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I had gastric sleeve surgery on July 21st. Over the first six weeks I lost 30lbs. I haven't lost a single pound since then..... My doctor keeps saying I need to keep my daily calorie intake to 800 or less to lose weight. I haven't been logging everything but I think I'm staying around that number... I'm not a very disciplined person so keeping track of that every day usually doesn't happen. I'm super frustrated and getting depressed over this. If I was able to lose weight by sticking to a very strict diet and exercise program I would have done that a long time ago and never had the surgery. I had a big part of my stomach removed for nothing.... Anybody else out there who can't lose weight even after weight loss surgery? I don't know what to do....

Hi Orchidlover Hopefully by now you've figured out how to get and stay back on track. How was Thanksgiving for you? I am also struggling and stopped losing, as a matter of fact I've gained a few pounds. I was in a really bad car accident in July which caused me to be home and not doing any exercising other than physical therapy. I have now restarted as of last week doing a little walking. I actually pushed myself yesterday to do a little more than walk slowly and I felt OK. I have been home since my accident. Prior to the accident I was losing but very slowly, I mean extremely slow. I still took it as a win cuz at least I want gaining. We have to take all our victory laps regardless. I especially do this because, I have been and still am dealing with back issues and being on steroids all the time didn't help me. I also have not been eating right lately. I find myself ALWAYS hungry and always snacking and not always on healthy stuff that'll be conducive to weightloss. We know what we're doing wrong, we have the tools to do what's right but we are so much in our heads when we get off track, it blocks us from clearly seeing those said tools that'll help us to get back where we know we can abs want to be. Let's start today by not doing the things we have been doing lately, whether it's eating badly or not exercising and making excuses why we're doing these things. Once we put our minds to doing it we can. you've done it before to be able to lose 100 pounds.. which is a huge deal, congrats on that. I have only lost a total of 58 pounds and that's over two surgeries. I have had major setbacks but I'm not giving up and I'm going to stop letting those things get in the way of my success to get to a 100lb loss. Fight for this, you got it and you know how to. Good luck.

Honestly, we're living in a vegan renaissance, so there's a plant based alternative for almost everything these days. My best advice is to go in at a pace that's comfortable and don't beat yourself up if you can't quit it all at once. I'm a firm believer in doing what you can, and acknowledging that nothing is perfect. Think about what you know you'll really miss (for most people, that's cheese and/or bacon) and tackle that last. Not everyone can do cold turkey! There's so many dairy alternatives now that you can pick and choose to suit. I personally prefer soy and oat, and use protein fortified soy milk now that I'm post-op for the extra protein. And try different brands - one brand's soy/oat/almond might be delicious, while another is undrinkable! There are also excellent vegan cheese options these days. Miyoko's Creamery is a US brand and make good stuff, including a divine butter. I know you're in Florida, but you may have something similar to this near you: https://www.thespruceeats.com/vegan-cheese-5090419 Those Texas cheeses look good, and the article also lists other good plant cheeses in the US. Lots of yoghurt and other dairy options available now too. Meat! There's some vegan meat available now that are SO DAMN REAL that I actually feel sick when they're cooking they smell so realistic. Beyond and Impossible Burger both do freakishly beef-like beef, and Omni do pork. I would also urge you to hit up your local Chinese supermarket (I know you call it something else in the US ... grocer?) and check out their vegan meats because Chinese vegan companies work some kind of sorcery here. You'll find superb faux chicken, roast duck, char siu pork and even fish. They also have bacon, as do other western brands. If you have a Trader Joes or Wholefoods near you, I imagine you'll be spoiled for choice in their plant-based offerings! Eggs! Yeah... there's really no substitute here, sorry. Effort has been made, and you can get passable fried eggs, but a nice poached egg is and will likely remain unattainable. That said, a bangin' vegan scramble can be home made using well drained medium tofu crumbled, and flavoured with a little turmeric, black salt (important - kala namak is sulfurous so gives that eggy taste, but use sparingly!), dijon mustard and cracked pepper. Add mushrooms and spring onions for extra flavour. It's not a dupe for scrambled eggs, but it's tasty and a great protein rich breakfast. The other thing is: get excited about food, because there's new stuff coming out almost every other week! Vegans get ridiculously excited about food, I think because we remember the dark days, in the before-times, when all vegan food was punitive and we had to be content with bran muffins and sadness. Apologies for the novella, and I hope I helped!

This is what I did as well. Those little 2oz bathroom paper cups were a lifesaver the first week. After that it got much easier.

Hi all! I’m new! My surgery is tomorrow (11/29/21) and I’m scared out of my mind. I’m having DS. Wanted to do Bariatric surgery for about 17 + years, and earlier this year, I found out that our insurance FINALLY covers it. I was (and am!) so thankful for that! I can’t help but feel immensely trepidatious about tomorrow. I think, perhaps, it’s the buildup of 17 years of wanting something, to then suddenly have it become reality, you know? I’m scared of the pain, scared of the first few weeks post-op, scared of screwing up and the dumping, scared I’ll never eat fun foods again, scared at how completely and drastically this will change my life (for the better). I sort of feel the same way I felt the few days before I had my first baby. This seems silly, I know. I’m equally excited. Finding it difficult to get past the anxiety tonight. Any advice? Those of you recently post-op; How’s everything going? -Z

Yep, my incisions drove me mad with the itching - and unlike the itching from healing tattoos, you can't slap the area for relief! I took antihistamines and used cold packs held against the incision area, which helped immensely! Like me, you also may be a bit allergic to the bandage adhesive. My itching lasted about a week and a half, unfortunately. I hope yours goes away faster!

I don’t mind eating the same things on repeat - I’m a single person so have eaten that way for ages. I like not having to think about what I’m going to prep for lunch or dinner every single day. I’ll eat on repeat for three days & anything left I freeze. My freezer is full of single serve meals. So handy on those days you don’t feel like cooking, are working late, don’t want what you have in the fridge, etc. Only have to prep some vegetables or salad & then reheat the frozen meal. Five minutes & dinner is served. You’ll also discover what you don’t enjoy or struggle to tolerate today may be fine tomorrow or next week.

pre-op diet is the worst part. I was actually relieved the morning I reported to the hospital for surgery! for most of us, anyway, our hunger is suppressed for a few months, so no, we don't feel the same way after surgery. Tired, yes - but I'm exhausted after any surgery (maybe moreso with this one since we're taking in so few calories the first few weeks). But fortunately, most of us at least don't feel hungry. For about the first five months, I was never hungry and didn't give a flip about food.

I started mine a week early and it helped so much. I think it helped mentally bc I was making the choice and not being “told”. It also allowed me to get used to the plan and changes prior to actually having to commit so it wasn’t so overwhelming. It made the transition after surgery so much easier bc I wasn’t going through carb or sugar withdrawal immediately after surgery. The risk is that starting early could make you mentally think you can stop and start over and over since  you actually don’t have to do it and once the actual pre op starts there’s no turning back if your already so over it after the early week. Totally doable and worth it in my opinion and it worked awesome for me. Commit and stick to it… it’s just temporary! 

I’m on day 3 (of 10) of mine and I’m totally with you! I went for a walk with my friend and was in pain and exhausted after. I have a low level headache almost nonstop. I’m a little worried about functioning at work next week. And all I can think about is food- real food, not jello and protein shakes!

The pre-op diet is brutal. Everything you're feeling is completely justified. I had to take a nap almost every single day. That being said, it DOES get better and no, you won't feel this way forever after surgery. My program had liquids for 2 weeks post-op, which wasn't great, but as soon as I got to purees I really turned a corner energy-wise. Eventually, your calorie intake will increase and you'll feel much more "normal" it just takes time. Give yourself permission to test when you need to and know that this is just a step along the way. Sent from my motorola one 5G ace using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm on day 4.5 of the liquid pre-op diet (I am fortunate that I only had to do a week) and I am so hungry and low on energy (to make matters worse, I received my COVID booster the night of my first day of this diet). I am eating cottage cheese, drinking warm broth with Unjury Chicken Soup flavored protein powder, having protein drinks made with Fairlife milk, and I am nervous. Will I feel this rundown on so little calories post surgery? Currently I couldn't survive like this long term. How and why will it improve after surgery? How will my body feel OK on so few calories? Surgery is on Tuesday the 30th and I have to teach my 6th graders the day before! My thinking right now is if I am going to feel like this forever, I DON'T want to do this. My stomach hurts from hunger, I'm low on energy, I'm sad. Any words of encouragement would be appreciated.

I'm 2.5 months out from VSG. Per my NUT's guidance, I'm eating 1000-1400 cal a day, and balanced between protein, carbs, and fat. (About 120P/120C/55F per day.) I find that by 7:30 or 8:00 p.m., I am just done for the day. No energy to do anything. No laundry folding, no cleaning, no nothing, I just need to sit down and rest, and I'm usually in bed by 10:00 p.m. (also unusual). I had my bloods done by my PCP, at my request. Everything is fine, except my iron-binding capacity is just south of the low end of the reference range (but my iron itself is fine). No issues with B12, calcium, or D. I'm very active, but not any more active than I was four weeks ago. Any ideas what's going on here?

As of 11/30 I’ll be 4 weeks post op. I’m still currently on the soft food/puréed phase. So this question definitely wouldn’t pertain to right now. But I’m just curious if anyone has attempted vegan/plant based foods as an alternative to regular food. I’ve done lots and lots of research over the last several months on vegan/plant based eating. But I’d like to know if any other Bariatric patients have considered this.

Beware ! I have had two separate experiences with this clinic and they were both negative. When I contacted top plastic surgeons mexico via email to ask questions and schedule my procedure, they responded quickly respond with abundance of information. In order to book or secure a date for procedure, you need to book your flight. There is no deposit required at that point. You will be email someone named David Suez who’s title is Schedule Coordinator. Just to be clear Top Plastic Surgery is the Clinic and Dr. J Bernardo Baltazar Rendon who also works for Hospital Angeles Pedregal. My first procedure was 06/2021. I came to Mexico solo, I was greeted in the airport by driver Raul with a sign of my name, he helped with bags, opened the car door. He brought me to the hotel and picked me up in thlater that night brought me to my appointment with Dr. J Bernardo Baltazar Rendon at Hospital Angeles Pedregal, we went over what I wanted and what he could do with my body type and fat at the time. We discussed the need for bloodwork and compression garment which should actually be done in your country but can be done in Mexico. My surgery was scheduled for the following day in the night as Dr. J Bernardo Baltazar Rendon schedules all appointments and surgery around his day job. At no point in you stay will you enter a Top Plastic Surgery Mexico office or clinic. At no point in you stay will you meet David Suez. The communication via email ends when you arrive. The Dr. and the clinic act as separate entites. The drivers Raul and Pamala will refer you to the Dr. and the Dr will refer you to the clinic and the clinic will not respond. The following day Pamala comes to my hotel room. She is literally introducing her self to me for the first time at my hotel room door. So we discuss my procedure, she collects my money in the hotel room and ask that I fill out two contact, release forms actually. I ask for a receipt for payment and a photo copy of the documents I just signed. She told me that she would give this to me by end of day. I never get a receipt for payment or copy of docs. We proceed to get lab work done and getting medicine from the pharmacy. If you do your lab work in Mexico, you will not get a copy because they put the doctors contact information for results. At this point I inquire about the compression garment and wanting to get it for use immediately after surgery. I was given a garment that was two small and that did not compress the arms; which Raul asked me to return and I did. I had my procedure, full body lipo, ab etching and bbl. I was in a private recovery room. Blood pressure was not taken every 2hrs. I would have to ask or the nurse would come in at random. The day after surgery they wrap me in large gauze to leave in as I don’t have the garment that I was told I would have an opportunity to purchase the day before. For the first three days following surgery I was out of a garment. I has infection and large hematoma in my left butt, not normal bursing from the procedure. A nurse came 1 day out of my 5 day stay, she changed my antibiotics and removed my stitches. Did not do a blood pressure. She did do a rapid covid test for travel which the airlines did not accept going back to USA. I saw the Dr on day 4 following procedure which I had to request. I told him about my whole experience in Mexico and being unhappy with my results. My abdomen was uneven, no ab etching, my arms and armpits remained the same in size and the large amount of fat that was removed from other areas, majority of that fat her told me he disagreed of but didn’t transfer enough far to begin with. He told me that day that everything will heal and come together and that he can always do another procedure. Why would I want to put my body through that agin with a one year period . . Raul drives me to airport to return home, I had to do another covid test at the airport, they did not accept the one I had. Additional cost that I was not reimbursed. This is the moment he asked me to return the garment that did not fit and he told me that if it is dirty that I would have to pay for it. The months following I was not able to contact anyone not via email, not on whatsapp, not on the regular telephone. Pamala told me at one point that she no longer works for the company but I see her 5 months later when I return, still working with the company. So basically I was left BOTCHED looking uneven and lop sided. I was finally able to contact top plastic surgery to have corrective surgery, I honestly believe they were under the impression that I was a new patient, in the way they were speaking to me and adding a fee to my corrective procedure. SEOCOND experience 11/2021. I come to Mexico, the driver raul comes to airport. He is outside the airport, I have to literally go looking for him, Be mindful, I don’t have consistent cell phone reception. My appointment with Dr. Is that evening, same spiel. The surgery was the following day. Raul comes to my hotel room for money and documents. I told him that he needs to speak to the clinic because the agreement was that there was going to be no fee aside from labs, medicine and covid test. He confirms with I don’t know who, the ask me to sign form and the form clearly stated that hotel is apart of the package. I pay the hotel fee then he says that I have to pay for the nurse that comes to visit me and then I have to pay if I stay overnight in the recovery suite, at this point I hold off on the paperwork until I am able to confirm what fees I am responsible for and the ones that I am not responsible for. He tells me that Im acting like I don’t want to pay for anything and I’m being crazy in my decision to ask questions and advocate for myself. So rude, so respect for women because I’m sure if I was a man his response would have been different. Fast forward I wasn’t able to contact anyone in my 5 day stay. The Dr. did my procedure, came to the suite the following day, I didn’t not see him again, no follow up appointment, no nurse came to check on me, no covid test, stitches were not removed, I took a uber from recovery suite to hotel, I took a uber to airport. Horrible experience and my results are better then the first time but there shouldn’t have been a second time. Will not recommend this clinic or Dr. to anyone, not to my worst enemy.

11/19 1 week weigh in & down 25 lbs!

I agree with what everyone has already said.. I'll be four weeks post on Tuesday, and the scale didn't move for 14 DAYS😩.. I got on the scale on the 25th and somehow lost three pounds overnight🥰..

This is what I did. I actually didn't have a prescribed pre-op diet other than clear fluids for 24h before surgery, but I put myself on one and this is exactly what I did. Three weeks: 1 week replace a meal with a shake, 1 week replace two meals with shakes, 1 week full liquid.

I get sick of stuff after 2-3 days and can't eat it multiple meals in a row, so I meal prep two meals (plus breakfasts) twice a week, enough for 3 days each.

I have a new nutritionist who jacked my intake way up because I was exhausted all the time. Currently on 120C 55F 120P for a total of 1455 cal daily. (There are ranges, this is the upper limit of the ranges.) I'm currently in a little mini stall but it's likely because I ate too much salty stuff over the holiday and am retaining water like a freaking camel. I was down a little bit today and feel less bloated.

I agree on not weighing!!! I am committed to weighing only every Sunday. Another good tracking method, that shirt or clothing item that you're almost into that is just not there yet... try on every other week. Last 2 days of full liquids... treats today of Malt o Meal with cinnamon for breakfast and a tortilla soup, strained with sour cream for later. Focusing on at least 36 oz of water today.

I had my surgery on the 24th and the surgeon used the DaVinci robot. Some things I didn’t realize before: * they tie up your arms over your head to get them out of the way * I had a small bruise on my wrist from the restraint * My shoulders hurt, not just from gas, but also that position. The muscles are seriously mad at me. Every time I try to lower myself into a chair, or get out of bed it makes my shoulders hurt super bad. * I have a mystery cut on my upper arm that I haven’t had a chance to ask the surgeon about. Looks like they fixed it up for me. I’m guessing my skin got pinched (I have loose skin there from losing weight and it’s paper thin and tears easily). All of my incisions are incredibly small, maybe less than 1”. None of the incision sites hurt, or are bruised or swollen. There ended up being 5 incisions. One just under my chest, another next to my belly button, then three on my lower abdomen. The surgery took 2 hours for a SADI. I was in terrible pain post op, it took several days to get a handle on it. Luckily they were fine with giving me whatever I needed to make the pain stop, as often as needed. I have stage IV endometriosis so some of the pain was probably from my adhesions too. So I’m not really sure if the robot made it better than normal surgery? It made some things worse and others better.

I would try a three pronged approach. Obviously start with your surgeon. Ask for a referral to a bariatric therapist for some back up. I would also meet more regularly with the bariatric dietitian for hands on real tactics to feeling full. I would be tempted to go back to WW as well for group chat and accountability. I had to get a new hobby of crochet to keep my hands busy and give warm clothing to the homeless shelter to “feel full.” You will find your fullness and feel comfortable in your body too.

I wasnt nervous at all mind you didn't have time was waiting a while for surgery thought I wasnt going to get it until I got a phone call the end of July telling me my date was 23rd August had loads of test done iron infusion and then I was in hospital and everything was fine now 12weeks out 45lb lighter and loving it I had the milk and yoghurt diet for two weeks and did well so good luck to you all having surgery

Hello everyone. I am new here. December 14th I am going to have GSV in Mexico at ALO Bariatrics with Dr. Ramirez. I start my pre-op diet on Monday and my clear liquid the week after. They have been wonderful. I am so excited.