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Wondering what other folks maintenance diets are like? How many calories, what types of foods, number of meals / snacks etc? I'm meeting with my nutritionist to tweak mine, I think I probably need to vary my diet a little bit and figure out how to maintain for the long term. Right now my diet consists of protein centered meals (eggs and sausage for breakfast, ground turkey with sour cream and taco shells for lunch, some kind of lean meat for dinner (4-5 oz) and usually 3 or so snacks throughout the day, which range from pure carbs (pretzels and hummus or chips) to more protein heavy (Greek yogurt). There's certain things I'd like to eat that I really still struggle with due to restriction (vegetables, more than a small amount of fruit and any kind of hard core starch like potatoes, rice or pasta are painful after more than maybe 1 oz). To get enough calories my goto is peanut butter toast, nuts or sometimes a protein shake smoothie. Daily calories for me are around 2,000 and probably vary from 1500 - 2500 depending on what I'm doing. At that level I'm slowly losing weight What's your program like? can/could you eat stuff like potatoes in any quantity 10 months out?

I had the same starting weight (304) and some similar NSAID issues (have inflammatory arthritis). After talking to the DR I went with a sleeve, but knew I'd need to work hard to make sure I got the weight loss I wanted out of it. It's been 10 months and I'm VERY glad I made that decision. Here are some key points to think about: - I eat out a lot for work, so wanted to be able to continue that. The sleeve lets me do this, albeit with a smaller portion, the bypass wouldn't have - I NEED NSAIDs unfortunately, right now I'm having a severe flare up of arthritis and am using NSAIDS, which are ok with the sleeve per my surgeon (just liquid caps VS pills). If I couldn't take them I'd be on some other much more severe drugs. - I can eat a somewhat normal and varied diet. This is important, especially now that I've hit goal and am struggling a bit to keep weight on (I'm very active). I think I'd have a serious problem with the bypass and my physical activity would be limited if I wanted to maintain weight. I do a mostly protein diet now with some fruits and vegetables and limited carbs. - I was worried about long term nutrition and with the sleeve I'm able to maintain my nutritional levels mostly via diet (I have to take a multi vitamin). I would sit down with your surgeon and ask them what they would do in your situation. That's what I did and he didn't hesitate when he said do the sleeve. The surgery was fairly easy and recovery was quick. I'm sure the bypass would have also been effective, but am really happy with what I chose to do and glad that I can be sort of normal now.

I picked a number that I had previously been at and felt like I was a good weight and on the edge of 'too thin' (could see my ribs). I chose 190 based on that. My practice doesn't really emphasize the goal and didn't even write it down. As I got close to 200 my nutritionist started to talk about stopping losing weight. One thing I didn't take into account with 190 was that I now have some excess skin (thankfully it's not bad), but that skin weighs something and I can't lose it normally. That means that 190 now might be closer to 180 or 175 then, which was WAY too thin. After talking with the DR and nutritionist they suggested around 200 lbs because visually i was a good weight and athletically I was in great shape, which was the goal. BMI is useless for me because I have a long torso and a lot of muscle. I have struggled a bit to maintain around my goal and when I dip into the lower 190's I can tell, i don't feel good and it effects my athletic performance, around 200 is perfect. Right now I'm fighting to stay at 200 because I'm very active and now when I'm busy I forget to eat I can accidentally drop 5 - 10 lbs quickly and then have to fight to gain it back (doing that now). So short answer is you can pick a number to start, it doesn't' really matter. What does matter is when you get close to a healthy weight listening to your team and your body to find what 'feels' right for you and looks good. I would recommend trying to pick a weight to stay at after the lose phase is over so you can make sure you don't start regain or lose too much if you're still in that first 18 or so months when it's easy to lose.

I am one who disappeared. I lived on this site for several months in 2008 (when I got my band. I actually lived here for over several months before, learning what I had to do and getting new habits in place. Stopping soda was hard. Going completely sugar free was harder. By the time I had the surgery done, I was already eating like a bandster. I think I stayed active on the site for a year or so after that. I wasn't an ideal lapband candidate because I spent so much time in a wheelchair due to Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Weight loss was slow, but after the first year I found a doctor locally who gave me fills. Did the lapband force me to lose weight?-- no. But it kept me from regaining much. That was fine with me. I'd dieted and lost weight hundreds of times, but it always came back with more. So I lived a low carbohydrate life-- green veggies, an occasional tiny slice of melon or bowl of berries, protein powder smoothies and meat and eggs. I could only lose weight if I went below 1000 calories, and I did that a few weeks at a time. I tried many exercise programs, but my health prevented most of them, so my weight loss was slow. Sometimes I cheated and ate normally, and gained a few pounds. But mostly, the weight loss held. Fast forward to now. I have lost 160 pounds, and have 100 more I should lose. But my band has slipped and I can't have fills until it is checked. Tomorrow I go in for the endoscopy. I've read a lot of stories about how problems can develop after 8-10 years. And I am there. So I have decided to opt for the sleeve. My doctor says I need to wait until spring because I had a stroke, and he wants my body to recover. I hear there isn't the problem of being stuck. I feel I will have to be careful not to make my stomach stretch, but that was a consideration with the band also. I'm already used to chew, chew, chew, and having my food cut into tiny pieces. I know that hobbling helps food go down (I can't walk right anymore) The band has been good to me and I've developed good habits. I think it might be easier to lose weight with the sleeve. My doctor actually wanted me to have a sleeve ten years ago, but insurance wouldn't cover it. I hope they don't have to remove the band early and let my body heal before switching to the sleeve. But if they do, I hope my good habits will keep me from regaining much. I can't encourage people enough, early in their band journey they need to follow the rules and make them habit. I was told by my doctor to cut everything the size of a pencil eraser. I still make mistakes and get stuck, but it always goes down. The only time the band swelled completely shut was during cancer treatment, the week before I started chemo. I had an appointment to get the band emptied, but it swelled shut 4 days before. Couldn't even swallow my saliva. Something everyone should know--when you get sick, the band swells. be it the flu or cancer, the stress from your body will cause the band to swell. Sometimes, food getting stuck was the first symptom I'd notice. So if you get sick, eat more liquid food--smoothies, soups, and drinks allowed on your diet plan. I make my smoothies with milk/cream, a carrot (not exactly okay on low carb, but I can get away with it) protein powder, and maybe a leaf of chard. I never could stomach a green smoothie, but a dab of greens in the smoothies is not noticeable. So I'll haunt the place for a bit and disappear again. For me, the lapband has been a good experience.

ahhhhhh to be a newbie/virgin again i remember when!! newbie since 2011 virgin.....19.....🤣 good luck congrats on surgery kathy

Miz60 I’m doing something similar 16 oz Water but adding my collagen peptides to my coffee 40 calories-and 10 grams Protein. Then waiting to do Breakfast at 11ish. When I do this lunch at 2:30 dinner at 6:15 or so. then water and sf ice pops till bed. I’m not doing Snacks much anymore wich is good. I think my mid day snacking was my downfall

Give it time. You will need to get closer to goal before relief. My arthritis doc said that for every 10% of total weight you lose, you will feel incrementally better. He's so far been dead on target. My bursitis in each hip and my SI joints are so much better as is the DDD stuff. Hope you start feeling it soon. Congrats (major congrats) on coming so far, so quickly!!

Well, I'll continue to post into the ether. Cuz you know...that's how I roll--just me and the crickets (and gobs of ketogenic protein=60g and "high fat"=about 35g-ish, hehe) I miss all my IF buds. I repeat, that my way is the ONLY way -- that works for me. *snick* I do not think anyone should do things this way. Cuz you need to figure out and find your own way, and I honestly believe there are many paths to health. The goal is for each of us to pick one of those paths and follow it--and I will cheerlead the crap out of your journey and prolly be mildly jealous of your gorgeous food! (even though I'm enormously satisfied with my path). Still waiting today to see about my re-test on the potassium. It's kinda a PIA, and unsettling. I don't like things hanging over me to do and the doc is almost 1 1/4-1 1/2 hours away. So it is "a process." LOL. I don't know what time I will end up eating because of this--no idea if I need to be fasting...but if I haven't heard by 10:30am will call them again to find out. Weight is down. I'm now at 152.6lbs and it feels good. Trying not to get excited about the proximity to 1st Goal. Just trying to keep my head down. What do you have planned for the weekend? Anything fun? We're just staying home and catching up with stuff. I was told not to do anything strenuous which is so fu*king ambiguous. LOL. But I'm betting doing the dishes and laundry do not make it onto the strenuous list...just walking in the park at the lake up down hills, or continuing my "jogging" progression, you know--just the fun stuff. All menial schleppy-type jobs are still okey dokey. LOL. *snort*

I have never been made to feel so inadequate in my life. I am so disappointed in the way Brian Gary treated me. I received the gastric sleeve surgery from him on 09/12/2017. From the beginning, my very first visit with him was not very pleasant. I should have taken that as the red flag it was and taken my business elsewhere, but against my better judgement I preceded with him as my weight loss doctor. He didn't feel I needed the surgery. I would have rather him tell me he will not perform my surgery and for me to get another doctor. My visit with him on 10/17/18 proved to be the most disrespectful way I have ever been treated by anyone, especially my doctor. I have not lost but about 34 pounds in the year since my surgery and saw on this day I gained 11 of those pounds back. Already feeling bad enough, he made me feel much worse with the remarks he made to me. He told me I failed, there was nothing else he could do for me, maybe I could get on the Medifast diet with Dr. Jernigan and he didn't have to see me anymore. Really! The Medifast diet, after I have put myself through weight loss surgery. Instead of him asking what the problem might be and let's see how we can fix this, he humiliated me. I told him my sleeve has never restricted my food intake the way it should, not even from the very beginning. The hunger was still there and if it were not for the scars on my stomach, I wouldn't think I had weight loss surgery. I asked him if he removed the 75% of my stomach the way he was suppose to, he didn't give a yes or no answer, instead he said your sleeve is the same size as the lady I just saw and she's already lost 80 pounds. Talk about adding insult to injury. He told me people who don't do what they are suppose to do always find excuses. He never once offered to run an endoscopy, barium or any other test to see what might be causing the lack of weight loss I'm experiencing. Sure there are things I could have done better. I am new to this and needed my doctor's help, but instead I got turned away and told I was a failure and he didn't have to see be again. Your weight loss doctor is suppose to be a life time relationship to keep you on track and to make sure you are having no problems, like leaks, nutrient or vitamin deficiencies along with other problems that can come with weight loss surgery. I m having hair loss, bruising and pitching in my stomach, but did not feel comfortable telling him these things, because to me he just didn't care one way or the other. The bariatric group I am a member of could not believe this. These people had their surgery before me, some during the same time as me and others after me and have lost anywhere from 70 to over a 100 pounds. Most of them still can't eat more than a few mouthfuls. When I told him I can take in more food than I should be able to, he said the stomach is a muscle and it stretches. This is not supposed to happen this fast, maybe some years down the road, but not right after you have surgery. My group asked me about my labs with him, I asked what labs? I have never done lab work in his office. I spoke with my insurance company and they have given me the green light to seek another weight loss doctor. I pray all was done right and it is a simple fix. I am not a failure, I feel my sleeve and doctor failed me. I pray he does not make anyone else feel this way.

I chose my initial goal as the high end of normal BMI; then I got down to my weight in college when I was an NCAA athlete; and now I’m at the low end of normal BMI but am not worried about it as my labs are great, I feel wonderful, and my docs aren’t concerned. I’m only 19 months post-gastric bypass so there’s room for bounce back and still be within normal BMI range. My horrible joint issues, especially knee pain, is sooooo much better at a lower weight that I don’t want to regain too much as that could lead to less mobility and early total knee replacement (bilaterally).

I had a little break down last night thinking about risks... part of it I think is coming from me losing a little weight like 10 lbs prior to the two week making a commitment to my nut about what I would do in my three weeks, and for whatever reason it is working a little bit for me like I haven't been able to lose 10 lbs in two years trying so many different ways... your not alone in the fear department and your not alone in feeling the same way of what is beyond the fear I have... I agree I hope it is the right choice, but I also feel like I can't keep going the way I am now, and I need to be around for my family. We got this though! See you on the bench!

Thanks opsMatt, I am Nowhere near Disney in Central Ohio, but I do have Kings Island,Cedar Point, the Columbus Zoo and the waning days of County Fairs to contend with, if not THIS YEAR surely 2019! Big Mama is in the process of metamorphosis into Cutie Pie! Gonna happen, it just takes a short while!🎢🎢🎢

Still scheduled for the 29th. Started my liquid diet today. TMI ALERT: And, of course, I also am starting my period. Which means I started my day with a migraine and will likely want ALL of the food. Just my luck. Still thinking about whether I really want to go through with this. Talking to my therapist tomorrow and need to make a decision. I'll do the liquid diet until I decide for sure. In the meantime, I'm stocking up on various protein powders, etc. Went to the hospital's support group last night and it was REALLY stressful. Lots of people talking over each other at the same time, lots of chaos. It just isn't well run. I'm required to go, but it was so stressful (not even the stuff people were saying, but just the noise and having 10-15 people all answering anyone's question at once). Made me nauseous just being there.

OK... I was off track for about a month or so and when I went to my Dr, my total weight loss was 45 pounds for my 6 month check up. So I haven't lost the 55% weight loss I was supposed to have lost, I was off by about 5.6 pounds. Sounds like no biggie to people that haven't had the surgery, but it was huge disappointment to me and an eye opener because I knew I was eating BAD. I told myself I was going to get back on track and quit letting food be my Higher Power. However, I have had a lifelong habit of when I was up late at night or woke up to snack. I am now on a new medicine that is not related to my weight loss journey and I take it at night because it makes you sleepy (it's not a sleeping med it's for bipolar). But I have found myself the first night snacking on a bag of my husbands Cheetos for work and last night a bowl of dry frosted mini wheats. I even woke up with a mouth of chewed cereal still in my mouth. Anyway, for those of you who have a habit or had of snacking late at night, what have you done to break that. I had tried last night to save an ounce of my turkey breast from dinner so I would have a healthy "snack", but I ate it before I went to sleep then woke up with cereal. I even got my 64oz of water in yesterday and more without a struggle. I felt better yesterday, the day before and so far today better than I have in a while. I just can't quit snacking at night. When I say at night, I go to bed between 10-12 lately and I wake up between 12:30-2 depending on when I went to sleep.

It was a good week but tapered off by 10 days

Hello All. I'm new to the forum but am having the sleeve on Monday 10/22. Excited and nervous. I've followed my pre-op diet to the letter and have lost 11 pounds, so that's nice. I have a question that really can't be asked delicately, so here goes. Has anyone else experienced daily diarrhea with their low carb, high protein pre-op diet? My intestines don't seem to like me much right now, bit otherwise I'm doing great. Not nearly as hungry as I thought I'd be, which is nice. Well, just wondering. Wish me luck, and thanks to everyone for sharing their stories. It has helped me feel much more prepared.

My Dear Bari Sisters and Brothers. I’m alive! Hallelujah! But I’ve been through the ringer. The ER visit last Thursday did not help. I was throwing up every 10-15minutes on Friday. It got...bad....Started having numbing of fingers and toes and felt like an Elephant had taken a seat on my chest. Hubby failed 911. Long story short, I wounded up in bad shape at my surgeons hospital and was admitted right away. I was displaying classic acute Stricture symptoms. And I was severely dehydrated. I thought they would just scope and dilate me, and that would be that. But nope! Surgeon was gone for the day and I had to begin a LONG and exhausting wait for Monday to come, and I had not eaten since Wednesday night! Ofcourse they did their favorite thing and put me on Nothing by mouth... It was torture. Thirsty, naucious, the minutes oozed like molasses, waiting, suffering. They tried to make me comfortable but...the wait was excruciating. My highlights were the kids and hubby visiting in the evenings. I hated kids to see me this way. Monday morning finally came and I was SO excited. Relief was surely on the way. So you can imagine how I literally BLEW A FUSE when my surgeon waltzed in at 1:30PM and instead of prioritizing me and putting me out of my misery, asap, he proceeded to to into Surgery to do a Tummy TUCK! Lets just say I got the hospital director involved. Problem is...he owns the whole center, he’s the ultimate CEO, what’s she gonna do...call the boss? GRRRRR.....I was livid! The added stress is that I knew I had a flight to Europe on Thursday (ie. Today!). I was not scoped till 5:30PM Monday, and was in limbo for a while from anesthesia. They kept me Tuesday through evening to make sure I could tolerate liquids, the softs and fed me well before they cut me loose. It tasted like heaven. heck, my shoe would have tasted like heaven at that point. Got home at mid-night Tuesday and had one short Wednesday (in my compromised state of energy), to get the house as in order as I could, work, pack, think through what I need to take to be successful on my first Airplane ride and long haul trip since surgery). Stress was the word, but i prayed my way through it. I even got a USB chargeable blender on Amazon. The kids were so happy to have mama home. My 8 year old son and 6 year old daughter. And then came this morning...and as I was dropping them in school, I had to let them know mama has to go out of town till next Friday. :( I bearly made my flight. I have a whole suitcase of Bariatric stuff. If I had more time I would have documented what all I prepared. But alas, I was RUSHING! I just landed in New Orleans and the first leg of my journey went well. I ate a bit of airport bought humus on the flight. Waited 2mins between bites for good measure! Had two mini pretzels and drank water in between. I am about to board the big Transatlantic flight. Nervous about how I will do. I will always live with the trepidation that a Stricture might return. Cabin pressure and all...but God has not given me the spirit of fear, so I press on. Hope you are all doing great. I have had zero chance to catch up. Please, do say a little prayer for me! Love and hugs, PS: Attached area pics of the lovely flowers kids and hubby brought, my heavenly first meals, and the card my son made for me.

Hi everyone my dated is 11/19 thanksgiving week I cannot imagine what’s that going to be like. Usually thanksgiving is one of my favorite holiday a pass to eat everything I want with extra helpings.

Same here originally I thought my date was 11/6 but it’s confirmed for 11/19. I’m excited and yes nervous also. I hope surgery goes well and not to much pain afterward.

My bypass surgery was yesterday, 10/17 and so far so good. Mostly it feels like I did about 200 situps😂. No nausea yet...

Absolutely. I take a big drink about 15 mins before I start my meal because I always seem to be thirsty then. My surgeon said wait 10 mins before eating...I wait 15. Then after eating, no fluid until 30 or more mins, per surgeon. It’s second nature now. That’s really how everyone should eat, not just BariatricPal patients.

(10/2 sleeved) The small sips and swallows improve really quickly. My first week I had a hard time with water and a drinking most things now I have no problems drinking and almost taking regular sips. So much changes every day! I’m ready for some substance but I have to wait until Tuesday! 😡 I am traveling from Dallas to Chicago this weekend for a wedding so please wish me luck around all of the good food and alcohol!! I really want a glass of wine!

Hello all my friends. Sorry I have not keep up on this thread .There no excuse. Talking about vacation,went to the Anarondike Mountains in August for a week with my brother and we hike all over the place. Lost 10 lbs and put them back on when I got home. The reason is I walked miles every day up there . At home I am walking around a mile and half almost everyday but not even close to what I was doing up there. No worry it will come off. I'm feeling Great! Most days except for my left knee. Getting it drained tomarrow. Can,t wait. Lol. I have surpassed my goal weight and still want to lose a little more and deffently need to firm up the skin . I have lost 108lbs so far but put those 10lbs back on and stalled or I would be down 118 lbs . It will come back off .This weight loss has given me my life back. Always wanting to do stuff I hadn't done in years. Best decision I ever made to have this Surgery. This post is a little long but I wish all of you the Best. If you ever need to talk or help let me know I can give you my number. Thanks again to all of you for the support. Your bariatric pal Joe.

Hi! My surgery was 10/16 had a rough time with the anesthesia. Keeper dry heaving. Couldn’t keep anything down. Yesterday went much better and I was able to leave the hospital. Today I’ve been resting. Went for a few walks. Not to much pain just a lot of gas and burping when I drink. I’m trying to get in the protein drink and water but I’m not stressing about it. I don’t have to much pain at all. Just feel a little sore. Best of luck in your recovery!

My first week was horrible! I went in for the sleeve and they found a large hiatal hernia which needed repair and I had a ton of scar tissue from the previous lapband that they removed. So I was very very nauseous. I had surgery on a Monday 10/1 and Friday I was back in the hospital for iv fluids. I was in so much pain and so nauseous I couldn’t drink. I went back to work the following Monday (I had no choice) and I also have 3 kids. So I have been tired and definitely pushing it a little too much but doing a bit better. Adding some substance other than fluids helped my nausea. I’m down 26 lbs (14 from pre op and 12 since surgery) pretty happy just wish I was stronger. And my back is killing me also still!!! It has been a roller coaster! I hope you’re doing ok and feel better. OMG. So sorry to hear. I also had a hiatal hernia but it was small. They sent nausea meds home with me that I took for one day. Little pills that dissolve under tongue. You are certainly a trooper going back to work so soon and well on your way to your goal. Keep up the great work. Hopefully you will feel better soon!