You are bound to have some surprises no matter how much you prepare for surgery. There can be good surprises, such as discovering that recovery was not as painful as you thought, or that losing even a little bit of weight in the first few weeks post-op can be

Your post-op surprises can also be less pleasant. You might be disappointed to discover that Water does not taste good anymore, or that you are dying for a can of fizzy, sugary, caffeinated Coke, or that nobody notices your weight loss even though it seems like a lot to you.

What were some of your biggest post-op surprises? Do you have any advice for pre-op patients to help them prepare?

That I have more will power than I ever knew. I don't have any problem saying no to unhealthy foods or alcohol and Desserts. That I would actually fall in love with fitness.

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1. I could no longer stand the taste of plain Water. it took nearly 2 years for that to diminish

2. No matter how prepared I felt, in times of stress and crisis I still turn to food and have had to face some regain and find the will power to lose it again

3. that there would be people right from the very start who would be saboteurs

4. that even when people acted supportive they may not have been

5. that i REALLY crave soda, and once I gave in I had to deal with that addiction all over again- and it has not been easy

6. that i CAN lose weight, and that this tool is JUST that. I still have to do the work. I still have to deal with my addiction every day.

That my addiction is still here and I still struggle each day to control my unhealthy relationship with food.

Surgery has no doubt helped me, I would probably be 300 + pounds right now without it instead of 175, but I still expected I would have it easier than this.

Change of taste; Prior to surgery, I hated chocolate flavoured 'anything'. I preferred strawberry flavoured foods. I ordered Strawberry flavoured Protein, and on the advice of a friend, Bariatric Advantage variety protein package.
After I was cleared for stage 3, strawberry was utterly disgusting to swallow, while the chocolate flavoured shake in the variety pack was the tastiest.

Post op pain (gas): I thought I was going to die in the recovery room. Felt as if they tried stuffing my stomach with an elephant.

Water vs Food: It takes about 1.5 hrs to drink 36 Fluid ounces of water. 4 ounces of protein on the other hand is too much even after 2 hrs..

Water vs Food: It takes about 1.5 hrs to drink 36 Fluid ounces of water. 4 ounces of Protein on the other hand is too much even after 2 hrs..

Ever try making your protien shakes more concentrated 1/2 the liquid, so you get all the protein in?

Water vs Food: It takes about 1.5 hrs to drink 36 Fluid ounces of water. 4 ounces of Protein on the other hand is too much even after 2 hrs..

Ever try making your protien shakes more concentrated 1/2 the liquid, so you get all the protein in?

Oh, I make my protein goals. Just found it strange the way dense protein was so filling. Besides, my nutritionist would rather have me getting my Proteins from solid food..

Water vs Food: It takes about 1.5 hrs to drink 36 Fluid ounces of water. 4 ounces of Protein on the other hand is too much even after 2 hrs..

Ever try making your protien shakes more concentrated 1/2 the liquid, so you get all the protein in?

Oh, I make my protein goals. Just found it strange the way dense protein was so filling. Besides, my nutritionist would rather have me getting my Proteins from solid food..

Im a big strong guy that works out semi regularly now. I know the surgery will cause me to lose some muscle but being 290lbs with 35% body fat is not healthy for me. Did you lose a lot of muscle at first and were you able to put some of your muscle back on? I want to be lean not skinny.

My surprises are not from my early post op days since my surgery was over 4 years ago.

I am a little surprised and more dismayed that the early effects of the gastric sleeve were not permanent. I loved it when all I could tolerate was a few bites and that was all I wanted. My appetite returned, and at 4 years out, I can eat more than I wish I could. I can see how easy it would be to gain all my weight back.

Also, I am still surprised at how little I need to eat to maintain my weight. WAY less than any mainstream medical school of thought). Having WLS taught me that my obesity wasn't just a problem with will power, it is also due a really slow metabolism that doesn't have a diagnosis, but certainly can't be right!

I didn't truly realize that when I drank, I chugged. Can't do that anymore, and even just drinking 1-2 gulps at a time feels ridiculous so I'm not getting all my water in every day.

Water vs Food: It takes about 1.5 hrs to drink 36 Fluid ounces of water. 4 ounces of Protein on the other hand is too much even after 2 hrs..

Ever try making your protien shakes more concentrated 1/2 the liquid, so you get all the protein in?

Oh, I make my protein goals. Just found it strange the way dense protein was so filling. Besides, my nutritionist would rather have me getting my Proteins from solid food..

Im a big strong guy that works out semi regularly now. I know the surgery will cause me to lose some muscle but being 290lbs with 35% body fat is not healthy for me. Did you lose a lot of muscle at first and were you able to put some of your muscle back on? I want to be lean not skinny.

I am not sure though. I would say I was moderately active before my journey started. Lost weight before surgery by cutting down on food portions, and increasing activity. As I am not yet 6 weeks post op, most of my exercise has been limited to cardio. I won't know how much muscle I've lost till I resume my full exercise schedule.

Before surgery I hated exercising, I was doing it for weight loss, which never worked the way i wanted and the thought of it made me cringe. Surprisingly, after surgery, I like going to the gym and look forward to a workout.

I think it's because I'm looking at it differently, I'm exercising to feel good not lose weight. The weight comes off anyways whether I work out or not.

I'm surprised how little I care what other people think about my weight loss or appearance.

"When all is said and done, usually more has been said than done. "

Water vs Food: It takes about 1.5 hrs to drink 36 Fluid ounces of water. 4 ounces of Protein on the other hand is too much even after 2 hrs..

Ever try making your protien shakes more concentrated 1/2 the liquid, so you get all the protein in?

Oh, I make my protein goals. Just found it strange the way dense protein was so filling. Besides, my nutritionist would rather have me getting my Proteins from solid food..

Im a big strong guy that works out semi regularly now. I know the surgery will cause me to lose some muscle but being 290lbs with 35% body fat is not healthy for me. Did you lose a lot of muscle at first and were you able to put some of your muscle back on? I want to be lean not skinny.

I am not sure though. I would say I was moderately active before my journey started. Lost weight before surgery by cutting down on food portions, and increasing activity. As I am not yet 6 weeks post op, most of my exercise has been limited to cardio. I won't know how much muscle I've lost till I resume my full exercise schedule.

You lost 64 lbs in 6 weeks so far???

I love to cook! And cook a lot for many people, and it doesn't bother me at all. For example I'll cook a tray of breaded Italian chicken cutlets with mashed potatoes and veg and salad. I bake one cutlet with no breadcrumbs for myself with the veggies. I'll also make my own Pasta and not eat a bite, I'll have a meatball with side salad instead. Idk why but I love cooking now and the more the better, I think it's because it keeps me busy and makes everyone happy

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