BigSue

My surgeon wanted me to lose 20 pounds before surgery. I hadn't really dieted in years, because my previous experiences with dieting were that I would lose a small amount of weight and then gain it all back and more. I eventually quit dieting because I figured I was better off staying at the weight I was than losing, regaining, and gaining more again. I was reluctant to diet before surgery because of my past failures (which was also why I was resorting to surgery in the first place), but I had to lose 20 pounds just to get the surgery, so I had to try something.
I decided to try intermittent fasting because I know people who swear by it and it was something I hadn't tried before. Initially, I just fasted for 16 hours per day and ate as much as I wanted the other 8 hours, and it didn't work very well. One of my surgeon's pre-op requirements was to track my food for a week, either on paper or with MyFitnessPal, and I hate doing anything on paper, so I went with the app. I've counted calories before and also used point systems where I had to track my food, but this was in the days before iPhones and I had to track everything manually, look up the numbers either on the labels or in some kind of book, and it was such a hassle that I never stuck with it for long. I was surprised by how easy it was with the app, and I kept using it. It gave me a limit of 2190 calories per day, and at first, it was hard to stay under that, but I gradually decreased my intake until I was averaging 1500-1600 before surgery.
I set out to lose 20 pounds before surgery, and I ended up losing 70 in 5 months! I actually started to wonder if I should have the surgery because the combination of intermittent fasting and MyFitnessPal was working so well. I've never lost that much weight before. But I started out with an extremely high BMI (over 60), so even after losing 70 pounds, my BMI was almost 50, and I realized that it was highly unlikely I would be able to lose enough weight without surgery, and also that there was a pretty good chance that I would gain it all back without surgery, so I went ahead with it.
I'm glad I put all that effort into losing weight before surgery because it sort of gave me a head start. I've only lost 60 pounds in the 4 months since surgery, but add the 70 pounds before surgery and I'm down 130 pounds total. Plus, it helped me develop some better habits that I think have made the post-surgery lifestyle easier, like cutting out Snacks and tracking everything I eat.

My surgeon wanted me to lose 20 pounds before surgery. I hadn't really dieted in years, because my previous experiences with dieting were that I would lose a small amount of weight and then gain it all back and more. I eventually quit dieting because I figured I was better off staying at the weight I was than losing, regaining, and gaining more again. I was reluctant to diet before surgery because of my past failures (which was also why I was resorting to surgery in the first place), but I had to lose 20 pounds just to get the surgery, so I had to try something.
I decided to try intermittent fasting because I know people who swear by it and it was something I hadn't tried before. Initially, I just fasted for 16 hours per day and ate as much as I wanted the other 8 hours, and it didn't work very well. One of my surgeon's pre-op requirements was to track my food for a week, either on paper or with MyFitnessPal, and I hate doing anything on paper, so I went with the app. I've counted calories before and also used point systems where I had to track my food, but this was in the days before iPhones and I had to track everything manually, look up the numbers either on the labels or in some kind of book, and it was such a hassle that I never stuck with it for long. I was surprised by how easy it was with the app, and I kept using it. It gave me a limit of 2190 calories per day, and at first, it was hard to stay under that, but I gradually decreased my intake until I was averaging 1500-1600 before surgery.
I set out to lose 20 pounds before surgery, and I ended up losing 70 in 5 months! I actually started to wonder if I should have the surgery because the combination of intermittent fasting and MyFitnessPal was working so well. I've never lost that much weight before. But I started out with an extremely high BMI (over 60), so even after losing 70 pounds, my BMI was almost 50, and I realized that it was highly unlikely I would be able to lose enough weight without surgery, and also that there was a pretty good chance that I would gain it all back without surgery, so I went ahead with it.
I'm glad I put all that effort into losing weight before surgery because it sort of gave me a head start. I've only lost 60 pounds in the 4 months since surgery, but add the 70 pounds before surgery and I'm down 130 pounds total. Plus, it helped me develop some better habits that I think have made the post-surgery lifestyle easier, like cutting out Snacks and tracking everything I eat.

There's pretty much no avoiding loose skin when you lose a massive amount of weight (especially if you lose it quickly). It varies from one person to the next depending on a lot of factors, but you just have to take it into account with the pros and cons of surgery. To most people, loose skin is far better than the alternative of keeping the excess fat. I've lost 130 pounds, and although I still have a ways to go, I have some loose skin, and I'm grateful for it because it's an amazing improvement from where I started. I don't look as good as someone my size who has never been bigger than this, but I look a heck of a lot better than I did at 341 pounds.
Loose skin doesn't really show under the right clothing, so for the most part, people can't even tell if you have it. If it bothers you, plastic surgery is an option, but insurance doesn't typically cover it, so it's very expensive, and from what I hear, very painful.

There's pretty much no avoiding loose skin when you lose a massive amount of weight (especially if you lose it quickly). It varies from one person to the next depending on a lot of factors, but you just have to take it into account with the pros and cons of surgery. To most people, loose skin is far better than the alternative of keeping the excess fat. I've lost 130 pounds, and although I still have a ways to go, I have some loose skin, and I'm grateful for it because it's an amazing improvement from where I started. I don't look as good as someone my size who has never been bigger than this, but I look a heck of a lot better than I did at 341 pounds.
Loose skin doesn't really show under the right clothing, so for the most part, people can't even tell if you have it. If it bothers you, plastic surgery is an option, but insurance doesn't typically cover it, so it's very expensive, and from what I hear, very painful.

There’s a lot of variation in pre-op diets, so it’s hard to say how your surgeon came up with these specific guidelines. To be perfectly honest, I suspect it’s partly superstition. I have heard of it sometimes being based on weight and/or body shape. If your BMI is on the low end (40ish) and/or you carry your weight more in your hips than your belly, you may not need to shrink your liver as much. But really, you just need to trust your surgeon and do what he/she says.

I was afraid to start eating solid foods because I was afraid of getting sick. I really hate vomiting, so I am super careful about what I eat. I stayed on purees for a few weeks longer than I had to because I didn't want to try solid foods too soon. I haven't had any issues so far except for occasionally having a bite of meat getting stuck on the way down. I haven't really felt restriction kick in -- I haven't gotten to the point of thinking I couldn't eat any more. I measure out my food and don't eat any more than about 1/2 cup at a time. I have gotten full a few times, and even to the point that I wish I had stopped a bite or two earlier, but only with solid foods, not purees. And I haven't experienced any of the new feelings of fullness that other people have described; it feels pretty much the same as before surgery to me (just takes much, much less food to get there). I have a few go-to meals that I repeat a lot, so I've learned to adjust the portions.
The dietitian in my surgeon's practice told me I should be eating 800-1000 calories per day, and I don't get anywhere close to that. I have only gone over 600 a few times. And when I do, it kind of makes me nervous because I'm worried it will get out of control, and I feel like I need to stay lower in calories the next day. I'm very strict with myself about only eating 3 meals per day and no Snacks other than Protein Drinks. Right now, it's easy because I don't ever really feel hungry, and I want to take advantage of that to cut my calories while it's still easy.

I was afraid to start eating solid foods because I was afraid of getting sick. I really hate vomiting, so I am super careful about what I eat. I stayed on purees for a few weeks longer than I had to because I didn't want to try solid foods too soon. I haven't had any issues so far except for occasionally having a bite of meat getting stuck on the way down. I haven't really felt restriction kick in -- I haven't gotten to the point of thinking I couldn't eat any more. I measure out my food and don't eat any more than about 1/2 cup at a time. I have gotten full a few times, and even to the point that I wish I had stopped a bite or two earlier, but only with solid foods, not purees. And I haven't experienced any of the new feelings of fullness that other people have described; it feels pretty much the same as before surgery to me (just takes much, much less food to get there). I have a few go-to meals that I repeat a lot, so I've learned to adjust the portions.
The dietitian in my surgeon's practice told me I should be eating 800-1000 calories per day, and I don't get anywhere close to that. I have only gone over 600 a few times. And when I do, it kind of makes me nervous because I'm worried it will get out of control, and I feel like I need to stay lower in calories the next day. I'm very strict with myself about only eating 3 meals per day and no Snacks other than Protein Drinks. Right now, it's easy because I don't ever really feel hungry, and I want to take advantage of that to cut my calories while it's still easy.

I searched for quite awhile before selecting my surgeon, and I am so happy with the choice I made. I live in GA and had my surgery in Deluth at Northside hospital, my surgeon was Dr. Del Mazo. I really like his bedside manner, and have been very comfortable with him from the initial consult. The dietitians, fitness instructors, nurses and office staff have all been wonderful and when I was discharged from the hospital he gave me a teddy bear; of course I said that’s not necessary and he goes...”well yeah we do, it’s “bear”iatrics.” Lol

I cried, because I’m a softie, and because it was just unexpected, and no it doesn’t matter that they do it for all of their patients, it was touching to me:)

I wanted to share, because I don’t genuinely enjoy and click with every doctor, but feel
It’s worth some kudos to them when you find a good one.

I wouldn't recommend doing it for any longer than your doctor requires. It kind of depends on what the diet is, though. Mine was one week with 3 Protein Shakes per day plus a low-calorie, low-carb meal, then one week of all Protein shakes. It's not fun, and it's not intended to be a long-term diet. It's just meant to shrink your liver to make your surgery safer. I don't think it's particularly healthy as a long-term diet, either. You're probably better off eating "real food" for as long as you're allowed, like lean protein, veggies, and complex carbs (like Beans and whole grains). Some pre-op diets are a lot less strict than mine and allow you to eat meat and veggies, so if yours is like that, it might not be as hard to do an extra week. Unless your surgeon has a requirement for you to lose a certain amount of weight before surgery, don't worry too much about that 4 kg. You will lose plenty in a 3-week pre-op diet and of course after surgery.

I wouldn't recommend doing it for any longer than your doctor requires. It kind of depends on what the diet is, though. Mine was one week with 3 Protein Shakes per day plus a low-calorie, low-carb meal, then one week of all Protein shakes. It's not fun, and it's not intended to be a long-term diet. It's just meant to shrink your liver to make your surgery safer. I don't think it's particularly healthy as a long-term diet, either. You're probably better off eating "real food" for as long as you're allowed, like lean protein, veggies, and complex carbs (like Beans and whole grains). Some pre-op diets are a lot less strict than mine and allow you to eat meat and veggies, so if yours is like that, it might not be as hard to do an extra week. Unless your surgeon has a requirement for you to lose a certain amount of weight before surgery, don't worry too much about that 4 kg. You will lose plenty in a 3-week pre-op diet and of course after surgery.

I had surgery on a Thursday and went home on Friday. The first few days were a little rough, but by Tuesday (5 days after surgery), I could have gone back to work. Even in the first few days after surgery, though, I was ok -- I didn't have any pain by the time I got home from the hospital, and I was able to walk around the house and take care of myself.

You could try liquid vitamins or vitamin patches. I used BariMelts for the first 3 months, which I prefer to chewables because they melt in your mouth so you don’t have to chew them, but if you have issues with sublinguals, these might not work for you, either. The only thing I have to take sublingually is B-12, and you can get that as a shot or nasal spray.

I am no longer morbidly obese! Just plain obese, haha. But not bad, considering that I started with a BMI over 60.

I went back to work 11 days after surgery, but I have a desk job. I was told not to lift anything over 20 pounds until 6 weeks after surgery, and I think that's pretty standard. Does the nurse know that you do heavy lifting at your job?

I'm 3 months out and averaging 450 calories per day. Nutritionist said I should aim for 800-1000 per day.

I pretty much just sat around for the first several days. I had surgery on a Thursday, went home the next day (Friday) and didn't do much over the weekend. At that point, just trying to get your fluids and Protein and track everything is basically a full-time job. On Monday, I did a little work on the computer, and on Tuesday, I was close to feeling back to normal. I worked most of the day (at home on the computer). I had almost no pain aside from the gas pain the first couple of days. I was walking around the house periodically from the day I got home, but nothing more strenuous than that for the first week or so. Everyone heals differently and your body has been through a lot, so try not to rush it!

I am no longer morbidly obese! Just plain obese, haha. But not bad, considering that I started with a BMI over 60.

Are you allowed to eat purées yet? It is much easier to get Protein when you can eat purées. Puréed foods can hide the flavor of protein powder much better than Protein Drinks. Here are some great options:
Greek yogurt mixed with protein powder (I like vanilla yogurt with chocolate flavored protein powder and powdered peanut butter). sugar-free pudding mixed with protein powder pureed retried Beans mixed with unflavored protein powder (I like to top the beans with enchilada sauce, Laughing Cow cheese, and Flavor God nacho cheese powder) Applesauce mixed with unflavored protein powder and a tiny splash of sugar-free caramel Syrup Protein oatmeal mixed with cinnamon roll protein powder Pureed black bean Soup mixed with unflavored protein powder You might also want to browse the BariatricPal Store because they have a lot of protein-fortified foods like Soups, oatmeal, pudding, etc. that you can try, one of my personal favorites is protein hot cocoa. It tastes like normal hot cocoa (no yucky protein taste) and if you mix it with Fairlife milk instead of Water, it’s a lot of protein. You can also try Syntrax Nectar protein powder. It’s a little different from Protein Shakes and there are a lot of flavors, so you might find something you like.

You don’t have to purée solid food for the puréed stage. I’m with you about puréed meat. I’ve seen a lot of people making stuff like puréed chicken salad and I just can’t. But there are other foods with a puréed texture that you can eat in the puréed stage. Do you Ike yogurt, pudding, applesauce, refried Beans, or puréed Soups (black bean Soup, butternut squash soup, etc.)? You can eat any of that in the puréed stage. The puréed stage isn’t that long (it was just a week for me), so you only need to find a few things you like.
It probably wouldn’t hurt anything to just continue on liquids during the puréed stage, but by that time, you’re probably going to be so sick of Protein Shakes that you’ll be dying to eat something resembling real food.

I usually reheat my food in the microwave at least once during a meal. I also try to cover my food between bites (either with a lid or plate on top of a bowl, or an inverted bowl over a plate).

You don’t have to purée solid food for the puréed stage. I’m with you about puréed meat. I’ve seen a lot of people making stuff like puréed chicken salad and I just can’t. But there are other foods with a puréed texture that you can eat in the puréed stage. Do you Ike yogurt, pudding, applesauce, refried Beans, or puréed Soups (black bean Soup, butternut squash soup, etc.)? You can eat any of that in the puréed stage. The puréed stage isn’t that long (it was just a week for me), so you only need to find a few things you like.
It probably wouldn’t hurt anything to just continue on liquids during the puréed stage, but by that time, you’re probably going to be so sick of Protein Shakes that you’ll be dying to eat something resembling real food.

I was allowed to start taking capsules 6 weeks after surgery.

I went into my initial consultation thinking that I wanted the sleeve, but my surgeon pushed me to get gastric bypass instead because I had a very high starting BMI (over 60). I had gotten the impression that the sleeve was a more modern, less risky, less extreme surgery, but my surgeon explained that the risks are about equal (although there are different risks), and gastric bypass typically results in more weight loss. I was unsure at the time, but as I learned more about both surgeries, I became more confident that gastric bypass was the right surgery. It might just be confirmation bias, but I've seen a lot of people talk about getting severe GERD with the sleeve, and/or not losing enough weight, and getting a revision to bypass.
What surgery you get is YOUR decision, though, so if you are not comfortable with it, you have the right to cancel. However, it's best to avoid making big decisions when you're in a heightened emotional state, so what were your thoughts a few weeks ago when the surgery was a little farther in the distance and you were in a calmer state of mind?

I was told to take chewable vitamins for the first 6 weeks after surgery. I used BariMelts. You don't even have to chew them; they melt in your mouth. They're not bad, but they're a bit pricey, so I've switched to capsules that are cheaper. I still take NatureMade sublingual B12 (they're cherry-flavored and melt in your mouth) and Natrol Biotin (strawberry-flavored and delicious), which are very affordable on Amazon.

Before surgery*: Taco Bell Mexican pizza

After surgery: Mini Mexican pizza (featuring Mr. Tortilla 1 net carb tortillas)

I had to take a break after eating about 1/3 of it because some chicken got stuck on the way down. Went back to it later and ate almost all the rest (added some lettuce and light sour cream after the first picture).

*I probably only had the Taco Bell Mexican pizza once or twice in my life. I rarely went to Taco Bell and this wasn't one of my favorite items on the menu. I was inspired today by a video on how to make your own Mexican pizza since Taco Bell is retiring it from the menu.