Alex Brecher

@@rydersmama, congratulations on developing all of these new problems! And thanks for this great thread. Yes, being cold without 100 lbs of fat to insulate is definitely a problem that didn’t exist before weight loss surgery! It’s nice that I can fit into the extra layers of clothing that I need, though! Another one is the annoyance of people telling me that I don’t need to… “You don’t need to watch what you eat.” “You don’t need to skip dessert.” “You don’t need to work out so much.” Well, yes, actually, I DO need to! That’s how I am able to maintain my weight loss! It is so flattering that people see me as someone without a weight problem, but it is annoying when they think I can maintain my weight without any effort – almost nobody can, even most people who have never been overweight work really hard to prevent weight gain! All these “skinny people problems” are such beautiful reminders of how far I have come, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

@@lilijo, Congratulations on your surgery! Yep, the three-week stall is definitely a thing, especially when your first few weeks after surgery have seen such fast weight loss, like you! Your body is just catching up from the stress of surgery and the quick weight loss. You’ll lose again when you’re ready as long as you follow the program! In the meantime, what should you do? Stay positive, because there is no point in getting down about something you cannot control. Stick to your diet, since that is what will let your body lose more weight when it is time. Bump up your liquids, since that can never hurt. Focus on non-scale victories, since there will be TONS of progress during this time, like feeling better and losing inches if not pounds. Congratulations again, and good luck!

@@theantichick, I am sorry you are having to struggle with your trainers about your diet. Since you are just getting started with training and you are going to be paying a lot of money for it, I would make sure you can have a trainer you can work with. I mean, beyond the disagreements you may have over food, do you get the sense that you can work with them? From your description of them and what they each said regarding WLS and your diet, it sounds like they rubbed you the wrong way. Now, it is one thing to disagree on some points, and that can be a great learning experience for both of you as you discuss the points. However, it is quite another thing if you are simply at the receiving end of advice and instructions that you disagree with or do not make sense to you. This can get in the way of your training for a few reasons. One is that exercise and diet do go together, and you should feel comfortable talking about food with your trainer. Another reason is that you want to feel comfortable with your trainer, and not tip-toeing around trying to avoid a subject (food) which is very important in your life. And another reason is that you need to be able to trust your trainer regarding exercise, which may be difficult if you know they are wrong about diet. As it stands, do you feel you can trust your trainer’s expertise in training, even though you do not trust his expertise in diet? Do you worry that you will be given a standard “bodybuilding” exercise regimen the same way you were advised to follow a “bodybuilding” diet? So, it is great that you are starting training! As you said, you can learn new exercises and push yourself a little harder than without a trainer. Just remember that you are in control, and make sure you get a trainer whom you love. There are great ones out there.

@@reree6898, Congratulations! You look fantastic! Thanks for posting your photos and telling us your story. Keep up the great work!

@@The New Kel, It looks like you’ve gotten quite a bit of help here! coffee is off limits not just because of the caffeine, but also because of the acid in coffee (regular or decaf). Just after surgery, the acid can irritate your surgery wounds. Later, it can cause heartburn. As you can see from this thread, there is quite a range in what you can expect over time with your tolerance of coffee. Some WLS patients can work coffee back into their daily routines without trouble. Others have some heartburn, but are able to manage it with meds and also with strategies such as drinking less and making sure to have it long before bedtime and not before exercising. Also, different surgeons have different recommendations.

@@TanishaP, You are completely within your rights to tell your co-workers as much or little as you want. I agree with the above advice not to flat-out lie, since you do not want to lose your credibility forever. Something you may need to think about is what you will tell them to explain possible “odd” behavior on your part. What will you tell them if you need to leave work early or sit down quietly because you are feeling full or nauseous or you have a doctor’s appointment? How will you explain your liquid diet and then your new diet, which will probably look very different than your old eating patterns? You might want to just think ahead so you will have answers when you are put on the spot.

@@TJ1257, I would try to check with your insurance company and get a definite answer. If you cannot get through directly, maybe you can ask a potential surgeon (or surgeon’s office) to check for you. You can get the answer in writing so that you can feel comfortable going ahead with it. If they are not going to approve you, you would probably want to know as soon as possible so you can start thinking about other options. Good luck!

@@staceface, Good question, and you’ve gotten some good answers! It’s hard to predict exactly how you will look and the nature of your loose skin after losing weight: where it will hang, how much there will be, whether it will make you feel uncomfortable, and how noticeable it may be to you and to others. Since you can’t predict these things, one thing you might want to do is ask yourself what the worst case skin scenario is. If you have multiple spots of loose hanging skin that feels heavy and floppy, is that better than being at the weight you are now? And if not, would you feel comfortable considering skin removal surgery at that point? It is great that you are trying to think ahead to consider all of the possibilities that could go wrong as well as right before surgery. It is a big decision! Good luck.

Thanks for all of your answers as well as the tips on sneaking in a few more fruits and vegetables. It can definitely be a challenge to get in your 2-3 (or more) cups of fruits and vegetables every day when you are dealing with a tiny pouch or sleeve, or feeling so full from the band. Over the long term, though, it’s worth it to get in those fruits and vegetables for all kinds of reasons, from weight control to health concerns.

Protein, protein, protein. And Fluid. Those are the most common nutritional focuses after weight loss surgery, and for good reason. They help fill you up and keep you energized. Post-op, your food choices and the space in your stomach are limited, and you might have your hands full trying to get in your protein and Water. After a time, though, things change. You are able to eat a greater volume of food, and you can tolerate more food choices. Weight loss and maintenance may still be your highest priority, but you may also start to be thinking more about your long-term health and a sustainable diet. That is where fruits and vegetables may come in. Eating more fruits and vegetables can lower risk for certain cancers, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, for starters. And they are not “just” good for health. They are weight loss helpers, too. They are low-calorie and filling. After protein, your next priority on the WLS diet is to get more vegetables and fruits. So…how well do you do at getting in your vegetables and fruits? Do you hit your five-a-day every day? Do you make them a priority, or are you so focused on protein and calories that you cannot face worrying about another dietary component? Do you have any tips for getting in more vegetables and fruits?

Wow, we have quite the range of responses to this question! Some of you took weight loss surgery as a chance to do a little introspection and determine what really is, and what is not, important in life, and to only worry about the most important things. Others of you took weight loss surgery as a lesson that you can do whatever you set your mind to, and that nobody and nothing will stand in your way. @@summerset, I think it is great that you are able to stop yourself when someone complains about something that seems minor to you but may be important to them. Their problem may be real to them, and even if it is not a big deal to most people, it never hurts to show a little empathy!

Eek! I'm having my surgery tomorrow morning with Dr. Schwack.Like you both said, the office was incredibly difficult to get a hold of. Dr. Schwack was very nice and informed me about all procedures available. I only met with him once, since I did my pre-op visits with my PCP. Getting nervous for tomorrow but so so excited!! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App You're in good hands. Good luck and keep us updated on your progress!!

Here's a BariatricPal Store food and Vitamin haul - 2yrs post-op Gastric Bypass Surgery review video by YouTuber Mellie May.

They received a warning. I understand you are upset, but you need to follow our posted rules you agreed to upon signup. You can report any post that doesn't abide by these policies and we will deal with them. Do not take matters into your own hands, please.

. I am the LEAST rude person you will meet here Missy. Wake up to reality and simple questions that have simple answers. U still trolling??? Get the fuck off my post you're not helping.. you have to be miserable to keep answering on a post that you don't even agree with beat it jerk Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App Please use the REPORT function if you have ANY issue with it. This kind of language and post is not allowed here!

@@Tanette, It’s really up to you. The more changes you can make before surgery, the lower-risk surgery will be, and the easier recovery will be. If you’re not ready to make major changes now, you could still think about smaller changes. For example, instead of worrying about hitting the gym for an hour, you could walk slowly around the block. Or you could take smaller portions of dessert. Or you could drink more Water. It’s really up to you. You will definitely benefit from whatever prep you put in. Good luck!

@@alwtg, Great question! This is a tough one. There is no single answer that works for everyone. I like to consider a few things, then come to a decision about what I want to weigh. First is how I feel. I have more energy and feel more limber the lighter I am…to a point. Then I feel a little weaker. Then there is how my health numbers are. I want to be at a weight where my basic values like HDL/LDL/total cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, etc., are as good as I know they can be. There are the general recommendations – I like to at least know what my body weight would be at the BMI cutoffs for normal, overweight, and obese, and keep those in mind when thinking about goal weight. There is also the issue of looks, because we all want to look our best. Finally, sometimes your body just tells you where it wants to be. You might simply not be able to lose past a certain point because your body is happy where it is. So, there’s a lot to consider as you settle on a goal weight, and your goal weight can change over time. And congratulations on your weight loss so far!

@@shani1970, First, don’t beat yourself up over it. Just use it as a learning experience. Be grateful that your body is talking to you by sending you pain signals to tell you that you should not have eaten the pork chop. And…listen! Get in the habit of listening to your body, and it will tell you a lot of useful information that can help you lose more weight and feel better in the short and long term. As other posters have said, eating foods before you are ready for them can lead to serious problems, such as a leak. That should help motivate you to follow your surgeon’s post-op diet instructions. They are there for a reason. I know it feels like forever, but you are going to be back to eating solid foods again soon. Then you will have the rest of your life to enjoy those lean and healthy proteins! You can also use this as a learning opportunity in messing up, forgiving yourself, and getting right back on track. You will make many, many mistakes in the future. The mistakes themselves are not important on their own. It is how you handle them and move forward that counts. Hope you feel better soon!

@@erp, Congratulations! You look fabulous. What a testament to what hard work and consistency can do. Thanks for sharing your photos.

@@debd80, Sorry about the stall. They are so aggravating! It looks like you are eating nothing but Protein and fat; don’t forget that your body needs some carbohydrates, too. I think the general recommendation for four months post-op is around 1,200 calories, so you might want to count up and see how close to that you are getting. If you are not logging and measuring your food, I would try that, too. It’s easy for bigger portions to sneak in extra calories without even realizing it! As a general health issue, and possibly helpful for weight loss, would be to drink more Water. The general minimum is 64 ounces, with more needed if you are trying to lose weight, and more needed if you are exercising. Do you exercise? That can help a little with weight loss, and also make you feel more energetic and confident, and look stronger and more toned. It’s hard to know since you didn’t post it, but it’s possible your body may be responding to very rapid weight loss earlier. Did you lose a lot of weight in the first 3 months after surgery? Sometimes a plateau is just your body’s way of catching up. I know it’s frustrating, but hang in there. Just keep doing what you know is right, and keep in mind that “right” includes a range of possibilities. Whether you’re eating 1,000 or 1,500 calories, or getting in 70 or 100 grams of protein, as long as you are following a strict meal plan that worked for you up until this point, you will eventually start losing weight again. Good luck!

@@busybeebug, Congratulations on your surgery, although I know you don’t feel like celebrating right now! The first few days are the worst, and it may not get better for a week or two or even more. It’s hard, but try to hang in there! Keep your eyes on the prize – a healthy recovery and good and lasting weight loss. During this difficult time, take it a day (or hour) at a time. Focus on taking care of yourself, such as getting in your fluids. It will get better soon! @@gemigirl, Congratulations on your surgery! It sounds like you’re doing a great job managing the pain with walking. It’s also great that you are hitting your Fluid goals. I would even suggest upping that goal of 36 ounces to 64 ounces. The last thing you want is to end up dehydrated. Congrats to all recent surgery patients! Good luck as you move forward!

@@heather5565, Congratulations on your one year surgiversary! You look amazing! Good luck as you hit goal weight and move into maintenance. Do you have any specific plans and strategies for maintenance, or are you just going to take it as it comes? Thanks for sharing your stats and pic!

@@mcmom2016, You’ve gotten some good ideas here. I love the idea of suggesting alternative dates without going into further detail. Saying you are having a medical procedure done should be sufficient, too. It is common courtesy not to pry when someone tells you they are having a medical procedure done. Just as a heads-up…don’t forget that you will be eating differently after surgery. You will not only need to plan to take whatever special foods you may need, but you may need to think ahead of time about which reasons you can give for why you are eating differently. Good luck!

@@krazykristen, Ouch! But hopefully it’s not as callous as it sounds! If your boyfriend said that because he doesn’t yet understand the surgery, that’s one thing. You can explain it to him and let him know how you expect to be feeling after the surgery and by the time of the event. If you have already told him clearly how big of a deal this is and that you may not be up to this outdoor event and he still is not sympathetic, that could be a bit worrying. Will he be sympathetic and supportive through the rest of your WLS journey, as you will need him to be? Or will he ignore your surgery and expect you to carry on as before – including possibly keeping up with an unhealthy lifestyle?

As many of you are aware, Obesity is a family disease. It's often inherited by our children. I came across a great resource today and just wanted to share it with our members. It's a website called http://weighinguide.com/ . I found that it had some great tips on how to talk to kids ages 7-11 years of age.