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I had to do keto as my pre surgical diet - 2.5 weeks. That was enough. I can’t stand the high fat aspect. Never been good with fatty/oily foods regardless if being good or bad fats. So it would never be an option for me long term. Bedsides I really don’t like bacon. 😉 The reading I did about it & conversations with my dietician all pointed to it being fine for the short term (like a kick start to a diet) but not the long term. Plus it can mess with your sugar levels, cholesterol, etc. There will always be fervent advocates of any diet. But no one diet works for everyone. If there was no one would ever have a weight issue. Use the time during which you are losing to start to work out a plan that works for you. It needs to be sustainable (you can do it long term). It needs to complement your lifestyle. It needs to support you to maintain your weight without you feeling like you are being punished, missing out or making too many sacrifices. Plan a way of eating not a diet. But talk to your dietician & do your own reading (avoid the pro keto ones though). May be have a look at Aitken’s as a lower fat alternative to keto if you are drawn to it. But look into lots of eating plans including what nutrition your body actually needs to function effectively.

I had my surgery RNY on May 10th and have my first follow up appointment. Now I weighed myself and it said I gained 2 pounds and I don’t know if that is because of swelling still or not.

Only if you can stick to it for life. It's more a lifestyle change, not so much a diet. I did it, and I lost 100 pounds. But in my case, I have PCOS and couldn't keep the weight off no matter how hard I tried. If you do keto and then go off, you will gain all the weight back quickly, and the more you start and stop, the less effective it is.

I’m at 2 1/2 weeks from gastric and I have the same issue I was told just limit to 1/4 cup off soft food. Not good I ended up with bad stomach aches and I was told to go back to liquids. So far I have not lost any weight nor gained. I have no clue what to do. So I know what you are going through. Good luck!!

I went to CVS and bought their health brand one. It comes with an app you can sync with your phone. Measures weight, BMI, water intake, muscle, bone Mass and much more. You can track all of that on your phone.

Oh hell me too - it’s keeps making me really sick. Of course I’m losing weight but it’s grim 🥺. How are you doing?

I have taken melatonin from the week of my surgery with no issues. The tablets are so small and dissolve quickly so I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to take them. I have also been taking vitamin capsules and my normal meds (up until I no longer needed them after the weight loss). My doctor told me if I could get them down comfortably they are fine to take.

I don't, mainly because my bathroom scale doesn't handle going above 300 all that well, heh - most of my weigh-ins have been at either my PCP's office or the weight-and-wellness center where my surgeon is based. They properly calibrate their scales.

I also was able to eat more than your average sleever. But also, I suspect my surgeon made my sleeve a bit bigger knowing how active I was even before surgery (it's hard to be so active when you can't eat enough!). When I was three months out I was restricting myself to 800 calories and my center's nutritionist had an absolute conniption at me. Said I was ruining the tool and if I wanted to just gain all the weight back, that was my business. I was devastated for a hot second before I absolutely lost my temper at the top of my lungs and fired her so loud they heard it in the surgeon's office across the hall. A friend of mine recommended a nutrition program she used, and I am so glad I found it. Immediately my nutrition coach (who had coached other bariatric patients before) upped my calories to about 1200, still prioritizing protein. Over the last six months she's increased it to 1600-1800, and we're just now backing off a little bit because I feel like all I do is eat. I have just a few pounds left to lose, so they will be harder to shift. I expect maintenance will be around 1600 calories depending on activity level.

I can't speak to the MCAS, but I can on a few other things. The pills: I had to crush mine (except for 2 capsules that can't be crushed or broken - I have MS and those are MS specific meds) for about 12 days. On day 13 I could take them without being crushed at all, although I still can't take all my pills at once like I used to. Exercise: There needs to be some kind of exercise. Walking is the #1 to prevent blood clots and work out the gas pain (break it up and help it go away). It also helps with the weight loss. The other things you can do are total bonuses that will also be great. Never try to do more than you safely and comfortably can, but do try to do as much as you can. Diet: Can you have cottage cheese (since you can have dairy)? Have you tried avocado spread, non fat refried beans, mashed potatoes, plain hummus? There's also protein pudding, protein oatmeal (I just bought them on the BariatricPal website here), and of course protein shakes, protein smoothies, and protein flavored water. Also, try bone broth (variety of flavors). That also has protein in it. And of course eggs are great, too. There's lots of ways to get your protein in. You may not be able to get off the protein drinks like the rest of us can as we move into solid foods and get our protein from there, but you CAN still get your required protein in other ways.

From what I understand, my weight loss surgeon wants to see me once a year for the rest of my life. I'm going to the 1-year post-op visit today. So I'll always have a doc to call if I need one.

yes missing meals and letting yourself get too hungry is bad. So before I go out, I always bring a high protein yogurt and cut up veggies or tuna and crackers and eat on the go. Which also eating on the go after surgery is never a good idea! I hope you just hit a stall and keep loosing until you reach you goal weight!!!

Nina, I am so glad you had a better experience the 2nd time around. Me too! They weight is coming off a little slower for me but still making good progress!

This is so incredibly sad. My heart goes out to you. The medical community often discounts patients based on their biases - if you are woman, your age (too old or too young), if you are a person of color, if you look different, if you are overweight, whatever it may be that doesn't fit their perfect mindset. At my heaviest, I started having difficulty walking without losing breath. My dad had congestive heart failure, so I freaked out and went to urgent care. The lady tried to tell me it was allergies. Allergies! My legs were swollen, which is one symptom, but that had also been happening for a very long time (previously disclosed to primary, who told me to 'put my feet up more') due in part to my blood pressure meds. Still, allergies was what I was told. No instinct to look further and consider that this was something serious, esp given family history. Fast forward to a month later, allergy meds aren't helping, and I go to my primary. I had to meet with the PA, and some random student assistant. The assistant told me I needed to exercise more. You know, when I can't breathe walking down the hallway - when I typically could do a 45 min hard workout with a trainer, even at nearly 400 lbs - I should totally be getting to the gym to deal with that not breathing thing. They then tried to tell me it was anxiety. My EKG was fine, other than a high heart rate, but they referred me to a cardiologist because of my family history. Cardiologist was appalled by everyone and the fact no one took me seriously. He did, and we quickly realized I have dilated cardiomyopathy. He got me on a great med regimen and after a few tough months, I saw rapid improvement. He was the one who really pushed me to consider WLS, though he gave me time to get there emotionally and mentally. I lost weight on my own after all this happened, but couldn't keep it off, which is why I am where I am now. Thank goodness for that man. I'd be dead without him, because no one was listening when I knew something was very wrong.

I had my RNY and hernia repair on May 11th. Reflux stopped immediately and I spent one night at the hospital. I started my protein shake as soon as I got home and on May 14th, I woke up with excruciating stomach cramp and diarrhea and thought that I was dying. The doctor on call called me back and told me to lay off the protein shakes and take Imodium. He said it was lactose intolerance and I should only sip water for 24 hours. I had to throw away 6 boxes of premier protein shake and have now switched to fairlife which is lactose and gluten free. I seem to be tolerating this well. At my clinic, it is full liquid for 7 days as soon as you leave the hospital, 1 week of purée, then weeks 3-5 of soft food and you can begin to introduce solid food one at a time after week 5. Pre-surgery was just liquid only 1 day before surgery. I believe that lactose intolerance is usually with bypass patients. I did not have any problems with the sleeve in 2018, but was one of the few who never lose weight after the sleeve; just 45Ibs and very bad reflux.

That’s awesome! Us thyroid warriors have to stick together😊. Don’t worry the scale will move again. I had a stall at 3 weeks and I think I have stalled 3 more times since then. My latest labs show that my tsh has dropped with weight loss so I have been cutting back on my meds. My endo says it’s a good thing because it means my thyroid is doing more of the work on its own and doesn’t need as much help.

@Woodstock23 Hi [emoji3059], I'm not too bad thank you. My surgery went well but I'll be honest it's been a tough journey for me so far. I'm now nearly 8 weeks post op and the smell of meat of any kind revolts me. I'm struggling to eat more than a few teaspoons of food and am no where near my protein and water consumption that I should be yet! But saying all that, I know things will get better with time and I do not regret surgery. I have already lost 34lb, I haven't been this weight since I was 23 and I'm 50 this year! [emoji16] My surgeon has told me that I have responded extremely well to the surgery and that the change in my hormones has caused the extreme sensitivity to the taste and smells of meat proteins. Would love any tips you can give me on emotional eating. I still find myself reaching for food and then feel disappointed when I can't have it. I'm trying to distract myself but sometimes I just go to bed to avoid the emotions, which I know isn't ideal. Ask as many questions as you want, I'm more then happy to support you in anyway I can. Good luck for your surgery [emoji3059], it's the beginning of a new you x Sent from my SM-G980F using BariatricPal mobile app

I weigh four times weekly (Mon Tue Thu and Sat) and track my average rather than individual weights.

Don't eat past your hunger cues. One of the things that I want to beam into everyone's head is that for a LOT of us, aftercare is pretty horrible. My surgeon's bariatric nutritionist lit into me for eating 800 calories a day 3 months out - I work outdoors and work out for an hour a day. My surgeon actually skipped two check-ins in a row after that. So I went and got a nutrition coach (whom I absolutely LOVE). I could always eat more than they said I'd be able to. But as long as I ate slowly, the restriction kicked in eventually. I lost weight hand over fist (it has since slowed down, but I'm 8 months PO and not far from goal). I wouldn't worry about it. But do watch out for stalls. They happen, they suck, and they shouldn't derail you.

Well, this certainly went in an unexpected direction. I think the OP basically wanted us to tell her that there was some way for her to both lose her weight and make no further changes (because "sacrifices suck"). I did want to add one thing, though, for the future people who read this. Your body can carry an INSANE amount of poop. So the OP, starting her post-colon-cleanse weight, already was down as much as ten pounds (I 💩 you not!) just from having it all out of her. And it doesn't matter which scale you use as long as you use the same scale every time.

The picture on the right was yesterday; the one on the left was me close to my fattest. I'm eight months post-op and still losing weight, albeit much more slowly now. I was wearing size 46 pants that barely buttoned around my waist on the left; size 32 on the right. Size 4XL shirt on the left, L on the right. (The left is blurry because I had to crop and it didn't do it nicely. You can still see puh-lenty!)

I was an almost 10 lb baby….I was literally born fat. 😂. I was a fat kid, a fat adult, I was able to achieve most any goal I set out to do but I could never overcome obesity. I finally had to just tell myself if I could have, I would have. It wasn’t a lack of willpower, or knowledge, or anything. I simply could not maintain a weight loss on my own. Losing weight didn’t magically make everything in my life perfect, but it sure fixed the weight related problems…and I had plenty.

Has anyone here had a gastric sleeve and also has Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)? I just need to know that someone else safely had it done and didn't have a major multi-systemic reaction to the surgery or in post-op. I'm prone to anaphylaxis but I've had other surgeries (knees and shoulder) since diagnosis and with my surgical team being cautious I made it through surgery without having a major reaction. I previously had a consult with a bariatric surgeon and she said she wouldn't touch me; that it was too risky. But that was maybe three years ago and I'm definitely more stable now than I was then. My pain doctor wants me to get a second opinion so I'm going to meeting with a bariatric surgeon in a few weeks and also meeting with my mast cell doctor. I was just hoping that someone who it has experience with it could reassure me that it can be done safely. Concerns I have: - my diet already has to be restrictive because of the MCAS. I worry about getting enough protein in when I have to avoid tree nuts and all meat products. I can have milk (lactose free) and eggs. - I read that my meds have to be crushed or split post-surgery. Is that for forever? I have some capsules that I take that can't be crushed or broken. I also have liquid medication I take that gets diluted I'm about a cup of water. I use that water to take all of my pills, and there's a fair amount of pills. - exercise is an issue for me. I've anaphylaxed during an easy yoga class before. I've built up to be able to do seven to ten minutes on a seated elliptical or seated stepper. But I'm not going to be running any 5ks anytime soon. Is it still an effective surgery if my workout options afterwards are extremely limited because of my MCAS? - if I'm on meds that have caused weight gain for me, is it possible to still lose weight while being on the med? I can't safely go off of the meds unfortunately. I think I'm just scared to get my hopes up that this surgery could be a safe and effective tool to help me lose weight. I'm 5'4 and 400 lbs. I need help. The likelihood that my surgeon will be familiar with or educated in mast cell diseases is really low and I know that I'll have to do a lot of advocating for myself. If you've made it this far thank you for listening. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi JUNE friends! I get notifications when there are posts and how emotional I was to see all the NEW 2022 Junies posting! Made me reflect on everything that has happened to me in the last year. Recorded my highest weight in NOV 2019 at 305 at 5ft1in at the doctor's office. Cried and talked with her about surgery. She was all for it. Let that sit and fester for another year, what was the rush? I have only been thinking about this for the last TEN years. Finally, Nov 2020, my levels were prediabetic. I was on two high BP meds. I knew I needed to stop this. My insurance sucked and conventional route was not going to happen. MANY MANY insurance companies DO NOT cover bariatric surgeries any more. WHICH is ridiculous since it is the only elective surgery that reverses or ends so many mortal diseases. Why wouldn't they pay? Between HBP and soon to be diabetes, probably need knee replacements, and on and on!! I had to find self pay. I was too nervous to look at Mexico, and found Blossom Bariatrics in Vegas. I started my Pre-Op diet May 25th, 2021. Surgery was June 15th, 2021. Best DECISION I EVER MADE! We have all been there. Should have done it sooner, hmmm-ed and hawed for months and months once my doctor and I talked about it. Then there was covid. The delays never ended. But to all the new people.....TRUST THE PROCESS, LISTEN to your body. It will know what to do. If you do the work, it will follow. I consider myself a SLOW loser. I was not, will not, and won't ever be an exercise lover. I couldn't fathom doing any exercise when I was 305lbs. It was a terrible cycle. I can't walk and move my body because my knees hurt, my back hurt. I didn't walk much when I started this journey but then, after the tiredness subsides, you think wow, my knees don't hurt. I can go for a walk with the dog. Then, I WANT to walk the dog. For me, everything was baby steps. BUT, suddenly the pants are looser. You start to see your face change. Then, those close to you start to notice. Slowly, but SURELY, it comes off. The ONLY WAY to lose this weight is by calorie deficit. It is the ONLY WAY we can all do this. It is NOT EASY. Having surgery is NOT easy. We still have to change the way we eat. We are still have to fight those old habits and desires. I read everything I could, joined this group, and a couple on FB. I read all the advice. I am here to tell you a few of mine. I HATED pictures of any kind. I didn't take many before or after surgery. DO TAKE PICTURES!!! I love seeing people's before and afters and transformations and I just can't go back. and POOP. No one talks about the POOP or lack of it. It was my biggest side effect and still an issue. HAIR LOSS, it happens, just start those biotin pills NOW! SO, sorry for this long post, it was kind of emotional and I needed to just write it all out. You took the first steps. You got this! I still feel like I just did and am in the stages you are. But, as I close in on my first anniversary, I am overwhelmed. I hit the 100 pound lost mark. Then, this week, I hit ONEDERLAND. Lots of milestones all at once. I am anxious to see what my pounds lost will be on June 15th! Trust yourself and the process. There are NO steadfast rules. I hate when I see posts and people are so adamant and actually rude about stuff. In the end, you make the rules. I'm an open book and will answer any questions. You can message me or post. Literally remind yourself, it's ONE day at a time. Best wishes Junies!!