diedie

I don't know if I would go so far as to say failure of the patient in as much as I would say failure for the patient to fully understand the consequences of what they were doing. Failure to set reasonable expectations, as I often chime in about.
So many times I see people posting their disappointments with their weight loss. They lose a pound every few days and then when that slows down, they throw their hands in the air screaming, "What am I doing wrong!!??" Then, they get a case of the fucked-its and "cheat".
I think everyone goes into this with the best of intentions. Not everybody is doing this to get skinny. They just want to lose enough weight to get off medications or the like. They aren't interested in exercising and putting in the effort to cook nutritionally balanced meals. I applaud those folks. They set their expectations based on what they knew they wanted and were capable of.
The folks who do have expectations of getting skinny need to really examine what work they are willing to do to meet that expectation before having the surgery. Those who have had the procedure know this is not a magic bullet. I was devastated at first mourning the loss of food as my comfort mechanism. I had no idea it would hit me as hard as it did. For me, it was the fact I am also part of a 12 step program dealing with addiction that I was able to address these and learn.
Now understand, these are my truths and may or may not be anybody else's. But one of the reasons I come to this forum and stay here to share my experience, strength and hope is because it is a constant reminder of where I came from. I am my own worst enemy. Self knowledge does not prevent self sabotage.

Every day is a conscious commitment for me, too. I wake up and focus on my current weight, eating strategy for the day, etc. It is a full time job for me. I know there are people who can succeed by "listening to their body" but I'm not one of them. It's work for me. I had a few extra calories over the weekend (like 1800 Saturday and 2000 Sunday) and I was up almost 4 pounds by Monday. Some of it was Water, but I know that if I kept it up, I'd be right back up to 300 pounds. So, I'm committing with you! It's so worth the effort!

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First pic 267 second 193 got 40 more to loose

I have been on the 5:2 diet for 3 weeks. First week I lost 5 pounds. Then that came back week 2. So week 3, I kinda fell off the wagon. I am determined to get back on & lose the rest of this weight!

I have times when I binge and it scares me. I do beat myself up and then I get back on track. I still try to eat Proteins and some veggies. But I find it getting boring.

See butter, that's why I don't work!
I'm to lazy to actually leave the house and buy donuts... so I'm golden!

Hugs, first of all :wub:
And good for you for opting to go for a run instead of eating, you are a much stronger person than I am. I can tell when I am stressed because all I want to do is eat, even it if upsets my stomach. I am still working on battling that demon!

Boy do I understand stress eating! Also, grief eating, fear eating, anxiety eating, nervous eating ...
I find that, when the urge comes over me, if I can get a really good strong hug from someone right away, the feeling passes. Or if I journal through it, the feeling will pass. If everything is just too overwhelming and I'm totally alone, then I hurriedly shove as much salad greens and raw veggies into my mouth as I can cram, those are still sticker foods for me, so if I'm packed to the gills with those, it's physically impossible to poison myself with something bad.

This article makes so much sense to me and I wish I'd read it years ago. I drank litres of Fluid (low cal, caffeine free stuff) and huge meals of really healthy foods, primarily veg. And most of the time I was so hungry I could have eaten my own left arm. So I'd drink and eat more "good stuff", and on the cycle went.
I haven't even bothered putting any significant gap between eating and drinking - when i felt i could drink i would, maybe after 10 to 15 mins. Now I get why it's important.
I'm going to print this off and tape it to the bathroom wall, just above the scales. Aim to re-read it once a month.
Thanks Laura.

These man tits?? Lol i get release in one hour.

Ok, I only have a Hs diploma so I'm going to try and not take that as an insult..
But anyway, when my husband and I got together I was a cheerleader with an awesome body. Over the past 4 years, between 2 kids and depression, I've put on 120ish lbs! He's still 6' 180lbs with a chiseled body. He loves me no matter what. He's never once tried to change me.
Have you communicated to him how you feel? Have you tried counseling? Especially with kids in the picture, don't be so quick to quit.

I started out at 264 the first day in my surgeons office. I was 252 the day of surgery. I am 143 this morning. I would capitalize the time you have in the first year. This is something I read on this website because as you know the further out you get the slower the weight comes off. You have to take advantage and really work the program the first year and a half. I know you can get to your goal. If you have not started a workout plan I would do so. It helps and you feel good when you start noticing the changes. It also helps with the loose skin. Although my stomach is still not bikini ready after two kids its not bad. Good luck.

No problem. I was racking my brain as to which vets actually lost everything and remembered this thread.
Losing everything is possible... But as the months pass you will have to work harder and harder to lose less and less unless your like a few of those freaks of nature that just dropped the weight "doing nothing"
You really won't learn much from who is eating what calories because it works differently for all of us. Trail and error... and blood sweat and tears.
Then keeping it off? Well we will never be able to eat like a naturally thin person. Our bodies will always be poised to gain the weight again.
It can be done, but with eyes wide open.

Hey apple fritter! The miracle cure to Constipation? ? Ummm.... I might have to test this out!!

Ok starting stats were:
Highest weight known: 345
Weight day of surgery: 315
This mornings weight: 198
Woo hoo!!
Surgery was 11/20/12
Here is a pic of me at my heaviest:
Here is me trying on clothes at about 205-ish.
And here is me the other night taking a self gratifying selfie!! Lol.

There is a point where many may:
have more capacity to eat more food/stomach relaxes
get their hunger back
weight loss slows or stops
start gaining weight
reach goal and navigate maintenance
are past the "honeymoon"
usually past a year or more may be earlier
find themselves in a new "stage" different from the beginning stages after WLS
finding the old methods used to take off weight may or may not work
are finding a way to stay the same weight after gaining or losing too much
the issues are no usually longer about what Protein drink to buy, the three week stall, the funny taste of food, gas pain, eating in public, hair loss, insurance approval.....
come to the conclusion that the process NEVER ends, it is a lifetime of learning and doing and sharing and counting and moving... and that is the new normal.
Realizing what is meant by "the sleeve is a tool" and it is only part of the process, you can gain all your weight back if you don't start forming a new life and just resting from the work and eating "normally" after getting to goal will result in weight gain for many.
These are some of the issues I see arising for "vets" and distinguishes them from "newbies"... which we all were once... You can't know how the sleeve and the rest of the body and mind will be until you experience it for yourself over time. 1-2-3-5 years later, things change. We don't know about 10 years because there just aren't many out there with current style sleeves to talk to. But some at 6 months are getting some of this experience, I think after a year or two you really see the Vet issues even clearer. Some don't come back here, so hopefully they are doing great, are living life and not gaining or losing too much.... the ones of us that are still here are experiencing the stuff listed above... some are having NO problems at all.
I love my sleeve and my life, and at this time (2 1/2 years out) I am still not at goal, but very close and believe I will make it to goal pretty soon, and have some plans on how to maintain I think I can follow. Taking the long view has been very helpful for me....If I took the view that if I didn't lose all my weight by 6 months without pulling all my hair out or I was a failure if I didn't lose 30 pounds in the first month, then this experience would have been hell. I have some good support friends here that have been here for years... we chug along together, and check in often, share research, worries and challenges, and we will share the pleasure of accomplishment as well. I plan on staying in contact during maintenance when I get there. Maintenance may well be the most difficult part of this journey. Keeping the weight off is the trick.
Someone here said it best... reaching goal at 3 years feels just as good at reaching goal at 6 months. Who cares as long as you get there!

And THAT'S why it Takes me a week to lose the 2 pounds it took one day to regain!!!

Thank you . Those are some really helpful links

Good for you globe! I really need to do some strength training myself!
Oregondaisy! I love babies! (And roasted chicken)
Cathy, yes the weekend was a food fest and I'm feeling the after affects today! I'm fasting today and it should be interesting my stomach is already awake and wants food!
I'm going mountain biking this morning with my husband so food will have to wait until later.
I know some of you girls like to workout on a empty stomach. I find it psychologically hard!
Like I feel I'm weakened
Food... food...food... It's always food!

Well, I did not have a great day calorie wise today.went over my 1200 goal by about 270 calories and was HUNGRY all day long! (Snacky!!!!). . Oh well, tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow. You're only a day away!

Take the time to read through the vet posts. Lots of info already posted there, then join on in! Congrats for getting down 84 pounds Chelle, the journey is really actually starting now! Read "Getting to Goal, want to join me?" and "How many Vets at goal?" and "5:2".....

Today is a feed day and I've got about 500 cals to play with for dinner, tomorrow is a fast day AND a gym day, urgh!