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What you are experiencing is totally normal and should be expected. If you start a diet/lifestyle and don't incorporate exercise in that new lifestyle, you can lose plenty of weight with diet alone (with or without bariatric surgery). The moment you change your lifestyle habits by adding in what sounds like a new and reasonably intensive exercise regimen, you're going to probably experience what appears to stall or slow down in weight loss. Your body will begin to increase your volume and percentage of skeletal muscle--which is a good thing. Muscle burns calories at rest, which enhances your metabolism even when you're not at the gym. At the same time, muscle is more dense than fat. You can lose inches by adding muscle, but your total weight stays the same (depending on the rate that you burn through your fat reserves). In the beginning of your new exercise regime, you may initially gain muscle faster than you lose excess fat. This could look like a gain or stall on your scale, since a regular scale only tells you how much you weigh--without distinguishing fat from muscle or considering body composition. If you have a good BIA scale or invest in something like an Omron Body Fat Monitor (Omron HBF-306C Body Fat Monitor) you'll see a change in your body composition over the course of a few weeks of moderate to intense training (with a drop in body fat % and increase in skeletal muscle). As long as your body fat is dropping and your muscle mass is increasing, you're making progress in your weight loss journey. After a few weeks, you'll see the scale drop as your body (including your new muscle tissue) needs to burn more calories to meet your daily requirements and turns to fat tissue to get the job done (provided you are sticking closely to your diet). Here's a tip--never fall into the trap of thinking that because you're hitting the gym, you can eat more calories--that's how you get into a true stall or end up gaining weight. Adding calories with exercise only applies to certain types of athletes and bodybuilders (which should exclude pretty much everyone on this forum--myself included!!). Another tip is to keep your cardio to a reasonable amount, but don't over do it. Most experts and trainers would advise that a non-athlete do no more than an hour of cardio a day at a moderate to reasonably intense level (spending most of your cardio time getting your heart rate into zone 3 or 4 (your BPM changes with age, so you should look into this for yourself using this Target Heart Rate Chart. Also, you may want to increase your weight training from 2 days a week to 4. Even better, you might want to try doing something like a boot camp class or orange theory, which combine weight training and cardio into a one hour class so you're doing both at the same time. This is called High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and it's probably the most effective and time efficient way to get fit (and lose weight). Don't let the name scare you, what's high intensity is always relative to your age and fitness level so anyone can do it. [P.S. I worked as a certified personal trainer for about 4.5 years when I was in my 20's--seems like a lifetime ago. I know what to do, just haven't been doing the right things for myself for a long time!].

Surgeons use different methods for the psych eval. Also depends on the Psychologist you have been referred to. (different standards of practice and policies/procedures ) Evals are basic to rule out mental health issues and eliminate liability for the surgeon. My two cents on getting denied. (most of us get approved) Some people are not screened properly. Bariatric surgery may exacerbate mental illness. It may be a good thing to get denied. The psychologist can refer you to restart the surgery process after mental health issues are resolved.

Liquid diet is to shrink the liver to help them see your stomach as they do bariatric surgery. I was not required to do liquids before surgery. My liver size was not an issue.

There is an article in the Washington Post that talks about patients that had bariatric surgery at Grand View Hospital in Tijuana and returned with a potentially deadly antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/they-went-to-mexico-for-surgery-they-came-back-with-a-deadly-superbug/2019/01/23/ac0ca280-1dcb-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html

Looks like my surgery is going to be late March. I submitted an application to the clinic on Dec 18th just to see if they'd accept me into the bariatric program. 4 weeks they did. The next day I saw the surgeon for my first visit. The very next day I had my psych eval. Today (a week after the psych eval) I go to review the psych eval results. Next I have a dietary visit and an exercise therapist visit. Then 2 weeks later I follow up with them then they submit to ins. Voila! Sent from my moto e5 (XT1920DL) using BariatricPal mobile app

I use Genpro, yeah it's had some legal troubles but must have resolved because I got mine from the Bariatric Pal Store, Alex wouldn't carry something with any taint to it!

And here I thought it was " Your Plan Doesn't Cover that!" I got a prescription for Ferrocite from my Bariatric surgeon's office, Silver Scripts my Medicare Part D insurer does not cover it. They said buy something over the counter, think they meant " Go away Lady, we got important insurance matters to think of" the over the counter iron I know of is Ferrous Sulfate, I am an RnY, I can't digest SO4 without stomach acid, should I enrich the local sewage system with unresolved and dissolved iron or should I have my Ferrous Fumerate which is what Ferrocite or Hemocyte is? Its only about $13, but it's late in the month and I don't have that much cash left. So do I wait a week until February 1st when I can afford it? Don't think I will fade away by then, but it is a pain to fight with them about a little bottle of pills.😥😧😥

I don't know of a single insurance or bariatric surgery clinic that doesn't require a psych eval Sent from my moto e5 (XT1920DL) using BariatricPal mobile app

That is ABSOLUTELY true. Same insurance provider does not equal same coverage. I have United healthcare but mine is a Medicare advantage plan so my plan has to follow the criteria that Medicare follows by law which means I don't have to do 6 months worth of weigh ins with a Dr. Others have United healthcare through a work plan and they DO have to do a 6 month supervised weigh in plus other hoops to jump through. What I find infuriating is my health insurance was very secretive about what the criteria was for me to get bariatric surgery. They absolutely would not tell me. They gave me the number for member services and said my Dr would have to call member services that I couldn't call myself. They wouldn't even tell me if the surgery was covered! Are you serious??!! You mean to tell me you can't tell me what my benefits are!!?? The best advice is to work with your clinics insurance coordinator to get the info u need. They know how to navigate the insurance company. Sent from my moto e5 (XT1920DL) using BariatricPal mobile app

My new stomach is three days old. I spent one night in the hospital and did great. Walked and walked a lot. Warm water with lemon has really soothed my tummy. Bariatric nurse said it is really good for our new tummies.

Hi, I am new to this entire bariatric surgery. I am due to have my surgery on Feb 25 and will be 52 on Feb 22. Happy Birthday to me. But, can’t wait to live the life I had prior to surgery. Looking forward to talking with you all through this process. Thanks in advance. 🧡

The 6 months will pass faster then you realize and it will pass regardless of whether you do anything or not. BTW I too am 5'8 and also 315. Your bariatric clinics will keep you on track with getting everything done so you won't be out floating around on your own. Sent from my moto e5 (XT1920DL) using BariatricPal mobile app

Amazon and eBay has bariatric medical alert bracelets Sent from my moto e5 (XT1920DL) using BariatricPal mobile app

Medicare covers bariatric surgery and by law all Medicare advantage plans MUST cover everything Medicare covers and they CANNOT tack on a bunch of requirement criteria that Medicare doesn't have. Your bariatric clinics insurance coordinator can help you navigate all this because trust me the insurance company is usually of little help. Most of the time they don't want to even admit to you they cover it. Sent from my moto e5 (XT1920DL) using BariatricPal mobile app

Dr. Francisco Manuel Contreras Guarista We recently received information about Dr. Francisco Manuel Contreras Guarista that we need to share with the Bariatric community. Dr. Francisco Manuel Contreras Guarista was sentenced on 2/04/2011 for DRUG SMUGGLING! https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/California_Southern_District_Court/3--10-cr-00834/USA_v._Contreras-Guarista/ He is currently being represented by Santé Surgical Group and operating out of Oasis of Hope Hospital in Tijuana, Mexico. We also received information that he is a medical doctor and is not licensed as a bariatric surgeon in Mexico! Please make sure you share this information with friends and family that are researching having surgery in Mexico.

re: weight loss, You usually come home from the hospital weighing more than you did when you went in because they pump you full of fluids during your surgery. It takes a few days to get all that water out of your system. Secondly, almost everyone has their first stall right out of the gate - as in within the first month. They call it "the three week stall" because it's usually the third week out, but not always. Mine was weeks 2 and 3. Once I hit week four, it broke and I dropped like 6-8 lbs within a couple of days. Just keep following your program and the weight will start coming off. I should add that not everyone drops 30 lbs the first month - in fact, I've been hanging around bariatric sites long enough to know that that seems to be the exception rather than the rule. I lost 16 lbs the first month. I was a slow loser practically the whole time and ended up losing over 200 lbs. Just stick with your program and it'll happen - whether fast or slow!

when I had that issue they checked for gallbladder issues - as well as pancreas and liver. Other than some mildly elevated liver values (which are very common after bariatric surgery - they eventually do normalize), everything looked OK. My PCP at the time thought I might be getting an ulcer. so she had me take a PPI and something like Gaviscan to keep my stomach coated (Carafate is another drug they often use for coating). But then I switched PCP's, and the new one had me tested for an ulcer. Nope. So she figured it was probably GERD. At any rate, it went away after awhile and never came back, so who knows what it was (other than not my gallbladder, liver, pancreas, or an ulcer!)

@anl1990 Don't let the above post get you down. I happen to disagree with it. I'm a sleeve. got to goal in "six months" transitioned to maintaining in six months. I'm maintaining four 1/2 years out. I would have been fine if it took me a year or more. I'm also not the only sleeve that contradicts @James Marusek opinion. What do all surgery types have in common? Does not matter what type of bariatric surgery you have. We all lose at different rates. Anyone of us can experience weight gain. Surgery success depends on following plan and changing old behaviors.

I honestly wouldn't worry about losing too much weight. You're around 9 months post-op and it sounds like you're getting close to bottoming out on the weight loss. I wouldn't lose sleep about it or try to do anything to really change any good habits you have developed. This happens to lots of people and they start to freak out about losing too much weight and looking too skinny. It will not stay that way for long. It's typical for bariatric patients to drop below their new set point on their way down the scale--just a little weight loss forward momentum at play. Most bariatric patients will bounce back to their new set point with a 10-15 pound gain after they bottom out. Some people start to freak out and and worry about this being a regain--but it's not a true regain, but a healthy rebound that will bring you to your new, stable set point. It's a normal part of this process. I wouldn't try to do anything to your diet to stop the loss, you're body will do that for you once it determines that you have dropped too low and it will increase your hunger (grehlin is not the only hunger hormone you have). In short, it sounds like you have a good problem right now. Even if you're at 130 or even 125, you're probably near your bottom and will bounce back up to 140-150 with a little time--which will be a comfortable, healthy weight for you to maintain.

I didn't experience hair loss, and I'm almost a year out, so hopefully I won't. I don't know if I was just one of the lucky ones or if it was anything I did. I'm thinking I was just a lucky one, but I'll let you know what I did just in case. I get 100g of protein daily. I take a bariatric multivitamin and biotin daily.

Bariatric patients can get away with very low calorie diets because the surgery changes the way our body's metabolism reacts to significant calorie deficits. Nevertheless, there are limits to how low we can go with low calorie consumption and there are certain guidelines that you have to follow for this procedure to be successful--and you're likely below that limit. Consuming too few calories can be just as damaging to your weight loss effort as eating too many calories. You need to be in the happy zone. One of the main guidelines your surgeon likely preaches is that you must hit your daily protein and water goals. This isn't optional if you want to succeed. If you're eating 300 calories a day, you're likely no where near your protein goals. At that number, virtually every calorie you consume would need to be in the form of protein and, even then, you'd be barely hitting your minimum protein goal. Second, you need to also be eating something besides protein--like good, healthy fats that can easily be used for energy. I understand that you're not hungry and it doesn't feel great to eat right now, but you got treat it like you're taking your medicine. It's best to try to get your protein in the form of real food, like eggs, beans, tuna salad etc. If this isn't possible, a protein shake--like a Premier Shake is a good short term option. Obviously, you can't stay in the liquid or even soft stage for ever. You need to eventually progress to solids in order for this to work. Also, you mentioned that you're drinking a liter of water a day. That's only 33 ounces per day of water. That not nearly enough. You need try to consume at least 64 ounces a day (48 ounces being the bare minimum). Water is the key to so many metabolic processes involved in weight loss. If you don't have water in your system, it's trying to run your car's engine without oil---it's going to seize up. Try to get in 2oz every fifteen minutes. If you don't like the taste of water for some reason, try adding a sugar free flavored power like crystal light. You can also drink diet snapple ice tea, gatorade zero etc. Whatever it takes to get that water in!!!

I’m exactly 3 months out today & down 53 pounds! 40% of my excess weight gone. I’m not new to Bariatric surgery but I had a band before so the weight loss was never fast like this. In fact, with the band it took 7 years for me to master it and loose substantial weight. I have had my blood work ran last week-holy cow-It was 12 vials! My lab was flustered. I will find out the results at my follow up appointment on the 31st.

Have you noticed though some things smell so very good, you say to yourself" I believe I'll try a small piece of that! So you do and it tastes like something even the dog would refuse and he has been to get into the refuse bin! I had made some snickerdoodels, first cookie I learned to make way back when I was a Brownie. Yeah I know people on liquid diet shouldn't eat cookies, but it was gonna be 1/8th of a small 🍪. I am human as well as a Bariatric Patient, and I needed a little reward, figured it wouldn't matter, I urp up all solids anyway. So I grasped the 🍪 piece in my little hands and put it in my mouth. OMG all I could taste was Baking soda, no sweet and tasty sensation, just cinnamon-covered baking soda.. Yccch, spit it right out on the saucer, not going THERE again. And my most offensive and pervasive offender to Me, my💪 armpits, Oh I wash them, I have put baking soda there, tried multiple deodorants and antiperspirant, it's like rotting onions and garlic, maybe the vitamins or other post- surgery meds. IDK, Tomkitten hasn't complained but I just can't escape it, I almost would trade it for ketosis breath. THAT I might be able to gargle away!😧

It's ok to have a freak out moment. Maintaining and eating more calories is a whole new mind set. Your surgery restriction is still good at 6/7 months out. Your restriction may feel less after your first year. Check with your dietician and see if they would approve liquid sources. I drink liquid carbs to increase my intake for distance running. look into body building weight gain/muscle mass protein shakes. The macros are much different than bariatric shakes. (Read the nutrition fact labels)

I had my sleeve done in Tijuana Mexico for $4400 ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE Included an escort from the airport or border to our 5 star hotel which was also included along with bariatric diet food while there, the lab work, the pain meds, the surgery and a nurse came to my hotel daily to check on me and all the other WL patients that were there for their surgery and the doc checked me out before I left Mexico heading back to California. My surgeons name: DR LOUISIANA VALENZUELA SUPER HAPPY WITH THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE AND SURGERY!! I highly recommend her.