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The surgery will give you lots of help to lose weight to begin (loss of appetite, smaller tummy, etc.) but in the long term you have to make the decision to make the permanent changes to how, what & why you eat. If you go into this thinking you’ll come out the other side weighing less but still eating the same way & for the same reasons you’ll put the weight on all over again just like you always did. That might sound harsh but it is the truth of it. After surgery, I really looked at what, why & how I ate. I took that time to refocus my food choices & gained a better understand of my eating cues. I did a lot of reading & worked out a new eating plan because I realised I couldn’t go back to how I used to eat if I was to be successful in the long term. You may find you won’t follow a specific restrictive ‘diet’ like keto or Atkins, etc. to maintain your lower weight but you may pick & choose & develop your own eating style that fits into your lifestyle, isn’t too restrictive &, this is the big one, is sustainable. Generally I eat lowish carbs, lowish fat, very little sweet, high protein. Big change was eating more nutritionally dense food & eating more regularly. And I eat about the same number of calories as I used to eat when I was obese. My metabolism actually works now so I can eat about that same 1300 calories & maintain my current weight. Do I miss the foods I avoid now like sweet things? Nope, not really. Uncle’s 80th yesterday. Most had dessert. I had a cup of tea. There was birthday cake later & I had tea again. Did I feel like I was missing out? Nope. Didn’t want it either. Realising you can reach that mindset where you’re not really interested in foods you used to crave & love to eat is a bit of a head spin. Weight loss surgery is an amazing opportunity. You just have to fully embrace all it can offer. And don't be afraid to ask for help from a dietician or therapist along the way. All the best what ever you choose.

UPDATE: Well, 11-25 was 1 month since I last had a loss on the scale. Inches didn't budge last month either. Only 1.75 inches total for the month. Not sure what the heck is going on but I'm not happy about it. Has anyone stalled this long? Don't know what to do. I even ate off plan several times to try and force a loss like I've heard others doing and that didn't work. My weight on Oct 25th was 241.2 and I have been weighing in between 246 and 249 on the regular since! So discouraging. Been going to the bathroom pretty normally too. But as a just in case I did take some laxatives for a few days and got things moving along but still, the lowest I got down to was 245. Now it's doing the 246 to 249 again. Sigh

I have good news and bad news. Good: for me, there really WAS a big difference in hunger levels. For most of my first year, I had next to no appetite and when appetite returned, it was much more management than before. Even 2.5 years out, my appetite is about 65% of what it was pre-op. And that's a good thing. Bad: WLS doesn't completely fix emotional eating. You will still need to be mindful of what you eat and why you are eating at any given time. It is possible to "eat around your sleeve" just by eating small amounts of the wrong things, all day long. So if emotional eating has been an issue before surgery, you'll need to keep working at that after surgery. Therapy can help with getting to the root of why you use food as a coping mechanism. Overall, I have no complaints about the surgery. I had no major complications, I lost all my excess weight and I'm still maintaining. So I don't want to discourage you. Just be prepared to continue working on your mindset and emotional health.

What she said ^^^^^. Also, I do work hard to count my protein and avoid the pitfalls, but my work shows up on my body. Before surgery I did the work and half a pound would be the loss. After surgery AND weight loss work, I see a solid 2-4 lbs difference per week. Yeah, I know next year I’ll be closer to goal and half a pound loss will sound great, but it’s nice taking the down elevator right now. The physical stomach restriction will make the difference in maintenance too!

I’m sorry but this negativity is so off putting to your success. You need to do the work and surgery is only ever a TOOL. You should not be assuming it’ll magically work for you but also this should have been explicitly told to you by your care team prior to surgery. I haven’t gotten my surgery yet but I’ve already had every care practitioner emphasize that it’s a tool and I have to actually work for results. The way it’s different than just calorie restriction/exercise is that the surgery limits the amount you can eat and it also removes the part of the stomach that has the hunger hormones. This makes it actually possible to calorie restrict and exercise without the ability to binge or feel super hungry. If someone tried to do 800 calories a day without surgery they would feel like they are completely starving. Listen to your doctor. Seek a therapist. This is a safe space but also the negativity in your comments has been awful. You need to work on yourself and how you treat others too. Healing and weight loss are best friends, it takes a LOT of work.

You are not going to have a problem living with high protein low carb. I was a huge lover of bread and other carbs...huge. After I went on the diet and got the surgery, the weight falling off literally changed my whole perspective in a couple ways: 1. I physically cannot eat carbs and bread like before because it fills me up too fast and makes me feel ill. I am just not interested in carbs and fatty foods any more. 2. Once you see the weight coming off, you will be motivated to keep it going off. 3. You learn to eat your protein first and veggies next. After that, there is no room for carbs. I really don't miss the carbs at all. 4. You will be satisfied by the food you eat so it is not like before...nothing like before so you have to forget now and realize your body is changed and you are NOT PHYSCIALLY ABLE TO EAT LIKE THAT ANY MORE.

I have debated wls seriously for a couple years now. I have not talked to a doctor about it, though because of my weight I'm sure they would recommend it. I am 5'3 and weigh about 285. I haven't had any problems with my health yet due to obesity. I have been fighting my weight all of my life. I remember being in 2nd grade being on diets. I know what I weighed at every significant day in my life. I was just a few pounds overweight up until I met my husband. After that it was no longer a few pounds overweight I was obese. I gained 140 pounds since we met 15 years ago. I have lost weight several times, my biggest around 50 pounds, but mainly i lose 20 then gain. This has been a trait of mine my whole life even as a teenager. I would weigh 140 lose to 120 then gain it all back. I have read several posts on here the last six months. I go back and forth on surgery. My insurance won't cover it so it will be all out of pocket which will be a big chunk of my savings. Also I hate going to the doctor. And i know a lot of doctor appointments will go into it. Also, and probably my biggest reason is fear of it not working. The reason I am this big is I can't follow a strict diet. I have tried over and over. I know like most of you I've CICO, keto, atkins, and many other diets. I love sweets. And I am a very emotional eater. At least when I'm bored. And I think about food way too much. After reading several posts on here and watching some of the shows on WLS, my biggest question is...if you still have to stick to a diet of low carb and high protein diet or at least follow a strict diet, how do you do it with the surgery, when you couldn't without? Is there a big difference in hunger, even if before you weren't really eating because of hunger but feeling? Thank you for any advice.

You may be one of the unlucky ones whose hunger doesn't go away with surgery. And I will say that your surgeon's idea that you must stay on 800 cal a day to lose weight flies in the face of scienc. Stand back, I'm going to use MATH! If you were maintaining your (heavy) weight by eating, say, 3500 calories a day, then that's your maintenance for that weight. So now, if you are eating 800 calories, you are in a deficit of 2700 calories a day, which means you'd lose three quarters of a pound per day on average. If you're eating 1200 calories, you're in a deficit of 2300 calories a day, which means you'd lose two thirds of a pound per day on average. Yes, different macros (protein, carbs, fat, alcohol) do work differently in your body, but ultimately your body is bound, like everyone's, to the calories in-calories out equation. I suspect what happened to you is twofold: 1. You're in a lengthy stall (search up "three-week stall", it happens to almost all of us, it's incredibly frustrating, it's not always at 3 weeks, and it can last a month for some people). It's because your body has depleted its glycogen and is probably somewhat dehydrated (it's hard to drink enough right after surgery), and your fluid balance is adjusting itself. 2. You're frustrated and not tracking what you eat. Unfortunately, this is something that has to be done. You can't fix your diet if you don't know what your diet is. And that means, at least for me, pre-prepping meals and weighing things out. I just pop a tray in the microwave a few times a day and have it all specced out. I use MyMacros+ for tracking. One of the big culprits is cooking oil/fat. How many people measure the oil they put in a pan to cook their, say, chicken breast? Nobody except bariatric patients—everyone else just sploops some oil in a pan until it looks right. I actually have a bar jigger on the counter so I can measure in 1/2 ounces and full ounces. Track your food. Literally track your food. If you find you're not losing weight on 800 cal a day, spend a week eating 1000 cal a day to see if it'll shock your system. I am at about 1400-1500 cal a day a little short of three months post-op, because I work physical work and am very active (gym, running, hiking, etc.) and need the calories to be able to function. But I still track each and every day. The surgery isn't bullshit. If it were possible to just severely restrict calories without it, nobody would get the surgery. But there are thousands of people here, myself included, who found success with the surgery that wouldn't have been possible without it.

I have had my band for almost 11 years. I’m happy to say I have had no issues and am happy with my weight. Healthier food choices and I would weigh even less. I can’t complain about 145 at my age. I do wonder if those that have been successful with their bands maintain them frequently, have fills at least once per year. I had a PA that worked really well with me. She listened and we made decisions together about fills and maintenance. My doctor, not so much. I’ve had this thing long enough and have enough since to know what I need. I’m very open to discussing it with my doctor but it cannot be one sided. What has your journey been like? Do you have a doctor that works with you? Anyone in the Atlanta area got a good doctor that listens? Thanks, Manda

Husky mama mentioned using the Baritastic app. I’ve been using this app since I started the required weight loss program prior to my surgery. BTW my gastric sleeve surgery was 11/01/21. I love using this app. I found out there is a timer. My nutritionist suggested that when eating there should be at least 20 seconds between each bite. That means put your fork down and chew your bites thoroughly then swallow. There are exceptions to the rule with foods such as scrambled eggs, yogurt etc. With that said this will help slow down your eating. The question is are you eating too fast and finishing your meals in less than 20 to 30 minutes. If you have a scale go back and start weighing your food again. Finally if your weighing yourself everyday day you’re not going to see changes. Pick a specific day and time to weigh yourself. Then weigh yourself once a week on the that specific day you chose and you may see some progress. I wish you the best and please don’t give up. You’ve gotten a lot of good advice and I hope you will read them use these to help you succeed with your weight loss. Keep us updated on your progress as all of us want to continue to support you. 🙏🙏🙏

I’m one of those that DIDN’T do 6 meals a day during weight loss phase (or after). I was a grazer (still am) as i just couldn’t eat alot at one sitting. I would fix myself something and eat it throughout the day (often over multiple days). I was also not (never was, still not) a breakfast eater. I normally have my first food of the day at noon. As time goes by, you will figure out what works for you, until it doesn’t anymore and then you’ll have to figure out a new MO. Good Luck! ❤️

Congrats! and LOL @ your weight lost number!

So did I, and i turned out just fine. I too was often lightheaded the first little bit, and went through a period of food aversion. From month 3 to 7, weight loss sowed down to roughly 10lbs a month (i was eating more, as well as getting smaller, reducing my need for calories) Lost another 10+ lbs after goal and been sitting there more or less ever since. Im 3 yrs out. I assume you have shared your lack of energy and other concerns with your doc and nut? And that your labs have come back with uneventful results? Unless your team is worried, probably no need for you to either. Good Luck! ❤️

@goodmanje, if you're just wanting to vent because you're angry and upset, that's fine. We've all been there at some time or other in our lives. But if you are interested in help with troubleshooting what's going on, you'll have to engage with us and provide more specific information. Like post an example of what you eat on an average day. And you have to be willing to change - for instance, you can't just say "I'm not a disciplined person". Losing weight requires discipline with or without surgery. There are lots of food tracking apps out there and you may not be able to figure this out without making use of one of them.

Thank you, I’ve been scared to eat more in fear of gaining weight but I will try it !

I’m 3 years out. Been maintaining below goal weight since reaching goal at 7 months post op. I’m 5’2”, 118.2 lbs this morning. TBH, I sorta hesitated posting this, but in the interest of full disclosure, here are my food logs for the last 7 days. DISCLAIMER: I do not recommend this type of diet for those that do not have the same metabolism as I do. Also, I don’t normally eat like this all the time! I’m just in the middle of a crap food period, which I have on occasion 😂

I watch 600 lb Life, too and glean a lot of insight from it - especially the psychology behind overeating. To the OP, you could be overeating and just don't know it. Or eating the wrong things. 50 calories of sugar vs. 50 calories of protein does two very different things to your body. I use My Fitness Pal and also watch my macros (protein, carbs and fat). Maybe try tracking your intake for a few days and see what you're eating. Like all the experts say, the surgery isn't a magic pill, it's a tool to lose weight. You still have to change your eating habits and lifestyle for it to work. Sent from my SM-N976V using BariatricPal mobile app

Sounds like you might have a stricture. This is something your surgeon needs to address. The top portion of your stomach may have developed scar tissue which is preventing these tougher proteins from passing into your pouch. Hopefully you have a weight loss clinic or a doctor monitoring you that can order an EGD to see if there's an issue. Good luck!

To those with encouraging words I appreciate it. Those of you who are sitting on your high horse saying “all you have to do is put in the work” can check their ego. Why didn’t you put in the work instead of having surgery? Because you were just as much a lazy slob as me. Nobody who has had this procedure should be judgemental but we’ve got some on here talking like they are Olympic athletes or something. I have been following the advise of my physician. I don’t write everything down but I’m only eating low calorie food. I never drink anything with calories, never eat out…. I don’t even eat what the rest of my family has for meals. I’ve always got my own food to eat. And I’m not losing weight…… like I said, I don’t know what else to do.

You need to get into some counseling ASAP. Its pretty clear you have some unrealistic expectations of what WLS was and how it would work, and you also might need some support on how to manage your new life and adjust post-op. I'm sorry this has been so disappointing and frustrating for you, but as others have said, weight loss surgery is a tool not a magic wand. You absolutely can overeat if you want to, it just makes it harder. But if you aren't tracking what/how much you're eating, how do you know if you're overeating? And exercise is good for you; sounds like you are really resistant to that, but the reality is you need to move your body regularly. Whether you are trying to lose weight or not, your body NEEDS it. Again, your feelings are valid, WLS is a massive life change. But some additional support for your emotional/mental health would probably be really helpful for you. You can't have the surgery and then refuse to comply with the post-op requirements and then be angry that surgery "isn't working" for you. It is, but YOU need to make it work. We are here to cheer you on, but you've got to do your part.

gosh, i don't even know hoe to begin with this. so i already wrote on here once, and things have only gotten worse. i had my surgery september 2019, i was 140 kgs at the time, and after a year i lost almost half my body weight, the lowest i was was 72 kgs. sorry European here, cant do the lbs. anyways, half a year after my surgery, i was basically starving myself, but feeling great, but at the 6 month mark i started to faint. collapsed the first time at a gathering, and then a year after the surgery, when all this started i collapsed fully again. even with collapsing my brain felt fine, active, working out, and all that. however, at the year mark something changed. i started feeling absent minded, with brain fog. i started checking everything, blood work, hormonal work, all normal, but i was suffering cause i was barely getting through the day. got a dietitian, so i could eat better. that didn't help either. after that i was convinced i had a brain tumor, so i did an MRI, also brain wave lengths tests, all came out perfectly fine. my father is a surgeon btw. he works with cancer patients all the time, and he is convinced that i am super healthy, for the first tiime iin my life. but i felt like my life was ending. still am. can't do anything. cant work. they diagnosed me with an anxiety and depression disorder, gave me pills that i have been taking for a year now, that do nothing for me, just make me want to sleep. i sleep for 12 hours and still wake up in a daze, not knowing where i am. thyroid also checked, everything was fine. i have better days, but days like today when i feel more out of touch than ever i feel like i am going crazy. i fear that i am gonna die, but everyone tells me its maybe deprersonalization or derealization, but i know myself, and something happened to me after that surgery. i did in turkey so i had no pre op or post op. just did it and went home. and starved myself. and now i feel like my life is ending. sorry for the long post.

I understand the fear. I was exploring Bariatric surgery at the suggestion of my electrophysiologist (who I love and trust — I have persistent AFIB). I met with an obesity specialist (not a surgeon) and decided I wanted to work with him during the surgery exploration/approval process to try and lose some weight beforehand. I learned from him that obesity is a disease (often inherited, up to 70%), and that it’s not our fault; it’s our biology. Learning this blew my mind. My Dr suggested I try Ozempic. I was reluctant at first bc I’m not a fan of taking medications in general unless absolutely necessarily. Ozempic was life-changing. It turned off the 24/7 hunger switch in my brain. For the first time in my life I have control over food. I feel “normal” and free. I’ve lost 75 lbs since Jan 1, 2021 (without suffering). I have another 75 lbs to lose. I’m confident I’ll lose it. I’m also working with my obesity Dr and a dietitian to learn how to permanently lead a healthier life. I love and trust my obesity Dr — I feel like he is literally saving my life. The medication is a tool just like surgery is a tool. For me, I no longer think I need the surgery. Some people need both the surgery and medication; everyone’s biology is different. But it’s good to know there are other options besides surgery for treating obesity’s dysregulated biology. I’d highly recommend seeing an obesity specialist and exploring medication options. I should add that I’m now taking Wegovy (1.7 mg) which is a higher dose version of Ozempic that was recently approved by the FDA specifically for treating obesity. I wish you all the best. 🤍

I was sleeved Oct 2013 & lost 90lbs (gained back 20 lbs) but never got to goal weight or close. I really committed to changing my lifestyle; exercising (running & weight lifting) & used myfitness pal to log food. I felt great & looked great. Then, life unraveled. In 2016 found out my husband of 20yrs was cheating on me, I realized he was an alcoholic & we divorced, I was laid off from my job & then diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. My kids were 10 & 12 at the time & I had no family to help me (both parents deceased & brother lives 3hrs away by plane). I went through 9hr surgery to remove a foot of my colon & then 7 mos of chemo & steroids. I put on 60lbs during chemo & have not been able to lose it. I had a bad fall after last chemo treatment from neuropathy in feet. I have so much pain in my knees I can’t run. Don’t know if all due to excess weight, arthritis (I’m 54), chemo, menopause? I finished my ins requirements for a revision & scheduling revision to bypass is next. But, I am so hard on myself & questioning if it will work and if I shouldn’t be messing with my body especially surviving cancer? I have regained all my weight &depressed. I hate the way I look & struggle with trying to be happy I am alive after cancer. I have heard weight loss is slower after revision. Is that always the case? Anyone else have cancer after wls & regained and had revision? I feel lost. I miss the adrenaline I used to get from working out.

Omg I wished you posted this before my surgery on 11/8. I did a week of liver shrinking diet and loss 15 lbs. Completed all the necessary procedures too and went to my surgery appointment. However….. I was on time but have been having second thoughts the night before and I even had a consultation with my therapist friend (free counseling session 😂) I spent at least 2 hours with my friend and talked about my reservations. She even advised me to cancel or reschedule because of my reservations. I had my consultation with my surgeon on 10/11 and the surgery date on 11/8 was offered. Off course I took it cos I’m overwhelmed but in reality I should have waited for more time but what’s my excuse? Food relationship and the holiday parties and meals. However, after getting my behavioral health evaluation and preop, I was ready. I was so happy with the result of the liver shrinking diet cos in my head look, I can do it without the surgery but I only did the diet because I have a goal date which is the surgery date. I even chatted with my parents about my decision. My dad didn’t want me to get the surgery but my mom was encouraging since she knows how many times I failed doing different diet and exercise program after program. So, day of surgery came. I checked in 30 minutes earlier and I was sent to pre-surgery department. My check in appointment was at 9:00 and surgery at 11:00. I changed to my hospital gown and got comfortable. It’s funny that every commercial was Taco Bell. However, each time I checked the clock I was panicking inside. My surgeon and his team was late and my surgery was pushed until 1:00 PM. In my head, it’s my chance to cancel it and the universe was telling me to cancel it. I wished I listened to the voice inside me but I’m glad I didn’t. I’m glad I did the surgery because I don’t trust myself and if I canceled, I will probably go back to my unhealthy lifestyle. Today is my day 21 post opt and I lose another 20 lbs. It’s totally life changing and tracking my intakes help. I found myself now drinking more water a day to stay hydrated and planning more my meals. I don’t see my surgery as an excuse for weight loss but a tool to help me get back to the healthy side.

weight loss slows down a lot the further you go. Are you still following your program to a "T"? Measuring and logging your food? I didn't quit losing until I was 20 months out, but it was slow going after the first few months..