DLCoggin

Interesting article on WebMD says that BMI may be on the way out as the best way to assess body fat and associated health risks. The new kid on the block - height to weight ratio.
"Researchers reviewed 31 studies of more than 300,000 men and women. They found that waist-to-height ratio was more accurate than BMI and than waist circumference alone at predicting certain health risks associated with being overweight or obese, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease."
"Keeping your waist circumference to less than half your height can help increase life expectancy for every person in the world," �says researcher Margaret Ashwell, PhD, of Ashwell Associates, in Hertfordshire, England."
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20120511/better-way-assess-body-fat-health-risk?ecd=wnl_wlw_051612
Let's see now - 36" waist and 5' 9" tall. So 36/69 = 52%. Rats! Gotta lose another inch and a half around the waist. Off to walk I go!

Hypertension - gone.
Diabetes - gone.
sleep apnea - gone.
Joint pain - gone.
High cholesterol - gone.
120 pounds - gone.
BMI - Normal (24.2).
I would do it again in a second and I would not change one thing. I'm loving the new me and you're gonna love the new you!

I walk 45-55 minutes, 2.5-3.0 miles, at least four times a week. More if possible but never less than four. There is absolutely not the slightest doubt in my mind that it has increased my overall weight loss and reduced the time that it would have taken without the exercise. I started slowly at first, 15-20 minutes and slowly worked my way up. Maintaining the routine was initially challenging. I was shocked to discover that after a couple of months it actually became quite addictive. If I go more than a couple of days without walking, I can feel the difference not only physically but I find myself getting irritable and generally a bigger jerk than usual. LOL.
My advice to everyone is to first find an exercise that you enjoy. There are lots and lots of options. If you enjoy it, then it's sustainable. If you hate it, you simply will not maintain it long term. Second, remember that you are not training for the Olympics. If you push yourself too hard, all of the joy goes out of it and again, you will not maintain it long term. I am absolutely certain that I could walk four, five, or even more miles a day. But the time requirement would be a definite strain and the physical requirement would soon become more of a burden than a pleasure. Again, not sustainable.
Whatever you do, find an exercise routine that works for you. You're gonna love the new you!

Nicie your post reminds me of one not too long ago where the OP said that she was 80% sure about having the surgery and wondering how she could get to 100%. Bypass or sleeve are major surgeries. All surgeries have risks and bariatric surgeries are no exception. There simply are no guarantees. 100% implies absolute certainty. I believe that any goal you set has to meet two criteria - it must be realistic and it must be sustainable. Any goal that does not meet those two criteria should be abandoned in favor of one that does. Absolute certainty is neither realistic nor sustainable.
When I was trying to make the surgery decision and subsequently the choice of which surgery to have, my goal became to do as much research as possible, learn everything I could about the potential benefits - and risks - of each option. That goal was both realistic and sustainable. The result of that effort was that I concluded that the odds were overwhelmingly in my favor of having a successful, literally life-changing outcome. And that is exactly what happened. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment known to medical science for the treatment of obesity and more than 30 comorbidities associated with obesity. By a huge margin.
Once I had all of the facts, the decision was relatively easy. That is not to say that I wasn't frightened. There were times right up to the moment they wheeled me into the OR when it scared the bejesus out of me. But courage is not about never being frightened (unrealistic and unsustainable). Courage is about doing what you believe to be the right thing for you and your family, in spite of your fears.
Today I'm a little over two and a half years post-op. Hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and 130 pounds - gone. I hit 155 lbs about fourteen months post-op and my weight has been between 151 and 156 every since. This morning I was 152.4.
I've had two complications. About six months post-op I developed an ulcer at the anastomosis that was confirmed with an endoscopy. My surgeon increased my Rx for Prevacid from one capsule a day to two. No other changes. No other treatment. Three months later a second endoscopy confirmed the ulcer was completely healed.
The second complication - I'm one of about 15% of patients that experience reactive hypoglycemia aka "late stage" dumping. Definitely not comfortable but easily avoided by avoiding too much sugar or carbs. And when I make a bad choice and my blood sugar drops, I simply eat something with a little sugar, or simple carbs or just chew a glucose tablet. Without fail, the symptoms completely disappear in about 20 minutes. All in all, a very small price to pay for a life that, not that long ago, I thought would never be possible.
Would I do it again? Without a moments hesitation. Am I the exception? You don't have to look any further than this forum to read countless stories similar to mine. When you have questions, there are tons of great folks here who are more than happy to offer the benefit of their experiences. Good luck in making your decision!

Dawn, I'm 21 months out so haven't quite made it into the "veteran" circle yet but I'm getting close. It seems to be an unfortunate fact that veterans often disappear from the forums after about a year post-op. That's unfortunate not only because they aren't there to share their experience with others who could benefit from their knowledge (and mistakes), but also because they themselves lose the ongoing reinforcement of their own commitment to a healthy lifestyle. We may no longer be obese. But we are, and will always be, susceptible to obesity. This is truly a life long commitment. What better way could there be to keep that commitment strong than a daily reminder of all of the real life struggles and triumphs that are such an important part of forums like this one?

Good day fellow (and former) So. Californians!
dsoprano - Deciding on a surgical solution for obesity is an intensely personal decision. I would not recommend that you (or anyone) go forward until you are confident that it is the right decision for you. In my case, an important part of the decision process was a considerable amount of research. There is a tremendous amount of information out there but it's important to find the most reliable and respected sources possible. I'm sure a lot of folks will have some great recommendations for you. Here are some of mine:
http://www.hsph.harv...vention-source/ (Harvard School of Public Health)
http://www.webmd.com/
http://asmbs.org/ (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery)
http://iom.edu/Repor...Prevention.aspx (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies)
http://www.wlslifestyles.com/ (This is a digital magazine with an ENORMOUS amount of information on weight loss surgery. Cost is $19.95 for a one year subscription and imho that's a real bargain.)

Do the research. Ask questions. "Talk" to people here on the forum. There are lots of really great folks here and most of us are more than happy to share our experience and answer any questions we can.
Have a great day!!

Mine was exactly the same - no goal weight and no timeline. I have to confess to wondering why a time or two but decided that if I trusted her enough to do the surgery I had to trust her post-op care as well. It definitely reduces the stress and places the emphasis on following the protocol as closely as you can. Worked for me!!

There is no schedule for stalls and no way to accurately predict how long they will last. There are just too many variables. There isn't a single one of us that cannot understand your frustration. But, you're doing everything right. You know you're doing everything right. Second guessing yourself is a waste of energy and only compounds your frustration. Consider focusing that energy on rewarding yourself every day, for following your plan.
Rapid weight loss - follow your plan. Slow weight loss - follow your plan. Stall - follow your plan. No matter what happens, follow your plan. The laws of science and the universe can not and will not be denied. Follow your plan and the weight will take care of itself. Your body is going to find its own way in its own time regardless of how much or how little you stress over it. Your journey will be so much more rewarding, so much easier and so much more exciting if you acknowledge that your goal is physical change, but your challenge is mental discipline.
Stay positive. Stay patient. Follow your plan. Maintain your food log. You're gonna love the new you!!

There is no schedule for stalls and no way to accurately predict how long they will last. There are just too many variables. There isn't a single one of us that cannot understand your frustration. But, you're doing everything right. You know you're doing everything right. Second guessing yourself is a waste of energy and only compounds your frustration. Consider focusing that energy on rewarding yourself every day, for following your plan.
Rapid weight loss - follow your plan. Slow weight loss - follow your plan. Stall - follow your plan. No matter what happens, follow your plan. The laws of science and the universe can not and will not be denied. Follow your plan and the weight will take care of itself. Your body is going to find its own way in its own time regardless of how much or how little you stress over it. Your journey will be so much more rewarding, so much easier and so much more exciting if you acknowledge that your goal is physical change, but your challenge is mental discipline.
Stay positive. Stay patient. Follow your plan. Maintain your food log. You're gonna love the new you!!

There is no schedule for stalls and no way to accurately predict how long they will last. There are just too many variables. There isn't a single one of us that cannot understand your frustration. But, you're doing everything right. You know you're doing everything right. Second guessing yourself is a waste of energy and only compounds your frustration. Consider focusing that energy on rewarding yourself every day, for following your plan.
Rapid weight loss - follow your plan. Slow weight loss - follow your plan. Stall - follow your plan. No matter what happens, follow your plan. The laws of science and the universe can not and will not be denied. Follow your plan and the weight will take care of itself. Your body is going to find its own way in its own time regardless of how much or how little you stress over it. Your journey will be so much more rewarding, so much easier and so much more exciting if you acknowledge that your goal is physical change, but your challenge is mental discipline.
Stay positive. Stay patient. Follow your plan. Maintain your food log. You're gonna love the new you!!

HI dsoprano40! I'm definitely in So. Cal - South Bay area. I'm just over 34 weeks post-op, starting weight 285 and down to 171 at the doctor's office yesterday. Amazing experience. I'd love to offer any assistance I can if you have any questions and this is hands down the best RNY forum on the net. Lots and lots of great folks here!!

That's a lot of information for one post! LOL! I think you'll learn more and almost certainly get more responses if you narrow it down and ask more specific questions. Tons of knowledgeable and caring folks on here that will be glad to answer your questions. You have a surgery date so you likely have a lot of information from your doctor's office. Anything special that you'd like more info on?

I think that it's important to understand that there is risk involved with any surgery and RNY is no exception. There are heartbreaking stories. No one can ever be absolutely certain that the surgery will be successful or that there will not be complications, some quite serious. It's also important to understand that there is risk involved with obesity and with the numerous secondary problems, some quite serious, that often result from being obese.There simply are no guarantees, no absolutes, whichever way you go. I'm almost 33 weeks out, 173 lbs (from a high of 285), and I'd do it again in a second. My wife is 40 weeks out, 199 lbs, and would do it again in a second. My brother is 14 years post-op, 174 lbs, and would do it again in a second. My best friend is 6 years post-op, 225 lbs and celebrates his new life every day.
Like many others, I did exhaustive research before making the decision to go under the knife. Based on the most current information available from the very best, most respected, most experienced sources I could find, I concluded that the odds are overwhelmingly in my favor for a successful long term outcome.

It's been a challenge for me. On the one hand, I enjoy walking (I really do). But I sometimes have a tendency to get carried away with things which leads to unrealistic expectations. Reaching for goals that are not sustainable in the long term is a sure formula for failure. For me, exercise is the perfect example.
First I set a goal of walking five miles a day, every other day. And I bought a Total Gym at the same time and set a goal of strength training every other day. I enjoyed doing both - for about six months. The walking evolved into measuring my time per mile. Then that became working (hard) to push that time down. And then pushing the total miles up. Then increasing the calories burned. On and on.
The strength training started with very modest workouts (I was concerned about injuries). But that quickly evolved into pushing myself to do more and more. More weight. More reps. More sets. More, more, more.
Bottom line - after about six months I eventually stopped doing both. It wasn't a conscience "forget this" decision. I just found myself skipping one or the other (and eventually both) for all of the usual reasons we come up with for not doing things we really don't want to do. It was frustrating, time consuming, disruptive of a busy schedule. And for all of those reasons, it just wasn't sustainable. Physically it wasn't a problem. Psychologically was a different story.
After about a three month break I knew that I wanted to begin walking again. But I had an honest conversation with myself and realized that my goals had to change if they were to be sustainable. So here are the highlights of the new plan:
My new walking goal is a daily average of about 7,000 - 8,000 steps a day. In the back of my mind I know that 10,000 steps is the recommended goal. And sometimes I do that. Some days even a little more. But I congratulate myself for hitting an average of 7 to 8 thousand. I don't punish myself on those days where I fall a little short. I don't pay any attention to miles. I don't pay any attention to minutes per mile. I don't pay any attention to calories burned. My goal is steps - period. I don't saunter, but I'm not pushing myself to the limit either. Now here's one that has been a real eye-opener. I was at costco one day and when I came out it occurred to me that I could make some progress toward my walking goal for that day with a relative quick walk around the shopping center. So off I went. And in ten to fifteen minutes I added about 3,000 steps to my day's total. A day or two later, I was at the grocery store pharmacy filling a Rx. The pharmacist said that it would be about 20 minutes. Thinking back to my costco excursion, I decided this was another good opportunity to build up my steps for the day. In the process I discovered a small park about a block away from the store complete with a quarter mile walking track. How cool is that?! For the last six weeks, I have walked around just about every kind of store, restaurant, Starbucks and any other kind of place that life takes me. It's quick, easy and it doesn't require that I just drop everything to walk. I'm already "there". Wherever there happens to be. I'm always looking for the opportunity to do a little walking. Sounds a little silly (even to me). It might not work for everyone. But for me, it's been a huge psychological and motivational game changer. Some folks may not realize that walking is "cumulative". Numerous studies have shown that it makes no difference whether you walk five miles at one time, one mile five times during the day, or any other combination. The more steps you do, the greater the health benefit. Walking is walking. It all counts and it adds up surprisingly quickly. I walk for all of the health benefits of walking - circulation, blood pressure, cardio, relaxation, etc. I do not walk for the purpose of controlling my weight (that was never my goal). I no longer record or even monitor calories burned. I don't know or care how long it takes me to walk a mile. Like I said, my only goal is steps. I'm still working on a plan for getting back to strength training. I recognize the importance. I just need to formulate a plan that will provide a similar psychological and motivational boost. I've been thinking about trying daily, short sets (about 15 minutes) that will focus on different muscle groups each day. Probably not as effective as longer sets but, for me, almost certainly more sustainable. And sustainability is everything.
I'm sure there are folks who will read this and be reminded of their own personal discoveries of sustainable ways to maintain their exercise regimens. I for one would love to read about the keys to your success!!

Since having my surgery on October 20, 2011, I have set a "main" goal every year. Year one was obvious, get to the weight that my body wanted to be at. Approximately fourteen months post-op I hit 155 lbs, my weight loss leveled out, I felt great about my weight, about myself, and about what I had accomplished.
Year two. I had read so many times about "bounce back weight gain". Usually ten or fifteen pounds but sometimes much more. I researched everything I could find and there appeared to be no physical or metabolic justification for the weight gain. It was/is quite common, but I could find no science to explain it. So my year two goal became to avoid the bounce back. I established a window of 151 to 156 lbs that I was determined to maintain. I changed my weigh-ins schedule from my year one weekly weight checks to year two daily checks. My weight in year two was seldom below 151 (maybe two or three times) and never above 156.
Year three. As you get further out veterans who have "been there done that" often drop off of the forums. It became more difficult to identify potential "bumps in the road" that were common in the third year post-op period. Then over a period of time I read a number of posts by a five year veteran who repeatedly stressed that maintaining your weight becomes more difficult, m u c h more difficult, after the two year mark. And responses to this member's posts seemed to confirm that many had experienced the same difficulties. Once again I looked to science for an explanation and possible suggestions for avoiding or at least minimizing the challenges. And once again I was unable to identify any credible science to explain the problem. So my year three goal became more of a mental challenge than a physical one. I had lost 130 lbs. And I had maintained it for a year. The goal for year three became to maintain my commitment, and my focus, on following my plan that had resulted in the success I had achieved.
Stay positive. Stay patient. Monitor my weight daily and respond very quickly to weight changes. Making slight increases or decreases in my calorie goal depending on whether I needed to gain or lose two or three pounds. Exercise to my ability. Continue to maintain a food log. The result? I frankly never experienced any identifiable change in my diet, in the effort required to maintain my weight, or in my confidence that I was in complete and absolute control of my weight. No changes. None. Zip. And my weight this morning? 154.2
I only have one problem - I'm at a total loss for a year four goal! Everyone's thoughts, suggestions, ideas or experiences are most welcome!!
You guys have a terrific day and regardless of where you're at in your journey always remember - follow your plan and you're gonna love the new you!

"The 2014 Advanced Framework for a New Diagnosis of Obesity as a Chronic Disease" was very recently presented at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 23rd Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress in Las Vegas.
In a summary article published by Medscape Medical News on March 17th, the author states "The framework is the latest step in an ongoing process to develop new approaches to obesity, based on the American Medical Association's June 2013 designation of it as a chronic disease, which originated with a proposal from the AACE. The need for a new obesity definition was among the major ideas to emerge from a consensus conference on the subject, held in March 2014, which involved participants from healthcare, research, science, government, industry, insurers and advocacy, according to AACE President, Dr. Jeffrey Mechanick."
This is a powerful example of what @@Alex Brecher stated in his article - "An important benefit of classifying obesity as a disease is the increased awareness."
The AACE in conjunction with proposals from the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and The Obesity Society is suggesting three classifications for obesity: Obesity Stage 0 (BMI 30 or greater with no obesity-related comorbidities), Obesity Stage 1 (BMI 25 or greater with one or more mild to moderate obesity-related comorbidities, and Obesity Stage 2 (BMI 25 or greater and one or more severe obesity-related comorbidities).
The recognition of obesity as a disease by the medical community does not mean that the stigma surrounding obesity is going to disappear. It does mean that many obstacles have been removed, and many doors opened, for researchers and physicians to formulate and pursue treatment options for the global epidemic of obesity. That is good news for the millions who suffer from this debilitating and life-threatening disease.
Full Article

Wow I'm looking at my picture on here and it's crazy the change:) what a great gift we have done

Very inspirational story. love to here this narative, I hope I can show your dedication !!!! THANK YOU
DLCoggin

Thank you so much for your post. I am 2.5 months out from RNY and down 70#. I am feeling great. However, I've been wondering if my appetite will change years out and that the old pre-RNY hunger will come back. I'm so glad to read your story that it doesn't.

Since having my surgery on October 20, 2011, I have set a "main" goal every year. Year one was obvious, get to the weight that my body wanted to be at. Approximately fourteen months post-op I hit 155 lbs, my weight loss leveled out, I felt great about my weight, about myself, and about what I had accomplished.
Year two. I had read so many times about "bounce back weight gain". Usually ten or fifteen pounds but sometimes much more. I researched everything I could find and there appeared to be no physical or metabolic justification for the weight gain. It was/is quite common, but I could find no science to explain it. So my year two goal became to avoid the bounce back. I established a window of 151 to 156 lbs that I was determined to maintain. I changed my weigh-ins schedule from my year one weekly weight checks to year two daily checks. My weight in year two was seldom below 151 (maybe two or three times) and never above 156.
Year three. As you get further out veterans who have "been there done that" often drop off of the forums. It became more difficult to identify potential "bumps in the road" that were common in the third year post-op period. Then over a period of time I read a number of posts by a five year veteran who repeatedly stressed that maintaining your weight becomes more difficult, m u c h more difficult, after the two year mark. And responses to this member's posts seemed to confirm that many had experienced the same difficulties. Once again I looked to science for an explanation and possible suggestions for avoiding or at least minimizing the challenges. And once again I was unable to identify any credible science to explain the problem. So my year three goal became more of a mental challenge than a physical one. I had lost 130 lbs. And I had maintained it for a year. The goal for year three became to maintain my commitment, and my focus, on following my plan that had resulted in the success I had achieved.
Stay positive. Stay patient. Monitor my weight daily and respond very quickly to weight changes. Making slight increases or decreases in my calorie goal depending on whether I needed to gain or lose two or three pounds. Exercise to my ability. Continue to maintain a food log. The result? I frankly never experienced any identifiable change in my diet, in the effort required to maintain my weight, or in my confidence that I was in complete and absolute control of my weight. No changes. None. Zip. And my weight this morning? 154.2
I only have one problem - I'm at a total loss for a year four goal! Everyone's thoughts, suggestions, ideas or experiences are most welcome!!
You guys have a terrific day and regardless of where you're at in your journey always remember - follow your plan and you're gonna love the new you!

Since having my surgery on October 20, 2011, I have set a "main" goal every year. Year one was obvious, get to the weight that my body wanted to be at. Approximately fourteen months post-op I hit 155 lbs, my weight loss leveled out, I felt great about my weight, about myself, and about what I had accomplished.
Year two. I had read so many times about "bounce back weight gain". Usually ten or fifteen pounds but sometimes much more. I researched everything I could find and there appeared to be no physical or metabolic justification for the weight gain. It was/is quite common, but I could find no science to explain it. So my year two goal became to avoid the bounce back. I established a window of 151 to 156 lbs that I was determined to maintain. I changed my weigh-ins schedule from my year one weekly weight checks to year two daily checks. My weight in year two was seldom below 151 (maybe two or three times) and never above 156.
Year three. As you get further out veterans who have "been there done that" often drop off of the forums. It became more difficult to identify potential "bumps in the road" that were common in the third year post-op period. Then over a period of time I read a number of posts by a five year veteran who repeatedly stressed that maintaining your weight becomes more difficult, m u c h more difficult, after the two year mark. And responses to this member's posts seemed to confirm that many had experienced the same difficulties. Once again I looked to science for an explanation and possible suggestions for avoiding or at least minimizing the challenges. And once again I was unable to identify any credible science to explain the problem. So my year three goal became more of a mental challenge than a physical one. I had lost 130 lbs. And I had maintained it for a year. The goal for year three became to maintain my commitment, and my focus, on following my plan that had resulted in the success I had achieved.
Stay positive. Stay patient. Monitor my weight daily and respond very quickly to weight changes. Making slight increases or decreases in my calorie goal depending on whether I needed to gain or lose two or three pounds. Exercise to my ability. Continue to maintain a food log. The result? I frankly never experienced any identifiable change in my diet, in the effort required to maintain my weight, or in my confidence that I was in complete and absolute control of my weight. No changes. None. Zip. And my weight this morning? 154.2
I only have one problem - I'm at a total loss for a year four goal! Everyone's thoughts, suggestions, ideas or experiences are most welcome!!
You guys have a terrific day and regardless of where you're at in your journey always remember - follow your plan and you're gonna love the new you!

Since having my surgery on October 20, 2011, I have set a "main" goal every year. Year one was obvious, get to the weight that my body wanted to be at. Approximately fourteen months post-op I hit 155 lbs, my weight loss leveled out, I felt great about my weight, about myself, and about what I had accomplished.
Year two. I had read so many times about "bounce back weight gain". Usually ten or fifteen pounds but sometimes much more. I researched everything I could find and there appeared to be no physical or metabolic justification for the weight gain. It was/is quite common, but I could find no science to explain it. So my year two goal became to avoid the bounce back. I established a window of 151 to 156 lbs that I was determined to maintain. I changed my weigh-ins schedule from my year one weekly weight checks to year two daily checks. My weight in year two was seldom below 151 (maybe two or three times) and never above 156.
Year three. As you get further out veterans who have "been there done that" often drop off of the forums. It became more difficult to identify potential "bumps in the road" that were common in the third year post-op period. Then over a period of time I read a number of posts by a five year veteran who repeatedly stressed that maintaining your weight becomes more difficult, m u c h more difficult, after the two year mark. And responses to this member's posts seemed to confirm that many had experienced the same difficulties. Once again I looked to science for an explanation and possible suggestions for avoiding or at least minimizing the challenges. And once again I was unable to identify any credible science to explain the problem. So my year three goal became more of a mental challenge than a physical one. I had lost 130 lbs. And I had maintained it for a year. The goal for year three became to maintain my commitment, and my focus, on following my plan that had resulted in the success I had achieved.
Stay positive. Stay patient. Monitor my weight daily and respond very quickly to weight changes. Making slight increases or decreases in my calorie goal depending on whether I needed to gain or lose two or three pounds. Exercise to my ability. Continue to maintain a food log. The result? I frankly never experienced any identifiable change in my diet, in the effort required to maintain my weight, or in my confidence that I was in complete and absolute control of my weight. No changes. None. Zip. And my weight this morning? 154.2
I only have one problem - I'm at a total loss for a year four goal! Everyone's thoughts, suggestions, ideas or experiences are most welcome!!
You guys have a terrific day and regardless of where you're at in your journey always remember - follow your plan and you're gonna love the new you!

Since having my surgery on October 20, 2011, I have set a "main" goal every year. Year one was obvious, get to the weight that my body wanted to be at. Approximately fourteen months post-op I hit 155 lbs, my weight loss leveled out, I felt great about my weight, about myself, and about what I had accomplished.
Year two. I had read so many times about "bounce back weight gain". Usually ten or fifteen pounds but sometimes much more. I researched everything I could find and there appeared to be no physical or metabolic justification for the weight gain. It was/is quite common, but I could find no science to explain it. So my year two goal became to avoid the bounce back. I established a window of 151 to 156 lbs that I was determined to maintain. I changed my weigh-ins schedule from my year one weekly weight checks to year two daily checks. My weight in year two was seldom below 151 (maybe two or three times) and never above 156.
Year three. As you get further out veterans who have "been there done that" often drop off of the forums. It became more difficult to identify potential "bumps in the road" that were common in the third year post-op period. Then over a period of time I read a number of posts by a five year veteran who repeatedly stressed that maintaining your weight becomes more difficult, m u c h more difficult, after the two year mark. And responses to this member's posts seemed to confirm that many had experienced the same difficulties. Once again I looked to science for an explanation and possible suggestions for avoiding or at least minimizing the challenges. And once again I was unable to identify any credible science to explain the problem. So my year three goal became more of a mental challenge than a physical one. I had lost 130 lbs. And I had maintained it for a year. The goal for year three became to maintain my commitment, and my focus, on following my plan that had resulted in the success I had achieved.
Stay positive. Stay patient. Monitor my weight daily and respond very quickly to weight changes. Making slight increases or decreases in my calorie goal depending on whether I needed to gain or lose two or three pounds. Exercise to my ability. Continue to maintain a food log. The result? I frankly never experienced any identifiable change in my diet, in the effort required to maintain my weight, or in my confidence that I was in complete and absolute control of my weight. No changes. None. Zip. And my weight this morning? 154.2
I only have one problem - I'm at a total loss for a year four goal! Everyone's thoughts, suggestions, ideas or experiences are most welcome!!
You guys have a terrific day and regardless of where you're at in your journey always remember - follow your plan and you're gonna love the new you!

Thanks for your kind words Ms. Mimi! I walk five miles every other day and do strength training on my Total Gym every other day. Lol - at least that's the goal. I probably hit it about 75% of the time. I enjoy doing both but I own my own company and the demands on my time are not always as predictable as I would like. But as I keep reminding myself, you make time for the things that are important. I'm considering making my year four goal a fitness goal. I average just under a fourteen minute mile when I walk. I'm thinking I could probably push that down to thirteen and a half, perhaps a little better if I apply myself and stick with my schedule. The benefits of exercise, not only physically but mentally as well, are over the top. To say nothing of doing great things for your weight!!
Forget about your past experiences with dieting. The bypass quite literally changes everything. Most of us simply had no reference point to compare it to pre-op. You will be amazed!
Thanks again and have a great day!

Nicie your post reminds me of one not too long ago where the OP said that she was 80% sure about having the surgery and wondering how she could get to 100%. Bypass or sleeve are major surgeries. All surgeries have risks and bariatric surgeries are no exception. There simply are no guarantees. 100% implies absolute certainty. I believe that any goal you set has to meet two criteria - it must be realistic and it must be sustainable. Any goal that does not meet those two criteria should be abandoned in favor of one that does. Absolute certainty is neither realistic nor sustainable.
When I was trying to make the surgery decision and subsequently the choice of which surgery to have, my goal became to do as much research as possible, learn everything I could about the potential benefits - and risks - of each option. That goal was both realistic and sustainable. The result of that effort was that I concluded that the odds were overwhelmingly in my favor of having a successful, literally life-changing outcome. And that is exactly what happened. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment known to medical science for the treatment of obesity and more than 30 comorbidities associated with obesity. By a huge margin.
Once I had all of the facts, the decision was relatively easy. That is not to say that I wasn't frightened. There were times right up to the moment they wheeled me into the OR when it scared the bejesus out of me. But courage is not about never being frightened (unrealistic and unsustainable). Courage is about doing what you believe to be the right thing for you and your family, in spite of your fears.
Today I'm a little over two and a half years post-op. Hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and 130 pounds - gone. I hit 155 lbs about fourteen months post-op and my weight has been between 151 and 156 every since. This morning I was 152.4.
I've had two complications. About six months post-op I developed an ulcer at the anastomosis that was confirmed with an endoscopy. My surgeon increased my Rx for Prevacid from one capsule a day to two. No other changes. No other treatment. Three months later a second endoscopy confirmed the ulcer was completely healed.
The second complication - I'm one of about 15% of patients that experience reactive hypoglycemia aka "late stage" dumping. Definitely not comfortable but easily avoided by avoiding too much sugar or carbs. And when I make a bad choice and my blood sugar drops, I simply eat something with a little sugar, or simple carbs or just chew a glucose tablet. Without fail, the symptoms completely disappear in about 20 minutes. All in all, a very small price to pay for a life that, not that long ago, I thought would never be possible.
Would I do it again? Without a moments hesitation. Am I the exception? You don't have to look any further than this forum to read countless stories similar to mine. When you have questions, there are tons of great folks here who are more than happy to offer the benefit of their experiences. Good luck in making your decision!