JamieLogical

Glad to hear it!

My nutritionist had me on a bariatric multi-vitamin, calcium +D3, liquid B12, and a probiotic. Make sure you don't take the calcium at the same time as your mult-vitamin. Calcium and Iron compete for absorption.

Normal or not, embrace it!

I lost a lot more the first week than the second. You have to understand that the weight you are initially losing in the pre-op diet is water weight. It's simply the water your body had stored with your glycogen. The way the pre-op diet works is it puts your body into a state of ketosis. This happens when your body is completely depleted of glycogen. Each gram of glycogen in your body is bound to 3-4 grams of water. As you deplete your glycogen stores, that water is flushed from the body. Usually it's a total of about 4-10 pounds of water. That happens quickly in the first few days of the diet, as your body transitions into ketosis. After that, you start burning fat for energy, but you have to burn 3500 calories to burn one pound of fat. It's unlikely that you are expending 3500 calories worth of energy in a day, plus you are taking in SOME calories on the pre-op diet, so you are going to see a lot less of a loss once you are in ketosis.

Of course it is! It's cardio and it's easier on your knees than running.

Yayayaya!

When the going gets tough, hang in there!

There's no such thing as too much liquid!

@Dub I hope you stick around too. You always seemed like an eager learner in the beginning and you have contributed much since then. The new folks need people like you to help them through this process!

As much as I hate to see so many people leaving, especially vets who have contributed a lot to these forums in the years I've been here, I still feel a strong obligation to "pay it forward" so-to-speak. These forums were *invaluable* to me when I was first beginning my WLS journey and even well into my first year post-op. Leaving does nothing to help the new people coming to these forums every day looking for wisdom and experience. Even if I disagreed with the bans (not sure I do or don't... I don't have enough info to judge), why should I take it out on the new people who could still benefit from my help?

I know Alex reads PMs. His ability to read PMs is what saved me from being banned back in July 2015. Someone accused me of being a coordinator for my surgeon and basically being paid to advertise him on these forums. I was able to clear it all up by inviting Alex to read my PMs to prove that I had never once sent any sort of unsolicited PM to any BP member about my surgeon and that I only talked about my experience when asked directly.

From what I can gather, there was an investigation into organized bullying on the site that led to LipstickLady getting banned. The reaction/fallout from that led to Babbs getting banned. And a lot of other members have quit as a result of all of that. I plan to stick around! The new people need us few remaining vets now more than ever!

Fruit is a lot of carbs. I don't generally eat fruit, but when I do, I try to go for lower-sugar options like strawberries and apples.

Awesome!

Glad to hear you are doing well!

So happy to be a part of these forums. What a wonderful tool to all of those considering WLS, who have been through WLS, and who are living their new lives!

During my weight loss phase I was eating 1400-1500 calories a day and at least 2-3 snacks per day. Just make sure you snack on a set schedule and you are eating protein-based snacks. Don't just graze whenever you feel like it.

700-800 calories isn't enough. You are several months post-op right?

Only 75%? You need to work harder!

How?

My next race isn't until April. It's a half-marathon and I am hoping to start training for it after the first of the year.

I have been to TJ twice for surgery. Once for VSG and once for plastics. I had no issues either time. I received excellent care and always felt safe. My experience with OCC was exactly what I expected it to be, based on the research I had done. The only hiccup was transportation from the airport across the border. I was supposed to be shuttled across with another couple and their flight was delayed, so I had to wait quite a long time at the airport for them to get in before the shuttle took us to the hotel. That was nothing within OCC's control though, obviously. Everything else was smooth sailing,

I had my sleeve there two years ago (surgiversary is tomorrow in fact!). I had a good experience there and have received excellent follow-up care. In fact, I just got my two year follow-up survey today.

I'm sorry I haven't been around BP much lately and haven't checked in with you. You are in my thoughts. I can't imagine the kind of pain you are going through right now.

Congrats!