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I was sleeved yesterday through an endoscope and I was so nervous I almost backed out right before they put me under. I have polycystic ovary syndrome so it was so very hard to lose weight on my own and I am an emotional eater. I decided to go for the surgery to turn my life around but I'm so worried that I won't be able to stick to the new lifestyle.. I'm a crazy food lover. Eating brings me comfort. Any advice to survive the first month?

Not getting fluids in, will affect weight loss. I am not a fluid drinker either. It's very difficult for me. So I do understand, my dietician told me to make sure I get my fluids in, it will help with weight loss. You are also allowed to walk. At two weeks I was cleared to do any exercise, but I do know of some that can't do crunches or lift weights. I do as stated before walk 10000 steps, It equals to 5 miles. I exercise 5 days a week an hour per day. I mix cardio with resistance training. Try using My Fitness Pal. You can log your food and your exercise.

hi juniper im also considering a revision. im going to south america in july so i will get an unfill then once i go back to have Fluid added back i plan to start my process. i have lost weight with my band and im happy for that but i certainly need to lose more and think a different surgery will help me get to goal. my band is not all the way full but i never wanted to fill it to the max, i always wanted some wiggle room. i wish you success in the next phase of your journey. daqui

I was on a liquid diet for 2 weeks pre op.. optifast 4 small juice boxes of it a day and a optifast bar. I was really worried about it because I was afraid I would be hungry and fail.. But I wasn't hungry on it.. it was fine. I did get a little hungry the second week and called the nutritionist and she allowed salad with balsamic vinegar and 3oz of tuna a day that really helped. It was not as bad as I had worried. I just kept thinking I wanted this surgery to save my life! I could do two weeks of dieting so I wouldn't have to diet for the rest of my life! It is amazing how great I feel and you will look back and realize how easy it was. You can do it. Just remember you can do anything to be there for your kids. You will be adding years to your life by losing weight and this was my inspiration. Good luck and God bless!

I started off with shakes as well in the early days . . . but at that point I stopped losing and my fill doctor said not to do the shakes because I was defeating the purpose of the band and making it harder on myself. They told me shakes will never make me full if I am not tightly restricted and it is too much of a "diet" to try and keep myself satisfied in this way. I stopped the shakes and my weight loss picked up. I would occasionally eat light yogurt for Breakfast and maybe half a piece of fruit sometimes (1 - 2 times a week), but mostly I would just have two eggs cooked however I felt like at the time coupled with a little low fat cheese. Sometimes I would eat cottage cheese. lunch would usually be Protein like salmon or chicken or eggs if I didn't have them for breakfast with veggies of some form (salad, steamed, etc). dinner would also be a protein, but generally I would spend a little more time at dinner cooking it in a way I really liked. Sometimes I would saute beef with mushrooms with spices with a little tomato paste and Water. Sometimes I would pan-fry salmon with fresh dill and accompany it with some plain yogurt mixed with dill and cucumber. Sometimes I would brown little chunks of chicken breast with a veggie. Sides were always veggies of different sorts, but I avoided starchy things like potatoes or corn. By sticking primarily to Proteins first, I got full quickly. Veggies are almost like free foods . . . I ate as much as I wanted when I was hungry. This really helped me through times of minimal restriction because I would eat as much as I needed to feel full, but they were healthy choices and I could still lose weight. I would consider my diet a modified low carb and it helped me to keep losing. I didn't snack and avoided any carbs that were not whole and unprocessed. Nothing pre-packaged or chips, Desserts, breads, rices, Pasta, etc. I also started off at 800-1000 calories the first month but found I lost more consistently at 1000-1200. My weight loss has been steady in that I lost every month . . . but it was always plateau, lose a little, plateau, lose a little more.

Some schedule a week or two out. Hopefully that will be the case, I wish mine was. Have a great day! Amanda [emoji16] HW 248 CW 241 Surgery Date: pending 11/21/2017. Goal weight 150’ish [emoji23]

I can tollerate most foods. I have to limit pasta as it is so dense I feel really full from it. Now that I'm healed, nothing "gets stuck" anymore. I feel great which is wonderful. Had an infection in my incision initially so I didn't feel great for serveral weeks. The weight loss seems to come in waves - wish is was more consistent but beggers cannot be choosers. I"m down 47 pounds since I started the liquid diet 2 weeks before my surgery!

Remember, the less carbs you eat a greater weight loss.

Gorgeous! Congrats on your weight lost.

There's really nothing you can do but put on the big girl panties and keep rolling with it. You've just got to push through. It TOTALLY sucks, usually the second week is less hellish than the first, but as miserable as it is, know it's all for an amazing cause!!! It's worth it!!!! Just keep on, keeping on, try not to bite anyone's head off and it'll be here before ya know it!!! HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 198

30 days, 3 pounds. At least its in the right direction! Part of that time I gained 2 pounds..... The body does what it wants... just keep on with the good habits as much as you can.

I cried off and on for days before surgery. Also in my presurgery appointments you can see my blood pressure going higher ans higher heading up to my surgery date. I was consumed with anxiety and worry that I might not make it through it. Then, I woke up from surgery, had my pain meds, and haven't regretted it yet 5 months later. While I have lost weight, I have regained my life as well as hope. I know now that my body can change, and I can do better, so I am spurred on to continue trying to lose weight. I'm not sure there was anything that could have been said to ease me before surgery. I was terribly afraid of leaving my husband alone and wanting more time on this earth with him. What did help me was continually coming here to check on the progress of others and their stories. That lifted me up and focused me (continues to this day actually) on my goal which is a healthier body and a longer life. God bless you and your sister. It's a blessing to have family to care for you.

There's really nothing you can do but put on the big girl panties and keep rolling with it. You've just got to push through. It TOTALLY sucks, usually the second week is less hellish than the first, but as miserable as it is, know it's all for an amazing cause!!! It's worth it!!!! Just keep on, keeping on, try not to bite anyone's head off and it'll be here before ya know it!!! HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 198

I'm at my goal weight!!! I'm so excited. I haven't been this weight since I was a junior in High School. Now, it's time to really focus on tightening up the flabby areas as much as I can then decide if I want to have plastic surgery.

@catwoman7 thanks for explaining some of the things you did pre-surgery and how they helped; and well done on your weight loss .... it's really helping reading a little of others experiences @GradyCat congratulations on the weight you've lost since surgery; and that's so encouraging to read that the surgery has helped you with the emotional eating as well; and to know i'm not alone in wondering regarding the hunger compared to emotional eating issue. Thanks for what you've shared @Orchids&Dragons thanks very much for your reply here. Definitely not something to do as a first option. i've done the loss, maintain, regain thing ........ a number of times. I've read some of the stories of sabotage after wls, and this is definitely something i want avoid, and to try and sort through before the surgery and find ways to reduce that happening. So working on my head, and finding new coping tools; that will then help with the surgery (as another tool) seems to be the direction I need to be taking

Hi, For years now i've been sure that weight loss surgery wasn't my answer ... and yet, here I am, starting to seriously consider it and wanting to learn more to help with making the decision. I've met with a surgeon and he has suggested both the gastric sleeve and bypass are options; and explained that I would lose a bit more with the bypass which he would usually recommend at my weight (although not necessarily) ... so now this is another decision to make as far as which way to go before i see him again. For me, I know that while the food and exercise aspect of weight gain and loss have been a very unhealthy relationship for the last 40 years (mid-40's now) it's my thinking that has been the main impact on this journey and subsequent weight loss sabotage. I've always struggled with using food as a coping tool for most things; from dealing with emotions, to distractions, to trying to cope with the impacts of various traumatic experiences. Now after a life time of morbid obesity, my body clings to the weight when I do start losing and I regain so fast it seems like I just blink (although i know it's more than this really). Increasing health issues, and a desire to live a healthier more active and fulfilling life have led me to where i am now .... as well as an increasing number of medical professionals saying that while i might lose the weight without surgery they think it's unlikely I would keep it off. Some of the things that are impacting my decision are I guess the usual questions of what it would be like to not have food to turn to in the same way; wondering how to replace food with other alternatives for coping and wondering how it will impact my life when until now eating has been such a big part of it. Right now, i'm taking some time to focus on working on finding other coping tools aspect of things so that if i go forward I give myself the best chance of success possible. As part of that I'm working with a therapist, reading what i can find that might be helpful and open to other suggestions. I know that for this to work, I need to work on the mental side of things ..... and that in turn will help with being able to do the rest. I'm also in the position of not really having much support to make this journey; so another reason finding online support and people to talk this through with is really important because I keep seeing how it is so much better to do this with the support of others. Currently i'm leaning towards the sleeve, and as well as working on the mental side of things trying to work out whether it would be good to spend some time losing weight prior to surgery or not; the dietician seemed to think that if i did that i might get discouraged and not have the incentive following surgery that i'd need ....... and that if i was going to lose it, i would have already. I'd be interested hearing how others have gone forward with this as far as losing weight prior to surgery (apart from the two weeks prior) or not .... As well as any other suggestions or information; and I think just knowing that there are others going through similar things will help Very glad to have found this site and look forward to taking part I think my current head space is a mixture of being terrified and hopeful all wrapped in one!

Right?! I thought that was odd!! Their practice really goes by statistics and average excess weight loss per month to calculate this but I think it is really unrealistic for a second timer especially. When I mentioned that I was stalled he said it was too early for a stall. He's a great doctor and I really trust him but I think he may not have real life data about what goes on post-op. Thanks! My brain still can't see the loss even though everyone else does. Band to Vsg revision: 5/23/17 HW: 315+ Starting weight: 294 Surgery Day: 281 Current: 235 Goal 170

You are inspiring to me! I got stuck after losing 140 lbs and I got so 'satisfied' in my head with how I was looking and kept wanting and wanting to get below the 200 lb mark and I keep bouncing up and down and then slipped back over the holidays with gaining from some sloppy eating habits. I decided to recommit to my old 2008 self when losing weight was foremost in my mind every hour of every day as I got ready to have my lapband surgery in March and for those exciting months after when I was losing weight so fast. I joined a WW class at work that starts January 13 and it goes for a 10 week session and I'm going to fight like heck to get my 199 or less lbs mark. Keep me in prayers for this all important life milestone.

Congratulations!!!!!!!! That is such an amazing accomplishment! I cant wait to join you there. I was pretty close 2 months ago and since have gained 12 lbs. I am very disapointed in myself but am dedicated to getting there now. I can and WILL do this. You are an inspiration!

I walked for the first month and then begining at the one month mark I started running. I am not doing any weight lifting yet or any ab work...just walking/running. I plan on doing insanity at the two month mark....so I can work on muscle tone without actually lifting any weight...

I think it depends on how good you feel and what type of exercise you plan to do. I started with walking long miles the second week because I felt great. As I felt better, I started sprinting. Now at 6 weeks, I can run a full lapse on the tracks (I thought I would never be able to)I do 10lbs weights at home and I use resistance bands. I also bought a jump rope with weights. I have a Wii also and I like the step game. I try to vary it without calling myself.

I decided to have weight loss surgery in December 2012. It took mow way to long to get through the pre op process. I finally had surgery 2/19/14 it was the best decision I have ever made. I am now down 75lbs today and feel amazing. I am now in regular size clothing and feel more confident every day.

My back started killing me in the hospital, and I blamed it on the lousy beds, but it's still hurting at home, and I came home on the 7th. It's eased up a lot, but still hurts and aches in the lower area. I'm hoping it will adjust itself once I'm able to get a bit more active, and I lose some more weight.

Thanks for the comprehensive list, James. I drummed up a few more... AKA = also known as; above-the-knee amputation BBF = best buddy forever BKA = better known as; below-the-knee amputation BL = baseline CC = cardiac clearance CHO = carbohydrates CV = cardiovascular EBW = excess body weight FDL = fleur de lis (a type of tummy tuck) FNP = family nurse practitioner GW = goal weight HLD = hyperlipidemia HTN = hypertension IIFYM = if it fits your macros (macronutrients) LBL = lower body lift LW = lowest weight MCD = Medicaid MCR = Medicare MD = doctor of medicine (physician) MGB = mini gastric bypass MO = morbidly obese MVI = multivitamins OA = osteoarthritis OP = original poster, original post PA = physician assistant PS = plastic surgery, plastics Psych = psychotherapist, psychiatrist, psychologist SILS = single incision laporascopic surgery SMO = super morbidly obese UBL = upper body lift UR = "you're" or "you are" VBG = vertical banded gastroplasty YMMV = your mileage may vary