Selina333

I hear ya, it's not an attractive sound at all, lol! It's definitely normal though. I'm currently using Ozempic through Slimvive and hoping that continues to help with my stomach noise issues. As for raw veggies, it depends on what they are. For me, carrots or celery don't make me feel sick, but broccoli has always been an issue, same with apples. If you're eating baby carrots, it could be any accompanying dips or dressings that might be causing stomach distress - that's been my experience with heavier creams and fats. I try to eat my veggies cooked so I'm not dealing with those issues! 🤷🏻‍♀️ Protein shakes are also fine for me as long as they're water-based, but mixing with milk or half and half doesn't agree with me at all. Since you mentioned you're only drinking water lately, what's worked for me personally is making protein shakes with unsweetened almond milk and adding a little stevia to sweeten - though I know that might not work with your current approach. For me, I'm just not hungry enough for a lot of food during the day since I started losing weight, but if you're used to eating regular meals all day long, it's important to get your protein in so that your body can rebuild itself. So I try to make sure I eat at least some protein throughout my workday, and then I'll have a hardboiled egg or some other high-protein snack before dinner. It's working pretty well for me, but everyone is different! 🤷🏻‍♀️ Good luck with everything!!
-Freya Smith

Ugh yep my stomach is always making really loud noises about 5-10 minutes after I eat. Usually when I am around people they will look at me and I have to warn them beforehand because it catches them off guard ?

Goodness I cannot believe that my 15 year surgery anniversary will be in October!
A friend of mine is considering weight loss surgery so I went looking for this forum again and thought I would do a quick update!
I had a VSG in Mexico (Mexicali) in October of 2010. I had zero complications and went from a surgery weight of 276 down to about 125ish. Size 24 to size 0. I had plastics in 2013ish (breast, arms, and tummy). I gained up to about 150/160 and stayed there for many years. Over the past 6 to 7 years I have gained weight thanks to nursing school and the pandemic ? but I'm happy with where I am!
I am currently at 170 and in a size 8. (Lots of weight/skin in leg area). My surgery continues to be the best thing that I ever did for myself. The only drawback is that I have GERD, and cannot skip a day without Omeprazole.
My labs are fantastic. I can eat pretty a normal size meal but still have some restriction if I go over that. I'll try to remember to come back incase anyone has questions but really I don't think about the surgery or food much anymore ?

As a birthday gift to myself, I went a head and got myself a gym membership on Monday, and to make sure that I don't flake out on going, I paid a full year upfront, it was a pretty penny, but now it will be on me if I let my money go to waste

Anyways, I have zero experience working out, aside from the treadmill I haven't really done anything else, what are some exercises or equipment that you would recommend as a beginner?

I agree, I liked the feeling of accomplishment when updating the ticker.

Awww. Ok. It's one of my favorite things here though! When I lose I can't wait to come here to correct my ticker! I hope you can find a way to add them. I did feel frustrated not being able to update mine from my phone so I do understand. But I also just understood I had to do it from my computer at home. So that was fine too. I loved seeing other people's tickers too! So I really do hope you can bring them back!
Thanks for letting me know! I love the site and appreciate all the great info here. ❤️

Tickers are being phased out. They slowed down the forums and didn’t look good on mobile devices. Since most people use phones to access our forums, we might consider bringing them back in a more mobile-friendly version in the future.

Hmmm. Maybe doing site changes on them? Also mine isn't changing after I update it. Any info on this??
Thank you!!

Glad you're doing well!

Don't hesitate to ask for help here if you run into any issues. Sometimes the answer will be talk to your surgical team, especially if it's a medical question, but often the experts here are happy to share what's worked for them.
This is just such a fantastic resource for Bariatric Surgery patients!

I’m so happy you are doing well and enjoying the fruits of your efforts!
I am just getting back into coffee again, since I gave up caffeine for a while. I use collagen peptides in my coffee as well as whey protein powder, and I add stevia to sweeten it. You can find many affordable versions of both supplements. You could also just stir some collagen into your tea if you prefer that over coffee, and add stevia for sweetness.
Some people experience changes in taste after surgery and find that they no longer enjoy certain foods like grapefruit. But if it still tastes good to you, that's great, stick with what works!
I hope you continue to do well and I look forward to hearing more from you!

Congratulations on your progress and being in the 180s! That's a huge achievement.

I've been on a similar journey myself. I went from being significantly overweight to losing a substantial amount of weight, and let me tell you, getting under that obesity threshold is such a mental and physical victory. It's not just about the numbers, but about feeling healthier and more confident.

Regarding the skin removal surgery, it's awesome that you're planning ahead and working with a surgeon. Getting to a stable weight for 6 months before the procedure is a smart approach. I've heard mixed experiences about insurance coverage, so definitely keep checking with Aetna about potential coverage.

Keep up the incredible work! Every pound lost is a step towards better health, and you're clearly committed to your wellness journey. Wishing you all the best in reaching that 169 goal! 💪

Hello! Just wanted to say hello and thank you all for sharing all that you do and tell you it helped me so much during this process. I may not have written much but just seeing your before and after pics often helped keep me motivated and happy I was getting surgery. I feel ok. Just need more ways to get protein in that I can stomach. My tastes have changed SO MUCH! It's crazy. LOL. Like I woke up in someone else's body. Haha. Amber said to do coffee with collagen and protein shake so will start that soon. I kinda just don't want anything at all sometimes. But get some bites in daily. I've haven't thrown up at all. I hate to so I stop when I'm near full if I do eat something I like a lot. But nothing is that appealing. I do get hungry though. Some say they never do. Or rarely. So just maybe not feeling satisfied by what I'm eating but everything tastes very different now. LOL! But will keep going and it'll work itself out. I was cleared to begin weights now. (Had hiatal hernia repaired so was not allowed to for 6 weeks.) So I went today and am writing down the days I go and if I do my list of tasks... hand weights, machines, treadmill, etc, and all of what I listed for leg day and then tomorrow is upper body day, then I check it off. So far I still love grapefruit and cucumbers and my tea with Stevia and lemon. Lol!
I am enjoying reading up on here. I hope to have time to keep coming in here to read. Will be working more hours starting tomorrow so will see. But feel free to message me any time. And I'll respond when I'm on here! Have a great day!! ?

Good for you for getting back on the fitness wagon and good on you for not letting a certain number on the scale be the most important thing in life. When I had my sleeve I think that was another issue. I got down to I believe 169 but my goal was lower so I was so incredibly dissapointed about that few pounds that I started letting old habits creep back in. I was never going to be “actually skinny” anyways so why bother. Fast forward a couple years and I was bigger than when I started and I would have given anything to be that weight again.

No. My doctor did three tests before surgery to check my sleeve and said he did not see that I would have a significant enough of a difference in weight loss to justify the risks involved with a resleeve.

My highest weight, 258, was in April 2011. It was then that I realized I was the same size as my mother, who struggled with weight my entire life. Her weight led to inactivity and multiple health problems. When she was 74 and I was 45 and she could barely walk, I decided that I needed a change so I would not be a burden to my husband and family as she had become to my father. I had been on many diets throughout my adult life and never maintained any loss. This time, I started another diet, lost 20 pounds, gained 10 back, and decided it was time to look into surgery for help.
I started exercising and changing my eating habits in January 2012, keeping a log that the insurance company required. I got down to 222 by surgery time in August 2012. By the end of May 2013, my weight was 141, and we discovered I had an ulcer/perforation at the anastomoses. They repaired that, and I dropped down to 130 and stayed in that range for a while.
I stopped keeping records of my weight after that, but also at that point, my whole world changed. My 25-year-old daughter got breast cancer and miscarried a baby. My mother died. My in-laws moved in with us. My first grandchild was born. I did stay active and kept my eating under control for a long time. I even walked (I'm not a runner) a marathon in 2021.
Slowly over the next ten years, I gained a little weight back, then a little more, then a little more, and kind of gave up. The years with the in-laws here were TOUGH years. I let my eating get pretty out of hand, and I let myself drink too much alcohol. My MIL passed in 2022, and my FIL moved away in 2024. My weight got back up to 191, and when I looked in the mirror, I was disgusted and saw myself looking as large as my (morbidly obese) older sister (although in reality, I was not nearly that large).
In January 2025, I knew that I had let things get out of control. My cholesterol and A1C were too high, and I knew the alcohol had played a significant role in my downfall. I gave in and asked the Lord to free me of my addiction to food and alcohol. I stopped drinking, started walking again, drastically reduced my sugar and carb intake, increased my protein, started using shakes twice a day, got rid of any snacks that were "slider" foods, and fixed one meat and one vegetable for dinner. My husband encouraged me and followed a similar plan.
Today, I'm back down to 177, and I'm hopeful that I can reach 150 by the time I turn 60 in March. My cholesterol level is still elevated, but not dangerous. My A1C is on its way down. I walk or bike ride almost every day. I've just acquired a walking pad to use on extremely hot or rainy days. It has the option of up to a 12% incline, which I'm hoping will help me get back into hiking condition!
When I look in the mirror, I'm pleased with what I see. We just went to my husband's 40th high school reunion, and I bought two size medium dresses to wear, and they fit great. If I'm not able to get to my goal weight, that's okay... but I have to get fit to live well and keep up with our SIX grandchildren!
If I have any advice to offer, it is this:
Be consistent. Don't let sugar in ANY form creep back into your body. Don't be afraid to ask for help and support from friends, family, or the Lord. Don't expect perfection, but strive for it. Have goals and interests that are not food or weight-related. Keep your scale handy, though, so you don't let extra pounds creep up on you!
That's my story in a (very large) nutshell. :)

I had a really hard time with the post op diet for my revision. My stomach wasn’t operated on so nothing hurt to eat but my intestines needed to heal so I had to do the same diet. It was tough because I didn’t feel full anymore than I did pre surgery. The good news was it was somehow just easier for me to make nutritious choices and I had energy to exercise which I never did before. I wish you good luck with your revision.

Hey!
Checking in to see who else is 13 years or more out from gastric bypass.
How's it going?
How much did you lose?
Have you had a regain?
If you have had a regain, how much?
Thanks!

Not I but I’m curious to know how you are doing? I had A Sleeve in March of 2021 which was not successful (I lost some but never reached goal and gained it all back) then August 2024 I had a revision to SADI and I have done pretty well I think. I have lost 99 pounds. Although I keep gaining and losing the same 5 and cannot seem to hit that 100!! I hope at 13 years I am still checking in here. I REALLY think that was one of the biggest things missing the first time for me was accountability and support. This community is pretty darn important for my journey I believe. I hope you are doing well and would love to hear your story. We can all learn from experience whether Good or Bad and if it’s ours or someone else’s.

I am 12 years in, almost 13 and just had a revision to my sleeve, last Friday. My surgeon confirmed what I knew, that I had stretched my stomach and with that went my restriction
It was a tough year and I knew if I didn’t get back on track I would just keep gaining. Original weight loss was a little over 80 lbs on a 5’ frame. Regained 30
So, back on Vanilla Isolate, water and Veggie Broth for the next month or so. I feel better already with 5lbs gone already and 25 to go. I know the drill well

Hey, we’ve got this! I spent the last 7 months thinking I was going to get denied or the bottom was going to fall out for some reason. ❤️

Does it count that my wedding anniversary is on September 4th? Wishing you the best as the weeks before can be long at times. Keeping you in my thoughts. Congratulations on getting a date!

You’re doing awesome! I hope I’m as successful as you! ❤️

Congrats! I remember being that excited back in December! I'm so glad I had the surgery. I'm down 62 lbs so far! Good luck with it all and I hope it goes smoothly for you!

Im scheduled for September 8th. Im trying to find people that are scheduled around the same time. Im super nervous and worried I missed something in all of my research and through the surgery program.

Despite all my consternation regarding whether it was polite of me to call up and ask when I could get scheduled for my surgery because it had been a week since my approval and I had radio silence, the call came with me having to do anything. I first got a call from the PA who wanted to verify all my information and give me instructions leading up to surgery and she said she was going to send it over to the scheduler and I would hear from her in a day or so. She ended up calling that day and asked me what I was thinking. Originally I was hoping for the week of August 25 because it was the free week between my girls starting school and my son starting school and my husband didn’t have any commitments at work. Unfortunately, my surgeon was unavailable that week, so I opted for the next and I am officially scheduled for September 4th! I go on Wednesday for my pre-op physical with my PCP’s Nurse Practitioner. I can’t believe this is happening!

Anyone else here scheduled for September 4th?