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At barely two weeks out I’d try to stick more to soups, scrambled eggs, & other more puréed foods that more easily slide down & require little chewing. Look at soft & very tender slow cooked meats. You could mash up mince, sausages (or vegan alternatives), the fillings of steamed wontons or gyoza & be okay. Add any sauces or gravies available yo keep them more moist. Try a soft flaked white fish that has been poached or steamed. I’d avoid anything breaded or fried as the meat will likely be more dry. Go slowly & if in doubt don’t. Remember the staged return to eating diet is to protect your healing tummy & not strain all those sutures & staples holding it together with food that is too coarse, dry, dense or difficult to digest. Pack some shakes & pre prepared soups, grab some yoghurts from a local store, etc. as a back up. Nothing stopping you speaking with the caters at the conference to explain your situation. You don’t have to tell them you had bariatric surgery you can just say an abdominal surgery that requires a more restricted diet as you’re still healing.

Introduction Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity and obesity-related health conditions, including diabetes, sleep apnea, and hypertension [1]. With this transformative procedure comes a new way of life that often requires significant adjustments to dietary habits. One essential aspect of post-bariatric surgery care is ensuring patients receive adequate vitamins and minerals to support their overall health. This article will discuss the importance of using a one-per-day multivitamin capsule for bariatric surgery patients, address the misconception that these patients have difficulties swallowing capsules, and review relevant medical studies. The Importance of Multivitamin Capsules for Bariatric Surgery Patients Essential nutrient absorption: Bariatric surgery can lead to reduced absorption of essential nutrients due to changes in the gastrointestinal tract [2]. A one-per-day multivitamin capsule ensures that patients receive the vitamins and minerals they need in a single, convenient dose. A study published in the journal Obesity Surgery found that multivitamin supplementation significantly improved nutrient deficiencies in post-bariatric surgery patients [3]. Compliance and ease of use: A one-per-day multivitamin capsule is easier for patients to incorporate into their daily routine compared to multiple doses. This can lead to improved compliance and better long-term health outcomes. Research conducted by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) supports the use of single daily doses to promote adherence to supplementation protocols [4]. Reduced risk of deficiencies: Post-bariatric surgery patients are at an increased risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, particularly in iron, calcium, vitamin D, and B vitamins [5]. A one-per-day multivitamin capsule helps to prevent these deficiencies and supports overall well-being. A systematic review published in the journal Clinical Nutrition found that multivitamin supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of micronutrient deficiencies following bariatric surgery [6]. Debunking the Myth: Bariatric Surgery Patients and Capsule Swallowing There is a misconception that bariatric surgery patients have difficulties swallowing capsules. However, no medical evidence supports this belief. Capsules are designed to dissolve as soon as they get wet, making them an ideal choice for bariatric surgery patients. Rapid dissolution: Capsules dissolve quickly in the presence of moisture, ensuring that they do not cause any issues with swallowing or digestion for bariatric surgery patients. A study published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics found that capsules typically disintegrate within a few minutes of coming into contact with moisture [7]. Easier on the stomach: Capsules tend to be gentler on the stomach compared to tablets, as they do not contain binders or fillers that can irritate the stomach lining. This is particularly beneficial for bariatric surgery patients, who may experience increased sensitivity in their gastrointestinal tract. Enhanced absorption: Some vitamins and minerals are better absorbed in a liquid or capsule form rather than a tablet, ensuring bariatric surgery patients receive the maximum benefit from their supplementation. Research published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements has shown that certain nutrients, such as vitamin D, have improved bioavailability in capsule form [8]. Conclusion For bariatric surgery patients, a one-per-day multivitamin capsule offers numerous benefits, including convenience, compliance, and reduced risk of nutrient deficiencies. Contrary to popular belief, there is no medical evidence to suggest that bariatric surgery patients have difficulties swallowing capsules. In fact, capsules dissolve quickly and are easier on the stomach, making them an ideal choice for post-bariatric surgery care. Encouraging patients to adopt a one-per-day multivitamin capsule regimen can support their long-term health and well-being after undergoing bariatric surgery. Medical studies have demonstrated the benefits of multivitamin supplementation in preventing nutrient deficiencies, promoting adherence to supplementation protocols, and enhancing the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. Bariatric surgery patients can feel confident in their choice of a one-per-day multivitamin capsule to support their journey toward improved health and quality of life. Empower Yourself: A Personal Testimony As a bariatric surgery patient and a knowledgeable expert in the field, I have personally experienced the transformative effects of incorporating a one-per-day multivitamin capsule into my daily routine. Throughout my journey, I have learned that self-care and attentiveness to my nutritional needs are vital for long-term success and well-being. The adoption of a one-per-day multivitamin capsule has provided me with the assurance that I am receiving the essential nutrients required to thrive in my post-bariatric surgery life. The Power of Community It's important to remember that we are not alone on this journey. As bariatric surgery patients, we are part of a supportive community united by a common goal: to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. By sharing our experiences, challenges, and successes, we can inspire and empower each other to make informed choices about our nutritional health. I encourage you to connect with others who have undergone bariatric surgery, exchange stories, and discuss the benefits of incorporating a one-per-day multivitamin capsule into your daily routine. By learning from each other and sharing our knowledge, we can collectively overcome the challenges of post-surgery life and experience the unparalleled benefits of one per day multivitamin capsules. Stay Informed, Stay Healthy The world of bariatric surgery and nutrition is constantly evolving. To ensure that you are equipped with the latest information and best practices, it's crucial to stay informed and up-to-date with recent scientific studies, guidelines, and recommendations. Continually educate yourself on the benefits and best practices surrounding one-per-day multivitamin capsules and other nutritional supplements. By staying informed, you can make the best decisions for your health and well-being, ensuring that you are providing your body with the essential nutrients it needs to thrive. References: [1] Mingrone, G., Panunzi, S., De Gaetano, A., et al. (2012). Bariatric Surgery versus Conventional Medical Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(17), 1577-1585. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1200111 [2] Mechanick, J. I., Youdim, A., Jones, D. B., et al. (2013). Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Nutritional, Metabolic, and Nonsurgical Support of the Bariatric Surgery Patient—2013 Update: Cosponsored by American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Obesity, 21(S1), S1-S27. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.20461 [3] Aills, L., Blankenship, J., Buffington, C., Furtado, M., & Parrott, J. (2008). ASMBS Allied Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient. Obesity Surgery, 18(10), 1140-1142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-008-9631-1 [4] Mechanick, J. I., Youdim, A., Jones, D. B., et al. (2013). Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Nutritional, Metabolic, and Nonsurgical Support of the Bariatric Surgery Patient —2013 Update: Cosponsored by American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Obesity, 21(S1), S1-S27. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.20461 [5] Parrott, J., Frank, L., Rabena, R., Craggs-Dino, L., Isom, K. A., & Greiman, L. (2017). American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Integrated Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient 2016 Update: Micronutrients. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 13(5), 727-741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2016.12.018 [6] Ernst, B., Thurnheer, M., & Schmid, S. M. (2013). Evidence for the Necessity to Systematically Assess Micronutrient Status Prior to Bariatric Surgery. Clinical Nutrition, 32(1), 66-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2012.07.012 [7] Podczeck, F., & Jones, B. E. (2004). The In Vitro Disintegration of Hard Gelatin Capsules Exposed to Different Conditions of Temperature and Relative Humidity. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 280(1-2), 197-206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2004.04.018 [8] Traub, M. L., Finnell, J. S., Bhandiwad, A., Ochoa, G., Sasson, N., & Kotsopoulos, J. (2014). Impact of Vitamin D3 and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in a Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 11(3), 324-334. https://doi.org/10.3109/19390211.2014.921849 By continuing to learn from one another, staying informed about the latest research, and making informed decisions about our health, we can support each other in our shared goal of a healthier, happier life after bariatric surgery. The use of a one-per-day multivitamin capsule plays a critical role in this journey, providing essential nutrients, promoting adherence to supplementation protocols, and minimizing the risk of deficiencies. Embrace the power of community and knowledge as you embark on your new life and make the most of the benefits that a one-per-day multivitamin capsule can offer.

Congrats on your loss! I agree with medication possibly replacing surgery one day. I've seen posts from people that have lost 100+ lbs on medication...that is major. I am in a similar place as you. Under my bariatric doctor's goal, but not underweight. My BMI is 26, so still "overweight", but I am happy at this weight and my bariatric and primary doctors approve.

Hello! Mounjaro has been great for me. I lost the remainder of my regain and 10 additional pounds. I am currently under my lowest sleeve weight and see my bariatric office in 2 weeks to discuss a maintenance plan. I didn't go higher than the 10mg dose (the highest doses are 12.5mg and 15mg). I didn't have any crazy side effects. GLP-1s seem to be a game changer for a lot of people...especially veteran WLS that need a boost but don't want revisions.

She actually has me on a 1200-calorie diet, up until the last visit with the protein thing, I have had no restrictions, except to keep my diet at 1200 calories, she told me that she believes that no food should be off limits and that people need to be eating carbs (she was very adamant about that) I was actually scared to try her suggestion of Dave's bread, but I did and I have lost weight. I am also only the 2nd person she had counseled that is on the bariatric surgery track. She does not spend time looking anything up and gave me a whole book on diabetic healthy meals, even though I am not pre-diabetic or diabetic at all.

Woohooo! We're Bariatric Birthday Buddies

I know you're probably getting tired of this, BUT - first of all, I had a "non-bariatric" dietitian for my pre-op diet as well. But that surgery is so common now they know what they're dealing with and the requirements - or if not, it's easy enough for them to look it up. My dietitian had worked with several pre-op bariatric patients in the past, even though she was a generalist. also, if you're going to cut calories (which of course you should if you're wanting to lose weight), protein is the LAST macro you want to cut. Protein preserves muscle mass. If you don't get enough, you'll be eating through muscle. As long as your overall calories are lowered, you'll lose weight. I don't remember how much protein mine had my eating because it was nine years ago this summer that I started with her, but I know I was eating a lot more protein and a lot fewer carbs than I was before I started seeing her. also, I still eat 100-150 grams of protein a day because if I get less than 100, my prealbumin level tanks. Most bariatric patients eat somewhere in the 60-80 (or some clinics say 60-90) gram range, but some of us need to eat more than that for various reasons.

protein needs are higher for post-surgical bariatric patients than they are for "normal" people. Most of us eat higher protein/lower carb diets than do normal people. This is percentage-wise, not gram-wise. So yes, the dietitian will likely have you eating fewer calories, but a higher protein to carb ratio. So I don't find her recommended protein level that unusual. on my pre-op diet, the dietitian had me eating 2200 calories/day. As a 300+ lb person, I lost weight on that, because I'm sure I was eating 3000 or more cal/day to maintain my 300+ lb weight. On the flip side, many 170 lb people (well, women anyway) would gain weight if they averaged 2200 calories a day, unless they're very active. However, in addition to having me average 2200 cal/day, she also increased my protein to carb ratio, to more or less match what it would be after surgery. I lost weight like crazy (over 50 lbs before surgery) - and it was probably a healthy way to do, too. cutting your intake down to what a 170 lb person would normally eat might not be very sustainable at this point. That would likely be around 1700-cal (for women), give or take depending on your metabolism and how active you are. It was even hard for me to get used to 2200 (although I eventually did) - but I did lose a ton of weight on that.

What you need to do eating wise before surgery & after surgery is different. Before surgery is to show you can commit to a changed way of eating, introduce you to healthier food options, make you more aware of the nutritional value of what you eat & to lose weight & fat around your liver to make your surgery safer & easier. So a non bariatric dietician should be fine. After surgery, other considerations come into play such as during the staged return to eating solid foods, importance of macros & knowledge of the usually temporary effects of the surgery around food intolerances, nutritional needs, etc. May be consider seeing the bariatric dietician after your surgery. I know the distance can be prohibitive but you can always have zoom or phone appointments & only travel to see the dietician every month or two. Something to consider. No scale is the same plus you’re not the same. I tend to weigh myself first thing in the morning before food or drink & usually after pooping. But when I go to my doctor, it’s later in the day, I’m dressed, I’ve eaten & been drinking, etc. Scales on carpet will weigh differently than those on wood or tiles (uneven surfaces). The age of the scales, age if batteries, moisture in a bathroom, dust, etc can affect the accuracy. I didn’t care so much what my doctors scales read as I knew what mine did. They had their records of my weight loss & now maintenance & I have mine. Your weight loss should be the basically the same - if you lose 5 lbs it will show on everyone’s scales regardless what the numbers actually say. I’m going to presume you don’t have access to a stove & oven which limits your ability to cook your meals. What about a microwave or toaster oven? They don’t take up a lot of room & just need a power point & will give you more meal options.

No, the Dietician is not the one the surgeon uses. I will be having my surgery at a place called the Rockwood Clinic, they have their whole own program with their own dietician. My insurance wants me to complete 12 dietician visits before surgery, and they told me to go to one near me. (Rockwood is 3 hours away). I did ask my insurance about going to the dietician at the clinic and I told them I would rather see a dietician who specializes in bariatric (especially since I have noticed bariatric dieticians take a totally different approach than this lady). My insurance said that it did not matter and that it would be best to see a dietician in my town so that travel would not be so inconvenient. I will be seeing the dietician that the surgeon uses after I get the surgery. I actually already feel very full the way I am eating now, and the dietician knows this. I did not go in complaining of being hungry, infact, I have eaten when I was not hungry because she wants me to eat every 4 hours 3 times a day and then have 2 snacks, I do not have the snacks, I do not need them. I would be happy eating twice a day to be honest, but the dietician does not advise that. I do not have any restrictions on carbs, sugar, fats, or anything. I am just not supposed to eat fast food, this dietician wants me to cook everything (I have explained I hate to cook and my current situation does not allow for me to have a normal kitchen). Currently, I eat tomatoes, sprouts, cucumbers, feta, hummus, avocado, Daves killer bread (thin slice) turkey bacon, ( I usually turn all of that into a sandwich) fage yogurt and strawberries, mushrooms stuffed with cheese spinach, tomato, onions, cilantro. might have chicken in tomato/basil/cilantro sauce or cauliflower pasta with clams. blueberries and apples. I used to drink a protein shake in the morning (mixed with soy milk) but she told me I needed to eat something with it (again I did not complain about hunger) so I added a slice of toast and an apple, and she liked that until a different visit when she said that eating a protein shake for breakfast and having yogurt at lunch was the same as having two giant glasses of milk and I need to stop with the yogurt. Well, I still have the yogurt at lunch and I eat the sandwich at lunch and breakfast and sometimes dinner too. The yogurt has 12-15 grams of protein depending on which one I choose. I also have at least 96 oz of plain water a day. I should add when I eat chicken (which is always either breast or tender never breaded, always cooked in the air fryer) I get so hungry about 20 minutes later it's weird, but chicken has that effect on me and that is why I do not really care for it.

Yes it’s the plan the bariatric dept uses. It’s $100 per week. I need two weeks of it. They did say if I couldn’t afford it that I could do it on my own. My insurance does not cover it. They made that clear. But the nutritionist did say I will be spending on the shakes if I do it on my own. I do have a bunch of my own shakes but I won’t find out the types they want me to use until my surgery clearance appt. Coming up soon.

Dee your story sounds similar to mine. I had my original surgery done in 2005. I have spent the last 15 years trying to figure out what my issue was. Unfortunately, I was having lower bowel pain so I never got to the right doctors to have the right testing done. I moved to a new state in 2021 and had a bad episode is what I call it so I went to my primary doctor who sent me to a GI doctor who finally ran the right test and saw I had a fistula. She then sent me to a bariatric doctor who saw like you that I basically had food and whatnot going in two different directions. So basically like I never had the surgery. I go on 3/28 to figure out next steps and a surgery. How has your recovery process been? I am curious on what to expect.

tl;dr at the bottom I could use some advice. I went to see my dietician today (not a bariatric surgery dietician, I can explain why I am seeing her if you want to know). She knows I am going to have weight loss surgery as long as I hit the goal weight my insurance told me I need to be at. I have to be at the goal weight by June 24, 2023, in order for my insurance to pay for my surgery. I had a weigh in the doctor's office a couple of days ago and weighed 301, my scale at home said 302. However, on the same day, the scale at a friend's house said 313. I knew I had this Dietician appointment two days later and I knew she would weigh me. I continued to weigh myself at home (after getting new batteries) and I was at 302 then 299 and today at home I weighed 303, right before my appointment, when I got to her office I was weighed and it said 313. I am concerned about what to believe since the doctor's office and my scale show similar numbers. I also bought a new scale today and it said 313. The Dietician told me I needed to eat more protein, which honestly I struggle with. she said I needed 150 grams!! I said are you kidding? that seems like a lot. She used my weight to come up with this number. Should I really be trying to eat enough protein for a 300-lb person or should I be eating protein for a goal-weight person (mine is 170)? also, my clothing is loose like I lost the 20 lbs mine and the doctor's scale shows, and not 10 lbs like everyone else's scale shows. Also, I have always naturally been more muscular even when I was 120 lbs and did not eat any protein aside from what is in plants. tl:dr- should I be eating enough protein to support a 300lb person or should I be eating protein for a "normal" sized person? AND should I trust the Doctors scale more so than the Dietician's scale?

Thanks for your response and the links. I am about 5 weeks out. I am typically a fast eater but I use a bariatric app now to time my eating. (Which felt so silly until I realized I needed to take more time) I track everything less for the calories and more to make sure I hit that protein goal so I know I am usually hitting the 60g or slightly surpassing it for 3 weeks straight now. Fluids was a struggle and hitting 60oz is hard for me. I get into that range most days like it might come out 50ish oz a day on average for the past two weeks so maybe that is the problem (I did admit this to my doctor as well) I don't drink at all after eating I figured out quickly that was a ticket to barftown. Meats are just not my friend. Chicken specifically my stomach just automatically rejects it in any form including pureed. Fish will stay down but I'm only gonna get a couple of bites from that. Most my protein is coming from eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and protein shakes. So I think when I said that to my surgeon that was her red flag for gallbladder but I guess I'll find that out in April. I am not on the strict only three meals a day routine they set for me and my surgeon is okay with that because I'm only getting a few bites for meal times unless it straight up broth then I can do 4oz. I kind of just eat every 4 hours and use a food scale to figure out how much I ate each time. However reading your post I think maybe I'll stay away from the scale until I can hit the water goal more consistently. My next appointment is 6 weeks out (I don't think I can wait until then to see where I am because if I step on that scale six weeks later and I'm still 199 my heart will just shatter) and because I go through the VA I think that might be my last or I have to pay out of pocket so I am panicking more that I'm not on track. Like if I was progressing better I would feel more confident without that support and I know when I only have the VA to lean on then I am pretty much on my own no one is going to help me trouble shoot there. Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi! I have met with the surgeon, had a psych eval, did some online courses and have set a date of June 5th for my surgery. People keep asking me if I’m excited about it and honestly I am not. I have never had surgery.I’m not excited because I have had so many failures with weight loss that I feel skeptical. I am anxious for the outcome, that’s for sure. I’m ready to teach my boys how to ride bikes and ski, I’m ready to travel with them on an airplane, I’m ready to jump on trampolines and climb trees. Those are the things I’m excited for, not the surgery. I’d love to read how y’all prepared for surgery. When did you start the bariatric diet? I was thinking after Passover I’d start weighing my food and eating the things that are recommended (almost two months to get in a habit of bariatric eating). how drastic of a change is your taste buds? What do you wish you knew before surgery that you’d like to share with me? I hope to build some relationships and a great support group here. Thanks for taking your time to read!

One of the things you need to be is patient. It does not fall off over night. Now you have spoken to your surgeon you need to look at what you are eating. You didnt mention how far out you are and water and protein as well as PORTION go hand in hand. If you are not getting enough water and protein your body will return to starvation mode and hold on to fat. You mentioned "holding food down". If you are drinking when you are eating that is one thing you need to stop. Get a 20-30 minute timer and use it for your eating and drinking. If you are fairly new post op then you need to be taking 20 min at a minimum to eat. Then wait 20-30 min before you drink. EAT SLOW...i have always been a fast eater and large bites and this was my focus. Stay off the scale. its more defeating than it needs to be. Weigh in at your appointments only. I am a nurse and I love to research things. I found this for you to read. This indicates that bariatric surgery should be considered in helping PCOS sufferers that are struggling with obesity. I think you need to look at your patterns and habits first. Keep a diary and log your food. You will be as surprised as I was!! Be kind to yourself, this is not a race, its a life changing event that takes work and commitment. Take it one day at a time. Things like sugar free popsicles count as water too as does sugar free jello. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7538203/ There is more research that needs to be done in this area of course. But Obesity and insulin resistance feeds PCOS. In a nutshell gist of the article is "Surgery successfully mediates the regression of PCOS"

I just got back my blood test and everything was good but my AST was almost out of range and my ALT was out of range at 35. I noticed it climbing every blood test. I'm at 1 year 7 months after my RNY revision. I was so concerned so I did a search here and found this. Thank you. I don't drink or do any of those "don't do this or it'll hurt you liver" things, even the diet no nos are not foods that I normally like, so I wasn't sure what is causing this. I have a check up with my bariatric team in a couple weeks but seeing this calmed me. Thanks again!

So sorry you are experiencing this. I think you need to find another bariatric surgeon & discuss your options. A revision to bypass will help you lose more weight (maybe not a lot but some) so yiu can look into knee replacement surgery in the future & it certainly will help with your gerd. You can not survive on shakes & protein bars. Besides not getting the nutrients your body needs to function effectively, the low calorie diet will be slowing your metabolism down more. You did lose 100lbs. That’s almost a third of yourself. That’s something to celebrate. Remember the average weight loss is about 65% of the weight you have to lose to put you in a healthier weight range. So, not knowing your height or what would be your healthier weight, I’d expect you may have been pretty close to that statistic. So your stall, which are very common & can occur many times, may have been you reaching your new weight set point & stabilising. I find it ironic that your surgeon complained your sleeve was too big. I mean they did the surgery so if the sleeve is too big that’s on them not you.

Just found these two articles about iron malabsorption you may find interesting. Basically it’s more common with bypass than sleeve & with post menopausal woman. Also said one possibility as to the cause is your reduced diet after surgery while you are losing. To absorb iron you need a range of nutrients which you may not be getting. You are eating much smaller portions & many struggle with beef which is considered an easy source of iron. Worth a conversation with your surgeon & the experience of their previous patients & whether it will be a permanent issue for you https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/r/risks-of-bariatric-surgery-anemia.html https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/iron-deficiency-after-gastric-bypass-surgery

I was sleeved 08/2017. It's been a constant struggle. I was told by the surgeon that I wasn't progressing as well compared to others. That my sleeve is bigger than he wanted & my metabolism is slow & I needed to work harder. I do have severe GERD but I have learned to work around that. I found out I have tachycardia. Also then & even worse now mobility issues. I couldn't vigorously exercise due to having grade 4 Osteoarthritis in my left knee. I stuck to the program & went from 323 to 223. I stalled & went into a deep depression. I wasn't losing unless I ate 800 calories or less. I gained all of my weight back due to decreased mobility & depression. I fell off the wagon per say. I now need a hip & knee replacement plus my right knee is almost just as bad as my left. I'm in chronic pain. For me to have surgery I need to lose weight. Nobody would do the surgery a few years ago when I was thinner stating I'm too young blah, blah. My quality of life has dwindled the last 2 years and I gained it all back plus 20lbs. For the last 8 weeks I have been using my fitness Pal to login my food diary. I'm eating every 3-4 hrs mini meals. Substituting 2-3 meals with protein shakes/bars to obtain my protein goal. I would lose weight 1 week than the next gain back & forth. I don't understand. In 8 weeks I've lost 12lbs. I went from 343 to 328 to yo-yo 331. I have experimented & it doesn't seem to matter if I eat 800 calories or 1000 or under 1200. I gain/lose weight. I always eat no more than 1200 and no less than 800. Does anyone have any tips. At this point I am beyond frustrated. Sent from my LM-G710 using BariatricPal mobile app

I've said before, bariatric surgery is not a cheap hobby. LOL! Fairlife are expensive, but it's only temporary.

I have no idea what my actual initial weight was because I refused to buy a higher capacity scale, so my heaviest measured weight was 396. But I’m sure I was more than that. All those things you mentioned struck a chord with me. I remember having to ask for tables, not booths, and then having to size up the chair to see if I could actually sit. I didn’t have an aneurysm but I had uncontrollable hypertension and was getting precursors to heart attacks. So I’m here to tell you that it all changes, and very quickly. I’m 18 months post-op. I didn’t hit the goal I wanted but I did get below 20% body fat and am within 10 pounds of my lowest weight of 262. (I’m six feet tall and built like a brick sh!thouse even without the fat). I eat intuitively now (after therapy to help get me to have a better relationship with food) and I exercise a lot. I’m running a 5K on Sunday and it’s… just not a big deal. I fit in booths and I can run up and down stairs and jump to a 30” box. I am not on any blood pressure or blood sugar medicine, and I no longer need a CPAP. I wish I would’ve done this a decade earlier. Here’s the thing, though: the program where I had my surgery done was not that useful. I ended up with a nutrition coach I hired, who got me eating correctly while still losing weight hand over fist. I had already been doing CrossFit (yes, at 400 lbs—the coaches simply scaled the workouts so I was getting the same stimulus as the jacked beasts in the gym but at a level I could do) and building muscle helped with fat loss and body comp. I needed therapy and psychiatric help to resolve my anxiety and depression. You’re gonna do great. Write down all the stuff you can’t do now and use it as a checklist for later. You’ll be stunned how quickly it happens. Just make sure you have the support team with you, don’t rely on the bariatric program; they’re a hammer and everything they see is a nail. I’m happy to pass along contacts for the nutrition program I started at 3 months post-op, or give details about my exercise program, I just don’t want to look like a spammer.

When you’ve never experienced something before, it’s natural to be concerned & have some worries. Bariatric surgery is a very safe surgery especially when compared to many other commonly performed operations. And yes your team are experienced professionals. Don’t be afraid to tell them you are nervous or have pain, nausea, or whatever. They are there to help you. Your pain is easily managed with medication & many find by day 4 +/- they have little or none. Gas pain can persist longer though - up to a week but it’s more discomfort than pain - walk, walk, walk. Yes, the initial placement of the IV can briefly temporarily hurt but it’s more of a sting than pain. My anaesthetist was joking with me & asking what alcohol I’d like him to add to the drip which was a distraction. I had blood tests every month - alternating one for my GP & one for my surgeon. From my second year I was every three months & at three years I began every 6 months. Again just a little sting at first & looking away does help. I’m so used to them now, I dint even think about it. Big picture, the surgery is nothing really. Certainly when compared to the potential health issues & treatments & intervention you may need if you continue being obese. For example, the pain from this surgery is nothing compared to knee replacement or heart surgery. I had sleeve like you’re having & it was the best thing I ever did too.

When I started considering WLS, particularly VSG Surgery, I researched extensively. I read medical studies, case histories, personal blogs and watched hundreds of hours of YouTube videos posted by patients and bariatric surgeons. I cannot remember where I read or saw the European study called "The Three Month Marker", nor have I been able to find the article or video again. The "supposed" study was of VSG patients and their success rates. The results of the study indicated that the total average weight loss at 12 months post-op was double the amount lost at the 3 month post-op mark for patients who closely followed the bariatric guidelines. Has anyone else heard about "The Three Month Marker"? For those who are at least 12 months post-op, does this study relate to your experience?