u/Wooden_Time_5476

How long did everyone wait before travelling/vacationing after surgery?
I have a trip to South Africa planned for January 2027 and I’m nervous about whether I’ll be far enough post-op to travel comfortably and actually enjoy the vacation. I don’t have my surgery date yet, so I’m trying to get an idea of what different stages of recovery actually felt like.
For anyone who travelled in the first few months post-op, how many weeks/months out were you? Did you feel physically ready? What did you have to consider that you hadn’t expected?
I’m especially curious about food and hydration while travelling, long-haul flights, energy levels, and being fairly active/sightseeing while away. Did you struggle with food or fluids, or did you feel relatively normal by that point?
Would love to hear experiences from people who travelled anywhere from ~6–12+ weeks post-op!

Does anyone have experience doing CrossFit and/or Olympic weightlifting before and after bariatric surgery?
I’ve done CrossFit and weightlifting for around 13 years, took about 5 years off and am not getting back in not it, being strong is a huge part of who I am. My biggest concern isn’t the recovery itself, it’s losing strength, fuelling myself enough for workouts and lifting and whether I’ll ever get back to my previous numbers.
I’d love to hear from people who returned to CrossFit/lifting after surgery. How long were you out for? How did you manage the lower calorie/protein intake? Did your strength come back, and if so, how long did it take? Were you able to hit your old PRs again? How did you fuel yourself for workouts? Was hydration difficult?

Hello, I have just started the bariatric surgery process. I had my initial consultation this week and I’m feeling really optimistic, but I’m also completely overwhelmed trying to decide which surgery is right for me.
A bit about me:
29F
5’10”
BMI just over 40
Insulin resistant / prediabetic
I’ve struggled with my weight for years despite trying multiple diets.
I’ve been on GLP-1 medications (Wegovy and later Zepbound/tirzepatide). They helped somewhat but not enough, and I’ve plateaued.
I don’t really suffer from any co-morbidities (no acid reflux, sleep apnea, etc)
I am currently going through the insurance requirements and have my first nutritionist appointment next week.
The surgery options I am considering are:
Sleeve
Gastric bypass (RNY)
SADI-S
The more I research, the more confused I get.
The sleeve seems like the “easier” surgery, but I worry about long-term regain and needing a revision later.
The bypass seems like a really good middle ground, but I’m nervous about dumping syndrome and lifelong changes.
Then there’s the SADI-S, which sounds amazing for weight loss and improving insulin resistance, but I know it’s a newer procedure with greater malabsorption and more vitamin/protein requirements.
Some of my biggest questions are:
If you could go back, would you choose the same surgery again?
If you had the sleeve, do you regret not getting bypass or SADI-S?
If you had bypass or SADI-S, how difficult is the lifelong maintenance really?
How “normal” is life now? Can you still go out to restaurants, travel, enjoy holidays, etc.?
Are there foods you genuinely miss or can you pretty much eat everything in moderation now?
How bad was the recovery?
Has anyone here had surgery after GLP-1 medications stopped working? Did surgery succeed where medication didn’t?
For people several years out, how has your weight held up?
If you have insulin resistance or PCOS, which surgery did you choose and why?
I know everyone is different, and I’m not looking for medical advice over my surgeon’s recommendations. I’m just hoping to hear honest experiences. Anything you wish someone had told you before surgery.
Thank you so much for the input!