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I have issues (digestive) when it comes to artificial sweeteners. I don’t particularly love the taste of most either. I knew going in I would have issues with the artificial sweetener in the pre-op liquid and post liquid stage when options are limited. Most times my sweet tooth is satisfied by fruits - but sometimes I want something more and try to use moderation. I have found built bars (especially the puffs), which do contain erythritol and were recommended by my nutritionist, more than satisfied my sweet tooth (and offer a nice protein boost) when I was eating solids. (That was pre-op… right now I’m a week out from being sleeved). Those were an occasional thing to tide me over on the go and keep me from getting to hungry and over eating. The Fairlife shakes, in moderation didn’t bother me, but when they were my primary source of nutrition - I struggled. I also have a milk allergy so I need to watch how much dairy I consume. I’m ok with a little - but too much and I get stomach cramps and digestive distress. When I called my nutritionist Monday because of the artificial sweetener causing some digestive irritation - she suggested moderation. One of the yogurts she suggested I try had cane sugar & fruit pectin. It was lower in sugar than regular, and had a bump of protein. I had two days to get through until purees, where I could add in real food and transition away from the shakes… so it was getting through. I try to make healthy choices, fresh fruit or no sugar added in general. Occasionally I have some things with artificial sweetener, but keep it limited because past experience has proven it will irritate and inflame my digestive system. I am working towards a balanced approach. My PCP (whose been my Dr for about 44 yrs now) has always told me he’d much rather I have less sugar in moderation than artificial sweetener as a rule. So I am trying to stay within my program guidelines and follow a balanced approach. It takes some creativity, but so far I am making it work. I have more to loose than you do, but I’m pleased with the progress I have made so far. Since I started my weight-loss journey I have lost about 75 pounds so far (50 leading up to my pre-op, 10 in the pre-op liquid phase & 15 since being sleeved last week). I might have had even better progress had I gone strictly sugar free … but I’m striving for maintainable, steady progress - something I can do forever not just a short term “diet”. Moderation seems to be working for me, but I will keep reassessing and working with my team and make adjustments as I go.

had another weight drop this morning… must have been retaining some water because it was 385.4! checked a couple times to make sure it wasn’t a fluke reading. confession time… part of me wishes i had confidence that i could keep this up and loose weight I desire without the surgery. yes, i have already changed my lifestyle and worked super hard to overcome binge eating and emotional eating…even if something happens and i can’t have surgery i will loose some weight and be better off because of the changes to me…… but i know it would be difficult keep up this particular diet long term. I love love love beans and legumes and sushi too much to be this strict all the time… I also know how hard it would be to really reach my goals without a lot of medical help at my weight. fighting biology sucks i want to be under 235 (150 more lbs) but secretly want to be under 200 (185 more lbs… aim for the stars!!)… mostly i just want to be somewhat normal and not always be the fattest person in the room or worried about if i can sit someplace … and stop getting “those” looks that people give ultra fat people… terrified that without surgery it will be ultra easy to become that binging person again… or simply that it will be too hard to fight the biology of my metabolism to really achieve what i want in a reasonable amount of time….each day i am getting older ya know;) so enjoying the accomplishment for now… i had an arbitrary goal to be 378 before surgery and it now seems reasonable since i still have a month… time will tell!

I have always had super dry skin, especially in the winter. I will get dry spots. I always drink plenty of water and use PRESCRIPTION lotions too. But, since surgery I have had a quarter sized dry spot right in the middle of my back that I can't get to go away. I don't know how it would be from surgery but it is weird that it happened all at the same time. I showed my doctor last time I was there, he confirmed it is just dry skin and to keep applying the lotion to it. Usually they go away but this one has been there for 5 months now..🤷‍♀️

I would buy as little as possible pre-surgery. Like others have said, recommend clearance or thrift store. I am 1.5 years post surgery. I bought clothes at every size. I found a store that sells Department store (Macys) close outs and sells them for $10. I was there constantly buying things as I lost weight. Became really friendly with the store clerk! My weight has been constant for months now, but I have so much fun trying and buying clothes, I still get things, but only if I love them and they’re a good price. I went from a size 18 to now holding steady for over eight months as a size four. I’m hoping to have plastic surgery to remove my extra skin by the end of the year, so I treated myself to two pairs of post-surgery pants I hope to fit in later. I also bought a dress my husband thinks I’m too old for, just because I can! Save your money now and enjoy the journey!

My skin has been exceptionally dry. I think it's from dehydration, which makes sense because I'm sure I don't yet drink enough. I'm hoping that's all it is for you!

My list contains 100% Isolate protein powder. Brands are unjury, celebrate, nectar, body fortress, inspire,isopure and dymatize. I am a little defeated right now cause I did loose the 5 pounds requested but have to start on the 31st with only water and 3 meal replacement shakes a day… I might die y’all. I could have done liquid easy cause I love soup but only 3 shakes???

Ok so according to this I’ve currently lost roughly 79.44% of excesses weight. The IBW for me is 136lbs. My ABW from my highest weight is around 155lbs. At my lowest weight I was 153lbs and I’m now around 180 depending on the day. Here’s a picture of me at my lowest weight (left) and now (right) in the same size scrubs. I have a TON of excess skin (plastics said it’ll take 2 separate surgeries to get it all) but I feel happier and healthier now than I did at my lowest weight.

I understand, but the problem is that for most obese people, the number these simplistic calculators spit out is way too low. None of them take into consideration that obese people have things like enlarged hearts, denser bones, more blood volume, extra skin, etc. in addition to the fat. While some of those things will eventually change over time, it's not nearly as quick as the fat loss, especially for bariatric surgery patients. I've seen way too many people shoot for weights that are unrealistic and frankly would be unhealthy for them. That's why I said pick a higher number and reassess there.

I loved it at the time, but looking at pictures of me at my lowest weight now (which was right smack in the middle of a normal BMI for my height), I looked pretty drawn. I look better now at this higher weight. The PA in my clinic said people who've lost massive amounts of weight look thinner that never-been-obese people who are the same weight because your bones and muscles are heavier. You needed a lot of bone and muscle to hold up all that weight. Granted, you do lose bone and muscle as you lose fat, but not all of it. And then there's excess skin - but that doesn't weigh very much. Maybe five lbs or so.

Well i never got to ideal according to that calculator. For me ideal is 141 and I only got to 169. I think I would’ve looked fine at that weight though if I could’ve gotten to it. For some reason I don’t have any excess skin or anything. I think the excess skin is part of what makes people look sorta drawn In the face but I’m not certain. Maybe because I was lower BMI to start?? I was also tiny my entire life so I’m used to seeing myself small. Like 120’s until after the bipolar Symptoms started. It’s like a switch flipped inside me and I just started gaining and never stopped. I would lose weight through diet of course but always gained it back.

Sure, I paid about $6900 after my insurance paid for the panniculectomy. That was the out of pocket portion to convert to a full tummy tuck. I paid my deductible and coinsurance for the insurance approved portion (my deductible was $400). In total, all of the skin removal (tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift, and liposuction of the back and neck/chin) was around $28,000.

I just was sleeved on 8/16. I have been over 300 pounds for YEARS… but as long as I was able to do what I wanted and needed to - I didn’t see the need. Last year I hit my heaviest weight ever at 382… and I was like NOPE this isn’t happening. I worked my butt off to loose weight and had a good start. Then I got sick and we found out my liver was enlarged (like 3x the size it should be) and my fatty liver was progressing to NASH and my liver function tests were concerning my drs. Finally I was ready to consider surgery. I lost about 55 pounds from my heaviest leading up to my pre surgery diet (over about 9 months). I had a few set backs with having covid during that time. My endocrinologist was pleased with my liver reduction (through palpitations) and knowing I was scared about surgery told me if I kept making progress I could hold off on surgery if I wanted. But I was to worried that there would always be another “set back” and my liver wasn’t anything I wanted to mess with. I lost another 12 pounds on my pre op diet. I asked my surgeon how my liver looked after surgery (there was a chance I was also going to end up with a liver biopsy in addition to a hernia repair) and she told me my liver looked fantastic and to keep doing what I was doing - no need for the biopsy. There’s no guarantees that weight loss would reverse my liver condition - but it was my best shot. However I was told if I did nothing it certainly would continue to deteriorate. I’m not quite a week out. I’m sore - occasional movements hurt, at times a bit nauseous (not horrible) and I’m sick of the liquid diet … but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. I have confirmation I’m on the right track and that means the world to me. I’m not looking to be a particular size or weight, I’m working towards being healthy and that includes my liver, joints and over all well being. My husband was supportive right from the beginning to do whatever I wanted to do. At times I wavered because I was scared - but he was my rock and honestly I think not doing something scared him more that the surgery (he was scared too). He sat in my drs appointment when the dr explained what the progression of my liver from NAFLD to NASH meant and what to expect if I didn’t make some real changes. My only advice is find a bariatric program you are comfortable with. It took me two tries. Have your boyfriend come along if he’s able and if not take someone you trust to be objective and SUPPORTIVE. Having that support helps. Also if you have a therapist talk to them about it - your concerns, fears, hopes for the outcome. And if you don’t have one, consider finding someone who deals with bariatric health. I see mine every two weeks and we always touch on where I’m at in the process - it has helped. No one can tell you what the right decision is for you, but I do hope you have support whatever you choose to do. Best of luck and please update how you are doing no matter what you decide.

I don’t have answer to your question, but I’m interested in the answer the the diarrhea. I’m the opposite. I haven’t had even a loose bowel movement since like day 6 of the pre-op diet. Passing plenty of gas but no “movement”. I’m assuming it’s because of the liquid diet - but I’m interested in others experience.

I tried WW a while ago, before WLS. I couldn't get into it. I just couldn't wrap my head around the "zero points" foods. The foods still have calories so how are they zero points. If I eat 3000 calories of grilled chicken I am still gonna gain weight. Anyway, my personal experience. I just couldn't do it. Do you track your foods and drinks? If not, try starting there. You don't need to eat 800 calories to loose weight, you just need to eat less than you currently are and less than your body burns. A lot of times what people think they eat vs. what they are actually eating is a big difference. So tracking helps with really knowing where you stand. Good luck.

5 months post op: No one has really ever say anything about how little I eat. Maybe because I have only really sat down at the table for a "real" meal with people who know I had surgery. As far as cookouts and group settings, etc. You kind of just eat randomly and maybe stand around or sit where ever with your plate so no one is really paying attention. I haven't had any Holidays yet, we have a huge family Christmas eve dinner every year and only 1 person in my family knows I had surgery. So, I do wonder how that will go. My entire family is obese, and everything revolves around food. But, I have lost 100+ lbs multiple times, so I think it will be easy to shrug off as "just be trying to loose weight again". The flip side, I will likely be pretty close to my goal weight by then. (I hope anyway) So at that point, they will probably be more focused on how much weight I have loss and I can easily explain eating less in result of a strict diet for so long. When I went out for surgery, I told work I was having a haital hernia fixed (which was true and mine was very bad). So I was on a strict diet for that with liquids and graduating back thru stages to normal foods. I kinda played it as well since I couldn't eat for a month it kick started my weight loss so I am just sticking with it and following through to keep loosing weight. So, they just think I am on a diet. They also know I have lost 100+ lbs in the past, so just stated trying to do it again and keep it off this time. As far as restaurants, I never had a server as if everything was ok. My wife and I share a meal a lot, so most of it gets eaten anyway. And so many people are obsessed with these "fad" diets, that I don't think most people even blink an eye anymore to strange requests. Like "no bun" or "no sauce" etc. I went to a sub shop because I was dying for my favorite turkey sub. I said "I am sorry to be so weird but can you dig most of the bread out of the roll before making it" She replied, that's not weird at all tons of people ask us to do that. Then I even took the bottom of the roll off and cut the top in half and added the meat and toppings to the half of a hollow roll to fit my needs. PS, still couldn't eat more than a few bites of the bread but it DEFINITELY satisfied my sub craving. I am allowed all foods, while focusing on proteins first. I eat very balanced, so I don't need to make many requests or have much of a different plate than everyone else. I just have smaller portions and/or eat less of the food on my plate and make the healthier of choices in front of me. Sorry for the long winded response!

Don’t be discouraged 5 pounds in 7 days is good progress. My liver was VERY enlarged prior to surgery and there was concern about possibly needing a biopsy to assess the progression of damage (which is what lead me to this surgery). When I got to the hospital I had a 7 pound loss (after an 8 day liquid diet) and thought for sure what I had done wasn’t enough. After surgery I asked my Dr how my liver looked and if they needed to do a biopsy? She told me my liver looked fantastic and I must have really stuck to my diet. No need for a biopsy and she just encouraged me to have the same dedication to the post op diet and I did the pre op and she would expect me to do well. Everyone looses and heals at their own rate. Keep up the good work!

VERY NORMAL... and it will happen again and again. I went a whole month only loosing a few pounds... Just stay off that scale... I only weigh myself typically once a month.

You will do great! This bypass is the best thing I've done for myself and I am already at a lower weight (by over 10 lbs) than I achieved with the band many years before over a much longer period of time. One thing I learned is you have to get the right multi-vitamin. I originally bought a MVM from this site and though it was touted to be the bomb, my labs came back veeeeerrrrry low on iron. The MVM I bought originally did not have near what my dietician said we need. She recommended Celebrate One 45 multi and I started taking and my followup blood labs are stop on! My body is transforming into a body I haven't had most of my adult life and thanks to light workouts each day (15 -20 minutes) I am not getting the "melted wax" look that so many of us significantly overweight women get after bypass and weight loss. My doctor said it's due to sticking with good hydration in addition to working out so my skin stays healthy by being hydrated and can suck in as I slowly lose the weight. I am very excited for you. Please check in from time to time. Blessings, Mary

You and I are in the same boat. At almost 70lbs down and going from 3-4x(24/26) size clothing to xl(20/22). Yesterday was the first time I looked in the mirror and actually SAW a different shape. I startled myself. Today I noticed my chins were gone. I still struggle to SEE the difference even though the physical evidence is there. The clothes are smaller, the jewelry is loose, heck even my shoe size has gone down but in the mirror I still see 312lbs. It's a process. Also 44 years old and approximately 20 years since I saw the right side of a healthy size.

I can see the numbers on the scale are way down. I can see that I went down a clothing size and a ring size and now those are starting to be too big. I can see my double and a half chin is now more like a chin and a half. I can see it, and I know it, but I can't get rid of my size 26/28 clothing. It falls off me now (heck, my size 22/24 clothes are getting too loose now) but something keeps stopping me from getting rid of them. My old rings are a size 10. They literally fall off. I can't bring myself to get rid of them. I look in the mirror and I can see my stomach is a lot smaller. If I take stock of each thing, I can see it. But when I look at myself as a whole, I still see big. I still see fat. I still see size 26/28 clothes and size 10 rings. It's like I can see the changes, I know they're there, but I can't make myself believe it enough to take the steps to get rid of the stuff that in NO WAY fits me. Does this sound crazy? Anyone else deal with this?

Gall surgery shouldn’t affect your tummy at all. It may be related to extra stomach acid. The gall regulated the release of acid into your tummy. Without a gall it sort of just drips all day. I don’t have an issue when I eat but if I don’t eat for a few hours, I can get sharp cutting ulcer like pain. This usually results in a acidic (smelly, loose & a little burny) bowel movement the next day. But give your surgeon a call. Better to know what’s going on especially with pain.

I have a surgery date October 4th this year.. I'm getting gastric sleeve but lately I have been feeling like I should get the bypass. Im Affraid I won't loose enough weight with the sleeve. I have been talking to a few friends and I have gotten different opinions.Has anyone ever changed there mind this late. What are your thoughts on bypass instead of sleeve? Sent from my SM-A125U using BariatricPal mobile app

The binder helps hold the abdomen tight which helps with pain. I took it off for the first time since surgery when I got into my own bed. It was very bunched up from sitting in the car and at the table and uncomfortable. But when I’m getting up and moving around it helps keep my skin from pulling. Mushroom soups sounds yummy! And to answer your question - yes I’m worried to that I won’t loose weight and I’ll mess this up. How far out from surgery, are you possibly in a stall?

It's so weird how different doctors have different guidelines. My clinic actually gave me a set of recipes, including tomato soup. But I've seen this tomato soup thing in some online guidelines from clinics overseas. I'm not sure if I tolerate any of the added liquids well. I feel better than last week, but I have loose and watery stools. I don't think it's dumping syndrome, because I have no gas pain, sweat or nausea, so I guess it's normal?

building strength and stamina while working on overall health is my goal. heard it helps a little with loose skin after surgery so wanted to start. I like working with weights waaay more than any cardio..