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I’m 77 days out from my surgery date and have lost 59lbs. I eat about 700-1000 calories a day. Workout 4-5 days/week (HIIT, rowing, walking, or weights). I eat about 5 small meals a day. Drink 1-2 protein water (20g protien) because I can’t stomach protein shakes. I was eating only 600-700 calories and my nutritionist said to up it to 1000 since I workout. Vitamins, water, etc. I would be starving too if I only ate 3 times a day. I can barely eat a quarter of a tuna sandwich at one meal. Maybe I can max out if I eat 3 chicken wings, two celery sticks, and two cucumber sticks. A snack for me may be a laughing cow cheese wedge and a few thin slices of apple or a small green smoothie (spinach, fairlife milk, peach, celery, beet powder, ginger, banana, hemp, and ice).

I am 5'3". I was 393 pounds when I started this process, and 368 the day of surgery. I was the 276 at the 6 month mark. I am almost 13 months post op now and I weigh 217. I am personally THRILLED with my weight loss and never could even come close to losing that much in 6 months or a year before I had surgery. Anyway. I started out much bigger than you and I "only" lost 92 pounds in the first 6 months. I have had some stalls along the way, but I have consistently lost and what matters is my overall loss and how I feel, which I am so happy with. I am STILL in the obese category since I'm short, but it's worlds away from where I was before and I'm happy. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

GeminiA, I am so glad to read about your experiences. I had surgery on Monday, August 30, and since I had surgery in the morning I had much of the day to get used to my new situation. First, this was a conversion from sleeve to bypass, I initially had the sleeve in February of 2014 after illness left me obese. In October of 2018, I was forced to stop working due to continuous, severe pain on my left side which was found to be due to CRPS, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. I required multiple pain and neurological meds, in addition to different types of injections which had little to no impact on my pain. With the pain and inability to do anything that involved my hands, I became depressed, gained weight and required conversion surgery. When I had gastric sleeve surgery, there were no post-op issues out of the ordinary. I was also able to keep the weight off until after I became ill and told I could never work again. Anyway I digress, on August 31, I went home, exercised a little, sipped 45 grams of protein, sipped water and took my medication. On September 1, only able to sip 30 grams protein, little water and some pain and discomfort. On September 3, abdominal aches and pain are worse and involuntary vomiting begins, and only able to sip water all day with a little broth. On September 4th, unable to sip cold or room temperature water without excruciating pain. In addition, my CRPS pain is off due to med schedule being off. At this point I am praying. I cannot drink anything without more pain and vomiting, including my meds. By the afternoon of September 4th, I started heating my liquids to see if temperature was the issue, and it was. I was able to sip hot liquids, harder to take pills but doable! Today, I am able to drink cooler liquids, no longer need to boil everything. Thus, the pain of September 3 and 4th were so severe, that I too regretted having this surgery until I figured out another way to resolve the issue of vomiting and pain. If we continue to read these foums, they can be helpful.

I gained 10 lbs. from surgery weigh in and when I left hospital the next day to go home. They pump a lot of fluids in you. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

This happened to me. I decided to change the practice I was going with right at the beginning of COVID. When I submitted the paperwork, I was one weight (my early pandemic, too anxious to eat low). Flash forward to my first surgeon consult which was 4 months later (thanks COVID) I was 10 lbs heavier - my early pandemic anxiety and inability to eat had gone out the window and I regained the 5 lbs I lost due to stress plus another pandemic fifteen. In the end I wound up around 20 lbs heavier than when I submitted the paperwork originally. In the end, it didn't affect anything but I was self pay and not at the mercy of an insurance company. It probably would have been different if I wasn't self pay. My surgeon did have me attend more nutrition sessions, but they were useful so I didn't mind at all. I'll also add that my lack of success before surgery didn't affect how I did with the pre-op diet and now post surgery. For someone who was having so much trouble during the process, once I had my date and had to start my pre-op diet, I was 100% all in and super careful about everything. I wound up losing 11 lbs in the two weeks before surgery. Do your best - it's all you can do. These are extremely difficult times we are living in.

if that 12 lb gain was when you left the hospital, it's from the IV fluids. It's basically salt water, so it takes a few days to work its way out of your system. a cup of bouillon shouldn't be a problem - it has hardly any calories in it, and it's a liquid.

I lost during the actual pre-op diet, but I gained during my last couple months of my medically managed diet. Part of it was food funerals.

Yes, I've gained during pre-op. Seems like every time I manage to lose three pounds, I also manage to put at least two of them right back on, even with exercise, careful logging, and a calorie deficit. Frustrating, sure, but I'd rather lose-three-gain-two than lose-three-gain-four, which I've also done.

Don't beat yourself up. And don't look at the past. That's not the direction you're headed. 2021's been terrible for me, lost my mom early in the year and spent a huge chunk of time across the country eating whatever the heck I wanted and doing no exercise because it was the COVID spike and everything was closed or snowy. I gained 25 lbs. in three months. And I didn't do anything about it until I started seriously looking at this in July, and guess what? I'm down 22 of those 25 lbs. Get yourself the help you know you need with stress management and stress eating, and give yourself some grace. Sure, you gained some. But now you're on it. And it will come off!

I was wondering if anyone else found themselves gaining weight during the preop process. My last appointment was a month ago and it’s been a stressful month for me and I stress ate. I have an appointment in a week and a half and I’m honestly pretty much crash dieting to try and be just what I was at my last appointment. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I didn’t realize how much I had gained and I’m glad I got on the scale. Uggh. (I know I need to learn some new coping skills going forward.) just wondering if anyone else gained during the pre op process. I’m disappointed in myself. I feel like I should have my head in the game but I had extended family members test positive for covid, my husband just put in his notice at work, I’m worried about so many things and it got the best of me and I stress ate. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think by the time of my appointment I’ll be the same (ish) as I was last time but I’m worried it will be embarrassing to go and not lose. Wondering if I’m not the only person who is having a hard time in this area. Thanks for listening.

Keep in mind, that isn’t a real gain - your body just went through a major trauma. I “gained” 10 lbs 3 days post-op. It came off, and then some. They pump you full of fluids when you are hospitalized and your body is trying to adjust. I was on liquids for a week, then purée for 2 weeks. I would stick with strained soups and protein drinks and Greek yogurt. I would suggest starting with a quarter cup and see how it goes. Eat that very slowly and stay off the scale for a few weeks. Also, be sure to drink your water.

I had my gastric bypass revision on August 26, 2021 which was 3 days before Cat 4 Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans. I live just outside of New Orleans. Due to the hurricane, for several days, it was impossible to buy the food I needed. Everything was sold out. And Amazon isn’t able to deliver packages due to damages. Also I gained 12 lbs. following my surgery. I have not cheated on the diet and I’m hoping it’s fluid buildup. I have left my nutritionist many voice mails starting August 30. I have also left voice messages for my doctor. I haven’t heard from either one of them. Also when I was discharged, the nutritionist gave me a 5 page hand out. She didn’t explain anything. On the hand out it says what food I can eat but there is no mention of the amount. Is it a cup of bouillon or 3 tablespoons of bullion? I have no idea. Thanks for listening.

Yes, I’m almost at 4 weeks and I’m tired too. Just less energy which I’m trying to make it look like I’m cool and low key at work. I have increased my protein intake, but I put on pajamas when I get home. I think it’s normal because we’re still healing. I feel like I’m 80% there and getting better. I’m enjoying the weight loss and no hunger!

I'll tell you what, when I lost weight pre-op it was because I ate 6 times a day, small meals and healthy snacks, and worked out. It melted off. Now I'm post op and eating 6 times a day, sometimes 7. Still early days for me but I appear to be losing so I mean, eating more frequently ESPECIALLY if your body demands it seems like the right thing to do. As long as you keep it healthy and meet protein goals, you shouldn't ever have to force yourself to feel hunger to get change. Fasting is not great for post-op people.

Not only have an heard of that requirement,i was required to abide by it and if I missed a year, say 2017, the clock started in 2018. My requirements were: ] 5 year sequential weight history 12 sequential MD or RD visits (again, miss one, start over) psych eval asthma dr sign off (I have asthma) Note - someone mentioned WW. I have SIX years of WW history and even after going through the appeals process with my insurance, they would NOT accept; it is not a medically licensed plan. Note, my insurance is BCBS. Best of luck!

I'm 57. My 23 yr marriage was not a happy one, but I stayed because of my daughters (almost 25 & 23 now), I wasn't working and couldn't afford to move. I needed the surgery, but had no insurance. They said we made too much money to get free insurance and we could not afford it. I finally moved back home with my mother & a sister that I do not get along with. Filed for divorce. Finalized Dec of 2019. Had surgery Sept of 2020. I have a TON of resentment toward my ex. He still sees and talks with my kids way more than I get to. The one still goes to his house to do her laundry & keeps in touch with him more because of his bad health (like, how about your mother's health??? I had the weight loss surgery, need double knee replacement surgery, have psoriasis, psoriasis arthritis, major depression that gets worse every day, especially with my living arrangements) & the other just moved out last month, so he had her home for almost 2 years. And now he has started dating. I could care less about him dating, but that chick will be in the house that was mine & still is in my name right now and spending holidays with my daughters! All the while I'm living with my b***h of a sister, mother who has dementia and my life has been condensed into a 14' X 14' bedroom. I can't leave anything in the rest of the house because my mother has OCD and dementia and things will dissappear. I had to leave 90% of my belongings there until I find my own place, which I can't afford being on SSI and I'm on a wait list for assisted housing, but that could be another year. Then there's the guilt of leaving my mother who has dementia. Meanwhile, my ex's life continues on happily & uneffected with family, friends, my daughters and this girl who will be in my home with my things! His life is fanatic and mine is a living hell!! It's not fair! He was a bastard and I'm the one who has no one. I'm trying to get better physically, but my depression is astronomical and getting worse by the day! Sorry for the long post, but I have no one who understands or cares except my cousin, who has a very busy life & I don't get to talk to her much. My daughters couldn't possibly understand. They've never been married or had children yet. They're busy with their jobs, boyfriends, their boyfriend's families and going back to college. I'm the only one completely alone. I'm trying to find someone who lives in the Youngstown, Ohio area that understands what we're going through with our new lifestyle change and possibly divorce as well. It's not easy. Posting in a website isn't the same as human interaction. Someone to pick up the phone and call when you need to. Anyone with similar, semi-similar problems? Message or reply to me if you want. Thx for reading. Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

SORRY JUST NOTICED I’M ON THE GASTRIC SLEEVE FORUM - I’M A BYPASS PATIENT hence the comments below about injecting B12… SORRY! I’m in the UK and 8 years out from my op - the first few weeks I was forced to take liquid vitamins that were disgusting (drinks that fizz!!) but I’m now on permanent prescription tablets here in the UK and because I’m over 60 I get it free at the point of delivery (all working individuals pay into a national insurance scheme). I do know that we were told categorically that 1) we had to take multivitamins (bariatric grade), plus zinc, calcium, (and if you’re a pre-menopausal lady) iron daily; and 2) that we had to do B12 injections. I take 500mg chewable Calcium with vitamin D (daily), Zinc 220 mg (2 0r 1 alternate days), Iron 210mg twice a week and Foreceval multivits & minerals (daily). B12 can be done either intramuscular (absorbs quicker, but done generally by a health care professional) or intradermal which is easy to do yourself. I do the latter, as I do the injections once a month by myself. There are videos on YouTube about how to self-inject. The syringes are only small like insulin needles, and painless. I source these myself as the UK is very behind the US in their appreciation of the merits of B12! Oh - and I barely, if any, lost any hair… maybe a few more than usual when washing for a couple of weeks, when the weight was coming off quickly, but nothing I could ever see.

My insurance covers tummy tuck/skin removal of the stomach. Not sure what other areas. I have my Dr appt this month to check it out. Not super bad, but I wasn't having the weight loss surgery to still have low self esteem with the excess skin. Check with your insurance. Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

Urinary incontinence. Go to a urologist. I went to one before surgery. I had botox injections in my badder, which worked for a while. My urologist is the reason I had the surgery. He said if I didn't have it, the incontinence would never get better. I hadn't even considered weight loss surgery before. And the thing that makes it worse for me (and no doctor has heard of it), is milk. I went to an allergist before and she said I didn't have an allergy to it, but I've done the food diary and that is definitely what makes it 90% worse! Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

I think almost everyone dreads the hair loss. I helped lead the pre-op classes at my clinic for three or four years (before COVID hit), and it never failed - at every class, people asked about hair loss! Honestly, most people don't lose enough for others to notice (some do, of course - but for most, no). I hardly lost any. I knew I was losing it because there was more hair strands in my comb for three or four months than was usual, but just looking at my hair - no - couldn't tell. Some people do report their hair getting thinner - but again, more often than not, they're the only ones who notice it. I think most of us who are a ways out from surgery will tell you that it was a small price to pay for losing all that weight, and it was really more of a minor annoyance than anything else. In retrospect, I shouldn't have wasted any brain cells on it since it really wasn't that big a deal.

@Chantrella our stats are very similar, I had surgery on the 1st of March 2021, height 5’5 and starting weight was 273, 260 on the day of surgery. I only weigh myself every Monday and today I have lost 90 pounds in total, which I am ecstatic about!! I could never have lost that much in that time without the surgery. You should be so proud of your achievement, having lost almost 100 pounds in that time. Sometimes our body just needs a bit of time to catch up with all the changes we are going through but those three pounds will come off in no time. It sounds like you are doing everything right so just keep going and give yourself some credit for the amazing achievement so far. Celebrating your successes may be just what your body needs right now

@aug21girlCongratulations on the start of your journey, looking forward to hearing about your progress. I’ve lost about 90 pounds in 6 months but in relation to excess skin, I think a lot of factors come in to play in terms of age, skin elasticity, where you hold a lot of your weight and how much weight you have to lose. I’m in my 40’s and my skin doesn’t bounce back like it used to!! My stomach isn’t too bad at all but my arms have some serious bat wings and my upper thighs look like they are melting downwards lol 😂. You can’t notice it with clothes on but I am considering an arm and thigh lift once I have reached goal and given my body a chance to settle. I also have a bit of a turkey neck now but that seems to get worse and then improves a bit, then gets worse again and so on, so will have to what happens to that area after I reach maintenance. Even if I couldn’t get plastic surgery, I would still have gone ahead with WLS, no regrets at all.

I’m actually feeling pretty great. Tolerating food well and sticking to the plan. High protein, low carb, low fat. Avoiding all the bad stuff. I still find myself relying a lot on protein shakes to hit my protein goals. My weight loss slowed in July and my dietician told me I was pushing too hard with working out and not getting enough protein. Go figure 🤷🏽‍♀️ I started pushing for 70-90 grams of protein a day and just walking and went back to 3-4lbs weight loss per week. I’m officially down 65lbs and have a lot more energy. I hope everyone else is doing well. This journey has had its ups and downs, but it’s been worth it.