Lynda486

Yay!

I watched a video of a bariatric surgeon explaining variability and predictability of weight loss over time. He made a bell curve. The top represents average weight loss after surgery. To the right is a mark which represents those who continue to follow the eating plan to a tee. They will lose more and maintain. To the far right are those who follow the plan AND exercise faithfully. They will lose the most and maintain, as they continue with the lifestyle changes.
To the left of the curve are those who don't exercise faithfully and also those who cheat on the plan. The cheaters and the sedentary are the ones who regain.
This cannot apply to everyone in every situation. Some people will just naturally lose more than others - the body will do what the body will do. But it did emphasize the point that we can maximize our weight loss by both exercising and following the plan. Exercise needs to include both cardio and strength training. Following the plan means to continue tracking, planning out meals, eating nutritiously dense foods, and keeping on top of it so one doesn't start sliding and not be able to intervene quickly. Building these new habits is the chief objective during the "honeymoon" stage (6-12 months post op), so that once hunger returns and restriction lessons someone has already acquired the tools for lifetime maintenance.

I got my surgery date Friday September 16th!

I had to wait approximately a week after finishing my EKG and my labs to schedule the appointment to get my surgery date
I would keep calling. If you wait on them to call you would probably be waiting forever. Don’t worry about bugging them. Sometimes they need reminders or a little push lol.

I found this the other day and I think it will be very helpful to me, and I hope to those here.

https://www.obesitycoverage.com/the-big-gastric-bypass-diet-guide/

I found this the other day and I think it will be very helpful to me, and I hope to those here.

https://www.obesitycoverage.com/the-big-gastric-bypass-diet-guide/

I am going same thing. No surgery date yet, but had a sleeve in 1998 and due to a medical issue am going for the bypass. Good luck!

I walked a mile in the morning and a mile at night as soon as I could walk. about 1 month I added Richard Simmons routines every week day. It was hard but so worth it,

Honestly ... it’s suffer with chronic pain and 8 use CBD and medicinal marijuana in vape form.. I personally think it’s better then the tramadol, codeine and oxy I used to take two years ago and stopped because it was messing me up. Speak to your gp but mine was supportive of it just not to smoke weed due to munchies and of course that wouldn’t be good after gastric surgery lol

This is a great group of people, I have found a lot of support and information here. Welcome to the group!

I drink premade GNC Lean shakes and love them. I do the chocolate flavor.

My surgeon’s office (Swedish Medical Center in Seattle) has a small store within their clinic which sells a variety of Protein powders, Soups, Snacks, and Vitamins. It’s very convenient as it’s only a couple blocks from my office!

My surgeon's office has a small store inside their office where you can buy foods, Snacks, and Vitamins. Also, GNC has a lot of supplements and foods that they sell here on BariatricPal in other brands like Optimum Nutrition, etc.

^^^^OP please note this is an unusual situation...part of the 1% of 1% that experience this kind of complication!

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a brink and mortar WLS/Bariatrc grocery store?

I'm one of the few people who doesn't like Premier Protein. I could taste the Protein in it. Ugh. My go-tos were Syntrax and Unjury brand, but those are whey protein. If I were you, I'd just go to a GNC or Vitamin Shoppe and pick up some individual packets to see if there are any you like. It's more expensive getting them by the packet, but then, buying a $30 tub of something you hate and therefore don't drink is even *more* expensive..
btw - several companies make unflavored protein. The two I mentioned do. I believe Quest does, too. I've seen other brands as well. Not they're unflavored - but not necessarily flavorless. They do have a slight taste to them - but no flavors like chocolate added to them.

I try to get by with as little new stuff as possible, and try to buy everything on good sales - like $3 and $5 clearances at Walmart. You will be a different size with each season, so get some inexpensive things, knowing that you will be donating them in 3 more months. I HAD to break down and get some new underwear and bras, but tried to use the old ones til they were falling off me. Second hand and thrift stores are good places to hang out, but a good clearance rack at Walmart is hard to beat. I found some really cute capri type shorts for only $5. Bought one to fit and 2 in a smaller size, which I am wearing now. My closet is very small now, as I keep getting rid of stuff that is too big, but don't want to spend a lot until I am at goal. Fortunately, the hospital supplies my scrubs so I don't have to buy a work wardrobe.
It's a nice thought to Celebrate your birthday with new clothes, but maybe don't spend a fortune, cuz you are only going to enjoy them for a short time,

read, read, read. I spent a lot of time on internet forums (like this one) reading current and old threads, and also reading Web sites and books so I was SUPER prepared going into surgery.

What I did as I was loosing was to buy just a few things to get me through. Or go to thrift stores for better deals. Otherwise I would be left with a lot of clothing that was too big. Good Luck!

I started my journey/process 5 months ago and slowly started hitting the gym about 3 times a week. after a month of not much to show for I started going more (4-5 days). Now, I'm addicted. I haven't missed a day in 2 weeks and have been working out twice a day for most of those days. I have good days at the gym and bad. If it's a good day, you better believe I'm going to push myself to the limit, and on the rough days, I just do what I know I can handle. My thought is at least I showed up! my starting weight was 371 and I'm down to 310 as of yesterday. Still waiting on that surgery date, but I know it will be coming in the next two weeks, and I'll be in the gym every day until I have surgery. I feel like it's my chance to get my body strong and ready to be operated on. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like if I'm in the best shape I can be pre-operatively, I will recover much faster and get right back in gym quicker.
Congratulations, and good luck with your procedure!

Surgery went well. Had to stay an extra night in hospital because of low oxygen levels. Waiting for discharge paperwork.

New_Me 2019

I agree. I even gave up coffee permanently this round just to be safe.

We have met our deductibles for the year as well. I wasn't planning on getting surgery but when they told me I could fix my issues with a revision I am all for it. The waiting is impossible! Good luck to you!!

I work in the GI department of a hospital. Today we had a patient who was 14 years post gastric bypass. She looked great, but had started having pain in her upper abdomen. She had also started drinking alcohol fairly regularly. The endoscopic exam revealed a horrific ulcer at the jejunum-gastric anastomosis. I have seen other post bypass patients with ulcers and erosions at the anastomosis, but hers was the worst by far. I do not want to offend anyone, but seeing the damage done by becoming a bit careless or overconfident, even years after surgery, was enough for me to commit to NEVER touch alcohol, and certainly never to smoke. I will not drink coffee again, either. I had surgery to improve my health and I never want to risk it by slipping into any habit or vice that could do damage to tissues that obviously remain more fragile for many years, if not forever. To anyone who cares to listen, please heed your doctor's instructions when he/she tells you not to drink, smoke, or eat/drink particular items. There really is a good reason, and what I saw on the endoscope today really brought that reality home.

Half the people in this community refuse to believe in the anything in moderation approach but thats because they are the trigger foods that will cause a downward spiral out of control. Its going to take time but you will know what your triggers are. I believe in moderation for my own sanity, first you will quickly realize its not going to take very much and your body is going to be telling you to stop it will become quite annoying but when the weight starts flying off you will be so happy from it.
Having a slice of pizza every once in a while didnt land you in this situation eating the whole pie did. Eating a sub didnt land you in this situation either eating it every day did.

All this being said I dont recommend deviating at all from the plan until you are cleared for normal foods so around 4/6 weeks just depending on your surgeons plan. Give this a solid effort sticking to the plan and you will see dramatic results.