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Hi all, the sun is finally out and I've made my 10k step goal today for the first time since Monday at least! Thanks again for everyones support - it does help! @gracesmommy2 I have thought about SAD, but normally I'm okay in all weather, I even prefer summer holidays in the north with raincoats and wool socks and fires! I reckon I'm probably a bit anemic and low on vitamin D... and that plus the exhaustion, the being cold and the being away from home is just a bit much. I hate lugging luggage around and so tend to travel light and where as when I'm home and it's cold I just wrap out and bundle myself under covers with a hot water bottle... but when I'm travelling it's hard esp as I've mucked up on my packing for the last few trips and not packed enough warm clothes. I do have a sort of lightbox thing at home that I usually use to deal with jetlag but I've been lucky enough since my operation to only be doing short hall... I do go to Canada and the US next month though so will get my lightbox out of whatever cupboard it's hiding in when I next make it home. I'm also aware that I'm loosing fast, which I think is pretty normal as I wasn't overweight for that long ( my BMI got above 25 for the first time in my life only in 2020)... I'm on Thursday I'll be 3 months since surgery and as of today I've lost 19.75kg (43.4lbs or 3st1lbs) since my surgery so over 21% or my body weight in under 3 months ... I know that this must be doing a number on my mental state too. I was 91.1kg on the day of surgery and am now 71.35kg - however I also lost 5kg in the 2 weeks before surgery, my surgeon didn't need me to do a preop diet but just to be safe I still pretty much did a broth fast for the two weeks prior. So all in all in 15 weeks I've lost over 25kg ... and I know thats why I'm so exhausted! However I'm also happy because my team wanted me to have lost 20% total body weight at 3 months and I've exceeded that with a week to go ... I know things will get better... but I would love some proper warmth and light for more than a couple of days! @LisaCaryl I've always shed a lot of hair but haven't noticed things getting worse yet ... but I guess I'll just ride it though when it does happen! On the bright side I have to loose only another 2.2lbs to have a BMI under 25 again ... I know BMI is a crap tool ( and honestly find it a tad unfair because I reckon I have at least a couple of extra lbs of boob!) but I'm still very much looking forward to no longer being officially overweight! Hope everyone has a lovely weekend and that all those far enough north got to see the boreal lights.

it's not uncommon. Once I was over a year out I'd sometimes get dizzy. Had a complete workup and they found nothing. Next time it happened, it was about an hour after I ate a piece of cake at a retirement party at work. Told my doctor - she said it might be RH, and that my blood sugar might have been fine on the day I went for the workup, so it wasn't detected. She told me to eat something about every three fours, protein preferable, and if I ate a carb, to be sure to pair it with a protein. It seems to have solved the problem for me.

You CAN probably do it, but doing extreme diets like that is usually discouraged because it pulls us back into "diet mentality", which is not helpful. Better to go back to the basics - protein first, then non-starchy vegetables, and then if you still have room, "good" carbs (e.g. fruit, whole grains, beans, etc). You don't need to go all the way back to what we were eating for the first few weeks after surgery, but instead, how you were eating once you were a few months out.

Hey @Zazu_89! I am also from the UK, and I was given 2 weeks for my LRD which consisted of 800 calories max per day, only eating things which are considered 'meal replacements' (things like New You Plan/SlimFast). I'll admit that I haven't heard of a pre-op diet lasting 12 weeks - but I think it depends on a multitude of factors such as starting weird, co-morbidities etc. Are you having yours through the NHS? I know sometimes their plan can be a bit different! I know a lot of people will probably want to know your starting weight before giving any advice, so if you are comfortable to give that, please do share as it will help get more targeted advice! All in all though, I'd trust what your surgeon/dietician has said, and if you want to know their rationale, just ask! I am sure they will be more than happy to explain Good luck!

I am 22 pounds from goal weight and the only exercise I have done for the past year is walking 2-3 miles a day. Casually. To be honest, I joined Planet Fitness since everyone kept telling me I needed to lift weights to avoid too much muscle loss from the rapid weight loss. I went a few times then stopped during flu season and never went back. I had a few different stalls and of course the weight loss slows the closer we get to our goal weight. But on the average, I lost 1-2 pounds per week since RNY WLS in April 2023. I plan to amp up my workouts after I get below my goal weight with resistance training. I used to body build in my 20's so I'm counting on muscle memory to kick in for me. LOL I also knew that weightlifting would increase my appetite and eating more when our bodies can't build muscle during our honeymoon phase didn't seem logical. According to bariatric surgeon, Dr V, we are in a catabolic state for 1 -2 years after surgery. Meaning we cannot build muscle while our body is breaking it down. (losing weight) Makes perfect sense to me. I'm curious if you have gotten a bodyfat test that shows increased muscle mass 9 months after surgery coupled with weightlifting?

First, congrats on your weight loss. Yay! Stalls happen & can happen many times at any time while you’re losing so it could just be another stall which will break when your body is ready to move on again. Though being this close to your goal it could be that you’re at your new set point - the weight your body is happiest at. It’s very hard to fight that. This new set point may not be your goal but it is your body’s goal. Your body will do all it can to maintain its set point. Or it could be just the natural slow down that occurs as you near your stabilised weight. The last few pounds can be a b*tch to lose. I remember towards the end I was losing ounces not pounds each week which don’t always show on the scales. Increasing your calories is part of the weight loss journey as your weight loss slows & your weight stabilises for maintenance. If your weight is stabilising at 1300 calories & you want to decrease your calories to lose more, is that sustainable? You’d have to continue to eat less than 1300 calories to maintain the lower weight you want. Remember too, that muscle is more dense than fat. A litre of fat weighs about 2lbs while a litre of muscle weighs about 2.3lbs. You may have lost fat but gained muscle which may explain the stall like situation. Muscle takes up less space in your body than fat. Have you been taking body measurements to see if there have been any changes to measurements since you began strength training. I’d probably, stick to your adjusted plan & see what happens.

Hello everyone! it’s been 3 years since my surgery and I am wondering if it’s safe to do a detox diet with only green vegetables and berries for 2 weeks? Or should I go back to the diet procedure after the surgery? Please advise 🙏

Hi from UK, Ive been booked in for surgery in July and was told to go on 12 week diet. I thought that's excessive as I've seen heavier people only do 2-3 weeks max. I have to do 9 weeks on milk and jelly, then 3 weeks on weight watchers soup and Muller. For example I've started today and I'm at weight I should be on 20th if I have like healthy protein based meal once a day in the 9 weeks that should be fine isn't it? I had boneless chicken today and weight didn't fluctuate thankfully so one meal a week for 9 weeks should be fine? Sorry if I'm rambling

I am 9 months out from my surgery and about 10 pounds from my surgeon's goal (15 from my goal). I have been strength training four days a week for the past two months and was told to up my calories to around 1300 at that time. And...I have been stalled for about a month at the same weight. My resting metabolic rate is over 1500 calories (because I am burning calories on top of that), so I know I am in a calorie deficit. I know I should "stay the course" but I am doubting myself now...wondering if I should go down in calories. I am getting around 100 g of protein a day. Drinking 70 oz water or so. Very little cardio, though. Thoughts? What was your journey like once you got close to your goal? Thank you in advance!!!!

Week 5 Post op Sw: 155kg /341lbs Stats to date: - 13,8kg / -30.42lbs

I'm sorry so many of you are having struggles. I, too, was told that the first 4 months or so will be filled with ups and downs. I guess I'm in more of an up place right now. The nausea has subsided, it's almost gone. I don't feel good when I eat, but that's about it. My energy is way up from where it was when my bp was low and I was dehydrated. And the scale had been going down... 3 pounds this week. I almost feel guilty telling you all this. I do struggle with getting enough protein. I get between 30 and 60 grams a day, and I'm trying to add protein powder to anything I can. I can't eat enough food to get it in. I'm pretty much off protein shakes and bars. I can sometimes tolerate half a protein bar. Right now, I have a shake sitting here next to me. I get gaggy thinking about drinking it, but I'm going to try! Is anyone experiencing hair loss? I heard it usually starts around the 4-month mark. I cut my very short to prepare for it... but am hoping it doesn't happen. At least it will be during the summer months! Have to look on the bright side

Traveling cross country 5 weeks post-op sounds like a big adventure! It's great that you're feeling up to it. When it comes to moving your stuff, you might want to consider hiring a moving company to help out. I've heard good things about Moving company Lund, but I've never used them myself. They could make the whole process a lot smoother and less stressful for you. Since you're still in the early stages of recovery, it might be a good idea to pack light and take plenty of breaks along the way. Maybe even plan your route so you can stop and stretch your legs and rest when needed. Also, don't forget to check in with your healthcare provider before you hit the road to make sure it's safe for you to travel. Your health and well-being should always come first.

This is my current lunch and dinner. It's hath a single chicken breast and the sea food sticks are just prossesed fish and rolled into this shape and eaten straight out of pack that's the red things on the right. This week I lost hath a pound. Don't feel like I'm being rewarded for the effort I'm putting in and really messes with my head. I drinking about 3000ml ( just under a gallon) of water a day

Not gonna lie, it's been a rough month so far. I was doing okay heading into May. On May 1, I reached 203lbs, which officially was the lowest I have been since my 20s. The next day it bounced up, but then I lost steadily, down to 201.6. And then yesterday morning, when I was heading to my 3-month check in with the dietician, I was back up to 203lbs overnight! What the heck?!? Nine days into the month and all progress erased! And then my dietician said everything I'm doing nutritionally is good, but I've only lost 19 lbs since surgery according to their office scale. I go back on the 21st to see the nurse practitioner and am going to ask what can be done if it hasn't improved by then. My loss of momentum tracks almost exactly to when I started taking my doctor's advice to get regular exercise. It was supposed to speed up my progress, according to the surgeon. Instead, in the past 3 weeks I have lost a total of 1.4 lbs. Color me unimpressed. Finally, my dietician said I should try to reduce my reliance on protein powder, which I have in my morning smoothie and at night before bed. She wants me eating more "real" food (though, in my defense, I do not rely on soft foods and have chicken and vegetables and such every day). So I had scrambled eggs and fruit this morning and it all made me really sick. What a start to the day. Smoothies made me feel good and I'm seeing little reason to give them up. I had smoothies all the time pre-op. I'm hoping they'll run some blood tests at the next appointment to see what's up. Like @RonHall908, I have also been exhausted lately and can't concentrate.

First, a long stall between 3 to 6 months is totally normal and the type of thing doctors should tell us to expect. But weight loss surgery is a game changer. This is no longer about calorie restriction to force your body to shed some weight, and if you think about it logically, it's impossible that your body is carrying out all its bodily functions on less than 1000 calories per day. It's burning fat, and also shifting fluids which account for a lot of what the scale reports to you as weight. If someone who had not had surgery said I will only 800 calories, you would be concerned for their health. I say this as someone who is in a similar place mentally and emotionally as you are after stalling again for 9 days: you have to stop the dieting mentality. Calorie restriction got you nowhere before and it will do nothing but hinder you now. Stop counting calories, especially if your team does not require it. Stop weighing yourself. Focus on eating protein, veggies, fruit, beans, nuts, and seeds. Focus on avoiding artificial sweeteners, processed foods, and simple carbs. Focus on creating sustainable habits and getting the right balance of foods every time you eat. Weigh yourself in a week. Or a month. This isn't about the scale or what you lose from day to day. It's about getting healthy for the rest of your life. It'll happen but you need to step back and not drive yourself crazy over it.

How's everyone getting alone? I fly out again this evening and not a gram lost this week... won't be back home to my scales for ten days so hope to see a drop when I get home!

you might just be in a long-ish stall. You should be losing even at 1000 calories a day, so unless you're undercounting, you're probably in a long stall. I'd give it another week or two.

it's very common in the weeks or months AFTER surgery have unusual periods. Haven't heard about before - but the reason for having weird cycles after is due to estrogen being released from fat cells during rapid weight loss (estrogen is stored in fat cells) - so that might be what's going on with you now...

One week since my sleeve surgery. Some observations: Dehydration: They warned us this would be the biggest challenge and they weren't kidding! The doctors fixed a hiatal hernia they weren't expecting and they must have tightened it up pretty well. Drinking anything is a chore, and sometimes painful (though that is gradually going away). Seriously though, keeping a steady inflow of liquid takes mental focus. I'm getting better every day but hitting that 48oz minimum takes effort. What I'm Drinking: Vitamin Water Zero and Protein Shakes. I wish I had done more flavor profiling before surgery. My Gold Standard protein shakes are fine but the flavors are kind of meh. I'm so much of a cheapskate though, I'll stick with the Double Chocolate and Cinnamon Roll options until they run out. I liked the Unjury Cookies and Cream, but that brand is expensive and...again...cheapskate. How I'm feeling: No external pain. The core pain in my abdomen when moving around is largely gone...I only notice when I have to bend way down to pick up something. I won't say my energy is up, but I feel lighter. My feet aren't swollen. Clothes are fitting more easily. I'm going on progressively longer walks (but take along a bottle, the cotton mouth is real). Bleh: I hate ground up pills. The taste stays with me all. night. long. I can't wait to graduate to mushy foods! Never thought I'd be so excited for applesauce.

I’m usually at about 1000 calories. 80-100g protein. My carbs are around 60-70g but that is from eating strawberries/red grapes. Am I eating too much as I’ve not lost for 4 weeks. Started at 249lbs I’m now 210lbs. Should I maybe eat less fruit and cut calories to 800?

I was never given calories either. Just the 60g protein & that I should be eating about a cup of food by 6 months. I due random checks of calories for my own interest & I was barely eating 900 calories but as @ShoppGirl said there are many factors that influence how many calories you need. Factors like age, gender, height, activity levels, etc. I too suggest getting in contact with your team. They know you best & can advise you better for your needs, Stalls happen & can happen several times. Though we usually say they last 1-3 weeks, it’s not unusual for them to last longer. Out of curiosity do you track your food & know your calorie & macro intake? What are your portion sizes like? Remember too, your portions sizes & number of calories you need do increase as you progress. For example at 18 months I was eating about 1300 to maintain & now at almost 5 years I eat about 1600 to maintain the same weight. And my portions are around 3-4ozs protein & a good cup or more of steamed vegetables.

The minimum liquid intake was 48oz, and now, a week later, they tell me to try to go for 64oz. lol But they say half the liquid can be from protein shake, the rest clear liquid. I tried yogurt and it’s ok, it’s hard to eat. It supposed to be 1-2 oz of “food.” I get full with 2 spoons of yogurt. I tried cheese today and that’s a no go. I feel like I’m going to choke. Cream of wheat has been good because it’s liquidy, but then it’s high in carbs, so idk if it’s worth eating lol I too could not sleep at the hospital. Every angle hurt, and the machines kept beeping, and the nurses kept coming in to check my sugar, blood pressure etc.

Hiya! I think you and I are around the same post op. I had my surgery 1/24, the macros and calories are all over the place. The main thing is to get at least 80g of protein, and 64oz of water/liquids. My plan says 60-80g of Protein, Less than 130g of Carbs, Max 40g of Fat. 3-6months is about 800 cal/day, I have not followed that to a T. I have been at about 1000 calories a day, My carbs I keep less than 50g, Fat is usually under 20g. I work out 5days a week. If your losing then I am sure your going great!

How many calories should I be eating 3.5month post op gastric sleeve? Keep seeing different amounts online. Had surgery abroad so the after care isn’t the best either. Also macros? I don’t know weather I’m eating too much or too little I’m a slow loser and have stalled for 4 weeks.

My surgery date was May 1st. I was anxious as the date got closer and closer. I had never gone under, so I was anxious about that. I remember going into the surgery room, scorching over to the surgical table, and then waking up in the recovery room. I didn’t think the surgery had been done. Until I went to the restroom and looked at the incisions on my stomach. I took Powerade zero, gripe water, gas x pills, and loose clothing for my departure. The gripe water was nasty, super sweet, and I don’t think it helped. The gas x pills, for sure take. Definitely needed chapstick (although the hospital gave me a care bag that included lip moisturizer). All I was able to drink was water and ice chips. The first day/night of surgery is definitely the hardest!!!!!!!! Today I’m one week post op and feel better each day. I lost 13 lbs in this 1 week. Starting protein shakes today. My diet is soft protein and liquids.