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that's REALLY common after weight loss surgery

The disease of obesity is potentially fatal; the decision to pursue WLS is a private one. I decided to share my weight-loss and surgical experience with my closest friends. By far I have found them supportive. However, one person told me the post-op diet was unhealthy and would ruin my metabolism. I had to just let him know that this is prescribed as part of my doctor’s program, and I am going to follow it. So there is definitely a downside to sharing the choice for surgery. I do not feel that keeping things fairly private is hurting others because each person is responsible for their own health, and theirs only. WLS is so well-known now that virtually every heavy person os aware of that option.

I had surgery almost 4 weeks ago and my weight loss is pretty slow too. Its very discouraging but I just try to remind myself that my weight isnt going to come off overnight. My weight plateaud for a little over week before I finally dropped a pound so I completely understand how you feel

I've known two post-ops that lost their excess weight then became 'life coaches' who shared their experience and success at losing weight to their paying customers: Diet and exercise. No mention of WLS. Shameful. I only shared that I was having WLS with those people that needed to know either for medical history or work contingencies. We didn't even tell our grown children. Post-op my weight loss was rarely a topic of conversation outside the few people that knew of it. As we visited or were visited by family we let them in on the news. Anyone that could not be supportive were invited to share their insights with anyone but us. Of course, that last bit is pretty much a standing rule. If an acquaintance asked about my weight loss I had two sets of answers: 1. If it was someone with a weight issue or other compelling story and I was feeling chatty I told the whole story; 2. Otherwise I just said I would not be discussing personal topics today, but thanks for asking. I think lying outright is not a good feeling nor a good look, especially when the truth is inevitably revealed. I've learned as I've gotten older to keep more and more of my own counsel. No need to lie. No need to even talk. Good luck, Tek

Turned out to be be a good thread with a terrible title. I told my family and friends, but do not offer any information to acquaintances unless I'm asked about my weight loss. I'm certainly not ashamed of it. Quite the opposite. I'm proud of addressing a life long issue. That said, I support anyone who chooses not to tell. People can be judgemental and cruel. Weight loss surgery is a difficult decision, that most of us did not take lightly. There Is no reason anyone owes an explanation regarding their weight loss to anyone.

Hi Everyone, I've been trying to do some research on Gastric Sleeve and was lucky enough to come across this website. I'm sure there are many other boards that answer this question but I wanted to share my concerns in hopes that I will get a response. I'm set to have my very first consultation with my surgeon this upcoming Thursday and I'm super excited but also very anxious. I have Aetna and I see that there are certain requirements needed in order to be approved. My BMI is currently 38.2. I started my weight loss journey 1,000 times back in November and have only lost 9 Pounds. I have seen that anyone above a BMI of 40 pretty much qualifies for the surgery but anyone between 35-40 needs to meet certain requirements such as High blood pressure or sleep apnea. However, I guess my question is whether they will take my 38.2 BMI along with other side effects due to my weight? Since I've had my son, I've had severe knee pain along with swollen feet. If I stand up in the kitchen simply cooking for too long then my feet will swell up and ache for the remainder of the night along with Severe GERD and IBS. Does the insurance take this into consideration? If your someone like me that has such a high BMI but not at exactly 40, will the doctor try to help, or do they automatically turn you away? I have high anxiety and knowing other's experiences would help me out a lot. I have been trying to lose weight the natural way for years and I'm over it at this point. Your answers are very helpful.

I hope I won’t be judged harshly here, but I really would appreciate feedback from this group. Several years back I decided against Lasik on my eyes after researching and reading horror stories and regrets people had after their surgeries. Wearing glasses for the rest of my life is not that big of a deal to me but carrying 150+ pounds of excess weight and facing future health risks is. And I want to feel energetic again and do something more with my life than be a couch potato. So maybe I shouldn’t have started reading stories from people who have experienced major issues after getting weight loss surgery. I know the percentage of people with regrets is small, my surgeon is experienced and I came through gall bladder surgery two years ago with flying colors. I’m taking the risk and doing this, but did anyone else pause for a moment pre-surgery and ponder the “what if’s”?

I am glad you are feeling better about this. Just remember through any stall (because you will have a few through this process) that no human can survive on the limited calories we are consuming (assuming you are sticking to your plan) and not lose weight. Your body may fight it for a little while but the loss is inevitable.

Surgery is scheduled for May 24. On the liquid diet now, and it sucks... but brighter days are coming!! Excited when I see the loss on the scales daily.

I had RNY 12/14/2020. I am down 130 from my HW and 80 since surgery. I am off all diabetes meds and had an A1C a month ago of 5.6. I see the endocrinologist in 2 weeks. My Type 2 was considered well-controlled so I only saw him twice per year. I am now hoping for even less frequent visits. My weight loss seems to go in spurts. I drop a few pounds, stay stable and then drop a few more. I am trying to practice all good habits in terms of portion size, exercise and vitamins to keep me in this for the long haul. I feel good and am happy in my decision. Despite still having more weight to lose, I haven't weighed this little in many years. I do have some issues with foam vomiting on occasion. It is not dependent upon what I eat. It is all about how fast I eat and how well I chew. I've not found specific foods that don't agree with me. I'm learning to navigate the world of eating post surgery while dining out and being part of social activities.

Hello, I am 5 weeks post op today and still have not lost any weight since my first week post op...I measure all of my food, even the bites I sneak from family members. I walk every day, work in my yard and play with my dogs. Has anyone had this problem and what worked to get things started? I feel very emotional and defeated to the point of feeling I went through all of this for nothing. thank you, v

Weight loss surgery is medical care and medical care is private. 🤷‍♀️ I encourage people to not be ashamed, but it's every person's choice how much they want to share about their medical situation.

I initially really wanted the bypass, but it was medically contraindicated for me so I had the sleeve. I was disappointed, but it turned out to be a good choice. I lost all my excess weight, I had no major complications, and so far I am maintaining my loss. There are pros and cons to both surgeries, as others have mentioned. Depending on your health and anatomy, one or the other might be advisable. Both can effectively help you lose weight. Best of luck!

Thanks for asking [emoji846]Every day I have GRATITUDE for having had weight loss surgery. No surgical complications. No surgery related problems short or long term. I have medical issues unrelated to obesity that frustrated my weight loss. It took a long time but I made it below my surgeons goal to ensure a "normal" BMI. I struggled with the usual ups and downs you can expect over the years. Overall, I'm maintaining. There is no way I will allow myself to go backwards. Pre wls I wore 18/20/2x in most brands. At my personal goal weight I wear 0/2/4 at Gap/ Old Navy. Today I can't wear my size 0 jeans but I'm working my way back into them. My un breakable rule of maintenance is Never, Ever Buy A Larger Size. This keeps re gain in check. I shop with a tape measure to ensure consistency between brands. I consciously work on my disfunctional eating to address what surgery cannot. I hope my story is helpful. MSW

I had the sleeve done on 4/27/21 so I’m fairly new with it honestly it’s the best decision I have made so far in my weight loss journey I have struggled with my weight for years now an I am finally seeing progress an feeling a lot better an happier overall. I walk a lot as well so I would recommend getting some steps in to get familiar with being more active an focus on drinking water an being mindful of what you eat good luck on your journey I’m sure your going to do amazing 😊

Hi folks! HW: 267 SW: 255 CW: 227 Height: 5'5 Can't believe I'm 3 month out already! I've lost almost 30 lbs since surgery. 40 lbs since January and I feel great! I was stalling A LOT the first 2 month. I've done so much extreme diets in the past, I think my body was used to it and was trying to wait me out. I haven't had any stalls this month though so I think my body is finally giving up on holding my fat cells hostage! LOL! I am eating roughly 700-1000 calories. I still mostly drink my calories with protein shakes/drinks. I usually have yogurt for breakfast, a handful of leftovers for lunch and dinner with protein and veggies or chili. I just started working out again last week. Mostly cardio and Yoga. I am hoping to lose another 30lbs by my birthday (September), then another 30 lbs to my goal by December. I've come to terms with the fact that I didn't dramatically lose a bunch of pounds and my journey is more slow and steady. I haven't brought any new clothes yet but I do feel more comfortable in the clothes I have now. I am thinking its time for some new bras but I want to hold out as long as possible. On a side note, my boyfriend has been so supportive and gone on this weight loss journey with me (without surgery). He is down almost 30 lbs too (MEN!). I think my slower loss keeps him motivated. We are like 3 lbs away from each other and have a mini race going on during our weekly check ins.

I had my bypass on 3/3/21. I went into my consult asking for the sleeve but based on my doctor's recommendation and my own research, I went with bypass. It's a misconception that the bypass is more invasive. From the patient side, the recovery is the same as both surgeries are done laparoscopically. It is a more complex surgery for the doctor and it takes about an hour longer, but other than that there's not much difference on the patient side. My doc said that the sleeve is a good surgery, but if it were a race, the bypass would win every time. I was also diabetic, and there's a higher chance of being cured of diabetes with the bypass than the sleeve. My endocrinologist said they're not really sure HOW it works, but it does! My endo told me to stop taking my diabetes medicine once I had surgery because many people never need it again. I go to him next week so I hope that's how it works for me! In the months leading up to my decision, I read a lot of posts about people switching from sleeve to bypass because of GERD. I would get it occasionally before surgery and didn't want to take the chance of it happening afterward. My insurance also told me that it was a one-time coverage so I wanted to make the best choice for myself. As for prep work before surgery, I agree with @lizonaplane I spent the time having extra appointments with the nutritionist, working with my therapist, and generally lurking around here soaking up knowledge for other folks' experiences so that when these things - like stalls, hair loss, loose skin - have occurred, I'm mentally ready for them. I also changed a lot of my eating habits. I really think those changes have made my post-op months so much easier.

Thanks @NovaLuna! Thats so interesting about your April curse! Maybe you're more stressed in April or something? I need to cut down on sodium but salt is soooo good! lol! My blood pressure is generally high so I so watch it but I'll keep that in mind for my next stall. I don't know why but the last 3 weeks have actually been GREAT for me! I've been losing 2-3 lbs consistently. I'm scared to type this because I don't want to jinx it! I did start working out again last week and I think it really does make a difference. lol! I didnt have too much faith in it helping because I know working out only counts for a small precent of weight loss and I was feeling low energy. But I actually have more energy now that I am working out and eating more. I'm happier and losing more weight. Woop Woop!!! I think my body needed time to adjust. Me: Im going to lose weight. *Does weight lost surgery, eats 600 cal a day* Body: Here she does again. Time to hold on to all the weight until she gives up. I think I can hold out a few months. Body in 3 months: Can't hold out any longer! Must actually burn fat cells!

As I've said here before, I shared my surgery with a small group of friends and family--and I had a couple of very negative, judgmental reactions even within that group. When other friends or acquaintances ask how I lost so much weight, I tell them it was a medically-supervised weight loss program. The only exception is if a very obese person asks, in which case I will tell the truth in hopes of inspiring them to do the same. I don't think it's fair to give them false hope that my results were achievable without surgery. I will note that I have also had cancer and kept that information among a small group of people as well. Many people don't know how to respond when someone is dealing with cancer, and I didn't want to deal with that. It was a very personal and private journey for me.

Hi All, I have been on a weight loss journey for a while and finally decided that I want to go the bariatric surgery route. Right now I’m thinking more about the vertical sleeve as the pros and cons are better than the gastric bypass. I’ve been told by my Doctor he doesn’t do the gastric banding as the cons far outweigh anything else and it has a bigger chance of failing or just not working properly. He will do it if I push for it but has said the number around the world is very small due to the complications I have been told to consider the Bypass or the sleeve. For those that have done either one do you regret not doing the other? I have had all my tests done - cardiologist, gastrointestinal, ultrasounds, dietitian and psychologist with another appointment with my surgeon and the psychologist and dietitian in 10days again before the paperwork gets sent to my insurance company for approval. I want to go into the surgeon with an open mind but a decision on which surgery I want to do. I’m planning on doing the surgery in July when school is out (I’ve just got a temporary job for 2months) Those that have done surgery is there anything you recommend I should do before surgery? Is there anything you wished you had done before surgery? is recovery really difficult? I’ve not told 99% of my friends or family, my husband and a close friend then a friend I know that has been through bariatric surgery. I just feel that some people can be judgemental or just mean so I’m choosing to say nothing. thank you all for your help and support K

If you really want the science of it all its here : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6761298/ in my program we had to go through a class that talked about it. I am not going to slaughter the spellings of the hormones and proteins that are disrupted after weight loss surgery but your body has a new norm or "reset" that changes the way you burn your carbs and fats. The Ghrehlin (hunger hormone) is decreased a great deal with the VSG and ultimately you do not eat as much but the WAY your body is actually seeing and burning the calories you do ingest is being looked at differently as well. The science is actually super interesting.....

Man, this brought up a lot for me. I grew up and had SnackWells in the pantry and SlimFast under the counter at all times. My mom was an 80s diet aficionado. Anything and everything that was diet was her life. I was slim after puberty, but was made fun of a lot as a kid for being overweight. After college, mental illness took its toll and so did some of the medication I was on- especially on my scale. I finally decided to get weight loss surgery last year after 10 years of trying to get rid of the extreme weight gain that had occurred on my meds. Before surgery it was a huge topic of conversation with my mom about diets and weight and what she was trying next. It was exhausting. I found a lot of grace and support from body positivity advocates and I really started drawing some hard boundaries with what I will and won't talk about with my mom. She still talks about her body negatively and I just either don't engage if I don't have the emotional fortitude, or I will counter with something positive if I can. I have learned over the last few years that you can love your body and still work on things that you want to change. All the things muala94 mentioned, mobility, stamina, feeling freer and not necessarily getting that sense of freedom from food are things that I was looking for, but I really wanted to stop hating my body for doing nothing more than existing in the way that it did. During the pandemic it felt safe to pursue this surgery because I didn't have to tell anyone. I didn't have to explain myself or say what happened or have all of these conversations about someone's opinion of my body- positive or negative. I could just do the work and figure it out for myself. I dread some of my family mentioning it in the future. I don't want to be congratulated for what they saw was a deficiency. I don't see my body that way. I don't want to have people tell me that they feel better about what my body looks like now, because it is still mine and I feel protective over what it was when it was bigger. What I am trying to get at it, I really get the feeling when you say that you don't want to hear any more spewing of derision from people about a body that deserved to be loved then and now. Boundaries really helped me. It takes time. My mother is very stubborn and I have been pushing against her 'helpful' commentary my whole life. I imagine it will be that was forever. But what worked for me was telling her very bluntly that she can help in the way she is asked. She can support me, ask me how I am feeling, go for walks, or we can just sit enjoy each others company. Unsolicited advice isn't welcome. I will no longer have conversations about my weight or food or the morality of a Snickers. It isn't an easy process especially when some parents see independence or boundaries as an insult or as a jab at their control as parental figures. I hope your therapist can help you navigate the process, and hopefully if your family is open to working through this with you so you can all get to a better place together. Oh, and if you watch Shrill, I found a lot of Aidy Bryant's character dealing with her mom about food and weight a really good example of trying to have these tough conversations.

I do the same. I've used MFP since 2012 and it holds a lot of historic data. But I use Baritastic to track food intake I love that it tells you the 7 day, 30 day and 90 day weight loss/gain trends. Since I'm 6 months post-op and below my goal weight, my husband, children and good friends have really been giving me grief about being too thin, looking unhealthy, looking sickly etc...…. The Baritastic site allows me to share real time information like - "I'm pretty sure I'm in maintenance because I've only lost 0.8 lbs. in the last 7 days" and "I've only lost 3.1 lbs. in the last 30 days" etc. It seems to make the people who care about me feel better that I'm tracking my weight loss with such accuracy. Not sure if that makes sense, but it works very well for me.

Beautiful AND Talented!!! I took sewing in high school, and made hair scrunchies every day! I'm showing my age by admitting to wearing hair scrunchies in high school! LOL!!

Hey December surgery people! Our group hasn't posted much lately, I'm hoping it's because of all the success and lifestyle changes. I've made a few friends and one that I text with regularly that we continue to push each other and to hold ourselves accountable. My story has been met with highs, lows, weight loss walls and amazing success. I'm -122.2 lbs since I started the journey 1/1/20 and -73.1 lbs since surgery 12/2/20. My weight loss has certainly slowed in the recent month or 2, but overall it's trending in the right direction. I'm still not able to eat solid red meat (steak) and regular milk without severe stomach aches, but overall the experience has been life changing and worth every second of effort I've made. Does anyone else have some stories to share from our surgery month of December 2020? Jason