ichabodny

I've been in maintenance for four years. I eat about as much as many of my never-been-obese women friends who are constantly watching what they eat. In other words, if I go out, I'll get something like a salad or an appetizer. Or if I order an entree, I'll take half of it home (or maybe 2/3 of it if it's enormous). If I'm out and we order a pizza, I'll eat one or two pieces. So yes - I'd say I eat like your normal "light eater". No one would be able to tell at this point that I've had bariatric surgery, just by observing what I eat.
this is NOT true the first year or so (and definitely not the first few months). But once you're in maintenance, yes.

I loose my taste every so often or it gets strange happened about 4 Times for me. Increase you Vitamins and Minerals - I know you had a blood test but maybe you need more now

I agree this subject never gets the attention it deserves from any surgery groups or even Drs. Weirdly, watching 'My 600 lb life' before we decided to have the surgery and through the program helped me with this even more then my wonderful WL team did with the surgeon. I remembered watching an episode early on where the person had the surgery but came to the 2 month appt and eventually admitted that he just ate a little bit of his normal sweets and 'no no's' all day in small increments. Anyone watching the show know Dr. Now and his response to that lol. His voice is forever in my head with the 'head hunger' and warnings :-).
I'm 4 months out. I don't know about others here but my program with my Drs was pretty strict the first 6 months and I had to lose a percentage before I got the surgery-not per insurance but per my WL Dr. I also had to have counseling every month for six months and am still getting it (just started back up). I had to learn to eat beforehand and it helped tons. I am not a sugar addict but a Pasta freak. I can even eat it easier then my protein-makes me less sick. If I have popcorn (a slider food) I can eat more of that too before getting sick. So I just avoid it. I do put it to holidays as a treat but only make up about 2 tbsp in the popper without any salt or butter (always done this) and it does the trick. I stick to just my Protein to keep full-my nut is pretty helpful with this aspect too).
The way food is seen needs to be the target for this surgery. I have days that are hormonal where I could easily eat something bad for me knowing full well I will curl up in agony for the next hours but feel it's worth it. But I don't do that. I drink instead or have a sugar free popsicle. Then, after so many months, the craving is really gone. My worst days are when I desperately want a glass of cold diet pop. Some days are killers for that but I'm learning to just drink Water with ice when that happens.
I think you are doing awesome-people really don't realize how difficult this whole process and surgery with the WL is. Thanks for the great post!

I agree this subject never gets the attention it deserves from any surgery groups or even Drs. Weirdly, watching 'My 600 lb life' before we decided to have the surgery and through the program helped me with this even more then my wonderful WL team did with the surgeon. I remembered watching an episode early on where the person had the surgery but came to the 2 month appt and eventually admitted that he just ate a little bit of his normal sweets and 'no no's' all day in small increments. Anyone watching the show know Dr. Now and his response to that lol. His voice is forever in my head with the 'head hunger' and warnings :-).
I'm 4 months out. I don't know about others here but my program with my Drs was pretty strict the first 6 months and I had to lose a percentage before I got the surgery-not per insurance but per my WL Dr. I also had to have counseling every month for six months and am still getting it (just started back up). I had to learn to eat beforehand and it helped tons. I am not a sugar addict but a Pasta freak. I can even eat it easier then my protein-makes me less sick. If I have popcorn (a slider food) I can eat more of that too before getting sick. So I just avoid it. I do put it to holidays as a treat but only make up about 2 tbsp in the popper without any salt or butter (always done this) and it does the trick. I stick to just my Protein to keep full-my nut is pretty helpful with this aspect too).
The way food is seen needs to be the target for this surgery. I have days that are hormonal where I could easily eat something bad for me knowing full well I will curl up in agony for the next hours but feel it's worth it. But I don't do that. I drink instead or have a sugar free popsicle. Then, after so many months, the craving is really gone. My worst days are when I desperately want a glass of cold diet pop. Some days are killers for that but I'm learning to just drink Water with ice when that happens.
I think you are doing awesome-people really don't realize how difficult this whole process and surgery with the WL is. Thanks for the great post!

Protein Drinks are the staple of the post-op diet. I really like GNC Lean shakes, premade, in chocolate.

Hello Everyone
My name is Leontyne Lynn Jones. I go by Lynn. I am 60 years old, I had my Gastric Bypass RNY on July 7th 20. I am 5 months Post-Op. It has been a struggle for me, at first I had developed this very intense pain on my left side after my surgery, then once I was told that I could start eating regular food, I started feeling nauseous every time I would eat or drink, called the office which I had my surgery done at Summa in Akron, my surgeon was Dr. Dan. I had notified the office what I was experiencing, nothing was done until I went in for my 3 months follow-up. The Nurse Practitioner ordered for me to have an Upper GI done. Had the test done found out that I have acid reflux, plus 2 small ulcers in my pouch, currently on medication for it. I am suppose to have an Endoscopy done, but with this COVID going on I don't know when this will get done. I do have my 6 months follow-up next month. Too be honest I had doubts about having the surgery, I really struggle with my discussion, it really gotten worst when I started having complications. But know I am glad that I did have it, I am no longer on any medications and I feel good. I live in Norton, I look forward to meeting everyone in the group.

Hey guys, I’m 4 weeks post op as of today. Since surgery I’ve only lost 9 lbs. I lost more during my 2 wk pre-op diet. Which I lost 13lbs. Is something wrong?

Hi Gang. Meow here. 5.5 months post op bypass. I've had slow but steady losses. (SW:217 CW:178. GW: 150)
And I just felt the need to make a post about my sweet addiction. Before my surgery I found myself very concerned about dumping. Often asking in the forum whether Bypass meant I could never have treats again and being assured I could "eventually" or "a bite or two" or "in moderation" etc. This brought me great relief. I knew then I wasn't in the ideal frame of mind but I was doing the best I could.
I found at about 4 weeks post op I could tolerate about 5 of my favorite chocolate covered almonds and ate them every night as a reward for hitting my Protein and Water goals. Eventually I increased that to 10 choco almonds. Then it moved to other Desserts or candy. What I've found is my entire eating plan is focused on getting my "healthys" in so I can have a treat at the end of the day. I become obsessed. I realize I've always been that way. Eat healthy so you can indulge.
I find I get nauseous if I eat a full portion of dessert. But I can usually get away with eating half. So I do. Every day. Or I eat the full portion and get nauseous. I get thru it. Usually lasts about 30 minutes. I feel miserable. I don't throw up. When I'm in the middle of the nausea I swear I'll never have sugar again. But then it passes and I'm the addict again.
The last couple months I've somehow justified 2 treats a day. And this Thanksgiving was the first time I really realized how deeply I don't have control over my treat addiction. I was surrounded by baked goods. I'd eat a small one. Feel sick. Then a couple hours do it again. Over the 2 days of celebration I made myself feel sick about 5 times. The nausea is miserable. Sweats, light headed, toe-curling nausea. Then it passes. And I'm fine. And like a drug addict I indulge again. It's shocking. It's like I'm binging. Except I never throw up and it's only one treat at a time.
I guess my point is... bypass didn't cure me. I do feel sick when I eat too much sugar. But it doesn't stop me from doing it. From constantly seeing how much I can have before I feel sick. I have a lot of work to do before I am no longer "unhealthy" regardless of my weight. Wanted to share in case others are sweet addicts and wondering how the surgery will affect that.

I was very upset at first, when I got reaction from my family about my weight loss. I quickly realized they felt left behind, but who's fault is that? I have been wanting to share my surgery and weight loss with others, but I am 100% sure I will get the same reaction, so I haven't said anything. And I'm not sure when I will smh......... This has been the best early Christmas gift I could have ever given myself.

Skyewolfe, STOP sharing with your ABUSIVE mother! She has some serious issues that needs help. Place boundaries within your relationship (Look up Dr. Henry Cloud on Boundaries). What she is doing is NOT healthy for you - both emotionally and mentally. Going through this surgery and lifestyle change is hard enough, so WEED OUT all the negativity and sabotaging - and that means people who aren’t cheering you on!! You and your health deserve better than this kind of abusive treatment. Again, I recommend reading the Boundaries book by Dr. Henry Cloud!

I did have that problem when talking about the upcoming surgery with my weight loss group-there were a lot of very negative and spiteful comments. I stay away from anyone I expect that from. However, since having the surgery, I lost weight very fast. I also had complications and a longer recovery so some of my neighbors took notice anyhow. My neighbors and friends know of my past health problems and even the fact of being 50 with older friends and neighbors helps a lot. I got nothing but real support and cheerleading from anyone around me and they know I have the surgery.
I have a very supportive husband, adult kids, aunt and close friends. I try to be very sensitive to my close friends as they are all the weight I started at with many health problems. They will see it however and call me 'the skinny one' ha when we get together. Most times, I get the response of either, "I'll work out with you or walk with you" or, in another mood, I will get the response of, "Sorry, Dawn, we don't mean to eat this delicious pizza that you can't have anymore.....yummy!" in a sort of teasing tone with lots of laughter.
My mother is someone I split ways with a long time ago and my brother was added to that list. I'm too old to have negativity and hurt in my life anymore. Sometimes, that's all you can do. I still have the voice of my mother calling me, "fat c... and other extremely bad things" but the surgery has made that so much better. At times, I even think to try to get back in touch but my aunt is right, it will just give me the same hurt that isn't necessary as my mother will never change. It sounds a lot like your situation in ways.
I keep my friends private and positive only. You get a chance with me if you are a friend of a friend or a new possibility; I won't hide who I am and how happy the surgery has made me. That's on you if it's a problem or something you have to judge-it just comes from another person feeling unsatisfied in their own life and I've gone through too much in life to let something like that bother me or stay in my life.
It's difficult if it's family and you have your own decisions with that but if you can't say to them that it's hurting you and you need their support, then it's time to maybe back out of that a bit while you are going through this process and keep positive people around you only.
Great job on your weight loss! I know you feel just awesome and so much better in every way!

Well we had a major snowstorm here in the Southern Tier of NY with over 4 ft of snow-I think shoveling all day yesterday put me over the top with weight loss lol. I woke up this morning and FINALLY got that scale to move under the 200 lb mark (no stall but just a slow down in the last week or so).
I started a new job a few weeks ago at a factory and adding more hours this last week for Christmas with overtime. I am on my feet with some heavy lifting and physical activity but it's helping with the exercise part. I had gained about a lb a week ago and figured it was for the muscle content with the increased movement to my daily normal activity but now it's going down fast again.
Also marks 100 lb weight loss since program start this year-holy cow! My Dr and hospital scales are all one lb less then my scale-actually down to 197- but who's counting that close? ME, that's who! lol.
I don't think many people outside of this group can understand how much my life has changed and is changing for this surgery. I work and am tired but no excrutiating pain for days after with just a few hours on my feet. Honestly I can bend, move and be fast with productivity at my workplace and feel awesome with a good day of work. I can take a freakin bath!!!! and feel just so skinny! My husband and I have a renewed relationship in all aspects but one aspect not mentioning that has been awesome :-)! Hey, I'm old-not dead lol.
I sit down and have room with my animals able to sit on a lap that I now have and I am able to easily bend to clean the pens, guinea pig areas and even to play with my chihuahuas or walk with my family. It's just surreal how different and wonderful I feel. Oh I have my precious Holland Lop bunnies that are basically free roam and 9 guinea pigs rescued. I clean constantly and able to do that on top of work with really no problems.
40 more lbs to go. My birthday was Jan 21 of this year- I turned 48 and hit an unbelievable depression. I truly hated myself as the scale approached 300 lbs and I couldn't even walk. That's what spurred the research for medical weight loss and was able to start the program a month later-changed my life!! So grateful!
I now wear a size 16/18-holy cow! Last year I barely fit a size 28.

I did have that problem when talking about the upcoming surgery with my weight loss group-there were a lot of very negative and spiteful comments. I stay away from anyone I expect that from. However, since having the surgery, I lost weight very fast. I also had complications and a longer recovery so some of my neighbors took notice anyhow. My neighbors and friends know of my past health problems and even the fact of being 50 with older friends and neighbors helps a lot. I got nothing but real support and cheerleading from anyone around me and they know I have the surgery.
I have a very supportive husband, adult kids, aunt and close friends. I try to be very sensitive to my close friends as they are all the weight I started at with many health problems. They will see it however and call me 'the skinny one' ha when we get together. Most times, I get the response of either, "I'll work out with you or walk with you" or, in another mood, I will get the response of, "Sorry, Dawn, we don't mean to eat this delicious pizza that you can't have anymore.....yummy!" in a sort of teasing tone with lots of laughter.
My mother is someone I split ways with a long time ago and my brother was added to that list. I'm too old to have negativity and hurt in my life anymore. Sometimes, that's all you can do. I still have the voice of my mother calling me, "fat c... and other extremely bad things" but the surgery has made that so much better. At times, I even think to try to get back in touch but my aunt is right, it will just give me the same hurt that isn't necessary as my mother will never change. It sounds a lot like your situation in ways.
I keep my friends private and positive only. You get a chance with me if you are a friend of a friend or a new possibility; I won't hide who I am and how happy the surgery has made me. That's on you if it's a problem or something you have to judge-it just comes from another person feeling unsatisfied in their own life and I've gone through too much in life to let something like that bother me or stay in my life.
It's difficult if it's family and you have your own decisions with that but if you can't say to them that it's hurting you and you need their support, then it's time to maybe back out of that a bit while you are going through this process and keep positive people around you only.
Great job on your weight loss! I know you feel just awesome and so much better in every way!

One of my first NSVs (this one was actually before I had my surgery) was the ability to tie my shoes. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but at my highest weight, I could not tie my shoes while they were on my feet. If a shoe became untied, I had to take it off my foot, pick it up, tie it (loosely enough that I could slip it back on my foot), put it back down on the floor, and slip my foot back into it. And of course I didn't want anyone to see me doing that, so I would walk around with my shoe untied until I could find a spot out of anyone's view. I was so thrilled when I realized that I can just bend down and tie my shoes now! I've been able to do this for months, but I still smile to myself every time I tie my shoes.

My Mom died 10 years ago and my sister and I divided her personal belongings between us. My mom had a fabulous wardrobe but because I was at my top weight, I couldn't wear anything of hers. Last month, I asked my sister to pick me out one or two items that were Mommy's since I can fit them now. My sister generously picked out several of her most gorgeous outfits and I can fit them all now! It feels surreal, like a dream. It's another way to connect with her now that she's in heaven. ☺️

Good evening! I love baths - so relaxing and feeling wonderful. my bod is shrinking and i’m more submerged in the tub. Baths are getting better lol. What strange way do you notice your bod shrinking? Another one for me is my seatbelt doesn’t strangle me any more lol. Down 53lbs in just under 3 months. Let’s gooooooo people!!!

At about a month after surgery I was probably doing 500 to 600 calories daily. I found that if I did bump my calorie intake up to 800 to 1000 for a couple of days I would have a weight loss spurt, i.e. losing 6 to 8 pounds in a week instead of my average 3 to 4. At 600 or less calories a day you body is probably thinking it is in starvation mode and will resist losing weight. By bumping up your calorie intake you get your self out of that "starvation" mode.
You can calculate your BMR, basal metabolic rate, which is the amount of calories your body needs at a minimum to maintain. Small, routinely dispersed meals increase BMR. On the other hand, starvation can reduce BMR by as much as 30%.
https://www.calculator.net/bmr-calculator.html
Here is calorie calculator to see what intake you need to lose weight.
https://www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html

I had my surgery 3 weeks ago. I'm not in the USA so the process moves much faster here. So far I'm doing just fine and happy I did it!

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement. I did talk to the surgeon and he said it’s from anesthesia and it’s normal. He is going to give me the Emend pill to take today to help.

im just worried about being dehydrated because all I swallow comes back up, but they don’t seem concerned at the office.

Congrats! I just hit one-derland myself a couple of weeks ago... it’s great, isn’t it? So many things are easier when you’re not carrying around a whole extra person. Not many people know what it means to lose 100 pounds. I used to see people who lost that much and I thought it was impossible. It’s very cool to be one of those people now.

Going with both responses above with an emphatic agree! I was scared beyond belief with any of the surgeries but never even considered sleeve with my surgeon as soon as he said it had even a little chance of gerd worsening. I was stage 3 and having my esophagus widened every year with swallowing problems-with a real fear of Barret's Syndrome for real. I had tight fists of air in my chest that didn't hurt but were so scary and disturbing with a lot of breathing problems.
My surgery had some complications but minor in the long run. I am 15 weeks out now and down 100 lbs as of today! Not gonna lie-my GERD is not completely gone but my Dr said with the severity I was at, it can take a good 6 months for it to be so much better. He still has me taking meds for that but it is much better and more so day by day. Dumping syndrome is not fun but I also feel it's a benefit to learning how to eat differently for long term weight loss and control. I really feel like a new person and am ok with what I need to do and the after-effects of the bypass. It's not an easy recovery but not as bad as I thought it would be either; I still have some bruising as the complications made it more difficult the first month. Even with that, I am, without even a tiny shred of doubt. so happy I went with the bypass. Yeah, I wouldn't want to just 'gamble' with surgeries as a 'just in case'. Especially with GERD-it's a very serious thing to have.

Wow!! That's an amazing weight loss-holy cow. Yeah, trying on clothes is now the thing for real! I can't try them on in the store so I grab a size down here or there and say to myself I can eventually get into it, go home and it fits already. Even jeans are a pleasure to wear now (used to avoid them like the plague). Congratulations yourself!

Well we had a major snowstorm here in the Southern Tier of NY with over 4 ft of snow-I think shoveling all day yesterday put me over the top with weight loss lol. I woke up this morning and FINALLY got that scale to move under the 200 lb mark (no stall but just a slow down in the last week or so).
I started a new job a few weeks ago at a factory and adding more hours this last week for Christmas with overtime. I am on my feet with some heavy lifting and physical activity but it's helping with the exercise part. I had gained about a lb a week ago and figured it was for the muscle content with the increased movement to my daily normal activity but now it's going down fast again.
Also marks 100 lb weight loss since program start this year-holy cow! My Dr and hospital scales are all one lb less then my scale-actually down to 197- but who's counting that close? ME, that's who! lol.
I don't think many people outside of this group can understand how much my life has changed and is changing for this surgery. I work and am tired but no excrutiating pain for days after with just a few hours on my feet. Honestly I can bend, move and be fast with productivity at my workplace and feel awesome with a good day of work. I can take a freakin bath!!!! and feel just so skinny! My husband and I have a renewed relationship in all aspects but one aspect not mentioning that has been awesome :-)! Hey, I'm old-not dead lol.
I sit down and have room with my animals able to sit on a lap that I now have and I am able to easily bend to clean the pens, guinea pig areas and even to play with my chihuahuas or walk with my family. It's just surreal how different and wonderful I feel. Oh I have my precious Holland Lop bunnies that are basically free roam and 9 guinea pigs rescued. I clean constantly and able to do that on top of work with really no problems.
40 more lbs to go. My birthday was Jan 21 of this year- I turned 48 and hit an unbelievable depression. I truly hated myself as the scale approached 300 lbs and I couldn't even walk. That's what spurred the research for medical weight loss and was able to start the program a month later-changed my life!! So grateful!
I now wear a size 16/18-holy cow! Last year I barely fit a size 28.

Well we had a major snowstorm here in the Southern Tier of NY with over 4 ft of snow-I think shoveling all day yesterday put me over the top with weight loss lol. I woke up this morning and FINALLY got that scale to move under the 200 lb mark (no stall but just a slow down in the last week or so).
I started a new job a few weeks ago at a factory and adding more hours this last week for Christmas with overtime. I am on my feet with some heavy lifting and physical activity but it's helping with the exercise part. I had gained about a lb a week ago and figured it was for the muscle content with the increased movement to my daily normal activity but now it's going down fast again.
Also marks 100 lb weight loss since program start this year-holy cow! My Dr and hospital scales are all one lb less then my scale-actually down to 197- but who's counting that close? ME, that's who! lol.
I don't think many people outside of this group can understand how much my life has changed and is changing for this surgery. I work and am tired but no excrutiating pain for days after with just a few hours on my feet. Honestly I can bend, move and be fast with productivity at my workplace and feel awesome with a good day of work. I can take a freakin bath!!!! and feel just so skinny! My husband and I have a renewed relationship in all aspects but one aspect not mentioning that has been awesome :-)! Hey, I'm old-not dead lol.
I sit down and have room with my animals able to sit on a lap that I now have and I am able to easily bend to clean the pens, guinea pig areas and even to play with my chihuahuas or walk with my family. It's just surreal how different and wonderful I feel. Oh I have my precious Holland Lop bunnies that are basically free roam and 9 guinea pigs rescued. I clean constantly and able to do that on top of work with really no problems.
40 more lbs to go. My birthday was Jan 21 of this year- I turned 48 and hit an unbelievable depression. I truly hated myself as the scale approached 300 lbs and I couldn't even walk. That's what spurred the research for medical weight loss and was able to start the program a month later-changed my life!! So grateful!
I now wear a size 16/18-holy cow! Last year I barely fit a size 28.

Congrats on hitting Onederland! Way to go! Woot-Woot!