Babbs

My surgeon didn't think a pre op diet was necessary. He'd said that the liver shrinking was so minimal, it didn't make a difference one way or another. Adaption to the post op liquid diet was just as hard as anyone else's, lol. But it's more head hunger, and not true hunger. I also was on full liquids off and on for 6 weeks because of issues with GERD. The head hunger does go away, but then you just want to CHEW something. Anyway, I don't recall being actually hungry. Just cravings. That's a bit easier to deal with than actual hunger IMO. Who knows, you may be one of those people who have total food aversion and will barely be able to get down a Protein shake, let alone be hungry or have cravings.

No worries...yes, i had mine in 2007....i was a self pay...insurance didn't even know what it was back then. I also had it done in San Francisco, and my husbands ex-wife is a bariatric nurse so I sorta had an "in" with a surgeon.When I moved to Vegas 2 yrs later...and even until now I have to explain what it was because people here are...well...to be nice...set in their ways.... Fascinating! After almost 3 years on these forums, you are the longest term sleever I've ever seen! I've seen a lot of long term bypass peeps, like my hubby who is 10 years out, but never a sleeve! So tell me, how is your restriction at 10 years out? What would you say your portions are now? Like me at over 2 years out, I would say my max is a cup, depending on what it is.

Haha my surgeon thinks he is God. That guy cracks me up. 180s.jpg I dunno. He seems to have a nice enough smile. My surgeon hardly ever smiles. So serious all the time. Like most surgeons, actually.

@@AvaFern Your diet wouldn't work for me, because at my age, my emphasis is more on health and nutrition. I would feel like sh*t if I ate like that. And I'm so over feeling like sh*t all the time. But you do you.

Let's have sex. Okay, but be gentle.

Morphine. Lots and lots of Morphine.

BOOM. Done in one.

Nope. Lawsuits and surgeons go hand in hand. Now if it was many times? Yeah, I'd worry a little.

What worked for me was increasing my calories slowly through the losing process. After I healed, I was at 800 until about month 6. I then hit a pretty bad stall and then bumped them up to 900-1000. At around 10 months, closer to goal and in preparation for maintenance, I bumped them up to 1100. I felt that helped set my metabolic thermostat, and now I can maintain my weight on 1200-1300 calories. If you keep your calories really low through out the process, you may very well be stuck having to maintain your weight at 800 calories or risk gaining, and who wants to do that!

I don't mean to question you, but they were doing the sleeve 10 years ago? My SIL had hers in 2010 and she was told she was one of the first patients to have it done, and she was a trial. Enlighten me!

You know what I don't understand? Whatever happened to just good old fashioned moxie? You know, just WANTING it bad enough, and not making excuses for when you just....don't? You either want to quit smoking, or you don't. You either want to work out, or you don't. You either want to excel at your career, or you don't. You either want to work hard in school, or you don't. You either want to lose weight and reach your goal, or you don't. You know?

Let's not confuse 'love' with 'control'. I have no doubt your dad loves you, but there's always an element of control and a self narrative with these people's arguments against having the surgery. He needs to understand that the risks of being obese far out weigh the risks of having the surgery. And I'm assuming you are a competent adult who is capable of making decisions for yourself. He may be kicking and screaming if you go ahead with it, but he'll get over it. They always do.

It really is! But that's why you have to kind of be a science experiment to see what works. @@OutsideMatchInside is also a great veteran to listen to as she has lost A LOT of weight and is still losing like a champ. I hope you can figure it all out! I just would love to see you try to do this experimenting first before you turn to the phentermine. But I wouldn't judge you for it, either. I know how frustrating it can be!

Well, and here's a little secret. You don't really have to exercise to lose weight. It's 90% diet. But with your stall (and actually it's just basically maintenance at this point), you need to do something to boost your metabolism, and exercise will do it in place of the phentermine. If you don't want to exercise, you're going to have to cut back on calories. Either way, something's gotta give. So you're going to have to figure out what's going to work best for you. You may have to try several things to see. You're in a pretty long stall, so obviously it's not So you either need to increase them or decrease them. Try both and see what works!

I can tell you right now you're not getting enough protein. Get rid of the popcorn and bark thins. Empty calories. Replace with another protein rich snack. I wasn't at 1000-1200 calories until 8 months to a year post op. I maintain on 1200 calories right now. I told you to increase your calories, but I think now you need to back off a little. 900-1000, 90 Grams of protein. More exercise. All your Fluid. Until the scale starts moving again, no empty calories! Just protein and veggies for your carbs. Like I said, what you're doing right now isn't working, so you gotta tweak things. That's my suggestion

The only people I've seen that have taken phentermine post VSG have been years out post op and have experienced some regain. I've seen several people on this site and also had personal experience with my husband who is 10 years out RNY, but experienced a 30 pound gain after quitting smoking a couple years ago. He did take it back off with the phentermine. You're going to have some people tout the dangers of it and be totally against it I'm sure, but I look at it as part of the overall "toolbox" of tools we sometimes need to fight obesity, with the surgery being just another one. Sometimes you have to utilize more than one tool to get the desired result. That being said, I would definitely explore other options first before turning to it so soon after surgery. I hate to be so simplistic, but exercise works also to boost your metabolism. You said you 'moderately' exercise, so I'm not sure what your routine entails, but I would look up HIIT training and other exercise that will get your metabolism going. Weight training along with cardio getting your heart rate up and then back down is one thing that works. Also, just exercising more than you are now will do it. I would also advice increasing your calories and Protein along with the increased exercise. I would get at least 90 grams of protein. Make sure you're drinking all 64 ounces of no calorie/low calorie Fluid, also. I know it's frustrating when the weight is not just falling off, believe me. It took me a solid year to lose 85 pounds. Yes, 12 months. 15 months to lose all 92 pounds of my weight. But I found that when I stalled like you are now that tweaking my diet and exercise until I found what worked to get the scale moving again worked wonders. It also was invaluable to me being a slower loser and constant staller because it helped me learn so much about nutrition and exercise and what would work for me. I think that's why I've been able to keep my weight off for over a year. Good luck to you! Whatever route you go, I hope it works for you!

Just quit. Look at it as fresh start along with the surgery. You won't regret it.

A "stall" a few weeks after surgery is not uncommon, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs. of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when a patient is not getting in enough food, the body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. Then when 2 lbs. of glycogen is used a patient will also lose 8 lbs. of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs. that most people lose in the first week of a diet. However, when the body stays in a caloric deficit state the body starts to realize that this is not a short-term problem. Then the body starts mobilizing fat from adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But the body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. As it puts back the 2 lbs. of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs. of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though the patient might still be losing energy content to their body, the weight will not go down or it might even gain for a while as the retention of water dissolves the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

Thinnertimes.com Gastricsleeve.com But they are so boring! Especially Thinnertimes. Everyone is almost....TOO nice, lol. That's sounds right up your ally though.

Yeah, it just depends on if someone can handle to normal fluctuations without it completely ruining their day. I was that way at first, but then I got used to it. During the losing phase it may not be as important as I feel it is during the maintenence phase. I don't know how people can avoid a scale and at the same time hold themselves accountable? After all, avoiding a scale is what got me to 235 pounds!

@@hova1980 Well, you're close! Once you get there, if you truly don't want to lose anymore, you'll have to up your calories in order to maintain or you will continue to lose. Start adding carbs in the form of whole grains if you haven't already too.

You're a guy. Guys lose weight faster as a rule. I don't see it as an issue at all. What's your goal weight?

I know there are other protein powders that may have more protein/less sugar, but I figured this one had everything that's required so it'd b a good start.....I will say the quality has improved greatly since I tried it a few years ago.... Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App The Premier are nice because they are already prepared, just like the Slim Fast ones. You can get them at any Walmart. Also, the Atkins ones are good, too.

I think Premier Protein is a much better choice. Less sugar and much more protein. They don't taste half bad, either! It's important to get into the habit of finding things with the most protein that will give you the best bang for your buck so to speak. When you have so little room in your new tummy and you need to get 70, 80,100 grams of protein in a day, you're going to understand

@@Djmohr I'm so sorry! Here's hoping she can pull through! My mom lived in chronic pain, also. She also abused prescription drugs, and went overboard with them many, many times. I know it ultimately was the cause of her heart failure and untimely death, but I never have blamed her. I don't have chronic pain (fortunately), so I have no room to judge anyone where that is concerned. Please keep us posted. You and yours are in my thoughts today.