BonnieJo

I like my fitbit aria scale. It's wifi and logs all of my results along with my steps and sleep in the app. It does weight and body fat percentage. I recently had a body analysis done on a very expensive machine and the body fat percentages were nearly identical.

My dr requires a 2 week liquid diet for liver shrinking. I've done the two weeks already, and I got my band removed on Friday (2/5/16.) I'm so glad I did it because, even though my liver was not enlarged, my band was adhered to my liver and shrinking it made things a lot easier for my doc to remove. Bonus, I've lost weight too.
I'm on liquids for the next four weeks, until my RNY, on March 10th, to keep my liver small, heal my body and to get my BMI down. I'm hoping to lose another 15 lbs from where I am right now, so that my BMI will be under 50.
I was just wondering what other people's personal reasons for WANTING to lose weight were.
@Cervaide thanks for sharing that. I guess at this point, it feels like there is not much else I can do to prepare for my surgery, so I'm just trying to keep myself busy doing something, which is just focusing on my weight. I should be trying to focus on my mindset and my health!

Yes my doctor told me the smaller and less fatty your liver has a huge effect of your surgery. Less time... less complications..... he said it was very important and I am 61 also.
I did not do a liquid diet but 900-1200 calories a day almost for the entire month of January but especially the 2 weeks before surgery. I did much to my surprise lose 14 pounds and my doctor was very thrilled. He told me after the surgery that my liver looked great.

I also had a LOT of weight to lose when I first started the program. In the first 6.5 months or so I lost like maybe 5 pounds max, despite following the diet and exercise plan. During the week leading up to surgery, I put myself on my own version of a pre-op diet, because my surgeon didn't require a pre-op diet. I basically just had mostly Protein Shakes, with a high Protein meal thrown in every other day or so. I lost 10 pounds that week by essentially starving myself, and while it felt good to FINALLY have lost something, I'm seeing now at almost 6 months post-op that it wasn't actually something that really mattered. What mattered was that I put my liver into the best condition it could be. The weight was insanely stubborn coming off before surgery. Now I'm almost 6 months out and I've lost over 100 pounds. So just take care of yourself and make yourself as healthy as possible for surgery and you'll do great.

I only lost 7 pounds on the 2-week pre-op diet, even though I sstrictly followed it, but my doctor said my liver could not have looked better.

I didn't lose too much hair. Just from 3.5 months to about 5 months post-op. It wasn't noticeable to other people, but there was a lot of hair all over my bathroom! It started regrow in right away and I think maybe all the baby hairs sticking up all over might have been obvious to others, but no one said anything.

Hey all. I am starting my early part of the journey. I'm on my second month appts. I have had scopes and blood work all done. And have met with nutritionist twice. My insurance makes me Waite 6 months so 4 more to go before i can do surgery. Psych evaluation is next week. I would just like a friend to talk to while we are going through this together. Hoping surgery will be in may or June.

I am also 8 months out and down 100 pounds with 15 to go to goal. I don't measure or track anymore either. I let my pouch tell me when it's enough. I seem to do well with it. I average about 2 pound loss a week. Good luck and do what works for you.

I am 8 months out from bypass. I really don't measure my food anymore...I just let my pouch tell me when I'm done. I was just wondering if that is a no no. I worry that maybe I'm eating too much. I'm still losing...although I'm losing pretty slowly, but I think that's normal at this point, right?
I read comments about what other people are eating in a day, and it seems like they are eating so much less than me.

"What a modern way to become healthy and to resolve your longtime weight problem! You're so smart."

If I am cheating then I am glad as I now have a chance to keep weight off and cheat an early death.

This mindset that so many people have about wls being the "easy way out" or a "magic cure" is exactly the reason I haven't told most people that I had surgery. Only my mother and sister know, because I know that the entire rest of my family would be super judgmental and ignorant if they knew. My 160 pound loss would cease to be a major accomplishment and would somehow just be cheating to them. I refuse to put up with that ignorance. So to them, I'm just dieting hard and working my butt off (literally) which is pretty much exactly what I'm doing anyway. No harm, no foul.

Things people who aren't going through this don't understand
* the joy of receiving the news that your insurance approved your request for surgery
* the relief of passing a Psych exam
* the anxiety you feel while you just WAIT.....
Then you get your date and your elated
You share the news and instead of Congratulations, you get....YOUR CHEATING! Why don't you just do it the old fashioned way?
(Sigh)
Things people who aren't going through this don't understand .....

Here is a good blog post about Mindful Eating.
Since starting to prepare for WLS and since surgery, I have tried to eat more mindfully and slowly. I have found that by slowing down, taking smaller bites, chewing thoroughly, and really paying attention to what I am eating, I can really savor and enjoy the food I am eating. I also find that I am satisfied with smaller amounts of quality, fresh, nutritious, and delicious foods when I am practicing eating mindfully.
Do you practice mindful eating? How has your approach to eating changed since WLS?
http://www.mindful.org/how-to-set-up-a-daily-mindful-eating-practice/

it happens to everyone - it's just Water weight from the IV. Wait a week or so after surgery before weighing yourself - it'll be gone by then

I gained 8 lbs in the hospital and I was so upset! It took about a week for it to come off! Hang in there!

Hi there! I had bypass 16 months ago. I started at a size 26/28 top and a 24 in pants. I carried a lot of weight in my upper arms so I always am a size bigger on top.
I had my surgery in sept 2014. By November I was in a size 18. By February I was in a size 14 on the bottom.
Now I wear a size 8 jeans and a large and sometimes medium top. I am still losing although nearly at goal. Down 141lbs with about 3.5 lbs left to go.

Hello all. I see lots of posts about weight loss and numbers and what the scale shows during the first few months following a DS. I've also seen a few photo 'journals' that demonstrate what the weight loss looks like over time. Did anyone keep track of their clothing size as they lost weight the first 3-6 months? Would anyone care to share how their clothing size changed during that time? I know it's different for everyone, I'm just curious. Thanks so much!

You're squarely in the middle of the "normal bmi" category. Unless you work out a lot and a lot of that is muscle, most likely you're right where you need to be. If you're healthy and feel good, and you doctor is happy with your health, then you're probably doing just fine. Also a year to lose 100 is great, seems right on schedule to me. It's not like you started at a very high weight.

If what is typical? That you have lost 100 pounds? Congratulations!! Only you know if you think you look sickly. You need to be happy with the weight you desire. What I find is that if you haven't been at a smaller weight and people that know you they think you are too thin because they are not used to seeing you like that. Over time I think as the weight settles with us people don't think we are too thin; does that make sense?

I am a new transplant from Cali now living in Utah!!! Anyone home here???? I am 71/2 years out and have maintained within 15 lbs..trying to remove that and well...yeah....lol anyway looking for a little love from Utah!!

We really need a Healthy Granny group! I certainly want to be with them for as long as possible...but it is the QUALITY of time I am really going to enjoy...hiking with them...biking with them...just getting down on the floor with them. They are 3/5/7/9...

Where are all you baby boomers? I had surgery on 9/24...two weeks ago. Down 40 before surgery...20 after...60 total. I did lots of prep before surgery (exercise...lean green diet 3 months...immense amount of research) . So glad i did...sailed through surgery and in only 2 weeks feeling great! We baby boomers are tough. I still have 100 lbs to go but have a new lease on life...never too old to learn...look out to my grandkids...her comes a new granny...lucky if you can keep up with her!
(Spokane, Wa)

I got a Misfit Shine for Christmas. I like it because I swim and it is great for tracking laps. It also ties into MyFitnessPal.

Great question. I had a Fitbit One, which suddenly stopped working. I contacted their customer service, which I had heard was amazing, and they refused to replace it
So I am on the hunt for something else. I am not sure that I am sold on something that I wear on my wrist. I always hated wearing watches and this seems like it would be a similar feel. (Although maybe when my wrists are skinnier it won't bother me as much?! lol)