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Hey all. I'm almost 2 months post-op and find myself easily able to eat 6oz of food in one sitting (I'm comfortably full at the end of my meals - not "stuffed" or in pain - but nose a little runny). I'm freaking out because I've read that 6-8oz is usually not possible until 1+ years post-op, and that at this stage I should only be able to eat 2-4oz. I do track everything I eat (I average 750 calories a day) and I primarily eat whole foods (fish, beans, chicken, lentils, eggs, fruit and veggies). No dairy as I'm lactose intolerant and no breads, rice or pasta because they're too filling and provide little value in terms of nutrients when compared to the other things I eat. Not sure any of this matters in terms of volume, but I just thought I'd put it out there for reference. My weight loss has been very slow but steady. Is anyone else like this regarding how much they can eat in one sitting? Should I be worried?

Hi everyone! I had Gastric sleeve in Mexico on October 28th and weighed 283. Today I weight 268. My weight has been 268 for 2 and a half weeks, I managed to get down to 266 Saturday but then went back up!. I’m not eating over 7-800 calories, take in a good amount of water, my protein could be better but I definitely hit at least 40 grams which is what was put to at least hit (40-60 per nutritionist). I move around and walk for at least 15-20 min. What is going on? Is something wrong with me? Did I pay 4500 for nothing? I’m very depressed and thinking I’ll never lose weight. I eat a variety of food I don’t limit anything but it’s all home food not eating pizza and stuff. I eat grilled chicken tenders, sweet potatoes whole wheat toast boiled eggs veggies yogurt all healthy and no more than 4-5 bites per meal. I’m very very depressed that even a surgery can’t help me lose weight.

McDonalds cheeseburgers. I probably shouldn’t have tried it (not healthy) but I was curious and my seven year old was having one. I used to LOVE them. I still crave them thinking about it. I tried having a bite on two different occasions and both times had to spit it out. Yay.., I guess:) Also, I eat very little red meat in general now. Hard to digest and too many calories.

Like Viking Beast said, although it was counterintuitive, when I increased calories I lost more not long after weight loss surgery, The nurse explained when your body thinks it’s starving it holds onto what it has. She said it’s common; also, when you do start losing again you may lose at a faster rate. It all evens out. I ‘m about 8 months out and just barely over the weight I’d like to stay at. One week I gained one pound. I didn’t freak out. The next week I lost about a pound more than usual. It’s a process. Eight weeks is still early out and your body is getting used to it’s new normal. You’ll get there!!!

Stalls are extremely common. The first usually starts in week 3 but can be earlier or later. They usually last 1-3 weeks. And yes I said the first stall. Many experience more as they progress. I liked to look at a stall as my body needing to take a breath. It’s been going through a lot: surgery, change of diet, restricted calories, etc. & it’s stressed. So just like when you’re experiencing emotional stress & you want to shut the door & pull the covers over your head your body shuts down too & you don’t lose weight. Best advice is to stick to your plan. You’ll slowly be eating more & more dense food anyway as you progress through the stages. If you are concerned have a chat with your dietician about your calorie intake especially if you’re very active again already. If not losing upsets you, avoid weighing yourself everyday. The stall will break when your body is ready. Good luck.

Have a chat with your team. The no alcohol advice tends to be for two reasons: one the calories & poor nutritional value (& no it doesn’t count as a fluid 😉). Two, the more important consideration for many is the addictive nature of alcohol. If you are someone who has a food addiction, post surgery you can’t satisfy that addiction so you turn to something else & alcohol is usually the first place people go. At about 6 weeks out I nursed a gin & tonic for hours. It was my cousin’s 40. I think I had another g&t at about 4 months, then 6 (girls weekend & at goal) then 7 months (Christmas - though was champagne). Same story sipped for hours. The tonic would be super flat & I could tolerate the bitterness. I still usually only have a glass of something about once a month or so, occasionally more often depending on what’s happening (special events) but am happy with just one glass. I used to drink one or two glasses of wine, gin or whisky every night. Don’t miss it. I go for quality now not quantity.

Stalls do happen. If you don't lose any weight in three weeks, talk to your team. It is also possible that you are eating too few calories—I was, I stalled, my new nutritionist bumped me up, and the weight started slipping away again. How many calories are you eating per day? Are you getting enough protein? Enough liquid? Are you exercising at all?

Hi everyone, im new on here. Wls is something i have thought about for a few years now but not seriously, i always thought eventually I'll do it on my own. I started putting on weight at around 12 years old. I was sexually abused from age 10 too 11. This affected me dramatically and i shut myself off from everything and food was my comfort. I have tried and failed at diets ever since. Iv tried most of the diets going, slimming world more tines than i can count, ww when it was weight watchers, rosemary connelly, cabbage soup diet, calorie counting and not eating for days at a time. Each time i lose some but eventually give up when the weight loss sticks and each time i end up heavier than before. Im now almost 23 stone (317lb) and im 5 foot 8 inches tall. My bmi 48 so im classed as morbidity obese. I wear 24/26 clothes. I have arthritis in my knees, feet and back which makes it difficult to exercise due to the pain and i know losing weight would help me a lot. My parents both have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels and my mom is type 1 diabetic and has to inject insulin. The last few months i have thought more seriously about wls, i have spoken to the weight management woman at my gp surgery who got my doctor to refer me to bariatrics. I have a blood sugar blood test tomorrow and then i will be referred to hospital. I only spoke the her last week so im shocked im getting referred so quickly. I will be around reading posts and asking questions of you i hope thats ok. What questions should i ask when i get seen? Sent from my SM-A526B using BariatricPal mobile app

Yep! I start my diet tomorrow. Diet is more about "very low calorie" than liquid. Optifast is the method

This. All of this!!!!! You couldn’t be more accurate. I started lifting about 8 months after surgery. Currently I am powerlifting and I’m in the best shape of my life. The crazy thing is, like you, how much I have to eat to maintain muscle mass. 1g protein per pound. 3000+ calories a day. Gaining muscle weight, not fat. Sitting at around 12% body fat. Get lifting people. You will see results. Start light. Start small. Progress will come.

Have a nice meal on TG. Do a 10-14 days full liquids only, between TG and Christmas. Protein shakes, soups and water. Have ONE nice (not big, nice) meal on Christmas. Then, get the Baritastic app (or something similar) and count calories. Eat 3 meals a day, no snacking. Stay below 1,400/day. Focus on protein (meat, fish, shrimp, eggs) and mostly raw vegetables (cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, celery, kale, spinach, salads, etc,.) and fruits. Drink 90-120 oz of water a day. Come back here for chats every time you feel like you're stumbling. You should be able to drop 30-40 lbs in less than 3 months. Good luck!

Chantrella, I used to be very concerned about not getting 1200 to 1500 calories, so I would purposely add a little oil to my egg whites, vegetables and meats etc. I added either olive or canola oil. Both are high in monounsaturated fats, the good stuff. I am not talking much just a few grams. 14 grams is worth 120 cal. I always tried to get at least 1200 cal. Now a days I typically eat at least 1500 cal daily. It helps a lot to use a kitchen scale and a good food database like myfitnesspal to get a true measure of what you are eating. I am on myfitnesspal and my profile is public. If you want to see, my account is wmpottsjr. Just friend me.

I’m 6’4” and my highest known weight was 356 (but likely higher as I didn’t weigh often). Like you I was pretty active and my daily calorie count was high. I never counted (still don’t) but an honest assessment of my past puts me around 4-6000 calories a day! I would eat huge meals. Despite that insane guess, I put weight on slowly over the years, averaging 4lbs a year… it’s not a fair estimate because some years I would lose 30 then put 40 on etc. but overall average of 4lbs since I turned 18 (I was 45 when I had surgery). Fast forward 18 months post op and I’m not able to enter maintenance. I’m trying so hard to not lose more weight. I set a goal of 240, blew past that then thought “ok 220 would be good” and blew past that. I’m down to 182 now, my wife and mom (they never stop being moms do they?) are worried - and have been since I broke below 200 in April. Anyway, for the first six months I survived on about 500cal a day. I should say thrived. I had zero problems with that low of a calorie count. I was more active than ever, still am. I feel healthier than I was when I was 16, seriously. The hard part for me was remembering to eat. The day would go by and I would realize I only had my protein shake in the morning. I’m still not hungry, and I know I’m in the minority for going this long without feeling any hunger. I literally eat 1000 calories of peanut m&ms a day. Literally. And I’m still losing. I know it’s probably the least healthy thing I could eat but they are small and pocketable and I like them enough where I don’t get bored of them. I simply don’t have the capacity to eat enough “healthy” meals to make up the difference. I do get regular blood work done and everything is perfectly in the middle of where it should be, vitamin levels are good as well. I’d say I’m close to maintaining, I’ve been between 190 and 182 for about six months but it’s still trending ever so slightly down. I guess what all this rambling is getting at is this: you sound a lot like me. If you are the type of person that can drop weight fast on a diet you’re likely to be wildly successful with the weight loss portion of this endeavor. Everything else is up in the air and seems to be variable for everyone. For me I have had no complications, no foods bother me, nothing tastes different (I hoped it would but it didn’t), I can and do eat whatever I want, but my restriction is so good (and it does feel good) that it still takes me two days to eat a burger, or four days to eat a chipotle burrito (and I don’t even finish it). I don’t have a problem being around food or seeing people eat. My whole relationship with food is completely different. I see it as an inconvenience, but I still enjoy good food and I seek out new and exotic things for fun, I just know I’m taking home 90% of what I order most of the time. My only complaint is my wife and mom think I’m too skinny, which is just an opinion, my doctors are thrilled with my weight and all associated / tested statistics, and as I said I feel absolutely amazing. I feel like I have another 10-15lbs to lose but I’m riding the struggle bus to keep that from happening for the benefit of others. 5000 calories? I’m disgusted with that person. 1500 - 2000 a day give or take is plenty 18 months out and I had nooo problem living on half that for the first year. This was - by far - the best money I’ve ever spent on myself. I’ve easily saved more than my surgery cost ($4400 in Mexico) and I have only great things to say about every aspect of it. I wish it was this easy for everyone. My wife had it done too but she has lost nothing at this point. She eats less than I do, but she never lost when dieting before so we should have known a smaller stomach wouldn’t have helped. I don’t think she needs to lose weight anyway, she’s perfect. But my opinion doesn’t count in her mind :) she has some underlying heath issues we’re working through which we believe contributes to her crazy slow metabolic rate. So I see and live with both sides of how surgery works and doesn’t work for some (if you’re a slow “loser” reading this and you’re on plan and doing everything you should, I BELIEVE YOU, even though everyone assumes you’re not on plan. I know how hard it is for you, and I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Don’t give up, find a doctor that listens to you and believes you too and start looking for why, and stop going to doctors that don’t listen. Don’t let them give you self doubts (end tangent)). Best of luck to you. I wish you the best.

Thanks for ressurecting this post! Great reminders for me just a couple of days from Thanksgiving. Reread the original post and based on what I wrote, I'm going to come up with a plan AHEAD of time. First thoughts: 1. I'm just NOT good at moderation (hence the reason I NEEDED this surgery). - Make a plate - This will be my "graze plate" and I'll only eat off of it throughout the day. I'll make sure there's protein on there and also some tasty low calorie options as well. PERIOD 2. I need to learn to give myself "permission" to succeed rather than to FAIL. - See number 1 3. Holidays will always be food focused at my house (I'm the cook), but I need to find better options for me. - See number 1 4. Once the meal is over, the food needs to be put away to avoid grazing (but damn was that ham and cheese slider yummy!)... - Won't have to do that, because I'll have the graze plate. Fortunately, I still have quite a bit of restriction so it's not a matter of being hungry - Just "snacky". With regards to drinks, I'll allow myself a glass or two of wine, but ONLY after finishing 64oz of water. This will keep me full and stop me from overendulging in alcohol.

They told me the same thing, but it depends on your level of physical activity. But I've always been able to eat more than they suggest. Here is reality: you were probably eating 2000-3000 calories a day before, and now you are eating much less. Whether you're eating 500 cal or 800 cal, you are still WAY DOWN IN A CALORIC DEFICIT. So if they're trying to blame a stall on that, they're full of you-know-what. Stay off the scale, eat your food, make sure you are getting physical exercise, even if it's just a couple of walks a day. It will move. The scale will move. It's simple physics.

I got the sleeve on Oct 20th and have lost 12 lbs since. I’m pretty down about it. Had my 4 week checkup expecting to hear not to worry, stalls are common. Instead, they were concerned I was eating too much: I was averaging 700-800 calories a day and they said most people at my stage are taking in appx 500. I’m trying very hard to cut back to lower calories and have quit weighing myself but beginning to think it’s not really going to work for me.

Hi @doobie31, I also think it may depend on the type of surgery you end up having. I had the SADI and during the loss phase I was very satisfied and consistently lost each week when I consumed 700 to 800 calories per day. Now that I’m trying to maintain, I’m up around the 1600 to 1800 calories a day and if I’m very active then I need around 2000 to not lose more weight. With my restriction, I am finding it difficult to each that much at the moment but it will get easier over time. Each person is different and will have different needs but as all of the other posts have said, it becomes a new way of living and it’s definitely worth it. Good luck and I look forward to hearing about your journey!!

Yes, and that diet requires you have a 2,500 calorie deficit per day. That's more than the total calories per day you'd eat now to maintain the weight you're at. Idk--they must know what they're doing. But sometimes, ya gotta wonder.

I don't log meals. I log calories I eat in a day. I used to not do that, but the amount of stalls I have is annoying so I was trying to see if I was eating too many calories. I was. I'm not anymore lol. So Friday's log was as follows (not doing Saturday's because I was busy shopping and baking all day and although I only ate 1115 calories... that was because I skipped lunch because I'm an idiot). So yeah, Friday's: Banana (105 calories) Light Greek Yogurt (80 calories) 2 no sugar added fudgesicles (80 calories) Turkey Enchilada (homemade. 250 calories) Light Greek Yogurt (80 calories) Protein Shake (160 calories) Tater Tot Casserole (340 calories) Light Greek Yogurt (80 calories) Almonds (160 calories) Total Calories= 1335 Calories For reference, I'm almost 22 months post-op so I'm a bit farther in my journey. I also don't drink my calories. I drink Powerade Zero's (which have no calories, no sugar, no fat, and only 2 carbs per bottle). I also round up my calories btw which is why they're all even lol. My calories for that day are probably closer to 1315-1325, but I always round up because I'm weird like that. And I've already reached my goal weight, but haven't reached maintenance yet.

Meal 1 (0530) (51 cal 6C 2F 2.3P) Espresso with 5 g brown sugar and 2 oz steamed milk Meal 2 (0745) (164 cal 4C 10.6F 13.3P) 1 slice chard and spinach crustless quiche Meal 3 (1000) (164 cal 4C 10.6F 13.3P) 1 slice chard and spinach crustless quiche (liked it so much I ate it twice) Meal 4 (1400) (309 cal 11C 14.7F 32.8P) 2 beef kofte (meatballs) and 1/2 cup puréed pinto beans Meal 5 (1800) (327.2 cal 52.2C 3.3F 20.3P) 1 serving chicken tinga 1/2 cup puréed pinto beans 60 g steamed green beans Persian melon Meal 6 (2030) (130 cal 24C 3F 2P) 1 serving Maria biscuits TOTAL 1310 cal 105.1C 54.8F 97.4P - exactly within my macros per my nutritionist. I am just short of 10 weeks post-op. (Note, before someone jumps in about how that's SO MANY CALORIES—I burn at least 1000 calories a day just in exercise and physical work which I need to do, so it has to get fueled. When I was eating much less, I had no energy and no strength to do things like move hay bales. And I am still in the honeymoon of losing 4-5 lbs. a week.)

I had the same problem with eggs for awhile after revision. I started using an egg substitute called “just egg” that has about the same calories and protein but made from plants. It tastes like eggs but was so much easier until I could tolerate regular eggs again at around 9 months out.

I’m 15 months out from a revision (gerd caused by hernia), have been at goal for about 11 of those months and maintain on around 1300-1500 calories a day. Most of the meals I eat are pretty plant-based as most animal protein sits heavy these days. These are pretty typical days when I’ve packed all my meals for the day for work. The red blender bottle is a green smoothie with kale, spinach, a frozen fruit, protein powder and almond milk. The little thermos is almost always some kind of vegetable heavy soup. The calories for the day are pictured after each one. While they’re convenience food heavy (protein shakes and bars) I know that’s what I need at work as I rarely have time to sit and eat regularly meals. As you get closer to surgery and after surgery you’ll eventually find what works for you and you’ll be able to better gage hunger/fullness cues, what your body needs and the calories you’ll need. For now, work on tracking what you eat and making small changes, mindful eating, and finding ways to make your favorite dishes healthier. If you ever have questions we’re here to help the best we can even if that means directing you back to your surgery team and dietitian.

@GreenTealael I think your vegan at home would appreciate this meal (even with the brand of tofu I used labeled as chicken in Baritastic 😂). If I had eaten it all it would’ve been 412 calories, 20g protein, 20g carbs with 7g of fiber, and a whopping 30g of fat which seems fitting as I got the recipes from a vegan keto cookbook (the recipes are delicious!) I might eat more of it later as I’m probably only sitting at 600 calories total for the day. 😞

I'm two and a half months post-op and while I do weigh my food, I go by macros and calories. I take in 1200-1400 calories per day—BUT I also am extremely active, usually doing hard physical work at least 2-3 hours a day and on my feet longer than that. Yesterday: Pre-workout: espresso with 5g sugar (this is a compromise with my nutritionist) Post-workout: Fairlife protein shake Breakfast: Two scrambled eggs with two small turkey breakfast sausages and an ounce of cheese Lunch: Slice of thin, dense, seedy Scandihoovian rye bread with one of those packets of prepared Starkist tuna on it. Dinner: About 1/2 cup of puréed (not refried) beans and three ounces of chicken tinga with about 1/4 cup of chopped cooked nopales (cactus). I didn't quite finish it. I heated up a tortilla but didn't eat it. Snack: Big slice of Persian melon, didn't quite finish it.

Hopefully this is helpful for you. To up my calories I have added in low sugar trail mix which is mainly just a mix of healthy nuts. I have also added in two extra snacks a day to also help add in calories. I also found higher calorie but still low sugar protein bars that I take as an added meal.