Jenny12

I got to goal in 10 months (81 pounds), but went on to lose a total of 90.

I'm glad I'm not the only one! It really helps to break it down and have the numbers right there in front of you.

I'm over a year out. I can eat a lot more than I could in the beginning. I'm in maintenance, so I don't only eat protein now. I try to get a lot of fiber in. For dinner I just ate grilled chicken mixed up with tomato salsa, shredded lettuce, and a small amount of sour cream. It equaled 7 ounces, and I feel like I could easily eat a dessert but I will wait to eat a snack later in the evening (probably a light protein bar). So, that sucks (for me). I wish I had my old restriction back.

Definitely weighing daily, but even more importantly right now is tracking every single thing I put in my mouth. This is what is keeping me on track! I have an "official" weigh in day every Friday. I record this weight in an Excel sheet along with all nutrition information for each day of the week for the Friday-Thursday before the Friday weigh in (calories, carbs, fat, Protein, Fiber, sodium). Then I do an "average" of all of that, and see where I am averaging for the week. This sounds completely obsessive after typing that out, but I didn't pay this much money and invest this much time and effort to gain anything back! I've also found Protein Bars that I love that taste like real chocolate with only 150 calories and 6 carbs, but the fat is a little high. These keep me out of the real chocolate. I have at least one a day. I eat between 1600-2000 calories a day, usually averaging out for the week at 1700 or 1800. I don't exercise at all (I know I should). So far I am maintaining!

My boyfriend had surgery with him at the beginning of January. He has had no issues. He can certainly eat much less than I could when I was at his stage in the game, so Dr Alvarez must make his sleeves pretty small.

Mine used 32. But I'm 13 months out and can eat a good bit more now.

I'm right over a year out and maintaining my weight at 116 lbs. I can eat a lot more than I could a year ago, but definitely not what I could eat before surgery. I'd say I can eat 6 ounces of dense protein and a small side if veggies or beans. It depends on the day. During pms I can eat considerably more. Other times I get full quicker. I eat salad daily, usually for lunch. I'll have a grilled chicken salad with feta cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers. No dressing. I average 1500-1600 calories in maintenance. During weight loss I was at 600 calories a day and 20 carbs. Now I average about 130 carbs a day.

I was a low BMI'er but not as low as some of you. I'm 5'2" and starting weight was 206. I got to goal in about 10 months. I'm below that now, but I wouldn't consider 10 months to lose 81 pounds slow exactly. Felt fast. Stick to your plans and you'll get there!

I reeaaallyyyy miss that strong restriction too. anyhoo, when I was about 5 out, I noticed I suddenly could eat more and my appetite was much stronger (boy, now I wish it was how it was at 5 months post op! Ha) but I stopped losing for a month. I didn't gain but I didn't lose. As hard as it was, and gosh was it hard, I went back to protein shakes for 2 weeks. Nothing but shakes. I don't know if I could do that now at over a year out, but at 5 months out the surgery was still new enough for me that I was able to hang in there and do it. From there I went on to achieve well below my goal weight. It was really a turning point for me. Maybe that's where you are. Give the shakes a shot! Good luck!

Before surgery, I was not a snacker at all. I ate very large, filling meals and didn't really get hungry again until it was the next meal time. Now, no matter WHAT I eat, I can guarantee I will be hungry again within an hour and a half to two hours. I've built snacks in so that I'm not gaining because of them, but boy, it is really annoying being hungry so often. I literally feel like I eat all day long. And I guess I kind of do! The sad thing is, I could eat way more snacks than I currently allow. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, snack, dinner, snack. Omg! I'm maintaining at a minimum of 1600 calories a day, so I have room in my calories to have these little snacks, but I'm terrified one day I'm going to wake up and this is no longer going to work for me. That I will wake up and these snacks are suddenly way too much and I gain 50 lbs! This is completely irrational, but being hungry so soon/often after eating is pretty worrying. I hope in time I get more accustomed to it. Dense protein does not seem to phase this. I can eat dense protein for a meal and get full, but I will certainly be hungry again in at least two hours. Anyone else dealing with this? Or can someone who is also like this reassure me that it's ok to have these snacks? I hear so often that snacking is where most people fail at after surgery. I thought how I was before surgery would fall over to how I am after surgery (not a snacker), but the opposite has occurred.

I'm a year out and drink diet coke daily. No issues.

I have never had an acid issue, as far as I know. In fact I wouldn't even know how to describe acid reflux. I just don't think I have ever had that feeling. Maybe I should try an acid blocker anyway? I did try one once before and noticed no difference at all. What is something others take? It does make me feel a little better hearing someone else is also hungry all the time and snacking is such a big part of their day. I just hope this doesn't backfire on me...

I'm in need of some new snack ideas. What are you all eating for snacks? I don't necessarily need strict protein snacks, but certainly not a lot of sugar as I try to stay away. I get plenty of protein from meals alone. I find that I have to snack two - three times a day. Is that how you other maintainers are? I pretty much can't make it between lunch and dinner without a snack, and same goes for after dinner. I'm not a huge fruit person, and I HATE yogurt. I regularly do veggies with hidden valley ranch dip mix mixed with light sour cream. Growing a little tired of this. I'm also growing tired of jerky and string cheese. I'm afraid I'm getting bored and going to start snacking on not so good things since everything I eat lately is getting quite boring! Please give me some new ideas! Must be delicious....

My surgeon does not allow us to gain not even one pound. I've been struggling with losing, just losing a pound here or there before with ins. I've been having food funerals too. I was just curious if this mind set will have an effect on my results after surgery. Personally, I don't think it will! Your mindset really changes after the surgery. The motivation is strong. Food funerals are actually really common. I think you'll be be fine!

Nothing. I gained 6 lbs. but did drop 4 lbs on my two day pre-op liquid diet. So a real gain of 2 lbs. I was self pay though.

I can't believe it has been an entire year since I made the decision to get the sleeve! I was a self pay, so my process was quick. I met with my surgeon in December 2012 and had surgery the beginning of January 2013. I'm 5'2" and my highest weight was 206. Today I am maintaining at 116. I literally woke up one day in November 2012 and told myself I was going to fix this, that I can't live my life happily and the way that I want to if I was just going to keep yoyo dieting and getting fatter and fatter. So I immediately scheduled a consultation (yes there was plenty of research on my part). It hasn't been easy, however it's been incredibly rewarding. I was a major binge eater. That's the biggest reason I chose this surgery. I needed something physically to take away my ability to sit down at a single sitting and eat over 4000 calories. Sure enough, it fixed that problem for me! Below are before and after pics. I was a size 20 pants and XL shirt, and the after pic was taken last night. The dress is a DOUBLE ZERO! I am wearing size 0 pants and extra small shirts usually. Still doesn't seem real. I encourage everyone beginning this journey to take the time in the beginning to really change your life. You can't half ass it and expect to come out on top. I thank you all for being such a great support to me over the past year.

I do have people who make comments. Lately the comment is "you're not still losing weight, are you!?!?!" I just smile and say no. It's uncomfortable and I don't discuss it with others, just try to get out of the conversation as quickly as I can.

I think the sugars/carbs are a bit high. During my weight loss phase I kept it under 20 usually. My plan was very low carb though. Might want to try it. Good luck!

Hi Cheryl! You're in great company here, welcome aboard. I was also a lightweight. I'm 5'2" and my starting weight was 206 lbs. I'm now one year out at 116 lbs and maintaining easily here. Congratulations on losing 15 lbs with WW, that's excellent. Only you will know if this is the right decision for you. I don't want to push you in either direction, because it's really such a personal journey. You should try to be really honest with yourself and whether or not this WW lifestyle is something you can keep up on your own without a weight loss surgery tool. Personally, the answer was no for me. I needed extra help, and the sleeve has been an enormous help to me. But it's a lifestyle change. You have to change your relationship with food for this to work. Many people in my life simply thought I wasn't fat enough for surgery, but I definitely felt fat enough even though I was always the smallest person in the pre-op classes. If you're overweight and uncomfortable and unhealthy, I personally think you're fat enough. no, I'm not calling you fat, I'm just a supporter of people who aren't MAJORLY overweight (but on the way there) of getting the surgery. It's been a great thing for me. As far as losing hair and sagging skin not being worth it, I disagree. I lost hair starting at about month 3 and it went to about month 5. I'm not bald. I guarantee no one but me knew I was losing a lot of hair in the shower. it wasn't noticeable enough for anyone else to realize it. And hair grows back!! Saggy skin is an individual thing. Personally, I don't really have any. I can't give you a reason why, that's just how the cards were dealt to me. I would bet you would feel better with saggy skinny versus being overweight though. there is always the option for a little nip and tuck, if you want it and do have saggy skin. I don't look like I have had weight loss surgery, at least that's what I'm told every single time I tell someone, and I also think it's true. I look like a naturally petite person, not like I was ever overweight. Good luck with your decision, and feel free to ask any questions if I can be of some help.

I lost down to goal (206 lbs to 116 lbs) without really exercising. I don't necessarily recommend it, but doing it by diet alone is completely doable. I was lucky and don't have saggy skin, maybe because I'm fairly young and wasn't overweight for that long, but I do need to do some squats for my rear end!

I was a year out January 9! I've gone from 206 lbs to 116 lbs. Best decision ever. I am maintaining here and eating 1600ish calories a day.

At 4 months out I stuck to 500-600 calories. If I got up to 800, I considered that off track by quite a lot. I'm a year out now and in maintenance I need 1600-1700 to maintain at 116 pounds.

I started at 206 lbs at 5'2". I can't see my signature with my BMI since I am on my phone, but I think my BMI was 36ish. I had a goal of losing 81 pounds and I've lost 90. Best decision I have ever made!

Anyone else?? I am pms'ing, and I swear the capacity of my sleeve is sooo much more and so are my cravings. I understand the cravings, but not the restriction part. Can this be explained? I'm going to go munch on a pickle now since I have already hit my calorie limit for the day. Argh!

I went from 7.5 to 7.