Berry78

Time to start counting calories to see where you are. When we drop below 200lbs, our bodies seem to get super efficient and it takes more work to knock off the pounds..

32lbs in 7 weeks is much higher than average. (Average is probably 3 lbs a week which would be 21lbs). So you are doing great! Stalls happen, and the quicker you drop, the more often they happen. Just keep on keeping on, and you'll get there!

When you only can eat an ounce, try sticking with softer foods so you can get a bit more in (like Sue was indicating). I hope that you can start going out soon... just stick with a brothy soup and a drink. Eating out isn't about eating, it's about the socialization. If you can get away from kids for an hour, just go by yourself to a restaurant and order your liquids. (Bring a book or electronic device so you aren't bored). Practice that way until it doesn't feel strange.

So, Annie, what was different? Hunger level, criteria for choosing a surgery? Both? The more I think about this post/question.. the more I realize that I haven't seen it addressed. Who DOES experience more hunger? IS there a difference? One of my surgery-buds (had procedure the same day) has a bypass and she says she is frequently hungry. I have a sleeve, and some days I'm hungry, others I'm not at all. We are 7 months postop.

The surgery does mess our cycles up. If your IUD was hormonal, then the loss of that can change things as well. Just watch out for excessive bleeding, but otherwise I wouldn't worry.

It seems like hunger is similar between bypass patients and those with sleeves. Early on, sleevers that don't have good acid control will feel hungry (acid makes you feel "hungry"), but that isn't necessarily a long term issue. The decision between sleeve and bypass is usually made based on GERD, diabetes, and food addictions. If a patient has any of those in a significant way, the bypass is possibly a better choice.

I was just talking to my hubby about this last night. He is bored of the same old menu, day in and out. My goal of having the limited schedule was to be able to STICK to the plan. If you always know what you're gonna eat, then you always have the right food in the house, and it isn't a struggle. Previously, without a solid plan, we'd be hungry, not have "anything to cook" and end up getting fast food. The limited menu has fixed that problem. But boredom is a new one. So, now that I can hit 70g protein in two meals and a snack, it really opens up the possibility for more variety. I'll have to sit down and come up with a plan. I'm not picky, myself. So am sick of having to provide food for 6 other people that all have different needs/wants. A sampling: no nuts, no acidic fruit, no pasta, no beans, no pork, no chicken, no lactose, no veggie except corn, no corn on the cob, no turkey, no eggs, no hot dogs, no beets, no onions, no fish, no tofu... There isn't really a meal that everyone will eat except pizza and hamburgers. (But I can't eat those... lol!) Sigh.

Day-yaaam... (Gotto be careful my hubby doesn't catch me lookin' at this thread!) Congrats on your success so far! Only 3 incisions? Love Dr. Illan's handiwork.

Nope, haven't colored it. Did get a trim. Mostly it's just a lot thinner! Lol. At least it's curly. The first photo had it in a ponytail. I was thinking about whacking it and putting in some color. Haven't decided since my face is one big nose (in profile). Man, I have to get rid of those clothes. I kept the shirt for that photo. Bleck! (It was my swim outfit, but I'll wear something different now...).

Check your acid medication. You should be on something that you take every day.

Usually band-to-sleeve converters feel a lot less restriction than they did with the band. I think because tissue, by nature, is elastic, and plastic is rigid. So, it will be up to you to pay attention to what and how much you consume. (I feel this is why we say "revisions typically lead to slower losses"... because the patients... and their bodies.... are already used to restriction).

We are talking to Buffalo Bill. He is a month postop.. he has his stats on his profile (other than age).

I totally think this would make a great bumper sticker... inside joke, anyone? This is the funniest thing I've read on this board...

I recommend holding off on solids until you get your fluids up. Because there is no waiting to drink with full or clear liquids, so you have every minute that you are awake in which to drink. Once you start eating, then you lose chunks of time where you can't drink.

Postop depression is common. The lifestyle change, surgical recovery, restricted calories, plus loss of food as a source of sport or comfort is a veritable firestorm. He should discuss how he is feeling with his doctor and counselor.

https://www.livestrong.com/article/464146-non-diabetic-weight-loss-with-metformin/ Metformin isn't insulin, so it shouldn't drop your sugars.. of course medication needs to be discussed with your doc. Be sure to mention you are in ketosis. It sounds like you are sticking closely to plan. You say you are under 800 calories. Try and hit 800 every day. Bumping it up to 900 or 1000 for a while might make a difference. Do you notice your clothes getting looser?

I still need to lose an elephant's heart...

The fatigue is because you are only a month postop. I didn't feel 100% for nearly 3 months. I think you should keep your calories where they are so you can get the weight off as quickly as possible. Viffer has more experience than I, so do what he recommends..

I agree with Tony... you'll absolutely lose muscle, but that will come back quickly once you can eat more calories and hit the gym. I've read a few articles about people losing weight and gaining muscle. It seems they lose weight first, then start building. Maybe @BigViffer can help set us on the right path..

You do lose a lot of water weight at the beginning of a diet, it's true. The postop period is almost a "start over". Everything is thrown into chaos with the shock if the surgery, IV fluids, lack of calories, and many people can't make their fluid goals for the first week or two, so there is dehydration. The body cycles through fluid unbelievably quickly. So when a person puts on 3, 4, 5 pounds overnight, it's just fluid. Maybe they were dehydrated, and now it's replenished, or perhaps they're storing extra because of stress (like Drop said).. there are lots of reasons for it.. just part of the process...

It's probably a normal part if the healing process, but it's always good to keep an eye out for signs of a problem. Get a good thermometer and keep tabs on your temperature. The first week, low fevers (up to 100F) are common and normal. If you get a higher one, call your Doc. 102, call your doc and go to the ER. Usually fevers (if you are going to have one) happen in the evening, so take several readings throughout the day.

I would love to hear of some cases or studies where healthy people underwent caloric restriction and didn't lose weight. (Controlled, measured, counted environment.) Shoot, I have a family member that has a pituitary gland problem. She is only 4'8 and has all kinds of hormone/metabolic issues, and even she could lose weight on an 800 cal. diet. She just couldn't stay on it. Regardless, we can control the "calories in". The invisible part is the "calories out". The body can choose to burn 4000 calories a day, or 800 (just throwing numbers out for example... I don't know the actual limits). THIS is the mystery piece that makes it seem like the math doesn't work. I think they are still trying to figure out how to get the body to keep the metabolism up under caloric restriction.. and so far, bariatric surgery works the best.

In a weird way, it is possible.. but it's only because the body can now pause and work on healing (now that it's getting some materials to build with). This might be the key to the notorious "3 week stall" that it seems everyone has... the first 2 weeks are just liquids and the third week has a bit more substance.