quuquui

I'm looking to hear from people who are long term DS patients. What is your experience 5-10 years down the line, how is your energy, your blood levels (especially B12). how is your digestion and did the surgery create health problems, etc. Thanks!

400-500 calories a day is not enough. The body does go into starvation mode. when I slowed, my doctor suggested to eat just small meals of protein-only several times a day rather than 3 meals a day to help keep the body from thinking it's starving. He said you can go for a while on protein-only if necessary. Just remember to take all your supplements. Also, I went back to just Protein shakes for a week (with supplements of course) to kick start my sleeve and get my mind back on track. I really like the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury brand. If you are logging your food so you know for sure that you are only taking 400-500 a day you can try this. However, when my weight slows and I think I'm hardly eating anything, then I honestly log every single bite I take in I am always astonished at how much I am actually eating. It is very easy to fool yourself so first step I'd say is to honestly log your food for a week (as a habit is good too). Just my thoughts.

400-500 calories a day is not enough. The body does go into starvation mode. when I slowed, my doctor suggested to eat just small meals of protein-only several times a day rather than 3 meals a day to help keep the body from thinking it's starving. He said you can go for a while on protein-only if necessary. Just remember to take all your supplements. Also, I went back to just Protein shakes for a week (with supplements of course) to kick start my sleeve and get my mind back on track. I really like the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury brand. If you are logging your food so you know for sure that you are only taking 400-500 a day you can try this. However, when my weight slows and I think I'm hardly eating anything, then I honestly log every single bite I take in I am always astonished at how much I am actually eating. It is very easy to fool yourself so first step I'd say is to honestly log your food for a week (as a habit is good too). Just my thoughts.

400-500 calories a day is not enough. The body does go into starvation mode. when I slowed, my doctor suggested to eat just small meals of protein-only several times a day rather than 3 meals a day to help keep the body from thinking it's starving. He said you can go for a while on protein-only if necessary. Just remember to take all your supplements. Also, I went back to just Protein shakes for a week (with supplements of course) to kick start my sleeve and get my mind back on track. I really like the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury brand. If you are logging your food so you know for sure that you are only taking 400-500 a day you can try this. However, when my weight slows and I think I'm hardly eating anything, then I honestly log every single bite I take in I am always astonished at how much I am actually eating. It is very easy to fool yourself so first step I'd say is to honestly log your food for a week (as a habit is good too). Just my thoughts.

I had very thick hair before surgery. 3-4 months out I started losing a lot of hair. I would fill a hair brush with my hair every time I brushed. I wasn't getting in enough Protein at the beginning so I think that could be part of it. Also I tend to lose hair after a "trauma" to my body. I broke my arm once and my hair fell out a lot... I think my body just didn't react well in that small sense to the surgery. I decided to cut off 12 inches of hair (& donate it) and now I love my hair, I have an average persons amount of hair, and at about 6 months out I'm losing much less hair. The way I see it is, it's just hair and it will grow back. Losing the weight is much more important to me. Good luck!

I'm in the same boat as you, but I know I haven't been 100% with the program either. Those little sweets are usually more than you think. When I eat straight my weight drops again, but when I don't pay attention to what I eat (i.e., food log) I don't lose. Our brains trick ourselves into thinking we aren't eating as much as we do. I did this thing where I had one trash can where all I put in it was any junk type or processed food trash I ate for the week. I was shocked by the amount of wrong food I was eating, after thinking I was only having a little here and there. Our brains are broken which is why we needed this tool in the first place to help us. I believe the only way to stay on program is to write your food down so it is in black and white in front of you. But I too have to be better. Thank you for reminding me.

I'm in the same boat as you, but I know I haven't been 100% with the program either. Those little sweets are usually more than you think. When I eat straight my weight drops again, but when I don't pay attention to what I eat (i.e., food log) I don't lose. Our brains trick ourselves into thinking we aren't eating as much as we do. I did this thing where I had one trash can where all I put in it was any junk type or processed food trash I ate for the week. I was shocked by the amount of wrong food I was eating, after thinking I was only having a little here and there. Our brains are broken which is why we needed this tool in the first place to help us. I believe the only way to stay on program is to write your food down so it is in black and white in front of you. But I too have to be better. Thank you for reminding me.

I'm in the same boat as you, but I know I haven't been 100% with the program either. Those little sweets are usually more than you think. When I eat straight my weight drops again, but when I don't pay attention to what I eat (i.e., food log) I don't lose. Our brains trick ourselves into thinking we aren't eating as much as we do. I did this thing where I had one trash can where all I put in it was any junk type or processed food trash I ate for the week. I was shocked by the amount of wrong food I was eating, after thinking I was only having a little here and there. Our brains are broken which is why we needed this tool in the first place to help us. I believe the only way to stay on program is to write your food down so it is in black and white in front of you. But I too have to be better. Thank you for reminding me.

I'm in the same boat as you, but I know I haven't been 100% with the program either. Those little sweets are usually more than you think. When I eat straight my weight drops again, but when I don't pay attention to what I eat (i.e., food log) I don't lose. Our brains trick ourselves into thinking we aren't eating as much as we do. I did this thing where I had one trash can where all I put in it was any junk type or processed food trash I ate for the week. I was shocked by the amount of wrong food I was eating, after thinking I was only having a little here and there. Our brains are broken which is why we needed this tool in the first place to help us. I believe the only way to stay on program is to write your food down so it is in black and white in front of you. But I too have to be better. Thank you for reminding me.

In my own experience, I have found that even eating the smallest amount of sweets/fruit/sugar will cause me to have head hunger every few hours. And that would cause just enough overeating to stall my weight loss. It took a long time to realize this. So I eat low carb foods and meat most of the time. Most anything I eat that is sweet is now made with artificial sweeteners or gets it's sweetness from fat.

Just keep trying your best because it will improve, you will feel better, and you will be able to eat better as time goes on.

Just keep trying your best because it will improve, you will feel better, and you will be able to eat better as time goes on.

Measure your food intake then. I use ramekins that are equivalent to 4-5 oz, and when I'm either full or they are empty, I stop eating. I know if I don't measure, I will want to overeat, and I had this surgery to stop those nasty habits. Good luck!

One thing about rigorous training is that if you aren't eating enough your body will hold on to the weight because it detects starvation if you aren't taking in enough and working out hard. Try upping your caloric intake with Protein and vegetables and see if this makes a difference. You may be surprised that you aren't eating enough calories.

Thanks for this post. I am only 4 months out and already feel the difference in the amount I can eat. I've been in a stall that started with a 3 week vacation and I can see that I will have to work to make this tool successful. I haven't gained any weight back but I've only lost 25 lbs and am stuck. My head hunger battles continue but I started logging my food and that seems to be helping tremendously. Anyway, thanks for the post - it's a good reminder.

It could be a muscle or diaphram cramp. I've had those before my surgery, and a minor one after. Could be related to a lack of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, etc., so try to make sure you are taking your minerals, eating real food including greens, and not letting yourself get dehydrated.

It could be a muscle or diaphram cramp. I've had those before my surgery, and a minor one after. Could be related to a lack of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, etc., so try to make sure you are taking your minerals, eating real food including greens, and not letting yourself get dehydrated.

Your body may be holding on to whatever it can because it is sensing starvation mode. 700-800 calories is not enough to stave that off. Try upping your calorie intake to 1000 by eating more healthy fats such as coconut oil or animal fats (yes, saturated fats are good for you if you are not eating processed carbs). You will probably see your system kickstart. Definitely up your walking though.

You look great! Out of curiosity, did you have skin surgery?

I like your answer on the bs topic. But I don't think this board is competitive. I think it is more real and gritty. I like that. It isn't full of pat answers and people have real discussions. Bravo to this board.

I like your answer on the bs topic. But I don't think this board is competitive. I think it is more real and gritty. I like that. It isn't full of pat answers and people have real discussions. Bravo to this board.

The calling me on my bs is all done with great respect but through honesty with kindness. Not screaming, yelling, boot camp stuff. We do need to be called on our lies to ourselves. That's how we got to the point where we need surgical intervention. That's simply my opinion, take it or leave it.

I like your answer on the bs topic. But I don't think this board is competitive. I think it is more real and gritty. I like that. It isn't full of pat answers and people have real discussions. Bravo to this board.

Actually, I don't necessarily agree. If we were to be honest, us overeaters are the biggest liars there are. Often it takes someone to be blunt and say "what's your excuse" to get our heads out of the sand and stop making excuses, and help us see that that is exactly what we are doing. I have grown tremendously by having a coach that does just that for me. Helps me get through my bs and moving forward.

The calling me on my bs is all done with great respect but through honesty with kindness. Not screaming, yelling, boot camp stuff. We do need to be called on our lies to ourselves. That's how we got to the point where we need surgical intervention. That's simply my opinion, take it or leave it.