SKCUNNINGHAM

I wish someone had told me that I would go through puberty again - at 55 and having had a hysterectomy over 20 years ago. It was a couple of months of alternating being weepy and then wanting to kill someone I would be so angry.
And, I wish someone would have told me the importance of finding the magic balance of Fiber, Water and laxative/stool softener necessary to keep your system moving along at a new "normal" - during all of the phases you will pass through in your eating.

Lissa - you look great! I agree with a cami - you could absolutely go out in it. I, too, love the Flexees brand.
It is great to see you enjoying the sweet taste of an NSV. You give so much to everyone on this site, it is nice to see you having a victory and celebrating for yourself.
Best of luck to you.
Sharon

I was at an antique auction yesterday. There was a sign that said -
"If we are what we eat, then I am fast, easy and cheap". I burst out laughing.
Driving home, I was thinking was my sign should say:
Pre-surgery:
"If we are what we eat, them why am I not sinfully rich?"
Post surgery:
"If we are what we eat, any day I will be breaking out with gills and feathers!"
I thought it would be fun to hear what other people's signs would say.
Sharon

At 8 weeks out I was eating 500 calories a day. I would strive to get in my 60 grams of Protein a day. I counted everything I put in my mouth - grams of fat, carbs, and Protein.< /p>
I had 3 meals and 2 Snacks per day. (one mid-morning - one mid afternoon)
Let me ask you some questions
You aren't drinking while you eat are you? Are you waiting 30 minutes after you eat before you drink? If you eat when you drink, you can eat more than you should - and you won't get your full signal. The liquids cause the sphincter at the bottom of your sleeve to open up and release your food into your intestions earlier than it should be.
Are you eating your alloted amount of protein first at the meal prior to anything else? Are you chewing everything well, and stretching what you eat out to last 20 minutes? You won't fill satisfied until you've been eating 20 minutes.
Have you identified what your full signal is? When you get the full signal, do you stop eating?
The goal is to eat the amount we are supposed to and stop as soon as we are full. Everyone's full signal isn't the same. If you haven't identified what yours is, you need to do that.
I look forward to hearing your answers - then the "oldsters" on this site can help you more with what to do.

Your body is still going to go throught the same cycles as it did pre-WLS. The bounce in weight due to your cycle is normal. Do some reading of previous threads (the search feature is handy) that talk about this, and you will find you aren't alone. Every woman on here can tell you how her menstrual cycle affects her weight loss journey. It will take you a few months to identify yours.
Try not to let this get you down. You are in a life-long race here. Don't let one bad step onto the scale, or a routine swing in weight depress you - it is only a tiny blip on the road to success.
Good Luck.
Sharon

I, too am a past 50 sleever. Wow, wouldn't it be great if we could have been sleeved in our 20's and not have to waste the last 30 years doing all those other things we did to lose weight?
I had my epiphany about the sleeve recently. Clean eating alone is not going to do it for me as I approach maintenance. I must embrace regular exercise and make it a part of my life. Forever. (Gulp)
I wish you success on your sleeve journey.
Sharon

If I could have asked for Jesus directly to heal me (like he did so many in the times talked about in the New Testament) I would have asked for him to heal me from being fat - to heal me to be a "normal weight" person. So, I did ask Jesus to heal me - be guiding the hand of my surgeon - by helping the people that were involved in my surgery in the hospital - by giving my husband patience to make it through my recovery - and for myself to have the strength and wisdom to do what was necessary to use this tool correctly and to change my life.
Jesus gave me what I prayed for.

I am approaching my one year anniversary on February 12th. I have had a good first year, have lost all but 10 pounds of my excess weight, and have made many behavior changes. But I have always been worried (scared!) about being successful in maintenance, since that has been my lifelong pattern. I have lost close to 100 pounds 4 times previously, and haven’t successfully kept it of for more than a year or two after achieving goal.

I did something positive to help me get into maintenance. It is another “tool” to help me be a healthy smaller person – just like the sleeve itself is a tool. (That’s my NSV – I did something positive for my maintenance). I enrolled in a class taught by the nurse that runs the WLS support group at the Baylor Carrolton (Texas) hospital. Baylor is a big medical system in the Dallas area, with hospitals in several suburbs of Dallas and the main facility in downtown Dallas. My surgeon, Dr. Nicholson was the head of the WLS program at Baylor Plano. I chose to attend the support group through the Carrolton office, since it was closest to my office.

The class is “The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients”. The class is several sessions, with each session focusing on one of the Success Habits. The material in the class is based on material by Colleen M. Cook and developed by the Bariatric Support Centers International. The material includes a book, workbook, website membership and additional information given in the individual sessions.

The Success Habits Principles are now taught in hundreds of bariatric support groups each month and are recommended by many Bariatric Centers of Excellence (per the material – I haven’t verified this independently). It is great material for those in the losing phase and those that are going into maintenance.

The premise behind the material and the class is a survey of patients who had WLS surgery, and what behaviors are in common for those that are successful versus those that are not successful. The average time from surgery for the patients was 7 years. The average amount of weight lost was 103 pounds

The habits are follows:

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY: I recognize that I alone am responsible for my success and failures
PORTION CONTROL: I understand the importance of satiety and understanding my body’s signals
NUTRITION: I make good healthy food choices each day.
FLUID INTAKE: I drink the right amount of the right kinds of Fluid at the right times each day.
EXERCISE: I have adopted the habit of exercise as a regular part of my lifestyle
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS: I take good quality Vitamins each day to support my good health.

Sounds simple, right? Well, I have taken classes on the first two classes and I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH – particularly about accountability.

I am not scared like I was about maintenance – these classes are really setting things out for me in a clear way that I think I can successfully do going forward. And, if I hit a bump in the road in the future – I think I will be able to recover – rather than spiraling out of control.

If there is interest, I will set up a sub-forum for the “Success Habits” and have threads for each habit, or each key learning I have from the classes. I am so pumped up about these classes; I am considering taking the classes to become a Support Coach for WLS patients.

Let me know if you are interested in hearing more about this on this sight.

Sharon

I would recommend getting on a B12 regimen and having your doctor check your B12 levels.
I would also recommend you take Calcium supplements.
Does your multi Vitamin have extra Iron in it? You need take one with Iron in it.
Good Luck.
Sharon

I created a new Sub-forum. If you search for the group "Success Habits" you will find it. I posted the first topic on the first Habit, PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
Hope it helps.

So far (11 1/2 months out) I am more lactose intolerant now than I was pre-sleeve. I can't drink milk or eat icecream without sever repercusions. I can eat yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese - which I really enjoy. I enjoy yogurt much more now than I did before.
I really enjoy the taste of raw veggies more now than before - they taste much sweeter. Fresh corn, sugar snap peas, or carrots amaze me with their natural sweetness.
I don't really miss Pasta, rice or potatoes - a couple of bites and I am satisfied. I use these as a garnish on my plate now. More than 2-3 bites, and it fills my sleeve up uncomfortably.
Fluffy bread does the same as Pasta, rice or potatoes. I avoid it. I can do a little corn bread now and then.
If I indulge in a "real sweet" desert (not a SF pudding or fudgsicle) usually 2-3 bites and I'm done. Don't want any more. That is as surprising as if my dog started spouting Shakeperean sonnets to me!
Overall, I seem to enjoy everything more since I am eating less quantity. I guess it follows the old line of thinking - if you only got to see one sunset a year, wouldn't you enjoy it more?

I created a new Sub-forum. If you search for the group "Success Habits" you will find it. I posted the first topic on the first Habit, PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
Hope it helps.

So far (11 1/2 months out) I am more lactose intolerant now than I was pre-sleeve. I can't drink milk or eat icecream without sever repercusions. I can eat yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese - which I really enjoy. I enjoy yogurt much more now than I did before.
I really enjoy the taste of raw veggies more now than before - they taste much sweeter. Fresh corn, sugar snap peas, or carrots amaze me with their natural sweetness.
I don't really miss Pasta, rice or potatoes - a couple of bites and I am satisfied. I use these as a garnish on my plate now. More than 2-3 bites, and it fills my sleeve up uncomfortably.
Fluffy bread does the same as Pasta, rice or potatoes. I avoid it. I can do a little corn bread now and then.
If I indulge in a "real sweet" desert (not a SF pudding or fudgsicle) usually 2-3 bites and I'm done. Don't want any more. That is as surprising as if my dog started spouting Shakeperean sonnets to me!
Overall, I seem to enjoy everything more since I am eating less quantity. I guess it follows the old line of thinking - if you only got to see one sunset a year, wouldn't you enjoy it more?

I am approaching my one year anniversary on February 12th. I have had a good first year, have lost all but 10 pounds of my excess weight, and have made many behavior changes. But I have always been worried (scared!) about being successful in maintenance, since that has been my lifelong pattern. I have lost close to 100 pounds 4 times previously, and haven’t successfully kept it of for more than a year or two after achieving goal.

I did something positive to help me get into maintenance. It is another “tool” to help me be a healthy smaller person – just like the sleeve itself is a tool. (That’s my NSV – I did something positive for my maintenance). I enrolled in a class taught by the nurse that runs the WLS support group at the Baylor Carrolton (Texas) hospital. Baylor is a big medical system in the Dallas area, with hospitals in several suburbs of Dallas and the main facility in downtown Dallas. My surgeon, Dr. Nicholson was the head of the WLS program at Baylor Plano. I chose to attend the support group through the Carrolton office, since it was closest to my office.

The class is “The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients”. The class is several sessions, with each session focusing on one of the Success Habits. The material in the class is based on material by Colleen M. Cook and developed by the Bariatric Support Centers International. The material includes a book, workbook, website membership and additional information given in the individual sessions.

The Success Habits Principles are now taught in hundreds of bariatric support groups each month and are recommended by many Bariatric Centers of Excellence (per the material – I haven’t verified this independently). It is great material for those in the losing phase and those that are going into maintenance.

The premise behind the material and the class is a survey of patients who had WLS surgery, and what behaviors are in common for those that are successful versus those that are not successful. The average time from surgery for the patients was 7 years. The average amount of weight lost was 103 pounds

The habits are follows:

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY: I recognize that I alone am responsible for my success and failures
PORTION CONTROL: I understand the importance of satiety and understanding my body’s signals
NUTRITION: I make good healthy food choices each day.
FLUID INTAKE: I drink the right amount of the right kinds of Fluid at the right times each day.
EXERCISE: I have adopted the habit of exercise as a regular part of my lifestyle
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS: I take good quality Vitamins each day to support my good health.

Sounds simple, right? Well, I have taken classes on the first two classes and I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH – particularly about accountability.

I am not scared like I was about maintenance – these classes are really setting things out for me in a clear way that I think I can successfully do going forward. And, if I hit a bump in the road in the future – I think I will be able to recover – rather than spiraling out of control.

If there is interest, I will set up a sub-forum for the “Success Habits” and have threads for each habit, or each key learning I have from the classes. I am so pumped up about these classes; I am considering taking the classes to become a Support Coach for WLS patients.

Let me know if you are interested in hearing more about this on this sight.

Sharon

Sleeve4me - you are in my thoughts and prayers!
I have never been a lover of exercise - but the following ones are my favorites. 2012 is the year of exercise for me too.
lap swimming - I used to consistently get the most delightful endorphin rush every time after I lap swam for around 20 minutes. It would hit after I showered and was getting dressed. That rush made the swimming worth it. I wish I had a pool close now.
"spinning" on a bicycle - This was tough to be able to make a whole class, and I had to wear padded shorts and use a gel seat - BUT - it is the only exercise class that puts my butt back in the Zip code it used to be in. A great cardio workout. I bought a real spinning bike and have the DVD's I work out to.
working on a rowing machine - For some reason, I love to do this. I can turn my mind to other things and just do it, and not have to worrry that I am going to trip, fall or otherwise hurt myself. It works both the arms and legs and is a great cardio workout
working on an elliptical - I love this, too. I put on music with a beat that is good to move to - I swear you can almost dance on the thing. Or I listen to a new book on my ipod. The 30 minutes goes by pretty quick.
Zumba classes - The only "dance" class I have ever liked (sorry to all my previou aerobics instructors). It is really good to whittle the waist and hip area - not that you need to be smaller in those areas - you are beautifully tiny.
And, I had a personal trainer to teach me how to use the machines at the gym, and got to where I enjoyed that. I used to enjoy boxing drills with him, too. I may look into that again. It is harder than I ever thought it would be.
Good Luck to you.

Congratulations Dorrie!
Diva - you are always and inspiration - both on your focus on eating and your absolute dedication to exercise.
PDXMAN - you are tenacity personified - with a huge dose of knowledge about the body's physiology thrown in.
Thanks to both of you.
Sharon

I am approaching my one year anniversary on February 12th. I have had a good first year, have lost all but 10 pounds of my excess weight, and have made many behavior changes. But I have always been worried (scared!) about being successful in maintenance, since that has been my lifelong pattern. I have lost close to 100 pounds 4 times previously, and haven’t successfully kept it of for more than a year or two after achieving goal.

I did something positive to help me get into maintenance. It is another “tool” to help me be a healthy smaller person – just like the sleeve itself is a tool. (That’s my NSV – I did something positive for my maintenance). I enrolled in a class taught by the nurse that runs the WLS support group at the Baylor Carrolton (Texas) hospital. Baylor is a big medical system in the Dallas area, with hospitals in several suburbs of Dallas and the main facility in downtown Dallas. My surgeon, Dr. Nicholson was the head of the WLS program at Baylor Plano. I chose to attend the support group through the Carrolton office, since it was closest to my office.

The class is “The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients”. The class is several sessions, with each session focusing on one of the Success Habits. The material in the class is based on material by Colleen M. Cook and developed by the Bariatric Support Centers International. The material includes a book, workbook, website membership and additional information given in the individual sessions.

The Success Habits Principles are now taught in hundreds of bariatric support groups each month and are recommended by many Bariatric Centers of Excellence (per the material – I haven’t verified this independently). It is great material for those in the losing phase and those that are going into maintenance.

The premise behind the material and the class is a survey of patients who had WLS surgery, and what behaviors are in common for those that are successful versus those that are not successful. The average time from surgery for the patients was 7 years. The average amount of weight lost was 103 pounds

The habits are follows:

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY: I recognize that I alone am responsible for my success and failures
PORTION CONTROL: I understand the importance of satiety and understanding my body’s signals
NUTRITION: I make good healthy food choices each day.
FLUID INTAKE: I drink the right amount of the right kinds of Fluid at the right times each day.
EXERCISE: I have adopted the habit of exercise as a regular part of my lifestyle
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS: I take good quality Vitamins each day to support my good health.

Sounds simple, right? Well, I have taken classes on the first two classes and I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH – particularly about accountability.

I am not scared like I was about maintenance – these classes are really setting things out for me in a clear way that I think I can successfully do going forward. And, if I hit a bump in the road in the future – I think I will be able to recover – rather than spiraling out of control.

If there is interest, I will set up a sub-forum for the “Success Habits” and have threads for each habit, or each key learning I have from the classes. I am so pumped up about these classes; I am considering taking the classes to become a Support Coach for WLS patients.

Let me know if you are interested in hearing more about this on this sight.

Sharon

One of the best lessons my mother taught me is "Life isn't fair - get used to it".
I think LIssa's answer says pretty much everything you need to know - (I liked it so much I have it bookmarked in my personal "Words of Wisdom" file)
You are 100% responsible and 100% accountable for your success with the sleeve. The sleevers that lose the weight the fastest after surgery are the ones that avoid the kinds of carbs you cheated on. It takes mental toughness and committment to break those bad habits we all had.
The longer I have been sleeved, the more I realize staying thin is a mental game as much as anything else. If my mind and will are strong, I can overcome any passing desire for anything. I can find some other way to cofort myself than putting something in my mouth.
Good luck on your journey.
Sharon

I am approaching my one year anniversary on February 12th. I have had a good first year, have lost all but 10 pounds of my excess weight, and have made many behavior changes. But I have always been worried (scared!) about being successful in maintenance, since that has been my lifelong pattern. I have lost close to 100 pounds 4 times previously, and haven’t successfully kept it of for more than a year or two after achieving goal.

I did something positive to help me get into maintenance. It is another “tool” to help me be a healthy smaller person – just like the sleeve itself is a tool. (That’s my NSV – I did something positive for my maintenance). I enrolled in a class taught by the nurse that runs the WLS support group at the Baylor Carrolton (Texas) hospital. Baylor is a big medical system in the Dallas area, with hospitals in several suburbs of Dallas and the main facility in downtown Dallas. My surgeon, Dr. Nicholson was the head of the WLS program at Baylor Plano. I chose to attend the support group through the Carrolton office, since it was closest to my office.

The class is “The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients”. The class is several sessions, with each session focusing on one of the Success Habits. The material in the class is based on material by Colleen M. Cook and developed by the Bariatric Support Centers International. The material includes a book, workbook, website membership and additional information given in the individual sessions.

The Success Habits Principles are now taught in hundreds of bariatric support groups each month and are recommended by many Bariatric Centers of Excellence (per the material – I haven’t verified this independently). It is great material for those in the losing phase and those that are going into maintenance.

The premise behind the material and the class is a survey of patients who had WLS surgery, and what behaviors are in common for those that are successful versus those that are not successful. The average time from surgery for the patients was 7 years. The average amount of weight lost was 103 pounds

The habits are follows:

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY: I recognize that I alone am responsible for my success and failures
PORTION CONTROL: I understand the importance of satiety and understanding my body’s signals
NUTRITION: I make good healthy food choices each day.
FLUID INTAKE: I drink the right amount of the right kinds of Fluid at the right times each day.
EXERCISE: I have adopted the habit of exercise as a regular part of my lifestyle
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS: I take good quality Vitamins each day to support my good health.

Sounds simple, right? Well, I have taken classes on the first two classes and I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH – particularly about accountability.

I am not scared like I was about maintenance – these classes are really setting things out for me in a clear way that I think I can successfully do going forward. And, if I hit a bump in the road in the future – I think I will be able to recover – rather than spiraling out of control.

If there is interest, I will set up a sub-forum for the “Success Habits” and have threads for each habit, or each key learning I have from the classes. I am so pumped up about these classes; I am considering taking the classes to become a Support Coach for WLS patients.

Let me know if you are interested in hearing more about this on this sight.

Sharon

I am approaching my one year anniversary on February 12th. I have had a good first year, have lost all but 10 pounds of my excess weight, and have made many behavior changes. But I have always been worried (scared!) about being successful in maintenance, since that has been my lifelong pattern. I have lost close to 100 pounds 4 times previously, and haven’t successfully kept it of for more than a year or two after achieving goal.

I did something positive to help me get into maintenance. It is another “tool” to help me be a healthy smaller person – just like the sleeve itself is a tool. (That’s my NSV – I did something positive for my maintenance). I enrolled in a class taught by the nurse that runs the WLS support group at the Baylor Carrolton (Texas) hospital. Baylor is a big medical system in the Dallas area, with hospitals in several suburbs of Dallas and the main facility in downtown Dallas. My surgeon, Dr. Nicholson was the head of the WLS program at Baylor Plano. I chose to attend the support group through the Carrolton office, since it was closest to my office.

The class is “The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients”. The class is several sessions, with each session focusing on one of the Success Habits. The material in the class is based on material by Colleen M. Cook and developed by the Bariatric Support Centers International. The material includes a book, workbook, website membership and additional information given in the individual sessions.

The Success Habits Principles are now taught in hundreds of bariatric support groups each month and are recommended by many Bariatric Centers of Excellence (per the material – I haven’t verified this independently). It is great material for those in the losing phase and those that are going into maintenance.

The premise behind the material and the class is a survey of patients who had WLS surgery, and what behaviors are in common for those that are successful versus those that are not successful. The average time from surgery for the patients was 7 years. The average amount of weight lost was 103 pounds

The habits are follows:

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY: I recognize that I alone am responsible for my success and failures
PORTION CONTROL: I understand the importance of satiety and understanding my body’s signals
NUTRITION: I make good healthy food choices each day.
FLUID INTAKE: I drink the right amount of the right kinds of Fluid at the right times each day.
EXERCISE: I have adopted the habit of exercise as a regular part of my lifestyle
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS: I take good quality Vitamins each day to support my good health.

Sounds simple, right? Well, I have taken classes on the first two classes and I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH – particularly about accountability.

I am not scared like I was about maintenance – these classes are really setting things out for me in a clear way that I think I can successfully do going forward. And, if I hit a bump in the road in the future – I think I will be able to recover – rather than spiraling out of control.

If there is interest, I will set up a sub-forum for the “Success Habits” and have threads for each habit, or each key learning I have from the classes. I am so pumped up about these classes; I am considering taking the classes to become a Support Coach for WLS patients.

Let me know if you are interested in hearing more about this on this sight.

Sharon

I am approaching my one year anniversary on February 12th. I have had a good first year, have lost all but 10 pounds of my excess weight, and have made many behavior changes. But I have always been worried (scared!) about being successful in maintenance, since that has been my lifelong pattern. I have lost close to 100 pounds 4 times previously, and haven’t successfully kept it of for more than a year or two after achieving goal.

I did something positive to help me get into maintenance. It is another “tool” to help me be a healthy smaller person – just like the sleeve itself is a tool. (That’s my NSV – I did something positive for my maintenance). I enrolled in a class taught by the nurse that runs the WLS support group at the Baylor Carrolton (Texas) hospital. Baylor is a big medical system in the Dallas area, with hospitals in several suburbs of Dallas and the main facility in downtown Dallas. My surgeon, Dr. Nicholson was the head of the WLS program at Baylor Plano. I chose to attend the support group through the Carrolton office, since it was closest to my office.

The class is “The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients”. The class is several sessions, with each session focusing on one of the Success Habits. The material in the class is based on material by Colleen M. Cook and developed by the Bariatric Support Centers International. The material includes a book, workbook, website membership and additional information given in the individual sessions.

The Success Habits Principles are now taught in hundreds of bariatric support groups each month and are recommended by many Bariatric Centers of Excellence (per the material – I haven’t verified this independently). It is great material for those in the losing phase and those that are going into maintenance.

The premise behind the material and the class is a survey of patients who had WLS surgery, and what behaviors are in common for those that are successful versus those that are not successful. The average time from surgery for the patients was 7 years. The average amount of weight lost was 103 pounds

The habits are follows:

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY: I recognize that I alone am responsible for my success and failures
PORTION CONTROL: I understand the importance of satiety and understanding my body’s signals
NUTRITION: I make good healthy food choices each day.
FLUID INTAKE: I drink the right amount of the right kinds of Fluid at the right times each day.
EXERCISE: I have adopted the habit of exercise as a regular part of my lifestyle
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS: I take good quality Vitamins each day to support my good health.

Sounds simple, right? Well, I have taken classes on the first two classes and I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH – particularly about accountability.

I am not scared like I was about maintenance – these classes are really setting things out for me in a clear way that I think I can successfully do going forward. And, if I hit a bump in the road in the future – I think I will be able to recover – rather than spiraling out of control.

If there is interest, I will set up a sub-forum for the “Success Habits” and have threads for each habit, or each key learning I have from the classes. I am so pumped up about these classes; I am considering taking the classes to become a Support Coach for WLS patients.

Let me know if you are interested in hearing more about this on this sight.

Sharon

I am approaching my one year anniversary on February 12th. I have had a good first year, have lost all but 10 pounds of my excess weight, and have made many behavior changes. But I have always been worried (scared!) about being successful in maintenance, since that has been my lifelong pattern. I have lost close to 100 pounds 4 times previously, and haven’t successfully kept it of for more than a year or two after achieving goal.

I did something positive to help me get into maintenance. It is another “tool” to help me be a healthy smaller person – just like the sleeve itself is a tool. (That’s my NSV – I did something positive for my maintenance). I enrolled in a class taught by the nurse that runs the WLS support group at the Baylor Carrolton (Texas) hospital. Baylor is a big medical system in the Dallas area, with hospitals in several suburbs of Dallas and the main facility in downtown Dallas. My surgeon, Dr. Nicholson was the head of the WLS program at Baylor Plano. I chose to attend the support group through the Carrolton office, since it was closest to my office.

The class is “The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients”. The class is several sessions, with each session focusing on one of the Success Habits. The material in the class is based on material by Colleen M. Cook and developed by the Bariatric Support Centers International. The material includes a book, workbook, website membership and additional information given in the individual sessions.

The Success Habits Principles are now taught in hundreds of bariatric support groups each month and are recommended by many Bariatric Centers of Excellence (per the material – I haven’t verified this independently). It is great material for those in the losing phase and those that are going into maintenance.

The premise behind the material and the class is a survey of patients who had WLS surgery, and what behaviors are in common for those that are successful versus those that are not successful. The average time from surgery for the patients was 7 years. The average amount of weight lost was 103 pounds

The habits are follows:

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY: I recognize that I alone am responsible for my success and failures
PORTION CONTROL: I understand the importance of satiety and understanding my body’s signals
NUTRITION: I make good healthy food choices each day.
FLUID INTAKE: I drink the right amount of the right kinds of Fluid at the right times each day.
EXERCISE: I have adopted the habit of exercise as a regular part of my lifestyle
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS: I take good quality Vitamins each day to support my good health.

Sounds simple, right? Well, I have taken classes on the first two classes and I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH – particularly about accountability.

I am not scared like I was about maintenance – these classes are really setting things out for me in a clear way that I think I can successfully do going forward. And, if I hit a bump in the road in the future – I think I will be able to recover – rather than spiraling out of control.

If there is interest, I will set up a sub-forum for the “Success Habits” and have threads for each habit, or each key learning I have from the classes. I am so pumped up about these classes; I am considering taking the classes to become a Support Coach for WLS patients.

Let me know if you are interested in hearing more about this on this sight.

Sharon

I was in such a strange place mentally when I was at my highest weight. It was as if the real "smaller" me was inside this enormous person, driving her around and going through life. Sort of like when you are taking care of an altheimer's patient - you still love the person and take care of them but you realize the "real"person who you have loved isn't there anymore. I felt that way about myself - I took care of myself and went through the motions but didn't love myself. I was really in denial about how I really looked - avoided pictures if possible.
I forced myself to take a picture on the first of every month during the process. I look at the pictures and study the differences from month to month. I take measurements every month (lot's of places) and study the differences in those too. I think my head caught up with my body at about 150 pounds. The size I am now is really what my mental image of myself is. If I get much skinnier, I will have to readjust again.
I no longer am taking care of the "fat patient" that I didn't love. I have reintegrated my inner and outer selves. I don't ever want that un-integrated feeling again.

Yes this really works if you practice the correct behaviors and lifestyle changes. The sleeve is a really effective tool to help you lose weight, but it can't do it by itself. It takes concentrated effort on your part to get the maximum benefit from it. Thousands of patients have proven this really works.
No, this won't work if you continue to do bad behaviors and make the wrong choices. Probably thousands of patients have proven this too - although a much smaller number than have proven it successful.
It really sounds like you need to get to a counselor ASAP and get some insight into why you are undermining your own success.
If you want to PM me to start a dialogue on what you should do and shouldn't do, I will be happy to share - I didn't want this response to be a long rant on what you should and shouldn't do - you probably know them anyway and are just choosing to not do them. .
You are 100% responsible and 100% accountable for your success or failure to lose weight with the sleeve. If you fail - it won't be "the sleeve's fault". It will be your own fault.
I really hope you change what you are doing and get some help to change whatever in your head is driving you to not do the right things.
Best of Luck to you.
Sharon

One of the best lessons my mother taught me is "Life isn't fair - get used to it".
I think LIssa's answer says pretty much everything you need to know - (I liked it so much I have it bookmarked in my personal "Words of Wisdom" file)
You are 100% responsible and 100% accountable for your success with the sleeve. The sleevers that lose the weight the fastest after surgery are the ones that avoid the kinds of carbs you cheated on. It takes mental toughness and committment to break those bad habits we all had.
The longer I have been sleeved, the more I realize staying thin is a mental game as much as anything else. If my mind and will are strong, I can overcome any passing desire for anything. I can find some other way to cofort myself than putting something in my mouth.
Good luck on your journey.
Sharon