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Oh, yeah. The tale of the missing ass. Have you experienced bony ass pain yet? It’s awful. I don’t really have a butt anymore though some of it (the empty loose skin part) droops down the back of my thighs. But as my remaining fat has redistributed (it does start to happen when you’re a few months into maintenance) I think my butt got a little bigger & my bony ass pain isn’t as bad. You could always add some of those exercises to boost your glutes.

Well I am pretty much jealous of anyone with pigment in their skin, and/or the ability to tan. Pretty much super powers to someone like me 😂😂

Hello everyone, I want to warn people that this might be TMI and if you are uncomfortable with details and personal health, you may want to back out. So yeah, ever since I had my sleeve performed in February, I have had watery to loose stools and I always feel bloated or like I need to run to the bathroom soon. I get the 64 minimum water intake and my meals are almost completely protein. I physically am not to the point yet where I can have non-starchy veggies. I just dont have the ability to eat then PLUS the protein. My surgeon says everything looks good with my recovery during the past 3 post op visits. Has anyone else had these experience? Needless to say, this isn't something I expected when deciding to get surgery. It's not too big a deal, but it does make me uncomfortable and the sensations are distracting and inconvenient. So much so that my work performance is suffering from it.

That’s getting a bit too close to nature @Sophie7713. Though I’d be in for the alligator skin accessories. Do the authorities remove the alligators from residential areas or are they allowed to roam freely? No bikini shots from me, ladies. Can’t compete with @WishMeSmaller’s legs or @ms.sss’s glamour shots. 😁 Congrats on your skydiving adventure @BayougirlMrsS. So brave. Another goal achieved!

I am at 7 months post opp too and have not lost much the last 6 weeks or so . I am only ten pounds away from goal but I know I have stopped loosing because I am not as diligent as the first few months . It is me that is the problem . If I weighed and tracked through the end of July I could just maintain…

Speaking of gratuitous bikini shots, here’s mine (yes, BFF made me pose this way, sorry lol). Its EFFING HOT today. If I could go naked, I would. So people, tag, you’re it! Show us some bikini-clad skin! ❤️😂

Hey all! I was sleeved on 5/10 and feeling absolutely great. I have had no complications and can stomach just about everything I eat (on plan) at this point. Although, like others have recently mentioned, my tastes have changed and sometimes I get sad when I think about going the rest of my life not being able to gorge on food. The thought of a buffet gives me anxiety because really - what do you choose when you want to choose it all?! Only discomfort I have started to get recently is the scar tissue under my skin where the incisions were. My doctor said to expect this because during surgery nerve-endings were cut and as they start to heal you can start to feel where the surgery happened. It's not painful at all. It just feels like a bruise when I press on it to clean in shower or something rubs up against it. Anyone else have this now being that you are at least 4 weeks out from surgery? Oh, and does anyone else think about the surgery and food and protein and water and what to have to eat that day like every waking moment? For me, it's obsessive. I have been losing on average half a pound a day so I sit there and calculate how many more days/months it will take to loose X amount of weight and I even factor in losing less a day as my BMI drops. Seriously, I feel crazy! haha

I meant to answer this but have been exhausted. I don't know exactly what it was that impacted my post op recovery most. I had my gallbladder removed alongside the gastric bypass. besides Adult onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia I have lifelong Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. And quite a few medical conditions. I am now finding out it is likely I also have Ehlers Danlos. I am trying to find a definitive diagnosis. My post op recovery took a little longer, I was bedbound after surgery. I ended up back in hospital shortly after going home due to an undiagnosed pre-existing condition (likely tied to Ehlers Danlos) that caused Aspiration pneumonia (a form of dysphasia) I dont think the Adrenal Hyperplasia itself affected my recovery. Even with all my medical conditions and even with the challenges I have had over the course of my surgery and the recovery and the challenges now - I do not regret having had Gastric Bypass surgery. I would never have reached the weight I have now which is a normal healthy weight for my height that I never could reach even as a pre-teen. Well I cannot remember being this weight. I have to find ways to work around different barriers and challenges I guess. I was extremely weak but now I think it was both due to M.E. and possible Ehlers Danlos. I just would do it again as well as the skin removal and body lift procedures I had despite the challenge that was ... especially because of the roadblocks that Adrenal hyperplasia, PCOS, and the inability to exercise due to M.E imposed on me. caused.

Please tell me there are others with no food issues, or am I the odd one out on that 😂 I have stuck to my programs plan, even following loosely their sample menu. I eat soft foods for B/L/D, my morning snack now is a soft food (cheese), my afternoon snack a protein shake. If I have hit over 90g protein, I skip a shake in the evening. I have had no issues eating food. I think my tastes have changed a bit, but not dramatically. I have not ate anything off program. Pre-surgery I liked the Caramel Premier Protein, post-op, it’s too sweet. But I still love the chocolate. I aim for at least 5 cups of just water. Trying to up that to 8.

I completely understand these fears and have a lot of the same ones, particularly the failing, regain, and loose skin. Failing and regain is what I’ve gone through my whole life with failed diets, and though it’s a possibility still after surgery, this tool is going to help me more than my sheer willpower ever did. as far as hair loss, there are so many advancements in hairpieces! I have worn a lace wig since high school due to a condition I have called short Anagen syndrome, so hair loss isn’t even a concern for me only because my hair is already extremely thin and short (like a baby’s) and I wear wigs 🤷🏻‍♀️. Look up YouTube videos for “lace wig install” and you’ll see how easy and realistic they are, just to hold you over until your hair regrows. Loose skin is a concern because I know it’ll prevent me from looking like I always dreamed I’d look, but there are surgeries for that. Additionally, the way I see it is, either I deal with the extra skin, or deal with the extra fat. It’s only one or the other, no other choice. I’d rather deal with extra skin and fit into nice clothes and feel energetic and healthy, than continue down this path and gain more and more weight. doubts are normal! This forum has helped me a lot in seeing that there are more successes than failures in this process. Best of luck to you.

Hi Onmywayfrom256, I can definitely relate to your doubts. I know that the decision to have this surgery is right for me at this point, but I do have some fears of it not working the way I hoped, loose skin, hair falling out, regain, & complications. I have dealt with mild hair loss after having each of my 2 children. I am less worried about this, as I heard it is temporary. Still not fun. Hopefully, protein & iron supplements will help. The loose skin is something that I may not be able to avoid, but I am going to try to take collagen in addition to all the other vitamins & supplements we need. I will also try cocoa butter & compression. Not sure if any of it will help, but I will try. Some things unfortunately are out of our control, so it is easy to fear the unknown. This is a big step we are all taking, and we all want to succeed in something that has been challenging for us. Most of us have been let down before with weight loss attempts, so those doubts unfortunately pop up. Hoping you feel better knowing that someone else has concerns about the road ahead. Congratulations on your upcoming surgery. Wishing you a successful journey. 🤞😊

Hi there, It sounds like you are doing pretty good and water is very key to success, I agree. I know what you mean about frumpy clothes. I had a lot of choices but most look dated for today. I will buy new only for a special event and it seems that I don't mind showing a little more skin, too, lol. I just have to tell everyone about my latest breakthrough. I FINALLY entered ONEDERLAND!!!! I'm now 198.1 I am so happy this stall is over after 26 days! I hovered around 200-202 for the longest time. So don't give up peeps! Getting into the soft foods phase can be challenging but be patient. I can honestly report that upping my intake of water helped a lot and going back to Reformer Pilates classes was a tremendous release of stressing about the stall and challenged my muscles more than ever. Sweating like a pig to do the exercises but having fun. I highly recommend Pilates. it seems to help with the saggy skin issue as well. I eat 4-5 small meals a day surprisingly, but I know my present problems are my eyes being too big for my stomach and I waste a lot of food. I aim to get that under control. I have even thought about trying a vegetarian prepared food service. I rarely drink protein shakes anymore. I have a lot of powder left over. Oh well, as long as my days are filled with water, protein, fruit, veggies and some dairy, I will continue to keep doing what I'm doing. Take care everyone Trish

I also can sort of relate. I had surgery on July 9, 2020 and have been in the same size pants since the first week of February. They are loose but it's still very frustrating and disappointing. I work out daily 5 to 6 times a week 30 to 45 minutes and sometimes twice daily. And I don't take walks, I do cardio, HIIT, weights and Tabata. I was 213 day of surgery and am 143 last time I stepped on the scale. I have had issues with my period and bled heavily from January 25th until I got an IUD a little over a month ago. Problem is the IUD has caused more eating and even a taste for sweets again which I lost after surgery. I plan to have it removed next week. Surgeon's office said I'd be at goal by my July appointment and I'm 20 pounds from it. My body does not like being as thin as I like it to be. It's always been this way and I've had to basically kill myself over exercising and not eating to get to near the weight I'd like to be. I wonder if it's just genetics for some people. I'll see what my surgeon says in 2 weeks.

Here's what I found: https://www.upmc.com/services/bariatrics/surgery-process/post-surgery/diet/soft After Bariatric Surgery - Suggested Food Ideas for Adaptive or Soft Diet Protein Sources All varieties of fish and shellfish Turkey breast or chicken breast (chopped, white meat) Low fat deli lunchmeats Sliced or grated low fat cheese (5 grams of fat or less) Hard boiled or poached eggs Soups (dilute with skim milk or add finely minced meats) Grains/starches Hot cereals Unsweetened cereals softened in skim milk Baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, or yams Boiled pasta, noodles, or white rice Fruits/vegetables Canned fruit (in own juices or water packed) Soft, fresh fruit without skins (apples, pears, peaches) Bananas Cooked or canned vegetables Avoid raw, fibrous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Avoid skins and seeds.

I added collagen powder (& silica) to my diet every second day from about month 4/5 but only for its supposed benefits to my skin. I never counted it towards my protein goals. I guess if it did contribute, it was a bonus above my protein goal like @lizonaplane suggested. Best thing to do is to speak to your dietician & medical team to be sure. By the way, don’t think it actually helped my skin (nails or hair either). I was eating more & a greater variety of food & therefore increasing the nutrients I was consuming which I think probably did more. I stopped taking it after about 10 months or so.

This is always true. Nurses know; I'm glad they are advocating for you. The stinginess with the pain meds has gotten out of control...I get they don't want to create an addiction but 5??!!! Let me know how your surgeon responds to your request. I just had a call with someone who had the same surgery in March - she had the same issues but said the pain subsided within 2 weeks. She's happy she did it. She said she did have a bit of Reflux the first week but it went away (could have been an intense rebound from the PPI's working their way out of her system). She also said her stool is now loose/runny. I have no idea why/how this would happen - but it's still only been a few months so she's still recovering. I'm going to be checking in on you. Please keep me filled in - bad and good.

Actually, for skin/hair/nail/joint support, the studies are pretty encouraging and the emerging science wholly supports collagen as a viable supplement. There is less data around collagen for muscle building/repair, but that's not my goal in taking it, so not a concern. I understand it's not a complete protein and therefore not a suitable sole source. Just wondering if, generally speaking, it should count towards overall protein goal. I don't want to short change myself, but also don't want to constantly be striving to hit a goal that I might already be achieving. Sent from my SM-A205U using BariatricPal mobile app

Yayyaayayya Bikini Pics! You are looking seriously FINE. 😍 Adjusting to maintenance is a bit tricky for most. It took me 4-5 months plus an extra 15 lbs lost before I eventually stopped, gained a couple pounds and settled into my new “normal” weight (115). In the month immediately after plastics, I lost 6-7 lbs (which includes 400g of skin that was removed during surgery). Took another couple months, but I got back to 115 again. I figure give it time (especially since you just had surgery) and you’ll equalize eventually. How many calories are you taking in these days? P.S. i was pretty effing tired too that first month post-PS…and I had a serious case of the blues too so that didn’t help. Be kind/gentle to yourself as you navigate past this part (but I suppose u already know that being a nurse and all, lol). In any case, you look FAB. Feel better soon ❤️❤️❤️

Just wanting to share my story and current status at 1 year in. I started the journey in June of 2020 after considering it for years. Having surgery was something that was in the back of my mind for years. I have a co-worker/friend who had gastric bypass about 3 years before me and quite honestly, she is the reason I ended up taking the plunge - Gastric Sleeve was the best choice for ME. Watching her journey and seeing her success motivated me. I appreciated the fact that she was willing to share her experiences both positive and negative. Prior to my meeting with the surgeon, she gave me a ton of insight on what to expect with both positives and negatives. Physically, I knew I was ready for a change. I needed to make sure I was also mentally ready for the change. I WAS! I started with a BMI > 40. I'm currently 80% complete towards my goal. I hoped that I would be at goal by now, but I'm ok that I'm not. Much of that is based on decisions that I've made with regards to how/what I eat and drink. I WILL get these last 20 off and hopefully another 10. I don't know how long it will take, and at this point, I'm not overly concerned if it takes another year. What's my life like now? I can move better,I can buy clothes anywhere, I'm confortable in my own skin (loose that it is!), and I have a newfound confidence in most everything that I do. I eat pretty much anything I want - Just in much smaller quantities. I've been lucky - So far, there's nothing that really upsets my stomach or makes me sick unless I eat too much (has only happened a couple of times). I drink alcohol when I want it - Some weeks I may have a drink or two a day, and then other times, I'll go weeks without a drink. Again, I'm ok with that - it works for me. Some weeks I gain, some weeks I lose. I've been horrible about tracking - However, if I see a gain, I start back just so that I become aware of exactly what is causing it. Again, OK with that. I DO get on the scale often. It works for me. Keeps me accountable. Every once in awhile I get frustrated with the restrictions (OMG, I ordered veal piccata the other day and it was AMAZING - I wished I could eat the whole darned thing at one sitting!!) - However, I choose to look at the upside now on this one - I ate it for 3 days!. Good food choice: NOPE - Worth it: YEP! For those just starting the journey, it isn't always easy - it isn't always fun. For ME, it's the best decision I've ever made for myself. It's definitely not a quick fix and I would encourage anyone who is using food as a coping mechanism to really look deep before you take the plunge. This surgery certainly doesn't "fix" anything like that. it's a tool (and a great one, but remember, the change is only to your stomach, not your brain) - I happen to be one of those people who just loves food, cooking, and the social aspect of it. Having the surgery has allowed me to continue that and still keep me in check with smaller portions. Hope this gives folks some insight into what CAN happen. We're all different and will have different experiences.

Has anyone tried a lipo lift procedure for skin tightening? How did it work for you? I lost 80 lbs, not looking for perfection, just better.

Thank you so much for sharing. I had my surgery over 3 years ago but I love reading stories about others journey. You have done great! Congrats for being in Onederland! I would love to hear about all of the things you can do now! Stick to the basics & you will loose the weight. Don’t even think that one bite won’t hurt because before you know it it will be one bite here & there & then you will be back where you started from. You know how to eat properly now so stick with it!

Gummybearqueen thanks so much for the info! I am so happy to get it done and start loosing weight! I gained so much weight in the last 6 years that I am ready to look nice and healthy again!!

What scar cream do you use? I was using skin medica but it’s so expensive. What did you use???