JTSC

Yeah within 6 months post op I hit goal and everyone now calls me skinny and I feel like a new man..

At what point did you realize that the operation was the best (Or one of the best) decisions you have ever made? I’m approaching 6 months and I’m getting there. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out but it’s been good. I’ve asked myself this question many times but dropping my BMI a couple categories and taking into account the virus risk factors, I’m pretty happy about the decision and I’m almost ready to say best decision I’ve ever made for my health. With that being said I am super afraid of going backwards and hope I can keep that fear.

I used the calculator in the link out of curiosity. I never expected to reach goal let alone surpass it, despite metabolic disorders and inability to exercise amongst other things. Albeit I’m probably fairly obsessive since I have taken a daily log of weight, meals, Protein and calories. And stuck with low carb. With exception of adding banana to my yogurt now. And since I don’t snack usually an apple. I’ve increased calories gradually. And still adapting. And struggle with that fear of regain.

According to the chart:

GASTRIC BYPASS
80% of patients reach at least 145 lbs 18 months after surgery. 50% of patients reach at least 132 lbs 18 months after surgery. 20% of patients reach 119 lbs 18 months after surgery. Of course the chart is based on my starting height and weight I entered. I’m 5’ started at 208lbs. I hit one year April 29th. And my current weight is 102lbs.
I don’t think I actually processed that I lost 106lbs and I’ve not been this weight as long as I can remember.
Calculate How Much You’ll Weigh 2 Years After Surgery
https://www.obesitycoverage.com/how-much-will-you-weigh-after-surgery/

I think it's pretty normal to freak out before a surgery. I've had three, and I was freaked out before all three of them.
and no - I have no regrets at all. This surgery probably saved my life and made my life about 100% better. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

I had forgotten about this thread. Thanks for commenting!! Here was my predicted numbers:

80% of patients reach at least 212 lbs 18 months after surgery. 50% of patients reach at least 193 lbs 18 months after surgery. 20% of patients reach 174 lbs 18 months after surgery. Im almost 6 months out and 185 lbs (-120lb total). So I guess you can beat the calculator. I’ve been fairly strict on food choices, not that strict on Water (I know...shame), and have gotten a lot more active. It’s a little off because I used pre liquid diet weight bc it wouldn’t let me do it after with the BMI rules. (Too low and it says you shouldn’t have surgery)

Wow

I'm a little over 4 months out, but I feel the best I've felt in years, and can't wait to see what the future holds for me!! I wish I'd done it sooner, but am also thankful that once I made the decision to do it, my surgeon got me in rather quickly.
It's funny, b/c with quarantine, I'm really able to focus on myself and my family. If I hadn't had the surgery, I can imagine that this time period would have been full of depression and weight gain.
I'm so appreciative of my new lease on life!!!

Honestly I was already thinking that it was going to be one of the best decisions I have ever made the first week of pre-op. I had lost 8+ lbs that first week, and that basically set the tone for this whole journey for me. My mindset had done a total 180.
The day I came home from the hospital I was off blood pressure meds.
By the end of the first week, Mr. commented that I no longer snore; I no longer had to get up to pee multiple times in the night, and slept like a baby.
By the end of the first month, I was off my cholesterol pills, had more energy than I had in years, and was down 4 pants sizes.
Even though my stomach hurt like a b*tch that first week and couldn't stand up straight, that getting up and down from a seated/laying position was torture, that i felt like I exploded when I coughed (or sneezed! omg), that I was constipated for almost two weeks, that I had to relearn how to eat so that I would NOT projectile vomit that first month, I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Best. Decision. Ever.
If there was one thing I would have done differently (other than not letting myself get to my pre-op weight in the first place), it would be that I would have done this sooner.
❤️

At what point did you realize that the operation was the best (Or one of the best) decisions you have ever made? I’m approaching 6 months and I’m getting there. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out but it’s been good. I’ve asked myself this question many times but dropping my BMI a couple categories and taking into account the virus risk factors, I’m pretty happy about the decision and I’m almost ready to say best decision I’ve ever made for my health. With that being said I am super afraid of going backwards and hope I can keep that fear.

I've been really happy with the decision all along. I'm 1.5 years out. At first, when I was dropping a noticeable amount of weight each month, I was just super happy. I'm very wary of regain and just do my best to exercise and eat healthy, low calorie food every day.
A lot of people say they wish they had had it sooner, but I wasn't really ready any sooner. I'm also glad I waited until there were some relatively long-term outcomes on the Sleeve.

I'd go with six months as well. I was seeing results, feeling good and eating a broader range of foods.
I will admit that for the first six weeks or so i was regretting the decision and thought I had made a huge mistake, but I now realize is was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

After the shock and awe wore off and i got used to eating less and getting healthy, was about 6 months when i realized this is the new me! Take it or leave it. Now as i have finished the weight loss and switching gears to staying at this weight I do realize I did the right thing
Dont get me wrong there are days i can not eat and get second doubts but I had to do it

it's definitely been the best health decision I'VE ever made...

Im almost a year out and I can definitely share in your thoughts but am already sure it was the best dern thing Ive done. I wonder why I didnt do it sooner. Im almost 6 foot and was over 325 pounds so it has been a huge relief to get to the size that I am now. I can now fall down without majorly hurting myself and it hurting like a sob.
As for the maintenence phase, I share the same concerns. I have hit my first milestone at 176 lbs and am trying to stay here for a few weeks or so in order to see how much I can eat and stay at the same weight. I still want to lose just a tad more though.

Update: I’m back losing weight 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽😌😌😌😌😌

I think the fact that you are trying to address any weight gain is the most important part. You will be fine with your positive attitude. Much respect for tackling cancer and the weight at the same time.

I think the fact that you are trying to address any weight gain is the most important part. You will be fine with your positive attitude. Much respect for tackling cancer and the weight at the same time.

So I’ve been trying to get pictures every month to allow ME see the progress. I was sleeved 1/7/20. LOOK!

I know you said you aren't tolerating chicken well yet, but I do ground chicken, onion and taco seasoning. Because the chicken is ground it was easier for me until I could tolerate regular chicken. It's still something I make at least a couple of times a week. You can also mix in a can of Beans if you want. It will make around 6 meals...

I like potatoes on occasion. I haven’t noticed a change to my weight loss Rate after eating some baked potato. I drink shakes and try to down a little meat but it’s still really hard. Potato has been something that has helped for me. I was told that low carb ain’t the deal with this surgery. “Low to mid” carb, “low to mid” fat, “high” Protein. I had my surgery in November and just hit 80lbs. Not giving advice. Just telling you my approach.

I struggle with meal prep, food logs, etc. I’m either lazy or not that organized. Sometimes I fall into the trap of just not eating one day if I don’t know what to eat. I drink Protein and get my fluids in. It’s just the extra real food that I struggle with. I can’t really tolerate chicken etc just yet. Do you have a easy go to meal for when all else fails?

I struggle with meal prep, food logs, etc. I’m either lazy or not that organized. Sometimes I fall into the trap of just not eating one day if I don’t know what to eat. I drink Protein and get my fluids in. It’s just the extra real food that I struggle with. I can’t really tolerate chicken etc just yet. Do you have a easy go to meal for when all else fails?

WOW, i am close to one year in and i started this journey at 306lbs and i am 191lbs. I started at a clothing size of 22 and now i am a size12. Wow wow wow!!!!! All heath issues resolved as well.

I’m still not tolerating meats well (edit not really at all with exception of shrimp which I really shouldn’t be eating, (thankfully my allergy isn’t anaphylaxis at this point) and sashimi salmon, and Applegate turkey sausage didn’t go down too bad as long as it’s mixed with egg or something ...)
and I have very little energy for meal prep (more like none) due to chronic illness. I buy certain things and then plan based on what’s available in my fridge or freezer. But keep some basics sometimes on rotation depending on what’s on sale or what I can get, though I always have PEScience Protein Powder.
im pretty basic. Breakfast now is usually a 1/2 soft Protein Bar or whole depending on my meal plan for the day and the Protein bar. And a cup of tea.
Edit: I found a protein bar called built that s 110 calories and 15 grams protein protein. It tastes like a candy bar. Either that or half a BariatricPal fluffy vanilla protein bar. I like yogi tea for breakfast. Healthy skin vanilla tea is good. And sometimes the caramel apple spice slim life tea.
lunch Is my main meal and more variety but I might have for example a 2.5 ounce Boca turky veggie burger with one Egglands Best egg on top. Or I’ve made a BariatricPal pancake with cooked cut up veggie sausage. or occasionally a dr. Praeger’s black bean chipotle pollock burger with BariatricPal protein mashed potato. Just some simple frozen foods that are the right portion size and easy to put in a pan and heat up.
my dinner tends to be Fage total zero Greek yogurt sometimes mixed with protein powder. Or two good yogurt with protein powder. Or good culture cottage cheese. I do sometimes have a small piece of banana and a little sugar free Syrup. And some sugar free land o lakes whipped topping ...
when I can’t stomach much the yogurt, PEScience, good culture cottage cheese, help. Also BariatricPal protein pancakes, Soups, mashed potato, Protein Shots, protein juice, protein pudding.

We concentrate so much on weight !

Sometimes it's the inches lost that really shows up in your success! As one our bariatric veterans has once posted. " It's called Weight loss surgery but it should be called Fat loss Surgery" I'm ok with the inches lost ..