Gastric Sleeve and VLCD

Most people eat that few of calories on a gastric sleeve because their stomach is a quarter of it's original size and they can't fit anymore in. The gastric sleeve is an option that should be used for the obese who are at serious health risk if they do not lose a good amount of weight very quickly. If that is not the case, then in my opinion, a gastric sleeve is not the best choice, and a moderate calorie deficit is the best way to go.

Most people eat that few of calories on a gastric sleeve because their stomach is a quarter of it's original size and they can't fit anymore in. The gastric sleeve is an option that should be used for the obese who are at serious health risk if they do not lose a good amount of weight very quickly. If that is not the case, then in my opinion, a gastric sleeve is not the best choice, and a moderate calorie deficit is the best way to go.

I qualify. It is covered by insurance, and I've been in the program for it for the last 6 months.
My concern is long-term calorie intake, especially with exercise /: If you eat 600 calories a day for the first year while working out, the math is just kinda scary.

If you eat 600-800 calories a day for an entire year you will absolutely damage your metabolism and cause it to slow down, then it's going to be a long hard road trying to increase your metabolic capacity again without gaining too much weight...

My boyfriend's brother had the surgery, but it was a last resort for him, he had to due to health issues, but he is middle age. I am not sure how many calories he actually eats. He is a big man at 6'4 and he has to be careful both with what he eats and the amount he eats. He has very small servings. He had the surgery about 10 years ago, but now has gained some back, even though he eats small servings.

Gastric sleeve at 18...

I applaud you for wanting to take control of things. But surgery? You have so many more options and so much time to learn how to make good choices. Don't start a life where you take the "quick" way.

I'm telling you with all the love I can spread over the internet: WAIT. Learn good habits. Make friends with people who can help and inspire you.

I actually lost 100 pounds a few years ago and regained >< I said no to the surgery at 15, but I feel like I'm in a place where I can handle it. I have a few weight-related health issues, so I think it's the best thing for me right now.

Thank you though, I totally understand where you're coming from.

You've done it once with just changing your eating habits, why not try that again this time and not have to be concerned with metabolism issues or how much food you can fit in your new stomach?

You will be eating extremely low calorie. My sister ate only 300 - 400 calories a day for months after her gastric sleeve surgery. Now after almost a year she is eating a 1000 calories but gains if she eats more. The Dr says this is common after eating such a low calorie diet after surgery. You definitely need to think this whole thing through very carefully. They remove 80% of your stomach. There's NO going back once you have it done. :noway:

Gastric sleeve at 18...

I applaud you for wanting to take control of things. But surgery? You have so many more options and so much time to learn how to make good choices. Don't start a life where you take the "quick" way.

I'm telling you with all the love I can spread over the internet: WAIT. Learn good habits. Make friends with people who can help and inspire you.

I actually lost 100 pounds a few years ago and regained >< I said no to the surgery at 15, but I feel like I'm in a place where I can handle it. I have a few weight-related health issues, so I think it's the best thing for me right now.

Thank you though, I totally understand where you're coming from.

You very well might re-gain it this time, too, only this time you will be left with a permanently altered stomach. It happens all the time. One of my close friends lost and gained weight several times over. She eventually had the gastric sleeve (she weighed approximately 280 at the time) in Dec. 2010 and lost maybe 60 pounds in the following year. Guess how much she weighs now? Over 300. She gained 20 pounds in just three months last year! I know several other people who have gained the weight back after the surgery, but she is the one whose situation I know the most about.

Regardless of how you go about it, you have to learn how to manage your eating. The organ you need to be concerned with is your brain.

This is a really good point. If you are forced to lose weight because you can't fit anymore calories in your stomach, you're not learning how to eat properly on the way down. This is one of the reasons that the majority of people that have weight loss surgery or lose weight with meal replacement shakes almost always gain all the weight back and more because they used a gimmick to lose the weight, then once it was lost went back to their old ways.

I appreciate that you guys aren't supportive of the surgery, but I've made up my mind. I know how to eat well, I just sometimes have trouble doing it. I was able to maintain for two years on my own and then ended up making poor decisions that caused me to regain the weight. I decided that surgery will be a helpful tool in starting to lose again and then maintaining, especially given my medical problems, and I am having it done on May 30th with the full support of my family and friends who were also there during my "natural" weight loss.

My question was really only about the metabolic issues/VLCD. It's fine if you want to urge me to rethink, I'm just letting you know /:

I can understand, and won't try to talk you out of it, but I do have some advice. I've seen multiple people I know have the surgery, and then continue to overeat. Also, a friend of my husbands had it, didn't exercise, and tore ligaments in his ankle walking down the stairs because after losing muscle with the fat he didn't have anything to support the tendons and ligaments around his joints. Be careful, follow the nutrition plan, see the nutritionist often (even if you think you have it handled), make sure you get plenty of protein (it will keep your hair from thinning and your nails from getting brittle, and you can by a 3 oz liquid shot that has 42grams in it through health stores) You won't be able to eat more than a baby food jar of food in one sitting for a while. Some things you used to love will cause you to "dump" or have bowel issues. Remember why you had it done, and make good food choices. Moderation will be key for you. Good luck!

There is a lot of assumptions being made here by people who have not had the surgery...but that is all I will say about that.

I had the sleeve done 10/11/12. I have lost 143 pounds to date and I am now maintaining for about the last six months. I work out 4 days per week - bodycombat - weight training. I get between 1,200 and 1,500 calories per day.

I do not feel deprived, I feel satisfied, I eat vegetables and protein, low carb (but some carbs) and I also enjoy a treat (chocolate, ice cream, et cetera)

I have learned and every day is a new commitment to making good food choices and taking care of my body.
Although I know and believe that people can either not lose a significant amount of weight or gain it back, it has to be something
where they truly have not made any changes, are choosing to eat calorie dense, but not nutritious or filling foods.

I can totally see myself committed to this new way of life and eating forever. It was a tool I needed. Not everyone needs it, but those that do, it is not a quick fix but a tool that helps us meet our goals to live a healthy and full life.

Once I was back on solid food I ate about 600 calories per day for a good 6 months, then 700, then 800. I was probably at 800 till about a year and moved up to 1,000 and at 1 1/2 years 1,200.

I sometimes eat my calories back from exercise (400 - 600 per workout) if I "need" them. If I don't, I don't. Some days I am hungrier than other days. I try to listen to my body and think of food as fuel. I want to fuel my vessel the very best I can, so I choose foods that will do that.

HTH! Good luck.

So basically, a synopsis yes 600 to 800 calories for the first year was my experience. After that 1,000 to 1,200 and now that maintaining I am shooting for 1,200 to 1,500.

bump.

The gastric sleeve will reduce the volume capacity of the stomach. Not the calorie capacity. I had a friend that had the lap band surgery and GAINED weight because she was slurping down milkshakes all day. I have another that has totally stalled out on weight loss with the lap band because she refuses to stop drinking sweet tea all day long and eats cookies for breakfast because it's easy to get down.

None of the weight loss surgeries are any more effective than diet and exercise in the long run and have pretty substantial failure rates. The reason: people don't change their behavior.

But that being said, as for your concern about VLCD post op, there are lots of options for getting your calorie count up. I'm not really familiar with the sleeve, but I'm guessing it gives you the restrictive aid of the lap band without decreasing the size of the esophagus, which is what makes it so hard for people to eat some of the foods they really need to be healthy with the lap band. Food that are more calorie dense, like natural peanut butter, avacados, whole milk instead of low fat and the like will be your best option. You'll get (more) sufficient amounts of proteins and good fats and get your calorie count up.

I had it done at 17 and have regretted it every single day. Guess what? Nearly nine years later and I'm still trying to lose the weight.

I dunno, eating 6-8 times per day and being physically unable to eat medium/larger portions for the rest of your life sounds pretty bad. There are plenty of procedures that I would still opt not to do, even if my insurance offered to cover it. Insurance paying for something is not a good reason to make a life-altering decision.

Just my $0.02, but you can't sit here and say that people who eat 1200 calories or follow VLCDs are upsetting and then turn around and pursue a gastric sleeve. You will be on a VLCD after having the procedure done and it's no more or less healthy for you then than if you simply followed a VLCD with doctor supervision today without the operation. You'll still have to deal with the potential lack of energy and the possibility of malnutrition unless you stick closely to your planned diet. Going this route is basically forcing yourself to follow a VLCD because you're having the majority of your stomach surgically removed... seems a lot more extreme than the people who eat 1200 calories on MFP.

Not saying it's the wrong decision, but ... well, maybe I am. You've lost the weight before, so you know you can do it again. This just seems like an easy out (but one that also alters your life and not necessarily for the better).

I had the bypass about 20 months ago for me it was a health issue. I have lost 95 lbs and have had months when I didn't lose anything.
if I may give you a few pointers.
1. This is your journey, the clinic knows what works, if you follow the program, go on the boards etc it will work.
2. People will tell you this is the easy way out it's not. You have to unlearn bad habits, refuse food from others and you may throw up alot.
3. You will only eat about 500 calories the first few months. Even now I only eat 1000-1200 per day generally lower than that.
4. Food will taste different, one day something will be fine for you the next not so much it's alot of trial and error.
5. Don't worry about calories worry about getting the protien you are required to-- find the foods that work best for you.
6. Start eating a modified diet now, lots of chciken, protein drinks, taking your vitamins I did this for 2 months before and it made the trasisition easier.
Finally be cautious about who you tell people judge.
If you ever want to chat privately please message me.
Best of luck
Deb

To me, this sounds like the exact opposite of the easy way out...

I appreciate that you guys aren't supportive of the surgery, but I've made up my mind.

You should at least wait until your prefrontal cortex is fully developed before making a decision regarding an irreversable procedure that you will have to live with the consequences of for the rest of your life. Of course I've not been in your shoes, but I think it is a bad idea.

My question was really only about the metabolic issues/VLCD.

I haven't had the surgery or anything but I just see no way it could be healthy. I think you are very astute in making the connection that the procedure will force you to eat VLCD and the nutritional challenges that will be a result of that restriction. Since you already stated there is no way you are going to change your mind about all I can say is you better make sure what few calories you get are VERY nutrient dense. I'm also not sure how you are going to eat in a manner to support muscle mass, which will be needed to help keep your metabolism up. From what I have seen, those with this procedure end up still having high body fat percentage most the time. I'm not sure if it is because they can't eat enough protein to support the LBM or if they choose not to, but I think it is something to consider.

Good luck (don't do it)! :-)