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For me its been sticking to a healthy diet once my hunger returned. It was easy to ignore unhealthy foods when I wasn't hungry and its much much harder now. I have to be very deliberate in making my food choices and saying NO to food I know isn't healthy.

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Hardest part was my hormones for the first year. I felt sad after the weight dropped off so fast. But the hardest part now is maintenance, I have gained 15 lbs back my second year after surgery. Definitely not the easy way out of weight loss.

SW: 230
LW: 130 and goal weight
CW: 145

Sent from my SM-G970U using BariatricPal mobile app

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The hardest part is getting your head in the game and keeping it there for the long haul. It isn't a situation of getting an "easy ride" with the surgery then being able to resume a fun/frivolous life. Just like with diets, that will lead back to weight gain--by doing the same things that got us a lifetime ticket to the Obesity Ball in the first place.

So, even though I want to go out and party like it's 1999 in my new skinny body, I don't. I stay down on the farm and do my daily work. I eat the right things. I do the daily exercise. I work on my head/relationships/spirituality/relaxation, etc.

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My hardest thing has been the no drinking till 30 minutes after meals. I get super thirsty, and dang do those 30 minutes go by slow.

Getting my head in the game was hard at first, but now I’m used to it. I choose not to stop doing fun things because of “what if old habits come back” I believe that I am strong minded and know exactly what I have to do to maintain my goals.. I still go out with friends all the time and do other fun things and still manage to follow the surgeons orders to the T. I refuse to turn this surgery into a “jail” if not into a beautiful lifestyle change.. it’s about balancing, I still have my fun, go out, travel, eat right, and exercise etc...... 😁

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Learning that slow weight loss is better than no weight loss. I was hoping it would drop faster, but that's okay. Also, not drinking with meals.

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This is a great topic, thanks for asking @bariutiful and thanks to the veterans for your insight. I was just sleeved last week and (for me) this is one of the core purposes of this site, to glean this kind of wisdom from people who are well ahead of myself. Awesome!

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The length of time it takes me to eat. Sometimes i just want to hurry it up already (at which i will get rewarded with some awesome foamies), and other times I just want to just say F it, i dont want to keep having to eating this.

I’m always the last person eating, and I feel like I’m drawing attention to myself, amplified by the miniscule portions on my plate.

Edited by ms.sss

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2 hours ago, KCgirl061 said:

For me its been sticking to a healthy diet once my hunger returned. It was easy to ignore unhealthy foods when I wasn't hungry and its much much harder now. I have to be very deliberate in making my food choices and saying NO to food I know isn't healthy.

This x1000 for me! I slacked off once my hunger came back and I'm paying the price now with very slow weight loss. I found out the hard way that the surgery is a tool, not a get out of jail free card. 😁

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28 minutes ago, thatch said:

This x1000 for me! I slacked off once my hunger came back and I'm paying the price now with very slow weight loss. I found out the hard way that the surgery is a tool, not a get out of jail free card. 😁

Yes mam! Gosh some days I want to scream this at the top of my lungs when I see people doing stuff they KNOW is gonna land them back in the smo-zone. :( SMH. *sigh*

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9 hours ago, bariutiful said:

What has been everyone’s hardest part in the post op journey?

After goal, it was hard to Let go of the weight loss “bariatric rules” Maintaining has been a different animal.

With less surgery restriction, I had to find ways to satisfy the extra sleeve space and stay with in my calories/macros. (easy to gain slow to take off this far out)

6 hours ago, bariutiful said:

My hardest thing has been the no drinking till 30 minutes after meals. I get super thirsty, and dang do those 30 minutes go by slow.

Getting my head in the game was hard at first, but now I’m used to it. I choose not to stop doing fun things because of “what if old habits come back” I believe that I am strong minded and know exactly what I have to do to maintain my goals.. I still go out with friends all the time and do other fun things and still manage to follow the surgeons orders to the T. I refuse to turn this surgery into a “jail” if not into a beautiful lifestyle change.. it’s about balancing, I still have my fun, go out, travel, eat right, and exercise etc...... 😁

Life doesn’t stop because of surgery or fear of old habits. We recognize the slips and change the behavior. I absolutely agree it’s not a jail sentence, I’m having the time of my life living and eating healthy. Nutrition is still flavorful. I can’t wait to start barbequing.

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7 hours ago, KCgirl061 said:

For me its been sticking to a healthy diet once my hunger returned. It was easy to ignore unhealthy foods when I wasn't hungry and its much much harder now. I have to be very deliberate in making my food choices and saying NO to food I know isn't healthy.

Ditto!

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10 hours ago, bariutiful said:

What has been everyone’s hardest part in the post op journey?

Hands down the first 2 weeks. I felt miserable just eating broth and Jello and Protein Shakes. I started eating soft foods on my 9th day. I know, my doctor says soft foods on the 3rd week but I just couldn't wait any longer. Also it took me the whole first month to train myself to eat slowly and to stop when full. Needless to say, I was throwing up frequently in the beginning.

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@ms.sss ohh yeah that’s one of my other challenges is the time it takes me to eat, I make sure I chew my food up super good but it does get frustrating at times..

@healthy_life2 You’re definitely right!! I’m so glad that you’re still having fun and living your life.. like you said life doesn’t stop because of surgery if anything it gets better!!


We are all so strong! We over come challenges each and everyday and we should be so proud of it. I am proud of each and everyone of you!

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NOT DRINKING WITH/AFTER MEALS. Man o Man does this suck

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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