COnative

I can certainly relate to the comments above. I am about 6 years out. I bounce from 10-15lbs heavier than my goal weight which I am kinda okay with. The only thing that makes it hard with having the sleeve is if you snack, you could sabotage your goals in the long run. I find with sticking to an "atkins like" eating regimen is the best for my body type. But let's be clear about one thing, the sleeve saved my life, literally. I didn't want to live anymore with the weight and was too tired to try my usual programs. I would do it all again!
Can I eat as much as before? Hell no. But I can definitely feel that I have stretched my new tummy out a little but for the most part it's still small. I still have moments where I've pushed it and had to run to the bathroom to throw it up because I simply ate one too many bites. It happens less now but in the beginning it was a little challenging.
Do the hunger feelings come back? For me, sadly yes. But sticking to I high Protein diet really helps. I think you have realistic goals with the fact that you will have to exercise and have a healthy diet for the rest of your life. Just remember to be kind to yourself and don't beat yourself up too much if you do put on a little. I think any normal person does have a 10lb window of comfort.
I wish you all the best!

I certainly understand the struggle. I would love to find my motivation to lose weight again. I am 180 and I definitely felt better around 160-165. My best suggestion is to fall in love with exercise or a particular workout. Mine is Jillian Michaels, Beachbody's Insanity and Hammer and Chisel. You just need to find what works best for you. I wish my cravings didn't return with a vengeance and I wish I didn't snack so much because I feel that is the single most thing sabotaging EVERYTHING. But I have what I have to work with. Hang in there and have fun exploring different ways to motivate your body to move! :-)

Thanks for your response. I haven't changed my diet recently but it sounds like I need to go to my local doc to have a checkup.

Have you considered IBS? A trip to the doctor is in order. My husband and MIL have IBS, it's triggered by stress and their variety is horrible digestive distress immediately after eating or drinking. Neither is sleeved, both had onset later in life. My husband's is managed well with meds my MILs not so much.

Dietary changes could be the culprit, easily, and any other number of other maladies. It's not necessarily sleeve related.

I'm sorry you're suffering. It's awful. Please see your doc.

Cheri

I had my surgery in Mexico - best decision I ever made. I think it's a great decision for those who have to self pay. One thing that helped me make the decision is I went down there to meet with the dr first before I made the appointment. Good luck to all of you going down there to have your surgery!

Poor thing. I'm only one week ahead of you. It seems like maybe the hormones escaping from your fat cells are causing your anxiety. We are using our fat cells for fuel right now, and a lot of hormones are being dumped. They can have emotional and even anxiety side effects.
The real you isn't worried about a bagel; you either will or won't e able to eat one or even want to eat one! This isn't about the hypothetical bagel, just about anxiety or a kind of panic attack. Maybe just feeling the symptoms of anxiety and talking to yourself about how these sweaty palms, shakiness, worries, come from the escaping estrogen from your fat cells being used for fuel. Maybe naming the symptoms will shrink them down a bit so you can get on with your successful recovery! I hope so.
hang in there. Great that you are getting all your fluids. Still struggling here but I go,get a Vitamin and mineral iv every week to help.

The sleeve would work perfectly if I didn't like to snack! OMG, it's tough. I am at my heaviest since surgery :-( I am thinking of doing a re-set of such even though it's a "fad" but sometimes you need to try whatever you think might work for you. I kept my weight off for the most part with a ten pound leeway for 5 years. I recently had to return to the bakery which my husband and I own and the snacking seems to be a little out of control (as I am sure many of you can imagine!) As I have said before, be strong if you would like to snack - that is what has sabotaged me. I think I can still go down to maybe 160/165, but aren't we all just tired of diets? The whole point to this surgery for me. But we can do it!

That seems unusual to postpone a surgery because of a Vitamin deficiency. Hmmmm.... My vitamin D has been in the the teens and I started to take 10,000 IU's per week and it seems to be coming up. Sorry you have to wait for surgery - that is frustrating!!!

The sleeve would work perfectly if I didn't like to snack! OMG, it's tough. I am at my heaviest since surgery :-( I am thinking of doing a re-set of such even though it's a "fad" but sometimes you need to try whatever you think might work for you. I kept my weight off for the most part with a ten pound leeway for 5 years. I recently had to return to the bakery which my husband and I own and the snacking seems to be a little out of control (as I am sure many of you can imagine!) As I have said before, be strong if you would like to snack - that is what has sabotaged me. I think I can still go down to maybe 160/165, but aren't we all just tired of diets? The whole point to this surgery for me. But we can do it!

tinkerbell123 - I can totally relate. I am almost 6 years out and just now having a lot of difficulty keeping my weight off. I am actually higher than my ticker, I am 180 and totally bummed. If I could just NOT snack I'd be okay but it is really hard!!! Yes my hair fell out like crazy for the first FULL YEAR - NOTHING HELPED. This is so much harder than I would have thought. I would still do the sleeve that being said. I just wish there was a pill you could take that tells your body YOU ARE NOT HUNGRY! UGH!!!!

I can certainly relate to the comments above. I am about 6 years out. I bounce from 10-15lbs heavier than my goal weight which I am kinda okay with. The only thing that makes it hard with having the sleeve is if you snack, you could sabotage your goals in the long run. I find with sticking to an "atkins like" eating regimen is the best for my body type. But let's be clear about one thing, the sleeve saved my life, literally. I didn't want to live anymore with the weight and was too tired to try my usual programs. I would do it all again!
Can I eat as much as before? Hell no. But I can definitely feel that I have stretched my new tummy out a little but for the most part it's still small. I still have moments where I've pushed it and had to run to the bathroom to throw it up because I simply ate one too many bites. It happens less now but in the beginning it was a little challenging.
Do the hunger feelings come back? For me, sadly yes. But sticking to I high Protein diet really helps. I think you have realistic goals with the fact that you will have to exercise and have a healthy diet for the rest of your life. Just remember to be kind to yourself and don't beat yourself up too much if you do put on a little. I think any normal person does have a 10lb window of comfort.
I wish you all the best!

I wish I could just have a glass of wine per week! I have about 2 glasses per night. I know it's not healthy and I am drinking more calories than I should, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do! I think we all have our vices - just wish mine was a little healthier. Just be careful when you first start out - it was a little shocking for me because I could actually feel it hit the blood stream. LOL

I can only speak for my self but I don't think you will have any trouble. You will however, get drunk a little faster than without surgery. Which makes you a cheap date - not always a bad thing

But I could do gin and tonics 3 months post surgery

About 6 years

LOL well the funny and sad part about it is, I'm actually taking my mom on the cruise for her bday and so I bought the deluxe unlimited alcohol package and the deluxe exclusive restaurants package and she doesn't even drink, maybe one glass of wine a week, ha! I did this not knowing I would have the surgery 4 months later ....

I can only speak for my self but I don't think you will have any trouble. You will however, get drunk a little faster than without surgery. Which makes you a cheap date - not always a bad thing

I can certainly relate to the comments above. I am about 6 years out. I bounce from 10-15lbs heavier than my goal weight which I am kinda okay with. The only thing that makes it hard with having the sleeve is if you snack, you could sabotage your goals in the long run. I find with sticking to an "atkins like" eating regimen is the best for my body type. But let's be clear about one thing, the sleeve saved my life, literally. I didn't want to live anymore with the weight and was too tired to try my usual programs. I would do it all again!
Can I eat as much as before? Hell no. But I can definitely feel that I have stretched my new tummy out a little but for the most part it's still small. I still have moments where I've pushed it and had to run to the bathroom to throw it up because I simply ate one too many bites. It happens less now but in the beginning it was a little challenging.
Do the hunger feelings come back? For me, sadly yes. But sticking to I high Protein diet really helps. I think you have realistic goals with the fact that you will have to exercise and have a healthy diet for the rest of your life. Just remember to be kind to yourself and don't beat yourself up too much if you do put on a little. I think any normal person does have a 10lb window of comfort.
I wish you all the best!

I was sleeved about 4 years ago, and have gained about half my weight back. I have been trying to get back but keep falling into a rut. snack And bad foods have become the norm once again. Need to find the strength to hit the restart button.

I can certainly relate to the comments above. I am about 6 years out. I bounce from 10-15lbs heavier than my goal weight which I am kinda okay with. The only thing that makes it hard with having the sleeve is if you snack, you could sabotage your goals in the long run. I find with sticking to an "atkins like" eating regimen is the best for my body type. But let's be clear about one thing, the sleeve saved my life, literally. I didn't want to live anymore with the weight and was too tired to try my usual programs. I would do it all again!
Can I eat as much as before? Hell no. But I can definitely feel that I have stretched my new tummy out a little but for the most part it's still small. I still have moments where I've pushed it and had to run to the bathroom to throw it up because I simply ate one too many bites. It happens less now but in the beginning it was a little challenging.
Do the hunger feelings come back? For me, sadly yes. But sticking to I high Protein diet really helps. I think you have realistic goals with the fact that you will have to exercise and have a healthy diet for the rest of your life. Just remember to be kind to yourself and don't beat yourself up too much if you do put on a little. I think any normal person does have a 10lb window of comfort.
I wish you all the best!

I am definitely no mathematician so I am not sure about your calculations. But I lost ALL my weight within the first year of surgery and kept it pretty much off up until a couple months ago. So a little over 5 years.
I think at 5 months post-op I was down 40lbs

I can certainly relate to the comments above. I am about 6 years out. I bounce from 10-15lbs heavier than my goal weight which I am kinda okay with. The only thing that makes it hard with having the sleeve is if you snack, you could sabotage your goals in the long run. I find with sticking to an "atkins like" eating regimen is the best for my body type. But let's be clear about one thing, the sleeve saved my life, literally. I didn't want to live anymore with the weight and was too tired to try my usual programs. I would do it all again!
Can I eat as much as before? Hell no. But I can definitely feel that I have stretched my new tummy out a little but for the most part it's still small. I still have moments where I've pushed it and had to run to the bathroom to throw it up because I simply ate one too many bites. It happens less now but in the beginning it was a little challenging.
Do the hunger feelings come back? For me, sadly yes. But sticking to I high Protein diet really helps. I think you have realistic goals with the fact that you will have to exercise and have a healthy diet for the rest of your life. Just remember to be kind to yourself and don't beat yourself up too much if you do put on a little. I think any normal person does have a 10lb window of comfort.
I wish you all the best!

I am close. I am 5'7 and started out at 220. I am 6 1/2 months out and 55 down. I lost 20 the first month and about 7-10lbs each month thereafter but a month long plateau at month 5. Now at month 6 I started losing again. But I definitely felt like I hit plateaus all the time. I would lose a few pounds in a week then plateau for two weeks then lost again. But the entire time I felt my body changing. I also learned that if I eat 1000 or less calories per day I lose- I eat a measly 200 more calories per day and I plateau. I really hope this helps!!!! Hang in there! It looks like you are doing really good.

I am close. I am 5'7 and started out at 220. I am 6 1/2 months out and 55 down. I lost 20 the first month and about 7-10lbs each month thereafter but a month long plateau at month 5. Now at month 6 I started losing again. But I definitely felt like I hit plateaus all the time. I would lose a few pounds in a week then plateau for two weeks then lost again. But the entire time I felt my body changing. I also learned that if I eat 1000 or less calories per day I lose- I eat a measly 200 more calories per day and I plateau. I really hope this helps!!!! Hang in there! It looks like you are doing really good.

Please stop and do the math.
People get completely freaked out by what I feel are unreasonable expectations. They fly into a panic. They assume that the first time they don't lose on the scale that their loss is done. They think that two weeks at one weight is a massive stall. They look at other people's large losses and forget that we don't all lose at the same rate.
First - if you did a pre-op diet you are not going to have the same loss your first month as someone who didn't do one. Your pre-op loss should get counted into your loss calculation if you did a pre-op diet.
Second - a stall is three weeks or more at the same weight with no fluctuation. Are you panicked after that? Well, my friend coops once spent twenty one MONTHS at the same weight. She finally broke through and never regained during that time, and even lost two sizes while not budging on the scale. Is it the miracle cure you may have been hoping for on the scale? No. But stalls are not the end of the world. They are certainly more normal that flying to goal in six weeks, I promise you.
Third - losing anything more than a pound a week is good. Are you eating less than ever before? Yes. Does that guarantee you'll lose faster than ever before? No. I had two nine week stalls - no movement except upwards for my monthly cycle. I had months where I lost but only in the tenths of a pound. It's not normal to expect a big loss every time you step on the scale. It's setting yourself up for disappointment.
Fourth - your pattern is your pattern. You can compare yourself to other people sleeved the same day or with the same stats but it doesn't matter. So much of this is individual. So if you're constantly seeking out other people and comparing your losses to theirs, you are eventually going to discourage and frustrate yourself.
Fifth - are you closing in on goal? We all lose even more slowly the less weight we have to lose. So if you only have sixty pounds to lose but shed thirty in your first three months, please don't be hysterical because you're "only" losing a pound a week now that you're past the halfway point. It's normal.
Stop. Breathe. Do the math. Adjust your expectations. This is not a race. You do not get a special award for reaching goal more quickly. Your surgery was not pointless or worthless if you manage to get to goal in two years instead of six months. The real goal is not losing the weight. It's keeping the weight off. That's real success - that's what we're here to do. It does not matter if you hit goal in nine months or two years - the real challenge and the real journey begins with maintenance. How quickly or slowly you lost does nothing to change the challenges you'll encounter there.
I am not ranting at anyone in particular. I just feel that this is an issue that comes up constantly and it's actually pretty silly for people to fly into such a panic without really thinking. I've seen folks upset when they're logging losses of upwards of four pounds a week. Point to the diet that helped you accomplish that and was easy to maintain prior to surgery.
~Cheri