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as you get closer to your goal, it slows down a lot. Just stick to your plan, though. My last few months I lost like two or three lbs a month - but it did keep going... P.S. I've mentioned this on this site before, but i remember going to Weight Watchers meetings before surgery, and (mentally) rolling my eyes at these slightly overweight women who'd moan and groan about how hard it was to lose 10 lbs. Being 200 lbs overweight, I had to laugh at that. But now I totally get it... It's REALLY tough when you don't have much to lose. But just keep at it..

Nope. Just my coffee in the am and then water, plain, the rest of the day. I will see what happens in the next few weeks before contacting them.

Starting soft foods next week - wed, looking forward to it! Thinking weetabix & milk for breakfast, maybe a mashed banana, soup, mashed tuna or salmon & avocado or potato for lunch/dinner. Surgery on 15th, definitely gets easier as days go by, the first week is pretty crappy so glad that’s behind me. Onwards and upwards - good luck everyone!

I can only drink so much plain water every day, so I switch it up with water flavor packets - I like Starburst and Walmart brand, also Kool Aid Zero sugar. The Starburst ones you can find at Walgreens and Walmart. I don't like Crystal Light really. I am 2.5 weeks out and drink at least 80oz of water or other liquids a day (including one 1.5 protein shakes, because I'm not eating much food at this point). Otherwise, talk to your surgery center about why you're gaining water weight. Not sure why that would be, since you said you're not eating salty foods. Are you drinking a lot of things like Gatorade? I believe that is pretty high in sodium, but I'm not sure. I can't stand the taste. Good luck!

Today Mark's 1 week post op for me. The dietitian who saw me in the hospital marked 9-30-21, today, is when I could start full liquids. you should be right around that time also. I hope it gets better😊

Originally I was also going to use a different surgeon, but they had a wait list that would have made me wait three more months and COVID hit around that time so my surgery would have undoubtedly been delayed so I'm glad I went with a different surgeon. It worked out in the end and I'm incredibly happy with my results. It may be a different choice from your original, but I hope it works out as well for you as it did for me! I hope the rest of your journey is much smoother!

Thanks! By writing here it not only helps me keep tract of things but I guess it can help others too. My last doc visit a few weeks ago they lowered my meds even more so I doubt they would put me back on this (I was taking this along with my Lisinopril for my high BP which has now been LOTS better which is why they lowered my meds). That's why I was wondering what else, aside from water, would/could act as a good diuretic naturally so that I don't have to worry about this water weight gain/stall again.

Hi, congrats on your surgery! I had my sleeve done on 9- 23-21, so we're about in the same time frame post op. Are you drinking your shakes? They should help. I ordered fit and lean powder from Amazon, actually way before I had my surgery. I mix 2tbs chocolate pb2 or PB fit with 8 oz of coconut milk or almond milk- unsweetened and some ice cubes in my ninja blender and it is filling. I also think there is alot of fiber in this particular powder so I experience a little more gas than usual. today is one week out for me and I tolerate the milk pretty good. my problem was drinking too big a sips of all my liquid. Good luck! surgery buddie!

I had surgery 2.5 weeks ago. At first I could only take tiny sips but already I can take full swallows. I think many people can eventually take long drinks, but I don't think everyone can. I used to be able to drink a full 16 oz bottle in one breath, but I don't think that will be possible anymore. I'll live. I'm okay with my drinking pace now.

I'm about 10 weeks out from VSG. For me, I can now take generally "normal sized" drinks. I don't have to sip the 1/4oz anymore, but I cannot chug anything. Two to three swallows at a time is my max, or I get stomach pains. While working on remodeling my kitchen one day I had a memory lapse and forgot about surgery and started chugging a Gatorade. Two gulps in (think about 12oz), I had a major diaphragm spasm and my stomach just rejected everything. I had grape Gatorade coming out of my nose and what felt like someone stabbing me in the chest with a knife. It was...unpleasant, to say the least. tldr: sipping won't last forever, but you may not ever be able to gulp

I have (maybe had at this point) severe fatty liver disease when I had my surgery (VSG), so I was super worried my liver would be too big or fatty for the surgery to go forward on the day and specifically asked my surgeon about this. She said that they generally only worry about the liver being too big/fatty with patients with BMI in the 60s or higher, which wasn't me. I don't know if that is you or not, but a bit of info. She also said that the pre-op diet, especially the liquid portion, is very effective and can shrink the liver quite a bit in just a few days/weeks. As for starting the liquid diet early...I wouldn't suggest it. It is pretty tough and if your program is anything like mine, it will be a loooooooooong time before you get to eat food again. Don't give it up too soon. I was on nothing but liquids for 10 days pre-op and more than 15 days post-op--25 days total. I had three periods of psychological difficulty with this--day 2 & 3 pre-op (just hangry and had a headache for more than 24 hours--pissed me off), the day before surgery (just tired of liquids and impatient) and then about 10 days post-op, when I was really, really over the protein shakes and just wanted to eat something--anything. Good luck!

I would be careful taking meds you were told not to take. At least talk to your doctor. Trust the process. It's normal for there to be stalls

I am 7 months post VSG and 2 months post Lap cholecystectomy. We are on vacation at a resort so I am having a few cocktails here and there. I have to say I do not notice any difference in my alcohol tolerance now compared to before surgeries. I guess that is a good thing. I only drink on vacations and occasionally at home when we go to dinner/ party with friends. This week I am trying to balance enjoying my vacation with keeping an eye on the empty calories from cocktails etc. Planning to get back to tracking when I get home.

My first post-op AI vacay was at around 10 months post op (I was already in maintenance though). I did eat too much (or too fast?) the first day and did barf a couple times as a result, and that was enough to keep me vigilant for the rest of the trip. I ate just veggies and protein 90% of the time. My carbs/sugars came from the crazy delicious cookies at the coffee bar, and single bites (for taste, lol) of other’s desserts, and mangoes the size of my head (yum!) I did still track all my food intake, but it was all guessing so…highly inaccurate….i’ll see if i can pull up my food logs from that time…? Didn’t have any of the sugary mixed drinks, but did have wine, vodka sodas and tequila shots. Lots of it, i confess. Went to the gym to run on the treadmill for an hour every morning, or joined in the resort’s organized morning road run for 5K (twice i did a 10k with them, the first time ever at that point to ever do that distance, EVER!) I came home basically the same weight as i left. I was 119.8 the morning i left, came back 10 days later at 119.9 Now….compare this to a 2 week NON-AI trip i took a month later, and i came back 5lbs heavier (I didn’t nearly do as much exercise that time around, didn’t track a thing, and i ate bread, lol). But it was all good, i went back to tracking once home, back to running routine and lost that gain in about a week. so i guess the lesson I learned here was that i stay on track when i track my food intake to be aware of my cal counts and make decisions on food accordingly. 3 years post op now, with many vacays under my belt since, im still tracking everything and im still basically the same weight (116.4 this morning)

I'm 2.5 weeks out and if I bend certain ways I have a slight pulling sensation in my incisions. But I agree with @Arabesque. If the pain is getting worse and not better, call your surgery center.

Totally normal. By the end of the first week I could drink 8 oz in a few minutes with no discomfort and 16 oz in 10 minutes with no discomfort. You will feel discomfort with solid food if you have a few small bites in a few minutes and get a tightness or feeling "stuck" in your chest unless you go REALLY slow (I am just learning this). The liquids just go right through your stomach, so this has nothing to do with the size of your stomach.

Man, I wish I wasn't hungry! I'm hungry all the time except right after eating. I am 2.5 weeks out. I can eat soft foods, but all I've tried so far is refried beans, tuna, and cheese. I'm going to try eggs this morning. You will keep losing weight, but you will have some stalls along the way; that's completely normal. Don't skip meals... set an alarm if you have to. At least, that's what our surgery center said!

Hey Everyone! Ive had a few things come up since my last appointment with the surgeon. This was all through my GP. Turns out my iron levels are now all of a sudden super high(ferritin was 417), and my liver enzymes also high but thats been an ongoing issue for me. I rarely eat meat and have never had high iron in the past so i have no idea whats happened there. What im now concerned about is my liver! My surgeon does a standard 2 week pre op before surgery to help shrink the liver but im so scared it wont work! My GP sent me for an ultrasound of my liver and it shows moderate fatty liver disease. Ive been reading ways to shrink my liver now before my next surgeons appointment but all the results i get are what im already doing. Ive always eaten fairly well and even lately ive cut back heaps on the junk and comfort eating knowing i have the surgery coming up yet this has still happened! So fearful that itll get to the big day, they will open me up and then not operate because its too large still😭 what happens if the pre op diet just doesnt work? Im almost tempted to just start my pre op diet now! I dont even have my surgery date yet!

Hello Bariatric Buddies (corny right? lol) I thought I'd come on here and share my experience so far for those who may be thinking about weight loss surgery OR are scheduled to undergo surgery soon. I started my bariatric surgery journey May 4th 2021 after YEARS of wanting to do it but not having the courage to start. At that point i was 298LBS. At my heaviest i was 305LBS. What prompted me to just go for it and conquer my fears was just wanting to be healthy again. I was tired of making excuses and as sad as it sounds i was tired of looking in the mirror every day staring at myself morphing into this person i no longer wanted to be. Fortunately for me, i didn't have any MAJOR health issues, however i did/do suffer from PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome). For anyone who knows the struggles of PCOS you know trying fad diets and exercising isn't really helpful when trying to lose weight when your hormones are so imbalanced. Any who, going forward - i contacted my local bariatric surgery center and set up my initial consult. Since we're still being affected by covid, majority of my appointments were via video. My first consult they went over my eligibility requirements, health history and goals. After speaking with the nurse navigator they then scheduled my next visit with the Surgeon who would then change my life forever. So, two weeks later, i meet my surgeon VIA zoom (and let me say, i love that she was blunt, super honest and made sure my goals and perception of the surgery was realistic), she told me about herself, she asked me a few questions about my life, health history in depth, and she then went over my surgery options and what she felt would be my best choice (Gastric Bypass RNY). We ended the appointment on a good note. At that point i was feeling good, motivated and just proud of myself, like - GOSH, I'M FINALLY DOING THIS! At this point in the process, i have scheduled an appointment to get an EKG, chest X-RAY, cardiology, pulmonary, and a behavioral specialist. Over the course of 4 months i would complete each appointment and the specialists would send over their impressions over to the surgeon. September 3rd. I had my pre op class (with a dietitian). I signed a bunch of papers stating that i would not consume alcohol or use tobacco. I watched a video and then the dietitian stated that starting September 9th - until September 19th i will need to be on a full liquid pre op diet - at that point in the liquid diet you are not allowed to take any vitamin supplements, and or specific medications (they would go over that with you). September 9th came around and i started my three protein shakes a day, with drinking 64OZ of water until September 19th as advised. Let me tell you, that was the single most hardest thing that i have EVER done, but in the end i was so proud of myself. September 20th at 10:00AM i had to drink 10OZ of Magnesium Citrate to bowel cleanse in preparation for surgery the next morning. I spent all day in the bathroom. Around 1:30PM i received a call from the hospital letting me know what time i needed to be at the hospital for surgery the next day (9/21/21) which ended up being 7AM. I had so much trouble falling asleep that night as i was so excited yet SO nervous! Surgery day rolls around and i am up getting ready. We (my boyfriend and i) then make our way to the hospital, check in, and head to my pre op room to be prepped. They took my temperature, and my weight. When i started, i was 298 - the day of surgery i was 282LBS! At 9:40AM i went in for surgery and was in the OR for about 4HOURS. I spent about an hour and a half in recovery where they gave me 1OZ water every half hour, that would continue as i was transported to my room that i would stay for the next 24HOURS. My hospital stay wasn't bad, and my nurses/doctors were super attentive, supportive and courteous! They came in almost every hour to check my temperature, blood pressure, and incisions. I went home 9/22/21 at 9:40AM. 1st day home was challenging. I was in so much pain and discomfort. That quickly subsided as the days passed. But in those days, i attempted to drink water and protein and move around as much as possible because walking truly helps with the pain. Here i am 9 days post op and i am not at 100% yet but i am improving i still feel slight pain only where i have internal sutures, and i am gassy (like burping and stomach feeling bloated) - for that i use GAS-X - it's amazing! I currently weigh 273LBS which makes a total of 25LBS lost and 9LBS lost since surgery. 6 Day's post op i was back at work (I KNOW I KNOW I AM CRAZY - BUT I WORK IN AN OFFICE AT MY DESK MAJORITY OF THE DAY SO I AM OKAY).. Hopefully this helps! & if anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask :)

Hey guys. New here. On Medicaid only and starting the long road to approval. I’m currently 34, 418 lbs, 6’0. I have high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes (type II), and high cholesterol. I started in January seeing a doctor for my 6 month physician led weight loss attempt and documentation. I was on adipex as well as lipotropic injections through them. My first visit was in January and I was at 413. I hovered 399-413 over the first 5 months, and on my 7th visit in September, weighed in at my highest of 418. I spoke with a physician in Huntsville at the beginning of my journey and they told me to go ahead and complete my 6 month plan, and then come to them for the rest. I called them and was bummed to find they recently stopped taking patients with Medicaid only. I was heartbroken. I had searched for years to find this physician. However, the recommended a doctor to me who ended up being my long term family surgeon. He just recently began accepting Medicaid only patients for bariatric surgery. I got a referral for a cardiology consult and psych consult. Going to psych next week and hopefully cardio as well. Then will get to meet with the surgeon. Praying so hard everything goes well.

I have my "30 day out" appt next week, then hopefully get scheduled for the end of Oct, first week of Nov. I am now getting back into the swing of things of eating better and protein drink for dinner. I am soooo ready to get this party started!!!!!

Today I got my surgery. It has been challenging. Vomited blood and phlegm three times now. The gas pains are terrible! Starting to have buyers remorse 😔😩

I saw the nutritionist today. She said that I’m doing everything the way that I should. She recommended that I only drink one protein shake a day and make sure I add some carbs to my meals. She reassured me that this phase is the prep phase for my soon to be new way of living. She said that some people don’t lose weight before they go on the pre-op liquid diet. However, when I start that diet I will lose some pounds. All in all I feel better. She has not seen any weight gain due to protein brands, but think that my lack of a loss was due to too much protein. Now I am focused on eating 2 good nutritious meals, my 1 protein shake and listening to my body. I was trying to walk 5 days a week, but it’s hard when you work overnight. So I’ll do 2 days of walking at home. When I’m at the hospital walk up the stairs, take the long way to the units… anything to get mg heart beating and steps in. last thing… I thank you all for being there. This forum has been great.

Thanks I think I am in a stall weight day of surgery 238 weight on weigh in day last Monday 225. Trying not to be frustrated.

As @catwoman7 said it’s likely a stall. They happen & you may experience a couple if them. They will pass. Your body just needs time to come to terms with the changes - pretty stressful to it as well as you. If you’re following your plan & your doctor is happy you’re golden. It’s not a race. The weight is not going to magically disappear quickly. Because you had a higher starting weight you likely lost more quickly to begin but as your weight decreases, your weight loss rate will slow. We all experience this slow down as we get closer to our goal simply because our caloric intake is getting close to the amount our body needs to function. Congrats on your weight loss so far.