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So sorry that you're struggling. Weight loss is both the simplest thing in the world, and also incredibly complicated. The good news is there is absolutely hope for you! Thinking through what you've posted. I think I want to break things apart a bit so we can address a few different things: Let's start with being an emotional eater. My personal belief is that EVERYONE that is (or at one point was), obese has an eating disorder, or at the very least suffers from disordered eating. You simply don't get that big without having an unhealthy relationship with food. I'm really glad that you are working to get help in this area. We have a saying here on this board that you should take to heart: Bariatric Surgery doesn't fix your brain. Success or failure long term is most often about addressing these mental, not physical issues. The surgery is a tool that can help you, but surgery alone won't make you lose weight. My point here is YOU ARE NOT ALONE. A lot of the folks here have the same problem regarding turning to food for emotional support. You can get control of this, but it does take time and help. Failure to lose weight. We all lose at different rates, so it's hard to judge whether or not how much you've lost is problematic. First, can you clarify some things? Your sidebar shows you having lost 128 pounds, but your post suggests it's a lot less than that? Also, your post says it's been 6 months since your surgery, but unless I'm misunderstanding something, it's only been 4 months? Even if it's only 4 months instead of 6, having lost 9 pounds would still be on the low side, but I think you need to also keep in mind that you are on the low end of the height scale. That absolutely does matter when it comes to weight loss. Smaller bodies need fewer calories per day. That's just a basic fact. I think it's important for you to understand that you can't break the laws of physics. if you eat fewer calories per day than you burn, you'll lose weight. Eat the same amount as you burn and you'll stay at the same weight. Eat more than you burn and you'll gain. I know that seems obvious, but people often look for reasons other than this as to why they might not be losing as expected. They'll say things like "my metabolism is messed up" as if that means they're allowed to break this basic rule. Perhaps their metabolism is messed up, but there's no rule that says you should be able to eat, say 1300 calories a day and still lose. Your metabolism is your metabolism and while there are ways to ramp it up, you don't get to break the laws of basic physics. Calorie counting. You mention eating 700 calories a day, but then mention snacking on top of that? Did I understand that correctly? Here's the thing. Everyone is TERRIBLE at calorie counting and if you're not counting the snacks, you're estimates of how much you're consuming will be even worse. Even if you're counting the snacks in the 700 calories, the likelihood that you're actually eating only 700 calories a day is really small. Studies have shown again and again that people drastically underestimate how much they are eating per day, even if they try to accurately weigh and measure everything. Part of it's just user error, but part of it is that the actual calorie counts of food are not nearly as simple to measure as we think they are. One final thing to keep in mind. Our bodies are made up of lots of "stuff", and this "stuff" is all part of what you weigh day-to-day. Fluctuations in how hydrated you are, your muscle mass and even stool weight can mask fat loss, so don't get too caught up in what the scale says. Simply put, the scale is NOT your friend. Let me give you an example of just how much the scale can lie: I'm a runner and if I run in hot weather, it's not that unusual for me to lose 6 to 10 pounds in the space of a couple of hours. Does that mean I lost 10 pounds of fat? Of course not. It means I lost a bunch of water due to sweat. Using a scale as the sole means you use to judge your success would be a bit like trying to use a hammer as the only tool you use to build a house. a hammer's great for some things, but there are also times when it's not.

Hello AngieNM, That is a body image issue that sometimes will rear its ugly head. We all here can tell you that we experience it. Just the other day my husband asked to see my hand. I didn't know why but he looked and said "wow, you are losing weight". I didn't believe him so I got on the scale, which I try to avoid, and sure enough, I had lost weight, lots of weight and I looked into the mirror and saw the same large body, just flabbier. I'm a member now of BariNation, which you can be too. They have Licensed Social workers, Registered dieticians, physicians and registered dieticians all that are bariatric specialists and they hold groups where you can learn, get therapy, ask questions, and a whole host of other things. Instead of waiting for a response like in this forum, you get instant gratification from having a community of people like yourself, and friends that are long lasting can be made easily. Remember that your goal was not just a weight loss surgery but a metabolic surgery that will bring you to a state of wellness. As you lose weight, you will have body image issues, and because you see yourself as the large you and do not see any differences this is because you have no real record unless you took pictures of yourself and still do to help you with your differences that you can see. It takes time, but it is worth it in the end if you can work through your feelings in groups or with private therapy about the criticism from your family that is a life long battle. All of us were criticized, mocked, teased and otherwise shamed about how we carried our weight never realizing what it was doing to us on the inside emotionally and psychologically. Join me in BariNation, get some group therapy, at least try it for a month and see how you like it. It is really worth the 40 bucks a month, just a little over a dollar a day for all kinds of therapy and peer support to help you. I wish you the very best!!

I've finished my Pre-Operative Program at Bariatric and General Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. I'd previously felt unsure about the program but it's turn out to be a very good experience. Now, I'm in the window where they will request prior authorization and then at some point I'll get a surgery date and be off. For me due to scheduling the gap is going to be about 3 months. Since I have the time I'm interested in learning what could be beneficial for me to consider in this waiting period. I will continue to lose weight with the goal of losing 8 lbs a month. I will continuing exercising, and seeing my dietician. I've eve reached out to setup sessions with a bariatric therapist. I've purchased six months of chewable multi-vitamins and calcium, an assortment of protein shake flavors. But I know there's more needed so please lay your wisdom on me.

I think I'm going through what they call postop blues or postop depression. This is week three and my left side, which was my smaller boob and smaller side is perfectly fine but the right side where he had to manipulate it more and do my under arm fat is giving me hell. Well, I guess one good thing is I'm not turning to food. In fact I really don't feel like eating and it's really bumming me out. I think because I can't really work out and do the things that I normally do around the house, I think that's what it really is. It's annoying the **** out of me to be honest. And I really also hadn't had any surgeries in my life that requires a lot of downtime so this is new for me as well. With my bariatric sleeve hell I was up walking in the very next day. I think I walked like 3 miles and I walked pretty much every day ever since then and that was a year and a half ago so yeah.

Lemme see here....what order to roll with....I'll start with the No-Can-Do List. Gonna sound cornball...but then again....cornball is my wheelhouse, lol. Okay...here is the Top 5 that come to mind over my morning coffee: skydiving. hell to the NO. Added to that anything that involves heights. It wouldn't be cool for them to see me pass out from terror......although I did have a great conversation with a gal yesterday afternoon who has professional live saving medical skillz. So....she could probably take me to death's door....and bring me back. But no planes, roller coasters, wall climbing or the like. Wind tunnel is about the best I can consider.... Years ago she took me out for margaritas...took my arse out. We found solace as two souls in marriages that were struggling, no sharks. I grew up near the coast...snorkeling and scuba diving frequently.... continued it through college. At some point in my mid-20's I began to have sinus troubles equalizing the pressure when diving...made for painful surface intervals between dives. My Uncle had been through the same a few years prior. He tried surgical remedy....but it didn't help. My late wife, her brother, his wife and some other friends all took their diving certification stuff....and then for various reasons,...each of them dropped out of the class. I'd resigned myself to give the sinus surgery a chance....surgeon was also a diver and he felt like success was most probable. During my years diving I've been close....crazy close....to sharks a plenty. It was all good as I was most often near rocks, reefs, shipwreck structure, etc. Cover was close, if needed. The exposure and sketchy periods were when getting to the bottom & when resurfacing....there I sometimes felt like bait on a hook. Since then I have had some close calls when I was simply swimming on a beach day.....going for a swim to cool off from the sun. One time I had my early teenage son with us....We saw a sand bar a couple hundred yards off shore.,...there were surfers out there. He was deadset on making it out there. I finally caved in and told him we could go but he had to listen to me...currents and such. He agreed and out we went....all was well until it wasn't. I found out the scary way that baitfish were schooling in spots between the sand bar and the shallows. We were swimming amidst the schooling baitfish....joining them on the freakin menu. I saw one, two then three sets of dorsal fins surface in between waves. Then one came too close....got my son's attention and lied to him....told him to get in close with me and we were headed back to shore because I was cramping. He was pissed, but he did what he was told and then gave me a dose of ribbing later on...."Dad you wanna hand me a drink.....oh no...don't do it....you'll cramp up", "Dad....you want me to take the cooler back to the car....don't want you cramping up", etc. My favorite kind of vacation is to sandy places. Don't want to become baitfish again, though....ever. Never thought it would be an issue until recent weeks. Met a gal who is a diver....kept my shark aversions quiet, lol No yoga....period. Could be the greatest thing ever.....but I'm sidestepping. Same could be said of other types of group excursive. I'm a no-class sorta dude. Not going to line up and get into some torture. I prefer to do my torture in solo....lick my wounds and gain the benefits results. I have to protect my shout out knees and right shoulder and keep pre-habbing them until I can get schedules aligned to have joint replacements done. My geriatric-bariatric sorta gym stuff would likely have younger womenz laughing their butts off. So yeah....the gym is where I need to go it alone....for now, at least. Nothing illegal...or at least keep it mostly legal. I'm not robbing banks...but if she asked really nicely and had a killer smile....I may be her getaway driver and lookout. Snakes are off limits. So if they are into snakes as pets.....it is gonna take a HEAP of Dr. Phil-esqe counseling to make that something I can ease up on. My time in the woods has me averse to snakes. The part of Georgia where I live has many varieties of rattlesnakes, copperheads, moccasins, etc, etc. I've had some sketchy moments with 'em all and I went to guns every time. Probably wouldn't go over well with a date who had pet snakes. ......................................... Note that karaoke is now off the list. I'm averse to it. Averse as all hell......but developments yesterday have me sliding that one off my radar. I met someone who sings. I mean, sings at a high level, in formal events, etc. When the subject came up in conversation I was coy....thinking, "here we go with the freakin karaoke silliness"....but I kept my mouth zipped as she was discussing things she enjoyed....music...making music via singing wasn't a hobby....but a passion. My coy arse ...when asked about likes...simply said something cornball regarding singing. "Well...it is highly ironic that we have met...you being a singer, and all." Winked and nodded...knowingly (even though I no nothingsss...strong is my ignorance). She bit and wanted to know more. I deflected and said something about having a small bit of singing experience.....at a professional level....but didn't want to bore her with details....wanted to find out more about her. So it went for a few minutes until she went back to my singing and pressed the matter. "Well, young lady....here is the cosmic irony on this matter....you are clearly impassioned & talented with your voice.....so very odd that we would meet.....you see...you are now looking at the WORST singer on the face of the Earth.....or at least in this county.....I suck.....I've even been paid to NOT sing....had dollar bills tossed at me to put the mic down.....so there it is....I am in awe of your courage to stand up and rock your voice......I am in awe and I'm hardcore untrainable in that area". She laughed and took it all in stride. "So what can you be trained to do....." Mr Cornball here replied with something dumb like, "For starters, I am housebroken...errr mostly housebroken. I can bark...or not bark...roll over, shake and play dead, fetch....you know, stuff like that". She laughed again...but not laughing in the way of "somebody come save me from this nerd....somebody, anybody". Humored laughing....dare I hope, acceptance laughter....is that even a thing ? When I say we laughed....I mean throughout the afternoon and eventing we laughed. Either this gal is challenged or she was actually amused at my dipshyt self. I was intrigued of everything she volunteered about her life, likes, loves, views. @GreenTealael had recently stated major bigtime advice that was THE SURE 'NUFF TRUTH. it pertained to core values being integral to compatibility. Not realizing it was occurring, this lady and I spent hours yesterday covering so much ground that it was unreal. By dawns light this morning I am still shaking my head in amazement. Without me realizing it had occurred....we'd checked off a pile core belief simpaticoisms....yep that is now a word. Simpatico-isms. I was open and honest and simply went with it. Each topic was a new discovery of our views and feels about stuff. Been down this road a good bit lately....and there were always stumbling issues or categories where divergent views may be a red flag. I'm not talking about politics or stuff like that. I couldn't give a rip about that. I appreciate different viewpoints. I mean the bigger issues... Here are some of the hurdles or outright roadblocks that I've had recently in this bachelor living...and this is with even short term fun: No married women. As tempting as a couple have made it...No-Can-Do. I am NOT about to go there. DO NO HARM is the hill I will die on....regardless of the temptation. No coworkers...or at least within my work "zone". There is an engineer and another administrator in another "zone" where some interesting recent conversations have occurred. Even then, I waded much more cautiously than other situations. My sobriety will not be compromised. Long story...shortened version: haven't had a drop since February 2019. Quit for practical reasons to be a responsible caregiver 24/7. Considered myself a casual drinker...social drinker.....but in the years since I saw where I'd used alcohol as a crutch...a tool...a mechanism to distance myself from work stress....or marital stress... I later acknowledged it was a simply delaying those stress & ultimately combining them. So, after my wife passed in 2021...I maintained the sobriety...realizing it was in my best interest. Since then I have benefited hugely from it. I can go out with a girl and am A-Okay with her having a drink or three....I'll have my coffee, water and am just fine. I won't open a bottle or pop a top again, though. Matters of the soul. Didn't seem like this would be an issue for initial attraction and such. But I found that even in casual contact it can and does surface and diametrically opposing views are a non-starter....even if physical attraction is main the component the main draw. Back to yesterday's first meet with lil' Miss Singer....it--was--wonderful. Wunnerfull....I didn't want to be pushy,....or forward....but....wow. So refreshing, I was thirsty for more....and it was shared, clearly. She even stated such....boldly. Stepped up and put it out there....interest demonstrated. She made the first commit. I had been keeping my desires reserved...she was... different. I was having different feels and did not want to rush into anything. This was someone that, yes, major physical attraction is there...but all my no-can-do stuff were non-issues...taken in stride....acceptance. She probably has guys hitting on her all the time and I didn't want to be another schuck trying to come on to her. I mean...I DID want to...but there seemed to be "more than that" taking shape. Everything was.....different. Yeah, I know I said that already...having difficulty finding correct verbiage to accurately describe. Your ever had the thought that you'd love to go back in time and slap the cowboy shyt outa your past self..and do so at a most specific moment and change the outcome and improve the trajectory of past self ???? Yesterday at some point after an hour or so...it was almost as if I felt a hand on my shoulder....a warning hand...it was telling me to slow the roll...be real....look at the bigger picture....and boy howdy, there is a strong hint there is possibly healthy structure for a bigger picture. The hand on the shoulder clenched down more than once....the physical desires needed to be reminded of the cosmic slap that was needed. Dumb as it may sound.....and for whatever reason I can be grateful for....I was calm and didn't blow it....wasn't "that dude". It was rewarded with hours more talking, laughing, disclosing, supporting, etc, etc. --------------------------- So.... we have an actual, real deal, no kiddin' super official date next week...Wednesday. We had to plot through our work schedules to figure it out...but it is set. A date. Not a hook up.

Hello SammyGold, Welcome to the Bariatric Forum. I was on a GLP-1 since 2013 without knowing it was a GLP-1, and it changed over time. I was prescribed it by my endocrinologist for my diabetes. What I did once I started on Mounjaro was to lose about 70 pounds, and changed my eating habits to protein and veggies. That's all I ate. More Veggies than protein. I have a bad hip and decided I would take the next step and get the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Bariatric Surgery. While I am only 7 weeks out since surgery, I have seen a huge difference on the scale, and in the size clothes that I can wear already. My face doesn't even look like my picture anymore. I had to lose weight and get my BMI down so I can get a new hip, and I'll be getting that in August, I have exceeded the goal, and plan to keep on going. With the GLP-1s that I was on, I never experienced nausea, but that is a huge side effect for many. It has to be the right dose for you, so look carefully at the different meds, and find out what your insurance covers before you ask for a specific medication from your provider/doctor. Insurance companies are getting ridiculous about weight loss drugs and surgery. They deny due to the cost of the medications. 6 months worth of GLP-1s can cost what it would if you had a gastric bypass surgery!! So contact your insurance company to find out what they cover for weight loss. That is my big take away!

Welcome to the Bariatric Group! Diabetes is a strange critter. With diabetes, you have to remember that your liver will push out glycogen and convert it to glucose overnight, that is why you have differing numbers with the same breakfast. It is also dependent on what you ate the night before. I still get strange numbers, but I'm off all of my medications and insulin for diabetes and I'm only 7 weeks out from surgery. I haven't taken any meds or insulin since the day before my surgery. The highest I have been is 137, and I don't go below 83 mg/dl. I got rid of my Dexcom 7s to a needy friend, and will be giving my syringes and unopened bottles of insulin to my endocrinologist who I see next week on Thursday. Already, it has been quite a ride. From the hormones flying about, to not having to inject insulin and reduced medications, I'm moving better, walking a lot and recently was released to go back to the gym where I swim, cycle and lift weights. I can't imagine my life any different now, best decision I've ever made. Ask me in a year how I feel. LOL

Welcome Magicman, Here is where you will get a lot of answers to your questions that you may have. Feel free to ask anything and everything. I know that knowledge is power, and you want to be powerful going into the Metabolic Surgery/Bariatric Surgery. The last time I took my insulin and meds for my diabetes was the day before my surgery. I have not been over 137 mg/dl since that time and got rid of my Dexcom 7's to a needy friend since I don't need them anymore. I see my endocrinologist next week, and I already know that my A1C is 5.1 which is a lot better than it was before. I basically don't have the A1C to be called a diabetic, but it is in remission for sure. I just need to keep on the program and not regain weight. I'm only 7 weeks out from surgery, but already I have to buy a smaller swim suit and clothes, my pants keep falling down. I'm feeling better and know I'm healthier. Welcome to the Bariatric Club, you found a good spot for support and question asking!!

I'm new here and just wanted to say hey. I'm a 35yo man living wid type 2 diabetes, and after years of struggling with my weight and blood sugar, I finally decided to take a more serious step. I’m currently going through the process of getting approved for bariatric surgery but I’m trying to prepare myself mentally and physically as best I can. Managing diabetes hasn’t been easy, especially with the ups and downs that come with it. I’ve tried different diets and workouts but I’ve reached a point where I need a reset. I'm hopeful this surgery will be that reset.

Me as well, though I have to admit I was a little slow on the uptake! At first I was wondering why @JamalR93 was donating old clothes to the gym! I suspect this was just my frame of mind since I just recently did another sweep of the closet looking for old "fat" clothes for donation to Goodwill. @JamalR93 Welcome! I'm impressed by your approach. Too few people actually seek to really understand both the good and bad of bariatric surgery before charging in. I think you'll do well since you already know that this is just a tool and the real change is the one that has to happen between your ears.

Yes thank you for a little more info about how bariatric can lessen anxiety. My doctor told me that there is a part of the stomach (maybe hormones) that when cut out should lessen it!

Glad to help our fellow bariatric pals. That is what this forum is about. So as you venture through your journey, check in now and again and let us know how you are doing.

There are lots of studies that show weight loss (and thus also bariatric surgery), can lessen depression and anxiety. The thing to keep in mind though is that it won't help everyone. It all comes down to the underlying reasons for those negative emotions. As you point out, weight loss has has a considerable effect on how we feel about ourselves, so it follows that for some people, weight loss will help lessen anxiety and depression. There is also some belief that excess body weight can impact how certain hormones in our body work. By losing weight, this can help normalize some of those and that may also help mental health. Like everything, I think the real answer is "it depends".

Eating shouldn't ever "hurt". It would be better to learn to eat until you're only about 80% full. Keep in mind fullness signals can be messed up after surgery. Plus even if you hadn't just had bariatric surgery, there is some lag time between when your body signals that you're full, and when your brain actually responds to that signal. If it hurts in your esophagus when you eat, that sounds to me like you're eating too much and you're experiencing gastric reflux.

Try a ricotta bake, there are several recipes out there. Protein Shakes, I got Premier Protein, in a variety pack from Amazon to give me some interesting tastes. We didn't have puree in our plan, we went from clears to full liquids then to soft protein only. Salmon is a good one for protein. Or tuna, shrimp, or any fish really will give you good protein. I use the Baritastic App to keep track of my fluids and protein and I meet or exceed it every day. Remember drinking a protein shake is fluid and protein both on the app. I got a variety of Crystal Light for my clear fluids, and added Isopure clear powder to help get the protein in during the early days too. I am a member of BariNation, and they have a wealth of information and various recipes for the bariatric patient, along with people that get you, and group therapy with licensed professionals or dieticians that are registered dieticians and all of the doctors and health care providers, everyone has experience with bariatric patients. For $40/month, it is well worth checking out for a month to see how you fit and I bet you fit right in. Good luck on your journey!

It's hard and we all went through it, but you need to prioritize fluids. It will get easier over time. The reason fluids are important is that dehydration is one of the most common reasons people end up back in the hospital post bariatric surgery. Yes, protein is important too, but at this point, as long as you're getting some protein, you'll be fine. Protein is prioritized over carbs and fat during extreme weight loss because it can help prevent catabolization of muscle. Hitting your protein goals does help some, but it's not the huge issue some people think it is. A lot of that mentality comes from the bodybuilding world where every ounce of muscle mass counts. The reason we don't want to lose a lot of muscle is because metabolically, muscle is more active than fat. I believe the net difference is roughly 6 calories, meaning if you lose 1 pound of muscle, vs lose 1 pound of fat, you'll burn about 6 calories less per day. Keep in mind that some loss of muscle is inevitable after bariatric surgery, so don't stress over it.

This 100%! Life's too short to worry about things that may never happen. I totally get it. It's perfectly normal to be concerned about the unknown, but if we focus too much on all the things that MIGHT happen, we can become paralyzed with fear. The reality is complications from bariatric surgery are rare, while the upsides like looking and feeling better are almost universal. I think that's the trick, at least for me when facing the unknown. Thinking logically about all the good outcomes vs. the possible bad outcomes and the likelihood of those things happening helps to keep me focused.

Believe it or not, low blood glucose can actually be a symptom of prediabetes. Below 70 mg/dL is considered hypoglycemia and needs immediate treatment, so if you see regular readings in the 70s, that might be considered borderline hypoglycemia? There is a condition called hyperinsulinemia that happens because you become insulin resistant. The body tries to compensate for this resistance by creating even more insulin, but this can push blood sugar too low. Again, not trying to diagnose you, just throwing out things for you to consider and discuss with your doctor. I brought it up because low blood sugar (potentially caused by caused by not eating or not eating well), can cause nausea, excessive tiredness, etc. Since these are some of the same symptoms you mentioned and diabetes or prediabetes are common among obese people, I figured it's at least worth checking out. The good news is if you are diabetic or prediabetic, bariatric surgery will often put that into remission (you are never "cured" of diabetes). The bad news is that this does sometimes cause long term hypoglycemia issues and can be challenging to manage when on a severe weight loss diet. Best of luck.

If you're aware of a bariatric multivitamin with potassium iodide in it - can you point me to that direction? This is the one they started me on and I don't see it anywhere on the nutrition facts or other ingredients: https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/bariatricpal-multivitamin-one-day-bariatric-capsule-45mg-iron?variant=13156335845453. I've found similar results with others I've looked into. Prior to surgery I easily drank 150 oz a day. The directions I've received from my surgeon has been at least 64 oz a day which really didn't seem like much. Surprisingly, though I love drinking water, I've had trouble drinking more than 70 oz since surgery. Today I hit 80 and was pleasantly surprised! It's been something to adjust to. My PCP also recommended an electrolyte drink so I started that today and am awaiting the lotion (had to order from Amazon). I found an electrolyte mix that includes magnesium and potassium - so I sent it to my dietitian to see if she's ok with it. Also a few years ago I took magnesium every night for quite awhile - I never knew if it really helps, so we will see what the lotion does. TBH this is something I've dealt with since I was about 15 (I'm 44), but it was pretty mellow in the last year or two - so I was really bummed when it started up again. Thanks for all the info!

So glad to know you did talk to your surgeon! One of the reasons people responded to your post the way we did is because we see way too many people on this board who ask people here for advise when they have a medical issue after surgery. The reality is even if someone here had a similar issue, that does not mean you are having the same issue. While most people here are really grateful they had bariatric surgery, the risks of complications can be high. We're not doctor's here and we just want people to be safe. As to your multivitamin, It's likely there is potassium in it, since almost all of them I've seen have potassium iodide as an ingredient. If yours does not, then it might be a good idea to switch to one that does have that in it. Just because it's combined with iodide, does not mean that the potassium is not bioavailable. Certainly follow your doctor's advice regarding your hydration and magnesium supplementation needs. I did want to point out that 70 oz of water per day sounds a bit low to me, especially since you live at altitude. All patients at my bariatric clinic are told to try to hit 100 oz and we're down on the plains at roughly 1000 ft. I also wanted to mention that magnesium is a common sleep aid, so while the effects of a lotion may be different for you, higher doses of magnesium might make you sleepy, so are typically best taken later in the evening. I agree with @Arabesque that an electrolyte drink might not be a bad idea. I started taking one pretty early after surgery and still use them quite a bit now that my exercise routine is quite strenuous. Just keep in mind, the point in your case is to help you retain water, not really replace lost electrolytes. This means your sodium levels will rise above normal and if you're not used to them, they can cause some weight retention. (It's just water, which is what you want.) If it freaks you out because the scale stops moving for a while, keep this in mind. I should also caution you that if you have edema, upping your sodium intake might not be a good idea, so it would be best to check with your doctor first. Best of luck! I hope you get it figured out.

I have spoken with both my surgical team and contacted my PCP. Surgical team referred me to the PCP. This was all before I posted. My PCP responded a couple hours ago and recommended magnesium lotion and electrolyte powders. There is no alarm from either group - potentially because I do have a history of this? I don't struggle with dehydration. Due to the fact that I've had frequent leg cramps for the last decade and a half, I'm very intentional about drinking as much water as I can (without overdoing it). My dad dealt with this too, we also live in high altitude - so water has always been my go-to. I am drinking at least 70 oz of water a day. My mention of dehydration, avocados and Gatorade were all in pursuit of soothing leg cramps since about my 30s - when I started having them more frequently. But obviously not recently. I'm taking the bariatric multivitamin recommended by my surgeon, it has 25% magnesium and zero potassium. I've looked up a few different kinds and find varying amounts of magnesium but haven't seen any with potassium. I haven't found myself sweating a lot either. So I'll give the lotion and electrolytes a try and see what happens.

Agreed. It's always best to talk to a health professional whenever your health is involved. It's never a good idea to self-diagnose issues, even if it's something you've had going on before. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is potentially life threatening, so not worth taking a risk. While the risk for DVT is highest in the first few days after surgery, it can happen even weeks or months later. If it's not DVT, I do find it odd that you seem to struggle so much with dehydration and think you really need to double-down on drinking more water and not so much on supplements. Hopefully you're taking a bariatric multivitamin as recommended by your doctor? These typically already have potassium and magnesium, so it seems unlikely to me that you'd need additional supplementation of these particular electrolytes. (I assume that was the rationale for eating bananas and avocados). Sometimes people that sweat a lot exercising can actually lose too much sodium and cause an electrolyte imbalance since sodium is the primary electrolyte in your sweat. I suspect if you're only 3 weeks out, this is also unlikely.

@SpartanMaker thanks for sharing I enjoyed this read and I'm glad you viewed happenings with a Renewed mindset. @Janina__sleevingitallbehind alright now 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽. You go major win!

I don't know if this is a win, but there is a podcast called "isnt the stall the point" ... to me at some point weight stalls should be the point. I've noticed in the bariatric community that some are never satisfied and steady strive for more. I certainly won't be living my life like that. So my win is I stalled for six months, which I was fine with but at my breast augmentation appointment my weight had finally broke the STALL. I am finally 7 pounds from my goal weight in which the STALL and living my Life in Maintenance will be the point. 💪🏽

I had VSG in 2013. Lost 110 lbs. felt great! I was able to do things I hadn’t been able to do in years. I maintained my new weight for about 5 years. Then gradually started slipping back into old habits. Now here I am, 12 years later and I regained about 80 lbs. I feel so defeated. But your post and the progress you’re making gives me some hope and inspiration. I started doing the “pouch reset” and I’m going to try and immerse myself in the Bariatric community, like I did when I first had the surgery. The support is what helped me maintain my weight as long as I did. But I’m back now and ready to put the past behind me. Thank you for helping me to feel less alone in my struggle.