AndreaK.

Had my sleeve surgery June 26th, 2018. I’ve lost about 120 pounds total. I’m at 165 right now (goal was 180). I’m ready for a Tummy Tuck and breast lift!!! But after trying on my new BIKINI today I’m thinking maybe I should save the $20k and just enjoy a being skinny with a little bit of extra skin lol. I just wanted to show some before and after pics bc I know that looking at other people’s helped me when I needed some motivation and hope! So here they are! I’m happy, healthy, and proud of where I am!

My before and "almost after"! Hoping to lose 15 more pounds and tone up, but I'm feeling pretty good. Just fit into my initial goal jeans!

It's been a rough year for me since my surgery on 7/2/18. I was rocking it with the exercise for the first several months. Then my company got bought, had a very stressful first project at work that lasted months, and my mom's terminal illness worsened and she passed. While sometimes I feel bad about myself for not losing as quickly as I'd hoped, I know I've done great. I'm certain that if I hadn't had the surgery before my life derailed this last 10 months, I'd be pushing 300 lbs and would have had an even harder time dealing with all the stress.

Looking forward to my one year follow-up appointment and going to try to rock it on exercise this next month. And stick with it more regularly. :)

Thank u so much for an honest answer. I'm 3 months out this was the first time with alcohol and drugs ( I did this lots before wls) I just got drunkand kind of forgot about the sleeve and then panicked I'd wrecked all my good work
I'm managing to keep Water down today so hopefully it's going away... defo a lesson learnt

You're not asking a stupid question. And it's not TMI. Goddamnit, people depress me sometimes.
First: when did you have surgery? Have you done coke before, and is this typical? Had you had alcohol since your surgery?
Just based on the timing, I'd guess that you've got a stomach bug and that this isn't related to the drug use. Anyone vomiting for three days would feel ache in their stomach. Did you have a flu shot this year? Are you drinking a ton of Gatorade or Pedialyte to make up for the dehydration? If not, your symptoms are just going to feel worse.
Even if this reaction has nothing to do with the coke or booze, you know that introducing a rogue element into a healing system isn't a good idea, obviously, and you'll be more careful in future. Good.
Few things make me bristle with rage. Idiotic responses like this would be one of them. Her question was related to WLS, since she's concerned there's been an interaction between the drugs and the surgery. She's asking for help because she's worried. I am incredibly angry that your response was the first here, as it is worthless.

I had my surgery Oct 25,2018. I have had a TON of stalls. It can be so discouraging at time however I just keep focusing on the end game ya know. I've asked the same question you asked, have I done this for nothing???? But then I'll loose 7llbs and I'm like o wow....ok. So. Just keep pushing love you got this. Everyone's body is different and responds to all of this differently! Also....25lbs in a month?!? Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

No. No regrets. There are times I'm like OHMYGAWD I just want to go out to eat w/ my wife and be normal ya know buttttt. Then I look at my progress and I'm like no. I'll take this 3 bite and done thing over feeling sluggish all day and zero energy. It'll be hard at first and I think everyone goes the buyers remorse so to say lol. However the end results are well worth the hard times.

I had my surgery Oct 25,2018. I have had a TON of stalls. It can be so discouraging at time however I just keep focusing on the end game ya know. I've asked the same question you asked, have I done this for nothing???? But then I'll loose 7llbs and I'm like o wow....ok. So. Just keep pushing love you got this. Everyone's body is different and responds to all of this differently! Also....25lbs in a month?!? Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is so me right now! My sister and wife both say I'm 3 bites and done. I know its because I am doing too big of bites, not chewing enough and then eating too fast. Its so hard for me to change this bc everyone I'm around eats super fast and here I am like well hell. So 3 bites and done! I am going to follow this to see recommendations as well!

I kind of agree with the gentleman at your meeting. Now, I will say, I don't know how he's able to tolerate all that meat so early, but I agree with him about depriving himself. I also allow myself to have certain things that other people who have had this surgery wouldn't dare have. I eat chocolate daily. It's something that I really enjoy. Now, I don't overindulge in it, but I do have a bit every day, and I make sure to track it.
I've dieted for a large portion of my life, and what's always happened before is that I'm really strict, then I'll allow myself to have a little something on special occasions, then I get completely derailed and can't get back on track. Well, this time is different. I don't count anything as getting off track really. This is a lifestyle change; it's not a diet. I choose to primarily eat healthy, but every now and then, I eat things that aren't necessarily good for me. This is how I plan to keep this going for the long term.

I still have a hard time getting Water down, but lemme tell you - I can eat food noooo problem. Maybe it's time I trade water in for a steak 🤣

Last week I was attending a group session when one of the group members said that he went to a steak house to Celebrate his birthday and he ate a steak. He had gastric sleeve surgery in early November. He said the steak was so tender that he could eat it without a problem. The other group members looked at each other puzzled. How could this guy eat a steak less than two month post op from a gastric sleeve? I was sleeved close to a year and a half ago and I still can't tolerate steak. Pre op I would scarf down a 32oz porterhouse with no problem and then order dessert.
He then said that we shouldn't be ashamed to ask for a doggie bag as he went to a restaurant a few weeks ago and couldn't finish his order of roast beef and took the uneaten portion home. One group member asked him WHY is he eating this stuff and HOW can he eat it. He said that it was his birthday with the steak and he doesn't want to be deprived. He said if he deprives himself he's only going to want it more. It goes to show you, WLS takes care of the stomach not the mind.

I am 1 1/2 years out. Weighing 114 lbs and I treat myself to 1 diet coke a week. Usually on sunday. I never had a issue

Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

No. No regrets. There are times I'm like OHMYGAWD I just want to go out to eat w/ my wife and be normal ya know buttttt. Then I look at my progress and I'm like no. I'll take this 3 bite and done thing over feeling sluggish all day and zero energy. It'll be hard at first and I think everyone goes the buyers remorse so to say lol. However the end results are well worth the hard times.

I’m 3.5 years out. I have zero regrets. The first 8 weeks were tough though. I had trouble with shakes so I was exhausted and extremely weak. After I was able to eat more things quickly got better. I have gained some back from my lowest weight. I’m working on getting back down...this isn’t magic. It may take years but if you don’t eat right YOU WILL GAIN IT BACK. Thankfully I’ve pulled my head out of my arse before it got too bad. This is something we will have to pay attention to for a lifetime. As soon as you give yourself excuses to eat this or that... you’re heading back down the wrong path.

I had my surgery Oct 25,2018. I have had a TON of stalls. It can be so discouraging at time however I just keep focusing on the end game ya know. I've asked the same question you asked, have I done this for nothing???? But then I'll loose 7llbs and I'm like o wow....ok. So. Just keep pushing love you got this. Everyone's body is different and responds to all of this differently! Also....25lbs in a month?!? Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm almost 5 years post op, I will tell you that you're right around the point where most of the inflammation is gone, it likely isn't stretch it's just that the inflammation is gone down. This is when most people realize they are eating more. Eating until you puke doesn't necessarily mean something is WRONG, you're just pushing yourself beyond what is now your capacity. Now it's a matter of self-control more than anything.
I met this point right around 10 months post op as well. It gets hard now, but you can do it. Definitely start seeing the NUT regularly and attend support groups, etc. You got this!

Hi, I'm not an advanced member but why are you going back to eat again after 1 hour? Try drinking Water or taking a walk...the surgery is only a tool and we have to do our part...we are all here because we have a problem with food either overeating/binge eating, stress eating, emotional eating or whatever the case may be.
Of course eventually if you keep overeating and then throwing up and going back for more food you will indeed ruin your tool...I suggest getting help from a therapist because it seems like you are slipping back into bad habits...We HAVE to learn to "Eat to live and not Live to eat"
We all want you to succeed but you have to do your part like you did in the beginning. You lost weight before so you can do it again. Get some help and take care of yourself.
I wish you all the best and we are here for you. ((Hugs))

I read somewhere that when you are fighting these cravings, every time you don't give in you strengthen your will, like putting a quarter in a piggy bank. Each time makes you stronger. When you give in, you feel guilt and then usually go really crazy cuz why not at this point? At some point, those cravings will fade because you will be so strong and your memory of them fades.
Remember why we did this. Just because you slipped one day, the sooner you get back to your plan, the easier it is to move on from there and that slip was two days ago and now you are rolling along again. Hope that made sense.

Maybe it's the time of year? We associate this time of year with giving in to treats. Right?
But saying that, I'm with @sillykitty--anything tedious. Crap!!!
I combat it by:
1. Staying beyond hydrated with Water. Keeps me oddly full for hours.
2. Dropping carbs back and cutting out crappy, or sweet nonsense.
3. Eating protein--making sure I'm on the high side of my target rather than the low side.
4. Having plenty of hot non-calorie, NON-SWEET liquids such as black decaff coffee, black decaff green tea.
5. Walking/running.

I'm really worried that I went through all of this for nothing. I had surgery at the end of Nov., had a nice weight loss of about 25 lbs and now it has stopped. Nothing for weeks. I eat so little, cottage cheese and fruit for Breakfast, veggies for lunch, fish for dinner-this is very discouraging.

I can completely relate to this!
Unfortunately I've given into my hunger and I feel like ...a...piece...of.....poop. I ate chips (not a lot but I ate em) and I ate this toaster thingy (full of carbs and sugar) and then this morning my sister comes to me w/ a lemon filled donut which is my absolute favorite.!!! And guess what? Yea. I ate it. Now Idk about anyone else but I struggle to get Protein down but the bad stuff. Carbs? candy? DONUTS!!!!???? Yea. For some reason I can eat them and I don't get that stuck in my throat feeling as I do when I eat healthy. Which I find....rude LOL. Why ???? lol. Anywho. Back to you... Yes! I can understand. And It is a struggle bus over here as well!!!!! But. Its a new day. And I know I can do it. You can too

I was about 1 month out from surgery and had to make a trip out of state for a family obligation. While visiting, I had lunch with my former neighbors and very good friends. We went to my favorite Chinese restaurant. I enjoyed my egg drop Soup and had a few bites of cashew chicken. *I was on soft regular food by then.
Well, I guess something did not agree with my sleeve. I started foaming and sliming all over the place. I tried to walk it off. Hell, I even had my friend pound my back like some overgrown toddler needing to burp. I thought I was going to vomit, so went into the bathroom where all of a sudden I felt better. So, I went back to visit with my friends and mid-sentence, a mouthful of foam just appeared.
I was mortified. My friends were shocked.

LOL I’ve religiously watched every episode, every season, probably 2-3x 😂 That Asanti family is the biggest train wreck I’ve ever seen. My favorite though...when Dr. Now hauls off on one lady that’s constantly blaming her weight gain on Water weight. He goes “You’re not 700lbs of water!!!” I nearly died LOLOL

I had my 1 year check up a month late. I was 285 at my highest weight, 261 pre-surgery. I now weigh 183. I have only lost 10 pounds in the past 6 months. I stopped focusing on losing weight and just tried to maintain weight. I have been fighting cancer the past 6 months and that has been my focus. I am happy with how I have done as my cancer meds cause weight gain. My battle with cancer will never be over but I am at a place where I feel I can focus on my weight but will admit I could be happy at this weight. My goal is to lose another 15 pounds and settle for weighing around 165 pounds. Let’s not give up the fight. I feel so much better with the weight off.

Hi Xiolia,
You can try doing some liquid fasts 3 days a week, it will help you reset. I'm in a monthly support group - face to face we talk, share stories. It helps me with accountability - I don't feel judged just supported.
I have had to really work on my emotional eating - it's tough but necessary. I also joined a gym and I go 3 days a week for an hour. I got a FitBit and I work on my steps.
Last week I had a knee replacement so I am very aware of what that means in terms of gaining weight again.
Be kind and loving to yourself.