Mark1107

I’ve been able to maintain at 203 lbs, after dipping as low as 190. Still to hold off 112 of the pounds, Metformin has been huge. It really stops the cravings and satiates me much faster. Just wanted to check in since it’s been a while. One more thing, I still listen to my sleeve and almost never stretch it, nor drink 30 mins before or after a meal. Cheers everyone. I hope your journeys are wonderful.

115 2 yrs in. Been at goal weight for one year and fluctuate 1 pound +/- every other day.

About a year after surgery my hunger returned with a vengeance. I gained 8lbs and started back on Metformin 2xa day 500mg and my weight stabilized and I lost my appetite. I’ve maintained about 199-204 for a year now. I highly recommend recommend it.

For the first 3 months the cravings are horrible. I hated protein shakes they made me physically sick. I craved pizza every single day. At night I dreamt about pizza and ice cream and hot fudge Sunday’s. You have to let your stomach heal. I just ate a lot of chicken noodle soup, and stuff like that. I’m a big guy built like a linebacker. I love pizza and 1 year later, I can eat 1 slice and I’m overful and stomach hurting. Cramps, but I satisfy my craving. I can’t stress enough let. Your stomach heal. 25 days after my surgery last year was Halloween. I saved every single piece of candy last year in the past year I’ve probably eaten 3-5 pieces of chocolate candy bars etc, but that Halloween I craved and horded every piece of candy we passed out and I couldn’t touch it a year later it’s still in the cabinet. I try to eat healthier too but because I’m a big guy, I just don’t get enough calories going in to gain weight. I work out 4-5 days a week doing cardio. they should have given you pain killers after surgery. If the cravings are going to threaten your life and kill you eating something that is banned, then take a pain killer once. Once only. I did that when I drove to Wendy’s and smelled the fast food. My cravings went away and I drove home before the high kicked in. I almost killed my self considering banned food 30-45 days aft surgery. I still hoard food, over order, take food home I never eat after words, etc. I’m trying to live with the new me. we’re all in this together. After about 6 months the dreams of food went away. The cravings are controllable now. No more painkillers either, only if I have bad cramps eating something sweet. Girlscout cookies almost sent me to the ER the pain is so bad. Same with sugar cereal. I can’t touch it period. remember this too shall pass. Alcoholics Anonymous is a great support group. When I need to stop having a pity party, I go to an AA meeting or I get on my knees and pray. I’m not an alcoholic but AA is unconditional love. They accept and not judge everyone. If you sit and listen to other people fighting addictions and dealing with life, you will get a better perspective on your own healing and issues. ‘’cheers. Mark

I’m basically at my goal weight. 1. I haven’t been under 200lbs since 1993. 2. Food cravings and mood swings the first 60 days are miserable! 3. The pain the first 30 days was morphine in pill form hydromorphine. I lived on it. 4. Drink something before 30 mins after eating a year later and I still get massive pain cramps. 5. Most of my sugar cravings have disappeared. 6. I dreamt about food for 6 months. Lol. 7. I used to have friends who would go to dinner with me and have 4 drinks before my 30 minutes are up. I’m not friends with them anymore. My biggest complaint is why can’t people enjoy one alcoholic drink over 25 minutes while I’m waiting to have my first drink? Jesus, you’d think I’m asking Moses to part the Red Sea? Everyone slugs like 4 drinks down and by the time I hit my first drink they are ready to leave. It’s frustrating as hell. Everyone is like that. Bottom line, I love my new body. The fact I barely eat anything and that I sleep so much better now. My quality of life. Is. Awesome. The social drinking is the only thing different. I went vegas in February and had a blast! My wife didn’t drink at meals but waited until afterwards at clubs and we both drank great.

Yes neck pain is normal. You may also have a hiatal hernia. Google it. Or one was repaired during surgery.

Thanks everyone. Some interesting observations... when I was 298 I started taking Bupropion and Metformin. It was easy to drop 25-30lbs before surgery. After surgery I stayed on both drugs and today I skipped the metformin and my nightly hunger pains and over eating at night went away! Maybe the Metformin was spiking my blood sugar needlessly? I hope to report back tomorrow night that I’m back to losing weight! I only took Metformin and bupropion for weight loss not for diabetes or anything.

THanks guys. I appreciate the perspective! I'm going to the gym now. I will do better!

Hey everyone, 1st of all, the surgery has changed my life! Being 204 lbs at 6’0 tall is life changing! I haven’t been this weight since college in 1992. I have a football players body so broad shoulders big build. Everyone has commented how great I look. I had my surgery on 10/6/19 Heres the problem: For the last 6 weeks I’ve stopped losing weight. I’m stuck at 204. my stomach isn’t happy with pure protein. Right around Thanksgiving, I started noticing that when I ate protein of anytype my stomach would growl and seriously cramp and be upset until I could mix carbs in with the protein -then my stomach would be satisfied. Then I started eating a lot of rice. Sushi 4-5 pieces is satisfying with salmon and yellow tail with rice under it and I’m satisfied. Then I went into my unhealthy eating habits. I eat a lot of candy everyday....realizing I have a disease, I threw out all of the candy today. I threw out all of my trigger foods. I threw out all of the chips I was eating. All of the junk food is gone from my house. Please understand, I have a mental disorder called an eating disorder. My stomach hasn’t stretched. I still throw up eating too much, I have a small pouch, I’m still in the honeymoon phase, and even eating lots of junk each day lots of candy each day 4 months after surgery I haven’t gained any weight but I stopped losing the last 6 weeks since New Year’s Day. Im going back to pure protein light veggies then a little carbs. I will muscle my way roll my sleeves up and start losing the weight. I want to lose 20 lbs and have a BMI of 25 but my wife, co workers, friends, family all say stop losing weight! You look like a cancer victim. At basically 200 lbs and big broad shouldered football looking dude with a shaved head everyone says enough, but I’m worried with my bad habits that I arrested and threw away today, that eventually I will start gaining weight. Ps my Dr. Said that since my body type needs 2500 calories a day to maintain that I would get to my target weight quickly, which I’m close to. I also know when I get my veggies and fruits in, my candy & chip cravings disappear. Any advice? Is it time for therapy? FYI, Kaiser my provider has horrible non existent opportunities for therapy, the wait list is 4-8 months to get in to see one. Maybe a weekly support group would help? Mark -worried

I was 10/7 and have lost 50 lbs in 2 months. Struggling with still eating right. Not getting enough protein. Still hungry all of the time. Not worried because my stomach is super duper small. 40-50% of 1 sushi roll and I’m stuffed. My body still craves carbs but only a little rice.

Hey everyone. Just checking in. I’ve tried some carbs and all of my old “trigger” foods make me sick! Pretzels yuck, potato chips I throw up, cakes and ice cream I can’t look at. French fries are absolutely disgusting. Hamburgers taste like wax. I like boiled eggs, a little slice about 2 inch by 2 inch gluten free bread with boiled egg on top for breakfast and homemade iced coffee. I also loooove ceasare salad with chicken. I hate and throw up butter, peanut butter, guacamole, etc. I hate fat. Chicken and turkey skin. No mashed potatoes. I love carrots broccoli green beans, bananas and oranges. I love sushi still. Spicy tuna roll. But I can’t really eat much. My whole meal is 50% of one roll. I still dream of food. I still cheat and love hard candy but I don’t keep it in the house. Im down from 295 to 260 day of surgery to 212 yesterday. Most fish makes me sick. I can never look at another protein shake. I like crock potted moist fall off the bone meat with veggies. Im still hungry a lot! I sleep the night thru and no cpap! I cant believe how much attention I get from the opposite sex even though I’m married. It’s so weird. Like I’ve been hit on 1-3 x a week! I struggle with calories in. Only getting 1200 per day. Still losing weight. Im really happy with the surgery. Still struggling with food is NOT a reward. Food is NOT a comfort. Food IS sustenance only. Like they say in The Mandalorian, “I have spoken!”

It didn’t feel like I had surgery until today. I also lost 10 lbs today.

Wow just wow. So my surgery was 6 days ago. They gave me a morphine drip after the surgery. That morphine shut down my intestines and ability to go bms. So this whole week protein shakes and clear protein drinks have made physically nauseous. I can’t tolerate clear or milky shakes. The only thing attractive to me are green tea, Campbell’s chicken noodle soup broth, sugar free popsicles. So I tried a cookie today. I tried a protein chip that I chewed 30 times. Same with the cookie. I also didn’t get any stomach distress from both! Ive literally been taking miralax powder every morning as well. But this afternoon, I went to the bathroom 10xs @#$&&*(()))’,, wtf! My stomach is so freaking sensitive! I went into immediate dumping syndrome after my stomach and intestines woke up a week later. I know I need protein, but shakes and clear sweet drinks make me physically sick. I hope I can start on puréed eggs scrambled, and actually chicken noodles and soft chicken. I need protein and I don’t want dumping syndrome that I went thru 10 times today after my intestines woke up finally after being shut down for a week. My stomach is so sensitive. I hope I can try blended bananas too since my stomach is freaking out. Now I see what is crazy sensitive about my stomach.

Kaiser is the health plan. Dr is Edward Zane.

Kaiser said 3 days of clear proteins then creamy stuff like shakes and oatmeal etc. I will go back to broth and popsicles since nothing else helps. Oatmeal was a hug Nono 3 days after...