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I wasn’t. Personally I couldn’t stand any pressure across my abdomen & had to roll my waist bands down low so wouldn’t have be able to wear one anyway. I think it’s an individual recommendation from the surgeon or something a patient chooses as it feels more comfortable to wear a binder post surgery. It would be helpful if you carry a lot of your weight in your abdomen (We carry it differently - I was an equal opportunity carrier - hips, thighs, butt, breasts, … 😁) or had a longer surgery to repair other issues like a hernia as well. Certainly, getting up & down can put strain on your healing tummy, incisions & stretched tummy muscles which the binder will support.

Try adding snacks. It was the only way I could slow my weight loss after I reached my goal but was unable to eat a recommended portion size. I did it with the support of my dietician & chose foods that were nutritionally sound. I still snack to reach the calories I need to maintain but not as often as I did initially because I can usually eat a portion size now. So snacking would help you increase your calories to gain. You could also graze on your left overs - finish your lunch portion for afternoon tea - which would satisfy your dietician’s advice. Try adding another serve of whole/multigrain carbs, another serve of fruit, a protein bar, cheese, yoghurt, chia pudding, hummus, etc. You can snack on raw vegetables too. I found some baked fava beans & chick peas snacks (which are handy when travelling too). I added powdered milk to milk to enrich (it becomes sweet though so I only did it when making chia pudding). I also used non diet dressing on salads. I know it can be challenging because you may not feel hungry or feel like eating & you likely don’t want to establish bad food & eating habits again either. I know that’s how I felt & still feel. Ask your dietician for more specific suggestions than just eat more especially when you physically can’t. All the best.

Did your surgeon use a dietician? If so maybe use that one. My surgeon has a wonderful that works with both spectrums of weight along with diabetes. Just a thought. Good luck to you

It's the most hard in the beginning but things go back to normal (as normal as they can feel after wls). You'll eventually be able to eat certain foods out and enjoy yourself but you'll know your limits and no, food will not be the main reason you're there and that's okay. In fact it's wonderful. It's a part of surgery (beyond weight loss) that doesn't get talked about enough. If you put the work in , food will be there but it will no longer keep you prisoner in your own life because moderation and eating what makes your body feel best will become your main priority. I have a lot of hobbies but I find that instead of eating or focusing on food I have a new found confidence to focus on people....talk to people, not feel self conscious about how I look or what I'm eating, connecting with others when I can. Beyond losing weight, this surgery really freed me from my food prison and I feel like I can open up to other people now that I'm m not hiding and I'm not scared. This is a great thing and I find I am no longer planning around meals but planning around activities, seeing other people and making time to connect. On a less whimsical note, if I feel like eating and know it wouldn't be a good idea I drink tea, diet soda, or chug a lot of water. If I'm still like I want to eat I honor that by eating a high protein snack like a cheese stick or half a protein shake and move on with my day. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you for reply. I am in treatment for my eating disorder. The problem is the dietitian wants me to eat regular meal portion. Of course, I can’t eat regular portions. I need advice on how to gain weight with a gastric sleeve.

I had to find a therapist to help me because after I had my surgery I swapped one type of disordered thinking (over eating obsessively) for another (being so afraid of eating and gaining weight that I was severely restricting what I ate). You definitely need to find a therapist for it (it's really helping me so much). The surgery is a tool to help us get healthy. If we use it as a way to punish ourselves physically and mentally, we're doing just as much (or even more) harm than before we had the surgery. Definitely find a therapist and be vulnerable, open, raw, and honest in therapy. It's the only way to start to get back on track and get healthy. I still struggle every day. But I'm getting better every day, little by little.

I had a gastric sleeve surgery 12 years ago. I have lots so much weight. I now weigh 95 pounds. I am 5 feet 3 inches. I have a eating disorder. I have to gain weight! Does anyone else have an eating disorder?

I'm Chinese. I'm sorry you had to go through it too. It isn't easy. I really hate how so many Asian ethnicities only treat you as your weight rather than getting to know you as a whole person. [emoji20] @tek : thank you for your kind words. Although I can't do anything all I can do is to be an ear for her. I hope she can get away from all that one day. @st77 : thank you, I don't know if she can break away, but I blocked my extended family from ever contacting me again. She can't really go anywhere and doesn't have any source of livelihood. But all I can do is focus on myself for now. @smanky : I've tried that, but there are so few larger people in china that it's basically impossible. Some are even some delusion that's they're fit despite being larger. It's a bit wild over there. I'm filled with sadness when my mom tells me that she can't wait to die. [emoji20] She has no way of leaving and no way or getting a job because she was a sahm for so long, I'm terribly sad for her. Sent from my M2007J3SY using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm Chinese. I'm sorry you had to go through it too. It isn't easy. I really hate how so many Asian ethnicities only treat you as your weight rather than getting to know you as a whole person. [emoji20] @tek : thank you for your kind words. Although I can't do anything all I can do is to be an ear for her. I hope she can get away from all that one day. @st77 : thank you, I don't know if she can break away, but I blocked my extended family from ever contacting me again. She can't really go anywhere and doesn't have any source of livelihood. But all I can do is focus on myself for now. @smanky : I've tried that, but there are so few larger people in china that it's basically impossible. Some are even some delusion that's they're fit despite being larger. It's a bit wild over there. I'm filled with sadness when my mom tells me that she can't wait to die. [emoji20] She has no way of leaving and no way or getting a job because she was a sahm for so long, I'm terribly sad for her. Sent from my M2007J3SY using BariatricPal mobile app

^^ that could be true. I know it's true for liver enzymes - it's pretty common for them to become pretty elevated that first year, because rapid weight loss is hard on livers. They eventually normalize, though.

I was worried about that also (limitation on foods and experience as your food pusher has warned you), but the reality is that you have no limitations on the types of food you’ll be able to taste and eat once you have healed from your procedure and have maximized your weight loss - though you don’t have to wait for the maximization to sample some yummy foods, if that is your choice (once you’ve healed). The real life frustrations I do experience involve limiting meals out - especially hard when husband is athlete and bodybuilder and wants to eat all the time. I have recently had to ask him to stop talking about food. I’m not in any mood to have someone talk about endless options of food that I won’t be entertaining. He asked for pizza and French fries while we were out the other night running errands and I refused to drive to either place. I also try to be outside as often as possible bc when I’m in the house food seems to want to call my name and I’m avoiding it. My will has strengthened since surgery and I can imagine that might be something to fear for a food pusher.

Hi everyone, I'm just starting on this journey and have mete with my surgeon who mentioned SIPS surgery (Stomach Intestinal Pylorus Sparing). From what I understand it's somewhat of a combination of gastric bypass and duodenal switch surgery. I am not finding much research on it at all, which makes me wonder if it's a good choice. My surgeon advised he will do either surgery ( I'm pretty well set in mind with GP, but am open to options). He described the effects of increased weight loss, lowered rate of ulcers, strictures, & bowel obstructions, increased absorption of nutrients, lowered risk of diarrhea, increased hormonal changes. Has anyone ever had this done or seen much information about it? I still have more than enough time to decide, so I'm in no rush to make a decision. I'd love to hear your experiences with this!

Wow! Talk about perfect timing! I'm assuming that cancerous cells were discovered during an EGD that was done routinely prior to weight loss surgery? It's a good thing you were pursuing weight loss surgery when you did! Best wishes and happy healing!

I think it's good that you have control while on your pre op diet. It indicates that if you choose to go forth with your surgery, you can be very successful. The pre op diet is meant, as others said, to be temporary as a means to shrink your liver so that surgery is safe. A diet that is that low in calories, if maintained long term will only do harm to your metabolism, and slow it down. Weight loss surgery is a way to stop dieting and live a healthy life without harming our metabolisms and bodies. The choice is ultimately yours whether or not to have surgery. And I read your response about the family member that has issue with your choice to look into weight loss surgery. They themselves seem to have "food issues" if they look at food as an "emotional experience" You do what you feel is best for you, because it's your life and you are the one that will live with your decision. Weight loss surgery is very liberating imo. You don't necessarily have to give up anything, (but do follow any guidelines your team has for you ie: soda is one my team doesn't want me having) you eat smaller portions of foods and feel satisfied. Best wishes!

This is good news! Congrats! I think my clinic holds off on cholesterol tests until the one year follow up. I read that a lot of patients cholesterol tends to rise after surgery due to cholesterol being stored in fat, so as your body purges fat during weight loss, so it's expected that it can rise for some months, I'm not exactly sure how long until you settle in to your "real" actual cholesterol level.

Being nervous and doubtful - especially when making such a big decision is natural. I had doubts and canceled my first surgery - because I didn’t think the program I was in was the right fit. (Found another program and I’m scheduled for surgery in a few weeks). I regretting canceling for a time, thinking how I could be 6 months further down the road if I had just gone through with the original plan, but ultimately I’m glad I waited to find the right program for me. I constantly ask my husband - is this the right decision, because I was sure if I had just tried harder, I could do this without the surgery. (For perspective I’m 48… I’ve been over weight all of my adult life). I was also worried about the inconvenience the surgery, diet and lifestyle chances would impose on the household (hubby and 2 adult-ish kids). I spoke to my pcp, my endocrinologist, two different therapists (mine and the one from the program) about all the reasons I’m afraid to have surgery and all the reasons why I should have the surgery. The program therapist was very direct - telling me no one (in the program) will be upset if you are unsure and want to postpone for up to a year (tests could be used for a certain period) or even cancel. “We will do this when it is right for YOU”, she assured me. My therapist, PCP and endocrinologist (who both advised me to consider this as an option) agreed and said the same thing. My husband has been nothing but supportive. But all of them said I needed to make the decision that is best for ME, not worry about what others personal opinions are, because ultimately I’m the one that has live with my weight and the health issues that go along with it. I’m not going to lie, the idea of surgery of any kind scares me, but I made the decision to have surgery to become healthier, to improve my quality of life. As nervous as I am about things that can go wrong, about having this surgery and messing it up by not being successful, I know I won’t forgive myself if I don’t try. The things I have been doing for the last 30 years have not worked long term and as I get older, it’s likely to get harder - not easier. I owe it to myself to try every resource at my disposal and this surgery is just that, a resource or a tool. I choose not to share my decision with family (outside my house) and most friends (need to know only) while going through pre-op because I didn’t want to invite the opportunity for negativity. Most know I’m working with a nutritionist (I’ve lost about 50 lbs over the last year) and getting a hernia repair (both of which are true), but not that I’m having WLS. The family member opposed - do they struggle with weight or health issues of their own? Why don’t they support your decision? If they raised questions or concerns you thought were good points, did you discuss with your therapist/nutritionist/ drs? While you value their thoughts and input… are they valuing yours? It’s one thing to express concern about someone you care about, but it is absolutely possible to do so in a supportive way. What ever you decide, best of luck.

Ok, I just checked bmi of 25 is border line overweight or slightly overweight. Bmi of 24.9 is normal weight or healthy weight. Most of us on this app would die to be a bmi of 25, i had the sleeve in 2019 and I am a bmi of 30.5. Most places in Mexico have a minimum bmi of 30 plus a comorbidity to do surgery. I did my sleeve in Mexico, my bmi was 35 at the time of surgery. Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

How are those making out? I'm a sleeve to DS revision. Still a little if pain. Any tips? How soon did you notice weight loss? Vitamins you all use? Recipes? Sent from my moto g power (2021) using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and offer a thoughtful response. This is an excellent question/point you raise. I am certain I don't have the market cornered on the yo-yo effect of gaining weight and my attempts to lose weight in the past. At the end of the day, I am where I am with my medical team and my decision for surgery because everything I have done in the past has failed.

Ummmm, bmi of 25 is normal weight. I don't think anyone in the world would perform bariatric surgery on a bmi of 25. Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you so much for the reply. I got the sleeve back in june 2019, I never felt real restriction, for the past 3 yrs I have been thinking its all in my head. I got an endoscopy done last week to find out I have a small hiatal hernia and my sleeve is " the body of my stomach is markedly enlarged". After I got these results back, it all made sense, my sleeve was not tight enough from the get go. I have mild gerd. Will my mild gerd and small hiatal hernia disqualify me for a resleeve? I was never able to reach goal weight the first time around and I have gained 17 lbs since reaching my lowest weight after the sleeve. I am 3 yrs out now. How much did you resleeve cost and who was your surgeon at mexicali? When did you get the sleeve reconstruction? Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

That preop diet concept has come in handy for dealing with stalls. Keep that in your toolbox as an example of what you’re capable of down the road, after surgery. As everyone else has said, that kind of weight loss without this tool of wls is not exactly sustainable. I have been on full liquid diet since last Sunday and dropped 7lbs out of my stall, so far. People like to insert their opinions on what you should or shouldn’t do and what is or isn’t the best way to manage your success, but ultimately, it’s up to you. Good luck!

they say that fewer than 5% of obese people are successful in keeping off lost weight. I, unfortunately, was not one of those people. I spent decades losing weight, only to gain it all back. Surgery was the only thing that allowed me to lose my excess weight (I lost over 200 lbs) and keep most of it off. no one can tell you whether or not you can do this on your own - but I agree with the others. A pre-op style diet is not sustainable long term. I would do this surgery again in a heartbeat. The first few weeks can be trying, but I have zero regrets (other than I should have done it years ago). It was the best decision I ever made.

It's worth keeping in mind that the pre-op diet isn't a sustainable diet - it's a medically approved short term starvation diet designed to shrink the liver for a safer surgery. A lot of nervous folks after losing some decent weight in the pre-op phase then question whether they need the surgery. Do you think you can sustain the lifestyle change without the surgery tool to continue losing? This is something only you can honestly answer. Why is your relative vehemently against it? What are the reasons? I'm yet to hear of a partner or relative with reservations who isn't simply misinformed or flat-out wrong and/or driven by other emotional reasons. The surgery these days is very safe. This isn't to sway you either way, only you can make that call, but have all the facts and honest truths before you before you make the choice.

What you achieve in pre-op is rarely sustainable in the long term without surgery, even with surgery, that much weight loss in that amount of time is only achieved by some those with very high weights...well over 400 or 500lbs. Only you can decide if you go ahead with surgery or not based on your personal circumstances. That said, I would always recommend questioning why those who are close who are against surgery as to their reasons. Its your health, its your body, its been your struggle (all those times you've attempted to lose weight and maintain the loss), etc etc. I didn't lose a lot of weight pre-op, I've lost more on other occasions, but I've never been able to sustain the weight loss or maintain without the surgery I eventually had. A question to you, without the pre-op diet you wouldn't have achieved the weight loss, but what have you done in the mean to make sure you can maintain it? What caused you to become overweight? What have you done or will you do to overcome what caused you to become overweight? This equally applies to having surgery or not? Being nervous or having seconds is quite common in the days and weeks leading to surgery, it may be useful for you to work out those feelings with a counsellor or therapist. You may decide to put your surgey on hold, you may not.