PopsFury

For the first time since about middle school (~20 years), I'm NOT obese!
1st pic - May 30th, 2017; 406lbs
2nd pic - June 22nd, 2018; 235.7lbs

I WAS 472LBS WHEN I HAD MY SLEEVE ON APRIL 23RD 2015. TODAY I WEIGH 243 AND MUSCULAR. I LOVE MY NEW GYM LIFE! BEST DECISION I EVER MADE WAS HAVING THE SLEEVE!

Started at 420+, but had been as high as 460# in the past. Lost about 130, gotten under 300# when my maintenance kicked in at 9 months out (I had gastric bypass), which meant the rapid weight loss period was over and loss became much slower but still is steady, slow and steady. It is great you are thinking of this now. I did not do this until 63 years old and wish I had done it at your age. I had led a full active life, even flying 30 times a year with a seat belt extension, but at 60 years old my normally healthy bod finally did what the docs had always said it would do -- sleep apnea, diabetes, edema, heart problems, bad cholesterol readings, etc. I also was at risk of losing mobility -- walking and running my small farm were huge barriers. I missed alot with my kids because of the weight and it certainly effected my relationship, even though we are going on 40 years together.
So, now, 11 months out, diabetes 90% better; edema gone; heart strong; blood readings perfect. The apnea goes away for some, but mine is likely genetic as a slim dad and a slim brother both had severe apnea. I will have a sleep study when I am at goal weight but likely will still use the CPAP.... not problem. My mobility is so much better. I can ride a bike again, swimming is much easier. Today, spent the entire day maintaining irrigation ditches and working my greenhouse, no problem at all. Walking my dog three times a day, no problem.
BTW, my results are fairly typical. Negatives -- the first week was a bit painful, but could get out within 10 days The first month post surgery was challenging, mainly learning to eat so differently, quantity so much less, etc. but now am used to it without any real challenges. I do eat too many carbs, but not to much excess really, am working on that, guess what I am saying that food challenges don't stop. I found that the rapid weight loss was very debilitating -- did not have much energy even though almost always ate healthy according to instructions and took my Vitamins etc. I was actually glad when the loss slowed, as I needed the energy in my work. It is tempting to declare victory and say that with these great results, that is enough. However, I have been fat since I was 3 years old, and I want to experience not being overweight! I did not have any unusual prep instructions, pretty routine.
You really deserve to have this monkey off your back. I encourage you to reclaim your life!

Looking at your start weight, it is entirely possible that you managed to avoid the dreaded 3 week stall until now. Divided up that is still almost 4lbs a week which is double what I've ever lost in one week. Be kind to yourself and trust the process. It is physically impossible to not lose weight after surgery if you're being compliant.
That being said, are you getting your Water and Protein? Exercising at all? If you changed any of those habits it might be why your weight slowed some but that's a huge difference to be explained. Whatever the cause if you are doing what your doc recommended you literally will lose the weight. It just might come in more "stops and starts" than you want.

I was super successful pre-op as well. Went down 60 lbs, with ~20 of those being in the last two weeks. I don't have another follow up for 2.5 months, so hopefully I'll see a bigger difference then!

I hit mine at 2 weeks as well. I contribute this to the fact that I lost 27lbs during my pre op diet. But I lost an additional 10lbs in the first week and stalled until almost 4 weeks post op. I remember my surgeon being disappointed at my 1 month follow-up I hadn't lost more post surgery, but from then on, it took off.

Yes, apparently the 3 week stall is totally real and very common. I've been teetering between 229 and 231 for the last week. It is very aggravating but I'm sticking with my plan. I did start tracking calories yesterday so I could make sure I was eating enough and also not eating too much.

My surgery is the 28th, im sure I will feel the same way!

I've read NUMEROUS posts on here about a dreaded 3rd wk stall. Everyone says they seem to hit it 3 wks post op. I wouldn't think its necessary to go back to liquids. Just keep following your plan and let your body adjust.

I hit mine one month post op. It's been a week so far and hoping to break it.

Thanks for posting this! I'm in the same boat, though I'm just two weeks post-op. I'd been losing steadily, but have stalled for a few days, then actually gained. I expected this to happen at some point, just not so soon!
All your advice makes a ton of sense. It's still frustrating to see, but good to know we are not alone!

Thanks for posting this! I'm in the same boat, though I'm just two weeks post-op. I'd been losing steadily, but have stalled for a few days, then actually gained. I expected this to happen at some point, just not so soon!
All your advice makes a ton of sense. It's still frustrating to see, but good to know we are not alone!

I never counted carbs (they were "accounted for" by way of being recorded along with everything else, but I ignored them as far as controlling them) as our program never jumped onto that bandwagon when it came into fashion a few years ago. They do want to minimize simple carbohydrates and sugars, but no specified level. Overall, if you maintain your Protein minimums and an appropriate caloric deficit for weight loss, your diet will by default be low carb and low fat by any reasonable standards, so there is little value to worrying about either.
I simply concentrated on getting the best overall nutritional value I reasonably could within the non-protein portion of my diet (same as now, it's just a larger part of the diet today) which in retrospect came out to be a rough split calorically between carbohydrates and fats, though that wasn't a specific goal.

The fluids and fat shift around, the body is healing, your intestines are adjusting to solid food - drawing liquid, etc. This will happen all throughout the journey. Stalls will happen, but usually you will lose inches during a stall, even clothing sizes will drop then.
Up your liquid intake and in a few days things will even out.

I've made a conscientious effort to avoid using the word "love" when talking about food.< /span>
"I love chicken wings. I love French fries. I love tacos. I love spaghetti." No more!
I'm breaking off my love affair with food. We're just good friends now.
But food keeps trying to win me back. "Give me another chance!"
"No, Food. I'm moving on. There's someone else in my life now. Someone that
I love more than I ever loved you -- myself, my health, my life."
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What word will I use in place of "love"? Probably good ol' "like".
"I like okra. I like shrimp. I like garden-fresh tomatoes. I like pecans."
I'm also going to avoid using the word "hate".
Hate gives Food more importance than it deserves.
"I don't like pineapple. I dislike Brussels sprouts. I don't care for liver."
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For me, it's easier to give up the word "love" rather than "hate". Not sure why.

@PopsFury. My daughter is a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD). A big fat NO! to any Vitamin or mineral in Gummy form. Bioavailability is significantly reduced.

@PopsFury Ox bile mixed with all that parsley leaf makes me SuperBypass Woman!! I am faster than a speeding ___________________, more powerful than a ______________, able to leap tall Protein Shakes in a single bound.
Help me fill in the blanks!

I'm having trouble getting past "Ox Bile"! That's quite the assortment.

I'm just a couple days post op, mixing my Bariatric multis into my breakfast and I haven't really gotten on board with the Calcium yet. Will be way easier as my tummy heals.

Fascinating. My feet and ankles appear a lot thinner/narrower just from the pre-op diet. I'm now 4 days post. If I can stop wearing a wide shoe the style options will open way up. Super excited about that. Thanks for the info.

My incision pain went away around 4.5 weeks. The largest incision where the surgeon worked from was the one that lasted so long; like yours.
i didn’t use a binder. But if you feel like it’ll help you, go for it

I agree! The first one was horrible. Sat there for 30 mins, crying and sweating! It was a total cardio workout! It does get better, I'm 2 months out and still use a softener daily. Good thing is a big one shows as a 1 lb loss on the scale!!

Im 6 days post op and Im wearing mine everywhere. To bed, when I wake up, I literally have it on at all times. My left side is the main side the work was done on and I can tell a major difference in pain when I don't have it on. Ive linked this previous but this is one I bought, LOVE IT! Its thicker in width and length so it covers the entire area pretty well. Several sizes.
https://www.amazon.com/BraceAbility-Bariatric-Abdominal-Compression-Circumference/dp/B00QLYZ1DK/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1533334829&sr=8-3&keywords=braceability%2B3x&th=1

Same here. Today, it was the smell of toast.

4 days post-op and it may be my imagination, but I swear my smell is better. My family was eating Cool Ranch Doritos in the other room and I could smell it I didn't really want any, but they did smell good.

4 days post-op and it may be my imagination, but I swear my smell is better. My family was eating Cool Ranch Doritos in the other room and I could smell it I didn't really want any, but they did smell good.