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It takes longer for some of us than others; I struggled to eat much of anything for about 4 months after my procedure, and I felt like I was starving to death (we're talking 100-200 calories a day...no one can survive for long on that little no matter how much "reserve" you may have). You said you had or have GERD...are you still having issues with that? Acid reflux was a big part of the reason I had so much difficulty eating.

It's going to be very dependent on how your body tolerates carbonation--I am 16 mos post op and in maintenance, and I still don't tolerate things like diet soda or seltzer very well unless I allow them to go flat first, but everyone is different and you can see even within this thread that different plans and individuals have different rules. I do drink occasionally (2-3 times a month, and I didn't start until I was 6 mos post op as recommended by my surgeon). It's usually some sort of spirits on the rocks, sometimes mixed with some sugar-free mixer (Ocean Spray diet juice is a GREAT mixer and only has one carb and 5 calories in 8 oz). A really good non-carbonated summer drink is iced tea with the spirit of your choice (I really like peach-flavored whiskey in it, but a fruity vodka or something would be nice).

It's still got carbonation, and it's hard to see a non alcoholic flat beer as appealing no matter how enthusastic of a beer fan you are. Also, non alcoholic beers are not going to be low in carbs or calories. If this is a "recovery" thing, I have known several people who drank NA beer and it caused them to fall off the wagon because it just made them crave the real thing. If this is a calories thing, you're probably going to be better off looking for one of those low carb, super low calorie beers that don't have much alcohol anyway. Or...just don't. The carbonation is going to be the real issue here.

But won't zero/low alcohol beer still be carbonated? Seems that might be a problem. I have had some wine after 3 months with no problem except feeling guilty about the empty calories. For beer in my future, I am looking forward to realxing by the pool sipping on a cold non-carbonated type in the near future. Look into "nitro" and "cask-conditioned". There are some really good Nitro craft beers that I've had in the past. Yep, I'm pushin 70 and as they say "Old enough to know better but too old to care". 🍻

a few more tips, eat and drink something you enjoy, I found KFC mash and gravy, Powerade, kids yoghurt pouches were life savers for me. I didn't do low sugar, sugar free or anything like that as you are eating so little anyway, I found the extra calories made me feel better I also ditched the vitamins as they actually made me feel worse and all my bloods have been fine. oh, cloudy pear juice fantastic for the old bowel movements and it's nice to drink . I find I still only go every couple of days, but I don't stress about it it will come when its ready remember you are eating way less so there is way less poop to come out

Sorry to re-open an old thread but wanted to add some info for those who might search on this topic. I started experiencing this about 5-6 months after a sleeve-to-bypass revision. It's bad enough that my PCP put me on a continuous glucose monitor (Freestyle Libre 3) so I can monitor it and learn my patterns. I'm now 12 months post surgery and the issue is a daily concern. For breakfast I usually only have something light with very low carbs. If I eat any carbs at all at lunch, even a slice of bread, I have a crash about 90 minutes to 2 hours after eating. I've found that if I eat carbs at lunch I can solve the issue if I have a protein bar about 90 minutes after eating. I like the Pure Protein bars with 20g protein and about 180-200 calories, as they work well. I just try to account for these calories in my daily eating plan. I've also used glucose tablets, fruit juice or a piece of candy, but anything high in sugar it just starts a cycle of my glucose bouncing high and low in kind of a ping pong effect. Eating the protein bar settles my glucose and I'm good until dinner. I rarely experience issues after having an evening meal even if it has carbs. This has turned out to be quite challenging to deal with, and is really the only side effect of the surgery that I've experienced. I'm still better off than before the surgery but wish I could find a way to eliminate this issue.

I have a question to everybody: I am 4 weeks out and already back to exercising (I have been exercising regularly for 2 years and is quite fit for my size). I am instructed to eat no more than 600 calories a day but I am already burning more than that working out (today I burned 1000 calls at orange theory then 400 doing Krav Maga (self defense) class). Is 600 clas enough? I am not hungry and have lost 21 lbs since op day. Thanks!

Here are some additional items you might consider adding to your monthly order list: Greek yogurt: A good source of protein and calcium. Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, and other nuts are a healthy snack that can help you meet your protein needs. Hard-boiled eggs: A convenient and portable source of protein. Berries: Fresh or frozen berries are a healthy and low-calorie snack. Vegetables: Carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, and other vegetables are a healthy and low-calorie snack. Low-fat cheese: A good source of calcium and protein. Deli turkey or chicken breast: A low-fat source of protein that can be used in salads or sandwiches. Nut butters: Almond, peanut, or sunflower seed butter can be used as a spread or added to smoothies. Whole grain crackers or rice cakes: A low-calorie snack that can be topped with nut butter, cheese, or avocado. Meal replacement bars: A convenient option for when you're on the go and need a quick and balanced meal. Also, check out The BariatricPal Store! They carry over 7,500 Bariatric friendly products for pre and post-op! Check them out at https://Store.BariatricPal.com.

Im not sure why they make you do all that my doctor in az ua awesome. I hust had to do 2 visits with phyciatris and get my heart doctor to clear me and a clearance from lung doctor and i had to be on a 1500 calorie daily drink 5 bottles of water daily took me 3 months and got approved within 1week Sent from my SM-A516U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am one of the lucky ones, I don't have any hunger 27 days out of 28. I find if I eat 4 or 5 small meals a day works well. That way I can get all my necessary food groups in. Pasta, bread, and potatoes are off my menu, no tolerance of them yet. It has taken me almost a year to master this as I was on really low calories for a long time due to severe restriction and nausea. I can manage to get in 1000 to 1300 calories a day this way and all my protein requirements Breakfast will be a protein yogurt Mid morning a small glass of milk Lunch is usually homemade soup, veg, lentil, mushroom, Thai style or Pho Mid afternoon - a piece of fruit and a small piece of cheese Evening meal - meat and salad or vegetables On my hungry day, I don't let my calories get above 1500 by eating lower calorie foods than on other days

Snap! I’ve been having gyoza occasionally too lately (prawn though) but I usually just steam them. How much oil if any do you add to your air fryer & how long do they take to cook? I usually have 4 gyoza for about 130 calories but only about 9g protein which isn’t great ☹️.

I'm only in week 6 post-op and had a very hard time getting in all my fluids for WEEKS after surgery. The protein was difficult, too. Felt like I was CONSTANTLY drinking or eating and everything gave me nausea. In all of my Googling, I read that dehydration can absolutely bring weight loss to a halt as well as not getting sufficient protein. When I was finally able to meet my daily goals of both last week, the pounds started falling off, one to two pounds a DAY. I know that is crazy and it won't last too much longer, but I was grateful for the breakthrough. Also, any diet less than 1,200 calories will negatively impact your metabolism in the long run and really slow weight loss or bring it to a stop. So, if you're further down the road post-op and eating regular foods, check your calorie intake. All of this advice is armchair dietitian advice sourced from Dr. Google. Lol I just thought they were interesting finds.

A little input as I am a bariatric patient and a personal trainer. If you are new to weight lifting you have more capacity to gain lean mass at first. Women are still not going to get huge muscles because we do not have enough testosterone. The women that you see with huge big muscle have been lifting really heavy for many years and are probably taking some 'supplementation' to assist. Lifting weights increases your metabolic rate for up to 48 hours after a session. In addition to the test issue most of use cannot eat enough calories to get into a surplus to gain lost of muscle. It you have stopped losing weight on the scale you might start checking other ways like using a tape measure or how are your pants fitting. If you are sore after a workout your body uses water to help heal those muscles . I can be up 3 lbs. after a good leg workout but I know it isn't fat, it's just a muscle pump.

I’m 21 days post op and have lost 16-18 lbs (depends on the day) but I’ve been kinda hanging at that weight for about 5 days. My doc said they was normal but I’m wondering as this is a revision if I’ll keep losing or is that it? I’m down 36-38 lbs from before I started the 2 week pre-op Optifast diet. Never intended this for more weight loss just to stop the GERD but now that I’ve had some I want more. I’m at about 750 calories a day now on the purée phase. Just short walks around the neighborhood. I get pretty tired during the day and nap at least once a day. Water and protein are on target. Thanks for any insight?

Many people don't realise how big a surgery this is. Our bodies demand a slower pace of life for a while until our calories increase. Rest and recover is the order of the day. I was only on 400 cals a day for so many months, no wonder I struggled to do anything around the home. It took me some months to increase my intake and I still have to bump my calories and protein with milk and yogurt. Now I am on about 1200 -1400 a day I feel like Superwoman again. Give it time and you will be the same too Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m also 2 months post op and struggling with this. I have always been very active and am struggling not being able to do all of the things I used to do. I would do back to back tennis sessions so 3 hours in total and now I can only do one and plan on doing nothing afterwards. I have to be very mindful when planning my activity now. One thing my dietitian encouraged me to do was continue drinking a protein supplement daily even though the generic plan doesn’t include one at my stage anymore. The generic meal plan doesn’t account for the 800 calories I burn in my 90 minute sessions, so I needed more calories. She also looked at my vitamin D and said although it isn’t “low,” it could be higher so I added a vitamin D supplement as well which she said could increase my energy levels.

May I ask how many calories are you eating for maintenance?

You’ll only need to take the strong pain meds for a few days - I took my last one on day 4 but probably didn’t need it. Some find over the counter enough in a couple of days. We all handle pain differently. The shakes can taste disgusting after the surgery because our taste buds can temporarily change. Have a couple of different brands & flavours on hand. I forced myself to have a shake in the morning (doubled the water to dilute the flavour) & then had diluted soups (broths, consommés) the rest of the day. Ask your dietican for other protein rich fluids you can try. It’s really only for a short time. Water can be sort of hard to swallow - heavy. Try drinking other liquids as well. I drank green tea, thinned yoghurt drinks, electrolyte drinks as well as the diluted shakes & soups.. Warm drinks are often easier to drink - more soothing. As the months pass you will be able & encouraged to eat more. I was advised to start with 1/4 - 1/3 cup from purées slowly increasing to about a cup at goal (at 6 months for me). Check with your surgeon & dietician for their recommendations for portion size, maybe calories & any other nutrient goals like protein. Yours will be different to mine simply because you’re male. Same with when you progress through the restricted return to eating stages to support your healing. I was on 2 weeks cycles: liquids, purées, soft before solid which is pretty common. Having the surgery is not being a quitter. The truth is you will still be doing the work & it is hard work. You can’t rely on the surgery alone to be successful. People can & do eat around their surgery. The loss of appetite & hunger don’t last & some don’t lose them at all. I worked harder after my surgery than on any other diet simply because I wanted this to work & be as permanent as possible. The head work, understanding why you eat, your cravings, habits, etc. is probably the hardest aspect. I also did a lot of reading to work out a way of eating (not a diet - they’re temporary) that worked for me & could be sustainable. This was a huge difference. I could always lose weight (until the last gain I had) but I could also put it all back on again because I went straight back to what I did before. I was a quitter then because I didn’t stick to any exercise plan or change of eating style. I still watch my portions, monitor my protein & fluid intake, randomly check my calorie intake, & carefully read the nutrition panel on the few food stuffs I buy - I tend to cook most of my own food from scratch. All the best whatever you choose to do.

"high protein, calorie deficit & I workout 4x a week" because it's still true!

Had my surgery on January 16th. I'm just starting the pureed diet. I'm down 16.2 lbs since the surgery but seem to be hitting the stall. Kinda stuck at the 273 mark. I'm walking for 30 minutes a night on the treadmill and I'm consuming very close to 900 calories a day. My major concern at this point is that I haven't really had that stuffed/full feeling. I can't identify at all with not being able to eat and ounce or two. I wish I did. It makes me feel like maybe I was left with a larger sleeve. I will say that I haven't felt very hungry and I do have to remind myself that I should eat something. The one thing that I have to improve upon is my water intake.

I use the paid version MFP for weekly calorie/macro goals, and free fitday website for average monthly calorie goals.

Thank you for posting this. I am interested in revising vsg to esg as well. I had the sleeve in 2012, lost 65 lbs (that was my goal) I regained 30 and struggling because it’s slowly creeping up. I eat really healthy just too much from stretched sleeve. My maintenance calories was 1500 at my goal weight and to lose I had to eat 900 to 1200 calories. I’m wondering are you eating even less calories with esg?

It took me a lot of years to figure out that I never knew how to do the " 5 pounds to play with " thing. I can do that now. I live in Southern California and love going to Disneyland ! All sorts of very not weight loss friendly foods - but there are healthier choices that can be made - and not just salads. There are really good soups in some locations, I am a fan of their corn chowder (vegetarian) and one of the Mexican places makes a yummy grilled half chicken plate that I share with my adult daughter ! I pick my treats and plan on having what I really want, whether it is ice cream or something else..... and if I gain a pound or so... then I know how to take it off over the next week. I weigh myself every morning... so that I can figure out what the heck I did or did not do in the couple days earlier to deserve weight gain, or loss. For me, I don't use much salt. And a meal out .... even a nice salad; can put pounds on me. Took me a long time to figure that out. A diet frozen dinner with less than 300 calories will do it too. Those are full of sodium and it does it every time. I cook with a lot of fresh home grown herbs - getting ready to plant my spring garden - will do lots of lettuces and baby carrots, radishes and beans and peas.... later in the spring will plant cucumbers and tons of heirloom tomatoes for the hot hot summer. Find the things that make you happy, that make your body strong and healthy and take good care of yourself !

I just wanted to share some Costco finds that are Bariatric friendly. I found these this week and they have made my meal planning super easy! -Sukhi Chicken Tikki Masala: 1/2 cup is about 145 calories with 17 grams of protein. The box comes with 2 bags. One bag provided me with three 1/3 cup servings and one 1/2 cup serving. I’m freezing the other bag for another time! -Sous Vide egg bites: one egg bite is 145 calories with 9 grams of protein -Paleo Chicken Sausage: 1 link is 160 calories with 16 grams of protein -Fairlife chocolate protein drinks If anyone has any other great Costco finds to share please do!

I think a lot of it is the drinking munchies for me. I really need to cut back on that. Idk if it’s head hunger or what but I need to def eat more protein and less carbs. I keep snacking on my so leftovers like pizza. I’m also training for a triathlon so even though I ate 2000 calories yesterday, I burned that much due to my training.