MarinaGirl

Months before bariatric surgery, I started making diet & lifestyle changes, such as NO sugar, artificial sweeteners, desserts, processed food, carbonated/caffeinated/alcoholic beverages, smaller portion sizes, no drinking during meals, and minimal bread or rice. This allowed me to lose 30 lbs pre-op. I did not tell my family, colleagues, or friends (except for 1) about my gastric bypass surgery. No one noticed anything different after surgery as I had already been losing weight and was eating less in their presence. This allowed me to focus on myself and not have to deal with negative comments, energy, or misinformation. It worked well for me. YMMV

I’m in maintenance mode and below goal weight, and order Arnold Palmers (1/2 unsweetened iced tea & 1/2 lemonade) when I go out to restaurants or bars. I do not consume artificial sweeteners as I don’t think they’re healthy or helpful with weight loss/maintenance so my usual drinks of choice are plain water, decaf coffee, or herbal tea.

Just because you can eat a good amount doesn’t mean you should. Don’t try seeking the full feeling as it won’t be the same post-WLS. During surgery, nerves may have been cut so until they regenerate you may not feel much. The only way to determine the correct amount to eat is with a food scale, not by eye balling portion sizes as we weren’t good at that pre-op, nor by pursuing satiety.

OP: The normal BMI range for a person 5’3” is 105-141 lbs. If you only lose 60 lbs then you’ll still be in the obese category. IMO, I think you should try to lose as much as possible, especially in the honeymoon period (i.e. the first 12-18 months) when losing will be “easier.” The key to weight loss is in the kitchen not the gym. You will need to change poor eating habits for life (therapy can help) as your WLS tool will not make up for overeating, eating simple carbs & processed food, too many liquid calories, including alcohol, and all the rest. This is also true for “normal” skinny people. Good luck, you can do it!

I doubt you will look “ill” if your BMI is high normal. Why that kind of language?

And comparing weight loss between men & women is also extremely futile.

Gastric Bypass. I had horrible knee pain and GERD pre-gastric bypass and both have resolved. I don’t think I would have lost enough with a sleeve to improve my mobility and pain issues to the degree I have. I’ve also heard of too many people that have VSG but later need to revise to RNY to correct newly developed GERD or poor weight loss results. This is hard because many insurance only pay for 1 weight loss surgery per lifetime so if you require additional surgery later it might require self-pay or none at all. With your financial situation it may be too risky to have VSG because of the possibility of needing another procedure down the road.

I chose my initial goal as the high end of normal BMI; then I got down to my weight in college when I was an NCAA athlete; and now I’m at the low end of normal BMI but am not worried about it as my labs are great, I feel wonderful, and my docs aren’t concerned. I’m only 19 months post-gastric bypass so there’s room for bounce back and still be within normal BMI range. My horrible joint issues, especially knee pain, is sooooo much better at a lower weight that I don’t want to regain too much as that could lead to less mobility and early total knee replacement (bilaterally).

I eat a lot of fruit relative to other bariatric patients and am not a big meat eater (pre or post gastric bypass) and I do not dump, not once; even the occasional dessert does not cause me any issues. YMMV

I love eating fruit and nuts and beans - yum, yum! I also like making smoothies or overnight oats for breakfast as I’m often in a hurry in the morning. These things in small portions sizes do not cause me to gain weight, but this may not be the case for everyone. I think what’s important is to figure out what food properly nourishes YOU and doesn’t make you feel like you’re on a diet forever, which will be different for everyone. If there are foods that trigger you to overeat then cut those out, and if you struggle with food addiction or making poor food choices then you should strongly consider therapy and other approaches to get your head right. Bariatric surgery is great for resetting your metabolism and providing an opportunity to maintain long term weight loss, but it won’t prevent you from eating around your new tool.

I was able to take small tablets right after MGB surgery. If yours are too big, you can use a pill cutter to make them smaller. But first check with your surgeon and pharmacist on how to best proceed as your medicines may need to be handled differently than others.

There is a lot of variation in post op diets across all bariatric surgeries. I recommend you follow your surgeon’s plan as s/he knows your health history and what works for her/his patients. When in doubt, call the office and discuss your concerns BEFORE going off plan. You don’t want to end up with a complication because you advanced your diet too soon. Good luck!

I did not develop lactose intolerance post-MGB. But I know some people that did; however, it resolved 6-12 months later. I hope that turns out to be the case for you, Fatgirlfedup.

I don’t drink carbonated beverages post-MGB. Almost 2 years post-op I don’t feel that great when I try to drink them. But it’s fine because I never had a soda habit before surgery so I’m not missing or craving them. They’re not healthy in general so I say good riddance.

I am a big proponent of whole, healthy food post-WLS and my bariatric team supports this way of eating. I do NOT consume artificial sweeteners at all, am not a big meat eater, and I do not worry about eating fruit. I eat whatever amount of fruit I feel like, which is usually 1-3 servings a day, depending on what’s in season or in my kitchen. I don’t demonize any food except for fake food made with chemicals. This approach has worked very well for me; my yearly labs are fantastic, I feel wonderful, and my BMI is in the lower normal range. I also just returned from a beach vacation where I wore cute bikinis and was not self conscious about my body, even with some saggy skin. What I am consuming (veggies, fruit, dairy, beans, some meat) is working well for me. No dumping or RH episodes. YMMV

Native/resident of the West Coast

iPhone and charger with long cable Slippers for walking the halls Toothbrush Ear plugs and eye mask

Slimies/foamies usually occur when you’ve taken too big a bite, not chewed your food up enough, or eaten too fast; user/patient error. As well, some food is hard to eat for many months post-GB. Take it slow & easy, and be patient with yourself and the process.

Weight is lost in the kitchen not the gym. This means it is more important to focus on what and how much goes in your mouth versus how much or little you exercise.

I’m so sorry; that sucks. How about Zantac or Tagamet? They’re also H2 Blockers and may work differently (hopefully better) than Pepcid.

My surgeon refused to do a VSG on me due to pre-existing GERD. I’m glad that I had gastric bypass as reflux is a serious issue. For most people, RNY resolves or lessens GERD. Note that a lot of insurance plans only pay for 1 WLS per lifetime so if you get VSG and need to revise to another surgery due to GERD or insufficient weight loss, you may end up having to pay out-of-pocket.

You can’t “reset” your pouch. Pouch reset is a fad diet that was started by someone that wanted to sell products on the Internet. It is bogus and is not necessary. If you’re fighting regain you should go back to the basics and eat dense protein first followed by non-starchy vegetables. Cut out simple carbs, sugar, processed food, soda, alcohol, and fast food. Your pouch/tool is fine and hasn’t stretched, you’re just eating too many slider foods that don’t let you feel restriction. If you’re struggling with emotional or binge eating, see a therapist to work through your issues. Trying to fix this with fad dieting or that mindset won’t work long term as it never did pre-WLS and is not sustainable. It’s about healthy strategies & coping mechanisms now. You can do this! Good luck.

Sounds like you did go back to work too soon. Do you have restrictions on how much weight you can pick up or move around? If you do you may need some accommodations until those restrictions are lifted. You’re most likely nauseous because you’re dehydrated. Please be a squeaky wheel about your need for a doctor’s note with your surgeon’s office. No time to be nice or a people pleaser. Advocate for yourself and if they won’t help, try contacting your PCP for assistance. Be determined about this, not defeated. Good luck.

I would not have VSG with pre-existing GERD. My surgeon refused to do a VSG on me because of my history of acid reflux. Being on PPIs long term is not a good idea because cellular damage may still occur; PPIs only mask the symptoms not cure the problem. They also weren’t developed/studied/approved for long term use and doing so can possibly lead to other health conditions (e.g. calcium/magnesium absorption issues, c.diificile infections, pneumonia, heart or kidney problems, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis).

I went from a 40D to 34B. I’m very happy with my size and shape, and am below goal right now.