SGirl35

For those in OC California, i highly recommend Dr. Michael Russo , at Orange Coast Memorial. He and his team are very kind and professional. He takes his time to talk to you about everything very truthfully and very nicely. He is honest and you can tell. He doesn't tell you what you might want to hear, but tells you frankly. What he said all happened for me! 1.5 yrs ago i had him for gastric bypass. I am now 5lbs from my goal- and maintaining. I followed all the directions of his team and had no complications. I also had my regular scheduled check ups with them and was very pleased every time. He's very good at his job. My scars shrunk and look much better, and like i mentioned before, i was very careful with my diet and when i had issues i would call him and his office and they always called me back and answered questions.

I must agree with everyone a little. You all make great points and I don’t have a long opinion to anyone’s post. Everyone is different and we all have different results. We all have different addiction levels and we all eat differently. However, I truly believe we have to work at this for the rest of our lives. Maintaining our low weight. Hell- I’m too short to even gain 10-20lbs back if I want to stay this small. So... everyone’s goal weight is different. I don’t understand regain though like most Vets- because I can only eat 1/4 cup at a time... 10months out. I am however hungry quite often . So I eat Clean calories all the time. So my calories don’t add up as fast. Time will tell. We all have motivations that keep us from over doing it and from gaining weight. Whatever that may be. Mine is feeling sexy in size 4-6 clothes. Feeling light as a feather when I walk. Etc etc ... good luck to everyone!

On 07/28/2018 at 07:26, BigViffer said:

I only seem to notice the regain post from the people that never took the surgery seriously and continued to eat whatever they wanted. The pizza, tacos or nachos, rice and Pasta, booze, goddamned marshmallow peeps... "it's all ok because now I have a smaller stomach and can't get fat!" And then the honeymoon is over and they learned nothing. Then they blame everything else in the world, life got in the way you know?

You can't save everyone and you can't help everyone either. Let them fail on their own and focus on the ones that really putting the effort in.

In my humble opinion: I have to disagree. I think they are eating too many Calories, worth of those foods. Not that those foods made them fat. At the end of the day, it’s calories in and out. So.. I do think it’s often calories from liquid that add up. My diet is super flexible- and I’ve barely plateaued at 140lbs for the first time since surgery. Yes, I was super strict until about 8months post op... but now, I eat ... I don’t drink though. At all. But I will buckle down to break plateau. I just don’t think anything super strict works long term. Deprivation leads to binges..

On 07/26/2018 at 14:10, domi said:

If I concentrate on putting my spoon down and chewing every bite completely, it slows down my eating and I don't get nauseous. This is difficult when eating with others because we all tend to eat quickly.

You make a great point. Although I eat much faster than my boyfriend most the time... I need to just slow down

On 07/25/2018 at 04:25, summerset said:

When it comes to these "programs" I sometimes wonder if there are more differences or more commonalities.

I must agree with you. My doc to me to eat anything I can digest- maybe eating less heavy carbs- which I don’t eat because I can’t digest them- but that to just stay in a calorie range but to add as many as I burn also... not to be too low. And that was 6 months ago! I wasn’t this low of weight. So.. I’m gonna stop the added sugars and carbs and eat more fresh food and maybe a low sugar Protein Bar for snack and cross fingers! Lol

On 07/24/2018 at 19:06, jldoublee said:

No, you are not alone. Actually, at the initial seminar, my surgeon said to never diet again after the pre-op diet. To choose an eating style that you are comfortable with and stick with it and make better choices. I met with the dietitian at the 4 week point as i was going back to solid foods. She gave a lot of suggestions and what to focus on, but there was never any hard set diet plan, for me this is working great and is sustainable long term. It also keeps me from stressing over every little thing and just go on with life and let the weight loss do what it wants . I meet with her about every 6 weeks or so mainly for accountability. Ultra low carb didn't do well with me. I felt jittery all the time.

Thanks for your input. I’m trusting the process, but would love to lose another 5lbs at minimum to jump start the rest of the slow weight loss... I’m annoyed being completely stagnant after two months.

I hate to sound negative.... 10 months post op and I still very much get nauseous and vomiting... all the darn time. It’s just how it is... I’ve accepted that. I’m sure down the road it’ll go away.

10 months post op and I still throw up a few time a month at least. I’ve thrown up maybe 30 or more times this year? Not sure- but more than I’ve ever in my whole life combined! Not fun at all. Although when you don’t have stomach acid anymore it’s not as painful.

I know I was lactose sensitive prior to Surgery and I’m still very sensitive. Also all the gas, bloating, etc is very normal. Especially the first 4 months. Mine was awful. From diarrhea to Constipation. Although you do drink a hell of a lot more than I ever could stomach. Good for you. 10 months out and I still have tons of stomach issues if I’m not careful. The gas hasn’t subsided at all with me... but now I’m more constipated than anything. It’s a balancing act for sure. Good luck with it all- seems like you have it handled

Am I the ONLY one who wasn’t given a diet plan?? I was given a rough caloric intake count and that’s IT. I’m still stuck at 145- but yes I eat mostly anything I want in tiny amounts- except alcohol of course. I always thought people gained weight from alcohol or maybe over stuffing them self? After gastric bypass- so far, there’s no way of eating enough to gain more than 1 lb of Water weight... I know this can change in 5 years?? Also- to break plateau I was thinking of All Liquid Protein and some chicken and lettuce? I cannot go without all sugars and carbs... it makes me crazy ... however I do eat sugar from berries. Now sure what else to try. I can’t digest most animal meats still- so anything Keto just won’t work... too much cheese won’t work either. Too bad people have to be so mean to each other and take things with such a heavy heart... 🤷🏻‍♀️😐💜💜💜

On 07/18/2018 at 16:25, Tracy1978 said:

Today was hard. I have surgery this Friday 20th. I've been eating the pre-op "envelope meal" diet almost 2 weeks and today the office ordered Cheesecake Factory. It's not their fault that I made the decision to do the surgery, but I still wanted to kick their chairs out from underneath them. It's literally all I can do to keep myself from saying "Eff it" and going for a steak and beer. I know I know, I am so close to surgery; I wont sabotage myself.

One other thing that has been on my mind is how some people I have told have reacted to my news. I honestly didn't tell people for a long time about what I was doing because I didn't want to listen to everyone's opinions. I've worked in the medical field for 20 years and if I have questions I know who to ask.

It doesn't stop people from saying things that are seriously discouraging:

- "Oh wow. Can't you lose it on your own without having surgery?"

- "I could NEVER do a liquid diet for that long."

- "Haven't people died getting that done?"

- "Awwww! Your surgery is the day of my party?? That sucks! We were having a Mexican food buffet too! I know that's your favorite. Well, at least you are missing for a good reason."

- "I'm fat too, but there is no way I would have surgery."

- "Let's go to {insert restaurant/bar here} before you have surgery since you wont be able to do it after that."

- "You know you can't have carbonated beverages the rest of your life, right?"

- "Don't people gain their weight back most of the time anyway?"

It's hard to tell if people are trying to make me feel bad about my decision because they don't understand it, or it they are jealous or just being downright hateful. I don't get it. I just needed to vent. Today was the hardest day I've had so far and I needed to get that off my chest. I keep telling myself that by this weekend it will all be over and I can start focusing on living a normal life again, just healthier this time.

The same exact reactions I got ... I also lost lots of friends. Lots of salty people! My own damn family .... but guess what??? When I post the new pictures on Instagram- the crowd went WILD. At least all the people who are happy for me, did... they can stay fat. It was the hardest and best decision of my life.

Everything smells and tastes much different for me now. I don’t like lots of things I use to...

I had back pain for a few months I’m going to say.. although I still do.., I have a lower back disc and kidney stones from prior to surgery.... but the pain was awful for like 6-8 weeks... hang in there and take Tylenol

You look fantastic! I feel the same and Also always check myself out! It’s mostly because I don’t recognize myself!

I had gastric bypass and took the full 6 weeks off.. I tried to go back to work after 4 weeks but I was still always sick- so I couldn’t...

This is BEFORE. 250lbs and after 144lbs. Goal is 120 ish....

On 07/18/2018 at 13:42, macadamia said:

That was my BEFORE in the army jacket.

Quite the transformation! Nice job!