Hi everyone! I am just beginning my journey. I had my first appointment yesterday! A month ago I started trying to lose some weight on my own because I know that the heavier you are the riskier the surgery is. I currently have a BMI of 60 and the doctor told me I am on the borderline of being too heavy for surgery. This sucks! I definitely don't want to have any delays in this process. I'm so ready for a fresh start and a new, healthier life! One problem I have been having is Water retention. Oh my goodness. Why, why, why must we retain water?!?! As of yesterday I am 4 pounds heavier than I was a month ago when I first started trying to lose weight! I have been using Weight Watchers, have cut back on my salt intake. What am I doing wrong? Does anyone have any s uggestions on how to conquer this water retention issue? It is so discouraging to work so hard on changing my eating habits and nothing shows for it. Any suggestions and words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Jennifer!

Congratulations on making such an awesome decision! I had my first appointment last October and I am about to go to my 5th month of nutrition classes (out of 6) before I can have my RNY surgery.

Before I started this whole thing, losing weight was impossible. I yo-yo'd constantly with my weight. It always felt like I would take one step forward and two steps back.

Going to these nutrition classes and knowing I'm going to have to weigh in have really kept me on the right track with mindless eating. I remember that I'm ultimately going to have to weigh in at the beginning of the month and I don't want to weigh heavier. Also, I have what I like to call "My Bowl". It is very decorative, fancy, and small. It fits a normal portion size and that amount is what I eat from at every meal. It sucked at first because I was so used to eating such large portions, but now that my stomach seems to have shrunk, I can't eat more than the amount I put into my bowl. My nutritionist also suggests not to exceed 1200cal/day for the pre-op pre-liquid diet.

Hope this helps and good luck!!! )

Hi! Like you, as I started on this journey I als changed my eating habits. I honestly can;t tell if I'm retaining Water or not.

Whats been working for me is this; each week I introduced a new change as follows:

1st I cut out all sugared beverage-- no soda, juice, etc.

2nd I increased my Protein. I realized must of my calories were coming from carbs. I added turkey sausage with Breakfast, a boiled egg for a snack etc.

3rd I limited my carbs to one per meal; regardless of the grams of carbs. So I ate a sandwich with only one slice of bread-- not other carbs. Or, at dinner if it was spaghetti, I could have the meat sauce and noodles, but no texas toast. (Or the sauce with the texas toast only.)

4th I started Protein shakes in places of Snacks.

5th I started protein shakes to replace 1 meal.

My process from consultation to surgery approval was short (a little over a month...) so this leads me right into the pre-op diet. The gradual ease into a new change a week REALLY helped me.

Read posts and pick out what would work for you and your lifestyle then be consistent with it. You got this!