blizair09

I follow a low carb/high protein/high healthy fat way of eating and have done so for the past almost 2 years (including the food stages post-op). To many, this is a keto diet; to me it is a permanent way of life. I have no intention of bringing carbs or sugar back into my life at any point. I worked hard to make food nothing more than fuel, and I am going to continue to live that way. (I know that this approach isn't for everyone, but it has helped me to lose 225 pounds and beautifully maintain that loss...) I look at the word diet as "how I eat," and not a program to lose weight. I don't need to lose weight anymore.

There is definitely more hair on my legs since I have lost all of this weight. That's the only area where I have noticed a change, but it is a big change.

I've kept a food journal since I started this journey 22 months ago. Often, I put in little anecdotes and other details about specific days, happenings, milestones, etc. After a while, it just becomes habit. I go back and read it from the beginning every so often, and it allows me to relive my journey and think about where I started, and where I am now. I am so thankful that I have this record. (And the tracking and journaling is a big key to my tremendous success!) Good luck!

I will admit that the weight loss always being a major topic of conversation was something I had to adjust to, but once I made that adjustment, I have always basked in it. Losing 225 pounds is something that few people in life can do (though, admittedly, many don't have to). It is something to be proud of, and the conversations have been 100% positive and supportive. So, in a nutshell, I LOVE it!

Yes, you can eventually have alcohol (in moderation) again. I brought alcohol back in around 3 months post-op. I strictly adhered to the 30 minutes before and after eating no drinking rule for at least a year post-op. I've relaxed that somewhat now, especially if I am eating out, but generally, I can't drink that much while I am eating without feeling bad. So, I more or less adhere to that, but I do have a sip here and a sip there. It is normal to have reservations. This is a big change. But there comes a time when you have to decide what is more important -- your health or these other things (certain foods and drinks, routines, etc.). I just bought a new pair of slim fit jeans in a 31X32 and a beautiful cashmere sweater size small. That means SO MUCH MORE TO ME than any food, drink or routine! Good luck!

How many carbs are you eating in a day? Without knowing more about your situation, you probably aren't eating enough for 6 months out. I'm a lot taller than you, yes, but at 6 months post-op, I was consuming about 1200 calories per day. 800 is really low for anyone, especially if you are exercising at all...

Was pizza a trigger food for you pre-op? I had a huge issue with carbs, and pizza was the biggest issue of my hoggish consumption, so I stay away from it, even at 16 months post-op. (That being said, I avoid most all carbs and only have about 20-25 grams per day.) You'll probably be fine, but remember that pizza dough will expand in your stomach. If you must, you might consider just having the toppings or having some sort of thin crust pie. When I go to pizza places with family and friends, I just get a salad. I've worked really hard to make those kind of gatherings more about spending time with people and not about the food consumed. Have fun!

What does a typical day of eating and drinking look like for you?

I weighed 397 pounds when I started this journey in March 2016 with the six month pre-op diet program that was required by my insurance. I immediately started following a low carb/high protein/high healthy fat diet. I started at 2000 calories per day and worked my way down to 1200 calories per day for the last 2-3 months before surgery. I lost 99 pounds during that time, weighing 298 on the day of surgery. I will always be thankful for that six months. It allowed me to redefine my relationship with food BEFORE the surgery and the major changes to my body. It allowed me to get my head in the right place BEFORE the physical needs of my body had to take precedence. It allowed me to get serious about the severity of my issues BEFORE the changes became a life or death situation. Yes, I needed the surgery to have a sustainable change (I am 16 months post-op, have lost 225 pounds total, and am maintaining nicely at 173 pounds at 6'0" -- 7 pounds below goal), but also yes, I could lose weight on my own. I urge you to make the most of that time. It made the post-op process so much easier for me. Good luck!

You will get a myriad of answers to this question. I took six weeks off of work, and I am glad that I did. Physically, I was feeling better after 2-3 weeks, but I needed the entire time to completely adjust to post-op life and work through the food stages. Taking that time off was the best thing I did for myself other than the surgery itself. My advice is to take as much time as your personal, professional, and financial situations will allow. Best wishes!

Even at 16 months post-op, I still track and write everything down that goes in my mouth. Sometimes I don't when I am traveling for work, but if I am home, I absolutely do. And even when I travel, because of doing it for so long, I have no trouble selecting appropriate portion sizes and beautifully maintaining my weight. It's worth the effort -- especially long term!

I don't believe anyone is destined to be fat. But YOU have to make the decision to do whatever you have to do to lose weight and be healthy. YOU have to decide that being successful and reaching goal is more important than any food. YOU have to have perseverance, grit, and determination. And YOU can't let anyone or anything get in your way. I weighed almost 400 pounds when I started my journey. I weigh 173 today. 7 pounds below goal. It can be done, but you have to put in the work and the time. Good luck!

The fact is that the surgery doesn't guarantee weight loss or meeting goal. You have to redefine your relationship with food, follow your plan, and decide what is more important -- food or your health. Even at 16 months post-op and below goal, I still won't eat more than 25g of carbs in a day -- no bread, no pasta, no potatoes. Food is fuel to me. I had to do that to be successful, and that success was and is so much more important to me than any type of food. As the others said, getting back to basics is probably your best course of action. But you have to make the decision that you want to be successful. And that's going to mean putting away the burgers, sandwiches, and burritos. Good luck!

Stalls are a regular part of the process. They will happen often throughout your journey, so you have to accept that. Pre-op (I lost 100 pounds during the six month insurance-required diet program), my loss was linear (3 pounds per week like clockwork). Post-op, it was more a step function (lose 10 pounds in 10 days and then stall for 2 weeks). It is frustrating as the devil, but it is how it is. Hang in there and stick to your plan. I am proof positive that hard work, persistence, and determination pays off!! Good luck!

There's probably no one correct answer for this. I'd ask your surgeon and see what he/she says. It is probably advisable to wait a while post-op to have something with that texture, but there are a lot of variables. Even at 16 months post-op, I still follow a keto way of eating (25g of carbs per day or less), so it would be a solid no for me.

I waited 3 months post-op to have any alcohol. Since then, I have had it in moderation (mostly in social situations and only red wine or carb-free liquor drinks). At 16 months post-op, and below goal with a 225 pound total loss, I have no issues with it. In fact, I usually weigh less after drinking because it dehydrates me a bit. While I return to my regular weight the next day, I have never gained an ounce from it. YMMV. But, as folks have said in the thread, be mindful of the calories, and watch out for the sugar and carbs in many of the mixers. And, most of all, listen to your doctor's advice.

@RussT Congratulations! Keep going until you reach your goal. Everyone told me that starting at nearly 400 pounds, I couldn't go below 200. I am at 173 now, and am completely thrilled with my progress. Anything is possible if you make good decisions! Take care and best wishes.

Good morning, everyone. I am very proud to report that as of this morning, I have achieved my weight goal of 180 pounds. My one year surgery anniversary was last Thursday (September 28), and I met my goal on Monday, October 2. I have lost 217 pounds from my initial weight of 397 pounds at my first pre-op appointment on March 3, 2016. My skin has done incredibly well for a person who has lost this kind of weight. I may pursue some kind of plastics later on, but for right now, I am pretty happy. I am wearing a 30-32 waist pants/jeans/shorts, and small shirts. It is incredibly amazing to me, and I am still shocked every time I try on something new. I still attribute so much of my success to losing 99 pounds during the six month pre-op diet program. Even this morning, my first thought was that if I hadn't done all of that work on the front end, I'd weigh 279 this morning, and not 180. For those of you that have to do the six months for your insurance company, I'd encourage you to really devote yourself during that time and get started! For those of you that are considering WLS, this can be you, too if you commit yourself to your plan, change your relationship with food, and prioritize your health and well-being over the momentary pleasure that any food provides. My new challenge is going to be getting the weight loss to stop. I am finding that at one year post-op, I am eating less that I was a few months ago. It is weird. The will to eat is there, but I just get incredibly full incredibly fast. I have my one-year follow-up appointment with the bariatric surgeon's staff in early November. I'll talk to them about it then. There isn't much difference at 180 than when I weighed 185 or 186, but I am super proud to have met my goal and to "officially" be in maintenance! Wishing everyone the very best, Blair

Healthy fat is one of the big keys to my success. While I don't eat mayo (because I just don't like it), I have one 4 oz serving of full fat cottage cheese (mixed with sugar free strawberry preserves) every day. And I cook with olive oil, and have bacon and eggs for breakfast every morning, too! And I've lost 218 pounds and am below goal!

It depends on what philosophy of eating you follow. I have followed a keto way of eating since the first day of my six month pre-op diet program. I keep my carbs below 20 grams per day, and my protein is usually somewhere around 150 grams per day. But that's the road I have taken. Others do not limit their carbs as I do. But it has been a necessary step for me, and is an absolute key to my success. Good luck!

Thank you!! I haven't been around BP much lately (it's a mix of a busy life and I just don't get much from it anymore), but I am going to try to make an effort to jump into a conversation or two more often! I hope you are doing well!

I remember that day! Even at one year post-op, I can't eat 2 large eggs. I need more than 1 large egg, so I started buying the jumbo eggs. 1 of those works out just perfectly.

The liquid parts of the journey are among the worst. That is absolutely true. But, things don't magically get easier post-op. In fact, it is often more difficult because your body is trying to recover at the same time. Everything about this journey is difficult -- physically and mentally, and you HAVE to make good decisions EVERYDAY if you want to be successful long term. I would think about the fact that you (by your own admission) haven't kept to your responsibility a single day so far. You can't do that post-op. In some cases, it might be a life and death thing. I wish you the best, but you have to be the one to do what you need to do. No one else can do it for you, and you are worth it. Good luck!