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I got my sleeve in December 2013 at 315 lbs. Pretty strict for about 10 months. Next holidays, added some goodies and seemed to be able to maintain (had gotten to 210). Never got below that despite being active, not snacking, drinking only water, not drinking with meals, and eating appropriate portions. For my system, just eating less and exercising isn't enough. I'm at 250 now, less active due to work and caring for my mom who can't be left alone. Surgeon said even if I went back to super strict on the eating, I would lose some but he wants me comfortably below 200 and said I would need the bypass to have hope of getting there and staying there. Eating less and exercising didn't work before the sleeve, maybe I should have considered that having the sleeve wouldn't be much different for me. Hopefully having the added component of malabsorption plus the knowledge that I need to maintain a decently strict lifelong meal plan, will be what works for me.

Daily, except I travel a lot for work. This weekend I had a three day conference/day of vacation in a resort place and ate vacation food. I was prepared to have gone up a pound or even two, but it's fine because I'm home and back on target. But I lost 3 lbs!!! I think it was all the walking on the beach and in the heat. My reason for daily is similar to what many have said - I want to catch myself if I start to go up several days in a row or something. 10 weeks out and 48 lbs though - hooray!!! I feel SO good.

I also has surgery on the 25 and today got my menstrual cycle and I already had it on July 10. So let's see how it going to change. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi everyone! Long story short ... got lap band 10 years ago and did okay but not crazy great. I went from a size 16 to 8. In April 2016 I got a mommy make over and in December 2016 started gaining weight thanks to menopause. If I hadn’t been overweight before and stressed about it I would have probably only gained 20 pounds but I freaked out causing my hormones to go crazy. So now I am a size 16 again and going in for a revision. I worked my ass off to get to a size 8 but those who knew I had lap-band tend to forget all those nights I spent at the YMCA instead of happy hour and think the band did all the work so this time I don’t want to tell anyone. My brother and SIL know but they have 2 babies and it would be really hard to go. My sister, Dad & step mother and my daughter tend to tell everyone who will listen my business. My doctor is 2 hours away so I’d like to stay at a hotel and Uber to the hospital. Has anyone gone through this alone?

I must agree with everyone a little. You all make great points and I don’t have a long opinion to anyone’s post. Everyone is different and we all have different results. We all have different addiction levels and we all eat differently. However, I truly believe we have to work at this for the rest of our lives. Maintaining our low weight. Hell- I’m too short to even gain 10-20lbs back if I want to stay this small. So... everyone’s goal weight is different. I don’t understand regain though like most Vets- because I can only eat 1/4 cup at a time... 10months out. I am however hungry quite often . So I eat Clean calories all the time. So my calories don’t add up as fast. Time will tell. We all have motivations that keep us from over doing it and from gaining weight. Whatever that may be. Mine is feeling sexy in size 4-6 clothes. Feeling light as a feather when I walk. Etc etc ... good luck to everyone!

This website has some great seasoning ideas! https://www.thisgrandmaisfun.com/roasted-chickpeas-recipe/ But it seems like different recipes roast them differently. I personally just rinse them off, let them air dry for a few minutes, put them on a parchment paper, use spray olive oil to coat, season them, and shake the pan every 10 minutes while in the oven. I usually bake them at 400 degrees for approx. an hour. You will find if you like them crispier or not. Greek "No Pasta" Salad Dressing- 2 tbsp. lemon juice 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar 1/4 cup of olive oil 1/4 tsp oregano 1/4 tsp Greek Seasoning (I bought this from Walmart) Veggies- Cherry Tomatoes (halved or 4ths) Sliced Kalamata olives Chic peas Cucumber Edamame Red Onion Feta Cheese

Yes, I'm trying my best the only way I can meet goal if I start at 7:00am end at 10:00 pm I don't know what else to do Sent from my SM-N920T using BariatricPal mobile app

Actually, that's about the best thing that can be said about it. Collagen/gellatin is about the most common protein there is, it's an incomplete protein that has a poor amino acid profile. Basically all of the amino acids that are at a surplus in your body already. The only difference between the expensive collagen protein powders and Jell-O (aside from flavors) is that the proteins have been processed further to break them down into smaller particles. Oh, and collagen won't gel. Nutritionally speaking, same thing. If you look on a box of Jell-O, it states that the FDA does not consider it a significant source of protein because of the low quality of the protein. However, since collagen is being sold as a supplement, it does not get regulated by the FDA. I know, I was upset too after buy turmeric bone broth powder to use in cooking. That stuff wasn't cheap! Tasted good though. Be aware that all of these benefits are so new they are mostly marketing speak. There was a time that cigarettes were toted as healthy! https://www.healthcare-administration-degree.net/10-evil-vintage-cigarette-ads-promising-better-health/

I just listen to my body. At the start of each stage I've had a hard time getting the proper amounts in but towards the end of the stage it all works out. I'm struggling right now on my 5th day with mushy foods. I feel so full all day long and I've been 10-20oz/grams down from goal. I can't believe how few calories I'm getting in and still feeling ok.

Honestly I met my husband 10 years ago when I was around 175 and we were just friends. I’ve gained 100 pounds in 10 years over the time of him knowing me but 7 of those years he has spent by my side loving me getting me to the place I am now and he is truly my best friend and we have an amazing life. Mind you were waaaaaay outside the norm when it comes to lifestyle but I always come back to him

I am a July 2017 sleever. My goal weight was 140 lbs, and by June I was 144, which sometimes goes up to 145. So I didn’t get down to it. But I eat a nice amount in a day, I’m never hungry (except right before I eat of course), I have my little snacks which I don’t need to feel ashamed of, as their macros and calories fit in with a healthy diet. So my weight loss counselor told me as she graduated me, that I don’t need to worry about the numbers of the scale any more. I still feel I have too much fat and skin in the lower half of the body. I do plan on surgery to help with some of the trouble spots and skin. And I work out now, I FINALLY believe all those thin people who used to say they loved working out. Didn’t you also think they were lying? Lol. Now I am one of them. I still can’t believe it. I don’t overdo it but I like to do some kind of workout or exercise at least once a day, even if it’s just stretching for 20 mins some days. The surgery was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. Which I did more for my kids than for me, because my blood pressure was getting so bad and I wanted them to have a mother for a long time. But it ended up giving me a new lease on life. I did not lose 100 lbs in 6 months. It took me a whole year to lose 60 little pounds. But that is pretty much what I needed to lose. I could go down 10 lbs but maybe I will after body shaping, skin removing surgery, and maybe I won’t. My face and arms and chest are pretty small and I am not sure I want them any narrower. At my age it just makes you look old. I thought losing so slowly would mean I wouldn’t lose my hair. I was wrong. I lost about 75% of it by last November and by January I was getting vitamin and mineral IVs and extensions in my meager hair (which looked very post chemo). Still have the extensions and also a ton of 2-3 inch new hair growing back in. Whew. My advice to anyone starting out would be to take full advantage of your surgery recovery period when you cannot est normally, and DROP ALL SWEET FOODS PERIOD. Go very low carb, and make your carbs be fibrous veggies and seeds etc. Avoid sweet tastes. Many Bariatric products are full of sweeteners, keeping your palate and gut bugs preferring sweet tastes. Avoid them. Seek the salty tasty ones. Use unsweetened, unflavored protein powders. My doctor’s Nutritionist told us to avoid fruit for 6 months. I did. Thereafter, only 1/2 c berries or less a day. You don’t ever need fruit while you are losing weight. It’s a great opportunity to reset your diet. The gut bugs who love sugar will die out and they are the ones who give you that craving. Take advantage. Another diet thing I learned from keeping meticulous track of what I ate was that 50% of my diet was fat. Healthy fat. And I continued to slowly lose the weight, almost daily, by eating the meats, eggs, dairy, and butter that I ate. All from healthy, Grass fed, pastured animals. Raw whole milk. A very clean healthy diet with a ton of fat. I just steadily kept losing. I’d heard fat doesn’t make you fat, but now I KNOW it. Good luck to all. One of these days I will post my before and after pics and measurements. Sorry such a novel here,

4 days post op vgs. Other then feeling tired more often I feel great. Still getting a handle on this 1 oz. every 15 mins thing though... HW 302 STW 291 (01/08/18) SGW 274.9. (07/25/18) CW 274.9 GW 151

Just wanting to see if anyone on here is having surgery Aug 10 with Dr. Illan. That is when I am scheduled and figured it would be great to connect ahead of time.

My post op papers says only to use miralax the first 2 weeks. Milk of Magnesia is ok? I’m 10 days post op tomorrow

I am 10 months out from surgery and am down 144lbs from my high weight last year. Physically I feel amazing other than having had my gallbladder removed a few days ago. I feel better now than I did 10 years ago. My issue comes in mentally where my mind still hasn’t caught up with my physical state. I am 6’4” and currently sitting at 189lbs so well within the normal BMI range now. The funny thing is though I constantly have family members telling me that I have gotten too skinny and don’t look healthy. Yet with all of that said, in my head I still see the same person I was a year ago before I began this journey. That constant mental battle to see myself in my true current state is a good thing in a way though because it has kept me focused on my journey. It really seems to help me stay in line when it comes to my eating and exercise.

Wow, I would go to the store tonight and get milk of magnesia before your impacted and have a ER visit. Many have taken this post op and had success. 10 days is way too long

There is nothing in it to strain. I’m going on 10 days without a BM and taking miralax and thought maybe this would help move things along.

1. Remember that Bariatric Pal is a business. If you appreciate the boards, throw Alex a bone and actually BUY something to support his business. It's a pain in the arse to run a board like this. Open your wallet once in a while...the products are awesome and it's the least you can do. 2. Don't stay too long. One day you're gonna come to this place and it's gonna be more negative than positive for you. In the beginning, it's a lifeline. By the time you've read the board for a year and seen the full cycle of repetition and mental health issues here.....it's not a lifeline anymore. It can become a kinda toxic habit. Part of recovery is leaving the hospital. Know when it's time to pack your bag and go! 3. Remember that intimacy moves at light speed on the internet....but real trust is nearly impossible until you take your relationship real world. Message board friendships are real friendships...but they're different. Don't expect more than what's realistic, and be careful out there! 4. Everyone is going to have their own recipe for and perception of success. Lotta ways up this mountain. Live and let live....you'll live longer. 5. No person on here is an expert in how to do this...for anyone but themselves. No one can save anyone else...and they shouldn't try. 6. If you're happy with your results, you're doing it right for you. 7. Never lose your sense of humor. If you can't laugh at this board...even when some dork is heckling you....you're taking it way to seriously. 8. "but the vets needs to staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!" No, they don't. Really...they don't. They have lives (we can hope!) and mentoring others is an unpaid job. And again, even your most successful vet....who is an expert at making this whole thing work for themselves.....does not know what is best for you. They don't. You do. Vets are people, too....some are awesome, some are toxic. Trust yourself. You can do this. 9. But there's so much contradictory information...what's the best way to go? That's up to you. And will be different for each of us. Keep trying. if something doesn't work, try something else. Just don't give up! 10. Wishing you all the very best. Adios!

I hear you. It’s tough cooking pasta for my kids....I had sleeve surgery on 7/10 and prior to surgery I was a total pasta-carb addict in general. Very tough to be around “normal” food but eventually we will be able to have nibbles.

I love it❤I found it when I was looking for Calcium Citrate tablets a month ago at Wal-Mart, either there are more bari-babes in my county than i,knew or 5K-athletes have separated the supply. Well I bought a bottle, I m all for the ease of use, shake it up well , it tastes just like a melted orange push-up frozen treat. And under $10 the price isn't bad either. They won me over!😝🍶

So, I'm almost 2 years out VSG. I'm still losing, but it is slowly because I'm trying to change my body composition and increase muscle mass and decrease fat - so if the scale goes up, I'm ok with it so long as it is an increase in muscle mass and a decrease in body fat. (The scale at my gym can measure that.) On days I go to the office (and therefore am rushed), I start the day with a shake - 3/4c frozen fruit, 1 cup of Fairlife Skim Milk and a scoop of protein powder. Throw it in the blender. About 200 calories and 30g protein. Drink in car with coffee on way to office. Around 10, I have an Oikos Triple Zero (15 grams protein). At noon, I have my lunch which on office days is 4 ounces of chicken breast shredded (25grams protein) and mixed with one tablespoon of Costco brand Basil Pesto and 2 cups of mixed salad greens with 1 tablespoon of balsamic dressing. I eat the chicken first. Then I pick at the salad after that. At about 3 or 4, I have a cheese snack of some kind - about 2 ounces of cheese (14 grams protein) or maybe an ounce of cheese and and ounce of nuts. I'm in my office Mondays and Wednesdays, which are also the same days I fence (en garde), so I don't have time to grab dinner before I get to the fencing club so I have a protein bar (20 grams). When I get home after fencing, I have additional protein - sometimes just a shake to get me up to over 100 grams. Or scramble a couple of eggs. Fruit doesn't have protein, but the fiber is good for you. I weigh and measure my fruit and limit myself to one or two servings of fruit a day. I avoid white flour, carbs like potatoes, pasta, rice. I have multigrain bread occasionally. I fill a quart bottle with water in the morning when I get to my desk. I make sure it it empty by noon. I fill it again after lunch and make sure it is empty by the time I leave the office - there's 64 ounces to start. When I work out, I'm good for at least 1 or 2 more quarts of water. I work out about 6 days a week - Fencing 2 days a week roughly 2.5 hours, a Cross-Fit type class at my gym twice a week (1 hour), Pilates for an hour and another two hours of agility and strength work to round out my fencing. You have to find what works for you, but if you have good restriction with your band, moving to smaller (3-4 ounce protein) meals 5-6 times a day may be the answer for you. If your insurance offers a consult with a nutritionist, you may want to do that to get good macros for yourself based on your body. Best of luck.

Day 3 post surgery. Feeling pretty good. Having pain to the left of my belly button, about 2 inches below the big incision. Feels like a burning/searing pain when I engage my stomach muscles. Trying to take it easy. Focusing on liquids and protein. Started on full liquids this morning. The premier caramel tasted like the best thing in the world after all that broth. Question for all the post sleevers, how much do you aim to walk each day? I’m trying g to get up at least once an hour for at least 10 minutes. I live on the third floor, so walking outside right now isn’t an option.

Your feet may very well change in size. As a person working on their feet 12 hours a day, comfortable feet and shoes are important to me. I wouldn’t wait months and months to buy a new pair of shoes. If you are three months out from surgery it could be 9-10 months before you see a need for a change in shoe size. Not sure what type of shoes you need that are too expensive to put off buying for that long.

Im only telling one person my spouse! The only reason he knows is because he has to pay for it! 🤣😂 I respect the people who do and don’t tell. Remember were not obligated to do either. If you feel happy about telling people then go for it. But If it gives you any stress or any kind of negative feelings then respect that. Your kids, parents and friends have no exclusive rights to know. You have the right to share what you feel comfortable with end of story. On that note I’m so happy my friend shared her vsg journey with me or I wouldn’t have known the surgery existed! That being said Im still not telling her about me getting it done! It may not make any sense to anyone else. But it makes perfect sense for me 😊 Ps. I think when you tell just a couple ppl and they promise not to tell, plan on multiplying that by 10.

Thanks for all the detailed info. I’m scheduled to have the balloon put in this coming Wednesday. I have lots of frequent flyer miles from work, so I won’t pay anything for the flights from Indy to San Diego. The 3100 includes pickup at the airport, a night in a local hotel, one night in the hospital for observation, and delivery back to the San Diego airport. So for me, it literally exactly 3100 for all costs, as opposed to 8k here in the US. Im 275, would love to lose 50 pounds, which is sort of what I had in mind. However, I haven’t been 240 for 10 years. I would feel so much better and better about myself even with a 35 pound weight loss. I think I’ll set my goals lower, or maybe not even have a goal weight, Just a goal of changing eating habits and getting leaner I’m really going to think about not weighing I have no scales now, and I don’t anticipate getting any I see some sort of doctor every couple months or so, and that should be enough I’ll know if I’m losing weight by the way I feel and my belt holes. Focusing on a number kills so many peoples’ motivations. Im also seeing a therapist that specializes in eating disorders. So that should help to address the emotional part of it to some degree. What’s weird is that part of why I’m nervous and apprehensive about the procedure is that I won’t have my go to “friend” of overeating when I’m feeling down. It’s been my escape for 45 years now. I have had issues with other addictive tendencies (I’m a year and a half clean from opiate use), but the food thing has stuck. I don’t have to have Percocet to stay alive, so I can go cold turkey. I don’t have to have any balance with opiates. Not the same with food of course. If I get on that plane in Indianapolis on Tuesday afternoon, it’ll be an interesting journey for sure.