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You can always get back on track. Always! I’m sorry for your loss. I bet your parents are rooting for you. Just go back to the basics. Maybe star with two or three days on a liquid diet then do small portions and healthy snacks. Loosing weight after surgery is easier than before surgery so you got this.

Sorry if this is TMI but did anyone else have diarrhea trying to increase calories? I am not sure if it's the general increase in fat or carbs. I thought I had a handle in trying to stay at this weight or maybe lose 5 pounds over a few months. It was working but now I am back to losing 2 pounds in 5 days. I am 5' 2.5 and now 129. I know I can still lose more and be ok however I have a lot of muscle and excess skin from prior weight gains and loses. I feel like I am getting too skinny. My face looks tired and gaunt, my wrists are so bony. Here's what I eat and I am trying to increase calories but heavy meats fill me up for hours. I have to graze all day to get this in: meals: premier shake and 5 oz of milk (1-2%) 1 egg with 1c sauté spinach using olive oil, 1-2T cheese 4oz. premade chicken salad (130 cal with 3.5f, 13g protein) 1.5 oz ground beef with 1/4 c veggies (green beans or broccoli) 1-2T cheese snacks: 1T peanut butter 1 cup of milk 1/2 c berries (divided up all day long) 1-2 servings (5 oz cups) of low sugar yogurt sometimes the one with nut butter mixed in 1/4 c pumpkin seeds or walnuts lentil crackers, nut thins crackers, or 1 sheet of graham cracker harvest snaps green pea crisps --- it all averages to 25% carbs (80g), 33% protein (97g), 40% fat (44g) for an avg. of 1100 calories I know some of the processed snacks are not the best but I am trying to increase calories and carbs without the volume. I have a hard time getting in water since I always feel like I am eating but I figure the milk and yogurt as snacks helps somewhat with fluids. Any suggestions?

I had been wondering about this. It seems to often be done with lower abdomen? Is that correct. I know it sounds maybe stupid...but I was horrifically dismayed when I realized on this forum that the excess weight in this specific area was 'not going to go away'. I'm unsure why I thought it would be different...but I was and still am fairly upset as I was hoping I would not need plastics for that. Even though as of this week, I weigh less than I've weighed in a decade, I'm not comfortable being..physical with my husband...despite the weight loss...because, well let's be real if you were as large as me or maybe wherever you are at...all the saggy skin...just not attractive on me. I'm so particularly embarrassed about this area specifically.

I have pics of the actual skin that was removed, too, but not sure how people can stomach those things on here. Basically a shape of a taco was cut out. It literally looks like a cheesy taco. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

1) To feel more comfortable in my skin! 2) Fit in more professional clothes. Sounds strange, but I hate clothes shopping. It's expensive to find cute plus sizes 3), Wear high heels and not feel like a weeble wooble 4) Shave legs much easier 5) To not feel like the fat mom at my kid's school/sports/church/etc. activities 6) Cross my legs! 7) Learn how to ride a motorcycle comfortably

Don’t just buy one tho message them on Facebook with your measurements and photos (add that your currently loosing weight also) and they will recommend a style and size based off your measurements and body shape. The page on Facebook is “alter ego clothing”

I think the really dry skin and lips and mouth is pretty common in the early days. I had this even when I was getting in all the required fluid. You have to sip, sip, sip all day long. Like a sip every 5 minutes. Don't try to chug. I know it is challenging, but getting the fluids in is critical for your gut health and also for your weight loss. Personally, I found that a straw in my water bottle helped me control the amount. I could take a tiny, controlled sip easier than drinking straight from the bottle. You can also get fluids by eating soups and broth. All that counts in your daily total.

I'm dehydrated, I can tell by my skin. I've been really trying to chug some fluids but I feel like I just cannot get in all the recommended fluids each day. I saw my surgeon last week and he said just to try and get in as much as possible, he wants 60-80oz a day and some days I'm lucky to get 50 so I'm close, just feel like I need more. This whole not eating and drinking 30 minutes before and after and meals to take at least 30 mins to eat I feel like it's impossible to reach that amount of water unless I'm up 24 hours a day. Also was upped to 60 grams of protein a day and that's two of the premier shakes. Where the heck am I supposed to fit water in?!

A maintenance update and some observations (I'm 10 months post op, been maintaining for 3 months now) MFP tells me I'm averaging about 1600-2200 cals a day for the past 4 weeks (2238, 1652, 1949, 2231), and my weight has basically bounced around between 114-117 during this time. So it looks like I've found my sweet spot if I want to stay at this weight. MFP also tells me I"m averaging about 90-140g of net carbs a day for the past 4 weeks (140, 90, 80, 100). Given my weight stability, I may not be a carb sensitive as I thought. I do however notice more bloating in my lower abdomen and face since I've upped the carbs. This is both a good thing and bad thing, I figure. The bloating in my tummy gives the illusion of abs and firmness, lol. But the bloating in my face is actually a welcome thing: personally, I think I look healthier, and my skin looks firmer on my cheeks and under my eyes. I starting to slack off on portioning my food. I have noticed that I am getting overfull (that leads to foamies and barfing) more often than before because I am not being vigilant about pre-portioning my food. I am also noticing that I am eating faster than before, which again leads to foamies and barfing. I need to be more careful. Finally, I'm totally noticing the changes of my almost daily strength training has done to my arms. I am getting pretty toned! Yay! What about the other maintainers out there? How you guys doing?

I am still waiting to have surgery but something that has helped me is "miracle oil" by Earthly body. It's been life changing I do not have any wrinkles and skin is supple and I'm 48 years old. Click here

I am 6 weeks post sleeve. Today I had extensive hemroid surgery. My hope is that I will heal quickly and my body will get back to loosing weight. I am getting water and protein in. First 2 weeks post sleeve I lost 15 pounds. Past month I have lost 3-4 pounds. Does this seem low? Could constipation be contributing to slow lost? GVS 210 7/23/19 CW. 192 New_Me 2019

Hi all April..ers I am feeling great, still have lots more to loose, but my joints are VERY happy these days. I have been in a stall for a few weeks now. I have been letting my pouch dictate my food. I guess I need to be much more mindful about what goes in mouth. I have seen that lots of people state that they eat about 500 to 600 calories a day. I am going to start to log my food. I do believe that I am over the 600 mark. I am guessing that is why I am stalling. Glad that you all are doing well. and I would be curious how many calories you all eat, or do you even pay attention to calories?

So glad it went well for for you. I had a tummy tuck in early 2000. I wanted to get my thighs done and my boobs done, but insurance only approved my tummy tuck. The Dr said that when the remove skin from your upper thighs it can make you look "open for business" in the private area.

You look great!! Congrats! I'm also a size 6 now in most clothes (was a 24-26 pre-op), but I take an 8 in pants because of the excess skin on my stomach...so frustrating!! Wish my waistline looked as good as yours...I'm doing lots of exercise so maybe there's hope that I can get rid of it eventually. 🤞

I've lost 94# so far and my shoe size has gone from a 10 to a 9.5...not a big difference, but I can feel the new looseness. Even the padding on my toes and sole are gone. One exciting thing is that my legs, especially calves, are so thin now that for the first time in decades I can wear stylish knee-high boots!! Previously my calves were too large to zip a boot up, but now I can also zip them over a pair of pants. So happy! This surgery has made even the small things in life such a joy! 😊

Thanks GreenTealael! You brought up critical points I didn't even think to mention - we (my daughter and I) are big water fans..and I know I need to keep my protein up. Thank you for the reminders that if these common health 'FOUNDATIONS' are overlooked, then you already have put yourself at an even greater disadvantage. I'm very pro avocado/healthy fats. In fact, I think I am missing fat out of my diet so I've been dicing up avocados each day but have been wondering about putting some type of the healthy oils I have in my pantry over my chicken, etc. I am a 'slow' weight loser and always have been except for one brief 2 year period in my 20's. I think it is..Sophia Loren? maybe...who attributes her skin, etc. to olive oil? I have often wondered if I can just take the 'food grade' olive oil I have and put on my skin or does it need to be formulated for skin? I've thought of doing side by side comparisons on some of my stretch marks using mederma scar stuff on one side and another product on the other side. My dermatologist was supposed to give me a sample of something he said was better than Mederma the last time I went in for my 90 day check up. I wonder if he meant the silicone tape (tape? is that right?) that I saw mentioned on the board the other day. Guess I need to do a quick search.

I think I decided on a surgeon!! I had a phone consult last week with another out of state surgeon, calling him Dr. N. I instantly liked him, and he was the easiest to talk to out of all the surgeons. His approach is a little bit different than others I had consulted with. My wish list was LBL with lipo, fat transfer to butt & inner (crescent) thigh lift. Well, he doesn't do inner (crescent) thigh lifts, because of the high complication rate, seriousness of complications and often unsatisfactory results. But he does believe I will have significant improvement to my inner thighs with the LBL alone. His gallery online does bear that out. His results are particularity lean and taunt. He also doesn't do buttocks fat transfer, also due to risk factors, and low survival rate of transferred fat. So I will be left with a flatter butt that I would prefer. Finally, he doesn't believe I will need lipo. He will remove the fat on my stomach with the LBL. He wouldn't recommend lipo-ing my thighs unless I was doing a medial thigh lift. Removing fat will exacerbate the sag. And overall he thinks I'm relatively lean, and my figure wouldn't benefit from lipo. I got off the phone and took sometime to process, and scroll through the gallery again. Not having an inner thigh lift is a bit of a relief. The risks and complications are no joke scary. I also don't need perfect thighs, just greatly improved would be trade off. I was and am still disappointed knowing that my butt will be flattened out by the procedure. I realize though a lot of my butt volume currently is excess skin, which isn't attractive outside of spanx, you know? The benefit of going with a simpler operation is less expense and recovery time. Recovery time and pain is especially an issue, since I'll be going out of state, and will be alone. So realizing this would only be a 3 hour operation, I reached back out and asked if a BA/BL could be done at the same time. Answer was YES! So I sent off pics and had a second phone consult. We talked extensively about the result I wanted, natural, tear drop & full. With that he said my breasts still had a good enough shape, and since my nipples point outwards, vs. down, I would most likely be satisfied with a BA only. I could skip the pain, recovery and scars of a BL. So I am going to think on it over the weekend, but most likely I will go with a LBL & BA with Dr. N! Here's where my thoughts are right now Cons Flattened butt without a fat transfer Inner thigh improvement will be more subtle than with a lift Breasts won't be as perky without a lift Pros Get my top 3 priorities, tummy, boobs, thighs resolved in 1 surgery Easier recovery & less risk of complications, especially since I'll be far from home Cost, this will be SIGNIFICANTLY less expensive than any other quote I received. (even the care facility is 1/3rd the cost per night!) Right now I'm strongly leaning towards to pros outweighing the cons and booking it! Here are pics from Dr. N's gallery, where the patient has the most similar thigh or breast type to mine. Input appreciated!

I used a topical Rx retinoid for my face, plenty of protein, healthy fats and hydration in my duet, olive/coconut oil in my body for softer luminous skin (doesnt help with sagging sorry), losing slower than most and mild weight training to preserve/improve muscle tone. As always ... YMMV Good Luck 💜

OK, I have a fairly decided variety of face care products I've used for past couple of years (due to being over the age of 40) that I like and that I KNOW make a big difference in how my skin looks, feels, etc. I spent a LOT..and I mean a LOT of money trying everything from drugstore creams to higher end skin care lines (Sunday Riley, Dr. Brandt, skin care sold in higher end dept stores), etc. and have honed it down to my 'A' list items (my 'must haves') I really do not want to nor can I really afford to...spend yrs trying to find what other lotions, tapes (silicone), etc. will be even POTENTIALLY helpful to minimize what comes from rapid weight loss. I REALIZE for the largest 'skin' impacts of rapid weight loss...that if things like an 'apron stomach' that sags and causing yeast infections, etc. - this is a whole different CATEGORY of 'issues'. I'm looking more for things that can reduce to some extent..things like: Lessening the color of stretchmarks (I have some mederma products that I use on a large scar on one arm where I had an area of malignant melanoma removed) Lessening the additional creases/fine lines that appears everywhere (leaning towards Bio Oil?) Doing anything that can be done to improve elasticity of skin short of professional treatments (also willing to consider professional intervention) -1 of my daughters is slowly working on losing weight and since she's in 20's - I'm hoping since she still has PLENTY of estrogen flowing, her skin will bounce back better than mine but she has asked about what lotions, etc. she should try. Someone had suggested coconut oil to her?? I realize at end of day these types of things are limited in what they can do, but we don't want to leave any stone unturned. For myself, since am older than 45, I know some of the things I will need help with, I will possibly be turning to plastics. My upper arms were always saggy even at 16 & I weighed 135. Had been on the swim team for years. We also lifted weights so I KNEW as I got older, that this was a hereditary issue (which of course I compounded). Any experience - positive or negative that you are will to share is GREATLY appreciated!

I added carbs to slow weight loss down but purposely choose food that is not something I used to like or that was super tempting. So I will eat a half to one sheet of a plain graham cracker. I knew I needed the carbs and a little more fiber. If I ate a bagel I think that would be a slippery slope for me. I also will occasionally eat a 1/4 cup of cereal on top of yogurt. It was 85 calories (granola type of cereal). That is besides adding nuts and nut butters, cooking my egg in olive oil, adding butter to veggies etc. I can't increase calories with all healthy foods yet. I still have too much restriction. I too can still lose 15 lbs on the chart and be in the normal BMI but i think for me I would look too sickly. A month ago I was still loosing 2-3 # per week was too quick and was concerned that in 1-2 months I would be getting too close to getting underweight. Besides we are carrying extra skin that the BMI chart doesn't accommodate for so I don't think 115 on me vs someone who has always been thin looks the same. I am more muscular too. Mentally its is frustrating since if I lose 2 pounds over a few days I get panicked that its too fast and I am not in control of it but if I gain 1to 2 pounds then the fear of rebounding creeps in. I have to remind myself that all day long the scale will jump a few pounds but look back at the trend over the last few weeks. Now that I have been able to bounce around and only lost 3 pounds in the past month I feel more in control. I had a thought today that it was like when I was first pregnant; it consumed every thought all day long. Then you kind of get over the newness of it. I think that's mentally where I am. I think it will take awhile of being at a stable weight to forget that we just went thru this major life changing surgery.

Saw my primary care today. She is concerned that I've lost 15lbs in 5 weeks. My bariatric surgeon's office said I should be at 7-10lbs loss every 4 weeks at this point, so I'm not TOO much higher. She is concerned I am not eating enough protein so she ran my labs a month early. Will know Monday. I lost 4lbs this week alone. I am 3lbs from goal weight and actually concerned I am losing too fast and will be underweight or just look weird. I have an appointment with my dieitian in October to work out a meal plan to maintain. My trainer wants me to stop cycling, but I am like addicted to it. He doesn't think my muscles are as defined as they should be because I should get 120g a day with the stuff I do, which is physically impossible with my tummy. I would need to add in a shake and it would just be a lot to stomach - literally. I am at about 700 cals a day at this point, so at a large deficit. But I am full. I can't eat more. Odd to be in this conundrum. I'm not going to cut back exercise until I see the dieitian. If I lose another 15 by then, then I know I have a serious issue because I will be 128 and look WEIRD. I FEEL good. I don't feel weak or tired. I feel functional and healthy. I'm not mentally ready to stop exercise or to try some carbs that may not make me sick. It is such a slippery slope. I don't *think* I'll be the type to give into cravings and regain... but I am scared to risk it. Carbs were my vice and I conquered my cravings. I don't want them to return, so I keep them away from me. I also have a very sensitive tummy. BUT I also don't want to be a weird stick figure, either. I am still healthy-appearing now, but another 15lbs will be no bueno. Another 10 is pushing it. And this is without the skin removal which will shrink me much more. Kinda actually worried. How does this stop. Where is the equilibrium. I know I will be at GW by Monday. =/ I should be happy, but I am worried because it isn't slowing down. I am hoping it levels out over the next month and you don't see that ticker drop dramatically as it has been lately. I feel like I got in this routine and it has been so successful, but now it is time to switch it up and that is scary. I don't want to fail so bad that I am failing in a new, unexpected way. Sorry for the ramble. TLDR I can't stop losing and it's becoming excessive. The rate has actually increased lately, rather than slowed. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

You look amazing and no extra skin. What is your secret for you skin Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Well my friends TODAY IS MY FIRST SURGIVERSITY- and I may be waxing a bit philosophical. Goes with the TERRITORY- I'm older than Dirt, gives you a lot to reason with when You've attained 73 years 8 months and 10 days upon this Earth. What advice would I give the Newbies and the Stiil- Strugglers as this point? Don't obsess about YOUR YESTERDAYS- the Past has passed- Don't Cry for What you think You've Lost- Look forward to Your New Tomorrows. Life now has Many Happy Moments in YOUR Future. It has been a year of Some sorrows but Many Many Blessings. I WILL Never REGRET having Surgery- I did not Heal as I believed I WOULD- my pathway has had bumps, some bruised me, thought a few times I would fall off the Edge into Quicksand, twists, turns, A few times I thought I had gotten lost, Many Things changed for me, but more than CHANGE I finally found MYSELF- learned I was Still Strong enough. You Know we come into life a Blank Canvas, each of the portraits painted are unique. I have scars, been bumped and bruised but what I have encountered, I have survived, I have surmounted, And Each mar, each stretch- mark, each scar, and I have had some emotional Keloids, Those are my BATTLE RIBBONS, they show I have truly Lived and are STILL LIVING ! Like the line from the Big Lebowski- I ABIDE. And one of the Boasts, Brag and Acknowledgment? I AM NOW LESS than HALF the Person I was at my Highest Weight, I have gone from 365+ to Just Over 180, and although I HAVE LIVED IT, it still amazes ME, I Still have a Few Items Left from Back Then- tried them on and they LITERALLY FELL OFF! I am a loose 18- tighter 16 in SIZE- and although my Dr Needleman , my Bariatric Surgeon, promised I Could and Would Lose Weight- I didn't really believe It Could Happen. I had so Many People promise Me Things that never really Happened, after you cry and cry, You find yourself Still Numb- Not even Flinching Any more. I was Never Suicidal because I had No Courage Left to Actually Do The Deal, And My Fears THAT is a SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS. But Now having been a Subseviant Lump, because I was Told That was was Expected of Me- I was taught to Please my Parents, My late Husband, even the 3 children GOD had granted Me. Did anyone bother pleasing ME? NOPE for NOBODY thought I was Worthy, just behave & cause No Waves. Took Me YEARS. and More YEARS to realize Frustr8 was and is a Strong Enough, Worthy Enough and Deserving Enough to continue Living. I no longer believe I am An Extension of Somebody Else, I Am and From Now On will be Strong, Reliant instead of merely Reliable, My Own WOMAN and my Bariatric Surgery helped me to Affirmation of This Fact. So Bradley J Needlman,of The OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL- WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER- Thank You for MY Wonder Wednesday- MY Day of DAYS & I HOPE TODAY you are giving a New Group their Terrific Thursday- and Next Year They Too look Back with Joy at ALL THAT HAPPENED FOR THEM. And May BLESSINGS Be Theirs. So Celebrate wherever You May be and Face YOUR Tomorrows with Conviction and Strength for You Are Strong, Brave, Worthy , and if You Fear there may Be Trials and Rainy Days- DON'T! Everything you're going through TODAY does Bring A Bright and Sunny Future- AND IT IS WORTH IT ALL! MUCH 💘 LOVE. your FRUSTR8!!!!!

Thanks jaymmee I am located in Southern California and it was approximately 2 months BUT only because my psych had recently changed my medication and put a one month hold on my case but they were on top of everything. I forgot to call once the hold was up so by the time I did call they literally set me up for right away. I saw my surgeon and the next day his scheduler called me even though he had me loose 20 pounds. He had something for 3 weeks but I knew I wasn’t going to meet the goal so I pushed it back another 4-5 weeks. It has been great working with them because they’re on top of everything and made everything so easy for me. I work in healthcare (insurance billing) so I was ready to fight if necessary and it has been the complete opposite.