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I am you! I had all of these same feelings and it almost blocked me from going through with the surgery. I have lost massive weight/inches before and got in the best shape of my life, which made me angry that I couldn't do it again. However, I had to learn to accept that I am getting older (40) and that my body has changed and no matter how angry I am at myself, that won't change the facts. I refused to continue feeling horrible every day when I woke up and being miserable with myself and the way I looked. I was also terrified by all of the horror stories I read and was scared I was going to die. I believe it's more normal than not for people to gravitate to the negatives than to see all of the positives being posted out there. It's human nature. I finally sucked it up and went to the hospital the day of surgery even though I still had all of those fears, even thinking I can still back out and leave....but my desire to feel better and live a better life outweighed all of that fear and I went through with it. BEST DECISION I'VE MADE IN MY LIFE! To add to this, I struggle with depression and anxiety and food has always been my vice/comfort. I was terrified in that respect too, that I wouldn't be able to mentally handle this journey. Surprisingly, I have been solid on that front too! After surgery, I had no cravings or desire to eat food. My family ate normal foods/fast food in front of me and it's didn't even phase me. A little over 3 months out and it still doesn't bother me. Yes, every once in a while, I think for a split second, oh man, I can't have cake on my bday! But it's really not going to kill me....I've eaten cake every year for 39 years! I'm really not missing anything. The reality of it is, we can eat the cake down the road if we want to. At this point in time, I don't really even want to. I'll close in saying that I don't know you, but I believe in you. If I could do this knowing the way my mind is and all the fear I had, you can most certainly do this. When you do, that anger will go away as soon as you realize how rewarding this journey can be. Best of luck!

Exactly as @catwoman7 said. Stalls are an important part of your weight loss. It’s when your body takes stock (the changes you’ve made are pretty stressful to your poor body), reassesses your needs & then adjusts your digestive hormones, metabolic rate, etc. The stall will break when your body is ready to move forward again - usually 1-3 weeks. Let it take the time it needs, stick to your plan & it will be fine. Oh, and you’ll likely have more stalls along the way. All the best. PS - congrats on your weight loss so far!

What do you mean by bariatric foods? I just ate regular foods from purées not even shakes or protein powders. Sure my protein intake was low to begin but it got higher. What is your protein goal? Are you focussing on eating the protein component of your meal first then any vegetables & finally only if you are able & permitted any carbs. At 7 months I would expecting you’re eating about 3 or 4ozs of meat for a meal now. 3ozs chicken breast has 26g protein, 3ozs tilapia has 22g. Depending on your goal that’s a good 1/3 of your goal in one meal. I supplemented my protein intake with a high protein yoghurt (mine has 20g) or yoghurt drink (blend yoghurt with milk & get 30g) as a meal & then a snack. I still prioritise protein in every meal & snack (except if it’s fruit of course).

I wasn’t ever given calories either just portion sizes: 1/4-1/3 cup from purée to a cup at 6 months. Check with your dietician for guidance because plans are different & we have different needs.

Weight loss is never a straight down ward line. It zigs & zags, goes up & down & plateaus. As long as your general trend is downwards you’re golden. The thing about averages is all they give you is an idea of what might happen not what definitely will happen. In saying that, if you’re currently averaging about a 15lb a month weight loss then in three months you can expect to lose about 45lbs which puts you in the middle of your average 40-50lb loss at three months. But it really doesn’t matter whether you do or don’t. Yes, we do tend to lose more in the first months & then our rate of loss slows. It doesn’t mean your weight loss is over though. When you get closer to the weight you stabilise at it can feel like it’s going to take forever to lose the last pounds - like losing ounces each week. I kept losing at that slow rate for months after I reached my goal at 6 months. I lost another 11kgs over the next 11 months. (I wasn’t actively trying to lose but my body wanted to lose more.) So I was losing for about 17 months in total. The averages were completely off the mark for me. Breath. Work your plan. And celebrate every pound you lose.

Hi! I'm new here. I went through about six months of the process for WLS about four or five years ago, but I didn't lose weight during the six-month pre-op phase, so things stopped. I had also been running across many horror stories (mostly on social media), which made me think that maybe it was for the best, anyway. Well, five years later, I weigh no less than I did back then. I have a huge list of co-morbidities, some of which are related to weight, some I had prior to my weight gain, and a couple that cause weight gain. I'm on over ten meds a day, and I'm only 42 (well, 43 in a few days). I feel like I'm falling apart. I think the last straw was that my oldest son got married in June. I saw myself in the wedding photos. I ruminated on that for a few weeks, and then woke up one morning and decided I was sick of obesity and everything that goes along with it. So, I asked my PCP for the referral, and I have my first appointment in September. Because I did six months of their program and because I read their patient handbook, I have a better idea of what is expected of me than I might otherwise. But I'm angry. I'm angry that I'm going to have to give up my favorite foods or accept sugar-free versions (and I can't stand artificial sweeteners; I'm actually really worried about it because most protein drinks/powders seem to rely on them). I'm angry that I won't be able to eat like everyone else. I'm angry that I'll have to go through so much physically. I'm angry that I have to lose weight to have surgery to help me lose weight that I need because I can't lose weight on my own. And I'm angry that it's such a long process. If I have to do it, tell me what to do, let me sulk over it for a few days, and then let's just do it. I know that's not how it works, and I don't know why I'm so angry. I have no one to blame but myself for being in this mess. I made a list of positives that could come from the surgery, and I got a full two pages. So I shouldn't be angry. And I realize my reaction shows that I have inappropriate attitudes toward food. I've discussed it with my therapist, and we're going to work on it, but I guess I was wondering if anyone else dealt with this and what helped them get past it. TIA!

I agree with everything Arabesque said. Lots of us have issues with eggs the first few weeks or months out. I'd lay off them for awhile. For most of us, it's just temporary. only about 30% of bypassers dump. I never have - and I know lots of others who never have. If you turn out to be a dumper, you can prevent it by limiting the amount of sugar you eat at one sitting (some people dump on fat - so for those folks, they have to limit the amount of fat they eat at one sitting). That egg you ate definitely wasn't dumping - it was just the infamous egg intolerance.

Hey guys! I'm currently nearing the end of my first week of the pureed stage and I was wondering how many calories I'm supposed to be consuming? My doctor never really talked about it. Any suggestions from your surgeons? Thanks!

Way to go on losing 32lbs! Sounds good to me. I know your frustration though. I am 4.5 months out and have lost almost 60lbs but I have been "stuck" at 172 for about 2 weeks. UGH! I have had a couple stalls here and there but none that lasted this long. It is aggravating but as everyone always says, stick with the plan and your stall will come to an end and you will lose more weight. Congratulations on your weight loss journey so far!

No acne, but a pimple which is odd at my age (56) and then I broke out in a rash at my thyroid area, asked my nephrologist about it and he said it isn't my thyroid so now I have no idea WTH it is??? I have had my surgeon say and a surgeon I am following on Youtube, Dr. John Pilcher out of San Antonio, Tx, say repeatedly about how the bariatric surgery somehow resets your hormones so I'd say it is probably "normal" to have hormonal changes affecting your body like a teen in puberty. I normally have very clear skin and it is usually in great shape for my age but it has been very dry since surgery (but I had also discontinued my thyroid meds at the time of surgery and have since re-started) and I feel like I look like my skin has aged 5 years since! IF this doesn't improve and the red blotch doesn't go away by next week I'm going to see a regular md and then a dermatologist bc I hate the look of it. Another weird thing to consider: We are all probably eating more fats/meats than before surgery? Broths and cream soups can have high fat contents, eggs, cheeses, etc. especially if it wasn't your "usual" diet. I rarely ate eggs/breakfast foods but have been waking very hungry and it is one of the few soft foods so I've gone through nearly 3 dozen eggs these last 31 days! I don't think I've ever eaten so many eggs. Ditto with Chicken broth and cream of chicken soup. /for the pimple I just wiped it with alcohol, used my metal face pimple clearer thingy to scrape/pop it off and reapplied alcohol and it was dried up and gone the next morn. p

unless you're the size of someone on "My 600 lb Life", 14 lbs in three weeks is pretty normal. Most of us "average" WLS patients lose somewhere in the 15-25 lb range the first MONTH, so you'll end up somewhere in that range. as for stalling at three weeks post op, do a search on it on this site. I just did. There are literally 17,501 posts on it. Happens to almost everyone. To get through it, stick to your plan and back what off on weighing yourself. Maybe weigh just once or twice a week until it breaks. And it WILL break, as long as you stick to your plan. Usually lasts 1-3 weeks. And it'll likely be the first of many stalls.....

I'm 3 weeks post op and have only lost 14 lbs and now have hit a stall for almost a week. I was losing like a pound a day during full liquids. Now I am in soft food stage and haven't lost a lb since starting soft food. How do I break this stall. I've only lost 14 lbs and almost 4 weeks post op. Sent from my SM-N970U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have never heard of the golden time being only 3 months. I lost a great deal up till 14 months or so. I am still in a calorie deficit, I eat about 1200 cals a day and on a hungry day maybe 1500 cals. My loses are tiny now but still going down. I am 21 months out, ancient and the only exercise I get is walking and housework. We are so used to having failed diets in the past that it's hard to break the diet mentality. Your body will loose what it needs to. Eat good calories, stick to your teams diet and sit back and watch yourself shrink. In 12 months you will not believe who is staring back at you in the mirror. Have patience. Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

I have never heard of the golden time being only 3 months. I lost a great deal up till 14 months or so. I am still in a calorie deficit, I eat about 1200 cals a day and on a hungry day maybe 1500 cals. My loses are tiny now but still going down. I am 21 months out, ancient and the only exercise I get is walking and housework. We are so used to having failed diets in the past that it's hard to break the diet mentality. Your body will loose what it needs to. Eat good calories, stick to your teams diet and sit back and watch yourself shrink. In 12 months you will not believe who is staring back at you in the mirror. Have patience. Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m thinking withdrawal from caffeine &/or from sugar. Any headaches? That’s another side effect (fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, etc. too). Often it takes 3 or 4 days for these symptoms to pass so you may struggle for a few more days. Give your team a call to be sure.

Hi Peggy Anne, I just couldn’t do puréed meats or much of anything puréed, thankfully it was my 4th week and I survived on the eggs then cream soups and ground sausage. having meatballs with a brown gravy and mash potatoes for dinner. I’m happy to say that it was my first full day away from home for dr appointments and I left at 9 and got back at 9 pm and I had breakfast was 1/2 small Wendy’s chili lunch Popeyes 1 chicken strip with red beans no rice small Early snack dinner Jacks chicken finger and a small mash w gravy Having a very light dinner so it was fairly easy and happy no problem with the chicken. about to see where my calorie count is at I’m happily retired for six years now. what kinds of crafts? I like to do some crafts I see on YouTube videos and am threatening to turn one of the spare rooms that I have a bunch of craft items in into my craft room but haven’t had time since we bought this house in February. wishing you great success with your show!!!

I’m 10 weeks post surgery and still have this problem. For me, it’s eating one bite too many. The foamies happen and it feels better to just to get rid of that bite. I’m still learning what I can and can’t eat. Things I heard were tough to eat, like chicken are not hard for me. I can’t eat any kind of pasta, bread, or cracker. It’s very painful, I sweat profusely when I eat a food my new stomach doesn’t like, and I literally have to lie down until that feeling subsides. I struggle with getting my water and protein in daily. It has gotten easier since I was six weeks post-op, and I feel like it will get better with time. I did learn my trigger when I’m full, my sinuses get stuffy and I sneeze over and over. Just eat slow. My trigger doesn’t happen until about five minutes after my last bite. I always put my food to the side and re-visit it in an hour or two. I’ve lost 35lbs so far! Patience and learning your new tummy is key.

I'm now in the September group. I was booked for my RNY yesterday and after sitting in my super sexy drafty gown & see through blue booties for 5 hours (I was the last case of the day and they were running behind from the start), an emergency case came into the hospital and 'stole' my nursing team and my surgery was cancelled. Definite lunchbag letdown. I'm now booked for the first slot of the day on Sept 14. Thankfully I've been given an alternate real food diet and don't have to work through another two weeks of OptiFast, so I'm taking that as a win.

Hi everyone, I’m new here & hope ur all doing well. I had gastric bypass on 8/15. I did well overall. I had never been under general so that was a bit off putting when it was hard to take deep breaths after. They jumped me right into stage 2 and sent me home the next day. I’ve been meeting my fluid goals and doing mostly ok on my foods bc I’m good about eating super slow. I had a couple of unpleasant experiences. One was dehydration bc I took an extended shower and I must have missed my timer-that was scary. The other was that my husband measured the baby food a little over 1/4 and I felt overly full. ffwd to today. I was excited to begin stage 3 since I’d be taking my vitamins & trying textures. I was told to have a poached egg & 1/2 cup greek yogurt for breakfast (seemed like a lot but ok I’d try). The egg took forever but I ate it (this was around 7:45 am).The yogurt was not going to happen but I thought it could wait. I soon started to feel horrible. I felt (still 3:15 pm)feel like I ate a truck of concrete. I hear gurgling noises and even water feels like I can barely take it in. I called and they tell me I need to “wait it out” (??) Nurse says I should have eaten the egg in 1/4 increments ( I was never told this), as I said it took me forever. She told me to chew a Gas-X and use a phenergan suppository for nausea.She told me she is not so worried about how much (or little) I eat today, but I must stay hydrated. TBH, I can’t think of eating a bite! I am terrified of that “dumping” syndrome. Has this happened to anyone here? I have other health issues-I have MS. This is stressing me out & I can’t even rest bc I am so uncomfortable. Can anyone share wisdom and/or hope that this will pass & improve? I am feeling fearful & wondering if this was a bad decision Thanks for reading my long msg Emme

I struggle with eating chicken at almost 5 months out from surgery. I can't imagine eating it at under 3 weeks. And even though I have clearance to eat regular food now, some things I just don't. I try different foods and quickly learn if it's a no go or not. I figure I have the rest of my life to eat it again at a later point. So, I try not to force things too quickly, just because I can. Especially If it makes me feel unwell. In your case, there's a big difference between puree and a drumstick. But everyone's food plan/tolerances are different after WLS when it comes to timing of food consistency phases. So, I get that people test the boundaries. I myself was too much of a chicken sh*t to try it for fear of damaging my new tummy. Which can happen. From what I understand, a leak or damage would cause excruciating pain, fever, sepsis etc. So, you would know it. But I would be curious if anyone here has had a leak or blew out their staples and lived to tell about it??? Would be quite the cautionary tale. 🤔

I'm going to try and keep this from being too long, but there's so much to say!!! First I'll start with my newest NSVs. I'm officially in a size 18 clothes (from my original size 30), size 10 shoes (from my original size 11), size 6 1/2 ring (from my original size 10), 18" chain on a necklace (from my original 24" chain), and 2x jacket (from my original 4-5x). I can now comfortably fit on a massage table without fear of it creaking or breaking. I can now ride a bike because I'm within the weight limit. I now am able to hit my favorite thrift stores and walk out with seriously cute clothes that look nice, sit well on me, and actually fit comfortably!! My asthma is almost completely gone (I only have it when I get super sick now instead of all the time). My blood work came back and my hormone levels are almost in the normal range (I have PCOS) and my cysts that completely COVERED both ovaries are totally gone (without having taken any meds or done any hormone therapies!!) I did a 6 mile hike this past weekend with my son. I am completely pain free and am able to go full on beast mode with my workouts again. I can go up 5 flights of stairs before I need to stop and rest. Now for my new chapter in life and old dreams becoming new again. So years ago, I wanted to become a nurse. I completed all of the academics with a 4.0, aced all the labs, but couldn't do any of the clinicals because I couldn't do all the walking, I was 400 pounds, and my health/joints/back were way too bad. So I gave up on it. Then about 2 years later, I thought "well, maybe I can be a medical assistant. Surely THAT'S not as hard" and once again, I couldn't do the externship because I couldn't do the physical stuff. So I went into other areas for work, ballooned up to 421 pounds, worked remotely, and made good money. I loved what i did, but there was always a part of me that regretted not being able to go into the medical field. That was my heart's desire. So fast forward to now. I'm between jobs and miserable. I had to stop working because of all my complications from my first surgery. Now that I've been cleared, I can't get hired anywhere. So I decided that now is a great time to go back to my dream of working in the medical field. So on Sept 5th, I start school to become a certified pediatric oncology medical assistant. Most of my previous credits transfer over, so I only have about 6 months of academics to do and then the externship. Then I sit for my certification exam and then I get to finally FINALLY do what I've always wanted to do. By my 46th birthday next June, I should be right where I want to be, doing what I want to do, and hopefully at my goal weight. I'm sitting here in tears as I type this, because I thought this was something I would never see happen. I resigned myself to being morbidly obese, extremely unhealthy, and needing a cane to get around. I may not be at my goal weight (the weight comes off a lot slower with a revision, and also as your bmi gets smaller and you get closer to your goal) but I believe eventually I'll get there. But the things this surgery is giving to me, the dreams I can live out, the health and wellness and years of my life I'm getting back..... it was all worth it. The complications, the uncertainty, the pain and healing and stalls.... all completely worth it. We all start this journey wanting the numbers on the scale to go down. But there's SO MUCH MORE this surgery gives you. I will never, ever regret my decision. Never.

Based on a weight loss of 32 pounds in 9 weeks, that is an average weekly loss of 3.5 pounds. Excellent. I average a 2-pound loss a week and completely happy with it. The consistent downward trend I see on the scale is exciting to watch. Especially after years of failed dieting. If you must weigh daily, add up each day's weight for a week, then divide by how many days you stepped on the scale. Then compare week by week. I did this method years ago since this helps factor in water weight fluctuations. which can cause up to 5 pounds of variation daily, depending on sodium intake and menstrual cycles. I weigh once a week now and let my RENPHO smart scale do the math for me. It also takes bodyfat percentage which to me is a more important measurement as compared to the daily ups and downs of those weight scale numbers. Also, a stall here or there is to be expected while our bodies readjust but I'll take it. GL and congrats on your recent WLS @DustyRecording

32 lbs in two months is excellent. You've lost more than I did in that time frame. Also, stalls are common. You're likely to experience several of them on your journey. When you hit one, make sure you stick to your plan, and back off on weighing yourself for awhile - maybe only once or twice a week until the thing breaks. And as long as you stick to your plan, it WILL break. Usually takes 1-3 weeks to run its course.

Been having a low grade fever since Saturday. 100.8 was my high. Can't see my surgeon as I did it in Mexico. However he is quick to respond to messages. I am allergic to Tylenol so I am having to take Ibup. He has me taking 600mg every 8 hours. Fever is under control at that point, but it has been 3 days. I have an appt with my Dr tomorrow. No pain or swelling or anything like that, so hopefully it is something that isn't a complication. That scares me the worst! Will ask the Dr for ABX tomorrow, and hopefully he won't trash me for going to Mexico for surgery. Surgery was 8/15.

Yes, 32lbs is a good loss over two months. There’ll always be people who lose more/lose faster while others lose more slowly & there’s nothing wrong with either way. Yes stalls can be frustrating but they are an important part of your weight loss. It’s when your body takes stock of the changes you’ve made (weight loss, reduced food intake, increased activity, etc.). Think of it as your body being stressed by these changes. Your body then resets things like your digestive hormones, metabolic rate etc. so it can better manage your new needs. Your stall will end when your body is ready to move forward again & they usually last 1-3 weeks on average. Leave the scales for a few days or reduce how often you weigh yourself. Take some body measurements as some say the scales don’t move but their body is still getting smaller.