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I found this to be true for me, as well. One other thing that has helped a lot is finding the "right" drink. As far as cool drinks go, I was struggling really badly for a while, but found that drinking iced tea actually helped a lot. I tried plain water and water flavorings, but just could not get them down fast enough. For some reason, the tea (I drink decaf), really helped me. YMMV, but it wouldn't hurt to try other beverages and see if something else is easier on your tummy?

Some do it & swear by it but then you can find someone who swears by any diet and many for whom they didn’t work. No one diet works for everyone because we have different needs. In maintenance you need to find, not a diet, but a way of eating that works for you. One that is sustainable (this is life long & many diets are short term only), provides your body with what it needs & complements your life & how you want to live it. It may incorporate aspects of many styles of eating. For example I’ve included aspects of keto & Atkins, occasionally include vegetarian meals, usually fast for about 13hrs overnight, etc. I only fast 13+/- hrs because if I eat breakfast too early my tummy doesn’t like it & it sits heavily or I feel blah. And I eat the high protein of keto/Atkins because I don’t absorb protein well. So I included these aspects just to keep my body happy & functioning well. So, sure give intermittent fasting a go & see if it works for you.

This is an interesting question. I've read quite a lot of the scientific literature on Intermittent Fasting (IF) and I think it can be summarized as follows: IF has similar and many times better results vs. daily calorie restriction if the goal is weight loss. A lot of this additional benefit is due to the inherent ketogenic nature of IF. Compliance with IF is typically better than daily calorie restriction. If weight loss is the goal, IF can fail spectacularly if the subject overeats when not fasting. This is problematic for some people because they feel like IF gives them an excuse to eat badly on refeed days/times. IF really only works if you eat "normally" when not actually fasting. While there are numerous studies showing improved biomarkers with IF, almost all of those were done with either animals, or with overweight subjects. When compared to daily calorie restriction, many, if not most of the benefits are explained simply by underfeeding, not by IF specifically. (I should note here that IF can be extremely beneficial for certain specific medical conditions. I'm excluding a discussion on that subject and assuming we're talking about otherwise healthy adults.) Taken as a whole, the conclusion I've personally come to is that IF can be beneficial for the right people, but it's not for everyone. Which leads me to your question: Is Intermittent Fasting good for maintenance after WLS? Assuming by "maintenance" you mean you'd be at or under a normal body weight, I'm not sure how beneficial IF would be? After all, IF is typically talked about as a diet or weight loss strategy. My point being that if instead, you are worried about or are actually seeing weight regain in "maintenance" then IF may work for you. Keep in mind however that IF & daily caloric restriction should both technically work. The question I can't answer is which is best for you. Only you know which eating pattern you can best comply with. Also, there are genetic and epigenetic factors at play here as well. Some people just do better with different eating patterns. The best advice may just be to try IF and see how you like it. Don't forget there are lots of different IF eating patterns and while 16/8 may work great for one person, someone else may need 5:2 or even alternate day to be successful. If gaining weight is not an issue and you're looking more for the potential health benefits, I'll point out again that most of the scientific literature seems to support that both IF and underfeeding in general have the same benefits. This means it really comes down to you again. Can you avoid overeating when refeeding? Do you struggle with compliance on a "normal" diet? Your answers will determine your success with IF.

So much of this is an individual journey. There are averages & common experiences but a lot of variation too. From whether you’ll lose hair or not & how much you’ll lose & for how long to how fast or slow you lose. As for the hair loss, some, people swear by taking supplements to help with the hair loss (biotin is very popular) but their hair loss still slows to their usual rate after 3 or 4 months like most do. I say save your money. Cut your hair if it’s long so your new growth doesn’t take as long to catch up to the length of your remaining hair. Plus short hair looks thicker & bouncier without the weight of longer hair pulling it down. And it doesn’t look as much in the bottom of the shower. 🙂 As for the rate of weight loss, best advice is to stick to the plan you were given by your dietician. Or if you didn’t get one for past the initial staged return to eating, get in touch with them to review what your eating, guidance & other options yiu could include in your diet. But I agree, 25 lbs in 2 months is a good loss. Remember you lose at your rate & your weight loss will slow as you get close to your goal.

I still do IF, occasionally. Most of the time it’s 14 or 16 hr fasts that sort of just happens if I’m busy and delay breakfast. But sometimes I do OMAD when I’m not hungry. But at 5yrs post op it’s definitely easier to eat enough vs too little so it maybe easier the further out you are.

well...i sort of do intermittent fasting naturally (both during weight loss phase AND during maintenance) i normally don't eat until after noon (just not a morning eater...never was even before surgery). After surgery i don't normally eat past 7 or 8 pm..i got into this habit cuz i had a horrible experience with nighttime regurgitation one night and it was enough to make sure i always went to bed on an empty stomach. ...sooo i ended up practicing 16/8 IF without really meaning to. been doing this pretty much about 90% of the time for about 4 years now. not sure if doing so has any added health benefit but i do it anyway cuz its just how i roll lol. p.s. i meet all my nutritional needs most of the time and can easily get 1800+ calories in during those 8 hours (fyi, i graze). my last set of labs 1.5 months ago say im in great health...and i dont even take any vitamins. YMMV. Good luck!

I would be very concerned about doing intermittent fasting. 1) As a post-WLS patient it would be EXTREMLY hard to meet all your nutritional needs in just one or two meals a day. Seems like you are setting yourself up for health issues. 2) I personally had surgery to break the dieting cycle. I've done them all, including IM, and none of them worked long term and were healthy & sustainable. Why would you want to revert back to behaviors that didn't serve you? If you want support moving into maintenance, I would say reach out to your team. They should be able to help guide you in a healthy way. If they don't have resources for maintenance, see if you can get in to see a dietitian, preferably one with WLS experience. Hang in there, this is uncharted territory and we all need support! But don't let yourself be enticed back into old, unhealthy habits.

Is anyone using intermittent fasting as a maintenance strategy? If so, what model are you using? Thoughts/insights?

I agree that everyone's journey is different! Before my weight gain, I did have a pretty fast metabolism, as far as what I am doing now is just prioritizing protein and trying to stay away from carbs.

Hi, I also had GB and HH repair..along with esophagus repairs due to years of GERD. As mentioned above, at the hospital I was given the 1 oz. medicine cups and filled them up, taking tiny sips. Each cup was about 3 sips and I did this all day long keeping a tally of how many I drank. Each day I could drink a little more of a sip and soon 1 cup became 1 sip. I also made sure EVERY day that I beat the day befores numbers if even only by 1 oz. Broth, shakes, all liquid counted towards my liquid goal and if it had protein even better. I treated it like my own personal competition. By my 2 week follow up I was hitting the low end of my fluid goals. It got a little harder when I started on pureed foods, because my meals weren't liquid anymore. But I created quite a routine and after a few days I was back to hitting the liquid AND protein goal. I would wake up, drink 8oz of high protein milk (Fairlife-12 g protein) which also counted as 8 oz of fluid. Drink 16/20 oz water Drink a 12 oz shake (30 g protein) and 12 oz fluid Drink about 16 oz water Eat: usually egg salad or chicken salad, or ground turkey with taco seasoning all pureed, usually about 5-8g protein because I could eat so little. Drink a clear protein drink, I drank gatorade zero with protein (10 g protein) and 16 oz fluid Drink water until bed. This was and really still is my daily routine now but I can drink like normal and fast so I get about 100 oz of WATER a day and no longer count my shakes as fluid. It was slightly modified when I went back to work but basically wake up and drink a shake, then 3-4 bottle of water before lunch, lunch and 1-2 bottle of water before dinner and after dinner water (or sometimes a suagr free something like lemonade) up until bed. I still drink a shake for breakfast because I just cant eat enough to get in enough protein unless I literally eat all day and then I feel full and bloated all day. You just have to find a schedule that works for you, but either way it takes time to ease back into it. Just don't get dehydrated. Focus on fluids first and then work on protein, at lease that is what my team instructed. Good luck, we are all rooting for you!

Avoid drinking too much too fast, as it is likely to not only hurt but can do damage, especially being that recent to your surgery date. I would constantly sip all day long. It takes roughly 10 seconds or so for a sip of water to run to your stomach and through it, so to be safe I would leave about 30 seconds minimum in between sips to ensure it has cleared your stomach. And for safety's sake, if you feel a "new" pain, stop stop stop sipping until the pain fully goes away. If you constantly sip, you shouldn't have a terrible time reaching your goal. Once you are hydrated that thirst feeling subsides quite a bit. Best of luck to you.

My surgery was Oct 19 and almost through soft foods. I still measure every meal. I have a 14 oz glass that I goal to drink 4 of. Try to eat every 2 hours. One protein shake a day. Just getting my energy back. Dec 13 I go to any food. Will skip steak bread for a.year. try one food a day. So far only had fast heart rate the second week. Spices don't bother me. Found ground turkey (Jenni) taco or Italian flavored, turkey sausage and looking forward to turkey bacon. 93% ground beef is treating me fine. Eating 1/2 cup, measured each meal, 5x day. Take the container when I eat out. I have a card party at Denny and Perkins. Omelet, tomato soup. Will continue with protein shake for the first year to maintain protein until I get to 1 cup.

It might not be an issue, but then again it might be. It really depends on if you're getting enough nutrients and the only way you'll be able to tell is if you bring this up with your Bariatric team. Bariatric surgery makes it very hard for us to get the nutrients we need for our bodies to function, things like serious deficiencies might happen which can lead to a whole bunch of health issues which can be very hard to fix, once they take hold. Getting back on track is A LOT harder than if you hadn't had the surgery, which is why we're given vitamins for the rest of our lives and we have blood tests to keep this all in check, so please chat with your provider ASAP! I have a work friend who is a little over 6 months ahead of me and she wanted to lose weight as fast as possible and she didn't take the proteins goals seriously, cut corners and a lot of her hair has fallen out to the point she's just decided to shave it all off... And that's not the worst thing that can happen from deficiencies. She's really not healthy and she hasn't sped up her loss progress that much, she's just given herself a bunch of medical issues. Being "Skinny" shouldn't really be a concern 3 months in, unless you're finding that your losses are too drastic and you're near goal, in that case, yet again, talk to your provider. Losing weight is one of the goals but you want to really do this correctly, learning why we eat, when we should eat and how much of each thing we need to eat and learning to eat for health. That's the main goal of all of this, so that once we reach 12months, 18months post op, we don't develop unrealistic diets or want to go back to our old ways and gain it all back. We want to maintain our weight losses with the new knowledge we have learnt from doing this with the help of our providers. Chat with your surgeon, chat with a dietician, if you're getting your nutrients, it's probably not going to be an issue, but the only way to really know is by reaching out and chatting to them. Usually they will do blood tests to make sure everything is okay, but if you're worried that you're not eating enough or that you're losing too fast, you really need to chat to them All the best, take each day as it comes, and don't be afraid to talk to your healthcare team, they will be able to help you with any issues you're concerned about. it's what they're there for, to make sure you reach all of your goals, safely and realistically

With a few minor differences, I probably could have written your post. In addition to the back pain from multiple herniated disks, I was having sciatica so bad that I needed a walker to even walk at all. This was a chronic condition that I lived with for over 30 years. It tended to get a bit better for a while, but I could go downhill really fast. When it was at its worst, I retreated into the bottle to make it through the day. I agree with @The Greater Fool that if you have not worked with a Pain Management Specialist, it's worth a try. That said, they tend to focus on medical treatments (such as different pain medications, epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, joint injections, radiofrequency ablation, etc.). Those may help you, but didn't do all that much for me. Before anyone asks, I tried 3 different pain management docs and over 25 different treatments and never got any lasting relief. I don't say that to be discouraging! I mention it because I held out high hopes for pain management to be the "fix" for my pain. When it wasn't, I retreated even more into the bottle. I'd hate to see you have the same experience. Because of that, in addition to pain management, I would encourage you to look into physical therapy, especially physical aquatic therapy, which should be available in most major population centers. I found this really made a big difference in my sciatica frequency, even if it didn't exactly eliminate the pain. Other things to try include massage therapy (which I recommend via a physical therapy office, not a massage therapist as they will have more experience working with chronic pain patients), acupuncture & chiropractic care. Finally, don't neglect psychological therapy. Among other techniques, "Cognitive Behavior Therapy" can really help. Many people don't realize that pain is simply a sensation. It's our brains that actually determine how we respond to that sensation and CBT can help tremendously. Bottom line, don't give up! There is no one-size-fits-all treatment, so you have to be your own advocate and continue to try things until you find what works for you. I'm living proof it can be done.

Tldr: fat guy got thin, chronic pain derailed him, now drinks and can’t move much, doc and therapist say suck it up. Feels lost and confused and has developed a slight booze issue, that thankfully is not a full blown problem, yet. Not asking for sympathy or prayers, just want to know if anyone is going through something similar and how do you deal with it. Hey everyone, I’m in a downward spiral here. The background is that I got my sleeve in 2018, lost about 100 lbs, got a new job with more more money, and I actually liked it, I felt awesome and was looking great. Fast forward to present day. I’m currently living with chronic back pain, the result of injuries about 20-30 years ago. Coupled with arthritis in my spine and neck, late developmentof scoliosis. Daily pain is a 6-7 on the pain scale and 1-2 times a week it can get to 9-10 on the scale. I still work for the same company but now work 100% from home, that part I love, but I no longer move as much and i can't travel like did. Honestly I can’t really, some days just showering and dressing is a challenge. I used to play pickleball, take light hikes etc. All gone. I’ve been told I’m too young, 52, and my condition is not severe enough for surgery yet. I do stretching and some pain management drugs if I get to a point I can’t cope with the pain that day but mostly I suck it up and deal with it. I have turned to liquor as a crutch and ashamedly can be a nightly thing. I’ve gained about 30 pounds back, I feel like a total failure and have lost my direction. I’ve talked with therapist, and doctors but kept being told, in short, “when live hands you lemons…” Honestly, I feel like life has kicked me in the balls and told me to piss off. I started this journey to improve and heal my life. And now I feel that my opportunity is being taken away. The daily pain and slow stripping of my thinner life has been a real mind f**k. I’ve been trying hard to get back on track and have had limited success but I try. But I’m tired, so tired of the struggle, it’s been nothing but since I was a kid. Sent from my SM-G970U using BariatricPal mobile app

I had the sleeve on Nov 29th. I also had hiatal hernia repair, which I did not know I even had the hernia so glad they found and repaired that while i was under. I have been on the liquids since Nov 14th. I go back to Dr for check up on Dec 8th. So its liquids until at least that time. The thought of the protein shakes was almost too much, they were so sweet, I had to figure out something. I haven't been told I can have soups. The only addition to the pre-op diet us 1% milk and greek yogurt, non fat, zero sugar. So I was feeling desparate for a change. My friend who is a nurse, put together this mixture for me and it is so much more tolerable and keeps me full. It is one half cup of the unflavored yogurt, one half cup of milk, one protein shake, one scoop of unflavored protein powder all blended in blender. The cosistency is good, the flavor is so much better, the sweetness is cut more than in half. I feel so much more satisfied with this "potion" than any I have tried yet. Once i finish the amount in the blender, I know I have hit 87 GM of protein for the day. My friend did the protein calculations for me to make sure i was getting enough. As for getting through it each day, I pray a lot, and keep my mind focused on the end goal. I am also making sure I rest a lot. I have learned from past surgeries that pushing things to fast always backfires. I am practicing positive thinking and positive meditations as well. This might sound crazy but so far it is working to get me through the days of liquids. Plus, I figure if i made it this far i can do another day, as you said one day at a time, seems to be the best solution! You can do this, you are doing it and that is fantastic.

I lost 16 lbs the first month, so I was probably about where you are at six weeks out. I was really worried about being a "slow loser", but I went on to lose all of my excess weight, over 200 lbs. So don't worry - if you stick to your plan, the weight will come off, either fast or slow.

Leaks are almost always discovered before you even leave the hospital. You should be fine. Your pouch is just telling you that you drank too much or too fast.

Had a special occasion to attend. I love Mimi's cafe French quarter burger. Didn't get far though. I ate about 80g. I brought the rest home for my better half to eat. I hear many people say that they are embarrassed to eat so little and worried how the server will react. Not me! I am so happy to ask for a box right away. I still remember days of eating ALL of this plate plus their French onion soup or salad (fast), and my slim acquaintances just playing on their phone, chatting and eating a bite or two of their food. I could NEVER do that... but I can now.

Hi, I had the sleeve on 11-28. I totally agree with the whole change at the holiday. I was in the middle of the pre-op liquid diet on thanksgiving. I just explained to family and friends that it was best for me to not be around all that temptation because i know myself. I did well. I am now two days post op and so grateful i stuck with the pre op plan to the T! I am doing well so far with getting in my liquids but i get full so fast. I have to be super mindful to pace my sips. So far so good. I am praying recovery continues to go this well.

Hi! I am about 2.5 weeks post op. I am currently on puree stage until 12/12, after which I move to soft foods. My recovery has been surprisingly easy. I am getting my recommended protein (averaging 70g) and water in and I haven't found any food tolerance issues (so far). I have had zero issues with keeping things down. My question is... I am fresh off the liquids and just starting into anything of "substance". I started purees this past Monday. I am struggling with the boundary between "satisfied" and "too full". I have noticed that I either eat too fast or too much (haven't figured out which yet) and get the chest tightness/esophagus fullness, where it feels like food is sitting in my chest/throat. I know this means I have done something wrong and I am trying to correct it, but having a hard time finding my "stop" moment. I really want to get this figured out before starting soft foods. I also really don't want to cause any damage to my still healing stomach, but I feel like that "one bite" can be the one that is too much. For example - this morning I had 1/2 a Fairlife Core Power (26g) protein shake. About an 90 mins later I had a hard boiled egg. That was about 45 mins ago and my chest feels tight. So, how did you start to figure all this out? Is it normal in the beginning to struggle with finding the new limit? I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment. Liquids was so easy, I almost miss them. 😆 Thanks!

Yep! This is totally me too. I'll stall and then drop. My surgery team says not only is this normal but very healthy for our bodies. It gives it time to adjust and catch up. So I am not worrying about these little stalls anymore and know that slow and steady is WINNING the race! One thing I have added to my week are green smoothies with a really good veggie powder. There's no possible way I could eat all the veggies I need to meet nutrient requirements, so a good veggie powder in my smoothie has helped me a lot. I try to eat a salad at lunchtime with oil and balsamic vinegar. Another thing I have been doing is 18:6 intermittent fasting to help keep insulin spikes down. I try to get all my eating done within the six-hour window, and I'm finding I'm not hungry and doing really well on it. Fasting is also very good for helping loose skin through autophagy, I recently got Covid and that hasn't been helpful, but it makes you less hungry for a few days. 🤣

I get a sneezing fit, burps or a runny nose when I eat too fast. Not all at the same time and its usually constantly burping for like 10 min but I have had the sneezing too. I have not thrown anything up though.

ok, so first i agree with the low BP theories mentioned above. i would get woozy getting up quickly or just turning around too fast...resulting in stumbling or knocking into things. the other things i figured out that helped to explain my sudden-onset clumsiness: - i used to trip over imaginary obstacles (i.e., my own feet!) all the time. turns out my feet shrunk and my shoes became too big. so yeah, tripping. - there was a period where i would drop things from my hand for no reason. i think this was because i was weaker than normal and over-estimated my grip strength - i cant say how many times i would walk into the corners of my kitchen island during weight loss phase (ouch!). i figure my mind hadn't yet figured out spacial awareness with my smaller size im 4 years post now, my shoes fit, things stay in my hand, and the bruises on my waist and hips are thankfully gone! Good Luck!

Yesterday was a little tough with the belly button pain, I realized talking, walking too fast and standing too long puts pressure there. Add that I have some coughing and feel like it will burst. Other than that the bigger incision sometimes feels sore and is getting easier to get on bed, still a little struggle to get off bc of the belly button incision. I managed 40oz of water, 4oz of shake and 2oz of broth. Hoping to do better or at least the same for today. Sent from my SM-G960U1 using BariatricPal mobile app