Things I wish I knew before gastric sleeve (wrote a book about it)

Hi everyone. I had gastric sleeve surgery a few years ago and lost over 40kg. During my journey I realized there are so many things nobody tells you before surgery. Taste changes, hair loss, social challenges, the regain fear, and the emotional rollercoaster.

I started a website (bloomsleeve.me) and eventually wrote a book in Romanian called "Reeducarea Corpului" (Body Re-education) because there was almost no quality content in Romanian about this topic.

But since this is an English-speaking community, I wanted to share the top things I wish someone had told me:

Your taste buds will change. Foods you loved may become intolerable. I can't eat chocolate anymore.

Hair loss at 3 months post-op is normal and terrifying. Biotin, zinc, and protein can help, but be prepared.

Your stomach can change over time. At 1 year, you may be able to eat considerably more than you could at 1 month. Tracking your portions can help.

Social events become strategic operations. I eat before parties and focus on the conversation, not the food.

Regain is real. Significant regain can happen for some patients. Protein first, weekly weigh-ins, and honest self-tracking are some of the strategies that have helped me.

Happy to answer any questions about my experience or the recovery process. ❤️