McButterpants

I'm a little over two years out - one slider and some fries would be about it for me. It's a treat, not a normal meal for me. If we are having hamburgers at home, I eat it without the bun topped with cheese.

My family goes thru stages where we eat out a lot…My husband has gotten in the habit of asking me what I want and we'll split an entrée. If we don't want the same thing or he is especially hungry, I'll look at the appetizer menu. If that doesn't look good, I will order my own entree, eat about 1/3 of it and take the rest home. Early on, it was more difficult because I was trying to learn how to do things - you will get the hang of it. You get more comfortable telling the waiter that you're splitting an entree. Right after surgery, I would have a shake prior to going out and it didn't bother me that everyone around me was eating and I was sipping a coffee (approved by my doc).

Go to your doc - I am experiencing similar problems (just over 2 years out). Going in on Monday for ultra sound and upper GI. Best of luck!!!!!

When I decided to have surgery, I realized and admitted to myself that I wasn't going to be able to do it on my own - it takes a lot of soul searching, research, discussions with loved ones, etc. This is a huge decision! I'm a little over 2 years out - I have had difficulty recently with some regain, 17 pounds. It's horrifying. Luckily, my 2 year follow up was due and my doc reminded me of some tools I had in my tool box - reintroducing shakes, pointing out the fact I was grazing, and prescribed some appetites suppressants to get me back on track. I wish I could say that because of the surgery, it's all sunshine and lollipops and that I never ever have to worry about my weight. I do. But it is easier to re-gain control than it was prior to surgery. Two years out, I still have to work hard. I still have to exercise every day and I still have to monitor my intake of calories - I work at controlling my weight every day. The difference between today and 5 years ago, I have learned to love myself and take care of myself. My negative self talk is gone for the most part. I don't hate my body any more. I don't wake up in the morning and put a lot of pressure on myself to "behave" or "do it right today" or "lose 10 pounds by the end of the month". I don't feel compelled to do that. Now, I know that exercising or doing hot yoga makes me feel good. I know that eating large amounts of bread or processed foods, makes me feel bad, so I try to stay away. If I have a yummy yeast roll, it's a conscience decision and I enjoy every delicious bite - but I allow myself one and move on.

I miss champagne - I'm not much of a drinker, but I would have a couple of glasses periodically. Sometimes I miss the ability to sit down to a big plate of food and going to town. Things I don't miss - so many…the pain, emotional and physical. The embarrassment of a life gone out of control. Feeling tired all the time. Depression. Shopping in the big girls' section.

The scale is only one measure of how you're doing - be patient. Taking pictures is an awesome way to see your body change as well - I took a picture every week for the first few months…you can see yourself shrinking. You're going to do great - be patient and don't give the scale power over you.

@bayougirlmrsc, Many yoga studios have a "community day" one day a week - in my town, almost all of them do a $5 drop in. It's a great way to try a class and it's cheap. I love hot yoga - it's funny how I hate the heat, but doing yoga in a 102 degree room doesn't bother me. I just got back from a practice with a teacher I've never had before - WOW, I feel amazing. For me, yoga is good for my brain. It's a full hour where no one is trying to get a hold of me, my phone isn't ringing and there aren't multiple people asking me for something. It's an hour all for me. Top that off with some amazing stretching and toning exercises and it's a great way to start the day. I'm going into 2016 motivated and feeling good again - exercise is the best medicine for me, I know that, but sometimes forget it. Have an awesome 2016!

Congrats! Keep walking - it will help with the gas and helps with recovery. I walked as much as I could. Best of luck for a speedy recovery!

How far out are you?

Atta girl! You rock that tank top!

I traveled out of my area for surgery - my surgeon approved soft scrambled eggs and yogurt immediately. My local doctor, however, is much more strict with her patients. So I actually regressed when I got home and followed my local doctor's instruction of liquids, then puree's. Did it suck? Yes. But I said I would follow her plan and that's what I needed to do. I know it's tough and you want to eat regular food, but you need to follow your doc/nut plan. Just because someone else's doc says to eat food immediately, doesn't mean that's the right thing for everyone.

At 10 days out, you may not be able to feel full - you need to follow your doc/nut instructions. Agree with Miss Mac - just because you can eat, doesn't mean you should. You went thru a lot to have this surgery - honor that by taking care of yourself. Take care of your new tiny tummy. Get back on track with what you're nutritionist says.

I couldn't tolerate plain Water - even two years out, I still don't like plain water. Vitamin Water Zero and Propel (both 0 calories) worked well for me. Might be worth a try.

When I decided to have surgery in August, 2013, I was at my heaviest weight, I was disconnected from my life and family, and I was completely miserable. I, too, was able to lose weight, but gained it all back, plus a few pounds for good measure. My doc was starting to talk about diabetes and my blood pressure was going up and up with each visit. I hated myself, I hated my body and I hated my life. I finally went to my husband and said, "I want to explore having weight loss surgery." He asked me "Why?" Seriously, can't you see me? He couldn't believe I had gotten to 256 pounds - he didn't see that. I was still the same 25 year old girl he met 20 years before. I went to the surgeon's office, cried on the scale as they weighed me and walked out determined to have the gastric sleeve. I knew that no amount of dieting was going to get me where I need to be - what I would need to do lose 75+ pounds is not sustainable. This is not a decision not to be made on a whim - it's scary. Do your research, know the risks. For me, short of marrying my husband and having my son, this was the best decision I have ever made. My life is the polar opposite of what it was 2.5 years ago. I never, in my wildest dreams, could have imagined how awesome my life would be. There are ups and downs in this journey - I have recently been thru a down period - but I am back and I'm fighting again. This is not a magic bullet - it's hard work and you will live with this for the rest of your life. YOu have to be committed - you will never be able to eat like you did pre-surgery. Sometimes that is frustrating. All you can eat buffet? Nope. Soda? Not any more. But I have realized that a lot of those things that I thought I was going to miss, I don't. So, research, research and research. Do some soul searching. Network with people on this forum. Decide if it's the right thing to do. If you decide you want to, you have to commit to it and the lifestyle you'll need to live. Best of luck to you!

Agree with the above - Biotin is for regrowth. I'll be honest, I lost a lot of hair at about 3 months. My stylist and I guesstimate I lost about 30% of my hair. I got my Protein in, I was taking a Multivitamin, Biotin, Folic acid - I was doing the right things. The doc said, "It's probably going to happen, there isn't anything to prevent it, but whatever you lose due to the surgery, you will re-grow." So, I continued to take my Vitamins and supplements, I got a short cut to try to hide the loss and I used a product called Toppik to cover up (it really works just like the videos on their website). While it's horrifying and scary, I will tell you - in the end, it's totally worth it. My hair has grown back - my stylist said she thinks my hair is thicker than before surgery. I still go thru cycles where I lose some or it breaks (like my bangs), but it grows back quickly and it's not noticeable. I've been able to grown my hair out again, so it's getting longer.

@@bayougirlmrsc, Thanks for the post! You are correct on a couple of points - I allowed snacking, grazing, bad foods and sitting on my butt back into my life. They came in slowly, but they came back. Taking the appetite suppressants has helped - it helped me realize how much snacking and unintentional eating I was doing. I was making excuses for not exercising - again, an old habit. So enough with the "I should have"s…Here's what I've been doing since my original post... I am taking the suppressants and they have helped. I'm hopeful this is a short-term solution and will talk to the dock at the end of January when I go back for my follow up. I'm back on the exercise wagon - I joined a new yoga studio and I'm having a great time. My old studio did the same hot yoga routine every practice. While it was good at the beginning, it was time for a change. My new studio offers 5 different classes - I've taken three "shape" classes that incorporate yoga and strength in a 102 degree room. It kicks my butt every class and I love it. I can now do the entire routine with a 1 pound weight in each arm - something I couldn't do 3 practices ago. I'm also doing a challenge with my best friend and we've promised to hold each other accountable - we're doing the Run The Year challenge - we will do 2016 miles (combined), so I have to do 1008 miles in 2016. I did almost 900 this year. I also have a goal of 130 yoga practices in 2016 and 210 days of 10K steps or more. This should keep me on track. (I'm very goal oriented, so having a long-term goal that I can break up, keeps me motivated.) I also had a really long talk with my best friend - we've been friends out whole life. She could sense something was wrong with me and she helped me talk thru what was going on. She said she doesn't want me to go back to those dark days where I didn't leave the house. She showed me a picture I sent her of my old drivers license and my new one - it's like they aren't the same person. I cried and it really hit home how well I've done. It's awesome to have support and a little attitude adjustment. So, I'm feeling much better than I was a couple of weeks ago. I can see a change in my body with starting back at yoga. I'm down about 4 pounds, but I'm trying to stay off the scale for the next week while my body adjusts to the new exercise routine. Thanks again for all the support - you guys are amazing!

Wow - what a transformation! Congrats on your success and taking back your life.

I like Unjury and Nectar.

I just had my two year check up - I've gained 17 pounds. Doc said to integrate shakes back in - this really does help my urge to snack. The thought of going back on shakes bummed me out, but when I saw how they helped, I'm back on board. She also put me on appetite suppressants to try to help me get back on track - they have helped. I want that to be a short term solution to give me that jump start. Lastly, make sure you focus on Water - this helps with appetite as well.

You just put your body thru major surgery - you cut out a big portion of an organ. Let your body heal first, then worry about the weight loss. Follow your doctor's plan to a T - do not deviate unless given instructions from his/her office. They know what's best for YOUR recovery. If you follow the doc's plan, you will lose weight. Be kind and gentle to your body - don't rush this. You didn't to 347 pounds overnight, don't expect to lose it overnight. My other suggestion - don't weight every day (or multiple times a day). Get on the scale once a week - it will be better for your mind.

Don't get down on yourself - we all heal in different ways, it's not a matter of being strong or weak. Ben gentle on your body - you just had major surgery. Take care of your body so it can take care of you. You are going to put it thru a lot in the coming months! As as Miss Mac states above - don't compare yourself to others. Just because someone you talked to or read about on this forum says they lost 20 pounds in the first 5 days, doesn't mean that you will (it also doesn't mean it's true). You're body is unique as is your journey - embrace that. This is the one thing in life that is truly yours. You will have wonderfully fantastic days and you'll have horribly crappy days during this process. Those are yours and yours alone. Hang in there and best of luck!

I'm taking Phentermine (10 am) and Diethylpropion (4 pm). I am down 2-3 pounds in a week. At first the Phentermine jacked me up, but that is getting better. I don't think about food like I did a week ago and the urge to snack is gone. Now to get back on the exercise train!!!!!!!!

I traveled out of my area for surgery - my local hospital was $30K at the time. If you do travel to have your surgery, my suggestion is to find a local doctor to support you after surgery. The local surgeon in my hometown was willing to take me on as a patient after I got home - I did follow up visits once I got home. 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and yearly. There was a cost for this as my insurance doesn't cover anything weight loss related - I paid $175 per visit. This support was invaluable - I followed her plan with regard to introducing food and got much more information and support than just coming home and "winging it" with the information I got from the surgeon's office. Best of luck!

I've never been a fan of gofundme. There are places in the US you can get cheaper than $21K - I paid $11K for a great doctor in Las Vegas (flights are cheap, hotels are cheap and he's a well respected doctor with lots of experience). I think he's actually cheaper now. If you go to the self-pay forum on this site you may be able to find something more reasonable. Best of luck to you.

This is such a personal topic and you will get many different responses. Here's my story - I only told 5 people initially…my husband, son, parents and best friend. Since surgery, two years ago, I've told my another friend, hairdresser (due to hair loss) and my financial planner (weird, I know, he asked what I was doing to lose weight and I told him - he used to be a minister, so maybe it was a guilt think LOL). I didn't not tell people because I'm ashamed, I'm just a private person and I live in a small town. I knew if I told someone that it would be shared with many many people by the end of the day. I didn't want that. when people asked about my weight loss (including my brothers and their family), I said I changed my diet, got some things straightened out with my doctor and I'm working really hard at the gym. You need to do what's right for you - what YOU feel comfortable with, whatever that is.