Bodhi Tree

You sir are a MACHINE! You've done incredibly well - please keep us posted on your progress please?

(And in regards to the haters - sometimes I think people get caught up counting others people's blessings instead of their own. Sad but it happens. Just keep letting your light shine [emoji295])

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

You sir are a MACHINE! You've done incredibly well - please keep us posted on your progress please?

(And in regards to the haters - sometimes I think people get caught up counting others people's blessings instead of their own. Sad but it happens. Just keep letting your light shine [emoji295])

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

You sir are a MACHINE! You've done incredibly well - please keep us posted on your progress please?

(And in regards to the haters - sometimes I think people get caught up counting others people's blessings instead of their own. Sad but it happens. Just keep letting your light shine [emoji295])

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

There is a lot of reasons for this, what @Berry78 said is correct but also...
Being obese for a long period time changes your body. Your body has to compensate for carrying the extra weight, your bones get denser (mine are 3x denser than the average person my age, don't worry they still don't weigh much) and you have more muscle mass. Knowledgeable Drs understand this. You can have a low body fat and be obese on the BMI chart, just because of muscle mass.
I'm 5'6 and I weigh in the mid 180s. I look like I weigh about 20 pounds less. This is because of a lot of loose skin and a lot of muscle mass.
I want to lose another 20 pounds but honestly I don't really need to, physically I am small enough. Losing more weight would just be for a healthy BMI//insurance purposes.
The Dr is giving you a realistic goal. All the goals I got from calculators etc were in 220 range. If I was lazy or ate the way most WLS post-op plans suggest I would have never got past 250. I got to the weight I achieved by eating a way that worked for me and by being super strict with myself to start with.
200 is realistic, 135 is obtainable if you want to. No Dr is going to tell you that though, because WLS won't get you to 135, only you can. WLS will probably get you to 200, maybe 185, the rest you are going to have to grind out yourself.

Wow, so no one seems to know the REAL reason?
Ok, so the surgery rarely gets people to a "normal" BMI. Period. I don't have the percentages exactly, but right off the top of my head... 5% go under weight, I think it's like 15% reach an ideal BMI, and the other 80% stay overweight or obese.
Doctors don't like telling their patients that they have an 80% chance of still being "overweight" at the end of their journeys, so they get creative. "Let's not focus on the number on the scale", or "we don't set goals, everyone has their own journey".
The average patient can expect to lose 65-75% of their excess weight. So for example:
Starting weight: 300lbs.
Ideal weight (top of "healthy" BMI): 150lbs
Excess weight: 150lbs
65% of excess weight: 97.5lbs
75% of excess weight: 112.5lbs
So this patient can expect to end their journey somewhere between 202.5lbs and 187.5lbs.
If this patient went in, expecting to be 140lbs, like when she graduated from high school, she would be disappointed at the idea of 190. Of course, 190 is SOOO much healthier than 300! So the surgery is absolutely worth doing for her, but she'll be the one that freaks out when the scale suddenly stops "50lbs above goal".
It's not a problem with the scale, her surgery, or her diet/exercise program. It's a problem with her expectation.

That right there is a picture of success! Well done Iscarelys [emoji122] I would love to hear your story!

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Surgeons all say different things it seems. There is no real gold standard. I think a lot of it depends on your weight, blood profile, Vitamin deficiency's, etc. We are all different. It probably would not hurt to have a complete blood panel done and go from there. My surgeon told me the other day to take 2 Flintstone chewables a day. That's it. I also take Vit D3, Iron and B12 supplements.

I buy my advanced multi vits directly from Bariatric Advantage $41. (you can request a hold when needed). My Iron, B vit, from Walmart and my Calcium with vit D from costco. It is SUPER important for us to take these Vitamins because we cannot eat the amount of food to get these through our diets.

My Dr told me the flinstone gummies r the perfect things to take. I take 2 in the morning and 2 at night and it gives me everything I need. It's not alot of money at all. I recommend them.

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11 months post op and I get it all from chicken and Bacon mostly. lol! I was never able to settle in on a Protein supplement so I get all of mine via food and mostly Chicken and Pork. I basically eat cheese and Bacon for breakfast and then Rotisserie chicken the rest of the day and then veggies and lighter fair for dinner once I've hit my daily protein goals. But my main focus is always Protein and Water. Then I allow myself some beansprouts w/bacon or zucchini sauted, Greek Salads with feta and olives...yum! that has protein as well. I try to make sure everything I eat has a fair # of protein.

I drink this every day. Only thing that works consistently.

While I am new to the VSG community I am currently employed in healthcare, and yes please do take something because it is WAY past time for you to void! I am not sure what your Dr said that you could take but my Dr made it perfectly clear to us not to use anything other than Milk of Magnesia I am not sure why but he knows more about this than I do so I followed his orders. Not telling you to try it but to talk to your Dr to see what is acceptable as I know some products may cause cramping or other GI issues. Good luck and I hope that the problem works its way out!

So as WLS patients this time of year can be so so so hard on the ones that LOVE everything pumpkin. But it doesn't have to be! This morning I dug out a can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) and added three tablespoons to my Protein Shake. I also added pumpkin pie seasoning and two stevias. All with two scoops of baritatric advantage vanilla and a cup of almondmilk with 5 ice cubes. Heaven!! I will use the can for making my own Greek yogurt pumpkin as well, same premise! Happy Pumpkin Season everyone!!

Something you may want to Google "Why the scale Lies" (by Renee Cloe).

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

Something you may want to Google "Why the scale Lies" (by Renee Cloe).

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

Don't focus too much on the number of meals a day. (Well, some programs REALLY want their patients doing 3 meals from the very beginning).. but I don't think that's necessary, or possibly healthy, if you feel too hungry, you'll overeat.
So, I prefer to see patients focus on their goals. Figure out how many Proteins, carbs, fat, and calories you need, and then create a plan that meets all these goals. Eat as often as necessary to meet your goals.
I find, by tackling it this way, I have to push to get everything in, and eating becomes something different in my brain. It's no longer hobby, socialization, comfort, or any of that jazz... it's fuel and nourishment. Period. And that's a good thing!
I don't feel guilty about eating now since when I don't eat, I feel weak. (hmm.. when I was a teenager, I was embarrassed to eat in front of people since I was heavy... I forgot about that! Lol!).
If I have a day where I meet all my goals, and find I'm still hungry.. veggies are always on the menu. So there is no panic that I'll be left hungry, and not "allowed" to eat (a common problem while dieting).
Sorry, this post is a little all-over-the-place.. but hopefully something here is applicable

My surgeon's office says stretching is a myth too. I had RNY, but it's the same for sleeve. I feel like once your stomach heals and no longer has swelling, you'll be able to tell how much you will be able to eat normally. It can feel like it "stretched" because it's so much more than it was when you were healing. I can eat so much more than I thought I would be able to--a whole salad from Sweetgreen (which is a ton of roughage if you've never been there)!
That's why it's so important to me to still use a bite timer (one minute between bites) and eat for 25 minutes at least. Otherwise I could easily eat too much, too fast.

You sir are a MACHINE! You've done incredibly well - please keep us posted on your progress please?

(And in regards to the haters - sometimes I think people get caught up counting others people's blessings instead of their own. Sad but it happens. Just keep letting your light shine [emoji295])

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

Fantastic progress! May I ask what kinds of exercise you've been doing? Whatever it is you're doing - it's sure working!!!

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

I disagree. They were saying he wasn't being truthful, which he was. Explain to me how that is encouraging him "to be his best self"?
That was hate. Dismiss it if you want to, but it's obvious that's what it is.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

I disagree. They were saying he wasn't being truthful, which he was. Explain to me how that is encouraging him "to be his best self"?
That was hate. Dismiss it if you want to, but it's obvious that's what it is.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app

You sir are a MACHINE! You've done incredibly well - please keep us posted on your progress please?

(And in regards to the haters - sometimes I think people get caught up counting others people's blessings instead of their own. Sad but it happens. Just keep letting your light shine [emoji295])

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using BariatricPal mobile app