Biddy zz 🏳️🌈

Hand swelling comparison Day 1 (morning after surgery) vs today, Day 9 (they are almost back to normal, but not quite)
One of my nurses in the hospital joked that my left hand looked like a blown up surgical glove.

Just came home from mine. Drains are out!!!!! OMG they felt weird coming out.
Off to a long awaited shower.....🙌🏼

I strongly recommend the thread “the importance of doing the head work”. Although someone said this regain is likely a nutrition problem, I suspect it is likely an eating/food intake/food choices problem!
Some doctors sell this surgery as ‘set and forget’ but it isn’t! The initial weight-loss phase with a new small stomach is just a chance to start in with new habits - less addictive sugar, more veggies and grains etc.
All is not lost! Can you reset now, go back to your original diet plan? It will be hard at first, but in 3 weeks you’ll be in the groove and losing again...

You guys are funny. Those are curtains of skin draping from my arm in those before pics! Everything below the arm bulge is skin. You don't want that.
But am glad to say all the skin is gone now! My arms are tiny. Like almost freakishly tiny. My forearms (and hands) are swollen, so right now my upper arms are smaller than my forearms. I look like I have Popeye arms!
Am typing up a blog entry about my experience so far, but its taking me forever cuz I get sleepy very quickly and I get tired from typing.
Im sleepy this very moment..post over. chat later.

And conversely, I was allowed showers without restriction after 48 hrs, with my drain in, and no compression gear. Seems like plastic surgeons have as many different protocols as bariatric surgeons do

Thank you ladies. I guess I just wanted to be sure that I was on track. I was especially concerned about my bones and my calcium/d intake. I plan to get a dexascan ASAP. Thank you again for all your input.

Hooray for us post-menopausal women taking a later in-life leap and getting this new life!
I am two years post op. I was taking magnesium to help with restless legs before surgery so I kept that up. Initially I took a multi that I got from the BariatricPal Store here. Then as things settled in it became apparent I would need B12 supplement, and 6 mo later, it was clear I needed folic acid too. My surgeon proposed them. And recently my Iron has dipped so I take an iron/vitamin c combo tablet a couple of times a week (as I remember to).
It is funny - I see loads of folks saying they chose a sleeve not a bypass because of the Vitamin deficiencies - but it is so easily remedied! I am so so healthy now - I LOVE my new lease on my post-menopausal life!

Hooray for us post-menopausal women taking a later in-life leap and getting this new life!
I am two years post op. I was taking magnesium to help with restless legs before surgery so I kept that up. Initially I took a multi that I got from the BariatricPal Store here. Then as things settled in it became apparent I would need B12 supplement, and 6 mo later, it was clear I needed folic acid too. My surgeon proposed them. And recently my Iron has dipped so I take an iron/vitamin c combo tablet a couple of times a week (as I remember to).
It is funny - I see loads of folks saying they chose a sleeve not a bypass because of the Vitamin deficiencies - but it is so easily remedied! I am so so healthy now - I LOVE my new lease on my post-menopausal life!

Yep, go easy on yourself. Firstly, you gain Water from the op and then have to lose that. Second, have you EVER lost 13lbs in 2.5 weeks before?!
Be patient, and stick to your programme - use this time to train yourself in those new habits, and before you know it, you’ll be walking straight out of your clothes!

I had mine at 69, and just had the regular supplements that everyone has ands have had no problems.

My surgeon is tracking 1700 of his patients. After one year almost all we’re still on under 1000 calories a day. After two years, about 1500 average...

Hi there
We aren’t far apart - I started at 234, and am now 135-137 - nice and stable now for 9 months. I hit my goal, which was 154ish, in 6 months. I did work the thing pretty hard and seldom strayed from the eating plan, and honestly my loss was no slower than anyone else’s.
I had previously had a gastric band which broke and I had slowly regained about 7-10lbs a year and was approachingbpre-band weight so had a bypass. I knew this was my last shot, so went for it! Totally reshaped my eating and started exercising. Started with an electric bicycle and, once some weight was off, started the Couch 2 5k app to start running. I run 3x a week now, cycle 3x a week, and gym 3-4 times a week. I love having lovely curves muscles now!
You can do it - pick up sheer bloody-minded determination to bust a gut for 6 months over this (not literally of course!) and you’ll not be far off being able to try on every outfit in every shop!

I weigh daily.
It doesn’t suit everyone, but there is pretty compelling research showing that one single factor correlates most strongly with maintaining weight loss - and that is daily weighing and writing it down. Or, in my case, logging it in myfitnesspal.
I have promised myself - never again will I have to ‘diet’ more than a day or two. So I have a weight. I am relaxes 1lb either side of that. But above that? I have a careful day and fall back into my happy range.
Heaven knows, I have too many clothes I love to have to start again, again!!

I am a band to RNY revisioner and absolutely have never looked back!
I chose the band originally because it was reversible, easier surgery, somehow not as drastic and I thought easier to manage with few side effects. I could not have been more wrong! The RNY is a breeze! And the impact on my life! I am now 40lbs lights than I was with the band, am a regular runner (I have never done exercise in my life!) and feel like life is a whole different game now!
Go you - you got this...

Look at this... https://pin.it/pdzhkayj5ofuzr
Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I remember being utterly convinced they had cut me open, sewed me up, and forgotten to do the important part!
But I soon realised, everything about my stomach and eating was suddenly very different!

Start working out as soon as you can! But wait 1-2 months for heavy weights.
This surgery gives us a chance to turn around our previous bad decisions around food and exercise. An extra tool. But that is all - we have to drive our new habits and the sooner you start, the more likely that will be ‘bedded in’ when you get to your maintenance phase.
You might have some plateau as you build muscle, because size-for-size it is heavier than fat. But muscle tissue is way better for you - makes you stronger/healthier, it also burns more calories even at rest, so over time building a bit of muscle is great for keeping off the weight.
I have never exercised, played sport. Now I run 3x a week, gym 4x a week and I really genuinely like it! And I REALLY like seeing (lady) muscles on my arms and legs! Makes me so proud, reminds me I have WORKED at this, not just taken the easy option.

My surgeon is tracking 1700 of his patients. After one year almost all we’re still on under 1000 calories a day. After two years, about 1500 average...

My surgeon is tracking 1700 of his patients. After one year almost all we’re still on under 1000 calories a day. After two years, about 1500 average...

I weigh daily.
It doesn’t suit everyone, but there is pretty compelling research showing that one single factor correlates most strongly with maintaining weight loss - and that is daily weighing and writing it down. Or, in my case, logging it in myfitnesspal.
I have promised myself - never again will I have to ‘diet’ more than a day or two. So I have a weight. I am relaxes 1lb either side of that. But above that? I have a careful day and fall back into my happy range.
Heaven knows, I have too many clothes I love to have to start again, again!!

I weigh daily.
It doesn’t suit everyone, but there is pretty compelling research showing that one single factor correlates most strongly with maintaining weight loss - and that is daily weighing and writing it down. Or, in my case, logging it in myfitnesspal.
I have promised myself - never again will I have to ‘diet’ more than a day or two. So I have a weight. I am relaxes 1lb either side of that. But above that? I have a careful day and fall back into my happy range.
Heaven knows, I have too many clothes I love to have to start again, again!!

Yep, @Queen Grandma is right - snacking is ok in moderation. But - what sort of snack? How far over your calories does it put you for the day? If you are ‘giving in’ and having a Protein Bar, well that is different to if you are giving in and having a pizza or a McD’s supersize meal or a diner sized portion of cake!
i am 9 months out and struggle with temptation too. A few things have helped:
1. If possible don’t have high-refined-sugar Snacks in the house. I have a rule - if I am desperate for something like that I have to walk to the shop (1 mile, with 1 mile uphill home) to get it. I have only set out twice and both times ended up just having a walk instead.
2. Plan for both snacks and treats. I have a note on the fridge of a few treats I am happy to have - yummy but ok for my stage of the journey. And another list of healthy snacks, to remind me. Cos when I get a snack-attack, I suddenly seem to forget about fruit, or yoghurt, of lettuce/hummus/cheese - crisps is the ONLY snack I can remember exists!
3. Plan. Plan ahead. Did I mention plan? Have frozen oopsie rolls in the freezer, your favourite cheese (Swiss for me) in the fridge, tins of sardines in Louisiana hot-sauce in the pantry. You know you’ll crave - so stock up the good stuff so it is easy to make a good choice!
And I log all my food in myfitnesspal - I have a section for “screw-ups” but I hardly use it these days. It is great to look back at the “snacks” section when I am craving - I now put only healthy snacks there, so I can use it to remind me of stuff out there that I like.. It takes time but the things you crave genuinely do start to change!
And - go easy on yourself. It is a marathon, not a sprint! But - do work at changing, cos we all need better habits if we want to avoid regain 😁
x

Hi there
One idea - go into your profile and tell up some details - height, weight, date of surgery, surgery type. Your profile still says pre-op so it’s pretty hard to say anything useful. Only getting your Protein by supplements is fine if you are 10 days out from surgery, but not so much if you are 10 months out!!

I weigh daily.
It doesn’t suit everyone, but there is pretty compelling research showing that one single factor correlates most strongly with maintaining weight loss - and that is daily weighing and writing it down. Or, in my case, logging it in myfitnesspal.
I have promised myself - never again will I have to ‘diet’ more than a day or two. So I have a weight. I am relaxes 1lb either side of that. But above that? I have a careful day and fall back into my happy range.
Heaven knows, I have too many clothes I love to have to start again, again!!

Hi there
One idea - go into your profile and tell up some details - height, weight, date of surgery, surgery type. Your profile still says pre-op so it’s pretty hard to say anything useful. Only getting your Protein by supplements is fine if you are 10 days out from surgery, but not so much if you are 10 months out!!