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@Matt Z This is such a timely post! TYTYTYTY! Mr. F. has T2 and went in yesterday for his 6month doc check-up. I'm so proud of him, we've been low carb keto for a while now (with some minor misbehaving) and he's brought his A1c down from an 8 with it, but was stuck in the 6s for awhile even with Invokana + Met. He's been IFing with me for the last 6 weeks and still on his meds. We've been taking is bgs about 4 times per day to make sure he wasn't too low. And yesterday his A1c was 5.5!!!! And he told the doc he wanted to get off the Invokana and that he wants to get even more serious about IF--doing a few extended 36-72 hour fasts like Dr. Fung recommends. And the doc was very encouraging!!! He told him to quit the Invokana and watch his sugars to see when he needs to step down on the Met. He's lost about 10lbs over the last 6weeks and is now down about 71lbs over the past 18months or so. I'm so proud of him!!

So I finally made the decision...I had been contemplating surgery for years. I am 34 years old and have struggled with weight since I was about 10 years old. Up and down...up and down...then regain of more than I lost each time. Every diet you can think of. You all know the list! In 2011 I started going through the insurance process for weight loss surgery. I had lost 95 lbs on my own (with phentermine help) and started going to support groups and such. I had gotten down to about 290 from 380-385. However, while I was in the process (before being approved) - my insurance stopped covering weight loss surgeries. They have not covered it since. Well, you guys know the routine...after that, I started gaining a little weight back here and there...by 2014 I had gained back probably 50 lbs. Then fast forward to 2019 I got way past the initial 95 lbs. lost and started gaining rapid weight. I went to the doctor and was shocked to find I had gotten to 502 lbs! I was horrified at that number and literally thought I was about 430, as I had basically stopped weighing...I just KNEW it had to be an error and even asked to be re-weighed. In August 2019, I started doing keto and by January 2020 - I had lost 86 lbs...back down to about 417. Much better than 502, but so far to go. Well, during quarantine I have re-gained about 30 lbs back and again was so mad at myself. I had a morbidly obese friend pass away suddenly at 35 years old, a few weeks ago. She was probably about 700lbs+ and I had always worried about her health. This was a wake up call for me...I have had many before, but this one really hit home. So, I decided...I will no longer let insurance decide my fate. I will FIND A WAY to finance this myself. I contacted a recommended surgery group in Atlanta that some friends had good experiences with. Last week, I met with Dr. Lytle from Northside Hospital/Bariatric Innovative Solutions of Atlanta. We had a great meeting about surgery. He feels I am a great candidate for gastric sleeve. I also met with a nutritionist and she has recommended a pre-surgery diet. My next steps are EGD and psych evaluation. I also have to meet with the nutritionist again in July and another meeting with the surgeon in August. If all goes well by August, I will be approved for surgery! I have also secured a loan and the money was deposited today. No-one or nothing is getting in my way of this! I know this is what I need to help me! It seems unreal. I am already thinking about all of the things I will be able to do once I lose weight - that I have been physically limited from doing over the years. I want my life back. I am not nervous about the surgery. I am more nervous about not getting approved / something getting in the way. Is that normal to stress about that part? Thanks for letting me share my journey (so far) with you all.

Yes, I am in the very beginning of pre-op. It sounds like you've definitely gone through it all! I have tracked my food in an app on my phone for the past 1 1/2 years fairly consistently to make sure I'm staying within my macros, so that data is definitely there for the dietician. I don't eat sugar, don't drink soda/carbonated stuff aside an occasional La Croix and use stevia sparingly in coffee. For drinks, I switch between Propel and Powerade Zero and plain water. Don't eat bread, no pasta, no grains, no beans/legumes, nothing inflammatory like certain oils and other ingredients. For the most part, I eat fatty meats, nuts, leafy greens, high fat dairy (sparingly) and I consume a lot of MCT oil - about 4tbsp + a day. My protein macros are set at 60g a day (which I sometimes exceed accidentally), because I'm not a powerlifter and I don't work out. During protein metabolism, unused protein amino acids can convert to glucose which causes weight loss stalls so that macro is important to not blow. Keto is very strict and I've done well, but not well enough. My job changed insurance plans unexpectedly which happened to include bariatric for the first time ever so I'm jumping on to take advantage of it. In 2017 I had a bad car wreck and nearly lost my foot and broke a ton of other bones so I haven't dared to exercise. Things still hurts from time to time, but I can walk. Even before the wreck I wasn't actively working out so pretty much all I can do is walk. I expect dietary changes post-op, that's a given. I just don't want to sabotage everything I've done on my own so far just because the dietician doesn't believe in Keto/LCHF. I might just be overthinking and assuming too much which is why I was curious about other people's experiences with their dieticians.

Weight loss is a different animal as the years pass. Actually experiencing weight gain, weight holding on, and slow weight loss may be hard for newer people to understand. It's a great that you are posting this topic. Yes, get with your team to get the professional advice and confirm or rule out medical issues. The bariatric plan that once worked may not work for you now. it will be trial and error to find the calories and macros that get your body in weight loss mode. This will be specific to your body physiology. Weight loss at years out is not a one size fits all. It is fine tuning your diet to find where your body loses weight. To find the calories and macros that work: Use your food log. If your body is carb sensitive lower your carbs. If your not losing at a certain calorie levels. Raise/lower the calories. Spread out meals a day. Start with three adjust it to four, five six. How you fuel your body is key. Whole foods, Keto, intermittent fasting, vegetarian diets. It still gets down to your calories and macros on any diet plan.

A quick google search will tell you everything you need to know about this type of diet. It's very similar to what most bariatric surgeons recommend after surgery. Atkins is considered a keto diet. It doesn't automatically equal high fat. The basics of it are meat, dairy and vegetables.

I did a LOT of research. My criteria: Doctor had to be board certified and have a stellar reputation. (My doc is actually ON the board of bariatric surgeons here who creates protocol for certification) Make sure to ask your doctor how many procedures he/she does each week, and how many procedures they've done total. Some surgeons will provide success statistics for their patients. Hospital had to be a Center of Excellence. I wanted everyone involved in my care to have experience dealing with lots of bariatric patients. I wanted a ward dedicated to bariatric surgery....not just a couple of beds. Hospital had to be a major trauma center. I wanted a big enough hospital to attract and retain surgical talent and have good resources for unexpected cardiovascular events. I wanted a big enough bariatric center to have a dedicated 24/7 emergency line and an excellent staff for follow ups (which are crucial to safety and success) I was particularly interested in post surgical diets. While I was willing to do a keto based diet for a short period of time, I really hate how I feel on keto...and a lot obariatric doctors push it. My brain feels sluggish and my cholesterol goes up. None of these things are acceptable to me....so I needed a program that worked with low glycemic carb eaters who like a lot of plant based protein. (I'm not a vegetarian, but I am not a huge fan of getting the bulk of my protien from whey and meat) My program works with a lot of international clients with different dietary preferences, vegans, etc. My diet (Mayo Clinic Diet) was well received at my program. My program fit these criteria, and is associated with a well respected major research hospital. I've been really happy with my choice:)

12 days is still so short of time to be feeling great. I mean I know everyone says that but the new normal sucks and wow you've been having your cycle for the past 11 days. Have you been menstruating that whole time? I got my period myself way early and it was longer than normal and I think my iron was low during that time which made me tired. Also it's a mind game too. I know you're tired and tired of being fat but it wasn't over night that we got this way. I know our expectations are so great and we compare ourselves to others, which makes it even harder to feel better. Also I don't know how your diet was before and if you were as low carb before your surgery, you could be kind of experiencing your body go through sugar withdrawals, I went on the Keto diet prior to surgery. The nutritionist was fine with it (I saw my nutritionist like at month 1 and had 5 to go) she wanted me to transition to low carb less fat closer to my surgery date but I remember getting off sugar and it was pretty awful. Did you have to do 10 days of full liquid diet prior to surgery? So many surgeons are so different, that's why I ask. I'm sorry there isn't just one little thing to fix and a variety of reasons why you might not feel so great. I'm wishing you the best of luck 🍀 in figuring it out. ❤️ Lean on the message boards if you don't have a great support system at home. Everyone seems to be pretty great on here.

This is a concern I had/have. I have been a low carber/keto off and on for about 14 years. I lose weight but I get to a certain point, stall out and never lose more. I worry/worried that low carbing with just a smaller stomach wouldn't produce better results. Now that I am post op I can see how a vastly smaller stomach will help me long term. Even low carbing and eating keto, you can over eat, and take in too many calories. Most Ketoers don't count calories just carbs. It makes it too easy to over eat. My sleeve is a tool to help me always keep my portions in control. I am going to have to track what I eat for the rest of my life, and be very aware of what I am eating. I think my sleeve is a tool that will help me do all of that easier and not feel hungry or deprived. There is no reason to stop doing keto now, like in the past, when I had issues with being full or feeling constantly deprived. Feeling almost stuffed off a few ounces of food is a luxury you won't understand until you feel it.

My program is protein, veggies/fruit, and some carbs. Stay 5 grams of fat or less per serving. No added sugar. I don’t count calories. Eat till comfortable, no more. Keto foods are tricky because some are great, but some contain too much fat. Seems to be working and doable long term.

Yes, I'm to do 2 Protein shakes and sensible dinner. Unlimited diet soda Water ss Jello. I have to admit I have been doing one shake a day a dinner as I'm eating Breakfast late. I have had a few snackings such s a handful of roasted sunflower seeds and yes once I did have about a 1/4 cup of rice. I have not had sweetsop carbs. I have some keto sticks and have checked my urine and they show small ketones. Maybe I'm not eating enough but im scared cause when I did have another shake my weight went up. I just can't get the last 2 lbs off.

I've read over and over that we have to learn how to cook to prevent burnout. So today I cooked a keto chicken dish. It was good but yeah, I have no enthusiasm for the cooking. It doesn't help that I used to like to bake fattening things. Cooking, meh. Also, it's so hot I hate to heat the kitchen up. I'm also two months out and I'm just now starting to exercise. I had zero energy and am just feeling more normal now. Hang in there. You'll find foods you enjoy again.

I bought an air fryer & it's the best thing ever. I loved fried food (like fried chicken). I found a Ketos recipe using baking powder for the chicken & put it in my air fryer & it tastes the same except it's not fried & healthier. Height: 5'0" Weight for WLS consultation: 216 lbs. Surgery date: 2/13/17 Goal: -71 lbs for healthy BMI (about 145 lbs). Current weight: 145 lbs, now ready to lose 15 more past goal. My profile picture is not me. It's my "FITspiration" body.

Tracking what you eat is the best starting place. You need to focus. Try not to graze all day if you are because you will eat straight around your sleeve. Set yourself up for three meals a day and supplement with a Protein shake if you're starving at some point in between. I think a lot of people get their lunches and stuff down by eating it over the course of several hours. If you're done eating, be done. Keto will focus you. I also agree you should begin exercising if you have not. Weights, cardio. I do an hour of cardio 6 to 7 days per week. I work with a trainer for four.

I was basically doing Keto the couple of weeks before surgery. Didn't really loose while getting off sugar; was up a couple of pounds at my 1 weeks pre-op. I was so bloated from the hormone dump... But my surgery went well and my liver looked amazing! (I know because they showed me pictures.) Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Update, after another week of struggling to eat anything that is not liquid, I have been able to get the ultrasound done, and not gallbladder is present, not even small stones, totally clean. The next step is to get the endoscopy done. In the meantime I start to consider 3 new scenarios: 1) anxiety. This could trigger reflux and extrasystole and after 3 months of lockdown could be possible....but I am not feeling stressed at all 2) 3 months of KETO destroyed my stomach and now I need a month of detox. Be honest I had my keto January to March and then I stopped because I have started to have these problems (In March was only about strong reflux, but not extrasystole. 3) Gas problems. I have noticed that the amount of gas I produce is equal to a cow, this could push the stomach up and compromise the cardiac to close properly and for this reason reflux start to get worst Let me know if you guys have the same problems too.. So, keep you posted, to help other people that could go through this after the gastric sleeve. Cheers I will do the

I'm only a year out and I feel you. I have lost and regain x10. I'm on meds for my depression and it isn't making things better. I have to tell myself the my life isn't over I have to keep trying I will not fail. I dont care how many resets , keto, counting calories I have to do to teach myself that I can do this. We call can do this.

I posted this in another thread, but I thought I would try here too, just in case I might get more/different responses. Here goes: So I'm hoping to hear from anyone with a high BMI that got the sleeve and had a lot of success. My current BMI is 63. My goal weight is 200 pounds, which means I need to lose 190 pounds. For various reasons I chose the sleeve over the bypass, and I know bypass patients lose more than sleeve patients do. BUT...I have no issues following the diet, and once I lose some weight I will start working out again (I did Keto and lost almost 100 pounds over 7 months, but then it just started creeping back up and no matter how much I restricted my carbs and worked out, I couldn't keep the weight down and I got frustrated and quit), but I worry that I won't be able to hit my goal even if I stick to the diet and work out. I have MS, so strengthening my muscles and losing the weight is a must to keep my mobility and reduce the pain. I also desperately want to get rid of my diabetes and high blood pressure. And I'm hoping losing the weight will help my asthma a little. BUT... is this possible with the sleeve? I'm so excited about the surgery, but is it really possible to lose that kind of weight with the sleeve? Has ANYONE on here done it, or even come close? This just has to work. I wasn't always overweight. I used to be a size 6, but when I had my son back in 98, my PCOS jump started and I put on close to 100 pounds and only lost maybe 25. No matter what i did, I couldn't lose it. Then I had my daughter and gained close to the same amount, and was never able to lose any of it. Then I did keto, succeeded for a while, then it failed and I gave up. And now here I am. Do I have any hope at all of hitting my goal weight?

I had lapband surgery in August of 2008. I only ever lost 35 lbs. About two years in, half of my band collapsed and wouldn’t hold fluid at all. In 2015 I went to the doc for a revision to sleeve. My doc would not convert from band to sleeve due to increased leak risk. He recommended bypass and my insurance quickly approved. I didn’t want bypass and didn’t go through with it. I tried keto and lost 50 lbs. I didn’t keep it off and was back up to 285 which was my initial band weight the first of this year. I decided to have bypass this year and had to fight insurance for 5 months which was crazy because I was in the same position I was in in 2015. On July 2nd I had my band removed, bypass and my gallbladder removed. I stayed one night in the hospital and went back to work part time a week later and full time a week after that. I’m due to start any diet I want this weekend. This surgery has been a walk in the park for me. No problems at all and finally no stuck food in my throat! I’ve lost 18 lbs and am excited for what’s to come. Why did I wait so long?! If you are on the fence do it ... your life will be so much better. =)

I don't know if this is normal, but it doesn't surprise me. You are getting probably fewer calories than you're used to. Many people talk about feeling really terrible with headaches and other symptoms when they start the liver shrink diet due to "keto flu." I know when I first started eating only 1200-1400 calories in preparation for surgery I started being cold and tired all the time, but that is pretty normal for me when I'm eating less. Also, I wanted to go to bed early because I didn't want to eat any more. I don't have trouble getting up in the morning because I'm a morning person, but that's just me. I would give it a few days and see if it gets better, then maybe call your surgery center to see if they have any recommendations. The good news is that most people say they have loads more energy a few months after surgery (once their body recovers!) than they did before surgery.

Has anyone gone into Ketosis at 2 weeks out from surgery? I haven’t bought the strips yet as I haven’t even thought about Ketosis because I’ve been focusing on maintaining with the diet. I have what looks to be a Keto rash and my breath smells like all the time now. Dr told me to monitor the rash and although he didn’t say anything about Keto rash it looks exactly like the pics I’ve seen online. Anyone else have this issue throughout their journey?

Yeah, great stuff! So it's different for some of us...I was in ketosis before surgery and am keto adapted (long term since basically 2000 with a little time off for surgeries and poor behaviors through that time). And you make a great point about the IV fluids having sugar in them. I don't know of too many surgeons who want to risk putting you under while in deep ketosis. Maybe bariatric surgeons are different? Dunno. But my PS who did all of my breast recon work could smell it on my breath and skin and would say, that he would just give me some "juice in my iv" to bring me back into glycolosis before putting me under. He did explain why and said there weren't enough hours in his world for that risk on a daily basis with all his patients. But I do know that I also routinely come out of the hospital 5-15lbs heavier than when I went in and part of it is optimized hydration from the ivs, extra surgical inflammation in the tissues themselves, any extra stuff they put in (like my implants which may be about 1lb each lol). Plus the crap food that seems to have sugar in everything!!! (Even though i never ate anything knowingly that had sugar -- ie reg jello, juice of any kind, reg Gatoraide, high carb protein drinks, mashed taters, VERY little mashed beans, etc.) So I think there may be more to the hospital part than ketosis/glycolosis and water weight. I also know I had the 3 week, 6week, 3 month, and 6 month stalls. GAH!!! So hard and frustrating. LOL. And I was deep into ketosis at those times from each stage. So I just think stalls happen. Weight loss is non-linear. LOL. It just isn't. I lose, get to a new low, then bounce up and around for a few days before resuming going back to a new low...

Hello, Newbie Terri here. Saw my surgeon Wednesday, almost there! He wants me to lose 10-15 pounds pre-surgery. I then saw his nutritionist yesterday and she gave me a Keto food plan to assist in this weight loss. I dont have a surgery date so this isnt a pre-surgery plan...there's too many non-clear liquidy things on the list...LOL I've had some success on the Atkins plan but this looks a little different since I am allowed coffee, nuts, seeds, protein shakes and 1 serving of fruit a day. Does anyone have any good keto recipes or direct me to a good bariatric keto blog? I don't know what I don't know so please help me thank you

Explain

My brother thinks he's an honorary member of the food police around me. He will see me eating a half flatout wrap with a grilled salmon patty and tomato/spinach, and ask if I should be eating the wrap...All while he is eating his salmon patty on a 200+ calorie buttered bun with mayo, two slices of cheese, no veggies, and French fries on the side. I just have to laugh. I know he cares, but it is funny nonetheless. I just pull out myFitnessPal, and show him my food stats. That usually gets him to zip it. For some reason, I keep having to tell him that I am not on a keto or other low carb diet. Oh well, he is the only one that ever comments about what I eat. Everyone else just keeps their comments/questions to themselves.

I am so glad to hear that the band has helped so much in your journeys! To be honest, I don't know how much Fluid I have in my band at this point, though I don't think it's too much. The doctor I saw today pretty much told me that he will no longer perform lap-band surgery due to the failure rate. I just have a difficult time understanding/believing that completely emptying the band/having it removed will make me regain 140+ lbs, when I lost nearly 50 by lifestyle changes. I eat calorie-dense foods that are high in fat. I'm pretty sure I ate many more calories when doing a less restrictive low carb diet and still lost before hitting a pleateau around between 160-170. I wouldn't be surprised if I ate 1600+ calories at that time while losing and maintaining. Mind you, I was likely averaging that many calories with the band, not without. I learned that what you fuel your body with is more important that calories in/calories out. Low carb/keto just works for me and has helped in so many ways. I currently average 1200 calories daily and have been slowly/steadily losing at that amount. I tend not to over eat a lot, though I have my days sometimes. The reason for the current calorie restriction is so I can lose those last stubborn 5-10 pounds. I don't know if many banders track their calories, though I know when I was first banded, I was lucky if I even ate 800 calories daily. How many calories do you all average daily? Do any of you keep track? This is why I am having a hard time understanding how just the act of removing the band will cause my body to go crazy, cause me to go back to my old eating habits, and regain it all back. This is essentially what my doctor told me would happen, though I eat a lot more than I did when I was first banded and have lost and maintained since.