MinaT

I'm definitely still a work in progress.

the left is my highest weight a year and a half ago, 442. I was a size 32 jeans and a 3x/4x top.
the right is current, 277. I'm at the lower end of size 24, and a 2x/sometimes xl top.
You look great!

I started at a 24/26 and I am currently at a 14/16 I'm very happy that I see the change in clothes size but I have a problem and still see a 300 lbs girl when I look in the mirror I have not adjusted to the way I look yet.SMH

H​ello Everyone! I just wanted to share my before and now progress photos and a little bit about my journey so far! I am about 9 weeks post-op. I am 5'3 and my starting weight was 243. I currently weigh 203. I am feeling a lot better already! I no longer have high blood pressure and I'm no longer pre-diabetic. I also have not had any issues with my Acid Reflux since surgery. Everything is much easier to do already! I felt like I was losing weight slowly. Maybe it was because I had a 3 week stall but, I'm averaging more than 4 lbs. a week loss even with that! That's not too shabby! It's true what they say. You can lose inches without losing weight! I have lost over 4 feet of inches from all over my body! I cannot wait to see what the future brings! Now that food is not controlling my life, I feel this can be done and I can actually go all the way! The surgery was not easy but the surgery has made it do-able for me! What goes up, Must come down! Ha,Ha! Finally!

I'm 5 months out and sometimes I wonder if I'm supposed to be able to eat "that much" at a time. But then I sit down to have chicken/steak/tuna and can only it a few bites before I'm full and then I know OK that's more like it.
One thing I know for sure is that carbs go down a lot more easily and with less of the full feeling than high Protein foods. So I really try to eat my Protein first.

I am 5 days Post-op band to bypass. I don't have GERD but due to the band constantly slipping and rubbing, I developed similar symptoms of GERD. I've heard many physicians lean towards bypass if you already have GERD because it could make it worse. I know you want to have done as much research on your own to present to your physician, but they really are the best to get advice on which route to take. I wish you the best in your decision and hope all goes well with whichever surgery you pick.

I had my band removed in 2013 due to slippage resulting in GERD I wanted a sleeve but surgeon said it isn't suitable for me and suggested bypass instead.
After reading multiple threads on this forum of sleeve to RNY revision, I think it's a wise thing for me to do.
Sent from my SM-G920F using the BariatricPal App

I got my band removed in December 2015 and am revising to RNY the end of the month. Due to the extreme GERD and esophageul spasms, I was not a candidate. I know a gal who is 6 weeks post op with the Sleeve and she's having horrible GERD. Sadly, she will probably have to revise to RNY.

That's a lovely month to be changing your life for the better! Congrats!

Congratulations.

congrats. Good luck with it!

I got my surgery date for March 22nd! Very nervous but excited!

I developed an ulcer do to miscommunication from the dr that performed my first bypass. It was discovered approx 3 months after my bypass when I switched dr's at this time it was addressed and was treated w medication however it continued to get worse as time went by. For the past 6 months I've been vomiting so I avoided foods I thought to be causing it only to get to where I am now where it doesn't matter what I eat or drink nothing is staying but the calories (not losing weight at all). My dr tells me since my first procedure was done they have learned new ways to cut the stomach to avoid stretching he also talks of a hormone they now remove to makes you hungry. Whatever works thou as I'm tired of being in pain not knowing which hurts worse the hiatal hernia or the ulcer.

I've done all the researcher. I didn't mean for this to turn into an argument. What I want is actual stories of WHY YOU choose your particular surgery. Or choosing the one you're having. It's a completely personal decision. One is not better. It's a matter of what is best for you. And I am merely wanting to know what led you to choose your surgery. I've researched for years, I know the statistics but what I don't know is personal stories as to why. Did you talk to somebody? Did something stand out? Did you read something that made the choice easier? I appreciate all your input but I think it's gonna a little off topic. And I would like to get back to personal testimony and not so much at pointing fingers because someone has interpreted something. You all are amazing. And have been so helpful. If anyone wants to add why they choose the surgery they did I would love to hear it. Thanks!!

I don't usually get this frustrated but after reading this string now multiple times I really have to say this.
Bypass patients are NOT plagued with malnutrition! It frustrates me when people do not educate themselves enough to understand the malabsorption process. It is intentional, not a side effect. It helps with weight loss.
The reason some people end up malnourished is because they choose to eat the wrong things or they don't take their Vitamins It has absolutely nothing to do with having bypass surgery. You can end up malnourished with any weight loss surgery. As long as you follow the plan and get your blood work done regularly you will not end up malnourished.
The reason I am frustrated by this is because I personally almost went with the wrong surgery because people were telling me that the malabsorption would cause me to be malnourished! It took 2 different doctors to help me understand that this is a false statement. I suffered from severe Gerd and would have chosen the wrong surgery had I not educated myself on these procedures.
All I am asking is that you understand the advice you are giving and speak from your experience not from what you might believe to be true.
To the OP, I wish you the best of luck and the best thing you can do for yourself is to leverage your medical team to guide you given your medical condition.
Rant over......

I originally planned to have sleeve surgery and ended up going the route of bypass for two reasons. I had severe reflux and learned that bypass would cure it and it did. Secondly I wanted to have 1 surgery and be done with it. Given bypass is the gold standard and has years of data behind it I decided to go for it.
I am very thankful that I did as it cured so many comorbitities in the process. I don't have any side effects. I take Vitamins every day (4 of them) instead of taking numerous prescriptions for all my comorbitities. By the way, sleeves take the same Vitamins.< /p>
The malabsorption factor actually helps you to lose the weight, it is not a side effect. It is very effective and my prescription strengths went down not up as a previous posted called out.
Both surgeries are equally as invasive. The sleeve removes 90% of your stomach which means it is not reversible where the bypass is.
hair loss can happen with both surgeries, some people have this issue and some do not regardless of the surgery you choose. I lost a lot of hair but it came back, all of it. Loose skin happens with massive weight loss regardless of how you lose your weight. This is not caused by the type of surgery you choose.
I am now 17 months post op. Down 143+lbs, 1 lb from goal. I fit into a size 8 jeans from a size 24/26.
I have never dumped and it only happens to a small percentage of people.
Yes my hunger came back but it is not the same and when I do get hungry a few bites and I am full. I am a good cook and if I taste my food too much while cooking I will get full before I even get to dinner.
Bypass is the best thing that ever happened to me. I thank god every day for the doctors and nurses and dietitians that work in this field. Without them this wouldn't be possible.
Oh by the way, I have not been able to exercise for nearly a year now do to issues with my spine. The best I can do is small walks. I control my weight with mostly my diet. Because I have had bypass this is totally possible.

I am 34 months post-op RNY surgery. I choose this approach over sleeve because I had severe acid reflux (GERD) prior to surgery and that is the recommended approach for that condition. Also I choose it due to the low rate of revisions. If I underwent the knife once, I do not want to repeat it again.
After surgery, I completely lost my hunger. It was not difficult to lose weight when hunger is not constantly continuously gnawing at your bonds. The hunger returns after a year or two, but it does not have the same intensity as before surgery.
I had several conditions prior to surgery and took many prescription drugs prior to surgery. Most of these conditions went into remission shortly after surgery and have remained there. So even though I have to take Vitamins, it is offset by the fact that I am no longer taking these prescription drugs.
As far as exercise, one of the best exercises after surgery is walking. So if you can walk for around 30 minutes each day, you should do fine.
As far as choosing between RNY gastric bypass and sleeve, I would place a lot of weight on what your surgeon recommends.

Mine is scheduled for March 21st

Maybe Isopure?

No two patients will ever be the same nor will their body chemistry. The general rule is the bigger you are the more/faster you will lose in the first year.
There is no magical number. However, don't fixate on the numbers. Focus on the plan set forth by your surgical team. As long as you stick to the plan you're doing exactly as you need to be.
My numbers are in my ticker just to give you an idea of my loss.

It could also be the Vitamins. I actually don't have a strange smell anymore since I lost so much weight. I used to shower 2-3 times a day because I always felt so dirty and stinky because I was so heavy. I do notice though that my first urine of the day is a little stronger and then after my B12 it's a little stronger but the more Water then it goes away.
I also had a hysterectomy so maybe I don't have that other problem.
Best of luck.

Jessica,
Approximately 3500 calories equals one pound of body weight. This means that you'd have to take in 3500 fewer calories than you usually do, over a period of time. This is a theory and can depend.
When you went on the pre-op shake diet, or if you lost weight "pre-surgery" that weight was Water weight. There is no note on how much you lost pre-surgery, there is no note on if you did a pre-op shake diet.
The less weight you have to lose, the harder it will be to lose.
You had surgery 9 days ago.
I lost 70 pounds pre-surgery. I went into surgery on a Monday and I weighed 229. I came home Friday and on Saturday morning I weighed 235. I gained weight. (very very normal). I had Water, tea, and I faked a bite or two of Jello, I drank about 3 teaspoons of broth, I took about 2 sips of Isopure frothy strawberry crap in all the days in the hospital.
9 pounds in 9 days is fantastic. The issues you are having right now are emotional issues. Once your body starts burning fat you become more emotional.
Here is a pound of fat... nice huh.
http://www.efficientfitnessllc.com/images/pound_of_fat.jpg?89
The weight is not going to melt off you, this is something your doctor should have explained to you. I have weighed the same for 3 days in a row. I eat 350-400 calories a day right now in liquid form and I walk about 3 miles a day total.
Your body gets rid of the carbs first then goes after the fat, but sometimes you lose inches.
You aren't any different than anyone else, there is no guarantee of losing 1 pound a day. Just do what you are suppose to do, follow the rules and the weight will come off. Being female, be prepared for a day that you gain a pound or two because of hormones, it happens, it comes off eventually.

I know some sleevers get offended if a Water is set down with the meal, I always ask purposefully for Water and a lemon. I usually take one sip before dinner. You truly do learn will power. I have been to bunco where I was ribbed by a bunch of women about not eating and there truly was nothing I could eat but a piece of cheese and some vegetables. I said I ate a huge dinner earlier and I passed on all the Desserts. They ate, I didn't feel bad. I usually order shrimp cocktail or chicken breast etc. I order Julienne type salads and pick out the meat and always take stuff home. I spend more time cutting things up and moving them around on my plate and nobody usually notices a thing. I always ask for a take home box when I order the food. I always ask for steam vegetables if they serve it or cottage cheese.. I always eat the meat first and usually leave the rest. Take control of the talking during the dinner, most people are concentrating no shoveling food in there mouth to pay attention to what you are eating if you are talking.
Nobody but my husband and son and parents know about the surgery and it's not a big deal. I have been to festivals, carnivals, huge affairs and haven't had a problem. I always say I had a late lunch.

You are in a state of depression which is something everyone can understand, but it's above and beyond it because you knew that your food intake would be limited and it's as though you are mourning food in a way. The nausea isn't helping you and neither is the acid reflux. If regular shakes make you throw up - try something else like Syntrax nectar.
I hate the shakes too. (though I drank one every day 7 months pre-op with no problem). They made me gag, I would never bother eating or drinking them until I barfed though. Take some sips, put it away. I don't have a lot of money because of the surgery and other things, and finding any sort of Protein shake I could handle was getting on my nerves. I had an easier time trying to get down the Syntrax Nectar (which you can buy a 2lb tub of Fuzzy nectar, Ice Tea, Lemonade for like $33.00 (cheaper than buying at Syntrax - it's $59.00 there).
I am not hitting 80 grams of Protein a day, you aren't going to become protein deficit in this short of time. Worry about your Water, chew the Vitamins slowly. I find getting it down with skim milk is better. Try getting in a Vitamin B12 sublingual (goes under your tongue) maybe that will lift your spirits.
If eating with your family is causing tears, then don't eat with them for now. Do you have kids?
My father is embarrassed to eat in front of me, it causes my family anxiety if they see that they are eating something they KNOW I can't eat ...yet, or that used to be my favorite. They went through this surgery with me, and watching someone have this surgery is stressful not just on us, but on the family too. I had a few days where I felt depressed and sorta moody, but I put a different attitude on things. Why should I make them miserable because of a decision I made, that was still the right decision, but it's something I am not having a good time with.
I'm happy because I have two choices, find something that will work for me and try to stay positive or gag stuff down, and be miserable, moody and make everyone around me miserable and moody too. It's not fair to them.
Sometimes happiness is only achievable when you work at it. Do I feel happy all the time, hell no, I hate my Protein Shakes, I decided to go back every other day in the morning because they have more protein in it. If you keep looking for the worst, that is what you are going to see.
Find some positives in your day, don't eat with your family. Are you still on full liquids? Are you on purees? Not sure what phase you are on. I was on full liquids 5 weeks, I just started out with purees. I tried tuna pureed. I had 1.5 ounces of it with light mayo and 3 teaspoons of cottage cheese. That went down great. Then for dinner yesterday, while my husband and son ate pork chops, vegetables and a side dish. I tried the chicken can pureed, which I didn't make liquidy enough it stuck in my throat and I felt horrible the entire night, but I went for a walk, and I realized this is a decision I cannot take back and truthfully I have to change my attitude and look at the positives.
If you are having a lot of acid reflux get on a different PPI.
It honestly seems like this is about mourning food and not being hungry, and perhaps you are trying to get down too much. You can't compare what your family is eating to you...it's unrealistic. Realize you will be able to eat the same things as them in limited quantity in the future, but you are only 4 weeks out of having a serious major surgery.
Think about getting some counseling. The sleeve is a tool to control the size of your stomach but it doesn't fix what caused you to overeat in the first place.
I still hate my shakes, I drank them 7 months prior to surgery and they taste like elmers glue with chocolate, the smell of chocolate makes me want to hurt, but it doesn't make me regret my decision.
I hope you turn the corner soon and things start looking up for you. I wish you the best of luck.

Jessica,
Approximately 3500 calories equals one pound of body weight. This means that you'd have to take in 3500 fewer calories than you usually do, over a period of time. This is a theory and can depend.
When you went on the pre-op shake diet, or if you lost weight "pre-surgery" that weight was Water weight. There is no note on how much you lost pre-surgery, there is no note on if you did a pre-op shake diet.
The less weight you have to lose, the harder it will be to lose.
You had surgery 9 days ago.
I lost 70 pounds pre-surgery. I went into surgery on a Monday and I weighed 229. I came home Friday and on Saturday morning I weighed 235. I gained weight. (very very normal). I had Water, tea, and I faked a bite or two of Jello, I drank about 3 teaspoons of broth, I took about 2 sips of Isopure frothy strawberry crap in all the days in the hospital.
9 pounds in 9 days is fantastic. The issues you are having right now are emotional issues. Once your body starts burning fat you become more emotional.
Here is a pound of fat... nice huh.
http://www.efficientfitnessllc.com/images/pound_of_fat.jpg?89
The weight is not going to melt off you, this is something your doctor should have explained to you. I have weighed the same for 3 days in a row. I eat 350-400 calories a day right now in liquid form and I walk about 3 miles a day total.
Your body gets rid of the carbs first then goes after the fat, but sometimes you lose inches.
You aren't any different than anyone else, there is no guarantee of losing 1 pound a day. Just do what you are suppose to do, follow the rules and the weight will come off. Being female, be prepared for a day that you gain a pound or two because of hormones, it happens, it comes off eventually.

Hey, you already know what the issues are, you eat fast and don't stop when full and y ou end up getting sick. That's a huge step just admitting that is what you are doing. Best suggestion I have is to start back to the beginning, try a websight like http://myfitnesspal.com to start documenting your Water intake, your protein/carbs and Caloric intake. It's such an easy site to navagate. Go high protien, low carb (remembering that the carbs, calories, etc. t suggest will be much higher) than someone who had the sleeve. By reverting back to high Protein, low carb it will start shrinking your stomach, remember chew your food thoroughly 20 times each. Drink something hot, like broth or hot tea about 1/2 hour 45 minutes for you eat.
Get your day started right with something like Pure Protein 100% whey Protein shakes (has 25gm of protein). Try it with skim milk and some ice cube and you'll find it's tasty and filling and inexpensive and you can buy a big jug at places like Target.
You can turn this around, with the support of people here. I'm sure others have had the same experience as you. Good luck and keep in touch.
You went through all the hard work before, it's a little set-back, but you are still and of course you can come here for some encouragement. Coughing and choking when you overeat is no fun and I'm sorry. Don't forget to try to take in 10,000 steps a day, make sure you are taking in enough Vitamins, especially B's to help with your energy.