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Most of the people on here have said it. I do cook most of my food now, hence the name. I think I’m weird because I like to food prep. I weigh myself at least once a week or check how my jeans fit. Then jump back on track (if I’ve wandered) by weighing food, measuring, recording and checking in with my son or a friend to hold myself accountable. I stay in touch with my bariatric group of fellow WLS patients because it’s good positive energy from people working hard to maintain weight loss. I pop on here too, again nice positive energy from folks trying to be supportive and helpful staying healthy!

7 years out this November (I can’t believe it’s been that long!) 1. The surgery did all of the work. I didn’t wake up hungry, I didn’t feel like I could eat more than recommended. I didn’t have any (initial) complications that slowed the weight loss process. 2. I was really strict and followed every rule pre and post op. I was super serious because I absolutely needed this to work. My motivation remains for medical reasons first and aesthetics second. 3. I limited calories from liquids. 4. I am finally ready to admit that I have a narrow palate. I don’t like most food and definitely not most fast food but in a pinch I will eat it *some* things. I cook the vast majority of my meals and most are very boring by foodie standards. 5. I was converted from VSG to RNY at my goal weight (GERD etc) and I’m sure the durability of RNY has made a difference in maintaining. 6. I was given a higher BMI range by my surgeon and thank goodness because getting any lower would have been a real struggle without added benefits. 7. I invested in plastics. I shouldn’t make sense or a difference but I didn’t want to mess up the work I had done plus removed skin and fat cells are gone forever. 8. I address the smallest regains IMMEDIATELY adjusting behavior and intake. I’m not ashamed of it or ignore it, I weigh often to stay accountable to myself. 9. I found what works for me and focused on that, adjusting as needed. I try very, very hard not to compare myself with anyone else. I never attached self worth or morality to weight (gained or lost). I think it helped immensely that no one ever bothered me about weight. I realize it maybe a different story if this wasn’t the case. 10. I check in yearly with my bariatric team.

If you have a phone or some sort of Alexa device try setting a recurring reminder to remind you daily. Or maybe regular alarm clocks have that option now. Don’t overdo it but just get into the habit of doing something. Start with what your physical therapist recommended. They are very knowledgeable and know where you are currently fitness wise. Also, if the physical therapist is too far. See if the bariatric physical therapy specialist could set up your program and do your evaluations but you can go to someone local just to do the exercises. They usually have someone evaluate and change your exercises ever so often and the other people there just help you do those exercises in between. So in other words, The specialist will decide what exercises you need to do and send those records to someone closer for you to do them more often. Not certain if that’s something that they like to do but it couldn’t hurt to ask. You Can break your exercise up too. My watch actually tells me to stand up every hour and I will walk around the house a bit. Before I got it I would do a little extra walking when I went to the restroom or got up to get a drink. It’s just something you do a few times a day so a little extra adds up. You could do your bands then. Or when you eat your meals you could do them. Just divide up how much they want you to do for the day so your not doing too much. It doesn’t matter when or how you do it or where you are starting from any little bit is progress. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend walking too far by yourself if it’s been a while since you have done it though. When I started I would go alone but I did wait until my husband was home from work and I took a phone with me so if I needed to, I could call him to come get me. Even still I just go around the same block over and over so I’m not far from home if my knees start hurting me. Sounds like your team is taking good care of you. I think you will do just fine.

Wow what a coincidence In my early post op bariatric group sessions, A good dietitian who helps bariatric patients Told us to start eating "Full fat items" she went on to state how you will stay fuller longer. She stated how "low fat" and "reduced fat" will have more complex ingredients which is a true statement low fat ingredients list are always funky. Full fat items are straight forward like sour cream may just say Whole Milk, Heavy cream. we were all complaining about still being hungry. She helped us thankfully. Switching to Full fats was everything for me. Keeps me fuller and more energy! Awesome glad you are maintaining 🏆.

I'm going to have physical therapy and a nutritionist that specialize in bariatric surgery after my surgery. I saw the physical therapist once already for a consultation he said that I would be working with him alot after my surgery and that we'd mostly be swimming and stuff. I'm assuming I'd be seeing him once a month but I'm not sure. I'm hoping it's once a month anyway and not more frequent because I have the hospital that has the bariatric program is an hours drive away. We have a hospital in our town but it doesn't have a bariatric program or a maternity ward anymore for that matter. Anyway it will take some motivation to exercise. I often forget to exercise. I'll say I'll do it and then don't do it. I will do the physical therapy exercises at my physical therapy appointments but I often forget and don't do the exercises afterwards at home. The therapist from the bariatric program gave me a rubber band to use to do curls on and my wife hasn't been reminding me to do those nor have i been doing them on my own. The rubber band has been sitting on the coffee table for 8 months. But I'll start doing some walking today I have an appointment after my wife gets off of work. So that will be some walking exercise for today and I can go for a walk tomorrow after she gets home from work. Or I can walk alone when she's at work. I'll just need to remind myself.

I was supposed to have my surgery Dec 28 last year. I had the option of taking a last-minute cancelation the Monday of Thanksgiving week, but when I told my mom (whose help I needed with my kids), she was totally against it. Said I would ruin everyone's holidays if I had a terrible recovery and kinda made it all about everyone else. So I gave up the date, even though it pained me to do it, because I didn't want to be selfish. A couple weeks later, my hospital discontinued their surgical program and canceled my date. I was devastated. I had to rebook with a different program, which was still affiliated with the parent organization of my hospital, but unfamiliar to me. I didn't end up getting my surgery until February. It was very stressful and I was pretty angry with myself for not choosing what I wanted instead of what other people wanted me to do. Having said that, it did all work out for the best in some ways. Apparently, the November surgery date would have been right after the doctors at my old program were told the center was closing, so maybe that would have meant the surgeon wasn't as focused going into my surgery, which could have been dangerous for me. And I would have had to do all my follow up with a different program, which would've been awkward. And I appreciate that I knocked out my deductible in February so have had full coverage of all my tests and appointments all year. I actually have a biopsy I have to get done next month (not related to bariatric surgery) and that won't have any out of pocket costs, so yay for that. On the other hand, my recovery was pretty much text book, so all my mom's worries over me ruining the holidays with a terrible recovery were baseless. I was pretty self sufficient and back to about 80% functioning by the end of the first week. And 8 months post-surgery, the holidays are rolling around again and guess what? I still can't eat more than a tiny plate of turkey breast, a few green beans, and a bite of pumpkin pie. I still won't be baking a million cookies or drinking a pint of egg nog. So, whether it happens this year or next, your family will have to figure out how to navigate around your new normal. If it were me, I would decide based on what makes financial sense (your deductible, etc.), what works for you with time off work, and would probably avoid the two weeks right before Christmas just because you will need some time to recover in peace without holidays adding to your stress. In retrospect, waiting until February wasn't such a big deal, though, so if you do have to wait, it will be okay. Just make sure you do it for yourself and not for everyone else.

As we all know loosing the weight after bariatric surgery can be quick and easy, but I have noticed throughout various bariatric groups, That maintenance seems to be the hardest. What were some of your Keys to success that helped you maintain your goal weight over the years? What was steadfast and True?

As an British-American, I'm going back to the US for Thanksgiving in one month and I pretty much have the same concerns. Food, Food, Food is all it is. Come to find out my stepmother had the sleeve two years ago (she kept it real quiet but judged my mother for having a bypass 15 years ago, but I digress) so having one other bariatric patient at the table could be helpful for portion size recommendations. But Christmas, I'm with Italian friends. Italians (not to generalise, but something I've observed) love to feed people so I'm going to have to practice stern "no thank you".

I just watched a video on the procare website that you might enjoy. I get my Bariatric vitamins from procare and they always have very informative doctors etc come on. A few key points made 1. everybody loses weight after bariatric surgery. 2. not everybody maintains weight loss. 3. after gastric sleeve 7 to 50% will gain weight after the seventh year Mark . he goes on to state that success is not about fault, but about physiology he goes onto state that surgery does not change your genetics. he goes on to state that those of us who gain weight have a calorie balance issue our body is not balancing it like it should. versus a person who does not gain weight. he goes on to state that movement at least five times a week is very important and that determining physical hunger versus emotional hunger is very important. Etc give it a look

Now I know a lot of people will probably tell me off here, in that Halloween hasn't even happened, and I am talking about Christmas 🤣 BUT, I adore Christmas, and I realised that this will be my first Xmas post-surgery. Has anyone got any advice as to how to still feel included in all the festivities when so much revolves around food etc? I still feel excited for it, I just know it is going to be SO different to all the other years! 🎄

I had sleeve revision to SADI (just the bypass portion) and I am really happy with my decision. My surgery was August 7th so I am about 2.5 months out and including my preop loss I have lost 55 pounds. I am over halfway to my goal. I have been eating 100% on plan though and exercising a pretty great amount (2.5-3 hours a day). The revision surgery gave me the metabolic Hca Hes tk actually do Al of that though. I never exercised or prepared fresh homemade food with my sleeve. Didn’t have the motivation. It made a pretty huge difference for me. Did your Dr do a endoscopy, barium swallow and gastric emptying study? Mine did those tree before deciding I was a candidate for SADI or Bypass. If the sleeve didn’t work for you long term then I would probably lean away from a ReSleeve. Just thinking why repeat history. Try something different but that’s just me. The research does say that the loss is more durable witb the SADI revision than the Bypass. Not certain about the ReSleeve but my guess is that too since the Virgin Sleeve doesn’t have the best statistics for durability. Also, resleeve is kinda risky. My Dr said he wouldn’t touch the sleeve with the SADI not because of my BMI but just because he doesn’t think it gives that much more benefit to justify the risks so that’s something to look into as well. Ooh and if you do have coverage for the GLP-1 and you can tolerate them, they do work. They don’t have to be long term for everyone either. If you take the time on then ti make real lifestyle changes you may be able to go off of them and maintain. Ibvuously If you just eat a few French fries for your meal you will lose, but will obviously eat more when you don’t have the meds but if you genuinely change your habits then people do maintain the loss. I have a friend that is almost to goal and she has been asking me for advice of what foods to choose to be sure to get her protein in. Kinda odd because she is smaller than me but I have heard a couple success stories with them. My friend has to force herself to eat. It’s a chore. If you do go that route, talk to your doctor about staying on the lowest dose that works for you. That’s the thing that many bariatric doctors usually recommend and it makes sense to try to avoid the side effects. . And some people go onto a maintenance dose after they reach their goal if they need it. Also, see about a three month supply when you do get to the dose that works because for my friend it’s cheaper that way. I strongly considered them but I didn’t have adequate coverage. I even considered postponing to see if things would change but my family Dr advised against waiting since these things can take a long time. There are pros and cons of each option but do your research. This is a good start but make anothet appointment with you surgeon if you have more questions. I did several before I decided. You probably only have this one more shot at this. Not a lot of surgeons will do a second revision ooh and that is one thing to consider if you do go with SADI, it’s newer so ask your surgeon if you had a complication god forbid what you would do. Mine actually brought it up that he would send me to another hospital to someone with more experience with the surgery. I mean obviously he would stabilize me but if I needed a revision because of malnourishment or something he would send me elsewhere. I kinda respected the fact that he would admit what his limits were and appreciated it but maybe you feel differently about that. Or maybe your surgeon is fine with revising if necessary but I would for sure ask.

Sorry, I thought not right recipe to be putting on a Bariatric site. I tried to delete it but couldn’t. It definitely sounds yummy! I’m in the holding room waiting for surgery at 2:20pm…..

I feel that this topic is my favorite topic on bariatric pal. I love food! Everyone's food look so good! I'm glad to see that most have self control. Some foods posted I wish I could eat 😐😐😐, due to my food addiction I have to run from it like the plague.

Here’s a recipe or the ingredients for a soup off of another Bariatric site.

Hi everyone I’m currently just gone 7 months post op and just got my bloodwork back from the vitamin and minerals panel my surgeon had me do and it turns out i’m very low on Vitamin A. I realise i’m super uneducated on what vitamin A is/comes from and how to remedy it. I take a daily bariatric vitamin - one that was prescribed by my surgeon and it seems to be doing the trick on all other necessary levels of vitamins but A. I’ve tried to research a little but so far i’m not understanding how to manage this or where it comes from. All i’ve seen is that it’s common in bariatric patients ? I’m seeing my surgeon mid november so it’s a little far out from now and i kind of want to know a little about it before my appointment. If anyone has any insight it’ll be greatly appreciated !

Learn2cook I am a nurse so I work a busy job as well. I have many goals such as becoming financially free, living a more sustainable life and finding a life partner at some point to name a few. As far as my health and fitness goals, I want to be strong. I want to be able to hike, and raft rivers and adventure. I dont want to be hindered by my weight anymore. I dont need to be skinny but i do what to be somewhat a normal weight. Before surgery I did try waygovy and was working out a lot so I was pretty optimized prior to surgery however i didnt lose a ton of weight with waygovy despite tracking and trying to be really mindful. My bariatric surgeon basically told me the indicator of my success is how much i can shed in the first year so i am determined. I am just hoping to get some feedback for people who have had a band before and went for revision. Thanks for your sincere reply Brittany

Found a healthy recipe for Spring Rolls that are good. They are not super high in protein (around 5g each) but I just make certain to have a really high protein breakfast and lunch on days I’m going to have them. Anyways it’s from a bariatric site so I guess they think we don’t need the peanut sauce. I searched so many sites for a recipe for the sauce and somehow I didn’t even save the link but it’s so easy I can remember. It’s just equal parts soy sauce and peanut butter. I used the nut butter that is literally just fresh ground peanuts from the grocery and it is so good. If you don’t like salty you may want to use reduced sodium soy sauce but I actually like it and a little goes further with the saltier taste. I just mix up one tbsp of SS and one tbsp PB and that’s enough for two servings which is four spring rolls. Of course you can always just double or triple that if you like more. Here is the spring roll recipe if anyone is interested. https://www.bariatricfusion.com/blogs/recipes/bariatric-recipes-chicken-and-veggie-spring-rolls I mix up a batch of the veggies in a bowl and cut the chicken and measure. Then I portion enough of each for two rolls into each little baggy and I wait to roll them before I intend to eat (adding the avocado at the end) They were okay the next day but they stuck to the container so they fell apart trying to pick them up and then the second day the wraps were hard. Some days I just eat the filling with the peanut sauce. Honestly it’s almost as good without the rice paper. Today is the second time I have made them and I didn’t use any fancy cutting tools this time. I just cut them small with a knife and it was just fine. That site has some other good recipes for us as well. Enjoy 😊

Check out Dr Matthew Weiner Pound of Cure website, you tube channel & podcasts. Practical and informative advice. Five years out & I still listen to his podcasts. A recent podcast he did with his in-house nutritionalist touches on weight loss eating plans as well as maintenance. I believe you can join their nutritional workshops and clinics for a small fee if you’re interested too. I know someone on this forum has and found it helpful (can’t recall who at the moment). https://poundofcureweightloss.com/bariatric-secrets-what-really-influences-weight-loss-after-surgery/?utm_source=ZohoCampaigns&utm_campaign=What+Really+Influences+Weight+Loss+After+Surgery&utm_medium=email

Okay. I don’t know that much about it, but it’s still appalling that any medical professional would just leave you to figure out some silly app while you were having any kind of blood sugar issues that they should’ve prevented to begin with. My guess is they probably have some kind of protein right next to the orange juice if that’s what people need. They have a little refrigerator with stuff like that in it. Stuff that they don’t want to have to go to the cafeteria for. It’s the same place They put the sugar-free ice pops for people who had bariatric surgery. I know because I didn’t like the flavors that they had and they asked if I could have my husband bring me a box and they said yes they were just put my name on them. And even if they didn’t have anything the Least they could do was order it for her. You learn a lot about things when you spend five days there walking laps around the halls

the kind of reactive hypoglycemia that some people get after bariatric surgery isn't necessarily related to diabetes. It can happen to non-diabetics, too (I'm not diabetic). I've also seen it referred to as "late dumping", because it tends to happen a couple of hours after you eat (as opposed to soon after, as is the case with regular dumping). I mentioned in my response above that my physician couldn't find anything wrong with me when she did the workup, but she told me to let her know the next time I had that experience. The next time was a couple of weeks later. I'd been at a retirement party and had a whole piece of cake (instead of a couple of forkfuls, like I used to have back in those days). A couple of hours later, there it was again - dizziness, etc. She said it was likely reactive hypoglycemia (AKA post-prandial hypoglycemia), and it may not have shown up at the workup because my glucose might have been normal the day I went in for that. Anyway, yes - it's not uncommon after WLS, . It often appears when you're a year or so out (although sometimes sooner...or later). They say to eat protein - or a something paired with a protein - every three hours or so to prevent it (I know it's orange juice or something similar for regular hypoglycemia - but she specifically said protein with this type - may be something to specific to the WLS-caused version)

Post-bariatric surgery hypoglycemia (PBH) is super common. It's one of those side effects they don't seem to ever mention pre-surgery. 🤔 I don't tend to have too much of a problem with it anymore, since I stopped trying to only eat 3 meals a day. As long as I eat every 3 hours or so I'm fine, but too much more than that and I start getting woozy.

Hi everyone! New on Bariatric Pal. I had GBRNY September 4th, 2024. Almost six weeks in and lost 18.8 pounds. Slow & steady…

Received a call at 8.30am this morning to be told that I was discussed in last Fridays MDT meeting and was accepted for surgery 🥳🥳🥳 I was then told I would be having a ‘One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass’ - huh?? The nurse repeated herself and I was still none the wiser. She said that she would ask a specialist Bariatric nurse to call me to discuss and would send me the info out. I asked for it to be emailed, which she did. I had a read through and did some more research on the internet, just to familiarise myself with what had been suggested. It’s the mini gastric bypass. The specialist nurse rang me just after 9am and explained that it meant that my ‘pouch’ is slightly bigger then that of a Roux-en-Y bypass and there is only one connection or ‘anastomosis’ which is from the pouch to the bowel. Apparently it’s not as complex with the op taking around 1.5hours and recovery just the same as the normal bypass plus the weight loss is expected to be the same. I was recommended it because of Fibromyalgia and the chronic pain I have with RA and osteoarthritis as it would be easier for me. That made sense, thankfully! The specialist nurse said it was a relatively new procedure to the hospital which is why it wasn’t discussed in any detail at the first education session I attended a few months ago. Fair enough, I’m happy to go ahead with it. The wait is around 4-6 months - oh 😒 I was honest and said that I was concerned about losing focus while I’m waiting and gaining weight once again (we all know how easy that is) She went through everything again with me - 3 meals a day, 20/20/20, use a portion plate if I have one (I do) focus more on my protein etc. She also said that if I do begin to struggle, to contact her and they would fit me in with the dietitian to go through things with me. I felt better for her saying that. I did reiterate that I am happy to take a cancellation. She said they do get cancellations but would have to make sure that I had at least 3 weeks notice to complete the LRD. I’ll be honest and say that I’m really, really hoping that the 4-6 months is on the outside and that the surgery is sooner! I know that whatever will be will be, so just to keep on keeping on. Gym is going well, 3 visits last week and I’m hoping for 3 more this week. I’ve upped my levels and weights and I’m burning around 600-650 cals in around an hour or so workout or so my Apple Watch tells me! I can feel muscle, it just happens to be deeply buried and camouflaged with fat 😮 I tried my smaller sized gym stuff on yesterday and, while I can get it on I wouldn’t say it actually fitted, so a few more pounds to go before I would feel comfortable enough to wear it. I bought a new black trench coat from Costco at the weekend. It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve been able to fit into clothing from there so that was a nice boost. It will definitely last me a reduction of a couple of sizes too. My weight is steady at the moment but I do hope to bring it down a little bit more before I have to do the LRD. Bloods to have taken yet again on Wednesday. If my liver is off this time then they will have to think of something else. I’ve not had my weekly jabs for 7 weeks, I’ve missed my other jab for 4 weeks plus no pain relief for 4 weeks either and it’s all wearing really thin with me now. I’m finding that I’m snapping at hubby because of pain and it’s not fair. The gym is really helping my range of movement but the pain remains. We’re out for belated birthday drinks on Friday (postponed because of blood tests ) and that’s about it. I’ve decided to crack on and make a start on wrapping Christmas presents this week. Thankfully my Christmas shopping is almost finished - hurray for sales! Wishing everyone a happy week 🥰 Onwards and Downwards!

I spoke with my surgeon today about some weird symptoms I have had since surgery. I have only experienced about 3-4 episodes of it since having surgery, but it tends to happen if I haven't eaten for a substantial amount of time (like nothing until 2/3pm). The following happens: shaking light headedness dizziness sweating anxiety palpitations pale presentation of skin weakness disorientation He has suggested that I have reactive hypoglycaemia - has anyone else experienced this? I have heard it is quite common after bariatric surgery

@julie. I think it’s weird that everyone’s pre op diet is so different. My nutritionist told me that it use to be all shakes before surgery but she asked the surgeon to include something chewy to help us not quit. I have to say it’s not simple. My surgeon is one of two drs at University of Miami hospital who does Bariatric surgery. He told me my husband could stay with me because the floor is his and he can specify a lot of things. I’ll be staying 2 nights because of distance and my age. Just liquid the day before surgery for me and two weeks after also. Then every 2 weeks the next step. I would love a slice pizza or a grilled cheese sandwich right now. It hasn’t even been a week yet:)