ZZinBC

I have had gall bladder surgery before and the incisions are similar to this weight loss surgery. If possible try to go with a soft sports bra; i opted for no bra since I am a small B cup but if not possible, a soft no wire bra should be no issues. A dress and tights that are not spanx-y should be fine! I wore a comfy baggy two piece cotton pajama set w my uggs since it was middle of december! As long as its comfy and breathable! And stretchy !!

Morning again to everyone from over here in the uk.
I start my 10 day pre op plan tomorrow. Opting for food based for first week then going to shift to shake based for last few days.
Just want the day to come now. Glad to be shifting to the plan as have definitely been eating more in the last fortnight knowing it’s coming.....
Looking forward to hearing tales from the ‘early Marchers’ when you start going through x

I’m in NJ as well. March 10th will be here in no time . I like once you start that pre op diet that’s when you know it’s real! Good luck!!!

I hear you on needing that change badly - I feel the same exact way.
We are all nervous - its natural. I am sorry you are scared - I know it is very frightening but remember why you are doing this. You got this and we will be here for you when you are finished and want to come update us.

Us March 10thers are really growing (in number - not size lol - soon we will be shrinking in size!)

Also brand new to the site. My procedure is scheduled for 3/29/2021 (with my second COVID vaccination shot the week before 😅). I followed everyone with a Match surger so we could be a cohort! 🥰

It is part of the standard clearances my doctor wants. They are looking for plaque in the legs, how fatty your liver is and I am not sure why they scan the stomach as well. We have leg and abdominal sonograms, sleep study, lung strength test (breathing test), Stress test, echocardiogram, ekg, nutrition, psych, panel blood work, endoscopy - I think that is about it. I did ask if these were required because of my weight (I am a higher weight than a lot of patients) and they said nope - required of all patients for the practice. Supposedly the practice has a much lower complication rate that most other centers / practices and it is because of their prep work before the surgery.
My pre-op diet consists of a 5 week plan - first 2 weeks I eliminate a meal with a shake (1 shake a day), then the next two weeks it is 2 shakes a day and one light clean meal. The last week is complete liquid shakes 3 times a day.
You certainly have to want to do this because if you don't, you wouldn't go through all the stuff required.

Hi - I am also new to the site and have the same surgery date as you - March 10th. I'm nervous and excited for the surgery in equal measure. Also having pangs of guilt that I'm having to resort to surgery having never managed to diet and exercise my way to weight loss over the last 20 years.
Wishing you the very best of luck with your surgery.
Tony

After a 3 month delay due to COVID, finally having surgery on the 8th! 14 day diet and I can't say it's easy, but coming in for the home stretch.

Wishing everyone nothing but the best of luck and positive thoughts!

This is such an interesting discussion, and we don't talk about this. My first goal was to just be under 200, too. That seemed like enough. Just to be pretty regular sized and not need special accomidation...not have to worry about weight limits, fit in normal auditorium seats.....and maybe get some good health benefits.
I reached 200 and thought I could do a little more. I remembered feeling and looking my best at 170 in my youth...back when I could run five miles and work all day and not get too tired. So I thought...ok, I'll try for 170. I'm a muscular person. My feet are size 11 and my shoulders are broader and stouter than many men's. My body style isn't willowy. So I worked hard for 170....got there and felt incredible. Then, I went on a really rugged cross country camping/hiking trip and without realizing it got down to 160 and weirdly....just didn't like how I looked as much. I looked older, my wrinkles were more prominent, I prefer more curve and less prominent muscle on myself. I like eating a few more calories. I like getting 10,000 steps a day...and doing active things that I enjoy....but I don't enjoy constant training schedules and work outs.
In the end, it's all a balance. Figuring out your best you...is a balance.
Catwoman, I'm glad to hear that your team, like my team....had realistic information available for you and encourage realistic goals for their clients. My team was all about long term results, long term habits, therapy to figure out the bad choices, little changes that add up.
Sometimes I feel like the teams that do super restricted calories for super rapid weight loss....are treating their patients more like walking advertisements for their "miracle fix" than patients whose futures they're invested in.
I see my bariatric team once a year now. How long will I do this? Forever. They want to see me once a year. If my nutrient levels are stable...this can extend to once every few years...but they want a long term relationship to track my progress for research. I think this is so important.

as usual, I totally agree with Jaelzion.
the first year or so most people do have lowered hunger and most of us are pretty gung-ho about following our programs, and as long as you do that, the surgery WILL work. You have to really monitor yourself for life, though. After a year or two, you're dealing with the hunger monster again (although for some, it's not as intense as it was pre-surgery), and you're not always as committed as you were that first year ("diet fatigue"), so weight gain is easy if you don't watch yourself.
if you find yourself dealing with the urge to binge eat again, then like Jaelzion said, work with a therapist. The surgery won't cure that. A lot of us work with therapists and find it helpful.

I had this fear as well. After a lifetime of being heavy and not being able to permanently lose weight, I wasn't convinced the surgery would work for me. That fear was compounded by the fact that for medical reasons I was forced to have the sleeve rather than the bypass. The surgery doesn't correct the psychological factors that lead to emotional eating or binging. That takes self-reflection or therapy and finding new ways to cope.
However, it does address the physical aspects. The surgery will reduce the amount of ghrelin your body produces (one of the hormones responsible for making you hungry). For most people, this results in a reduced appetite (at least for a while). It will drastically reduce the amount you can eat before feeling full and make it physically difficult to overeat. In my case, the surgery even blunted the intensity of my cravings. I may want something I shouldn't have, but it's much easier to just tell myself no post-surgery.
In the end, the surgery worked for me just like it does for most people. I lost all my excess weight and so far, I am maintaining the loss. It will work for you too (just be willing to put in the work of figuring out WHY you overeat and addressing those feelings).

You guys, this must have really sucked, to be denied part way through. Glad you’re giving it another round and I’ll be over here hoping for insurance clearance for you both!

I’m a Gemini too so definitely click with the twin thing 😉

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. You should definitely call your surgeon's office to check in and see what they say. However, at only 11 days out, it's still VERY early. At that point, a lot of us felt weak, had major problems trying to drink, couldn't eat at all, couldn't hit the Protein targets, couldn't walk much. It wasn't until week 3 that I started to feel better. I know on this forum you see a lot of people post that they had no pain and were able to go back to work after a week. I believe them and I'm glad for them, but not everyone has that experience. It's normal to feel pain and weakness after major surgery. But if you're at all concerned, that's what your surgical team is for. I called several times when something happened that I didn't expect and they were always willing to listen and advise. Yours should be too.

Thank you, good luck to you too!

Thanks I am excited!

Same! (Mine is a week after yours.) Somewhat nervous with all the unknowns that come with this, but excited too. This past year has been a long waiting game doing all the requirements and now that I have a date things are speeding by. 😂

Mine is March 4! I had my first consult in January 29 so we are moving fast! Don’t want to risk backing out! 🥴

Hi - new on here too. Connecting from the UK. I am March 12th for my sleeve ...
just getting prepared for the lead in!
Good to see lots in same month ...

Same as me!!! Good luck to you!

A list of resources for pre- and post-surgery bariatric patients interested in a whole food plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle. Let's build up this list into a comprehensive resource, and keep it updated. Please add your own tested-and-approved recommendations.
Processed Foods and Ultra-Processed Foodstuffs Nutrition Database
An open source (read: imperfect but continually evolving), collaborative, global food products database (there's also an app) that anyone can use to make better food choices. Assigns all processed foods a Nutri-Score grade from A to E in terms of nutritional quality, and ranks processed and ultra-processed foodstuffs by NOVA group levels (1 for minimally processed up to 4 for ultra-processed): https://world.openfoodfacts.org/ Plant-Based Nutrition Studies
Cornell University Distance (entirely online) Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies: www.nutritionstudies.org Whole Food Plant-Based Diet Guide (the basics): https://nutritionstudies.org/whole-food-plant-based-diet-guide/ Plant-Based Sports Nutrition: Expert Fueling Strategies for Training, Recovery, and Performance by D. Enette Larson-Meyer The Healthspan Solution by Julieanna Hever and Ray Cronise Plant-Based Nutrition by Julieanna Hever and Ray Cronise Julieanna Hever, M.S., R.D., C.P.T. (plant-based dietitian) website: www.plantbaseddietitian.com Plant-Based Nutrition Books
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure by Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. M.D. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger M.D. How Not to Diet: The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss by Michael Greger M.D. Proteinaholic: How Our Obsession with meat Is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It by Garth Davis M.D. The China Study by T. Colin Campbell M.D. Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition by T. Colin Campbell The Campbell Plan by T. Colin Campbell The China Study Solution: The Simple Way to Lose Weight and Reverse Illness, Using a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet by Thomas Campbell Healthy Eating, Healthy World: Unleashing the Power of Plant-Based Nutrition by J. Morris Hicks Eat for Life: The Breakthrough Nutrient-Rich Program for Longevity, Disease Reversal, and Sustained Weight Loss by Joel Fuhrman M.D. The End of Dieting: How to Live for Life by Joel Fuhrman M.D. The End of Heart Disease: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body's Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Fasting and Eating for Health: A Medical Doctor's Program for Conquering Disease by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Nutritarian Handbook & ANDI Food Scoring Guide by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Your Body in Balance: The New Science of Food, Hormones, and Health by Neal Barnard M.D. Power Foods for the Brain by Neal Barnard M.D. Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight by Neal Barnard M.D. Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight by Neal Barnard M.D Breaking the Food Seduction by Neal Barnard M.D The Blue Zones, Second Edition: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner Plant-Based Nutrition Cookbooks
Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moscowitz and Terry Hope Romero All cookbooks by Terry Hope Romero All cookbooks by Isa Chandra Moscowitz Thrive Foods by Brendan Brazier No Meat Athlete Cookbook by Matt Frazier Plant Strong by Rip Esselstyn Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn The Plant-Power Way by Rich Roll The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook by Ann Crile Esselstyn and Jane Esselstyn The Plant Based Diet for Beginners by Gabriel Miller The PlantPure Nation Cookbook by Kim Campbell and T. Colin Campbell The PlantPure Kitchen Cookbook by Kim Campbell and T. Colin Campbell The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook by Neal Barnard The China Study Cookbook by Leanne Campbell Eat to Live Cookbooks by Joel Fuhrman The Buddhist Chef by Jean-Philippe Cyr My New Roots Cookbooks by Sarah Britton Oh She Glows Cookbooks by Angela Liddon Minimalist Baker’s Cookbooks by Dana Shultz Love Real Food by Kathryne Taylor The First Mess Cookbook by Laura Wright Forks Over Knives Flavor by Darshana Thacker The Blue Zones Kitchen by Dan Buettner Vegan 100 by Gaz Oakley Clean Food by Terry Walters How Not To Die Cookbook Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbooks China Study Cookbooks Forks Over Knives Cookbooks Thug Kitchen Cookbooks Plant-Based Whole Food Cooking Blogs (recipes)
www.nomeatathlete.com www.loveandlemons.com www.mynewroots.org www.ohsheglows.com www.thefirstmess.com www.veganricha.com www.plantstrong.com www.minimalistbaker.com www.halfbakedharvest.com www.veganyackattack.com www.dreenaburton.com www.thugkitchen.com www.theppk.com www.deliciouslyella.com

A bit about me: I had the sleeve surgery in December 2017 period. I've lost a total of 181 pounds since last May, and now I'm looking to gain some muscle mass. I'm currently sitting at 225lbs pounds and 6'2.5" tall.
So many unanswered questions of not been able to find good responses to. Things such as how to start eating any calorie surplus now that I want to add muscle. Will I be able to eat enough to add muscle? Follow me on this thread and I will track my journey for any others that may follow the same path.
Starting status:
8/17/18 - 225lbs

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this post. I too took the lifting route. i do it through crossfit. But it has done wonders for my body!! it has so many benefits when done correctly and will only help us as we get older. Congrats to you on your success!!

Heavy Weightlifting completely changes your body!!! I’m 8 years post-op and I incorporate 5-6 days of weightlifting into my routine. I ONLY do about 10 minutes of cardio (10 minute run) each workout day, which in actuality is my warmup before I stretch and lift. I also incorporate hypertrophy (higher rep, lower weight) training into my workouts to help with muscle growth, but the most empowering part is getting strong and hitting new PR’s (personal records).

When I first started lifting, I could not lift too much weight. The lower weight WAS my heavy weight. I would find a weight that I could rep 8-10 times before failure. My squats literally started with the bar (a standard Olympic bar weighs 45 lbs). Now, after 6.5 years of consistent training, I can squat 245 lbs, deadlift 320 lbs, bench 185 lbs, curl the 40 lbs dumbbells. I really wanted to fill up my arms & legs with muscle to lessen that loose skin (which I still have, but not so noticeable), so I worked hard. I researched, read, incorporated. I was—and still am—constantly learning, correcting, and incorporating. I learned how to diet for optimal muscle growth, which optimally includes 1 gram of Protein per body weight and complex carbs, and good healthy fats. At first I didn’t know what complex carbs were, so I looked it up😂, picked out foods I liked, and incorporated them into my diet. I’m not going to lie, complex carbs are the hardest to consume because of their density (and my sleeve still works when I’m eating the right foods—freak’n sliders!), but I make it work by eating small frequent meals throughout the day (I eat about 6-8 different times, including shakes). I also discovered a supplement drink in powder form called Karbolyn (by EFX Sports) that would help me hit my complex carb macro goal.

Anyway, long story short, when I first lost all my weight, I got down to 140 lbs, and a size 4-6. Now, I weigh between 155-160, and still wear a 6 (the 4’s are too small for my arms because they’ve grown with muscle mass 💪🏼😆💪🏼). I’ve literally shred the fat and have added muscle mass. And since 1 lbs of fat takes up way more space than 1 lbs of muscle, I’ve been able to pack on more muscle in the same amount of space. Weightlifting is where it’s at. Man or woman. I’m just trying to inspire women because women tend to fear lifting heavy and fear that they will look manly. I assure you, I do not look like a man. 😂🤣