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Hi All ! I hope everyone is doing well on their journey, As usual, when i don’t know who to turn to regarding my VSG journey i turn to the forum 🤣 For a little backstory i had VSG surgery in early april of this year, so it’s been 7 months so far. I’m now down 88 pounds / 40kg And for the first time throughout these 7 months i’ve started getting comments from people about how much weight i’ve lost. Mainly from coworkers, or friends i haven’t seen in a while - « wow you’ve lost so much weight » or « you’ve melted away the pounds » or « you look completely different » … The issue is i have no idea how to react ! I never know what to say i feel awkward and weird when someone says this to me … and i’m not usually the kind of person to not react it’s just so strange to me that i can’t seem to find the words. Shouldn’t i be proud ? It’s what i wanted after all … Does or has anyone else felt the same ? How did you navigate the comments ?

It just depends upon your healing. I’m a side sleeper with a twist (so like an 3/4 side sleeper) and I was sleeping like that from when I got home. Yet others, like @SpartanMaker, sleep on their backs on a recliner for a while. After I lost weight I thought hey I might be able to sleep fully on my tummy now my breasts are smaller but no. I developed lower back pain when I tried. And I’m not the only one who experienced this. Apparently tummy sleeping puts undue stress on your lower back and causes an unnatural arch hence the pain. And without having a belly anymore I didn’t have any extra ‘pillowing’ to support my back arch from underneath. So it may be a case, like many things after surgery, of simply trying at random times and seeing how you go…. Unless your surgeon has specific requirements of course.

I appreciate all the advice and kind words of encouragement. I bounce between the scary feelings I have about eating and being excited to lose weight and be a healthier me to enjoy life with my family as much and as long as I can. I was and am just a little overwhelmed because I initially went to my surgeon about the hernia repair. He informed me of this sleeve-to-bypass revision that would be in my best interest which I was not expecting. Hence, this isn't so much of a weight loss journey for me as it is a quality of life journey, With that being said it brought me back to confronting my unhealthy relationship with food and took me back to a time after my sleeve in 2009 where the smell of food would take me into an anxiety-riddled panic attack. All the byproduct of not taking the appropriate steps in getting my mind right before the procedure since I went to another country for my initial procedure. The hernia repair to me has now taken a back seat to the lifestyle changes needed to move forward with the bypass and everything that entails. This time I hope to do it a little better and taking the appropriate steps to making my lifestyle change more healthily. It's still very early in my journey. I don't have a date yet. Tomorrow is my initial consultation with the registered dietician and nutritional counselor and hopefully I will feel comfortable discussing my fears of failure. Again thank you for the advice I am truly humbled.

Thank you again — this was packed with great insight and exactly what I needed to hear. I feel better knowing that my current protein intake (100–115g) is actually within the clinical guidelines. I’ll definitely bring up that 1.2g/kg recommendation with my nutritionist on the 20th and get their take as well — I want to be sure I’m not compromising my health by lowering it too much. And yes — I completely agree about focusing on fat loss over just scale weight. I love how I’m looking now, and my goal is to tighten, tone, and keep my muscle rather than just see a lower number. I’m not aiming to bulk or build new muscle right now — just to hold on to what I have and keep my body strong through strength training. Also, your point about essential fats and nutrient-rich carbs like fruits/veggies really helped. I do eat clean and home-cooked, so I’ll make sure I’m not over-restricting in the wrong areas. This has honestly helped me refocus — I’m grateful 🙏

Hey there, I hear you! Craving processed carbs can feel like a slippery slope, especially when it keeps triggering your hunger—it’s such a common struggle for many of us post-surgery. The good news? You’ve already recognized the pattern, and that’s half the battle! First, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s a journey, and cravings don’t mean failure. Try focusing on protein first—it’ll help stabilize your blood sugar and keep you fuller longer. Pair it with healthy carbs like veggies or a small portion of sweet potato, which you know don’t mess with your appetite as much Another tip: stay hydrated! Sometimes thirst can sneakily feel like hunger. And if you’re still feeling those cravings, maybe try a low-carb alternative for the thing you’re craving (like zucchini noodles instead of pasta or almond flour crackers) Lastly, take it one day at a time. You haven’t gained, and that’s proof you’re still in control. You’ve got this—remember why you started and keep moving forward! 💪

Hi Sue, I’m eating about 1000-1200 calories a day on the days I am working out. I add a protein drink as my snack for the days I work out. If I am not working out, I eat around 900-1000 calories. I’m still following 3oz protein, 1oz veggie and 1oz carb rule. When I am more hungry I add more protein instead of 3oz protein I eat 5oz protein. You might be right about working out, it might not be the key to losing weight. That’s why my size is shrinking but not my weight. It definitely helps burn the fat though. I think this is also why I have so much excess skin. I have excess skin on my arms, tummy, thigh, back… basically everywhere, I know it will not bounce back just because how much hang I have. Even the weight didn’t change much, the excess skin is getting more wrinkly day by day.

My understanding is sleeve is more prevalent as a first time surgery, but a not-insignificant number of people have revision from sleeve to bypass down the road because of GERD or insufficient weight loss. There are reasons you may choose one over the other, and you want a surgeon who is just as comfortable with either. If he is suggesting one because he's better at it (sleeve is a much easier surgery to perform) then he is not the surgeon for you! This video has some good information on both surgeries from a doctor who does both:

Hi everyone, Has anyone in the UK managed to get Mounjaro from any of the companies prescribing it after sleeve? The ones I’ve looked at say prev bariatric surgery means you’re not suitable. I’m 6 years out and finding it harder to keep the cravings at bay so weight has crept up a bit. My BMI is 35 so would qualify from that point of view.

The ONLY thing you have to do to lose weight is eat fewer calories than you burn. If you do that you will lose weight. There are lots of tools we can use to help us in this regard, like tracking, meal prep, tweaking macros, eating more high quality foods vs. junk food, and a lot more, but at the end of the day, it's calorie consumption that will make or break a diet. For some people tracking is critically important because if they don't track, they overeat badly. Everyone has a bad tendency to way underestimate the number of calories we eat in a day, so especially for people that tend to snack a lot, or eat a super varied diet (which is not a bad thing!), then tracking at least sometimes is pretty helpful to make sure they don't overeat. Like you, I just can't track reliably. It's not so much that I forget to do so, as much as I find it incredibly time consuming and boring, thus I just don't do it. Would I love to be able to track calories consistently? Sure. Really honing in on my daily calorie intake appeals to my analytical mind. I know I'll never be able to do it though. At this point, what I try to do is "spot check" my calorie consumption here and there. Sometimes I might make it a whole day and sometimes I just evaluate a single meal. This helps remind me to keep things in check.

as usual, I agree with everything Arabesque said. A 10-20 lb bounce back regain is very common after you hit your lowest weight. It's your body settling in to where it's comfortable. You can always lose it again if you really work at it - although if that new weight IS your body's new "set point". it'll be a challenge to get back down there and stay there - but it's not impossible.

I was 330 lbs in 10/2019 had the sleevectomy. Since day one massive pain in my stomach. Never healed. Kaiser Dr. Edward Zane Southbay medical center. Was in hospital 2 days went home with a bottle of hydromorphone. I’m 56 years old, 6’1 and weigh 195. In 2021 I was as high as 220 but taking daily opioids and now I’m weaning myself off of them switching to cannabis gummies. Even on cannabis with the munchies I can’t eat anything. I never healed and I’ve struggled for 5 years. I was prescribed hydromorphone since 2019 and I need it at every meal or drink. If I drink water I cramp and bowl over in pain. I eat anything cold or hot I bend over in pain. I had ultrasounds endoscopies etc. I have serious GERD and been on proton pump inhibitors for 2 years. I can’t eat protein of any type without massive pain and opioids from a hamburger white fish pork steak chicken turkey it all hurts all of the time. Carbs and minor fat also hurt but not as much as protein. I switched to BCBS the new bariatric Dr says I either have a stricture or I need the bypass surgery now. current weight is 195and I’ve been losing weight this past year and really hate all food. It doesn’t matter if it’s carbs fat or protein it hurts my stomach. I also get nauseous and throw up if I eat too much regardless and have massive cramping 5years later. Also have burning sensation with bowel movements but was tested negative for crohns/ulcerative colitis. after 5 years addicted to opioids I went to BCBS and they said Cedars Sinai surgeons can look at stricture correction surgery or just go for the bypass. They want me to eat nuclear egg salad and barium drink during an mri to see what is wrong. Last endoscopy was 10/24 and my esophageal ulcer was 90% healed. I had an untreated ulcer since 2019 that also contributed. Current medication metoprolol 100 mg x a day lisinopril20 mg 2 x a day, Amlodipine 5mg 2 x a day, omeprazole 2x a day, gummies and Vicodin daily with every meal. I can stop opioids once the pain stops. after 5 years of losing weight and my quality of life has deteriorated I’m leaning towards bypass surgery. please help group. I also have massive starvation and nutrition issues and take vitamins but still can’t get even 2k of calories in my body and have low energy all of the time. sincerely, Mark

I live in a rural area. I too hate the gym but love walking. I get out at least 3 times a week, I need the alone time. I come home refreshed and ready for anything the family can chuck at me. I also work 1 day a week in a Charity Shop and oh boy this is physically hard work ! I come home battered after 9 hours there. Whole body and mind exercise This is all I did for weight loss and how I maintain

Likely the battery. When mine went flat it read I weighed 136kg so like 87 odd kgs more than I was LOL! Freaked me out for a moment. Could also be just a fluctuation (poop, fluid, your body playing silly buggers, …). Either way I wouldn’t worry too much about it (though I know it can be frustrating). Your general trend will still be in a downward direction over time. And little hiccup steps are all very usual. Sounds like you’re doing great with hitting your goals and your weight loss so far is pretty much on point with most of us - not slow at all. (I’d lost 7.6kg at my one month mark and everyone was happy with that.)

Hi, @CherokeeGirl, I'm 59, so close... I definitely think it's worthwhile to ask a bariatric surgeon about it. Of course, everyone's risk is unique based on your personal health characteristics. But bariatric surgery clients tend to be higher-risk just based on our weight and look how many of us there are! It doesn't hurt to find out what your options are and then whatever decision you make will be informed. Good luck!!

Ooh and Amazon has the core power shakes in chocolate which I am 99% sure are the same as fairlife. if not, they use fairlife milk and they are really good. People say that their kids will even ask for them because they are just like chocolate milk. According to google the fairlife is lower calorie and core power is a workout recovery drink but I found it comparable to premiere protein and it worked for me for weight loss. Maybe check it out to see how it compares to fairlife.

You make an important point and I would encourage @AmberFL to think about this more and perhaps search their feelings. There is certainly a lot of danger in moralizing food by labeling things "Good", "Bad", "Healthy", "Unhealthy", etc. The flip side is that totally ignoring nutrient density can also be really problematic for some people. Left unchecked, it can be permission to eat nothing but highly-processed foods or to completely ignore macro and micronutrient content. It also can be a trigger for some people in that they lack the self-control to just eat one piece of that cheesecake. Instead, they eat the entire thing. (Not ragging on cheesecake, I had a piece last night, so it was top of mind.) Instead of moral judgements, I think a better guideline might be how what you're eating makes you feel physically. Especially for athletes, are your food choices making you feel energized and ready for your workouts, or are you always dragging? Are you recovering well? These are the main things to focus on. We can successfully eat a wide variety of foods and be healthy, happy and maintain at our optimal weight. The trick is finding that balance.

Hi Skinny queens. ive been so distracted with work, business and my journey and i forgot to check in! how is everyone doing?? my weight loss has been good but slower for sure but i had a fantastic ramadhan as i closed my workout ringS EVERYDAY in march so 10k steps daily which was beautiful and got down 4kg of FAT. but things slowed down abit but im not bothered alot.. im now 78.3 kg (172.6 lbs) which is close to my first goal of 75kg then my final goal is 65kg, which im hoping to reach on my anniversary in Aug then guys, i might start trying for a baby teehee. i am just scared and planning too many things so i dont know. also is it weird that lets say i eat dinner now and i am so full, i could die then 30 mins later or so i am starving so much... whats with this new feelings ahhh. please update me ladies with ur progess @ShoppGirlhows your treament goin?

I think i have to lose more weight first to "cure" it. I had BP from pregnancy and it didn't go away because of my weight n poor lifestyle so let's see in a couple of months

I totally get the dilemma of needing presentable clothes for work events while knowing your size will change dramatically soon. Before my own weight loss journey, I stuck to versatile, forgiving pieces like stretchy trousers and flowy tops to accommodate size changes. For events, I’d often invest in just one or two classic items from affordable stores or clearance racks. It helped me feel polished without breaking the bank. If you’re into bags and accessories, though, they’re a great way to elevate any outfit, regardless of size changes. I’ve always loved browsing product roundups for timeless options like Coach bags and accessories. They make even simple outfits feel more put-together.

I've found since I turned 60 (65 now) it's easier to stay at my goal weight. I rarely feel hunger pains and I guess I eat regularly enough that I don't feel hungry. Christamas Eve we were in a car accident (hit from behind) and after that I started getting stuck more often. I've had my lapband 16 years now and I know what its like to feel stuck, but experience has helped me avoid that. However after the accident, I felt some soreness around the port. Saw my gastric practice and everything checks out fine. I have to wonder if age has started me losing my appetite? Will see my family doctor again soon.

It is one of those really hard things isn't it! I genuinely think that there should be more of a remit for skin removal on the NHS following massive weight loss - it is so often detrimental to the individual's MH & sometimes their physical health too. I have gone from a 40GG bra size, to a 34FF and my boobs are sagging and under my right breast I have had this awful rash that doesn't go away - I think because of the excess skin!!

based on your height and weight, your BMI is 35.2. if you have 2 comorbities, you would qualify for WLS in Ontario. what province do you reside in?

Well in fairness we are friends, he just happens to also be my boss, and it is only discussed after work when we are out for drinks - we don't have such chats at the office. Being friends is also why I think he thinks it is ok to comment on my eating and weight, he would not do that to any of the others in our team.

My surgery-induced hair loss has only just started to turn around, so I know what you are going through and how distressing it can be. I have done two things to help. One is using minoxidil every night before bed. I found a 3-pack on Amazon of a spray (not a foam, which I find too messy) that is so easy to use and costs under $40. For a woman's dose (4 squirts per day), each bottle is supposed to last 60 days. I find it doesn't last quite that long, but I probably get about 6 weeks out of each bottle, making it cost maybe $2.50 a week. I've been using it about 14 weeks and I am seeing tons of regrowth, I would say definitely beyond what I lost. The hair is all short right now, a couple inches in length, but by the summer I hope it will be closer to my above the shoulder hair length. Which beings me to my second trick: hats. I live in a cold weather climate and I bought a bunch of hats, although I had some wide fabric headbands and crocheted bandanas in the fall when it was warmer that also got the job done. Not sure if you are male or female, but for women's styles, try searching for either "slouch caps" or "chemo headwear" online for some lighter weight hats that can help you hide the thinning until it reverses and that are comfortable indoors. Once your weight loss slows, the hair should regrow even on a maintenance dose of Zepbound. It just takes time, way longer than you think! Oh, I should say I had my surgery in Feb 2024, so in terms of when my major weight loss was happening, I'm betting we're at kind of the same stage with the hair loss. And I'm almost 51, so ditto on the age-related issues. But the minoxidil is a game changer.

Hi, my name is Krislynn, Kris, or just K., I'm new to this forum. I found it researching more about the duodenal switch. I turned 42 in July this year, and my highest weight before my first surgery was 536. I had the gastric sleeve in June 2017. The first year was a great learning experience in learning about healthy foods, changing my mindset, and what I needed to do to get healthy. That first year, I lost 221 lbs. But, then when I went back for the 2-year check-up, the surgeon that took care of me, had left the hospital and program and they informed me they had no one for me to see. But, then Covid hit shortly after that-- then I lost my job and ended up sitting home 2 years and gained close to 200 lbs back of what I lost and that was crippling to me because all my old health problems came right back. during all this happening, my mom and I chose to move from California to Indiana to be closer to my sister, I decided I couldn't take care of my mom who has declining health because of her weight too, has been type 2 diabetic for more than 20+ years at this rate with my health starting to decline again too. So I reached out to the weight loss doctors here, I spent 6 months Feb-Aug '24 taking off 70+ lbs by following their 1200 calorie diet, getting back into a healthy mindset. It's a struggle at times, and sometimes I take two big steps forward, and then I end up taking a big step backward, it's a daily walk. once I completed the mandatory 6-month medical weigh-ins, things moved quickly, I got approved by the psychologist, and then the insurance approved me to have the Duodenal Switch or SADIS surgery quickly, within a week I heard back. My new surgeon who's great, got me scheduled quickly after I finished all the required testing, and preop classes, this Monday, the 11th at 7 AM. I am feeling nervous because even though every test they've made me do has come back normal and negative, I am 7 years older and worry that something might possibly happen. I keep reminding myself, that I've already had the sleeve, so I won't be under that long, just long enough for him to do the switch. so basically, I'm going to go to sleep and then wake up on the other side of it. Can anyone who has had this surgery, give some advice or maybe just let me what to expect after this kind of surgery? The last time I woke up the only thing I remember is the immense pressure I felt on my chest from them feeling my stomach with gas to do the surgery. And The surgeon told me unfortunately I would be dealing with that again because it's something unavoidable. So, I'm prepared for that. Love to everyone, Krislynn☺️💜