blizair09

Hi everyone,
I came across this post and thought I would say hello. I am a 40yo gay guy living in New Orleans with my partner of 7+ years. I have been on this weight loss journey since March, and, as of today, I have lost 88 pounds. My surgery is scheduled for September 28.
My story is in this post: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/375695-thoughts-after-my-six-month-nutrition-program/
I wrote that last week when I made my first post. Since then, I had my clearance-for-surgery appointment with my PCP (all my labs were in the normal range!!), and she assured me that the surgery is the way to go to finish the job I have started, and that my pre-op weight loss won't affect my post-op weight loss. My surgery was approved and scheduled, and my short-term disability claim for work has been initiated. It has been a busy week!
Hearing about everyone else's experiences is making getting ready for my surgery and the second half of this weight loss journey a lot easier!
I hope to hear from some of you.
Blair

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

I'll echo what the other said, and add that you probably had the typical "three week stall" during this period of time. You probably didn't lose anything for a couple of weeks. Most of us went through that. Stalls suck, but they are more prevalent than periods of loss post-op (at least in my experience).
The key is to keep to your plan, especially during these frustrating periods. The weight will come off, and you will get where you want to be.
Good luck!

If one doesn't change his/her relationship with food, he/she won't be successful long term. This is the case no matter which surgery the person has. Period. End of story.
That's why this forum is so entertaining. There are very few people that are successful long term that stick around. It is mostly pre-op folks, new post-ops, and people who have regained that are coming back for support.
My dad, mom and brother had the bypass, sleeve, and band respectively. My dad and brother gained every pound back and my mom gained back all but maybe 40-50 pounds. They didn't change their relationships with food, and when the honeymoon phase was over, they immediately started gaining weight. Their experience and example is why I am so disciplined about what I eat. I simply will not go back there, and to do that, I had to make food fuel and nothing else. (I know that approach isn't for everyone, but it was necessary for me -- and probably many others.)
Any surgery is SIMPLY A TOOL...

If one doesn't change his/her relationship with food, he/she won't be successful long term. This is the case no matter which surgery the person has. Period. End of story.
That's why this forum is so entertaining. There are very few people that are successful long term that stick around. It is mostly pre-op folks, new post-ops, and people who have regained that are coming back for support.
My dad, mom and brother had the bypass, sleeve, and band respectively. My dad and brother gained every pound back and my mom gained back all but maybe 40-50 pounds. They didn't change their relationships with food, and when the honeymoon phase was over, they immediately started gaining weight. Their experience and example is why I am so disciplined about what I eat. I simply will not go back there, and to do that, I had to make food fuel and nothing else. (I know that approach isn't for everyone, but it was necessary for me -- and probably many others.)
Any surgery is SIMPLY A TOOL...

If one doesn't change his/her relationship with food, he/she won't be successful long term. This is the case no matter which surgery the person has. Period. End of story.
That's why this forum is so entertaining. There are very few people that are successful long term that stick around. It is mostly pre-op folks, new post-ops, and people who have regained that are coming back for support.
My dad, mom and brother had the bypass, sleeve, and band respectively. My dad and brother gained every pound back and my mom gained back all but maybe 40-50 pounds. They didn't change their relationships with food, and when the honeymoon phase was over, they immediately started gaining weight. Their experience and example is why I am so disciplined about what I eat. I simply will not go back there, and to do that, I had to make food fuel and nothing else. (I know that approach isn't for everyone, but it was necessary for me -- and probably many others.)
Any surgery is SIMPLY A TOOL...

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

I have and never had any regrets. My life is fabulous and I wish I had done this long before I did.

I have and never had any regrets. My life is fabulous and I wish I had done this long before I did.

I'm not trying to be unkind, but why in the world would you drink sugary juice (I am assuming from the tone of your post that this is what you meant by juice) and eat potato chips when you have had not one but TWO weight loss surgeries?
At some point, you have to muster the grit and perseverance you need to be successful and rise to the occasion. Otherwise, all of this trauma to your body will be for nothing.
Are you working with a therapist who specializes in bariatric patients? It would probably be helpful. You HAVE to change your relationship with food and embrace the kind of eating that will make you successful (protein rich).
I wish you the best, but only you can make this happen. As you know, the surgery will not do it on its own...

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!

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

This is the best quote from the "Low-fat or Low-carb?" article: "On both sides, we heard from people who had lost the most weight that we had helped them change their relationship to food, and that now they were more thoughtful about how they ate."
In all of my time participating in BP, that's what I keep saying. There are those on here who don't buy into low carb or Keto diets. I get that. But I do take some offense when it is called a fad diet. I have been eating this way for 2 years (since six months pre-op), and it is a key to my success. I have eaten this way with the support of my entire medical team (PCP and bariatric), and my labs continue to be perfect -- absolutely perfect. I am below goal, and have been maintaining for months with ease.
That being said, this way of eating isn't for everyone, just like treating food as strictly fuel isn't for everyone. The later was necessary for me, and the former is sustainable for me; that is the key.
For me, however one chooses to proceed with this journey, the key to success is making the relationship with food positive and healthy. In so many posts on BP, that continues to be the issue. People treat the surgery (whichever one they choose) as if it's the primary answer when it is merely a supporting player.

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.

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.

I'd have the surgery and tell him that he needs to do whatever he needs to do. He doesn't sound like a great person, and once you get yourself where you want to be, you can likely do better.
Don't let him bully you. Do what is best for your health, your goals, and your happiness.