Search the Community

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling. I had THE SAME issue with water. Found that I love Fiji water. Its expensive but it tastes like something. I was told with the revision (coming up TUESDAY) loss would be slower than the first time around. Kind of like... our body is onto us. Try sugar free Popsicles and jello to get more liquids in. You got this!

Any recommendations for stop losing hair? Sent from my Pixel 4a using BariatricPal mobile app

I wouldn't necessarily worry, but it is something that might happen; it is not associated with any particular procedure, but rather with the rapid weight loss that we get from it. It seems to happen to a small minority of patients - my guess based upon what I see on these various forums is maybe 10% - your surgeon can give a better guess as he is dealing with this every day. Some surgeons prescribe medication to help with this, though from what I have seen, most do not. My surgeon routinely removes the gallbladder when he does the DS as he doesn't want some other surgeon getting lost in that altered anatomy in that region - this isn't a problem with the VSG or RNY and he only removes the gallbladder in those procedures if he feels any stones in there while he is working. If you are concerned about it, ask your surgeon about whether it would be appropriate to medicate for it, and talk to your RD about things that you can do on the diet front to minimize the risk. I still have mine and never had any problem with it and didn't do anything special to avoid it. YMMV

I was considering sleeve, but am getting gastric bypass a week from tomorrow, During the process I had an endoscopy and they found a hiatal hernia that was causing heartburn. Therefore bypass was better. Also, if I’m doing this, I want the weight loss to be worth it. My BMI is right under 38 today (198.5 lbs). I got two opinions from bariatric surgeons at different practices and both recommended bypass.

I’m so sorry for your loss ! Just know that he will always be with you in spirit . My reason for doing surgery was because all my life I pretty much hated how I looked . My arms and thighs are very huge and I looked horrible in my wedding photos . I don’t want to look at the photos . My confidence is absolutely zero and I have no self esteem whatsoever . I’m hoping this Will catapult me into having a better happier and healthier life . I want to be around for my family and friends and have a family of my own one day .

I am in the same boat right now. I am trying to add healthy fat to my diet, since it doesn’t fill me up like carbs. For instance, I am using more olive oil in my salad dressings and eating more avocado. I am also eating more oatmeal and fresh fruit, often as snacks. I literally feel like I am eating all day right now. My weight loss is definitely slowing, but I am still in the process of finding balance. Talking to a dietitian is a great option, and you can dial things in for what works with your tummy.

When I got under 200 pounds, I could eat 1200 calories a day...absolutely measuring every single thing that went into my mouth...every grape, every squirt of mustard...and I would lose exactly one pound a week. (and this was averaging it over a month, cause you know it's gonna get stuck and drop here and there) It is so easy to eat more than what we're documenting....because documenting what you eat has to be the most tedious thing in the known universe. It's annoying and boring and I hate it. But it's a necessary evil. It is so easy to have a couple of weeks with the illusion of no weight loss due to hormones or salt intake or whatever weird glitch your body decides to throw at you. Just keep at it. Keep hitting your goals. Keep following your plan. Keep the faith. The number on the scale will eventually catch up to your effort. We didn't gain all of this weight in a few weeks....it's gonna take time to lose it. And one perk to slow weight loss...your skin has optimal chance of recovery. Hang in there and be patient.

I'd only lost 63.8 lbs by five months out, and I started out heavier than you. there are so many factors that affect your rate of weight loss - gender, age, metabolic level, starting BMI, whether or not you lost a lot of weight before surgery, activity level, how committed you are to your eating plan, etc etc etc. The only two factors you have much control over are your activity level and how committed you are to your surgeon's eating plan. If you're doing well with those two things, and your overall weight trend is down, you're good. In the end, it's your level of commitment that determines your ultimate success, not your rate of weight loss.

with your age (and I'm older than you, so I'm not picking on you!) and your low starting weight, I would totally expect you'd be a "slow loser". It'd surprise me if you weren't. Just stick to your plan. You ARE losing, and that's what's important. And I agree it's not helpful when doctors tell you how much you "should" lose - I was reminded several times along my journey that I was a "slow" loser (like I needed reminding...), but I ended up losing all of my excess weight. It's your level of commitment that makes the most difference, not your rate of weight loss. There are too many factors that contribute to your rate of weight loss that you don't have much (or any) control over, like your age, gender, and genetics. So focus on those factors you DO you have control over - how closely you follow your plan, and your activity level. If you're committed and follow your plan, and your weight is on a downward trend, you're fine. also, 193 is only five lbs from where you are now, and you'll likely lose another couple of pounds before then. I don't think your surgeon is going to care. You'll be close enough.

Myth One: I’m going to FINALLY be a NORMAL weight! A few people get there, but most don’t. In general, the success of weight-loss surgery is sometimes defined as achieving a 50 percent or more loss of excess body weight and maintaining that level for at least five years. So…let’s say you’re a 5’5” woman whose normal weight should be around 150….and you weigh 250 pounds. If you have bariatric surgery and get down to 200 pounds and maintain that for five years…you’re a success. According to a University of Michigan study of bariatric patients over seven years: Normal weight (BMI less than 25) was achieved by 2.3–6.8% of patients. 47% of patients achieved a BMI less than 30. And this of course, means about half of people who do bariatric surgery never make it to a BMI under 30. And I know this sounds REALLY FATALISTIC…but in all honesty, ANY weight you lose is so good for your health. Even 10% weight reduction is associated with tremendous health benefits. The surgery IS an invaluable tool. I don't mean to diminish that. I'm just saying... Bariatric patients get sold on this idea that weight loss surgery is salvation, that everyone gets skinny and healthy and that you never have a bad relationship with food again. There is this false idea that everyone is transformed and lives happily ever after, that food will never again be a challenge and that you can't end up right back where you started....which, very realistically, you can. And many people do:( There is this unspoken idea that you'd have to be a serious screw-up to gain weight after bariatric surgery. Guess who gains weight eventually after surgery? Almost everyone. You still have to pay attention. You still have to log your food and watch the scale and keep track of your triggers and not escape into denial. You still have to work on your mental problems with food. Fixing your stomach doesn't fix your head. The first year, you're all honeymoon dreamy and nothing is a temptation. The second year, the third year, the fifth year....things get a little tougher. Am I trying to talk folks out of it? Absolutely not. This surgery is an amazing tool. But that's all it is. The whole equation of solving the problem is a lot bigger and more compex. For what it's worth...my two cents... Work hard, be consistent, be patient. The best outcomes are achieved by folks who keep at it, who are unphased by losing slowly, who create livable realistic changes in their eating habits that are permanent. Avoid extremes. Extremes don't last. Extreme low calories, extreme exercise, extreme food choice limits, extreme structure...backfires. Life demands moderation and flexability. Don't punish yourself. Gently modify your life with workable new goals that you can stick with. Make livable changes that endure. And when you screw up (everyone will) pick yourself, dust yourself off, and get back to work. Don't waste energy on guilt or anger at self. Just get back to work. Modify. Adjust. Livable permanent change is your goal.

Hi Mark! Congrats on your surgery! There is a post here about other benefits to weight loss surgery besides weight loss that I think you should read through. It might help your anxiety about being smaller. One of the only negative things I see in this forums is changed relationships with friends and family. If you have the support you need, I see only great things in your future!

I’m 47 with a 42% blockage in my caridad artery and high cholesterol verge of type 2 diabetes and I have a blood clotting disorder which caused me to have a stroke at 44. It’s time to start fighting back against these illnesses and weight loss is the beginning. Plus I’m an avid gardener and I’m hurting too much to do it the way I want to.

You will find that people react differently when you tell them. My parents, and husband were in full support of my decision, and have been my biggest cheerleaders during this whole thing. I am now just over 6 months out. I just saw my parents yesterday, and they were full of compliments. I generally see them once a month. Hubby was very supportive in the beginning, but now he is a little weary of my loss. He keeps asking if I am going to lose more. He has said that I am starting to look to skinny, and sickly. At first I was pissed off, then I realized that he is right. I don't want to keep losing, but it is just happening without me trying. My sister on the other hand has been nothing but a b***h during this whole thing. She has said very rude things to me around Christmas time. We have not spoken since. The way I look at it is this, I did this for myself, and no one else. I did it for my health, and the weight loss is just a bonus. I only told those that were close to me because I felt it was nobody's business what I do with my body. Easter is coming, and that means I will see cousins, aunts, uncles, who I haven't seen since my surgery. I am sure they will ask questions. I honestly don't know if I will tell them about the WLS, or just say I was dieting, going to the gym, etc.

This is a very common question, but it's weird how many posts there have been this weekend alone from people concerned about their rate of weight loss... Everybody loses at a different rate. It annoys me when surgeons tell people how quickly they "should" be losing weight, when they should know full well that there are many factors -- many of which are outside of the patient's control -- that can affect the rate of weight loss after surgery. The bottom line is that if you're following the program and your weight is decreasing (even if it's slow), you're fine. For your specific case, you had a low starting weight. The less you have to lose, and the closer you get to your goal, the more slowly it will go. I started at 341 pounds (down to 270 on surgery day), so I had WAY more to lose than you. You can't expect to lose as quickly as someone who started 100+ pounds higher, so don't compare your weight loss to someone else's. Just be patient and stick with your program, and the weight will come off.

I am not quite in maintenance but I am close to it. Since my weight loss is recent, I do have some loose skin but it is completely manageable and I feel it really depends on a lot of factors. I definitely wouldn't say zero loose skin but I feel like I could wear a swimsuit and no one would really notice but myself. My wife had surgery at the same time and we already know she is going to have a lot of loose skin when she hits maintenance weight. We are already saving up for plastic surgery for her when she is ready for it as she has wanted plastic surgery for a long time due to other factors.

I'm just needing some advice because I know there is vast experience in this group. I had VSG on 1/5/21. The morning of surgery, I was 214 lbs. Post-surgery, I was up a few days due to fluids. My recovery was amazing! No issues or pain at all. I have followed my doctor's protocol to a T but my loss seems so slow. My current weight is 198, so a 16-pound loss in two months and 10 days. The doctor's expectation is for me to be 193 by my visit on 3/26/21. I was given clearance to work out, so I have been slowly getting back to strength training; but even before that, the loss has been a slow, sometimes up a little, then down. Any and all suggestions/comments would be very-much appreciated.

you're in the infamous "three week stall". Almost everyone experiences that. In fact, you'll find literally thousands of posts on this site about the three-week stall. Just stick to your program and stay off the scale if you need to. It'll last 1-3 weeks, and as long as you stick to your program, your weight loss WILL start up again. It always does..

Sorry for your loss. But, thanks for sharing more info because I have surgery coming up and got really scared when I read your initial post that he died from the WLS. Hope you are doing ok.

Understandably, you'd feel defeated. It sounds like you've had one frustration after another. I'm sorry for that. I like LoveSimcha's idea of finding a student health plan that covers the surgery. If you can make it work, that's a great option. Even if your insurer won't pay for surgery, they may pay for preop assessments if the provider is in-network. Getting a sleep study, labs, psychotherapy, dietitian visits, and a medically supervised weight loss program covered, your physician just needs to prove medical necessity for those services. Do you have a Health Saving Account or a Flex Spending Account? If you do, you could use this. I know it wouldn't cover it all but it could soften the blow. Medicaid covers weight loss surgery if the facility has the Bariatric Center of Excellence designation and the recipient has a BMI of 35 or higher with one comorbidity and a previous medical weight loss attempt. Do you or your partner's employer offer benefits to part-timers? If not, you could request to temporally reduce your hours and apply for Medicaid the day after your coverage expires. Medicaid coverage begins the day you apply. Income limits depend on if you are single or married. You'd need to determine yours and reduce your income enough to meet eligibility. Lastly, you could check your state's marketplace for a private insurer or pull from your 401(k). I know it's not ideal, and you could take a financial hit, but it could be an option. I hope this helps. I know this situation is disappointing. Please don't give up, you can make this happen. 😊

I am copying my respone in another thread which is almost the exact as yours and the reply is applicable to you too: It would be useful if you filled in your profile: weight and height, helps with context to some questions/posts. I wouldn't say it was slow either, 6kilos in three weeks is good, you are doing great. Your body has been through a surgery, there is swelling and inflammation, its healing. If you read through a lot of the posts here or use the search link for stalls you would see that stalls are a common factor in weight loss surgery even in the first few weeks. The infamous three week stall that can happen at two or four weeks too, for some people the first stall may last a short time for others it can be a few weeks. There will be other stalls along the way. If you lost a lost of weight pre surgery in the pre op diet, this typically lessens the weight loss in the immediate post op phase as you've already lost all the bloat and Fluid retention. https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/436058-hardly-any-weight-loss-after-week-2-post-op-is-this-normal/

My wife and I chose VSG because we didn't have excessive heart burn. We also have the ability to transition to RNY if an issue did occur. We also know that the recovery/complications from VSG are slightly less than RNY. You can find studies that RNY does result in slightly more weight loss than VSG does but since my wife and I are working together we are working with each other to get to maintenance weight. I am almost at maintenance weight already after having surgery on 11/11 last year and my wife is well on her way there too.

Where did I go wrong Sent from my CPH1923 using BariatricPal mobile app