I'm about a year and a half out and I would like to say that there is really no part of this journey I enjoy. I'm grateful for my tool but having to do the work of bariatrics is very very hard and today I'm just pissed because I still don't crave food.... like I don't Have a craving for food. I have to make myself eat, then when I do finally eat the food is like uneventful even though it's very flavorful.: it's just it doesn't give me that ummmp dopamine hit like it used to. It's like my food addiction no longer has that pazazzz that it craves. I can't explain it and then as I'm sitting there eating my f**king stomach is gurgling and making noise and it just irritates me like This journey is very very hard. Everday I have a gripe!

Edited October 26, 2025Oct 26 by Mspretty86

11 hours ago, Lilia_90 said:

Mine is getting too full too quickly.

I dread eating sometimes, although I've always been a foodie. My hunger never went away, I have cravings and I enjoy looking at recipes and making new dishes and trying all the restaurants, but I really dread sitting and eating because I know that 5 minutes in I'll be very uncomfortably full.

I have not properly enjoyed a meal since my VSG because my fullness feeling is extremely intense, borderline painful. It's the sort of pressure that's ugh, awful. And no, it's not due to eating too fast, that is something that I have worked on and it takes me an hour to finish a meal sometimes, if I want to get my nutrients in.

My restriction is a blessing, but also a curse sometimes. And if I don't workout for a few days, I lose my appetite and I lose weight.

I was traveling last month and I was hungry after walking a few miles that my husband and I decided to sit down for brunch, I literally ate 2 bites and pushed my plate away, my husband is used to my tiny portions, but I think even he was surprised, it's worse on somedays, and better on others.

I kind of like that. Not quite such small portions it sounds like, but much smaller and I think will be stuffed and then an hour later I’m hungry again. I keep protein bars and protein snacks everywhere. I always have many options in my different bags and purses. My mom jokes that if she ever gets stranded on a desert island she hopes it is with me because she is sure I will have a weeks worth of snacks for both of us with me. I never know what I will be in the mood for is why I take so many options. When we went to a hotel for just a couple of nights I had to switch to the medium suitcase when I went to add in my snacks. My friend said I’m surprised the snacks didn’t get their own case the way you are. I have a big clear bag that is full with a variety that I take when I travel to appts out of town so I don’t get stuck doing fast food. I probably should get a bag that isn’t clear since People look at me like I’m nuts but it’s easy to take inventory and make sure I replenish it with what I may want. Also, I think maybe it’s secretly kind of fun to let people think I’m nuts without assuming I plan to eat it all in the next hour based on my size. 😂 😂 😂

So does anyone else feel like they never can get hydrated enough? I could scream to the top of my freaking lungs!!

1 hour ago, Mspretty86 said:

So does anyone else feel like they never can get hydrated enough? I could scream to the top of my freaking lungs!!

Have you tried liquid IV. They sell it everywhere (cheapest on Walmart but walgreens and Amazon have it too. They make sugar free one but I get the real one figuring it’s worth the few calories to be well hydrated and I don’t know that the sugar free one really works and I keep forgetting to ask him about that. I’m pretty sure that the fluids they give at the hospital aren’t sugar free). Anyhow, the kidney doc told me about this. It’s a packet you mix in your water and it triples your hydration. Similar to Gatorade or Powerade, but easier to carry and he says it works better than the other two. Comes in quite a few flavors. There are a few important tricks though. First check with your Dr, if you have high BP especially, because it’s basically sugar and salt. Second, you have to mix it ahead. It’s salty and quite gritty if you just stir and try to drink right away. I mix it and leave it sit a good 15 or 20 minutes at least and then mix again. If it’s isn’t smooth it’s needs to dissolve longer. Last, it says mix with 16 oz water, but i find it strong tasting so I mix it with twice as much water which helps a great deal. Now of course that doesn’t mean you are getting credit for 3 times the 32oz, but you are getting 3 times the first 16oz, plus an extra 16 of water and it tastes better that way I think. Watermelon is pretty mild. I have a big yeti jug that is 32oz and that’s what I mix mine in and it stays cold forever with ice which is important because it takes a while to drink it. I have one a day no matter what and if I find that around dinner I haven’t had much to drink or just feel extra thirsty, I will mix a second one to drink throughout the night. My body is used to a gallon a day which is twice the 64oz that most people strive for and my body shows signs of dehydration if I only get 64 oz so I really have to pay attention to getting in my hydration. I hope this helps.

10 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

Have you tried liquid IV. They sell it everywhere (cheapest on Walmart but walgreens and Amazon have it too. They make sugar free one but I get the real one figuring it’s worth the few calories to be well hydrated and I don’t know that the sugar free one really works and I keep forgetting to ask him about that. I’m pretty sure that the fluids they give at the hospital aren’t sugar free). Anyhow, the kidney doc told me about this. It’s a packet you mix in your water and it triples your hydration. Similar to Gatorade or Powerade, but easier to carry and he says it works better than the other two. Comes in quite a few flavors. There are a few important tricks though. First check with your Dr, if you have high BP especially, because it’s basically sugar and salt. Second, you have to mix it ahead. It’s salty and quite gritty if you just stir and try to drink right away. I mix it and leave it sit a good 15 or 20 minutes at least and then mix again. If it’s isn’t smooth it’s needs to dissolve longer. Last, it says mix with 16 oz water, but i find it strong tasting so I mix it with twice as much water which helps a great deal. Now of course that doesn’t mean you are getting credit for 3 times the 32oz, but you are getting 3 times the first 16oz, plus an extra 16 of water and it tastes better that way I think. Watermelon is pretty mild. I have a big yeti jug that is 32oz and that’s what I mix mine in and it stays cold forever with ice which is important because it takes a while to drink it. I have one a day no matter what and if I find that around dinner I haven’t had much to drink or just feel extra thirsty, I will mix a second one to drink throughout the night. My body is used to a gallon a day which is twice the 64oz that most people strive for and my body shows signs of dehydration if I only get 64 oz so I really have to pay attention to getting in my hydration. I hope this helps.

HeyYy so I buy liquid IV sugar free in bulk at my local Sam's club warehouse. There are a few other electrolyte brands I'm looking into there is a company called LMNT they give you their recipe for you to make it yourself kind of like what you are stating. It helps me a bit the liquid IV. I guess I will try to up my water intake because I do work out a lot, and maybe I think I'm consuming a lot of water, but I'm not. I also often wonder is it remnants of diabetes im a type 2 diabetic in remission because of the weight loss.....I remember when I was at my heaviest. I was always so darn thirsty. I don't know I'm gonna have to try some different things because it's driving me bonkers.

Edited November 9, 2025Nov 9 by Mspretty86

2 hours ago, Mspretty86 said:

HeyYy so I buy liquid IV sugar free in bulk at my local Sam's club warehouse. There are a few other electrolyte brands I'm looking into there is a company called LMNT they give you their recipe for you to make it yourself kind of like what you are stating. It helps me a bit the liquid IV. I guess I will try to up my water intake because I do work out a lot, and maybe I think I'm consuming a lot of water, but I'm not. I also often wonder is it remnants of diabetes im a type 2 diabetic in remission because of the weight loss.....I remember when I was at my heaviest. I was always so darn thirsty. I don't know I'm gonna have to try some different things because it's driving me bonkers.

Mine is medication related I think. I’ve been this way since I started a couple meds in my 20’s that I drink a gallon a day so I guess my body is used to it. One good thing about it is I’ve always had nice skin and been told I look young for my age which I attribute to hydration and staying out of the sun because I can’t handle the heat. It is an awful feeling to feel like your dying if thirst though. Fasting for surgery was the worst because I woke up sooooo thirsty and they didn’t want me to “overdo it” but I was so parched before I went to sleep so post surgery I was miserable. I asked my mom before I went to sleep to go and get me water, sprite and saltines so when I woke up I could drink at least and maybe even eat. I did not even want to wait the 10 minutes to get to the hotel. That’s how thirsty I was!! But yea the liquid IV helps a great deal to get a jump on the hydration for the day.

Also just a note about any electorolyte drink. Too much can deplete magnesium which causes bad cramps and I assume other things but I had an issue post bariatric surgery and was worried about blood clots because of the cramps in my calves and it was low magnesium from too many electrolyte drinks. Just a heads up.

Hmm... a few things, really:

• Obsessions with numbers on a scale: reaaaaaaaaaally struggling with this one as of late. Had my first substantial weight gain since starting this journey - around 6lbs, I haven't updated my metrics yet - and it completely threw me. I have been going to the gym 4-5 times a week, weights & cardio etc, and I know weight fluctuates, and I am still in a healthy weight range, but that weight gain and the number on the scale has absolutely fucked with my head! My partner has had to hide the scales for me, and we've made a deal that I will only weigh myself once a month. I just am feeling like a failure right now, which I know is completely illogical and untrue. But my brain is my enemy at times!

• Hair loss: I have recently just chopped my hair jaw-length after my hair just decided to give up the ghost and it was becoming very fine and thin, and there just wasn't much volume at all! Still chasing the dream of one day having long lovely hair.

• My bones: Honestly wtf! 🤣 My coccyx bone is one of THE most painful things in this whole world when I am sitting down! Give me peace please 🤣

@Bypass2Freedom I feel your gripe! the very first day I had surgery I told myself I would not buy a scale and only weigh once a month. I am happy to say I stuck to it. I knew my mental health was not stable enough to own a scale let alone weigh in all the time! Women we hold so much water weight, bloat, constipation etc. you also stated you work out so weight also shifts as well! So girly I hope the numbers on the scale does not get you too down. A gripe is a gripe tho though! We all have them!

My gripe: it's crazy how when you get this surgery you just have to know understand and accept that your anatomy is forever changed. I peed about 1000 times today. I could just run and scream like a mad lady

16 hours ago, Bypass2Freedom said:

Hmm... a few things, really:

• Obsessions with numbers on a scale: reaaaaaaaaaally struggling with this one as of late. Had my first substantial weight gain since starting this journey - around 6lbs, I haven't updated my metrics yet - and it completely threw me. I have been going to the gym 4-5 times a week, weights & cardio etc, and I know weight fluctuates, and I am still in a healthy weight range, but that weight gain and the number on the scale has absolutely fucked with my head! My partner has had to hide the scales for me, and we've made a deal that I will only weigh myself once a month. I just am feeling like a failure right now, which I know is completely illogical and untrue. But my brain is my enemy at times!

• Hair loss: I have recently just chopped my hair jaw-length after my hair just decided to give up the ghost and it was becoming very fine and thin, and there just wasn't much volume at all! Still chasing the dream of one day having long lovely hair.

• My bones: Honestly wtf! 🤣 My coccyx bone is one of THE most painful things in this whole world when I am sitting down! Give me peace please 🤣

You are where I was earlier this year. I’d put on weight for the first time too - close to 10lbs. It really messed with me so I get exactly how you feel. I knew the cause was not being able to access my HRT as a transdermal patch. The alternative gel & tablet did not work for me. I actually did a post about how my body hated me. Picked myself up & made some small changes to what I was eating. Reduced my HRT (was still having hot flushes so what was a few more & it was winter - ha!). I lost about half of the weight though crazy slowly. Then after 10 months my transdermal patch became available again (my pharmacist was so excited for me & he’s male!) & almost all the rest came off comparatively more quickly. I have about a pound to go but I’ll be okay if it stays.

Also the bony butt does improve. As a fellow sufferer I thought I’d have the pain forever & never be able to sit for more than a short time again but slowly it improved. I could sit for longer & longer before the pain would start shooting up my spine. I’d probably say it was only this year (so 6 years post surgery) that I found I could sit through a movie without any real discomfort. So you may have a couple more years to go.

So I feel all of your pain about the regain. Mine is part medication and chemo induced menopause but part is probably some of my food choices. I blame on the long term steroids but who knows how much of that really is and part my brain just having an excuse. I asked my dr today if I will get off the steroids before I’m done with treatment and he says no. I have another SIX MONTHS and I’ve already gained almost 20 pounds in three!! I can’t avoid the scale since I still have so many dr appts and when I got on the scale today, I almost cried. I asked if I have to wait until I’m huge again to get to do Wegovy and he says no. No clue if my insurance will cover it at my weight, but he did give me a sample so I can see if it even helps for now. I don’t want to not be able to eat at all. I am just hoping to be able to make better choices and get back on track. I am trying to figure out when to start it though. I have an event tomorrow that I don’t want to feel sick for so maybe Sunday. I guess I will skip it Thanksgiving week and then again the second week of December I will be on a cruise and again for Christmas week. Well for the cruise so I can eat for sure but if I can eat some I don’t really care about Christmas. I do want to be able to eat more than two bites on Thanksgiving though. I’m kind of wondering if I should just wait till January at this point. 🤷‍♀️ I hope it’s doesn’t make it worse to start and then stop it.

@ShoppGirl with any of the weight management injections... I would only start them when you're able and want to be consistent. That's when they work the best before weight loss surgery, I had great success with my GLP-1 💜

On 11/15/2025 at 7:31 AM, ShoppGirl said:

… . I blame on the long term steroids but who knows how much of that really is and part my brain just having an excuse. I asked my dr today if I will get off the steroids before I’m done with treatment and he says no. I have another SIX MONTHS and I’ve already gained almost 20 pounds in three!! …

Some medications, like steroids, are wickedly bad for weight gain, however, when you go off them, the weight seems to be relatively easy to lose. My 85yr old mother went off the antidepressant she’d been on & lost a good 15 kgs over about 6 months this year. Didn’t do anything: no change of diet, no change of activity, just dropped the medication. She still is on a medication which is known for weight gain but she can’t drop that one so probably won’t lose more weight but she has been pretty stable at this lower weight for a couple of months now. (Amusingly she’s complaining to me about all her clothes being too big and having to buy new ones as if I wouldn’t understand 😂😂😂.) I hope that may give you some hope for when you are able to stop the steroids if your doctors won’t prescribe a GLP -1.

Edited November 16, 2025Nov 16 by Arabesque

I had my mini-gastric bypass this past Friday. I didn’t begin having issues with the liquid diet or feeling hungry at the hospital until I got to my mom’s house yesterday and smelled her cooking (Pavlov’s dog conditioned response, if you know what I mean lol), but I recognized it immediately for what it was & quickly redirected my focus by going outside for a walk & some fresh air.

Right now they are cooking, so I went outside to introduce myself to their German shepherd & gave her a treat. Now I went to a different part of the house where I can’t smell the food being cooked.

@TrippingDaisy18 I understand your grip wholeheartedly. I remember those early stages if you're in the liquid stage ensure to make you some great bone broth as you enjoy family, I made my own bone broth out of different beef cuts and fresh veggies it was delicious. I sipped on as much liquid broth as I wanted it was lovely. I dislike being hungry. I hate that you can't eat the delicious food at this time but the reward is so great!

Edited November 25, 2025Nov 25 by Mspretty86