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I also like my fitness pal. I've been using it since 2012, so I want to keep all my previous weights in there. I just saw my lowest weight was 190 and my highest was 283 (I know I had a higher weight earlier). I haven't entered my liquids before, because I never had trouble drinking, but I will probably start after surgery. I've used a lot of the macro info. The only thing I don't like is all the ads, but I'm not willing to pay for the premium version.

I had the lap band before and it didn't work. It didn't do anything to stop my hunger, it didn't change my metabolism, it didn't stop me from absorbing everything I ate... all it did was put a little speed bump from my esophagus to my stomach. Sometimes that speed bump would get stopped up and cause me crazy pain, sliming, and barfing. Usually healthy foods did that to me (chicken breast, broccoli, carrots, celery, lean steak, etc.). Unhealthy foods went down like a breeze so I could eat greasy cheeseburgers, cakes, cookies, milkshakes, cheese fries, etc. without a problem. The lap band, essentially, trained me to eat junk food and avoid healthy food. Then I got it revised to RNY and it has been a TOTAL game changer. There are a number of reasons it's working way better for me. 1) My physical appetite is gone. And I mean, GONE. Even if I swim (I'm always starving after I swim) or walk all day or do heavy manual labor... I just never want to eat. 2) Sugar is repulsive now. I don't want anything to do with ice cream, cakes, or cookies. Those used to be my favorite. I tried to take a sip of regular orange juice (because I remember how refreshing I used to find it) and gagged because it was just way, way too sweet. 3) I crave nutritious foods, mostly seafood and vegetables. Which is weird because I was never much of a veggie lover before. I only ate them because I felt like I had to. 4) I only absorb 75% of the food I eat, and I don't eat much to begin with so I've been dropping weight like crazy. 5) I get full, quickly. 6) If I try to eat something I shouldn't (like something high in fat) I'm immediately punished with a wave of nausea and I won't try it again. All this factored together has made RNY a very powerful weight loss tool. If you are an emotional eater or food addict RNY would be torture. The head hunger definitely doesn't go away. While physically I don't want to eat, mentally I wish I still could. It's not because I eat to cope but because I just always loved food. I'm a foodie and I love cooking, baking, restaurants, trying new foods, etc. I can't have it anymore and it makes me a little sad but I've been killing myself from my "hobby" so it's time to let it go. But if you're someone who is determined to eat because you feel like you HAVE to (like an emotional or addictive issue) you'll want to get therapy before having surgery. For me, that pain from over-eating is NOT worth it at all. It's very unpleasant and I eat very slowly to avoid it. But for some folks, the pain is worth it to eat what they want, and that's where re-gain/failure comes in. That and mindless snacking on simple carbs. You've gotta say no to the chips, crackers, and popcorn.

Elless, have you considered a revision? My story is the same as yours (lap band didn't help me lose weight at all, only lost 20 pounds in 6 months, regained it quickly and then gained extra weight) except I resorted to slider foods after I realized the lap band wasn't helping at all. I revised to RNY and I've lost 43 pounds in less than 2 months. It's a total game changer and I'd recommend it to anyone. Skinny3, if you have 100 or more pounds to lose I'd definitely look into gastric bypass!!! It's not what it used to me. About a decade ago (and before) it was an open surgery with more risks but now it's done laproscopically. Definitely recommend it.

I think you need to reset your expectations. You've done MUCH better than most of us. It sounds like you're very successful! stalls are a common "feature" of weight loss. When you hit one, just stay the course and stay off the scale for a few days. As long as you're following your program, they'll eventually break and you'll be on your way again. We've all been there....

that rate of weight loss is very normal, unless you're the size of someone on "My 600 lb Life". Most of us "normal" WLS patients lose somewhere in the 15-25 lb range the first month, and then about 8-12 lbs a month for the next six or so months after that (and then it drops down even more). So you're fine. as for 1000 kcal/day at this point, a lot of us are eating somewhere in the 600-800 range for the first several months post-op, but I've heard of more clinics lately that are recommending more like 1000 kcal/day...so yours isn't the only one. They'd know more than I would, and as long as the patients are continuing to lose weight.....

I have the same problem. I used to crave and eat huge bowls of tuna noodle casserole, macaroni and cheese, pasta, etc. I can barely eat any of these now. I also look in the pantry and say why bother? Then I snack out of boredom, mostly things with crunch like nuts. I'm in a stall. In 13 days I'll be 1 year post op. My highest weight was 350 and have I have lost 135 lbs, bringing me to 215. Trying to get to 180. 35 more pounds to go. But I also want to get the tummy tuck surgery and they said that should be about 25 lbs. I'm holding off on that until I have my both of my knees replaced. No cartilage left in either with the arthritis. They won't do those together because of this surgery and risk of infection. So I wait on that and am not sure how much more to lose now. Seeing the surgeon for the tummy tuck this month. He should be able to tell how much it'll bring my weight down. It's one huge, long process. But I'm glad I'm doing it. It's long over due. I need to have a life again and I haven't in over a decade. There's major depression, but I've had that all my life. So I deal. Good luck! Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

You’ve lost almost 100lbs in 6 months @Chantrella. This is really great. Congratulations! (I’m 5’3” & lost about 70lbs in 6 months. My surgeon, dietician, GP & I were ecstatic.) If you were expecting more, I think your expectations were too high. (Weight loss programs, weight loss miracle cure advertisements, social media, etc. give us false & unrealistic expectations. I saw an ad yesterday that said you could lose something like 30lbs in a week taking some tablet - what a load of $*#@$&#&.) We don’t continue to lose at the same rate as those first heady & exciting weeks of the pre & post surgical diets. Our weight loss slows as we progress. Even those on My 600lb Life see a reduction in the amount they lose as they progress. Sure they lose 50+lbs a month to begin, but they slow down to 25lbs a month, then 15lbs, etc. And they only started out losing at that high rate because they were 600+lbs. As we are able to eat more the calories we’re consuming increase & we get closer to the point where the calories we consume equal the calories our body needs to burn to function & when weight loss dies not occur (maintenance). I’d say everyone experiences at least one stall in some form. I had two but some have more than that. It just depends on how your body manages the weight loss changes. Celebrate you pound your lose. You’re doing great.

SEVEN YEARS post op and I don't regret it. Surgery quite literally saved my life. I would do it again in a blink. This is a TOOL and like any tool in your garage, you must keep it sharpened and well honed. Myself, I will always identify as a WLS patient and it is constant work every single day. I'm not one who had surgery, lost my weight, went back to eating all things in small amounts, and kept it off. I TRIED eating all things in small amounts and had BIG regain. I'm glad I did it. The only down side is that at 7 years out, there are very few of my OG forum folks still around from that long ago!!

You've lost almost 100 lbs. in 6 months, and if your profile is correct, 13 lbs. from your goal of 160 lbs. By the six month mark, the average lost 30 to 40% excess weight... I would be ecstatic. Stalls are frustrating but looking at the whole picture, I would say you're doing better than the average.

Just had a 6 week follow up with my surgeon. He advised to eat about 1,000 calories a day at this point as to not slow down weight loss. I’ve been averaging between 600-700. Since July 15 I’ve lost 30 pounds. Pre-2 week surgery diet I was 250. Surgery day weight was 241, now I’m 220 even. Seems slow. He told me that weight loss isn’t like a straight drop. And two weeks ago, I stalled for about 3 weeks. He advised to only weigh once a week. How is everyone else doing on calories and weight loss at about 6/7 weeks out? Just want to see how I’m doing. One thing I haven’t been doing is rigorous exercise…he said that would help too. Any advice is appreciated.

I totally feel you. Once the surgery subject comes up, your weight, your weight loss (or not), how good/healthy (or bad/unhealthy) you look and the story of every person everyone has ever known to have surgery (especially failure stories) become the main topic of conversation. I watched it happen to my brother and my niece and I opted out of that nonsense. Good luck with your surgery!

This is freaking genius! 😆 I have to attend a wedding 2 weeks after surgery and I have been absolutely dreading it for alllllll the reasons. I am totally stealing this tactic. Like you, I have opted not to share except with a very limited group of my closest people (2, I've told 2 people). I do not want to discuss my weight at a family wedding full of super-judgey skinny folks, no matter how much I love them.

I started drinking carbonated water (with lemon or lime) around 1 month post op. Haven’t stopped since. Am almost 3 years out now and these days I probably drink about 4-5 litres a week. On very, very rare occasions, i may have some Coke Zero if im somewhere that has no better option. Drinking it didn’t seem to any real effect on my weight loss. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wanted to hit my second target weight. I’ll be thrilled when I’m no longer overweight. I hit so many stalls. I definitely didn’t think I would be 145 in 6 months, but I would’ve hoped I would be 170. I know it’s just 3 pounds, but it’s like my body is holding on to these three pounds for dear life!

My surgeons office is apart of the suggested no carbonated drinks for life, but they tell you it's SUGGESTED. They said from what they've seen of their patients that those who don't drink carbonated drinks have an easier time keeping their weight off then those who do. Now, I don't really know whether to believe in that or not because there's this lady in my nutrition group who is 5 years post-op and drinks carbonated drinks and she's kept her weight off while another lady I know from work drinks carbonated drinks and gained half her weight back so... I don't know what to believe, honestly, but I'm perfectly fine cutting carbonated drinks out for life since it bothers my EOE anyway.

When I STARTED the process for WLS I was 389 pounds (in 2019). My highest recorded weight ever was 392 pounds (in 2017). My weight on the day of surgery was 321 pounds. At 6 months post-op I was 237 pounds. I reached my goal weight at 18 months 1 day post op and I'm down an extra two pounds passed that so far. I started having stalls 3 months post op and have had them every single month since. I'm currently in one right now, as a matter of fact lol (17 day stall so far).

Hey guys I had surgery March 3rd 2021. I am literally 2 days shy of 6 months and I am livid. I eat healthy, drink water all day, exercise everyday one hour and I didn’t hit my second weight loss goal and I doubt I will by my 6 month mark. I am 5’4 my pre surgery weight was 268 and I’m now 173. My overall goal is 145. I have hit several stalls month 4 and 5 not sure why. What are your stats and have you hit any stalls? When did your weightloss slow down what did you do to get the pounds back to dropping. My dr is happy with my weightloss but I am devastated by the slow process.

I went to a BBQ in the 2nd week after my surgery. I wasn't hungry at all, but people were needling me to eat. So I got a small plate, put 2 chicken wings on it and walked around with it in my hand all afternoon. Any time anyone would comment I would say "Oh, these wings are delicious, have you tried them?" and walk away. Did the same thing at a cocktail party last weekend, got a glass of wine and a small plate with a couple of appetizers (ones I don't like) and walked around with it the whole time. Nobody noticed I wasn't eating or drinking anything (except my husband). I've chosen to only share my surgery with a few close, non-judgmental, friends and family members. I consider it a personal journey and I don't like the fact that after you tell people, your weight loss suddenly becomes their business and the main topic of conversation whenever you see them.

I drank unsweetened flavored seltzer like crazy pre-surgery, but stopped when I started my 2-week pre-op diet, as recommended by the nutritionist. My doctor also says no carbonated drinks post-surgery because, over time, regular consumption of carbonated beverages can stretch out the stomach pouch. True or untrue, for me personally, it's just not worth it to risk anything impeding my weight loss so I'll continue to avoid them. My opinion may change at some point, but since my carbonated beverage of choice was neither sweetened nor caffeinated, I don't miss it much.

I was downing carbonated drinks very early on, I had no specific prohibition. Probably week four? I drink several cans of diet sodas a day, it’s how I get my water intake needs met. never had an issue with bubbles or cravings or weight gain or blood sugar levels etc. ymmv and your doctor may not approve…

I just wanted to note, for anyone that is stating that artificial sweeteners can cause weight gain and don’t drink diet because of them, I would absolutely not use this as a reason or to drink diet soda. There are artificial sweeteners in your protein shakes, protein bars, yoghurt, jello, pudding, Gatorade, mio/water flavorings, and many others items you consume. These are all foods and additions that are heavily relied upon on almost every single post op diet I’ve seen here.

i am one week into my liquid diet and by this time next week i should be in surgery. Day 3 & 4 of liquid was tough but i came through it. Thankfully i am going home to celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday this labor day weekend. I know this will be tough first dealing with everyone in the family asking me about it and being around all the food. i choose to keep my journey private to everyone except my immediate family. It will be hard with my mom she will be asking me what am i eating and how much weight i have lost daily. i dont want to become just about my surgery- then there is the comparison to other people that have had wls amd gained weight back… i know i am rambling but these thoughts were going through my head today

I have read A LOT of research studies on the theory that diet soda causes weight gain, and the evidence is far from convincing. Dr. Matthew Weiner (a bariatric surgeon with a huge YouTube presence) says he doesn't mind if people drink fizzy water, but doesn't want his patients drinking diet or regular soda. The belief that it stretches the stomach isn't really true from what he says, and from other evidence, but also it just doesn't make sense. But he says, many people just find it uncomfortable. Like @PolkSDA said, it can be hard to find non-carbonated unsweetened drinks on the go other than water. I travel a lot for work, and I had given up soda 6 months ago as I prepared for surgery, and when I started to travel more again, I gave up and started drinking diet soda again. I've stopped now that I'm on my pre-op diet. One thing I did at first was carry packets of sugar free drink mix (like crystal light, but I don't like that brand) and a water bottle and just refill it and add a packet of drink mix. That worked when I didn't want plain water. I met a woman on a trip who drank Coke Zero from day one and drank it with her meals. She said she had gained some weight back, but she felt it was from too much alcohol.

Sorry, kale is of the devil. It is pure evil in food form. 😁 There is no single "right way" when it comes to eating/snacking habits. We're all different, both physiologically and more importantly, psychologically. What works for me may not work for you, etc. When I read "Forget snacks entirely, unless..." I immediately tune out. Things couched in absolutes don't resonate with me. Sure, those prohibitions may be absolute in YOUR experience, but they may not be so for others. My nutritionist has been reinforcing that WE SHOULD be snacking post-surgery; 4-6 small meals per day is important to success. Advocating against that IMO runs counter to generally accepted practices. Now with respect to what the composition of those snacks are, that IMO is a *VERY* YMMV issue. Me? I eat garbage. I have my fast food and my chips, cookies, etc.... but in much, MUCH smaller quantities than before I started this journey. Some might say that this is setting myself up for long-term failure, but I say au contraire! I loathe cooking. I hate it. I can't be bothered by it. I don't want to "learn to enjoy it". I don't find value in it with respect to my time and/or convenience. Never have. That's in my makeup. I am what I am. I know myself and my weaknesses. I *NEED* to enjoy food. If it's food just for the sake of eating and nutrition, I WILL find a way to cheat, "sneaking" bad food on the side IN ADDITION to whatever healthy food I'm supposed to be eating... which IMO is far, far worse, given the increased caloric intake and quantity eaten. Better that I cut to the chase and eat small portions of "bad" food that will satisfy me than to eat food I don't enjoy and still be psychologically unsatisfied, if that makes any sense. It's better for me to work within the constraints of my weaknesses than to ignore them or try to futilely change what I believe to be fundamentally unalterable. This morning I hit a new alltime low adult weight since age 18... 37 years ago... and my weight is still going down (albeit very slowly now) 13.5 months after surgery... so however unconventional, it's working. I would hardly recommend this approach to anyone else... we're all different.

So I am going to be part of the rare % that is going to say that DIET (regular high sugar carbonated have no place in anyone’s diet) have done nothing to impede my weight loss. I’m currently 5 months and down almost 80lbs. My stomach isn’t stretched from drinking these, I drink slowly and it takes at least a full hour to have 1 can. I’ve had very little issues with fluid consumption post surgery so I don’t feel this gets in the way of staying hydrated. If you’re not having pain, bloating, or unusual sides I think this part of the many old wives tales and fallacies with weight loss surgery.