Search the Community

Personally with my slipped band- i was so tight had acid reflux at night - and was very very sick with it--- my band did not open up-- it closed up and no food would stay down. I know they say it is different for every person but i believe that this more than likely isnt a slip... my slip happened bc i was violently throwing up from a bad gall bladder.

Thanks yall! I definitely don't get in all my Protein. That's also a big problem for me. I'm supposed to be at 70-80 grams a day and on some days I may get 1 gram. I have Premier Protein but my no desire to drink really just doesn't help. I'm gonna get back on it though bc I don't want to be bald!

Yeah thats how it is, or at least was before i started to lose weight. It got to the point where i never wanted to have sex, bc i didnt feel sexy. After I started losing and was able to dress nicer and cuter and gain more self confidence, up went my sex drive..this is of course not including the period of my life where I was constantly having sex to make myself feel wanted and pretty...anyways as the weight goes down, dont be surprised if the sex goes up

Crappy knees? Check. Hurt to bend? Check. Knee replacements in the fairly near future? Check Ongoing need to exercise to help with weight loss and overall health? Check, check, freakin' check !!! I'm in the same boat. Sometimes it feels like the boat is taking on Water and the sails are shot full of holes. I have zero medical training other annual first aid, CPR and the like. So take anything I ever say with a grain of salt.......and extreme skepticism, lol. I'm just a fat guy trying to get less fat, more healthy and stay active up through the nursing home years and beyond. When I was pre-op I was told, "Great news, fella, you have a high enough BMI that there's no risk of you falling below the minimums for insurance to cover the surgery......so....we need to see you lose some serious weight prior". Lucky me, right ? The fact that I never used insurance due to their bs delay tactics and shenanigans is an entirely different story. I did engage in the pre-op challenge of losing weight and dropped 55 lbs prior to surgery. Due to a back injury (the final catalyst that helped me make the decision to have wls) I was sorta hemmed up and not really able to do much in the arena of exercise. My only real hope at weight loss was to work on the other side of the equation.....reducing caloric intake. I began with their recommended low calorie diet, but soon moved into more of a low carb approach and did so with an eye on total calories, too. The scale began to move along nicely, even though my own movement was minimal. Once post op the weight loss continued at a better clip and exercise was easier to do. The more progress I made.....the more progress I could make....and so forth. Knees suck, though, and I didn't heed my doctor's warning. Gym work was too fun and I continued to pound the treadmill and elliptical like a beast. Enthusiastic newbie overkill occurred. Now.....ten months later I'm having significant daily issues with the knees....both are beyond the timeframe the ortho docs said would be my" replacement age". I wish I could go back to the month after surgery and approach it differently.....I would have joined a different gym....one with a swimming pool and used it for frequent lap swimming. As it is, I've been sidelined from cardio for over a month and it sucks. The stationary bike is about it for the time being. I may still do the swimming pool, however, that spot is miles out of my way and has a prohibitive lap swim schedule. My work hours over the next few months are amped up as well. Careful weight training and stationary bike as well as much walking on the job are the ticket for me know. Please.....please.....carefully consider the recommendations for aqua fitness. The water is where it's at in terms of safety.

I have BC/BS MI PPO and saw my surgeon last Tuesday and they scheduled my surgery for Oct 9. They sent in my insurance papers after the apt, and I had call yesterday from their office telling me what my co-pay would be. I asked her if I was approved and she said "of course," like why wouldn't I be. I was surprised because I thought that someone would call and tell me that I was approved.

hello n congrads on meeting ur goal. can u share with me what diet u followed 2 keep losing weight on a consistant weekly basis. u can send it 2 my email dowhatitdo1@yahoo.com. It will b 3months since I was banded on the 24th. n it seems like i cn only lose weight when i gt a fill n thats bc im swollen n cnt eat. then after a week no more weight loss. please help me n also what type of exercise do u do. please kit

There are healthier choices most places you go, just eat small portions. Take protein supplements with you in your purse, especially if you are going to do alot of walking and lots of water. Stay hydrated and protein fed. I don't eat many meals a day normally but when I am out travelling I find I eat more frequently making sure I get my protein in and in small quantities which keeps my energy up. Ask your nutritionist for suggestions and write ahead to Disney World - they have reps that help with people with special needs who can offer suggestions.

Hey there! I was banded July 8 by Dr. Ortiz at OCC in Tijuana, Mexico... GREAT facility and staff!! I will not be going back to Mexico for fills (bc I live on the East Coast, so it would get very costly with flights.. unless i am visiting my friend in San Diego or something) you just have to find a doc near you that will take patients who were baned outside the US. Prices vary on the doctor... all the docs I found are anywhere between $100-$250 for a fill (and thats W/O xray/floro...) So try to find a doc first if you dont plan on traveling to Mexico for fills. The last thing you want is complications and you havent found a US doctor yet.. A am self pay too, so I knwo how ya feel! Good luck!!!

Im also on wellbutrin and im not sure if that helps but my sex drive is out teh roof and i have noone as of yet to go with!! im finally losing weight and feeling better about myself and i just dont want the men who are giving me attention...my idea is if i wait a bit more and lose more weight i will find a guy i truly want bc right now im not interested in some...haha but i am excited to find out if sex when i dont have all this fat on me will be so much better...and more positions!!!

Anyone here in BC?

How far out are you? I am 5 weeks out and honestly I haven't kept a strict count on anything bc I know I'm not eating near enough to do any damage. I am pretty much living on protein drink and water. :/ Sorry I couldn't be of much help,I would ask your nutritionist how many carbs you should be having.

I decided to go with RNY over sleeve bc of my acid reflux and diabetes. I'm sooo excited bc my surgery is scheduled for 9/17 ????

My 2 week follow up was on may 9th. They weighed me, asked if I was having any concerns or problems relating to pain or nausea etc from surgery. I had a few issues I discussed with her and then she looked at my incisions and took off my remaining steri strips. Then we talked about what I was eating which I believe I just started soft foods and that she wanted me to progress to solids in a few days and to journal what I was eating so that by my 4 week follow up appt she would know if I needed a fill or not. My 4 week appt is coming up Thursday so hopefully I get a fill bc I can eat more than I'm supposed to now. Hope this helps and good luck

That's definitely a NSV and by the way... CONGRATULATIONS - LOL! Seems like all of the "Bs" disappear with the weight loss... booty, boobs, bumps, and bulges. :biggrin2:

@bbyisonu. Thank you! I was worried at first bc the day after surgery I was already taking in 50oz...and I don't want to stretch my pouch but nurses and my surgeon keep saying it is OK...it's a good sign? Sent from my Z970 using the BariatricPal App

I'm going to try that bc I've once again awaken to those same pains. It really does help having others that make you know u aren't alone

I am beginning the induction phase of the atkins diet on Monday. Does anyone want to join me in this???? I really need to focus on adding Protein and cutting carbs. Here are the rules for the induction phase.. Search Site recipes <LI class=plain id=portaltab-atkins-university>eggs and red meat, as well as pure, natural fat in the form of butter, mayonnaise, olive oil, safflower, sunflower and other vegetable oils (preferably expeller-pressed or cold-pressed). 2. Eat no more than 20 grams a day of carbohydrate, at least 12 – 15 grams of which must come in the form of salad greens and other vegetables. (see Acceptable Foods). 3. Eat absolutely no fruit, bread, Pasta, grains, starchy vegetables or dairy products other than cheese, cream or butter. Do not eat nuts or seeds in the first two weeks. Foods that combine protein and carbohydrates, such as chickpeas, kidney Beans and other legumes, are not permitted at this time. If you feel you must eat bread or some other grain product, only high Fiber low-carb products with 3 net carbs or less per serving are allowed, and you can eat only one serving a day. Be aware that even that amount may slow or stall your progress, and if that happens, drop the product immediately. 4. Eat nothing that isn't on the Acceptable Foods list. And that means absolutely nothing. Your "just this one taste won't hurt" rationalization is the kiss of failure during this phase of Atkins. 5. Adjust the quantity you eat to suit your appetite, especially as it decreases. When you're hungry, eat the amount that makes you feel satisfied, but not stuffed. When you're not hungry, eat a small controlled carbohydrate snack to accompany your nutritional supplements. 6. Don't assume any food is low in carbohydrate—instead, read labels. Check the carb count (it's on every package) or use a carbohydrate gram counter. Be aware that the law allows manufacturers to round off if a product has fewer than 0.5 grams of any carbohydrate, so that will show up as zero. The only way to detect some fractional carbs is to look for them in the ingredients list, where they must be listed if they’re added to a product, regardless of the amount. 7. Eat out as often as you wish but be on guard for hidden carbs in gravies, sauces and dressings. Gravy is often made with flour or cornstarch, and sugar is sometimes an ingredient in salad dressing. 8. Use sucralose or saccharin as a sweetener. Be sure to count each packet of any of these as 1 gram of carbs, because of the fillers and bulking agents which are added. 9. Avoid too much coffee, tea and soft drinks that contain caffeine. Excessive caffeine has been shown to cause low blood sugar, which can make you crave sugar. 10. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of Water each day in addition to anything else you may drink, to hydrate your body, avoid constipation and flush out the by-products of burning fat. 11. If you are constipated, mix a tablespoon or more of psyllium husks in a cup or more of water and drink daily. Or mix ground flaxseed into a shake or sprinkle wheat bran on a salad or vegetables. 12. At a minimum, take a good daily Multivitamin with minerals, including potassium, magnesium and Calcium, but without Iron. Acceptable Foods These are the foods you may eat liberally during Induction: All fish, including ... All fowl, including ... All shellfish, including ... All meat, including ... All eggs, including ...tuna chicken oysters* beef scrambled salmon turkey mussels* pork friedsole duck duck lamb poachedtrout goose clams bacon**soft-boiledflounder Cornish hensquid veal hard-boiledsardines quail shrimp ham** deviledherring pheasant crabmeat venison omelets *Oysters and mussels are higher in carbs than other shellfish, so limit them to four ounces per day. **Processed meats, such as ham, bacon, pepperoni, salami, hot dogs and other luncheon meats—and some fish—may be cured with added sugar and will contribute carbs. Try to avoid meat and fish products cured with nitrates, which are known carcinogens. Also beware of products that are not exclusively meat, fish or fowl, such as imitation fish, meatloaf and breaded foods. Finally, do not consume more than four ounces of organ meats a day. OTHER FOODS THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE DURING INDUCTION Cheese You can consume three to four ounces daily of the following full-fat, firm, soft and semisoft aged cheeses*, including: cheddar cow, sheep and goat cheese cream cheese Gouda mozzarella Roquefort and other blue cheeses Swiss *All cheeses have some carbohydrate content. The quantity you eat should be governed by that knowledge. The rule of thumb is to count 1 ounce of cheese as equivalent to 1 gram of carbohydrate. Note that cottage cheese, farmer’s cheese and other fresh cheeses are not permitted during Induction. No "diet" cheese, cheese spreads or whey cheeses are permitted. Individuals with known yeast symptoms, dairy allergy or cheese intolerance must avoid cheese. Imitation cheese products are not allowed, except for soy or rice cheese—but check the carbohydrate content. Vegetables You should eat 12-15 net carbs a day of vegetables. These salad vegetables are high in phytonutrients and provide a good source of fiber: alfalfa sprouts daikon mushrooms arugula endive parsley bok choy escarole peppers celery fennel radicchio chicory jicama radishes chives lettuce romaine lettuce cucumber mâche sorrel Other Vegetables Within the 12-15 net carb daily vegetable requirement, these vegetables are slightly higher in carbohydrate content than the salad vegetables listed above, but they also provide important nutrients and add variety to your daily food intake: artichoke celery root pumpkin artichoke hearts rhubarb asparagus chard sauerkraut bamboo shoots collard greens scallions dandelion snow peas bean sprouts dandelion greens spaghetti squash beet greens eggplant spinach broccoli hearts of palm string or wax beans broccoli rabe kale summer squash Brussels sprouts kohlrabi tomato bean sprouts leeks turnips cabbage okra water chestnuts cauliflower onion zucchini If a vegetable, such as spinach or tomato, cooks down significantly, it must be measured raw so as not to underestimate its carb count. Salad Garnishes crumbled crisp bacon grated cheese minced hard-boiled egg sautéed mushrooms sour cream Spices All spices to taste, but make sure none contain added sugar. Herbs basil garlic rosemary cayenne pepper ginger sage cilantro oregano tarragon dill pepper thyme For salad dressing, use oil and vinegar or lemon juice and herbs and spices. Prepared salad dressings without added sugar and no more than two carbs per tablespoon serving are also fine. Acceptable Fats and Oils Many fats, especially certain oils, are essential to good nutrition. Olive oil is particularly valuable. All other vegetable oils are allowed, the best being canola, walnut, soybean, grapeseed, sesame, sunflower and safflower oils, especially if they are labeled "cold-pressed" or "expeller-pressed." Do not cook polyunsaturated oils, such as corn, soybean and sunflower oil, at high temperatures or allow to brown or smoke. Butter is allowed. Margarine should be avoided, not because of its carbohydrate content, but because it is usually made of trans fats (hydrogenated oils), which are a health hazard. (Some nonhydrogenated margarines are now available.) You don't have to remove the skin and fat from meat or fowl. Salmon and other cold-water fish are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Remember that trying to do a low-fat version of the Atkins Nutritional ApproachTM may interfere with fat burning and derail your weight loss. Artificial Sweeteners You must determine which artificial sweeteners agree with you, but the following are allowed: sucralose (marketed as Splenda™), saccharin, cyclamate and acesulfame-K. Natural sweeteners ending in the suffix "-ose," such as maltose, etc., should be avoided. However, most sugar alcohols have a minimal effect on blood sugar and are acceptable. Saccharin has been extensively studied, and harmful effects were produced in the lab when fed to rats only in extremely high doses. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed saccharin from its list of carcinogens, basing its decision upon a thorough review of the medical literature and the National Institute of Science’s statement that there is "no clear association between saccharin and human cancer." It can be safely consumed in moderation, meaning no more than three packets a day. Saccharin is marketed as Sweet'n Low™. The Atkins preference, however, is sucralose (Splenda™), the only sweetener made from sugar. Sucralose is safe, noncaloric and does not raise blood sugar. It has been used in Canada for years, and the FDA approved it after reviewing more than 100 studies conducted over the past 20 years. Note that each packet of sugar substitute contains about 1 gram of carbohydrate, so don’t forget to include the amount in your daily totals. Acceptable beverages Be sure to drink a minimum of eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day, including: Filtered water Mineral water Spring water Tap water Additionally, you can have the following: Clear broth/bouillon (not all brands; read the label) Club soda Cream, heavy or light (limit to two to three tablespoons a day; note carbohydrate content) Decaffeinated or regular coffee or tea* Diet soda made with sucralose (Splenda™); be sure to count the carbs Essence-flavored seltzer (must say "no calories") Herb tea (without barley or any fruit sugar added) Lemon juice or lime juice (note that each contains 2.8 grams carbohydrate per ounce); limit to two to three tablespoons * Caffeine can cause cravings or blood sugar spikes with some people. If you’re one of them, you should drink only decaffeinated beverages. If you don’t have a problem with caffeine, you may drink one or two caffeinated beverages a day, because evolving research indicates there may actually be health benefits to a limited amount of caffeine. However, if you have a true caffeine addiction, it will be best to break it during Induction, because any food addiction can cause problems if it isn’t taken care of. Once you’ve broken the addiction and moved on to OWL, you can carefully try adding caffeinated beverages back into your food intake, as long as it doesn’t trigger the addiction again. Special Category Foods To add variety, each day you can also eat 10 to 20 olives, half a small avocado, an ounce of sour cream or three ounces of unsweetened heavy cream, as well as two to three tablespoons of lemon juice or lime juice. But be aware that these foods occasionally slow down weight loss in some people, and may need to be avoided in the first two weeks. If you seem to be losing slowly, moderate your intake of these foods. Convenience Foods Although it is important that you eat primarily unprocessed foods, some controlled carb food products can come in handy when you are unable to find appropriate food, can’t take time for a meal or need a quick snack. More and more companies are creating healthy food products that can be eaten during the Induction phase of Atkins. Just remember two things: 1. Not all convenience food products are the same, so check labels and carbohydrate content. (See the Online Store for Atkins brand products.) 2. While any of these foods can make doing Atkins easier, don’t overdo it. Remember, you must always follow The Rules of Induction.

SOoo i hit another platuea and it sucks this one is worse then anyother one. 2 weeks no lose! but im still pushin. i got a personal trainer now and i did a boot camp with him yesturday in a class. OMG! most intense work out of my life, i walked outta there in soo much pain, im lucky i even was able to walk out of there. but he was proud cause i actually finished the class i may not have kept up with everyone but i did everything. and him and the whole class were all cheering for me making me want to finish. i loved it. but today im in pain. its ok tho bc i work at a pool and he said he would come by and i could kick his ass in swimming lol! YAY! anyway i hope this is the man to boost my weight loose back into geer!

I am so sorry to hear this! I am including you in my prayers and hope you find some relief soon. In looking at your "soft" foods, I am wondering if they may be a bit heavy and you may do better with something like mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes or the like? Scallops have always been touchy on my stomach for some reason, and chicken and Beans can sometimes be difficult to digest. eggs, too. Cream of rice hot Cereal tastes good and has Vitamins and Iron in it. It's easy to digest and is fed to babies. I personally love it for Breakfast to this day. Cream of wheat, runny oatmeal, all would give you some nutrition and maybe not be so hard on you? Of course, if your doc says Clear liquids for now, that is what it has to be. See if you can get your appointment moved up sooner so you can discuss this with your surgeon. (Hugs)

I knew going in that I would be a slow loser too. I also have hurt my metabolism with years of dieting, and I am also hypothyroid secondary to a pituitary adenoma. I gained 3 lbs doing the cabbage Soup diet! LOL. You get the idea. I decided on VSG bc even though the GB was tempting due to the malabsorption aspect, in the end, I didn't feel it's good for your body to have malabsorption. I wanted to do this the healthy way. During my 6-month preop diet, I lost about 16 pounds in 6 months. Now I have lost about 35 pounds in 13 weeks. So I have lost twice as much weight twice as quickly. I'll take it. Now if you do this, just don't compare yourself to people who are losing 80 to 100 pounds in 3 months. Or to those who have lost maybe 50 but seem to be eating junk food and not exercising when you are staying true to plan and exercising. It's really difficult to compare but you need to put it in the context of what good progress is for you and for your own body. And eventually, the cumulative effect means that it WILL come off and that you won't regain, as long as you stay true to plan. Good luck!

My only complaint is some pretty intense diarrhea. I guess bc I'm only eating liquids maybe my stools are liquid. I'm around 20 lbs lost

I will never forget day one sitting in the hospital room thinking, what the hell did I just do to myself. When I went home I couldn’t swallow water it hurt too much, I would dip my tongue into the little medicine cup and absorb it I guess 😂. They gave me liquid oxy for home and it helped the pain but you will need to take something to help prevent constipation if you can’t get enough fluids bc that’s miserable in itself. But best advice is set a timer, tell seri or Alexa to to remind you to drink. Walk, walk walk, don’t try to go hiking when you are still barely able to get food in bc you will feel good but if you over do it too quickly you will feel like or possibly pass out.

My experience has been a little different. I was sleeved 3 weeks ago to the day. Although I dont really feel hunger, I experience what Ive seen refered to as "head hunger". In the beginning, it was really bad. I found this surprising, bc Ive always been a very picky eater, but I found myself craving foods that I didnt even like. I think this was a result of being on the liquid diet. Everything looked good to me. And everytime a commercial came on tv, it seemed to be a food commercial smh. That was my experience during the two weeks before my surgery and the two weeks after. Now the problem that Im having (although still mental), is that although I can only eat a very small amount, my brain is still telling me to eat more. For example, I had a chicken wing the other day (not a large on, but the little one that would come in an appetizer). I could only eat half of it, and was stuffed. Although physically I knew I could not eat anymore, my brain was saying "really though? 1/2 of a wing?..thats not even right". So although I dont fell hunger, and Ive started to be able to gauge how much my sleeve can handle at a time, its been a big mind game for me.

I'd take him to your Dr appt with you and have the Dr chew him out! If he doesn't support you, this process will be extremely difficult. I feel badly for your situation. But you have to take care of yourself. If he feels the need to leave bc you are healthy..... then so be it. Extra weight on your emotions you don't need. Sent from my SM-G930V using the BariatricPal App

Because with the patch it’s a one shot deal, taking pills you need multi, iron, calcium, vitamin D, extra Bs and B12 and some people like me suffer from constipation with all these supplements but not with the patch. Those are my reasons and labs have been great so far!