Arielle

Sleeved 8/29. Down 51lbs. Not making an effort I must admit. I drink wine and don't exercise. The little bit of food I eat is extremely healthy though. I have 60lbs to go.

I wish I knew I wouldn't be able to eat. I am realizing I will never have a slice of pizza again. I am 3 months out and had a tiny bite of pizza and was so full 😢 I guess I thought I'd be able to have smaller portions, like one slice of pizza, not 2-3. But my cat literally can eat more than me!

I had the sleeve in Sept 2015. To date I have lost 225lbs (includng pre op diet)

This last Friday, March 17,2017, marked two years since my Gastric Bypass Surgery. I'm posting this mostly for myself but also for those that are researching and wondering what it might be like further out than the first few weeks or months.
My whole, long winded experience: The first 10 weeks after my surgery I followed the post-op diet to a T. My surgeon had given me the green flag for a regular diet at my one month follow-up appointment and I stayed on course. Until 5 weeks later when my niece came to visit. I thought choosing to indulge a little was an okay and well-thought out decision. I wanted to be "normal", or rather, like a skinny person, meaning occasionally choosing a few bites of less than healthy foods or Desserts When post-op members say it's a slippery slope they are not B.S-ing you. I was so impressed with my new found restraint, just one fry or 2-3 small bites of dessert and I. Was. Satisfied! Now I know, I was just ignorant. My pouch was probably still swollen. What started out as a few bites a few days in a row turned into a handful of bites once a week and only if I went specifically, and out of my way, to get it. I quickly learned how many grams of sugar I could have before I'd dump and I became an expert at playing "Sugar Limbo", eating just under the amount that would make the stick (my blood sugar) come crashing down. Then I started bringing Atkins candies into my house, it just kept sliding from there. But of course I continued to be rewarded with steady loss because well duh, that's what the honeymoon period is all about. The first 11 months I weighed in once or twice monthly and saw a steady loss through the first 8 months. From mid November to February I bounced between 211.6 and 216.9 and I was consuming 50 - 125 grams of processed sugar a day.
Just one month shy of my one year anniversary I moved from a state that I loved, Colorado, back to Wisconsin to be near my daughter and her growing family. I dislike Wisconsin but I love my daughter, it was not an easy decision. I was more content and regularly active while I lived in Colorado but my I missed my daughter and she missed me. I went from working with my personal trainer twice a week, walking my dog 0.5-3 miles/day (depending on weather) and hiking 4-12 miles in the mountains most weeks to sitting on my bum looking at grey, dismal skies and snow for weeks while I waited for my new grand baby to arrive. The depression hit me like a brick wall. I turned to poor food choices more frequently and it was made easier by living with someone having pregnancy cravings, who am I not to indulge or maybe even encourage those? And a son-in-law that was more than happy to participate and contribute to my coping method. For months nothing went any of the millions of ways I had prepared myself for. I anticipated returning to work for the same hospital system that I had been employed by for 15 years before I traveled but there was not a position I was interested in. I wanted to take my nursing career in a different path so I applied for 15-20 office and public health positions and did not receive any calls. I could write a short story alone just about how that made me feel. I anticipated being back to work within 6 weeks of my move and it was 8 before I even got my first interview. It went well and the feedback was so positive that I was certain I had it on lockdown. I was told I'd know in a week, two at the most. Several weeks and calls later and even more applications sent I was told I didn't get it but they wanted me to shadow for another position I had applied for. Two weeks later I was offered a position I didn't apply for and wasn't even sure I was interested in. My savings was depleted and so was my resolve so I accepted.
Meanwhile my 12 year-old dog, and best friend and traveling buddy for the previous four years, became ill. I thought it was the stress of going from just the two of us in a 1200 sq. foot apartment to us with two more adults, a newborn and two cats. I continued to turn to my old friend, food, for comfort. My processed sugar consumption was up to a minimum off 100 grams a day, my workouts were scarce and I wasn't journaling any longer. I had gained 15 pounds in 8 weeks. Even with starting to work out twice a week again I only managed to maintain at that new weight. I also aggravated a shoulder/neck injury that I had gotten the previous September when I was rear ended by a 16 year-old when she was reaching for her cell phone that fell on the passenger side floor. Just short walks or holding my grand baby left me in pain for hours.
When I started my new job I experienced more stress in the first two months than I did in the 2 years of travel nursing combined. It's proven to be a tough job in a tough environment.
I had taken my dog to to the vet and changed his diet several times and spent a small fortune on medications but he continued to lose weight. In August I finally got my own place and had myself convinced that was going to be the cure for what was ailing my pup. But on August 26th I returned from work to find him unable to walk, he tried to greet me at the door like normal but just kept tipping over. When I brought him in to the vet I found out he had lost another two pounds in 3 weeks and in total had lost 40% of his normal weight since becoming ill. I made the tough decision to let him rest in peace.
I can not even begin to explain how that has affected me. I miss him so, so much.
I continued to have severe shoulder/neck pain from the simplest activities so I pursued a diagnosis. When I went to the doctor appointment and saw the scale I woke up, a bit. I had gained 21.5 pounds in 7 months. I found a safe, affordable trainer to work with but our schedules weren't going to mesh for the rest of the calendar year! I took what I could get. But I continued to fight the premise that diet makes the biggest difference. For reasons too in depth to ever post here I'll just say, I strongly dislike being told what/how to eat by anybody. Apparently including myself. Apparently even though I worked on that issue for 5 years prior to surgery, well my entire adult life really but with true intent for the last 5 years. Btw, it turns out I sustained two tears in my shoulder and that is why more than a year later it still hurts like the dickens.
I have bounced between 229 and 233 since September. Admitting that I need to make more consistent and long lasting changes to my diet is the first step in getting back on track. I was told by my team that I could expect to lose 65% by now, I've lost 50% by their calculations but 55% by my more conservative ideal weight of 165.
In the past I might have apologized for writing what may appear as excuses to some but not anymore. I write it as a reflection so I can see what's going on. My weight is not where I wanted it to be at this point post-op but even worse than that my life has taken a giant throat punch in the last year and in general I'm not where I expected or even strived to be. But I don't quit anymore and I sure as shooting don't let myself only see the negatives. I have a list as long as my arm of NSV's. The most recent of which is that when I spilled the juice from my fruit cup it didn't land on me but instead went right through the gap of the legs I am now able to cross due to my 79 pound loss. Unfortunately it landed on the chair I was sitting on, creating a triangular wet spot for everyone in the meeting to see when I stood up.
Not being where I think I should be does not make me less proud of where I am... 

The no-drinking rule is applicable primarily to those with lap bands and gastric bypasses, but bariatric programs teach it to all weight loss surgery patients out of convenience (or laziness).
People with normal stomachs have a pyloric valve that controls the entry of foods/fluids into the small intestine. Also, people with sleeved stomachs have a pyloric valve that controls the entry of foods/fluids as they progress into the small intestine.

Gastric bypass patients, however, no longer have the pyloric valve. Their stomach has been turned into a pouch with a simple stoma. If they drink with meals, food will be prematurely flushed into the small intestine. In short order, they become hungry.

The 'no drinking with meals' rule is one that originally applied to gastric bypass patients and lap band folks before getting broadly applied to all bariatric surgery patients.

Nonetheless, a sleever who drinks with meals won't flush the food into the small intestine any sooner because the intact pyloric valve prevents that. At the most, fluids might lessen the just-eaten meal's thickness into a liquid slurry that exits the stomach sooner.

The doc said you should be losing a pound a day!?! That seems excessive. after the first 2-3 weeks your body "catches on" and starts to slow down from a metabolic standpoint. I am 3 months out and only lose 2 pounds a week. I eat less than 1000 a day.

I wish I knew I wouldn't be able to eat. I am realizing I will never have a slice of pizza again. I am 3 months out and had a tiny bite of pizza and was so full 😢 I guess I thought I'd be able to have smaller portions, like one slice of pizza, not 2-3. But my cat literally can eat more than me!

The doc said you should be losing a pound a day!?! That seems excessive. after the first 2-3 weeks your body "catches on" and starts to slow down from a metabolic standpoint. I am 3 months out and only lose 2 pounds a week. I eat less than 1000 a day.

Great results. I was done 5/17 and down 63. I think my wine consumption slowed down my loss lately.

Oh, I'm having a moment where I need people who have been there to "talk me off the ledge". After my rough start right after surgery, (internal bleeding with an extended hospital stay), I've been one of the lucky ones who has lost pretty fast. I'm down 49lb from 247lb before the pre-op diet. My freak out moment is, I weigh myself every Tuesday morning and for the last 2 weeks, I've been only losing 1lb per week. I know it sounds crazy to obsess about it but I'm honestly scared of what is going to happen when I plateau. What if I start trying to binge eat again?

Ok, so i really like this site but......... why are so many people complaining about loosing weight of 30-40 lbs in just a little over 2 months? I dont understand! When was the last time you lost that kind of weight. My surgery day weight was 244, today its 209. Thats 35lbs and im super, excited, happy!!!!! I feel wonderful, not discouraged or wondering if im loosing slow or not. All that matters is im loosing, so be happy !!!! If you read everyones weight loss on this paticular forum you will see your not losing slowly at all, if anything a little more or about the same as everyone else. Again be happy your losing!!!

10/31 Down 75# since 8/9/17

Yesss[emoji1376][emoji1377][emoji1377][emoji16]

Was sleeved on august 18 and I'm down 55 pounds! I've never felt so good! It's so crazy how your body feels and how much confidence u gain within yourself! I'm so glad I made this lifestyle change and anyone who struggles with weight loss I definitely tell them to consider this surgery![emoji16][emoji1376]

Everything KristyAB said. There is also a nut milk (cashew and almond) by Silk with 10g of Protein. eggs and dairy have a lot of protein. Grains like quinoa have a lot of protein. And of course, edamame, tofu, seitan, nut butters, Beans and hummus (from chickpeas.)

I had surgery on a Tuesday and was told I'd leave on Thursday. My surgery went very well and I walked that afternoon. But that night I woke up in agony and turned out I had internal bleeding. I had another surgery on Wed to remove the blood. When I didn't improve on Thursday, I got a blood transfusion on Friday and was finally released Saturday. Call your doctor just to be sure you're ok! Also, the gas from the surgery is extremely uncomfortable. I regretted the surgery too. I couldn't even sip Water for 4 days. I am two and a half weeks out now and I'm feeling better but taking the drinking and eating very slow. I can drink water and shakes now but puréed foods are a challenge, I can only handle one ounce. It is much better than it was though! I'm down 30lbs.

Hi! 13-year vegan here, had bypass this past February. It's been great, really no issues at all!

Welcome! Yes there are a handful of us veg*ns out there!
Some of us have been sharing our daily food on the Buddies & Mentors forum.

I'm vegetarian and am wondering if there are other vegetarians or vegans out there? I've been working with a nutritionist to come up with a diet that includes the proper amount of Protein and amino acids, while also being meat free. It would be great if there were others out there like me!
Please forgive me if there's a way to search forums to see if this question has already been asked. I'm new here and still figuring things out.
Transitioning from lapband to bypass on June 12!
HW: 402, CW: 314, GW 185

I love being Vegan. It's made my life easier. I'm also a twice cancer survivor and I believe that my lifestyle as a vegan has saved me from all my health issues. I have 18 surgeries under my belt. And so many other things are happening with my body. So plant base lifestyle has been a huge help!


Aka_ET

HW-220
Pre-op 194.3
RNY
SD June 16th 2017
CW-169.8
GW-140
HT 5' 3"
[emoji120][emoji878][emoji1272]

"You may see me struggle but you will never see me quit"

Vegan and happy here

I don't follow the high Protein amount anymore. I let it take care of itself with my WFPB way of eating. My labs came out just fine too.
I'm am beside myself how the medical and scientific communities can't see on the same page with all that there is out there. Especially when there is proof! Just boggles me.

Definitely tiring and i am with u with food feeling stuck i slacked last few days with protein so im gonna make sure I get a 30g shake in there somewhere

My Protein is a every single day battle for me... some days I do amazing other days not even a little bit the Gurd is really getting the best of me.... I am however am trying to be positive I hope that if you are indeed in a stahl that it will pass quickly I dont no how you manage 75 GMs of protein I struggle with 60 most days I only get about 40 some days none.. I hope it gets better for you... everyone keeps telling me it gets better just keep moving along, somedays I just dont no though