HokieMan98

Thanks for this note Green. I was just reflecting on the number of people who are obsessed with the quantity of food. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people ask, "when will I ever be able to eat a regular size plate of food?"
It really baffles me, and I was quite confused until I met with the dietician. She said the most long-term successful person she's seen carries a 1/4 cup measurrle everywhere, and uses it to gauge all of her food.

Thanks for this note Green. I was just reflecting on the number of people who are obsessed with the quantity of food. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people ask, "when will I ever be able to eat a regular size plate of food?"
It really baffles me, and I was quite confused until I met with the dietician. She said the most long-term successful person she's seen carries a 1/4 cup measurrle everywhere, and uses it to gauge all of her food.

Hi Folks,
I am scheduled for 12/5/2018 surgery date. My surgery and program are through Kaiser in Northern California, at the Richmond Medical Center.
In the midst of all of this, I am applying to PhD programs and searching for jobs. I'm thrilled for the next part of this journey.
SW: 308 / CW: 282.6 / GW: ???

Hi, Jessica!
I used to be an everyday smoker but quit when I realized I wanted venture down this journey I quit and that was back in April/May 2018. I was completely honest with my whole Bariatrics team in this process even though it delayed me getting the surgery. My first drug test came back Positive, which was devastating but kind of expected and had to wait three months to get my second one. I passed my second drug test with flying colors. It’s always important to tell your doctor things that you’ve taken or done just in case, you never know what could happen. My Mom has been as avid weed smoker and has been for many, many years, when she has surgeries her anesthesiologist always suggest she stops smoking before hand because they’re worried about how her body will receive the anesthesia. Just be careful, girl! And good luck!?

Thanks for this note Green. I was just reflecting on the number of people who are obsessed with the quantity of food. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people ask, "when will I ever be able to eat a regular size plate of food?"
It really baffles me, and I was quite confused until I met with the dietician. She said the most long-term successful person she's seen carries a 1/4 cup measurrle everywhere, and uses it to gauge all of her food.

Since pre-surgery men love to ask about extra inches gained thanks to weight loss...
Before surgery, I didn’t, um, “break.”
Now...I do. To the left, as it turns out.
This may just be due to the fact that I’m wearing pants where the crotch sits higher than it used to, but...yeah.

At my 6 month mark. I was up to 310 in May and today broke 215! You can all do it!! Tried to post in the gallery but it won't give me the option to
May 17th, 2018


11/24/2018

Thanks for this note Green. I was just reflecting on the number of people who are obsessed with the quantity of food. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people ask, "when will I ever be able to eat a regular size plate of food?"
It really baffles me, and I was quite confused until I met with the dietician. She said the most long-term successful person she's seen carries a 1/4 cup measurrle everywhere, and uses it to gauge all of her food.

Hi Guys, Have my surgery scheduled for this Friday, getting nervous now. Having it done in the UK so flying out tomorrow morning for pre-op in the afternoon. Coming to the end of this 2 week pre-op diet. Ive been on a low cal low carb diet which has been tough but ive lost a good 8kilos on it so far.
Cant wait to be on the other side if this. Surgery date is 11/30/2018 falling between two threads so will be involved in both.

The incredible world of thrift stores. Went from a size 46 waist to a 34. Shirt size from 3XL or 18.5 neck to 15.5 neck or L in dress shirts. Will not spend over $3-$5 per item. Having a blast finding great items that fit. Always felt guilty going to big and tall just to overpay for khaki expandable pants. Love getting my wife's attention each morning I walk out the door for work. Only regret, I did not get the sleeve sooner. Gained all my weight from 25-44. Almost made it to 300lbs. Ugh...Now back to 185. You can do this too!!!

Thanks for this note Green. I was just reflecting on the number of people who are obsessed with the quantity of food. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people ask, "when will I ever be able to eat a regular size plate of food?"
It really baffles me, and I was quite confused until I met with the dietician. She said the most long-term successful person she's seen carries a 1/4 cup measurrle everywhere, and uses it to gauge all of her food.

I'm 2+ years out. I've lost 95% of my excess weight. I have not had plastics - which would account for that last 5%. I eat a high protein, low carb diet and exercise 7 days a week. I eat roughly 1500 calories a day. I exercise at least 1 hour each day. A typical day is:
Morning - coffee - black, greek yogurt (Skyr Icelandic provisions), 2 tablespoons of granola
Mid morning - protein shake (1 cup fairlife skim milk, 1 scoop protein, handful frozen fruit in blender)
Lunch - 3-5 ounces of chicken/turkey/beef, 2 cups of green salad mix, 1 tablespoon balsamic dressing
mid afternoon - 2-3 ounces cheddar or other hard cheese
Dinner - 3-5 ounces meat, salad or green veg and 1/4 c of a starch.
I have had to increase my carbs to about 110 g daily due to my exercise load. I fence (en garde) 6-8 hours a week, do Cross Fit 3 hours a week and pilates and strength training another 1-3 hours a week. I eat about 110 g protein daily. I eat protein first. I drink close to a gallon of water a day.
If I want a glass of wine or a cocktail, I have one. At my high point, I was over 300. I now sit around 152 with 29% bodyfat. I can deadlift 250 pounds and squat 235. I'm nationally ranked as a fencer in my age group.
How well you do it up to you and your commitment to it. I've gone from a size 24 to a size 6.

This is such great advice!
Especially since I don't have as much restriction...I could get up to severe shenanigans if I didn't weigh and measure everything! Even though I CAN eat more, doesn't mean I have given myself permission TO eat more. Nope, I still try to stick as close to my doc's and RD's plan for me.

Thanks for this note Green. I was just reflecting on the number of people who are obsessed with the quantity of food. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people ask, "when will I ever be able to eat a regular size plate of food?"
It really baffles me, and I was quite confused until I met with the dietician. She said the most long-term successful person she's seen carries a 1/4 cup measurrle everywhere, and uses it to gauge all of her food.

I agree with James. There can be some temporary stretching of the RNY pouch or sleeve if you over eat, but the idea that the pouch or sleeve can be permanently stretched out is urban legend based on outdated theories. What does happen is that over time, your hunger can return (this can take 5 years to happen with RNY and 3 years or so with Sleeve). The stomach capacity, however, remains where it was at the time of surgery and you still get full with small portions. People can then defeat the benefits of surgery by eating bad foods more frequently, slider foods (milk shakes, potato chips etc.) or by over eating (which ends up resulting in stacking food in your esophagus--which is bad for many reasons). Surgery is just a tool so if you don't use the first couple of years post-op to change your bad lifestyle habits, weight regain is possible (even likely).
As for the bounce, that's a normal part of the process. The surgery changes your set point weight, so your body thinks it's suppose to weight 190 pounds instead of 300. This is called the set point theory--which is how your body maintains a certain weight. When you're on your way down the scale post up, you'll likely drop below your new set point if you follow the new dietary guidelines so you might hit 170 or 180 at your lowest. You'll then gain some weight back and stabilize at your new set point (190). In truth, if you follow the guidelines and do your part, you probably aren't "regaining" weight in the first year or two post op. Your body is just adjusting for your new set point. If you don't follow the guidelines and you eat the the wrong foods, your weight game can be genuine and that's issue. If you're working with a nutritionist (which will be required as part of post-op care), you'll know if you're going out of bounds with the food. If you have RNY, you'll probably get that info every time you have a dumping syndrome episode.

Thanks for this note Green. I was just reflecting on the number of people who are obsessed with the quantity of food. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people ask, "when will I ever be able to eat a regular size plate of food?"
It really baffles me, and I was quite confused until I met with the dietician. She said the most long-term successful person she's seen carries a 1/4 cup measurrle everywhere, and uses it to gauge all of her food.

Weighed in this morning at 188.4 which for me is a BMI of 24.9 (healthy range). This is down from a high of 412lb on 4/27/17 and a BMI of 54.4 (super obese range). Thats a loss of 223lb (or 101kg). Of this 102lb was pre op. I know how long this journey is for each and every one of you, I really do. It is so easy to get discouraged and have your mental stability rolled by one bad weigh in. Feeling your progress is never enough, never quick enough, that you are failing etc. There are very few easy days and in this battle against yourself there really is nowhere to hide. However, it can be done,
Things I have learned along the way. One weigh in means very little. The trend is the truth. If you are loosing or gaining over time, if you keep records you will see that. The result of one days weigh in good or evil, is accurate only +/- a couple of lb. So don't be too discouraged (or take too much of a victory lap) based on one days results. You are in this race for a lifetime.
We all have good and bad days, and everyday the calorie count starts again. Everyday, every moment we make a choice about our future but we cannot change our past. So having a good or bad day means nothing tomorrow, it starts again, learn from it and move on. You are really only going to fail if you stop trying.
I am an obsessive data junky. I weigh in every day, which I intend to continue and track everything I eat, my streak in Myfitnespal is now 241 days. It is tempting to under record what you eat, because having a low number of calories in your diary feels better, but you can't lie to yourself. It is easy to cheat, but who but yourself are you cheating? This may seem like a haste land waste of time, but I spend less than 5 minutes per day on this. Of course I have a huge spreadsheet as well on which I spend a considerable amount of time obsessing over, but to me that is fun. It has my daily weigh ins since surgery as well as calories consumed and forecasts my weigh loss half a dozen different ways and tracks my performance against my progress goals. But this helps me, and I enjoy it.
I read the labels on the food I eat and make a conscious choice about where I am to my calorie goal and whether what I am about to eat is worth it. This process has been a real eye opener because it is amazing just how many calories all our food contains, It is no wonder to me now why people are overweight as it really seems that every product in the supermarket and on sale elsewhere is designed specifically to be nearly as bad for you as possible, even those things we are sold as being healthy.
There is no one way to do all of this. Some people exercise obsessively nearly from day 1 post op. That wasn't my way and I didn't start on the treadmill until I had lost more than 200lb. My learning here is find something that works for you and just do that. For me it was to really only eat one meal per day, plus a small snack (usually a protein bar, Oatmega bars are yum) for breakfast and lunch. Now that wasn't easy and I have been hungry a lot and that wouldn't work for everyone. However, you will find a place where you can sustain the level of effort and see results. Whatever that is for you, do that and remember what that was. If you have a bad day or week, then you will know what to go back to. This wont be easy, but you will get out of this what you put in. Surgery is not a magic bullet, it only gives you superpower of being able to eat less, the rest is up to you.
The only remaining question is, "Is this all worth it?". For me the answer is definitely yes. I feel and think I look so much better. I can stand for long periods of time without the pain of my huge belly, pulling out my back. I no longer use my horrible CPAP machine. I have actually started running on my treadmill (only a few minutes at a time, but I am getting there). The downsides, so far as I can see are I am a huge ball of loose skin, and there are parts of me that as quite skinny and boney. My shoulders and arms look a bit skeletal. I have no padding on my tailbone, so I need to sit on a coccyx cushion at my desk or while driving and I am also cold all the time. Hopefully over time I will be able to overcome these, but even still if nothing changed on a net basis, for me, it was totally worth it.
My next challenge is to maintain all of this. How do I start to increase my calorie intake to go from loosing to maintaining, is what I need to discover. All I know is I don't want to go back and getting here has been too much work to ever want to go back.

Thanks for this note Green. I was just reflecting on the number of people who are obsessed with the quantity of food. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people ask, "when will I ever be able to eat a regular size plate of food?"
It really baffles me, and I was quite confused until I met with the dietician. She said the most long-term successful person she's seen carries a 1/4 cup measurrle everywhere, and uses it to gauge all of her food.

Oh man! Pre-Op is tomorrow! Have a full day of blood work, upper GI, classes and more!

*excited*

Congratulations and best wishes for your upcoming surgery from one of the oldest chronologically but younger than Springtime in my ❤. Was Bypassed 11 weeks ago today, my recovery not stellar, my road bumpy⚠ with temporary ?pitfalls, but would NEVER go back to my BEFORE and my days now are future ?sunlight, starlight sparkles? and ?rainbows. Even Gloomy days⛅⚡☔ cannot last forever!

Hi Folks,
I am scheduled for 12/5/2018 surgery date. My surgery and program are through Kaiser in Northern California, at the Richmond Medical Center.
In the midst of all of this, I am applying to PhD programs and searching for jobs. I'm thrilled for the next part of this journey.
SW: 308 / CW: 282.6 / GW: ???

Old thread that may help
https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/

Welcome, Hokie! I am in the midst of my MPH program and an extremely robust work schedule. I picked December because classes will be out! I feel ya!
Steve - I also have to do 8 days of liquid prior to my sleeving. I start liquids on 12/3 and get sleeved on the 12th. For fun, last year, I did the liquid diet, just to see. It really wasn't that bad, except I REALLY wanted to CHEW something!

Hi Folks,
I am scheduled for 12/5/2018 surgery date. My surgery and program are through Kaiser in Northern California, at the Richmond Medical Center.
In the midst of all of this, I am applying to PhD programs and searching for jobs. I'm thrilled for the next part of this journey.
SW: 308 / CW: 282.6 / GW: ???