lmsrny5

I had gastric bypass on 5/7/2021. I began my weight loss journey in August 2020 when I attended my hospital’s bariatric seminar. My insurance required 6 months of diet before surgery approval. My fist dietitian appoint was mid-October 2020. Prior to this appointment I had very little motivation to lose weight. I was 280+ pounds (5’ 7.5”) and depressed. My ankles swelled every day, I had trouble moving, none of my clothes fit well and my wedding rings didn’t fit at all. I had gone off the rails. Between October and March 21’ I managed to lose 45 pounds. I attribute my success to my husband also taking charge of his health and being a great partner. My packet was submitted in March and approved 1 week later. My surgery was scheduled 7 weeks form the approval to my disappointment. It was a long 7 weeks! I didn’t gain or lose weight during my wait. I was officially 237 at my pre-op appointment. I managed to lose 10 pounds prior to surgery on the liver shrink diet. I was 227 the morning of surgery The surgery went fine. I had some nausea and dry heaving the first few hours. I was able to get water down but not much else. The drain really caused me trouble so it was removed 12 hours later. I ended up only staying 1 night in the hospital because I was determined to get released early. I walked all the time and really kept my RN on his toes. Thankfully the doctor agreed with me that I would recover better at home. The next evening I was discharged and could sleep in my own bed. I followed the diet exactly for nearly 8 weeks. I went on a cruise with my family and 95% ate to plan. I would have a taste of dessert but let me tell you I sure paid for it. Dumping is real and it affects me. I seem to dump if I eat too fast, too much, or an item too high in sugar (hello chai tea!). I learned many lessons that week I’m thankful for. The surgery did exactly what I needed it to do- deter me. I have had trouble with constipation. I am taking 3 colace per day and benefiber each morning. Seems to help but my body likes to hold onto waste. I might go back to miralax to help move things along. I’ve always had trouble in this area but now it’s more consistent. On Saturday I hit “onederland” and weighed 199. I never thought I would get here. I weigh myself each day and I am fluctuating between 198 and 199 this week. I have a heck of a lot more energy than I did a month ago. I am moving my body every day and using my elliptical at least 3 times a week. I have changed sizes! Last summer I wore a 20 and now I need a 12. It blows my mind. It’s hard to describe how I feel. I can see the change but I don’t believe it’s me. People I haven’t seen in a year take a look at me and their mouth drops and tell me they didn’t recognize me or make a comment like “omg you have lost so much weight!” In a way it feels good to be validated but at the same time I hate the attention. Honestly if I didn’t lose another pound I would be happy. I am under 200 and I feel/look great! I can move without pain and I have energy. Heck I mowed the yard today! I’ve had some negative comments too- mostly from my parents- “you’re starving yourself, don’t loose too much weight, and I think you’ve lost enough” It’s painful so I don’t speak with them much. I feel my weight loss has been slow but I remind myself how far I’ve come. 80+ pound weight loss is nothing to bat at! I’m doing a great job! I hope to be better and update this thread monthly! Thanks for reading.

You probably haven’t lost the fluid from surgery yet. Stay off the scale for a few weeks and save yourself the mental stress.

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. I really appreciate it! Quick stats: Started 280. Now 195.5 this morning, 5’8”, currently fitting into size 10/12 pants and medium/large shirts. Today was my 3 month post op visit with my surgeon. This morning I weighed 195.5 and weighed in at 199 on the doctor’s scale. Not bad! I plan to ask my dietician about weight swings during the day. I can’t be the only one that weighs themself in the morning and evening..right? Does anyone else have 3-5 lb weight swings? I went in today with two concerns: I feel like I’m losing sooo slow and my hair is falling out like crazy. I went through surgical menopause when I was 31, so I already have very thin hair to begin with and I feel like I am pulling clumps out in the shower everyday. Regarding losing so slow, the doctor reminded me my BMI day of surgery was 34 not 50+. Losing 10 lbs a month the first three months is totally normal. He told me MY normal is 5 pound loss per month. He saw my confused expression and said that I’ve been obese most of my life, so my bones are denser than thin folks because I needed the stronger structure to carry the weight. I don’t have much fat to lose as someone going in with a higher BMI so I need to give myself some slack. I asked him what his goal for me is and he said a BMI of 27 which for me is 178. My goal is 160-165. He told me I will get to my goal and may even exceed it but warned me after a few years I will gain some weight back. If I can keep a 27 BMI or lower I will be successful for life. It’s hard to wrap my head around that I have about 20 pounds until his goal already. No wonder I have only been losing 1 pound a week lately. It’s all normal and I just need to accept that. I get caught up in others who are losing 3-5 pounds a week. I need to remind myself I don’t know where they started. It makes sense for a higher BMI to drop weight quicker as they have more to lose. It’s a good lesson for us all. Don’t compare! Regarding the hair, Dr told me to start taking 50 mg of zinc sulfate everyday in addition to my biotin. I’m going to pick some up today and report back next month. I know it will grow back eventually but it’s so depressing to see the hair fall out. Moving on- I can eat pretty much whatever I want if I follow some rules. Red meat in small portions and chew it to death and then rest my stomach. My stomach doesn’t care for it much but we’re trying to come to an agreement because I like steak I allow myself to taste desserts on occasion. It’s not often but I won’t eat a full serving again. My last post I talked about vacation and I did eat a full serving and was so sick afterwards. Never again. I began weighing my food again. Turns out I wasn’t serving myself enough. Crazy! I was trying not to eat too much! It works because I felt my restriction during dinner last night. I was able to get 3oz of chicken and a few baby carrots but that was it. I had been eating my full meals lately and worried it was slowing down my weight loss because I still wanted more. I was under eating! My advice don’t slack on weighing and measuring your food! Oh funny thing my nose starts running when I am full. I thought it was allergies but nope every single time I am “done” my nose (right nostril to be exact) starts running. I must admit I am not doing so hot on using my elliptical. I haven’t been on it in two weeks. I am talking 20 min walks every night. Saturday I deep cleaned my entire house and it took me 3 hours. I only stopped for water and my watch told me I hit my goal for the day. I will count it. This is awful but I really don’t have much time. I’m slammed at work and can’t get into a groove to get on that dang machine. It’s in my house and I work from home so I feel like I have no excuse. Ugh. I had to goto the dept store and get a work outfit last weekend. Would you believe I needed a 10?! I couldn’t believe it. Still don’t actually. Last topic because this is long! This is all mental but I can’t shake it. I see myself in the mirror but I don’t recognize her. I study my face for a long time and I don’t see me. I see someone who is older than I used to be and has different features. To be fair I am (almost) 40 and losing weight has caused some wrinkles. I can’t describe it. Does anyone understand?

I went back to work 10 days after surgery BUT I work from home and have a desk job. Physically I was fine it was the mental fog that got me.

I haven’t gotten rid of anything yet. I’ve lost about 85 pounds so far. I did move some of them from my closet to the basement though! I bought new tops and a few new shorts to get me through summer. I will need new jeans for sure but I probably won’t consider buying a pair until it starts to get cool mid-sept where I live. I haven’t accepted I lost weight yet. It’s been almost 11 weeks since surgery and I really needed new sizes just 4 weeks ago.

I’ve eaten out about 4 times since surgery. Each time I told the waiter what I wanted, even if it wasn’t on the menu, and how to cook it. No one has told me no and I got exactly what I wanted. Yesterday work hired a food truck (Mexican). I ordered 2 oz of shredded chicken, 2 tablespoon of pico, a pinch of shredded cheese, and tablespoon of guacamole. It was great!

Seriously recommend a split king with adjustable bases. We’ve been married for 16 years and sleeping in my “own” bed was a game changer. We sleep sooo much better. No issues on the marital activities

We bought a sleep number in Feb 2020. The best bed I’ve ever owned. I’ve noticed I need a lower number as I lose weight.

Great topic. When I first began I was 280 at 5’8”. I wanted to loss 100 pounds, so 180 goal. I lost 43 pounds during my 6 month diet. I had the surgery almost 4 weeks ago and now down to 213 (thanks to a week long stall). I want to live within 155-170. Right now just looking to get under 200. My surgeon said I can get down to 130’s but I might not be happy there. He said to aim for 150 and it will be easy for me to get there and maintain. I can’t believe it. I think I was 12 the last time I weighed 150!

From the initial visit to surgery took 8 months. I had a 6 month supervised diet that began a month after my first visit. I finished everything in March and was scheduled for surgery 5/7.

I went back to work 10 days after surgery BUT I have a work from home job and it’s not physical. I wanted to comment and let you know your physician should recommend how long you’re off work. Be honest about your lifting push/pull requirements. You may need to be off longer than most of us if your job is physical. Also, you can ask for a medical accommodation at work to meet your nutrition needs. Your doctor just needs to write out what you need (maybe an extra break or keep water with you on the line?). Work with your HR group and let them know you need to keep hydrated and eat small meals at specific times. Ask HR what they need to request a ADA accommodation for yourself.

I’m on Wellbutrin and Trazodone for my anxiety and OCD. I have to take immediate release for my Wellbutrin and no change to trazodone. I was told I could swallow whole pills as long as they’re not bigger than a M&M. So far so good after two weeks.

I stuck to premier protein. I was able to drink 4-5 ounces every 3 hours to get my protein goal in during the first week. I made sure to drink clear liquids between then so I could meet my fluid goal. I didn’t have a problem. After the first week I could drink 8 oz of water every hour and drink an entire premier protein shake within 30 mins. I am on pureed/soft stage now. I get about 3-4 oz of food every 3 hours. I can drink an entire water bottle between my meals now. I am mixing it up and not using the shakes now. I am in a stall now- I haven’t lost any weight in a week and actually gained a pound this morning. It’s water weight but the stall is very annoying!

Me! Each month I removed a bad habit and added a good habit and built on from there. I had 6 months too. I was up to working out 30 mins a day 5 days a week and eating 1,000 calories by 6 months. I lost 45 pounds pre surgery. I am 2 weeks post op today. I spent 1 night in the hospital, had no complications, and on the pureed diet. NO issues. I was cleared to use my elliptical this week and lift up to 20 pounds, so I am easing back into working out. So far 10 mins a day this week but planning to up it to 15 mins next week. I seriously credit my life style change pre-surgery with my success so far. Go for it! Take it one day at a time and give yourself grace when you’re not perfect.

I am almost 2 weeks. I don’t have one.

Nearly had the sleeve in 2014. Backed out at the last minute. The actual tipping point was COVID. I am under 40 and have two children. The idea of being high risk for a virus that can kill me for being obese set me off. I am almost 2 weeks post-op and down 63 lbs from my highest weight last August. I am officially half way there- hopefully my new tool will help me get there!

I took a docolax suppository and then began taking Miralax once a day. I have a movement every morning and it’s glorious.

The coordinator sent it the next business day after I completed the requirements. The insurance approval came 2 business days later.

1 full week tomorrow and I feel great. I could probably return to work (at home desk job) tomorrow but I’m going to take another week. I am getting in plenty of fluids, no problem. I can drink 2 Promeir Protein shakes over the day but then I’m done. I’m getting 60 grams in but feel like I could get more but I’m so over the shakes. I have a texture thing… so things that don’t taste how they normally do because they are thinned with milk seem gross to me. Should I just stick it out or should I try to mix it up to get more protein in? I see Dr. on Tuesday.

Never heard of this! I just looked it up and looks amazing.

Great idea! I will try that tonight.

Surgery was May 7th. I was released from the hospital Saturday evening. Yesterday was pretty rough with nausea and pain. Once that was under control I felt better. My mistake skipping pain pill and zofran thinking I could do without. I took zofran first this morning and then took the remaining morning pills with 4oz of protein shake. That seemed to do the trick and keep me from wanting to throw everything up. I feel so much better today than I did yesterday. Just keep walking and sipping fluids.

Thank you. Surgery went well and I was discharged last evening. There is no place like home.

Today is day 14 of my pre-op liver shrink diet. Tomorrow is full liquids and Friday is the big day. I’m a ball of nerves. I was allowed 3 protein shakes per day, unlimited no calorie clear liquids, and 4 oz of lean protein and 2 cups of raw or 1 cup of raw veggies per day. I did not cheat. Not one time. I am so proud of myself for making it. It was not easy. Lots of ups and downs emotionally but I survived. I know I can do this now! I’m down 12 pounds since I began the liver shrink diet. That makes my total loss pre surgery at 50 (!) pounds. I am shocked and honestly didn’t think I would lose much during the last 6 months. About 10 years ago I went through the entire bariatric program and backed out at the last minute. The reason was beyond my control but I’m so glad it happened. I am certain I would have not been successful because my heart wasn’t in it back then. My heart is fully engaged in changing my life to a permanent healthy lifestyle. I proved that to myself over these past two weeks. I hope those reading this don’t think I am sharing to brag or to make anyone feel bad about themselves. That is not my intent. I’ve been a lurker for the last 8 months and I found comfort in stories of those who worked really had and had success. While I’m not there yet, I think I’m on the right path. HW 280 ish CW 227 5’8”

My office provided a recommended nutritional value per shake. No brand was suggested. They even provided recipes to make your own.