Search the Community

Hi guys I just thought I would check in with you all and tell you of my progress, trials and tribulations! I'm nearly 6 weeks post-op and I am still adjusting to my new life. I am doing very well all things considered, except that one of my surgical sites reopened and is not healing properly, don't worry I am having medical support from the doctor and nurse, I just feel a bit down with it to be honest. I'm type 2 diabetic and my glucose levels have stabilized which is awesome! I lost 2 stone 1lb in just under a month which is amazing, I did stay the same last week which was disappointing but I guess my body needs time to catch up! I'm struggling mentally with self-imposed restrictions and triggering situations like food shopping etc and I wondered if you guys could help me gain some clarity I am one of the unlucky ones that still experiences real hunger and it is definitely not head hunger. I need to eat around every 2 hours, I am getting all my protein in and my fluids and I'm eating around 700 cals a day. My problem is that when I feel real hunger I panic and I don't know why! I have had lots of therapy and I am in a very good place now after many years of struggles with my mental health. I guess I was expecting not to feel hungry like most other people, and that was the case until about 3 weeks ago! The self imposed restriction is calorie counting! I am conflicted about whether I should be counting the calories in non starchy veg such as sprouts, cucumber tomatoes, gherkins, beetroot etc and fruit such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and satsumas. Should I be counting calories at all? I'm eating around 700 cals a day at the moment. I am committed to eating healthy and do not crave junk food anymore which is awesome! I go for whole foods mainly and low carbs. Previously when I have given myself restrictions before I have done great for a few months then fallen off the wagon. I know it is different this time as I have a new tool, but it's taking my brain a while to catch up! I know that I am at the early stages at the moment and still learning my fullness cues and practising a fair amount of control, I used to eat mindlessly, now I think about everything that goes in my mouth. What do you guys think of this? I also worry that my weight loss will stall and I know it's only been a week so far and its not a stall until 3 to 4 weeks, but I have seen it so many times on lots of forums and it worries me a bit to be honest. I know that no one really knows how their weight loss is going to go as everyone is unique and I need to stop overthinking things but its so hard when I have done it all my life! Did any of you guys have similar worries or concerns in the early stages and did it resolve itself? Any advice would be great! Thanks in advance x

Hi there! I’m a 24 year old female who is 5’7 and 250 lbs give or take (photo for reference). I am extremely interested in receiving a gastric sleeve to help reduce some of my health concerns. I am currently pre-diabetic and taking medication for hypertension. My family has a history of heart disease, and I lost my dad when he was 42 to morbid obesity and congestive heart failure. At the end of the day, I want to live a long and healthy life full of happiness and potentially children in the future. I also suffer from anxiety and depression, and I take SSRI’s to tame my depression. I have a lot of questions, so bear with me and please answer what you can! 1. What was the best part of surgery for you? 2. What was the worst part of surgery for you? 3. Did you have any complications (minor or major) during or after your surgery? 4. How has adjusting to your new life been for you? 5. How long did it take you to feel comfortable eating food? 6. Is there anything you can’t eat anymore that you used to enjoy? 7. What was your recovery like? Any vomiting or dumping syndrome? 8. How long did it take you to feel semi-normal after surgery? 9. Did you experience higher energy level post surgery? 10. Did surgery affect your mental health? 11. Do you regret it? Would you recommend it? Thank you so much. This is going to help me with my journey more than you know!

SO I am looking for suggestions on high Protein meals, recipes that you can suggest that are filling and tasty.. I am trying to cook more cause I dont really have much cooking experience, (everything I cook is really easy) I also dont have much money so that makes it difficult too. so any ideas and recipes would be appreciated! I dont eat beef though.. anything else is fair game. ALSO! What high protein Snacks do you suggest? because I am definately a snacker more that a 3 meal a day person!

I'm back to using the Kinect to exercise. My husband (He Who Hates to be Named = HWHN) got it for me over a year ago after a party at a friend's house where they introduced us to Group Kinect. We had a blast competing to pop bubbles and other silly stuff. At that time, he wondered if I'd like the Dance Central game. He thought he'd get one of the exercise/gym games. Anyway, we did, and I stuck with it long enough to learn the dance routines to "Pokerface" and "Funky Town." HWHN had me try the exercise game a few times, but in truth, my knees couldn't take it, and with the extra weight, the fatigue factor from the MS just did me in. The routines are actually not bad, and HWHN had chosen a "coach" that was young, female, and curvy. I teased him about it, but he said he thought it would be easier to deal with a woman telling him what to do, since he's had lots of practice. (I threw a pillow a him) Anyway, it was only about six games later that he's yelling at the avatar. She even had the audacity at one point to refer to his performance in light of his age. I fell about laughing, and he said bad words. The next time he did the game, he called her The Witch. It stuck. Eventually, discouragement and fatigue caused me to stop doing Kinect at all, and HWHN went on to other things like online racing. Yesterday, we got out the Kinect again, and did the new adventure game we bought. It was great. We can play at the same time, and I am much lighter and in better shape generally, the MS being in remission. I remembered that the original exercise game had some good floor workouts, and one section that focused on abs, so I got it out again. Oh boy. After three sets, I wanted to commit acts of graphic violence on The Witch's person. Her perky, smug voice (enclosed in an impossibly perfect figure) says, "That's not quite what we were aiming for. How about if we take a break and try again? You can certainly do better." HWHN said more naughty words. Argh!!! How totally aggravating. "This is not quite what we were aiming for?" How does she know? And, there's no way for the avatar to understand the actual situation, so she can't adjust how she offers encouragement or support. I know enough about technology to do the things I need to do, but what I know about the Kinect and its controllers is confined to inserting and ejecting the disks, and waving my hand to get the program started. But I was determined to do something about The Witch, so I fiddled until I figured out how to change her. Next time HWHN goes to do his gym workout, he'll find The Witch has been transformed into a middle-aged man who looks suspiciously like himself... gray hair and beard included. Since I've already tried him out, I know that he says completely different things for encouragement, and he seems all enthusiastic that I'm even there, at nearly 50 years old, trying to get into shape. The perky little Witch is perfect for... oh, say, perky little witches. And that would not be me.

Did wls lead to a change in career? i ask because with all that i went through to get insurance approval, and the constant changes in diet, and even just being on this site i realize that so many people are uninformed when it come to diet and nutrition. I'm seriously considering going back to school to be a Nutritionist or Registered Dietitian in either SC or GA. did anyone else go into a field that is Bariatric related or just changed career paths in general as a result of wls? I think the thing that is driving me to this is how much of a struggle it is for some after surgery. And how i want to be a success story and when i do i want to be able to help others do so as well

When I think of diet I think rules & restrictions. You have to eat this; you can’t eat that, you have to drink this; you can’t drink that, etc…. Doctor’s orders are diets, rules that we have to follow. Now the rebellious teenager in me (I know shocking right?!) says “What do you mean I can’t, watch me!” When I think of a lifestyle I think choices, things I want and am willing to try. Lifestyle means changing the way you live for the rest of your life. The level headed adult in me (again, shocking!) says, “I want to change and live a healthier lifestyle”. So what works in my head is I am not on a diet because I have changed my lifestyle. I follow the recommendations (orders) from my doctor and therefore I see success. My new lifestyle does not restrict me for eating the things I love. I have chocolate, cookies, cakes, breads, pasta, potatoes when I want. I enjoy family gatherings (well most of them). I enjoy my new life. This is what works for me!

Let me say to every who is think about having this surgery DO IT! Man each day is just getting better and better. Many people choose to undergo this surgery as a means to improve health not looks. If your suffering from sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure or other obesity related illness, this is the reset button! i'm 3 weeks post op and no longer need my CPAP, blood pressure 120/80, Blood suger 128. The day I got home I walked one mile and have increase that until now i'm riding six mile on my bike. Also waiting for clearance to lift weights. Now the downside: I was not aware that I was not to eat more than 1oz, so of course i was trying to eat the allowed 4oz, I figured out that will not happen right now. I think it was a mind thing because I am almost never hungry. Still working on the fluid increase i was able to drink 80 for a couple of days but, that started reflux, so if any one has any ideas on dealing with that let me know. My reflux shows up about 5 to 6am every morning for the last week and a half. The fact that i can get out and be active again is so cool! I'm down to 225, but my focus is to get physically fit again. So I hope for those how have doubts that we on the forum, can give you the info you need to make a educated choice. this is a tool not a miracle cure for obesity, so if you can start approaching food and exercise with the right attitude you will be well on your way to being healthy.

To all Current and Future Bandsters: How are you doing with recognizing – and overcoming - limitations regarding this major change in your lifestyle, and are you ready, willing and able to Celebrate what you CAN Do? Using affirmations can help you to gain perspective regarding your limitations, and can show you how to start (or continue) celebrating what you can do. Remember that consistency in living a banded life is very important – consistency in your exercise routine, consistency in your eating plans, and consistency in working with your medical team will all help you to build a lifestyle you can stick with and to get consistent results over time. The mental side of living a lap-band lifestyle is critically important. Doing the right thing day after day is much harder when you’re fighting your own mindset. One way to conquer a less-than-optimal mindset is to use affirmations. An affirmation can be defined as “emotional support or encouragement” – and no one is better at providing you with just the emotional support and encouragement you need than YOU, yourself. You understand what you’re going through…you know intimately what you are feeling and thinking, and one of the most powerful weapons you have in your arsenal for success is your own mindset. Use the affirmation sequence I’ve written below to help you move into a more positive frame of mind and a more positive mindset. Feel free to print out this affirmation sequence and repeat it out loud – first thing in the morning, and at night before you retire to bed. Feel free to repeat it throughout the day if you need to – as many times as you want. It takes 21 – 28 days to create a new positive habit, so commit right now to practicing this set of affirmations for at least 21 days to give it a fair trial. Comment below and let me know how the affirmation has worked for you – and if you’ve modified the language to fit your particular circumstances and personality, please let me know that as well. I’ve found that for me, mindset is very important to ensuring my continued success in living my banded life – I hope you find value in it as well. I accept my limitations as a lap-band patient and celebrate what I can do to build a healthy and strong body, mind and spirit. Limitations are opportunities to be explored – but not necessarily accepted. I may do things differently than some people, and there are many things I am good at. I do what I am capable of to stay healthy and on-track and I do those things well, creating and sustaining healthy habits. Nothing has the power to stop me or drag me down – I am determined to succeed! I am brave and courageous, and I can do anything I put my mind to – including losing my excess weight. No matter what comes against me, it will not defeat me. If I run into limitations on my journey, I work within them to be successful while building the strength and ability to overcome them. Everyone has limitations along their journey - they could be financial, time-related, a physical constraint, or something else. It's perfectly normal to have limitations, and I work through and around mine. I am stronger than I think and I can do more than I realize. I am building a healthy life and I am increasing my self-worth. Limitations do not negatively affect the value of the person. I am very valuable just the way I am. I have encountered these limitations for a reason, and I will use the gifts I was given and the strength I am developing to overcome them. I will focus on the good things in my life, and the bad things will just melt away. There are many good things I am capable of doing while living this journey to better health and a stronger me. Limitations aren't important. I find joy, peace, and love in my life, and I know I am valuable just the way I am. Today, I intend to accept who I am and focus on the things I can do to build a lifetime of success. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. How can I look past the limitations in my life to find peace, joy, and success beyond surgery? 2. What is the best way for me to stay focused on what I am capable of doing right now? 3. How can I continue to make positive progress, despite any limitations I may be faced with?

Has anyone given Intermittent Fasting a try for long periods after surgery. I'm really interested. Not so much for the weight loss, that would be nice too but I'm still early out, but more to place focus on hydration , erasing whatever amount of ghrelin that has returned and feed schedule/pattern forming. Interesting video explaining what I am specifically talking about, please watch before responding https://youtu.be/tIuj-oMN-Fk

Dear Bad food Habits, (love of my life and lifelong comforter), This is sad but I'm breaking up with you, at least I'm taking a long time out and I know our relationship will never be the same. The cloud of delusion is lifting about us, our relationship, just two short weeks after my surgery. Let me start by saying you have always been there for me. When my parents weren't there, when I felt alone, and then in the good time too, when I celebrated, when I was happy, stressed, let's face it. You were there as my go-to for any emotion, really. And I loved you, a bit too much. The problem with our relationship, Bad Food, is that it's dysfunctional. You confort me immensley but you leave me empty later, feeling guilty. There is no true substance in what you give me. What I take from you has hurt me physically and emotionally for 30 years and the end result is isolation from my own life, neglecting friends and family functions, hiding away. I am ashamed at what our relationship has done to me. I have come to realize that almost every single activity of my waking life evolved around you, the thought of you, the joy and happiness that I felt when I knew I would have you again. It is this dysfunction that I have to change, Bad Foods. Its not you, it's me. No one ever forced you into my mouth repeatedly. I chose you. It's not easy but I am taking steps to refocus, away from you and towards things that make me healthier. Surgery was just the first step. Look, I know I will never forget you, afterall you were my first and longest love!I will continue to see you everywhere, you can't be overlooked. Fastfood restaurants, the bakeries, the parties, football Sundays. You have an allure and charm that has worked on my like magic and I have become addicted. My family still loves you so you will be in our home sometimes. But my relationship with you is over, in terms of the way we were. You know what? I think we can still be friends, and we might even hang out on rare occasions. But not for a long while. I need to get right in the head. Good bye, I'll miss you, my lifelong comfort. The New Kel

Weight loss surgery pretty much forces you to change your eating habits. You need to eat less, eat more slowly, focus on Protein, and limit the junk food. That’s already a big change if you’re used to eating out, eating too much, and wolfing down your food. But weight loss surgery usually leads to many more changes! For example, for me, it has made me much more active. I didn’t dislike exercise before getting the band, but now it’s easier and more fun. Another change in my life is to stay in much closer touch with my doctor; I know that health is nothing to play around with, and I don’t like to take chances. I also find that I do better with some of the “little” things for health, like choosing less process foods instead of prepared foods. One other change that I have noticed gradually is that now I spend my time with people who are healthier for me, both physically and mentally. I didn’t make this change consciously, but now I see that I tend to spend more time with people who value health, and more time with people who are positive and who support me. I don’t tend to spend much time with people who influence me to eat bad foods or who bring me down. So, besides changing your eating to comply with your WLS diet, what other changes have you made or noticed since losing weight?

Okay, we can all agree that the first and foremost benefit of weight loss surgery is the health benefits. But that being said, the second greatest benefit(to me at least) was that for the very first time in my life I was able to shop in the normal size sections of the clothing store, and for the first time in my life I actually had choices in style, and for the first time in my life I actually saw the person who I always though I was in the mirror...not the caricature that stole my image for the last half a century. I think I speak for all of us on this one. By the time I had lost 50 pounds I had to throw out all my clothing, everything, the only thing I was able to still use were my socks. So a crash course in learning to dress well was in order...I'm alway reminded of the scene in the movie "Moscow on the Hudson" with Robin Williams when he experienced an American supermarket for the first time after defecting from the Soviet Union...he was so overwhelmed with the selections that he passed out. My wife remembers my eyes tearing when we went to Macy's to get me a new sport jacket, the last time I was there I purchased a size 58 and there were only two or three choices in the "Portly" section. I had just put on a size 46 and it was loose, I had to fight back full blown tears. I'd love to hear about others in this forum that have lost a good chunk of weight and are now discovering or re-discoving the joys of dressing. Post some shopping tips, style tips for the newly slim. I've got some great tips and resources for those of you about to transition into a new wardrobe. I now worship at the alter of Brioni, Canali and Zegna! Cheers! Eli the WineGuyD

When I started this journey, my ultimate goal was to be in the best shape I could be by the time I turned 50. Today is that day. :wub: Tangibly, I hardly resemble the person who started this journey. People who have not seen me in awhile regularly walk right past, not recognising me. This has on occasions been very funny, and on others, not so nice as people have reacted in ways that are surprisingly negative. One thing that has come up more than once is the immediate assumption that I've been very ill, or worse, that I've got something terminal. I've chosen not to talk about having surgery for a variety of reasons, and my stock answer to "What have you done?!" has become, "I eat a lot less and exercise a lot more." Intangibly, I know myself to be in a very different space internally than I was a year ago. Having the surgery did not change some of the serious issues that come with having gained so much weight and those don't go away with the weight. I've had to work hard to reprogram the default software. Old habits die very hard, and when mindlessness returns as a result of stress, or life events, the response is destructive. I've been five weeks at the same weight, but a week of no exercise and mindless grazing caused a small weight gain... panic!! It was a short, sharp, and needful lesson on the need for me to continue to care for ME. No matter how stressful work gets, or what life events happen, if I don't choose to take care of myself no matter what, all this work will be for nothing. Not gonna let that happen. Did some serious self care, bought a treadmill so I could run again (it's too hot outside) and went through my journal of the past year, reminding myself of the affirmations I'd found helpful, of the progress I'd made, and of the reasons I have made this choice. So, today I celebrate 50 years... losing 86 pounds... ...regularly running 7K ...biking 20K with my husband 2 - 3 x week, and being pronounced "completely healthy" by my GP. Yay me. If you're still working at your goals, keep on. Gather up the support you need whenever you need it, and don't give up. Celebrate the little milestones (I found Bling is perfect for celebrating every 10 pounds lost ) and ruthlessly prune your closet as you shrink out of clothes. Think in possibilities and make plans for a future that is different than your present. I know I need goals, and I plan to run a 10K race with my daughter in August. But first, I'm going to go river rafting in Bosnia to mark the achievements of the past year. Hopefully, I won't drown.

I know everyone is busy, so I’m not looking for sympathy or arguments, but I am having significant difficulty finding the time and energy to exercise. So, I’m hoping I can get some advice from other people who have found a way to balance it all. Presently, I'm lucky if I find time, remember and/or feel up to exercising 2-3 days a week. Weekends are a lot less of a problem, because I am off every Saturday and Sunday. But weekdays are impossible. Here is a little background info before you offer any suggestions. Monday - Friday - I get up at 4:15 a.m. to get ready for work. - I walk out the door around 4:50 so I can make it in by 5:30. - Upon arrival, I clock in and begin my mostly-seated medical secretary job. - Around 11:00 I take a 30 minute lunch break. - I then work another 2 1/2 hours and leave around 2 p.m. - On my way home, I go to the sitter’s house and pick up my 2 year old nephew who is in the custody my husband and me. - We typically make it home by 3:00 if I don't need to stop anywhere on the way. - I begin my daily housework; vacuuming, tending to the cats, putting away dishes, cleaning bathrooms, doing laundry, making beds, etc. - This generally consumes my time until my husband gets home around 4:15. - Once he gets home, I start cooking dinner, which we usually sit down to eat between 5:00-5:30. - After dinner, Hubby helps me clean the kitchen and package leftovers and by 6:30-7:00 we're done. - Then it’s up stairs to take care of Nephew's nightly routine; bath, teeth brushing, jammies, bedtime story, etc. - If he doesn't fight me about going to sleep and everything goes smoothly, I can usually finish by 8:30 or so. - Next, I take my shower and lay my clothes out for the next day. - Prepare Nephew’s bag for the next day when Hubby will drop him off at the sitter. - AND FINALLY, I climb into bed between 9:30 and 10:00, exhausted, disgusted, and prepared to repeat the process all over again. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life and my family, I guess I just wish there were more hours in the day.

Hi everyone, I have no choice during this time but to do what I most passionate about which is helping people. I had VSG 11/10/2012 and have successfully kept off my weight since then. the first 3 years was the hardest, I actually gained 30 lbs back before.. I was 320 lbs prior to surgery and am now a healthy 175lbs and 5’9″. The lowest was 168 lbs.. Long story short, I am creating a non-profit to give back to people in our community. But I need to connect with people who have real stories or need real support first. I plan on helping people fund for personal trainers, nutritionist, post-bariatric cosmetic surgeries, and therapy. I’d love to talk to any of you and really get back into supporting this community since I completely understand the challenges that we deal with internally and externally. I have a website which is misswisetree.com and you can set up a call and/or virtual call with me. I have extra time since the COVID-19 crisis. I’m here for anyone who wants to talk. God bless you all & take care!

Hi everyone, I was banded 10 years ago and have been a member here since then. I am still maintaining my weight despite having the band removed which I know is unusual. As a result I have developed a real interest in what happens to people's identity following all types of bariatric surgery, so much so that I am formally researching this issue as a Masters level student pre PhD in Psychology. I experienced some really interesting changes as a result of my surgery and have seen many people have struggles and succeed over the years. I think understanding that process better may help others - including support services, to navigate their journeys, through what can be an exciting but equally as tough time personally and that's why I am doing this. Our very kind forum founder Alex Brecher has given his approval for me to carry out my research through this wonderful forum membership. I am looking for people who are willing to talk to me about their journey and answer a few questions just in a conversation. This is expected to take around 30 minutes and can happen in the most convenient way for you including Skype, phone call, messaging or email, wherever you may be in the world, all of which are at my cost of course. You can remain anonymous, the contributions will generate results which will result in an academic paper but no personal details will be divulged. I know I have received a great deal of help and information from this site over the years and I would like to pay back and contribute to that going forwards, it would be really great if some of you could help me to do that too by giving me half an hour of your time. Please respond to this post or message me directly if you are interested and I can give more information and organise some time to talk. Thanks so much for reading this and please do share your story with me. Rachel AKA Weightinggame.

Hey everyone! I am posting in hopes that I can find the kindness of strangers here. I'm raising money to attend the 2014 Your Weight Matters Convention in Orlando, FL. Donations will be used to cover registration, hotel accommodations, and transportation. Why am I asking for your help? I am out of work at this time. I have had several job interviews and had no luck getting a job yet. I blame a lot of this on my weight and weight bias. I chose to seek funding for the convention so I can better myself and not be a financial burden. Sure, I could charge the trip, but that only adds debt. I am hoping that with the care of my family, friends, and the kindness of strangers, that I can get to my goal. This is not a vacation. I have two reasons that I want to attend this convention. As I aim to have weight-loss surgery this year, I hope to learn more about my health and how to live with the surgery and make the best health choices for me. While at the convention, I hope to take advantage of networking opportunities and find a group that works for the obese. People of weight face many challenges (apart from health) such as weight bias in the workplace, social stigmas, etc. and I hope to position myself to help others overcome obstacles. Any donation helps. If you know anyone who may be interested in helping out, please pass this along to them! To learn more about me, or to donate, please click on the below link. https://fundly.com/the-new-jeff-campaign