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I have had Hypo Thyroid for years with partial removal.. I was sleeved March 22. My thyroid levels were low prior to surgery, now two and a half weeks out I have only lost 13 pounds and holding. Any suggestions? I am a bit disappointed..

Sleepiness after eating is one of the signs of reactive hypoglycemia in bariatric surgery patients. Reactive hypoglycemia (postprandial hypoglycemia) refers to low blood sugar that occurs after a meal — usually within four hours after eating. This is different from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) that occurs while fasting. Signs and symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia may include hunger, weakness, shakiness, sleepiness, sweating, lightheadedness and anxiety. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/reactive-hypoglycemia/faq-20057778

Hi. I found this thread through another thread. Can I just be super blunt here? From reading all of these comments in sounds to me that eating very little is what needs to happen for anyone to loose the weight (Hypo, Hashi, AF myself). If the point is to starve yourself then why bother to get a major surgery and risk complications? Starvation is the ONLY way I have ever lost weight in the past. I am not trying to be sassy but just being real. Comments? Thoughts? Contemplation? I have reached a breaking point with my body's failure to cooperate with trying to get the weight off with lots of exercise and calorie counting plus clean eating.

The long term complications I've read about after gastric bypass and/or sleeve gastrectomy are nerve issues, dental problems (resulting in root canals, implants, dentures), reactive hypoglycemia, strictures, fibromyalgia, ulcers, fainting spells, chronic anemia, osteoporosis, etc. I don't know if MGB has the same issues as these other weight loss surgeries as there's a lot less info available online. One thought is the perception of risk could be skewed if more people that have issues post their experiences than people that don't have these issues. So I could be getting scared about possible outcomes that are very low risk. It's a conundrum I need to work through.

Okay, so I suffer from anxiety, after the surgery my anxiety got worse. After I reached the 1 year mark, I became unbearable. I lashed out at my family that they weren't supportive of my job and choices, and even cut them all off and quit talking to them (we are very close!!) I was so angry and shaky and anxiety driven ALL THE TIME. My anxiety medication didn't help a bit. What was worse is I KNEW they didn't do anything wrong, I was overreacting...but I was so angry all the time! It wasn't until a particularly bad night that I realized what was wrong with me: I had become hypoglycemic. My insulin drops quickly soon after I eat. It's an uncommon side effect, but not particularly rare. Hypoglycemia (or even low blood sugar) causes anxiety, shakiness, sweating, nightmares...everything I had been experiencing. I saw my doctor, am now taking my blood sugar level throughout the day, and am back to my regular self. Yes, my family forgave me! Lol! There is a difference between Reactive Hypoglycemia and low blood sugar, but as I said, simply having regular low blood sugar would do it. I thought I was going to have to be put in a looney bin. I'm so happy I found out what my body was experiencing. Lastly, it could that her blood levels are perfect, and she's simply feeling very insecure about herself and her choices. That's not an excuse to lash out at you; just give perspective. If it's hurting you, tell her you need some time to take care of yourself, and give your friendship a break. You need to be taken care of, and frankly she's going through so much stress and change that she can't be there for you. You need to be there for you and take care of yourself. I'm afraid to say that it's really no one's fault; just the worse timing for both of your needs to be met. Take a break and take care yourself, hon. And tell her to check her blood sugar, just in case....

Weigh loss surgery can affect your blood sugar levels. Some individuals experience a condition called reactive hypoglycemia. The symptoms of hypoglycemia are: blurry vision rapid heartbeat sudden mood changes sudden nervousness unexplained fatigue pale skin headache hunger shaking dizziness sweating difficulty sleeping skin tingling trouble thinking clearly or concentrating loss of consciousness If this is the cause, it sounds like you only have a mild version at this point. But it is something to keep an eye on.

In reviewing my discharge instructions. One of the criteria for calling your surgeon's office is "New onset of upper back or left shoulder pain." As you lose weight the fat that cushions your bone joints disappears, therefore some patients report bone joint pain after weight loss. But in your case 3 weeks post op is a little too soon to experience this. Getting tired after doing light housework could be caused by a number of things. Top on the list is that your body is still in a major heal mode. But other things might be starting to show up. For example if you were taking prescription medicine prior to surgery, the dosage rate of this medicine might need to be adjusted. Not meeting daily Vitamins, Protein, fluids levels might also come into play. If you experience dizziness and fainting combined with the weakness, it might point to reactive hypoglycemia.

Hey yall! I've been hovering in the background for a few weeks now. But, today's the day the journey starts, so I figured it was time to post. I've battled with weight issues my entire life, but didn't pack on the pounds until my freshman year in college, where I gained over 100lbs my first year. After that I've been steadily gaining ever since, with my peak weight being a few months ago at 370lbs. My ex Husband passed away suddenly in August, and as terrible as that was, I think it was the wake up call I needed. Since then, I've managed to lose about 15lbs on my own, but have stalled since then. I met with my surgeon this past Friday to start the 6 months supervised weight loss, and am looking at September or October for surgery. Today we start the weight loss program the surgeon suggested. 1200 calories a day. Wow. My concerns are more with excess skin and hair loss. My hair is super thin, so I'm worried about losing all of it after surgery. So, just dropped like $75 on Biotin, Vitamin e with collagen cream, Multivitamins etc. Does anyone have any suggestions on the Protein drinks? There are so many options I don't even know how to pick the right one!!! Any suggestions on preventing hair loss and excess skin? I'd like to be proactive rather than reactive on these issues if possible!

These are some of the Abbreviations commonly used on this site. ACL = Anterior cruciate ligament AGB = Adjustable gastric banding AMRAP = As Many Rounds As Possible (crossfit) BB = belly button bc = because BCBS = Blue Cross/Blue Shield BED = Binge Eating Disorder bf = best friend BM = bowel movement BMI = Body Mass Index bp = blood pressure BPD = Borderline Personality Disorder or Biliary Pancreatic Diversion bs = blood sugar btw = by the way CBT = cognitive-behavioral therapy CC = common channel c diff = clostridium difficile cos or cuz = because CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure CRNP = certified registered nurse practitioners cw = current weight CXR = Chest X-Ray DDD = degenerative disc disease Dr. = doctor DS = Dumping Syndrome or Duodenal Switch EGD = Esophagogastroduodenoscopy EKG = Electrocardiography ff = fat free GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease GI = gastrointestinal GNC = General Nutrition Corporation store GP = general practitioner or family doctor HBP = high blood pressure hr = heart rate hw = highest weight ICU = Intensive Care Unit Idk = I don’t know IMHO = in my humble (honest) opinion IMO = in my opinion IUI = Intrauterine insemination LAP Band = Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band lol = laughing out loud LSG = Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy med = medicine MFP = my fitness pal msg = message NASH = Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis nf = non fat NG = Nasogastric NP = nurse practitioner NSAIDS = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSV = non-scale victory (“scale” means “weight scale”) NUT = nutritionist OA = Overeaters Anonymous omw = on my way Onederland = a magical place or destination for those trying to lose weight. It might correspond to attaining a weight in the hundreds or losing a hundred pounds. op = operation OSA = Obstructive sleep Apnea Oz = Australia PB = Productive Burps PCOS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCP = Primary Care Physician PM = private message (email) PMS = premenstrual syndrome POSE = Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal postop or post–op = post-operation or post-surgery PPI = Proton Pump Inhibitors ppl = people preop or pre-op = pre-operation or pre-surgery PTSD = Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PVC = Premature ventricular contractions RA = Rheumatoid arthritis RH = reactive hypoglycemia RN = registered nurse RNY = Roux-en-Y RTD = ready to drink RYGB = Roux-en-Y gastric bypass SADI-S = single anastomosis duodeno–ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy s/f or sf = sugar free SG = Sleeve gastrectomy SIPS = stomach intestinal pylorus-sparing surgery smh = shaking my head, scratching my head SO = significant other SOB = shortness of breath sw = weight at surgery tmi = too much information TPN = total parenteral nutrition TT = tummy tuck TTC = trying to conceive Ty = Thank you. [but according to the urban dictionary “Ty” is also an abbreviation for “a total stud with a massive carrot”.] u = You UGI = Upper Gastrointestinal VSG = Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Vit = Vitamin wks = weeks WLS = Weight Loss Surgery WOD = Workout of the Day w/o = without wt = weight

I was worried about the procedure itself and if I could do it. I was/am worried I would fail too. Those fears are there and can help us to rise above. Stumbling block/stepping stone. I'm trying to use this thinking to help me. My biggest fear was and is still long term issues. I did a lot of research on complications in the long run. Things like vitamin deficiencies (my step mom and dad who both had rny deal with this), And reactive hypoglycemia (my dad developed this), Mostly so I could know what to look for, what to do and when possible prevent issues. Not to be an alarmist, but to be prepared and know as much as I could. Won't know everything but knowing helps me face my fears. I wish you all the best in facing those fears. You can do more than you know. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

were you hypo?

In general, the three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily protein, fluid and vitamin requirements. So a problem in any of these areas could cause your symptoms. For example, a lack of B12 can cause this. But since you got your labs back and they were good, that indicates that this may not be the problem area. Another type of problem that could cause this is reactive hypoglycemia. Here is a link that describes this condition. https://www.ridgeviewmedical.org/services/bariatric-weight-loss/enewsletter-articles/reactive-hypoglycemia-postgastric-bypass/

I've had this for many years, but it's gotten worse with age. But it is manageable and I don't have extreme issues if I eat properly. Before LB surgery I was pre-diabetic; my sugar was a bit out of the normal range. After I dropped weight the numbers normalized. Though I still have RA, my tested sugar and A1C is totally normal. Here is some info I found online. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/reactive-hypoglycemia/faq-20057778

I'm considering a Lapband/plication to RNY revision and combing through the various posts online for info. I'm reading a lot about reactive hypoglycemia, and how many start having it anywhere from 6 months to several years post-op. I'm concerned because I already deal with RA, but I'm able to control it with diet. It sounds like it can become a runaway train and very tricky to control after this surgery. I think this scares me more than anything else because I've dealt with it for years; long before band/plication surgery. I'm interested to hear from anyone dealing with blood sugar issues since their bypass.

I'm sorry to hear that you are not where you hoped to be. I think you have made a very valid point. A lot of us gained weight or were always heavy due to addiction/self medicating. The surgery will not make the addiction go away. All it is is a tool to help you from being hungry. I too have super crappy feet now. Although I still carry weight in my rib cage, my feet and ass are both void of any sort of cushioning. My husband has leather seats in his car. You can tell where I sit as I have made two permanent dents in the seat from the ass bones poking thru. I will sadly say that I have learn many things about myself during this journey. First a high point. I have been very successful with my surgery. I am so thankful that ins covers it. But, The surgery will not make you unaddicted. It will not improve your marriage, your body image, your work, relationships with others or anything. All it will do is help you to not be hungry so you eat less. If you allow head hungry to rule then you will sadly pay the price. I too was having some emotional issues this past year. Both my kids went away to college and I was just having some real anger issues. I tried Wellbutrin with no luck. Finally I just decided to stop fighting it and take the Vit B12. It has made a decent change. Now mind you I rock my blood work all the time. I have no low levels of anything. But I am reactive Hypoglycemic. I guess if you are still suffering with addiction issues, spend some time being introspective. Find out what is the thing your are self medicating. Without identifying the core issue you cannot escape the pattern. I have really had to do some serious soul searching these past few years. Doing so has allowed me to be a more loving person to the people in my life who deserve my best. I have a long way to go, but at least I am more honest with myself. Good luck. If you need someone to IM, feel free.

You indicted that you are shaky and weak after consuming food (your Protein shake). After surgery a few individual's experience reactive hypoglycemia. Here is a link. http://www.weightlosssurgery.ca/before-after-surgery/reactive-hypoglycaemia-post-gastric-bypass/ But generally this condition shows up several months after surgery. If you were diabetic prior to surgery and taking prescription medicine for this condition. And you still are taking medicine to reduce your blood sugar, it might be important to reassess your medicine with your doctor and reduce the level.

UUGGHHH, feeling so disgusted,. not looking for a pity party, just venting.. its been over a yr. since my surgery, and I'm STUCK @ abt a 50lb loss. I just reactivated this acct and see that I am up abt 5lbs since I joined in March,. I've unfollowed people/groups on IG & FB, not that I'm a "hater", (I salute & congratulate everyone)...I just don't see anything in common w them anymore.. (also my nutritionist recommended it to focus on me) my diet is usually: eggs & sausage,avocado for bkfst, lots of protein (mainly chicken) in salads or w sautéed veggies, etc. (have just started the "keto" diet) don't like carbs believe it or not, not that I haven't "cheated" & had sweets here or there, but I'm not a bread/pasta/pastry person (thank God for @ least that I guess) don't wanna go see my Dr anymore, I feel he's not helpful @ all, just recommending a book to follow. #wtf.. and the nutritionist was so/so.. have only met w her once. my low points are not drinking enough water & I'm CONVINCED I can eat too much @ one sitting. I even got a kitchen scale, haven't used it yet though. don't expect what I haven't put in, BUT I don't get why I've stalled so bad if I'm eating pretty well balanced & "clean".. what's the point of the surgery if we still have to follow a "diet" (and by that I do NOT mean I expect to still eat any & every thing that got me fat to begin with bc I don't) thx for listening....

I take hypo thyroid meds and also antidepressant. I got sleeved on Dec. 5th. I have noticed absolutely no changes...everything is fine. My doc has ordered a blood test to make sure all my levels are good.

Hello!! I've had a few episodes of my blood sugar going as low as 45...I am guessing it is reactive hypoglycemia due to symptoms that happen alongside the low number. My questions: 1.anyone else dealing with this? I am almost 18mos out from bypass. 2. What do you eat when you are super low that brings sugars up but not too high, perpetuating the cycle? 3. Once there was a CLEAR reason: I sort of let myself get guilted into eating a slice of birthday cake; but the other times I really don't know what caused the low blood sugars. I am trying to get into a nutritionist but with my work schedule I am having difficulty. Any thoughts or inputs would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!! Sent from my LG-H900 using the BariatricPal App

I would love to go vegetarian but am highly reactive to soy which is problematic to meeting Protein goals. Any suggestions from the vegans? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Yes, I do get hungry every few hours and I also get reactive hypoglycemia if I allow too many carbs into my diet. When that happens it can be a vicious circle. Instead of eating 3 regular meals a day, I eat 5 or 6 small meals ensuring I get dense Protein. It does help with feeling hungry inbetween. There are also times when I am truly not hungry but my brain is telling me I need to eat something. I fight that head hunger all the time using distraction. Having gained 7lbs between thanksgiving and now, I have to get myself back on track 100%. I may do a 5 day pouch reset just to help get any sugar out of my system which I think will help with that hunger every few hours.

Hi @@Phoenix40! So last Thursday I went for my Nutrition/Surgeon/Coordinator appointment. I'll describe each appointment below: First you are weighed in and your height is taken Nutrition: The nutritionist is a very nice lady and she will ask you about what type of diet you have been on (I started following the 1200 calorie diet after orientation). You will have to describe what you usually eat for Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Snacks,etc. She also talks about Vitamins and what type you will need post op (this will depend on if you get the sleeve or bypass) and what to expect as far as diet goes in the first weeks after surgery (i.e. liquids, soft foods, etc) She also informed me about the different types of Protein drinks and answered any questions I had. Surgeon: Dr. Hahn was very patient. He went over my BMI, co morbidities, medications, etc to ensure that I would be a good candidate for surgery. He said it would be my choice whether to go for sleeve or bypass as I would be great candidate for either (I don't have acid reflux). We talked about the differences between sleeve and bypass (right off the bat he discouraged from the lap band so we were in agreement about that). He reiterated that regain was possible with either surgery and so is dumping (so it really comes down to the patient being willing to put in the work to not only lose the weight but keep it off). He went into detail about possible complications withe each procedure (ulcers, reactive hypoglycemia, reflux, etc). He then set a weight loss goal for me. Normally they ask the patients to lose 10% of their body weight but Dr. Hahn only requires a 7-8%, of total body weight, loss. For me 7-8% was 19 pounds (I had already lost 9 pounds since orientation and he credited me so I needed to lose 10 pounds to get a surgery date and 5 pounds to get a psych appointment). The only other requirements Dr. Hahn set out for me, besides weight loss, is attending at least one support group, and an EKG (I already finished my bloodwork). Coordinator: She was very pleasant. She informed of what my next steps to surgery are (support group, psych appointment, etc) and that to be sure I call monthly to update them on my weight and progress. Before the psych appointment each patient must fill out a surgery quiz (located in Chapter 9 of the Bariatric binder) and send it in before the appointment. Overrall it was an interesting yet quick appointment. I was told to expect to be there for 3 hours but for me it was more like 2 hours. Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App I am also going through kaiser Fremont the haven't weighed me yet .. Did they weigh you at the surgery orientation? I would love to start dieting again I feel awful not doing anything .. but I'm scared if I drop down below the 40 BMI it will disqualify me for the surgery Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukah to our Jewish friends! Season’s Greetings for those of you who are not celebrating a holiday now – it’s still a festive time when everyone can enjoy the uplifting spirit around town. As we near the end of a long season of tempting food, you may need a little help getting back on track or staying on track. Here are our offerings. Weight Loss on Christmas? A Personal Challenge Breaking the Slump: Make a Healthy Choice Now! The Holidays, Your Family, and Weight Loss Surgery Hopefully this newsletter can help you keep your weight loss goals in mind and give you a little push to inch closer to hitting them. After reading the newsletter and spending some quality time with your loved ones, don’t forget to head on over to the BariatricPal Forums so you can share your tips and ideas with all of the BariatricPal members! Merry Christmas! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Weight Loss on Christmas? A Personal Challenge The weight loss surgery journey itself is a bumpy road, and recent weeks may have been even tougher as the holiday spirit has taken over. High-calorie, fatty, sugary foods have been everywhere, and gift shopping, family obligations, and holiday parties may have been eating into the time you might otherwise have spent exercising or planning healthy meals. So, what do you say to a challenge to lose weight this Christmas? The idea may sound crazy, but it is actually possible if you try hard. Here are our suggestions for a weight loss Christmas Day. Christmas dinner the WLS Way The totals for a full-blown Christmas dinner can be somewhere between staggering and horrifying. You yourself may have indulged in a few such dinners in the past. Between the ham or turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, casseroles, and Desserts, plus some alcohol and a bit of nibbling on appetizers and nuts, you can have 5,000 or more calories on this single day. Yuck – that’s 1.5 pounds of fat! Here is a more reasonable Christmas Day scenario to consider. Breakfast: Festive Protein pancakes with 1 cup sliced strawberries (150 calories) Meet ‘n’ Greet Appetizers 1 cup fresh cut vegetables with yogurt-based dip (100 calories) Red, white, and green Christmas skewers with cherries, peeled apples or pears, and green grapes. (100 calories) chocolate Coated Protein Puffs Soy Snacks (150 calories) Christmas Dinner 3 ounces of ham or skinless turkey or duck breast with mustard (150 calories) Green bean frittata – a high-protein, low-calorie substitute for green bean casserole (100 calories) Green salad with Light Dressing ½ cup pureed sweet potatoes sprinkled lightly with crushed pecans and sugar (or honey or low-calorie sugar substitute) (200 calories) 1 medium baked apple with cinnamon, served with light or sugar-free whipped topping (150 calories) Later Snacks Protein Cocoa or Mocha (100 calories) 1/2 ounce mixed nuts (100 calories) (Don’t forget to use coupon code BPNEWSLETTER10 for a 10% discount of your first order!) Savor Your Treat Don’t forget to leave room for a treat. That’s right, even WLS patients deserve a treat. Just make sure: It’s one that you really, really want. You can tolerate it (some treats are too sugary or fatty for your post-op digestive system, and even a small serving can make you feel sick). You take only a small amount and count the calories. In the sample Christmas Day menu shown above, there is room for another 200 to 400 calories from your treat while still staying under 1,500 to 1,800 for the day. Those calories can get you any two of the following: A half-cup of mashed potatoes with gravy. A half-cup of bread or rice-based stuffing. A 1-inch sliver of pecan, pumpkin, or another kind of pie. A small square of fudge. A small dinner roll with a pat of butter. A half-cup of eggnog. Get Moving, for So Many Reasons It’s a busy day, but surely you can find a few minutes to get in a short walk or workout. There are so many reasons to get moving in the morning or during the day. Burn calories and boost metabolism. Keep yourself motivated as you notice how good it feels to get moving rather than eat. Take time away from the food because when you are walking, you are not eating. Bond with your children, nieces, or nephews; with your out of town relatives; or with your significant other. Breaking the Slump: Make a Healthy Choice Now! One bad day of eating does not make a habit, but a six-week period does. A skipped workout or two doesn’t get you out of shape, but a month of inactivity makes you sluggish. A single bad weigh-in is no cause for alarm, but a few weeks of climbing numbers is reason to take heed. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas can put you in a weight loss slump. Over time, your can get weaker and those poor decisions can get easier. While a bite of a cookie might have made you feel guilty in early November, the whole cookie and a second one may be par for the course now. Snap out of it! It is time to get out your slump. If the thought of reversing all those bad habits at once is too much, take heart. You can put yourself on the right path with a single decision. One good decision can increase your confidence and lead to more good decisions. You could: Make your own 200-calorie Breakfast sandwich with Protein Pancakes, a fat-free slice of cheese, and egg whites instead of hitting the drive-through for a 500-calorie breakfast biscuit. Schedule a short walk with a neighbor – no backing out! Log your food for a day, no matter how bad you know the numbers will be. Step on the scale if you’ve been avoiding it. How will you break your slump? The Holidays, Your Family, and Weight Loss Surgery As hard as the food and lifestyle around the holidays may be for you as a weight loss surgery patient, your family can make things even harder. You can prevent them from knocking you off your game by being prepared for what to expect and how to handle it. Problem: Pressure to Go Off Your Diet Saying no is just one of those things you have to learn how to do in life. Refusing your relatives’ offer of freshly baked Christmas bread or Christmas Cookies made “just for you” is difficult. They may feel that you are rejecting them. Practicing ahead of time can help. A simple, “No, thanks” can do wonders, and it leaves no room for argument. You could elaborate with variations such as “No, thanks, I’m not hungry,” “No, thanks, my doctor says I can’t eat that anymore,” or, “Not right now, thanks. It’s already great to get to see you!” Problem: Unwanted Comments on Your Weight or Weight Loss If you got your WLS in the past year, you may have dropped several pounds since relatives from out of town saw you. They may be overly reactive to your weight loss. Or, they could have the opposite reaction and say something discouraging about how they expected you to lose more weight by now. Whatever they say, do not let them throw you off your game. Problem: Lack of Acceptance of Your WLS They are not living your life, and they do not know exactly what you have gone through. A lack of understanding about what WLS is and how a WLS lives can inspire negative comments. You can choose to ignore them, or try to explain your WLS to them. You can also try to include them in your routine, such as inviting them on a walk or asking for their help in your kitchen while they’re in town. You can grow closer and develop a better understanding. Again, Happy Holidays! Enjoy this special time with family and friends, and make it a safe and healthy time for yourself and your loved ones. Thanks for spending some time with the newsletter, and we look forward to seeing you on the forums! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

I don't dump either. I do have a reactive hypoglycemic though, which makes my blood sugar spike than crash....so, I try to be very careful with sugars. I passed out once from low blood sugar since my surgery, and I really don't want that to happen again. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I was on insulin for 30 years pre surgery. I was still on it after surgery for 3 1/2 months and while the initial weight loss was rapid, like you it slowed down way too soon. Then I talked my doc into letting me go off insulin and on to metformin plus foxigia (both of which have a side effect of some weight loss). Because I was no longer on insulin I was able to safely follow a low carb diet without worrying about hypos (metformin and forxigia don't usually cause hypos). In the 6 or 7 weeks since I stopped insulin the weight has fallen off me about 13 pounds) and last week I stopped taking Forxigia since I don't seem to need it on a low carb diet. I am also cutting down my metformin with the aim to be off it by the new year if not before. So to answer your question ... yes insulin does slow down weight loss. Talk to your endo about swapping it for metformin plus forxigia and a low carb diet ... just don't go too low carb whilst on insulin because of the risk of hypos. if your endo is anything like mine he will be more than happy to let you give it a try and see what happens.