Search the Community

Hey all! My surgery was on 5/12. I can hardly believe it hasn't even been 3 months yet. I've had good days and bad, and feel like they've all been great learning experiences (today's a good day though... ask me tomorrow, hah) Until recently many foods - even the sight of them - would make me feel nauseous. Tastes and textures I'd loved seemed foreign. I've come to understand that happens with a percentage of people who've had weight loss surgery. I feel like it is improving and my diet is as well. I know this is the "honeymoon" phase of WLS, and the real challenge for me will be maintaining good eating habits, but I'm thrilled with the weight loss and am having fun shopping in my closet I'm down 51 lbs since starting my pre-op diet in April and 36 since surgery. Cheers to all you amazing results! It is always inspiring and informative checking in with you all.

Hahaha that's my goal too! But Arizona for Thanksgiving and Florida next spring [emoji23][emoji23] I've had a few myself too what's your current stats if you don't mind me asking? Like height/ weight? I'm 5'0 220 [emoji24] are you using insurance? He said If you're not it goes way faster. I was just able to call and schedule because of that Sent from my Pixel 4a using BariatricPal mobile app

I have had so many surgical procedures for my back, surgery does not scare me. I just had a procedure done every other week for 6 weeks and each time I was put under. I am more scared for my consultation and if he is going to make me complete any requirements prior to scheduling my surgery. I really want to get the surgery ASAP. I want to lose enough weight that I wont be embarrassed to go back to Florida for Thanksgiving. I want them to be shocked LOL Now who is dramatic LMAO

Good luck on your revision. If I had known what I know now, back then, I would have gone straight to bypass. Both the lap band and sleeve gave me many issues. Weight loss was good but the band cause esophagus issues so I had to switch to sleeve. Weight gain of course, when they removed the fluid for months to heal... And now the sleeve caused severe GERD and now I am revising to bypass. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m pre-op, 365 lbs, and I do Oly lifting as part of CrossFit. I did powerlifting (squat dead bench) and a little strongman but there’s something about weightlifting that is just… elegant and impressive. Find a place with an actual Oly lifting coach, and preferably one who’s figured out how to teach large people. As an example, I have to move a lot faster after hip contact on both cleans and snatches so I don’t take a barbell to the gut. Your weights will be lower because it’s hard as a very large person to a) reach full extension and b) move under the bar effectively. But I am here to tell you it can be done. Mobility is huge so if you have issues, try something like GoWOD or ROMWOD and use props as need be. I cannot WAIT until the fat is not an issue and I can just wear a compression shirt and lift “normally”. I’m already driving my team crazy asking when I can start doing it even if it’s with a freaking PVC pipe. (PS for anyone else reading: “weightlifting” is clean & jerk and snatches only. Powerlifting is back squat, deadlift, and bench press. Everything else is “strength training”.)

I started working out pretty hard 6 months before my surgery. I would sweat profusely within minutes of starting. I'm right at 3 months post-op and I'm doing my same cycles with cardio and weight training but with more intensity and longer duration and I'm sweating a lot less. Like just my collar is wet....not my whole shirt like in days pass.. anyone else run into this? When i work out I like to walk out of the gym looking like I got dunked in a pool.... Sent from my SM-G986U using BariatricPal mobile app

46 year old male here, 13 months post op. BMI was just over 40, now it’s under 25. Starting weight 334, currently 195. Short answer: I wish I did this years ago, it’s been stupid easy for me. 1) It depends. I had no problem drinking water right away. Cold water bothered me for a few weeks but room temp water was fine. I was a chugger and drink in my sleep, I was worried about this but I’ve adjusted. I know exactly how many mini sips I can take (8) in a row and do it instinctively. 2) I’m a year post op and I haven’t thrown up. I’ve been close I think. Twice I ate way too fast without thinking. I said I’d never do it again after the first time…. and the second. Never had nausea or “x food doesn’t agree with me.” I can literally eat anything I used to with no difference in taste, smell or tolerances. Just less. Much much less. 3) I was given a giant antibiotic pill in the hospital right after my surgery. It was an inch long and thicker than a pencil. It caused no issues (took one each day for ten days). I also had no problem taking my regular BP meds, which now I no longer need anyway. 4) possibly. I probably had a two weeks or so after where I felt just tired but very shortly after my energy levels went way way up and I feel like I can work harder and longer each day. I haven’t had this much energy since I was a kid, and my calorie count is still around 1000-1500 a day depending on what I eat. 5) I’ve never dumped and now that I’m trying to find my maintenance calorie levels I’ve been eating high calorie foods (to keep volume minimal) without issue (peanut M&Ms). 6) I never had heartburn in my life. Until after surgery. They put me on… omeprazle or something like that… right in the hospital. It’s a PPI and I stopped taking it after a couple weeks (I’ve never had heartburn, didn’t after surgery so why keep taking it?) I got heartburn!! It sucked, I was scared, omg my first negative side effect!! so I took it again and it went away. When I stopped taking it it came back… so I took it again. Turns out it can have a rebound effect for some people. Once I read about that I just stopped it altogether and the heartburn went away after about five days or so and I haven’t had a single reoccurrence since. Am I unusual because I’ve had a really easy go of this? I don’t know. I know there ARE others out there who have also said it was easy. I do know is this (and I’ve said this before… sorry for repeating to those who have read my previous posts)… this forum is a wonderful resource for people to get info pre op, and to get help post op. That second part is a blessing and a curse. It’s easy to read all these posts where people having issues are trying to find help…. and to get a false impression of how frequently serious problems arise. Not too many people create a new thread to say “hey I’ve had no problems, this was so easy and I’ve been wildly successful beyond my even most optimistic goals… ok carry on.” But we are out there. Most people who fall into this category are probably just out in the wild, living their best life, this forum not anything they think about because they don’t need it. I’m sticking around to make sure people in your situation know that we’re out here. It can be easy, problem free, life changing, exciting, etc. On the flip side my wife also had the sleeve and has had a hell of a time. No problems from the procedure, no gerd or vomiting… just near zero weight loss but you can read my other posts for the specifics. Then there are those who do have medical issues from this, do have problems of all sorts of things. They’re real and I’m so sorry for them, and they do need this forum for advice and comfort and just to vent. I am in no way knocking them for doing what they have to do, but their collective voice is much louder then people like me and it skews perception. No one can tell you where on the spectrum you’ll land. If you take it seriously, know that it’s a just a tool to help you lose weight, make better choices, and are ok with the idea that you may have some ups and downs to cope with, you’re off to a great start. Me? I’d do this 100 times over just to feel the way I do today. I wish you the best. No matter what you decide. From a purely statistical point of view problems from being obese far outweigh problems related to getting sleeved. And unfortunately with statistics there are the outliers. But it isn’t a coin flip.

How is everyone doing? Sadly, my hunger has come back much quicker than expected as have my cravings for carbs and I am HUNGRY! I simply make sure I have protein close by or veggies or fruit. It is difficult some days. I had my yearly physical yesterday and my primary care said she was concerned I was loosing to much weight too fast. Just curious what everyone else is experiencing. I do find I am following exactly what my dr and dietician recommended.

Here you go! Surgery Status: Post Op VSG (July 9th) Phase: purred meals Highest known weight: 255 Starting weight: 245 Surgery weight: 220 Current Weight: 206.4 Doing really good! 10,000+ steps every day! Back to work (wfh) after one week.

Ok Highest weight 275 pre weight 256 Surgical weight 246 Now 227 Going well. NSV in 38 from 44 so not to bad

Surgery Status: Post Op - surgery July 14th, 2021 Phase: 1 week post op as of yesterday! Recovering well so Dr said I could move on to soft foods 😊 Highest known weight: 218 Starting weight: 214 Current Weight: 193.2 Inch loss: I’m actually waiting for a new tape measurer because somehow the current one is telling me I gained more than when I was 218. Makes no sense . NSV: It’s only been a week so I haven’t noticed much yet. I will say on FaceTime calls and photos my face looks much slimmer and family has asked if I’m losing weight cause I look slimmer. Good luck Everyone!!

So I’m here at the hospital on my surgery Day! I’m an prepped and as soon as my surgeon comes in, I’ll then be taken to the OR for anesthesia and for surgery to begin. I can’t wait to be reflux free and pray this revision will be the key. Wish me luck! FYI: I only did the pre-op liquid diet for 7 days and lost 6lbs. For my records I am posting my weights: HW- 250-252 10/18 VSG - 242 LW - 202 7/21 RNY - 218

Surgery Status: 2 weeks post op (13th July surgery date) Phase: Post-Op: 2 weeks into a 4 week full liquid phase Highest Known weight: 213lbs Starting weight: 210lbs Surgery weight: 200lbs  Current Weight: 192lbs Inch Loss: haven’t checked, still very swollen around the tummy 😞 NSV: people have mentioned my face looks slimmer and my acne has almost disappeared 👍🏻

Update: I'm now down 36 pounds on the liver reduction diet. I am actually a bit stricter than that. After reading several books about Food Addiction I concluded it was true for me. I'm not binger, but I do "graze". Therefore I am on an abstinence diet, which they say is the only way to overcome addictions. I abstain from all sugar, wheat flour and processed food. After about two weeks, I no longer had any cravings. My calorie intake has dropped from 1200 kcal to 1000 or less without intention. It just happened when I no longer felt the urge to graze between meals. I record everything I eat on the Baritastics app. My nutritianist OK'd me for surgery, and so did the psychologist. I hoped to get a surgery date in August. Then 10 days ago I had bad fall and fractured my right arm. It is a non-displaced compression fx at the shoulder. No surgery or cast, but I must wear a sling for 8-10 weeks. I can't continue aquatic exercises or use the machines at the YMCA, and my knees hurt too much for walking {although I am trying.} The orthopedic doctor says I must postpone surgery until I can use the arm to lift myself. I am aiming for September or October. In the meantime, I will continue with the abstention diet. Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction by Vera Tarman Weight Loss Surgery Does NOT Treat Food Addiction by Connie Stapleton Bright Line Eating: The Science of Living Happy, Thin and Free by Susan Peirce Thompson A Pound of Cure, Change Your Eating and Your Life, One Step at a Time by Matthew Weiner The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients 3rd Edition by Colleen Cook

Surgery - July 4th phase - 2 1/2 weeks post op highest known weight 112.5kg starting weight 112.5kg current weight 103.4kg inch loss 20ins NSV nothing yet

Surgery Status: 1 week Post Op Today (surgery July 15). Feeling good, on Full liquids Phase: Post-Op: Phase 2: Full Liquids Highest Known weight: 283 lbs Starting weight: 245 Surgery weight: 223 Current Weight: 214.2 Inch Loss: Haven't taken measurements but will start now. NSV: wearing shorts today that I could not even zip up prior to surgery '

Hey, July Surgery People! For those that want to share-Let's do a stats check! ✔📉⚖ How is your progress going? (NSV, inch loss, weight loss, pre or post op, phase.) Good luck everyone! Hope things are going well for you! I can't wait to see everyone's updates! 😊 _________________ Surgery Status: Pre Op VSG (July 26th) Phase: pre op diet week 2 Highest known weight: 291 Starting weight: 280 Current Weight: 271.7 Inch loss: (doing once a month, so I don't know loss yet) NSV: not much yet, but some clothes seem a little more comfortable

Half a pound is nothing to worry about. Statistically daily fluctuations can be up to 5 or 6 pounds. It's usually water weight or your bowels being full. If you're female and not menopausal then you can gain weight a week or two before your monthly and then not lose it until after (I'm going through that right now. I'm up 1.5 pounds and it's driving me up a wall! 😣). I'd say try not to stress about it, but it's difficult not to, I know.

My surgery was 5/26. Overall I feel I am doing great. My recovery from surgery was with no issue but I did hit a 3 week stall. It was in week 3 and it lasted a little over 3 weeks. However, in the past week weight is dropping. I struggled to get in enough protein and fluid for a while. I am now comfortably getting my protein and water in and exercising without issue. I am like you as far as food. I often don’t get to my vegetables because I am full after eating my protein portion. I also am never hungry and have to make myself eat because of that. As of today I am down 38 pounds and was told at my surgeons office last week that I am doing great. More than anything, I feel so much better than before and am sleeping better than I have in years!!! So thankful!

I haven't gone down this path yet. I had my surgery on May 19th and since then lost 42.9 lbs. Since March 1st it's actually a total of 61.4 lbs. And as of the 7th of this month, I lost 17 inches total all around. Depending on the way the clothing item was made, I used wear a 28 or 30 in pants. Mostly 28's though. In shirts 3x and some 4x. I have only ONE pair of capri pants that are size 26 that, when I would fit in them again, I KNEW I lost weight. Well they are fitting again but now even they are getting loose..........FINALLY! LOL But I've yet to go get any new clothes/try smaller sizes even though everything I have now is hanging off of me most of the time. Not sure that I will anytime soon. Seeing the amount of weight I lost you would think people would notice but no one has really said anything yet. So, I don't know if that's good or bad or what. LOL Hubby tries to make me feel better by saying stuff like, "that just means you carried you're weight well when you were heavier if no one can tell". LOL Maybe I'll give it another month or two before I try to buy something new and get rid of some of these old things. I don't know.

no. You'd have to eat 1750 calories above and beyond what your body needs to gain 0.5 lbs in true weight. At two weeks post-op, there's no way you're eating that much. It's probably just water retention - or else your intestines have a lot of "content" in them. Weight fluctuations are normal - if they start playing with your head too much, just start weighing once or twice a week instead of every day.

So I’m about two weeks post op and I’ve been losing something every day. Today I woke up and the scale went up about .5 pounds and I’m freaking out. Should I be this worried?

Oh, good point @Hop_Scotch. Were the opti slim shakes your pre surgical diet? If you don’t lose the required or an acceptable amount of weight pre surgery your surgeon can defer your surgery. Not all will but… Most definitely contact your medical team now.

It’s natural to feel apprehensive right before something major like a life changing surgery. I had mine 6 days ago and I almost cancelled the day before. I feel so much better that this weight is coming off and so will you. Even with that being said…it’s permanent and lifestyle changes will be forced upon you. Every body (literally) is different and drinking water will just take longer but it will be able to be done, just slower. All the best

I got my surgery 8 months ago I was 22 at the time and got it the day before thanksgiving lol🤦‍♀️ at first I regretted it but after a while I realized it was the best decision I could of made! My highest weight was 255 and my current weight is 155. I can talk to you more about it if you’ll like, my Instagram is @shambrae__