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Yes, I realize this. I was talking about doing a lot of exercise like I did at one time, running 30-40 miles a week, biking all day or dong a couple hours of cadio @ the gym.

I too have lost a lot of weight over the years but always gained it back. During the two weeks liquid 800 calorie pre-op diet I lost about 15 pounds. My friends were saying "see, you can do it without surgery" but I was extremely hungry during this period. Nobody wants to walk around hungry all the time, it's a fate worse than death, IMHO. Severely overweight people are victims of their own metabolism, appetite, genetics, etc. Whatever the reason, we store more fat. I was/am disappointed in myself because I probably could have lost the weight and kept it off with an extreme, low calorie diet and spending a lot of time at the gym but that's not how I want to live at 65 years old. Working out and dieting both suck which is why a lot of people quit and return to their old habits.

I feel your pain! I've never had a tasty one that is pre-made. If you have a blender, make your own using protein powder (I like Muscle Milk Light, Chocolate). I put two scoops in the container and equal parts water and ice, totaling about12 ounces, and blend. If the ingredients are cold you will get a slurry consistency. Not as good as Dairy Queen but definitely decent.

I’m still on a post-op liquid diet (stage two) but I am anticipating the next stage when I’ll be able to eat pureed foods. I am a retired chef and plan to make many of these foods myself. Everything I read about post op diets say that fat is a no-no. Is there a reason for this other that fats are high in calories? What about good fats like olive or coconut oil, peanut butter, avocados etc.? Even some of the most recent research indicates that saturated animal fats might be good for us. It’s the trans fats that are unhealthy. Do fats negatively affect the digestive process in post-op bypass patients?

I am 9 days post-op and on a full liquid diet for another 5 days. I drink three protein shakes a day and am allowed two light yogurts, totaling about 800 calories. This is the same regimen I followed for two weeks pre-op. That was tough because I was starving most of the time. Since the surgery I'm quite full on the same 800 calories. It's boring for sure but it's only two weeks.

So I had my surgery I week ago tomorrow. I went home after two nights in the hospital. Besides a little constipation I feel pretty good except all I want to do is lay around and sleep. I was hoping to get to the supermarket today but I was not feeling up to it. I'm off all the pain meds now (Oxycodone & Tylenol). I've been eating protein sakes & light yogurt but I'm really missing some real food like eggs or grilled cheese. What are the consequences of cheating with some Stage 3 pureed foods? Is it common to feel this weary one week post op? Thanks!

Tomorrow is the big day! Gastric bypass at 7:30 AM. My surgeon says that if all goes well I'll be discharged Saturday morning. How did you feel when you went home? Were you uncomfortable? Did you need pain meds? Did you have an appetite? How was your energy level? Were your able to eliminate comfortably? Was it painful to walk around? How long was it before you could drive and go shopping etc.? I guess I'll be on Protein shakes for a couple of weeks then move to purees. Thank you very much!

I’m confused. Several people have told me they only take one or two chewable multi Vitamins daily, like a Flintstones or Centrum. I’m seeing in this article from Johns Hopkins that they recommend a regimen that has much higher doses of vitamins & supplements taken at different times during the day.. Any opinions? http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns_hopkins_bayview/_docs/medical_services/bariatrics/nutrition_roux_en_y.pdf Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation for Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Multivitamin (MVI) with Minerals:  Take 1 or 2 MVIs every day for a lifetime. Serving size will depend on individual products. MVI(s) must provide at least 200% RDA for Iron (36mg), folic acid (800mcg) and thiamine (3mg) and 2 mg of copper. It is best if MVI also contains selenium and zinc.  Chewable and liquid vitamins are best absorbed. Suggest vitamins in this form for at least the first 3-6 months if not for a lifetime. If you decide to switch to a pill form after 6 months, soft gels or capsules may be better absorbed than tablets.  Do NOT take MVI in gummy form. Gummies do NOT have all the vitamins and minerals you need.  Take with food (except dairy) to help with absorption. Calcium:  Choose Calcium citrate. Avoid calcium carbonate (Tums®, Viactiv®, OsCal®, Caltrate®), calcium triphosphate, oyster shell, bone meal, etc.  Take 500-600 mg of calcium three (3) times per day to equal at least 1,500 mg per day. Separate doses by at least 2 hours for maximum absorption. Look at the serving size on the label and adjust your dose to make sure you’re getting 500-600 mg of elemental calcium each dose.  Chewable and liquid vitamins are best absorbed. Suggest vitamins in this form for at least the first 3-6 months if not for a lifetime. If you decide to switch to a pill form after 6 months, soft gels or capsules may be better absorbed than tablets.  Chewy (NOT Gummy) calcium citrate supplements are acceptable. Do NOT take calcium in gummy form. Gummies are not calcium citrate and are not the best absorbed.  Must contain Vitamin D.  Take 2 hours apart from iron supplements or MVI with iron for maximum absorption. Iron:  Menstruating women and/or patients with iron deficiency anemia need more iron.  If MVI contains iron- Take an additional 18-29 mg elemental iron per day. If MVI does not contain iron- Take 60-65 mg elemental iron per day. Total intake should be 54-65 mg elemental iron a day.  Taking Vitamin C at the same time as iron can increase absorption.  Chewable and liquid vitamins are best absorbed. Suggest vitamins in this form for at least the first 3-6 months if not for a lifetime. If you decide to switch to a pill form after 6 months, soft gels or capsules may be better absorbed than tablets. Vitamin D:  Take 3,000 International Units of Vitamin D3 per day.  Chewable and liquid vitamins are best absorbed. Suggest vitamins in this form for at least the first 3-6 months if not for a lifetime. If you decide to switch to a pill form after 6 months, soft gels or capsules may be better absorbed than tablets.  Vitamin D is best absorbed when you take it with food. Vitamin B12:  Take 500 mcg sublingual (under your tongue) tablet or liquid once a day or 1000 mcg sublingual tablet or liquid every other day. OR  1000 mcg shot once a month (injections prescribed by your primary care physician).  500 mcg nasal spray once a week (available by prescription from your bariatric provider or primary care physician). Dietitian: __________________________________ For more information, please contact the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center's Clinical Nutrition Department at 410-550-1549. To schedule an outpatient nutrition appointment with a dietitian, call 410-550-7728. Rev. 5/2015 Clinical

Hello, I’m a soon to be 65 y/o male considering bariatric surgery. I'm 5'10" about 240 lbs. My primary motivation is for weight loss which should improve my blood sugar control and overall health. I have been insulin dependent for over ten years and need ever increasing quantities of two types insulin(Lantus & Humalog) to keep my blood sugar in check. I am retired and live a sedentary lifestyle, mostly because I lack energy. I also have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high cholesterol, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, compromised kidney function. I will be eligible for Medicare in March. My current health insurance does not cover this type of surgery (Obamacare). I do have several concerns about surgery. When I attended the surgeon’s seminar I asked the question “I think most people in this auditorium will tell you they eat because they are hungry. I have a tremendous appetite. My idea of Hell is being hungry and not being able to eat enough food to satisfy my appetite.” He told me that the band does not affect your appetite but the gastric sleeve and bypass do reduce your hunger by increasing or decreasing two hormones, ghrelin being one of them. Now, I’m a born skeptic and this doctor, who seems to be pushing the sleeve over the other two, obviously has a horse in the race. That is why I’m on this forum, to get information from people who’ve had the surgery. I’m a retired chef and have been in the food business all my life. It's a huge part of my identity.I’m afraid that I won’t want to or be able to prepare & eat interesting food that I love. I also love to entertain and dine out. For the last year I’ve been trying to eating low-carb with pretty good success. My blood sugar has improved but I’m not living the life I want to be. Up until recently I was very active, cycling, golfing, fishing, yard work, working out, etc. Now I lack the energy I need to do these things. I’m hoping that losing 40-50 pounds will make me healthier and give me more energy. Do you think it will? Thank you very much!

I'll be having bypass surgery mid August. My doctor said a bypass might result in better diabetes control than the sleeve would

Bob- Congratulations on your weight loss! That is a concern of mine too. So much of my identity and good feeling about myself comes from the fact that I have a reputation as an excellent cook. Will I lose interest in food & cooking? In retirement, I've loved making nice meals for my wife and I. My decision will impact her too. I wrote a very similar post (about food professional, "part of my identity," etc) back in the fall when I was researching. I own two restaurants, and while I'm not FAMOUS-famous, I am more famous than most chefs. I was worried about people not being able to identify with me, and, more importantly, feeling like I couldn't identify with myself if I had the surgery done. I am 2 months out, and down 58 pounds. The hardest part of any of it was deciding to do it despite my concerns about how my identity would change. I'm not the kind of guy who tries to sell his religion, but from my POV you and I have very similar stories, and WLS (sleeve) was absolutely the right thing for me to do.

I go for my initial consult next week. I will ask about all my options including the duodenal switch that I just heard about. The though of going to a restaurant and just drinking some wine (if allowed?) and eating a small plate or two and being satisfied is very appealing!

That's encouraging. Thank you very much!

stanpry,, you've addressed my main area of concern when you wrote "Temptation is always present. It's up to you to resist.". I can and do eat low carb (less than 100 grams daily) but I still manage to probably eat 3,000 calories per day, minimum from the other two food groups. If the sleeve greatly reduces hunger why is there temptation to go to the Dairy Queen and eat milk shakes? I only eat when I'm hungry. I'm hoping this surgery will alleviate my extreme hunger. And the surgeon mentioned post-operative support groups. Are there a percentage of people who remain hungry for more calories than they need even after surgery? I would sign on the dotted line to take a "magic pill" that made eating unnecessary. It's late in the game for me. I need to make changes or I will suffer dire health consequences.

I've already been eating low carb for about a year and have gained weight. My endocrinologist tells me it's difficult to lose weight taking as much insulin as I do. My wife joined me on the low carb diet and she has lost weight eating the same things as I do and she was not more than 5-10 pounds over her ideal weight.

Thanks, your story is inspirational!