Lexmm

some plans are low carb, some are ultra-low carb, others really don't focus on carbs at all (like mine). I never counted carbs - I just had to be sure mine were the healthy kind (fruit, vegetables, whole grains). And yes - weight loss slows down quite a bit after the first couple of months - but stick with the program. It took me 20 months to lose all my weight, but it's G-O-N-E!

Your weight loss does start to slow as you get closer to your goal. Many of us find the last pound or two the hardest & slowest to lose - can take weeks. It’s because your caloric intake is getting closer to what your body needs to burn to function so closer to your maintenance point.
I was never given calorie goals or told how many carbs I should have either. I was told portion sizes, to avoid carbs where possible & definitely no high processed carbs. Besides fruit & vegetables my carbs from less obvious sources like yoghurt or cheese, etc. The only obvious source of carbs were rolled oats (one serve lasted me 2 or 3 days so only about 10g each time I ate them).
If you’re worried, ask your dietician/nutritionalist to review your diet.

I would ask your nutritionist. At 4 months out my nutritionist had me on a 600-800 calorie and 60-80 carb diet plan. But every person is different and so is their plan. Also, my weight loss slowed after 3 months. The first three months I lost fast. Then the following three months I averaged 8 pounds a month. The next 5 months following that I averaged 5 pounds a month. My average lately is about 3 pounds a month.
I'm 16 months out now so my diet plan is 900-1200 calories and 80-150 carbs per day (I try to keep my carb intake around 90 and my calories no higher than 1000 (though some days it HAS gone close to 1200). Also, my daily sodium allowance is 1200mg, but I try and get under 900mg because I retain Water like CRAZY!

Every so often I feel torn on these forums about my role and what I should say.
On the one hand, I'm a veteran now....and have had success with this whole undertaking that I feel pretty proud of. There are a lot of struggles and things that I can comment about with some hard earned observations and experiences. I can be all.....mentory...and have good mentor-ish things to say to newbies.
Sometimes I feel a responsibility to *provide a good example* and only say things that are in harmony with the bariatric sages...and play the proper acolyte to the Bariatric Authority.
But here's the part where I feel torn.
I also want to tell the truth. I want to be the kind of poster I really enjoyed reading when I was first looking into this crazy ride.
I want to be unvanished, raw and HONEST. Because I value that in people. I value that risk. I value those stories....because sometimes people really need those stories. Even if they're terrible advice and provide a terrible example! Sometimes just knowing someone else....occasionally has a horrible day and eats the entire pack of four Yasso bars....helps you to live your life and forgive yourself.
I want to say: Yes, I drink diet soda. I know it's probably unwise and I also know there's hype about it that's untrue....AND....I know a lot of you drink it, too. And some of you drink real soda.....and will probably rot in hell for it. LOLOLOL
Ya'll won't admit it....but I've seen ya. I've peeked in those windows and I know you do all sorts of awful stuff. You eat peanut M&Ms and drink soda and beer and buy the occasional McDonald's kid's meal and can of Pringles. At Christmas, you cheat. You eat stuff you shouldn't. You ate Halloween candy. Ok, it was just a couple of pieces...but it made you happy.
We're not perfect. We screw up. We make questionable choices. Sometimes regularly. We STILL have unhealthy food moments. We're works in progress.
Can we talk about it as adults...knowing it's a crap example...but also knowing that it's human?
We still do weird assed extreme things in realtion to food.
How many calories in two almonds and one dried cherry? I HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN.
How many grams of protien in one pint of donated blood? How many calories do I lose when I menstruate? I had a cold and blew my nose ten times and the internet says snot is made of protien...do I have to up my protien?
I once heard a lady on one of these boards say....she had her flinstone chewable multi vitamin....for dessert after her meal. And it was delicious. 😳
Is it wrong to admit I wanted to slap her?
I'll admit it...I ate a S'more about two weeks after I had surgery. I remember it as the most exquisite thing I've ever eaten...and I nibbled that one little square of heaven all night in front of the fireplace with the Christmas lights on. Licked it, actually. Down to a stump. LOL.
And Yes, ..a part of me is still screaming at myself.....You had a freaking S'more right after your surgery???? What the actual H*ll???!!! What were you thinking? (I lived...crap, I even lost weight to goal...but I commited this food crime. Guilty.)
Sometimes I think we lose our humanity in this environment....because as some folks have noticed, there's a competative thing. Some weird ick factor of needing the best score...the tiniest dinner...the least daily calories. "I'm going to get down to my original weight of 9 pounds 3 ounces if it kills me. Could someone please eat the other half of my lentil? It's too much for me."
And then I think....crap, maybe these folks really ARE as together as they seem and I'm just nutty and disordered and still fighting through this mess everyday three years out...isn't normal...
But then I look at the number of folks who wash out...and think......nope. MOST of us are struggling and screw up. MOST of us continue to screw up and figure it out.
Would be fun to do the research to put an actual number on it....
But I'd bet at least 90% of us...have secrets they would never disclose in a forum like this about one screw up or another.
I think we need a Confession thread. Where correction is not allowed. Where worry and concern (and abject horror) are forbidden to be expressed. Where we can just let that other lost soul know....yep, I licked a S'more, too....you're not alone.
All sins can be forgiven. Tomorrow is always a new day.

Sleeved 1/20/21. I was MISERABLE my first week. I also had a couple problems post op, but I’m finally starting to feel like myself again!

My starting weight was 396. Iost about 12 pounds pre op. My pre op diet was supposed to be 10 days. I’m saying supposed to be because I did good the first couple days then started fell off. Definitely could’ve lost more during the pre op if I hadn’t fell off. Everybody’s is different though. Some of the girls I follow on insta got to eat during their pre op diet, I was Clear Liquids only.

I have not started to work out yet, I do plan on getting back in the gym next week since I’m about to be released back to work. My doctor wants me to just focus on cardio right now.

Sleeved at 22 on 01/20/21! I am currently down 34 pounds (weight lost from pre op diet included).

I definitely over packed for my one night stay. The things that I used ended up being my charger, a soft throw & pillow from home for extra comfort because hospital beds are not ideal for being comfortable lol, and fuzzy socks/ a pair of slippers. I packed extra pajamas, but the only time I changed was when I went from the gown to pajamas.