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My losses slowed down about the same times as yours. Once I went nearly three months before I lost again. I tend to go down in blocks of 5lbs at once. I try and walk more. I am thinking of going swimming again but the loose skin is holding me back. Try and change things up a bit. Finds some new foods. Expanding my diet like being on holiday has really been good for my weight loss. I think that at some point we have to call it a day but I am sure you will go further than you are at the moment, My problem is that I am not too bothered if I stay at this weight.

I had my first post-op appointment yesterday. My surgeon told me to just keep following the stages on the handout and scheduled my next appointment for three weeks from now. He told me to go ahead and start eating eggs and other foods that I could smash with a fork (that was kinda broad, but I know what he meant, lol) when y'all make your eggs, do you add anything extra to them to make them softer? Usually when I make a scrambled egg, I'll use butter and heavy cream to get them fluffy, but I know that neither are a go right now. Y'all don't know how appreciative I am to have this group to be able to interact with people that are going through the same things I am. Thanks for your help!

Quick update… I had my first post-op appointment with my surgeon yesterday. Everything has been going extremely well. No nausea, no problems with the liquids, nor with the soft foods like hummus, cream of wheat, or grits. I had the staples removed from my surgical incisions, thankfully! My surgeon was kinda vague though. Told me that as long as I had no problems to keep progressing according to the handout and that he’d see me in three weeks. He told me to proceed to eggs and foods that I could mash with a fork, so I bought some instant potatoes and I’m looking forward to that. I bought the original Sabra Hummus and after about a month on liquids only, it’s been amazing! I weighed in at 339lbs, so to date I’m down 46lbs since starting my journey and down about 22lbs since surgery. I’m not going to complain about 11lbs a week since surgery, though I know it’s not going to last.

Just came back from a short trip to Langkawi Island here in Malaysia with my wife and kids. This is my wife and I second visit after going there in 2013 for our honeymoon (time flies!). We all had a great time there specially my kids. The weather was nice and the island was not very crowded. I got to try a lot of things that I've never dared or was able to do before WLS. The trip was full of NSVs so I wanted to share some of those with you guys. 1. I didn't need a seat belt extension this time and had plenty of room in my seat! I was able to use the food tray without it pushing against my belly. 2. I tried parasailing (parachute on a boat), banana boat and even jet skiing for the first time in my life 3. I joined my wife and kids in playing all the rides and games in the water theme park. I was always the guy standing out of the pool cheering while my wife and kids were having fun. Not this time. My son was so happy that daddy was with him on the big water slide. Some of the rides had a weight limit of 80 kg (they even have a scale to weigh people who are close to that weight - I was not asked to hop on the scale haha). Climbing the stairs to the ride starting point would have given me a heart attack before WLS let alone sliding down. 4. We took a speed boat for island hopping which was awesome. In one of the islands we had to climb the stairs up to a beautiful lake (Unlike my first visit I was fine and not out of breath while carrying my bag and my daughter). We rented pedal boats and circled around the lake for 30 mins which was awesome. 5. We took some photos at the resort that we stayed in during our honeymoon 10 years ago. Left photo was taken in August 2013 and right one three days ago. This was also my first time ever wearing shorts in public and being at ease with it. Guess who bought 4 more shorts haha. The cherry on the cake was weighing myself after returning home to find that I've lost half of my weight on surgery day. A total of 74.5 kg lost which is my wife and daughter's weight combined!

Thanks! And no, i'll include whatever info i can get, so yeah add more info as you get it and i'll update as we go along. Ideally, i'd like to get a sample size of at least 100 subjects, so it may take a while. But so far we've already got 20 in three days, so keep em coming people! Thanks everyone (for participating AND giving me something to do with my time! 😂)

First off, hugs to you—. I am sorry this happened to you, but also want to assure you that this is really not a set back. It’s a step forward— and like others said before, it is good they found the issue now so you can get ahead of it if it something to be concerned about. I have the sleeve, and so far it has been VERY successful for me. No GERD, no dumping, nothing— and the weight is coming off. The first three days after any surgery are HARD- but I promise you it does get better. My thoughts—Use the tool you have today to get to the next chapter of your journey, then if you need the DS and qualify, you can make that decision then. We are rooting for you!

I do three days too. Four if you count the day it’s made & that’s for everything all meats, soups, vegetables, eggs. As long as it’s kept refrigerated you’ll be fine. Only thing I eat in two days is salad - gets too watery & loses it’s texture. I usually get 3 or 4 meals out of everything I cook. Saves me cooking everyday & I don’t have family to eat the leftovers. And as you know I regularly freeze one or two serves so I’m not eating the same meal 3 or 4 times in a row. Can always do the sniff test & a tentative taste test to see if it’s still okay. We’re big into sniffing in our family - I even sniff milk I’ve just opened. My aunt does the same.

It's really contingent on how well you do and what kind of job you have. I had a desk job (I'm now retired). I took three weeks off but could have gone back after two. I'm glad I had the third week because I was still pretty tired and it was nice having the time to get used to the eating progression, but yes, I COULD have gone back after two weeks.

I will be in for three nights in total so am bringing a small pillow, lip balm, lip balm mask for nighttime, ipad, phone, face wipes, dry shampoo, deo wipes, day & night cream, silk eye mask for night, earplugs, a hand fan, slippers, pjs and a kaftan. I am also bringing a loose sun dress to wear home.

All good vibes to you and your recovery! I was really loopy the first three days, but after that I only felt better each day. The best was finally sleeping in my own bed instead of propped up in a chair/recliner. Keep up with your water and move a little every hour you are awake. Just do a little something if you can because moving helps you get better faster, and prevents bed sores.

The reason I answered the way I did was because of the large number of posts from people who are frustrated, disappointed, angry or think they are failing because they compare themselves with others, set unrealistic goals or timelines, think they are losing slowly, don’t reach their goal, etc. I didn’t want you to fall into the comparison trap too. I had a lower starting weight so had less to lose than you do. Am shorter & likely older. I also had a sleeve. I lost my goal of 31kg (68lbs) at 6 months. (Lost another 11odd kilos over the next 11 months bringing my total to a loss of about 92lbs.) At 8 months I’d lost 37kg (81lbs). So comparing my stats with @ms.sss & @summerseeker you can see how different loss can be over the same time period - a range of more than 2 stone which can be two or three dress sizes as an example. I may have lost more by month 8 if I wasn’t consciously increasing my calories to try to stop my loss. I may have lost less if I had more or longer stalls or lost nothing if my body decided that my goal weight was my new set point & best weight. PS: My total loss made me an outlier. The average weight loss is about 65% of the weight you’re to lose to put you in a healthier range for both bypass & sleeve. I lost 135%. I had a couple of very short stalls, less than a week in length, so my rate of loss was fairly steady, gradually slowing, with just little hiccups along the way.

The loose breast skin you end up with isn’t from gravity. It’s not new droopiness. Your skin has already been stretched from gravity & the weight of your breast. That’s been happening for years. They won’t be hanging down any further than they were before surgery. Maybe a little less because you’ll be smaller. My breasts droop the same as they did before surgery but they are empty in the top section because of the fat that’s been lost. The bottom of my breasts are still relatively full. I went from a 18E to a 10E for the base of my breasts but I sometimes stuff the upper part of the cup with tissues because of the pleating from having more fabric in the upper cup than I need. Plastic surgery will be your only solution if it ends up bothering you because they’ll remove your excess skin & lift your breasts. I do recommend getting yourself properly fitted as you lose weight & drop down bra sizes. I had upper back pain because I continued to wear my old bras for too long. It was fixed by buying bras that actually fit. I had to do it three times before my weight stabilised (18E-12G-10F/G-10E). I did buy some cropped bralet styles from Bonds (your Haynes) for around the house after the second refit.

here are the 15K+ posts (and no, I am NOT kidding) from members who've experienced the infamous "three-week stall" (i.e, just about everyone...): https://www.bariatricpal.com/search/?q=three-week stall

I had19 teeth extracted 2 bone graphs and a bone removed from my pallet. last year (2022) on April 25th and was fitted dentures. The bottom plate has never allowed me to eat with them, and it took 9 months for my gums to heal before I could eat (chew- or gum) again .I lived for 9 months on Ramen noodles, rice and multi vitamins. So when it came time for my pre-Bariatric surgery "diet" it wasn't a big deal. Because I had just lived through a 9 month what I called "Denture Diet" My peak weight was 245, In Nov 2021 I was referred for Bariatric surgery. Due to the fact that I suffered from Insufficient veins in my calves, causing edema in my legs and feet. Spondylosis in my L 3-4-5, Osteoarthritis in my SI joint where the sacrum and sacroiliac meet at the pelvis and the anterior cart edge in my left knew was gone. I was fit for compression socks, heavy duty knee brace and at times I had to use a cane to get up and down and to catch myself if my knee buckled.( I fell getting out of bed, 3x in 6months) I developed hyperlipidemia, and was Pre-Diabetic. I couldn't stand for more than 10 mins , squat, bend, lift, ( making the bed, sweeping or vacuuming was torture.) or walk more than a block or shop for more than 30 mins. Because of Covid everything was severely backed up, once all of my pre-surgery testing and procedures were completed, it was Feb of this year( 2023 ) . I was cleared as a perfect candidate, but again -back log. At the time they said it may be June to sometime in August before the surgeon would available , and maybe longer to find a clear OR. It took so long to get scheduled there were a couple of procedures and test I had to repeat. On April 20 (23) they called me, there a was last minute cancellation for May 22, 2023, was that doable ? Oh heck yeah ! So on the 25th they had me starting my Pre-diet, All liquids except for Cottage cheese, At almost 3 weeks in, they were concerned my weight wasn't dropping as it should be ,and asked if was following the liquid diet, I was like what ?. NO .I wasn't told to. She said yeah on the 25th. Ok well this may mean we have to re-schedule. I was so upset. She said she was going to get ahold of my Case nurse to see what to do. A couple of hours later, I was like wait a minute. I called her and said I think there was a mis-communication. I have a copy of the diet, it didn't say Liquid . Just that I was suppose to start this diet on the 25th, and on the 20th right after she called I went and stocked up on EVERYTHING, and had the receipt to prove it. I asked when you said liquid did it include Cottage cheese. She said yes, Thank goodness. Yes I HAVE been on that diet since the 25th. I am very fortunate, I am a crazy fast healer,. I had all of this trepidation about healing right, and being able to get around ASAP. I am almost 60 and everything had been falling apart. My roommate is a very empathetic, compassionate , and a generous person, but what she is not, is a caregiver. So I was concerned about that. So I had my surgery on May 22, at 9 am. Woke up later in a hospital room, I had a horrible pain in my shoulder and it felt like someone kicked me in the gut. Tuesday morning I woke, still a little sore in the tummy ( like a pulled muscle) but other than that I was fine. At 3pm she came into discharge me, and told me to call my ride ( roommate) I ended up having to walk down to the nurse's station, because she said she would be right back to get my IV out ,but she didn't return, so I hunted her down. After I got it removed , she said she was going to go get a wheelchair. So I got out of bed, got dressed, gathered my things and sat on the bed and waited, and waited, my roommate called , I am here what's going on. I said she had to get a wheel chair. So I waited some more ,after like 30-45 minutes . Once again I walked down to the Nurse's Station hunting for her and pulled a "Karen", some guy showed up with my wheelchair, quickly. My roommate had been waiting in the Patient Pick-up zone for almost an hour and a half, she was fuming. I get home, go to bed, my roommate goes and picks up my pain meds it was liquid Tylenol and Liquid Gabapentin and Celebrex. When I took the liquids I almost threw up...WTH ? Out of curiosity, I looked up the ingredients. Freaking FAKE sweetener. I cannot tell you how many times I informed them I could NOT use any fake sweeter, because it gave me severe cramping stomach aches, vomiting, or IBS. Just two days before the surgery they tried to give me three Ensure to drink ,which I already knew had the fake sweetener, and said no can do, Keep them. And now my pain killers had them. I was like do you feel actual pain? Not really, just some tenderness. So I threw them out. The rest of the day I was up and around, doing things. And the next day it was like I never had the surgery. I live at a Studio Apartment complex with 16 units. My roommate is the on-site manager. So as I went back to my normal on the 4th day, ( with the weight lift, carry, push-pull restrictions), and the tenants were all like " I thought you were having surgery this week ?" I said " I did. On Monday." None of them could believe it. So that is my story. I am disappointed with my weight loss so far, ( it's been a month) as I have only lose 17lbs since the surgery. But I also considered, due to my 9 month "Denture Diet"( I lost 25 lbs,but once I was able to eat again I got back up, so, it may have changed the immediate weight loss factor. I have lost 45 lbs. So maybe that is why. So below is my pre-food, my favorite a plate FULL of (Foie de Veau Lyonnaise) Calf liver in onions. and my new diet. 4oz ( with a total of 2oz of food) containers with liver, mashed potatoes and broccoli.

I am 1 week po as of yesterday. I have been feeling the same! Two small sips of soup or protein drink are fine but three makes me feel sick. Today I am keeping Oikos Triple Zero Greek Yogurt at my desk and taking a couple SMALL bites every 30 mins or so. It has 15 grams of protein. I also fine it impossible to reach my protein goal and probably am only getting 30 IF that. But, this too shall pass. I'm down 18.6 lbs and wearing a shirt that was tight before so yay! lol

Has anyone been getting headaches after they start their vitamins? I’ve had a bad headache for three days and the only consistency I’ve noticed as it’s been since starting my multi vitamin… I’m not getting in much protein either which may be it as well?? It’s awful and I had to break open my back up narcotics for the pain to be able to function

Hi LibrarianErin and others! First time posting here! I am scheduled for July 12! Currently on my pre-op diet. To be honest, it is a lot harder than I expected trying to fight the urge to eat and constantly having to remind myself that I cannot. Although it feels hard now I know future me will thank me for it. I’ve also found TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit nice for information and following others to see their journey. Especially the food recipes. Currently on day three of my pre op diet and on the first night I had a little moment where I started to panic thinking and just overwhelming myself with “what-ifs” but I found that watching videos and reading threads such as this one has helped ease my nerves a bit. I was met with some criticism from peers and others about having the surgery mostly due to my age. Also the typical “just diet and exercise” answer which is frustrating as I’ve been trying that the last 4 years and struggling to lose anything. But I am doing this primarily for my health (a little tiny bit for myself lol) because I want to enjoy life again. Excited to start the journey of a new lifestyle and learn to have a better relationship with food and myself! How is everyone else doing?

They’re all different. I saw mine at two weeks, a month, two months then 3 months. Not long after I reached goal (6 months) I transitioned to his colleague for my follow ups & had three monthly appointments. At my three year mark it became 6 monthly. In my fifth year now & it’s still twice a year. I have the feeling it may end this year though. My program of visits seems to be quite unusual though. It’s a good idea to find someone to continue to monitor your progress close to your new home (& to find a good dietician). I agree with getting a referral too which will help open the door to the new doctor. Hope your move goes smoothly.

So, I woke up Friday evening around 5pm in my room. I have no idea how long the surgery was and I have no idea how long I was in recovery. I was told during a nurse shift change that I'd had a hernia repaired as well, which was news to me. The nurse allowed me to keep the leg massagers on which was nice. My mouth was SO dry and they said I could have ice chips. They brought in a 64oz cup full of ice, then got mad when I said there munching on ice, lol. Around 9pm, the nurse asked me if I wanted to walk around the hospital wing and I said I did. At first she was worried that I'd fall, but I was pretty comfortable on my feet and did 10 laps around the wing. She seemed impressed and told me that I'd be surprised to know how many people have the surgery and refuse to walk. A few hours later, I had really bad chest pain and no one seemed to know what it was. One nurse claimed it was gas pain, another said that it was probably associated with one or more of the incisions, another claimed it probably had to do with the hernia fix or the tube they shoved down my throat. Saturday morning, after being told all day that I couldn't eat or drink anything, they brought in a breakfast tray with a cup of chicken broth, a jello cup, and a bottle of water with a crystal light packet. I appreciated that and was able to get about three sips out of the broth, a couple small bites of the jello, and a couple sips of the crystal light. The flavor was lemonade and it was wonderful. I then asked the nurse if I could walk again and she agreed. At this point, I wanted to up my laps from 10 to 20. On lap 17, my surgeon appeared in the hallway and told me that he was glad to see me walking. He asked if I was able to keep down the liquids that I'd been given and I said that I had. He asked if I had any nausea or anything, which I didn't, then he asked me if I wanted to be discharged or spend a 2nd night in the hospital, I chose to take the discharge, though I probably should have stayed. Currently, I'm able to sip liquids but I'm not getting even close to the suggested 4oz an hour. I notice that after I sip, I have brief stomach pain. I assume that I'm probably going to have it for at least a week, which is okay I guess. It's only a brief pain, then goes away. I was prescribed Tylenol 3 with codeine for pain and bought a pill crusher, which is a PITA, but it works okay. To date, I started my journey at 385lbs, I went to my surgery at 361lbs, and I stepped on the scale today and weighed in at 348lbs. It's hard for me to imagine that I lost 13lbs between Friday morning and Sunday, but maybe the lack of eating over the last 3-4 days and the stomach removal is what did it for me? I have no idea, but this has been an interesting journey and I'll looking forward to what comes next.

Hair loss usually lasts 3-4 months. You just have to ride it out until your accelerated hair loss cycle reverts to its usual rate. Those who spend money taking extra supplements using special shampoos, etc. find their accelerated hair loss slows at about 3 or 4 months so I say save your money. Your new hair is still growing just at its usual rate. Many of us cut our hair shorter if it was long so the new growth will reach your shorter length more quickly. And shorter hair is usually bouncier so can look thicker. May be get in contact with your dietician to review your food choices & suggest healthier alternatives because based on what you’ve said it seems you are eating too much & not making the best choices. Your dietician will also be able to advise on caloric goals that you need (we have different needs & are often given different goals), number of snacks each day & recommendations for intake of other macros (fats, carbs, sugars, etc.) & food groups. You just need to start implementing those better habits & routines. Start by making one or two changes & then next week make another change or two. Always easier to adapt to a couple of changes at a time than a total dramatic overhaul that can be too confronting & difficult to manage & stick to. A couple of tips. Avoid popcorn. It is a slider food & goes through you very quickly so it’s easy to eat too much. Usually rice, pasta, breads & bread alternatives (bagels, wraps, tortillas, etc.) are off the menu. They are considered high processed, nutrient poor simple carbs. They are too filling in your tiny tummy reducing your ability to eat more essential nutrient dense foods like your protein.h Get rid of the junk food out of your house so you won’t be tempted. If you have family, store their snacks in a separate area. Try not to skip your three meals - it only slows your metabolism. I eat later in the day because it works for me: breakfast at about 9am, snack at about 1pm, lunch at about 4, dinner at about 6pm.

Yay! I get to start purées! It’s been easier than I thought being liquid only till now. I’ve had a few moments of weakness but three weeks and thirty pounds! Any one else start purées?

I have taken two of my three classes and I think I have more questions than answers. My first thought sitting through these classes is "If I could comply with all of these nutrition requirements and restrictions, I don't think I would need surgery". I am scared that I am going to make my life miserable by altering my digestive tract and then not being able to stick to the diet and causing all sorts of problems. My other issue is that I do not have an office job. I am outdoors, mobile, and never know which direction I will need to go. The other day it occurred to me that I drove 4 different vehicles before lunch. I don't know how I would be able to keep up with vitamins and supplements short of a fanny pack. Also, I had to drive the other day for 8 hours in a remote area and there was no food option available (I was on a tractor). The last thing I need is to pass out behind the wheel. Am I over-thinking, or are these legitimate concerns? I have all but talked myself out of this procedure

Hi @LibrarianErin I work for an American company and have some US based family and friends so I am well aware of the 4th July. I told my boos (American) that I was having my own freedom day on the 4th I had my pre-op consultation yesterday at the hospital with the anesthetist and floor nurse. Lots of questions for me, an EGC and blood test. I asked if there was anything to do in advance food and drink wise and they said no, just fasting from the night before when I arrive to the hospital. When I said I had given up alcohol three weeks ago they said that was a "good idea" and when I then said that as of the start of this week I had switched to decaf they asked me why I would do that, there was no need!! I explained I had read online a lot where it said not to have caffeine before or after surgery, the nurse laughed and said one of the things they give as a liquid after the op is a coffee. I didn't even tell them that I had started my own version of a liquid diet for the two weeks lead up. Protein shake for breakfast and one for lunch or dinner and then a meal for the other. I am trying to reduce my portion sizes and eat slower but it is really hard. I think that is what I worry about most, being able to slow down and be more mindful. I also love to drink - water, coffee, alcohol etc. - and not sure how I will cope with tiny sips. It is very hot here, in mid to high 80s which is too much for me and I am gulping back the water non-stop. What I didn't like to hear was that I have to shave from under my breasts to top of my things including pubic area. I am not sure I have seen there in years or can easily reach down there The pain of surgery might be one thing but the pain of regrowth elsewhere could be worse for longer, not looking forward to that.

If you can keep your nerve and get to the hospital on the day then you will thank yourself three months down the line. If you bottle it then in 12 months you will be back on the bariatric treadmill wishing that you will have enough courage this time around. We were are scared, its the unknown. Like @ ms.sss says I too would have this done again in a heartbeat. It has changed my life. Its worth it. The pre op diet is so tough it feels like you have to earn the surgery. I hated that diet so badly, I almost ran to the operating theatre

Stalls are very common & you can have several of them while you are losing. When they occur & how long they last can be quite different though yes the first tends to occur around week three & the usually last 1-3 weeks. It’s the time your buddy uses to reset your digestive hormones & enzymes, metabolic rate, etc in response to your weight loss & new needs. Your stomach is a muscle that stretches & contracts but it will take years of overeating to stretch it out to where it doesn’t contract as effectively & is larger. As for portion sizes, it’s best to check with your dietician for their recommendations for your needs. Some people are given caloric goals as well as goals for all macros. I was only given protein & fluid goals & told 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup from purée slowly increasing to a cup by about 6 months (my goal weight). The majority of that portion should be protein. I was only eating a bare 900 calories at 6 months but many are advised to eat more than that from months 2 or 3. You’ll discover your own portion sizes too i.e. the portion your tummy will tolerate of specific foods at a sitting. Some foods sit more heavily in your tummy or take longer to digest & are more filling so you’ll eat less of them. Some are digested more quickly so unless you are aware of your portion it can be easy to eat more than you need.