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In anticipation of and hoping for a 4/11-ish surgery date (week of Spring Break), i'm going to start the Liver Reduction Diet next Wednesday, 3/30...the day after my stress test. Can anyone recommend an approved Protein shake that doesn't taste disgusting? I cannot stand the taste of Premier Chocolate. Thanks in advance. PS: I am typically very easy going about how things taste, but I do not like the taste of Premier.

GradyCat- how many oz of meat do you eat at a time? I’m not sure what my volume intake should be, if it’s still just one cup 3 times a day. I’m fairly certain I have stretched my pouch out and can eat way more.

My surgery was on 2/25 and I like some of you have been having trouble getting fluids and proteins in as well. It has truly been a struggle for me! I was having severe pain and cramps for 2 weeks with even drinking water. I've gotten through that stage and can now eat and drink without much pain yet I still have trouble with what to eat and just how to get my protein in. During those two weeks of struggle, I was dehydrated so at least now I am able to drink fluids. I had to go to ER to get rehydrated with fluids and electrolytes. I try to drink protein waters to get both in at the same time but I must say I still feel at times I am having a hard time. I don't feel that I get much support from my WLS Team other than them telling me to just keep trying (as if I am not). By the way, I have only lost 5 lbs since my surgery. They tell me that I haven't lost weight due to not getting my proteins in and that I need to start exercising. I am still very weak and unable to stand for long periods of time (more than 20 minutes or so) without having cramps or pain in my stomach and once my work day is over I usually lay around or sleep the rest of the day. Thank God that I work from home. I am staying hopeful that this is yet one more phase that I have to go through and soon I will be on the other side of this as well. Is anyone else experiencing these types of symptoms 4 weeks out from surgery?

I think most of us were prescribed ursodiol for the first few months to lessen the chance of gallbladder issues. my surgeon prescribed omeprazole for a year, but I had surgery back before the downside of PPIs were widely known. From what I can tell (by hanging out on bariatric forums), most surgeons just prescribe it for around 3-6 months post-surgery now.

That's just a week away! Good luck on your WLS journey.

Do you think it's possible that it could be a stricture? Remember I'm pre op for RNY so I have no personal exerience with this and I'm still learning about RNY complications, but I've seen @catwoman7 speak of them in these threads. I believe she's said a person is most at risk from surgery to month 3? I'm not sure if I remember that correctly. But check the symptoms of stricture and see if it sounds plausible.

@SmankySo I had an appt with my family physician. Here usually FPs take over after the surgery to monitor the blood work and the other medical aspects. She thinks may be calcium supplements may be causing the constipation, bloating and feeling stuffed. Asked me to cut down on the supplements since my blood work looks good and I also consume more than enough dairy to get my calcium naturally. Today I feel better. Another reason could be my periods, which happened after 6 months or so. So I guess I had forgotten how it felt to have periods lol. So bloating and all could be because of it too. Will give it a week or so for body to settle with reduced calcium supplement and periods. Hopefully bloating and all subsides soon.

It was really hard the first two weeks but then things got so much better! Eating some new things but mostly still wanting everything soft. I’m down 30 too. Not getting enough protein or water but still recovering well. Thank you for the prayers and prayers to you and everyone!

Thanks for the input! I’ve heard horror stories of people looking pregnant for months afterwards or horrible infections, always having to wear compression, etc… From the time I was 13, I’ve had the most horrible legs/thighs. Even now at a size 6, I’ve got thunder thighs that are half cellulite, half hanging skin. Add in my loose tummy skin and I’m jealous of ET’s body. I’ve got a very strong core thanks to yoga and pilates and my PS said he doesn’t think I will need any kind of muscle repair. If you pull back my tummy skin, I’ve actually got some impressive abs! I’ve had 2 kids, but no C-sections so that’s good. Also, many of the horror stories are from women who had a much higher BMI going into plastics than I have. I’m mostly worried about how the thigh lift will go. I’ve purchased a few professional summer dresses that I can wear compression shorts under for when I’ll go back to work, which will be 3 weeks PO. If I have a good experience with this and like the work, I’m totally saving up for a facelift within the next couple of years. Lol, work and save. Have surgery. Work and save. Repeat. 🤣

Okay so lets both take a deep breath together and break some of this down: Almost everyone here is here because we’ve had a history of eating/food/metabolism/addiction/toxic relationship issues. Maybe I’ve left a couple of things out, but that’s a good starting place. Let me start by saying that I’m now 3 years and 2 months from VGS. I had exceptional results. Lost over 100% excess fat, exceeded everyone’s expectations, and have more or less maintained. I lost 135 pounds in 9 months. Went from 267-132 (SW was 246). I’ve managed to maintain between 137-147 in the last 2 years after the free-fall dropped me down to 132. I was a hot mess at 132– BMI was right at 20% and people asked me all the time if I was sick. What I’m saying is the 10 pound “regain” is okay because I know that’s where my body needs to be. That being said, it’s still work. I still have to monitor what/how much I put in my mouth. Sometimes I tend to drink too much and I realize I’m using alcohol as a sub for food and then I stop and regroup. Sometimes I will find myself emotionally eating and have to stop and regroup. Sometimes I’m having a bad day or I’m on vacation and I just don’t give a damn. Afterwards I will stop and regroup. Only you (working with a therapist) can help deal with those habits, recognize them either during or after, then course correct. YOU do have all the power. Families can and will be toxic. If at all possible, have an exit strategy when it becomes too much. Have a go-to that doesn’t involve comforting with food and do that activity. Even if it’s as simple as putting on earbuds and listening to a guided medication. Even if you can’t physically exit the room. Also, I’m going to recommend that-for the short term at least-you’re going to have to let a certain amount of it roll off of you. You have decided a change is needed, but others aren’t compelled to go along with. In a perfect world, they would, but none of us got morbidly obese by living in a perfect world. I’m going to come out front and tell you that you WILL lose friends over this. There will be some relationships that WILL NOT be the same. They might end forever. You are about to embark on an amazing, difficult, rewarding, trying, and fantastic journey. It will be ugly at times. You will have highs and lows that will give you whiplash. You will not be the same person next year that you are this year. You MUST be prepared for all of this and be willing to embrace the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s okay to vent. This is one of the safest spaces ever so vent away unapologetically. I’m trying my best to take my own advice because I’ve got plastics set up for May and my husband and my son are the only other two people on the planet who are aware I’m going to do this. I’m keeping it a secret from the rest of my family because of how many of them reacted when I had WLS. If any of them notices (somewhat doubtful as I can hide a LOT of skin under my clothes and nobody is going to see me naked) I will tell them after the fact - unapologetically and with a challenge in my tone. That challenge will remind them of how far and how successful I’ve become since I started this journey in early 2018. You’ve got this. We are here to help

3 years, 2 months post VGS. I’ve gotten so used to my new stomach that I barely even register it anymore, but sometime we will go out to eat and I’ll get sad about how little I can still eat. Running errands last week, got hungry and decided to have some Mediterranean salad. It’s amazing how well this tool works even years later.

I did. March 9th. I'm on day 15 and I can finally have soft meats. It has been a struggle for me up to this point. Mentally draining and feeling weak. Plus, my daughter brought home a stomach bug last week 😅. Today was the first day I felt good enough to put on a dress and go out in the sun.

Hello everyone, I’m a little more than 3 years post VGS. I lost 125 pounds. Went from a size 24 to size 6 and have managed to maintain within a 5-8 pound window for the past 2 years. I’m a health care worker, so needless to say I’ve been a bit busy for the last 2 years. I’ve managed to save up for the plastics I want since my VGS ( 2 straight years of all the overtime I could work helped) and I’m now about 6 weeks away from the magic date. Me and my PS have decided on a TT with flank lipo, and a thigh lift. I’m a bit nervous about doing all of this at once, but I’ve only got one shot at getting the time off of work so it all has to be one surgery. I’m 5’7”, about 142-147, size 6-8 and in relatively good shape for a 53yo. Anyone else with my size range do this ? I’d love some tips and pointers. Oh yeah, because I can never do anything the “easy way” I will be in a walking boot due to some foot surgery I will be having 3 weeks prior to the plastics. The foot surgery is the only reason I will be able to be off work so it has to piggy-back off of that.

Hello February 2019 peeps! I’m doing okay. Gained 15 back from my all-time low, but maintaining within a 5-ish pound window now for about the last 15 months. Some days I wonder if I should try to get back into the 130’s ( I dropped all the way down to 133 at one point) but I’m hanging in the upper 140’s and feel like this is maintainable. For me, 2022 has been dubbed “The Year of the Foot” as I’ve already had one bunionectomy and will be having my left foot done next month. I was very happy to only gain 2 pounds in the 7 weeks I laid on my butt all day long with foot elevated. So here is me at 147 at my daughters wedding reception on March 5th. I was rocking a size small dress and- of course- my walking boot. I’m super excited to say that on May 10th I will be having plastics!! I’ve saved up and will be having a TT with flank lipo and a thigh lift. We are going to piggy-back it 3 weeks after foot surgery so I can minimize my time off work. Hope everyone is well. I miss you guys.

Congrats on having a surgery date. I have to do next week's stress test, and then hopefully I will have a date. Hoping for 4/11-ish. This entire process should count as one.big.stress.test! 🤒

On Monday I had my lap band removed, my hiatal hernia repaired and gastric bypass done. One night in the hospital and back home at 7:45 the next evening. Not a ton of pain but managing with gabapentin and Tylenol with oxycodone available. Right after, I felt I had eaten 3 Thanksgiving dinners, that is slowly going away. I’ve stuck to water and decaf iced tea with one Muscle Milk shake. I’ll do more shakes but preferably not those horrid BA meal replacement shakes. Staff at Fair Oaks Hospital were the most awesome group of people I’ve been with and I’m very grateful for them and my doctors. Now I need to learn how to properly feed my new postage-stamp-sized stomach. Thanks for reading!

I did not smoke immediately pre op but I was a past smoker. I just wanted to say that if you do want to quit and are able to quit for a couple of weeks for the surgery it gets much easier to choose to remain that way. You have to want to do it but if you do, don’t sell yourself short just because it’s hard in the beginning. For me it got easier every day I went without.

I'm on week 3 after the sleeve and I've stopped too it feels like. But I'm positive that things will get better as time goes on.

just so you know, a 10- to 20 lb rebound from your lowest weight is VERY common in year 3. I think it's just your body settling in to a weight it feels comfortable at - your new "set point". Of course, you can still lose again if you cut enough calories - but it could be a bit of a struggle if you're fighting against where your body wants to be. I've been dealing with the same thing since year 3 (and here I am in year seven...). different things work for different people. I count calories, which my dietitian hates (she's into "intuitive eating"), but I'm obviously not cutting back enough or I'd be losing weight. It's tough... I know other vets who've done Weight Watchers, Keto, and/or intermittent fasting. Whatever works - some approaches are more effective than others, depending on the person. to respond to your questions (sort of, anyway...), I don't do low carb - but the vast majority of my carbs are the healthy kind (fruit, veggies, whole grains). I have to average around 100 grams of protein a day because I malabsorb it (we discovered this pretty soon after my surgery), and I do manage to get that in every day. Other than protein, it's really just calories for me. If I stay in the 1500-1700 range, I can maintain my weight - but I'd really love to lose 10-15 lbs (!!)

A few things: 1. You are about six weeks out of surgery. At six weeks, I had lost some weight and a few people noticed, but not many. I had lost about 10% of my starting body weight at six weeks (according to your sidebar, you've lost close to 15%). I am at the seven month mark and I am finally around the point where random co-workers have really noticed my weight loss. Keep it up and the before and after photos will come (my before/after looks pretty shocking). 2. Even though I have a shocking before/after, I still don't see it in the mirror. Really. Truly. If I went solely off the mirror, I would say that my face looks a little thinner, but not much else. I didn't understand how a non-insane person could have body dysmorphia until I had this surgery. I have way more sympathy for people who are anorexic after this experience.

Hi, I just had surgery 2 weeks ago, so I don't have the best advice for you. But I do think you'd probably benefit from using the If It Fits Your Macros calculator to determine your protein, carb, and fat goals. https://www.iifym.com/macro-calculator/

I was going about once every 3 days, but recently I've been going daily. I added magnesium tablets to my morning routine and it's made a difference. I do believe a moderate level of activity combined with a minimum of 64oz water daily is also part of the reason they're moving. I'm taking iron so the magnesium offsets that.

I’m a little over 3 years post op and due to bad choices have gained 18 pounds from my lowest weight. I need ideas of a typical day of eating from others who remain diligent to a low carb diet. How much protein and veggies are you in taking and do you count calories. TIA!

Thanks and congratulations on your progress, I am sure you still looked cute in your big suit. I may be too focused on the before and after pictures and videos that I see online. The differences are so obvious and I start dreaming but then I see myself and ... oh!! sad reality!. I must be patient and hope that all this discomfort pays up some day. I do not complain I have never lost 35 pounds in 6 weeks before and I tried a lot harder than this.

I was a vegetarian for 3 years before I deployed and couldn't maintain that diet without eating garbage as a replacement. I used to LOVE these Gardein Chicken stuffed with spinach things. I have looked high and low for them and they're not made anymore but man were they good. They came in like single serving packages with one loaf of chicken per package.