BigSue

It’s your body, so you can decide what your goal is! Why don’t you start with a goal of losing 30 pounds — which you seem to be confident you can do — and when you get there, see how you feel? Maybe you’ll be happy with that, or maybe you’ll feel motivated to lose 30 more pounds from there. But please don’t fall into the trap of thinking it will be a failure if you “only” lose 30 pounds and not 60.

Try Protein hot chocolate. I found it much easier to drink than cold Protein Shakes. If you make it with Fairlife milk instead of Water, it has as much protein as a shake. I love the BariatricPal brand, but there’s a similar product from ProtiDiet that you can buy on Amazon.
You can also try protein Soups if you’re tired of sweet drinks. Another option is clear Protein Drinks (like Protein2O or Syntrax Nectar), which are more like juice than shakes, so you might find them more palatable.
When are you allowed to start puréed foods? You can mix Protein Powder into almost anything puréed (unflavored for savory foods, flavored for sweet foods like yogurt or sugar-free pudding).

This is the most recent comparison that I have. SW (5/1/19) 327, VSG (12/17/19)- 264, RNY revision (8/11/20)- 211, Thanksgiving weight- 185
I had emergency surgery 12/26/20 so I haven’t taken a current photo lately but my current weight is 157, so 7lbs from goal.

I haven't posted in a while. Here's my before and after. RNY: 4/11/17, HW: 334, CW: 179. I'm 155lbs lighter and feeling great.

I love the MyFitnessPal app, but a lot of people use Baritastic. They are pretty similar and really easy to use. You can search for a food or, if it has a barcode, just scan the barcode and it will automatically calculate the nutrition information for the serving size you enter.

I love the MyFitnessPal app, but a lot of people use Baritastic. They are pretty similar and really easy to use. You can search for a food or, if it has a barcode, just scan the barcode and it will automatically calculate the nutrition information for the serving size you enter.

I first started looking into WLS about 15 years ago, and my family talked me out of it because of the potential for horrible complications. Since then, I reconsidered it periodically, but kept deciding that I couldn't do it. I thought about everything I would have to give up -- all of my favorite things, like diet soda (my one guiltless pleasure), pizza, ice cream, fried foods, Pasta -- and I couldn't stand the thought of it. I hated the idea of having to completely change my diet and take Vitamins for the rest of my life.
What made me finally go through with it was the realization of everything I was giving up to continue living as an obese person. I didn't have any major health problems yet, but I had been diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes and I was going to have to start taking medication if I didn't get them under control. My mobility was going downhill and I was missing out on so much in life because of the physical and social limitations of my weight.
My advice is that you make your decision by carefully considering what you have to lose vs. what you have to gain. Studies show that we humans are naturally averse to the risk of loss and tend to overvalue what we have to lose and undervalue what we have to gain. When I really thought about everything I was already giving up and losing by continuing to live with obesity, the tradeoffs of having WLS didn't seem like so much of a sacrifice in comparison. Yes, it is a big lifestyle change and it is really hard, but the improvements to my health and quality of life are incredible. Like so many people, I wish that I had gone through with it sooner before I missed out on so many things in life. There were so many times that I wished and dreamed about how my life would be if I wasn't cursed with obesity, and here I am now, 160 pounds down from my highest weight -- something I used to think was impossible.
As for the recovery, it's actually not bad for most people. I only spent one night in the hospital and I had surprisingly little pain. I never even had to take any pain medication after I left the hospital. I only took a week off from work. There are risks to any surgery, but the rate of complications for WLS is very low. The liquid and pureed diet is rough, but it's only a few weeks. You didn't say how old your kids are, but if they're very young, you may need to get someone to help with them for a while. You won't be able to lift them for several weeks after surgery. If they're teenagers, they're probably self-sufficient enough to pitch in while you're recovering.

The first picture is from when I started the program. I had my surgery on Aug 24, 2020. The second picture is my 4 month post op. I am down 55lbs. I feel amazing I am so glad I did it. In total I have lost 85lbs since the first picture was taken.

I had my rny on july 23 2020 I'm down 95 pounds my goal is to be 130 I'm 190 right now

Sent from my SM-A205U using BariatricPal mobile app

You're doing great! I actually weighed more at my 1-week followup appointment than I did the day of surgery. As @WishMeSmaller said, it's because they pumped you full of IV fluids while you were in the hospital. Your body is recovering from a major surgery, and I know it's easier said than done, but it's too soon to be looking at your weight loss right now. Your priorities should be getting your fluids and Protein, and if you stick with your surgeon's plan, you WILL see results. The number on the scale is virtually meaningless right now, so please don't stress about it.

Starting weight over 220 (not sure I wouldn’t get on a scale but estimate that) RNY July 2020, current weight 138. Wearing size small/medium and 6/8 bottoms. In the before I was wearing 18 shorts and XXL tops. I feel so amazing and so happy with the results!!

I first started looking into WLS about 15 years ago, and my family talked me out of it because of the potential for horrible complications. Since then, I reconsidered it periodically, but kept deciding that I couldn't do it. I thought about everything I would have to give up -- all of my favorite things, like diet soda (my one guiltless pleasure), pizza, ice cream, fried foods, Pasta -- and I couldn't stand the thought of it. I hated the idea of having to completely change my diet and take Vitamins for the rest of my life.
What made me finally go through with it was the realization of everything I was giving up to continue living as an obese person. I didn't have any major health problems yet, but I had been diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes and I was going to have to start taking medication if I didn't get them under control. My mobility was going downhill and I was missing out on so much in life because of the physical and social limitations of my weight.
My advice is that you make your decision by carefully considering what you have to lose vs. what you have to gain. Studies show that we humans are naturally averse to the risk of loss and tend to overvalue what we have to lose and undervalue what we have to gain. When I really thought about everything I was already giving up and losing by continuing to live with obesity, the tradeoffs of having WLS didn't seem like so much of a sacrifice in comparison. Yes, it is a big lifestyle change and it is really hard, but the improvements to my health and quality of life are incredible. Like so many people, I wish that I had gone through with it sooner before I missed out on so many things in life. There were so many times that I wished and dreamed about how my life would be if I wasn't cursed with obesity, and here I am now, 160 pounds down from my highest weight -- something I used to think was impossible.
As for the recovery, it's actually not bad for most people. I only spent one night in the hospital and I had surprisingly little pain. I never even had to take any pain medication after I left the hospital. I only took a week off from work. There are risks to any surgery, but the rate of complications for WLS is very low. The liquid and pureed diet is rough, but it's only a few weeks. You didn't say how old your kids are, but if they're very young, you may need to get someone to help with them for a while. You won't be able to lift them for several weeks after surgery. If they're teenagers, they're probably self-sufficient enough to pitch in while you're recovering.

You're doing great! I actually weighed more at my 1-week followup appointment than I did the day of surgery. As @WishMeSmaller said, it's because they pumped you full of IV fluids while you were in the hospital. Your body is recovering from a major surgery, and I know it's easier said than done, but it's too soon to be looking at your weight loss right now. Your priorities should be getting your fluids and Protein, and if you stick with your surgeon's plan, you WILL see results. The number on the scale is virtually meaningless right now, so please don't stress about it.

I live far away from the nearest Trader Joe's, but I'm taking a trip next week that will take me near one on my way home. Because of COVID, I don't want to spend a long time browsing in the store, so I'd like to make a list of items that I can go in and grab without lingering. #1 on my list is the chili lime chicken burgers recommended by @Cheeseburgh on the favorite grocery products post (I hope they have these -- they look delicious!).
Please tell me your must-buy bariatric-friendly products at Trader Joe's!

Welcome back! Don't beat yourself up -- this has been a rough year for everyone and A LOT of people have had weight gain during the pandemic. It's not too late to get back on track.
There are a lot of options for working out at home. I have no desire to go to a gym (plus, I live in a rural area and it would be a long drive to get to a gym), so I would rather work out at home. I do a YouTube video for cardio every day. There are so many free workout videos available (my favorite is Leslie Sansone). And you can do strength training with an inexpensive set of resistance bands.
Maybe you could try cutting out Snacks completely. For me, snacking was a big part of my weight problems in the first place, so I am now sticking to three meals per day and not snacking at all between meals, other than Protein Drinks (and the occasional sugar-free hard candy). I'm only 6 months out from surgery, so I'm sure it's easier for me than it is for you, but I find that a warm beverage fills me up for a while.
I think tracking your food intake is really important. I love MyFitnessPal, and something that helps me is to enter my food BEFORE I eat it. If you're not up to that detailed tracking, you could try an app like Ate Food Diary. All you have to do with that is take a picture of what you eat and say whether it's on path or off path.

I’m only 2 months out but you can really see a difference in my face! As I progress, I’ll upload a body shot one day. Bypass Nov 17th 2020. 41 lbs down.

I find that warm beverages are easier to drink than cold. I love Protein hot chocolate (much better than cold Protein Shakes, IMO). I also like hot tea (I've never been much of a tea drinker, but I do like apple cinnamon tea with sugar-free caramel Syrup -- reminds me of hot cider).
My new favorite drink is Crio Bru, which is brewed cacao Beans. It is marketed as an alternative to coffee (which I don't like). 6 ounces Crio Bru + 2 ounces almond milk + sugar-free syrup = fantastic cup of 23-calorie hot chocolate. I also sometimes add 1/2 scoop of Protein Powder or use 2 ounces of ready-to-drink Protein Shake instead of almond milk. So many flavor combinations are possible! I love chocolate coconut protein powder + sugar-free caramel syrup.

Sorry you're having these problems. I'm glad you posted your story here because I think it's important for people to go into this surgery with their eyes wide open, knowing the potential pros and cons. Before my surgery, I looked for people who regretted it because I wanted to be fully aware of the worst-case scenario. I had a lot of trouble finding people who regretted it -- even most people who had horrible complications said they would do it all over again! I think this is partly because the people who are glad they had the surgery are the ones who post about it and make videos about it (and of course the fact that the vast majority of people who have the surgery are happy with it).
I hope that your problems improve. I've read that a lot of WLS patients have menstrual changes because estrogen and other hormones are stored in fat, and fast weight loss results in the release of these hormones into the bloodstream. I'm not a doctor, of course, but I would guess there's a good chance that this problem will go away eventually. I definitely think it's worth talking to your OB/GYN if you haven't already.
As for the preoccupation with your weight and eating, I think that's something that will lessen over time as you get used to your new body and your new life, but if not, maybe you could look into counseling. I'll be interested to see how you feel a year from now. I certainly hope it gets better and you come to be happy with your decision to get the surgery.

HW on the left; 5lbs to my goal weight on the right. A little over a year for this transformation. Will never go back! So thankful!!

I am only 3mo post op and I saw the difference in my progress photos today and wanted to share - just my belly - I think it is 1 week post op vs 3 months. I am a slow loser, or more of a staller dropper (I have had a stall of at least 14 days all three months lol) so taking photos really helps me!

Most of my preparations for life after surgery were about the pre-surgery diet and the first couple of months post-op (liquids, purees, and soft foods). For the pre-surgery diet and post-op liquid diet, I purchased a bunch of samples of Protein powders (different flavors and brands) because I never used protein powders before and wasn't sure what I would like. I also got ready-to-drink Protein Shakes, protein Water, Bone Broth, protein Soup mixes, unflavored Protein Powder, sugar-free popsicles, and sugar-free Jello.
For the pureed stage, I bought unsweetened applesauce, sugar-free pudding, protein oatmeal, fat free refried Beans, Laughing Cow cheese, and yogurt. I made some pureed black bean soup and froze it in individual portions. I bought way too much food for the pureed stage because it was only a week (actually, I stuck to purees for an extra couple of weeks before I worked up the nerve to move on to soft foods) and I was only eating a couple of ounces at a time (half of an individual pudding or applesauce). I still have quite a bit of this stuff 6 months later!
I don't really do a lot of hardcore "meal prep," but since I live alone and eat tiny portions, any time I cook a regular-sized recipe, it is a lot of portions, so I freeze it in individual servings. I made a turkey meat sauce recipe the other day (https://www.panningtheglobe.com/quick-turkey-ragu/) that came out to 28 portions, which I froze in disposable 2-ounce cups. I also have a lot of 4-ounce glass containers that I use to freeze individual portions.
I didn't really work out before surgery. I started after surgery, doing Leslie Sansone Walk at Home videos (available on YouTube). I started with 15-minute videos and worked my way up to 30-50 minutes per day. I try to get at least 10,000 steps per day. I do strength training with resistance bands 2-3 times per week. I also use 3-pound weights when I do the walk at home videos.

Don't worry too much about a couple of pounds. I usually weigh myself multiple times per day, and my weight can fluctuate by a couple of pounds within the same day. Things like Water intake, salt intake, hormonal changes (which can definitely be affected by a new birth control), and bathroom issues can cause small fluctuations. A lot of people recommend only weighing yourself once per week so you don't see those small day-to-day fluctuations.

Welcome back! Don't beat yourself up -- this has been a rough year for everyone and A LOT of people have had weight gain during the pandemic. It's not too late to get back on track.
There are a lot of options for working out at home. I have no desire to go to a gym (plus, I live in a rural area and it would be a long drive to get to a gym), so I would rather work out at home. I do a YouTube video for cardio every day. There are so many free workout videos available (my favorite is Leslie Sansone). And you can do strength training with an inexpensive set of resistance bands.
Maybe you could try cutting out Snacks completely. For me, snacking was a big part of my weight problems in the first place, so I am now sticking to three meals per day and not snacking at all between meals, other than Protein Drinks (and the occasional sugar-free hard candy). I'm only 6 months out from surgery, so I'm sure it's easier for me than it is for you, but I find that a warm beverage fills me up for a while.
I think tracking your food intake is really important. I love MyFitnessPal, and something that helps me is to enter my food BEFORE I eat it. If you're not up to that detailed tracking, you could try an app like Ate Food Diary. All you have to do with that is take a picture of what you eat and say whether it's on path or off path.

Most of my preparations for life after surgery were about the pre-surgery diet and the first couple of months post-op (liquids, purees, and soft foods). For the pre-surgery diet and post-op liquid diet, I purchased a bunch of samples of Protein powders (different flavors and brands) because I never used protein powders before and wasn't sure what I would like. I also got ready-to-drink Protein Shakes, protein Water, Bone Broth, protein Soup mixes, unflavored Protein Powder, sugar-free popsicles, and sugar-free Jello.
For the pureed stage, I bought unsweetened applesauce, sugar-free pudding, protein oatmeal, fat free refried Beans, Laughing Cow cheese, and yogurt. I made some pureed black bean soup and froze it in individual portions. I bought way too much food for the pureed stage because it was only a week (actually, I stuck to purees for an extra couple of weeks before I worked up the nerve to move on to soft foods) and I was only eating a couple of ounces at a time (half of an individual pudding or applesauce). I still have quite a bit of this stuff 6 months later!
I don't really do a lot of hardcore "meal prep," but since I live alone and eat tiny portions, any time I cook a regular-sized recipe, it is a lot of portions, so I freeze it in individual servings. I made a turkey meat sauce recipe the other day (https://www.panningtheglobe.com/quick-turkey-ragu/) that came out to 28 portions, which I froze in disposable 2-ounce cups. I also have a lot of 4-ounce glass containers that I use to freeze individual portions.
I didn't really work out before surgery. I started after surgery, doing Leslie Sansone Walk at Home videos (available on YouTube). I started with 15-minute videos and worked my way up to 30-50 minutes per day. I try to get at least 10,000 steps per day. I do strength training with resistance bands 2-3 times per week. I also use 3-pound weights when I do the walk at home videos.

Most of my preparations for life after surgery were about the pre-surgery diet and the first couple of months post-op (liquids, purees, and soft foods). For the pre-surgery diet and post-op liquid diet, I purchased a bunch of samples of Protein powders (different flavors and brands) because I never used protein powders before and wasn't sure what I would like. I also got ready-to-drink Protein Shakes, protein Water, Bone Broth, protein Soup mixes, unflavored Protein Powder, sugar-free popsicles, and sugar-free Jello.
For the pureed stage, I bought unsweetened applesauce, sugar-free pudding, protein oatmeal, fat free refried Beans, Laughing Cow cheese, and yogurt. I made some pureed black bean soup and froze it in individual portions. I bought way too much food for the pureed stage because it was only a week (actually, I stuck to purees for an extra couple of weeks before I worked up the nerve to move on to soft foods) and I was only eating a couple of ounces at a time (half of an individual pudding or applesauce). I still have quite a bit of this stuff 6 months later!
I don't really do a lot of hardcore "meal prep," but since I live alone and eat tiny portions, any time I cook a regular-sized recipe, it is a lot of portions, so I freeze it in individual servings. I made a turkey meat sauce recipe the other day (https://www.panningtheglobe.com/quick-turkey-ragu/) that came out to 28 portions, which I froze in disposable 2-ounce cups. I also have a lot of 4-ounce glass containers that I use to freeze individual portions.
I didn't really work out before surgery. I started after surgery, doing Leslie Sansone Walk at Home videos (available on YouTube). I started with 15-minute videos and worked my way up to 30-50 minutes per day. I try to get at least 10,000 steps per day. I do strength training with resistance bands 2-3 times per week. I also use 3-pound weights when I do the walk at home videos.