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My recovery was fairly easy. I had the "foamies" a couple of times from eating too much or too fast. Some foods felt bad in my stomach initially but I just put them on the list of "try again later." Eggs were probably the hardest to reintroduce. No matter how I ate them, boiled, fried, scrambled , I felt like I ate a rock. It was at least a year before I could eat them comfortably. After about 6 months I could eat most anything I chose to eat in small portions. I had very little pain after surgery. The worst part was finding out I was allergic to the surgical staples and had horrible dermatitis around each incision. I thought I would scratch my skin off. Removing the staples and a little hydrocortisone cream cured that. I was a slow loser but I tried not to compare myself to others. I just told myself, it will happen eventually! I never had a stall, all the way to goal. Now, almost 3 yrs later, I continue to follow the guidelines I was given, track my protein and have had no problem maintaining my weight. Sometimes I'll look at "junk food" and have absolutely no desire to eat it. All I have to do is look in a mirror and I think to myself, "I'd rather look like this than taste that!" I've now paid for 2 skin removal plastic surgeries (a lot of money) also and don't want to undo the progress I've made there! I don't think you have to suffer to have great results. There is nothing wrong with having a smooth course. I've had 4 surgeries in the last 3 yrs and have followed "doctors orders" with each one and had great successful recoveries. I just don't dwell on any little "bumps in the road" in the process. With time it all works out. For me, best decision ever!

I am an advocate of finding the food choices & way of eating that works for you.There isn’t just one totally correct way to eat eat. It may be vegetarian or meat focussed or Aitken or vegan or keto, intermittent fasting or frequent eating, etc. or include aspects of a number of eating styles. The only thing you can trust will work for everyone is portion control - eat more than you need you’ll gain weight. Once you get to maintenance you can really embrace your new way of eating but you could start to incorporate aspects while losing as long as you’re still meeting your plan’s requirements & expectations. Have regular conversations with your nutritionalist & surgeon to discuss what you could start introducing & when. Your regular blood work will influence their advice & recommendations. You may (or may not) have to make adjustments to your weight loss plan & future eating style because of your personal physiological needs. Some may be pre existing, some may arise because of the surgery or be discovered as a result of all the additional medical tests & monitoring. I’ve never been great with too fatty or too oily food. I was low fat while losing but added some more good fats from goal. I was low carb while losing too & then added some whole & multi grains carbs. Since my sleeve, rice, bread & pasta sit like lumps in my tummy so I still don’t eat them. Protein has become even more important to me since I had my gall removed 4 months ago as I don’t absorb it properly anymore. I’m a carnivore but include vegetarian meals occasionally. 40+yrs of fasting & skipping meals killed my metabolism. I feed my much faster metabolism now - 3 meals & 3 or 4 snacks a day. These things influenced how I chose to eat now & it’s been working for me. Your enthusiasm for researching & adopting a new way of eating & making the changes to take the best advantage of your surgery is fantastic. I hope it motivates others starting the process too. Good luck.

Are you losing weight? If so why would you be failing? If not still I would ask why would you be failing? Either way you are doing the best you can and assumedly following your guidelines. My recovery was fairly boring, no real pain, no gas and fluids purees and soft foods were fairly easy to consume. It wasn't until solid foods that I really felt my restriction. I am not sure why we go looking for trouble when things are going well.

Its hard to believe it’s been 6 months since I “went under the knife”. What a 6 months it has been. From nervousness to excitement, from regret to happiness. The emotions have been all over the board. It definitely hasn’t been easy and it’s really only just began. I wanted to share a little of my journey thus far for folks that are considering the surgery, just had the surgery or anybody else that can relate or possibly get/stay motivated. Like most, the beginning was very difficult. I did a ton of research before the surgery. I thought I was prepared. But as the old adage goes, “you don’t know until you do it”. I struggled with drinking enough water/fluids, not getting enough protein, feelings of despair as I could only eat a tiny amount of food, total regret of having the surgery and wanting to call up Doc Brown to see if I could borrow the Delorean to go back in time. But around the 6 week mark, it seemed that everyday my attitude got a little better. I started to walk a little bit to clear my mind. I started just walking around the block. It’s about all I could do and I was a little paranoid of doing too much (silly in hindsight). I tried to really stay focused on sticking to the plan and just taking each day as it was and not look into the future. I started incorporating fish into my diet and nuts and I started walking around the block twice. I just kept telling myself that things will get easier. And before too long, they did. Fast forward to today and I’ve lost 164 lbs. I’ve lost 33% of my highest body weight. My BMI has gone from 58.3 to 38.9. I’m now walking 5 miles at a time, about 5 days a week. I eat mostly fish, salads, veggies and nuts. I actually eat carbs and some stuff that they probably don’t want me to but it’s limited and I’m burning so many calories exercising that I can handle some extra calories and not worry about it. I think I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve consistently lost weight every single week except in week 3 (seems like this is the week everybody tends to stall). I’ve learned to give myself a little credit instead of giving it all to the surgery. The procedure definitely deserves most all of the credit but I wouldn’t be where I’m at now had I not stuck to the plan, pushed myself to stay mentally strong and built a routine of exercise. Giving myself that little bit of credit has helped me in so many ways. I’m still about 80 lbs from my goal. I have a long way to go to get to that goal and of course even longer for a lifetime commitment to being healthy. I know whoever reads this has heard the line “if I can do it, anybody can”. I hate to use that but it’s so true. I used to lack motivation to get out of my Laz-E-Boy to even walk around the block. To put down the soda, stop eating a large pizza by myself, fries, Chinese food, burgers,wings, you name it. I found something inside me that clicked to get curious about the surgery. Then to actually go thru with it. Then to implement and execute the plan to improve my life. I wish I could say that I’m 110% confident that I’ll never gain weight again. That I’ll never binge eat again or go off the rails. I’m confident right now that I’m fully committed to a new lifestyle. I’m only 6 months in. I’m still not even that hungry. I can still only eat a little bit. At some point, those things will change. But I know that I never want to go back to what I was. I haven’t changed as a person in the last 6 months. But my attitude, goals and purpose has. For that I’m grateful. I wish all who reads this much success in your journey. Know that it will be different from mine and all others that you come across. There will be many similarities but your journey is your own just as mine is for me. If I can do it, anybody can. 👊🏼✌🏼

I did gain some weight back but not enough to qualify. This is considered a complication and therefore not coded as a gastric bypass. I hope I can get the weight I put on back off though. It’s about 25 pounds. Small in the big picture but feels significant to me.

I hope it does too. Right now I'm stalled with my weight because I'm not burning off enough calories. I wish talking burned calories, I would be so skinny. Sent from my SM-G991U using BariatricPal mobile app

I know I have to try to push through this but I figured it took a while to get on the weight it will take a while to get rid of it. Naps are my life now. Sent from my SM-G991U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hw:222lbs Cw:199.5 Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I was sleeved on 9/7 and have had a phenomenal recovery! I have no issues with any food, reflux, pain etc. My mind is trying to play tricks on me and tell me that because I'm not suffering and can eat and drink without issue that maybe this isn't going to work for me. I do feel some restriction with food but not with fluids. I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that other people have recovered like I have and gone on to be successful in losing the weight. I have 70 pounds to get to my goal. TIA! ❤️

I recommend reading The Success Habits of Weight Loss Patients by Colleen N, Cook as well as getting several bariatric cookbooks. There are many of the cookbooks available on Amazon and other bookstore sites. If you have ever considered that you might be a sugar/food addict, also read Food Junkies by Vera Tarman.

Is a marathon not a sprint and don’t compare your weight loss to others. Some are faster losers and others are slower but for most of us just stick to the plan and the weight eventually Does come off.

It’s up to the discretion of the surgeon (and severity of the GERD) I think the weight requirement is not the main qualifier when revising for GERD.

Did you also gain some of the weight back? Don’t you have to be a certain size to qualify for revision? Especially with insurance? I mean will a dr do it even for gerd if you are near a healthy BMI?

Hi! I just signed up with Bariatric Pal, so I'm unsure how this works! I am not tech savvy! My surgery will probably be scheduled for October or November. I have fulfilled my six month insurance requirements and have gotten approved! That is, if I don't back out of having it! I've worked so hard getting here, but now I'm unsure and dealing with some other personal issues that may affect my decision! I go back and forth with it every day! I'm 65 years old and have been obese for about 20 years now, so I still remember what it is like to be thin and miss myself! But now, it is more for health reasons that I must do this surgery or lose weight on my own! I was 259 when I first signed up for program. Now I am 229 after 6 months on diet.I did great the first three months, but it gets harder because I do not like vegetables and I do not like to cook, so I am not eating as well as I should. This high protein, low carb diet is supposed to be for life, so I'm worried about sticking to it! I'm more scared about complications after surgery than I am the surgery, although I don't like the idea of that either! Im questionsing why I'm getting this done, since I did lose some without it. Will it really make it easier because I won't be hungry? Or, will I just get sick if I eat wrong or too much!! Good luck to all y'all!

Okay so I can’t get them to post in the correct order but I found cauliflower Mac and cheese and new cauliflower breadsticks at Publix and that and grilled chicken breasts was dinner. Not bad for weight loss phase the entire plate was about 410 calories which was dinner and some left over for snack. I mostly wanted to post to tell y’all about the breadsticks though because to me they tasted just like the real thing

Pilot my best self. Thank you! I started at 230. Now 136. I’m 5’2” and 63 yes old. I’d say the first 70 lbs came off steadily more or less. Then I was at 157 for at least 6 months and I thought that was it. I went to my doctor, who said I was doing fine, but he gave me a prescription for Saxenda, which is really for diabetes but helps you lose weight too. Then all of a sudden I started loosing again. I’m not sure if I’ll go much lower, but not putting it back is really the trick. thanks for being so nice.

I was also converted from VSG to RNY because of GERD (and other things) but not for additional weight loss. 2+ yrs later GERD is still gone which is a major win!

There’s a lot of research to suggest that most people will not stay at their lowest weight (Of course there are exceptions). Small gains/fluctuations are expected and likely out of our control. I think the goal is to try to prevent larger gains that can happen from lifestyle. Congrats on your success so far!

After many years not being in control of my weight, and putting care of myself last, I've made the decision to have VSG. I'm scheduled Nov 17 at Blossom bariatrics and am so excited..and nervous at the same time! Looking forward to getting answers and support on this community! Sent from my Pixel 3a using BariatricPal mobile app

So happy to see everyone doing so well! I had my sleeve on June 16. I am down approximately 33 lbs. My weight loss has slowed to a crawl but I am 5'1" and alot older than most people so for me, this is good. I have been experiencing excruciating hunger pains for some time. The first 6 - 8 weeks was the worst. Has anyone else experienced this? I feel like I'm going through some sort of "withdrawal" symptoms. Definitely not fun!

Hi all, I had VSG back in 2014, and have been good. I developed bad GERD and am converting to bypass on October 1st. Does anyone have experience with this type of surgery? I would like to lose my remaining weight too, but don’t know how much a conversation will actually help you lose. Not having regurgitation will be with all of it though!!

I think the theme here is that most of the people on here are for the surgery or they would not be on here with few exceptions. The reality is that many of us have lost a ton of weight before but end up bringing it right back on board. The sleeve is the tool many of us find is going to be there to keep us honest and help us keep the weight off. You cannot just unconsciously eat anyway and go and gain it back. If you eat and stretch out your sleeve, you are going to know it is happening and make a conscious choice to eat and screw it up for yourself.

Height: 5’ 4.75” Pre-surgery: 256 Surgery day: 241 6-mo weight: 162 I hit a one-month stall in month 5. I increased calories and saw weight start to drop again. I hope that helps!

Hello all. So I've gained a 6 lbs back. I'm not really doing anything different. No bad carbs, and at around 1500 calories a day 10 months out, after losing 120 lbs in 7 months. I feel like I've leveled out, but am worried about this sudden gain. Is this normal? Thanks, Joe