Joining Weight Watchers after Gastric Sleeve surgery.

[NMJG 1,266]

Cali, lots of opinions here, but I'm going to add mine. I think it is a terrible idea. You have had surgery, you are barely healed from it, you are in a stall ( which everyone goes through), and your eating habits are a world away from WW diet. All this could do is give you bad information and put you even further off track. I suggest you talk to your nut, after all, that's what they are paid for. I also think your calories are pretty high for 7 weeks. You can't be eating much at this point, which suggests that you are perhaps not making wise choices, not drinking all your Water, maybe you are drinking with meals, not getting in your Protein, maybe not getting in enough protein, and not eating protein first. Good luck getting back on track. Try sticking with the program you signed up for and use your doctor and his staff.

[Georgia 2,908]

I wouldn't tell anyone that I had WLS. I think I am going to do it. I will let you know how it goes.

Yes, too much food on WWs and your experiences are going to be too much different IMO for others to relate to. I know our WWs meetings are not at all supportive of WLS unless someone is trying to lose regain and they routinely spoke out against it.

But if it's the structure you need, you know your body best!

I'm surprised at your early stage you are eating 1100 calories. Most are eating around 800 or so to lose with VSG. Again, as others have said - you are going to confuse yourself at this early stage. Everyone goes through stalls (there are several threads talking about them) and then starts losing again. Your program through your surgeon will not line up with WW. You had surgery to finally lose what you needed. I would advise you to call your surgeon's office or nutritionist and get advice from them. Also, as someone else said, find a support group who are also sleevers. Wishing you the best! Keep us posted.

[Shells_Almost_There 357]

I use WW for accountability - only online, I don't go to meetings. I have been a continual member since January 2010. However, since starting my WLS journey, I have not followed their program/points system. I still am at a very high weight, so the plan assigns me a lot of points, both daily and weekly. In fact, too much for a VSG patient. Also the plan is open to having people eat whatever foods they want - not exactly what we are supposed to do post-surgery.

I would never follow their plan now, since it goes against my surgeon's/NUT's food plan for me and it would be way too many calories in a day. It is my choice to continue paying the money - because honestly, I love having 4 years of weight loss (and gain, ouch!) data at my fingertips, and having the pressure of a weigh-in every Monday without fail. I can see no benefit in starting again on their "food" plan, since it's not what I would call an acceptable post-surgery VSG diet.

I hope you decide to check in with your surgeon and NUT, and maybe look into the support groups option, because the WW "diet" is probably not the right thing at this point in the journey. Good luck!

Edited January 12, 2014 by Shells_Almost_There

[Texasmeg 568]

I recall a couple of years ago that there was someone in my weight watch meeting who said she had WLS. I thought they were working with her on a custom meal plan.

[carlab51 51]

I agree with others, that 1100 calories this early out sounds kind of high. It makes me wonder what your carb and fat intake is. I have started faithfully using the app Lose It! and I love it. It helps me stay within my caloric intake and tracks my Protein and carbs, which is my focus. I am seeing great results in a short time. I feel newly sleeved.

[calicakes 24]

Well, I joined but haven't been following because the following day( after I joined), I ended up in the ER with Kidney stones. I barely have an appetite, am doped on on painkillers, waiting for the stone to pass. The only thing I could handle for dinner was toast. I know, not good, but I cant stomach Protein right now.

Regarding the 1100 calories, I usually eat one low carb tortilla, 1 egg, 2 turkey sausage, `1 slice 2% cheese for breakfast). I don't finish the entire thing. I drink 1 iced coffee( sugar free Syrup, 4tbls of half and half). I eat almost an entire lean cuisine for lunch. I eat the Protein first, then some of the rice/pasta and veg. For dinner, I eat chicken or fish, salad and maybe some veg. I have a Premier Protein ready to drink shake in the afternoon. Sometimes, if I am hungry, I have a balance bar. That equals about 1000-1100 calories. I don't think I am eating a lot of food. It sure doesn't feel like a lot.

When the stone passes, I am going back to the gym and going to limit my carbs. WW has a new plan, you don't count points, just focus on lean protein, low-fat dairy, veg, fruit and whole grains. I am going to follow my Dr's plan, however I am going to use the meetings for support and to keep track of my weight loss.

[NMJG 1,266]

Well, I joined but haven't been following because the following day( after I joined), I ended up in the ER with Kidney stones. I barely have an appetite, am doped on on painkillers, waiting for the stone to pass. The only thing I could handle for dinner was toast. I know, not good, but I cant stomach Protein right now.

Regarding the 1100 calories, I usually eat one low carb tortilla, 1 egg, 2 turkey sausage, `1 slice 2% cheese for breakfast). I don't finish the entire thing. I drink 1 iced coffee( sugar free Syrup, 4tbls of half and half). I eat almost an entire lean cuisine for lunch. I eat the Protein first, then some of the rice/pasta and veg. For dinner, I eat chicken or fish, salad and maybe some veg. I have a Premier Protein ready to drink shake in the afternoon. Sometimes, if I am hungry, I have a balance bar. That equals about 1000-1100 calories. I don't think I am eating a lot of food. It sure doesn't feel like a lot.

When the stone passes, I am going back to the gym and going to limit my carbs. WW has a new plan, you don't count points, just focus on lean protein, low-fat dairy, veg, fruit and whole grains. I am going to follow my Dr's plan, however I am going to use the meetings for support and to keep track of my weight loss.

Feel better soon! That's a real ouch you are going through. Hugs!

For what it is worth, that seems like more food than I eat now at 5 months. I would definitely talk to your surgeon about how much food you can get down. I couldn't possibly eat an entire Lean Cuisine, maybe half. I rarely get in more than 200 calories at a meal. And just a suggestion, I would cut out the half and half and switch to low fat or skim milk while you are losing, just a thought. That half and half is about 80 calories right there. It adds up.

[easttxgirl 0]

How did weight watchers work out for you?

[one year post op 35]

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[MarcusJY 14]

Well I know this is an old thread....but I plan to use WW as maintenance for my weight loss. I am lifetime on Weight Watchers and I guess I have a rare story in that I have lost over 230 lbs twice in my life, once with WW (kept it off 5 plus years) and this time with RNY. I just couldn't refocus so I had the surgery. I believe in WW and I think it will be an excellent tool for me as I go into Maintenance phase now.

[abefroman329 704]

I've thought about re-joining WW and going to meetings since a) my employer will reimburse me for it if I go to X meetings in Y months (don't recall the specifics) and I like it when people applaud my weight loss, but it seems like I'd have an unfair advantage over other members. I also think that, particularly in the early months after WLS, you're losing weight at a rate that's much higher than what WW recommends, and may get you flagged in their system.

[LELH 72]

I would suggest finding a local WLS support group.

[calicakes 24]

I'm the author of this thread. I did join WW and lost about 30lbs, but I also joined diet bet and won some money too. I had my sleeve surgery 4yrs ago and have kept off 100lbs. I would like to lose 30 more, so I was considering re-joining WW, but just following the program. THere is an app called Itrackbites.com that is pretty much WW with a much lower fee( I think 3 dollars). No one at WW ever flagged me for losing too fast.

[Sullie06 1,013]

I use Baritastic for my tracker and I find that it's pretty tailored to people who have had bariatric surgery.

Also check with your program because they might offer support groups. Mine does 3 a month and I still try to attend at least once monthly. It really keeps me on track and I love chatting with people who are experiencing the same thing.

[Michelle 1980 4]

I have just joined WW. I am using the food recipes and the basic idea but with a smaller amount. Just to get back into a routine of healthy food.