Search the Community

Those on pureed foods, any favorite thing to eat? I'm only on day 3 and I'm loving eating food and never want to look at broth ever again. I am eating the ricotta bake and surprisingly my favorite is fat free refried beans with taco bell sauce on it. I was worried about the hot sauce but so far no issues and all the fiber is wonderful for my constipation issues that are already starting to disappear. I'm eating about 3 oz per meal but I'm eating about 4 times a day. Think my average calories is about 500. So I think I need to increase that but at the same time I'm afraid to because I don't want to stop losing. I'm having a little more trouble getting my protein in because I am only having 1 protein shake a day and I'm not really eating meat still. So I need to work on trying to add protein powder to my food. I'm afraid I won't like the taste though but I won't know until I try. Any tips or tricks for using protein powder in food? I have the isopure unflavored kind.

I'm so upset. In the last 9 days I've gained 9 pounds!!! Nothing has changed with my diet and workouts. I take my vitamins like I'm supposed to. I never cheat on my diet, I work out 5 days a week. So I called my dietician and after we went over everything she said "remember when I told you that having pcos would cause you problems with weight loss? Well here it is. If you remember, you lost 100 pounds on keto and then the weight just started coming back no matter what you did? It looks like it's happening again." I literally started to cry, because nothing I did stopped the weight from coming back. I asked if I could do a pouch reset and maybe reverse it now and she said "you certainly can try, but you aren't gaining because of over eating or cheating on your diet. You're gaining because of a hormonal imbalance that seems to like you being fat". I don't know what to do. I had such high hopes that the surgery and weight loss would help improve the pcos, but it looks like, once again, it's out to sabotage me. I guess it's not enough that it caused me to have 10 miscarriages through the years, or need fertility meds to have my daughter, or never be able to get pregnant again after her. Now it won't let me lose weight and keep it off. I feel so defeated. All my hard work and once again, it's all for nothing.

Sometimes i eat junk. (I am 4 years post op and have been in maintenance for over 3 years and have long ago learned what i can eat without imploding) I haven’t eaten since 2 pm yesterday (i got distracted by errands and then was just too pooped by end of day to do anything but sleep!), so i woke up pretty starving this AM. So when im super hungry, i don’t have the patience to cook something suitable so i just grabbed whatever was laying around. In this case it was a cold piece of bacon, 1/2 a Chinese bbq pork bun and a handful of ketchup chips!! Aside: this is actually a life lesson to have healthy things laying around so u dont end up with a breakfast like this lol. Had I eaten it all, it would’ve been 397 calories. Ended up just eating the cold bacon, the meat filling of the bun and some of the bun that got in the way of the filling lol. Estimated 159 cals for what i ate. (will likely eat the chips later though if someone doesn’t get to it first!)

21 lbs since surgery is awesome! I also had VSG on the 25th and I’m only down 12 since surgery. That includes a random gain after I added in semi-solid food, so I am still up from my lowest. I can tell that I have been retaining water. Not only do I see it, but I could tell with drinking and not going to the bathroom. I have been desperate for answers and what I have read is that you spend most of your first month dehydrated, even if you are getting in fluids. That a portion of the weight loss is water and that sometime during the first month your body makes an adjustment to rebalance fluid levels, causing a stall or gain and that eventually this works itself out. I went for a big jog thinking I would help myself and the next day I was not only sore, but 3+ up on the scale lol Now I’m just trying to drink as much as I can and trying to convince myself that there is no way you can gain fat weight from an average 600 calories a day!

Re: does it really matter I mean, yes. There are other possible bad outcomes besides literally dying. If the effectiveness of bariatric surgery comes down in large part to microbiomic changes, for example, suggesting that I remove all fiber from my diet until over 6 months post surgery and introducing large amounts of artificial sweeteners into my diet could in fact work against positive changes to the gut microbiome. If my ability to lose weight pre-surgery comes down to emphasising foods that extend satiety (fiber, protein, fat), dramatically reducing my fat and fiber intake before surgery could cause me to overeat or binge eat and my weight loss to stall or reverse. If long term success comes from following one's hunger cues, teaching myself to eat according to the clock they've set, whether I'm hungry or not, in order to meet arbitrary goals could limit my weight loss long term or trigger binge eating again. They're not suggesting I take a spoonful of arsenic at bedtime, but that doesn't mean that their suggestions are neutral. They have no systematic evidence that their program creates success for the average patient or not. (The great part of this sort of program, from the practitioner perspective, is that you can almost always blame poor outcomes on non-compliance.) Some of the program requirements for the pre-surgery diet are literally impossible to follow at the same time. I can't take one or two bean-sized bites per minute, finish meals in less than 30 minutes, and eat 2200+ calories per day without a significant portion of those bites being high fat meats, full fat dairy, or, I dunno, peanut butter straight out of the jar, all of which are verboten. So regardless of what I'm doing now, I'm not compliant. It's not possible to comply fully. (The handwavy answer was "healthy fats". I have no idea how much avocado my dietitian expects me to be able to eat. I suppose technically if I ate just chicken breasts with avocado and nothing else...) I'm also not the average patient anyway (it's probably pretty clear at this point that I'm not neurotypical, for example, I understand that people with regular would either comply or lie without much difficulty either way), so even if their arbitrary program did create success for the average patient for whatever reason that means very little for whether it would work for me. The arbitrariness and the ultimatum annoy me. The fact that I'm being asked to disregard everything I know about how I personally deal with change to adopt a post-surgical style diet (low-fat, regimented, and frequent) half a year before any potential surgery date with an intact GI system, that I'm expected to throw away everything I know about what I need to lose weight, stop binge eating, and have the energy to do intense exercise frightens me. I'm terrified that I'm going to gain weight or relapse into binge eating (thus getting denied for surgery) and I feel like they're pushing me into that direction. All because Typical Tammy deals best with gradually introduced changes over a long time period and simple, unambiguous, authoritative instructions from medical professionals she sees as trustworthy experts? Nah. I mean, I'm sure there are, but this is the only one I have access to. And, ultimately, it doesn't really matter, as long as I can jump through their stupid little hoops, I can get what I need from them. It's just.... a long and irritating process of circus training. I'm not really looking for advice or anything, I understand the options and am resigned to them, this is a rant and rave.

I had my bypass the 23rd. I've been stalled, too, so frustrating, but I'm down 20 lbs. Sure doesn't look like it, though

Hi everyone! I had my VSG surgery on August 25th. Everything has been going pretty well so far. I have been stalled for the past 2 weeks, but hopefully the scale will move soon. So far, I am down 21 lbs since surgery.

Hi, Had my surgery on 5/18/2020. I've been able to maintain between 188-191. However, I started adding the THRIVE packet to my my protein shake in the morning. And have lost 6 pounds this week. My question is, is this program ok for us 2 years post op? The monthly consists of a patch, a pill for energy and the vitamin packets. I am 5'3 my starting weight was 310 my current weight is 184. Thanks

Just keep drinking! Also there’s a short weight loss stall near you. Not to worry about, ignore the scale when it happens. Look up 3 week stall on here to see more. You’ve got this!

I had a chart from the doctor office that said the same, two weeks for each stage. I found I had to go slower and spend 3 weeks for each stage. I agree with trying one food at a time. The dietitian kept suggesting scrambled eggs for soft food, but I got foaming and it got stuck. Later I found out eggs and chicken are the most common things to get stuck at first, lol. Now they are my go to proteins, so you can try stuff later after more healing. Reach out to your team if something seems painful or you can’t keep liquids down.

That is very vague. haha I was on 2 week phases, 2 weeks full liquids, 2 weeks pureed, 2 weeks soft foods and then slowing transition to solid foods. I did not have to wait to see my surgeon before each stage but we were advised if we had any issues to reach out. I was lucky enough to have a smooth recovery and had no issues transitioning into different stages. When we started trying foods again, we were advised to try ONE thing at a time so if we got sick we knew exactly what it was from. Then, we could try that food again a few weeks/months later as our tolerances change as we progress.

Looks like my last post was on July 27. Things have slowed down quite a bit. Still doing well though. I finally cracked into the two-sixties with a weigh in last Saturday of 269. That would be -134 overall. In the last 2 weeks, I've increased my walking and hitting the gym. Body comp definitely changing so I'm less concerned about the scale at the moment. I still see losses in my face and the way my clothes fit even if its a bit less off the scale. My goal is to crack the two-fifties before Nov 15... my 1 year anniversary. The last time I was that weight was high school... 30 years ago. Feeling good. Arrhythmia gone for a few months now. Getting stronger.

Everyone above is right, lot's of reasons your weight might fluctuate. There's one reason I can guarantee you it's NOT. That you gained fat. While this is a bit of an oversimplification, you would have needed to eat 3500 calories more that you burned in the last week to gain just 1 pound of fat. Since at 3 weeks, you're probably not even eating 3500 calories in a week, I's a safe bet that whatever else is causing your overall weight to fluctuate, it's not that you added fat.

Everyone fluctuates. Bariatric or not, it is normal. Try to stop weighing yourself so much, try to keep it to once a week. Same day every week. Then you won't see every little up and down but will see the results.

When you are fresh out after surgery you likely won't even do 2 oz at a time. I was given 1 oz cups in the hospital and told I should sip that cup 3 times before it is empty. By the time I was home (2days) I could do the 1 oz cup at a time and then gradually increased. Now I chug water almost like normal.

I went through the same thing my hole opening was to small my gastroenteritis went down my throat and had to make it 3 center meters bigger they had a feeding tube in me I couldn't eat or drink all I would do was spit up all day for 3 months I want to sue my sergion now I'm better good luck. Sent from my SM-S127DL using BariatricPal mobile app

Starting 2nd week after surgery. I am off my metformin and blood sugar levels are excellent. I do feel a bit week and had only one slight dizzy spell. Wounds are healing quite well. Tiny bit of bruising. Vitamins and Proteins are easy to consume and tracking everything with 'my fitness' app. I did find it not too much fun at the supermarket today. My old brain wanted buy things I know I will most likely never eat again. But I'm ok with that . I have found that Ido have a tendency to swallow air when I drink fluids and I'm working on slowing right down to a crawl with it. I tilt my head back a bit and swallow. Seems a bit weird but it works for me. I've had the gastric bypass Sept 19 . I started at 265.5 lbs 2 weeks before surgery and on the day of my surgery I was 250 lbs. I started to track my weight from then and have slowly lost 5.5 lbs in my first week. I do seem to have not lost anything for three days but I do see and feel my body structure changing. I have been mobile more the last few days and I am starting to track that also. Today I walked about 1km and will be adding more distance daily. Maybe will incorporate the treadmill in my buildings exercise room. I'm glad I found this group and look forward to reading and responding to people questions. I'm sure I will have some and I am happy to answer any I can for others. Thanks. Cheers from Toronto Canada. !!

I'm not to far off from your situation. Starting 2nd week after surgery. I am off my metformin and blood sugar levels are excellent. I do feel a bit week and had only one slight dizzy spell. Wounds are healing quite well. Tiny bit of bruising. Vitamins and proteins are easy to consume and tracking everything with 'my fitness' app. I did find it not too much fun at the supermarket today. My old brain wanted buy things I know I will most likely never eat again. But I'm ok with that . I have found that Ido have a tendency to swallow air when I drink fluids and I'm working on slowing right down to a crawl with it. I tilt my head back a bit and swallow. Seems a bit weird but it works for me. I've had the gastric bypass Sept 19 . I started at 265.5 lbs 2 weeks before surgery and on the day of my surgery I was 250 lbs. I started to track my weight from then and have slowly lost 5.5 lbs in my first week. I do seem to have not lost anything for three days but I do see and feel my body structure changing. I have been mobile more the last few days and I am starting to track that also. Today I walked about 1km and will be adding more distance daily. Maybe will incorporate the treadmill in my buildings exercise room. I'm glad I found this group and look forward to reading and responding to people questions. I'm sure I will have some and I am happy to answer any I can for others. Thanks. Cheers from Toronto Canada. !!

How much is it going up? The reality is weight loss is never a straight downward line. It zigs & zags & goes up & down. A gain could be fluid retention (as you said you have), constipation, hormonal fluctuations, your usual weight fluctuation, etc. as long as your general trend is downwards your doing fine. Do you weigh less today then you did three weeks ago? And yes stalls happen. The first often around week three ( yes, I did say first) & they can last 1-3 weeks. They are just your body shutting down (needing a break) in response to the stress of all the changes (to your diet, reduced calories, surgery, weight loss, etc.). They always break & you’ll start losing again when your body is ready.

I am one to say follow your program because there are differences as well as similarities. Though I often also say, if the program isn’t working for you, speak to your surgeon or dietician. I recognise there are weaknesses in the American health system & the ridiculous power of insurance companies: If you don’t do what they say & get all the right boxes ticked you can’t have your surgery power. Through reading posts here, there also seems to be many medical practitioners who do not look at each individual case & don’t make adjustments to their program to suit the individual patient’s needs. And dieticians often seem to promote their own ideologies & current fads. I saw a documentary a few years ago that spoke about the influence of large food production corporations on the curriculum in schools & in medical courses at colleges/universities - scary stuff. Things aren’t perfect in Australia, & I’m sad to say, we’re slowly going down the US path, but my experience was much different. I’m sorry yours has been so negative. My surgeon & dietician did consider me, my needs & circumstances. For example, my surgeon puts different patients on different pre surgical diets. A friend was on all shakes while I was put keto. He said I didn’t need to see a therapist (he gave me the name of one if I wanted or needed) but he sent her for several appointments before her surgery. My dietician, though not perfect, was at least open to my preferences & needs. She advised the keto diet only for the two weeks pre surgery saying it should only be followed for the short term to kick start weight loss (something I already believed). She didn’t give me specific macros to reach (apart from protein) but only recommended low fat, low carb (multi or whole grain low processed only), low sugar. I did a lot of my own reading & discussed my thoughts & what I wanted to do. I eventually devised my own way of eating & what foods I wanted (& needed) to eat, avoid, restrict or reduce. She’d make suggestions about alternatives & things I could add to make sure I was getting in my nutrients (she always checked my blood tests). I guess the big difference was my surgeon & dietician wanted to support me & help me achieve my goals. If yours aren’t supportive, don’t listen to your needs & are simply following a genetic ‘one program suits all’, find a new team (if you can). And especially in your case, if they don’t recognise you are an intelligent, well educated & are highly knowledgeable in the medical field, give them the boot. All the best.

I lost a lot of weight quickly but this week I am gaining. I am not eating a lot but the scale is moving up. I remember seeing a lot of people around week three hit a stall, but not a gain necessarily. I am wondering if this is because I am eating soups and I have sodium retention. How was your third week? Were you able to get it moving again, if so any tips?

I live alone, my daughter picked me up from the hospital. I have friends that are supportive but no one to really talk to on a daily basis about weight loss. I was just fine. My biggest problem post op was my neck was so painful from being in the position they put your head in to intubate. Have bad arthritis in the neck, so I wasn't surprised. To be honest, my neck and the headache it gave me were worse than any abdominal discomfort. 4 days after I got home my German Sheppard was dropped off to me, his legs had gone from bad to worse. Poor guy was in so much pain and long story short was euthanized 3 weeks later. I was so busy caring for my baby that I just went into auto pilot mode. If it had been a difficult surgery, I don't know what I would have done. The abdominal pain was minimal. Had no problem walking or getting around. Good luck to you, you've got this!

Mine has finally started to level off, I knew I would be a "loser." My hair has always been very sensitive to major stress or changes. When I was going thru a divorce, I had a big bald spot near the back of my head. So this time, somewhere around 3-4th month I started losing like a handful of hair every time I brushed. There was always hair on my shoulder. I don't have an overabundance to start with! So now its really slowed down and ready to grow some back.

I was pretty much alone even though my husband works from home. I was fine without help once I got home from the hospital. I actually was fine in the hospital too, I just had a lot of nausea and stayed several days, but I never needed help getting around or anything, even right after the surgery. I was able to drive to my follow up appt. A week later with no problem, and it's almost an hour drive. I think you should be just fine without anyone around as long as you follow your post op instructions. You may not have support there, but you can come to this site for tons of it. The people here are nothing but awesome and helpful! Good luck to you! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I'd find a different practice. I have an amazing team who understand the realities of living including having sugar in our coffee or tea. Every team has different rules and mine encouraged fibre and large amounts of vegetables during my two week post op diet (I'm now 3 weeks post op and down over 11kg). So sorry you've not had a good experience with this person and if you can, try and find a team that suits you better and is happy to hear your concerns