Jaelzion

I'm your same height and my goal was also 130. My surgeon was kind of the polar opposite of yours. He did not give me a calorie target at all. He asked me to keep carbs moderately low (I think it was 60-80g), eat protein first and then non-starchy veggies. My protein goal was 60g. He encouraged me to eat when hungry, but don't push my restriction. He said if I did that, calories would take care of themselves. It did work out that way for me. Like a lot of us, I started with very low calories (eating was hard at first). Then I was at 600 for a while and it slowly rose to 800. I stayed there a long time. It took me almost two years to lose all my weight but I did reach (and then pass) my original goal. I was one of the lucky ones in that I had very little appetite for the first year and when it started to return, it was still much lower than pre-surgery. Even so, the plan you were given seems pretty harsh and I'm not sure I could have stuck to that. 15g of carbs is lower than I can consistently do (and I'm an experienced low-carber!). Now that I am in maintenance, I do enjoy a treat now and then but day to day, I avoid sugary foods, junk food, fast food, etc. I can't eat that stuff regularly without losing control. I can have a treat, but then it's right back on plan. Otherwise it wakes up cravings that are hard to deal with. There are lots of less draconian eating plans that most people can lose weight on. I agree with the suggestion to consult a therapist and maybe also find a doctor or nutritionist who is willing to take a more moderate approach. I wish you the best!

I had a guy (in real life, not online) ask me out for the first time by asking if I wanted to go to Hawaii with him. I mean, dude really...can we start with coffee first? LOL 😀

Thanks @catwoman7!

I can relate to most of your fears. I was 54 when I had my surgery. I also worried that the surgery would not work for me, that I'd fail, that it would end up just like every other attempt to lose weight. But my outcome was a happy surprise. Regarding cravings, the surgery did not eliminate, but seriously dampened the intensity of my cravings. It's much easier to tell myself "no". Actually since I am in maintenance now, it's more like "not right now". Because I do indulge in a treat now and then, since I'm no longer actively trying to lose. I know the surgery doesn't have that effect on everyone, but it did for me. Surgery also completely defanged my hunger. Yeah, I do get hungry if I go too long without eating, but it's not that raging, insatiable hunger I had before surgery. I'm just aware that I need to eat, but I can delay it if I have to. It's a really different experience. When it comes to loose skin, I have a LOT. I'm scheduled for plastic surgery this summer to have a tummy tuck since that's where most of my extra skin is. Here's a recent picture of me - when clothed, the loose skin is not noticeable. But there's enough of it that I have to buy a whole size bigger to accommodate the stomach! Obviously, there's some stuff I don't wear, but any 56 year-old can say that, LOL. Honestly, I do look a little older since losing all the weight (my neck especially) but I wouldn't go back to being 250 pounds for anything. Only you can decide if surgery is right for you, but hopefully, our experiences will help.

Just chiming in to say that it's pretty common to have a hiatal hernia fixed at the same time as bariatric surgery. I had both and a lot of posters on here have as well. I definitely wouldn't let that be the deal-breaker, your surgeon has likely done this double-surgery many times.

I don't know your stats but 800 calories a day doesn't seem too high to me. Unless you're really tiny and inactive, you should be able to lose on that amount. I mostly eat mini-meals throughout the day. I start eating at about 6 AM when I have coffee before work and I eat every 2-3 hours or so until about 6-7 PM (like maybe 6 AM, 8 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM, 5 PM and 6-7 PM). I'm naturally more hungry in the daytime and not so much at night, so I don't usually need to eat at night. It looks something like this: 1. 6 AM: Morning latte (made with Kitu Super coffee, 10g or Protein and no sugar) 2. 8 AM: 1 scrambled egg 3. 10 AM: Yogurt 4. 12 PM: 1 chicken thigh 5. 2 PM: sugar-free pudding 6. 4 PM: Lunch meat wrap made with Mission Carb Balance tortilla 8. 6-7 PM (Nighttime snack): cheese stick When I was still losing, I restricted carbs but not calories, so if I had a hungry day I might eat a little more or conversely I might have a low appetite day and eat less. I ate around 800 calories a day from 6 months through about 18 months, so I guess that's why it doesn't seem excessive to me. I did not have weekend treats while I was losing (although I did have special-occasion treats, like Christmas and my birthday). The more often you eat on-plan, the faster your weight loss, but you get to decide the balance between losing weight and enjoying life. Just be alert to how things affect you, so you can adjust if there is a problem.

I'm 5' 1" and started with a BMI of 47 at 250 pounds. I now weigh about 121 with a BMI of 23. You can see my "Before and After" pictures here: Before and After

One of the best pieces of advice I've been given is "Before you eat something bad, eat something good". What that meant was, don't force yourself to choose between starvation and eating junk. If you're hungry, eat - but eat something protein rich and nutrient dense. Allow yourself to eat when hungry, just eat on-plan rather than choosing candy or chips. So a eat a cup of light yogurt rather than ice cream. Eat a serving of string cheese rather than chips. Eat a protein bar (with good nutritional composition) if you're in a situation where you can't take the time to eat something more substantial. A boiled egg with salt and pepper is a filling snack. Sugar-free pudding can quiet a sweet-tooth. You have to plan ahead to make sure you have something on-plan to eat. Because if you're like me, if you wait until you're starving, you'll eat whatever is close at hand. Don't beat yourself up, there's a learning curve to this. It will take some time to incorporate your new eating habits into your daily life. Persistence is more important than perfection.

"How did you beat your cancer?" "My doctor put together a treatment plan and it was successful." No lies told, no details given. "How did you lose so much weight?" "My doctor created a treatment plan and it was successful." No lies told, no details given. No one is entitled to the details of another's medical care.

For me it's bread, cake, and similar items. I can't keep that stuff in the house. I will occasionally let myself have an indulgence but I enjoy the treat and then that's it. What I don't eat gets given or thrown away and I get right back on plan. And I don't indulge often. Even keto bread-like products will kick off cravings for me. People can advise but we are each the only one who lives in our particular body. Trying to regularly eat bread "in moderation" would be a fast-track to regaining all the weight I've lost.

Weight loss surgery is medical care and medical care is private. 🤷‍♀️ I encourage people to not be ashamed, but it's every person's choice how much they want to share about their medical situation.

I initially really wanted the bypass, but it was medically contraindicated for me so I had the sleeve. I was disappointed, but it turned out to be a good choice. I lost all my excess weight, I had no major complications, and so far I am maintaining my loss. There are pros and cons to both surgeries, as others have mentioned. Depending on your health and anatomy, one or the other might be advisable. Both can effectively help you lose weight. Best of luck!

I drink Evolve shakes and they are also 140 calories:

This is definitely something to discuss with your doctor. I was taking Xarelto at the time of my surgery and my hematologist told me that I would need to switch meds because I wouldn't be able to eat enough after surgery (Xarelto requires a substantial meal to be bio-available). He prescribed Eliquis since Coumadin had already proven to be ineffective for me. My insurance denied the Eliquis and I couldn't afford to pay for it out of pocket. So I stayed with the Xarelto and just as my hemadoc predicted, I got a blood clot. I couldn't eat enough at one time for Xarelto be effective. I ended up being admitted to the hospital and once I was discharged, my hematologist switched me to Lovenox (an injectable med). It's much more expensive than the Eliquis, plus the insurance company had to pay for my inpatient stay. Fortunately, I recovered okay, with no long-term effects. I say all that to say, if your med indicates that it has to be taken with food, definitely have a conversation with your doctor about how to handle it. The food requirement might not just be to avoid stomach problems, it could actually be the difference between medicine working or not working.

Senna is my best friend, LOL

The middle seat on an airplane is no longer the disaster that it used to be. ✈️

Yes, what you're describing is very common and for most people, it does go away as the tummy heals and swelling goes down. It's usually just a matter of waiting it out, but occasionally, people develop a complication called a "stricture". This is a narrowing in the digestive tract that doesn't allow food to pass through and it sometimes requires treatment to widen it and relieve the problem. But most commonly, when the swelling goes down, that feeling of everything getting stuck goes away on its own. Hang in there, and if it doesn't improve, check in again with your surgeon's office.

All I can tell you is buy as little as you can get away with! I tried to order a few things last Spring and by the time it was hot enough to wear them, they were too big. I wore them anyway though because they weren't as much too big as my old clothes! LOL 😂

Not for a second. And these Quest Peanut Butter Cups are delicious!

This is all good info for those of us who have tummy tucks coming up!

I had significant pain but it was well-controlled with medication. Prior to surgery, I asked about my doctor's philosophy of pain management and how we would handle it if I had a lot of pain. He worked with me to ensure that I was always comfortable, even in those first few days. He ended up prescribing a stronger med for me, then stepping it back down once I was feeling better. PS: my level of pain may have been related to my specific anatomy and health history. The surgeon did say I had a lot of adhesions from previous surgeries. He also repaired a hiatal hernia at the same time I was sleeved. So there was a lot going on. He said the surgery took longer than usual, but was nothing he couldn't handle. And that also might account for why I needed more aggressive pain control.

My experience is very similar. I can have an occasional treat, even something sugary, like a piece of pie or cake. But I need to get right back on plan (no dragging my treat out over days). And to nip cravings in the bud, I have to keep carbs at least moderately low (the more extensive my treat, the lower and longer I will have to restrict carbs). But it's great to know that I have the flexibility to enjoy something special AND a reliable way not to let it turn into a destructive binge.

I will typically go back to how I ate when I was in the weight loss phase - little to no processed foods, limited carbs, no drinking calories, protein first, then non-starchy veggies. I literally cannot overeat on nutrient-dense, protein-rich food. My tummy won't let me. So by sticking to that kind of food, the calories take care of themselves.

If I'm going to be out for a while, I take a portable snack with me: nuts, granola, protein bar, quest chips, cheese sticks. Something I can eat while on the go. I also carry a bottle of water because I find dehydration can lead to irritability too. You have to prioritize having what you need with you to avoid ending up starving.

The bypass interferes with absorbtion of a medication I depend on to stay alive. It would have been super risky for me.