vincereautmori

Most likely, the best thing that can happen in our weight loss journey is to 'fall off the wagon' a time or two. It reminds us that we are humans and still capable of failing. That our surgeries were not a fix-all for our bad eating habits that got us in the shape we were in to begin with. I don't know about the rest of you all, but I have learned from my falls what I can and cant eat, what my new stomach wont tolerate and that eating carbs today means I may just gain a pound tomorrow! Its all a learning process and many of the things I have learned are from falling off of that wagon!

I'm reminding everyone about the rules they agreed to abide by when signing up to BariatricPal. Our policy is to ban anyone that isn't abiding by them. It's been a while since we had to do that and I'd greatly appreciate if everyone can please try to get along!!

Also, I work in addiction. You know the first indicator I see when I know someone is going to relapse?
They swear they are NEVER going back to drugs or alcohol.
They don't have enough insight to understand that absolutes and extremes just don't work in the real world with real world challenges. They get blindsided when they happen and deal with them the only way they know how....resorting back to their old self destructive behaviors.
The more successful clients understand that although they can't promise they won't ever go back, they will work their programs the best they can, use the tools they've been given and deal with the challenges they know will happen as they come in order to be successful. They don't assume to know it all, either.

Bingo. You hit the nail on the head. People with brand new sleeves or fresh gastric bypass pouches often do not realize the stones that lie in the road ahead.
Initially, surgery alters a person's biochemistry favorably to promote weight loss through hormonal changes. This is known as the honeymoon period. In the beginning, the surgically altered person has a diminished appetite and can lose weight without a great deal of effort.
But over the years, the intestines become more efficient at caloric absorption, especially in those who have undergone gastric bypass. This phenomenon is known as intestinal adaptation. Intestinal villi adapt to being bypassed by enlarging and increasing their surface area to absorb more calories, priming people for weight regain.
The bariatric surgery patient is several years out and scratching his/her head, wondering why the number on the scale creeps upward rapidly even though eating habits are the same as before. They don't realize that the human body is a marvelous piece of art that will find any way to extract every last energy source (read: calories).
Sleeve and lap band patients usually regain by backsliding into bad habits. Gastric bypass patients often regain via the intestinal adaptation phenomenon discussed earlier, but backsliding into bad habits is also a noteworthy culprit.
Most obese and formerly obese persons have bodies that favor fat storage rather than fat burning. Hormonally, there are differences between us and our naturally thin counterparts.
Obesity is not curable, ever. Obesity can be forced into remission by achieving a normal body weight, but our bodies will always fight to get back to where they once were regardless of weight loss surgery.

It's SO easy to be cocky newly post op (1-2 years). I remember. You think you have the tiger by the tail.
Then the honeymoon period ends.
Suddenly, you're hungrier. You can eat more. You've settled into "boring" maintenance. You no longer have the thrill of the scale moving downward. People are used to how you look now, and you aren't getting the validation of constant compliments on how great you look. You're fully healed and feel as normal as you did before surgery, and sometimes you're alarmed by how much more you can eat and how much hungrier you are. Behavior fatigue sets in, and you push the limits of how much sugar or alcohol or carbs you can consume before you see a gain. After all, you pretty much could still lose early out even after the occasional splurge. And if you did gain a pound or two, a couple days of cutting back on carbs and some extra Water, it came right back off. Until you discover it doesn't work that way anymore. You gain much easier now for seemingly no reason, and no matter how hard you try, the weight won't come back off like it did before. You become complacent, almost accepting a 5, 10, or even 20 pound gain because it becomes so hard to lose it again. We won't even talk about the guilt and self loathing regain causes. You feel like a failure (even though you really aren't).
A fairly new post op has no idea the struggles people 3, 4, 5 years out and more have, so telling people to just suck it up and have more willpower is utter bullshit.

We just went to a Haloween party, I'm about 3 months post op and had a couple glasses of wine, felt about the same as pre surgery. However, found I couldn't over eat, a few appetizers and a small plate of food. Normally I'd be snacking all night.

I know there's supposed to be a man code, but that's pretty shallow. So, here's my suggestion, in about a year or so when you're knock out dead gorgeous, give this guy one more date, so that he knows what he missed out on. Oh and BTW- you won't be able to eat much, so be sure you choose a REALLY expensive nouveau restaurant, you know the kind, extremely tiny portions (more than enough for you) and big pricetags. He'll go home hungry, broke, and lonely.

I appreciate your opinion swimbikerun, and btw, congratulations on your weightloss! But if you're basing your conjecture on forum responses, there's a big hole in it. Maybe the reason you don't see posters on in the second year is because they no longer need the support, unless they're having issues again. They may have already posted their pictures and told their stories, no need to look to the forums for support or inspiration. I'm kind of like that, before surgery and the year after, I was on more frequently, asking questions, looking for help, and expressing the positive changes I was going through. But now, I occasionally stop by, offer information or some inspiring experiences to someone who's still on their journey to better health.

I bottomed out last November, did pretty good over the 2015 holidays, but I've gained back 10 lbs since Jan/Feb this year. I've been sloppy about nutrition and it's showing. But I'm still feeling great, the sleeve is still working,

I appreciate your opinion swimbikerun, and btw, congratulations on your weightloss! But if you're basing your conjecture on forum responses, there's a big hole in it. Maybe the reason you don't see posters on in the second year is because they no longer need the support, unless they're having issues again. They may have already posted their pictures and told their stories, no need to look to the forums for support or inspiration. I'm kind of like that, before surgery and the year after, I was on more frequently, asking questions, looking for help, and expressing the positive changes I was going through. But now, I occasionally stop by, offer information or some inspiring experiences to someone who's still on their journey to better health.

I appreciate your opinion swimbikerun, and btw, congratulations on your weightloss! But if you're basing your conjecture on forum responses, there's a big hole in it. Maybe the reason you don't see posters on in the second year is because they no longer need the support, unless they're having issues again. They may have already posted their pictures and told their stories, no need to look to the forums for support or inspiration. I'm kind of like that, before surgery and the year after, I was on more frequently, asking questions, looking for help, and expressing the positive changes I was going through. But now, I occasionally stop by, offer information or some inspiring experiences to someone who's still on their journey to better health.

I appreciate your opinion swimbikerun, and btw, congratulations on your weightloss! But if you're basing your conjecture on forum responses, there's a big hole in it. Maybe the reason you don't see posters on in the second year is because they no longer need the support, unless they're having issues again. They may have already posted their pictures and told their stories, no need to look to the forums for support or inspiration. I'm kind of like that, before surgery and the year after, I was on more frequently, asking questions, looking for help, and expressing the positive changes I was going through. But now, I occasionally stop by, offer information or some inspiring experiences to someone who's still on their journey to better health.

Before surgery I tried a lot of diets and went to numerous clinics and weight loss counselors, one of them was Charlie Remington and he advocated a low glycemic diet. I was very successful with him and lost over 50 lbs. in about 6 months, but I couldn't keep it off. One thing he was pretty adamant about was the corn and corn Syrup in foods, as he said, "why do you think they feed cattle corn to fatten them up?" What always stuck with me was that it should have been an aha moment, I stopped a lot of the sugar and lost the weight and felt better, what makes us go back to it? Just like tobacco, industries rely on our addictions.

I appreciate your opinion swimbikerun, and btw, congratulations on your weightloss! But if you're basing your conjecture on forum responses, there's a big hole in it. Maybe the reason you don't see posters on in the second year is because they no longer need the support, unless they're having issues again. They may have already posted their pictures and told their stories, no need to look to the forums for support or inspiration. I'm kind of like that, before surgery and the year after, I was on more frequently, asking questions, looking for help, and expressing the positive changes I was going through. But now, I occasionally stop by, offer information or some inspiring experiences to someone who's still on their journey to better health.

Before surgery I tried a lot of diets and went to numerous clinics and weight loss counselors, one of them was Charlie Remington and he advocated a low glycemic diet. I was very successful with him and lost over 50 lbs. in about 6 months, but I couldn't keep it off. One thing he was pretty adamant about was the corn and corn Syrup in foods, as he said, "why do you think they feed cattle corn to fatten them up?" What always stuck with me was that it should have been an aha moment, I stopped a lot of the sugar and lost the weight and felt better, what makes us go back to it? Just like tobacco, industries rely on our addictions.

I appreciate your opinion swimbikerun, and btw, congratulations on your weightloss! But if you're basing your conjecture on forum responses, there's a big hole in it. Maybe the reason you don't see posters on in the second year is because they no longer need the support, unless they're having issues again. They may have already posted their pictures and told their stories, no need to look to the forums for support or inspiration. I'm kind of like that, before surgery and the year after, I was on more frequently, asking questions, looking for help, and expressing the positive changes I was going through. But now, I occasionally stop by, offer information or some inspiring experiences to someone who's still on their journey to better health.

Before surgery I tried a lot of diets and went to numerous clinics and weight loss counselors, one of them was Charlie Remington and he advocated a low glycemic diet. I was very successful with him and lost over 50 lbs. in about 6 months, but I couldn't keep it off. One thing he was pretty adamant about was the corn and corn Syrup in foods, as he said, "why do you think they feed cattle corn to fatten them up?" What always stuck with me was that it should have been an aha moment, I stopped a lot of the sugar and lost the weight and felt better, what makes us go back to it? Just like tobacco, industries rely on our addictions.

I appreciate your opinion swimbikerun, and btw, congratulations on your weightloss! But if you're basing your conjecture on forum responses, there's a big hole in it. Maybe the reason you don't see posters on in the second year is because they no longer need the support, unless they're having issues again. They may have already posted their pictures and told their stories, no need to look to the forums for support or inspiration. I'm kind of like that, before surgery and the year after, I was on more frequently, asking questions, looking for help, and expressing the positive changes I was going through. But now, I occasionally stop by, offer information or some inspiring experiences to someone who's still on their journey to better health.

Before my surgery, my wife and I enjoyed looked forward to our "date night" every Friday, our style is Mom&Pop type places who usually give you a lot of food. Now, about a year and a half later, I still find going out to eat frustrating, it's more about the company and quite a bit less about the food. We go out maybe once a month or every other month, I just don't enjoy it much any more. I try to look at menus online before getting there, I don't usually order off the appetizer menu, mostly high fat, high carbs, and not many Protein choices, I'll order a la carte because it doesn't make sense for me to get a three course meal or salad and bread, I can't eat a whole meal anymore. For me if I'm in the mood for a burger we know of some good places who offer sliders, as far as pastas I don't order out because they give you too much, although I don't mind taking leftovers home. I also eat a lot slower, so at home I can take my time, at a restaurant, although they don't usually rush us, I always figure we're there for the business of eating so I'll get a sandwich that I can eat in a reasonable time and take half home, IDK, maybe I'm a little weird about that. So I prefer to make my own meals and do something else for entertainment. I still enjoy foods and I'm never hungry, I still have my food preferences, but I kind of miss the old days when I really enjoyed restaurants.
But I have absolutely no regrets, I may not enjoy eating out anymore, but I feel incredible, I'm not on meds, my joints aren't constantly in pain, my clothes fit well, I can walk and run, I'm almost 64 years old and I feel young again. Life is great!

Before my surgery, my wife and I enjoyed looked forward to our "date night" every Friday, our style is Mom&Pop type places who usually give you a lot of food. Now, about a year and a half later, I still find going out to eat frustrating, it's more about the company and quite a bit less about the food. We go out maybe once a month or every other month, I just don't enjoy it much any more. I try to look at menus online before getting there, I don't usually order off the appetizer menu, mostly high fat, high carbs, and not many Protein choices, I'll order a la carte because it doesn't make sense for me to get a three course meal or salad and bread, I can't eat a whole meal anymore. For me if I'm in the mood for a burger we know of some good places who offer sliders, as far as pastas I don't order out because they give you too much, although I don't mind taking leftovers home. I also eat a lot slower, so at home I can take my time, at a restaurant, although they don't usually rush us, I always figure we're there for the business of eating so I'll get a sandwich that I can eat in a reasonable time and take half home, IDK, maybe I'm a little weird about that. So I prefer to make my own meals and do something else for entertainment. I still enjoy foods and I'm never hungry, I still have my food preferences, but I kind of miss the old days when I really enjoyed restaurants.
But I have absolutely no regrets, I may not enjoy eating out anymore, but I feel incredible, I'm not on meds, my joints aren't constantly in pain, my clothes fit well, I can walk and run, I'm almost 64 years old and I feel young again. Life is great!

Before my surgery, my wife and I enjoyed looked forward to our "date night" every Friday, our style is Mom&Pop type places who usually give you a lot of food. Now, about a year and a half later, I still find going out to eat frustrating, it's more about the company and quite a bit less about the food. We go out maybe once a month or every other month, I just don't enjoy it much any more. I try to look at menus online before getting there, I don't usually order off the appetizer menu, mostly high fat, high carbs, and not many Protein choices, I'll order a la carte because it doesn't make sense for me to get a three course meal or salad and bread, I can't eat a whole meal anymore. For me if I'm in the mood for a burger we know of some good places who offer sliders, as far as pastas I don't order out because they give you too much, although I don't mind taking leftovers home. I also eat a lot slower, so at home I can take my time, at a restaurant, although they don't usually rush us, I always figure we're there for the business of eating so I'll get a sandwich that I can eat in a reasonable time and take half home, IDK, maybe I'm a little weird about that. So I prefer to make my own meals and do something else for entertainment. I still enjoy foods and I'm never hungry, I still have my food preferences, but I kind of miss the old days when I really enjoyed restaurants.
But I have absolutely no regrets, I may not enjoy eating out anymore, but I feel incredible, I'm not on meds, my joints aren't constantly in pain, my clothes fit well, I can walk and run, I'm almost 64 years old and I feel young again. Life is great!

Before my surgery, my wife and I enjoyed looked forward to our "date night" every Friday, our style is Mom&Pop type places who usually give you a lot of food. Now, about a year and a half later, I still find going out to eat frustrating, it's more about the company and quite a bit less about the food. We go out maybe once a month or every other month, I just don't enjoy it much any more. I try to look at menus online before getting there, I don't usually order off the appetizer menu, mostly high fat, high carbs, and not many Protein choices, I'll order a la carte because it doesn't make sense for me to get a three course meal or salad and bread, I can't eat a whole meal anymore. For me if I'm in the mood for a burger we know of some good places who offer sliders, as far as pastas I don't order out because they give you too much, although I don't mind taking leftovers home. I also eat a lot slower, so at home I can take my time, at a restaurant, although they don't usually rush us, I always figure we're there for the business of eating so I'll get a sandwich that I can eat in a reasonable time and take half home, IDK, maybe I'm a little weird about that. So I prefer to make my own meals and do something else for entertainment. I still enjoy foods and I'm never hungry, I still have my food preferences, but I kind of miss the old days when I really enjoyed restaurants.
But I have absolutely no regrets, I may not enjoy eating out anymore, but I feel incredible, I'm not on meds, my joints aren't constantly in pain, my clothes fit well, I can walk and run, I'm almost 64 years old and I feel young again. Life is great!

Please don't take this as judgemental, only that it seems prudent to explore all non surgical options before resorting to another modification of your body.
Have you worked closely with your nutritionist?
Have you tracked your food intake (using Sparkpeople or Myfitnesspal)?
Do you have any WLS support group meeting in your area?
Do you have the means to work with a trainer at a gym?
Have you thought of working with a psychologist?
Have you talked with your doctor about another surgery?
As most people on here have said, this is only a tool, and sometimes it can be ineffective, but you have lost 100 lbs. so we can safely say it works, so what has changed? I have no idea of your health or your circumstances but a 100 lbs. is a lot of weight, most importantly, how do you feel? Maybe that's where you are or maybe it's how you're handling life, are you happy or sad? Is your problem emotional, or are physical problems holding you back?
As far as additional surgery, I only know what I have found during my research prior to my surgery, I learned about the good and the bad with all WLS options and I chose the sleeve. I actually didn't know there could be such a thing as a re-sleeve, but why not? One of the complications of any sleeve surgery is complications caused by scar tissue, the thicker it is the more chance for complications, additional injury to the same area would increase those risks. I would weigh the potential of the benefit vs. risk very carefully before committing to another sleeve surgery especially because there's no reversing it. You have other options if you go surgical, through lap band and duodonal switch. You had better be very careful to thoroughly research your options. Good luck!

Please don't take this as judgemental, only that it seems prudent to explore all non surgical options before resorting to another modification of your body.
Have you worked closely with your nutritionist?
Have you tracked your food intake (using Sparkpeople or Myfitnesspal)?
Do you have any WLS support group meeting in your area?
Do you have the means to work with a trainer at a gym?
Have you thought of working with a psychologist?
Have you talked with your doctor about another surgery?
As most people on here have said, this is only a tool, and sometimes it can be ineffective, but you have lost 100 lbs. so we can safely say it works, so what has changed? I have no idea of your health or your circumstances but a 100 lbs. is a lot of weight, most importantly, how do you feel? Maybe that's where you are or maybe it's how you're handling life, are you happy or sad? Is your problem emotional, or are physical problems holding you back?
As far as additional surgery, I only know what I have found during my research prior to my surgery, I learned about the good and the bad with all WLS options and I chose the sleeve. I actually didn't know there could be such a thing as a re-sleeve, but why not? One of the complications of any sleeve surgery is complications caused by scar tissue, the thicker it is the more chance for complications, additional injury to the same area would increase those risks. I would weigh the potential of the benefit vs. risk very carefully before committing to another sleeve surgery especially because there's no reversing it. You have other options if you go surgical, through lap band and duodonal switch. You had better be very careful to thoroughly research your options. Good luck!

I'm not sure this is the right forum for this question, but the old veterans forum got buried in obscurity under another subforum (Alex- can we do anything to bump it back up?) But my question is for people who have hit or are near goal, what did your weight loss do when you got close? I'm finding mine has stopped, and quite suddenly over the past couple of months, is that normal? I'm not that concerned, maybe this is where I'm supposed to be and for what my calorie intake is vs. the amount of exercise I have time for, this may be it. Just curious if anyone saw a plateau and then started losing again. I'm definitely keeping an eye on it.