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I've gotten Egg McMuffins when I've been on the road - 300 kcal and lots of protein (I'm also six years out, so...)...but other than something like Wendy's chili (also eaten while on the road), that's pretty much the extent of my fast food eating these last six years.

I could see getting it if I were traveling or had like....a super exceptionally busy schedule (the latter of which I rarely experience). But in my day to day life, fast food has no place. Pre surgery we used to have fast food at least two or three times a week, and learning to make my own food at home rather than relying on fast food was one lifestyle change I was determined to make. I am learning to love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen. If anyone else is looking for ways to avoid fast food,I recommend learning to meal prep. We don't prep all our meals, but having plenty of tasty food in the fridge makes it so much easier to avoid fast food when you're tired after work and don't want to cook.

I haven't nor will I ever eat fast food again in my life. Not just because of the surgery, but because I know its just bad all the way around. I figure I have gone 9 months without out so I can just keep doing it.

My husband and I LOVE to eat out, so we've probably gone to restaurants 4-5 times since I graduated to normal foods. Covid restrictions are also easing up in our area so we've gone mostly with friends because we're just so excited to see each other again. I make sure I know the menu beforehand and if possible, even check the nutrition info. Most chain restaurants can break down everything for you. And I agree, don't be afraid to ask for modifications. I used to love sushi so when we went to a sushi restaurant, the first thing I asked was what could I do as a person who can't eat rice right now but still wanted sushi. They pointed out a few riceless rolls they had on the menu that I didn't know about, and bam! I had sushi! I'm trying to not fall back into old habit so my husband and I are trying to limit ourselves to two restaurant trips a month now that we've got it out of our systems. My hard and fast rule is no fast food. If we go out to eat, it's a sit down experience. It's harder on the wallet, but I think it's better because we're more apt to make better choices and only go out when we really want to.

Just finished working my last shift prior to surgery. Monday I get to have a light breakfast, a protein shake for lunch then clear liquids thereafter. I have to be at the hospital by 5am Tuesday, June 1st. It’s just crazy how fast the time seems to have passed since my Informational Seminar and first consult!

In the beginning, I set a goal of 120lbs because this would put me smack dab in the middle of a "normal" weight range for my height. By the time I got down to 127lbs, I decided that was enough as I felt I was looking too thin. Now fast forward 2 years after reaching modified goal of 127, and I now weigh 112 as of this morning. The funny thing is that I actually don't think I look as thin/gaunt now as i did at 127 lbs two years ago. Soooo...I think that weight loss and/or maintenance goals in terms of total actual weight fluctuates over time because the distribution and composition of those pounds may look different at different times. I think. These days so long as my clothes don't start feeling tight I'm good, lol.

I'm so sorry you are feeling this way. I had a real rough time right after my surgery. The first thing was realizing that I had become allergic to the whey protein. Next I was trying to eat to much to fast. I struggle with food addiction., to this day. I had to get the food storage containers out of the baby section and watch what I put in them. Vegetables, chicken, seafood but not to much. We can't eat off a plate that is too much and it makes you feel miserable. Lastly I used CBD oil I checked with my doc first and it helped me become mentally strong to fight the fight.

Start telling them that you are dieting and eating better now and seeing a nutritionist and exercising. Everything you are already doing so when they see you next and you’ve lost weight it won’t seem so fast.

Yea. Real fast. I'm still in shock. I'm having trouble getting used to the new me. Feels good though.

I'll be eleven years out June 11th. I lost it fast and maintained at or below goal for six years. I've regained some, but not even half. I'm more concerned with another hiatal hernia (one was discovered and repaired when I had WLS), endoscopy (because of GERD) in Nov 2019 revealed another hernia, a stricture and ulcer. Surgeon made it clear he does not repair hernias, and I was not made aware of the stricture (what is that?) and I had no idea about the ulcer. I was put on a prescription PPI. It worked for two months, I had previously been eating 8 - 10 Tums a day, every day. I needed zero immediately.....and then started needing one every so often, he upped the medication to twice a day. That helped for a little while, but I'm back to needing Tums several times a week, although I do not need as many as before. I've been awakened with horrible GERD, coming up into my throat. I never did this before. This is new. I made an appointment with a bariatric surgeon/general surgeon, I'll see him June 17th. I'm not sure what to expect. Everything I've ready, revision to bypass is the best way to fix this for good. I was self pay the first time around, I'm hoping if it comes to that, insurance will cover it. Let me know what you decide. I'd love to know the process with your doctor. Tests etc. Good luck!

I would ask your nutritionist. At 4 months out my nutritionist had me on a 600-800 calorie and 60-80 carb diet plan. But every person is different and so is their plan. Also, my weight loss slowed after 3 months. The first three months I lost fast. Then the following three months I averaged 8 pounds a month. The next 5 months following that I averaged 5 pounds a month. My average lately is about 3 pounds a month. I'm 16 months out now so my diet plan is 900-1200 calories and 80-150 carbs per day (I try to keep my carb intake around 90 and my calories no higher than 1000 (though some days it HAS gone close to 1200). Also, my daily sodium allowance is 1200mg, but I try and get under 900mg because I retain water like CRAZY!

you're down to your original surgery weight because, like most of us, you probably "gained" weight while in the hospital because of all the IV fluids. It can take up to a week for them to work their way out of your system. I've heard of people "gaining" as much as 10 lbs while in the hospital! fluids go through our stomachs really fast since our pyloric valves were bypassed, so I'd be very surprised if you could stretch your stomach from fluids. Maybe you could if you REALLY slammed them, but 40-50 oz over the course of the day isn't "really slamming" them. I've never heard of anyone doing that from drinking fluids, and we were never warned we could stretch our stomachs from that. So...I'm not sure what to say...

That was really fast! You've completely changed in half a year.

if you're still seeing your bariatric team, I'd start there. Or if not, is it possible to see them again? Otherwise, if you're not still tracking your food intake, start there. Track for a couple of weeks to figure out what your average calorie intake is now. Then try cutting back by 100 calories or so for another couple of weeks. If that doesn't do the trick, cut back by another 100 calories. Rinse and repeat. Eventually you'll find the level where you'll start losing weight. also, start doing some of things we did that first year after surgery (NOT all the way back to shakes and purees - I mean how we ate after the first couple of months - focusing mostly on protein and non-starchy vegetables. Then if you have room, maybe a small serving of fruit or whole-grain carb). if you're having trouble with hunger while cutting back, add in more vegetables - I try to eat vegetables with every meal when I'm trying to lose (I don't always with breakfast, but I DO blend a cup of fresh spinach or kale in with my morning protein shake to make up for it). I also always keep raw veggies (with a dip made from plain Greek yogurt and ranch dressing mix), sugar free popsicles, and sugar free Jello around, too. Healthy fats like avocado and peanut butter or a handful of nuts can also help with the hunger - but just have a small portion of those since they're pretty high in calories. good luck with this. I know it's tough - I'm battling a 10-lb COVID gain right now and I know it isn't easy, but people do it... At least you're catching it at 40 lbs while it's still do-able oh btw - I know a lot of people who've regained who've had success with Weight Watchers, Keto, and/or intermittent fasting - so those might be options for you, too...

I actually gained weight the closer I got to my surgery because I did the little food funerals that many of us do. Either way it gets harder and harder to lose weight the more we lose so hopefully you won’t lose quite as much the next couple of months but maybe relax your diet just a bit if you are losing it that fast. So sad we have to play these games with something so important as our health. I was close to the weight before the food funerals and asked this question too. For me they also said it went by the weight you are at your pre op appointment (before the liver shrink diet).

Yup. If I eat too fast. It comes on like a train and I feel like I’m going to barf. Seems to happen more when I get to talking a lot at a meal and forget to eat slow. Still have to concentrate even almost 3 years out.

I wouldn’t be able to drink or gulp water fast. I would no longer be able to tolerate artificial sweeteners.

Surgery is a weight loss assist/boost, but it’s not going to do the work for you. I hate seeing posts of people who are back at fast food, candy, pastries, chips etc within a few months of surgery. Just because they “can” eat some of this stuff doesn’t mean they should be at this stage in the weight loss phase. Focus on your goal of weight loss, not testing your surgery limits. Your surgery might allow you to eat almost anything without trouble, but at the end of the day you’re still responsible for what you eat. Don’t live off a diet of protein shakes and water only, but also take this opportunity to reinvent your eating habits so you don’t end up back where you started in a few years. I was in my preop class with a guy I know who kept saying he was going to eat exactly how he did preop but just let the surgery limit his portion sizes. He stopped losing weight only a few months post surgery and never even got close to his goal.

My first two weeks post-op were not great. I struggled with fluids, intermittent gas, pain from my gut and incisions, and unbelievable fatigue. I think what you are going through is normal—you are only 5 days post-op. Keep trying to drink tiny sips, walk around the house, and nap. If you keep having pain though, call your doctor. I hope you feel better soon! P. S.—week 3 is much better! 😉

I'm trying not to get too frustrated about this. My surgery was scheduled for May, then June, and now JULY. All good reason(s) for reschedule though. I have some chest congestion that has hung around and turned into a bit of pneumonia. It was pushed out, and then my regular doctor said to push it out a little further so I can see a specialist in the meantime. I'm dissapointed but feel very comfortable with the reasoning for it. I don't want to go into surgery with weakened lungs. But I feel my resolve busted a little bit, and maybe a bit of relief. It's 100% the right choice, medically speaking. I was half-way into my liquid diet when I got the news, and now i'm going 2 months waiting until surgery. I know it will probably go by fast, but it's hard not to think of that as a time where I would be making progress, healing, and now I'm not. At any rate, if you're dealing with this, you're not alone.

you are right. There are so many things that factor into your rate of weight loss that you have little to no control over, such as age, gender, starting BMI, genetics, metabolic rate, what percentage of your body is muscle, etc. The only two factors that you have a lot of control over is your how closely you stick to your program and your activity level. If you're good with those, then you'll lose the weight, whether fast or slow. I was a slow loser from the get-go, but I was very committed to my program, and I ended up losing all of my excess weight (over 200 lbs). In the end, it has more to do with your level of commitment than it does your rate of weight loss.

The amount I can eat (four years out) varies hugely. I fast 22/24 three days a week and 16/8 or 18/6 the other four days and I’m v low carb/Keto and absolutely no damn sugar at all! Sugar been gone about six weeks this time. Lowest weight 8 stone 2, highest 10 stone 10 about 6 weeks ago! Dropped 12lbs so now 9 stone 12 (137llbs) feel so good! Sugar is the devil for me! food pics are air fried thighs and aubergine/courgette mix and a chaffles (pancake made from egg and cheese) with fried pek (Keto friendly chopped pork) and mushroom and a slice of emmenthal. I have a ninja foodi 9 in one - pressure, air, steam, bake, sauté, grill etc! And I use it most days. In love with ma foodi!

Neither my surgeon nor dietician gave me calorie goals to follow while losing. They did recommend 1/4 cup of food from purée stage slowly increasing as I was able to eat more as long as it was low fat, low sugar, low carb. I wasn’t eating 300 calories in that first month. I remember my surgeon drawing a picture of a side plate, then drawing a circle of protein & a circle of vegetables & saying that’s about how much I’d be eating at goal. He also outlined the size in my palm. He was pretty right. I was told a daily goal 60g of protein & then slowly add vegetables & fruit to my eating as I progressed. I saw my dietician every two weeks for almost a year (COVID ended it) where we discussed what I had added to my diet & what I thought I’d try next. I can go back to her at anytime. It took me about a year to find the sweet spot in maintenance & to stop losing. I’m really not active so I maintain my weight through calorie control though I don’t religiously measure & count calories except when I add new foods or do random checks to ensure I’m not slipping. I keep to about 1200 calories give or take. Awareness of portion size & nutritional value of what I eat are my key considerations. I prepare most of my food so I have control over the ingredients & how it’s cooked. I eat protein (average 60g from meat, seafood & dairy), vegetables, fruit & whole/multi grains (some crackers as a snack & rolled oats). No processed carbs & I avoid as much sugar, sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners as I possibly can. No fast food in my life & I’ve had takeaway three times since surgery (braised chicken & cashews & skinned steamed gyoza). No carbonated drinks except for tonic, soda or sparkling water. I don’t allow high sugar or high fat food in my house - if it’s not there I can’t eat it. If I have people over, they take home the leftovers of foods I don’t eat now for the same reason. It may sound restrictive but it’s working for me & I really don’t miss anything. There are some things I can’t eat or don’t enjoy anymore because my tummy doesn’t tolerate them. I used to eat a lot of avocado but now it tastes off & the texture is strange. Mashed potatoes & pasta (including plant ones) sit heavily in my tummy & I don’t enjoy alcohol as much. My hunger only came back earlier this year but I still have days I’m not really hungry (like yesterday & today) so I try to eat to routine so I don’t miss meals. If I’m going out for dinner, I’ll drop a snack to allow for what I might eat at the restaurant. In the past, I wouldn’t weigh myself if I thought I’d put on weight - if I couldn’t see an actual number on the scales I could convince myself I hadn’t gained. So I weigh myself almost every day. I have a fluctuation window of about 1kg (2.2lbs). If it sits on or close to the max for a couple of days in a row, I review my diet & make slight adjustments: drop a snack, reduce a portion size. Sometimes it’s just fluid or constipation but I find I know my body a lot better now & I make allowances for that. My medical team would like me to put on a couple of kilos but I’m happy where I am. But who knows what the future will bring. I certainly eat way more frequently than I ever did before surgery and also more than I used to eat: 3 meals & 3-4 snacks. I think I have a metabolism that is finally working again. There are so many different eating plans you can follow to lose or maintain. You’ve just got to find what works for you & how you want to live & enjoy your life. Finding a good dietician & therapist who are experienced with bariatric patients is a good place to start. Good luck finding your path. Sorry it’s so long.

I'm your same height and my goal was also 130. My surgeon was kind of the polar opposite of yours. He did not give me a calorie target at all. He asked me to keep carbs moderately low (I think it was 60-80g), eat protein first and then non-starchy veggies. My protein goal was 60g. He encouraged me to eat when hungry, but don't push my restriction. He said if I did that, calories would take care of themselves. It did work out that way for me. Like a lot of us, I started with very low calories (eating was hard at first). Then I was at 600 for a while and it slowly rose to 800. I stayed there a long time. It took me almost two years to lose all my weight but I did reach (and then pass) my original goal. I was one of the lucky ones in that I had very little appetite for the first year and when it started to return, it was still much lower than pre-surgery. Even so, the plan you were given seems pretty harsh and I'm not sure I could have stuck to that. 15g of carbs is lower than I can consistently do (and I'm an experienced low-carber!). Now that I am in maintenance, I do enjoy a treat now and then but day to day, I avoid sugary foods, junk food, fast food, etc. I can't eat that stuff regularly without losing control. I can have a treat, but then it's right back on plan. Otherwise it wakes up cravings that are hard to deal with. There are lots of less draconian eating plans that most people can lose weight on. I agree with the suggestion to consult a therapist and maybe also find a doctor or nutritionist who is willing to take a more moderate approach. I wish you the best!

I'm 10 months post op and I can pretty much eat anything, just way smaller amounts. Because I was so big before I am in still in thr weight loss phase though, so I'm still following my plan. I have had a treat here and there and did fine. I still enjoy food and I feel like once I'm in maintenance I'll eat pretty normal. Like Catwoman says, I think I'll eat like someone who never had a weight problem. It's actually really amazing to me when I get full so fast and I really enjoy the feeling. I never felt that way before. Even though it has been a big change, it has been very welcome and I love it! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app