Inner Surfer Girl

Congratulations! Yeah, you indeed.

Wow. It sounds like you are really struggling. What does your surgeon suggest?

Please take a deep breath. You asked a question and got great answers. Please do not compare yourself to other people. You just had major surgery and are healing. You have lost weight, probably more than you would have on any diet, and your surgeon said you are doing fine. None of us lose at a constant or steady rate. We all experience periodic stalls and you are due for your first stall. Almost everyone experiences their first stall about three weeks post-op. Just follow your program. Focus on getting in all of your Protein and fluids, take your Vitamins and supplements as directed, and exercise when cleared. You are doing great. Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

If you are only eating 500-750 calories, then chances are pretty good that you will be hungry.

Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

It wouldn't hurt to mix up your exercise. Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

I personally think Ensure is not a good choice. Look at the label. How much protein and how much sugar? You may be very surprised. Have you tried Premier Protein?

Why do so many people stall? Is this only with the Sleeve? Were you pretty active pre-op? I can't even imagine running to my car much less a mile. lol It's common with any type of weight loss. Not even unique to surgery. When I lost 90 pounds "on my own" back in 2010, I had lots of stalls along the way. Your body isn't a simple machine. It is constantly trying to adjust and adapt to everything that happens to it. Rapid weight loss is very traumatic to your body and the instinct is to try to stop the weight loss for fear of starvation. There are a whole bunch of different reactions and systems that kick in so your body can "defend" itself against whatever "attack" that is causing you to lose weight. I agree. Also, if you are losing a significant amount of weight your body has to physically rearrange, tear down, and rebuild itself. It has to rebalance fat stores, rewire blood vessels, and other systems, etc. This takes time and energy, too. One of the many reasons to keep your nutrition up (especially Protein and fluids), instead of arbitrarily restricting calories, or even giving up and bingeing when you stall. Stalls are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process of losing weight. Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Wow, I am so sorry you experienced this. It sounds like your surgical team is on the ball. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Welcome back!

Thanks!! I enjoy drinking. We mainly drink at home on the weekends ans grill etx. I live in a foreign country so entertainment is limited. It's going to be strange to figure out what do to now on the weekends. Sounds awful....I know. Good to know I can still be a social drinker if I want. Although I know my taste for it may change after surgery. Thanks for your honesty!!!! Sent from my GT-I9190 using the BariatricPal App As someone who is not a big drinker I would like to add my 2 cents. If the thought of my partner drinking or not drinking is enough to put a strain on my relationship, then it might be worth it to talk to a counselor about 1) the relationship, and 2) the alcohol. Any substance or activity (food, drug, behavior, etc.) that has that much power over either of you has too much control over your life in my opinion. I am not saying that you should or shouldn't drink, but if any change is enough to cause issues then you may need help dealing with that change.

Excellent article. (As an aside, I am surprised Biggest Loser would allow such a research study,)

Stalls are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process. We all experience stalls, and almost everyone experiences their first stall about three weeks after surgery. Just follow your program. Track your food. Make sure you are reaching your protein target every day. Drink at least 64 oz of fluid. Avoid added sugars, starches, and fried foods. Take your vitamins and supplements as directed. Exercise when cleared. Embrace the Stall http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Congratulations, this is awesome!

I just scoop, that is why they give you one.

Congratulations!

None. I couldn't be happier with my surgery experience, recovery, and progress so far. It was my first surgery ever so I had no idea what to expect. The worst part of the whole experience was the pre-op uncertainty. My advice? Do everything you are asked to do by your team (pre- and post-op) even if you think you can't or think it is silly. Everything you are asked to do is for your benefit and to minimize risks and complications.

Welcome and congratulations on the new baby! I have no answer about the breastfeeding question but there may be someone who has some insight. Best of luck and keep us posted on how you are doing.

Question: What do you think about the availability of psych eval "templates" online now? Anyone facing an upcoming eval for WLS can go online and review hundreds of questions asked by evaluators all over the country. What are your thoughts??? I think that anytime you are less than candid and honest with anyone on your medical team, your psych eval included, you are only hurting yourself.

I wouldn't be able to get in my 100 grams of protein a day without snacking.

Set short term goals. For instance: 4 oz when you get up in the morning, another 4 oz when you brush your teeth, etc. Keep a Water bottle and or other Fluid with you at all times and sip frequently,

If you plan on having 600-800 calories a day post-op for the long term you are going to have even worse than a super slow metabolism. Why 600-800 calories? Where did that number come from? Your NUT? Post-op, your primary focus needs to be getting enough protein and fluids, not minimizing calories. As to what is possible? Anything is possible if you are realistic and focus on doing your part and being healthy.

I would like to hear what @@Alex Brecher thinks about her opinion on online weight loss surgery support sites.

It sounds like she truly believed the surgery would "solve all her problems". The results of immaturity, abuse, trauma, addiction, and mental illness is not going be "solved" by anything let alone weight loss surgery. Without surgery she would have certainly continued to abuse food and still may have turned to alcohol, drugs, and sex anyway. Blaming the surgery for her issues doesn't sound very healthy to me. What would her life been like without it? You can't compare apples to oranges. If she was unwilling to seek counseling before bariatric surgery should she have been denied? I don't know. A lot of folks of all ages go into this process blindly. Some actually learn and grow through the process. Some do not. Some people have the capacity for personal growth. Some do not. If she was a poor candidate for WLS she still might have been able to learn from the experience. If she had been a great candidate for surgery, she still might have wound up where she is today. I just don't think there is necessarily cause and effect at work here. This is much more complex than she or the article seem to acknowledge. Yes, I think there needs to be many more mental health resources both pre- and post-op for anyone who is obese. There certainly are not enough affordable mental health resources in the US period.