BlondePatriotInCDA

You are being judgemental. Alcohol is just empty calories, to you, but why do you think there is anything wrong with someone enjoying some good wine with dinner, or beer while watching a game with friends, or savoring a well made cocktail?
As to the OP - my experience is similar to @ms.sss. I drank rarely during my WLS phase. I didn't want to add the empty calories and slow down my weight loss. Once I got near goal I added alcohol back in. Now at 2.5 years out my alcohol consumption is pretty similar to pre WLS. Alcohol definitely hits me harder and faster, but is nothing unmanageable. But I attribute that more to being 1/2 the weight I was pre WLS then anything specific to my sleeve.

I'M DOWN TO 253!!!!! I started at 294. I'm so freaking geeked. I'm telling you right now I hit 205 and clothing will be optional. I hit my goal weight and I'm changing my name to Nekkid lol

I am 4.5 months out, still early but lost the weight very fast and kept changing my goal weight, here is what I noticed:
- I feel cold ALL THE TIME
- My butt hurts when sitting down, because all the fat is gone
- My whole life being athletic, I had an hourglass figure even when overweight the past few years, now I'm linear 🤣
- I am much much weaker to the point of struggling to lift my skinny 5 year old (weighing 16 Kgs) off the ground, I can't open Water bottles, jars or even the Protein chips bag (which is pretty tough to crack if I say so myself)
- I have this weird type of digging pain under the right side of my rib cage, feels like something used to be there and now it's hollow and it's uncomfortable, it's weird I can't even explain it
- My period pains have decreased significantly and my cycles went from 35 days to 28 days, go figure Ha!
- My boobs remain perky thank goodness, but can't say the same about my rear as mentioned
- My hair is falling like crazy, which freaks me out because it's not something I ever experienced, even postpartum
- My body Hair growth has slowed down drastically
- My voice is softer (it's weird but I swear it's true)
If any other weird phenomenon's come to mind, I will be sure to come back

For me the decision was fairly easy, I didn't want to risk GERD chances (I have the worst luck and if there was a chance - even a small one I'd get it) and I didn't want to risk yet another surgery AND the possibility of my insurance declining another bariatric surgery.
The second reason was usually you lose more weight with a bypass and I've had a few surgeries with organs removed...I just wanted at least one after a surgery (my stomach) to not being one of them, stupid I know but ...its what helped me decide.
Lastly, I'm a researcher and all the numbers in the medical studies journals / research papers looked better to me they pointed to better overall outcomes with bypass, more weight lost, less weight regain, better chances of reducing my pre-diabetes etc. I'm fairly anal retentive so I knew I'd be the same way on making sure I took my Vitamins so I didn't worry about that aspect of it.
I listened to my surgeon who didn't really help..he said both were good choices for me, so that left me having to research on my own.
Good luck on your journey!

Nothing is too slow, really.
If you are losing weight, you are winning.
We all get to same place eventually, more or less.
At your current weight and height, 800 cals is well below your maintenance level so if you keep going, it'll keep coming off until u reach ur equilibrium (where your intake matches your expenditure...which is still a ways away, based in your info)
You are doing great!

Yeah, I wondered because my dietician gave me this same goal at my 4 week post-op appointment. She recommended 80g protein and that for now, protein should be about 40% of my calories, which means a goal of 800 calories per day. But she definitely said the goal would be shifting over time. I have an appointment with her next Wednesday and I'm curious what she'll say about my targets now that I'll be almost at the 3-month mark. For what it's worth, I've only lost 22lbs since surgery, so mine has been really slow going. If I hear anything interesting from my dietician next week, I'll let you know.

That’s such silly advice. Make high protein choices. We make those choices every day. Okay up your protein but also up your calories. Your calories or volume of food you eat should be slowly but steadily increasing as you progress until you get to the point you’re maintaining. Until that time, you will keep losing but the rate slows & slows. Like many of the others above I kept losing for almost another year after I reached goal so about 18 months in total. (Wasn’t intending to lose more but it took time to increase my portions & calories to a point it the loss stopped plus it was obviously where my body wanted to be as I’m still there.) And the loss in those last months was grams a week (or none) not kilograms.
It’s not over until it’s over.

I felt my weight loss slowed down when I wasnt eating enough, at 6 months I was eating 1000 calories, and now 18 months later I do 1200 to 1600, with my surgeons approval. I have been maintaining my weight since January after loosing an additional 10lbs as a buffer.

Sent from my SM-S916U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I was on Ozempic, Trulicity, and Mounjaro at different times between 2021 and 2023 (depending on which one insurance would cover for that month), and it helped with my Type 2 diabetes symptoms, and I lost 30lbs as a bonus. However, I feel like I hit a wall around that 30lb mark and couldn't get past it. I was stuck around 320-325lb for a year before going forward with Gastric Sleeve surgery last November.
I feel like it helped significantly for my diabetes, and more for weight loss than other things I have tried, but it definitely wasn't a miracle drug for the weight loss aspect of it. It didn't really help my cravings, but then again, nothing has helped that for me. If you take it, be sure your doctor monitors your thyroid levels periodically. My mother has a history of Thyroid issues, and Mounjaro caused some significant issues for her, so she had to stop taking it.

Thank you, this at least puts my mind at ease! It maybe slow but hopefully it continues!

Took about a year but it passed.

Exactly, the only meds that won't absorb well are extended release meds. After surgery you're losing weight and hormones are stored in your fat which starts to release with fat loss making emotions fluctuate horribly. It's completely normal to be emotional especially when you add to the mix less calories than you're used to and surgery recovery! More emotional, tired, run down depressed etc.!

I agree! I never went through the not hungry phase and I hate hearing the its just " head hunger" statement as well. I know the difference between cravings and stomach growling hunger! I've been hungry from before surgery, weeks after and now 9 months ...I've just decided feeling hungry is better than being fat!
I also don't understand dieticians and people here saying eat deli meats, most have nitrates, salt and Water added to them - not exactly healthy! I guess in a pinch they're better than nothing...

I’m sorry you have encountered an obstacle. Hopefully that will get sorted out soon. Are you very active? I ask because 1400 calories may not be low enough to lose if you are not. I really would suggest speaking with a dietician to see if you need to decrease calories or increase your activity.

Thank you. I will have to buy some. Great idea!

I just had my first appointment with the surgeon. It went really well, and I’m glad I took the first step. We are leaning toward Gastric Bypass as the procedure for me. It’s a 3 month process to surgery with his office, 3 visits with him, 3 visits with dietician, plus clearance by Cardiology, Pulmonology and sleep medicine.
My next visit with him and the dietician will be in about a month and he’s sending out the referrals to the offices for the clearances and working on prior authorization with insurance.

I want to address those who might be struggling with the big decision on if they should go through with bariatric surgery, let me say this;
1. I have lost 33% of my weight so far. Even like you, I struggled with it having tried every diet known to human kind - I'd lose and gain..you know the routine.
2. I have officially been taken off all my meds; pre-diabetes and hypertension meds, this alone should convince you that having the surgery is a healthy choice and will help extend your life and reduce the drag on your wallets having to purchase meds for the rest of your life with the possibility of more being added.
3. You've probably tried everything else, what do you have to lose other than your weight? Its one of the most successful safe surgeries out there.
4. You'll have so much to look forward too in your life, I'm sure you have a mental image of how you'd like to see yourself if you were healthy and thinner. Having the surgery IF recommended by your bariatric surgeon will bring about that change. Let you be the thinner person you know is in there deep..waiting for you to bring the healthier you out!
5. Lastly, you will find the welcoming, understanding and empathy on these forums to help you when and if you reach out. There are years of experience here by people who at one time have been standing in your shoes and can help you, who want to help.
I bring all this up because I know the doubts you're facing, but you'll never know the great outcomes available to you, unless you take the leap of faith that this life altering surgery will give you. I had a friend who self doubted and unfortunately she is no longer with us because she listened to those doubts and "taking the easy way out" nay sayers. Please take the leap and live the life you want to live before its to late.
- End preach 🤗

Is the prescription sent after your team of Telehealth doctors consult with you, or do you have to go to your own doctor and pharmacies with a prescription? Are insurance companies contacted by your Telehealth team to advocate for your patients or is that left up to the customers?

I made a post about losing weight slowly and I just kept doing what I was doing, and dropped 5lbs this week…WEIRD! But I am officially considered overweight and not obese!! Below is a before and after picture. The before is not even my heaviest!

I want to address those who might be struggling with the big decision on if they should go through with bariatric surgery, let me say this;
1. I have lost 33% of my weight so far. Even like you, I struggled with it having tried every diet known to human kind - I'd lose and gain..you know the routine.
2. I have officially been taken off all my meds; pre-diabetes and hypertension meds, this alone should convince you that having the surgery is a healthy choice and will help extend your life and reduce the drag on your wallets having to purchase meds for the rest of your life with the possibility of more being added.
3. You've probably tried everything else, what do you have to lose other than your weight? Its one of the most successful safe surgeries out there.
4. You'll have so much to look forward too in your life, I'm sure you have a mental image of how you'd like to see yourself if you were healthy and thinner. Having the surgery IF recommended by your bariatric surgeon will bring about that change. Let you be the thinner person you know is in there deep..waiting for you to bring the healthier you out!
5. Lastly, you will find the welcoming, understanding and empathy on these forums to help you when and if you reach out. There are years of experience here by people who at one time have been standing in your shoes and can help you, who want to help.
I bring all this up because I know the doubts you're facing, but you'll never know the great outcomes available to you, unless you take the leap of faith that this life altering surgery will give you. I had a friend who self doubted and unfortunately she is no longer with us because she listened to those doubts and "taking the easy way out" nay sayers. Please take the leap and live the life you want to live before its to late.
- End preach 🤗

Congratulations! All your hard work has paid off! You're a beautiful woman with a healthy long life to live - enjoy! I'm not sure what the "two months off" are about, but you've made it this far, you've got this!

Being kind to myself. All the physical things like fitting in seats, standing, clothes... All FANTASTIC! It is such a wonderful feeling to be able to do all the things that were challenging before. But being kind to myself. Remembering all my body has been through when I was at my heaviest, how I got there, my decision to change my like, and the journey to where I am now. What a story!
I look in the mirror now and see a woman who got her life back and I owe it to her be kind. Does she like the saggy skin and no boobs? No, but they tell a story of overcoming and personal redemption. I'm kind to her on bad days when all she wants is chips and brownies. I'm kind to her when she gains a couple pounds. And I Celebrate with her when she loses those couple pounds and gets back on track. My weirdest non scale victory is to love the woman staring back at me despite everything else.

I attended a concert last week that was basically standing room only. In the past, I would have been DYING standing for 4 hours, but now apparently I can do it! My feet were a little grumpy with me, and I was a little sore the next day (over 40 here, lol!) but this is leaps and bounds better than it was in the past. Looking forward to seeing how I handle a 3-day music festival coming up this summer!

I want to address those who might be struggling with the big decision on if they should go through with bariatric surgery, let me say this;
1. I have lost 33% of my weight so far. Even like you, I struggled with it having tried every diet known to human kind - I'd lose and gain..you know the routine.
2. I have officially been taken off all my meds; pre-diabetes and hypertension meds, this alone should convince you that having the surgery is a healthy choice and will help extend your life and reduce the drag on your wallets having to purchase meds for the rest of your life with the possibility of more being added.
3. You've probably tried everything else, what do you have to lose other than your weight? Its one of the most successful safe surgeries out there.
4. You'll have so much to look forward too in your life, I'm sure you have a mental image of how you'd like to see yourself if you were healthy and thinner. Having the surgery IF recommended by your bariatric surgeon will bring about that change. Let you be the thinner person you know is in there deep..waiting for you to bring the healthier you out!
5. Lastly, you will find the welcoming, understanding and empathy on these forums to help you when and if you reach out. There are years of experience here by people who at one time have been standing in your shoes and can help you, who want to help.
I bring all this up because I know the doubts you're facing, but you'll never know the great outcomes available to you, unless you take the leap of faith that this life altering surgery will give you. I had a friend who self doubted and unfortunately she is no longer with us because she listened to those doubts and "taking the easy way out" nay sayers. Please take the leap and live the life you want to live before its to late.
- End preach 🤗

I want to address those who might be struggling with the big decision on if they should go through with bariatric surgery, let me say this;
1. I have lost 33% of my weight so far. Even like you, I struggled with it having tried every diet known to human kind - I'd lose and gain..you know the routine.
2. I have officially been taken off all my meds; pre-diabetes and hypertension meds, this alone should convince you that having the surgery is a healthy choice and will help extend your life and reduce the drag on your wallets having to purchase meds for the rest of your life with the possibility of more being added.
3. You've probably tried everything else, what do you have to lose other than your weight? Its one of the most successful safe surgeries out there.
4. You'll have so much to look forward too in your life, I'm sure you have a mental image of how you'd like to see yourself if you were healthy and thinner. Having the surgery IF recommended by your bariatric surgeon will bring about that change. Let you be the thinner person you know is in there deep..waiting for you to bring the healthier you out!
5. Lastly, you will find the welcoming, understanding and empathy on these forums to help you when and if you reach out. There are years of experience here by people who at one time have been standing in your shoes and can help you, who want to help.
I bring all this up because I know the doubts you're facing, but you'll never know the great outcomes available to you, unless you take the leap of faith that this life altering surgery will give you. I had a friend who self doubted and unfortunately she is no longer with us because she listened to those doubts and "taking the easy way out" nay sayers. Please take the leap and live the life you want to live before its to late.
- End preach 🤗