LadyH

Wouldn’t it be typical to loose weight after skin removal?

I had to send a message to the “team” to get the diet instructions we supposedly “…already received at the pre-op class” but the class isn’t scheduled until Dec. 10, which is also just 5 days before my surgery. You’d think they might want to share that BEFORE the patient is required to start the 14 day diet. So, I get my Zoom pre-op class, diet instructions, virtual book, and surgery instructions just 5 days before surgery.
I’m guessing chances are slim the Zoom class format will maintain patient confidentiality so they don’t broadcast our names and faces to everybody in the program and across the web.

Oh man that is so tough not seeing your Bari team. My dietitian moved to KS last visit and I actually cried. But she is still seeing me via teledoc so that helped so much being able to see her instead of someone new. I actually had to do 28 days I must say I think the first week was the hardest. I got prenatal gummy vitamins and I’m tolerating them well on the liquid but I’ll have to see what I can do after surgery. I see a lot of people get the kids flinstone chewable a. She said I need B12, Calcium. D3 as well. My sons took me to Olive Garden today for lunch and I had Soup broth no chunks etc the server was great and tried to get just the broth. It may not be approved but omg is was good and I got so full from just one bowl. I wasn’t tempted to eat the food, salad or breadsticks. I was super proud of myself and left holding my head high realizing I can do this!!! It’s just for a few weeks and anything is possible for a few weeks Good luck!!!

Unfortunately to many surgeries are done without proper screening and the patient who should never have been approved is and they struggle. I am one of them 😢

I think if you read back through more of the thread, you'll see people accusing her of being a downer, negative, and implying that she hasn't tried hard enough, which, particularly without knowing this person, is highly judgmental. As stated above, realistic tips and strategies are always productive and positive, so yes, you are correct, and there's previous agreement on that point.

We're here to support each other. The fact is, Goodmange's outcome is a real possibility for anyone.
Preaching and lecturing is counterproductive: nonjudgmental tips and strategies are helpful & productive.

Don't know how your plan works, but "bariatric therapy" here runs $1700/hour.

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.

Omg you people that are losing so much weight on your liquid diet-I’m jealous! I figure I’ll be lucky to lose 6-8.
Good on you, and best of luck with your surgery:)

I'm getting gastric sleeve, my BMI is 38, and I have a 2 weeks liquid diet. You're right about every doc doing things differently! Thanks for all the info.

I’m going to get some 1% cottage cheese so I can take my vitamins/supplements/meds. I get nauseous taking them with fluids only. I figure a couple tablespoons a day of cottage cheese will have to be ok.

if I get super depressed, I will definitely add in some small carb bits. Fingers crossed.

First, I am so happy you've already lost 10#. Way to stick to that freaking miserable diet!!
Second, I started my liquid diet today. After 3 hours, it's ok so far--hah! But I know I'll be facing what you're facing very soon. I have written down at the top of each day in my planner to think on 1. Freedom (from food/cooking/cleanup/obsessing/trying to make choices/decisions related to food) 2. Relief (from feeling too full, bloated, less than clear-headed, guilty, due to too much food/food choices.) 3. Loveliness (from how the diet will help to heal/remodel/clear and clean out my system and body.)
I don't know if that helps, but that's where I'm trying to start.
Thanks for posting--it's really great to see things working and a role model for being tough throughout the diet.

Today is day 1 for my liquid diet: Protein Shakes and clear fluids only (Plus sugar free popsicles, 0 calorie flavored waters, clear broths, sugar free jello)
I have ~80-100 lbs to lose. Yesterday I cleaned out my fridge and freezer, and stocked it with just the shakes/foods/drinks I can have. It's nice to have a clean fridge, and 0 wrong choices available.
Mentally, it will be much tougher. I've written down 3 motivator/values in my planner so daily I will be able to refocus and remind myself why I'm doing this and what the outcome can be.
Carbs are a precursor to the production of serotonin in the brain, and I know for myself that low carb diets will make me depressed. I'm worried about that.
@huskymama had reported that she's already lost 10# in a week on this diet, and of course, that it's really difficult. But 10# is a lot, and that gives me hope. So thanks, huskymama!
PS-does anyone know what percentage the liver shrinks on the preop diet?

Me and my doc count from the start of my 2 wk pre-op liquid diet.
I was 235 two wks before surgery.
Am 3+ years out today and weighed 117.5 this morning.
At 5’2”, normal BMI for me would be ~135bs.

So math says I am at 118% excess weight lost as of today.
But as @catwoman7 indicated above, probably best to disregard the oft-stated 60% excess weight loss prediction. Its just an average and real life individual results vary GREATLY.
Good Luck! ❤️

I took your advice to savor this last week, and today was my farewell to food. And now I'm excited to start the all-liquid tomorrow. Your advice really helped--thanks!

My program doesn't set targets like that, especially because BMI isn't really a good measure on an individual level. They worked with me to set a target goal, then told me goals can and do move. So here are a bunch of numbers for you:
Heavy weight 396 (probably heavier but I stopped weighing myself)
Program start weight 375
liquid diet start weight 366
Surgery weight 357
Current weight 293 (eleven weeks post-op)
Goal weight (for now) 240
"Normal" BMI weight: 184 (but I will never get there because I have more lean body mass than that)

So technically my "excess weight" calculated by BMI would be 182 lbs. By that standard, since surgery (not the pre-op diet), I have lost 35% of my "excess weight". If we use the unattainable "normal BMI" number, I am 40 pounds from 60% "excess weight" lost.
My PCP chose to use my lean body mass plus 15 percent (which is an ambitious, flat-stomach-and-maybe-some-abs target for a man), which would be 240. By that standard, since surgery, I have lost 55% of my "excess weight" in eleven weeks. If we use the actually-attainable goal weight set by my PCP, I am 6.2 pounds from 60% excess weight lost.
But when we had our consultation last week, my PCP said he just wants me below 40 BMI (which I am) and ideally below 35 BMI (which would be 35 pounds more to lose).

I weighed 238 on my surgery date and I needed to get down to 132 for a normal BMI. So I had 106 pounds of excess weight. I lost all of that, plus 11 more pounds after surgery.
Before the pre-op liquid diet I weighed 250, so that's what listed as my starting weight. But just counting from after surgery, I lost 117 pounds, which was all my excess weight and then some.
The statistics are based on averages and you can do better or worse than average based on many different factors. Some of those factors you can control (motivation, compliance, exercise, etc.) and some you can't (age, gender, medical conditions, etc.)

I'm getting gastric sleeve, my BMI is 38, and I have a 2 weeks liquid diet. You're right about every doc doing things differently! Thanks for all the info.

One thing I can tell you from my very experience is, you can have 20 physicians in a room and still won't find 2 to agree on anything. So evidence shows that to decrease the size of the liver, there is no consensus on how long the diet should go on for. With bypass, given they have to access the gastro-esophageal junction which the left lobe of the liver can obscure, this will definitely warrant a diet of longer duration. In the paper I read, generally the longer the diet the more shrinkage, however... A greater decrease in size was noted with higher Protein diets. Also you risk being in a catabolic state (this is not good for healing) if you are on these low calorie liquid diets for too long.
All this to say, some surgeons change their practices to reflect the evidence. Some were just trained a certain way and stuck with it.
Im on a week long diet and my BMI is 41

It’s another one of the everyone is different things. The post surgical fatigue & your body needing rest to heal can take a a month or so - some more some less. I got hit by low blood pressure issues (my tendency to occasional drops became all day every day) & that caused fatigue, brain doughiness, low energy & weakness. Then around months 3 or 4 I experienced a big drop in energy again. Electrolyte drinks like Hydralyte helped a lot. But I’m someone who takes longer to recover & as I said the low blood pressure was pre existing which complicated things. It wasn’t debilitating or stopped me doing things. It was more annoying than anything. I just listened to my body & took it slow & easy as it needed. And enjoy having nana naps.

This is me. I am 11 days post op and I am so tired. I get a burst of energy when I wake up but after about 11am I have to lay down.

Hey, just want to say I am Sorry it's been a tough go and disappointment for you. I think we all know what it takes to lose weight but it's not easy. If we were going to lose our weight without surgery we would have done it already. At 49 yrs old I know it will only get harder to do it on my own. My skin is still elastic and I have the best chance now to be my best.
Hang in there. Log your food, every single bite, link and taste. ( those little BLT's make a big difference.) Keep at it. Follow Jamie Mills on FB etc... she is a registered dietician and fellow WLS survivor. I love Water exercise,,aquacise, boosts the mood and muscles.. my balance has really improved also.. Best of luck.

We're here to support each other. The fact is, Goodmange's outcome is a real possibility for anyone.
Preaching and lecturing is counterproductive: nonjudgmental tips and strategies are helpful & productive.

This is all so interesting. I start a 2 weeks Protein shake/clear fluids only diet tomorrow. I don't have fatty liver. I have 80-100# to lose. I'd be interested to hear other peoples' stats just because it'd be nice to find some pattern or reasoning for all the differences in everyone's diets.

We're here to support each other. The fact is, Goodmange's outcome is a real possibility for anyone.
Preaching and lecturing is counterproductive: nonjudgmental tips and strategies are helpful & productive.