Jenny12

I am only a year out, so I can't speak for those that far out who regain. I can tell you that I can definitely see how it is possible. After the "honeymoon phase" of the beginning, I'd say it's a lot more difficult. It's up to you to maintain your loss. That being said, I have a much greater chance of maintaining now than I EVER did in my previous weight loss attempts. As for vitamin deficiencies, my labs have been perfect since the beginning. This has certainly been the best decision of my life so far.

I like it! Maintain for a year....much less overwhelming. I will join you. great job!

There are a few things they don't tell you. Lol

Unfortunately, not really. For example I can eat more chicken during this time! Not a ton more, but maybe an ounce and a half sometimes. Crazy! And I'm hungrier much sooner.

Your restriction is probably just super strong right now from the swelling. I'm a year out and don't have discomfort when I eat anymore .

Just wanted to chime in since this hits home for me. I'm 5'2" and 116 pounds. My goal was 125, but I was terrified that if I regained a little, I would no longer be at goal any longer. So I kept losing. My body didn't mind losing anymore,' it came off easily. But here I am at 116 and still terrified of even gaining one pound back. I'm not so sure that fear goes away.

This is a much healthier pizza option. Low carb/high fiber tortilla, 1/4 cup pizza sauce, 1/4 cup cheese, turkey pepperoni. I'm loving it!!

That early out I was doing 400-600 calories a day and 60 grams protein. No sugar.

Hi Stephi. Sorry you're having a hard time. When I was about 5 months out I hit my first and only "stall" or "plateau" or whatever you'd like to call it. I noticed my restriction wasn't as strong suddenly and my appetite for bad foods had increased, and I was giving in to the cravings more than I should. This lasted about a month for me. I was sure it was over, that I was done losing weight and I would be one of those people who failed. I simply decided that wasn't going to be the case. I didn't pay to have my stomach surgically removed to half ass this, and neither did you. So you just have to find a way to recommit yourself. You're gonna have to go within yourself, however corny that sounds, and find some new strength to finish the job you've started. For me, I went right back to liquids only for two weeks. Protein shakes. It was HARD. But I detoxed off of those bad foods, and I got familiar with what my new "looser" restriction was, and I carried on. I finished losing every single bit of my weight because I somehow was strong enough to go back to shakes for two weeks to restart the process. Now I drink zero shakes, but it was crucial for me at that crossroad. Best of luck!

You're really early out, so I suggest following their plan as best you can. During weight loss phase I ate very few carbs and my dietician and surgeon are also pretty low carb believers. In fact I'm sure if they knew how many carbs I eat in maintenance they would tell me to cut back. But my body is still trying to lose, and although I never intended to cut carbs out forever, I do choose very healthy carbs. They also tell me that most of their patients maintain on 1000-1200 calories a day. This isn't true for me. I'm still very slowly losing at 1500 calories. So you just have to take what they say with a grain of salt and find what works for your body. I average 130ish carbs a day right now. But like I said, you're extremely early out, follow their plan entirely.

I take Lo Loestrin Fe and I stopped one week prior to surgery and started back a week or two after surgery. No hinder to my weight loss at all. I also wouldn't say it helped it. I only had one stall at around 5 months and it was my own fault, not BC, but after that it was smooth sailing and the pounds have melted off.

I have a nice little tight tummy, so mine shrunk with me with no loose skin. But I hear a lot of others here mention Spanx.

I had very light periods the first 3-4 months, but then I didn't have one at all until 11 months out. I had never skipped a period in my life prior to this, so it was bizarre to me. I went 7 months without one. Finally got one this month now that I am in maintenance. Our bodes are freaking out during the weight loss phase. At least mine was!

Ah, to be so early out. The innocence. I also don't care what anyone else eats. Doesn't affect me one single bit. I just don't get fired up inside when others go off their plans. But I'm a year out and I have no problem knocking back a crapload of Doritos if I were to decide to do so. I've far exceeded my goals, and highly doubt I would have done so well if I had started cheating at two months out especially on sugar. You'll later learn why one cookie now is really so much more.

Been there! I remember those days. I was soooo hungry, so I know how you feel. Just hang tight - it will get better. You'll be eating pretty soon and you'll be so proud of yourself for sticking to your plan during this tough time.

I can't speak for those who have stopped losing after 20-30 pounds or for those who eat around their sleeve. That isn't the road I've gone down and hopefully won't be sent down in the future. I just know that I feel like I have a great advantage over your average dieter/person trying to lose weight. Same goes for maintenance. I feel like I have a good bit of an advantage over others who also just lost nearly 100 pounds (by whatever means they chose) who are trying to maintain their weight.

Probably because they are snacking and grazing throughout the day outside of meal times.

My boyfriend had to file for bankruptcy last year due to losing his job and insurance and then having to have some surgeries and hospital stays. He can't seem to find anyone to give him a loan. Does anyone know how he may be able to do this? Or does anyone know of a surgeon who offers financing through their office (not care credit as he doesn't qualify) please help....he really needs this surgery. He has a good job now but his insurance doesn't cover it.

And I never said you are "cheating" by having WLS. I had WLS as well, and I don't feel as if I am "cheating." What we did isn't wrong.

My point of view is that we now have built in portion control. It forces us to stop. I'm not pushing my plate away because I don't want to take another bite. I'm pushing my plate away because I have a surgically altered stomach that forces me to stop or else see it come back up. We can snack all day long, and that's on us, and I AM doing it on my own when I choose not to snack all day. But I just think we have built in "help" now and we wouldn't be able to do what we are doing without it. Don't get too hung up on the "doing it on your own" wording. Of course you're doing it on your own, you just have an enormous helper.

Wow, my mind is officially blown. Comparing the sleeve to chemotherapy. I've heard it all now. To say I disagree with that is an intense understatement, but I guess it's interesting to see how others' minds work.

I'm almost a year out now (within days!), have lost I believe over 110% of my excess weight, and am actually quite tiny and petite now. This journey I chose was NOT easy. In fact, I only started to feel healthy again within the past 6 weeks. I finally got my period back after not having one for 8 months because come on, let's face it, we are practically starving our bodies through this (can't speak for everyone, but my surgeons plan is VERY strict). My digestive system seems to be coming back to life after a year of SEVERE constipation. I finally feel healthy again. The journey wasn't easy, but you better bet your britches it was easier than it would of been if I had actually done this WITHOUT my sleeve and STUCK to it (no way could I have stuck to this and been this successful without my sleeve). So while I don't believe this is the "easy way out," I certainly DO believe it is much much easier than doing it without the sleeve. When people act like they are doing this "all on their own," sure, I guess we kind of are. I still don't have anyone smacking cookies out of my hand. But we have a great advantage in the game, so we're also kind of not. That's just how I see it.

I remember not being TOO far out from surgery and eating a nutter butter cookie and feeling SOOOO sick! I thought, yes! I can't tolerate sugar! Nope. Now I can gobble those suckers down. tehehe...

Judging capacity off of liquids is silly in my opinion. You won't have a clue what your restriction is really like until you get to dense foods. Try not to worry, I could pretty much guzzle water (not a TON) soon after surgery with no problems. There was no sipping for me.

Wow I miss portions this size. Hehe. Enjoy!