Berry78

Hey, y'all! I would love it if everyone would chime in and give as many answers as they can. Based on this size chart, what size are/were you, and what was your BMI? If you are between sizes, go down a size, and if your waist is a different size than your hips, then choose the larger size. And if the chart doesn't cover your size, just guess by adding a couple inches per size. I only know my starting measurement, and current measurement. I started at a BMI of 47.8 and I was size 30w. My current BMI is 37 and I am a size 20w.

I don't see an "obese" person either, (just making that clear! Lol!).. and it won't take 30lbs to knock off a couple inches and put you in the low-risk category. (Probably once you hit "overweight" on the BMI.. which is awesome info for us that are further out and trying to sort out goals..) Thank you so much for posting this, because it's really eye-opening!

Ok, so I did a little research, and came up with an article that shows surgery is as safe and effective for class 1 obesity as the other classes. https://asmbs.org/resources/bariatric-surgery-in-class-i-obesity So it sounds like the surgery doesn't pose any more risk to a person with a lower bmi, but there still remains the same risk as always. If it's worth it to you, then I wish you all the best.

How the heck do I know what sleevers end up looking like? I never met one. Lol. Actually, I meant to add that the bypass patients that are over 2 years out look good and normal, so that sickly look does seem to go away over time. Temporary, like the hair loss. Weight loss, although nice, is not my biggest concern. It's health. The bypass surgery will help the sickest of people to become healthier, but the same way that it is more powerful for them, it may be too powerful for a less-sick group. I appreciate the feedback about how my post came across.. I'm not trying to scare tactic anyone, I just like for people to weigh all their options. A good friend got the band because she thought her only other choice was the bypass, and that was more surgery than she wanted. She might have been a good candidate for the sleeve. There are two major problems with the sleeve that isn't as much with bypasses. GERD and leaks. Both tend to show up within the first few months. Many that get severe gerd go on to revise to bypass. Leaks can be a real nightmare, fortunately they are relatively rare. The bypass tends to have similar numbers of complications near the surgery, but more that show up later down the line. As I said, more severe procedure for the sicker people. The other thing to keep in mind is bypasses have been around a while. The sleeve is relatively new, so we don't know what will happen in 20 years... for all we know, they may be an unsustainable fad like the lap band. You want scare tactics? Ask me about DSs! Lol!

Totally normal to be scared. If you weren't the least bit nervous, I would think you didn't really understand what you signed up for. Once you wake up and get through the first couple days, you should feel much more confident. In the meantime, spend time on here continuing to learn about postop life, and get your house and affairs in order so you can have a relaxing trip without worrying about whether you paid that bill or will come back to find you forgot that half drunk glass of milk by the radiator... (ok, that's just me, but you get the gist).

I'm not trying to "bash" RNY.. I know several people that have had the procedure, and although it has produced good weight reduction results, they all seem to have "issues" long term. Is it lack of self-care, I couldn't say (likely!), but that's just my personal knowledge, and I was basing my response on the OP's personal experience. I'm the only sleever at my support group, and I'm looking around at skinny (sickly looking) 1 year post-ops, a 7 month post op that can't eat 2 bites of salad and 1/2 a banana in an hour long sitting (she'd brought a snack).. etc. I piped up that I was 5 weeks post sleeve, and had no problem meeting my 70g protein goal.. and even the guest speaker surgeon, was like, "HOW??' Every surgery has its problems, and I'm eternally grateful that (touch wood), so far, everything is going super for me. 20 years ago, I had a conversation with my mother about surgery. Bypass was the only option at that time, and it was truly reserved for the super morbidly obese that were so sick. The mortality rate was appalling! When I (at 305lbs) started checking into surgery this year, I truly figured I may not even qualify since I wasn't THAT big. My, how things have changed in 20 years! Had my surgeon recommended bypass, I probably would have gone that route myself. And I probably would have been fine. It's nice that there is another option with a different set of benefits and drawbacks, called the sleeve.

Ok, so I just looked at your profile to figure out who I was talking to, and we have very similar stats to start. I'm also 5'7, female, and my starting BMI was only about 3 points lower than yours. Sooo.. although we should never compare, I think we'll break the rule, just this once. I lost 16lbs during the preop diet. Month 1, I lost 17lbs. Month 2: 13lbs, Month 3: 8lbs, Month 4: 12lbs. As you see, nothing stellar.. but I'm only 4 months out, and am down about halfway to goal. I am not a gym body. I hardly even walk each day except around the house. I HAVE gone hiking 5 miles, and I HAVE moved all the furniture in my house over the course of a week. But that's sporadic exercise, not a daily grind. I have consistently gotten in my 70g protein goal, fluid goals, and have been eating between 1000 and 1300 calories since week 4.

Lol, just as you meant 5lbs a week, I meant a tiny loss in a DAY. Lol! Many days the scale won't move in the desired direction, and that's ok! It's part of the process. I kinda doubt there is a such thing as a person that had a VSG and didn't lose at least 10lbs or so (and you've already done more than that, so you'll never have to say you had 80% of your stomach removed to lose only a tenth of a pound.. )

Congrats on saying goodbye to the 300's!! You should never see them again, as long as you wait at least a week to weigh yourself postop Fingers crossed for luck!!

I'll assume you meant 50. My hubby once lost 49lbs in a month. He had contracted some sort of tick-born illness that had him vomiting up every sip of water he drank, coughing nonstop, a fever that wouldn't quit.. and he was that sick for a month straight. We had no insurance, so couldn't send him to the hospital, so we kept trying different antibiotics from the local clinic. Finally the doc found some that worked, and my 6'4 tall, slightly overweight Army man that had turned into a skeleton... managed to pull through. Trust me, you don't WANT to lose 50lbs in a month. Your body needs time to heal and process the fat. Most patients that lose more than 30lbs a month have had complications. (Before I get jumped on, it's not EVERY patient that loses that much.. just an awful lot of them). A common theme among people of size is self-loathing. Surgery doesn't magically make you feel good about yourself. That takes work on your emotional/spiritual side. YOU are not a number on a scale, and after a while, you will realize that YOU are no different, even though that number changes. It's a good time to start some good habits, one of which is to thank your body for doing those things you want it to. Keep it all positive. Thank you for helping me get out of bed and empty my bladder. Thank you for accepting that food/fuel. Thank you for losing that .01lbs Thank you... It seems silly, and simple, but it will really help your outlook if you do it. (This morning I thanked my body for having healed my surgery scars so nicely, and for my waist having become more visible.) And you know what? Much like a dog that loves pets and praise, my mind and body like it too

You're in the "3 week stall", just a smidge late No worries, it will break in a week or two. Get out of the habit of only eating when you're hungry. That could be until Christmas. Try to get on a schedule of 5-6 small meals a day. You need to keep your blood sugar levels (I.E. Strength) up. Liquid protein sources are the easiest this early out. Protein shakes, milk, yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, eggs, refried beans...

Sure did. I took lots of yogurt and probiotics, and it cleared up on its own by 6 or 8 weeks postop.

I had my first egg postop week 5ish, I did hardboiled, since so many people had trouble with scrambled. It was SOOOO GOOOD! I liked eggs fine before, but now they are my faves. Preop, beans tasted good, but caused gas. I now can eat them every day without trouble. They also taste sooo yummy!! Ice cream used to be grand, but now it's too sweet. yuck. Same with fudge. Same with baked goods in general. Watermelon, apples, grapes.. most fruit, really just sits kinda poorly in my tummy. All types of berries are better now than before though... especially red raspberries. (I hated them before, now they're good). I had a single noodle from Hamburger Helper. Stuff tasted like paste!

Congrats on taking the first steps to a healthier you! One of your first decisions to make is which surgery. Please don't do the lap band. Just cross that one off your list right away. The Roux-en-Y bypass (RNY, or simply bypass), the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (sleeve), or Duodenal Switch (DS). You might qualify for any of the three, your surgeon will likely point you in a direction based on your circumstances or his own expertise (be careful of the latter, because you want the right surgery for YOU, not just what he's selling). There are tons of threads on the board about how to choose a procedure. Look around, and have fun during the research phase. You don't have to make a decision right away either. (But you might as well start looking early so you have time to really get comfortable with the idea of whichever you choose). All three have similar post-op diets and recovery phases. The main differences are the long-term complications, statistics, and vitamin requirements. (The DS also has higher goals for protein and fat intakes.) Good luck!

Gas tends to make it's way up that left shoulder and kinda ache. Just keep on walking, and it should dissipate over the next few days. Of course everyone gets nervous about shoulder pain (heart attack symptom and all), so if you start feeling BAD, of course, seek further treatment. Monitor for fever and any other off-color symptoms. Congrats on getting onto the loser's bench! Good luck!

Oh how scary! So happy you made it through! I'm not an experienced bypass patient, but I do know fried, greasy foods can cause dumping as well. You'll want to find out if your meds can be crushed, or switched to formulations that can be, at least for the first couple months postop. You will experience slower weight loss than a fresh bypass patient would.. and ultimately your final weight will be what you make it out to be. (If you stick to the program and can exercise, there is no reason you can't go as low as you like). But, 240 or 220 is probably obtainable within a year without too much hardship.

Everyone has heard of the bypass, but was the sleeve discussed? Since the sleeve is only removing part of the stomach, it doesn't create all those side effects that you mention your parents experience. And, you're a "light weight", so it may be enough surgery for you. The bypass is a bit better with diabetes, (and if you currently have GERD, then the bypass is kinda your only realistic option). Thyroid meds won't change due to surgery (you may need a different dosage, but you'll still be taking a pill). My local doc leaves peeps on Metformin, even after their diabetes is controlled, because it helps them continue dropping weight. When they get close to goal he pulls them off. That's something you can discuss with your doc. Take your time making the right decision for you, and welcome to the board!

Welcome! Congrats on your surgery, and being able to start the healing (physically and emotionally). Many here are survivors (of abuse, or other difficult circumstances). You are in good company!

{Hugs} this is the longest road for you, but you are such a trooper! Have you gotten used to not eating or drinking? I bet it will feel strange when you start again...

March 20th, have lost 69lbs, and am feeling great! I haven't been going to a gym, but feel more motivated to clean house, etc. Food is down to a science, and I am having no trouble with it. Life is grand!

Yes! Those first weeks, hardly 15 minutes would pass that I wasn't working on something. Just kept that cup full of water or milk or whatever

Remember, they (who is "they" anyway?.. but I digress..) they say a "healthy" weight loss is 1-2lbs a week when dieting. This equates to 4-10lbs a month. Bariatric patients definitely push the envelope with our rapid weight losses, and it's not always healthy or graceful. Many times we end up in the hospital with malnutrition or dehydration. Excessive loose skin, hernias, gallbladder removals, overuse injuries (from overworking ourselves in the gym).. etc. etc. Ease into your new life gently, be kind to yourself. Pay attention to your nutrition, and don't overdo everything. Get plenty of sleep. This surgery is for the rest of your life. There is no reason you can't continue losing weight for 5-10 years, if it were to take that long. Bariatric surgery begins a journey, but the journey doesn't end at goal weight, rather, it endures as long as you do.

Has your caffeine consumption changed? Coffee, tea (black, green, or white), chocolate, etc. We can develop sensitivities to foodstuffs that never bothered us before. Artificial sweeteners are something to consider...

The average patient loses 15-20lbs the first month. Congrats, you're right on track! Think of it this way: It will take you around 20 months to lose your 200lbs. That's an average of 10lbs a month. The first few months may show more loss that that (as you've proven), but then you'll be losing more like 4-8 lbs a month after the first year... IF you stick to program. Exactly how much were you expecting to lose, and where did those expectations come from? (Your doctor, friends, family, television?)

"If you're us, then tell us what number we're thinking of" "69, DUDE!" Today I have officially lost 69lbs! Woo Hoo!