feedyoureye

I had the sleeve don in 2010. I was lacto ovo vegetarian the whole time. I lost slowly for the first two rears, then started to gain. I employed 5-2 semi fasting program and lost to goal (90lbs) by year three. I maintained for less than a year, then slowly started to gain until around 2019 when i platoued at 20 lbs under my initial weight. Around that time i was diagnosed with breast cancer. I went to a “surviver clinic” run by my medical plan(Kaiser). They recommended i go whole food plant based to reduce most causes of premature death. I was motivated. That was 4 years ago. I am currently down 35 pounds from my high. I wish i had done this insted of surgery, because whole food plant based relies on eating a lot of food to work. I can eat quite abit now… i guess my stomach has stretched out quite a bit, but i still cant eat as much as i could before surgery. Check out nutritionfacts.org for lots of current research on nutrition, weight loss and health.

How sweet! Thanks so much!

I know I always wanted to hear from people with a few years under their belt! The procedure was fairly new then.

Hello you all! I see a few faces out there that I knew many years ago here. I used to be a host, and even got an award for most followed post! Its been a while. I first joined this forum in 2010. My pic shows me with red hair… its white now! I had a VSG in January of 2011. I entered this plan as a vegetarian, and maintained that status until about a year ago when I upped my game to Vegan eating (Did you know you can drink Coke and eat Oreos and still be vegan?). 7 weeks ago I upped it again and I follow a Whole Food Plant Based diet. It is also vegan eating, but cuts out not only meat and dairy, but any highly refined product including oils, refined sugar, white flour and rice, you get the picture. It is high Carb and low fat. It took me about two years after surgery to get about 65 pounds off (I only had 80-90 to lose) and then started to gain. I gained about 20, trying different diet changes along the way… then started using the 5/2 semi fasting method, and lost the rest in the following year eating an average of 1000 cal a day. So it took me three years to get to goal. Loved it. At last, I felt like the person in the mirror was me. That didn't last long. Slowly,over years, I gained much of the weight back. Eating less didn’t work like it had. I did eat more crap, but much of the time was on calorie counting staying under 1200 cals without much success. I got up to between 20-30 pounds under my highest weight, and managed to keep that much off for the last 8 years. This is a success. I have never been able to do that before. I can eat less, my stomach allows for much more food than it did the two years after surgery, but it still can give me a full signal faster than before surgery. This is a win. I am not sorry I got the surgery. In April of this year (2019) I found out I had breast cancer. In a whirlwind, I went to a ton of appointments and ended up quickly in surgery for a lumpectomy with 2 nodes removed, then a month of daily radiation. I am lucky to have caught it early, and my prognosis is good. Nothing like a kick in the ass to get you back on board a more healthy lifestyle. I was recommended to go to a “survival coach” appointment with Kaiser. I was told they would talk to me about lifestyle changes that would amend my other treatments. So, I found myself in the office at the appointment.(July 19th 2019). I met one on one with Dr. Earnie Bodai and a Nutritionist. He went through my prognosis, not just for Cancer but heart disease, stroke and diabetes. He gave me statistics, and suggestions, and told me I was much more likely to die from other things before I died from breast cancer. He said I would most benefit from eating a Whole Food Plant Based diet. He gave me the research to support it. He handed me over to the nutritionist who filled me in on the details. I had heard about this type of lifestyle before, but didn’t think I could follow it. Nothing like Cancer and a convincing bunch of information to make change easier! I switched to the WFPB diet imdeiately. Thats been just 2 months now. I have done a ton of research to back up what he told me. I ate a ton of food. I didn’t count calories. I traveled for two weeks over seas and managed to stay on plan. I watched ‘forks over knifes’ and ‘What the health’, I went and had labs done after following the plan for a month. My labs came back drastically better… in just one month. I had been a vegan before the labs, but the new small changes in my diet made a HUGE difference. My glucose dropped from 123 to 108… and should continue to drop as time goes by. My total cholesterol dropped 47 points. In one month of eating this way. I have been trying to control my cholesterol for years by other dietary changes. My LDL dropped from 175 to 139…. And yes, at almost two months on plan, eating so much delicious food, I have lost 15 pounds. Just saying. Im doing this with my older sleeve. Its working well. I don’t think I could have done this when my sleeve was newer, as you have to really EAT to have this plan work. I told my nutritionist that I had the sleeve and wondered if I could eat the TWO pounds of veg a day the plan recommended… She said “Start Eating, Eat often if necessary, Don’t worry about protein, your health will improve.” Thats what I have been doing and it works. If any of you out there are at the point where you can eat a lot more than early on in the sleeve process, this plan may work for you too. I am not a DR.. Do your research. I looked up my Survival Dr, Earnie Bodai on line, he said he had some medical papers published on breast cancer and diet, almong other topics, and found out the man is more than just a Dr. He is the Dr. that single handedly got the Breast Cancer stamp approved in the United States and now its being approved by other countries as well. He may well have saved hundreds of thousands of peoples lives through his many good works. I trust his research and recommendations to me. Here is his story if you are interested. https://youtu.be/KlToZUJg4kg Here is the plan I am following now. There are many others that are similar out there. Just look up Whole Food Plant Based diet. The success stories are legion. http://www.kphealthyme.com/Healthy-Eating-Active-Living-Programs/Education-libraries/Plant-Based-Diet.aspx

I'm so happy for you that you have met a nice man to spend time with. Is it the same guy you were with a couple months ago? I have Arthritis too, creeping in here and there.... Not as bad as you... I think at least part of it is the weight ... but don't kick yourself about it.... skinny people get it too!

Sorry I wasn't here for you Cathy, Ill try to be better about that! On June 26th I was in Scotland! We drove all over, Stayed in Mull, and Louis and Harris... wild and wonderful. Also went many other places, stayed in castles, visited standing stones and wishing wells... Neolithic sites and saw lots of art too. We would stop for tea everyday... In farmhouses, castles and small towns... it was lovely, and fattening!I I have to say, you live in a lovely part of the world... Did not get too close to Wales.. perhaps some day. Also spent some time learning how to drink Scotch! We had a blast, Thank goodness I did a good bit of walking as well.... Thought of you and Coop while I was there...

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Thanks, sorry I was gone for so long. Has Sheryl been out for a while?

Back from the dead! Not really dead, but piled up with stuff to do, stressful stuff and an amazing trip to Scotland. Sorry I didn't check in, I was too busy eating junk and gaining weight. sad face here.... Im back on track, and my hubby is actually joining in... never been on a diet or watched his weight, but a BIG know it all! of course. Its good though, helps having a buddy in the kitchen. I am still down 40 pounds, but gained the rest back. In giant pants again.... Still way better off than before surgery, but trying to make a new start of it. Have a show coming up, working hard on getting paintings done, house still in mediation limbo.... the contracting engineer said in a deposition the other day that there is a 50/50 chance that our roofs might actually cave in! While I was in Scotland, I found out that my job was going to be over by January 2017... at this time it looks like that is not true, but administration has not sent an official letter yet. At the same time found out a co worker of 15 years was killed in a hit and run... lots of horrible drama here for a spell. Still dancing, and walking... curbing the sugar monster that has been ruling my life for a few months.... It may take me some time to catch up on your posts... just wanted to let you know I am here.

Happy birthday coops! Im back to where I started (only one day off!).... the stall is alive and kicking! Back on the 5 day test then 5:2 again.....

Oh Sarah, how awful for you and your family! I am glad to hear you all got to spend time with him, and say your piece... and that you got to give it your all for the past few months. I understand about learning how to grieve.... I finally went on a light anti depressant... I just couldn't beat the sadness at one point... and that has really helped so much. I can still feel, just not so hopeless. Much love to you.... the human experience is really a bumpy ride some times. Spring is waiting for you when your ready!

Ok, fast going fine so far. Drinking lots of liquids. planning nice dinner. Down 3 pounds from last monday. Cheers all!

I'm up for it, mondays? And it was a LOOOOOONG one too! It is complicated for sure. We have spent up to a year apart and kept the connection in the past... He takes off for NZ once or twice a year for a month or more. I have taken off through the years, but not as much as him... I am looking forward and planning for my own adventure time with or without him depending on the circumstances. At this time he has more money than I, and he is a cheapskate... but he has in the past paid for one or two of my adventures, after I had supported him in some activity. For instance, he has paid for my bike and done all the repairs on his dime... I do think it is a risk, but really, I want him to be happy, and I want me to be happy also... We have been through a lot of crazy adventures together, only a couple of points did it involve motorcycles... I asked him the other day what his top of the desire list was (I already knew...) and it the around the world motorcycle trip. If he waits much longer, he may be too old to do it. I gave it a try to see if I was able to join on a bike, at least for part of it, and I'm just not suited. So thats it. If we rent the house and I live in the studio, I will be getting half the monetary benefit from that... and will use it to travel most likely. If we can come up with a plan, it will be with Craig. This trip to Scotland is killing my savings... I need to make some more money to do what I want.... The moving into the studio will cost money too... needs a bathroom, separate meter, hot water.... and we have to do the work to move a bunch of stuff somewhere to make room to iive in a smaller place. He would just as soon get rid of everything and hit the road. I like having a home base, however small. We are at 20 years of marriage, and 3 before that.... it has had its ups and downs, but seems better than ever now. Craigs name: Craig means "Rocky Outcropping" and the Maclaines motto is "Conquer or Die" My name Kim means "Noble or brave" and my last name Scotts family moto is "Love". Which fits us pretty well.... and makes for some spectacular fights and passion.

AT 5+ years, I am still a work in progress. I still maintain at 55% EWL. I gained over 35 pounds in the last year+. Easy as pie. Literally. I can eat anything, and in large amounts if spread over time. I still do not drink with meals unless I have breakfast out which is not often. I reach for food when emotional or stressful situations come up. I know it... I watch it, I work on it. I mostly write down what I eat, and watch Protein, but those weeks that I don't, I gain. It is not easy to get off. Yes the sleeve still works. I eat less at any sitting... protein first really makes me feel full faster. I continue exercise, and recommitted again.... just finished the 5 day "pouch" test with a 5 pound loss and a lowering of the Carb addiction. One step at a time. The head has to be in the game, just like before weight loss surgery. The sleeve helps... it is a tool, just like they say, and has helped me to maintain at least 50 pound loss for 5 years. I had a weight gain at 2+ years and worked to get to goal after that... so I know I can do it. I think for me, this is something I need to watch and plan every day.... when I don't I gain. I am very happy I got the sleeve though.... VERY HAPPY. Kindle, so true! I didn't see that. @@feedyoureye - Is putting on the weight post-op much easier than it was pre-op? During the week I'm pretty structured but on the weekends I tend to be a little more relax. I normally eat whatever I want, but I still have been losing weight. I think it's because I walk an hour each day. I'm still in the pre-op stage but I was recently approved for the Bypass. I'm thinking of having the approval changed to the VSG because the RNY scares me. I can gain weight like I did before surgery at the same rate as I did after losing weight after dieting. It is easier to eat less now though... when I set my mind to it.