Robyn Riley

Tally looks cool. I’m using the Baritastic app.

I log everything. It helps me stay compliant.

Hello Sleevers,
stats
HW 271
SW 264
CW 220
Today marks two months for my VSG. It’s been a struggle but I’ve managed to keep carbs out my life. I haven’t eaten rice bread potatoes and focused on Protein only. Still having problems with my fluids and working out, but I manage to walk 2 miles a day and that it.

If there were one straightforward aspect of weight loss surgery, it would be weighing yourself. Get on the scale, read the number, get off the scale. Done, right?
Not so fast!


The scale can be one of your most important tools on your weight loss journey, but only if you use it right. Surprisingly enough, using the scale right can take more than a bit of planning, just like many other aspects of your weight loss surgery journey. The number you see can jump around and start to drive you crazy if you do not know the reasons behind the blips.
These are some reasons for some ups and downs on the scale, and how to prevent or at least accept them. Hint: It is probably not yet panic time!
Up: Salt (Sodium)
Did you have a salty meal last night? Did you snack on pickles, top your chicken with salsa, season your turkey burger with soy sauce or another salty condiment, or help yourself to a big salad with fat-free dressing? Those are all great choices for weight loss, but not for today’s weight.
Are you confused? Here is the explanation. Sodium, which we mainly get from salt in foods, has no calories and is one way to add flavor without fat or sugar to food so you can keep calories down for weight loss, But, sodium attracts Water. Eat a high-sodium meal or snack, and your body can retain water. You may feel bloated and notice your ankles or fingers swelling. That water inside of you is heavy, and the scale will tell you so.
Tip: Do not eat a high-sodium or salty meal or snack the day before your weigh-in, or keep in mind that you did.
Up: Stress
Long-term, stress eating can add fat to your hips and pounds to the scale. Short-term stress can bump up your weight, too, without overeating. Stress hormones lead to water retention and (see above) water is heavy.
Tip: Don’t stress out! Easier said than done, but being aware of stress can help. So can exercising, laughing with friends, and meditating.
Up: Big Meal, Day, or Weekend
Remember the part about how sodium attracts water? So do extra sugar and carbohydrates. It takes an extra 3,500 calories to gain a pound of body fat, but y you are likely to see your weight jump if you eat a big meal, or have a cheat day, or get out of control on the weekend. That sodium and those carbs can add up more quickly than you expect.
A single restaurant meal with rolls or breadsticks, a burger and fries, and a small dessert can have over 5,000 mg of sodium and 200 grams of carbohydrates. That amount may “only” include 2,000 calories (barely over ½-lb’s worth of body fat), but it is enough to bump the scale up as much as a few pounds the next day.
Tip: Do not eat too much! If you do have a cheat meal or day, do not weigh in after it. Most people consider Mondays to be a bad day for a weigh-in because weekend diets are often less strict than weekday eating patterns.
Up: Lack of Sleep
Do you ever feel groggy and heavy when you do not get enough sleep? The scale will confirm that it is not your imagination. You can retain water due to hormonal shifts when you do not sleep enough. Over the longer term, sleep deprivation can make you gain “real” weight (body fat) because lack of sleep:
Increases ghrelin, which is a hormone that makes you feel hungry.
Increases cravings for sugar and carbohydrates.
Reduces your ability to resist cravings.
Tip: Get enough sleep. It is not a luxury that is beyond your control. It is an important part of your weight loss lifestyle, so make it a priority.
Down: Dehydration
Weight loss is one motivation to exercise, but losing too much weight with a single workout just means you are dehydrated, not that you burned off pounds of fat in an hour or so. The scale can show you a low number because you sweated a lot. It can be motivating, but it is not healthy. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and to later water retention – and a bump up on the scale!
Tip: drink 8 oz. of water every 20 minutes while you are exercising intensely. Weigh yourself before and after your workout, and drink 16 ounces of water for each pound that you lost during your workout.
Down: Sudden weight loss
Have you ever started a diet and seen the pounds come off quickly at first before the weight loss tapered off? It may have even happened after WLS if you were one of those patients who lost 10 or 20 lb. within the first weeks.
A good portion of that weight was water weight. It happens when your body shifts from gaining weight (or being stable) to losing weight. What happens is that your body loses carbohydrates that were stored in the form of glycogen. Glycogen holds water. When you lose the glycogen suddenly by going low-carb or low-calorie, you lose water, too. So, your scale weight drops fast.
Tip: Celebrate those first pounds lost, but keep working hard. Stick to your diet and stay hydrated so the pounds keep coming off for weeks and months to come.
Now that you know that the scale can be fickle, you can concentrate on finding the balance between trusting the scale and trusting your diet. If you stay on track with your eating and workout program, and take care of the “little things” such as getting enough sleep and managing stress, you can outlast any bumps on the scale and come out stronger and lighter than ever.

Thank you for posting this about the 'Whoosh effect', Pete. It made sense to me and put my mind at rest.

Yes it will move. Happened to me. I upped my calories with good food of course and ironically it worked! That was. Suggestion from someone who had done it

Hello, how is everyone doing??? Just a quick stats update. Since surgery I just lost 24lbs. Surgery was 6/7. I understand weight is not everything but not seen the scale moving  is quite frustrating. I definitely lost inches, dropped 1 size shirt and 2 sizes pants. I have been lifting a lot of weights so that could explain the slow rate of weight loss because I am building my muscle back. So how you all doing???

Well I did it! Had my surgery. Now in room
getting ready to get up and walk. Went very well per surgeon.

Very frustrated
went out with a friend and then eat. She knew I had surgery. She was pressuring me to eat something. Why can’t u have that...
i was firm and said please don’t pressure me I can’t have that

Ahhh has a nutritionist or dietician given you any diet recommendations to follow? I know it’s tough, but following my dietician and making the changes they recommended really did help me meet their goal (322lbs) pretty quickly.

If they didn’t give you any advice, then download MyFitnessPal and track, track, track. Try to eat mostly meat and non starchy veggies and do your best to avoid carbohydrate heavy things like bread, rice, Pasta, corn, and potatoes. That should get you losing!

I had my surgery (sleeve) on 6/18 and have lost 13 pounds so far. I seem to be stalled so I need to get moving. Feeling kind of weak though from not eating.

I had my surgery (sleeve) on 6/18 and have lost 13 pounds so far. I seem to be stalled so I need to get moving. Feeling kind of weak though from not eating.

@bajasleeve how are you doing today and has your stall stayed gone? Watching your story as it unfolds.😝

I’m not a “vet” by any means but I’ve had a lot of success since my surgery and I’ve been on this site for a good 9 months. And I love being a part of this community. So I want to say this first, I posted in Rants & Raves for a reason....

- “I’m 5 day’s post op and it’s not working”. Miracles don’t happen overnight. The amount of people who think that they will wake up from surgery feeling amazing and all their problems solved. SMH
- “I haven’t lost anything in 3-4 months and I’m 6 months post op”. I’m all about helping but I hate when people post about how they aren’t loosing and then don’t offer any information on their diet, exercise, Vitamin intake, ect. And half the time they drop off the face of the earth when you ask them.....SMH
- The pre-op diet sucks, that is all. SMH
-“I’m still hungry”. I hate that a common misconception that hunger is going to disappear. It doesn’t happen to everyone. But common sense would tell you that, liquids aren’t filling. Wait until you are on solids again to worry about your hunger levels. SMH

Ok I’m done! Thanks guys for letting me get that off my chest. Some days you just have to rant.

And PS. I know that people don’t always know the stuff I mentioned above, so when I’m not overly irritated by these gross misunderstandings about the process...I’m happy to help!

I’ve stalled for about a week now. Even gained 3 pounds then came back down 2 pounds. Might be because I now have my period heavier than. It’s been in 3 years. I eat maybe 600 calories the most but I don’t count calories I count Protein and stay away from carbs and try to do 64oz of Water plus 60g of protein

My surgery is over. Even had hiatal hernia repaired while in surgery. No pain, no vomiting or dry heaves! First week was hardest with Clear Liquids only. Second week so much better with yogurt & Protein Drinks for strength. Dr. Ponce was awesome even though he doesn’t speak English! I’m looking forward to eating solids in the future!

June 18! That’s my date too.

June 21 for me! Can't wait to be on the other side!

Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I did. They weren’t aware of the hernia until they got in, and that’s where the majority of my pain has come from. It was difficult to breathe at first, but day 3 post- op and everything is starting to feel better.

Mines coming up June 18 - excited!

Day 5 post op for me. Feeling much better today. The pain seems to improve a little each day. I had some Trader Joe’s butternut squash Soup for lunch and it was a nice game changer! I’m on full liquids for another week and a half. I am keeping my eye on the prizes: weighloss AND cottage cheese and eggs, lol! I’m tiring quickly of the Protein Shakes. I think today is the first day that I am feeling the most “normal” since surgery. I still have pain but stopped the Percocet and went to just Tylenol. I’ve walked 15 mins and headed out soon to do another 15. My energy level is till pretty low so I walk in 15 minute increments.

Remember, your shakes count toward your liquids goal!

Had my sleeve 6/1 and am recovering quickly! The first couple days were miserable - was wondering if I'd ever feel normal again. But I'm drinking full liquids, waking 10k steps a day, and losing weight rapidly.

Sounds normal to me...it could be that you're going through withdrawals from certain foods, sugar, etc. Make sure you stay hydrated.

Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

This is a very touchy subject. One that I’m even ashamed to be saying. Last night I found out I’m 4 weeks and 5 days pregnancy. I’m scheduled for surgery in 19 days. I already have 2 kids, and I’m a single mom. I’m doing the surgery because I need to be healthy. I have prior health issues and my last pregnancy took a toll on my body. It caused more health issues than anything. I’m scheduled to have an abortion on Tuesday. The doctor said that I could still have surgery since it’s a little over 2 weeks away. My friends surgeon said that you need to wait at least 3 months. And I read somewhere else that you should wait 6 weeks. What do you guys think? This is already the second time I rescheduled the surgery and I already bought the plane tickets to go and get it done. It’s a few states away. Any insight would help!