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I was lower but I was headed that way if I went enough years without the surgery. I was very thin until I was around 25 years old and had the onset of bipolar disorder. Between the depression and the meds my weight became a huge struggle and despite many diets I always seemed to gain year after year. I always thought when I finally got the right meds and was stable that I would be able to lose some weight but that was not the case. I called my gynocologist and asked for a weight history and it trended up year after year despite some quite significant losses in between. I never could keep it off. Gained it all back plus some each year. The only thing I had going for me was I only gained weight for 16 years and then I had the surgery.

Congratulations on your weight loss. I'm encouraged to see how far you have come.

Pre-Op? In the First Month Post-Op? One-Three Months Post-Op? Three-Six Months Post Op? Just curious. Many people lose quite a bit on the pre-op diet a month or two, or more, before surgery. I would assume that the pre-op clear liquid diet would yield more of a loss, but some people have just as much quick loss on the clear liquids post-op, leading up to solid foods. Please chime in - thanks!

It is probably OK, but one of those things to check with your program about. Some programs are very averse to their patients drinking calories, and even want them off of their protein drinks after X weeks. They do have a point in that one common failure mode for WLS is getting in the habit of drinking calorie rich drinks, whether they be soda, SBUX drinks, bullet proof coffee or whatever, it's easier to consume excessive calories if you drink rather than eat them, so caution should be the word with them. That said, many continue to use protein or other high nutrient drinks as a convenience long term post op and do just fine, so if you are tracking you intake and remain aware of what (and how much) of what you are consuming and how that fits in with your weight loss or maintenance, go for it. Like many things, it is a tool that can be used for your benefit, or misused for your detriment. Side note, my wife is still highly restricted in how much she can eat, even after 15+ years, and has a daily smoothie of tangerine juice, banana, strawberries and protein powder along with her potassium and calcium supplements as a way getting in more of her daily nutrition and that works fine (and the dog is absolutely enraptured by it, too), In your case as a presumably recent post op, I would probably throw in some vanilla or unflavored protein powder as protein is usually our emphasis for a while.

Out of curiosity, how did you come up with the muscle loss figure?

Yes, I had a simple gastroplasty (stomach stapling) in 1980. I lost 75 lbs by 6 months and then stopped losing. Over the next ten years I gained it all back. I had NO nutritional or psych guidance at all. In 1990 I had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and the same thing happened. I lost about 75 lbs by six months and stopped losing. Again, I had NO nutritional guidance or follow up. I returned to my original set point of over 300 lbs, where I remained despite many attempts at weight loss. Fast forward 30 years... Just before COVID hit, I met a man who told me he had RNY revision as a prerequisite for knee replacement surgery. I had no idea that a revision was possible. I was certainly interested, but then the pandemic arrived. Six months ago, I started thinking about it again and contacted a bariatric center 90 miles from my home. A barium swallow and an endoscopy revealed that the staples from the prior surgery had given way allowing a fistula (opening) between pouch and stomach, which back then was not cut away, just separated from the pouch by staples. It was obvious that there was a physical cause for the failure of the earlier surgeries. The surgeon assured me that the staple failure was not my fault due to up-chucking or pouch stretching, but was actually caused by the peristalsis of the stomach. He said that about 75% of the earlier WLS failed for this reason. Today, different kinds of staples and closure protocol are in place to prevent this kind of failure. I was put in the bariatric program to have a revision. I've lost 44 lbs to date and still have a couple of requirements to complete before revision surgery is scheduled. I'm hoping to have it in October. I'm excited but wary. Deep down I am afraid that the same thing will happen. My age (73) and prior surgeries are hurdles so I don't expect miraculous results. My hopeful goal is to get under 200 lbs. My dream goal is to reach 175 lbs. or lower. In the past six months, I've read over a dozen books about bariatric surgery and food addiction and collected a slew of bariatric cookbooks. I'm much better prepared than I was for the earlier surgeries. I now realize that I am a sugar/food addict, that "maintenance" doesn't work for me. I have to be continually vigilant about avoiding sugar, flour, wheat, rice, and processed foods. The only successful way to conquer addiction is abstinence. How Weight Loss Surgery Really Works, by Matthew Weiner ** Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies, By Marina Kurian, Barbara Thompson, Brian Davidson ** Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction, by Vera Tarman *** Weight Loss Surgery Does Not Treat Food Addiction, by Connie Stapleton *** Why Diets Fail (because youʼre addicted to sugar), by Nicole Avena & John Talbott *** Bariatric Surgery & Food Addiction, by Philip Werdell *** (written for the clinician, but I found it valuable} The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients, by Colleen Cook*** A Pound of Cure, by Matthew Weiner (Focus on plant-based eating, not as restrictive as Bright Line Eating) Bright Line Eating, by Susan Peirce Thompson (similar to Kay Shepardʼs food plan without the 12-step program) Food Addiction: The Body Knows, by Kay Sheppard (12-step program, Focus on binging) From The First Bite: A Complete Guide to Recovery, by Kay Sheppard (12-step program, Focus on binging) Never Binge Again, by Glenn Livingston Lick the Sugar Habit, by Nancy Appleton (A bit outdated)

it's the infamous "three week stall" - happens to almost all of us (it's not always the third week - it happens within the first 4-6 weeks after surgery - but it's most often the third week, thus, the name). If you do a search of this site on the three week stall, you will find over 17,000 posts on it (and no, I am NOT kidding). Just stick to your program and stay off the scale for a few days - and know that it'll break and you'll be on your way again. It usually lasts 1-2 weeks - but I've heard of it lasting up to three for some people. (oh - and you'll likely hit more of these stalls later on your journey - perfectly normal "feature" of weight loss...)

Wow @Bulabula…tuna “sandwich” why bread? Chicken wings.. are pure fat not protein… just sayin.. I’m post 23yrsRNYGBP maintaining at 115lbs and 170lbs weight loss… check your high quality protein intake guidelines

What is your current weight? How long since you've lost any weight? It's not usual to have a stall or two, or more during weight loss stages. Have you checked how many calories you are eating? Following your post op food guidelines? What type of workouts are you doing? If weights, fat loss may be masked by fluid retention. Maybe post a typical day's menu and some people may offer some suggestions.

hi everyone, need help first few weeks was great with weight loss after ESG (15lbs) but now I'm stuck! my body is toning well but no more weight is dropping off. i started eating more high protein foods, only drink water all throughout the day, peppermint tea in morning to soothe my stomach and acid reflux o yeah and take my vitamins. workout around 30mins-1hr a day. any advice??

I am just a few week away from my surgery date, 9/29/21. Today was my pre-op visit with my primary to get the scripts for the lab work and chest x-ray. She decides to NOW mention that maybe I should postpone and try using Ozempic/Wegovy for weight loss,....wait, what?! She first said that the sleeve would be a great idea for me, recommended one surgeon but I decided on someone else. Has anyone used these meds and had any success?. I looked up Wegovy which is the higher dose of Ozempic for weight loss. Insurance won’t cover it. They would cover some of Ozempic but still super expensive and the medical code for Diabetes would be used for the claim and I am not diabetic. I left that appointment so disillusioned, she has already approved the surgery but to mention the medication now is too little, too late for me. I am mentally ready to do this. I was trying to avoid getting on any long term prescriptions just for weight loss and not to mention side effects include pancreatitis and a slew of other things. So frustrated and a bit down today after the visit. 🙁

I am 5'3". I was 393 pounds when I started this process, and 368 the day of surgery. I was the 276 at the 6 month mark. I am almost 13 months post op now and I weigh 217. I am personally THRILLED with my weight loss and never could even come close to losing that much in 6 months or a year before I had surgery. Anyway. I started out much bigger than you and I "only" lost 92 pounds in the first 6 months. I have had some stalls along the way, but I have consistently lost and what matters is my overall loss and how I feel, which I am so happy with. I am STILL in the obese category since I'm short, but it's worlds away from where I was before and I'm happy. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Did you have a question? You don't need to post your losses each week.

I am currently down just over 70lbs. I am now averaging loss of approximately 1-2lbs per week and some weeks none. Still have about 20lbs to go.

Yes, I’m almost at 4 weeks and I’m tired too. Just less energy which I’m trying to make it look like I’m cool and low key at work. I have increased my protein intake, but I put on pajamas when I get home. I think it’s normal because we’re still healing. I feel like I’m 80% there and getting better. I’m enjoying the weight loss and no hunger!

I'm 57. My 23 yr marriage was not a happy one, but I stayed because of my daughters (almost 25 & 23 now), I wasn't working and couldn't afford to move. I needed the surgery, but had no insurance. They said we made too much money to get free insurance and we could not afford it. I finally moved back home with my mother & a sister that I do not get along with. Filed for divorce. Finalized Dec of 2019. Had surgery Sept of 2020. I have a TON of resentment toward my ex. He still sees and talks with my kids way more than I get to. The one still goes to his house to do her laundry & keeps in touch with him more because of his bad health (like, how about your mother's health??? I had the weight loss surgery, need double knee replacement surgery, have psoriasis, psoriasis arthritis, major depression that gets worse every day, especially with my living arrangements) & the other just moved out last month, so he had her home for almost 2 years. And now he has started dating. I could care less about him dating, but that chick will be in the house that was mine & still is in my name right now and spending holidays with my daughters! All the while I'm living with my b***h of a sister, mother who has dementia and my life has been condensed into a 14' X 14' bedroom. I can't leave anything in the rest of the house because my mother has OCD and dementia and things will dissappear. I had to leave 90% of my belongings there until I find my own place, which I can't afford being on SSI and I'm on a wait list for assisted housing, but that could be another year. Then there's the guilt of leaving my mother who has dementia. Meanwhile, my ex's life continues on happily & uneffected with family, friends, my daughters and this girl who will be in my home with my things! His life is fanatic and mine is a living hell!! It's not fair! He was a bastard and I'm the one who has no one. I'm trying to get better physically, but my depression is astronomical and getting worse by the day! Sorry for the long post, but I have no one who understands or cares except my cousin, who has a very busy life & I don't get to talk to her much. My daughters couldn't possibly understand. They've never been married or had children yet. They're busy with their jobs, boyfriends, their boyfriend's families and going back to college. I'm the only one completely alone. I'm trying to find someone who lives in the Youngstown, Ohio area that understands what we're going through with our new lifestyle change and possibly divorce as well. It's not easy. Posting in a website isn't the same as human interaction. Someone to pick up the phone and call when you need to. Anyone with similar, semi-similar problems? Message or reply to me if you want. Thx for reading. Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

SORRY JUST NOTICED I’M ON THE GASTRIC SLEEVE FORUM - I’M A BYPASS PATIENT hence the comments below about injecting B12… SORRY! I’m in the UK and 8 years out from my op - the first few weeks I was forced to take liquid vitamins that were disgusting (drinks that fizz!!) but I’m now on permanent prescription tablets here in the UK and because I’m over 60 I get it free at the point of delivery (all working individuals pay into a national insurance scheme). I do know that we were told categorically that 1) we had to take multivitamins (bariatric grade), plus zinc, calcium, (and if you’re a pre-menopausal lady) iron daily; and 2) that we had to do B12 injections. I take 500mg chewable Calcium with vitamin D (daily), Zinc 220 mg (2 0r 1 alternate days), Iron 210mg twice a week and Foreceval multivits & minerals (daily). B12 can be done either intramuscular (absorbs quicker, but done generally by a health care professional) or intradermal which is easy to do yourself. I do the latter, as I do the injections once a month by myself. There are videos on YouTube about how to self-inject. The syringes are only small like insulin needles, and painless. I source these myself as the UK is very behind the US in their appreciation of the merits of B12! Oh - and I barely, if any, lost any hair… maybe a few more than usual when washing for a couple of weeks, when the weight was coming off quickly, but nothing I could ever see.

My insurance covers tummy tuck/skin removal of the stomach. Not sure what other areas. I have my Dr appt this month to check it out. Not super bad, but I wasn't having the weight loss surgery to still have low self esteem with the excess skin. Check with your insurance. Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

Urinary incontinence. Go to a urologist. I went to one before surgery. I had botox injections in my badder, which worked for a while. My urologist is the reason I had the surgery. He said if I didn't have it, the incontinence would never get better. I hadn't even considered weight loss surgery before. And the thing that makes it worse for me (and no doctor has heard of it), is milk. I went to an allergist before and she said I didn't have an allergy to it, but I've done the food diary and that is definitely what makes it 90% worse! Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

I think almost everyone dreads the hair loss. I helped lead the pre-op classes at my clinic for three or four years (before COVID hit), and it never failed - at every class, people asked about hair loss! Honestly, most people don't lose enough for others to notice (some do, of course - but for most, no). I hardly lost any. I knew I was losing it because there was more hair strands in my comb for three or four months than was usual, but just looking at my hair - no - couldn't tell. Some people do report their hair getting thinner - but again, more often than not, they're the only ones who notice it. I think most of us who are a ways out from surgery will tell you that it was a small price to pay for losing all that weight, and it was really more of a minor annoyance than anything else. In retrospect, I shouldn't have wasted any brain cells on it since it really wasn't that big a deal.

I’m actually feeling pretty great. Tolerating food well and sticking to the plan. High protein, low carb, low fat. Avoiding all the bad stuff. I still find myself relying a lot on protein shakes to hit my protein goals. My weight loss slowed in July and my dietician told me I was pushing too hard with working out and not getting enough protein. Go figure 🤷🏽‍♀️ I started pushing for 70-90 grams of protein a day and just walking and went back to 3-4lbs weight loss per week. I’m officially down 65lbs and have a lot more energy. I hope everyone else is doing well. This journey has had its ups and downs, but it’s been worth it.

I am dreading the hair loss! I'm vain and I wish there was some supplement or topical that would prevent it.

Yes, you are more than worth it!! Take care of you! You deserve to get on a path to a healthier you. We shouldn't be angry, disappointed, or disgusted with ourselves for becoming obese. It is likely that the diet industry, medical factors, & biological factors have also contributed to weight issues. Yes, our bad habits had an impact, of course. We're human and not perfect, all we can do is work towards being better. I'm sorry for your losses.💜 Reset, move forward, & start your journey to be your best you! Wishing you lots of luck with your weight loss experience & healing.