TES

They are probably just being polite--I personally will rarely comment on someone's weight loss, just like I don't comment if it looks like they have gained. I think it's such a personal thing. Plus some people are in their own world and just don't notice other people a lot. If they say something like "you look nice today," they have probably noticed.

You can do it!

Mine lasted about 5 or 6 days. Hope you feel better soon.

Wow, you're at almost 100 lbs gone, JoatSaint--way to go!

Sending you good thoughts for a successful surgery and speedy recovery!

I feel for you. I did have to laugh at the dog's crunching irritating you, though--lol! I understand what you are saying. I think the best thing that you can do is to think of this as an investment in your future. When it bothered me to see other people eat, I would go in another room and get on this forum or watch TV somewhere else, or take a nap, or even better, go for a walk.

Yes, I had diarrhea about 2 to 3 days post-op that lasted for over a week. The PA had told us that would probably happen--liquids in, liquids out. Hope you are feeling better soon.

This was also demonstrated in people, in the STAMPEDE trial performed at Cleveland Clinic....

Are you taking Prilosec or a similar gastric-protective agent?

Very inspirational--congratulations!!! :) :) :)

My WL is about the same as yours at 4 months (and pre-op), but I have more to lose. My surgeon never says if my loss is average or not, just that I'm doing great. He actually has never even given me a WL goal, but I want to set one eventually. Right now I am just looking at it incrementally as related to specific BMIs, etc.

I would go see your PCP and see if he/she wants to do any bloodwork--wondering if you might have some kind of infection or virus. I had pretty close to normal energy by 8 weeks out (I am a little over 4 months post op now). About how many calories are you getting? Protein grams? Water? (dehydration can make you very tired--I aim for 70 to 100 oz of water a day and feel extremely tired if I don't get it--I feel like I need more water than I did pre-op...maybe bc I can't get in as many veggies and fruits that contain water).

I have always heard first on, last off (and last on, first off) as related to how we lose weight. How we gain (and subsequently lose) seems to be genetic. It takes a lot more weight in higher sizes to go down a size, but in the lower sizes, it might only be a 5- or 10-lb difference. The PA at my surgeon's practice said about 8 weeks post-op until I would feel that I had my normal energy, and it was almost exactly 8 weeks.

Have you lost 52 since your surgery (apx 4 months) or was some pre-op? I think you are doing great--congrats!

I feel dehydrated unless I do at least 100 oz of fluid (mostly water) a day....

ditto on the hair loss--remember, too, for those of us with long hair it looks like even more than it really is....

I like to slice up some avocado, put fresh lime juice on it, add salt and pepper, and put it on top of my black beans that have already been warmed with melted cheese--and then top it all with plain Greek yogurt. One of my favorite go-to meals. I like fresh avocado even better than guacamole....

Yes, the constipation is definitely related to dehydration. I just saw a urologist/kidney stone specialist for possible stones, and he told me the single best way to prevent kidney stones is to drink at least 100 oz of water per day.

I started eating iceberg lettuce 4 weeks out and other veggies 6 to 8 weeks out and have had no issues. I actually had a delicious salad for lunch today. I can eat a good bit of salad at 4 months out--about 1 cup. that's because it has a high water content. You could blend the greens as well.

She's entitled to her opinion, but it's not based on evidence. Fewer than 5% of people who lose weight without surgical intervention are able to keep the weight off. I would recommend switching PCPs to someone who is supportive of WLS. When I first looked into WLS, which was recommended by my endocrinologist, the nutritionist they sent me to for mandatory counseling was anti-WLS. It was awful. I ended up deciding not to get the surgery. I sure wish I would have done it then, which was several years ago. Although back then, VSG wasn't very popular, and I probably would have gotten the lapband...so I guess everything happens for a reason. Anyhow, I think you need a supportive PCP.

I take liquid also, from Vitamin Shoppe. I stayed on them even after I was done with full liquids.

I would ask your surgeon and/or dietitian....

I am so sorry about your sister. My sympathies. Best wishes in your journey.

Yes, doctors/surgeons would not do something that is in conflict with the Hippocratic Oath!

I agree with a lot of what you said, but a BMR is more than a mathematical calculation--it can vary even among people of the same weight, height and activity level. That is why you can get your BMR tested. Some people do simply burn more calories than others, all else being equal. Not sure if it could be to the degree to cause morbid obesity on a consistently calorie restricted diet, though. I think the thing is that people who have very efficient metabolism (ie, lower BMRs) and health issues that complicate the ability to lose weight (hypothyroid, insulin disorders, etc) often do severely calorie restrict and have trouble losing weight. But they/we were unable to do so consistently prior to VSG because it is not something that is sustainable if you are human. That is the difference with VSG--you may lose weight more slowly than many others, but you will do so consistently even with a bunch of health issues that would keep you from losing without the surgery. So although someone may feel like you are always calorie restricting pre-VSG and not losing weight or gaining, it is probably from going on and off the VLCD. That can lead to a pattern of your body wanting more calories than normal when off the very low calorie diet, too. VSG provides a tool for consistency....