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So far so good for me! I have to count myself very lucky. 5 mos and 1 week out and I am down 82lbs. I feel good. I’ve only been nauseous twice (once was frosting and once was lunch meat that I ate too fast and got stuck) but I have never thrown up, never had diarrhea. I can eat almost anything in small amounts (sometimes not so small so I try to be careful). Most of the time I am able to forget I ever had surgery just getting used to eating slower and less and drinking more. The other where I was losing a ton of hair is gone and over all everything is awesome. 47lbs to goal.

Hi! I agree this is a good idea. Its very easy to underestimate when one is eyeballing and guessing. You would be surprised how fast uncounted calories add up!

When was your surgery? I read recently that sleeve patients should max at 900 calories for the rest of their life. I do know we are to drink then wait 30 min., eat until full but don't go over a cup, drink after 30 min., eat again 2 hrs or so later if getting hungry. I need to follow those rules myself. I would wait until I'm full then stop then work on finishing my plate when I had room again. That's not 2 hrs. My Dr has me at 60g of protein a day, since Day 1 of my surgery. We both need to stick to the rules. Our stomach can't handle more than a cup of anything inside it. Sent from my moto g fast using BariatricPal mobile app

I went from 249 to 163, which was lowest probably for a day. I am 181.2 today, Sept 21. I can't get out of the 180's. I have my 2-yr checkup and I feel so embarrassed. I fear that breast reduction is the only thing that will get me to goal. I went from 48 to 40; I should be feeling good about that. BUT I'm a 40-I. I want reduced to a D. How can I get out of the 180's? My Dr wanted me at 150 at my 2-yr, and I failed. Sent from my moto g fast using BariatricPal mobile app

Had VSG 5/5. I was losing really easily and fast until about a month ago. Stopped at 229 pounds…. eating 1,000-1,200 cal per day plus some exercise. Maybe I am eating too many carbs? Nutritionist said limit to 70 grams of carbs per day, 100 protein, 26 gms fat, 25 gms sugar. So multiplying out. that is 70x4 plus 100x4 plus 26x9 plus 25x4….. 280 plus 400 plus 234 plus 100. That equals 1,014 cal total per day. I have a lot of injuries but I think I really need to add strength training. Plus I agree with another post; I do need to get a food scale and weigh everything I eat. Looking back at MyPlate where i record my food intake, I can honestly see that i am eating around 200-225 grams of total carbs per day and only around 50-60 protein. HEY I think I just solved my own dilemma!!! Can I get some positive strokes? thanks in advance!!!😀😀😀

I am 6 weeks out and have only slowly added soft foods. I started with vegetable soup for vegetables and they sat well and were great! I am a bit nervous about adding a lot of solid foods too fast. I did have a hernia repaired at the time of surgery so I was told to wait a little longer. I am stalled on the scale as well and not sure if I should add a bit of food. I walk about an 4 miles a day so maybe I should slow down on that. Any suggestions that helped with a stall? I am still dealing with the constipation issue and have found a tea that seems to help every few days.

Less than 24 hours now. Hospital called and I have my admission time for tomorrow morning, have my fasting instructions. Almost chocks-away and I'm feeling quite zen now. Only I can't get my bloody philtrum piercing out! Got my labret out with help from my partner but my philtrum is just not having it. Anyone with mouth piercings got any tips? I've tried biting the back, gripping the back with paper towel, but neither of us can get purchase and the ball is small.

I would be a 23-year recovering opioid addict had I not been given codeine against my will in 2017... so four and a half years here. Ask your anaesthesiologist to give you a TAP block at the end of surgery, which is an epidural for your abdominals—you'll have a little mark where the needle goes into your mid-section in addition to your incisions from the surgery. It is not opiate-derived, and it lasts 12-24 hours depending how fast your body metabolizes it. By 12 hours after surgery I was able to cope with just simply extra-strength Tylenol/Panadol/acetaminophen. I took three doses of that on the day after surgery and haven't needed anything for pain since.

Hi Folks, Anyone know why we should not have alcohol for a year (my program's rule)? I know it's empty calories and it goes to the head really fast, but is there some other reason not to drink?

stalls happen to almost everyone. Just stick to your program and stay off your scale for a few days. And know that it WILL break. Since it's been almost three weeks, it should break really soon... as far as being a slow loser, people lose at different rates for all different reasons - age, gender, body composition (% of muscle), genetics, starting BMI, whether or not you lost weight before surgery, etc. The only two factors that you really have any control over are activity level and how closely you stick to your program. If you do well with those two factors, you WILL lose weight, whether fast or slow. I was a slow-loser from the very beginning, and I ended up losing over 200 lbs. So don't give up!

The gas pains are so annoying but they do get better over time. I’m four days out and definitely still have it sometimes. One thing (sorry if TMI) is that the gas pains get less bad once you have a bowel movement. It took three DAYS for that to happen and I immediately get better and had way less gas. The “foamies” I get when I consume too fast. I forgot to sip yesterday and chugged probably 3-4 oz. of water and was in agony for probably an hour. The hunger pangs are the worst, it feels like my stomach is literally twisting itself like a wet washcloth. I made protein Jello (orange sugar free gelatin with half a scoop of whey protein isolate dissolved in the cold water used for the gelatin) for when I absolutely can’t hack the “grinding”. The big packet of Jello makes 8 portion cups and I usually eat about half a portion cup, so a whopping 8 cal. It helps a lot. I haven’t weighed myself yet today (doing it every day for the first two weeks per doctor’s suggestion—“you’re gonna wanna see the numbers”, then weekly after that) but yesterday morning I was 9.6 down from surgery weight in three days. I know that won’t last but some of these are numbers I haven’t seen in a decade, I already had to size down in my favorite Carhartt shorts, and had to throw out the larger size chonies because they were starting to hang off me. My blood pressure the day before surgery on two BP meds was 145/85. My PCP took me off the one with the water pill as of the day after surgery and last night when I checked, my BP was 123/68 on one med!! I am STUNNED how fast that happened. Almost like my body is like “YES let’s get this done, pitter patter!” Energy level is coming back, but am still weak. I walk 5k every day at least and once the incisions heal and I feel like I can sweat safely I’ll start running. Day after surgery was the absolute worst and then it’s a dramatic improvement. Already the best decision I ever made for my body. It’s really amazing to think, “This is the last time I’m ever gonna see this d**n number on that scale.”

I am scheduled for a revision in December. I am so encouraged by this. I have always been hungry. And I know my stomach empties fast. I pray that I lose the hungry feeling. Glad you're doing well.

I take Bariatric Pal One-a-Day, which is the most complete and economical brand: a year for $99. It's a fast-dissolving capsule.

Hopefully, some of you out there can share your experiences post surgery in regards to your initial weight loss. 🧐 I had my WLS last week on 9/7, so I’m about 9 days post op. With that said, I’m excited about my journey but a little concerned. As of this morning I have lost approximately 18.7 lbs since my surgery date. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that I’m dropping weight, I just wasn’t expecting to lose so much in such little time. 😳 Any feedback would be appreciated!

I have a similar experience with water. After the first couple days I can pretty much drink water at will, any amount I want without any restriction or pain. I too thought WTF is going on and wondered what the point of the surgery was. Then, I tried solid food. If I eat too fast, eat something that is dry or take too big of a bite I feel it in the middle of my chest. It is pain and feels obstructed but I think in reality it is the esophagus constricting to get the food down. I am now eating very slowly...chew 30-40 times, small bites and I am able to get down about 4 ounces of food at a time. It seems to be working well for me as over the two weeks since surgery I have lost 17 pounds after I lost all the fluid weight from surgery. I am hardly hungry at all and even if I feel hungry, the excitement of the weight loss makes me move on from eating if I am over say 700 calories for the day.

With the liquid after surgery I felt nothing. No hungar no full. Started soft foods. Again didnt feel full nor hungrary. It wasnt until I started eating chicken and eggs that I started filling restriction or full. I had my sleeve surgery July 8th. So fast forward to 2 months I get full very fast and I dont really feel hungrary. This week I fill like I want more calories and thats happened before. Trust me you feel full and uncomfrtable full if u eat more then u should

My surgery is 9/20 only 5 days left Of 2 week liquids 4.5 slim fasts a day and sugar free jello and water only and slim fasts the high protein ones strawberry are filling me up. Cleveland clinics hospitals are discussing sitting non essential surgeries down again so I’m Praying they wait Till After mine 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼….

I regained 1/2 of what I lost 😠 I used the Fast Metabolism Diet by Haylie Pomroy. I lost what I had gained & then hit my goal weight over 3 years after my bypass. The diet recommends eating a lot of food each day. I couldn’t do that but I did follow what foods to eat in each phase & did it for 1 month. Then I loosely followed along & kept loosing. We just got back from vacation today. We ate way too many bad things so we are gonna do it for another month starting on Monday (it’s easier to keep track of the phases if you start on a Monday). My whole body felt better & my face waits swollen each morning. There is a very good Fast Metabolism group on FB. They are always very helpful & answer questions pretty quickly. you can always send me a PM if you have any questions.

One of the things that contributed to my stress about this surgery was not knowing what was going to happen. (What can I say, I'm a control freak.) So here is the play-by-play as it pertains to me of my surgery. Your mileage may vary! I'll try to come back and update it. Hopefully it'll be of use to someone—"and knowing is half the battle." Day before surgery Liquid-only diet; two bowls of phở broth, some Protein2O, apple juice, and sugar-free lemon jello. Got about 830 calories in. Had to take a shower with a special CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate) anti-septic body wash. It made my skin a bit "slippery". Packed my bag with my CPAP hose, a book, a spare shirt, some chanclas for walking, my cell phone charger, and my reading glasses. Put out the two pills I was supposed to take (no losartan because it interferes with anesthesia). Day of surgery Took another shower with CHG as required. Reported to the hospital at 0630 as requested. Was checked in and taken to pre-surgery holding. My fiancé was allowed to go with me as an exception, because I'm hard of hearing and rely on lip-reading which is impossible with so many masks and partitions in the way. A surgical RN came and told me to wipe my abdomen with CHG wipes, then put on my surgical gown (which was HUGE on me—I understand I'm a bariatric patient but I literally couldn't keep it on my shoulders). Then he put an IV in the back of my hand, took my vitals (I lost 10 lbs in the two weeks between my surgeon's consultation and surgery day), went through all my medications, put an anti-nausea patch behind my ear, and gave me a blood thinner in my IV. My surgeon came in and asked if I was ready, went over a few things, then went to scrub up. My anesthesiologist came in and asked if I had had anesthesia before (yes), and if I had any questions. I asked him to give me a TAP block at the end of surgery, which is a localized nerve block, like an epidural for your abdomen. It lasts 12-18 hours. I was whisked away and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room, where I was given cognitive tests (what is your name, what hospital are you at, who's the president, etc.) and given ice chips. Once that all proved satisfactory, I was wheeled to my room. I don't remember it, because I fell asleep. Once in the room they put leg compression stockings on me and gave me water, Crystal Light made way too sweet, chicken broth that tasted like a salt lick, and a thicker vegetable purée soup. I couldn't get the vegetable soup down. I forced the chicken broth, Crystal Light, and water. I felt very, very hungry and it was frustrating not to be able to just eat something. I took 3 or 4 laps of the surgical unit floor in my fetching anti-slip socks, and kept falling asleep. The pain from the gas was pretty bad and I spent a good 30 minutes just burping, much to the chagrin of the man in the other bed in the room (though he was moaning so he doesn't get to say anything). Around 1730 the nurse came in, saw that I had drunk what I could and had peed sufficiently (you pee into a graduated container), and that I could walk. She asked my surgeon's permission to discharge me, and I was in the wheelchair going out the door at 1830, exactly 12 hours after I arrived. When we got home, I pretty much washed my hands and face and went straight to bed. I got up probably every 2 hours or so, would have a couple of sips of protein shake or water, along with Gas-X (simethicone) or, as needed, Tylenol. I did get about 7 hours of sleep, in various chunks. I was able to lie, carefully, on my side, which is how I prefer to sleep. My CPAP did increase the gas pressure inside a bit but it was tolerable. Day 1 post-op My first bout of the 'foamies'. I tried to drink a CorePower protein milk way too fast and spent an hour and a half wandering around whimpering. It was actively painful and it felt enough like I needed to vomit that I had a lined bucket at the ready. Eventually, though, it subsided. Gas pain is still here and very real, but better. We went for a walk which absolutely tired me out—and it was barely 500 meters! Right now I am using the timer on my cell phone to remind me to drink 1/3 oz. of fluid every 5 minutes, and I feel full but it's manageable. I am alternating full ounces of regular water and protein water. I also made some Jell-O with extra protein powder but the thought of eating it leaves me cold. If I can get these bottles down plus the shake I had earlier, I'll be pretty close to 48 oz. of fluid which is my surgeon's requirement for the first week (bumps up to 64 oz. after that) and 41 g of protein which will have to do for the first day unless I manage to get some of the Jell-O down me. I have been taking Tylenol, Gas-X, and my ondansetron—the nausea is there but it's in the background, like when you step off a ship onto land at the end of a cruise. I haven't had enough pain to necessitate anything stronger than Extra Strength Tylenol. My incisions are clean (I took a shower).

As others have said, each surgeon is different and has different recommendations and requirements. The pre-op and post-op diets can vary WILDLY between doctors, but that doesn't necessarily mean one is better or worse than another. If you feel like you need additional support, its totally fine to consult with your PCP or a registered dietician, depending on what you need. The other thing to remember is that just because your doctor said you CAN, doesn't mean you HAVE to. You may be cleared to swim, but if you aren't comfortable, then don't. Maybe they say you are ready for the next food phase, but you feel like your body isn't? That's fine, go slower if you need to. The guidelines are just that, guidelines, they are not hard and fast rules for what you have to do at any given stage (although I certainly wouldn't condone going any faster or do more than recommended). Ultimately, you have to listen to your gut and do what you think is best for YOU!

I’m four, nearly five years out and had out some weight on because I rediscovered sugar. I’m now involved in a running battle with sugar and eating. intermittent fasting really helps, low carb helps but I now have this intense reaction to carbs and I’m at a loss. the extra weight - just a few pounds now, goes if I fast. The obsession with food goes too. But I get cramps and am sure I’m not eating enough when I do fast. feel a bit stuck! Had chips last night and my blood sugar shot up to 20 just after then down to four within 3 hours. But, if I do intermittent fasting, blood sugar stays constant at around 6. anyone dealing with similar?

My restriction kicks in pretty fast if I drink with my meal or close to before or after. I can drink a couple of sips up to a few minutes before I eat. It can be annoying because I love soup but I do the reverse of @ms.sss. I eat a spoon or two of the broth, wait a few minutes, then work through eating all the chunky bits. I’ll sip more of the broth later on. Sometimes I’m sipping the broth an hour later (just microwave zap it to warm it up) or I just don’t finish it. You just got to find out out what works for you.

I am 5 weeks post op and have had zero side effects other than pain if I eat too much or too fast. I also have not lost a single pound in 2 weeks. I'm feeling very discouraged and wish I had never put my body through this because I'm having no results.

Am almost 3 years out…i can drink right up to the second before i put solid food in my mouth, with no issues. But I don’t drink while im eating nor for about 1/2 an hour after. If i did i would get overly full really fast and eventually barf. …and when i eat broth based soups with chunks in it, i slurp all the liquid first and then eat the chunks.

I wonder about drinking before meals. What people’s dr’s say and what the vets do. I know I have done this on accident a few times and nothing happened. I have drank with meals and I can feel it pushing the food down too fast but i can drink a whole glass right before I eat and it doesn’t bother me at all.