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So there are ways to get your snack fix without hurting your diet and still getting in protein. Quest makes tortilla chips that are protein based. They are filling. They also make a line of cookies that curb that sweet tooth while giving you protein. Also. As far planned meals try finding things that you can bring with you on the go. I'm finding I'm always out and about. Things that are really good for me I have found are these sargento balanced breaks they are the perfect size for bariatric patients and you can get them in bulk at Sam's BJ's Costco. Also vitamin's. Costco is I've found the best place for them. Sent from my moto e5 play using BariatricPal mobile app

NuMe2 you are so rigtht about varying calories to break stalls! I too was at a stall for many weeks but when I eat a little more and bring my calorie count up I seem to lose weight! For instance - yesterday my daughter brought home for pizza for dinner and even though I know it's a big "no, no" per carbs, sodium processing and such I went ahead and indulged in a slice and it upped my daily calorie count to 1120. I woke up this morning with a loss! I always make sure I get the minimum of 64 oz especially since I had a Shoulder Surgery this month on Feb 12th and am on pain pills as I got to make sure I don't bind up because well many of you know that although Milk of Magnesium does a great job of breaking the dam open withing a matter of hours it is still very messy. So I noticed that if I dip my calories up once in awhile it makes a difference. I vary between 800 to 1200 daily. I always, always make sure I get my minimum protein of 70 grams and am taking all of my vitamin and supplements daily. I use Bariatric Advantage HP meal replacement , Premier protein shakes and sometimes Genepro protein powder in yogurt to meet these needs. I worry about getting all the supplements and especially since having 2 surgeries in 3 months and worried about hair loss. I have also noticed that my skin is super super dry but and I am still trying to figure our that battle! If I don't feel like cooking and want something fast have been buying the Smartmade frozen dinners from Walmart such as turkey, and roasted vegetables as this is low carb and high protein, RealGood also makes a chicken crusted pizza that is also low carb high protein. I also like the Lean Cuisine herb roasted chicken but this one only has 16 protein where the others are higher carb. So these types of things help me out a bunch and in a pinch. I also still eat a lot of beans, LOL! (need that fiber). Some days I can eat more then others and other days I just can't put much in and it is so weird how it all works like that. Just this morning upon waking it was a little more difficult swallowing water then most. I think this surgery just put's you on a see-saw like that and after reading so many post in this forum I am comforted by the fact that it is not unusual and so I do not stress it anymore. I have yet to throw anything up but have eaten too fast, too much and had the sweats, chest pains and miserable feeling of needing to. Like many some days I question whether my stomach was really resized and then others I definitely know there is a restriction. I still fight head hunger and bad habits but have made great improvement here. I have been to a restaurant and ordered a full meal and then find that I barely make a dent in it too the point the waitress asked me if there was something wrong with my food, LOL and felt like "wow that was a waste of money - what am I doing!" I am so looking forward to the day of eating Salads and raw vegetables which for me is not until 6 months post op per doctors orders! So because of 2nd surgery and having my arm in a sling it has slowed me way down in exercising. I am doing my best to try and walk 30 minutes daily but when I have a bunch of doctor appointments in a day and everything takes me forever to do it falls by the wayside. I like most worry about loose skin and wish I could start some weight training but all of that is on hold for now. Once my energy levels get back up I need to figure out how to work strength training in. I just know that it will make all the world of difference. I am so grateful for this forum and you guys sharing your stories and struggles as this has helped me so much! Well guys that is my journey thus far from having a hiatal hernia repair and gastric sleeve surgery December 26, 2018. Shoulder surgery February 12, 2019 to repair a rotator cuff, SLAP and Labral tear.

Having a setback is temporary, giving up is permeant. You can turn this around. I'm not giving medical advice. Understand many of us have eating disorders pre and post-surgery. You may want to talk with your therapist to see if this may apply to your situation. He/she will have better advice than I can give. Many people don’t seek help because they feel shame. You’re not alone. Asking for help (even from your bariatric team) is going to move you forward instead of being on a binge eating loop. Don’t let 40 turn in to 60, 80 or more.

Hi Butterfly512, We handle hundreds of these kinds of denials (band conversion cases) so I wanted to share something before you went to surgeons thinking you might have to talk them out of a "required" six-month diet. Remember, despite what you might be told, there is no evidence-based medicine to support these bogus 6-month diets and the society of bariatric surgeons has soundly rejected the concept of insurer requirements like this. However it is quite possible that isn't even relevant in your case if you are having your band removed (with a conversion to a new procedure) because of a complication . While most people only think of band complications as being a flipped port or the band slipping or eroding, there are other complications we see every day, most of which result in stalled weight loss, weight gain, severe reflux and other serious problems. Often overlooked, even by surgical practices whose dieticians are often trying to paint we patients as the ones to blame if a surgery "fails", is a recognized complication called "band intolerance." That means, in essence, you cannot get it adjusted in the "green zone" so you're either too tight which results in severe reflux, regurgitation, vomiting, and pain (sometimes) or you are open and getting no satiety or restriction and can eat anything. Either way is bad but having a band too tight is often something people try to muddle through - often by eating softer, usually higher calorie foods because they go down easier than the dense proteins we are supposed to eat. When complications are present and your band has to be removed because there is no other way of treating your symptoms, there is no medical reason to be forced to undergo a 6 month diet. Think about it and you know the answer to this: how is a diet going to help alleviate something that can only be fixed surgically? Sadly too many bariatric practices simply have knee-jerk reactions about these diet programs which make no sense - they do it because they have allowed insurance companies to make these medical decisions. Hopefully this information helps you interview surgeons in your area and gives you some "ammunition" if someone in their office (or the surgeon themselves) tries to convince you that going on the dreaded six-month diet is necessary. And feel free to call us at 877-992-7732 if we can help in any way, even if you haven't had a request sent to your insurer. Good luck! For Patients' Sakes - Drive The Bus!

Be careful taking nutritional advice from someone without bariatric expertise. Our needs are different and since our volume is so restricted, you have to do a balancing act.

You are pre op and worried you wont be able to consume enough protein in your diet plan. 60 to 100 is the norm set by dieticians. Honestly, hitting a protein goal is not a big deal. Eating and getting your calories and macros becomes normal over time. No one, Absolutely no one on this site eats a 100% protein diet. (Other foods are included in your plan) As you progress out, your restriction becomes less. It’s much easier to eat a variety of food and still get your protein in. Vegan protein sources are wonderful. The bariatric mantra of “protein first” is only in the beginning stages. Newly out from surgery your pouch restriction is tight. It’s hard to consume 500/800 calories. Your calories and ability to consume more food will increase over time.

My surgeon said not every doctor test for it but the bariatric center at mount Sinai NYC where I will be having my surgery do. It is part of the endoscopy procedure. He said they do it because they do not want any suprises during the surgery. Apparently it's a very common bacteria. During my procedure they took a piece of specimen and sent it to the lab and mine came back positive for the bacteria.

The liquid diet in the hospital was absolutely gross. I was on a floor with several Bariatric patients and specially trained nurses. They took very good care of me. The dietary department had issues. I’d rather not eat at all sometimes

In the hospital I Owas given a sugar-free (sf) popsicle, sf Jell-o, and a very gross chicken broth that was clear (too gross to eat). On day 3, when they discharged me around 7pm, they changed me to "full liquids," which included fat-free milk (gag), a sf popsicle, and more broth, but this time it had what looked like solids in it (imagine chicken and stars Campbell's Soup). I looked on the "receipt" and it said "pureed soup." I knew I couldn't have pureed food for two more weeks so I asked the nurse to see if they brought me the wrong thing. The doctor on call came in, looked at it, and said "that's fine, you can eat it." I had a little bit, but wasn't quite what the heck was going on..it was obviously chunky. The food service also brought me chocolate pudding, even though they told me the kitchen was out of the sugar-free pudding. I doubted that too so I didn't eat it. Also, my blood sugars were in the 200s the entire time I was in the hospital, which seem to mystify the nurses, even though they only gave me 1 our 2 units of insulin at a time (uh, maybe more insulin?). Finally, not one nurse encouraged me to get up and walk--ever. I knew I had to walk so I started moving as soon as I could. They never told me not to, just never told me I should. Don't get me wrong--the nurses and the patient care staff were super nice and helped me when I needed it, it's just that I was surprised at some of the issues. The hospital is top notch in Northern Virginia, not one I would every question. It has bariatric patients on the floor I was on every day. I am convinced, though, that whatever hospital you are in, you have to be your own patient advocate and just ask if you aren't sure about something--not in an acusatory or bossy way, but in a way that shows you have some concern. I've had other instances in the hospital where they've attempted to give me medicine that was clearly labeled as an allergin on the bright red bracelet I was wearing at the time. If something seems fishy, ask. They have a lot of patients with various issues and may get distracted. 🙂

Being in emotional pain for the better part of 45 years and now in physical pain for several years and after dozens of failed attempts to lose weight, I've decided on bariatric surgery. Surgery is scheduled for March 6, 2019. I was excited for about a minute... then the fears set in. How drastically will my life change when I lose the weight? Will my husband and I still love each other? Will our lives take such different paths that we grow apart? What will family and colleagues say/think? Am I vain for wanting to do this? Then there is the uncertainty of success... Can I truly commit to this new lifestyle? Will this be added to list of failures? I am committed to this decision and yet as I sit here while the family is still asleep, with tears streaming down my face, I keep asking myself "why are you afraid to be thin?"

Actually, it is not a sleeve. The acids do not meet the food until after the food has made it some way down the small intestine, just like the RNY. The pouch is very similar to the pouch that is with the RNY. Both pouches will only allow 2 to 4 oz of food or liquid at a time, right after surgery. It is the same malabsorption as with the RNY. The MGB is considered to be less chance of complications, less than the RNY. Weight loss is better than with a sleeve and comparable to the RNY. An experienced surgeon can do the MGB in a way that eliminates the chance for bike reflux. MGB takes care of acid reflux like the RNY. Some bariatric surgeons suggest that the MGB is better than the RNY in pretty much every way. So people choose MGB over RNY because it is just as effective and safer. People choose MGB over sleeve because of the malabsorption and because it can get rid of acid reflux issues. I answered the question of malabsorption and the need for vitamins in my first post. As far as weight loss, it is comparable to the RNY. Both the MGB and the RNY cause more weight loss than the sleeve.

Yes, I am! 8 days away and I am a ball of nerves and butterflies. My shipment of Bariatric Advantage vitamins arrived today and I tested them. The multivitamin was a chalky horror but the caramel calcium chew was tolerable, like a subpar Werther's candy. How are you feeling? Good luck to you!!

Hi, Cher. Are you also having surgery on March 4? Thanks for the suggestion! I've already had my capsule medication changed to crushable pill. I'll try a few methods and see what works. I understand the bariatric vitamins are particularly vile.

Is there a public health clinic in your area, you may want to see if you can get your iron checked if you're worried it's low. Some of them let you pay for labs on a sliding fee. I am susceptible to low Iron and am required to take a supplement of 65mg Iron on top of what my bariatric vitamins have. If you you decide to just try this on your own, make sure that you take Calcium Citrate also to help the Iron absorb, this needs to be taken at least an hour apart from the Iron or it cancels it out. Good Luck and I hope you feel better.

I've been experiencing this but didn't know it had a name or that I could get the pressure adjusted. Breakfast is a painful meal for me. I can tell it's because I have air in there. I can hear and feel the air moving around so I try burping. I push the breakfast down slowly and it helps get the air out. Do you contact your pcp for the referral to the cpap dr or contact the bariatric surgeon? Did they do another study on you or just lower the pressure?

Try Dr Mark Pleatman, I think his location( if I recall right) is Bloomfield Hills, he is often on the Bariatric Pal pages as an highly approved surgeon, if his office will not work with you ( dollars to donuts they will) I'm sure they can recommend someone who will. What's in it for me to to state this recommendation? Not a durn thing, never been his patient, his picture looks personable, I'm just a humble Buckeye. who found her miracle worker bariatric surgeon at Ohio State University, had her surgery September 5th, and just wants everybody to find a perfect fit. Oh and P.S. many insurance companies are dropping the 6 month requirements, oh that yours would join them! Best wishes from The Center of Ohio and ME!

I’m not sure how many people would frequent a support site meant for bariatric surgery patients if they were able to “trick” themselves in this manner. For most people that have come to the point of needing surgery to help fight our obesity, we have already tried diets, pills, and “tricks”. Surgery is often what we feel is a last resort and not undertaken lightly. You cannot fool your body into thinking you have had WLS, there are proven metabolic changes that happen. A liquid preoperative diet is non sustainable for any human, WLS not withstanding. It sounds like you have a lot of research and thinking to do before you make a decision regarding your health choices. Good luck to you.

I was kind of horrified that I had to tell my surgeon’s office this. Seems like something they should know, given how many bariatric patients have thyroid issues and take biotin.

I probably wouldn;t have said much as I avoid confrontation like the plague - but would have felt plenty. Was she a nurse affiliated with your surgeon's office, or does she work in the bariatric ward at the hospital? I'm hoping that maybe she was a general ward nurse and just really doesn't get it. Patients lose weight on the pre-op diet because they have a clear goal in sight, and know that it is very short term. It is rather idiotic to be surprised at someone who has lost weight on an extremely low calorie diet. Duh. But it could not be sustained in any viable or healthy way. I was considered low BMI for this surgery too - I just about squeaked through qualification with my co-morbidities. Yes, I did get people who were surprised at what I was doing and told me that I didn't need it. Oh, but I really did. 20 years of health problems that started as low-key but became harder to ignore with every passing year dictated that I do this now, or do it later when I am even heavier and more at risk. It really isn't up to a nurse to be gossipy and nosy about your health situation and the private battles you have fought. Hugs to you.

Soooo... remember when I was bitching about being exhausted and mental and thought it was B1 deficiency? It’s not, it’s Hashimoto’s. I don’t see anything linking bariatric surgery and Hashimoto’s (in fact, some people say surgery alleviates symptoms), and I’m right on the leading edge of the segment most likely to get it (women age 40-60), but have any of you got it? If so, before or after surgery? if anything, I’m sort of relieved about the diagnosis - the depression, stalled weight loss, lack of energy, forgetfulness and visibly puffy face (?!) were really freaking me out. A sudden decisive change 9 months after surgery had me seriously worried this was VSG-related and permanent. It’s still likely to be permanent, but at least Hashimoto’s is widely understood and treatable.

I am a psychologist. Although I don't do bariatric evaluations, if the psychologist you selected is doing an interview with you and assessments (MMPI or some other personality instrument) then I don't believe $575 is too much. Those assessment instruments are expensive to purchase and to score, and there is usually a report that gets written and sent to the surgeon.

So very true and a timely post. Unless we deal with the issues/challenges and/or habits that caused us to emotionally eat or overeat, any bariatric procedure will only be a temporary salve. The brain is a powerful thing and lately mine has been at me for the old things that I used to deal with stress and cravings. I have to constantly push myself not to fall into old habits and make sure new ones stick, can't say I am 100% successful.

My lunches usually contain a variety of the items below. I usually bring more than I will eat, so I can have what I feel like and then just repack the next day what I don't eat. I'm still adding new items to this list as I progress with trying/handling new things. it proves a challenge for me to pack lunches as I use to just eat out every day pre op. I have had a few things from fast food, but it's hard to find anything that you can eat. Jimmie Johns can makes all of their sandwiches into an Unwich, no bun - lettuce wrapped. I tried the turkey/ham and it was fabulous... it took me all day to eat 3/4 of it, but my pup was happy to get the rest at the end of the day.. also you can order a side of beans at taco bell which satisfies if you have no other option. My lunches contain an assortment of: 2 oz tuna salad (fixed as if it was going on a sandwich) deli meat or some other sort of meat hot soup in thermos olives pickles light string cheese cherry tomatoes apple orange P3 (deli isle) meat/cheese/nuts pistachios 2-4 oz lowfat cottage cheese 2-4 oz yogurt 2-4 oz protein sf jello (unjury.com has recipe) 2-4 oz vegetable, I like green beans 2-4 oz dole no sugar fruits I ordered some of the bariatric pal protein chips in a variety. I liked about half of them, but will not be attempting this again until I reach maintenance stage. I found myself eating more than one individual size bag a day or grazing through more than one portion at a time. It brought out old habits in me, and I don't need that kind of struggle with self control right now. Be careful with these my nutritionist also says they are slider foods, that dissolve fast and slide right through to the intestine, more calories for less satiety.

Anyone else’s gallbladder going to crap already? Sleeved 1/24/19. Surgeon inspected GB during surgery to make sure it looked fine and didn’t need to come out. No issues. Never had any problems related to my GB in the past. Fast forward 2 weeks and I woke up with super sharp pain in the middle of my abdomen and back, just under my ribs. Solid 10/10, panic inducing pain (and I have NEVER, ever rated my pain as a 10 before). Just as I decided to call someone to take me to the ER, the pain started to subside almost as quickly as it started. The attack lasted roughly 10 minutes. Last night, I had ANOTHER attack... exactly 2 weeks after the first. This time, it lasted much longer. Couldn’t talk, couldn’t sit still, couldn’t stand up straight. All I could do was writhe and moan. I sweated through my clothes, it was so dang intense. My husband was home this time, and able to take me to the ER. CT scan and labs were the picture of perfect health. They sent me home feeling like an over-dramatic idiot. I saw my PCP this morning and she sent me for a GB ultrasound. Sure enough, the dang thing is packed full of sludge already and I have to get with a surgeon to schedule its removal (good riddance). Anyone else experience anything similar? I knew bariatric surgery could cause gallbladder issues, but I definitely didn’t expect it to rear it’s ugly head within a month of surgery.

Hey y'all. Just wanted to share a milestone I'm very proud of and actually doubted ever being able to reach. I just had my 1 year surgeon's and RD's visit after RNY surgery. A year ago I was here (yes that tree was my happy spot, and it stayed up until St. Patrick's Day *snort*). And here I was at my most recent high, very sick weight of 287lbs (about 2 years ago). When I first saw my surgeon, I had been dieting on my own for 6 months and had lost down to 256lbs. The 256lbs was used to compute my RNY 6 month countdown. I'm the one of the left in case you were wondering--all 287 lbs. Most of you know my story so I won't bore you with it here. I was very sick and on a ton of meds for everything from high BP to asthma, cancer drugs, thyroid meds (I think about 12 in all--not including vitamins). Fast forward one year and today I'm only on 3 drugs: PPI, cancer drug, thyroid pill (which I can hopefully wean off of when I reach goal) + eleventy billion vitamins/minerals=fair trade! And here I am as of yesterday. I have a raging cold and feel terrible, still feel MILES better than I did what feels like so very long ago. I'm 56 years old and per my doc and RD I am at "goal weight" at 142lbs. I still want to lose another 7-12 lbs. I don't think I'm at risk of becoming too thin. And I'm pretty sure when all is said and done and maintenance starts, my booty will still be there. LOL. But we'll see what the next 6 months of continued weight loss efforts + exercising/toning bring to the equation. Today I focus on eating the most nutritionally dense, calorically light (hello, cuz I still want to lose) meals that I can find, with time off for poor choices and bad behavior. I'd say I'm about 95% on plan and 5% forkin' off on average and it fits my life. I'm asked all the time if I have any regrets or if I'm "sad I can't still have such-and-such." But what people don't get is that it isn't about what I can't eat, it's about choosing to not eat in a way that won me a lifetime invitation to the Obesity Ball. I can still eat anything and everything I want and in sufficient quantities to be a danger to myself and small rodents. So from that perspective, nothing changed from pre to post-surgery. I have zero. Repeat. Zero. Regrets. "No REGERTS" hehe (other than not doing this years ago). I've had very very minor no complications, and my life is infinitely improved--even with the baggy saggy skin, elephant testicals on my upper thighs, and hairless Sue on my head. Yes there is hair loss of significant proportions. That's my "pagent hair" I'm wearing. I try to walk 1 hour per day 6-7 days per week and am trying very hard to start toning and building muscle and improving my balance and strength. None of those are my strong suits--I'm not a big exercise fan, but I'm learning to love it and learning new tools/skills to help me maintain this loss and lifestyle for the long term. I hope this helps lift someone up who might be knee deep in the suck today, and I offer this post as proof that tomorrow DOES come. And it IS a better tomorrow. Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. If a weak, reckless, broken down old crone like me can do this, how much better will you be able to? I want to thank every VET and Sophomore and person who has helped me along on this journey from fat to fit to fabulous!!! Thank you for your time, patience and answering my millions and billions of questions over this time!!!! And thanks to Alex and his team for building such an incredible site to get and give support where we can also find those things we need to help make our journey easier!!! TY Bariatric Pal. It's been a great year and I'm looking forward to Year 2.