WLS Veteran's Forum

Just going to get this rolling. Here is an "official" 5:2 fourm. Not all links are equal, just some reading if your interested... This is where I linked to the 5:2 FAQs page: FAQ: meat consumption. From the original fast diet site. That second paragraph says it all! Vive the Veg-olution! Lots of buzz about at the moment around ‘demi-veg’ and part-time vegetarians (or ‘flexitarians’ – one of those clunky words that may well never take off, even if the activity does). Last week, the International Development Committee pointed to increased meat consumption as a catalyst for recent global food crises. And we all know that too much meat (particularly…

Hi all, This topic is for vets (more than one year out, bonus points for every extra year!) to post what they are eating today. I'll start. I'm almost 5 years out and I'm battling a 20 lb. weight regain. I've joined Weight Watchers and am following their new plan, which is more protein-centric than in the past. Here's my day: B: 2 Jimmy Dean low-fat Turkey Sausage Patties and 1/3 c. oatmeal, cooked with 1 cup Water and a little splenda and salt L: Spinach and cheese Flatbread from costco (240 calories) and 1.5 oz. turkey lunchmeat S: 100 calorie bag of popcorn and two small tangerines D: 3 oz. low fat ground beef (we grind our own) on a WW sandwich thin with…

Let me start off that I have not been a model sleever for the past 3 years but in 2014 I reached my goal weight of 130 in less than an year. I was able to maintain it with eating clean/ low carbish diet for awhile until my weight settled around 135-138, and I was ok with that. Over the last 6-9 months I have gained 10-15 pounds and am not happy about it. I started to get more strict on my food with no increase of activity for the first 6 months. Never did exercise much from the beginning just here and there and I could drop 5-7 lbs quickly before. What changed? Now Im super serious about losing this weight. For the past 4 weeks I have worked out for 30-45 minutes 3-5 tim…

So, my husband and I are divorcing. As part of this process, I'm trying to "put myself out there" and meet new people. I have begun to do that. But this is really the first time where people are meeting the thin me who never knew the fat me. And it definitely makes for an interesting dynamic I hadn't experienced before. I don't really have a question here. Just interested in your thoughts and experiences on the topic.

Hello fellow vets I am past eight rears with the lap band. I easily got under goal due the band being too tight I now realise. I even lost weight on a cruise! However, over the last few years my weight fluctuates a lot. I have now regained two thirds. It is due to eating the wrong things. I know the band is filled enough. I am never hungry, but cannot control my head hunger. I am depressed and feel a failure as I believe I have a marvellous tool. I am seriously considering having bypass surgery as I am fearful of erosion eventually. After reading extensively on these forums I get the feeling that bypass surgery might be the best to get to deal with my head hunger iss…

Okay. Some of you who know a little about me, know that I have already been kind of struggling to maintain my weight as I was training for a half marathon (now training for a marathon). Throughout the course of the 14 week half-marathon training program, I managed to keep my weight pretty steady around 160 with only mild fluctuations. I got a FitBit and tracked all my food to make sure I was eating back the extra calories I was burning. But now I have a whole other problem. My husband and I are going through some serious marital challenges. It has caused me a lot of stress and sleepless nights and I am just not wanting to eat AT ALL. I want to be training for this full …

Has anyone had back pain post surgery? I am about 4.5 years post op and am having major back problems. Some of my do are wondering if it is due to scar tissue from my VSG. About 3 years ago, I had an L4/L5 microdiskectomy/Lamincectomy and I assumed it was unrelated to my VSG. I'm told the surgery was a success and cleaned up my herniated disk however I have had continued back pain, nerve problems (numbness/tingling/weakness in my right leg) that is progressively getting worse and so I continue to see new doctors but noone can clearly tell me what is going on and how to fix it. MRIs show the nerve channel is restricted however it's unclear how and why. Feel like I…

Hi All! Glad to see a few familiar faces around here. I see there have been some changes so I am not sure where to get some advice. So I lost 65 pounds. I stalled out in June of last year (2015). I stopped going to the gym because I started to commute with my husband to work. And honestly, I was sure I would still lose some weight. Yeah, not so much. So in January I decided to go back to the gym and work out in earnest. Consulted my favorite bodybuilding site and went to work. I love lifting weights! But, not much has happened. I lost like maybe 2 or 3 pounds. Lost one inch on my waist and hips. That's always a good thing. I'm not going to stop going at …

I'd like to start a post for pictures that focuses on before and at goal (or near to goal) pictures only. I think it's really fun to see the complete transformation and super motivating!! It's awesome for those on the journey to see the end results! Showing the incredible results this surgery and hard work can provide. I'd love to see all of your photos so please post with your stats- start weight, end weight and height. Here's mine. Start weight 250 ish End weight 117 Height 5'

Hey gang, I'm a long time "vet" in terms of length since surgery (June 2013), but I completely went about using my pouch incorrectly. I got pregnant "accidentally" 4 months after surgery. We had a lot of stress (financial, "difficult" baby who never slept until 11months old, moving, etc) and I turned to food for comfort...those slider foods I was at my lowest adult weight EVER 3 days after having my son....185lbs. But now I'm back up to 203 and miserable. Well, now I'm almost 3 years past surgery, finally have life mostly under control, and well, I'd really like to see if I have a tool that still works, but honestly I don't even know where to start. I can't rem…

After you've lost all your excess weight and are in the maintenance phase of WLS life -- either newly or several years down the road -- what's the best eating path for you to follow? There are at least three major schools of thought about how to eat during WLS maintenance, with hybrids of these approaches. Each approach has enthusiastic boosters and rabid opponents among WLS patients. Each approach is espoused by some WLS surgeons, nutritionists, psychologists, bloggers, coaches, and those who sell WLS products. (1) Abstinence Approach: WLS patients should abstain forever from specific foods, especially those that contain sugar, processed carbs or alcohol. Pro…

I can't decide if I'm embarrassed to write this post or not...So, I'm just going to go for it. I hit my 2-year mark without fanfare a few weeks back. I reminded no one, and didn't bother taking a picture. I'm completely bummed out and am grasping for...food (was going to say straws, but I might as well be honest). I've struggled - starting with a pretty darn high weight in the first place, having a stupid short honeymoon period, and ending up in November 2015 with so much extra stress in my life that I sometimes wonder how this all happened (this is the "woe is me" part, sorry)...so here I am today, weighing about 15 pounds more than my lowest weight at left (that I hi…

she wants out, done no wrong, tried to fix it. she s taking half for her and her addicted son. did I make a mistake doing this. anyone else lose a spouse over this. she says its because of the new me.

I was sleeved Dec 2014. I made excellent progress, starting weight 235, lowest was 153. My goal is 145. The problem is I've been stuck in a holding pattern for about 4-5 months! I've even started gaining a few pounds back. I've gone back to being extremely mindful of my Protein intake, etc, but it doesn't seem to be helping. I hate to have worked so hard and fall just short of my goal - or worse yet, undo all of the progress! Any suggestions?

Hi all! I haven't been here in a while but I am hoping for a little help I was sleeved in 2012 and had lost about 110 lbs. Well in the last 6 months or so I have been dealing with some health issues and other stress and have gained about 25 ibs. My eating is awful and I can't seem to get back on track for more than 3 days. Anyone ever dealt with this problem and have any advice on how to get through it. This site is the reason that I decided to get the sleeve in the first place because of the great posts and advice I read on here. Aby help would be geaatly appreciated.

Not a bad glitch, but because I have new insurance since my surgery, I had to switch to a different clinic and already have an appointment to see the surgeon there AND the NUT on the same day. This clinic has a superb reputation and I know many people who had successful surgery with this surgeon, so I'm happy I was able to see him. I loved my surgeon, but the NUT affiliated with him does not take my new insurance and the new place will give me unlimited NUT appts at no cost if I am their patient. I am waiting for a bunch of stuff they are mailing me, including some stuff from the NUT that is reset info! WHOOP! i'm happy to be refocused.

It's been a long time since I needed WLS support. I've needed all sorts of OTHER support in the last nearly two years, but this hasn't been the place for me. How's everyone been? I miss some voices here, I won't lie. After five years and after my last year and a half of tumultuous "real world" struggles the weight loss thing seems like easy stuff compared, which probably won't sit well with some people. But remember, the weight is a symptom of the head crap and I've been working on the head crap, right? So the more you work on you the less likely you are to struggle with the weight (IMO, anyway, for what that's worth) so it all kind of falls in line after a while…

Hi there Vets, I'm almost 4.5 years post op and loving my pouch. I am staying within 10 lbs of my goal and trying to stick to clean eating although find that I'm much more loose with the rules that I was once so committed to. Recently, I noticed that I burp alot more than i have in the past after i finish a meal and I burp for a longer amount of time. It used to be something I could "hide" but now it's more pronounced and I'm less in control of it. Should I be worried about this? has anyone else had this problem? Thanks in advance Vets!

Just checking in, really trying to stay consistent on the forums here seems to help me stay accountable. I am 22 months post op and was doing great at my lowest (although still not my goal), then i gained 10 lbs during a SUPER stressful two semesters of grad school and starting a new job, and switching that job from days to nights, and just life in general. Because I haven't seen my surgeon in about 9 months and didn't have the option to see my usual nutrition clinician (new insurance doesn't cover their services), I took the steps today to make an appointment with my surgeon in June AND called for a NUT appointment with the bariatric clinic in a nearby town that my ins…

I would love to hear about your vacation adventures this year. I'm always looking for new places to explore. I'm home from a memorable 25th anniversary road trip with my husband. ( 8 days in a car and we did not kill each other ) Route 66, Las Vegas, Grand canyon and Tombstone. Indulged in alcohol and expensive restaurants. Still in love with my man! Enjoyed a pool party in Las Vegas. I was comfortable showing skin with the help of a few cocktails. Our anniversary dinner was at a french restaurant. I had escargots for the first time. Hiked areas of the grand canyon. A six pound gain in 8 days. I'm kind of shocked that was all I had gained. I was very naughty. …

I have been on-line since before my journey began (Nov 2014) and I am almost 1 year post. I just don't know what timeline is consider a BP Vet. thanks, Jane

Does anyone know the reason we have to space out our drinking with our meals? Is this something we have to do forever? I am 2 years out and haven't been doing it for a while now and wonder if it would help me get back on track. Someone had told me that was only while you were newly sleeved. I'm just trying to understand.

We often coach people to go"back to basics" when struggling. I am conducting a small experiment on myself and preliminary results are interesting. Background, I don't record consumption AND post sleeve I don't care much for plain Water anymore. I drink disguised water - mio drops, crystal lite, Vitamin water etc. and keep a rough tally in my head.... getting about 64 ounces per day. Obviously, those flavor enhancers have artificial sweeteners. Due to recent kidney stone, I have been advised to drink 2 liters of water a day and to add orange juice or lemonade. I didn't want to add the sugars from juice so he suggested lemon in my water. I slice and squeeze a whole …

I am 22 months post op and gained 8 lbs from my lowest. I was still about 15 lbs from my optimal weight, so I have a ways to go. I am prepared to do a reset and get back on track but not sure exactly where to start. I was thinking I would do my pre-op diet but was told by somebody that doing the post op diet in order from the hospital until 3-4 months post is better???? I bought my unjury, eggs, broth, and various forms of Protein, now I just need some direction. I have not seen my nut in over a year, and don't have that option. I switched nursing jobs and the hospital I work at has insurance that isn't accepted by the healthcare system where I had surgery (Nut appt…

Has anyone had a Esophageal Manometry after sleeve surgery and if so, how was it and were you sedated?? Any information will be appreciated! I've been suffering with these things for months and I don't have a normal life anymore. They are the most painful things I've ever experienced!!! I just want them to go away. Anyone else has the experience? I've been told that severe GERD will cause the problem. Thank you!

Hi, I've been away for a while but need some help. I was sleeved on 11/14/13 and initally lost 65 lbs and never got to my goal of 160. I remained at 195 for almost a year and am now creeping up ever so slowly and feel awful. I'm at 202 today. I despertedly want to get to goal and start losing again but I'm at a loss as to where to start. I can still 2 1/2 years out eat very little, only 3 oz of pure Protein at a time. I don't eat serious junk but find myself picking. I am thinking it is a combination of things, I don't think I eat enough (I'm about 700 cals most days), I don't exercise and fear my metabolism is shot. I'm still drink Protein shakes 2 a day. …

Has anyone here had the experience of having a MANOMETRY test?? It is a test where they insert a tube in your nostril and down your throat into the stomach to monitor pressure in your esophagus and stomach???? I have to have this horrid test next week. I'm scared! I don't want to have this test but I've been having esophageal spasms and terrible GERD since the surgery and my surgeon is making me have this test and another EDG to insert a chip inside to monitor my digestive system for 24 hours. If anyone has had these test, please let me know your experience. I'm terrified. I'm 17 months postop and having these issues. Thank you!

Two weeks ago my two wonderful fur babies went over the rainbow bridge. I just couldn't bring my self to eat, other than shakes three times a day. Then the reality set in and I began to eat again, only now it's like I was before surgery. I am wanting to eat anything but the foods I have been for the past 2 yrs. hamburgers, Cookies, muffins, basic cr@p. It's like I can't get past the grief and am in a mode that is just hampering myself. I plan on calling my clinic and getting back on track with my psych and my nut next week....but in the meantime.....kick my butt..everyone please! Ideas for meals Snacks And pushes to get back to my 5 day a week work outs. I've c…

This is a question for those that are at least a year or two postop. Well into the new lifestyle, done with the learning curve, your new habits are "normal" and all that newbie stuff is behind you.... what is the #1 thing you miss the most from preop? And what is the #1 single thing you do not miss? for me, I miss being able to chug a big glass of cold Water or a whole bottle of Vitamin water, etc. Down the whole thing in less than a minute. I can take big, normal gulps, but only 1-2 before I have to make myself stop. the #1 thing I don't miss is being in pain....foot pain, ankle pain, knee pain....all day, every day.

Sorry, this site and kindle dont play well so my first post is blind...more in reply.

Hello all, I have developed a photo allergy post-sleeve, just wondering if anyone else has developed something like this. After x amount of sun exposure (vacation type levels, not day to day type of exposure) I will get puffy eyes and tiny, itchy pustules. They start on the chest and move to the arms and legs if sun exposure continues. I am 19 months post op but this first happened at 6 months out. Have had 4 total episodes since. Never before surgery. I was originally thinking it was an allergy to something else, but I have finally been able to narrow it to just sun. Anyone else? I am wondering if it's worth a dermatologist visit or if the only thing to do is …

Hello everyone! I am looking to the veterans out there that lost a significant amount of hair and have experienced changes during regrowth. I lost a good 2/3 of my hair during my journey. It began at month 2 post op and I had severe shedding until month 12 when weight loss for me slowed down. At month 12 I noticed that I hardly had any more shedding. I took Biotin from the beginning. I was at full Protein fairly quickly following surgery and all my macronutrients have been excellent. I just tend to have more shedding when my body is traumatized. Now the good news is my hair has been regrowing all along and the thickness is back. Yay! The strange thing is the textur…

My sleeve surgery was Dec 2011. Beginning about 6 weeks post op, working out was one of the integral aspects of my weight loss / health improvement efforts. It helped me in sooo many ways - reducing muscle loss, made me feel good, improved heart health, reduced blood sugars etc etc. In the end though, the way it helped me the most is getting to goal and finding a better body than I ever knew I had under all that! working out helped me be more shapely. A year ago I had a pretty high level of fitness, but life started throwing obstacles at me. It started with a problem with my right hip that wasn't properly diagnosed and treated at first. Then, I developed a few othe…

I have gained 50lbs back smh I've been avoiding the scale and finally just got on one smh my lowest weight is 130 now I'm 183 I started out at 240 smh

March 1, 2013..... I am three years out, my highest weight 270, lowest 153 now 180.... I need to put myself in check and need to get back on the horse. It is so easy to go back to old habits, a piece of this or that.. the only thing I really managed to stay away from was carb beverages. I need to eat less and move more, I need to listen to myself when I am full and not push to eat that last bite. My new clothes are getting snug, and I am just so mad at myself. I just need to get it together.....

to all WLS newbies VET's, and everyone else in betwen Today i celebrated my 62nd birthday party dance party dance!!! it's been 4 amazing years since i moved to sleeve land i was one of the lucky ones that hardly had any problems PO (not even gas!!) in my previous life i wore elastic waist blue jeans to work they "hid" my rear end !!! i wore big blouses/t-shirts I looked great - NOT didn't care about my appearance if i didn't look in a mirror - i was "ok" miserable etc - but that WAS me fast forward i have lost 105 lbs!!! GOAL i feel wonderful, healthy and happy experienced a lllllllong list of NSV's and they keep coming as i was reaching GOA…

So here I am in my mid-winter/almost spring funk. Mired in it. Calories have been good of late, then yesterday I ate over 2000 calories and napped in lieu of exercise. Yup. I don't feel guilty, just feel like everything is a bit of a struggle this week. Work, kids, bills, etc. etc. Sooo, this may be a bad time to introduce a 5:2 plan. (Which I've never done.) I read up on it and think I am ready to give it a try. Any final words of advice? Thanks! Amy

I am and was a little surprised.

I had a very successful RNY surgery on 6/25/13 and am maintaining a weight loss of over 200 pounds from my highest pre-surgery weight. Last year I reached that 'magical' age that requires you to undergo a colonoscopy and since colon cancer is very prevalent in my husband's family (not in mine though) my husband will not leave me alone until I have it done (I know I should be greatful!)! I am scheduled for next Tuesday. The directions are a low Fiber diet for three days prior, liquids only the day before, with a lot of drinking (Gateraid) the night before. The drinking part won't be a problem for me - I can guzzle a 20 ounce bottle of Water in 5 minutes if I want to…

I'm 2 years post-op and 13 pounds above my lowest weight, but slowly climbing. I'm pretty sure my problem is daily snacking on sugary Cereal (Duh). Upon getting home from work I snack on 2 cups of cereal, and while I log this and keep my daily calories in check, I think the sugar and carbs are a problem. Any recommendations on a healthy after work snack? Crunchy is good and maybe a little sweet too. Thanks ...

I had RNY nearly 18 months ago. I stopped losing after 6 months. I've been very disciplined, following all the rules. I never reached my goal and probably never will. I hover around 172-178 and I'm 5.4 I decided to go for skin removal and am set for surgery next month. All the naysayers have said horrible things. Stuff like, "it's way too painful, worse than RNY", and the more sensitive comments that have to do with weight gain. I don't want to hear about the whole tummy tuck being for nothing if I gain weight again. I won't gain weight. I'm not that person... and I'm not in denial. I am a person who is grateful for every gift I get, and I can handle the challenge of st…

My Husband has been acting a bit strange lately... I was feeling particularly good one day, and said, don't I look good,and he responded very lacklusterly with an.. eh, its ok.. which really hurt my feelings.. he had me feeling like I was vain after I gained my composure and asked him about it later that day.. Finally, he opened up to me this morning about how he really preferred me heavier, and that I'm still heavy in his mind.. he doesn't picture me so "little" but that he loves me and I'm his best friend.. etc.. I was pretty surprised. I know he likes large women. I was a little bit bigger than I am now when we first met.. I don't understand it, I guess cause I'm n…

So I hit my goal weight this past week, which is exciting, but now I'm trying to transition to maintaining. I know everyone is different and I am going to call my nut, but in the past they haven't been helpful. So I'm asking at you vets. 1. How did your transition go? 2. How did you learn what amount of food would maintain your weight? Trial and error? The thought of eating more scares me for the fact I've always needed to eat less, so it's weird that I'm now not needing to. I'm sure others felt this way too. Any tips/advice is appreciated.

I'd like to ask folks who have lost a significant amount of weight if their sleep needs have changed from when you were obese to when you reached your goal weight. I ask because I feel like I have abnormally high sleep needs and I'm wondering if it's related to my obesity - and really hoping these needs will reduce when my weight is reduced. As it is right now, I *need* between 8-9 hours of sleep to feel like a functioning human being during the week, but I prefer to sleep for 12-13 hours at a time. And I hate it. I don't want to sleep literally half my day away but when I'm left to my own devices that's exactly what happens. Were any of you a heavy, long sleeper p…

I'm having a something. Maybe an ulcer, maybe gallbladder. Been seen by PCP who thinks I have developed ulcer from IB. Surgeon says IB dose not likely high enough to cause ulcer. Still, she immediately has ordered scope that she will do and ultrasound to check gallbladder. I've been on Prilosec 40mg and Zantac for a week with not much improvement in pain on empty stomach and nausea. Lots of burping and gurgling. Im looking for some reassurance from vets. The complications forum seems very leak focused. Has anyone developed ulcer 3+ years out. Any other thoughts? Scope is Tuesday.

Hi folks. I've searched the boards the past few days and can't find anyone posting this anywhere recently, so sorry if it's a re-ask of an old question for everyone. I'm almost 2 years out from VSG, lost 130 lbs and then this winter have gained 25 (gasp!) back and am working really hard to lose again. Problem is, I'm not able to. I really want to re-lose my stupid gain, and then get the remainder off and get to goal. My current macros are 1300 calories, ~150 g Protein, 50 g carbs, 50 g fat I'm working out with weights 45 minutes three times a week and generally active otherwise. Been here doing this two weeks now, and no loss! Help?!? What are you all doing in term…

Need feedback on complications after 3+ years post op is there anyone out there going through a lot of issues like me? Stomach hernia constant stomach discomfort upset stomack all the time and stomach pain severe constant random uncontrolable diarrhea. I'm always cold I get super tired after eating pain after eating more with liquid And now stomach is twisting .... been to several specialist and had many tests done doctor said i need surgery to correct hernia n twisting he said there is not enough data collected on sleeve because its a newer procedure to know long term effects i am wanting to know if any vets like me on this site is having these problems too ?

Hey vets. I'm 14 months out and have lost 46kgs with 10kgs more to go. I have been a bit lost and not very motivated. I am keen to be back on track and meet my goal. I am just wondering how many calories per day I should be eating and how many grams of protein, carbs and fat.

Hi all, I had my sleeve surgery back in March, 2013. I got to goal within a year (lost almost 100 pounds) and maintained my goal weight within =/- 3 pounds for nearly a year and half (163 pounds, I'm 5'8"). During all of that time, I had worked with a personal trainer, got divorced, started dating and met a great new guy... we've been together about a year and half now. I'm 47 and wanted to start regulating my periods, so I went on Loestrin (low dose BC pill). Well, I've gained 25 pounds over the course of a year and my appetite has been out of control. Granted, I've gone back to some bad habits, but I do a 30-minute boot camp class 4-5 times per week. I figured …

Did it hurt? Yes, it is a surgery plain and simple there is physical recovery time. Just remember everyone has a different pain tolerance and based on any complications that may arise could affect this as well. Did you have any complications? Yes, I had a lot of internal swelling that wouldn't let me sip my liquids so I got very dehydrated and had to stay on an IV two extra days until the swelling went down. How much weight did you lose and how long did it take? I lost 131 lbs in 2 1/2 years. Did you have any stalls? Yes, I had quite a few week to two week long stalls, and I had one three month long stall. The thing to remember with a stall is you are losing inches be…