catwoman7

it's the infamous three-week stall (this early stall happens to probably 90% of us. It's usually the third week after surgery (hence the name), but not always. It can happen any time within the first 4-6 weeks after surgery). If you do a search on it on this site, you will find over 17,000 posts on it (and not, I am NOT kidding). Just stick to your program and stay off the scale for a few days. It usually takes 1-3 weeks to break, but it WILL break and you'll be on your way again.

nice to see you on here again! You're going to have to change your name to "LittleSue" - congrats on that huge loss!

I used to experience that the first few months when I got up too quickly (happens to a lot of people) - that's blood pressure related, too. But yes - dizziness can definitely be related to low blood pressure.

my clinic told us a year - but it was three years before I had any alcohol. But then, I was never a big drinker before surgery, either. It seems like most clinics recommend waiting six months to a year, as you said..

check with your surgeon (actually, he/she will probably let you know at your follow-up appts). I was walking right away. At four weeks out, I was cleared to do everything except for weights. At eight weeks out, I was cleared for weights.

P.S. Just wanted to add that some people don't even see a big drop during month 1. Most of that big initial drop is water weight - so for people that lost a lot of weight prior to surgery, that "water weight" is long gone. I lost 16 lbs the first month, 12 lbs the second, and then I averaged around 10 for a few months after that (give or take). I ended up losing over 200 lbs, so in the long run, it's how committed you are to your program rather than your rate of weight loss that matters.

that averages out to 4 lbs a week - so yes, that's normal. You normally see the biggest drop the first month (maybe two), after that, 2 or 3 lbs a week is pretty average. I'd also lost 39 lbs when I was where you're at, and I started out much heavier than you. I think a lot of people's expectations are shaped by shows like "My 600 lb Life", but you have to keep in mind that people on that show start out A LOT heavier than your average bariatric patient - so you can't compare yourself to them. If you're sticking to your plan, staying active, and your overall weight trend is done, you're good.

good job! I don't know your gender, but if you're female, 15% body fat is crazy low. When I got down to 22% body fat, I was told I should stop trying to lose weight (by both the DEXA technician and my PCP). I think 15% might be OK for males, though - low, but OK (I should add that I'm in my 60s - that might make a difference. Doctors tend to like us with a little more fat than younger people. We need it in case we get sick..)

three-week stall for sure. Happens to probably 90% of us. Just stick to your program and stay off the scale for a few days. It'll eventually break (usually takes 1-3 weeks) and you'll be on your merry way again...

yes - I agree - most likely ketosis

same as Waterwoman. I take a small handful of vitamins at breakfast and another at dinner. I don't take calcium anymore (per endocrinologist's order), but I take iron before I go to bed. And....that's it!

I just checked the ingredient list on amazon. They feature corn syrup solids and soy protein isolate - we were told to only use shakes that were made with whey protein isolate when were early out. Also, corn syrup isn't very healthy.

definitely get on top of that ASAP. It'll be a lot easier to lose 10 lbs than 50! If you're not still weighing, measuring, and logging your food, I'd start there. do keep in mind, though, that a 10-20 lb rebound weight gain is very common in year 3. It's just your body settling into whatever weight it wants to be. That's not to say you're stuck there - you CAN lose it - but if this your body's new "set point", just be aware that it's going to take some work to get down to - and maintain - a lower weight.

plans are all different. Many are low carb, but some are balanced. Your clinic will give you their preferred plan.

if you're following your program and your overall weight is trending down, then don't worry about it. People lose at all different rates depending on several different factors, many of which you have little to no control over (age, gender, starting BMI, metabolic rate, whether or not you lost a lot of weight pre-surgery, body composition (what percentage of your body weight is muscle), etc). The two things you DO have a lot of control over is how closely you follow your program and your activity level. If you do well with those, then you'll be fine. I was a slow loser from the get-go, and I lost 100% of my excess weight. Took almost two years, but I did it. In the end, your commitment to your plan is what determines your success, not your rate of weight loss.

it's pretty normal to have cold feet before a major surgery... I can just tell you my own experience. I spent literally decades trying to lose my excess weight (I'm in my 60s). At my highest, I was well over 300 lbs. I tried over and over and over again to lose it. During my more successful attempts, I'd lose 50 or 60 lbs. And invariably, a couple of months later, the weight would start piling on again until I was back to where I started. During my less successful attempts, I'd lose maybe 20 lbs. Same thing - it was only a matter of time before I'd put it all back on. I had over 200 lbs to lose. I finally accepted the fact that I'd never get that off if I couldn't even keep 50 lbs off. Fewer than 5% of people with a significant weight problem can take off their excess weight and keep it off. Maybe you are one of those lucky few. I was not. Weight loss surgery was the only thing that ever worked for me. as for complications - yes - there's a risk of them, as there is with any surgery. There are even risks associated with having your wisdom teeth removed....or your tonsils. But many of us never have complications - and of those who do, most are minor and "fixable". Major complications are pretty uncommon. You're much more likely to suffer complications from obesity than you are from weight loss surgery.

you'll likely be eating more than 1000 kcal/day long term. That's really just during the weight loss phase. How much you'll need to maintain your weight depends on individual factors, and it's different for everyone. I can maintain my weight if I stay in the 1500-1700 range - and if I stay pretty active (exercising 5+ days a week), I can push that up to about 1900 kcal/day.

I agree with everything Arabesque said. Plus I don't know if you weighed yourself when you got home from the hospital or not, but most of us "gain" weight from the IV fluids they pump into us -- some people up to 10 lbs. It takes a week or so for all that to work its way out, so it's not uncommon to have no weight loss at all - or even a gain - for at least a week.

a lot of people lose their sense of hunger for a few weeks or months - plus your stomach will be a lot smaller - so yea - 1000 calories will seem quite filling. Even too much the first few weeks. I pretty much lost interest in food altogether for about the first five months (unfortunately, that didn't last!!). Milk that for all it's worth, because it's never going to be easier to lose weight than when you're not hungry and don't give a flip about food!

I'm a little surprised they didn't recommend the bypass, either. I was an older patient as well, but because of my GERD history, my surgeon recommended the bypass (although he said he'd do either one). I hope this gets better for you - yikes! I'm sorry to hear this.

sounds like you've got it covered. Everything was provided for me as well - I just brought my phone and charger and some Chapstick and Biotene spray (I don't remember if I used them or not - but a lot of people do). And comfy, easy-to-put on clothes for the ride home (I just wore the same thing home that I did to the hospital). and yes, bypass patients usually spend the night. Sleeve patients, too. I've heard of some cases where people (I think sleeve) have just been there for the day, but it doesn't sound like that's very common. I'd plan on having to spend the night there.

restriction eases over time. I'm several years out now. If this gives you any idea, at restaurants my usual order is an appetizer - or else I'll order an entree, eat half of it, and have them box up the other half. No different than a lot of my never-been-obese women friends, to be honest. that week 3 thing is the infamous "three week stall". It's not always the third week, but it usually is, hence the name. But the vast majority of us hit our first major stall sometime during the first month or so after surgery. Stalls typically last 1-3 weeks. When you hit one (and you'll likely hit several on your journey), just stick to your plan and stay off the scale for a few days - and know that it'll eventually break and you'll be on your way again. If you want more info on the three week stall, do a search for it on this site. Last time I checked, there were over 17,000 posts on it. And no, I am NOT kidding...

individual tastes vary so much that you're likely to get fans on either side. It really comes down to personal taste. I would guess that they're both very good brands, so either would be a good choice...

I don't know about revisions, but at my clinic, they had the sleevers and the bypassers on the same eating plan.

there are food restrictions the first few months, but after that, there aren't any limitations as long as you can tolerate whatever the food is (I can no longer tolerate really high-fat meals - and it's not uncommon for people to develop things like lactose intolerance after surgery - but you won't have any restrictions per se. I'm "allowed" to eat anything - and have been for a long time). I was never a big drinker even before surgery - I'd just have an occasional glass or two of wine. We weren't supposed to drink for the first year (according to my clinic, anyway), and I didn't at all for the first three years. Now I'm back to having my occasional glass or two of wine - by which I mean, maybe four or five times a year. So for ME, I don't notice any difference...other than alcohol hits me a lot faster than it did pre-surgery. taking vitamins becomes pretty automatic after the first few weeks. I don't even think about it anymore. I take a small handful when I get up in the morning, a smaller handful around dinner time - and my iron and vitamin C before I go to bed. complications aren't common and most are minor and "fixable". The most common one with sleeve is reflux, which in most cases (if you happen to develop it) can be managed medically. In severe cases, there's always the option of revising to RNY - although I don't know how common it is for it to get to that point. Might be worth asking if you're concerned. I didn't mind the puree stage. It was a relief after being on all liquids. If you're not crazy about the puree stage, just keep in mind that it doesn't last very long. You'll be on soft foods - and then solid - before you know it. it'll be pretty obvious to others the first month or two by how little you can eat that something is "up". I mostly just tried to avoid going out with people so the question wouldn't come up - or I'd suggest meeting up for coffee or tea or some activity instead of a meal. After that, for several months I'd just claim I wasn't very hungry and order an appetizer or some soup or chili. Now I'll sometimes still order that - or if I do get an entree, I'll eat half of it and have the rest boxed up. Pretty much the same as a lot of my never-been-obese women friends. No one can tell anymore that I've had surgery. Basically, this will all take some getting used to - it can be overwhelming at first - but after the first few weeks, it really isn't. And you're right - pre-surgery nervousness is pretty common. I've had four surgeries in my life, and I get nervous every time - but they've all gone off without a hitch!