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@goodmanje, if you're just wanting to vent because you're angry and upset, that's fine. We've all been there at some time or other in our lives. But if you are interested in help with troubleshooting what's going on, you'll have to engage with us and provide more specific information. Like post an example of what you eat on an average day. And you have to be willing to change - for instance, you can't just say "I'm not a disciplined person". Losing weight requires discipline with or without surgery. There are lots of food tracking apps out there and you may not be able to figure this out without making use of one of them.

I guess this may be the case of some programs, that they oversell the success rate. It certainly wasn’t with mine. I went in with eyes wide open. My doc set a goal for me of 165 lbs, which was still overweight according to BMI. I’m maintaining at 140. Although I certainly haven’t been perfect, I followed the program they gave me the vast majority of the time. The longer I did that, the easier those new habits became. This is MAJOR surgery. I went in to it with the mindset that this was my last chance to turn my life around, and if I was going to do something so major by damn I was going to follow the advice of the team I was trusting to operate on me. For anyone struggling I’d advise you to schedule a visit with both your surgeon as well as the psychologist/psychiatrist and nutritionist who provided your clearance pre op.

only about 5% of people are able to lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off. Unfortunately, I was not one of the 5%. I always gained back every pound of it. Surgery is the only thing that ever worked for me.

My program is Protein, veggies/fruit, and some carbs. Stay 5 grams of fat or less per serving. No added sugar. I don’t count calories. Eat till comfortable, no more. Keto foods are tricky because some are great, but some contain too much fat. Seems to be working and doable long term.

The answer is: Yes! All of the above.
Low cal, low fat and low carb. At least low complex carbs (like bread, cake, rice, potatoes, Pasta, etc.). Simple carbs, like vegetables and fruits are welcome.

One suggestion: eat 3 "big" meals instead of 5 small meals. And by "big" I mean until you feel your stomach full. Then don't drink any fluids for an hour (I go up to two hours) and that will stave off the feeling of "hungry", because you're not flushing the food out of your stomach. The point is to fill your little stomach to capacity (not over!) and keep it full for as long as possible. If you eat small meals, you'll always feel hungry, and may end up eating 6, 7, 10.... small meals, which add up to more calories than 3 full meals.
IMHO, at 6 weeks, you should be cleared for raw veggies and fruits, so have 3-4 oz of meat each meal, then fill up on salads and fruit. Then stop. No snacking in between meals, because you still feel full. Should shoot for 600-700 calories a day at this stage, all included.

Hi there - when I got to that point (under 20 pounds from goal), my surgeon did recommend resistance training. Not in order to burn off calories, but to add muscle which raises your BMR. I adopted a beginner's dumbell routine (it was at the height of the pandemic so I couldn't go to the gym) and started doing it 3 times a week. Within 2 weeks the scale was moving again.

Hi Tapioca- I am no expert and I love the idea of a Bariatric Therapist from @Jaelzion! She sounds like a pro. It also sounds like you are doing great and are at a healthy weight!
Like you, I've found myself snacking on more unhealthy things lately and a few tricks that have helped me include:
1) Going for a walk for about an hour. During this hour I naturally don't snack, and drink a full water bottle. Even if i don't want to go, I tell my self to do just 20min and I always end up doing an hour.
2) Paying attention to what I am craving when I snack- usually its salty or sweet/chocolate, so I've tried to swap for healthier salt/sweet (Salt- hummus & carrots, soup; Sweet- SF hot chocolate, Protein hot chocolate, 100 Cal Chocolate bar, strawberries & whip cream)
3) I stick to an eating schedule, and eat basically the same thing M-F, so I don't get too hungry and don't have to think about what I am going to eat.
4) Sometimes I force myself to have a Protein Shake before a snack, and 90% of the time I don't want the snack after the shake.
5) I turn off the TV/regular shows and replace them with computer (unhealthy in other ways, but nonetheless), documentaries or books. I am easily influenced by what people on TV are eating. If they are having Cookies, I want cookies.
6) Controversial but, I weigh myself everyday. It keeps me motivated. I know others say not to, but it works for me.
7) Balancing out an unhealthy day, with an extra healthy one. It was my Dad's bday recently and ya know what, we had cake, pizza & wine. I had a little of each. I think long term success includes balance. So, following a day like that (which is rare, but is life) I try to have an extra healthy few days focused on Protein Shakes & veggies.
Again, I am no expert but hope these ideas help. I know ideas from other members have helped me a ton.
Take care! You are doing great!

I think you’ve probably answered your own question in that you realise you’ve gained a bad habit, and why. It’s going to take determination and willpower to break that habit and eat differently. If you’re now getting enough food and your weight loss has stopped, you don’t need to snack - it’s as simple as that. The stopping of snacking is not so easy, because you have to retrain your brain. It may be that you need to construct some other ‘habits’ by working out something to do instead of snacking. If you DO want to snack, put aside small portions of healthy Snacks you will allow yourself, but only so many in the day. Calorie count them if necessary. Avoid making your snacks sweets and chips. You must have other, healthy things, you could eat. But don’t allow yourself to snack too much anyway - find a strategy. Sticking to it at first will be hard, but like with any habit, it can be broken and a new habit can be achieved. You do not want to start gaining again, because it’s demoralising and you don't want that. Your brain is telling you that you NEED these unhealthy things - you don’t. You can retrain it!

Are you still meeting your Protein goals? Protein provides the amino acids which are essential to Hair growth. Maybe up your protein intake further as well to see if it helps. If you’re still losing, your body will be relying on the protein you’re consuming for more needs than growing hair.
When did you have your last blood test? You may be lacking in some essential nutrient which is contributing to your Hair loss &/or slow regrowth.
Have you spoken with your surgeon or GP?
Do you actually still see a lot of hair loss or is it just that your hair feels thin? It does take time for your new growth to catch up & replenish the hair you’ve lost. I cut my long hair to shoulder length so the new hair would take as long to grow to reach the length of my existing hair. It probably took well into my second year until my hair felt thicker again & much like it had been.

Hey everyone!
Just had sleeve yesterday morning.
I was a self pay.
first day was the worse than today. I’ve been nauseous ever since I woke from surgery.
it’s hard for me to distinguish from gas pain and nausea. I managed to get 8 oz down yesterday. I threw up the gabapentin immediately. Feeling scared to try anything. My nurse said he’ll have me try the Tylenol at some point.
belly just feel like I worked out my abs, and getting up takes some work.
I’ve walked until I get tired, which a about 5 laps around my room.
today is better than yesterday, but boy does this suck!!!!
And my room freezing.
nothing good today yet, just that today is better.

I totally get where you’re coming from.. I also get uncomfortable because I hate knowing they’re looking at me and ‘sizing me up’ because I still feel super big, but it really depends on who is commenting. If it’s a random someone I would rather they just keep their thoughts to themselves, but I really do like when friends or family compliment me ☺️

It’s happening more nowadays…work, neighbors, etc. Half “you’ve lost some weight “ and half “You look so good!” People who usually don’t talk with me much.
Why is the space that someone takes up so important to others? And why does anyone need to comment on someone else’s body?
And if I look “great” now, what did they think of my image a year ago?
I realize that some people thrive on these types of comments, and I am glad that they are helping. But do these comments make anyone else uncomfortable and a bit irritated?

So now that I'm down a significant amount of weight, I get more people telling me I look younger. Maybe because my face isn't all stretched out?
I also notice that people are much nicer to thinner people than they are to fatter people. That annoys me (I am still the same person!) but it's just bizarre. Someone flirted with me the other day and it took me a while to realize it was flirtation.

I am in the same boat. Had my surgery on the 25th. It was so much worse than I imagined. Now a couple days out I'm feeling a little better thankfully. I am struggling to get every sip of Water in. I still have some pain especially if I take too big of a sip. I am using disolvable tylenol- that's one tip I can offer. Found it on Amazon since my pharmacy didn't have it. Its a fruit punch flavored powder. Highly recommended it. I am definitely having some emotional issues already. Even though I'm not physically hungry, I'm mentally dying to eat something. Every time I nap I dream about food. And suddenly it seems every TV show or commercial is focused on food. It's going to be one hell of a challenge. Good luck on your journey, hopefully it gets better quick!

I can't offer assurances but I can commiserate. I was sleeved 5/12 and am very much in the same boat. My weight has remained pretty steadily the same for the last 3 weeks approximately. So frustrating especially because I'm soo close to being under 200lbs.
And similarly I'm feeling less restriction and getting hungry more often. I'm trying to eat more slowly as that really helps with feeling the restriction. But I'm mostly just trying to stay on course and hope my body will eventually move forward. I'd hate to think I hit the end of the road at only 5 months. I see my surgeon in a few weeks for a 6 month follow up so perhaps he will have some advice.
Good luck!

I chose not to have added sugar anymore. However, I use some artificial sweeteners, and a Protein One bar feels like dessert! Bariatric Pal chocolate calcium chews also feel like candy.

I hear you! I also drink less liquids, especially wearing a mask and having to take it off to drink. I don’t know what to say about not being able to use the restroom as much as you want… Maybe talk with your principal or colleagues about being able to go at least every 60 to 90 minutes?
Do you like fish? If so, perhaps a nearby grocery store seafood counter will cook your fish for free? I get a little over a half a pound of fish on Sundays, and then divide it up into five containers. I top the fish with different Beans each week, and a little shredded cheese. Microwave for 20 seconds and you’re set! Easy! Cheap, quick! Baking chicken breast and cutting it up over the weekend would do the same thing.
In addition to Protein Bars, you could keep grocery store chicken pouches in your classroom.
Good luck! 😀

I had a similar experience earlier this year. Specified no Pasta, rice or bread & high Protein on my admissions form & wrote I had a sleeve gastrectomy beside it. First meal was sandwiches, second was a vegetable pasta bake. When I pointed out my diet requirements & restrictions of the sleeve for me they said they thought I was just being difficult. (Not in those exact ways but it was what they meant.)
Yes, some people can eat bread, pasta & rice in time but I can’t. They sit very heavily in my tummy & reduce what I can eat. So, yes some of my request could be perceived as a personal choice but it is also a physical thing for me too. If I said I had a gluten or lactose intolerance they would have happily modified the meals without an issue. Once I explained everything they were fine & my subsequent meals were great.
With the numbers of people undergoing bariatric surgeries now, you would think there would be a wider understanding of the requirements & limitations within the medical fraternity. Maybe I’m expecting too much. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Hope you have no post spider bite issues.

So sorry to hear that! 😥
Protein Shakes made me vomit, for real. I tried drinking them for a couple weeks post-op since I somewhat liked them before surgery. But then said no, and got Protein through other sources.
I now use unflavored protein powder for 45g a day, in addition to food sources, and have done well with weight loss. I would say you can definitely be successful without the shakes!

And your weight loss sounds great!

Halloween lol. Love Halloween. I only got sleeves five or six months ago but this is actually the second Halloween I have avoided all candy. Last October I was very much in yhe “must loose weight to have surgery” phase.

Has anyone else discovered that sweet things taste really gross after you haven’t had sugar for so long? I had tried a few things since surgery that I used to love and they are just gross.
Orange soda? I had a sip of my sons soda to get a pill down (it was an emergency and I was caught unawares) and it tasted like rotten oranges.

candies? Yeah way too sweet I had a nibble of something from my kid and I spit it out.

Things that have sugar are just way too sweet now and I can’t stand the taste (it doesn’t make me sick at all…. It’s just gross tasting lol)

definitely a post surgery positive.

Halloween is not a thing for me so that wasn't an issue. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, I allow myself a taste of all my favorites and then I go right back on plan the next day. No eating leftovers the next day, no "I'll start again on Monday". I have ONE off-plan meal and then back at it the next day. Not everyone can do that, so you have to figure out what will work for you.

My daughter bought a bag of Tate's chocolate chip cookies—which I love, second only to the only-in-Canada President's Choice brand—and gave me a tiny piece. I dipped it in milk to soften it... chewed it... and spat it out. I didn't want it and it tasted weird.

I'm simultaneously elated and heartbroken.

I am going to be 5 weeks out when I have my first flight - it's only going to be 6 hours, but still long enough. I plan to buy a Protein Drink at the airport (I know already where they sell the kind that works). If you can look at the airport restaurants and find where they might sell a tuna fish sandwich or tacos or refried Beans or bean Soup, those might be your best bets. Obviously, just eat the tuna or deli meat or taco meat, not the carbs they come stuffed in or any veggies. You can also look for hummus or string cheese or hard boiled eggs at the little stores (I almost always find these). You can probably also find yogurt, but it may not be low sugar. You might be able to get a doctor's note to allow you to bring some more liquidy food through security; talk to your surgeon. Also, you can bring powdered Protein through, but for best bets, have it in small amounts. You can then buy milk or mix with Water.
As others have said, get up to walk every hour that you are awake. This would be the time to pay extra for an aisle seat.
Is this a direct flight or do you have a connection? Be aware that your core muscles will likely be very weak so you may want to check as much of your luggage as possible or ask someone (not the flight attendant; another passenger) for help putting up your bags. I say don't ask a flight attendant as they generally are not permitted to assist, and it puts them in a bad spot, since if they get injured doing a favor, they don't get worker's comp depending on the situation.

I agree with you on that. I have no desire to eat candy, cake, etc. I guess the real reason is that if I am not getting any Protein or nutrients from it, it is just going to stall my progress. I really don't need any empty calories right now.

I've been hungry all the time since my surgery a month ago, but I haven't been craving sweets so much. I was in the grocery store today and saw all the candy which would have been a disaster for me in the past (I LOVE CANDY CORN!) but I didn't really want to eat it. I just wanted to eat "real" food. I remember how good the candy used to taste but I don't want to eat it now, maybe just because I know I won't feel good if I eat it. I have been enjoying sweet things like Protein Shakes but candy doesn't appeal to me, so maybe that will be the case for you?