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I eat out quite frequently as that was always my lifestyle. Just approach it entirely different now. Been going out since 5 weeks out. Greek is easy & go often. Initially had side of hummus. Other times soft gyro meat with tzaziki & a bit of tomato & cucumber with no skin. I always order from appetizer menu or sides & can always find something. My spending @ restaurants now is crazy. Where I used to spend on average $25-$40 now spend under $10! At Italian got side meatballs. Sports bar cup of chili. Sashimi @ sushi. Ma Po Tofu or Eggplant with some protein in garlic sauce @ Chinese. When in doubt I google if ok. Never feel cheated out that can eat & enjoy with friends. Besides it’s not just about the food. It’s also the company & possible ambiance of restaurant. Good luck!

Oh no I'm sorry, it is a time full of major changes! My relationship has gotten better (I"M 10 mos out) but He goes to all support meetings and participated and tries to really learn. Tell him that you don't want this to hurt your relationship and that you would like him to come with you, and learn about what people go through, and how things change. Tell him you want to change and grow with him by your side.

Hiya doll. I had mine done 14 days ago 11/13/19 and I STILL feel the same way. It's pretty bad. I also stayed at hospital longer. My husband and family was very against this surgery so I don't have much support but what doesn't kill me makes me stronger, right? It took me a YEAR to push the surgery through my insurance. So I was in my doctors program for a full year before surgery was done. I thought I knew it all! I watched all the YouTube journeys of happy go lucky people.. no pain.. feeling great and HEY.. look follow my makeup tutorials, lol. Realized most those people were fake on YouTube. Anyway... I get what the doctors call spasms.. so aka contractions.. and I'm still on ice chips and protein drinks. Girl... I've had 4 children and this surgery pain is 100% hella worse than childbirth IMO. I didn't realize how much pain comes with the surgery. I realize now I wasn't prepared and didn't know it all. My doctor told me I'll feel like crud for 2 months truthfully. Stay in touch and we'll get through this together. I need some kind of support. I wish there were physical support groups in my area but oddly there's not so here I am. My name is Sunshine & I live in Tempe, Arizona.. currently. Glad I found this group because I sure can use some support.

Yesterday, Wed, Nov. 27 Maintenance : 5'2" / 1yr PO Sleeve / 113.9 lbs I haven't gone for a single run in 5 days now cuz of this stinkin' cold (as well as eating consistently less cals than normal). It may just be in my head, but I swear, I think I can actually feel my muscles disappearing... 9:30am - coffee w/ stevia + earl grey tea w/ stevia 12:30pm - salad greens w/ vinaigrette + enoki mushrooms + 3 oz grilled chicken + 3 oz roast pork + 1 Love Good Fats Keto Chocolatey Almond Bar. 3:00pm - 2oz almonds + 1 oz candied ginger 8:00pm - 10 mussels in white wine sauce + 2 tbsp seafood chowder + 4 buffalo chicken wings w/ 1 tbsp blue cheese sauce Totals: 1438 cals - 89g Protein - 51g NET carbs - 84g fat

Great topic! I was 391 in March 2019 when I was nearing the end of my preoperative testing. My unofficial high was 410 lbs. Down to 368 and 4 days away from surgery on Monday, Dec 2nd!

Good morning everyone, Somehow I missed this forum when I first joined. I posted in the pre-surgery Q & A and felt like a loner, but I included the post on my profile too. I am scheduled for a gastric sleeve revision on December 2, 2019. Someone asked why I did not choose to a have a bypass the second time and the reason is that I have a form of anemia that make the bypass too dangerous to manage. The irony is not only was my last surgery December 3, 2013, I am at the exact pre-surgery weight I was back then. I had quick early success and dropped 80 pounds in the first three months. That was both scary and exciting and I had this fairy tale belief that I could eat very small amount of my favorite foods and still be successful. Not to mention, I was drinking tequila probably every other Friday night. I do not have those misconceptions and gave up most of my vices - coffee with splenda is the last vestige to go...as a sheepishly sip my last cup. My weight crept up drastically between 2015-2016 as I battled depression and suicide attempts, not specifically because of my weight. In 2017, I started thinking about having surgery again, but it would be another year before I was even emotionally stable enough to have a real conversation about it. I knew in 2017 I would not get back on that table until I was ready to change my life, not just my weight. I languished a bit in the last couple of months after finishing my preoperative testing. I still had not made my an appointment for my final surgery review and scheduling a date. Although I am more spiritual than religious, I asked God to give me a sign of what the right was for me. Well, my answer came when I fell out of the shower (can't believe I said hospital before) and had no choice but to struggle to get off the floor. My knees hurt terribly when I finally got to them and in that moment I thought 'I am 46 and there is no reason I should not be able to get off the floor.' I made it up off the floor, went to the ER to make sure I did not have any new broken bones, and scheduled my appointment the next day. When I finally had a surgery date three weeks ago, I felt empowered and excited for the first time. I have traveled down this road before and I know the hard work begins after Monday. I have stumbled a bit this week, but I am ready. Mya

Hi everyone, Its early in the morning on Thanksgiving, four days before surgery and I wanted to check in because I owe it to myself to be honest about how I am feeling. I am struggling, not with the decision I made to have surgery, but the truth about the challenges I am facing moving forward. I started to ask if anyone had challenges with their pre-op diet, but I know the answer to that question does not matter because I am. I feel a little silenced or maybe ashamed because if I admit to my family I am scared and self-sabotaging then I will be forced to ask myself if I am doing the right thing. I was doing well with the pre-op diet until two days ago...Tuesday. I have a form of anemia that makes it difficult for me to absorb iron through food. I noticed I have increasingly more tired and I found out Saturday my iron levels are low again, 6 months after my last iron infusion, and a part of me feared that I would need to post-pone surgery for another round or go in early for blood transfusions. In meeting with me hematologist late Tuesday afternoon, he told me I did not have to do either and since they draw blood every day in the hospital, they could do a blood transfusion there if necessary. I have been through a lot healthwise, many surgeries (8), including a gastric sleeve six years ago. The irony is I stepped on the scale and I was the exact weight I was, 368 lbs before surgery in 2013 and although I had a great deal of success the first time, but then as I said in my story life happened. Even though the weight itself was shocking because I felt like I failed in only losing 4 pounds during the first week of my pre-op diet, I don't think panic really set in until I met with the check out receptionist. We were talking and laughing about my relief of not needing to delay my surgery....then without knowing it, she dropped a bomb on me that I did not really recognize how much it affected me until this morning. When I said I was having a second sleeve, which I had gotten over the embarrassment of admitting, she told me that she had a friend who had her third sleeve some time ago, and she had not seen or heard from her since. My gut reaction was - hell no, no way I am doing this a third time, but in the back of my mind, I began to wonder. Am I ready...will I be successful...is this worth it to go back a third time....then finally, maybe her friend died after her last surgery. The reality is the cavalier way Miss 'size 10' talked about her struggles in what she described as ballooning due to a medication, my guess is that her friend decided she was not the right person to share her struggles with. I cannot even remember he name but I already regret sharing mine. I am aware of how desperately I battled depression, how I came back from the brink after two suicide attempts after surviving a horrifying violet attack, and I was grateful to be at the point ready to have surgery. Then I came home and started self-sabotaging. I am not sure it was intentional, but I was extremely exhausted and had two doctors appointments that day and had missed two of my shakes. I had larger meal, not like before, but enough to make me horribly sick. I had not eaten any basic carbs in more than a week. Yesterday I was so fatigued, had burning pain in my knee from an old injury, but since it is too late to take NSAIDS, I used flexeril, which made me feel even more out of it. Yesterday, I still felt out of control and had half of hoagie, which then made me feel worse about myself. My normal unconscious reaction was to head for my go-to foods, SUGAR, thankfully not an ounce of it existed in the house, except for fruit. I took two (non-benzo) anxiety pills and took a nap. I reached out to my surgeon and asked if I now had to change my surgery schedule. He calmly told me no and to just use the pre-op diet to get back on track. This morning (well technically middle of the night) I woke up and realized all week I have been looking for signs I was making the wrong decision. My nutritionist had given me this negative self-talk wheel that I really forgot about even though it is stuck to my bulletin. When I looked at it, my behavior patterns started to make sense. The truth is I am scared, and I need to give myself permission to feel that and grieve. Its Thanksgiving and fortunately, I am not cooking and will not be around a lot of food. For the past few years, I have been a part of big Thanksgiving celebrations, due to emotional struggles, but my adult daughter usually brings me something from her dad and his family celebrations. This morning I woke up and realized how much of my life I have missed out on living in a prison that I not only created, but am the warden who locked away the key to release myself. I want to start living again and not just existing. I know what to expect and that having the surgery will not take away my problems. It is just one tool in my journey to health and better living. Today, I am thankful for the opportunity to begin losing the pounds of pain I have carried for far too long. I needed the last two days to remind that this journey is not going to be easy, but it will take a conscious effort every day to choose to strive for a healthier life for me. Hopefully, this time next year I can look back on how I feel today and we thankful I made it to the other side. Thank you for sharing this journey with me, Mya

I had the sleeve done 11/15/19, and I know when they cut through the stomach they also cut through nerves in the stomach....but I need to know if it's "normal" to not have feeling in your bladder? I can't tell when I need to pee because I don't get the feeling anymore so I literally have to just go after time has passed and guess when I need to go... Anyone else have this issue or had this ??!

Did they check your ferritin stores? I've never been anaemic, my iron levels are fine, but my stores were 6, they are supposed to range from 10-150. I was always tired and lightheaded until my iron infusion. For years and years no-one checked my stores, until I asked! Now I bore my friends and family banging on about how they need their ferritin checked, so sorry about that 😀

Thanks everyone! My insurance doesn't cover the surgery so I'm paying out of pocket though I did find a great deal at a reputable hospital near me. So I don't have to worry about insurance approvals which has been so nice! When the sleep clinic called me with my results she said I would benefit from treatment but their first available appointment is the end of March! Ugh! She also said since it's so low I'd probably be fine for surgery and that it would likely clear up after losing 10% of my weight. But it's not up to her. So fingers crossed my surgeon approves the surgery without requiring cpap. The surgery was supposed to be in December so I'm just anxious. I'm so ready!!!

Check in: 1. personal goal: To make the most out of this chance I’ve been granted. To beat the head games and embrace healthy habits. 2. surgery: gastric sleeve, 10/21/19 3. weight: SW: 254 lbs; CW: 224.6 lbs 4. food I am most grateful for today: today I would say the meatballs made at a little Italian store near my work. Frozen, six in a container, each one just the right size for lunch. day 27: most grateful for in my country I live in the US, and I’m grateful for the the free press. Everyone benefits from the results of hardworking journalists who shine light on people and events, that would prefer to remain unseen and unspoken.

Just got my gastric sleeve on November 25 ,2019 I’m feeling really lonely I even regret this I can’t seem to drink enough water or protein just really depressed.

So, today I had my final appointment prior to surgery and pre-registered and given information about post-op and what to expect. WoooooHooooo, I am so happy! I have been on my liver shrinking diet and started a week early and when I realized I wouldn't be getting the foods I so loved, I went and got me a quarter-pounder, fries and a large sprite. I felt so guilty after eating it but the next day got back on track! So, Tuesday was my actual start date of the 14 day liver shrinking diet but again I started earlier. Friday 22, 2019 I went for my appointment were you had to bring your support person and I was so shocked that my husband only missed one question on the post test after they talk to you. I was so sure he was not listening just going through the motions but oh my goodness he and I both only missed one question! Questions such as when do you start your pureed, soft, and regular diet, how much are you suppose to eat on the pureed diet ( I missed this one) 1 Tbs, 1/2 cup or 3 Tbs. I chose the 1/2 cup and it should have been the 3Tbs. Then they spoke about what will give you dumping syndrome and then had you feel out your calendar of when you start your cleanse, when you start you clear liquids to full clear, to pureed, soft and regular! We then had a trainer come in and speak to us about exercise after surgery. It was a day full of great information and I really enjoyed it. Also today, they wanted to make sure you have purchased your vitamins, which I had, I had purchased mine previously and so I am now ready for this surgery! My surgery is scheduled for 6:30a.m. and she said I was the first on the list!

Hi guys- This is a long rambling post because I wanted to journal my story, so if it's of no interest to you you won't hurt my feelings!😁 I just got a lab band to RNY revision a week ago. I've an old band that was making me vomit quite often, and even though the xrays show the band to be perfect the surgeon said it still had to come out. I was lucky that he only requires a three day liquid diet since that was tough. When they admitted my the morning of my surgery the nurses asked if I was suicidal and I told them that it wasn't a good time to ask me that. When I got my band the nurses in the recovery room saw me groping my stomach after I awoke, and they asked me what was wrong. I told them I was sure that they had put me to sleep and then found something wrong and woke me right back up so I was checking for bandages. Nothing hurt-there wasn't any gas pain. This time I awoke in the recovery room to hear a woman moaning piteously and it took me a second to realize it was me. This hurt WAAAAY more than I expected. But the nurses immediately gave me a painkiller and that helped a lot. Part of the problem was when the surgeon actually got inside me, he found not only had my band slipped, but I had a hiatal hernia to repair also. Surprise! That added to the excessive pain. Then they get you back to your room and the drinking game commences. They line this little cups in front of you like shots at a bar and expect you to sip them down. This is while you have raging chest and neck pain from the gas and just want to sleep. The nurses where nice and not giving me a hard time about my lack of effort, but I sipped at a less than stellar rate. What I DID rule at was the walking. The first time they made a nurse walk with me but after that I was free to go as I chose. I walked long and fast (as I could, dragging an IV pole with me..) lapping other walkers in the hall. I wanted these gas pains gone!! So I walked and walked--even at 4 in the morning. And after lapping one lady twice she hailed me to slow down and walk with her. Her surgery had been two days ago, and she was astounded that mine had been less than 14 hours ago. But then back in my room all I wanted to do was sleep. They kept waking my up for vital signs, and even though I only had a small touch of the diabetes they kept doing the fingerstick blood sugars. But they didn't really hurt so I didn't mind. What I hated was they kept giving me all sorts of pills to take. Choking down a pill on a sip of water with raging neck pain was not fun. And my BP was only slightly elevated, actually normal for me, but most of those pills were for HBP. The next morning I got up to take a walk and then broke out into a cold sweat and felt faint and nauseated, so I rang for a nurse. They took my BP and found it as 90/50. So at least I didn't have to take those pills for a while. I'm glad my surgeon said I could stay two nights. I couldn't have left after the first night if they'd have kicked me out. But I was being able to drink an ounce of fluid in an hour finally. I was proud of that until they came back into the room and said "now we want you to drink 4 ounces an hour. By the next day I think I only accomplished this feat once, but they agreed to discharge me late the second day. Here's where it got interesting. I live 5 hours away from where my surgery was. One of the disadvantages of living in a rural area. My husband isn't in good health and we have three dogs, so he stayed behind while I took Amtrak to get to the hospital. After they discharged me I thought (correctly) that riding the train back the same day could be bad, so I laid up in a hotel 1/2 from the hospital until I went back the next day. I didn't want something to spring a leak while I was on a train. I should have known it was going to be a tough trip when the Uber dropped me off, and the Metro station was closed! Luckily there was a free shuttle to the next station down the line. I got on the train, and for the first time in my 20+ train trips, the dang thing lurches to a stop where they find a problem. So we were delayed 4 hours on a already 5 hour tip. At least we didn't have to switch trains--they brought a new engine to us. So my advice is if you can get surgery closer to home, do it. Of course it could have been worse--I understand many self-pay people have to go out of the country. I should consider myself lucky that it was only 5 hours away. I had the terrible "buyers remorse" that you read about here but think it won't happen to you. But in only lasted about 3 days and I turned the corner about two days ago when miraculously I could drink down amounts more than I could before. It's still not 64 ounces, but much better than it was. So I think I've lost the "buyers remorse", especially since I weighted for the first time and I'm already down 10 pounds... So read this, if you wish, and for all the griping I did here, it was worse than I expected but that feeling only lasted about 4 or 5 days. So if your considering WLS go for it, but don't have unrealistic expectations, prepare for the worst and you'll be happy if it isn't that bad! And hang in there if you are recovering..it WILL get better, I promise!

Wow!!!! Congratulations Mr. Sean!!! 50lbs is AMAZING!!! I've lost like 39lbs but it's a slow steady loss for me. I was diligently following plan and a week ago went on vacation and kinda ate off plan...A LOT and came back with a 4lbs weight loss for the week which has NEVER happened to me EVER other than first 10 days post OP!! I don't know what to make of it all but I'm back on plan and I've been losing daily. The inches lost has been more dramatic that my hubby and kids have been commenting on a regular basis. Family and friends can't stop commenting and I truly truly feel great! We'll continue to trust the process....[emoji176][emoji176][emoji176] Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

My closet is full.... i have a hard time parting with clothes. I'm glad now i didn't get rid of my smaller clothes after band removal 2.5+ years ago (slacks size 4-6). I was this size back then. Then i put on 30lbs over that 2.5+ years. Sleeved 8/28/19 and im down 31.5lbs.... 142.0 this am... whoop whoop. I'm blessed to have a husband that loves to shop for/with me. He loves going to Dillards, Chico's, black/White... etc. It gives me such anxiety when i see those prices. But there is no use arguing with him over it, if he likes how it looks he's buying it... hehe. I love for him to come because i don't see clothes like most women. Like i said.... Mannequin shopper... hehe. And if it were up to me... i would buy $5 t-shirts..... I'm a.... See this shirt.. "only $2". lol. We went to NYC last july and again in Dec. we went shopping... and i go straight to the sales rakes. The prices were OMG!!! expensive. We went to one place and i saw this top and is says..... 299..... and i'm like... Cool. $2.99 sign me up. It was a piece of chaffon.. weighed about 2oz.... not kidding. So i go to the register and ask the girl how much because it was written messy.... she said.... 299.... i yell back at Tim and said.. It's only $2.99..... she looked at me and said.... no... it $299 .....i looked at her and said.... you have to be F**king kidding.... Yes, sometimes (who am i kidding, all the time) words just fly right out of my mouth.

Good Luck !!!! it's 10:15 and you probably in prep right now feeling nervous and excited too or maybe you already saw the anesthesiologist and not feeling nothing lol....anyway just wanted to say im sending up prayer for you if you accept....reach me later if you feel like it... You got this...……….

I was a BMI of 35 and had a bypass. I think the first 2 weeks I lost around 8-10 pounds then it slowed considerably and I was a steady 2-3 pounds per week loss for a few weeks then it quickly dropped to around 2 pounds/week consistently for the next 6 months. I then purposely increased calories once I hit a normal BMI at the 6 month mark from my typical 600-700 to 900 then up to 1000 and now am around 1500 maintaining. Everyone is different. I expected since I started at a low BMI for weight loss to slow quickly and taper down fast but it was really steady after the first few weeks. I never hit the typical stall either. Looking back I think my calories were too low. I barely hit 60 gram of protein and averaged 650 calories for months. I did take body measurement and some weeks the inches would suddenly drop even with only 2 pounds lost and other weeks the measurement would stay steady. It is so hard early on to not hyperfocus on every detail, we all did it. Try to focus on following your guidelines and it will happen. Some people stall or weight loss slows, they increase calories and have a sudden drop in weight, on paper it doesn't make sense but once you are farther out you will see your progress.

yes i love it. i started 10 days after surgery and havent stopped. its just a great way of getting all aspects of working out. From weights to cardio, it covers it all. You have to find a good gym too.

Yep. Exactly. It's an unknown variable in my life. So that's why I intend to be very vigilant and not have the laissez faire (for me) attitude of meh...I'll be happy at 150lbs. Nope. I will be VERY unhappy at 136lbs. I will be happy between 130-135lbs. And I will face 3 years from now or 5 or 10 when I get there and see what reality brings. I may have to renegotiate. But I'm certainly NOT gonna plan for failure (for me). I'm going to plan on strict compliance. Cuz trust me. Failure happens. You don't have to plan for that catastrophe. Failure happens. You don't plan failure. You deal with the aftermath of failure.

i was humbled to get on the scale this morning and see 239.0. This surgery has been the best thing ive ever done. As everyone else says "i just wish i had did it sooner." I hope everyone has a happy thanksgiving and enjoy your day. Thanks for the support.

Day 26: Food I'm most grateful for today: Chicken and yoghurt!! Old faithfuls[emoji3] Check in: 1. Posting your personal goal Goal is to continue to stay focused on my journey and not get derailed on what I'm able to eat or drink. I did have a few moments of backsliding while on vacation and I have been working on getting back on track since my return.[emoji57] A deep seated goal is to make it to the mid to low 170s in weight. I'm at 175lbs as of this morning [emoji119][emoji119][emoji119][emoji119][emoji119][emoji119] It feels surreal and amazing truly! 2. Add your surgery type, status (pre/post op, losing/maintenance) Post sleeve 8/16/19 3. Weight and BMI (not necessary but encouraged) SW: 214lbs CW: 175.2 lbs So, it's been an awesome month and challenge [emoji120][emoji176]🧡 Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app