CowgirlJane

I guess this is geared to recent post ops. Water loading BETWEEN meals is a well known hunger management strategy for those of us further out/in maintenance.

I was advised to look at total carbs - simple and seems to work well.

Good questions, just gets lost on page 7 of existing thread is all. You will get alot more input if you post in a new thread, probably in the pre surgery questions forum is a great place to start.

@@tamirn are you in maintenance? Your questions are good ones, but don't have short answers. The hunger hormones are tremendously impacted/reduced by the sleeve procedure. I went from 24/7 drive to eat/constant hunger to a more appropriate appetite. However, if you dont change habits, you will still feel hunger/desire to eat once you exit the honeymoon phase. You have to follow the rules pretty closely to get best results. I don't think size of sleeve has anything to do with hunger. People obsess about sleeve size and I think it is the wrong question...

The way I read it, the OP did not do the 5 day pouch test, but rather went back to basics. I personally can't hack doing the 5 day pouch test, but i can validate that going back to basics... really making sure you get enough Fluid, don't graze/snack, watch portions, eat Protein first, veggies second, avoid junky carby food - REALLY WORKS. I also think the 5 day pouch test can really help people get "reset" - I just can't handle it is all. Hunger hormones are permanently reduced (I believe) but be sure that after the honeymoon period, many of us get some hunger back. I am almost 4 years out and what I would say is my hunger is more like what normal people have. I get hungry when it is time to eat but i am no longer starving 24/7 with that high drive to eat. I find that avoiding those junky carbs are KEY to manage hunger - sweets and chips increase my appetite for example.

While losing, I weighed daily but monday morning was my official weigh in day and the weight I recorded. I probably weigh 3-4 times a week now, but use same rule that it is first thing in morning, with just a nighty or no clothes. The key is to not be driven crazy by small blips up and down - that is normal and it is Water weight. Flip side, one of my "old habits" was to simply ignore my weight, never weigh and the pounds start back on. I find it very important for self accountability now that i am in maintenance.

This is a good article. Due to a family history of polyps I need to have a colonoscopy every 3 years. After my sleeve, I was scared of doing the prep stuff so i called my surgeon's office to ask about it. I found out, low and beyold, they do GI surgery and they do colonoscopies! I had so much peace of mind going back to my trusted Bariatric surgical practice for that!

Great article. One tip is to actually eat according to plan. Undereating can lead to snacking on junkie food... grazing... or eating too much when you actually do eat. That is so counter intuitive, but actually eating those healthy choices makes it so much easier to NOT eat those sliders etc.

I have had excellent bloodwork including a very detailed analysis I had last year. I continue to monitor though....3 years 4 months post sleeve.

I am questioning the accuracy of the description of this procedure. I have always been informed that the DS removes part of the stomach (like the sleeve) but then involves some rerouting of the small intestine. http://www.dssurgery.com/procedures/compare-weight-loss-surgical-procedures.php I sometimes wish I had done the DS because truth is you can eat alot more and maintain weight loss! I am maintaining fine with the sleeve, sometimes just feel sorry for myself..haha

I agree - well said, but I feel this paragraph could have been much stronger. Reason I say that is when you look at the evidence, bariatric patients as a population do a better job at maintaining their weight loss than other methods. This isn't just an "acceptable" approach, it statistically is the best approach. Second, your comments on the show seem to imply weight loss surgery does not work. While there are patients who do not respond to surgery, and complications are always a threat, the scientific literature overwhelmingly agrees that weight loss surgery is a viable option for the treatment of morbid obesity. I also think that a discussion about obesity as a "disease process" would be very fruitful. It really helps to understand how once you are obese it is just so hard to break free without help from a tool like the surgery.

I don't recall exact timeline, but I introduced beef way before 6 months too. I am unclear what is so special about beef versus other protein sources?

Awesome! It is amazing how going back to what worked...works!

Well.i am finding I need less to maintain now at 3 years versus 1 or 2 years post op...

This is a very good post, but i want to make a small counter argument to one set of points... I was somewhat of an emotional wreck preop, I was very worried about failing again, I felt like death warmed over (physically and emotionally)... I went through some wild emotional rides over the last few years... and yet I somehow managed to perservere and am maintaining a 160# + loss so far. I have become something closer to the real me... I think for me the message is that even if you are a perfection puppy, a wounded adult, someone whose life is a mess, who lacks support at home - you can still be successful. I think the key is being open to change, learn from mistakes (and successes!) being resilent, taking personal responsbility, and realizing that you are fighting for your very life.... this is important. This is critical... treat it as though your very future depends on this! I also sort of had themes by year. My Sleeve was Dec 2011. It was a miserable year for me as i was very conflicted about the decision to revise from a failed band to a sleeve. 2012 was the year of focusing on weight loss - that meant limited going out, staying very very very focused on my goal. I hit my initial goal in Feb 2013. 2012 theme was "determination" 2013 was a little bit of a "crazy" year. I started facing some emotional issues, I had plastic surgery which was quite a lot to deal with, I made huge changes in my life (outside of weight loss). I had a 5# regain and then in the process of losing that, and getting even under goal - I learned new things too. I did not intentionally chose "crazy" as my theme..haha.. but in hindsight it kinda was... 2014 - my theme has been "stabilize" - not just weight, but other aspects of life. No more big changes, have fun, enjoy life, get at peace with myself. It has worked well - when i look back at my headspace compared to 1-2 years ago...wow, what a difference. 2015 - I haven't figured out my theme yet, but i expect it will be along the lines that "the world is my oyster" and really exploring exciting opportunities for the future... we shall see

Well, I am lucky that my bariatric team educated me very well. I also read the boards. Well and I was a band revision, so not my first rodeo as the saying goes. I was quite well educated and realistic by the time I was sleeved. My"surprises" - I never dreamed I would turn out looking so good..I was truly transformed which never happened with the band. Also, I didn't struggle as much with the emotional issues around restricted eating during weight loss phase...however..the emotional adjustment post goal has been epic. I was warned but did not really understand how fundamentally my life would shift...many dimensions to this topic. Shifts needed to successfully maintain, getting used to people noticing me, finding my sense of style, figuring out how I fit in socially etc etc. Anyway I am nearly 3 years post op been at goal for awhile and feel I am finally on solid ground again.

Guilt sucks....don't go there!!!

ya know Alex, i agree with some of your points, but not all. i am not an expert in anything but me... I am maintaining a 160# weight loss post sleeve. Protein bars are EVIL! haha.. they became my new snickers bar and had to be banned. They are very high carb and I found myself wanting them even though they don't actually taste that great! Low carb Protein drinks on the other hand are a real help to me, and i will be celebrating my 3 year surgivesary ( revision from band to sleeve) in December. They: -replace a meal -replace the nighttime snacking/hunger (a lifelong problem for me!) -they go down easy I have tried lots of them, and keep going back to Premier Protein - chocolate and strawberry flavors. it is thick enough to be filling and tastes good to me. I average one a day.. skip a few days and then occasionally have "fast" days which rely heavily on my protein drinks. This truly is a journey where we each need to find what works for us. and lets be honest, those of us lucky enough to be born female eat ALOT less then men to maintain a healthy weight.

So, I am stating the obvious... she makes her living by making outrageous and controversial statements.... otherwise that show would be even more boring than it already is... I think it is nonsense to sign a petitiion or whatever to try to make Rosie shut up...good luck with that...haha!! I am glad people have choices, and it is very true that any procedure is a crap shoot in the sense that "no results are guaranteed" and alot of it depends on patient education and willingness to committ to the program. I certainly see the appeal of the band, it was my first choice too. I am told that the band is better now, but in 2001 when I had the bio-enteric lapband their brochure specifically stated that it was a temporary device that would most likely require removal with risk of regain. The brochure did not mention the things I actually struggled with - intolerable reflux and difficulty eating healthy food (veggies and dense protein). I still have the brochure and I still have the letter my surgeon made me sign that I understood the temporary thing. Oddly, I don't remember signing that letter or anything until I dug all my info out when it was time to remove my band. sigh. denial I was. I know that of the people banded in my "era" most/many have had to have it removed. I don't know the stats and don't know if current technology is still like this. Anyway, it is besides the point. I want everyone to make their decision based on data, hopefully relevant to current techniques and outcomes. I wish all much success! I bet Rosie does too, but, she has a big mouth, it's how she makes her living.

WLS... the ONLY way out for some of us.

I didn't watch the video...I am answering the title. #1 to feel normal (ie removal of social stigma,not worry about fitting in seats etc) #2 to be rid of medical issues related to obesity #3 to love how I look in clothes #4 to be able to DO fun stuff - hike, fun, jump and ride!

Ok thanks for clarifying. I think your point has little to do with what people should weigh but rather why do they stop short of their own goals. I started at over 300 and when I got to the 180-190s my weight loss slowed to a crawl. That happened for a few reasons...the normal "honeymoon" period ending, that I was leaning heavily on protein bars (high carb) and then it was comfort with my appearance. When I weighed 190 I could physically do what I wanted, felt healthy BUT I still had a certain matronly look...was well protected from strangers noticing my woman ness. I looked like a middle aged mom. I spent time thinking about what I wanted before pushing to my goal of 158 which was still over 25 BMI but certainly got me noticed. Now I am at 140 which is for me "skinny chick" land looks wise and a 23 BMI. I am comfortable now but it was a huge adjustment losing that emotionally protective layer of fat. Curiously, I got more attention from men when I weighed 158. However, the man I was seeing at the time loved my looks but when he saw me the weight I am now he told me I had "made it" and to maintain right here. Bottom line I feel good at this size but the idea of it back when I weighed 190 was a little scary I guess.

Ok, I guess I don't assume they are selling themselves short. I was really thrilled and pleased to hit goal even though it was over 25 BMI. It is true that I am under 25 now but I still don't buy into the idea that my success at goal was not legit or "not good enough"

I reread your post and maybe what you were really talking about was how self limiting beliefs can be. That I agree with. I also stand by my initial premise that I see alot more people who beat themselves up over losing massive weight but..never quite good enough...always questioning their own success. Well my initial goal was some pounds heavier than my current weight. I don't really think being a few pounds lighter makes life that much different. My surgeon also told me that getting underBMI OF 30 is a healthy range for previously morbidly obese person. I also second the general sentiment of why do you care about others people's goals? I actually find it fascinating that many people on these forums are oddly interested in what others eat (many threads on watching people eat in restaurants), their size and weight etc.

Hmmm....I see the opposite. People who were super morbidly obese get down to a reasonable weight...say the 25-30 BMI...and they feel like failures which I think can lead to regain.