Alex Brecher

Congratulations – that’s fantastic! Keep hitting and celebrating those goals, and they’ll add up to amazing results!

I think a lot of us start by looking at the BMI charts to pick an initial goal, and then adjust that goal based on how we feel and what our bodies tell us. I think a lot of WLS patients first choose a BMI of 25 for their ultimate goal, and then see how that goes. Like you said, different people look and feel different at the same BMI, and sometimes the body just won’t go for a certain BMI.

T. Whitaker, Bufflehead’s right – caffeine doesn’t dehydrate you if you keep it to reasonable amounts. (Of course, as a weight loss surgery patient, you could be at higher risk if you are barely meeting your Fluid needs as it is). One reason I know of for limiting or avoiding caffeine after WLS is its acidity. It can irritate your pouch or sleeve lining. Also, it can trigger acid reflux, especially in lap-band patients. Another problem – especially for WLS patients – is that caffeine can reduce nutrient absorption, especially Calcium and Iron. Calcium deficiency can harm your bones long term, and iron deficiency can give you anemia. Both are common after WLS, even without caffeine! I think the ideal is to avoid caffeine – if you need more energy, it’s best to get more sleep, exercise regularly, and stick to a regular schedule. If that’s impossible because of your family, I’d say minimize the amount you have, and definitely talk to your surgeon if you have any problems tolerating it.

ladivaluz806, Congratulations on your 30-lb weight loss and your smaller size! Revisions can lose weight more slowly than first-timers, but you are doing great, whether or not you feel like you are losing weight more slowly than non-revision patients. You’re on track to hit your goal within well under a year, and that’s something very few patients can do! It sounds like you have a good attitude about this. Savor the process and be proud of yourself, and take notes of what works so well for you so you can refer to your notes once you hit maintenance!

Elode, First, congratulations on losing so much weight and getting so close to your goal weight…how exciting! As to your first question, about why strangers are nicer to you…it’s the other end of the unfortunate truth that strangers are meaner to people who are more overweight, and nicer to people who are closer to “normal” weight. The bias (conscious or subconscious) against obesity is a real phenomenon in our society, and it sounds like you’ve experienced both ends now. As to your second question…it’s another unfortunate truth! I can’t speak about woman-to-woman compliments, but I do know it’s common for “friends” and some acquaintances and family members to treat successful losers badly. Maybe they feel threatened somehow by your enviable ability to be in charge of your life – maybe they’re jealous! Maybe they feel dumb or silly because they realize they were wrong to have judged you for getting WLS and predicting your failure. Who knows? Who cares? As you said…just an observation, and something interesting to wonder about.

prbaby28, As was suggested, check the different brands of coconut Water to find one with way less sugar. 28 grams of carbs is way too much! Some brands have less than 1 gram of sugar and 5 calories per cup, so you can use them for your Protein shakes to make them taste better (and to avoid problems that may come when you drink milk!), and for staying hydrated. You didn’t say in your initial post exactly WHY you’re having trouble hitting your Fluid and protein goals. I am guessing for protein, it is because you cannot stand the taste. But what about fluid? If you’re not tolerating water well, maybe coconut waters and other DIET flavored waters can help. If it’s because you’re not remembering to drink enough or the day seems to pass without finding time to get in your fluids, it may help to write down a schedule. Once you get into the habit, you’ll be able to get in enough liquids more easily. Good luck!

Mid August.

Where did you order that plate? We're looking to offer something to our members that would be universally useful to all WLS patients.

You can log in from your desktop computer and update your info here.

You’re more likely to lose weight and keep it off if you log your food. We’re all pretty familiar with the benefits. But as Melissa McCreery, a psychologist and life coach, described in her article on BariatricPal, logging your food the old-fashioned way can be boring. She suggests a keeping photographic food diary. It’s easier, more fun, and sometimes more accurate than typing your food and portion sizes into an app. And, it may even work better for weight loss! So, I invite you to try keeping a photographic food diary on this thread or on your own blog. (You can set one up for free here on BariatricPal if you haven’t already). And when you post, feel free to let everyone know what you’re eating, how you prepared it, and what you love and hate about photo blogging!

The insurance coverage is much better than I thought. Here's the exact response from the insurance company: "The 12 month coverage starts when a client has a complication. The policy is purchased for the number of days they’re in Mexico or the number of possible days when a complication could arise. Most policies for bariatric surgeries are purchased for 4-5 days and in 5 years we haven’t had one single complication after 5 days in gastric sleeve. The usually have arisen the first or second day." The policy covers you forever, including within the US! The insurance company is correct, most complications generally arise soon after surgery.

Agreed! It's difficult to get this info.

The insurance covers you both in Mexico as well as when you return to the US.

Oh, these are good…in such terrible ways! I’d forgotten about “cultural” foods. Those southern foods sound pretty deadly…fried everything with gravy and bacon on the side! In my case, it was Jewish foods. Kugel, anyone? You know, a mound of Pasta, cheese, apples, raisins, and sugar? Or maybe potato kugel, with potato and oil? And of course the convenience foods. And I’d forgotten about the fat-free craze…pasta, bread…My parents didn’t understand where the calories were coming from if we only ate pasta or bread. It had to have something on it or it “didn’t count” as a meal!

CCHeather, It sounds like you are really doing your homework about your options. In addition to asking on the forums about why BariatricPal members chose the surgeries they did, another next step might be to start looking for a surgeon. You might be able to find one or a few whom you trust, and who can give you more guidance and insights. Good luck!

Lisacaron, Those are some great points! I’m not surprised to hear you’re more of an expert on WLS than your primary care doctor or cardiologist. You’ve spent years now researching WLS and living WLS, while general doctors may have had a class in med school on WLS, or maybe they even went to school before WLS was mainstream. On top of that, you’re very much invested in WLS – it’s very personal. You want very much to know the amount of weight loss to expect, the possible risks, the pros and cons of each type. (And when I say, “you,” I mean, “all of us who are in your boat!”). I do agree it would be nice to have better answers given to us by our doctors, but they just don’t know. I see your point about knee surgery, but even that hasn’t been perfected. I know a lot of people with knee problems. So I think it’s not only a question of doctors doing their due diligence by learning the current knowledge and evaluating pre-op WLS patients better, but also a question of time as the research continues to give us answers.

Just following the rules, but since your post was addressed to me,..... "These guidelines do NOT forbid disagreement and candid discussions on BariatricPal. Members may discuss and defend their points of view in respectful manners. " I suppose we can just agree to disagree, because I do not agree with your opinion. My band has worked to perfection! Just like it was intended to. I lost 130 pounds with my band. I have had it for 6 years in September. My surgeon, who is an expert, seems to think bands are long term....maybe you've got better info? And I don't consider myself a rare success. I personally know people who've had their bands in for over 10 years...I played golf with one weekend before last. He just did a 10 year checkup..."everything looks perfect". PS...I enjoy going back and reading people's post from years back....kinda gives a different perspective sometimes. Best wishes TO ALL! I wasn't trying to single you out......just didn't like the direction this topic was taking.

Can't we all get along? Let's simmer down now, please I'm re-posting our forum rules in case anyone missed reading them upon signup. Forum Rules and Guidelines Welcome to BariatricPal! A warm welcome from the entire BariatricPal team! Forum registration is free. Our community includes members from all kinds of different backgrounds and regions of the world, but we all share the goal of leading healthier lives. To keep BariatricPal a friendly and helpful place for the entire community, we have developed the following rules and policies. We ask all member to follow these guidelines, and members who do not follow them may have their posts removed or accounts suspended or terminated. Your use of BariatricPal is your agreement that you accept all forum policies. Forum Moderation and Community Standards Full-time BariatricPal administrators moderate the forums. All posts must follow the posting guidelines outlined below. 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I agree with the above posts. Barret's esophagus is a contraindication for Sleeve Gastrectomy. If I were in your shoes, I'd opt for Gastric Bypass.

I was just thinking about some of the things I used to eat that I didn’t realize were so high-calorie, and maybe even seemed healthy. I’m not talking about the obvious ones, like eating a pizza or ordering a Grand Slam at Denny’s. I mean the ones my parents fed me with the best of intentions, or the ones I just assumed were healthy. Here are a few that come to mind… Juice! There was a time when we were going through 2 46-ounce cans of pineapple juice a day in our house…that’s over 300 grams of sugar! And speaking of healthy-seeming foods: canned veggies with sugar. Canned corn and peas, pickled beets. There was a period where my mom was baking a lot of bread, and we’d go through a 2-lb loaf every day. In college, I ate a lot of Cereal, especially granola. I didn’t realize how many calories it had. And I didn’t realize how much fat the veggies in college had. I guess that’s why they tasted so good. Those mushrooms cooked in butter were so good! Looking back, I can see why I gained weight. What about you? What “healthy” foods snuck into your diet – either because your parents gave them to you or you thought they were healthy?

Is the gastric bypass still most popular? How’s the sleeve doing as it’s no longer quite so new? Are you a die-hard band fan? Are you interested in knowing which types of weight loss surgery are most popular? Of course you are! And I have the latest information from the U.S.! I got these numbers through ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery). Here are the highlights… In 2014, there were 193,000 total weight loss surgeries. Of these: 26.8% were Gastric Bypass. 9.5% were Gastric Band. 51.7% were GastricSleeve. 11.5% were Revisions. And less than 1% were other (including BPD-DS). Compare that to 2011, when there were 158,000 total surgeries. Of these: 36.7% were Gastric Bypass. 35.4% were Gastric Band. 17.8% were Gastric Sleeve. 6% were Revisions. 3.2% were Other. And 0.9% were BPD-DS. Sleeve is up! Band is down! What do you think? How did you make your choice? Are you having second thoughts as you try to decide? If you already had surgery, do you wish you knew then what you know now?

Is there a law or rule that doesn't allow you to (eat or) drink while you're behind the counter? How do you think your boss would react if you came in tomorrow wearing one of these babies: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/201214750310?lpid=82&chn=ps%C2'> ?

Is your weight loss history standing between you and your current success after weight loss surgery? If you’re not getting the results you want, there’s a good chance it is. In Part 1 of the series, we brought up the idea of learning from your past, not running from it. Now, we take a look at a few more ways your past might have brought you down, and what you might be able to about it. Problem: Depending on Others This one’s not always so obvious, but it may be keeping you from reaching your full potential in weight loss and, frankly, in life. Of course, it’s normal and healthy to depend on others for some things. Maybe you rely on your spouse to pick up the kids from school, and you depend on your parents to parents to take care of your house when you’re on vacation. But what about the important things? What about your health? Do you take full responsibility for it? Or do you do what you did as a kid – depend on someone to make sure you had the food you needed and expect your parents or the doctor would make you better if you got sick or hurt? You’re still living in the past if you have not taken control of your health. You are the one who needs to purchase and prepare healthy food; set aside time to work out; eat the right foods to avoid complications from surgery. Others can help, but you need to be in charge. Problem: Looking for the Quick Fix If you look for a quick fix, you’ll probably find one. You can lose weight quickly using any number of strategies, and you’ve probably used them all from juicing to low-carb to low-fat. The problem with quick fixes is they’re quick to break, as you’ve found out when you went off the diets and gained the weight back. After WLS, don’t look for the quick fix. Be patient, and know you’re in it for the long haul. Looking for the quick fix can be something obvious that you recognize in yourself, but it is not always. Looking for the quick fix can be as subtle as subconsciously thinking of what and how much you eat as a temporary diet or thinking of your exercise program as something with a start and finish. You may be subconsciously looking for the quick fix if you’re unwilling to sign up for a long-term gym membership, or to invest in a kitchen scale or bariatric surgery recipe book. If you feel these things aren’t worthwhile, think about why. Is it because you don’t honestly see yourself needing them for long because you’re not really invested long-term into weight loss surgery success? Problem: Not Building Your Support System Many obese people struggle with late-night eating. Even if they are able to make it through the rest of the day eating reasonably healthy, night-time binges can strike furiously. If you weren’t able to overcome them previously, it may have been because you did not build enough of a support system. This time, don’t underestimate the power of your support system. Include people, such as friends and family, as well as alternate plans. You can set up many layers of protection against late-night overeating. Don’t store junk food at home, and don’t drive home past trigger spots like drive-through burger joints. Have two or three friends or family members whom you can call or talk to if you’re about to make a bad choice, and choose a pre-determined activity to do before eating, whether you decide to blog, sew, or take a walk. Also, have plenty of ready-to-eat healthy food around so it’s easier to grab than any junk. Problem: Lack of Self-Confidence Have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? You think something will happen a certain way, so you act as though it will happen that way, and then it does. For weight loss, that can be a bad thing if you let it. “I know my diet’s going to fail, so I’m not going to bother weighing my food.” Then, guess what – you don’t lose weight! “I knew I wouldn’t lose weight.” But self-fulfilling prophecies can be just as positive as they can negative, especially if you have self-confidence. “I know WLS will work for me, so I’m going to hit my protein goals and weigh my portions every meal.” When you don’t even let doubt creep in, you can be more empowered to follow the behaviors that lead to success. Weight loss surgery can be a fantastic tool for weight loss, but it’s only as good as you make it. To make it more powerful, don’t run from your personal history. Recognize your past, identify what went wrong, and fix it. Make sure this time really is different.

What type of job do you have that your employer is allowed to limit having a water bottle close by?

Overview: You’ve heard it before, and you know you should pay attention. Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of fluids! But a lot of weight loss surgery patients – and other people – don’t get enough fluids, but maybe you’d be more motivated if you kept in mind the benefits of Water. In addition to keeping away afternoon headaches, staying hydrated can also help you lose more weight, potentially. It helps decrease hunger without adding calories. It fights off fatigue, so you’re more energetic and more likely to burn calories. It keeps you strong during workouts. You can’t eat foods while you drink water, so drinking can help delay eating. This week’s challenge is to get more Fluid, which is especially important during the summer when you sweat out far more fluid. Getting Started: First, estimate how much water you need. You may have been told about 64 ounces, which is about 2 liters or 8 cups. That’s a good start, but most people actually do better on a little more water each day. Plus, you may need more because of the warm weather. You also need more if you sweat heavily. Then figure out how much fluid you’re getting each day. Count the amount you get from water and other beverages, plus from shakes and Soups. If the amount you’re getting is less than what it should be, this challenge is for you! The Next Steps: Identify why you’re not getting enough water, and think about ways you can get more fluids. You may be able to get in some extra cups by starting earlier – as soon as you wake up – and finishing later – add an evening drink. You can also get in a cup or two while working out. If you’re not able to drink much at one time, keep a water bottle with you so you can sip constantly (except within 30 minutes before or after eating). Many bariatric surgery patients have trouble getting in enough water because they lose their taste for it or just get sick of it. If that’s the case, you can try drinking ice water – sometimes that’s different enough for you to be able to tolerate it. Otherwise, you can get fluids from sources other than plain water. Be sure not to drink your calories – avoid sugar-containing drinks like juices and juice drinks, flavored water with calories, sodas, sugar-sweetened teas and coffee drinks, and energy and sports drinks (unless they’re diet). Make sure you avoid carbonated beverages and limit caffeine. If that’s a problem for you because you love your coffee or caffeinated tea, ask your surgeon how much caffeine is okay for you to have. These are some likely safe drinks for you. Water with lemon, lime, or other fruit such as raspberries or strawberries in it to add flavor. Water with mint leaves or basil. Flavored (non-carbonated) waters. Diet teas. Diet sports drinks. Broth, especially low-sodium if you can tolerate it. Making It Last: Think about how the challenge went. Were you able to hit your fluid goals by making up a schedule and including more beverage choices? Did you feel more energetic? Did you start to learn that you can turn to water, or another beverage, instead of a caloric food? If the challenge worked for you, try to continue to make these changes until they become habit. You will eventually be able to hit your fluid goals day after day without thinking about it.