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I also do not drink alcohol (I can't stand the taste), but I would be very careful with it from what I've seen on here and on other groups for several reasons: you can get drunk very quickly, especially at first. Alcohol gets absorbed very quickly and your blood alcohol can quickly go over the limit for driving and then for being just drunk to the point where you can't really function. And as you said, you're taking in empty calories and setting yourself up for eating other junky food. Plus there's a risk for cross-addiction. Some people become addicted to alcohol the way they had issues with food before surgery. It's not super common, but it definitely happens. That's not to say you should never drink, but maybe keep it to one small serve occasionally. I personally have told everyone in my life about my surgery. I just can't lie easily and if people see me losing weight, I knew I'd never be able to lie or even omit the surgery part. Plus, I was so excited to finally be doing it. I was not embarrassed. I felt like I was finally taking control of my life. The reaction I got was extremely positive except for one person I barely knew (I posted on Facebook). She has a whole "fat positive" view of life and has also had some sort of weight loss procedure that did not go well. I can't say whether you should or should not have the surgery, but I think maybe you should discuss with a bariatric trained therapist to talk about your concerns. Good luck in your decision!

Thank you so much to everyone for taking time to share your experiences!!! Those personal stories have told me much more than the 'official' surgeon's information! it is good to hear that you can eat most foods but in much smaller portions. What about drinking wine? Is that possible? I enjoy a couple of glasses when entertaining or eating out but am concerned about the lack of nutrition/ effect on my appetite. Whenever I have 1 or 2 wines, I crave sugar and carbs about an hour later. I have another question ; did you tell most people about the sleeve? Or only close family and friends? Why or why not? What was the response? I'm tossing up what to do. I'm pretty sure a friend of mine, who lost about 40 kilos quite quickly, and has kept it off even during the long covid lockdowns, has had some type of WLS. She eats very little (tiny serves) but told me she lost it all by sticking to 900 calories a day. I'm pleased for her but feel a hurt that she has not confided in me as we have both struggled with our weight throughout our friendship. However, I respect that for personal reasons she has chosen to keep it private. I'm not sure what I would do!

at six years out, I think I eat pretty much like I did before surgery when it comes to bite size. I still chew the bites more than I did before surgery, though (although I've caught myself not doing that from time to time - when i'm not paying attention - whoops!). And of course I probably only eat half the calories I used to (or at least on most days...)

Oh, and here was dinner tonight (which i had AFTER the cookies, lol). Made loaded nachos for the fam, and i basically just ate toppings (i.e., passed on the chips): Clockwise from top: BBQ beef brisket, tomatoes, queso salsa, sour cream, cole slaw, and seasoned ground beef: 299 calories for the plate as shown. Ate it all.

Yummmmmmmm!!! I call your 8 pumpkin cupcakes and raise you 33 amaretti cookies! Bakers unite! P.S. each one is 105 calories. i ate 2 of ‘em!

With such a low start weight, your weight loss is definitely going to be slower and lower than most, even in the immediate post op stages. The ESG will give you some restriction but you will be able to eat more than someone with a surgical procedure. Your calorie deficit isn't likely to be as great, and therefore weight losses lower/slower. Your calorie intake is going to have be tight to keep up a good calorie deficit.

I called the surgery center Jan 28, 2021 and had surgery Sep 13, 2021. It felt like it took forever. I got my surgery date exactly six weeks before surgery. For the first six months I was preparing for surgery, I worked on living like I would live after surgery - high protein and low carb diet, lots of walking, etc. I lost 50 lbs. Then I went and threw a number of food funerals as my weight got low enough that I thought I might not qualify for surgery anymore. Then I did the two week pre-op diet. Now I'm 2.5 weeks post-op and I've eaten 310 calories today and I am ready to burst! You'll get there. Try not to gain too much weight - that's just more you'll have to lose afterwards.

As others have said, these are all questions you should be bringing to your appointments. It might be helpful to keep a notebook with questions so you can jot them down as you think of them, and then bring them to your appointments. Don't feel like you need to know it ALL right now. This is a process and it takes time to get to a place where you are ready to commit. Do your research, find resources, as your questions. All totally normal. I would also STRONGLY suggest some counseling before you decide. It is absolutely imperative that you work through any trauma or baggage that might be contributing to unhealthy habits. Surgery is just a tool, it will only work as well as you are able to wield it. Making sure your mind is healthy is absolutely the best thing you can do to set yourself up for success. That being said, I took a stab just to help give you some guideposts. 1. What am i supposed to weigh before surgery? Is there x# of pounds or bmi im supposed to lose from the time of my consultation til my surgery? - This is program dependent. Some have a goal weight or BMI, others want you to loose xxx pounds before surgery. Ask your program. 2. What should my end weight goal be? - The expected weight loss with VSG and RNY is 60-80% of your excess weight. So, if you have 100lbs to lose to get to a healthy BMI, you can expect to lose 60-80 of those pounds. Some programs set a goal weight, others do not. Again, ask your program. 3. Can i really not have fruit, potatoes, corn, noodles or breads? These are huge things in my list of foods i would go to eat. I am a big sweet tooth n fruit is 1 way i would want to eat healthier. - Most programs do not say you can "never" have specific foods again. But there are a host of factors that determine what your long term eating habits will look like (what can you tolerate without feeling sick or having dumping, etc., are you hitting your water and protein goals, do you have any nutritional deficiencies, etc.). That being said, if you aren't ready to commit to long term changes, you may want to hold off. Sometime WLS requires we give up certain foods in order to be at our best.  4. Has anyone ever experienced any big side effects risks or complications? Ones drs dont usually discuss as risks til... bam u have been diagnosed. - Yes, side effects can occur. Surgical complications include internal bleeding, leaks at the "seams," anesthesia issues, all the normal stuff. Post-op complications can include GERD, hiatal hernias, malnutrition, and other things. Research the possible complications so you are well informed and ask your surgial center what their complication and surgical infection rates are. Overall bariatric surgery is very safe, but all surgical procedures carry risks. 5. Anyone know the death rate, complications or big risks being elevated with certain family backgrounds? Example... maternal family with several cancers? - See above, surgically very safe. All of this is available online, just do some scholarly Googling and, as always, as your program. 6. What if i start smoking again? - Just don't. It will kill you just as fast as obesity. Learn new coping mechanisms, go to therapy, pick up a hobby. From a surgical perspective, smoking greatly increases the risk of complications and can greatly increase recovery time. 7. What if i consume alcohol? - This is a combo of personal and program. Most programs have a strict prohibition for a period of time, others say try not to drink ever. In the end, its empty calories and you will get drunk MUCH faster than you did pre-op. Plan to abstain for a good long time. 8. What if i think my 14 yr old needs this surgery? - Talk to their pediatrician and get them into counseling. Do NOT rush into that. This is a major, life altering surgery and could be massively traumatizing for a child.

So i had my initial consultation. So i met my surgeon, my nurse practioner, and dietician, when i asked questions they had answers but since i left i feel like i didnt ask the right questions or not at all. So anyone willing to help me understand some things would be helpful. A lil about me.. 39yrs old, tubes tied after baby #4, im 5'4" and weight is 242.3 currently, but my highest was 302 mom of 4, divorced and now in a relationship for 4 yrs. Was a scrawny child (67# in 7th grade) ate candy/junkfood mostly my childhood, hit puberty gained a bit, met my ex husband and was in high school, began the sedintary lifestyle, began gaining weight and when i got pregnant at 17, i gained 107# in my 1st pregnancy. Never realized how big i was, never looked in a mirror w/ being depressed. Just kept gaining weight after each child, kept trying diets from watching my calories to only eating before 6p, to not eating anything except 1 time a day, i drank tons of water etc... i stopped working to be the stay at home, homeschooling mom after i got pregnant with baby #4. He cheated n i decided enough was enough. He left me and i lost 102# in 3-4 months of being manic depressed. I slowly gained it back after 6 yrs. Not watching what i ate, going back to the workforce, eating everything on the go, fast food, dine in with kids, i am a massive sweet tooth, and i drank easily 100 oz of dr.pepper a day. I have not drank any pop since 9.29.21. I have started cooking my own meals. Portion control is sooo hard, i could eat forever n either not ever get full or eat til i puke or close to it. I smoke 1-1.5 packs of cigarettes a day. Set to have gastric sleeve surgery after the 1st of the year, tbd based on covid rules. My questions are... 1. What am i supposed to weigh before surgery? Is there x# of pounds or bmi im supposed to lose from the time of my consultation til my surgery? 2. What should my end weight goal be? 3. Can i really not have fruit, potatoes, corn, noodles or breads? These are huge things in my list of foods i would go to eat. I am a big sweet tooth n fruit is 1 way i would want to eat healthier. 4. Has anyone ever experienced any big side effects risks or complications? Ones drs dont usually discuss as risks til... bam u have been diagnosed. 5. Anyone know the death rate, complications or big risks being elevated with certain family backgrounds? Example... maternal family with several cancers? 6. What if i start smoking again? 7. What if i consume alcohol? 8. What if i think my 14 yr old needs this surgery? Sent from my SM-N975U using BariatricPal mobile app

We have all types of foods here :D people here are food Lovers so the sleeve surgery is a huge hit here , but Ye i hate how sardines taste - ive been eating many tuna and Mash potatoes and sugar free Apple juice/ water. I was 145 kilos when i did my Surgery then 135 but when i checked yesterday i was 137 i had my surgery 9/9 i read there is a 3 week slow period due to low protein ? I have my vitamin meds+ daily protein Shake so no clue where the extra calories came from i should walk more just been too busy! - meats is week 4 for me Ground beef and roasted/boiled chicken. Thanks for your comments and support wish you all well

interesting - but not sure how much this relates to hair loss that occurs after major surgeries, though. Sounds like it helps more with age-related baldness. The hair loss after surgery is temporary and due to the trauma of surgery (it supposedly can be a potential side effect of any major surgery, but i think it's seen more often after WLS than a lot of other types of surgeries because in addition to the stress from the surgery, we're also taking in very few calories those first few weeks & months - so a double whammy. Although they do say that keeping on top of your vitamin and protein requirements can keep it from getting any worse than it is. And it does grow back. Mine lasted about four months - and I didn't really lose enough to notice.

I’ve been lucky that not a lot of people have asked but there is no reason you can’t just say your seeing a nutritionists and meal planning/ cutting portion sizes and calories, protein first, etc and just leave out the surgery part.

Are all of the calories from fat? Doesn’t count 😂

Nuts and avocados are high in fat and high in calories (1 g of fat is 9 cal)... check your portion sizes and switch to something else maybe.

I'm in the same boat. My surgeon, when I brought this up, sort of smirked a little bit and said, "I will tell you what. Go and scramble an egg. See how much you can eat." Three bites later I was DONE. Like, maybe a third of a scrambled egg. This, from a guy who would easily knock down 6 or 8 if I was in training for a competition. So strange, yet so strangely comforting. He also was completely nonplussed that I was consuming 600-800 calories. Quoting verbatim: "You were probably eating 5,000 before, so the difference between 400-500 and 600-800 is negligible for you. When you lose more weight the calories will be more important. Right now, eat protein." The hunger is a lot better two weeks out than it was the first few days.

YES! I am two weeks out and I'm so hungry. It's actually better today since I'm back to work (sedentary, work from home) so I'm distracted. I'm eating about 550 calories a day and I could eat more. I've heard it gets better once you can eat solid foods, so I'll know more tomorrow. Also, I had a lot of pain and gas the first few days, but now it doesn't take very long for me to drink a protein shake (longer to eat a yogurt, but I also had a tooth removed, so that is painful), maybe 15 minutes. It took me almost an hour the first night home to take 10 pills but now it's less than five minutes. I can drink a swallow of water that feels like a real mouthful, but I still can't guzzle or drink a full glass in one breath like I used to.

Bit the bullet and ate that salad with the high cal dressing that i passed on from yesterday. Added some Feta, anchovies and avocado: 363 calories Ate it all.

Yes, stalls are normal, and sometimes it's best to just let them take their course, but you can also try to "mix it up" a bit. Try to eat a bit more for a few days, or increase carbs, drink more water, change your exercise routine. Try taking your measurements instead of your weight for a few weeks to see if that makes you feel better. If you're always eating the same thing for breakfast, try something different. I don't know why, but sometimes changing things helps us get going. Also, track your calories for a few days to see if you're really eating what you think you are (you will have to weigh/measure all your food to do this right).

.Um... I doubt that the brand of protein drinks is the reason. What are you eating besides the protein drinks? If the majority of your calories are from food and not a protein drink, that's likely the issue. I use both premier protein and fairlife nutrition plan (or fairlife core power, if I'm out). I also tried muscle milk light, but they're pretty gross. They all are around the same, nutrition wise, although the source of protein is different, and premier protein has added vitamins and minerals. I tried a lot of other protein drinks - like vegan ones and powdered ones - but the tastes/textures were intolerable to me. Also... you probably shouldn't be eating 3-4 protein drinks a day unless that's what your doctor/dietician has recommended. It's more protein than you need and that can cause problems. Try one protein drink and two healthy meals. If you are working shift work, that's really hard, but try to "meal prep" to have things for a whole week or buy things that are easy to bring with you, like string cheese, deli meat, tunafish, cut up bell peppers or cucumbers, nuts, etc.

What does your surgeon say? You might just be a slow loser. As long as you're logging literally everything that goes in your mouth and it's really 500-600 calories, it WILL come off.

Exercise actually has much less impact on weight loss than calorie consumption. There are MANY on here who don’t do a lick of exercise and still lose weight (but of course exercise is still strongly recommend for health and well-being…) Same goes for vitamins. Do you know what your daily average calorie intake is?

Are you following your plan? High protein, low carb, lots of water, making sure you're getting all your protein and vitamins, tracking your calories, not "grazing", getting exercise? Did you talk to your surgery center? Good luck!

If your plan allows you to eat certain fruits or vegetables go for it but blend the whole fruit or vegetable don’t juice. Most plans suggest a staged return to eating fruits & vegetables & identify specific ones ones to avoid especially as they can be hard on your healing digestive system or are considered too much starch, too many carbs, too much sugar (natural) depending on your eating plan. When you juice your miss out on a lot of the essential nutrients & fibre fruits & vegetables have. Plus you consume more serves of the fruit or vegetable than you would consuming it whole. You should still consider portion size & calorie contention relation to your plan. Honestly, I used to add 25-50ml of juice to my yoghurt drink (every 2nd or 3rd day) from purée stage because it was a little too thick to drink initially. My dietician okayed it because it was a small amount & not every day. I did it for a month or so. I started including vegetables in soups from purée stage, then just included some in what ever slow cooked meal or soup I was making in soft food. Steamed & microwaved them from solid food. Ate fresh fruit from about month 3.

Mr. asked what I wanted for (early) dinner tonight and I answered: “‘MEAT!” So he picked up this gem of a souvlaki meal for me. Since I just ate like 2 hours ago, i just had one piece each of the pork and chicken souvlakis with tzatziki and 1/2 a roasted potato half (which I suppose is a 1/4, lol). Ate everything i served myself (almost): 164 calories p.s. my lunch salad is still in the fridge…ate about 3/4 of the salmon so far, and basically none of greens…that high calorie dressing is turning me off)

Dammmnnnnnnnn.... Had I known how many calories were in that take-out salad dressing packet beforehand, I wouldn't have put it on my salad! I mean, WTF?!?!? 174 calories?!?!? Anyhoo, todays first meal of the day: takeout garden salad with aforementioned extreme-calorie salad dressing, some leftover teriyaki-glazed grilled salmon(+ an espresso martini beforehand, not shown): 625 calories. Am eating it now, and will likely eat about 1/2 of it now and the rest later.