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My surgeon explained it to me that the issue is that if the liver is still too fatty after the pre-op diet it's just impossible to lift up the liver to do the bypass. My bloods b4 the pre-op diet showed that my liver was very fatty and so I had to do the pre-op diet for 18 days beforehand rather than 14. The nutritionist's diet sheet included carbs, so I didn't go into ketosis as some people do. So, I'll be honest, I was hungry most of the time, but I did what all the other posters here did and drank plenty & filled up on veggies. I managed to stick to it simply because it was so time limited. I knew it was only for 18 days and the surgeon had told me of one patient who he'd opened up but whose liver was still too fatty to move, so he'd had to sew him back up again without doing it and I was determined not to let that happen if I could help it. Just focus on the fact that it's only for a very short period of time. The hunger is good - you're losing weight and visceral fat. You can do it!

Enough? Depends on your goals. I NEVER did weight training. Never will. As much as some people seem to love it, I hate it. Everything thing about it. But then again I have enough muscle to do what I want without weight training. Weight training is not necessary to reach and maintain a weight goal. Good luck, Tek

Anyone who has been following me knows I have been asking about the water recommendations. Even though I am a little past 9 months, I was told by a few people on here and also my docs office that I should still be doing the required 64oz of water per day. At 6-7 months I cut down to 6 cups per day so I could eat more protein. If I didn't do that, I wouldn't be able to get in all my food because I was just too full. It was concerning because I had already reached my goal weight and couldn't maintain. I let the docs be aware of this and was told that I still had to do the 8 cups per day. I made my own decision not to listen to them. At this point, I am drinking only 4 cups of water per day. By doing this I am able to eat more. I have been doing this for at least a week. I was excited to get on the scale today because I just knew I had put on a few lbs. but alas I have actually lost more. I am so frustrated because I really thought this was going to work. Less water being less full means more food intake means weight gain. Isn't that how it would logically work?

Thanks for the reply’s everyone. But it’s more curiosity than anything. I see a lot of shorter people on here and not really height testimonies. I know everyone is different and their bodies and using your tool as best as possible with eating right and exercise. I’m new to all this .. scared but determined. Just nice and encouraging to here EVERYONES testimony about there weight loss esp in height bc I am a tall obese woman.

Right before my revision surgery, I questioned why I had to adhere so strictly to the preop diet (especially since I was at my goal weight) I was told that not only does the pre-op diet reduce the fat in the abdominal cavity making it easier to navigate during surgery, but it also reduces any fat remaining inside the liver. They took preventative measure for better surgical outcomes. The liver is one of the organs that must be lifted in order to reach the digestive track. If it has too much fat, it is not pliable and becomes prone to injuries like tears, scaring and even breaking. My surgeon asked me to imagine a marbled steak as opposed to a leaner steak. The fat filled areas of the steak will tear easier that the purely muscular areas. After that conversation I (begrudgingly) complied with the pre-op diet.

That is similar to what I started doing around 2 months post-op. Idk that it helped with loose skin, but it definitely seemed to help with weight loss. Also, I look toned and fit. I actually had a stranger on a plane the other day say I was “ripped” and asked if I do cross fit. The stranger also happened to be a very attractive man in my age group. Lol! Best NSV yet! 😊

I was on lithium for 27 yrs. and 2 months (45 lbs. lighter) after my surgery became "toxic" and ended up in the hospital because they never lowered my dose. My husband said I was acting weird one day. I was changing in and out of different pj's every 20 minutes or so. Then he told me I was taking out bath towels one by one, wetting them and placing them around the house in different spots. Cussing at him for no reason and just acting out of character. He called my parents, and when they came over, I was in the bathroom naked crouched in a corner and bawling my eyes out. My mom kept telling me to get dressed and I refused. She said she couldn't understand what I was talking about because apparently I was mumbling and couldn't form sentences. They called the ambulance after they were able to put some clothes on me. I was cussing at the EMT's the entire way. A lot of other stuff happened. I do not remember ANY of it. They told my husband and parents that I almost died from being so toxic. I ended up in the hospital for 4 days. When I got home, I called the surgeons office to let them know what happened, they blamed it on my psychiatrist office. Then I called my psychiatrists office and they blamed it on the surgeons office. No one would take responsibility for this. I still don't remember anything from that awful time. Hubby told me a lot of other weird stuff I was doing, and saying. I am still going to counseling for it because it was so traumatizing that I have a hard time just being in a car. (I was told that it's because of my body remembering the ambulance ride as the last time I was in vehicle)? Even though my mind can't remember, my body remembers. I am slowly working on it, and can be in a car for a little bit longer each time. It was and still is bothering me because I can not remember anything that happened. PLEASE make sure you tell your docs about this. Make sure they are adjusting your meds as you lose weight. Your body won't be big enough to handle the current dosages your used of taking. I am now taking Gabapentin for anxiety, and it's also used to treat my neuropathy pain from when I was diabetic and now have permanent nerve damage in my feet. I also take Ativan if I have to go anywhere in the car. If I don't take it, I can't go anywhere.

I am 3.5 months post op sleeve and started back to the gym for weight training. I am thinking of going 3 times per week with 1-2 days in between workout days. I walk 60 minutes daily and will keep that up on non gym days. Probably will walk 30 minutes on gym days. Does that seem to be enough weight training to make a difference? Looking to tone up and fill in loose skin in problem areas while continuing to lose weight in honeymoon phase. Will the weight training slow down my weight loss?

Novo Nordisk’s newest injectable drug Semaglutide (Wegovy) is now approved as a treatment option for obesity. It was previously approved and marketed (at lower doses) as Ozempic in 2019 for diabetes. Novo Nordisk is the same company that offers Saxenda (liraglutide). The CDC states 42.4% of all adults in the U.S. suffer from obesity, defined as having a body mass index at or above 30. A 2019 study in the New England journal of medicine predicts that 1 in 2 adults will be obese by 2030. This could be a step forward in fighting obesity because of the modality. According to Dr. Anastassios G. Pittas, chief of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Tufts Medical Center, “Semaglutide is a paradigm shift from other obesity medications, because it targets the gut as opposed to the brain." (Sounds familiar?) As with all new treatments the hurdles to access includes: steep price tags, insurance approvals, imbalanced clinical trail demographics, medical gatekeepers and lack of long term outcomes. sources: https://www.novonordisk-us.com/products/chronic-weight-management.html https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMsa1909301 https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/novo-nordisk-s-semaglutide-snags-hotly-anticipated-greenlight-obesity https://www.google.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/Health/newly-approved-drug-heralded-game-changer-growing-national/story%3fid=78065574 https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/novo-nordisk-semaglutide-gets-us-fda-approval-obesity-treatment-2021-06-04/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.detroitnews.com/amp/7549263002

I lost 12lbs the first month which I thought was fantastic. I ended up losing 25lbs total and have no issues so far with controlling my weight. It was a constant struggle to keep myself at 175 with VSG and I sit between 153-156 now. Good luck !

Not super tall, but reached my personal goal weight at about 7.5 months. Will be 11 months post-surgery tomorrow and weight is pretty stable 18 pounds below my goal weight. 100% agree with @catwoman7 though. Everyone is different. Follow your plan and you will lose weight. Good luck!

rate of weight loss is affected by so many factors that's it's kind of pointless to compare (and comparing can stress you out if you're a slower loser, but there's nothing wrong with being a slower loser!! I was one of that crowd and ended up losing all of my excess weight). Yes - height is one of the factors, but so are age, gender, starting BMI, genetics, metabolic rate, body composition (your percentage of fat vs muscle vs bone vs water), activity level, how closely you stick to your clinic's food plan, yada yada yada. About all you have control over is your activity level and how closely you stick to your program. If you do well with those, and your weight is generally trending downward, you're golden!

I know I am a little late on this but here goes lol. First off, congratulations on getting your surgery! When I first got mine I thought that the "normal" BMI range was way too low. I think I just thought that because I had never weighed anywhere near the normal range. I currently weigh about 158 which is right at the highest end of normal on the BMI scale. I think the weight I am right now is great. I was ~130 at one point in time which is still in the normal range but that was way too low. I looked gaunt and sickly and my face was sunken in. Basically I guess it probably varies from person to person and whether you are male or female probably plays a role (i.e. if I was female, 130 pounds might not have looked so unhealthy). The normal BMI weight may seem like it is too low now but that may change as you lose weight. I would recommend focusing on your body being healthy rather than what BMI or weight you are. Your doctor can help you determine if your body is in a healthy state at the weight you are. Anyway, congratulations on being two months post-op! The pre-op is a grueling process but it is absolutely worth it. I wish you the best of luck. -Joshua

Curious to see how much weight y’all lost at 3-4 months???? 😃

The closer you are to goal, the more slowly you lose but in saying that you may have reached your balance & are in maintenance. That is the calories you are consuming are equal to the calories you are burning. To lose more you either have to consume less or increase your activity. Whatever weight you end up at has to be sustainable. Many bariatric patients end up at a weight that is higher than what they may have initially wanted. But they’re at a weight they can maintain while still enjoying & living the healthy & happy life they want. It’s fine to eat several smaller meals across a day or graze on three meals as long as caloric intake is constant. It just has to work for you. I eat three meals and about 4 nutritious snacks every day because I can’t physically consume enough in three meals to maintain - my restriction kicks in & I can’t eat any more. My total caloric intake sits at about 1200 calories a day. Another path you could look at is Dr Matt Weiner’s videos & books about resetting your basal metabolic rate which could enable you to lose more if you are interested. The intent is to reset your metabolism to run faster so your body burns more calories just to function. I guess the big questions are do you want to have to take appetite suppressants for the rest of your life to maintain at a lower weight? Do you want to live your life consuming fewer calories &/or maintaining a higher activity level to stay at a lower weight? You may say yes to either of these questions & that’s fine. It’s your decision. Congrats on your weight loss & good luck whatever you decide.

My program was no bread, pasta or rice or any other processed carbs as well. My program was strongly protein first then nutritionally dense foods. Processed carbs like bread, pasta, etc. are generally considered nutritionally poor. But there are lots of different plans about. For the first couple of months all I could eat was my protein & maybe a couple of beans or a small cauliflower floret at a meal. I couldn’t imagine even trying to eat a heavy carb that swells in your small tummy & fills you up more. Actually that could be why you have the foamies - too much in your tummy & it’s literally oozing up as the bread, rice, etc. swells. I’m two years out & I still can’t eat bread, pasta or rice. They sit like dead weights in my tummy. Mashed potato is the same. Doesn’t bother me though. If I want pasta I eat fresh zucchini noodles. I tried plant based pasta but it filled me up too quickly. I was able to eat rolled oats from very early out & still eat them very regularly. I also can eat multi or whole grain crackers (vita wheat multi grain crackers & wholegrain rice crackers). I eat these as a snack. Everyone is quite individual in what they are able or unable to tolerate. What I can eat successfully, you may not. What you can’t tolerate now, you may be able to eat successfully in time. The carbs may just be too heavy for your tummy to handle at nine weeks out.

Oh yeah, you were much smaller than me at your starting weight. My doctor told me that the smaller I get, the harder it will be to lose weight as I won't be using the same amount of energy to burn calories, as I did at 350lbs. Its absolutely amazing to see the various starting sizes of people who have undergone this surgery and are on this journey. I am honestly trying to get down to your starting weight lol

According to his “calculations” for BMI it was right where I should be. I know better though: I’ve been very lean and with a 6 pack at 165 when I did bodybuilding. I don’t expect to hit that weight again nor do I want to. I’d be emaciated if it was for any length of time.

Oddly enough, when we discussed VSG vs bypass in my initial consult, he said the usual for VSG patients is around 60% of excess weight lost long term, so that would make even less sense for his goal weight. I’ve had a lot of issues and complaints with the facility where I had my surgery in the first place, so this just adds to the list of frustrating advice I’ve been given. My surgeon can’t even get my starting weight before surgery right to track my progress correctly despite me showing him on my paperwork what I weighed the day of surgery.

that's really odd. Those who give you a goal (and not all do) often give you one that's right around the average weight loss (which is about 70% of excess weight - which, statistically anyway, is about where you'd expect to end up). There are definitely people who make it to a normal BMI, but my surgeon said only about 10-15% of his patients do, and the statistics I've read appear to back that up. Your surgeon giving you that number as a goal seems unrealistic. Possible, of course, but not terribly realistic.

Starting weight 339, my surgeon seems to think my goal weight should be 150. At 5’11 and competing in everything from bodybuilding to crossfit over the years with a massive weight increase the last two, I think this goal is totally unattainable. He’s going strictly by BMI based on height and not taking into account my history or frame. That said, my current goal is 220 with a long term of 199.

A protein shake can do the trick before or after weight loss surgery, or any other time you need a boost of protein beyond what you can get from your foods. How do you find one that has the amount of protein you need, tastes great, and is low enough in carbohydrates to be good for any weight loss diet? Stop looking, because BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein is a match! BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein delivers 25 grams of high-quality whey protein in each scoop. It is made with real Dutch-process cocoa or classic vanilla and it tastes rich and creamy, but it has only 1 gram of sugar. The total carb count is 1 carbohydrate, meaning this shake can be part of your low-carb or keto diet. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein Highlights: 110 calories 25 grams of protein from Grass-Fed Whey 1 gram of carbohydrates 500 million CFU Bacillus Coagulans Patented Aminogen® protein-digesting enzyme 10% of the daily value for calcium Suitable for gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric band, and BPD-DS patients Suitable for pre-op and post-op liquid, pureed (mushy), semi-solid, and solid foods diets Gluten-Free Lactose-Free Non-GMO Each tub of BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein contains 15 servings. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein has other advantages. It contains patented Aminogen®, an enzymatic blend to support the digestion of protein. Plus, the shake has 500 million CFU of Bacillus coagulans, a probiotic which can promote a healthier gut environment. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein can be used anytime. Start the day off with a low-sugar burst of protein for breakfast, or have a quick shake for a snack or small meal later. Just mix a scoop with water or your favorite beverage, such as milk for extra protein, or almond milk for creaminess. With BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein, you can get the protein you need to tide you over, without taking in excessive carbs. What exactly is Aminogen® and how is it beneficial? Aminogen® is a special patented protein-digesting enzyme blend that can help you get the most out of your whey protein while eliminating any bloating or constipation. The addition of Aminogen® to whey protein, such as is done in BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein, is scientifically proven to improve digestion and retention of protein within the body. Another benefit of Aminogen® is that it reduces some of the gas, bloating, cramping, and constipation that can occur when some people eat a higher protein diet and include whey protein products. As some people know, this protein “gassiness” is not a pleasant side effect, so Aminogen® is a sought-after addition. Overall, Aminogen® is a valuable component to whey protein products, like BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein. It can help you digest and absorb more amino acids, which will then assist you in building and repairing your precious hard-earned lean body muscle. Available online at The BariatricPal Store https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-clean-whey-protein

You got this! No reason to be nervous. Everything will go fine, and you'll have a new tool for losing weight.

Hello! My name is Meagan, I'm 34 new! I've struggled with my weight since...well...pretty much as long as I can remember. I've always been plus size but was an athlete in high school so I was really fit and toned at 150lbs, but would still dread going clothes shopping because 9/10 times it resulted in me crying in the dressing room. Since HS, its been a non-stop struggle to lose weight. I've tried every diet there is to try, gym memberships, work outs, trainers, medical fitness programs, supplements. You name it, I've tried it. Not only am I dealing with genetics (my paternal side of the family is very much overweight and has a host of medical problems because of it) but I also was diagnosed with depression and anxiety about 10 years ago. My current weight is the largest I've been at 265. I'm tired, y'all. I'm tired of working so hard, of following the meal plans and doing the work outs and seeing zero results. I've always struggled with my self esteem because of my weight and this past year it hit an all time low. I started to research bariatric surgery options a few weeks ago and am ready to start the process. However, I just found out that surgery is not covered by my insurance (through my job) and the bariatric program I want to go through, requires insurance before I can start the program. What insurance company have you all seen that covers surgery? Supplemental plans? Help.

Yep, like everyone has said, it's definitely a thing. I'm about 7 weeks post op, surgery was 4/15, and for the last 2-3 weeks, I experienced zero weight loss. I'd been following my diet religiously, exercising etc. About 3 days ago the scale finally moved, but instead of seeing a 3-4lb difference like I was in the beginning, I'm only dropping one pound at a time. But, this is fine with me, as long as things are moving! Trust me, I know it's disheartening, and you're wondering how it could be physically possible to not lose weight while eating so little. You may think you're "doing it wrong" or the surgery didn't work (lol), but in actuality, your body is finally done purging the glycogen and water stores and is now using fat for energy. After your body makes that adjustment, the weight loss will continue.