Low BMI and Gastric Sleeve

[LillieDuFran 127]

Does anyone know if those of us who start out with a lower BMI have a greater or lesser chance of success with the sleeve than those with a higher BMI?
My definition of "success" being that you lose at least most of your excess weight and keep it off for greater than 5 years....

My dr said it's about 90%.

Sent from my XT1575 using BariatricPal mobile app

[JanetteP 1]

Hello!

Most people say I don’t need it... but It Has been a constant struggle to lose weight and sometimes losing it but not being able to keep it off since I was a teenager. I’m 34 years old and making the decision now to be able to snap back and heal properly.

My BMI is 30. Having surgery on March 19 in Mexico, I’m Mexican living in the US. I do have insurance but I don’t qualify because of my low BMI so I decided to get it in Mexico.
I’m super excited but nervous at the same time. I guess is just the general surgery nervousness but also not knowing how is it going to be after surgery. One of my concerns is being depressed about not being able to eat and enjoy food as I do right now... can anyone relate? I know is silly but it’s true.

[Wild13 10]

On 02/16/2021 at 20:31, JanetteP said:

Hello!

Most people say I don’t need it... but It Has been a constant struggle to lose weight and sometimes losing it but not being able to keep it off since I was a teenager. I’m 34 years old and making the decision now to be able to snap back and heal properly.

My BMI is 30. Having surgery on March 19 in Mexico, I’m Mexican living in the US. I do have insurance but I don’t qualify because of my low BMI so I decided to get it in Mexico.

I’m super excited but nervous at the same time. I guess is just the general surgery nervousness but also not knowing how is it going to be after surgery. One of my concerns is being depressed about not being able to eat and enjoy food as I do right now... can anyone relate? I know is silly but it’s true.

This is a reply I gave someone about the food loss portion of their post I think it might help you with the being depressed over food. I was a 36 BMI so I’m considered not part of the high club and most people would say I shouldn’t have gotten it which is why only about 5 people know about it and I won’t tell anyone else. I don’t need the Criticism while I recover.

“ I’m only one week post op but I can tell you this if you are reading this. The food restrictions how we overthink them aren’t really all that I know we think we will never eat certain foods but there are so many options for those of those that love food. Health is number one but if you google, Pinterest or even just ask there are so many good recipes and substitutes for meals that you can still enjoy the same. Yes we are eating less and not binge eating but it shouldn’t be like that regardless first week has been hard for me but I have spent the time I have no work planning out and researching basically a lifetime of changes. I follow people on social media that have been 1,2,3,4 even 10 years post op and they have their journeys up and what they eat and how they feel and it made me feel great. Even BariatricPal has items that resemble the real thing but are tailored to us. I know it’s not the post you all want to see it is more tailored to the part in your post were you might think you will suffer over food. Honestly I love penne vodka and Pasta and I know I can’t eat a whole plate how I used to but I found ways to replicate good recipes with low carb Keto or no sugar items.”

[Coleslaw 28]

I was 47 with a 35 BMI, the minimum my insurance would cover. Looking back, I would have had the surgery at a lower BMI to avoid the negative feelings I had about myself as my weight continued to grow and dieting continued to fail me. After a certain age, which is different for all of us, our metabolism slows making weight loss much more difficult.

This surgery is the absolute BEST thing I've ever done for myself physically. Prior to the surgery, I shared many of the concerns others share on this site. While I never suffered from eating disorders or food obsessions, I certainly loved to eat and eat well. I cooked frequently for myself and large groups of friends, and my lifestyle is social -- most of my social activities revolve around eating and drinking.

So what has changed? Nothing, and everything. I still love to eat, and I still love what I eat. Other than pre-surgery and the first 2 months or so after, I haven't counted calories, haven't tracked macros, etc. The pre-surgery diet, although it felt brutal at the time, was extremely beneficial in getting my mind used to smaller portions. Knowing that I could do it, even with my whole stomach intact, was empowering. The post-surgery diet, which included counting calories for ~2 months, and more importantly accurately portioning my food (½ cup, ¾ cup, etc.), allowed me to gauge what a "sleeve" meal should consist of and look like.

My social gatherings still revolve around food and drinks. I still cook for large groups. I still eat whatever I want. pizza, Pasta, French fries, etc. In that respect nothing has changed. I didn't drink alcohol for almost a year, but now I have a glass or two of wine almost every day, plus the occasional vodka (Deep Eddy Ruby Red vodka with Water -- in Austin, TX they call it "pink crack).

What has changed is that I mostly only WANT to eat things that are high in Protein and otherwise healthy. Rather than wake up and drink 2-3 Diet Cokes, I drink water all day, every day. And not only do I not miss the soda, I crave the water. I carry it with me everywhere. If I've portioned correctly, I stop eating when my plate is empty. If I happen to add more to my plate than the recommended amount, my stomach tells me I've eaten enough before my plate is empty. I have more energy, I feel stronger physically, and I don't hate the mirror or the camera.

FOOD: I eat every 3-4 hours.

Breakfast is typically either: 2 eggs + 2 strips bacon, or a bowl of Kashi Go Lean high protein Cereal with Fairlife (higher in protein) milk. Sometimes I go wild and use Fairlife chocolate milk on the cereal - LOL!

Lunch: if not leftovers of last night's dinner, usually it's 6 Triscuits with lunchmeat and cheese, or 6 saltines with chicken or tuna salad. Not sure why, but 6 seems to be my magic number when it comes to crackers. If I want a sandwich, I eat a sandwich, but I buy those little party rye loaves with the tiny pieces of bread and I always toast them -- like a grilled cheese sandwich, but with meat and cheese. I will add horseradish to roast beef, or chipotle mayo, spinach leaves, Tomato slices, or whatever. You'd be surprised how flavorful and satisfying you can make a tiny little sandwich. And I savor every bite.

Dinner: Salmon, chicken, steak, shrimp, fish -- I have at least one of those every night for dinner, broiled, grilled, sautéed, stir-fry, or occasionally fried in coconut oil. Sides include a green veggie and a starch -- rice, pasta, potato. Those are mostly for my husband. I eat the protein, plus a very small portion of the sides. The fourth meal, either between lunch and dinner, or after dinner depending on what time we eat, is the same as what I described for lunch. I don't prioritize fruits or veggies, but I eat them when I want or when my body tells me it needs them. I get random cravings for oranges or salad, which I think is my body's way of telling me I need them. Also, I eat every meal now on a salad plate rather than a dinner plate. It's a small thing, but helps with Portion Control and to combat the visual impact of a nearly empty plate.

THE DOWN SIDE: For me, months 3-9 were the most challenging, and mostly with social environments. I'm one of the people who didn't share my journey with my friends. After the third month, the weight loss was drastic. Month after month I dropped size after size. A good thing, right? Of course. But trying to maintain the secret, sit at a dinner table filled with food and friends, and eat at most a cup of food with no wine or cocktail? Sheesh, that was hard. The worst part was having overweight acquaintances ask me about the secret to my success. I wanted to share this amazing gift with everyone, but I chose not to trade the privacy of my personal health journey to become an ambassador for bariatric surgery. Now the questions have died down and I'm just normal me.

I weigh myself 4-5 days a week. I hit goal about 8 months after surgery, and since then (21 months) I've gone +/- 3 pounds. If I eat pizza or fries, it's a small portion and not on a regular basis. Same with dessert. I'm actually satisfied with one Hershey kiss. Bizarre. It's like everything our doctors told us -- eat less, move more, eat healthier, use moderation. What seemed impossible to accomplish on a regular-sized stomach became simple with a tiny one.

Sorry for this long post. I read everything I could find on this site pre-surgery and it really helped to have so many different perspectives from so many people. Our journeys are all different, and what works for some may not work for others. It's normal to feel nervous. But if you were to tally the regrets on this site, they would mostly be that we didn't take this step sooner.

Edited February 17, 2021 by Coleslaw

[JanetteP 1]

15 hours ago, Wild13 said:

This is a reply I gave someone about the food loss portion of their post I think it might help you with the being depressed over food. I was a 36 BMI so I’m considered not part of the high club and most people would say I shouldn’t have gotten it which is why only about 5 people know about it and I won’t tell anyone else. I don’t need the Criticism while I recover.

“ I’m only one week post op but I can tell you this if you are reading this. The food restrictions how we overthink them aren’t really all that I know we think we will never eat certain foods but there are so many options for those of those that love food. Health is number one but if you google, Pinterest or even just ask there are so many good recipes and substitutes for meals that you can still enjoy the same. Yes we are eating less and not binge eating but it shouldn’t be like that regardless first week has been hard for me but I have spent the time I have no work planning out and researching basically a lifetime of changes. I follow people on social media that have been 1,2,3,4 even 10 years post op and they have their journeys up and what they eat and how they feel and it made me feel great. Even BariatricPal has items that resemble the real thing but are tailored to us. I know it’s not the post you all want to see it is more tailored to the part in your post were you might think you will suffer over food. Honestly I love penne vodka and Pasta and I know I can’t eat a whole plate how I used to but I found ways to replicate good recipes with low carb Keto or no sugar items.”

Thanks so much! Deep down I know it's for the best and that missing food shouldn't be a barrier to get this done. I'm glad your journey has been a good and thanks again for the recommendations! I follow people who are pretty much new into the journey but I haven't seen much people commenting about their journey after 6-10 years but I know there must be some out there!

[JanetteP 1]

11 hours ago, Coleslaw said:

I was 47 with a 35 BMI, the minimum my insurance would cover. Looking back, I would have had the surgery at a lower BMI to avoid the negative feelings I had about myself as my weight continued to grow and dieting continued to fail me. After a certain age, which is different for all of us, our metabolism slows making weight loss much more difficult.

This surgery is the absolute BEST thing I've ever done for myself physically. Prior to the surgery, I shared many of the concerns others share on this site. While I never suffered from eating disorders or food obsessions, I certainly loved to eat and eat well. I cooked frequently for myself and large groups of friends, and my lifestyle is social -- most of my social activities revolve around eating and drinking.

So what has changed? Nothing, and everything. I still love to eat, and I still love what I eat. Other than pre-surgery and the first 2 months or so after, I haven't counted calories, haven't tracked macros, etc. The pre-surgery diet, although it felt brutal at the time, was extremely beneficial in getting my mind used to smaller portions. Knowing that I could do it, even with my whole stomach intact, was empowering. The post-surgery diet, which included counting calories for ~2 months, and more importantly accurately portioning my food (½ cup, ¾ cup, etc.), allowed me to gauge what a "sleeve" meal should consist of and look like.

My social gatherings still revolve around food and drinks. I still cook for large groups. I still eat whatever I want. pizza, Pasta, French fries, etc. In that respect nothing has changed. I didn't drink alcohol for almost a year, but now I have a glass or two of wine almost every day, plus the occasional vodka (Deep Eddy Ruby Red vodka with Water -- in Austin, TX they call it "pink crack).

What has changed is that I mostly only WANT to eat things that are high in Protein and otherwise healthy. Rather than wake up and drink 2-3 Diet Cokes, I drink Water all day, every day. And not only do I not miss the soda, I crave the water. I carry it with me everywhere. If I've portioned correctly, I stop eating when my plate is empty. If I happen to add more to my plate than the recommended amount, my stomach tells me I've eaten enough before my plate is empty. I have more energy, I feel stronger physically, and I don't hate the mirror or the camera.

FOOD: I eat every 3-4 hours.

Breakfast is typically either: 2 eggs + 2 strips bacon, or a bowl of Kashi Go Lean high Protein cereal with Fairlife (higher in protein) milk. Sometimes I go wild and use Fairlife chocolate milk on the cereal - LOL!

Lunch: if not leftovers of last night's dinner, usually it's 6 Triscuits with lunchmeat and cheese, or 6 saltines with chicken or tuna salad. Not sure why, but 6 seems to be my magic number when it comes to crackers. If I want a sandwich, I eat a sandwich, but I buy those little party rye loaves with the tiny pieces of bread and I always toast them -- like a grilled cheese sandwich, but with meat and cheese. I will add horseradish to roast beef, or chipotle mayo, spinach leaves, Tomato slices, or whatever. You'd be surprised how flavorful and satisfying you can make a tiny little sandwich. And I savor every bite.

Dinner: Salmon, chicken, steak, shrimp, fish -- I have at least one of those every night for dinner, broiled, grilled, sautéed, stir-fry, or occasionally fried in coconut oil. Sides include a green veggie and a starch -- rice, Pasta, potato. Those are mostly for my husband. I eat the protein, plus a very small portion of the sides. The fourth meal, either between lunch and dinner, or after dinner depending on what time we eat, is the same as what I described for lunch. I don't prioritize fruits or veggies, but I eat them when I want or when my body tells me it needs them. I get random cravings for oranges or salad, which I think is my body's way of telling me I need them. Also, I eat every meal now on a salad plate rather than a dinner plate. It's a small thing, but helps with Portion Control and to combat the visual impact of a nearly empty plate.

THE DOWN SIDE: For me, months 3-9 were the most challenging, and mostly with social environments. I'm one of the people who didn't share my journey with my friends. After the third month, the weight loss was drastic. Month after month I dropped size after size. A good thing, right? Of course. But trying to maintain the secret, sit at a dinner table filled with food and friends, and eat at most a cup of food with no wine or cocktail? Sheesh, that was hard. The worst part was having overweight acquaintances ask me about the secret to my success. I wanted to share this amazing gift with everyone, but I chose not to trade the privacy of my personal health journey to become an ambassador for bariatric surgery. Now the questions have died down and I'm just normal me.

I weigh myself 4-5 days a week. I hit goal about 8 months after surgery, and since then (21 months) I've gone +/- 3 pounds. If I eat pizza or fries, it's a small portion and not on a regular basis. Same with dessert. I'm actually satisfied with one Hershey kiss. Bizarre. It's like everything our doctors told us -- eat less, move more, eat healthier, use moderation. What seemed impossible to accomplish on a regular-sized stomach became simple with a tiny one.

Sorry for this long post. I read everything I could find on this site pre-surgery and it really helped to have so many different perspectives from so many people. Our journeys are all different, and what works for some may not work for others. It's normal to feel nervous. But if you were to tally the regrets on this site, they would mostly be that we didn't take this step sooner.

OH wow! Thanks a bunch for your post, it's so detail and it gives me a peace of mind. I'm not sharing my decision about getting the sleeve to anyone but my closest ones, like my mom and my boyfriend who thank God are supportive of my decision.

So what I'm getting is that once you feel full you feel satisfied right? It's not like you are DYING for one more bite? It's incredible how much in tune you are with your body, I hope my journey is the same way.

[Coleslaw 28]

4 hours ago, JanetteP said:

OH wow! Thanks a bunch for your post, it's so detail and it gives me a peace of mind. I'm not sharing my decision about getting the sleeve to anyone but my closest ones, like my mom and my boyfriend who thank God are supportive of my decision.

So what I'm getting is that once you feel full you feel satisfied right? It's not like you are DYING for one more bite? It's incredible how much in tune you are with your body, I hope my journey is the same way.

Yes, a very small portion post-surgery makes me feel the same as if I'd eaten a large meal pre-surgery. I feel completely satisfied with my meals, and make them as tasty as possible. If I eat junk, I feel it the same way as if I'd eaten junk prior, which is kinda crappy. Luckily I haven't had any negative physical side effects related to food, and no mental ones either. Again, the first year is strange because you're adjusting to a new normal. After that, it's just that -- normal. I used to look at my small plate and think it was so tiny, now I look at other people's typical sized plates and think it is an obscene amount of food. it's all about perspective.

[healthy_steph 16]

Newbie here, I’m getting sleeved on the 22nd of March at a BMI of 35.1

Ive had so many people tell me I’m not “that” fat but I’m sorry, 35.1 is severely obese (even though I may not look “that fat”) and as a doctor I know the risks that come with excess weight. I also know the research around weight loss and that this is my best shot of losing the weight and maintaining it long term. I have tried every diet known to man, been to see countless dietitians, have tried all the medications, I exercise like crazy and all I’ve managed is to stall the weight gain. My hubby and I want to start a family next year and I want to give myself the best opportunity for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby- which means I need a healthy weight. I feel my weight is impacting on my chronic Migraines and my asthma, and I’m really hoping that losing the weight and feeling better about myself will be that last thing I need to finally fully recover from years of severe treatment resistant depression.

So yes, many reasons why I am choosing to have a sleeve at a “low” BMI. Mostly I just want to be healthy!

Thanks for reading...