Recidivist

I did that a lot at the beginning, and I still dream about food from time to time. In my dream I'm always eating a huge amount of forbidden foods. I'm also aware that I shouldn't be and feel guilty about it. I'm quite relieved when I wake up and realize it wasn't true.

As long as you are following the program and losing consistently, there is no such thing as too slow. A group of us who all had surgery in the same month lost weight at different rates, but we all ended up in the same place at the end, some sooner than others. You will be fine!

You could probably lose close to 20 pounds in time for surgery with a liquid diet. However, the bigger issue is whether you are ready for the dramatic lifestyle changes that are needed after surgery. It might not be a bad idea to postpone your surgery and meet with a therapist and perhaps a nutritionist to better understand what triggers your eating and how you can better manage it. That would set you up for success once you do have surgery.

Marine!!! So nice to hear from you again--and you look amazing! Congratulations on your success! I'm doing well. I gained 15 pounds from my low weight, which in retrospect was a little too scrawny. I've been able to maintain that level for more than six months and feel great. I'm still amazed at how much more I'm able to do than at this time two years ago. I'm also quite surprised at what a wide range of foods I'm able to eat--in very small quantities. Having surgery was truly one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I'm a big fan of "healthy" junk foods IN MODERATION. However, I didn't start eating them until I was in maintenance. A couple of words of advice. First, you need to be sure that any such products you eat are high protein, low carb and low sugar. There are lots of protein bars out there that claim to be healthy but are very high in carbs and sugar. Also, these snacks can be a slippery slope. Since they are high protein and low carb, we tend to see them as "safe" foods and there is a temptation to over-indulge. They are definitely better than traditional junk food, but calories are calories regardless of how they are ingested. My advice: wait until you are in maintenance and enjoy on an occasional basis to satisfy cravings, but don't make them a habit.

I've said it here several times before: exercise is not the key to weight loss--it's all about the diet. I did essentially no exercise during my weight loss phase (aside from walking) and lost consistently. Exercise is great for strength and stamina, but it's not going to be what determines the success of your weight loss journey.

Yep. I'm "only" 20 months out but I still deal with head hunger on a daily basis.

I totally agree with Catwoman (as usual). Just because you have no health issues now doesn't mean you won't later on. A BMI of 54 is not a borderline number, and it's better to deal with your obesity before you start experiencing problems. As you said, you will be able to have a more active lifestyle if you can get to a normal weight. I'm also sure your weight is causing undue stress on your joints, and the sooner you can relieve that they better. I say go with your instinct and have the surgery.

I was not a coffee drinker before my surgery. However, I was addicted to Diet Coke and drank four or five a day. My doctor said I could never again drink Diet Coke (or any carbonated beverage) and coffee after six months. I started drinking coffee after about eight months and it is my new addiction. I can't wait for my first cup in the morning!

It sounds like you are doing everything well and are right on track! If you are feeling like you could do more exercise, don't give it another thought. Exercise is good for your overall fitness level, but diet is the key to weight loss. I did almost no exercise during my weight loss phase (aside from normal walking to get to and from work) and was quite successful. This process is difficult, both physically and emotionally. Give yourself a break and think of how much you have accomplished!

I think we all experienced it. I didn't find any solution and just toughed it out. It may seem like an eternity at the moment, but you will be able to eat some crunchy things sooner than you think. I really enjoyed some of the protein chips from the Bariatric Pal store when I could eat them--and I still do. Two of my favorites: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-chips-and-crunchy-protein-snacks/products/bariatricpal-protein-potato-chips-sea-salt-vinegar-crunch https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-chips-and-crunchy-protein-snacks/products/bariatricpal-protein-crisps-salted-caramel

I've been doing it every six months (as recommended by my surgeon) but with my primary care physician. It's much cheaper to see my PCP than my surgeon, and all I need is periodic blood work. It's probably not necessary to do it every six months at a certain point, but I like being reassured that my vitamin levels continue to be good.

Completely the same for me. When I got back to "normal," it was like a normal person--not always hot like I used to be.

I completely agree with The Greater Fool above. It's not a matter of whether you are too young to have the surgery, but whether you have the right mindset and are ready to commit to a new way of eating for life. Some people in their 20's are ready, while some in their 50's are not. You have a tremendous opportunity by taking this step so early in your life, before you have developed a host of medical issues connected with obesity. You have the chance to enjoy a long and health life with bariatric surgery. Take advantage of it!

I've eaten popcorn on several occasions (more than a year after surgery) with no issues.

I was going to say the same thing. I intentionally went about 10 pounds below my goal so that I would be at my goal weight when I gained it back--and I did. With very little trouble, I might add.

My laproscopic scars are barely noticeable at this point. You have to really look to find even the largest one where the scope went in.

Hi, KJ--and welcome! I'm nearby in Australia. I think that you already know the answer to your question based on a few of the statements in your post: "I know that losing weight and gaining health will be far more important than how old I may look, and what people think." "I have bad health issues like asthma, high BP, and really need two knee replacements....So it's going to be so good for my health I know." "Excited for the journey for a new me and better health." Exactly right--this is all about your health. It's about getting rid of the medical conditions that come with obesity and feeling good for the first time in decades, with lots of energy and a new zest for life. Looking slimmer is a nice side effect of the surgery, but the real reason to do it is to improve your health and add years to your life. I was 59 when I got surgery and can't believe how much younger and more energetic I FEEL. I wish I had done it years earlier. Do I LOOK younger? No. The weight loss in my face and neck has aged me a bit, and I will admit that it was a little disconcerting at first, but I'm used to it. As for what people think of me and say about me: I'm sure it was much more unkind when I was fat than now when I look a little older. And frankly, I couldn't care less. I did this for me, and it was the best decision I have ever made. I can only speak for myself, but I LOVE the new me! I have so much more energy, enthusiasm, confidence and hope for the future than I did a couple of years ago as an obese person with health problems and the likelihood of a heart attack within a decade. Now that I know how great it feels to be at a healthy weight, I wouldn't ever want to go back to the old me. Don't worry about what you will eat after surgery. You will find that your tastes change and you won't crave many of the unhealthy things you enjoyed before. And you can have a glass of wine and some cheese every now and then--it's a matter of moderation. I used to love sweets and high fat foods, and I don't eat them at all any more--and I never feel deprived. We all have fears and reservations about bariatric surgery, but you almost never hear anyone expressing regrets about having it done once they see how great they feel and how much more they can enjoy life once they get to a healthy weight.

I had two major concerns: 1. Complications from the surgery, including dying on the table. I was so freaked out that I burst into tears as I was being wheeled into surgery. As it turns out, I did have a complication: my pouch leaked and I had to stay in the hospital a couple of extra days. However, it was easily fixed and did not affect my later success at all. 2. Never being able to eat "normally" again. I was afraid that I would never again be able to enjoy food or eat the things I loved. 18 months out, that's not an issue at all. I'm certainly not eating like I used to, but I eat a variety of foods and don't feel at all deprived. In retrospect, I'm eating normally now--and I wasn't before.

I was "mobile" within about three days of surgery, which meant I could get up, walk around and basically take care of myself. However, I was nowhere near back to normal activities--that took about three weeks. I was also completely exhausted and didn't walk around much even though I could. Relax, take it slow and be kind to yourself. You've been through a lot!

I experienced severe dizziness, almost to the point of passing out. For me, it was a combination of not getting enough water and the fact that I continued taking the blood pressure meds I had been on prior to surgery. My doctor recommended stopping them and the situation improved pretty quickly.

I took no time off before surgery and didn't find that I needed it. However, it really depends on your work situation. I had a desk job and could easily do the liquid diet while working. Also, I wanted to limit the amount of sick leave I took, and I really needed a full three weeks after surgery to get enough energy to go back to work.

I will add that my surgeon said that stretching the pouch after bypass is nearly impossible to do. You can, however, eat significantly more over time than you can during the first year, and as others have said, you can eat quite a bit of the wrong things once you are in maintenance. The surgery is a tool to lose weight, but it's a matter of discipline to shift to a healthy lifestyle and keep the weight off.

Get rid of them. During my weight loss, I donated everything that no longer fit and bought a few second-hand items just so I had something that fit until I lost more. One word of warning: I bought lots of new clothes when I reached my lowest weight of 132. Then I had a 10-pound gain during maintenance before settling in at 142. I would recommend waiting until you have been on maintenance for a while before splurging on a whole new wardrobe.

I had no forms to fill out. It was a very casual 20-minute conversation with a psychiatrist/psychologist (not sure which it was) just to make sure that I understood what I was doing and the fact that it was a lifetime commitment. Just a box to check and not a big deal at all.