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As the title suggests, I am having to do a liquid pre-op diet for 3 weeks, I’m getting sleeved 6/9. My diet started on Tuesday, 5/19 and it’s now Friday, 5/22 and I am HUNGRY! I haven’t been hungry like this any other day. My stomach is rumbling and even though I can have broth and sugar free jello / popsicles, it’s not helping the hunger. My diet is as follows: 3 protein shakes, 2 protein bars as snacks + unlimited low sodium broth, SF hello, SF popsicles. Any tips or words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. My tummy would appreciate it i’m sure!

Looking at all your salads pictures is making me shiver. A rather chilly 13degrees in Brisbane at the moment (feels like 10). Not as cold as some of your experiences but damn near freezing when summer here is in the mid thirties or higher. And it’s not even winter yet. Brrrr. Thanks for your brisket recipe @ms.sss. Here we corn (salt) our brisket cut & simmer the meat very gently on the stove for 3 to 4 hrs. Our family recipe adds brown sugar, vinegar, garlic & mustard to the pot. I sometimes add fennel & coriander seeds and a bay leaf for an earthier flavour & use balsamic vinegar. Made one last week. Couldn’t be bothered making the traditional white sauce (with carrots & onions) to accompany it. Just stuck with the other traditional accompaniment: mustard pickles. 😁

Yesterday while searching for some stored picture frames under the bed - WA LA, I came across this skirt! I wore it on our first meet and lunch date with hubby February 27, 1993 in Tallahassee, Florida while in graduate school. 27 years later, a little big and a bit prim + proper Prairie school teacher look... LOL. What fun trying it on again after all these years. It would not have even got passed my thighs 15 months ago!!! And, while dressed after 10 weeks quarantine, I experimented with all the new belts yet to be worn out of the house. The skirt brought back very fond memories. Fashion will do that. Anticipating our 25th wedding anniversary gala next May, if safe and sound to do so. Does anyone else have any sentimental pieces left in their wardrobe? Might you post them? Fun! ;]

Sooooo it's been a while. lol. Here is my confession of the stupid things I've been doing and their consequences or lack thereof. I stopped losing weight in January or so. My lowest was 112, but I am a steady 116. My face looks super drawn and thin. I am a size 2. I wanted to gain about 10lbs so I started adding in more calories. And then more calories. And then that didn't do anything so I started eating junk food again (what I can stomach). And more junk food. And now I eat a lot of (good) carbs and basically full-sized meals. And I still weigh 116. And I still look anorexic (yes, I realize the "BMI" says I am normal... but I am deffo too thin for my taste). My mother also is/was very concerned about my thin appearance. Some foods still make me sick so I don't eat them and eating too much of other foods makes me sick. But, for example, for lunch I had a pumpkin muffin, peas, quinoa, and an entire salami sandwich and it sat fine. I can eat a double quarter pounder with cheese if I wanted to. I crushed an entire box of Triscuits in an hour the other week. But I don't gain weight. I also haven't taken any vitamins since about November 2019. I had to stop them for my last plastic surgery and just never got in the habit of taking them again. So I had labs done this week. Totally normal. All levels are perfect. AND, my cholesterol which has ALWAYS been high (even before I was ever obese) went from 291 to 174 in the last 4 months. They are perfect for the first time ever. So, do I take the vitamins and risk my levels being TOO high? Do I not take them because apparently I am getting what I need from food? If I am absorbing what I need from food, why am I not gaining any weight? I haven't been exercising since last September I herniated my back and then had plastics and then the gyms closed... but plan on going back when they reopen next week. Anyways, a lot of weird crap. I started my vitamins again this week just because... but now I am wondering, truly, if I need them because my labs were great despite me not taking them for 6 months. A deficiency would have been reflected by now. When do people usually start regaining post-op? I want to get back to eating healthy, but it's hard when you fall off the wagon... ESPECIALLY when you aren't gaining anything from doing so. Nah, I don't need scolding... I know I am screwing up... but I am truly baffled as to why I can't gain and why my labs are fine. Which I guess I shouldn't complain about but.... weird. Also I have a consult on June 19th for my final round of plastics: butt lift, thigh lift, and implants. I did send an email to my PCP and my dietitian about the vitamins thing... I'll update here when I hear back.

Ok y’all are so nice I’ll throw my goal pic in. This is a Large shirt. I’m about 10 pounds away from it. This is my goal. To confidently buy Large shirts and stay in 34 inch jeans. Happy Friday Y’all!!!

Hmmmm....i have no idea how much it weighed! (i bought a giant brisket from costco and used about 1/4 of it). But size-wise, it was about 4-5 hands across, and about 3 inches thick, LOL. 10h hours on low. I put a rub on the brisket night before and let it sit in the fridge overnight: 1 tbsp brown sugar (or stevia & molases or swerve) 2 tsp smoked paprika powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp cumin powder 3/4 tsp mustard powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper Next morning, put the meat in the slow cooker with the BBQ sauce on the bottom, squishing the meat on top of it, fat side up. After the 10hrs, i put the sauce in a sauce pan to reduce, then put the meat on the grill for about 10 mins on each side basting constantly with the thickened sauce. If you try it, share pics, please! I love looking at pics of everyone's creations...

Recipe/Pics look Soooo fabulous! So I don’t mess it up, what was approx starting weight of your brisket? And 10 hours on which setting...i.e., high an hour then low? Hubby has been asking me to do something in the slow cooker and THIS will make him one Happy man! Thanks for sharing your extraordinary culinary skill!😍

10 months out. I’m still keeping my surgery a secret. Sort of. Besides for my parents siblings and two good friends I can trust. I don’t think it’s anyone’s business. When someone asks me what I’m doing I shrug it off or tell them I’m eating healthier- which is the honest truth.

Hello All 😊 I was sleeved 10 years ago. I will admit I did not get to my goal weight and have regained. Now due to GERD my surgeon is recommending a revision to bypass. As far as weight loss my surgeon states I should expect to possibly lose 20-30 pounds. Has anyone had a revision to bypass after a long period of time(7+ years) and lost more than 30 pounds. I feel like I should lose more than that. I also have concerns of hair loss. I didn’t really experience hair loss with my sleeve. Has anyone found a way to combat this issue? Thanks so much !😁

I would like to take a moment to share how I am feeling today. First, thank you to my Higher Power for being there every day on my weight-loss journey. I began the process at 285 in November. I had surgery December, 2019, and weighed 264 morning of surgery. Today 4 months and a week later, I am 215. I have more to go to reach my goal, and perhaps to some observers I might have lost the weight quite slowly because it has taken me 4 months, but I am very grateful for my own journey. I am feeling healthier day-by-day! Congratulations on your own successes, and be gentle with and kind to yourself. Thank you, and be well.

My gallbadder was removed laparoscopically and I had no pain at all. Was sent home with Rx for hydrocodon but never even filled it. That was more than 10 years ago. But incisions were very small and removing gallbladder involves minimal cutting. So maybe I'll be ok. Don't remember having any gas issues. The education class said specifically that not using narcotic was because opioid addiction problems in my state. When I had severe hip pain from goat bursitis, the ER gave me an IM injection of nonnarcotic pain med because I was allowed to drive myself home. So there must be options. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

Beautiful room @Sophie7713 and snap re the Louis chair & French inspired fabric choice. I have it near a cow hide too (a lovely vanilla & butter caramel charolaise skin) so double snap I have two chairs which were the carvers from my parents’ dining table in the early 80s. I recovered them about 10 yrs ago. Finding the correct sized underwear is sooo frustrating. At my fitting I bought two different styles that worked for me then I went online & bought two more of the same ...for a reduced price. Yay!

it will provide the data that will be able to tell you more accurately, yes. Also, I didn't realize that your stall has been for only 10 days. If that's the case, I think its waaaay to early to worry about weight loss stoppage.

I started looking into this surgery because I was pre-diabetic and starving all the time. Like I just finished a huge meal, and my stomach hurt, but I still wanted to eat and eat and eat. My hunger has been increasing and getting worse over the past 10 years, along with gradual increases in my fasting blood sugar and other symptoms of metabolic syndrome like skin tags. My dad has diabetes (and got it when he was about 5 years older than I am now), so I knew what was coming. The thing that really excited me about the surgery was that it provides a mechanism to reset your metabolism, to actually CHANGE your hormonal balance and your set point so that you naturally feel satisfied at a lower weight, and eating less food with less hunger. Now I am 2.5 months out, and I really feel it working - with the smaller stomach, it gets full faster, so ghrelin (a hormone that your stomach makes when it is empty that makes you feel hungry) starts to DECREASE quickly after you take your first few bites. Studies show that ghrelin levels are about 50% lower after bariatric surgery than before. And that has an effect - you really, seriously, truly feel much less hungry, even though you are eating way less. In contrast, normally when you go on a diet, your ghrelin levels INCREASE compared to when you started. Studies show that after a 3-6 month diet without surgery, your ghrelin levels will increase by 50%. And that has an effect - you are much more hungry and so you want to eat even more and gain the weight back - it may even make you feel like an addict! Since before my surgery, I would often feel hungry even when my stomach felt full, I can totally see why you'd be scared that you'd still feel really hungry even when your new small stomach is full. And I can tell you from experience - being hungry with a full stomach feels miserable! I can see why you'd be scared of that! But I really want to assure you - the surgery works as advertised. You will feel satisfied, even when you are eating way less food than before. For me, the change in my hunger is like night and day - it's amazing!

I know this is a bit of a diversion BUT maybe permissible given the circumstances? I'm still in my grunge wear BUT my home office design studio was completed today! Now outfitted with new antelope patterned cow hide area rug over coir carpeting, mid-century modern sconces, cognac hued accent wall and library cabinet from re-purposed China cabinet. I still report to the office in my PJ's most days. Just not that motivated to get dressed with no where to go 10 weeks and counting! The boys were a great help in implementing the project + vision. ;]

You look absolutely gorgeous! All the textural blacks are wonderful. Still shifting thru the foundations game as well! The online orders just are not working out for them. Everything gets returned. Usually too large. I really miss our department stores and outdoor eating at restaurants after 10 weeks and counting...

Well covid-19 has changed things.. hope you have some news though?

I’m among those who were very successful with the band and loved it. I had it for over 10 years and almost overnight I developed complications. Horrific heartburn, which was quickly followed by not being able to get anything through at all and constant vomiting which brought me to the ER. The band was deflated and the hunger and weight returned. Six months (and +35 pounds) later (which happens to be just over a week ago) I underwent a revision from band to bypass. I’m 8 days post op today. I have to agree with @BayougirlmrsS, I miss my band, and if it was still working I would’ve left it alone, but given the option of no band or a revision to another procedure I’d pick revision every time.

@tjgillman : first, congrats on all your hard work and weight loss! Though you may not think it, but a 100lbs (45kg) weight loss in 10 months is NOT slow. It is average to above average. Second, based on your height, weight, gender & daily activity, at a very high level, in order to lose weight you need to be taking in roughly LESS than 1800 cals a day (I got to this very general number using the calculator at https://www.ruled.me/keto-calculator/) Sooooooo.... if you are averaging 1300 cals a day, weight loss at this time for you will be relatively "slow" compared to before, when you were bigger Doing the math: it takes a calorie deficit from of at least 3500 to lose a lb. based on your stats, you need to get below 1800 to lose weight. you are taking in 1300 which means: every day, you have a deficit of 500 cals. sooooo... that means it will take you 7 days to lose one pound (3500/500) IF you are in fact taking in 1300 cals and are moderately active EVERY DAY. If you want to speed up weight loss, you'll need to create a bigger calorie deficit (which does NOT mean eating more nor exercising less) Good Luck! ...and again congrats on the weight loss, you are doing great!

They say band only lasts 10 years before it's starts to deteriorate

why does he/she wanting it out? are you having issues? I think the dr's that are doing this is just trying to make more money.... (my opinion) My two cents, for what it's worth..... Leave it alone if you're not having issues. For one, getting a revision paid by insurance is damn near impossible for those of us who followed the rules and didn't gain all the weight back. I was banded in 2009 at 232#, ER band removal 2017 at 143#..... started looking for a dr to do a revision and was told over and over again..... You don't weigh enough. fast forward 2.5 years and hell trying to keep the weight off i was up to 173#..... and trust in the fact that it was hard not to gain more... i went hungry, diet pills, lax., went to crossfit 4-5 days a week and still..... and for people that say... just eat like you did when you had the band..... F U... it's is damn near impossible to do that. Two weeks after the band was gone.... hunger came back with a vengeance. I had forgotten what "hunger" felt like.... well it sucks. So after 2.5 years of nothing.... i had my mind set that i was going to Mex to have the MGB.... but as luck would have it i found a dr. 10 min away from my office. He and i talked and he agreed to do a revision... but i had to agree to the sleeve and pay 14k out of pocket.... which i did. that was 38 weeks ago today (8/28/19). Went in weighing 173#.... today i'm at 126ish...(125-127). From a size 10 to a 2-4 Do i miss my band..... EVERY DAY. Do i wish i still had her.... EVERY DAY.

1300 calories is maintenance level for a lot of us. I can maintain on 1700 calories, but that seems to be on the high end for female bariatric patients. I just checked my records, and at 10 months out I was averaging 1000 kcal/day. Maybe try eating closer to the bottom end of your current range for awhile (1000 kcal) and see if you start losing again. If you're walking 4-4.5 miles a day, than you're probably about as active as I was, so that part should be OK.

I was put on Cymbalta (duloxetine) following back surgery in early 2019, to help with nerve pain as well as anxiety/depression surrounding the ordeal. It apparently “worked” and got me through. Constipation and weight gain go hand in hand with it though😩, so I started weaning myself a few months ago. Just this week I decided to stop it, completely. As with anything, it’s totally individual as to the risk/reward of being on something like this. If you feel best on an SSRI, that reward seems like it would be greater than speed of weight loss. You will still lose, you may just need more patience with the scale. Only you and your Dr. can decide. In my case, Dr. said he was all for me going off. I just have to believe it messes with our metabolism, and I don’t trust the drug companies to admit it.🤦‍♀️ Good luck! And be sure to talk with your Dr. on this.💖

it's where you feel comfortable. Some people feel comfortable being a little on the heavier side - maybe 10 or 20 lbs overweight, and that's fine. It's really not a big health risk. I got down to about a 21 BMI and really didn't feel comfortable there. Every rib was showing, so I was embarrassed to wear clothes that showed my ribs (like tops with low necklines). I hover around a 25 BMI now, and even though I'd like to lose about 5 lbs, I do feel comfortable at this weight. Plus my doctor is one of those who prefers her older adult patients (which would be me...) to be in the 23-27 BMI range (to give us a little cushion in case we get sick), so she's totally fine with my current weight (although I do wish I could lose these #&% five pounds!!!)

Of course, but my mindset is like so even if I’m eating at the higher end of my diet at 1300 cal and burning 500 a day walking, on top of my BMR/TDEE I should without a doubt be in a deficit? But the scales should project that. So I’m wondering am I not eating enough? It’s hard because all Over the internet they say it’s nowhere near enough calories but when your a Bariatric patient like we are, it’s what we get programmed to do and what our bodies can cope with. So I’m just stuck in a rut. I will try and decrease the cals more and see if it makes a difference. Out of curiosity what cals were you on at 10 months post op and what exercise? I’m just trying to grasp what worked for other people (even though I know it may be different for me). I mean I walk over 4 - 4 1/2 miles a day so I would consider myself fairly active right now. Thankyou for your help I will take it all on board and play around with my cals etc. Why does it have to be so hard towards your goal 😩