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One suggestion I've seen is to go for a total reset--that is, go back on something like Protein Drinks for two meals and the third lean meat and veggies. Try that for a week or two and then gradually move back to regular (but appropriate) meals.

Good luck.

Keep reading around the site and one thing you will see over and over is that people are glad they had the surgery, it's the best thing they've ever done for themselves, and they wish they'd done it sooner. Search for and look at the before/after pictures for some real inspiration.

Also keep in mind that it's a very safe surgery, very low complication rates, and very effective in terms of the weight loss goal. Whether you maintain that long-term is up to you--this isn't magic, but it's a wonderful tool to help along the way.

Best of luck!

Congrats! Some people have said that walking really helps with the gas--I didn't notice any pain from that, so can't say. But use whatever pain meds you are given in the hospital. You won't need them for long.

Best of luck!

I'd suggest ordering a meal, eat what you want, push it around the plate a bit if you have to, and ask for a container to take the rest home. The guy probably won't even notice exactly how much or little you eat. Keep talking and keep his mind on your sparkling personality!

Congrats! The next month may not be a lot of fun (except watching the scale go down . . . although many of us are told not to weigh during the first month or two), but it definitely gets better after that. I'm wishing you much success on this journey!

14 minutes ago, mamalala said:

I know I don't always drink but we are going on vacation with a couple that likes to drink and I know they're probably going to offer me one probably won't drink it but I just wanted to know. I think my doctor did tell me but since I don't drink all the time I was like oh whatever

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Ah, I see. Well, I'd guess there are a few options: 1) tell the other couple about your surgery and drink water; 2) don't tell them about the surgery but tell them you're dieting and drink water; 3) tell them in some fuzzy way you're on medication and can't mix it with alcohol, and drink water; 4) accept a drink when everyone else has one and then not drink it . . . with Water on the side.

I know people have widely varying positions on telling other people--I'm one of the folks who tells everybody about it, basically because I know what I'm doing and why I'm doing it and don't give a crap about someone else's probably ill-informed opinion about it. Actually, though, I've mostly gotten supportive comments.

My stated goal is 140, just a bit over my lowest adult weight of 136. My surgeon estimated that I might lose 120 total, which would get me to 260. Realistically, I'd like to see if I can get under 200, but I'm not that hung up on the numbers--I just want to be healthier. My first consideration is my knee pain and my second is my diabetes--that may sound backward, but the knee pain is just so debilitating on a daily basis and my diabetes is at least pretty well controlled.

You probably have something in the materials given to you about this, but be aware that we're supposedly a lot more sensitive to alcohol--and for me, I was pretty sensitive to it before! And, of course, it's just empty calories than can blow your eating plan out of the Water, so you don't want to drink much or often. All other considerations aside, pot is probably going to be easier on your system than alcohol.

As far as I know, I'll be taking the Vitamins forever--I could be wrong, but I've been taking Multivitamins for years and B-complex for quite a while, too, before the surgery. Either way, you certainly will need them for the first year, so yes, I'd advise getting a supply so you don't have to worry about them. Better safe than sorry on this front . . .

And, just out of curiosity, what about other vendors besides Amazon? I mean, would buying them on this site get them shipped to you?

It will take some time, but you will go back to being able to eat anything you want to, although not as much (still, much more than you'd believe now). This surgery isn't magic--you can undo any good it does you in terms of weight loss by what you eat. During one period since the surgery, I gained ten pounds (though I'm thrilled that I've again lost them).

This is a tool--you can learn to use it or not as you choose. If you use the first year to learn to make better choices, it can do you good long term.

But I'll readily agree that the first month after the surgery just kind of sucks. I hated it and was so happy when it was over. My suggestion is to wait for a bit and re-evaluate your feelings after three months, six months, a year . . .

I stayed with a friend for four months, starting a month after surgery. I was surrounded by things I shouldn't eat, and I sure couldn't eat much, but I did, during that four months, have Cookies and small pieces of cake and doughnuts. You *can* eat those things if you want to make that choice--but life is really better when you don't. I've been at another friend's place for the past six weeks and she's a very healthy eater--I haven't had a cookie or, god forbid, a doughnut while I'm here.

But the bottom line is that I lost weight in both places because mostly I didn't make those choices and mostly I made the right ones--protein first, some veggies, Water, etc. When you cheat you are only cheating yourself . . .

On the other hand, there's absolutely no reason to believe you will be restricted the rest of your life. I can't believe how much I can eat now compared to right after the surgery, but it's still much less than I used to--and I'm trying really hard to use this time to retrain myself to eat correctly so I can do it forever. That's the point, right?

I'm not sure this will be helpful, as I had my gallbladder out decades before the bariatric surgery, but I don't recall any particular hunger issues associated with the surgery. I had gained weight; I continued to gain weight, but I think that was more to do with eating the wrong things and not exercising at all, basically.

I'd suggest giving yourself a week or two to stabilize, but if it continues to be an issue, consult your doctor and nutritionist.

Just out of curiosity, I googled "three-week stall" and got more than 7 million results. I'm sure if you search that expression on this site, you'll get quite a few, too.

Once a stall breaks, you may see a sudden drop or it may just go back to slow and steady, a pound every day or two--everyone is different. Please, please, just go with this variation in the program. You didn't put the weight on one pound a day every day; you are NOT going to lose it that way, either. But if you follow your program, it will come off.

Some doctors and other advisers will tell you not to weigh yourself for the first month or two. I wanted to keep track then, and I still do, but think about why they would say that.

Note that your experience may differ--I didn't have to fill out any questionnaire at all, just sit and chat for a hour or less. The key idea seems to be to establish that you don't have unrealistic expectations about the surgery. There are some threads about the topic on here . . .

3 hours ago, elforman said:

If I lived my life based on the feedback I get from family and friends about my life decisions either I'd have killed myself or killed all of them, a long time ago.

I needed that comment today, thanks! I've been living like a nomad for the past six months and I had to explain to my brother, AGAIN, that I need to get back to my former stomping grounds so I can be near my doctors. Seriously, is that so hard to understand??

It's unfortunate, but we can't control how other people react--only what decisions we make for ourselves. I don't know what my mother's reaction would have been; she was iron-willed and cut down on her food if she noticed she was up a pound in weight. I'm obviously not like that! But I know this was a good--and necessary--decision for me. You are making the same good decision, I think, but everyone in your life might not agree. You never know who will be supportive until you tell them, though. You might find support in surprising places.

I've had some stalls, and, at least in part, some of that was attributable to my own divergence from the plan, but I think, given the amount of time that's gone by, I'd check with the doctor and nutritionist if I were you.

Good luck.

sugar-free fudgesicles, definitely a favorite . . . and with warm weather coming, yum! Of course, the stores are full of sugar-free Desserts, Cookies, and the like, but mostly steer clear of those things--as you probably know, they are full of questionable ingredients (such as more carbs and chemicals). Sugar-free jellos and puddings work--and I'll just say that I far prefer cooked puddings to instant ones. All you have to do is stand over the pan and stir, stir, stir. Worth it.

First, take it one step at a time. There're a lot of steps pre-op; I had to meet with a nutritionist, go to a couple of group meetings, have a sleep apnea study, upper GI series, cardiac and lung clearance, blood work, you name it.

In some ways, the pre-op diet is harder than post-op eating, when you'll have a physical restriction to help you. Pre-op it's really just willpower that will get you through it, but at least it's a finite amount of time.

As far as the surgery itself, it's quite safe compared with many other surgeries. And it's far safer than the health risks of being obese. Additionally, your chances of losing significant amounts of weight and keeping it off--the really hard part--increase with this surgery compared with traditional weight loss, which has a very high failure rate long-term.

Best of luck. Remember that this site is full of people who will help you along this journey.

I've had quite a few surgeries and this one was quite easy--it's laparoscopic and fairly quick. I didn't have a lot of criticism from people but I wouldn't have listened to it if I did--facts are facts, and the facts are 1) People who lose weight traditionally almost always gain it back--so this surgery at least gives you a fighting chance of losing significantly and keeping it off; and 2) The risks of the surgery (very low) are much less than the risks of being obese. Additionally, it's not only quantity but also quality of life that you stand to gain.

Best of luck to you and your wife!

For the first month or so after surgery, almost everything you take in is liquid or soft, and you won't feel full from those slider things. Once you are eating "real" food again, you'll notice a feeling of fullness quite quickly from a small amount of food. Basically, the first month kinda sucks . . . hang in there, it does get much better!

I'm going to go with the "see your doctor" advice--occasionally vomiting isn't usually serious, but if you are doing it often, it's a sign that something different has to occur. Get it checked out!

My doctor told me not to pay attention to my weight, just focus on getting my Protein, Water, Vitamins, and exercise. I'll admit up front that I've done very little exercise--whether because of bad knees or bad weather or bad attitude--but I've still lost what I consider significant weight (though far from enough).

One of my stalls lasted five weeks, I think. It is frustrating but one thing to remember is that even when we put on this weight, we didn't gain a pound every day--we won't lose it that way, either. Sometimes your body just needs the time to catch up . . . but if you are following your program, you WILL start to lose again. Hang in there!

Do you know the phrase, "With friends like that, who needs enemies?" Anyway, yes, there can always be complications with surgery. On the other hand, these are statistically safe surgeries with low rates of complications. You face much greater health risks by remaining obese.

As far as keeping it off long-term, you have a much better chance with surgery than just doing it on your own, where the success rate is dismal (something like 5 percent, I think). The surgery isn't magic, it just gives you a fighting chance to lose a significant amount of weight AND time to change your eating habits for long-term success.

Good luck!

Northern New York covers a lot of territory--but I'd suggest finding out if your bariatric practice has any support groups. Mine, through the Orange County Regional Hospital, did, and I was required to attend two meetings. Otherwise, you might find out whether your doctor's office knows of any or if they'd allow you to advertise your interest to see if others would respond.