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I’m a slowish loser (around 21 lbs in 7 weeks since surgery) and even though it is frustrating at times I’m trying to stay positive. I wanted to share my recent thoughts around the subject. No matter whether I lose only a pound in a week it is still one pound gone hopefully forever from my body. I also kind of like the idea of losing slowly as it gives my mind and body time to adjust to the loss, and for some reason, I believe the pounds are more likely to stay off when I shed them slowly. Naturally, it took me decades to pile on the weight so there is no way it will be gone in a few months. And finally despite how quickly or slowly I’m losing I would never regret the surgery because without it I would probably have gained at least as much weight as I have now lost. The weekend is approaching so have a great one!

This is such an interesting observation. I have never regretted it since the day after the surgery. I learned about it in Jan. 2020 and had my surgery in March 2020. For me, it was the fact that my metabolic symptoms were getting worse, and I was nearly the age when my dad got diabetes, and he seems pretty miserable now. Maybe you are right. The people who think about it longer may still be less sure about their decision, even after they've made it. Nevertheless, I do want to tell the OP and the other posters who are feeling regrets - for me, the painful/uncomfortable physical effects and some of the negative emotions (like feeling left out and feeling like a failure that you had to do this) were still very strong over the first ~9 months - but they are much better now. I don't feel pain when I swallow even water too fast; I rarely feel faint and need to lie down after meals. Also - at first you have rapidly changing hormone levels from fat-soluble hormones being released as you lose weight, and this WILL affect your emotions. In a year or too, you will likely start to feel better physically - much better than you do now, but also better than your old body did to at a year or two out. I'm 1.5 years out, and generally very happy with my decision, but I am still getting used to my own body and my new life. I still sometimes feel partly like an alien in a new world. That is a rough process. It takes time. Emotionally, it's normal to mourn when you undergo a major life change. The old you IS dead. There is no going back. Change is always hard, and that causes anxiety because you don't know yet how it will turn out. And while you hope that the future you will be healthier than the old you, of course you're also having trouble envisioning how happy that future will be. Certainly some of the pleasures the old you enjoyed have been lessened. Of course you'd rather be fat and happy, than slim and miserable! I would too. Let yourself mourn that. Sadness is a real, natural, normal feeling. Feel it. But don't forget to put some effort into the new you also. Right now you're taking a LOT less pleasure in food. But don't let yourself just wallow in depression forever. (Unless you can't help it - then seek outside help.) Think about having some new experiences and finding new pleasures. Or, perhaps think about if maybe there's something really painful in your life that you've been using food to avoid - perhaps there is a better way to solve that problem. Then, later, when most likely some of that pleasure in food returns, you'll be in a better place. I actually take much more pleasure in food now because I don't feel guilty and out of control around it, and the new changes in behavior have finally become habit. I can just focus on actually enjoying the flavor of food, not to mention the satisfying journey between anticipation and completion, hunger and fullness. I was always so hungry before - I never felt 'full' - I always just felt 'uncomfortable'. Also, there will be people who actually do feel worse in the long term. If that happens to you, seek out a therapist, or a particularly good friend, whatever you need to be able to talk about it. Feel free to send me a message if you need to talk. I may not regret this particular decision, but have certainly been other changes in my life that were irreversibly negative.

I had sleeve surgery on the 15th of October and I been on a liquid diet for 2 weeks I see my surgeon to see how my healing process is going and what stage he moves me to Sent from my moto e using BariatricPal mobile app

Hey all! I’m three weeks post op today from bypass. I’ve been very lucky with easily getting down the required liquids and my small blended meals. I’m suddenly struggling with food obsession again. I was okay the first while bc I knew I couldn’t, but now I’m trying actual food and really want the “bad” food. I want pizza and creamy pastas and the chocolate. I’ve held off so far, but have been creeping over the calories. It doesn’t help that I’m not losing much weight. “Only” 5 lbs in the last two weeks. I think the amount of free time isn’t helping. I’m still off work and most of my friends/family are busy this time of year. Any suggestions?

I lost 16 lbs the whole first month, and i started out at almost 400 lbs. People lose at all different rates due to a bunch of different factors, many of which you have little to no control over, including age, gender, starting BMI, metabolic rate, percentage of your body that is muscle, whether or not you lost a bunch of weight before surgery, etc. The only two things you have a lot of control over are your activity level and how closely you stick to your clinic's program. If you do well with those two things, you WILL lose the weight, whether fast or slow. I was a slow loser from the get-go and ended up losing 100% of my excess weight. if you havent' lost any weight in a week and you're following your program, then you're just in a stall. Happens to most of us - and you're likely to have more along the way. When you hit one, just stick to your program and stay off the scale for a few days - and know that it'll eventually break and the weight loss will start up again. They typically last 1-3 weeks.

You had the sleeve surgery and lost that much weight? No issues losing?

Sorry to hear you guys had regrets :(. I never did, and really I am not hungry per se, just miss the taste of certain things. I'd love to eat a salad, for example, or some steak. Not really craving anything other that real food that isn't mush. I totally get the concept of food curing bad days, it did that for me a lot, but the feeling I have even losing a little weight has made me feel so much better. I am trying to find other more healthy things to fill that void.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean, either, but if you mean you've stalled this week, then you're experiencing the infamous "three week stall" that probably 90% of us experience. Just so you know, this will likely just be the first of many. To get through it, just stick to your program and stay off your scale for a few days. Your weight loss WILL start up again (although probably not 30 lbs - losses really slow down after the first month). if you want to read more about the stall, do a search of this site on the three week stall. Last time I checked, there were over 17,500 posts on it (and no, I am NOT kidding..)

I'm sorry you're struggling with these things, but I think this is all completely normal. Some folks who have VSG do not feel hunger for a period of time, but many people do. Neither is right or wrong, its just due to each person's anatomy/surgery/surgeon, etc. Similarly, cravings are completely normal and people feel them to varying degrees at different points in their journey. At one month out, I know your options are limited, but maybe you could find some substitutes? Look for a good protein powered in a flavor you like, sugar free jello or popsicles might be a good option, or try a sugar free drink mix (crystal light, mio, etc.). As for hunger and weight loss, are you hitting your protein and fluid goals? If so, how much of your protein is coming from shakes/powders and how much is coming from food? Following your programs plan, you might want to start aiming to get as much protein as you can from your food intake and slowly decrease the supplements, as they won't fill you up and keep you full nearly as long as more dense protein sources. Additionally, increasing your protein and hitting your fluid goals can also help with weight loss. Ultimately, follow your plan and contact your surgeon/dietician if you need additional support. That's what they are they are there for! But you're on the right track and its still super early in your journey. Be patient with yourself and trust the process!

I'm sorry... can you clarify your post? You said you lost 30 pounds in a week but haven't lost any weight? Am I not reading it right? Regardless, you have to give yourself time to heal. What food are you eating? On my plan, I was just starting the pureed stage. The focus for me was water and then protein.

I'm drinking these BariWise high protein cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup and really like them. They aren't any thicker than the protein shakes. I've also gotten FairLife protein shakes and they're much lighter. more like drinking 2% milk. I still haven't lost any weight and I desperately need to just quit getting on the stupid scale.

I’m one month post sleeve and lately I have been feeling sugar cravings and feeling more hungry especially at night The weight is coming off really slowly Anyone else? Why is this happening?

I am 3 weeks post op and I lost about 30 pounds in the last week. I haven't lost any weight and I have a hard time eating food, especially getting protein in. Did anybody else have issues? I am Really discouraged? My rheumatoid arthritis is flaring up so bad walking is killing me and I am starting to regret my choices.

they usually quote you the statistical average, because *statistically*, that's where most people end up. And as with any statistic, you'll always find people who lose more or less than the average. Some people end up losing 90% or 100% of their excess weight, and some people only lose 30 or 40 lbs and/or gain all their weight back. Like some others have said, WLS is just a tool - and your success depends on how you use it. If you're really committed and follow your program to a "T", you're likely to lose a lot more than what you were quoted. You'll find lots of examples of that here on this site.

Some really great responses on this thread. At the end of the day, the sleeve is a tool. It is possible to lose all your excess weight (plus more) and it is possible to lose very little, or even regain. It is all about how the tool is used, and the person who has control over that is you. Some people lose fast, some people lose slow, but again, we have lots of slow losers on this board who have hit goal, but they had to persevere in using the tool and staying focused on their goal.

You have to understand that they are giving your worst case scenarios because some people simply do not motivate themselves and stick to the program. You have the potential to lose a lot more depending on YOU. If you follow the program to the T, exercise more than you ever have, count your calories and eat the right foods, you can lose a LOT more. If they say you can lose 200 pounds and you do not follow the guidelines, then you are angry at them. There is a touch of reality here that you have to understand. The extent of the weight loss depends more on YOU and YOUR actions to use the tool they created for you and use it properly. Remember, your surgery is a tool and you have to do other things to make the tool work more efficiently for you. If you do not properly use the tool you will not get the most out of it. They are just trying to keep your expectations realistic.

I agree with what everyone else has said. I'm just over a year out and about 10lbs from my initial goal. I think the "problem" with the sleeve is that most of us are able to eat anything/everything that we CHOOSE to eat after we recover from the surgery itself. You CAN outeat the sleeve. Trust me, I just did it on a cruise. However, I'm committed to MY plan and after a 3lb gain (I didn't bother to track or count calories on the cruise and fully expected a gain) I came home and went back to my new normal of eating. In 3 days, I've already lost that weight. Alternately, I could have come home and continued the things I was doing on the ship (eating like garbage and drinking my liver into a stupor). My guess (somewhat based on personal experience) is that many *certainly not all* people simply go back to back habits because they get complacent (been there, done that). It's really your choice in how you respond to the surgery - It's a tool and how YOU choose to use it is up to YOU.

Congratulations!!! I am 25 and also a shortie haha I'm 5 feet even. I am 2 weeks post op today, and like you I feel well. No complications so far. My surgery weight was 264 ( in the beginning I was 274) and I am currently down to 245.I hope my journey is as good to me as it is to you.

Most of the stuff not in stage 3 diet tend to be things they want you to not eat for the first 6-12 months. I was told no bread, pasta, or rice at all until 1 year post op. But then I learned I had a wheat allergy that developed after surgery (3% chance. they don't warn you about it because it's unlikely to happen, but my luck sucks). So when I eat bread or pasta it has to be gluten free (though I eat chickpea pasta noodles because of the protein. I only have gluten free pasta for any slow cooker pasta recipes because chickpea noodles are for quick dishes, not for dishes that have to simmer because they end up with an odd after taste). I also eat cauliflower rice instead of regular rice because it's low carb and I just prefer it. I actually have yet to try regular rice post op (I'm 21 months post op with the Loop Duodenal Switch/SADI-S/SIPS surgery). I'm technically not really in maintenance yet, but I'm borderline. I've only lost 1 pound this month, 1 last month, 1 the month before that etc. so I feel like I'm really close to maintenance, but still losing. Just super slooooow lol. But I'm eating more at what I consider a sustainable diet to just maintain my weight loss instead of actively trying to lose more. If I do lose more then great, if I don't then that's fine too because I've reached a weight that I'm happy at. I consume around 1300-1400 calories a day and have a minimum of 80g of protein (which my surgeon told me was my minimum daily protein intake). My daily diet is very different then yours will be I'd imagine, as I have food allergies (wheat allergy, high fructose corn syrup allergy, and I'm lactose intolerant. I had the other two issues before the surgery, but the wheat was a new one. I also developed an outright allergy to NSAIDS after surgery too, which sucks because I have arthritis). Really the diet for the DS and say... Gastric Bypass is pretty much the same long term except in protein requirements and the amount of vitamins that you'll need. If your dietician/nutritionist deals with gastric bypass patients and isn't positive about long term requirements I was told by my surgeon that it's pretty much the same just DS patients females need a minimum of 80-100g of protein a day and men require 100+g minimum of protein a day while it's quite a bit less for GB patients.

My surgeon's plan was very low-carb but also low-fat. It wasn't working for me, and my weight loss slowed and then stalled. My new NUT and I put together a plan that was a little higher in carbs, and it worked—apparently my body needs carbs to prepare for working in the beet fields of the gulag or whatever. Added in about 100 calories of carbs a day (that's 25g, math people) and the weight loss resumed its 3-4 lbs. a week swoosh. Every body is different.

I was ALL up in my feelings before surgery and just had to be reassured constantly. But here's the thing. The weight is going to come FLYING off you. The first few weeks are hard while you work off the fluids and gas and get used to the new way of things. But once you pee away the extra surgical fluids, you are in the serious honeymoon phase. I could step on the scale three times a day and have it be lower—and I started at a lower weight. Once you get used to it, you're going to notice so much energy. You won't be stuck in bed. You'll be up and about before you know it. I know you got this. You're gonna rock it.

I lost 31kg to goal then an additional 11.5 bringing the total to 42.5kg (93.6lbs). I weighed 48.5kgs then & 49kgs now so I have been keeping pretty stable so far but I’ve years ahead of me. Many surgeons will tell you the weight loss you should expect to lose is the average loss. That is what the average loss is at about 5 years out. This figure is about 65% of the weight you were to lose to be in the healthy BMI range. So if you were to lose 100lbs to put you in the healthy BMI range the average loss at the 5 yrs mark would be about 65lbs. Of course this does not mean this is where you’ll be. Some exceed this some don’t. Years 2 & 3 post surgery are quite notorious for a 10lb+/- regain. Some because of complacency, some personal choice to better complement their lifestyle. The surgery will help you get so far. The rest is up to you. As long as what you chose to do re eating habits & activity levels are sustainable & not restrictive, you’re happy & healthy, the actual number on the scale doesn’t matter that much.

We're all over the place in terms of how much weight sleevers lose. I really wanted to have the bypass because my research had told me bypass patients tend to lose more. Unfortunately, it was medically contraindicated for me (I got 3 opinions). So I was forced to have the sleeve and really disappointed about it. But as it worked out, I lost all my excess weight. I started at 5'1", 250 pounds, and over two years I got down to 121. I'm right now at 124. I was blessed that my body responded well to the surgery (even 2.5 years later, my appetite is only about 65% of what it was pre-surgery). I was highly motivated and compliant with my eating plan. My surgeon was aggressive and gave me a small sleeve. It all came together and I'm now normal weight for the first time since I was about 8 years old. So it's good to know the statistics, but realize that they are just averages. You can lose more or less than predicted, based on many factors.

Slim Bunny it will get better! Keep the course. This is such a wonderful phase and opportunity to change the relationship with foods and portion discipline that got most of us in trouble previous to surgery. Here are some dishes I looked forward to mid-way during weight loss phase. i.e. Fresh homemade egg salad, soft fruits, bean dishes that satisfied. First it was a few bites, then ½ a cup graduating to ¾ cup to one cup. Now I am maintaining with approximately 1 ½ cups... Your tummy will gradually adjust, digest more effectively and tell you how much you need to sustain. Go with the flow in selecting healthy clean foods throughout the process AND your rewards will be spectacular!!! This I can promise... And, yes, the protein shake regime were like Redundant and Yuck - keeping bowels challenging BUT this too shall pass. You have so much to look forward, too!!!

5'3" HW - 207lbs SW - 203lbs 6mos - 131lbs Goal weight - 125lbs -- but I feel like I'll surpass that...I still have major restrictions and no real hunger. I have started strength training. Hoping to drop another 10-15 lbs of fat, but gain 5-10lbs of muscle.