Babbs

Welcome to Bariatric Pal? After 3 years on this forum, I've seen hundreds of these posts. You're also going to see the indignation from the person when someone points out it may not be such a great idea. And then someone makes a thread like this ranting about said indignation. Rinse. Repeat.

I'm glad to hear it's all good with you right now! Do you remember when it started to go smoothly? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I think at around 14 months out I noticed it didn't hurt anymore when I took a sip. Keep in mind I don't drink it all the time. I drink one 7.5 ounce Coke Zero a day. The rest of the day I drink Water, tea and coffee. Lots of herbal tea in the winter!

I am always 2-3 pounds heavier in the evening than I am in the morning. Weight fluctuates for lots of reasons. You'll see it when you weigh daily and several times a day. The best way to avoid the anxiety it causes is to weight less, like maybe once a week or even once a month. It's impossible to not lose weight the first six months or so. The sheer caloric deficit insures weight loss until your body 'adjusts'. Just follow your program and you'll be happy with your results. I promise.

First attempt before a year out= OUCH Now at 2+ years out? All is well. Except sadly, beer. Something about the carbonation in beer makes me really uncomfortable and bloated.

@@pvechiola I stand by my statement. You seem very uneducated about WLS. I'm sorry, how far out from surgery are you? I'm 2.5 years out. You seem nice.

Fat Doctor is a much better show. The surgeon on there is a cutie patootie and he's MUCH more empathetic than Dr Now. You can see he really cares about the well being of his patients. Check it out! Seasons 1-4 are on YouTube.

It took me 15 months to lose a total of 92 pounds before the weight loss just stopped. Now at almost 2.5 years out, do you think it matters one sh*t how long it took me to lose it? All that matters now is I keep off what I lost! And @@Djmohr is right. Just wait until you're at goal, but you gain a few pounds. I gained almost 6 last spring, and it took me 4 months to lose it. Yes, four.

Uh, weight loss surgery isn't just for old people, you know. Sometimes it's the best option, no matter what your age. What a silly thing to say? You're right, age isn't a matter. I don't consider myself old, at 38, and I'm getting it done to prevent health issues. I'm actually surprised to hear someone on this forum say "eat right and exercise". Well, we all know that's true! But hey, a tool to HELP us do that works!!! This is why I won't tell my parents...people feel like they always know what's best for someone else. I say, let's support and encourage one another for the decisions they've made. Sure, you can share your experience, with however you managed to lose weight, but let the individual make their own decision. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Well, and here's the thing @DCast78. I did "eat right and exercise" off and on for 25 years! Losing weight for me was very easy. I'm a very goal oriented person, so when I knew I had that goal to work toward, no problem. I did it a half dozen times. Keeping it off was another story. The fact of the matter is statistically we have a better chance of keeping our weight off post bariatric surgery. That's why it was for me. And believe me, maintaining my loss even now ain't no picnic. But at least now I know I have a fighting chance

This ^^^^^^ And this ^^^^^^^

Appetite ebbs and flows. If you feel you are truly hungry, then eat when you feel you need to eat. Honestly, I hit goal and am still maintaining over a year later by eating on a schedule and every few hours. That has just worked for me. Your body may just need more food. I know when I exercise a bit more I am more hungry. Ravenous, even! Just learn to read your body and know the difference between true hunger and just wanting to eat for the sake of eating

Uh, weight loss surgery isn't just for old people, you know. Sometimes it's the best option, no matter what your age. What a silly thing to say?

Everyone already covered a lot of great advice, but I just wanted to say you're gorgeous

I have 3 garbage disposals!

Yes! http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html?m=1

Can I be honest? Getting the best results weight loss wise will happen when you can resist the urge to eat whatever and whenever you're craving, and choose the best option for you 90% of the time. Your "I really want mashed potatoes and gravy from churches chicken" threw a red flag for me. I really want a cheeseburger from Five Guy's. Oh, and the fries. And the shake. But I won't. I've gotten good at exercising my will power muscles. Not perfect, but pretty good. These early stages are trying, but a great way to begin to practice it. This is all about changing behaviors and attitudes about food. It takes time, but it's doable.

@@Rachel79uk Why be scared? She did a good job losing almost 70 pounds dispite not being completely prepared for the reality of the surgery. She's had a set back. So what? Life is full of them. We have to learn to navigate our new lives around those set backs, and if we can't do it on our own, we get help so we can. The reality of it is this: You MUST change your lifestyle or it won't work. Period. You MUST change your relationship with food or it won't work. Period. You MUST find the motivation to keep going when life doesn't cooperate, or when we get 'behavior fatigue' or it won't work. Period. You MUST feel enough self worth to know you DESERVE to be healthy and happy, or it won't work. Period. The surgery is such a small part of the equation, really.

I suggest you return you $600 3 and 1 machine and use that money for therapy for your obvious food issues. We all have them. We just have to find ways to work with them and overcome them the best we can. You're struggling, and therapy for you I think would really help you understand why you feel you don't deserve to live a healthy life and want to turn to food for comfort. A therapist or counselor can give you the proper tools to work with, and if you utilize them, it can really help. That being said, don't panic! All is not lost. You still have that great tool you can work with. Go back to what worked in the beginning, following the "rules" of WLS. Protein, protein, protein. This helps with hunger and keeps you fuller longer. At least 90 grams a day. Fluids, fluids, fluids. No calorie/no calorie fluids to keep things nice and lubricated and moving along. You pee a lot, and it helps with weight loss. Find anything you like that's low/no calories that you can drink. I drink herbal teas, coffee, flavored squirty stuff in my Water to get my 64oz in. And I hate it. But it has to be done. The best way to kick sweets and carbs like bread, rice and crackers is to just cut them out completely. Period. Sure you're white knuckling it for the first couple weeks, but once you get past the hump, the cravings subside and you almost forget even wanting them. I eat clean, stay mostly away from processed foods, but I eat as much lean protein (and sometimes not so lean) as I want. I eat butter, full fat cheese, full fat mayo, dressings, bacon, etc. The payoff for not eating sweets and white carbs often is eating this way, and it keeps me satisfied and I don't feel like I'm being deprived. You should try it. We can't find the motivation for you, but we can help by giving you suggestions for success. There's mine. Good Luck!

No lotions, potions, wraps, or any of that stuff will firm skin that has been stretched out due to being obese and losing large amounts of weight. Some will give the appearance of it temporarily, but nothing permanent. Surgery is really the only option for those really bad areas. Strength and resistance training can definitely help in areas where you can fill out the skin with some muscle, giving it a firmer appearance, but some just won't snap back. I am a good example. I've done okay with my arms using strength training, but my pannus area will definitely need surgery to remove. I'm on the fence about it right now. Good shape wear can do wonders

90% of what's in my cart is found in the perimeter of the store. Fresh meats, veggies, some dairy. I rarely if ever venture to the middle aisles where canned and pre packed food is unless I'm needing to use something there to cook the fresh foods with.

@@nburton5 We are just worried about your safety! Im.2.5 years out, and I've managed to gain a pound or so due to binging on chocolate these last few days. That's how it goes sometimes, and the only thing hurting me is my pride and waistline. Otherwise, it's on me. With you not being fully healed, people have a tendency to get a bit stern because of the safety factor. I feel the need to let you know how dangerous it can be, and not to screw around with it. It would be like you trying to run on a broken leg. After you're healed? None of our beeswax what you're eating. But you want support from us? You got it!

Also, not to beat a dead horse, but if you're too embarrassed to call your surgeon (I still think you should bite the bullet and just do it), please at least look up symptoms of a leak and watch for them just in case. If you feel ANY of them, get your bottom to an ER, stat.

Also, read this post. It says it much better than I ever can. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/385953-i-am-not-a-doctor-but-post-op-diet-progression/

Define "hate"? Do you consider "hate" telling you the truth of the situation? The opposite of wanting to be coddled and patted on the head and told everything will be just fine and everyone makes mistakes? 'Stretching' your sleeve is the least of your worries. You've given yourself a higher chance of developing a leak or other life threatening issues by not following your surgeons PRESCRIPTION diet. Please call their office and let them know what happened to get yourself checked out. For your peace of mind and ours! Keep us posted!

No problem. I think people think that going to solid food has something to do with this early stall/and or gain, but I just think it coincides with the 3rd week stall. Just FYI, it takes approximately 3500 additional calories to gain a pound. There's no way in hell any of us can eat that many extra calories until we are many, many months out, even with grazing all day! So any 'gain' is usually just Water retention, hormonal changes, food, clothes, constipation, different scales etc. I know it's hard to get out of that 'panic' mode when we see a gain, but try no to knowing that, like @@Aggiemae said, you're still losing fat

Here's the article that explains what happens. No worries! 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.