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Like everyone else I'm going to say its a tool, not a quick fix. With that I found I had the most success PRE SURGERY losing weight by logging everything. You may think you are staying in the guidelines but you will see that you're actually not. There are tons of food tracking apps. It takes repetition to get in the habit but you will see as I did that those days you skip it, you went off plan. EVERYTIME. Whether conscious or unconscious sabotage comes from within. Stop. Close your eyes. Deep breath. You have to SLOW everything down in the beginning to one meal at a time. You can't think months down the road. Stop weighing yourself everyday,, two to three times per day.. this process...It's day to day, min to min. It's a total process. You have to take an HONEST raw look at your habits and the reasons why you eat. Don't be hard on yourself. You've given yourself a wonderful tool to become healthier. Love [emoji173] Nannette

I am, but it not just weight loss i referred to its the psychological side of things which i feel is more important. Because if you are struggling mentally you in turn struggle physically too.

Feeling like I never had surgery? My surgery was 11-09-2021. I am 3 weeks 5 days post op today. I'm currently on pureed foods. The first week was difficult. Ever since I started on pureed foods, I feel like I never had surgery. I've been measuring everything out, and sticking to the guidelines for the most part. People will say they can barely eat...that they're not hungry. Well I can eat 4oz of cottage cheese and 3oz of anything else with no problems not all at one time. I don't drink with or after my meals. I honestly feel hunger...in my belly. I've also experienced the head hunger (esp the week after surgery). It's a little frustrating because I don't want to screw this up. I know the surgery is just a tool, but how do I fix my brain? I went from 275 to 250 .My surgery weight was like 275.So I'm happy with the results, but I'm so focused on the future. I don't want to mess up. What advice do you guys have for me?

You are so right you even made me laugh 😂😂. Personally i dont think you are eating enough i was sleeved same date as you and i had an 8 week stall. Started eating more, the scales started moving but also take notice of the wat clothes are fitting i actually lost size but not weight at one point too

There is an older women on YouTube who went vegan years ago after surgery. I was raw vegan for the last year and lost a ton of weight my dietitian told me it will be at least 6 months for raw foods but she said I’ll be able to go back vegan just take it slow and easy

I’m on preop liquid never was on insulin just metformin and my sugars are really high. My surgeon is having me see my endocrinologist on Monday. So if you have an endocrinologist I’d see him/her. My surgeon said meds are adjusted. God willing we will all be no longer diabetic after the weight loss. Fingers crossed

Just curious how tall are you? I’m 5’7” and I am getting the sleeve this month. I am hoping to get back to my high school weight of 125. My surgeon never gave me a goal weight

If your surgery wasn't working, you would be eating far more calories, similar to what got you to consider WLS in the first place. If you are truly eating 800 calories a day, then get a physical and find out if you have any serious medical issues that is preventing your body from losing weight. Maybe it is a thyroid issue or serious water weight due to kidneys... etc. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

It can be a challenge to increase your calories to stop losing & maintain. It took me about 11 months after I reached goal to stop losing. I understand just not being able to eat any more. I slowly added more snacks as I was able. I also noticed over the months my portion sizes for meals started getting larger. By the time I stabilised I was eating 4 or 5 snacks a day plus 3 about recommended portion sized meals. My snacks were combinations of whole & multi grain crackers, hummus, fruit, liverwurst, string cheese, nuts, protein bar, chia pudding & yoghurt. I used full fat salad dressings & added a seed mix to my rolled oats. So I upped carbs (no over processed carbs) & fats but still ensured everything I ate was nutritious (liverwurst & salad dressing aren’t good but yummy) & included 5-10g protein (except no protein in fruit). My dietician suggested I add powdered milk to my milk to make it richer but I found it too sweet. Honestly, I did feel like I was eating all day long. My lowest weight was 48.2kg & I’ve been maintaining at 49 (48.5-49.5) for 14 months now. My BMI is around 18.7 so on the low end too but I’ve got a smaller frame so it’s ok. Initially my surgeon & doctor wanted me to put on a couple of kg too. I said I didn’t want too because of the possibility of 5kg bounce back in the future. Now they’re fine with my weight & tell me I look great & have done well (& I’m actually a couple of kgs less then when they wanted me to gain). I eat about 1300 calories a day & only 3 or 4 snacks to maintain my weight. I’m not very active. I still have days or times when I don’t feel hungry but I always try to meet or be close to my protein goal. So if I don’t feel hungry say for lunch or dinner I’ll graze on a high protein yoghurt. I was a little worried I wouldn’t stop losing &/or I’d get too thin & I had some ‘well intentioned’ family & friends saying it too. But I really like how I look now. Yep, I still get surprIsed when I see my skinny legs & thigh gap or buy size 4 (US 0) clothing but it’s a good feeling. It does take a while for your body to resettle too. I initially thought I’d got so slim I’d lost my hourglass shape but it came back (still don’t have much of a butt though 😉). I should mention I haven’t had any plastic surgery. Have a chat with your surgeon & medical team & tell them honestly about how you feel about your current weight, the possibility of a reversal, etc. Do you still have access to a therapist to talk through how you’re feeling. I hope you can reach a point soon that your weight settles so you can fully embrace what you’ve achieved. All the best.

I am 21 months post RNY and I am still losing weight. My HW 325 (2/20/20), SW 311 (3/9/20), CW 133. I had an abdominoplasty on 10/27/21 (weighed 145, no lipo due to little to no body fat, and I don't know what amount was removed). I saw my NP today for pist abdominoplasty and then an emergency illness x2 following abdominoplasty stay in hospital same week for bowel obstruction. My labs are normal, my NP says I am healthy BUT, I am on the low weight end and just a few pounds from being underweight according to their standards. She advised me to add in healthy fats (nuts, nut butters, avocado daily), 2 protein shakes, 3 meals, 3 snacks. I just can't eat all of that. And little to no cardio and focus on strength training with weights. They are giving me 3 months to gain more muscle mass and gain weight and fill out more. And then return for re-evaluation. IF my weight continues to drop, they are talking about reversing my RNY! I literally cried in the office, on the way home, in the pharmacy (when the girls asked me how my weight and post abdominoplasty were going....they've known us many years) and then I cried several times on and off at home. I keep thinking about the old me, the 325 lb me, the old capacity, no restriction stomach and its ability to hold more, leading to weight gain and then it getting out of control, leading me back down the hole I just struggled to dig myself out of. This scares me so bad. I mean, it's ultimately up to me, right? As in, if they ended up scheduling that procedure months down the road, it's my decision if I go or not, it's my body. I'm thinking of seeking out a different opinion on this because this just doesn't seem like it should be the conclusive answer to this issue. Does it?

So I was sleeved almost 7 years ago. I've had horrible GERD pretty much ever since. There has also been some weight regain. If my insurance covers the revision surgery, will I have to do the months of supervised weight loss, or would I skip that since it's medically necessary? I'm looking to research all options....I hate having to take pills for the reflux. I know it's a question for my dr or insurance company, just wanted to see everyone else's experience. Scared to do another surgery!!

My obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was well controlled with CPAP for several years. Some months after my VSG surgery, my events got crazy high. My sleep doctor ordered another sleep study (yuck) and determined I now have central sleep apnea (CSA), which isn’t affected, apparently, by one’s weight. So, I now use an adapto- servo unit and I’m doing fine.

Could be that the person was slim when they met and emotional abuse led them to overeat as a comfort. Could work either way? I guess if you have a happy relationship beforehand then it really shouldn’t raise any issues. The 85% figure must mean that there are a lot of unhappy relationships. I guess seeking out surgery means you’re seeking to rectify things which aren’t working in your life and weight is perhaps just one of those things. I wonder if any research has been done on this? It would make for an interesting topic. I also wonder whether it’s the patient or the spouse who initiates the divorce? I assume it’s the patient. I might be wrong.

Let’s talk about some things that play an important factor in this- You’re a 6ft tall, 52yr old man who started out on the lower end of obesity before surgery and have a current BMI of about 32.5 BMI doesn’t take into consideration your build, lean body mass (especially if you do a lot of physical activity) or genetics. All of those things along with others like metabolic issues, your BMR basal metabolic rate (the calories needed to do nothing but exist) play a factor into how you will lose or maintain weight. Based on just a generic BMR calculator (no specifics like lean body mass, etc.) your body burns about 2100 at absolute rest. Eating only 800 calories a day leaves your body in starvation mode and will hang onto every calorie for what it’s worth and not let you continue losing weight. Try adding 2-300 calories a day and see if that helps along with tracking calories. Try something along these lines for a few days and see if it helps- Breakfast (eggs and turkey bacon) 2 eggs, scrambled with 2 cups fresh spinach, 2 slices turkey bacon and 1oz cheddar cheese- 330 calories and 24g protein Lunch (stir fry) 3oz chicken breast, 1/2 cup sliced zucchini, 1/4 cup diced tomatoes, and 1/4 cup onion cooked in 1tsp olive oil with spices (Italian seasoning, garlic powder, cumin, etc.)- 225 calories and 29g protein Snack 100 calorie pack of almonds (100 calories and 3g protein) OR 2 stalks celery with 1tbsp peanut butter (105 calories and 5g protein) Dinner (tortilla pizza) 1-8” flour tortilla topped with 1/4 cup marinara sauce, 1oz cooked Italian sausage, and 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese- 365 calories and 15g protein Total for the day- 1025 calories and 73g protein and that’s with the celery and peanut butter. If you need more meal ideas to get you (back) on track then message me. I have a notebook full of them!

My nutritionist b----ed me out for overeating, too. I was eating a whopping 800 calories and stalling hard. She told me that I needed to be eating 400-500 calories a day and that's why I wasn't losing weight. I told her that the week I tracked my food before starting on this journey, I was maintaining my old weight on 3800 calories a day and there's no freaking way I was bumping out of a caloric deficit with an intake of 800 calories. So she said I was non-compliant and then huffed, "I guess if you want to gain it all back, it's up to you." I fired her. Loudly. I posted about it elsewhere on this site. And I went and found a nutrition group that focuses on flexible nutrition and who have nutritionists and RDs who are familiar with bariatric patients. My nutritionist put me on 1200 cal a day to start and has been encouraging me to eat more—this week has been more like 1400. I am very active, though, and burn calories both working and working out (I'm not a "walker"... I run, I do CrossFit, I do ranch work.) I'm twelve weeks out and still losing 3-4 pounds a week. I do track everything I eat and self-discipline is hard but necessary. I figure this surgery gave me 6-12 months to re-evaluate my relationship with food, and that's plenty of time to develop new habits that are just second nature.

Good, I am glad you liked Jamie Mills site. Check out the Baritastic app also. It will connect to some of the popular smart watches also. Not mine, it's too cheap 😅 Anyone who doesn't have a good follow up team after surgery... please follow someone on YTube. There are so many important things that you might not know. Like Vitamins.... super important. How long to eat soft foods, how to take your meds for that 1st month and so much more. Best of luck. Love yourself enough to make the commitment to lose the weight. Everything we do in life takes commitment, even doing the dishes.

I was a model child the first two weeks after surgery. I had no appetite and anything I put in my mouth was strictly out of medical necessity but I was dogged and made sure to meet my protein and water requirements every day. Lost 12 lbs. The second two weeks, I’m not sure if I was “hungry” but I found I could enjoy food again and things became more tempting. With the Doctor’s approval, and I asked many specifics of her, such as flax, vinegar, and protein bars with nuts, she reassured me “I couldn’t hurt my stomach”, I moved forward and, while eating 75% on target, I also incorporated small amounts of things from my old life – a bite of bread roll, a 1” square of brownie, half a flour tortilla, a piece of corn dog. All while keeping my calories between 700-900 a day. Nothing seemed to bother my stomach and my capacity, while certainly limited, was more than I expected. At my four week appt, the nutritionist was a bit horrified and pretty much wrote me up as non-compliant. Said that most people were eating about 500 calories a day at that point. After sulking (and stalling) for another week, I started adding a protein shake back for breakfast, upped my water by 16 ounces and focusing more on the basics: using a scale, focusing on protein and vegetables, walking. I learned taking the tiny bites was not to help my stomach, but my head: it sucks when your meal is over in 3 or 4 bites. I claimed I could not walk because I have grade 4 arthritis in my knee and I’m really busy, but if I get up early, I can get a mile in before I go to work. And I added ankle weights to up the effectiveness. As of now, the scale is moving again after the stall from hell but I’ve also, grudgingly, learned the rules are there for a reason. I’m not here to be austere, at age 59, my only reason for loss is health, and I don’t feel the drive to be thin/attractive, so I still have my little treat: a 70 calorie square of baking chocolate. My calories these days still fall closer to 750 but I’ve lived a life of self-indulgence and self-discipline is hard to come by now.

you're only a few days out of surgery - I'd give it some time. Sleep apnea usually improves (if not disappears) after significant weight loss.

In general, if the surgery is to treat a complication, then it is not considered a weight loss procedure, but a procedure to treat that complication, so the basic WLS rules don't apply (including the "one WLS per lifetime" rule that some insurance imposes.) It's mostly a matter of how it is coded in the billing department, but the surgeon and his staff should be able to handle this. If not, find a different surgeon who can. Good luck,

Omg you people that are losing so much weight on your liquid diet-I’m jealous! I figure I’ll be lucky to lose 6-8. Good on you, and best of luck with your surgery:)

As of today I am down 14 pounds in just a day or two over one week on liquids. I met with my dietitian yesterday and she said I am loosing to much to fast. Because I am lactose intolerant I can’t do dairy and I’m diabetic so I can’t do fruit juice. So when we went through my food journal we figured out I was eating/drinking between 500-700 calories a day. So she tweaked it and added more Protein Shakes - I felt so much better yesterday no hunger. I’m down to a 12-14 shirt and 14-16 pants (tight 14 loose 16 in a little over a week but don’t take that as what should happen she made it really clear to me that I need at least 1000 calories a day and Protein is extremely important for my body to be healthy for surgery and recovery. She said it isn’t just about liver shrinking but also optimal health for the surgery. She is a sleeve patient herself and she said it will be 6 months recovery but she is there with me every step of the way! I wasn’t taking in enough calories and while I lost weight I wasn’t doing it the healthy way. Hope that helps! . Good luck glad you started this thread it will be helpful to many I feel!! Also no one told me to start the Vitamins with the liquid diet so just found that out yesterday

The stats tend to say the average weight loss after about 5 years is about 65% of the weight you have to lose to put yourself in the healthy BMI range. Some lose more. Some lose less. Some keep it off. Some don’t & happily settle at a higher weight. This can be from choice, genetics, lifestyle, complacency, health, etc. For example it’s not uncommon for people to experience a 10-20lb bounce back regain around year 3. I think some surgeons give the average expected weight loss to keep expectations realistic. Mine didn’t but he asked me what weight I’d like to reach. I said 60kg because that was the lowest weight I’d reached the many, many times I’d lost weight in the past & it gave me a bmi of about 23. He said it was a realistic goal. I exceeded it (135% of the weight I had to lose). My lowest weight was 48.2. For about 14 months I’ve been about 49kg but I waver between 48.5 & 49.5. But I’m close to that 3yr mark & you never know what the future will bring so I try to be realistic about that. The average is probably a good goal but no one says you can’t exceed it & set new goals if you want & if you can can without undue restrictions & limitations on your life. Even though we’re guilty of regularly checking that scale & we know all our stats, ultimately, it’s not about the number on that scale. It’s about you being happy & healthy & enjoying your life.

Hello. I’m new to this forum. Got a lapband in 2011. Overall it’s been successful. Starting weight was 255, I now weigh 198. My weight is stable. But…. I am now having a large amount of reflux and nighttime coughing. I’m worried about my esophagus and I am starting to consider revision surgery. But… my BMI is now 33. Which is great, except I’m discovering that is too low to qualify for revision surgery through insurance. But if I get the lapband taken out without any other help, the weight will not stay off. And I’d much prefer to just have one surgery instead of two. I’m only about 6 lbs under my insurance’s minimum BMI of 35. What do people do in this case? Wear ankle weights to the doctor? Just try to gain the 6lbs through milkshakes? Any advice appreciated.

Sleeved on 10/18. I stalled about two weeks ago. I freaked out and reached out to the nutritionist but she didn’t say it was normal. I’m so glad it happens and I wasn’t overeating. But since then I haven’t checked the scale because I was checking it everyday. Now I’m nervous but I know I’m losing weight because my clothes are looser.

I have regained too much weight and want to restart my food program. Can someone help me to remember how much protein, carbs, fat, etc, that your Doctor or nutritionist suggested? I was sleeved in Mexico in 2013 and did not have the best follow-up with them. My own fault, I have just let life and Covid shutdowns take over. I have gotten back into some bad habits. I'm getting back on myfitnesspal and need to use the tool I was given 8 years ago. Thanks for advice