SleeverSk

Bari surgery purveyors do oversell these procedures: medicine is a business, and bariatric surgery has its own marketing plans and strategies.
If someone has said you must eat 800 cal/day forever, this is an eating disorder/anorexia. That limit should only be in place during the pre- & immediate post-surg diet.
It's true the surgery is sold as a "cure," albeit the medical world also couches this procedure as a "tool" for a cure.
It's also true that most patients never get to their ideal weight, much less keep off the weight they lose initially.
It's also true that stomach amputation and the year prior to the surgery which requires generally unnecessary appointments, procedures, tests, labs, etc., is obscenely profitable for the hospitals and the only reason they offer it.
Those of us who choose this outrageous procedure are desperate and hopeless. The medical world knows this. They choose to underreport outcomes such as Goodmanje's, who has a right to voice frustrations, concerns, and warnings.
We're all hoping to be one of the "lucky" ones. And we're all willing to be permanently altered with no guarantees. Perhaps, instead, as with any business, we should demand there be guarantee of a reasonable outcome.

I started my liquid diet on July 28th and had my surgery August 5th and have lost 103 pounds since.

Let’s talk about some things that play an important factor in this-
You’re a 6ft tall, 52yr old man who started out on the lower end of obesity before surgery and have a current BMI of about 32.5
BMI doesn’t take into consideration your build, lean body mass (especially if you do a lot of physical activity) or genetics.
All of those things along with others like metabolic issues, your BMR basal metabolic rate (the calories needed to do nothing but exist) play a factor into how you will lose or maintain weight.
Based on just a generic BMR calculator (no specifics like lean body mass, etc.) your body burns about 2100 at absolute rest. Eating only 800 calories a day leaves your body in starvation mode and will hang onto every calorie for what it’s worth and not let you continue losing weight. Try adding 2-300 calories a day and see if that helps along with tracking calories.

Try something along these lines for a few days and see if it helps-
Breakfast (eggs and turkey bacon)
2 eggs, scrambled with 2 cups fresh spinach, 2 slices turkey bacon and 1oz cheddar cheese- 330 calories and 24g Protein
lunch (stir fry)
3oz chicken breast, 1/2 cup sliced zucchini, 1/4 cup diced tomatoes, and 1/4 cup onion cooked in 1tsp olive oil with spices (Italian seasoning, garlic powder, cumin, etc.)- 225 calories and 29g protein
snack
100 calorie pack of almonds (100 calories and 3g protein) OR 2 stalks celery with 1tbsp Peanut Butter (105 calories and 5g protein)
dinner (tortilla pizza)
1-8” flour tortilla topped with 1/4 cup marinara sauce, 1oz cooked Italian sausage, and 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese- 365 calories and 15g protein
Total for the day- 1025 calories and 73g protein and that’s with the celery and peanut butter.

If you need more meal ideas to get you (back) on track then message me. I have a notebook full of them!

Yes there have been a few things that one day it will be yummo then when i eat it again its yuck.sense of smell has also heightened for me. I use to love spicy foods now not so much. Frozen meals are a big turn off for me too which is a nuisance because i rely on them for work 🤔 and yes i have to really like something or i cant eat it

Hi rjan, thank you for your kind response . I have read it a couple of times now when feeling down. I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement ❤

I eat bread and Pasta, all in moderation i have on occasion toast for /with Breakfast. A couple of frozen kids meals that were pasta no problems. I think as long as youbare not having big serves and not everyday you will be fine

I eat bread and Pasta, all in moderation i have on occasion toast for /with Breakfast. A couple of frozen kids meals that were pasta no problems. I think as long as youbare not having big serves and not everyday you will be fine

chicken. Yuk.
my favourite meat now makes me want to vomit! Even watching other people eat it… im 16 weeks out and this has been a thing the last 3 weeks. Prior to that I was fine.
steak, beef, lamb, pork and bacon are all fine. However i’m now not as interested in meat as I was before and simply eat it for Protein.

From the get-go I can not handle sweet stuff… no way. Even sweet drinks or Protein Shakes are a no no

I’m also going off anything with flavour lol 😂 spices, garlic, herbs. I don’t like cream or heavy sauces.

I am turning into one of those ‘fussy eater’ types I used to despise because I would eat everything!

i just crave plain Pasta with cheese.

Damn, I feel like I'm playing one of those Sunday morning comics games where you try to find the difference between 2 pictures of the same image. If I ate as little as you do, I'd eat whatever I damn-well wanted too. *sniff*
Yummy looking food though!

Ahahahahaha,
Basically You licked your fork and spoon all night

I have researched it like crazy it took me over a year of research to decide to even do this - I am right on the BMI boarder but I’m type 2 diabetic and my two uncles were juvenile diabetic my Dad died (very thin and very active) at 59 due to diabetes. I have tried everything - I went vegan for about 6 months before covid hit and got my diabetes under control and weight low but I broke my talas bone and did a third grade tendon tear in my left ankle September 2020 which isn’t healing and prevented me from walking much so there went the weight and the sugars. So I’m getting the sleeve to get the weight off and then I can get the surgery on my ankle. I actually love Warrior Brand Protein powder it is vegan but I’ve used it for years. The protein is 28 grams I use it to make banana nice cream and all kinds of stuff now - have for about 2 years. I’m going to get a few others just to have but the Warrior protein powders are not sweet so it may be a good option for me. I am not going to stock up at first other than sugar free G2 and Vitamin Water once I see what I like my husband will go get stuff for me. Also I’m making broth and Soups and freezing them in ice cube trays so I have a variety and can just pop them in the microwave. I’ve been watching my 600 pound life - driving my poor husband crazy - but I’ve gotten great tips from that show plus seeing people not loose or gain and why so I don’t make those mistakes. My life really depends on getting the diabetes under control I am 53 so not far off from when my dad died. I’ve had 2 siblings already die 32 and 59 so it kicks my family in the butt.

Oooo yes I need one of those. I just ended up popping it in the microwave, and then pouring most of it out, but it’s Monday, such as life.

I sure hope you are more prepared than me! I should know better, I’m an operating room nurse and I work with my surgeon! Haha but I just assumed “pshhhhhh I got this”. I do not. I do not in fact got this.
Now i’m post op, weak, and hungry AF trying to figure it all out. And I feel like I’m just trying to push through to the next stage of foods without actually caring what I’m eating, which is kind of missing the whole point of this. Sighhhhhhhhh I’m just surviving at this point.
BUT I am learning a lot. I’m constantly searching the forums. I’m jealous of how well a lot people just thrive immediately, because I am drowning. I’m happy, but imma a mess.
Anyways, please learn from my mistakes and prepare. I don’t know much money I’ve spent on all the Protein shakes/waters/powders, but it’s a lot! And I hate them all.

Also, I licked a cool ranch Dorito today and it was divine.

Post op Day 7
last night I had the gas pains up in my collar bone area, mostly felt upon inhalation while laying down. It was sharp and annoying.
today I am in a mood about having this.
I. AM. CUSSING. HUNGRY.
not “head hunger”, eye roll, real legit, stomaching eating itself hungry. I want to eat anything and everything and annoyed that I can’t!
many times throughout the day I have thought “WTF did i do?” I chose this. I paid for this out of pocket.
I’m hoping this feeling is normal at this point and temporary.
i did normal household things today, without any trouble. I’m still guarding my belly button incision and careful not to lift anything over 10 pounds.
I felt tired a lot and spacey. But also totally normal at times.
I drank my Water, about 48 oz no problem.
no Protein Shakes or waters bc I just can’t.
I am changing my Vitamin because it’s so gross, so just to have SOMETHING I took a few of Flinstones Vitamins.
apparently I can’t take capsules for 30 days, which there went my plan For the barislims.
anyways. I just want to eat. Totally second guessing why I did this. I just feel stupid.

Post op day 12
Praise be, purées, praise be!
i am human again 🙌
ok, so last night (so mere hours from purées day), I had about 2 oz of the most delicious mashed potatoes and gravy from Popeyes. My husband was ordering and i said “oooo order me mash and gravy”. I also had 3 tiny pinches of the biscuit. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
And this morning I had 2 oz applesauce. And then for lunch and dinner I had 2 oz of the best grits of my entire life.

i tried a Protein Water today. Ick! I need to find something
i don’t know how some people don’t want the foods they used to eat. It’s all I think about. It’s a little concerning. I think about stuffing myself with all the food. I miss being able to overeat. Obviously, I want to change otherwise I wouldn’t have had this surgery. But if anyone thinks this is the cure to your food desires, it simply isn’t true. I truly don’t know if I will see the success others do. Time will tell.

End of post op day 4
this has been a tough day. I’ve spent most of the day in bed. I have drunk about 32oz Water. I never went back to the fairlife Protein Shake that i got about 1/3 through. I had about maybe 1/4 cup (if that!) of chicken broth.
I am definitely hungry and weak. I attempted a Protein Gatorade zero, and NOPE!
I took a phenergan and went to sleep for a while.
ive done a little walking around the house. I find my self holding my belly all the time, like supporting it.
I took a hot shower which is just so nice since I’m freezing.
I have all the farts (which are never just farts). I feel like there is a huge burp bubble that never comes out.
im a bit miserable. It’s so crazy that there are people that just totally fine! My body is like WTF did you just do to me, and where is all the yummy food? !
im having some specific cravings, like old school dine in pizza Hut pizza.

I just don’t know what I’m going to do if I can’t drink the protein, that seems to be the key. So I’m just not eating.

Day 3 post op sleeve
I am much better than yesterday and a million times better than day one.
I got to go home today. I took a shower immediately.
I feel hungry. I was really hoping i didn’t feel hungry.
I’ve been sipping on my Protein Water mixed with Miralax.
I’m still very sleepy and a bit shakey. Not much for incision pain, just a little tender above the port sight where they pulled a portion of stomach out.
Feeling hopeful that every day gets better, because it has already gotten better everyday. My nausea is minimal and the gas pains are nearly gone.
I never tooK the narcotics in the hospital and said no thanks to the prescription. I only got Toradol IV for the pain, as I could not keep the liquid form down. I was really scared about ripping the staple line when I coughed, but I guess I’m alright.
I decided I won’t weigh until the post op visit.

My tastes have changed to the extent that I judge foods by "How enjoyable/easy is it going to be to chew that food real good before I swallow."
Pre-surgery, I loved steak. Especially fajitas. But even if I knew my stomach could handle steak (I am 2.5 months out and sure it couldn't), the idea of chewing a piece of steak down to being super soft repulses me. It's not worth it.
Another one was watermelon. I tried some about a month ago. The flavor was fine, but chewing it down is just a terrible experience. It feels like you are trying to break down little strings of plastic in your mouth.

I was hoping that my tastes would change after surgery, but they really did not, with the exception of french fries/fried potatoes (tried two different types out of curiosity and they just tasted mealy and gross). I enjoy the Protein Shakes and artificially sweetened yogurt. I haven't had any real sweets yet, so I guess I'm hoping to break up with those. I'm at my parents' house right now and there are some other guests so my mom bought my favorite cake from the fancy French bakery and I didn't try it. I am afraid that I will like it and I won't stop eating sweets. Also, I had a bit of fear of dumping, even though I had the sleeve. I ate a light and fit greek yogurt watching them eat the cake... it was a little sad.

Wow! Thank you so much for all that detail. It's so helpful to hear that from someone in such a similar situation. You are officially my hero now! 😂

The further out I get, the more I adopt the attitude of Never Say Never.
I have regular crap food in my diet. As I do healthier stuff (i love me some salad). I love food and can thoroughly enjoy eating in my much smaller quantities. Balance and Portion Control is key for me.
I started eating bread again (the regular, non-keto, full-everything kind WiITH butter) about 2-ish years post op…and surprise, surprise, I didn’t implode. Warm, fresh bread is THE BEST (my Mr. is the bread whisperer lol). Now, I won’t eat 5 slices anymore, I’ll likely just have 3-4 bites (as it is very filling for me), but still. Other than excess sugar, I can enjoy a wide range of foods with no ill effects nor unintended weight gain.
Im 3 years post op and been maintaining my weight consistently at 115-ish since reaching goal almost 2.5 years ago…non-healthy food choices (with portion control) and all. My most recent labs a couple weeks ago showed once again that i am the picture of health.
I do understand that for some folks, some foods are triggers or potential starts of slippery slopes. I guess just know what your boundaries are and strive to stay within them. You may not be perfect, but u can be perfect ENOUGH.
Indefinite denial and avoidance, especially if it causes you angst is a meltdown waiting to happen.
P.S. For those early in the process, for me it helped to tell myself: “Not right now, but maybe later”; or, “This kinda sucks, but it won’t always be so”. Making peace with the fact that nothing is forever helped with accepting my present circumstance.
and who knows? what u really want today may not even be on ur radar tomorrow or next week or next year. And if it is, you can always have it then.
Good Luck! ❤️

My wife and I had surgery together almost 1 year ago. We lost almost lb for lb for the first 6 months. After 6 months I was almost done losing but she still had a bit more to go and she continued to lose. Her weight loss slowed down and then stalled for the past few months and just started moving again. Staying with the program that you have will help keep you on track. There will definitely be times where the weight falls off and then times where you are stuck at the same weight.

I am the same but at my 3 month mark i stalled at 80kg, weightloss of 24kg ........ so i hope i start lossing again soon

Not sure, he said it would get better as i lost weight 😞

I hate it, i had second thoughts going into surgery and was treated like i was having pre op nerves. I woke up hoping for some reason the surgery hadnt been done and i spiralled from there to the point of being suicidal. I have been beating myself up over why on earth did i think this was a good idea, why didnt my gp explain how serious the surgery was and why wasnt i given other options, why did the surgeon say " the effects of the sleeve only last 18 months then its up to you" my mind heard in 18 months you will be back to eating and drinking normally, why didnt my dietian say you are not ready for this when answering her questions, why didnt she explain in full detail how eating and drinking would change forever. I spent 8 weeks on my sisters couch curled up in the foetal position bearly eating, having anxiety and panic attacks. I am getting better though i am back at work, i cry at least once a day over what i have done to myself and its hard to incredibly hard. I find no joy or pleasure in food any more its a chore to eat and drink. So i guess i am dealing with lots of problems i wish i hadnt had the surgery as i would much prefer to be fat and happy than slim and miserable 😢😢