over65

3 FAIRLIFE protein shakes = 90g protein GELATEIN20 = 20g Broth with scoop of unflavored Isopure = 30g

Big day for me. I've seemingly stuck 190-191 for week and a half. Then today, finally 189.2.

Was encouraging to realize despite my slow weight loss, I am on target. I weighed 211 on day of surgery. I am 8 weeks postop and my weight today is 190.2 pounds. Those weighing 200 pounds on day of sugery weighed 184 on average at 3 months. So I will quite likely to weigh below 184 (6 pounds to go) at 3 months. I need to remember that those much heavier at time of surgery show faster weight loss in the first 3 months. So I am encouraged. Hope some of you find this table helpful.

My surgeon says no fruit first 3 months after surgery. Part of the problem is the carbs. Raw fruit is also difficult to digest. A banana by itself is 27g carbs. I am only allowed 50g total carbs per day.

GNC filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy June 24. GNC has struggled financially for years. Is now $900M in debt. Yet paid its CEO a $2M bonus but thousands employees lose jobs. GNC is closing about 1200 stores (about 25%). In 2018, Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co., a company controlled by the Chinese government, agreed to acquire an approximately 40% stake in GNC. GNC Vitamins and supplements likely made in China at Harbin Pharmaceutical Group.

I use Renpho scale as well. Really like the extra data I get and automatic graph on weight loss. I put my cellphone on floor beside because with Otterbox case it adds 7 oz.

I was 39.5 BMI day of surgery

WEIRD. My doc said 300 Extended release just fine. I had VSG. Apparently extended release not good for bypass.

10,000 steps by fitness watch is deceiving you. I did two loads of laundry, folded and put everything away. All the hand motion gave me 12,000 steps. I have a friend who drives a big rig all day. He gets 30,000 steps just from steering and shifting. You need to be doing exercise for at least 30 minutes, fast enough to get your heart rate up and some huffing and puffing. I am just 7 weeks postop and my surgeon says 180 minutes of exercise a week. That is 30 minutes six times a week but would be better to do 60 minutes three times a week. I walk my dog but he's little and so I don't get my heart rate up enough. Will start walking without dog so I can walk faster and longer. But it is grueling hot with summer heat and humidity. Would like to get an exercycle for indoors. Will check out PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS.

I've been on Wellbutrin for a number of years. Didn't need to stop for surgery and still taking. Wellbutrin doesn't usually cause weight gain. I also take Klonopin which worries me that it might interfere with weight loss. But without it, my mood gets unstable.

A heating pad really helps when you have all that gas inside postop. So get one if you don't have one. Also, get a really good body lotion. Your skin will be really dry. I bought some essential oils and diffuser. Found eucalyptus, lemon grass and peppermint quite soothing.

I was on medically supervised diet for 5 months before surgery. I lost 30 pounds easily. That is why weight loss soooooo slow from day one postop has been frustrating. But I remind myself that my BMI has dropped from 44 to 36.5 and weight down from 245 to 191. I am off two blood pressure meds and off statin. My blood sugar and A1C are normal so am no longer pre-diabetic. So overall, I am a lot healthier now regardless of what the scale says. I couldn't walk for exercise before surgery because severe low back pain and sciatica. Now I can walk all I want. And my jean size is now 16 (no plus sizes anymore). People who start out with much higher BMI and a lot more weight tend to lose a lot faster. And we are all different genetically and metabolically. So as long as I am doing what I'm supposed to, the scale doesn't matter right now.

I was getting 500-600 calories a day. Dietitian said up to 800 calories. I think that is too much this early postop. Surgeon said 180 minutes of exercise per week. Been walking my dog for 30 minutes 3-4 times a week and 40 minutes mowing the lawn. So I getting step up platform to exercise indoors. It has been 93 degrees 90% humidity so outdoors intolerable.

The problem with fiber is it swells up and fills small stomach/pouch. Interferes with nutrient absorption. Bypass patients have very short section of small intestines for absorbing nutrients. So fiber will encase food making it hard to absorb.

My surgeon says no fiber. Recommended stool softener (colace) instead. I am taking 3 times per day.

I say a Gordon Ramsey recipe for broccoli soup. Just cooked broccoli florets (no stems) on stovetop. Then put cooked broccoli florets in blender with some of water broccoli cooked in. Only other ingredient was salt for cooking. Was so smooth without any lumps. Was awesome. Have made several times since on regular food but just added a little low fat cheese in blender.

I only lost 6 pounds first 6 weeks. So frustrating. Dietitian said I needed to INCREASE calories and I GAINED 2 pounds. Forget that. I saw surgeon a week ago for 6 week check. He said he was not concerned at this stage. I went back to just protein shakes and have lost everyday for past 5 days. I was doing just 2 protein shakes with meal of 2 oz chicken or fish and broccoli. Maybe I would be losing weight if I stuck with that but I lost so easy before surgery on protein shakes. I did NOT appreciate dietitian's snide remark that I "needed to get with program before my restriction doesn't work anymore." I showed her my diet diary and photos of contents of fridge and cupboards (only Fairlife shakes). I live alone and staying at home for 3 months due to covid. I honestly think she thought I must be pigging out on junk food. Really made me mad but I did not respond anymore. Why do dietitians say things like that when I am clearly "with the program."

Talked with dietitian on the phone. She says I am not eating enough calories (never have been told to eat MORE in my life). Told me to aim for 800 per day. I started caffeinated coffee 2 days ago and lost 2 pounds. She said ok for coffee as I am getting 80-90oz fluids a day.

Yes, the breach was a couple years back but the hacked data is now available on the dark net. Could be on a number of servers in the dark net. I quit MyFitnessPal after using just one week. Didn't fulfill my needs. Don't even know if account still active but I'm not going to try to login. Just leave it be. I don't think there is much private data there.

Yes, I have 6-week checkup July 6. Hopefully I can get some answers/ suggestions.

Still not losing weight one month out. You can clearly see day of surgery and then 4 weeks of no meaningful weight loss.

Focus on words like always, never which in most people are never true. I've lived a lifetime on psych meds and weekly psychotherapy. Shocked my psychologist when MMPI-2 revealed NO mental health problems at all. Wow. I just answered honestly and knew that always and never statements aren't true for almost all people. There are stupid, outdated questions like wanting to be a librarian (don't most of use use web for library), enjoy reading newspaper articles (most never read newspaper anymore). Some are repeated to see if you are answering questions the same (gives reliability score). Don't sweat it. Just answer what is true for you within past 6 months.

Research papers have documented the fact that psychiatric problems (unless schizophrenia or other psychotic history) ARE NOT a factor in success/failure in bariatric surgery. The big issue is food addiction and if you tend to eat when stressed, bored, depressed or manic. I don't know why so many using psychiatric history to deny surgery when literature is clear it is not relevant.

Texas has stopped all elective surgeries due to high hospitalizations due to Covid-19. I suspect other states with big resurgence of cases will do the same, Hope it doesn't happen to any of you but be prepared. Your surgery date may get postponed.

They just calculated 60% excess weight as goal. I am only 5'1" and 160 pounds after surgery and months of weight loss is ridiculous to me. I think they just give you average excess weight for goal to keep expectations realistic for average person. But some of us aren't ever happy with average anything. We are motivated to do our best. Like, would you be happy graduating with 2.5 GPA? Or average income when you could do a lot better with job that paid more for same position.