with very few vegetables. If you think of a bento box, half the box is rice, the other 40% tends to be meat or fish, and the remaining 10% is vegetables, usually pickled. A traditional breakfast may have miso soup with tofu (healthy, lots of protein), rice, and fish. Or rice porridge. Many people just eat toast, or maybe eggs. Lunch and/or dinner might be something like curry rice, or fried chicken and rice, or ramen, or whatever. Few to no veggies. When I ask my students how many vegetables they eat per day, the vast majority of them don't eat any, although to be fair, they are university students (this is usually part of a larger discussion of what it means to be healthy - just because people are thin, doesn't mean they are healthy, and vice versa). People doing keto, or who are vegetarian (or worse, vegan, since so many things are made with fish stock) really struggle when travelling here to find enough healthy foods for them to eat.

@IAmGrace; I don't really get "full" either in the way that I used to; but after I eat a surprisingly small amount I start to get the hiccups or get a feeling in my chest that I am starting to recognize as "full". I am now eating between 600 and 700 a day; I was over 700 today. I find I have to be very rigid; I have breakfast, lunch, dinner and 1 or 2 "snacks" depending on where I am for protein that day. Otherwise I could eat (but certainly don't need to) 1/2 hour after I last ate. My nutritionist warned about "grazing". Certainly at 700 or 800 calories a day you will still lose weight, but once we can ingest more the grazing will lead to weight gain. I'm getting a bit more adventurous with food; I had a small amount of corned beef and cabbage, and today I had the ground beef part of some Shepard's Pie. But I do find 2 or 2.5 ounces are plenty. I am using very small plates, and I stop eating when the food is gone, and I realize I am not hungry! I hope your cold is just a cold; I hope mine is, too. I am a bit worried because I feel like my immune system is not very robust right now; I had the actual flu right before my surgery (in fact it delayed my surgery for one week), then back to back colds, and with such low calories I feel like I don't have much to fight off any virus. And I am 61, so in that respect I am "high risk", too. My work is doing 5 days out of every 10; so there are very few people in my office. I hope you are in a comfortable situation to ride this out! Wishing you health and happiness!

@Margaret 5161 I’m day 14 and I’m still only down 10 pounds. I posted about this on day 12 and all responses talked about the dreaded 3rd week stall. I was perplexed bc I wasn’t even two full weeks and already stalling!! Some people said they experienced their first stall at two weeks so it sounds like we’re right on track as it were. I’m gonna keep on keeping on with my diet and walking and hopefully I’ll see some movement on the scale within the week. I wish you best of luck!

@JA Lenny I’m two weeks post op today and down 10 lbs. not sure what that is in metric. I think 6 lbs in 7 days is great! And yes, I am hungry too. Especially during the liquid phase. I’m eating mushy food now like eggs and beans, but still kinda hungry. I was googling pouch too big?? Lol. I think a lot of think oh this is too easy to drink liquids or I’m still hungry so it didn’t work. I know I did. I def know now it did bc I def cannot eat like before surgery and it’s nice. I wish you a great recovery. as far as your “friends” go that are not supporting you....well it’s not a scam! Some say this is the easy way out....WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!! This is major surgery and what we endure leading up to it as far as all the tests and the liquid diet is so hard not to mention the recovery and adjusting to having our insides rearranged and getting new tummies. I call my new tummy “Gurgly Gail”. You know what let them talk all they want and you have nothing to prove to them! You did this for you as I got my sleeve for me! I’m ready and want to be healthy again. I hope your “friends” get explosive diarrhea. They sound mean. Sorry. Not sorry. But I do hope you have a great recovery!

I’m now on day 11 post surgery I was down 10 lbs last Wednesday. But I have just stayed there no additional weight lost to date. I am doing exactly as I’m supposed to still on liquids and have been walking 30 minutes a day. Any suggestions?

I'm not from Boston proper, but I had my surgery done at Brigham and women's on February 10. I'm feeling great, except for a cold I am not shaking. I'm down 17 from the date of surgery, 27 from pre op to now, so about the same pace as you. How are you feeling overall? Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Folks: I have no doubt that there are lots of you out there who have recently had a gastric sleeve or bypass in the Boston area. My sleeve was done on February 26 at MassGeneral by Denise Gee. I feel very well. Maybe too well. I find that I don't feel "full" as some describe here. Actually I don't remember feeling full since I was a little kid and that was a very long time ago. I'm just about 3 weeks out from surgery and I'm down 10 pounds. Doesn't seem like much but when you average it out it's about 3 pounds a week so I guess that's not bad. I waiting for the "big weight drop" but right not it's not feeling like it's going to happen! Please drop me a note .... I would love to compare notes. Grace

I have had my band for 10 years. Been throwing up for about 6 years now. I have had complications since day 1 and just recently had to see a GI specialist. He is leaning on removing it due to severe scarred tissue I have. What a horrible life.

Hi, and welcome. ❤️ Congrats on your surgery, and good to hear you're doing well (That is fantastic for pre-op loss!) As for the hunger feeling, it could honestly be head hunger. It influences the body more than you think. When you start on protein and liquids, it will be a little more easy to distinguish; just plain liquids sometimes just drives people crazy and makes them feel "hungry," even when they're not. It gets even easier when you're eating actual food- for me, I missed the act of chewing, and once I was able to, the hunger that I was feeling stopped. I'm 10 (11? ...I can't count) weeks out now and still don't experience "hunger" anymore like I did during that pure liquid phase. I get what I think is hunger from time to time, but it turns out I'm usually just gassy or thirsty.

I like you a lot @summerset, not disagreeing with you, and I think you agree with me. I have an anxiety disorder and I can worry about a lot of different things at once. I don't have much control over COVID-19 outside of my immediate family. But gaining weight IS under my control. I'm the kind of person who might displace anxiety about something super scary onto something I can actually deal with. I have no idea if @jasmineinmymind has the same issue, but... the concern kind of makes sense to me.