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💯 I’ll share. It’s a journey so many of us are on. I’d love to share anything I learn. Eeeek. Buh bye skin flap!

I've copied mine below. I've been told to stick to 800 calories per day and couldn't do this if including a carb at both lunch and dinner, so dropped the carb in the evening meal. I asked the dietitian why the diet isn't shakes - she said that they find that people get very fed up with the shakes if they have them both pre and post-op and also that this is designed to get you into the habit of 3 small meals and 2 snacks. Hope this helps. "The diet is designed to give you approx 100g of carbohydrate per day. Try to opt for complex carbohydrates as these will help to fill you up more than refined or white bread, rice and pasta etc. The diet is low in fat and moderate in protein and low in calories, providing approx 800-1000 kcal. Breakfast: (15g carbohydrate) : 3 tbsp (20g) of BranflakesTM or Fruit & FibreTM or 4 tbsp (15g) of CornflakesTM or Rice Krispies TM or 1 Shredded wheatTM or 1½ WeetabixTM or 5 tbsp (35g) of All BranTM or 25g of porridge oats or 1 slice medium sliced toast with scraping of spread Lunch: (15-20g carbohydrate): 1 slice medium slice wholegrain bread or toast or 2 ryvitas/ wholegrain crackers or ½ bagel or ½ pitta bread or ½ bread roll or ½ Chapatti with: 2 eggs or 50g (1½ oz) cheese (no more than 3 portions per week) or 8 wafer thin packet slices of ham/chicken/ turkey or 100 g (4 oz) chicken, e.g. a chicken breast without skin or 100g (4 oz) meat or 100g (4 oz) fish or 100g (4 oz) Quorn,/tofu, or pulses or 100g (4 oz) pulses (including chickpeas, beans and lentils) with plenty of vegetables and salad (with fat free dressing if required) *limit root vegetables to 80g maximum per meal e.g.: turnip, carrots, parsnips, beetroot, swede etc. *limit sweetcorn to one tablespoon per meal whilst following this pre-operative diet as this is high in carbohydrate. Evening Meal: (20g carbohydrate): 180g potatoes (boiled/mashed/roast) or 3 egg-sized (180g) new potatoes or 60g / 2 tbsp cooked rice/pasta with: 2 eggs or 50g (1 ½ oz) cheese or 8 wafer thin packet slices of ham/chicken/turkey or small chicken breast without skin or 100g (4 oz) meat or fish or 100g (4 oz) Quorn, tofu, or pulses such as lentils/beans/ quick peas with plenty of vegetables/salad (with fat free dressing if required) Additional allowances throughout the day (40g carbohydrate): two portions of fruit or one portion of 150ml fruit juice, 1/3 pint (200ml) of semi-skimmed milk for drinks and cereal OR (one small pot (125g) low fat/low sugar yoghurt per day (diet or ‘lite’ varieties), aim for at least 2 litres a day of free fluids i.e. Unlimited water, tea, coffee, low-calorie squash, low-calorie fizzy drinks Fruit portions list A serving of fruit is 80g: 2 small fruit e.g. plums, apricots, satsumas 1 medium fruit e.g. apple, orange, banana 1 slice of very large fruit e.g. melon, pineapple ½ a grapefruit/avocado 1 cupful of berries e.g. strawberries, raspberries or grapes 3 heaped tbsp fruit salad (fresh or tinned in fruit juice) or stewed fruit 1 tbsp of dried fruit e.g. raisins, sultanas"

I'm getting rid of everything that doesn't fit. I'm almost 3 months post op. My best friend wears the size I did, and never buys clothes for herself. I love clothes and buy a lot, so I already gave her 3 big trash bags of stuff that's too big. I kept what ran smaller or isn't as loose to get me though for a while, but I'll give her all that too when it gets to big. I donated tons of smaller sizes a year ago that I am kicking myself for now! I wish I had kept some of them! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Welcome to the forums. You are upsetting the established balance in your relationships. If/when you change some of your relationships will change for the better, others not so much. Eventually, a new equilibrium will be reached. Change is hard not only on you, the author of your change, but on everyone around you. Having said all that, you must take care of you first. Learn everything there is about your surgical options, learn what the after care and diet plan look like. Don't take anything for granted. If you don't know the answer before hand, find it. Learn it. Prepare for it. When the going get's tough you should already know what to do, your Doc's plan, and follow it. There are a lot of 'experts' who have been through all this. Listen with a huge grain of salt. Their way MAY have worked for them, but you have to make YOUR way work. It's up to you. Not us. We have no skin in your game. You can do it. Good luck, Tek

Gotta love stretchy yoga pants!!!!! What loose skin??????

Congrats!!!! So happy for you!!! As tempting as it is, I would suggest not rushing into plastics. Give your new bod at least 6 months and you will probably find that some of the looseness will tighten on its own. I was 62 with even more loose skin, but it doesn't look nearly as bad now as when I first lost the weight. Again, so very happy for you and your new active life!

I’m thrilled to have reached goal today! Coincidentally, it happened on the anniversary of my initial consult with my surgeon. I’m down 100lbs and feel lighter than air! Pics are below! For those that wonder about loose skin, yeah I gots it! I’m having PS to remove it, but I’ll take the loose skin over fat any day! Tried to show what I look like with clothes on, with shirt pulled up and with loose skin untucked out of my pants! LOL!

Add biotin and go get some cologne powder . I mix the unflavored powder into my coffee every morning and my hair is not falling out much and my skin and joints are feeling pretty good. It helps. I have been on it for about a month and it’s crazy how much my skin n hair have gotten so much better.

My hair was getting really dry n brittle and I started taking collagen. I mix it in my protein shake and espresso latte every morning. My hair and skin have stopped drying out and I have to tell you my joints are feeling a bit better also. I have been doing for only 1 month and feel pretty good .

Have you seen a gastroenterologist? I know bypass messes with the way our internal plumbing works so maybe talk to them. They might suggest a daily stool softener so you aren’t constipated. Constipation can also be a cause of loose stools and vomiting- think overly constipated and impactions can come with seepage. (I was chronically constipated as a kid).

OK, carp. It might be time to start looking for zebras (less obvious alternatives). Any skin issues? Pain? Allergies? Fever? Have you done a detailed food log? Perhaps you can relate issues to foods. I also have such symptoms when I have a psoriatic arthritis flair. It's autoimmune. There are a variety of them that can cause such symptoms. Could it be related to stress? Stress does this to me sometimes. Keep trying. Your wits are longer than you think Tek

Mine has finally stopped doing that, and has started growing like crazy. I only wash my hair twice a week now, and use argan oil after I shower. I do, however, have SUPER dry skin, so I have to do a full body rub down twice a day with gold bond eczema cream. The hair was definitely annoying, but as long as you keep getting your vitamins and your calorie intake eventually goes up, it'll calm down. My hair fell out during the first six months to the point where I completely shaved my head and wore wigs for a while. Hang in there. ❤️

I had gastric bypass in 9/15. I am 5’1 and day of surgery I weighed 250. I have Hashimotos. I’m just looking to see ppl with similar stats and their weight loss. Please, I know everyone is different, looses differently etc. I just would like to see how other ppl are getting along. So far, I’ve lost about 18 pounds post op and that seems to be so little to me. I lost about 3 or 4 pounds this week (third week weigh in) and that seems so minor. Again, I know everyone is different, I’d just like some similar ppl sharing journies so I can relate! Thank uou!

Not only did I have "bat wings" I had the same thing on my forearm with a pocket of fat at the elbow. When he was marking me he showed me what would be left if he only went to the elbow...a lower arm smaller 'batwing." I told him I didn't care if he went to my wrist, I didn't want that left. So, I have an extended brachioplasty. The incision goes from my bra line, through my armpit all the way down past my elbow to midway to my wrist. I'll take a scar over hanging skin any day! I still have a lot of swelling (6 weeks post op tomorrow) but I love the shape of my arms!

I was 62 when I had bypass, and it was the best decision I ever made. I have my life back!!!!!! With no pain now in the hips, knees and back. All my co-morbidities have resolved. I can hike, bike, ride my horse, and get down (and up) on the floor with my grandkids. I've done a triathlon and a 50 mile bike race. Woo hoo! Who would have thought it even possible? My next goals are a rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike and ultimately to finish the 830 mile Arizona Trail. I think being older gives a deeper perspective that this is the last chance. We've tried everything else for literally decades, and there are no more options. And there are no more games. It is this or nothing. We are all in or all out. We don't worry as much about hair loss or saggy skin or looking great in a bikini - it is about health and quality of life. We are also past menopause, and so don't have to worry as much about hormone fluctuations or about slowing metabolism - it's already slowed for us and things can only get better, right? I am seizing every day with joy and gratitude that I am now able to live again, because what I was doing before was just slowly dying. Best wishes to you! You have every chance to be successful at this, regardless of age.

Question for any one who had surgery and had hyperthyroidism (HYPER (the one where people who have it are usually skin just apparently not me) not HYPO). Did the surgery mess up your TSH levels? Before the surgery we got my levels to normal and was able to come off the meds. Was off them for 2 years and no issue. Then I had my bypass in March 2020. Levels were just checked and my TSH was 0.005..... so SUPER low

^^^ she's right. For some reason I didn't catch that you were only four months out and started at 192 lbs. Most of us on here started at WAY more than that and would therefore have A LOT more loose skin - skin that will never bounce back because it's so stretched out. I lost over 200 lbs - so I was in a very different place skin-wise...

I have no appetite. knowing I'm hungry,so I eat. Start to feel sluggish, then nauseas. Some times I loose my meal some times I don't. I'm loosing weight faster now then in the start of this process. But I'm afraid its not a healhy way to loose weight . I feel something is going on. Just dont want to be a hypochondriac. Im glad I ran into your post. Hopefully we can get some insight..i can tell the differance between being to full vs, dumping syndrome., ECT. Are you able to describe your feeling after eating?.

I had a DEXAscan (not a medical one - those just tell you your bone density - this was one that also gives you your body composition. You can get them at commercial places like DEXAFit, or some universities have them in sports labs for their athletes - and sometimes the public can get them there for a decent price). I weighed 146 lbs at the time and thought I had a good 15 or so lbs to go. The technician said after the scan, "no - you're done losing". She said my body fat was 22%, which is considered lean for a female. I about flipped. All that "fat" was actually loose skin. So yea - I get it!

Thanks guys. This whole time I thought my weight was just being stubborn in my belly area & it was fat but when the Doctor looked at it - he said most of it was loose skin. I was surprised for some reason - I hadn't even thought of that.. So frustrating to lose all this weight and still have a roll. I might take pictures of it sometime this week and post them to see what you guys think... whether it is possible for it to shrink back up... or if you think that down the line---- if things stay the same--- I should look into getting it removed. I definitely don't want to go that route, but ugh -- I hate seeing that roll.

It can be a while before skin tightens as much as it is going too, I think I read somewhere up to two years (but could be wrong about the time frame). How much skin tightens will depend on genetics, age, environment plus history of yoyo dieting that may have resulted in big losses/gains so as the skin loses elasticity.

So at my four month post-op appointment - I was complaining about still having fat on my stomach. My doctor said some of it is loose skin and that no amount of exercising will help with that. ( I exercise at the gym a minimum of 1½ hrs per day, at least 6 days a week). When I got home I really looked at my tummy & agree with the Doc.. a lot of it is just loose skin. My stomach is where all my weight goes, so of course I will have sagging skin there.. not sure why I thought I wouldn't. Anyway, I know some people have surgery to correct this.. I do think my loose skin has improved in the past few weeks since my last appointment with him, but did time help with the loose skin issue? I don't have enough loose skin to feel like surgery would be worth it. FYI -- I am about 4½ months out now... If your skin did "bounce back"... how long did it take? I forgot to ask him about how long it takes for things to settle into place.. TIA.

I had a sleeve at 54 years old, 10 years ago. I am now 64 !! BEST THING I EVER DID !!! I did not do it for vanity or to look better or to wear a smaller size. I did it for my health and to live longer, and be able to be more active. I started my journey at 320 plus pounds. I had surgery at about 300 pounds. I now weigh 174. No, I did not get to my doctor's initial goal, but he later told me he never expected me to get there either. At my age adjusted BMI I am considered overweight. I started 10 years ago wearing size 28 plus. I now wear petite 16 or a regular 14. But I like the fit of a petite 16 better. I have saggy baggy skin, and my hair is thinner than it was, but who knows if that is my age and or the hysterectomy or the weight loss. I am happy, healthy and active. I work full time, take care of my home, raise chickens for organic eggs, I have an organic vegetable garden. I walk, I take care of my chickens, muck out the coops, and swim when the weather is nice and the pool is warm. I do more than most of my age group, and I do not regret having weight loss surgery for even a second. My best advice is to research well. I chose a sleeve because I have asthma and end up on oral steroids at least yearly. I needed to be able to take certain medications, and a bypass would not have allowed me to do that. My pulmonologist recommended that I have whatever surgery would allow me to treat my lung disease as recommended. Again, for me, I am happy !!!

I spent most of my life wanting to lose weight to look better. I didn't seriously consider wls because I didn't want loose skin or hair loss. That all changed when I became unhealthy. Maybe it's because I'm 49, but I just don't care if I have either. I just want to be active and healthy and maybe live longer than I would have had I not had surgery. I don't feel anywhere near 49 and I want a body that feels the same. I've accepted that loose skin and hair loss are inevitable. There is surgery of course, but at my age I don't know if it would be worth it and I know my husband will love me no matter what, and he's the only one who sees me naked. I still have a lot of weight to lose, so I don't know how much skin I'll have, but I'm not too worried about it. There are so many positive things that outweigh it! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I would love it if my health issues would be resolved, but I've been stuck with them for over six months now and they are still being figured out and because of Covid it's taking FOREVER! I just did a test to check if it's one of the two things my doctor is most suspicious of it being (the two mimic each other) and am waiting for results, but I'll probably have to wait MONTHS for the other test as I was already told they are scheduled several months out and they haven't even called me about scheduling for that particular test... As for excess skin, yep I have it. A LOT. It's not noticeable with clothes on though. I have bat wings on my upper arms lol. Also lots of excess skin on my... chest area. I was a DDD and now am a C so it happens. I have loose skin on my belly, where my bra rests on my sides, my legs, arms, my neck, etc. Honestly though, like I said it's easy to hide under clothes and I'd much rather have the loose skin then the extra 167 pounds that I used to carry around. And yes, I'm happy with my surgery and don't regret it at all.