PorkChopExpress

I agree, don't rush it...the body loses how it loses. Everybody's is different. It holds onto Water prior to flushing out the fat cells, so at any given time that you step on a scale, your body may be pounds heavier than it actually is, due to Water alone. Don't sweat it so much.
Do you know roughly what your body's TDEE number is (total daily energy expended)? Calculate it (calculators are available online), then subtract the calories you're consuming any given day. The difference is your caloric deficit. Then remember that one pound of fat is the equivalent of 3500 calories. I think it's quite likely that you aren't exceeding 1000 calories a day right now, two months post-op. Starting at 301 pounds, you're probably at a deficit somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000-2500 calories a day. Figure 17,000 calories a week in deficit. Divide that by 3500 and you're looking at a probable loss of five pounds a week (though the body does what it does, and it may be more or less at any given weigh-in date). And the TDEE I guessed at there doesn't really include a decent amount of cardio, which will boost your TDEE another 100-200 calories a day.
5lbs lost each day like that ends up looking like 100 pounds after five months. At my BEST dieting and exercising without the help of surgery, I managed to get around 50 pounds off in that amount of time...and that was a seriously disciplined effort (which stalled, as always). So just let your diet, exercise and sleeve do their thing. If you want to add to your weight loss, be on top of your exercise.

Small update...my plateau finally broke, and it was the result of actually increasing my calorie intake a little bit. I am now sitting at around 1,200-1,300 calories a day and the weight loss has picked back up again. I've started back at the gym again, just adding cardio. Over the past couple of months, my endurance and general condition has improved so much. When I first moved back to Colorado from California in mid-November and started delivering parcels for Amazon Flex, it was exhausting. Now, I barely break a sweat...so it was time to get back to daily cardio workouts.
A great NSV is the fact that I've gone from a 52 waist pant worn below my waistline (and gut) to a 46 waist at my ACTUAL waist. I made the mistake of not measuring my waist before I started this process, so I'm not sure what it actually was...but I'm betting I started around 56" or so. So probably 10" off my waist to this point. I'm also fitting into 2x clothing now, down from 4x.
My wife just had her first appointment with a surgeon, she's planning on getting the RNY during her summer break (she's a teacher). She's been impressed with the weight loss I've achieved thus far and is excited (and nervous) about following in my footsteps. It's the been the best decision I've made though, I wish I'd done it 10 years ago. Still got a ways to go, but it's coming!

The big difference is that the sleeve is newer and has less research associated with it, and the RNY has been around for 30+ years and has a ton of research. So they keep marketing the RNY as the "gold standard" but the fact is, no matter what surgery you opt for, the vast majority of change has to happen in your head and in your behavior, to be successful.
I initially went in for RNY but due to scar tissue from prior surgery, they couldn't do it...so they gave me the sleeve. A week after I had surgery, I spoke to a friend of my mom's who'd had RNY 10 years ago and she said she wishes she'd have been able to have the sleeve...because she said she developed celiac disease as a result of the RNY and also came to realize that the malabsorbtion aspect of the surgery was only really useful for the first couple of years, and after that it became a pain in the butt. So I actually came away feeling like maybe I'd dodged a bit of a bullet.
My wife wants to get surgery and is planning on it next summer, and she's still in the "gold standard" mindset, but I'm hopeful that my results with the sleeve will convince her to change her mind. I'm now of the opinion that the sleeve might be a better long-term choice. But it will be what I make of it, that's for sure.

To be honest, with what I ended up paying after insurance I might as well have gone to Mexico. When it's all said and done my out of pocket will end up around $5k anyway. Didn't realize all the "add-ons" I'd end up paying for.

I agree, don't rush it...the body loses how it loses. Everybody's is different. It holds onto Water prior to flushing out the fat cells, so at any given time that you step on a scale, your body may be pounds heavier than it actually is, due to Water alone. Don't sweat it so much.
Do you know roughly what your body's TDEE number is (total daily energy expended)? Calculate it (calculators are available online), then subtract the calories you're consuming any given day. The difference is your caloric deficit. Then remember that one pound of fat is the equivalent of 3500 calories. I think it's quite likely that you aren't exceeding 1000 calories a day right now, two months post-op. Starting at 301 pounds, you're probably at a deficit somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000-2500 calories a day. Figure 17,000 calories a week in deficit. Divide that by 3500 and you're looking at a probable loss of five pounds a week (though the body does what it does, and it may be more or less at any given weigh-in date). And the TDEE I guessed at there doesn't really include a decent amount of cardio, which will boost your TDEE another 100-200 calories a day.
5lbs lost each day like that ends up looking like 100 pounds after five months. At my BEST dieting and exercising without the help of surgery, I managed to get around 50 pounds off in that amount of time...and that was a seriously disciplined effort (which stalled, as always). So just let your diet, exercise and sleeve do their thing. If you want to add to your weight loss, be on top of your exercise.

Education and mental preparation. Read everything you can about peoples' experiences with the surgery, what they went through and what they continue to struggle with. This is 80% mental, and 20% physical...taking care of the size of your stomach will help, but if your mind isn't right, you WILL find a way to eat around the smaller stomach. So just really start focusing on your mental process, disciplining your mind and bringing it under control, so that you are able to control your behavior and choices.
Surgery is no sweat. I've had a bunch of them...three abdominal (including this one) by laparascopy. Basically, here's what'll happen...you'll go check in at the hospital. They'll call you into the recovery room to get ready, you'll get naked and wear their thick paper gown (unless you're at a hospital that still does cloth), and then lay down on your gurney. A nurse will eventually come by to set you up with your IV tap (needle in the top of your hand most likely), put a blood pressure cuff on your arm and a pulse rate monitor on your finger. Take your vitals (they'll do that constantly while you're in the hospital). The anesthesiologist will drop by to introduce themselves, talk a little about whether you have any drug allergies that you know of, make sure you didn't eat or drink anything since midnight. They'll explain that when you wake up, your throat will probably be sore and you'll be very dry in the mouth and throat. This will be due to intubation, which helps keep your airways open while you are operated on. And he'll be right, as you'll discover when you wake up. The surgeon may or may not show up to talk to you - depends on whether he runs a high volume practice or not, or whether he cares at all about bedside manner
Then the time will come after a while of waiting, and they'll wheel you down the hall to the operating room. You'll go in, they'll line your gurney up with the operating table and have you help get yourself aligned in the middle, with your head in the right spot, etc... They'll have you reach your arms out to the sides and start securing them, because the nervous system has a bad habit of forcing your hands to clutch at your abdomen when they start operating on you. While you're getting your arms situated and you're seeing the various people buzzing around you...
...you'll hear a voice from what seems like far, far away - and you'll feel like your head is full of molasses. Slowly but surely, the voices will start to sound sharper and clearer, and closer, and your eyes will open...and you'll realize that you're in the recovery room, and surgery is over. You may feel a slightly "pinchy" sensation in your belly. Your throat will definitely be sore and dry, but you won't be able to drink anything for a bit...all of your liquids will be coming from the IV for at least an hour or so after you wake up. Then they may let you have a tiny bit of ice to suck on, to help moisten your mouth and throat. You're going to be seriously groggy...but the fact is, you will realize that you slept through the hard part, and it's over. You're officially on the other side of the entire ordeal, and it's time to start recovering.
When you get to your room, they'll encourage you to start walking. Do it...do it as much as you can, because your peritoneal cavity (the space between your abdominal wall and organs) is full of surgical gas. The only way it will pass through your intestinal tissues and out of your body is through movement...walking. So walk a lot, you will feel a lot better a lot faster, if you do. Eventually the nurses will probably give you little tiny cups and tell you how much you can drink per hour. You'll probably start with one little shot glass of Water. Then a couple, then three, etc... Eventually, they will try to get you going on some really horrible Protein shake, but do your best on it. They'll remove the IV fluids and then expect you to start trying to get liquids orally, so you'll have to try to stay on top of it. That means drinking often. This is important, because for weeks to come you are going to find that your sips have to be TINY to go down comfortably, and to get the Water you need will require sipping every couple minutes, all day long.
Then, if there are no complications, you're getting around good and your pain is well-managed, after a one night stay they'll probably discharge you and send you home. And then, you'll have to get yourself on a schedule with drinking and walking. It'll come together, just stay on top of things and focus on the process. Prepare yourself mentally for a bit of a "mourning period" where your brain struggles with the fact that you just robbed it of a major coping mechanism. You may obsess about food. You may find yourself preoccupied about WHEN you will be able to eat good things again, or what those things will be. It's all in your mind. This is the little voice you haven't been hearing, that has been dominating your behavior. Now it's time to shut the voice up and take back control.
This is an approximation of the experience and your mileage may vary, but I hope it helps calm your nerves a bit. Trust me, you'll be in and out before you know it, and moving on with your new life.

Enduring a bit of a plateau right now, which is frustrating but to be expected. I am still in a large calorie deficit, so it seems my body is just rebelling a little bit right now. I also think my blood pressure medication is causing Water retention, and I hesitate to take a water pill because of the diuretic effect...it's already hard enough to get my water in for the day, I don't want a water pill making me dump all of it. I tried taking it for a week and was getting pretty dehydrated. I may just switch to doing it every few days and see how that works. Otherwise, things are pretty good. I am wearing a 2x hoodie for the first time in...I don't even know how many years. It feels a little snug but everyone says it looks perfect. I think I'm just not used to wearing clothes that fit that way. I've gravitated toward loose clothing for so long now, it's a real change.

The big difference is that the sleeve is newer and has less research associated with it, and the RNY has been around for 30+ years and has a ton of research. So they keep marketing the RNY as the "gold standard" but the fact is, no matter what surgery you opt for, the vast majority of change has to happen in your head and in your behavior, to be successful.
I initially went in for RNY but due to scar tissue from prior surgery, they couldn't do it...so they gave me the sleeve. A week after I had surgery, I spoke to a friend of my mom's who'd had RNY 10 years ago and she said she wishes she'd have been able to have the sleeve...because she said she developed celiac disease as a result of the RNY and also came to realize that the malabsorbtion aspect of the surgery was only really useful for the first couple of years, and after that it became a pain in the butt. So I actually came away feeling like maybe I'd dodged a bit of a bullet.
My wife wants to get surgery and is planning on it next summer, and she's still in the "gold standard" mindset, but I'm hopeful that my results with the sleeve will convince her to change her mind. I'm now of the opinion that the sleeve might be a better long-term choice. But it will be what I make of it, that's for sure.

The big difference is that the sleeve is newer and has less research associated with it, and the RNY has been around for 30+ years and has a ton of research. So they keep marketing the RNY as the "gold standard" but the fact is, no matter what surgery you opt for, the vast majority of change has to happen in your head and in your behavior, to be successful.
I initially went in for RNY but due to scar tissue from prior surgery, they couldn't do it...so they gave me the sleeve. A week after I had surgery, I spoke to a friend of my mom's who'd had RNY 10 years ago and she said she wishes she'd have been able to have the sleeve...because she said she developed celiac disease as a result of the RNY and also came to realize that the malabsorbtion aspect of the surgery was only really useful for the first couple of years, and after that it became a pain in the butt. So I actually came away feeling like maybe I'd dodged a bit of a bullet.
My wife wants to get surgery and is planning on it next summer, and she's still in the "gold standard" mindset, but I'm hopeful that my results with the sleeve will convince her to change her mind. I'm now of the opinion that the sleeve might be a better long-term choice. But it will be what I make of it, that's for sure.

The big difference is that the sleeve is newer and has less research associated with it, and the RNY has been around for 30+ years and has a ton of research. So they keep marketing the RNY as the "gold standard" but the fact is, no matter what surgery you opt for, the vast majority of change has to happen in your head and in your behavior, to be successful.
I initially went in for RNY but due to scar tissue from prior surgery, they couldn't do it...so they gave me the sleeve. A week after I had surgery, I spoke to a friend of my mom's who'd had RNY 10 years ago and she said she wishes she'd have been able to have the sleeve...because she said she developed celiac disease as a result of the RNY and also came to realize that the malabsorbtion aspect of the surgery was only really useful for the first couple of years, and after that it became a pain in the butt. So I actually came away feeling like maybe I'd dodged a bit of a bullet.
My wife wants to get surgery and is planning on it next summer, and she's still in the "gold standard" mindset, but I'm hopeful that my results with the sleeve will convince her to change her mind. I'm now of the opinion that the sleeve might be a better long-term choice. But it will be what I make of it, that's for sure.

I've been in the habit of weighing on the weekend (either Saturday or Sunday), but I've been so eager to see myself cross over the 100lbs lost mark that I've been doing it every couple of days for the last week. The weight seemed to be totally unwilling to change! I was stuck at the same weight for a week and it seemed that my body just didn't want to give me the satisfaction. Until this morning!
I'm officially past the 100lb mark, and halfway to my weight loss goal. I'm wearing clothes right now that I was wearing at my high weight of 385 and they look gigantic on me. Feels real good. Now, to get the NEXT 100lbs off!

After the sleeve, you have the tool you needed to succeed - a smaller stomach. It seems like you'd have to actively work on it, to gain weight...what's your diet look like? Are you drinking soda? How many meals a day and how many calories?
The surgery by itself is not what gets you to goal, it's also the mental part...the discipline of forming new habits and behaviors. Having another surgery probably isn't the answer, because you've already had one and regained weight, which tells me the issue is likely behavioral and nothing to do with the surgery or size of your stomach. That's just my feeling, based on what little info I have here.

After the sleeve, you have the tool you needed to succeed - a smaller stomach. It seems like you'd have to actively work on it, to gain weight...what's your diet look like? Are you drinking soda? How many meals a day and how many calories?
The surgery by itself is not what gets you to goal, it's also the mental part...the discipline of forming new habits and behaviors. Having another surgery probably isn't the answer, because you've already had one and regained weight, which tells me the issue is likely behavioral and nothing to do with the surgery or size of your stomach. That's just my feeling, based on what little info I have here.

Pure grit and determination, and focusing on the fact that it had a time limit. I kept reminding myself that I made this decision because I knew I needed to make some major changes, long-lasting changes, and so I started feeling like the pre-op diet was a test of my will and dedication to the process. I started taking pride in not cheating, after a while...no matter how much my stomach rumbled and ached. And sure enough, after surgery, it wasn't a concern anymore. I couldn't even imagine putting anything in there for several days!
One thing that I did do that helped mentally though was, the week prior to the pre-op diet, I went ahead and had whatever meals I would miss. I must have had buffalo wings 4-5 times. And after a while, I think it made something click in my mind and realize that I was being dominated by food. Why did I feel the need to do that week or splurging...wasn't it an acknowledgement that it was food that was at the wheel, and not me? So it ended up being a helpful part of my "letting go" process, which then had to continue for the first 10 days or so after surgery. But I'm in a much better place now, and am embracing change.

I've been in the habit of weighing on the weekend (either Saturday or Sunday), but I've been so eager to see myself cross over the 100lbs lost mark that I've been doing it every couple of days for the last week. The weight seemed to be totally unwilling to change! I was stuck at the same weight for a week and it seemed that my body just didn't want to give me the satisfaction. Until this morning!
I'm officially past the 100lb mark, and halfway to my weight loss goal. I'm wearing clothes right now that I was wearing at my high weight of 385 and they look gigantic on me. Feels real good. Now, to get the NEXT 100lbs off!

I was only in the hospital for an overnight stay. I spent a week in a hotel recovering with my mom, who visited from out of state to help me (she was a career outpatient nurse). So that helped my recovery a lot.

I've been in the habit of weighing on the weekend (either Saturday or Sunday), but I've been so eager to see myself cross over the 100lbs lost mark that I've been doing it every couple of days for the last week. The weight seemed to be totally unwilling to change! I was stuck at the same weight for a week and it seemed that my body just didn't want to give me the satisfaction. Until this morning!
I'm officially past the 100lb mark, and halfway to my weight loss goal. I'm wearing clothes right now that I was wearing at my high weight of 385 and they look gigantic on me. Feels real good. Now, to get the NEXT 100lbs off!

I've been in the habit of weighing on the weekend (either Saturday or Sunday), but I've been so eager to see myself cross over the 100lbs lost mark that I've been doing it every couple of days for the last week. The weight seemed to be totally unwilling to change! I was stuck at the same weight for a week and it seemed that my body just didn't want to give me the satisfaction. Until this morning!
I'm officially past the 100lb mark, and halfway to my weight loss goal. I'm wearing clothes right now that I was wearing at my high weight of 385 and they look gigantic on me. Feels real good. Now, to get the NEXT 100lbs off!

The Duodenal Switch is the most aggressive of all the weight loss surgeries, so I reckon it'll have the toughest recovery physically...but I imagine you knew that, going in. What you're enduring mentally, though, pretty much everyone goes through in some form or another, I think. My first couple of weeks, I was pretty obsessed with food. I was watching food Network a lot. I don't know why I was torturing myself but it was like my brain was raging against the fact that I had taken away its comfort, entertainment...whatever. It was almost like it was trying to punish me, reminding me of what I'd given up. Eventually I started to think of it that way; that my psyche had become so accustomed to using food in ways other than simply providing fuel, that it was rebelling against the change.
But you know what? It passed. The obsessing about food passed, and each strange new wrinkle that I have to deal with mentally or emotionally has passed, given time and exposure. I just realized over the past couple of days that I no longer feel weird about my portions. I used to be dealing with the feeling that it wasn't enough, every time I put my little portion on a plate. Now it feels normal to me.
You are going to go through ups and downs mentally, but be aware of them. Think about why you're feeling the way you are and ask yourself if it's rational. You know why you had the surgery, you know what you wanted to achieve through it. You knew what you were giving up, and the reasons for it. This is where the rubber hits the road...you've had the surgery, and now it's time to change. And I think most of us know that you're feeling the resistance to change that your "old brain" is putting up, because we've all felt it in some form or another. And the unfortunate thing is, we'll all probably be dealing with that for the rest of our lives...working to counteract those impulses. But you took a big step to get it under control...and that is what you've done. You have taken measures that will allow you to get it under control.
The physical stuff will improve as you heal, a little better every day. The mental stuff will take time and conscious effort to change. But it'll come together, you just have to be patient and diligent. Just do what you can. As for the "doctoring" your Protein shakes, I'm afraid of what that means...but I am hoping it doesn't mean adding stuff you shouldn't be having, because you'll only be causing yourself problems if you do that. If all you can do is drink Protein Shakes and you need to skip meals, then do that - as long as you are getting your Protein every day, and you are getting your Water, you will be fine. Over time, you'll get meals in too...just don't sweat it. One foot in front of the other.
And stay off the scale for a few weeks. People obsess about the scale. It is your enemy, avoid it. I am only weighing once a month, personally.

I'll be moving back the weekend of the 12th! Colorado native, moved to LA back in late 1998 to pursue my career. Had a family and kids, decided to move them back to Colorado - they went ahead seven months ago, and now I'm going to rejoin them finally. Wife wants to get surgery this summer, will be doing it via Kaiser. Looks like Denver's Kaiser bariatric program has a well-reviewed surgeon, so that's good. I'd like to know of any support groups too, particularly Northwest of Denver.

The Duodenal Switch is the most aggressive of all the weight loss surgeries, so I reckon it'll have the toughest recovery physically...but I imagine you knew that, going in. What you're enduring mentally, though, pretty much everyone goes through in some form or another, I think. My first couple of weeks, I was pretty obsessed with food. I was watching food Network a lot. I don't know why I was torturing myself but it was like my brain was raging against the fact that I had taken away its comfort, entertainment...whatever. It was almost like it was trying to punish me, reminding me of what I'd given up. Eventually I started to think of it that way; that my psyche had become so accustomed to using food in ways other than simply providing fuel, that it was rebelling against the change.
But you know what? It passed. The obsessing about food passed, and each strange new wrinkle that I have to deal with mentally or emotionally has passed, given time and exposure. I just realized over the past couple of days that I no longer feel weird about my portions. I used to be dealing with the feeling that it wasn't enough, every time I put my little portion on a plate. Now it feels normal to me.
You are going to go through ups and downs mentally, but be aware of them. Think about why you're feeling the way you are and ask yourself if it's rational. You know why you had the surgery, you know what you wanted to achieve through it. You knew what you were giving up, and the reasons for it. This is where the rubber hits the road...you've had the surgery, and now it's time to change. And I think most of us know that you're feeling the resistance to change that your "old brain" is putting up, because we've all felt it in some form or another. And the unfortunate thing is, we'll all probably be dealing with that for the rest of our lives...working to counteract those impulses. But you took a big step to get it under control...and that is what you've done. You have taken measures that will allow you to get it under control.
The physical stuff will improve as you heal, a little better every day. The mental stuff will take time and conscious effort to change. But it'll come together, you just have to be patient and diligent. Just do what you can. As for the "doctoring" your Protein shakes, I'm afraid of what that means...but I am hoping it doesn't mean adding stuff you shouldn't be having, because you'll only be causing yourself problems if you do that. If all you can do is drink Protein Shakes and you need to skip meals, then do that - as long as you are getting your Protein every day, and you are getting your Water, you will be fine. Over time, you'll get meals in too...just don't sweat it. One foot in front of the other.
And stay off the scale for a few weeks. People obsess about the scale. It is your enemy, avoid it. I am only weighing once a month, personally.

Well, the surgeon had to make the decision to switch me from Roux-en-y to vertical sleeve gastrectomy, but the surgery was done successfully yesterday and I'm at home recouperating now. Still trying to get rid of the last of the very uncomfortable gas, but I feel okay. Not very interested in putting anything in my stomach right now, but I'm trying to get fluids and Protein Shakes down...it's just VERY slow going. I get at most maybe 2oz done per hour right now. As the gas pain and general discomfort subside, I'm sure it'll get easier. Unfortunately, apparently the mesh that a prior surgeon used to repair an umbilical hernia was the wrong type, and resulted in my intestines scarring into the mesh such that he couldn't do anything without risking damage to my intestine, so he made the judgment call. I'm glad for that, I don't want complications if I can help it. It's just a bummer because that's what I've been feeding my brain with for over a year and I haven't really read up on VSG, though I imagine it's going to be much the same, behavior-wise.
Anyway, I'm glad to have it behind me and now I just want to make a full recovery and get on with this business of losing weight and getting fit.
On a side note, my pre-surgery weight was 351.2 - I lost over 35 pounds leading up to surgery. Not bad!

Sorry you had such a rough day from someone else's mistake, but congrats on narrowing in on the halfway mark.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I agree, don't rush it...the body loses how it loses. Everybody's is different. It holds onto Water prior to flushing out the fat cells, so at any given time that you step on a scale, your body may be pounds heavier than it actually is, due to Water alone. Don't sweat it so much.
Do you know roughly what your body's TDEE number is (total daily energy expended)? Calculate it (calculators are available online), then subtract the calories you're consuming any given day. The difference is your caloric deficit. Then remember that one pound of fat is the equivalent of 3500 calories. I think it's quite likely that you aren't exceeding 1000 calories a day right now, two months post-op. Starting at 301 pounds, you're probably at a deficit somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000-2500 calories a day. Figure 17,000 calories a week in deficit. Divide that by 3500 and you're looking at a probable loss of five pounds a week (though the body does what it does, and it may be more or less at any given weigh-in date). And the TDEE I guessed at there doesn't really include a decent amount of cardio, which will boost your TDEE another 100-200 calories a day.
5lbs lost each day like that ends up looking like 100 pounds after five months. At my BEST dieting and exercising without the help of surgery, I managed to get around 50 pounds off in that amount of time...and that was a seriously disciplined effort (which stalled, as always). So just let your diet, exercise and sleeve do their thing. If you want to add to your weight loss, be on top of your exercise.

I'm losing muscle mass as well, but I knew I would. I get 80-90g of Protein daily, but with the calorie restriction it's inevitable that we're going to lose muscle mass. You just have to do what you can do mitigate it somewhat, and that's by getting 90g or more of Protein and weight training. Sounds like you need to boost your protein intake a bit, I'd get some of the flavorless protein like GENEPRO and mix it with things like chili, etc... Or just a drink. It's 30g of protein in one TBSP serving, so it's a big help.
Also, a VERY common misconception on this board is the "carbs are bad, mmkay?" They're not. In fact, a big part of the reason the body catabolizes muscle tissue for energy is a lack of other easy sources. Fat is not an easy source of energy for the body...it's the slowest place for it to pull energy from, actually. Before you lift, you should consume a good amount of carbs. Then protein after. Your body will pull energy from the carbs you ate, and use the protein for muscle maintenance.
The good thing is, muscle has memory and when we reach our weight loss goals and can switch to a slight caloric surplus to add muscle mass, it will come back on more quickly than it would for someone who never had it.