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Inches Lost! Your experience? Expectations?
Nepenthe44 replied to BKJ's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I've had moments of yay each time I was able to fit into the old clothes in my closet that didn't fit anymore. This week I took out my favorite pair of jeans from high school (during my restricting phase no less) and they were perfect. I was also happy when my waist dropped below 40 and 35 inches, which are considered cutoffs for disease risk for men and women respectively, at least in the US. I didn't start taking measurements religiously (once a month) until pretty far into my weight loss, but I ordered an eShakti dress for a wedding in 2018 at about 30 pounds below my highest weight and my measurements were 61-57-70 (chest-waist-hips). The day before surgery, my waist was 46 inches and hips 57 inches. My last measurements, from about a week ago, were 38.5-32.5-39.5. I've lost 30 inches from my hips, 24 from my waist, and 22 from my chest. (Yes, my WHR actually increased, but I've also been taking low dose testosterone for about 2 years.) Things have started to plateau, but I still have a sundress that I want to be able to fit into and I imagine I'll get there. -
Gastric sleeve after menopause
summerseeker replied to Sherry57's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I had the menopause in my very early 40's and this surgery at 62. The only things that I have noticed a difference are - My hair had already thinned so I got really worried at one stage and had to cut it really short, I can notice my scalp with wet hair but hide it after styling. - My skin is a mess. I lost elasticity after menopause. I have decided to not have the surgery. It looks too brutal and having to pay myself it would be out of my reach for all the work I would need. I have lost a huge amount of weight and mostly without exercise or having a busy work life. I had a lot of long stalls but I tried not to compare myself with others who were storming along. You will get there in the end, Have a chat with your team. I found it useful. -
Okay this is long and boring at parts but here it goes. I am 3 years post sleeve and I have gained all my weight back . First of all I was on the smaller side to have the sleeve but I do still have all the same struggles and if I had waited until I was older it was just a matter of time until I was a higher bmi having the surgery. The fact that I have lost and then gained it all plus some within less than years is probably proof of that. Anyways, with the sleeve I did lose a big chunk of weight. I went from 235 to 168 which I could not have done with regular diet. But, i was always able to eat a little more than I should at every given stage and everything was easy for me. From day one I had no gas pain and water was easy to get down, then fluids and protein which were easy to keep down, I had no food intolerances and advancing through each stage. I was living my best life watching the pounds fall off but I was alway able to eat just a little more than everyone else at the same stage. Well, while the hunger hormone was gone and I was focused I was able to eat exactly what I SHOULD be eating and I measured my portions to the Amount I should be eating and I was satisfied. So lost most of the weight the dr suggested I would. i held that weight for a few months but then the hunger started creeping back and between the hunger and the extra room in the pouch I started gaining in spite of still making healthy food choices (my food was fine but my portions were too large and too frequent). Well, even though I knew I was losing control my friends and family continued to look at me as doing great..I was still on the road to getting to where I needed ti be in their eyes. I was ashamed. I was failing yet They kept complimenting me and offering me food. They were saying things like your doing so good, you can have one slice or pizza or one brownie. It won’t kill you. It’s okay that you’ve gained a couple pounds I’ve gained a couple it’s Christmas. You can lose that. Well I have since learned that no I cannot just have one of anything to do with carbs or I crave them for a week but I didn’t know that back then Anyways, was still going to my surgeon asking for help but I have bipolar disorder and the meds I take for it limit what other meds I can take so I cannot take many of the weight loss meds they had to offer. And the one I can take worked wonderfully during the day but when it wore off I ate all night Fast forward a few months and I stepped on the scale and I was back over 200. That sucked but I wasn’t giving up. went back to my surgeon asking about revision to bypass. I have heartburn gerd whatever you call it and clearly the sleeve wasn’t working so I wanted to know my options. Well let’s go back. I knew I didn’t want to have surgery if I was going to just repeat the yo-yo that had just happened so I decided I wanted two opinions this time. Well the second opinion dr had a cancellation so I seen him first. He was on board. He was going to bypass a shorter amount of bowel so i had less absorption issues and my meds Would work fine he said which seemed to be his concern even though it wasn’t really my question. I just needed my dr to say that it shouldn't be a repeat of last time and I was going forward. Well even though the bypass was an option he presented to me to start he said he wouldn’t do a bypass for me. He thought it would be a bad call with my mental health issues. This was confusing to say the least because I have one dr saying it’s fine and another dr I really respect saying it’s not and I started this thinking bypass was always an okay option in terms of mental health but worried the surgery just wouldn’t work for me. I am of course concerned about my mental health so took some time to think about it. I tried for a while to find a bariatric therapiest but none near me are taking any new patients. I even asked the surgeon and he said he would look into it but be never did. Anyways I called around for the better part of two days. They all just do the evaluations now for surgery. I have had every hormone test and lab they have that could possibly be the problem. I changed all my meds in case they were the issue. I tried everything myself and my doctors could think of but I kept gaining. When I revisited the idea of surgery I was scared. Anything that was going to upset my mental health again just isn’t an option I decided. I already know what life without my medication is like and I do not want to go back there. I continued to gain. I got back up to 245 and I am miserable. I am so depressed when I look at what I have let happen to myself. I had a chance and I blew it. I am disgusted when I look in the mirror. I decided that the weight is causing me to be more depressed so I needed to get some real answers. I went back to my surgeon. Not to ask him to do the surgery but exactly why he thought it was a bad idea. The plan was to take that info and talk to the other surgeon to make sure he had considered that and see why he wasn’t worried about it. Well, surprise…my surgeon is on board now with doing a revision for me. When I asked why he said no before he said something about a nite in my chart that said I wasn’t complaint with my meds back them and he didn’t know I have a psychiatrist and psychologist and take my meds but now he is comfortable doing surgery. So, frustrated I had to wait until I gained almost 50 more pounds to get here but excited he is willing to do it I am researching the other surgery he thinks will be a better fit for me called the SADI. At the same time I am still not buying the note in my chart thing. Cause that was never true. I guess the important takeaway for those of you here that are just starting out is even if you do regain don’t lose touch with your team and don’t give up. I feel like my dr wavering in whether he would do the surgery didn’t help but I could have asked more questions sooner and I wouldn’t have so much to lose this time. Plus, hopefully you guys can take the weight loss meds and won’t be facing a second surgery.
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HELP!! 3 weeks Post Op: I Ate 5-ounce dinner!!
Arabesque replied to Avea9's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
@Spinoza is correct. It is easy to do because you can’t tell you’ve had enough yet. Besides the staples & sutures holding your tummy & digestive system together, a lot of nerves were cut. So signals we used to rely on aren’t working or aren’t working properly yet so those messages just aren’t getting through. It takes a good 8 weeks to be fully healed. So it may not be until you’re into your third month before you start to feel signals again. Oh, and your signals may be different to what they were. And, no you won’t have stretched your tummy or impacted your weight loss by doing this this one time. And you would know if you had damaged your tummy. Just tread carefully & slowly & follow your plan to protect your healing tummy & support your recovery. -
Doing many different duets including several VLC & deliberately skipping meals had done a number on my metabolism. Started doing this at 15 so did this for 40 years. The last VLC diet I did (<500 calories) I barely lost a thing - a couple of kilos over 6 or more weeks. The surgery works because it changes your hormones & boosts your metabolism. It also resets your weight set point. This is the weight your body is happiest at & will keep returning to or makes it harder to lose the weight in the first place. I went from really not being able to lose anything to losing all my weight & more. I weigh The other difference was if I did lose weight on a diet in the past as soon as I stopped I invariably went back to eating the exact same way as I did before & regained my weight. Which kept my set point high. I’ve been able to maintain because I took the time while losing to change my relationship with food & changed how & what I ate. I took advantage of the benefits of the surgery. I look at flood differently. I adopted a way of eating (not a diet - to many negative connotations to that word) that works for me because it’s sustainable, complements my lifestyle, ensures I’m making nutrient rich food choices & I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. You may find these links informative. Dr Matthew Weiner (Pound of Cure) has excellent resources es as does Dr John Pilcher. https://courses.poundofcureweightloss.com/courses/weight-loss-hormones/
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Gastric sleeve after menopause
Sherry57 replied to Sherry57's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Thank you everyone for sharing your experience. I am 57, do not take HRT. I track Macros (protein, carb, fat) which totals 1000 calories a day. I would consider myself fairly active (just got done with mowing/weed eating a large backyard but not someone who exercises daily but try to get on my walking pad 15 minutes a day. Since 12/27 to date I have lost between 35-40 lbs. On the edge of 3 month post op I am noticing a few more hairs on my sink when styling. I think, well here we go on the next part of this journey. Lucky I have always wore my hair short and sassy and like mentioned when wet you can see my scalp but after drying scalp is not visible. I’m don’t wish time away but wish I could get a glimpse of a year from now. lol For those monitoring macros/calories what is your average daily calories? -
Has anyone had a sleeve who takes Abilify? My metabolism has virtually stopped since taking Abilify. I am going to be sleeved on 10/24 and can't wait. Please write and tell me of your weight loss experience since being sleeved while on Abilify.
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3kg to lose before surgery... any help?
AMJ2598 replied to AMJ2598's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
It’s almost like they’ve conveniently forgotten you’ve lost your pre surgical weight & are just telling you to lose more as per their set playbook. I also love how they’re telling you to lose weight but aren’t supporting & guiding you in how to do it. Where’s their pre surgical diet? Where’s the referral to a dietician?? Like @NickelChip, I would suggest the three shake a day pre surgical diet many are given. Or do two shakes & one meal of 3 or 4 ozs Protein & 1/2 cup steamed vegetables or undressed salad. All the best. So I begin my pre-op diet in just over a weeks time, but to be honest I'm just really worried it won't get rid of the weight I need. My calorie count and nutrition is already so similar to what they want me to do, and I'm still struggling. I have an appointment next week to get some pre-op tests done, presumably weight and bloods etc, and even then I'm petrified if the number is even slightly above what they need, that'll be it. Other than a straight up water and broth fast, I really am stuck on what to do! I will be on all-liquids for the pre-op diet which is fine, but it's difficult to not get hung up on the fact they've drilled into my head that I MUST hit a certain number, regardless of my loss already. -
Struggling with old bad eating habits and slow weight loss?
NickelChip replied to RosessXO's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Your weight loss rate is normal and where it should be at this stage, but in my opinion, your eating habits are going to work against long term success if you don't do some work now to establish the best possible habits. You may have the luxury of not being able to overeat for now, but this is a fleeting luxury. It doesn't last. Furthermore, every bite of junk food at this stage when your capacity is so small deprives your body of the nutrients it needs from high quality food. That will not help you lose weight, no matter what the calorie count is, because you need a healthy body. A bite of pizza or a couple chips from the bowl because you were at a party one weekend is totally understandable, if a bit of a slippery slope. But choosing them regularly will fast become a problem (or at least it sure would be for me). And if you change nothing else, sugary drinks should have zero place in your diet now. Your body does not have a restriction for fluids. If you can consume your 64 oz of water, you can just as easily consume that amount of a sugar sweetened beverage in a day. Just one venti iced coffee with classic syrup has 30g of sugar! Request sugar free syrup or bring your own sweetener. I watched this video last night and it really spoke to me, so I'm putting it here in case it helps you too: -
Thanks for your really honest post. I can see this happening to me and others years after surgery - there are just so many pressures to eat and drink things that aren't good. It sounds like you're ready for a change and to lose some of that regain if possible. I agree that there will be headwork as well as diet work to do. Arabesque's post is super sensible and I hope you can take all of that on board. I would just add, returning to the basics of protein first, veg second for a few weeks might let you see a loss again. Maybe set a time limit of 4 weeks adhering strictly to that and see how you progress? I like a glass or two of wine at weekends but if you can cut out alcohol completely (empty calories) then do. If not, then minimise. Think about why you need to have a few drinks in order to socialise online and think about what joy that socialising brings to your life (Vs the joy of being at your ideal weight). When you start losing weight again hopefully this will reinforce your new choices.
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6 Months post surgery, minimal to no weight loss
ChunkCat replied to invisiblyhappy's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Yeah, you should have been given either macro goals, or a calorie goal, or ideally, both with the sleeve surgery. It isn't odd to not be able to digest heavy carbs like noodles, pasta, breads, and rice. And they really aren't the best things to be eating in the weight loss phase anyway. Pork can be quite dense, my stomach doesn't like it too much and it hates chicken breast. LOL When you eat things that your stomach is fine with, do you keep it down easily or does it cause vomiting and nausea? If you drink fluids other than water (like milk or a protein shake), does it cause the spitting, or is it just with plain water? -
4 weeks Post Op Need Nutrition Advice
catwoman7 replied to ClarkRomulus's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
^^ as usual, I agree with everything Arabesque said. I wish my loss of interest in eating and hunger had never come back!! -
February 2024 Surgery Buddies?
BlueParis replied to NickelChip's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Long rant ahead sorry ... So, I'm slightly angry (understatement). I saw my french primary care doctor yesterday. She's never been great to be honest. I've been seeing her for 6ish years. 5 years ago I gained over 80lbs pounds in a year and a half going from 118lbs (that had been my standard adult weight since my teenage years with a BMI of 19) to 200lbs ( BMI 32.3) after taking antidepressants. I stopped the antidepressants after a year because the weight gain was making me more miserable than I was being slightly depressed and thin. I have been struggling to loose the weight since... loosing and regaining the same 15-20 lbs again and again. As I've mentioned before, I have slight cérébral palsy - nothing too bad but enough to make walking pretty painful on my legs when I hit over about 130lbs and to make me generally clumbsy - I also lack gross motor coordination and don't have the best fine motor skills either... I can't really do any sports that require coordination and can only really ride a bicycle in a flat straight line and it takes a lot of mental effort for me to keep my balance, crowds freak me out because I'm scared of tripping and falling and don't even mention jumpy little dogs, my nemisis as my balance is so precarious. However I've always made do and It's never stopped me having an enjoyable fufilling life and a pretty decent career. My weight gain really really made me suffer, emotionally of course, my self esteem, my self worth etc ( I live in Paris which is the thinnist city in a thin country ... and it's not a place where people are kind to overweight people at all - I checked and the mean BMI of a Parisienne woman is 22.3 - so when you hit a BMI of 30 here you're really a fat outlier and are basically scorned in all public spaces ). It also made me physically miserable and I lost the little flexibilty I had - constant pain when walking - loss of gross motor skills, trouble showering standing up at 30 years old, not being able to put my socks on etc etc. For the last 4 years I have been to my Primary care doctor about 5 times asking for a referal to a nutritionist - she's always refused as told me "but it's simple, you just need to eat less and move more, it's not magic, No need to waste money on a nutritionist if you have no willpower "No **** sherlock! She has no idea the willpower it takes to get out of bed at 200lbs with cerebral palsy when you feel like your legs are litterally going to snap, when your feet are burning with weight stress induced neuropathic pain. In January I finally cracked after a lot of introspection and thought and booked my VSG for February in Turkey. I've now lost 35lbs since my preop diet so in just under 2 months. I already feel a lot better, the pain when I'm walking is lessening, I'm fitting back into the "second round" of fat clothes I got myself. So I walked into her office yesterday ( I had the intention of "fessing up" to having had a VSG and asking her for iron supplement ideas as I'm still being sick when I try and take iron ) She took one look at me and said "ah, you've finally found your willpower, loose another 20kg (40 pounds) and you'll be an attractive young woman again" I had a surge of red rage inside me, I kept my calm, but didn't tell her about the surgery, I just smiled and told her I needed a refferal to a dermatologist for a mole on my face and left. I'm never going back to see her again. I spoke to my physical therapist on the phone this morning and he sort of helped he said "can I be unprofessional ? Honestly, qu'elle aille se faire foutre, (she can go f*ck herself)" Lets find you another doctor." My physical therapist knew about the surgery, as did my orthopedic surgeon and booth agreed that with my CP anything is better than being even slighty overweight and that the surgury was worth the risk as they've both seen me loose my mobilité over the last few years and has seen how its affected me. They said that if I could afford to go private abroad I should because If not I'd have to jump through hoops for years in france because my BMI (32) wouldn't have been considered high enough as a stand alone. So yeah... this weekend I find myself another doctor who's not a fatphobic arsehole and has a minimum of human compassion. And for the iron I'm just going to go and ask directly at the pharmacy what the have to propose. Sorry that was long but I just had to get it out, I'm slowly realising all the **** I've put up with because of my weight these last years and I am ANNNNGRYYYY!!!! Hope everyone is having an okay hump day! -
new member New Member - same old story :-)
Koshk posted a topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Hi All, First Post I'm female in the UK and nearly 59 years old. I have been a fat toddler, a fat child, a fat teen and a fat adult. I have yo-yo dieted all my life, with each yo-yo lasting for a shorter period and resulting in a new high-point when I would inevitably bounce back. In July '23 I reached a new all time high 24st 9lb (345lb) I was about to start the diet again, about to go through the same loop but just couldn't face it. I made an appointment with a bariatric surgeon, discussed my history and options and agreed that a gastric sleeve was a good fit for me. I was told I was too heavy for their practice and I needed to lose 56lb before I could have the surgery. The surgery was booked for Jan 2nd '24 and I started dieting. As is the practice here I had an assessment with a psychologist who confirmed I was a suitable candidate and a dietician who again confirmed I was a suitable candidate but in the process managed to make me feel like I had already failed, in her words I was "Much heavier than most people who come to us" As she was a gate keeper and I needed her approval to progress I did not complain. That time will come. Following my initial consultation on the 8th Aug I started dieting to get down to the target weight. I have never had difficulty in losing weight I simply cannot maintain any losses. My normal pattern is if it takes me 6 months to lose the weight I will regain it and 10lb in the following 12-18 months. By the day of surgery I had lost 75lb and was already feeling so much better. I considered carrying on with just dieting and not having the surgery but I was already beginning to see my discipline weaken and I knew it would be the same old story. Surgery went well, I had very little pain or discomfort and by and large I cannot complain. I'm currently on the pureed stage of the diet and doing OK managing to keep protein and fluid levels up though I struggle with the fluids some day. I have lost 13lb in the last 21 days but have hit the dreaded 3 week plateau. Early days but I have no regrets - to be without hunger for the first time in my life is such a relief, I feel good and am doing more and more each day. I am already starting to live the life I want and i can see so many more benefits ahead and believe they are attainable and retainable. I wish I knew why I have struggled so much with my weight - there is no one trauma or set of childhood issues I can point at. It is not that I have a compulsion to eat everything in sight there are so many foods I can just ignore, I have no interest in sweet foods of any kind or greasy deep fried foods. But I cannot resist bread, pasta , rice etc and my down fall has always been the second or even third portion of these carbs. For this reason if no other I hope the VSG will not only prevent that behaviour but I also hope it will give me enough time to re gain control before considering a second helping. My parting thought for this post is that as I have gone through my journey thus far the one thing I have found is that my story is not that unusual, my problems are not unique and most importantly that they are not the result of some moral failing or fundamental weakness. There is more to life long obesity than can simply be solved with "diet and exercise" and having finally found medical professionals who believe that is the case I see this year and this journey as a new lease on life that I am going to grab with both hands. Koshk - newbie -
Calories & Macros on Lifetime/Maintenance Diet???
ChunkCat replied to lauraellen80's topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
I agree with @NickelChip, this seems quite off. I've seen 800 calorie plans for bypass patients in the active weight loss phase, but most people are in the 1200 calorie range for maintenance... And your portion size will naturally increase a bit over time as you are able to eat more as your pouch heals. It won't be as much as a "matured sleeve" can eat, but it won't be a few tablespoons either. At the bariatric clinic I go to I attended nutrition class with sleeve patients and bypass patients, even though I'm a DS patient. We were all told to keep each meal to 10 grams of fat or less (general aim at 1 year out is 60 grams of total fat as per the ASMBS guidelines for a year out), and 10 grams of carbs or less, for less than 50 total grams of carbs a day, as they want us in ketosis during the active fat loss phase (this amount will double to about 100 grams of total carbs in maintenance). And protein varies for each group but bypass was to aim for 80 grams of protein a day, since they malabsorb some compared to the sleeve patients. NONE of us were given a calorie goal, only macro goals. We were ALL told to aim for 5-6 small meals a day for consistent energy, aiming for 4-5 meals if we go to bed early or get up late. So we were encouraged to eat about every 3 hours, allowing 2-3 hours between our last meal and bed. And told a fair amount of our carbs should come from high fiber, low carb vegetables and low sugar fruits, with a fiber supplement (SunFiber is amazing and non-bloating) and Miralax as needed to maintain regularity. -
Struggling with old bad eating habits and slow weight loss?
Arabesque replied to RosessXO's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I agree with the others. Your rate of loss is fine. I also agree with the concerns about your eating during this losing period. It seems more like how you may chose to eat when you are in maintenance. When we choose how much & how often we have foods like pizza, chips, sweetened drinks, etc. When we decide what foods we’ll to add back into our new way of eating or ones we’ll avoid. When we look at alternative ingredients, or different cooking methods. I also worry about you changing your way of eating so often, going from one extreme to another. (Not including Ramadan in this.) Are you sure you’re meeting your fluid & protein goals? Are you sure you’re getting in a range of nutrients from nutrient dense foods? This is so important when we are only able to eat smaller portions. We all say & are told to stick to our plans for a reason. You mentioned you had a difficult relationship with food/bad eating habits & these current behaviours do seem a continuation of this. Do you still see your dietician? Your therapist? If not, at the very least I’d seek a reference from your surgeon/team to a therapist who specialises in disordered eating. Many find therapy very helpful in changing these behaviours & their relationship with food & identifying strategies to mange them. All the best. PS - Don’t believe the calorie burn on your Apple Watch. It’s known to be inaccurate & tends to inflate the stats. It only uses your height, weight & age & not your individual metabolic rate, your optimal heart rate, the amount of energy you are putting into the activity, etc. Use it as a guide/approximation only. -
Gastric sleeve after menopause
Sherry57 replied to Sherry57's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
What percentage of weight loss did you achieve? -
VSG revision to gastric bypass vs Mounjaro
J’Marie posted a topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
Good morning! I am so happy that I found this group! I have been lurking for a month or so. There is a lot of information to be gained here😁. I had VSG Nov 2014 and lost 80 lbs. I was down to 170 lbs. I am 5’9 so I was quite content there. As we all know life throws curveballs and my weight has steadily climbed. I am now 60 years old and weigh 225. My A1c is high and I have been diagnosed with type 2 dm. I have been nauseated for months and last month I had an upper GI that showed severe acid reflux and a moderate hiatal hernia. Omeprazole has not helped at all. I have an EGD scheduled this coming Friday. Revision to bypass has been brought up by the nurse practitioner at the bariatric surgeon’s office. I also just met with my new PCP who gave me a prescription for Mounjaro. Bariatric surgeon said not to start the Mounjaro until we resolve my reflux issues (due to the possible side effects of nausea). I am unsure if I should go with the revision to bypass with hernia repair or just get the hernia repair and hope that fixes my reflux issue and use the Mounjaro to help with weight loss and lowering my A1c. I am not sure if just repairing the hernia will fix my relax issue. I will discuss all these options with my surgeon after the EGD. What are your thoughts/experiences? -
How Did You Feel Physically After Lap Band Removal
Gabbie-1 replied to Libralin's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Lap band surgery 2004, nothing but pain & discomfort, no weight loss. Especially port sight hurt, lots of throwing up. After several attempts for help I started to just “live with it”. Married a wonderful man about 2 years ago, he said No your quality of life is more important. Went to doctors with me and he detailed everything (stuff I didn’t think to mention). I was referred to an excellent gastric surgeon. After tests and imaging, he said “the band needs to be removed and a bypass RNY performed. I was scheduled within a week, no waiting time. Best thing I ever did! The band was cutting into my liver, and other issues. I had a bit of discomfort but no pain meds other than Tylenol. I had this done May 15,2023, I have lost 70 pounds and feel great. Wear a size 4-6 jeans. I hope this helps someone. I think the band is the worst choice! -
Gastric sleeve after menopause
Sherry57 replied to Sherry57's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
It is, I guess I worry to much because the scales are not showing weight loss each week. -
3kg to lose before surgery... any help?
AMJ2598 posted a topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi all, After my prior post regarding the complaint I had - I finally have my surgery date for the 28th of this month, after almost 5 years since my first GP consultation about the sleeve (yippee!). With that being said however, they gave me 4 weeks notice because they now want me to lose another 3.5kg pre-surgery. For context, I was 135kg at my highest, they wanted me to stay below 130kg, and I'm now 124kg. They didn't give me a reason why, I have always had ok blood test results, I'm not pre-diabetic or anything either. The last consultation I had in-person with my surgeon also said 130kg would be fine, so again, don't really understand the change. Believe me when I say, my diet is STRICT. I'm on 1000 calories a day, high protein, super low carb (less than 40g per day easily), lots of water (at least 2 litres minimum), and an average of 10-15k steps per day, with at least one hike per week. I've been doing this for the last couple of weeks, but I am really really struggling to get this last few kg's off beforehand. No sugar - no fruit, nothing. I really think my PCOS is not helping the situation, but I'm really worried in the event I'm not at the 121kg they want. I have been that weight recently, I was down to 119kg this time last year with the help of Saxenda, which I then had to stop taking in June because every pharmacy I could order from were sold out. I haven't been on it since, so the fact I have maintained this weight loss honestly I'm just pleased with at this point. If anyone has any ideas as to how I could lose this last 6lbs or so, I would be greatly appreciative. I've lost 0.5kg so far over the past 4-5 days, but I'm so stressed I'll get to the hospital and they'll turn me away. Thank you! x -
December Surgery Buddies!
Alex Areeda replied to AshleeHarvey's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
PROGRESS UPDATE I had my gastric sleeve surgery on December 18th, 2023. I was nervous going into the procedure as I had never had any surgical procedures before, but it went relatively smooth. I was in a lot of pain while in recovery, to the point where the team had to push oxy and fentanyl simultaneously to help with the pain. Once the team was able to help me manage the pain I was in pretty good shape. It has certainly been an adjustment but it wasn't as daunting as I was expecting it to be. Its been about 2.5 months since the surgery and I've lost almost 60 pounds; I weighed in on at the hospital at 366 and yesterday weighed in at 308. My highest weight was 475lbs so all-in-all I've lost 167lbs utilizing diet, exercise and the sleeve. I found it fairly easy to comply with the post-op diet and have moved on to solid foods. I'm not hungry often but I make sure to eat at mealtimes to continue meeting my goals. I consume, on average, between 80g and 100g of protein a day and consume less than 900 calories a day. I don't consume very many carbs as a) they tend to contain more sugars and b) they tend to make me not feel very good. I do still have a bit of a sweet tooth but that has been easy to manage with the occasional chocolate chip. I've also completely kicked sugar and have switched to monk fruit sweetener with erythritol. I also dabble with keto recipes, mainly deserts as I find that some "entree" recipes contain way too much fat for my liking. My family, friends, and coworkers notice the weight loss more than I do. I'll see it a little bit here and there but not to the extent that others do. I still see myself as that 475lb guy that struggles with his weight and his health. I know that it isn't true, but that is still how I view myself. My clothes are fitting me much looser and I think I see some weight loss in my face and neck. I still have a lot of excess fat and tissue around my midsection and especially the "love handle" region. I definitely suffer from body dysmorphia as I only ever see the overweight me. My overall goal weight is 250lbs, which is only 58 pounds away which sounds crazy. That said, I would throw a party if I reach 225lbs as that is my "best case scenario" goal. I genuinely believe I will achieve both goals but there's always that part of me that doubts it. This has been the best decision I've ever made for my health and I wish I had made this choice earlier. -
Best Simple Engagement Rings for 2024
Reasons for the popularity of simple engagement rings in 2024
Even though one of the main trends of 2024 is called chic and expensive engagement rings, simple engagement rings are still popular. Primarily because of the dire economic situation. Many people have lost a stable income and confidence in the future. However, you can not postpone a romantic relationship for later, as well as the desire to be together and get married. In difficult times, family traditions and the support of loved ones help to find a firm footing and look to the future without fear.
How much can I spend on an engagement ring?
This topic is explored every year and 2024 is no exception. Once upon a time, in the 1930s, De Beers offered an advertising formula according to which the groom should spend a month's wages on the ring (at that time the De Beers jewelers had to get hold of a huge number of small diamonds (up to one carat), of which there are more in nature than any other stones. This was the reason for which the whole story was invented. In 1980, it was already two months; in the last decade, it came to the equivalent of three months' salary. However, the most recent National Wedding Survey showed that, for example, in the UK in 2021, grooms are willing to lay out about 2,419 pounds. And a survey conducted by an insurance company showed that the average spending on an engagement ring is about 1,483 pounds. Incidentally, back in 2016, the average ring cost £573. In the U.S., the average cost of an engagement ring is higher at $5,000.
However, of course, not everything always comes down to money. When choosing such an important piece of jewelry, it is important to know and understand your partner. In many cases, young girls are not ready to wear heavy and expensive rings, which will be put on only on family occasions, the rest of the time the jewelry will spend time in a safe. Besides the fashion for minimalism among modern brides does not give up yet. Among the simple wedding rings, it is easier to choose a model that will fit into the everyday fashion closet and will not look pretentious.
Another common sense thought to help you determine your engagement ring value is this. It should be worth as much as you would feel good about losing. Will you have a heart attack or get a little frustrated with the romantic component of the jewelry, will you be able to make up for the loss as soon as next month? Consider what amount won't make you worry too much.
Not all couples start their romantic history together with bulky and expensive rings. By choosing a modest engagement ring, you get to renew your vows and the main ring in your life in a few years. It's also a good idea if you consider yourself a minimalist. The simple design and affordable price are just what the modern minimalist bride needs. Minimalist engagement rings also have a sophisticated design and sophisticated beauty.
Today, jewelry brands create a variety of engagement rings to suit all tastes and wallets - traditional style, heart engagement, simple solitaire, or minimalist eternity rings. Even diamond rings may not be as expensive as they seem. If you prefer responsible consumption, you can always choose a model with a moissanite or lab diamond. The cost of such pieces will be pleasantly less than you would pay for a large diamond ring.
What is a simple engagement ring?
The main thing that distinguishes such jewelry is simplicity and minimalism in design. Wedding jewelry can have one or more stones, and they don't have to be diamonds at all. Now there is a huge choice of gemstones based on your taste or social status. In this case, lab diamonds or moissanite come to the rescue. The design of the minimalist ring is laconic and devoid of pretentious decorations. With clean lines and simplicity, these minimalist engagement rings are an absolute dream for a modern minimalist engagement.
Simple engagement rings with natural gemstone
If you are not too impressed by diamonds, here are a few models of rings with colored natural gemstones. For example, if you look at the history of engagement rings of European aristocrats, most of their rings contained rubies and sapphires. Elizabeth II's sister Margaret received a large ruby for her engagement ring. When paired with diamonds it resembled a rosebud and looked very symbolic given the bride's full name, Margaret Rose.
Elizabeth's grandmother Princess Victoria Mary of Teck also received a ring with rubies - large, oval-shaped ones. Kate Middleton also passed on a family piece of jewelry - Princess Diana's sapphire ring. The model, which has survived so many copies that it has earned a ban on its reproduction, was presented to the princess in a way not quite traditional for an engagement. The princess-to-be chose her ring herself from a catalog. The legendary Wallis Simpson received an emerald framed by small diamonds. The engagement ring of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, mother of Elizabeth II, was traditionally made of yellow Welsh gold and decorated with a large blue sapphire framed with diamonds. Given the tradition of handing down jewelry from generation to generation, it is not surprising that brides from old aristocratic families received colored stones.
In the past few years, the fashion for colored stones in engagement rings has been making a comeback. If you choose a really good stone, you will only benefit. Quality rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and spinels are much rarer and more valuable than diamonds. And every year the price of such jewelry will only grow.
Simple engagement rings with moissanite
Moissanite is a wonderful substitute for a diamond. Without a loupe and a tester, a common person would hardly be able to tell the difference between a diamond and moissanite jewelry, because diamond "doubles" shines so beautifully. For quite a long time, the stone was exotic and was known only to a narrow circle of gemologists. Now moissanite is the full-fledged economical version of diamond for Simple engagement rings.
How to choose a Simple engagement ring?
If you can't decide on a style of engagement ring, make some notes for yourself in a notebook. This will help you make up your mind:
- What is the color of the shackle metal (white, yellow, or rose gold)?
- Will the ring be embellished with a pavé?
- Will it be a single-center stone or multiple stones in a cluster style?
- What kind of stones will they be - diamonds, colored or moissanite?
- What kind of engagement ring will you pair the Simple engagement ring with?
We know that brides' tastes are different and can't be the same, so we've tried to collect 50 of the best simple engagement rings in different styles.
Solitaire has just one stone in the design. It is the most traditional and simple style of engagement ring. If you like an elegant look and timeless style, the Solitaire is your choice.
A small natural diamond as a solo is the perfect piece of jewelry for an important romantic proposal. The sleek design will be the starting point of a journey through simple engagement ring styles.
Cluster diamond setting engagement ring consists of nine stones of different sizes but creates the same alluring sparkle effect as a larger single diamond. Its laconic style suits young and gentle brides.
Three-stone diamond rings have a modest but very graceful look. In addition, these rings open up the possibility of assembling a set of several engagement rings. The stacked ring trend is also great for engagement rings.
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Custom Orders
Custom Simple Engagement Rings not always as expensive as you might think. We are willing to help you make changes to designs to give you the perfect result. You will be able to choose the band's width, size, and shape of the precious stones and make a personal engraving. Besides, creating a personal style does not take much time, especially if you know what result you want to get in the final.
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I Want To See Before & After Pics! (Cont'd)
morgan rich replied to LilMissDiva Irene's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
kindly check here for more Weight loss products that will help you. https://sites.google.com/view/weight-los3/home -
How did your GS revision help you lose weight and keep it off?
SleeveToBypass2023 replied to Elizabeth21's topic in WLS Veteran's Forum
I had a revision from sleeve to bypass, but it was due to complications, not for weight loss. When you have a revision, the amount of weight you lose is a lot less than the original surgery, and tends to come off slower, as well. For example... with my initial sleeve, I lost 103 pounds the first 8 months. Since I've had my revision (and it's been 8 months) I've lost 57 pounds. I'm not complaining, by any means, but it comes off a lot slower and you definitely lose less. Also, with the initial surgery you tend to lose the most weight in the first 6-7 months. With the revision, I noticed it was the first 3-4 months. In no way do I regret it (as I said, I had some pretty gnarly complications, so a revision was a must) but it's just something to keep in mind when looking at a revision for weight loss versus because of complications.
