Very discouraged after sleeve

[LeaMay 1]

Hi everyone!

I would really appreciate some help. I am 6 weeks past my sleeve surgery. I'm am very discouraged and disappointed. I lost about 20 lbs in the beginning, only because of the pre op diet where I barely ate anything and the 2 weeks after the surgery but it has been downhill from there. I know the sleeve is "not a magic solution, its a tool" and so on! I've heard it all too many times. But I would assume that if I eat like ten percent of what I used to eat I would lose weight, but I haven't. I do eat starches and foods that I may not supposed to, but much less than before. I am really struggling with dieting. If I didn't struggle with dieting, I wouldn't get to the point that I need surgery! I find it hard to believe that all people who are over weight to the point that they need surgery, all of a sudden magically changed their mindset after surgery and started to be able to eat the right foods. I don't know how to do it. I may not eat the "right" foods, but I don't eat terrible foods. I don't eat more than I can tolerate, I don't eat ice cream or milkshakes or things like that. I do eat my sweet Cereal, my avocado, my rice, grits etc. I find it nearly impossible to eat all this Protein. I hate all fishes. I'm Jewish and Kosher so cant eat seafood. I don't like chicken salad. Very limited in the Proteins that I can eat. How much cottage cheese and yogurt can a person eat a day? I am so frustrated and don't know what to do, I am very curious to know if all these people who lose so much weight after surgery is because they actually followed the guidelines, and if so, how all of a sudden they were able to change after all these years of not succeeding to eat the right foods. What discourages me the most, is that it seems that it is all about will power, with or without surgery. If dieting and controlling what eat is the only way to lose weight with or without it, what is the surgery good for? I am so discouraged. Please help! Thanks so much for your time!

[Tinker053 3]

I only had my operation 4 weeks ago, so may not be the best person to comment. However, I have found there are many foods that have added Protein if you look at the packages. I have found eating my protein has made me less hungry for other foods. Good luck.

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[WafflingWafa 17]

Can totally relate ( I am now 6mth post op vsg) at 6 weeks it felt I was working hard and getting no where.

Try taking your measurements

Even when I am not loosing inches have definitely gone.

My weight pre pre op! 135 ( fast forward 1 year delay due to no ops covid)

At surgery 119

At 6 weeks post op 111

I have just started lap swimming 1 hr 4 times a week and am at 107

Not earth shattering but circulation bp and liver have improved so that's good

Slow its much harder to binge when I'm down (I've tried!!)

My advice ( for what it's worth!) Is look for the positives!!

Protein is a ( insert appropriate word!)

I've taken to using unflavoured whey Protein Powder in Soup coffee and orange juice 2 or 3 times a day as mini meals ( not sure of kosher status of whey powder that would be an added problem)

Then one proper food meal

What was your pre op surgery and current weight

[kristieshannon 1,558]

On 07/25/2021 at 04:07, LeaMay said:

Hi everyone!

I would really appreciate some help. I am 6 weeks past my sleeve surgery. I'm am very discouraged and disappointed. I lost about 20 lbs in the beginning, only because of the pre op diet where I barely ate anything and the 2 weeks after the surgery but it has been downhill from there. I know the sleeve is "not a magic solution, its a tool" and so on! I've heard it all too many times. But I would assume that if I eat like ten percent of what I used to eat I would lose weight, but I haven't. I do eat starches and foods that I may not supposed to, but much less than before. I am really struggling with dieting. If I didn't struggle with dieting, I wouldn't get to the point that I need surgery! I find it hard to believe that all people who are over weight to the point that they need surgery, all of a sudden magically changed their mindset after surgery and started to be able to eat the right foods. I don't know how to do it. I may not eat the "right" foods, but I don't eat terrible foods. I don't eat more than I can tolerate, I don't eat ice cream or milkshakes or things like that. I do eat my sweet Cereal, my avocado, my rice, grits etc. I find it nearly impossible to eat all this Protein. I hate all fishes. I'm Jewish and Kosher so cant eat seafood. I don't like chicken salad. Very limited in the Proteins that I can eat. How much cottage cheese and yogurt can a person eat a day? I am so frustrated and don't know what to do, I am very curious to know if all these people who lose so much weight after surgery is because they actually followed the guidelines, and if so, how all of a sudden they were able to change after all these years of not succeeding to eat the right foods. What discourages me the most, is that it seems that it is all about will power, with or without surgery. If dieting and controlling what eat is the only way to lose weight with or without it, what is the surgery good for? I am so discouraged. Please help! Thanks so much for your time!

In short, yes! I follow the guidelines I was given. Very strictly at first. Now at nearly two years out and at goal not as strictly, but still within my maintenance calories. That doesn’t mean I didn’t ever “slip” but it was rare during weight loss phase. I figured I did something drastic, went through a major surgery and I wasn’t going to mess it up. I’d suggest tracking what you eat vigilantly, making an appointment to see your nutritionist to review your plan and come up with options that work for you, and consider therapy. Come here often for support! Best of luck to you ❤️

[catwoman7 10,922]

like kristieshannon, I also did what I had to do and followed the guidelines to a "t", esp that first year, because I'd been fat for six decades and I was done with it. I was going to do what I had to get down to a more normal weight (which for me at the start was anything under 200 lbs - but I ended up losing quite a bit more than that).

the difference between this and other diets is that this time my effort actually paid off. It worked. Even though it wasn't easy due to ingrained habits (psychological), at least I wasn't fighting biology every step of the way (physical).

I'd also agree it might be worth it to see your dietitian and a therapist who understands bariatric surgery and/or disordered eating. A lot of us have done that and find it helpful.

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

|You might need to see your nutritionist, and a therapist.

Yes, we all have to follow the plan given to us in the pre-op appointments. Starches and not much different nutritionally than ice cream, it all turns to sugar. Most of us that have been obese for decades are insulin resistant, and that means we need to severely limit those types of carbs and eat non-starchy vegetable carbs, not even fruit - as it has a higher glycemic index.

Tough love here, if you want success you follow the plan, period. That is why I suggest therapy and an 'honest' NUT appointment.

[LeaMay 1]

Thank you everyone! I really appreciate u taking the time to provide your thoughts and feedback!

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

You might also keep using Protein Shakes to get your Protein requirements, and high protein yogurts.

If you don't keep up the protein levels, you will lose muscle, and more hair. Also our bodies use starches first before it burns our body fat, but it is not the same process as when you eat dense protein, your body uses the stored fat for fuel, you become fat adapted instead of running on glucose. And that is what corrects insulin resistance, we correct our metabolisms and hormones.

[Jzampedri 3]

The problem is you’re still eating starches, and foods that on my sleeve surgery nutritional guide lines aren’t approved for 6 months. You’re right it is will power a lot of the time. The surgery should make it so you feel full faster. It’s not the most popular bit of advice but you need to change the way you are if you don’t like protein… learn to like it.

[lostmykeysinspace 15]

On 7/25/2021 at 2:07 AM, LeaMay said:

Hi everyone!

I would really appreciate some help. I am 6 weeks past my sleeve surgery. I'm am very discouraged and disappointed. I lost about 20 lbs in the beginning, only because of the pre op diet where I barely ate anything and the 2 weeks after the surgery but it has been downhill from there. I know the sleeve is "not a magic solution, its a tool" and so on! I've heard it all too many times. But I would assume that if I eat like ten percent of what I used to eat I would lose weight, but I haven't. I do eat starches and foods that I may not supposed to, but much less than before. I am really struggling with dieting. If I didn't struggle with dieting, I wouldn't get to the point that I need surgery! I find it hard to believe that all people who are over weight to the point that they need surgery, all of a sudden magically changed their mindset after surgery and started to be able to eat the right foods. I don't know how to do it. I may not eat the "right" foods, but I don't eat terrible foods. I don't eat more than I can tolerate, I don't eat ice cream or milkshakes or things like that. I do eat my sweet Cereal, my avocado, my rice, grits etc. I find it nearly impossible to eat all this Protein. I hate all fishes. I'm Jewish and Kosher so cant eat seafood. I don't like chicken salad. Very limited in the Proteins that I can eat. How much cottage cheese and yogurt can a person eat a day? I am so frustrated and don't know what to do, I am very curious to know if all these people who lose so much weight after surgery is because they actually followed the guidelines, and if so, how all of a sudden they were able to change after all these years of not succeeding to eat the right foods. What discourages me the most, is that it seems that it is all about will power, with or without surgery. If dieting and controlling what eat is the only way to lose weight with or without it, what is the surgery good for? I am so discouraged. Please help! Thanks so much for your time!

A lot of it is willpower, unfortunately. I find it easier to stay on track after surgery because I am always seeing results. Maybe there's a bit of instant gratification to it, and I know I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but I'm still losing a fairly decent pace three months out and that's incredibly motivating. I find the more I stick to the guidelines (protein first, eat slow, chew thoroughly, avoid sugar or fat laden foods) the easier it is to stick to the healthy foods. Surgery gave me time to start getting over my sugar addiction because I quite literally couldn't eat sugar, and now it's so much easier to say no because I can't have refined sugar. I'll eat some fruit if I have a craving and be satisfied. Surgery also took away my hunger for the first couple months, which gave me time to get my head on straight. I know that's not the same for everyone though.

What meats can you eat? I'm not familiar with what is or isn't allowed within a Jewish kosher diet. I've found as long as I stick to lean meats, I can eat just about anything. I tried chicken skin once and BIG MISTAKE, but just a thigh or breast, some leaner cuts of steak, lamb, turkey (seriously, turkey chili is my lifeline even in the summer), bison...all these I can tolerate fine. I live in Midwest USA so there's not a ton of fresh seafood options, it's not something we make often. There's also Protein powder and shakes that you can use to supplement. I usually have a Protein Shake every day because I just physically can't eat enough food to hit 60 grams of protein. I use cheese as a snack sometimes to supplement my protein intake. I'm also very fond of Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, but you might be tired of them. What about eggs? Or even a glass of milk - hydration and protein!

[Maribelle76 82]

On 7/25/2021 at 4:07 AM, LeaMay said:

Hi everyone!

I would really appreciate some help. I am 6 weeks past my sleeve surgery. I'm am very discouraged and disappointed. I lost about 20 lbs in the beginning, only because of the pre op diet where I barely ate anything and the 2 weeks after the surgery but it has been downhill from there. I know the sleeve is "not a magic solution, its a tool" and so on! I've heard it all too many times. But I would assume that if I eat like ten percent of what I used to eat I would lose weight, but I haven't. I do eat starches and foods that I may not supposed to, but much less than before. I am really struggling with dieting. If I didn't struggle with dieting, I wouldn't get to the point that I need surgery! I find it hard to believe that all people who are over weight to the point that they need surgery, all of a sudden magically changed their mindset after surgery and started to be able to eat the right foods. I don't know how to do it. I may not eat the "right" foods, but I don't eat terrible foods. I don't eat more than I can tolerate, I don't eat ice cream or milkshakes or things like that. I do eat my sweet Cereal, my avocado, my rice, grits etc. I find it nearly impossible to eat all this Protein. I hate all fishes. I'm Jewish and Kosher so cant eat seafood. I don't like chicken salad. Very limited in the Proteins that I can eat. How much cottage cheese and yogurt can a person eat a day? I am so frustrated and don't know what to do, I am very curious to know if all these people who lose so much weight after surgery is because they actually followed the guidelines, and if so, how all of a sudden they were able to change after all these years of not succeeding to eat the right foods. What discourages me the most, is that it seems that it is all about will power, with or without surgery. If dieting and controlling what eat is the only way to lose weight with or without it, what is the surgery good for? I am so discouraged. Please help! Thanks so much for your time!

I would assume, too, if you are only eating a small fraction of what you ate before, that you would lose weight. It's probably just going to take a lot longer since you're not being strict about it. Do you track on My Fitness Pal or another app?