CowgirlJane

@@beccaconaty87 I am glad you asked because if you found that data, likely someone else has too and were too shy to bring it up!
What I will say is there are haters (fat acceptance movement for example) and sometimes the internet being what it is, those haters will write whatever they want... twisting or giving false interpetations. The best thing to do for research online, in my opinion is to read actual studies on places like medline. Or go to reputable sources like Cleveland Clinic, mayo clinic etc. Another great resource is the ASMBS.
http://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-misconceptions
Then, you may have questions or be unclear and if you want to get some feedback, it is really helpful to reference the specific study or info that you read. Of course, these are good questions for your surgeon too, but like a lot of people you start out online and then get more focused on questions that will help you choose if surgery is a good choice and if so, which one is the best choice for you.
Good luck in your research!

@@beccaconaty87 I am glad you asked because if you found that data, likely someone else has too and were too shy to bring it up!
What I will say is there are haters (fat acceptance movement for example) and sometimes the internet being what it is, those haters will write whatever they want... twisting or giving false interpetations. The best thing to do for research online, in my opinion is to read actual studies on places like medline. Or go to reputable sources like Cleveland Clinic, mayo clinic etc. Another great resource is the ASMBS.
http://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-misconceptions
Then, you may have questions or be unclear and if you want to get some feedback, it is really helpful to reference the specific study or info that you read. Of course, these are good questions for your surgeon too, but like a lot of people you start out online and then get more focused on questions that will help you choose if surgery is a good choice and if so, which one is the best choice for you.
Good luck in your research!

@@beccaconaty87 I am glad you asked because if you found that data, likely someone else has too and were too shy to bring it up!
What I will say is there are haters (fat acceptance movement for example) and sometimes the internet being what it is, those haters will write whatever they want... twisting or giving false interpetations. The best thing to do for research online, in my opinion is to read actual studies on places like medline. Or go to reputable sources like Cleveland Clinic, mayo clinic etc. Another great resource is the ASMBS.
http://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-misconceptions
Then, you may have questions or be unclear and if you want to get some feedback, it is really helpful to reference the specific study or info that you read. Of course, these are good questions for your surgeon too, but like a lot of people you start out online and then get more focused on questions that will help you choose if surgery is a good choice and if so, which one is the best choice for you.
Good luck in your research!

@@beccaconaty87 I am glad you asked because if you found that data, likely someone else has too and were too shy to bring it up!
What I will say is there are haters (fat acceptance movement for example) and sometimes the internet being what it is, those haters will write whatever they want... twisting or giving false interpetations. The best thing to do for research online, in my opinion is to read actual studies on places like medline. Or go to reputable sources like Cleveland Clinic, mayo clinic etc. Another great resource is the ASMBS.
http://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-misconceptions
Then, you may have questions or be unclear and if you want to get some feedback, it is really helpful to reference the specific study or info that you read. Of course, these are good questions for your surgeon too, but like a lot of people you start out online and then get more focused on questions that will help you choose if surgery is a good choice and if so, which one is the best choice for you.
Good luck in your research!

@@beccaconaty87 I am glad you asked because if you found that data, likely someone else has too and were too shy to bring it up!
What I will say is there are haters (fat acceptance movement for example) and sometimes the internet being what it is, those haters will write whatever they want... twisting or giving false interpetations. The best thing to do for research online, in my opinion is to read actual studies on places like medline. Or go to reputable sources like Cleveland Clinic, mayo clinic etc. Another great resource is the ASMBS.
http://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-misconceptions
Then, you may have questions or be unclear and if you want to get some feedback, it is really helpful to reference the specific study or info that you read. Of course, these are good questions for your surgeon too, but like a lot of people you start out online and then get more focused on questions that will help you choose if surgery is a good choice and if so, which one is the best choice for you.
Good luck in your research!

@@beccaconaty87 I am glad you asked because if you found that data, likely someone else has too and were too shy to bring it up!
What I will say is there are haters (fat acceptance movement for example) and sometimes the internet being what it is, those haters will write whatever they want... twisting or giving false interpetations. The best thing to do for research online, in my opinion is to read actual studies on places like medline. Or go to reputable sources like Cleveland Clinic, mayo clinic etc. Another great resource is the ASMBS.
http://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-misconceptions
Then, you may have questions or be unclear and if you want to get some feedback, it is really helpful to reference the specific study or info that you read. Of course, these are good questions for your surgeon too, but like a lot of people you start out online and then get more focused on questions that will help you choose if surgery is a good choice and if so, which one is the best choice for you.
Good luck in your research!

I was high BMI, had the sleeve. i had an irrational fear of the gastric bypass at the time.
My band to sleeve was Dec 2011, I lost over 150# and am maintaining reasonably well. My perspective now is that they are BOTH good procedures, the RNY has way more data/history and for that reason alone is a good, rational choice. I think you have to pick what you believe in. 80% of this battle is a mental one, and believing in it is a great start! Good luck - just do it!

When I began this journey I was over 300#, had a history of being even heavier and have been morbidly obese, obese or overweight MOST of my life (pre sleeve maybe had spent total of 2 years not overweight or obese) in my whole life.
You can imagine how much I wanted to grab onto data that predicted how much i would lose, how fast I would lose, sort of like the infomercials "lose 30 pounds of ugly fat in 30 days". I wanted to know how I was gonna lose 150 pounds of ugly fat in how many days?!?!?!?
I was blessed to work with a NUT and a surgical practice who just didn't play that game. They refused to set a "surgeon's goal" because their point was... "lets say you lose 100# are healthy, your life is so much better but it is short of the goal we set... so you feel like a failure, you don't honor your success and you regain".
Instead, i was guided to focus alot on the process... the WAY of getting healthy less than the measuring sticks (the scale, clothing sizes etc)
Don't get me wrong, I weighed myself during the losing phase and celebrated every new clothing size (getting into single digits was like nirvana... a place i never dreamed I would be). However, the larger point really stuck.
If you follow the methods, you will get slimmer, you will get healthier. Our bodies are all so different, I don't know why Joe lost 150 in 8 months, I lost 150 in 14 months and someone else never gets to their goal. I don't know - but here is what I do know:
1. focusing on the "how" - lets call it following the rules best you can will get you best results you can
2. focusing on the "why" - to regain health, to regain a normal feeling and looking body, to regain mobility, to improve appearance, to be able to MOVE and fully enjoy life. Those things keep you motivated to maintain.
3. less focus on the "what" which is exactly how many pounds and how fast you lose them. I don't mean to say to ignore it, but i guarantee you that over the long haul MAINTAINING can be a real challenge and keeping your methods and motiviation in place are key. Getting down to some arbitrary number you cannot maintain in an acceptable lifestyle and then regaining it is discouraging...
So, don't give up. Just "working the sleeve", maximize the tool best you can and to some extent try to accept and be grateful for your results. If they aren't what you want, there are things you can do to kick em up (already mentioned in this thread) but i think most important is a bit of inner peace on the topic.
okay, climbing down from soapbox. I geniunely wish all the very best success happiness and great health.

There is already a huge long thread dedicated to before and afters.. but it is such a fun topic I don't mind repeating!!
This is what losing 150 pounds does for you! A girlfriend of mine said the sweetest thing "I didn't know you had a teenage daughter"...LOL. I do feel like I look younger being trimmer.
Taken within the last few weeks

This was taken in December i believe - I think I was 20# away from goal,back when I was a bit curvier. I was feeling pretty good, but, I like how I look better now even if my T&A disappeared since this photo was taken.

This is my before picture at over 300#. I don't have much to say about it but I KEEP looking at my befores to remind myself how far I have come.

I will be 5 years post sleeve in December. It is my opinion that you will lose weight due to the quantity restriction, but you will have a hard time maintaining if you continue to eat these slider/junky food as a mainstay. Maintenance is harder than losing....

I was massively hungry...the key was to up the Protein drinks but not get into snacking
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I have two awesome sons who I admire and.love deeply.
I am genuinely friends with my EX
I have amazing friends who love me flaws and all!
My 2 lil dogs keep me so happy!
I ride horses like a madwoman - love it!
I can talk to anyone, anywhere about anything. ..comes in handy!
I have a great career!
I am half my former size...maintaining for years now. A dream come true!
I am madly in love with a wonderful man; his primary flaw is an addiction to FOX news and Trump-o-mania, but hey, nobody's perfect.
My number one brag ; I live a happy life now and people who know me have told me it inspires them to strive for the same!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I have two awesome sons who I admire and.love deeply.
I am genuinely friends with my EX
I have amazing friends who love me flaws and all!
My 2 lil dogs keep me so happy!
I ride horses like a madwoman - love it!
I can talk to anyone, anywhere about anything. ..comes in handy!
I have a great career!
I am half my former size...maintaining for years now. A dream come true!
I am madly in love with a wonderful man; his primary flaw is an addiction to FOX news and Trump-o-mania, but hey, nobody's perfect.
My number one brag ; I live a happy life now and people who know me have told me it inspires them to strive for the same!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

I am the queen of high quality food, that while "processed" has good ingredients and not loaded with salt, sugar and carby junk. Before I type the magna carta maybe you could say about what it is you like, things you cant eat etc.
In summary though, stores like costco, trader joes etc. have flash frozen Protein (chicken , fish and seafood, beef) and veggies that are high nutrition. I do keep fresh salad ingredients on hand always. I love fresh, don't get me wrong, but if you aren't Suzy homemaker you wind up tossing stuff you never cooked in time. I have mastered the 10-15 minute prep meal - beats the heck out of takeout.
Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

This discussion is aimed toward people who are several years post op - NOT toward people early in their journey.
Are we relevant anymore to the new people posting?
More than once I have been "grouped" with some unknown (to me) group of people who are mean and dogpile on others. While I am unrelenting in the truth of my experiences I don't intend to cause harm. After awhile one does have to question if this is the case since the accusation is made both openingly and veiled and by more than one person.
I can discount it to some extent (opinions aren't necessarily shared by others, people can be a bit on edge in the early days etc) but lately I have questioned my involvement in these forums. I get something back, but to be honest I could probably get that support by posting in vet and maintenance forums only. I try to help because if it weren't for others - who have long since left- I probably would have not been sleeved nor found the lasting success. But, they have left,the next wave left, and others have replaced whilst I hang on.
I am asking this question, not just about me, but across the board. When I am feeling cynical I am reminded of my experience when banded when I was told I would just be satisfied to "eat dainty portions" and like magic I would become trim and slender. I feel that now the sleeve is being mass marketed with similar questionable advice. I am especially empathetic to those like me who had so much to lose and were pretty deep in the obesity disease process. Ann had a thread about how little value nutritionists added and I am keenly aware of how...useless...some of the guidance people are given in the mass marketing of the sleeve.
This sounds like burn out but it is actually a different question - at 4 years post op is my experiences relevant? Just because I needed to shift my whole dang world to maintain this huge weight loss - is that even useful/relevant now?
Part of why I ask here is because I have received some direct criticisms that I don't even understand...I feel like the hard of hearing granny who cannot understand why everyone is mad that I announced my grand daughter's bra size in public (yes, my granny did that as she was astounded at my girth!)
Again please respect that this question is directed to fellow vets.

It's really hard. I had the band for 10 years and except for the first few months, my physical hunger was never under control. One thing I learned as a sleever that I didn't know then is that eating low carb - especially eliminating that quick sugars (junk food, fruit juice, fruits) helped so much with hunger. I think it can help with head hunger too, because honestly I can't always tell the difference.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Dear Dr kinda,
Do you make housecalls? Just kinda curious...
Signed,
You know me:)

@ thank you for that!

I am grateful we hit 70. We are having "juneury" - a month only Pacific Northwest peeps understand!

Dear Dr kinda,
Do you make housecalls? Just kinda curious...
Signed,
You know me:)

I have just had to read this whole thread out to my husband because I was laughing so much I snorted snot and he couldn't imagine what was making me laugh so much. It was the comment about the knicker elastic thwacking against posterior flesh that did it for me! Love this thread. x

@@WitchySar,
WLS will never work if you don’t change your eating habits, regardless of what the problem is! But it can definitely work if you use WLS as a reason to change your food choices. The WLS diet excludes a lot of junk foods, possibly like ones that you may be choosing now. If you get surgery, go on a liquid post-op diet, and gradually add back in healthy foods without the unhealthy ones, you’ll probably crave grease, sugar, starch, and salt less. However, you’ll probably also crave them less if you eat healthier without surgery, too! So I guess the question is whether you can eat healthier without the motivation of WLS, or if you think WLS is what you need to motivate yourself to choose the right foods.

This made me giggle!

My boyfriend eats less than I do. We share a meal or an app and he usually takes home half of his share. He likes to graze... There are lots of ways to minimize the waste.
Regarding this procedure, I am grateful people have choices, but I find this appalling and I am not sure I can get behind it. It's like some kind of distopia future world...

@@jintycb I have no idea what you are sayin'... but I think I agree!
@@kmorri Don't apologize for posting this, and I appreciate your recent observations. My main point isn't that we are perfect because we have more "years" but rather - can't we give each other the benefit of the doubt? Like the person who reemed me for posting about dating on the singles forum. Ya, I get that you can't tell what forum you are in from your phone, but rather than lecturing, how about assuming that I am NOT an idiot until proven otherwise?
I totally get how emotional this whole "life changing" business is, and I do genuinely try to cut people some slack, let stuff roll off, I just ask for a little of that in return toward us "vets". There is a reason you see few people more than a year or two out - get sick of being lambasted. I am just trying to make it to my 5 years (band to sleeve revision) in December of this year.
The reason I hang out here is that a few people on this very forum influenced me to have the surgery that saved my life, helped me lose half my body weight, which led to the wonderful life i have now. I hope that I can have that impact on just one person. Also, I still need support too!