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I have been trying for years to qualify for weight loss surgery with insurance. I have to lose 10% of my body weight and keep it off. Unless I have some kind of condition that prevents me from losing weight, which I do not, there are no exceptions. I have not even come close to 10% and I am tired of waisting my life being depressed about it. So I took matters into my own hands and am planning on having the duodenal switch with Dr Ungson in Mexicali, self pay. My family doesn't even know I am going to Mexico, they would probably disown me if they knew. I just told them I am going out of state. My mom is the only person I have to watch my children while I am gone, and she is the person that is against this decision the most. She told me I am "using risky physical means to fix a spiritual problem". What is that supposed to mean anyway? I have faith in God, I pray about this everyday. I don't want to risk my life, risk leaving 4 children and a husband by having this done. But I am desperate and this is my last resort. I can't educate my family because they won't listen. Their minds are made up that I am making the biggest mistake of my life. Has anyone else gone through this? How did you deal? I just want to cry.

I had my gastric bypass surgery on March 21st 2019. Could anyone please give me an idea of the maximum number of carbs I should be taking in daily at this point. I don’t want to be consuming too many.

I completely understand the thought process here. You've gone through major surgery, and have completely changed your eating habits. You want results, and you want them NOW. Bodies are silly, tricky things. Your body doesn't know that you've CHOSEN to have this surgery. All it knows is you fell asleep and some STUFF WENT DOWN. Your body is throwing everything it has into healing, and losing weight is NOT what it's thinking about right now. When I came home from the hospital, I was actually 10 pounds heavier than when I went in. Losing 10 pounds in 3 weeks is normal, healthy, and a great accomplishment! We are not living in a Woman's Day headline where you can lose 25 lbs in 14 days. Be gentle with yourself and trust the process. You WILL lose weight, you CAN do this!!

Hello everyone, I'm a 42-year old male who's battled weight issues my entire life. I was always an athlete - collegiate football player and shotputter. I've lifted weights since I was a teenager. At my heaviest I was 385lbs. I managed to get it down to about 340-ish over time but my weight more or less just stayed there for years. Without getting into a long, drawn-out story here are my questions and concerns. I had gastric bypass Jan 15 of 2018. I have lost weight, but really not that much. I'm hungry ALL THE TIME. I can eat way more than I feel like I should be able to. I lost weight for the first four months or so but since then I've been gaining and losing the same 5-10lbs for about a year. Part of me feels like I'm gaining/maintaining weight because of muscle gains due to heavy exercise but not losing any more fat because I simply cannot get through my day with a 900-1200 calorie diet. I just don't see how it's possible to do this. To show my trends, here they are: 1/1/18 - 334 1/15/18 - 319 - Surgery 1/22/18 - 308 2/5/18 - 293 3/12/18 - 276 3/26/18 - 271 5/28/18 - 260 7/23/18 - 252 8/13/18 - 260 11/1/18 - 265 12/1/18 - 262 1/1/19 - 267 2/3/19 - 264 3/3/19 - 262 4/3/19 - 260 My questions are: 1) Do I need to eat 900-1200 calories for the rest of my life to prevent gaining all my weight back no matter what I do? (I've asked this question to my doctor and the staff of where I got my surgery and received conflicting information from various people who are paid alot of money to know). 1a) I work out constantly. If I continue to work out and just eat sensibly, can I operate just like a normal person with an active lifestyle? It's a pretty depressing thought that I need to eat that little forever even if I'm extremely active and athletic. 2) I've been told and read that after 12-18 months, you're done losing weight. At least, the surgery only helps for this long. Is it possible to actually use my surgery 2 years+ out to lose weight, or is it just "eat 900 calories a day and do alot of cardio forever and you won't regain your weight"? 3) Are you as hungry as I am? Is this normal? If this is true hunger and not head hunger then I have made a poor decision getting this surgery. I tried the "drink some water every time you feel hunger" trick and... no dice. Still hungry! I realize some people who read this may think "he knew what he was signing up for", and they'd be right to think that. Maybe I just had unrealistic expectations after reading about and seeing people who lose like 200lbs and look like they haven't exercised a day in their life. I exercise and try my best to eat the small amounts I'm supposed to. I don't drink soda and barely drink alcohol, I don't eat poorly (often). I mean I am human. I do enjoy myself from time to time but I am far from what you would consider "non-compliant". Thanks for letting me vent and any constructive answers are welcome. I have tried very hard to find solid answers to my questions and I feel like it's impossible IE: "Yes, even if you lift weights and run five days a week, since you've had had gastric bypass you must eat 1,200 calories a day for the rest of your life or you will gain your weight back, sorry"

Anyone on here had their VSG on Saturday 27 April or thereabouts? I would love to find someone to chat and share notes x VSG 27th April 2019 Starting weight 120kg

That is normal, how much did you expect to lose in 3 weeks? The first month involves a lot of adjusting. Search around this sight, you will see at least 30 recent threads about slow or stalled weight loss. 10 pounds in 3 weeks after major surgery is good.

Today is exactly 3 weeks from my sleeve and I've only lost 10 lbs. I need any suggestions I can get, please!!!! Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I was at the gym after the first week - I was hampered by not being allowed to drive for the first 7 days so I was walking my neighborhood. I stuck with the treadmill until 10 lb weight restriction was lifted. I avoid ab work for while and stuck with upper body and legs and only doing what was comfortable. Now I do as I please. Congrats on your surgery and success so far!

I was back at the gym doing cardio two weeks post-op. They surgeon told me to wait 6 weeks before lifting more than 10 pounds, so I waited 6 weeks before doing strength training machines

I will jump in on this one. I need to stay motivated since my loss has really stalled. Starting weight - 185.8 lbs. Surgical Status - post-op Personal Goals - complete the no junk food challenge May 1-10 - continue on my IF 16:8 weekday regime and complete (4) 36 hour fasts this month - Be at or below 183 by May 7 (my 1 year follow-up with my surgeon) - break into the 170s by May 31st (aim high or go home, amirite?)

How's my fellow Alumni? If anyone wants to clean up their diet or regain motivation, here's a challenge for May 2019

🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 SUMMER IS COMING & MOMENTUM IS HIGH... MAY MOTIVATIONAL CHALLENGE TIME!!! 💜💜💜 STARTING MAY 1ST 2019 💜💜💜 JOIN US IN A SELF DIRECTED WELLNESS CHALLENGE. SET YOUR OWN GOALS AND SMASH THEM! OPEN TO EVERYONE! Post your starting stats (weight or BMI), Surgical status (pre/post/maintenance/not sure) & your personal goal for the month. Communicate with others on the same journey in a low key setting. Talking about life, health & wellness. Lots of side conversations and questions are encouraged. Enjoy the camaraderie! Participate as much as you like! For added benefit (but not necessary to join) there are workout and clean diet components. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔

Isn't it crazy though that for other kinds of addicts, they can just avoid the thing that is addictive. I was a 20 a day smoker for 10 years... it was hard giving up, but I could just not buy cigarettes and avoid the places where people smoked. Food though you HAVE to eat. So it's like smoking, but in moderation. I'm not giving myself excuses, but it is kind of nuts how we have to try to moderate the thing we are addicted to - there's no giving it up completely.

Nice. Sending positive vibes your way..I was just approved on the 22nd of April and scheduled my surgery for 8-2-19.. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J727AZ using BariatricPal mobile app

Today at 10:am and I am checked in. Already have my identification wrist band on. My son is with me. Good luck to you.

So the reason I choose 8-2-19 Was because I'm an out doors kinda guy.. I love my fishing and taking dips in the lake.. my son turns 2 in April and I want to enjoy his day.. If I do it early I feel like I would get dehydrated with this central California heat and get to miss out on a lot of fishing and swimming with my little one Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J727AZ using BariatricPal mobile app

My understanding is that most say we don’t have to wait since it’s a fluid and goes right through as a liquid does, but I like to wait at least 10 minutes because it does feel like it goes slower than thinner liquids.

Just a quick update, I am 19 days out from surgery and yesterday and today are the first days I don’t have any pain. The only pain I was experiencing was under my left rib like a pulling sensation, dr said it was my pouch healing. Tuesday I start regular food, I have been on soft food for this week so no more puréed!! I’ve had shrimp, salmon and ham with a pickle no skin. Omg it tasted awesome lol. I am looking forward to the 9th when I can start exercising. Water has been fine and so has taking the vitamins. Good luck to anyone who is next in line!! HW 251 SW 238 CW 220

I was submitted on a Monday and approved on Wednesday. My surgery date is 5-22-19. Good luck!!!

I stalled shortly after my op and I've recently stalled at 10 months. My weight didn't shift for a month. The stall broke this week - I lost 2 lbs. I didn't do anything special to break it - I just carried on eating the right stuff and walking, and my body decided to lose again. I don't stress out about it now, I know that if I'm patient (and keep off naughty foods and booze) that the weight will go. - And BTW - I've now lost 100 lbs. Not too shoddy, eh?

Learn something new. I watched Brene Brown’s new special on Netflix (I love her), and I learned at least 10 things while watching it. Her books and TED talks on YouTube are really worth your time too. Debating if I’m going to the gym today, Sunday’s are crazy busy there. If not I’ll workout at home and go for a long walk. Deeber, I hate getting lost too, but not as extreme as you. I do love reading maps, whenever we go on vacation my husband knows to buy any kind of map we find along the way.

Hi I am 27 months out.I had made goal fairly quickly in the first year.And had passed it.Then I was hospitalized in my 13th month and was on a liquid diet and constant ivs.I had some weight gain from that and during that year I was on a week of Prednisone.I have been on trials of meds for certain things.My total weight gain was 20 pounds.My surgeon gives a 10 pound grace.I am 10 pounds over.Any help or suggestions would be appreciated thank you

I'm 20 months post op. I've had a difficult 6 months, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, put on a range of medication, including a larger dose of prednisone, methotrexate (which exhausts me) and other medications (so.many.pills). At the moment, my pain is still not under control. Between the pain, fatigue and relentless need to eat (prednisone is awful) and some depression, I started to eat a lot of crap. Slipped back into some bad habits (avoid those slider foods). So I put on weight. At my lowest weight, I was 179 lbs (81kg). Last Wednesday, I realised my weight was back up to 220 lbs (99.5 kg). Being a metric girl, I did not want to climb over 100kg. I freaked out and put myself back on a high protein/low carb 1000 calories daily allowance. In 4 days, I have lost 10 lbs (4.8kg). My body has responded in a way that really surprised me. I do not think it's healthy to lose 10lbs in 4 days. I have never lost weight this quickly. I am guessing that a lot of this wight loss is bloating/water weight from the medication. However, I was just wondering if anyone else has fought regain. What are your best tips? Has anyone else experienced a major drop in weight? Now that the sleeve isn't as restrictive, this is feeling like it's going to be a difficult journey. Any tips? Particularly from any veterans? I would love any support.

Hi all. I am having the VSG on May 20, 2019. I am getting nervous. I have been reading posts on the forum and a lot of people seem miserable, which worries me more. I am assuming the anxiety is probably normal as it is a life change. I am in grad school and start my clinical rotations exactly a month out of surgery and am scared that I will be weak and it will throw off clinical rotations. Can anyone say that at one month out they felt okay to work long hours every day except one? Can it be done? Also, I know this is going to be different for anyone. How much weight will I lose the first month, second, third (average)? I am worried that I will not have clothes to wear to work and clinical. If I have a guesstimate I can semi-plan what size I will need and ask around. Thanks! Teri