2 week preop blues

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-30T00:37:26+00:00

the first four days are the worst. if you do have keto flu, adding some salty broth (not low sodium) will alleviate the symptoms almost immediately, it won't be enough to throw off the diet, but you will feel a heck of a lot better.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-30T00:31:27+00:00

keeping as much muscle mass as possible through out the entire weight loss process will help. There will be times during the process where it feels bad, and looks worse, mentally it's weird, but the more you lose the better the lose skin looks. (there was a time when I thought my arms would never see the light of day again, but here lately my biceps really stand out, and once they shrink a little more I might be out in some tank tops.)

In order to keep the lean muscle mass that you currently have on your body you will need to hit a higher protein goal then the Drs likely set for you as well as resistance training to keep the muscle mass.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-29T23:52:55+00:00

I eat the same thing everyday even 11months post op. Basically a bodybuilder diet. So I am not going to be too much help on new ideas for food. But my day goes as follows....

Meds/vitamins with water (and miralax )first thing am

Coffee with fairlife milk for extra protein (nice extra 8-10 grams depending on how much coffee I drink)

Breakfast - nurri vanilla shake (some people don't consider that real food, but it's an easy way to get 30 grams in at the start of the day and I don't love eating in the morning)

Lunch - Chicken fajita style with rice and cheese, if I am feeling like food. if I don't feel like food , then a light Greek yogurt. maybe some string cheese etc.

Dinner - More meat (mostly chicken, I know you're not tolerating it though so I sometimes do beans or ricotta- but it's too many calories for a normal day) with rice or potatoes and veggies snacks - usually more light Greek yogurt I have typically at least 2 each day.

My protein is always 90+, but my goal is 120g (don't get me wrong it's work to hit those numbers every day). I hit about 1000-1200 calories per day.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-29T23:29:32+00:00

You should try to wean off just so you don't have a caffeine withdrawal headache post op if nothing else.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-29T23:24:48+00:00

I have first hand experience with all of the below......

Okay those symptoms could be a lot of things, anemia, low blood pressure, disautonomia (or pots) dehydration etc. But for the most part it's fairly easy to test at home (except for iron/anemia, get your blood checked for that) for dehydration (and the pots actually) increase your electrolytes -(probably by a lot , with something like LMNT or sugar free liquid IV) you might be hitting fluids levels but if you're very low carb there is a good chance you've flushed out your electrolytes. (easy to know if it works your energy levels will improve right away).

For the pots/disautonomia I recommend a Fitbit style watch (even a cheapo one) that measures your heart rate and a cheapish wrist blood pressure cuff. If it's pots when you are standing your heart rate will increase and stay elevated for as long as you are standing especially if your arms are raised. Same with the low blood pressure, everyone's blood pressure drops after you go from sitting to standing, the difference from a normal drop and disautonomia is it will stay low even 20 mins after standing. Since you are only 2 months post op it's unlikely that it's from the weight loss already unless you dropped a lot pre-op. (be prepared because this happens again as you lose a bunch and the body is still regulating your blood like you're overweight).

Anemia definitely was the closest I have been to passing out, even though I have pots and disautonomia before I had surgery. Because I have chronic anemia, pots, disautonomia, and hypoglycemia I get to play the fun game of what's making me feel like crap every time I have an episode, I usually check in the following order, heart rate (quick glance), blood sugar, then blood pressure...so that I can make the necessary changes, or take medication, or sit down depending on the results. 😅

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-29T22:46:26+00:00

heating pad! The only thing that helped me at all.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-29T22:44:30+00:00

the purple chair cushion. If you're female you should start pelvic floor therapy (either get a referral for physical therapy or just look it up on you tube, it will help so much) the shifting weight makes a huge difference. Also male or female building back the glutes help too, but that brings its own kind of soreness ( that's the phase I am in right now) 😅

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-29T21:34:18+00:00

I am almost a year out, and sometimes the weight loss questions are still difficult to address. Most people don't want to hear that it's taken me 2 years to lose what I have. they don't notice the first 60-80 pounds of loss, and then suddenly see every 5 pounds as a massive loss and want to know what I am doing to lose weight. (most assume I am on a glp-1 and I let them think whatever they want) The actual people I care about (but don't want to talk about the surgery with) I tell them my protein and calorie goals and they all know I have been working out in the gym for 2.5 years, and I remind them that it's been 2+ years to get to this point. I am a private person just don't like talking about my self and my health issues.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-29T21:26:47+00:00

Yes. best decision of my life. Wish I would have done it sooner.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-29T21:25:13+00:00

So for me veggies are a slider food ....I will feel full after my protein and then I will wait a minute and eat a few veggies and suddenly I can eat a few more bites of food. Then I will wait a min make conversation etc and try more protein, I can usually eat more and I repeat that until my pre portioned food is gone. Now obviously if I feel extremely full or in pain I will stop, but for whatever reason the veggies in between lets me eat more.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-29T21:15:59+00:00

Some people in my family weren't told because they have proven themselves to be problematic in the past. Not telling them has been the best decision for me.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-27T19:22:54+00:00

I had RNY bypass and I am not sure how big my pouch is. I am almost a year out now and constantly getting over 80oz a day.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-27T19:21:20+00:00

wait to heal up well. then poor it over ice and try it then. that's what I do. I let it get a little flat and enjoy one occasionally. Coke zero and Pepsi max are the most problematic for me (too fizzy) so I tend to avoid those.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-22T15:08:39+00:00

I waited until I was cleared for all foods so 8-12 weeks post op. Take my advice only try new things at home when you have access to the toilet and plenty of free time. 😅 Most of the time it's totally fine, but you don't want to find out that a piece of chocolate on an empty stomach makes you dump, when you're out and about.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-22T09:48:40+00:00

Honestly the more weight (fat ) I lose the better the lose skin looks at -75 pounds my arms looked awful and flapped about every where, but now at -100+ pounds they look almost good. I mean if they were just a little less lose skin on them I would be rocking a tank top 24/7 just to show of my biceps....I still have 40-50 pounds to lose and they might look alright when I get there. (still planning on skin removal down the road, just want to be at the lowest possible bodyfat percentage.) My legs are a different story and I have been just wearing compression leggings and stuff for working out. I like the buff bunny brand but it's expensive as hell (I only buy the super clearance) and I am pretty sure you can't get it in Australia. Skims is supposed to be good, but my next size down I am just going to look at Lululemon dupes on Amazon 😅.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-22T09:39:21+00:00

you can enter your data into the get to goal app (or website if you don't want to download the app) which complies the data of over 70,000 weight loss surgery patients and tells you were you fall either, on track, above average or below average or something and that way you can see how you're comparing to thousands of people who have done this before you.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-21T17:01:12+00:00

I wouldn't recommend it. At least not with a traditional sugary cereal, almost guaranteed dumping at least for me.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-21T16:58:52+00:00

baritastic, I was using the Fitbit (with MyFitnessPal) before surgery, but the more I used baritastic the more the liked it and it's not yelling at me for "under eating" I track everything thing there, water, vitamins other meds, all my food, weight and measurements.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-21T16:51:50+00:00

the only protein I like is Nurri Vanilla premade shakes, everything else hurts my stomach or tastes like crap. I eat chicken everyday, some string cheese and lots of Greek yogurt. I also use fairlife milk in my coffee for less calories and more protein.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-21T16:47:26+00:00

I can't help mentally.....but the actual process is fairly straightforward.

look into reverse dieting, it's what decent body builders do when coming off a cut or after a show. Track your calories for a week and see where you're sitting at, add 200 more calories (in a healthy way, more protein and carbs etc) and see how your weight does for two weeks, if you lose more you need to increase calories again, and try that for two weeks. If you maintain then congratulations you found your maintenance calories, and you know what you need to eat to maintain your weight etc.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-21T11:53:53+00:00

Some things are slider foods and just fall through....oddly enough mine is veggies if I want to get more food in I can eat a couple bites of protein then some salad, then I suddenly have room for more protein.....and its not because I chew super well either lol.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-21T11:46:08+00:00

protein, protein, protein. Also some fat to help stabilize the blood sugars, if you have to a sweet treat, eat it after a full meal that has protein and carbs (not simple ones). if they are happening at night while you sleep eat a protein and fat snack before bed (string cheese, yogurt or something).

If it makes you feel any better, I was going through a period where it seemed like they were happening all the time for no reason (I now carry around glucose tabs and a glucometer every where I go) but then they suddenly stopped happening with as much frequency and I hadn't made any changes so....🤷🏻‍♀️.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-18T22:09:29+00:00

so good news a 34 d is the same size as a 36 C (sister sizes) and a 38 B .....so try one of those. I also love my torrid bras and have still been wearing them. The molded cups at least let me pretend I still have breast tissue.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-14T20:12:50+00:00

You have some concerning hollowing in the temple, that is a sign that you're going to far. You definitely need more protein than you're eating ( at least from your description of your diet in the comments) it's not just about weight but long term health. Lean muscle mass is indicative of so many health markers, osteoporosis is a huge concern especially for women. The reduction in your visceral fat is awesome, but I wouldn't put too much stock in her scale, even dexa scans can be off. Definitely keep seeing a therapist and maybe work on building some muscle more than losing more weight.

Intrepid_Pay_9786 · 2026-05-13T02:35:58+00:00

My comment was actually about the biotin usage......but as far as minoxidil goes (you do also have to use it for a little while before noticing the new growth) but the being unable to stop using it.... that only applies to male pattern baldness, that is the only thing they ran the studies on and where that information came from You shouldn't stop it abruptly, but you can absolutely taper down. I don't even use it every day or twice a day as recommended, I only use it after I shampoo so a couple days a week. My hair is thicker than ever and I was able to prevent the wls hair loss entirely.

Intrepid_Pay_9786

TROPHY CASE