Rocinante

I got gastric bypass on September 19 2022. So it is fresh in my head. I call it my fat brain. My worst of my bad eating habits is eating late at night and lots of it. For me the second week was when I started to really look at other people and how and what they are. I kept thinking about not how I miss the food and Snacks but more on the line of the poison people are stuffing into themselves. I started to really hate all the garbage food i see everywhere. Tv ads , social media, the supermarket and shopping of garbage food people buy. I kept seeing overweight and more and more people struggling. There are so many that are in worse shape than myself and most do not see or have given up.
I am proud and happy you are making a change for yourself and family. It isn't going to be an easy road and it will be a long journey.
I have been fat for 30 years and my health issues started 15 years ago. But I ignored them and kept trying to find an easy fix. Diet this and diet that. These magic pills or drink this magic shake.
As I start seeing the real progress I'm making I find it easier to continue. I have to . Not continuing will only lead me to being in pain, being diabetic, struggling to get up out of bed with out feeling like a truck ran me over, sleep apnea, the list never seems to end.
This group of people here are real and also struggle with you. But we are here for eachother. Don't give up. You are stronger than you give yourself credit. If you fall off the wagon. Get you fat ass back on! I'm like most on here struggle yet must keep going on. I send you love and positive vibes for you.
You will be and see results in time. I started at 265.5 per surgery. Was 250 at surgery. Dropped to 243 and stalled for almost three weeks and today I'm at 236 five week after surgery. Still feel week and get tired quickly but gaining energy and strength a bit more every day. Keep your nutrition up and your Proteins up, take Colligen and Biotin, and walk as much as you can. It makes a big difference. .
Best wishes and good health!!

so far good.. pain low and tolerable - gas not bad because i walk or move my shoulders every time i feel it starting… sipping away well.. hurts each time i sip but it’s only for a second.. i burp every single sip

hospitalist and surgeon cleared me to go home - yay!

Finally went diving!! (First time since surgery!)
Pleased to report that:
1) I went down from an XL BCD to an XXS!
2) Went from 18-20 lbs of required weights to 6! (8lbs if i wore a wetsuit)
3) Speaking of wetsuits…i used to wear a Men’s XL, and now a woman’s size 2 (though if they had a size 1, it probably would’ve been better)
I was NOT all sweaty and tired lugging all my gear around on land, got in and out of the boat with little to no effort, AND was looked cute in pictures lol.
WIN!

As the title says!

Medical Groups Replace Outdated Consensus Statement that
Overly Restricts Access to Modern-Day Weight-Loss Surgery
NEWBERRY, FL – Oct. 21, 2022 – Two of the world’s leading authorities on bariatric and metabolic surgery have issued new evidence-based clinical guidelines that among a slew of recommendations expand patient eligibility for weight-loss surgery and endorse metabolic surgery for patients with type 2 diabetes beginning at a body mass index (BMI) of 30, a measure of body fat based on a person’s height and weight and one of several important screening criteria for surgery.
The ASMBS/IFSO Guidelines on Indications for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery – 2022, published online today in the journals, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD) and Obesity Surgery, are meant to replace a consensus statement developed by National Institutes of Health (NIH) more than 30 years ago that set standards most insurers and doctors still rely upon to make decisions about who should get weight-loss surgery, what kind they should get, and when they should get it.
The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest group of bariatric surgeons and integrated health professionals in the United States and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) represents 72 national associations and societies throughout the world.
"The 1991 NIH Consensus Statement on Bariatric Surgery served a valuable purpose for a time, but after more than three decades and hundreds of high-quality studies, including randomized clinical trials, it no longer reflects best practices and lacks relevance to today’s modern-day procedures and population of patients," said Teresa LaMasters, MD, President, ASMBS. “It’s time for a change in thinking and in practice for the sake of patients. It is long overdue.”
In the 1991 consensus statement, bariatric surgery was confined to patients with a BMI of at least 40 or a BMI of 35 or more and at least one obesity-related condition such as hypertension or heart disease. There were no references to metabolic surgery for diabetes or references to the emerging laparoscopic techniques and procedures that would become mainstay and make weight-loss surgery as safe or safer than common operations including gallbladder surgery, appendectomy, and knee replacement. The statement also recommended against surgery in children and adolescents even with BMIs over 40 because it had not been sufficiently studied.
New Patient Selection Standards — Times Have Changed
The ASMBS/IFSO Guidelines now recommend metabolic and bariatric surgery for individuals with a BMI of 35 or more “regardless of presence, absence, or severity of obesity-related conditions” and that it be considered for people with a BMI 30-34.9 and metabolic disease and in “appropriately selected children and adolescents.”
But even without metabolic disease, the guidelines say weight-loss surgery should be considered starting at BMI 30 for people who do not achieve substantial or durable weight loss or obesity disease-related improvement using nonsurgical methods. It was also recommended that obesity definitions using standard BMI thresholds be adjusted by population and that Asian individuals consider weight-loss surgery beginning at BMI 27.5.
Higher Levels of Safety and Effectiveness for Modern-Day Weight-Loss Surgery
The new guidelines further state “metabolic and bariatric surgery is currently the most effective evidence-based treatment for obesity across all BMI classes” and that “studies with long-term follow up, published in the decades following the 1991 NIH Consensus Statement, have consistently demonstrated that metabolic and bariatric surgery produces superior weight loss outcomes compared with non-operative treatments.”
It is also noted that multiple studies have shown significant improvement of metabolic disease and a decrease in overall mortality after surgery and that “older surgical operations have been replaced with safer and more effective operations.” Two laparoscopic procedures, sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB), now account for about 90% of all operations performed worldwide.
Roughly 1 to 2% of the world’s eligible patient population get weight-loss surgery in any given year. Experts say the overly restrictive consensus statement from 1991 has contributed to the limited use of such a proven safe and effective treatment. Globally, more than 650 million adults had obesity in 2016, which is about 13% of the world’s adult population. CDC reports over 42% of Americans have obesity, the highest rate ever in the U.S.
“The ASMBS/IFSO Guidelines provide an important reset when it comes to the treatment of obesity,” said Scott Shikora, MD, President, IFSO. “Insurers, policy makers, healthcare providers, and patients should pay close attention and work to remove the barriers and outdated thinking that prevent access to one of the safest, effective and most studied operations in medicine.”
The ASMBS/IFSO Guidelines are just the latest in a series of new recommendations from medical groups calling for expanded use of metabolic surgery. In 2016, 45 professional societies, including the American Diabetes Association (ADA), issued a joint statement that metabolic surgery should be considered for patients with type 2 diabetes and a BMI 30.0–34.9 if hyperglycemia is inadequately controlled despite optimal treatment with either oral or injectable medications. This recommendation is also included in the ADA’s “Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes – 2022.”
About IFSO
The International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) is a Federation composed of national associations of bariatric surgeons and Integrated Health professionals. Currently, there are 72 official member societies of IFSO, as well as individual members from countries that thus far have not formed a national association. IFSO is a scientific organization that brings together surgeons and integrated health professionals, such as nurse, practitioners, dieticians, nutritionists, psychologists, internists and anesthesiologists, involved in the treatment of patients with obesity.
About ASMBS
The ASMBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the United States. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of severe obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in bariatric surgery, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved surgical outcomes for patients with severe obesity. For more information, visit www.asmbs.org.

Here's my pack list. I don't think I used the tablet at all, but the rest was useful. Most of the time, you'll either be sleeping, walking, taking meds, talking to nurses & doctors, etc. I had very little "free time".
Driver’s License and Insurance Card Paperwork, including instructions and medication list CPAP CPAP Cord CPAP Mask & Hose Glasses and case Small packed toiletries bag Cell Phone Cell phone charger Tablet Tablet Charger Headphones Earplugs (Hospitals are noisy!) Robe (Good for covering your backside on your frequent walks in the halls.) Sunglasses – Leave in Car Note that I didn't pact separate clothes. I just re-wore what I wore to the hospital.

Before:
 
After:

Face to face. Day before op versus Monday.

Better photo to highlight the losses, since you can see my side view better.

I feel pretty damn good. Migraine and anxiety disorders causing a feedback loop that triggers each other, but that's another story. I can do so much now it's amazing. I just love going out and doing stuff. I don't mind when people look at me, I don't instantly think they are all "omg that fat guy is gross". I've gotten lots of looks and smiles now. I feel like I did when I was 18-20... less the back pain LOL

Waiting for my surgery this coming Monday....thank you for the inspiration tonight. You look amazing, strong and happy.

Hello everyone, I had my surgery on the 26th of February 2016... Almost four years now!

I just wanted to show that it's possible to maintain your weight even after a few years... I'm happy with the decision I made even though I was only 23 back then. It changed many aspects of my life, mostly in a very good way!
Here are some "before pics":

Here are some pics from my 2019/2020 trip to Slovakia (I did Celebrate new year's eve with nice drinks, oops):
 
If I can be useful or answer any question, don't hesite to ask me anything
Cheers from Belgium!

YOU ARE A DRIVING FORCE IN THE INSPIRATION OF THE BOARD LOOKING GREAT KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !!!!

Almost 3 years out. 250 to 135 ❤️

Oooooh I am the same height as you, so love seeing your pics. I started at 96kgs and my goal is 69kgs. It gives me some to play with up and down. Surgery booked for 4 January. I am really excited but also scared!

The first picture is a few months before my surgery and the second picture was from a few months ago (about 4 years post op). I was around 296lbs in the first picture and 165 in the second. I am currently at 160lbs -28 years old.

June 12 (shorts)
And September 12 (black pants)
50 lbs lost
Surgery date: 6/8/2022
GW: 130
SW: 223
CW: 172

I finally found some before photos. The first photo was 2 months before the surgery. I was 145+ kg. Second was 3 months after the surgery when my clothes started to get baggy. Last one was taken today.
Pants size went from 52" - 44" - 38"

Awesome progress man!

March 2022 vs August 2022

Had my surgery 11/28/2019. Changed my life for the better. The added bonus of being healthy? all the compliments 😋

I was 130kgs. I have lost approx 55kgs. I am currently 74kgs and still going strong! Struggling with the last 14kgs but I'm getting there! Here are my two before and two after!

Just broke 100 lbs lost.

Nearly 102 down since November 2021, I like the before and after!

Hey there! I started with a lower BMI and had lots of success! I am 5’ 5”, started at 209. Within 6mo I was WNL and a year later I was about 145lbs & am happily staying there.

I have actually heard that lower BMI (30-35) has more long term success with the sleeve, in part because folks at that level tend to not have as many food addiction or unhealthy habits. There are some studies going on to demonstrate the success of lower BMI folks, with the hope that eventually insurance will cover lower BMIs more often. (I just eeked in at BMI of 35 at my highest- may have purposefully gained a few to do it.)

IMHO the trick is to track what you eat and have a balanced diet (not another low carb, highly processed fad nonsense diet that’s just going to fail long term.)

So, yes! Lower BMI patients absolutely have a ton of success. And potentially have greater long term success. So go for it! You will do great.

I am 5’4” and was 200 lbs. when I got my sleeve in 2020. I got down to 146 and have pretty much maintained that weight for a year. I would love to lose another 10 lbs but, I confess, I don’t exercise quite as much as I could, and the nutritionist suggested light weight training, Someday…..