Andrew0929

At this point, this app is my primary source of info. I no longer attend support group meetings as the subject matter became redundant after a few years.

I'm over 3 years out and have been at goal since 9 months out.

I know that I can have Pasta and bread, but have continued to avoid both completely. Carbs were always my biggest problem so I've decided to just avoid permanently.

I'm over 3 years out and have been at goal since 9 months out.

I know that I can have Pasta and bread, but have continued to avoid both completely. Carbs were always my biggest problem so I've decided to just avoid permanently.

I told all family members except my mother. She would have disagreed with my decision and I didn't want to argue with her or have to justify it to her.
No regrets...

I told all family members except my mother. She would have disagreed with my decision and I didn't want to argue with her or have to justify it to her.
No regrets...

I told all family members except my mother. She would have disagreed with my decision and I didn't want to argue with her or have to justify it to her.
No regrets...

I told all family members except my mother. She would have disagreed with my decision and I didn't want to argue with her or have to justify it to her.
No regrets...

I've been tracking faithfully for 3 years. Everyone is different, but I need to track to maintain. I've been at goal (down 150 pounds) since 9 months out and plan to keep tracking forever.
I use SparkPeople on my iPhone .

I've been tracking faithfully for 3 years. Everyone is different, but I need to track to maintain. I've been at goal (down 150 pounds) since 9 months out and plan to keep tracking forever.
I use SparkPeople on my iPhone .

So true! I have been faithfully tracking everything that I put in my mouth since I began my six-month pre-op diet program on March 21, 2016. I can't imagine not doing it now.

I'm 3 years out and attended for my first 2 years regularly. I've been successfully maintaining since 9 months out.
I keep meaning to go but it's no longer a priority. I should go, minimally, to provide support to the new folks as I remember how much support I received from the veterans when I was Pre-op and during my first year.

You've gotten some very sound advice already. I'm 3 years post-op and at goal for 2 years (down 150 pounds).
Everyone is different, but I still need to log and monitor all food as well as weigh daily. When I gain or exceed daily calories, I cut back. Also, I work out 6 days/week.
The work will never end, but surgery has enabled me to achieve success. Beforehand, nothing worked.

You've gotten some very sound advice already. I'm 3 years post-op and at goal for 2 years (down 150 pounds).
Everyone is different, but I still need to log and monitor all food as well as weigh daily. When I gain or exceed daily calories, I cut back. Also, I work out 6 days/week.
The work will never end, but surgery has enabled me to achieve success. Beforehand, nothing worked.

You've gotten some very sound advice already. I'm 3 years post-op and at goal for 2 years (down 150 pounds).
Everyone is different, but I still need to log and monitor all food as well as weigh daily. When I gain or exceed daily calories, I cut back. Also, I work out 6 days/week.
The work will never end, but surgery has enabled me to achieve success. Beforehand, nothing worked.

@@alanabee
Many surgeons offices require a mental health screening. They are looking to see if you are in the right mind set to be successful with weight loss surgery. Others have suggested seeking counseling before surgery. Its a good idea.
I'm two and a half years out. I still maintain my weight in the 130's. Changing your behaviors and your relationship with food is work. Just know it can be done.
Your dietician will give you a maintenance meal plan. Each of our plans look differently.
What maintenance looks like for me:
(1)I make my food choices. (by the time you hit maintenance you will know what your healthy choices are. (I may indulge once in a while) I don't binge.
(2) I weigh myself each morning
(3) If I see a weight gain, I adjust my eating and increase my exercise to move the scale down to my maintenance weight.
I gave myself a weight bounce range. 130 to 142 to maintain

I've only told 2 close friends and my siblings. I didn't tell my elderly mother as she'd likely object and I didn't want to engage in that argument.
No regrets. I wasn't interested in hearing everyone's opinion and having to justify.

I've only told 2 close friends and my siblings. I didn't tell my elderly mother as she'd likely object and I didn't want to engage in that argument.
No regrets. I wasn't interested in hearing everyone's opinion and having to justify.

I've only told 2 close friends and my siblings. I didn't tell my elderly mother as she'd likely object and I didn't want to engage in that argument.
No regrets. I wasn't interested in hearing everyone's opinion and having to justify.

I've only told 2 close friends and my siblings. I didn't tell my elderly mother as she'd likely object and I didn't want to engage in that argument.
No regrets. I wasn't interested in hearing everyone's opinion and having to justify.

I've only told 2 close friends and my siblings. I didn't tell my elderly mother as she'd likely object and I didn't want to engage in that argument.
No regrets. I wasn't interested in hearing everyone's opinion and having to justify.

100 lbs, gone forever. I still have 5 months til the end of my 12 month loss grace period. Really looking forward to seeing how far my sleeve can help me go!
Happy Thanksgiving, all!
HW: 293
CW: 193
GW: 185
Sleeved 4/14/2016

Good morning, BP Campers. Thought I'd stop in for a a quick visit and update. I started my preop diet 3 years ago today. I always consider this my anniversary, rather than the surgery date. Here's a recap of my journey so far.....
Year 1 - the year of losing all of my excess weight (100 pounds), dozens of NSVs, and a new wardrobe. By far, the most exciting year. Even the month of liquids, 6 weeks of diarrhea and 2 insanely painful gallbladder attacks couldn't put a dent in my enthusiasm. It was all so new and fun and easy. Life was great and I was invincible! Year 2 - the year of finding out life still sucks no matter what size you are, losing my best friend to suicide, sinking into a deep hole of depression and finding that I could no longer rely on my old friends.....food, alcohol and cigarettes. Just struggling to get through each day with really no desire to. Two more gallbladder attacks which I finally put an end to with a long overdue cholecystectomy. Despite a complete breakdown of my emotional stability, I was surprisingly able to maintain my weight loss from the 1st year. I held onto the fact that what I put in my mouth was one of the few things I could control at that point. Year 3 - the year of emotional healing (well, at least a start in that direction) with a grief therapist, testosterone replacement and an antidepressant. Finally able to crawl out the darkness into a somewhat bearable existence. My latest breakthrough is I actually said yes when asked out on a date about a month ago. Considering my introvert personality and swearing off relationships almost 20 years ago, this is an extraordinary step for me. We've been out 1/2 dozen times and I'm actually enjoying it. Who knows what Year 4 will bring. But I've definitely come to realize as time goes on, everything has become less and less about surgery and weightloss and more and more about life. I maintain my weight the same way I lost it....80+ grams of Protein, 100+ ounces of Water, low carb, balanced diet including veggies, fruit and whole grains. I pretty much eat whatever I want but I make smart choices when it comes to quantities. No tracking, no measuring, just mindful eating. I am diligent about keeping any regains in check. I've got too much invested, both financially and emotionally to let a 1-2 pound regain turn into 10-20 pounds. I have labs done annually and follow a Vitamin regimen based on the results. I don't have an exercise routine, just a very busy, active life. Bottom line is a successful WLS result is not rocket science. Whatever you had to do to lose weight is pretty much what you need to do forever. If you can't control sliders and trigger foods, they WILL lead to regain. If you don't make the psychological adjustments and permanently change your habits and behaviors, you WILL regain. It's totally up to you whether or not your surgery becomes just another failed diet. Don't be afraid to seek professional help with the mental side of it. I finally did...thank goodness. Good luck to the newbies. Congrats to the veterans.

Excellent work!!

I had my gastric sleeve done January 11th. I weighed 333.1lbs.
I'm 10 months post op now and weigh 144.2lbs.
I've set new goal weights as I've gone along...first was just to get under 200lbs, then I thought I wanted my goal weight to be 180lbs. When I got there, I made the crazy goal of 150lbs never thinking I'd make it....but I did. So then I figured my goal would be 145lbs which puts me at a normal bmi...which I haven't been since I was around 10.
Now that I weight 144lbs, I've decided my final goal will 133lbs, which will mean I will have lost a total of 200lbs....and I'll do it, I know I can.
I never thought when I had surgery that weighing in the 130's would even be possible.
I've gone from wearing sizes 5-6x, and 28-30, now I wear smalls and mediums and am a size 8....I would be around a 6 if it wasn't for the large amount of skin I have around my stomach and thighs....but it's a price I'm more than happy to pay.
I've been extremely disciplined this whole 10 months. I can honestly say I've never put a bad food in my mouth...not once. I follow a very low carb diet still, drink about 85oz of Water every day and get in around 80oz of Protein. I take all my required Vitamins daily.
The gym has become a big part of my life. I workout around 5-6 days per week doing a variety of exercising....spin class, step  class, yoga, cardio machines....I like doing different things so I don't get bored.
Anyway, because I'm so close to goal, I just wanted to share this. And for the people who have a lot of weight to lose like I did....remember, you can do this! I'm living proof!!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Many go through a period of regretting the surgery and I was among them for about 1 month.
I am 3 years out, down 150 pounds, and have maintained at goal for about 2 years.
However, 5 days post-op, I had internal bleeding and almost died. My BP was down to 65/25 and an ambulance transported me to the hospital in a huge snow storm. Had a second surgery on an emergency basis. I regretted the surgery for a while and mad that I risked my life and almost died.
But when the weight started falling off and all of my health issues disappeared I embraced having the surgery.
Now 3 years later my life is so much better than before the surgery. I'd do the surgery again even if I knew about the second surgery being needed.
Follow the process and use this tool to change your life and get healthy.
Andrew