Sabi

I feel you :/ I am about 5 days out of surgery and I just feel like I’m missing out. I think I’m mostly just bored, but for some reason I can’t wait to try chocolate again… I am even dreaming about it lol…


anyone else have weird food dreams post surgery?

Hi everyone! Longtime lurker, first time poster.
Posting because I have an actual surgery date: July 27. Looking forward to this being my new Independence Day!
Hoping to find others who are on a similar timeline.

so I’m about 5 weeks post opp and I have lost about 35lbs and I have stalled for the last week and a half.

I just feel like I’m failing :( I feel like what if I don’t lose anymore? Was it all worth nothing?

I’m wondering if anyone else ever felt these emotions I am a super emotional person but losing weight has been so amazing and it would make me so sad if you know this is it… I’m not sure how to totally explain it I just don’t feel so hot.

I know stalls are normal but what If I’m doing something wrong? You know? I’m just scared.

Everyone is 100% right! You are doing great! I just came out of my first stall so I can totally empathize with feeling like you're failing. Like everyone said, stay the course- this will end and you'll get back to losing weight. You're body just needs to restart. Stay as far away from the scale as you can for the next week or 2.

I don't have anything to add from what has already been covered above, but did want to say if you've lost 35lb since surgery you are doing exceptionally well for your start weight all ready. And even if not since surgery you are still doing great!

Everything that @The Greater Fool & @catwoman7 said. You’re not failing. It’s something we all experience. Don’t let your worth or feelings of success be dependent upon the number on the scales. That thinking will lead to you sabotaging your success. Your weight loss will never be a consistent straight line. It goes up & down all the time. Our bodies naturally fluctuate (hormonal changes, fluid retention, constipation, diarrhoea, less intake today & a little more tomorrow, activity variations, etc.) & while losing weight, our body experiences periods of stress. It reacts to the stress of the weight loss by stalling. Basically, your body closes the door & hides under the covers for a little while until it’s ready to face the world again.
The stall will break when your body is ready & you’ll start losing again.

most of us experience our first major stall within the first month or so after surgery. We call it the "three week stall" since it's often the third week post-op, but not always. Mine was weeks 2 and 3. And no, your body isn't done. I'd lost about 10 lbs by the time I hit my first stall, and I ended up 20 months later down over 200 lbs.
if you stick to your plan, the stall will break and you'll be on your way again. If it's getting to your head too much, then stay off the scale for a few days. The stall typically lasts 1-3 weeks.

Congratulations on your success. And grand success it is. I'd wager most folks here would have killed to lose 35 pound the first month.
OK, here is what you're doing wrong: You're letting a stupid number on a scale mess with your emotions. Scales are the work of the devil and they lie, lie, lie. You are doing great, stalls are normal. Get rid of your scale.
So celebrate doing great, then celebrate getting rid of the scale.
Good luck,
Tek

You will be fine, I was a mess after my surgery I was convinced I would NEVER eat or drink normally again. How wrong I was. It took me until the 4 month to finally start feeling better, I cried multiple times a day I couldn't go to work I was a mess. I beat myself up for having the surgery it was awful. Keep in mind your hormones are all over the place and you are most likely grieving your old way of eating and drinking and worried about the unknown.. I am here at 11 months out and I can tell you you will feel better, you will feel amazing when you are shopping for new clothes, can walk up a hill without feeling like you are not going to make it, paint your toes nails easily so many things to look forward too. AND you will be able to have that beef stew and a Martini ?

How long ago did you have surgery? If it's in the last month or so, what you're feeling is completely normal; many people have "buyer's remorse" after surgery. I sure did! I couldn't eat anything without pain and nothing tasted good for three months or so. By about 4 months out, I started to enjoy eating again. I can eat pretty much anything now at nine months out, though smaller portions. Which is exactly what I wanted. I could eat beef stew with rice (although, I'm not a fan of rice!). I just have to be careful not to eat junk food, which I can eat too much of too easily.
This is a very hard process and I recommend you meet with a bariatric therapist.
My family and I really enjoy going out to eat and trying new foods when we travel. We still do that, I just don't finish everything now. You will still be able to enjoy your husband's cooking. I think I appreciate food more now because I'm actually savoring it, not just inhaling it.
I think it will get better for you.

i stalled out on week 3... and now on week 7-8 i am stalled again. normal

I feel the same way. My gastric bypass was January 24th and I've lost 70 lbs. And it's sooo hard not to compare myself to other people. Especially when they've lost much more. *sigh*

Still hanging in there though. We got this!

Please do not compare yourself to others. That way will demoralise you. We all have a different journey but if we stick at it we will all get to the finish line.

Put your fork down between each bite. That's the easiest way to slow down. Only after you've swallowed your food should you start to cut/pick up your next bite. Take small bites.
You will learn once you have surgery because you will be in pain if you eat too fast. I'm six months out and I still have trouble with it occasionally.

You won’t have messed up so you can breath about that. I do agree with the suggestion to check your portion size recommendations. Mine was 1/4 -1/3 cup to begin from purée. Liquids stage was just sip your shake or soup ‘meal’ until finished. Portion size of those were a cup of but I’d dilute them to double & would take a couple of hours to drink. All adds to your fluid goal so all good. If you weren’t given portion size recommendations, ask for some.
Nerves are cut during surgery so your signals aren’t working & then they may not work the same which is one of the reasons portion control is important. Plus liquids go through your body more quickly so your tummy is emptying more quickly than you getting ‘full’. Even when your nerves have healed, you’ve recovered & are eating solid food, you may not feel full or feel your restriction. The actually goal should not be to eat until you are full or feel the restriction but eat until you’ve had enough. Three years out I still ask myself do I need the next bite or just want it. Big difference.
I still eat slowly too: 30-60mins depending upon what I’m eating (of course I’m eating more then you are at the moment). It takes me about 50mins to eat a 6oz/1cup yoghurt. But surgeons have different recommendations on time frame & you’ll discover what works best for you. I still also take small bites. A teaspoon helps to modify the size of your bite & keep them small. Then, put your spoon down between bites & wait a couple of minutes before your next bite.

There are a lot of new things to learn but you’ll get there. Also what worked for your brother may not work for you.
All the best.

One week, 20 pounds!!! I know we're not supposed to weigh ourselves much, but, Hurray! I really notice the difference in not having to haul that around.
Question - how's everybody's energy doing? I'm really struggling with low energy. Okay, I'm 74, just had major surgery (including a bonus hernia repair), and yesterday was the first day I was able to get in 800 calories, so I guess the answer to my own question is simply, "Patience."
---sigh--- (Not my strong suit)

I think you should continue sticking to your diet plan. Stalls do happen and at times quite irritating especially in the first 6 months when you expect your weight to fly away.
I have had slow losing months every other month since the surgery. I stalled about 3 weeks or so too around month 5 where I barely lost 4 or 5 pounds that month. But then weight continued to fly the next month. So, it'll happen as long as you stick to your diet routine.
Hope you break the stall soon.

Ive seen people on here literally gain all their weight back after sleeve surgery by not following the program. (which shocked me because i didnt think you could) Sleeve is only a tool. you have to stick to it. If you get the surgery and still eat crap but small amounts you will still gain weight.

Oh, yeah season to your heart & your tummy’s content. Just watch herbs to begin - they can be too coarse & dry & also watch spices as your tummy can be a bit sensitive for a while.

Hello Melissa4444,
I am now 11 weeks postop gastric bypass. My surgeon just cleared me to have caffeine last week. I would recommend starting back on caffeine slowly though. On the first day last week that I tried regular coffee around lunchtime, I really felt the effects and had difficulty falling asleep that night. Now, I just limit my caffeine intake to the morning hours. Of course, everyone is different. Maybe your team will have a different position on caffeine and when/if you restart, it will be a different experience for you.

Fast food is a fact of life for so many of us, so is it really reasonable to expect it to disappear from the scene after bariatric surgery?
Note: This isn’t an article on “How soon after surgery can I eat pepperoni pizza and wings?” This is an article on making the best choices you can given your situation.


Consider Macros
That is, “macronutrients,” or carbohydrates, fat, and protein. The news is bad on the surface since the average fast food meal has more carbs and less protein per calorie than the average home-cooked meal. You can work to turn this around, though.
Carbohydrates: Cut back on carbohydrates by skipping the starchy sides: French fries, potato chips, and hash browns, steamed, fried, or Mexican rice, and breadsticks. Try to go “green” (lettuce wrap) or “naked” (no wrap) with your burger, tortilla, or sandwich; if the fast food joint cannot honor your request, just eat the filling with a knife and fork, and throw away the bread, bun, tortilla, or taco shell (if you are feeling guilty because of starving children in third-world countries, make a donation. You’ll do more good than you would by adding starch to your hips).
Protein: How can you boost your protein intake at a fast food restaurant to be what you need? Skinless grilled or baked chicken, lean cold cuts, cheese, and beans can all up your totals, and yogurt is an increasingly common side option. Even a small burger patty can give you 10 to 15 grams of protein, although it comes with a few extra grams of fat.
A good protein goal for a meal is about 20-30 grams. You can get that for 200-300 calories with any of the following.
Burger King Double Cheeseburger, no bun; Grilled Chicken Garden Salad, no croutons; or Veggie Burger with cheese, no bun or mayo. McDonald’s Grilled Southwestern Chicken Salad, no cheese; or Grilled Chicken Sandwich, no bun or spread. Taco Bell 2 grilled or fresco steak soft tacos, no tortillas; chicken or steak Power Menu Bowl, no rice or cheese. KFC Grilled Chicken Drumstick plus green beans or side salad. Panda Express Grilled Teriyaki or Asian Chicken. Fats: Your first order of business is to avoid anything fried. You will be avoiding excess grease while also avoiding sneaky carbs in breading – did you know that the amounts of carbs in onion rings and fried chicken are comparable to the amounts in bread? Also, watch the fatty spreads – think mayonnaise – salad dressings, and dips.
Find the Vegetables
Protein and vegetables…does this sound familiar? It should, since your goals when eating at a fast food restaurant should be the same as when you eat at home. Vegetables help fill you up without filling you out, and it is best to eat as many of them as you can handle with your pouch or sleeve. It may take a little more digging to find vegetables at fast food restaurants than at home, but you can usually do it. Here are a few leads.
Ask for extra lettuce, tomatoes, and any other available vegetables on burgers and sandwiches. Order a side salad or baby carrots with your meal. Check for salads with grilled chicken as an entrée. Pile salsa and diced vegetables onto your naked burrito. When “Value” Isn’t
Besides the convenience, the deals are among the most tempting things about fast food. For pennies more, you can often add fries and a drink, or you could get a second burger or taco for half the price. Don’t do it!
“Value” depends on what you want and need; why would you pay extra, even if it is “only pennies more,” for extra fat, sugar, starch, and calories? A healthier definition of “value” might be to pay the least you can for a meal that is convenient, delicious, and healthy. Why include “oversized” in your definition?
For those times when fast food simply makes sense, go for it – just keep yourself on track by reading the menu carefully and staying focused. You can do it, no matter where you end up. You might as well enjoy it!

I find the list of things I don’t miss far outweigh the things that I thought I would miss! Being 16 months post op and about 180 lbs down, I don’t miss blood pressure meds, I don’t miss my cpap, I don’t miss big and tall sizes, I don’t miss requesting a seatbelt extender on flights while trying to make myself small to not be rude to those sitting next to me, I don’t miss the mind space and control that my food addiction had over me, I don’t miss hangovers, I don’t miss fat jokes, etc., etc., etc! This journey has given me so much to celebrate that I don’t dwell on what I’ve given up. If I never have another carbonated beverage or Big Mac or you name it, it’s all been worth it to me. Keep fighting the good fight y’all!

I miss that when walking in crowds everyone used to just organically get out of my way. Now I have to trudge through like everyone else.
There are times I miss being able to eat some particularly wonderful food in ridiculous volumes. Now I enjoy what I can and move on satisfied.
There's a lot more I definitely don't miss. And even more I don't remember.
Good luck,
Tek

I miss being able to eat a huge meal if I wanted. We are going on a cruise soon and I'm a little sad I won't be able to really enjoy the 4+ course meal at dinner. However, I am never really hungry or have cravings so this is totally a mental thing! I love that food isn't a constant thought for me anymore, but I wonder if I will ever mentally not be addicted to food.

At your surgery date weight, those are high expectations. Certainly puts the pressure on you particularly given a lot of people experience a stall 3 or 4 weeks post op.. You are doing great as you are and don't let your doctor tell you otherwise.