blizair09

I am nearly 11 months post-op. I eat 7-8 times per day, about 2 hours or so apart. I also allow for 30 minutes before and after eating for water consumption. I eat the same thing every day (and have for the entire journey), so a day for me looks something like this: Meal #1: Scrambled Egg with 1 piece of American Cheese and 2 oz of grilled chicken Meal #2: 4 oz cottage cheese with 1 T sugar free strawberry preserves Meal #3: 3 oz grilled chicken, 1 string cheese, and 10 ParmCrisps Meal #4: 3 oz salmon, 1.5 oz green beans, 10 ParmCrisps Meal #5: 3 oz grilled chicken, 1.5 oz green beans, 10 ParmCrisps Meal #6: 3 oz hamburger steak (93% lean), 1.5 oz green beans, 10 ParmCrisps Meal #7: 3 oz grilled chicken, 1 string cheese, and 10 ParmCrisps Meal #8: 4 oz cottage cheese with 1 T sugar free strawberry preserves I drink 32 oz of water after Meals 1 and 2, 16 oz of water after Meal 3, 8 oz of PowerAde Zero mixed with 8 oz water after Meals 4, 6, and 8. I usually eat for the first time around 10am, and finish around 11pm. This comes to approximately 1700 calories per day, 20 carbs, and 130-140 grams of protein.

And I'll add on that if you don't foster the good eating habits that are necessary to sustain a major loss, you'll just gain much (if not all) of it back anyway. There are stories on this site of people that have done that every. single. day. The way I eat was made a habit before I even had the surgery. And at almost 17 months after I started the six month pre-op diet, I still eat the same way (really the same exact things every day).

@Dashofpixiedust8, thank you for sharing your story. It needs to be told, and people need to hear it. And girl, you are an inspiration. I am proud of you and for you, and I know you feel the same way. Congratulations, and keep it up! You deserve the best in life.

You've lost 23 pounds in a little less than 2 months post-op. That's a really good pace. I've learned that while you need to have goals (and mini-goals), you can't hold too tight to dates on a calendar for certain milestones. The body is just going to do what it is going to do. And stalls have been, in my experience, more frequent than periods of loss. Everything about this journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Continue to keep to your plan and the weight will come off in its own time. Good luck!

Based upon what you have written, you only had 67 pounds to lose. I take that to mean that you started at a lower BMI. If that's the case, you are going to lose slower. Everything about this journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Just keep to your plan, do what you are supposed to do every day, and the weight will come off in its own time. Good luck!

I am so sorry that this happened, and while I can't understand how you are feeling, I can imagine so. I'd suggest that you call your surgeon and just be honest about what has happened. He/she will know how to advise you. Hang in there and continue to work toward better health. Good luck!

I didn't have a lot of aversion to most foods, but what I did have to do was begin looking at food as fuel and choosing things to eat based on what I needed and not what I wanted. Even when I didn't really like something so much (protein shakes as an example), I just consumed it because I needed it for my macros. That helped me get my mind in the right place. And I agree that your tastes do change as the days and weeks go on. If you hate something now, you may end up loving it later. (That is the way salmon worked for me.) Good luck!

Thank you for the sweet message! Every day, I am finding that things are getting better, and I am rebounding from all of it much faster than I have expected. I have made some cool new friends in my new city, and we had one hell of a fun weekend last weekend. I met tons of people. Being single is not going to be a bad thing at all. In fact, I'm going to rock it!!

Hey guys, For those that haven't heard my story before -- I started my journey March 21, 2016 at 397 pounds with a six month insurance-required diet program. I lost 99 pounds during that six months and weighed 298 on surgery day, September 28, 2016. This morning, I weighed 188 pounds. I am 4 pounds away from a normal BMI and 8 pounds away from my goal of 180 pounds. Two weeks ago this Saturday, my partner and I ended our relationship after 8.5 years together. Things have been bad for a while and I just never wanted to admit it. He was mad at me for one thing or another every day, and that is no way to live. He actually broke up with me, because as the one of us who makes most of the money and has most of the resources, I would have felt like I was abandoning him. While I am heartbroken, I know it is for the best. I actually owe him a debt for doing it; I never would have done it and would have gone on being unhappy. While the massive weight loss isn't the primary problem, it was a problem for him. He lost about 115 pounds himself (with no surgery), but has gained back about 30 pounds over the past 6 months or so. I probably now weigh 35 pounds or so less than he does. Apparently, much of our identity was wrapped up in me being bigger than him. I knew that, but I didn't know at the same time. So now, I become a 41 year old single gay man who hasn't been out in that "scene" for over eight years. It's a bit overwhelming. I have completely overhauled myself physically, and I am dealing with the emotional consequences of both that and ending a very long relationship. In mid-June, my ex and I moved from the French Quarter of New Orleans to the outskirts of Huntsville, AL to be with my parents for a little while as my dad has been battling cancer. So, I know no one here. While I am excited about getting back out there, it really is going to be a cold start -- going to the bar by myself and trying to meet people. Admittedly, I am very outgoing, and a good time, but getting this process started is incredibly daunting. The funny thing is that food consumption is not even an issue. Since this happened, I have actually been eating a little less than I was. (I had gotten my calories up between 1600-1700, and I haven't cracked 1200 in days.) That will bounce back, I'm sure. It is nice to know that I have my food issues under control, and that such a life trauma wouldn't cause problems. Enough rambling. Does anyone have any advice? I'm flying to Orlando this weekend to go to a friend's birthday party. I have tons of friends two hours away in Nashville (where I went to college and grad school and where I lived for 15 years). I am always welcome with any of them, but I need to be in Huntsville right now which means that I need to make friends here and build a life here. I don't think traveling every weekend will be healthy long-term. Thanks for reading! Blair

Are you scrambling them? I'm sorry that they disagree with you. I have a jumbo scrambled egg with 2 oz of chicken and a slice of American cheese every morning for my first meal. It's a great way to start the day. If they aren't working now, they may in a month or two. It is amazing how things change in the months after surgery. Good luck!

Mine is insane. It's like I'm 19 all over again!

I eat 20 carbs or less per day. I've been doing that for almost 17 months now. I'm almost to goal, but even in maintenance, I don't see them going over 50. I'm used to this way of eating now, and bringing them back in any meaningful way will be too much of a slippery slope for me.

Google "three week stall." That is probably what you are going through. Stick to your plan, make meeting your protein and water goals your full-time job, and the scale will move in its own time. Everything about this journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Remember that! Good luck.

I am 10.5 months post-op. I have lost 209 pounds so far. That puts me 4 pounds from a normal BMI and 8 pounds from goal. This journey is the best thing I have ever done for my health and well-being!

Birth :-) Weight has always been a struggle for me. I was the fat kid, the fat teenager, the fun fat guy in college, etc., etc., etc. I actually remember being on a self-inflicted diet as a tenth grader in high school, but my first significant weight loss (100 pounds) came as a junior in college when my parents and I did Phen-Fen. I got down to 175 and stayed there (as in below 200 pounds) for about a year. I am now in unchartered territory as I have only weighed less than I now do during that one small window at age 21. I feel great, and that is the best part of it all (although the "fringe" benefits are certainly nothing to laugh at...). I am so thankful for this journey, for my sleeve, and my new lease on life!! 4 pounds until "normal" BMI and 8 pounds until goal. (But I have been away for a week and not weighed, so I may have lost another pound. We'll see in the morning!) Not bad for a guy who weighed 400 pounds 16 months ago!

I loved my psych eval. It was a good opportunity to talk to a completely objective professional. I had already done a good bit of work on getting my relationship with food in the right place by that time, so she just affirmed what I was doing, gave me a stamp of approval for the insurance, and we moved on. It was a great experience.

How many calories are you taking in per day? Carbs? Protein? How much water do you drink each day? Do you track everything you eat and drink? What do you do for exercise each day?

How far out are you? How many calories are you taking in per day? Carbs? Protein? How much water do you drink per day? Do you track everything you eat and drink? What do you do for exercise? Sorry for all the questions, but it is hard to give advice without knowing more about what is going on with you and where you are in your journey.

Thanks for your reply. I like the idea of the next chapter. And the exciting part is all the possibilities for it. It starts this weekend!

Thank you for this. And you are right. It's a period of transition, but I will be okay. I love SE Louisiana -- always will. I'm getting back to NOLA for Labor Day weekend, and I can't wait!

Thank you for your reply. The LGBT space seemed to be the best place to put it, but I welcome input from anyone and everyone. Have a great Thursday!

I suggest that you get back to basics. Get your calories down around 1200-1300 per day; get your carbs below 20 grams per day; get your protein around 80-100 grams per day. Eat dense protein every 2-3 hours, and little else. That should get you on your way. Good luck!

This. Obesity is a medical issue -- plain and simple. No one would feel shame about seeking treatment for cancer. No one would feel shame about seeking treatment for a broken bone. And no one should feel shame about seeking treatment for obesity. Embrace the surgery. Do what you are supposed to do every day. Be successful. But most importantly, be healthy and happy. All the best to you!