MissT25

I think I can speak on behalf of most of the long-timers on here in that yes, we dreaded the loose skin at first, but we'd take it any day of the week over being morbidly obese again. ANY DAY!
I lost over 200 lbs, so I had a lot of loose skin. It was easy to hide in clothes, though (I'll post a picture below). I'd just wear long-ish tops with 3/4 or full-length sleeves and tummy-control leggings (although some thing like Spanx would have worked as well). I had my removed because it started to drive me crazy. My abdominal skin would slap up against me when I exercised - ugh. But yes - it was really just cosmetic, and like I said, no one but me (and my husband) knew it was there.
skin doesn't weigh very much. Unless you get a lot of Lipo done, too, we're talking less than five lbs. I think I "lost" maybe four lbs when I had it removed (which unfortunately came right back on!)
some insurance policies will cover removal if it's causing medical problems, like chronic rashes, that don't respond to conventional treatments. I never had any issues with anything like that, so I paid out of pocket.
anyway, here I am BEFORE I had plastic surgery. I had a TON of excess skin, but as you can see, it's pretty easy to hide it if you're wearing the right clothes.

Hang in there. I am 3 months out and I've had one stall last a full 3 weeks and 2 others last about 1.5- 2 weeks. It stinks, but it will eventually break. My weight goes up and down by 1 or 2 pounds around these stalls too. Don't sweat it and just keep going. I agree about not doing intermittent fasting. I don't think you need to.

most of us gain 10-20 lbs from our lowest weight sometime during year 3. I sometimes attend Unjury's virtual support groups, and they had a really interesting dietitian on a couple of weeks ago. She said almost everyone gains at least 5% of their lowest weight, and her clinic doesn't even consider it regain unless the person gains more than 15% of their lowest weight. Anything less than that (i.e., less than a 15% gain) is just normal settling....so that's more or less equivalent to the 10-20 lbs that I mentioned.
so, in other words, your "regain" is normal - just the normal rebound that the vast majority of us experience after hitting bottom. Of course, you can always lose weight again by cutting calories - but if your body is now at it's "setpoint", then it'll be a struggle to take it off and keep it off - BUT...it can be done if you're willing to put in the work.

Some plans encourage you to eat more than 1000 calories a day especially at your 11 weeks out. So don’t beat yourself up if you’ve had some days that you have. I bet even when you did you still didn’t eat the volume of food or at the same frequency as you did before surgery.
I was only advised portion sizes never calories. I started at 1/4 cup & worked up to almost a cup by goal. One of the most helpful strategies I still employ is to ask myself if I need the next bite or do I just want it. Coupled with trying to stop eating before I feel full. Eat slowly and never be afraid to put your cutlery down, push your plate away from you &/or sit back from the table.
Real hunger feels different to head hunger. Head hunger will go if I distract myself or delay eating for 30minutes or so or if I focus on drinking (warm is best). Real hunger persists. With head hunger I want a specific food or flavour (sweet, salty, etc.) but it often doesn’t satisfy the desire. With real hunger I just want food & nutritionally dense food satisfies it. I feel restless with real hunger like something is wrong. Head hunger usually affects my emotions - hangry or frustrated. Are you bored, stressed, frustrated or another emotion & is this what is driving you to eat? Are you eating out of habit or a time on the clock? A rumbling tummy often doesn’t mean you are hungry but it’s just your body digesting food. I rumble & grumble all day long but I’m not hungry. Stomach acid can make you think you’re hungry. PPIs can help with that.
Nutritionally dense food like Proteins are usually more filling than empty calorie, high sugar, high fat or highly processed foods.
Have a chat with your dietician.

Well tonight I had my first dumping episode. I ate cantaloupe, which I thought was ok but later found out that even fruit sugar can give you dumping. Let me tell you I will avoid at all costs in the future!! Bloating, stomach cramping, nausea, sweats, salivating. It’s the worst!

I meant to make a post for six months, but then life happened. So here I am exactly seven months out from surgery.
Current weight: 268. Down 128 lbs. from my measured high, down 98 lbs. since intake, down 89 lbs. since surgery. 17 pounds to goal.
It's gotten a lot slower, and I expected it to. I hit a major stall for more than a month right around the six-month mark. I'd lose a pound, and then I'd retain Water or work out hard and cause inflammation, and those gains would be erased. My week-over-week average did drop, but by fractions of a pound. Then this week—whooooooosh, I lost five pounds in two days which just means my body cleared out the water, the 💩, and whatever else might've been hiding in there.
The big marker has been my body fat; at intake, my body fat was over 40%. At six months (the last DEXA scan I had done), it was 26.8%, and has dropped since then. Because I have been training like a madman, my muscle mass also went up quite a bit from the initial post-surgical drop. My goal is to be below 20% body fat, whatever that number is, so I recalculated it at six months and my goal weight moved from 240 lbs. to 251 lbs. (I'm a thicc boi, by which I mean "incredibly dense".)
Last week I was hospitalized for an infection and spent two days in there. While the infection absolutely sucked, I did notice my vital signs were exactly where they needed to be, without any medication at all. My blood pressure was 111/67, my SpO2 was 100%, and my resting heart rate was 48 bpm. That alone would have made it worth it. Also, the first night, I did not have my APAP machine and managed to sleep without oxygen desaturation happening (to the very great surprise of the nurse). I need to make an appointment for a sleep study to see if I still need the machine, I don't want to just drop it if I'm still having apnea.
I am wearing size 34 jeans (down from 52), large t-shirts (down from 4XL or even 5XL), and my shoe size went down again, so I'm in 11.5s now, which are a lot easier to find.
I eat 1500-2000 calories a day depending on my planned activity level. On days when I'm going to work out and then coach, I eat closer to 2000 cal; on days where I am more sedentary, I eat closer to 1500 calories. It's about a 40/30/30 split between Protein, carbohydrate, and fat calories. If I start feeling the restriction, I just stop, no matter how many calories I'm up to. I find that if I force myself to put the spoon or fork down between bites, sometimes my brain just forgets the food is there, so if I go, "Oh, hey, there's still food in front of me," I know I have had enough.
Yesterday's meal plan was this, along with 3 litres of water:
0700: Espresso with 3g brown sugar and 2 Tbsp. milk, 8 oz. tropical chia pudding with a few very small cubes of mango and nata de coco (coconut jelly). It took me about 20 minutes to eat this. 1000: Protein Shake (Core Power 26g) 1300: 4 oz. ground turkey breast with 1.5 eggs, some spinach, mushrooms, and roasted yellow bell pepper, with a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese, some salsa, and a high-fiber whole-wheat tortilla-type wrap. This took me an hour to eat. 1800: 6 oz. grilled pork chop with 2 Tbsp. sauerkraut and some cooked apple and caramelized onion, with 4 oz. steamed green Beans with a tiny bit of butter. It took me 45 minutes to eat this. 2030: Protein pudding (instant sugar-free pudding with Protein Powder mixed in, made with milk) and one single Thin Mint crumbled on top Total was 158.3 grams protein, 122.3 g carbohydrate, 58.7 g fat for a total of 1650 calories.
Athletically, my mile run has gone from 15 minutes to about 10 minutes (though I don't run as often as I should), my flexibility and mobility are way improved, and my explosiveness has improved—from nearly missing an 18-inch standing box jump to doing a 30-inch with plenty of clearance. I'm juuuuuust about able to do a pull-up (soon!) and can do ring dips and support my own weight on the rings. I can also climb corral fences a lot better now that I don't have to wait at the top to find my center of gravity.
There's some loose skin, especially around my belly. There's a little bit of chicken wing in my thighs and a tiny, nearly unnoticeable amount in my arms. The belly one bothers me because I feel like it pooches out, but obviously I will need to be stabilized at a weight for a while before even thinking about plastics.

https://mbsc.arbormetrix.com/Registry/public/calculator/uiCalculator/7?menuId=1013
This site has a lot of data about weight loss surgery. You can enter your information and see the average weight loss for your demographics at 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years. (Hint: after you enter your data, click the disk icon on the top right of the page to calculate.)

a lot of people have weird mood swings due to rapidly changing hormone levels after surgery. I suspect that's what's going on, but if you're feeling suicidal, you need to call a suicide hotline. Please get in touch with someone NOW!
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

P.S. the hormone changes are temporary, but if you're feeling this way, you need to talk to someone immediately.

Curious, for those that are over 300 lbs what results did you see in 6 months or a year??

So happy to report I finally got some Bowel relief. The Colace, Miralax, and fluids were definitely a factor but what really made it come along was using my squatty potty. I forgot I had one because pre surgery it wasn’t that helpful but I guess post surgery it will be now. Lol 😂 💩 I never thought I would get so excited about a BM I was always regular. Sleeve was 2/28, exactly a week ago.
https://www.squattypotty.com/

I usually have between 600 and 700, maybe 800 calories if I eat some fruit. 380 calories are from 2 shakes and the yogurt. That ensures I'm getting plenty of Protein and 1/3 of my liquids, then leaves 100-200 for each meal, which is plenty, and then I can have some fruit here and there.
I forgot to mention earlier that last night I had 1/2 chicken taco and it was the best thing ever. 1/2 low carb tortilla = 25 cal, 2oz shredded chicken = 60 cal, 2 tbs of refried Beans = 30 cal, a little taco sauce = 10 cal, and 1/4 bag of Quest Protein chips = 30 cal. What was nice about this meal was that it kept me feeling full for longer than other meals I had been eating and I just felt very satisfied. Almost "normal." 🙂

As others have said, no, you can’t reverse this. What’s done is done, and you’ll have to start looking forward to the future, not what you liked in the past. If you’re in the first few months post op, this is not the rest of your life. In the future you’re most likely going to be able to eat a lot of the foods you loved, go out to eat, have an active social life, etc.

I’m almost 1.5 years out and maintaining a 175 lb loss while enjoying a lot of my favorite foods, going out to eat, and yes, having the occasional drink. I balance it all out with small portion sizes, elimination of some trigger foods, and exercise.

Look toward a brighter future. You’ll be able to eat the foods you love, without the fear of binging. Having a family is an amazing experience, and I would give up every favorite meal and “normal” eating experience for what I’ve gained with having my kids. You’ve got a lot to look forward to, keep your focus on the future!

I still, 3 years post-op, have a signal when a food isn't right for me. I get "the foamies." That's when you throw up mucus but not food and you feel extremely full up in your esophagus right away. I still can't eat bread or soft tortillas.

The big thing is getting your Protein and liquids in. I would worry about those over calories. The standards I was given:
- 60-80 grams protein
- 64oz total liquids (incl protein shakes)
- 400-600 calories

The big thing is getting your Protein and liquids in. I would worry about those over calories. The standards I was given:
- 60-80 grams protein
- 64oz total liquids (incl protein shakes)
- 400-600 calories

Okay, post each week to let us know how you've done in terms of macros, Water intake, Protein, and exercise. We'll be looking for these journal entries from you to check on your progress. You can do it!

It's very normal to regret surgery early on - many people do, and it's easy to see why. You're in pain from gas and the incisions, your weight hasn't gone down (and may have even gone up!) due to all the Fluid pumped into you during the surgery - as a side note, STAY AWAY from the scale for the first month!! And you may want to eat but cannot, you probably feel nausea and fatigue. Recovery SUCKS. Then ketosis symptoms set in. For me it was dry mouth, leg cramps when walking up a hill, brain fog, and general fatigue. I drank my 64 ounces of Water a day and still had cotton mouth. It was crazy. That being said... being in ketosis means you're burning all your fat stores to stay alive so you just cope with it. My dietician said you could resolve the symptoms temporarily by drinking 24 ounces of juice for 3 days. But the thought of drinking something so sweet made me want to gag so I never did that.
Anyway, IT DOES GET BETTER. When you step on the scale 4 weeks after surgery you'll see the number has dropped significantly. Your clothes will start feeling looser. The pain and nausea will subside. And you'll start to feel closer to normal. Every week it'll get a little better. Eventually your energy levels will normalize, and then they will increase as you get slimmer. It's fantastic.
I'm 5.5 months out now and feel great. I can eat relatively normally (albeit much smaller portions than I used to) but nothing bothers my tummy. My appetite is back but it's not impossible to ignore like it used to be. I feel 20 years younger and am in really good shape. I love being able to take stairs without losing my breath, bend over and pick things up off the floor without my joints and back aching, chasing my kids around, walking fast, and crossing my legs It all is worth it in the end!! Hang in there!

I agree with everyone else. One month out is too soon to think about a reversal. I experienced "buyer's regret" at first. Your mind has to adjust. food didn't seem to hold the same appeal and I still don't get the same pleasure from it, but I have adjusted and am so glad I had the surgery. Food doesn't rule my life anymore, I am finding new ways to get that pleasurable feeling. Food is for fuel. I have discovered there is so much more to life and living than food! But boy did it make me sad and mad and regretful at first. Ride it out a little longer, give your mind time to adjust and then see how you feel!

Nevermind... I must have missed where you mentioned that. Thank you for so much detail!

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Congratulations! You look amazing! I love what you said about carbs. I hope I can do the same. You look to have about the same build as me. How have you handled extra or sagging skin?

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Folks - I just want to send a small positive vibe out into the universe - I am on day 5 of my liquid pre op diet and I have to say, I feel decent and honestly this is not *that* bad. I swear!
I was massively dreading this. I was worried I would be nonstop hungry for two weeks and angry at the world. However, I got into a routine of shake - broth - jello/popsicle that seems to be working to manage the hunger. Am I hungry? Yes. Is it constant? No. (Could I eat any solid form of food right now? Yes. Will I? No.)
I "eat" 4 times a day: Breakfast, lunch, "happy hour" (oh the irony), and dinner. I have a shake at each meal and broth and/or Jello. I have tried many broths and I honestly prefer the old fashioned boullion cubes or ramen noodle broth packet over anything fancy like Bone Broth. I am having 800-900 calories a day and I am not face down in the bed like I thought I would be. I even adulted at work today. 😂
Just want to send this note because the two week liquid preop was looming so large in my mind before I actually started doing it. Like many things, the dread was worse than just doing the dreaded thing.

Nevermind... I must have missed where you mentioned that. Thank you for so much detail!

Sent from my SM-G988U using BariatricPal mobile app

Congratulations! You look amazing! I love what you said about carbs. I hope I can do the same. You look to have about the same build as me. How have you handled extra or sagging skin?

Sent from my SM-G988U using BariatricPal mobile app

I had surgery on 11/10/20, but started my weight loss efforts on 7/5/20. If you’ve been here a while I’m sure you’ve seen me lurking about the forums.
Stats: SW 339. CW: 165. I am a 5’10 woman in her 40s. I work full time and have young children. My current BMI is 23, I started off with it closer to 50.

I knew it was going to take me a while to hit goal- I had 174 lbs to lose. I did all the calculators pre-op that said I would be lucky to get under 200 lbs, but I decided that just wasn’t going to apply to me (haha). My plan was to focus on fruits, vegetables, and healthy Proteins while ramping up exercise. I eliminated Cookies, pastries, and candy but that’s about it. I don’t do low carb, because that isn’t how I’m planning on living the rest of my life. I focus on calorie reduction, which sounds like oh if that’s so easy why did you need surgery? Well cutting calories is possible if you aren’t hungry all the time no matter how much you eat, and if you can fill up on the healthy things without it being like flash paper into a volcano. I honestly did need the surgery, and I’m not going to pretend it did the work for me, but it gave me the help for the work I wanted to be able to do.

Six days a week I do a split between running and rowing for a half hour. I’m going to run in a 5k this spring, which has been a dream of mine for years. I exercise on my lunch break every day.

Yes, I have some loose skin. It’s nowhere as bad as people make it out to be. I am not exactly planning on running around in a bikini so it’s not like it limits my life at all. It’s not visible in my clothes, not even tight fitting ones. I might get it removed some day, but if I don’t I’ll still be happy.

This weight loss has been the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for me. Life is difficult when you are morbidly obese. It’s difficult physically, emotionally, and socially. This weight loss hasn’t fixed every problem in my life, but I didn’t expect for it to. It fixed my weight related problems, and I had a lot of them.

This surgery can be life changing, but it’s not a magic bullet. You still have to make huge life changes. But if you feel sabotaged you your own constant hunger, cravings, and binges, this can really be the tool you use to dig yourself out of the seemingly insurmountable weight you need to lose.

This isn’t a finish line for me. I am still working on hopefully losing another 15 lbs, and I’m never going back to my old eating habits. I know I signed up for a lifelong change, otherwise I’ll be right back where I started. But finally hitting goal was a nice early Christmas present to myself. Sorry for the essay, but I don’t really have anyone in real life to share with who gets it!

I've read through all your posts and the comments. From everything you've said, I get the feeling you're just trolling on here and judging those who have had the surgery. You repeatedly say "just diet and exercise, then you'll lose weight" and "why can't you do all this without the surgery." But then say you can't lose weight? Something doesn't add up. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope so.
In any case, if you're not just being a judgmental troll, you need to eat more. At 800 calories your body is in starvation mode. No one should be eating 800 calories at 5 months out.
Good luck to you.