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Okay, it's just two pounds but MAN! I've been maintaining with almost no effort and now that I've done my first hormone shot the scale already bumped up on me. I'm a little concerned about starting all of the estrogen and progesterone in a few weeks. Oh well. I'm doing a frozen embryo transfer sometime in very early July. We had five embryos frozen from our IVF cycle in 2007 that gave us our twins. I'm excited but also very anxious. I wonder if everyone that chooses to get pregnant after surgery feels this way? I mean, I hit goal, why am I trying to have another baby now? I'm worried I'll get fat again, that I'll stay fat, that I'll start to feel insecure about my body again...ugh. And then I worry because In any case, if anyone else is doing fertility treatments or just trying to get pregnant, chime in and keep me company. ~Cheri

Six months out I was sure it wasn't going to work. I had the hardest time right about then with a nine week stall and I could only barely hang under 200 pounds. I was terribly frustrated and felt like everyone was losing faster than I was (not true at all) and I was considering revising my goal to a higher number. I even toyed with the idea of revising to DS, but quickly decided it was too drastic. It happens to a lot of us. The reality is that slow loss is still loss. Reaching goal in seventeen months (like me!) is no less satisfying than reaching it sooner. It's all about getting there and being happy with the changes you make that improve your health, body and lifestyle. Hang in there and try not to get too discouraged. I found that I was sabotaging my own loss by cutting my diet back too severely. I not only lost a little more consistently eating a more balanced diet, but I also felt better. That was huge - shedding that mental feeling of deprivation also helped me shed the expectation that I'd see a drop every single day on the scale. I lost in fits and starts the whole time - often I'd lose for only four days a month and actually gain about 3 pounds every time I had my monthly visitor. Remember: slow loss is still loss. There isn't a prize waiting for you if you hit goal sooner. It's natural to feel discouraged when you struggle to lose and it feels like other people shed weight without real effort. But if you stick with it, you can see goal. ~Cheri

Oh man, this sounds awesome. I miss America. Yep, coffee never left my diet for more than a week. I'd go nuts without it! I make my own Protein coffee almost every morning, but being able to buy one ready made once in a while would be nice. Thanks for sharing your find with us! I'm hunting it down once I go back to the states on vacation. ~Cheri

Thankful that you'll be okay! I'm glad there was no need to revise to another surgery. Speedy healing, and I hope you won't have an issue again in the future, ~Cheri

Congrats on choosing a great surgeon! I was sleeved 15 July 2010 by Dr. Aceves. I flew all the way from Germany to San Diego. My energy by the time I left the hospital was enough that travel was no more exhausting than usual. I was really fine until I had to spend 1 hour standing while clearing passport control and customs once I returned to Germany. Yuck. Avoid standing for long periods while you're still sore and you should be fine. I was a bit achy on my trip and I remember being annoyed that the flight attendants kept trying to force food at me. I swear, as a big girl I felt like they never fed me enough. But your perspective changes when you can't eat anything! I was very tired for several days once I got home and in the routine of things (chasing then 2.5 year old twins around) but I think that was mostly because I'm a stomach sleeper. Once I started sleeping in the recliner at night I was fine. I needed to go to bed a bit early and I was a bit worn out (the very low calories will do it to you) for about a week to ten days from the date of surgery. After that, I was fine. If you get on your B12 and take it seriously and eat a well-balanced diet that includes a healthy amount of carbohydrates (we need them for energy!), you should be able to avoid feeling fatigued for a long time. I wasn't so diligent about the B12 and around one year out was dragging and forgetful. Just a few months ago I started on B12 shots and a new Iron supplement and WOW, it's like I have more energy than I ever had before. So make sure to get a panel done 6 months and one year post op to be sure you're on track nutritionally. Good luck! ~Cheri

Start easy! Get a beginner cookbook as suggested. I bought "How to Boil Water" for my absolutely unable to cook stepdaughter and she now cooks basic meals for her family. Another easy way to learn is by using a brand cookbook, though this is far less healthy as they'll rely on prepackaged, processed ingredients that might not fit your new lifestyle. If nobody taught you to cook, how can you call yourself a failure for not having immediate success in the kitchen? I'm self-taught baker and in the beginning I had SO many disasters and disappointments but as I continued to work at it I really did improve a lot. Now I'm good enough to sell my bread, Cookies and pastries to the local American community and I have to bake four days a week to keep up! Keep trying and don't be a quitter. Allrecipes is a great resource for recipes, too - just browse for simple dishes you'd like to make and go with the easiest recipes. Read recipes through TWICE before starting, too. You can do this! ~Cheri

Congrats, Frank. It looks like you're on the right track. I bet it feels great to say goodbye to the 300s, doesn't it? Welcome, and keep it up! ~Cheri

Congrats, Sherri, on your successes. Thank you for posting your experience and giving people a view of the longer term picture of life with the sleeve. We're all different in what we can/cannot eat. Being honest lets people researching know that for some people it's difficult after surgery. People should pay attention to this because we're all individuals that react differently, so comparing diet or speed of loss with everyone else is usually pointless. I say that knowing that we all do it! In any case, best wishes to you and I'm thankful you're a survivor. ~Cheri

Loss goes very slowly at the end. I lost the last twenty pounds very slowly over six months. I had entire months where I didn't lose a single thing, followed by a huge, unexpected drop of seven or eight pounds in a four day period. Congrats on your success so far. If you're worried about stretching your sleeve, it's unlikely that you have. It's more likely that you've slipped on the basics and gotten into a routine. If you aren't, log your food for three days. Don't modify what you eat because you're logging, either. Just count it all up and see where you're at. Nine times out of ten the issue is there. Make sure you're still getting your water each day, too. I'm rotten about this but when I get back on the water it always pushes that extra bloat out and I see a difference on the scale. If you're eating perfectly and exercising and still not losing - hang in there. It's tough. I'm at the point where I'd love to see 130 pounds but it's just not happening. It might just be that I've hit my body's stopping point. I'm very thin under my excess skin. Make sure you consider that, too, if you have a lot of extra skin. I'd be willing to bet that revamping your eating (cut your calories by 10-20%) and starting a strength training workout will give you those last few pounds. Best, ~Cheri

I eat bread now and did eat bread from a few months out. I bake a lot and make my own breads of all types - flatbreads, sandwich breads, pastries, etc. I cannot eat a lot of it, even close to two years out. I still can't eat an entire sandwich made from two slices of bread. Depending on what type of diet you're following and what your trigger foods are, I'd consider adding it in occasionally if it sits well and you won't have an issue with eating it. My bigger concern would not be carbs but physical discomfort or pain. Bread and Pasta are two foods that still, to this day, can push me from one bite being hunky dory to the next causing serious discomfort. So if you do it, go thin and go with a tiny portion to start. Eat slowly and stop as soon as you get your full signal (runny nose, hiccups, feeling of fullness, whatever it is for you). If you take it one bite too many, you'll regret it, I promise. An alternative that's more likely to sit well at this point is a piece of plain matzo or other cracker that you like, spread with the PB&J. ~Cheri Edited to add: I still can't do wraps or tortillas, either. They act like pasta to me - two bites and I feel sick. If you try this instead, go slow and small just like with bread.

This is a great thread - there is NOT a one-size-fits-all solution to weight loss or there wouldn't be a single obese person in the world. I like seeing not only experienced vets chiming in with what they suggest but also seeing pre-sleeved folks here educating themselves on life after the sleeve. This is what the community is here for. I wish the OP the best - she got dozens and dozens of great suggestions here and I hope that something clicks and becomes the answer to help her reach goal. It can be done. Just another reminder that there isn't a time limit. Your sleeve is not a pouch that stretches easily or malabsorption that stops working after a year. It's there and even if it takes far longer than you want to reach goal, know that you have the power and the tool to get there if you keep trying. Best! ~Cheri

I'm so sorry this wasn't it. Good luck on the sonogram - maybe they'll find an underlying issue that's simple to fix, or better yet, find nothing and let you get started on cycle #2. Best, ~Cheri

Oh, girl, I understand! While I don't have real trouble maintaining, I have issues with the fact that I CANNOT seem to get any smaller, no matter how hard I try. Just hang in there, coops! You look amazing and have come so far. Every time I see a newbie with a vent about slow loss (that usually isn't so slow at all) I think of you and thinoneday...two ladies that have had long, slow journeys. You will get to goal!! Be positive and don't give up or slack off too much and you will get there. It's tough to drop those last few pounds. Our bodies simply do not want to give them up without an ugly fight. And thanks for the inspirational OP, Sassygirl - I lost in a similar pattern of stops and starts the whole time. In a typical month all of my loss occurred in a five or six day period after being stuck (or seeing a three pound gain) for the rest of the month. ~Cheri

A stall can happen anywhere along your journey. I regularly had short spells (not true stalls) where I wouldn't lose for two weeks or so. I had two longer, nine week stalls - one at six months and one somewhere after a year out. You know the drill for stalls, right? Log your food, measure your inches, get active and wait it out. If you're eating right and don't give up you'll break it and keep heading down to your goal. Hang in there. ~Cheri

Yes, B12 deficiency can cause fatigue and a host of other issues, too. But it sounds like you should talk to someone in person, if that's an option for you. Sometimes the start of the weight loss journey brings other issues we have (but blamed on the weight) to a head. It's not uncommon for people to battle depression after surgery. In fact, there's a sticky'd thread about it somewhere on VST! I'd get in to the doc and ask for guidance. Perhaps counseling could help. Vitamin deficiency could be a culprit and exercise will help you release more serotonin and help you feel less "down." This could be your signal, feeling this way, to get started on the head work that should accompany your surgery. Periods of depression happen to a lot of us (I've had my share!) but getting at the underlying issue can only help you in the long run to be a happier and overall healthier person. Best, ~Cheri

I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm thankful you got to the hospital to check everything out. I hope it all works out with the least invasive (and painful) outcome. Prayers and positive thoughts for you and yours, ~Cheri

First off, you look really great. You've both done good work and you shouldn't fail to be proud of your accomplishments just because you aren't to goal yet. Secondly, the only surgery I'd consider revising to if I were you, would be DS. So yes, if you're considering it, I think that BPD is the way to go. That said, it's a HUGE change and a lifetime of supplements and blood panels to stay healthy, so you have to be sure it's necessary. Which leads to my third: I don't think you've got anything to be ashamed or worried about. I think you're right on track for a slower loser. I lost quite slowly, too. It seemed that no matter what I did to mix up my diet it didn't have a big impact. I know there is one more "heavyweight" here who got to goal very slowly. But she got there! Your sleeve isn't stretched. I know a lot of people feel like there's a honeymoon phase but that is simply not the case. You're more than a year out - your sleeve is about as big as it's getting so unless you constantly cheat it or try to stretch it, you're fine. Your tool is in fine working order. And I'm not here to judge your diet or intake but here's my two cents, anyway. You're eating too much for your body, or you'd be losing more. Some folks are lucky and can eat more without gaining. Some folks are athletes and need 1,500+ calories a day. Some of us have to be very strict all the time to lose and stay firmly on track in maintenance to avoid regains. It's just a sad fact of life. My opinion is that you need to cut those calories. Start by cutting 500 out a day until you're consistently 1,500 per day or lower. And then when you hit a stall (same weight longer than three weeks straight) drop them again by 10% - with this tactic you will lose again. If you're having a problem with hunger check if you need to be on a PPI again. Just in the last month I had to restart my PPI. I was feeling like I was starving all day long and at night I'd have an acid problem. It took me two weeks to put two and two together and get back on my PPI. Now I feel fine again and the hunger is gone. And be sure it's not head hunger. Have you worked on your food issues? We all have them or none of us would have a weight problem. Are you compensating, overeating, hiding? Evaluate this honestly so that you can get to where you want to be. Last but not least, stop comparing yourself to other people. Especially men, because they always lose faster! You can always revise to DS and should look into those options if you're certain the issue isn't something you can fix without it. But not everyone reaches goal quickly. Nobody wants to be "that girl" that loses slowly and we all walk into this surgery with some measure of unrealistic expectations, I think. If we didn't I'd never read a single post about someone freaking out over "only" losing 30 pounds the first month or "stalling" for two days! You know what to do, right? We all do! Dieting has been drilled into us countless times, especially when we spend years overweight. Try using 1,500 calories (go 40% Protein, 30% fat and 30% carbs if you want to feel satisfied) as your ceiling for a while. See how you feel. Get back on a shake a day. I'm two years out and I drink a shake most days. I consume between 1,200 and 1,400 calories most days. I like to hit 90+ on my protein and the shake gets me there. I still have very little room for food. Two scrambled eggs, max. So you do have restriction and you do have the tool to do this. I just think you've gotten complacent. I'm sorry to say it that way - it happened to me for a spell, too! But there's a difference between eating "normally" (which anyone who knows my posts knows I advocate) and eating "normally for an overweight person." You don't need 2,000 calories a day, especially not in the losing phase. I don't care what the doctors say or the nutritionists say, either. If they were right, and dieting was one size fits all, I would have gotten thin the first time I tried Weight Watchers at sixteen! Chin up. Be nice to yourself. Pat yourself on your back for how far you've come. And get your buns back on track. Because if you hang in there, you can live at goal. ~Cheri

It took me 17 months to get to goal. Nobody likes to hear that part! I lost slow and fairly steady the entire time, regardless of what I did to change up my diet or exercise. That might be part of why people often say that I don't look like I was ever overweight (whatever that means?) and why I don't appear (in my clothes) to have much loose skin. I also avoided the sunken face thing that can happen when you loose weight really quickly. So remember that every time you get ticked at a stall on the scale! You're just getting extra time for your skin to catch up. I'm not a great role model - I only just started exercising not too long ago. My arms look good from the front but if I hang them out like I'm a bird I definitely have small wings. They're not so bad I'm looking for surgery on them, though. I'll just keep doing the arm workout I started a few weeks ago and hope it firms things up a bit. Anyway, I hope that answers your question! ~Cheri

Best of luck - be sure to update us here so we know how it went! I'm doing a FET (frozen embryo transfer) cycle right now. We did IVF w/ICSI in 2007 and these are the five embryos we had left. I take my first injection in a few days. Pretty exciting stuff, and much easier than the initial IVF! Best to you - I'm sending positive thoughts your way. ~Cheri

Hell, even with the sleeve it still took me SEVENTEEN months to get to goal. There is no way on earth I could have sustained any diet that long. And I did try WW (twice), Nutrisystem (twice) and MediFast in addition to a myriad of other diet programs. Keep up the good work on your blog - I enjoy your perspective. ~Cheri

Lettuce is very hard on a lot of people. I wasn't able to eat it until after six months. Sometimes it still bothers me if I eat too much! Measuring your food is a great way to be accountable. Your full signal should come back. It might be different than your old signals. For me it's a runny nose or the hiccups. If I pass that I feel ill. ~Cheri

I hope you'll take some of the advice here and seek out additional help, even if it's only coming to this forum each day and interacting. I wanted to add that you should be taking a PPI like Nexium or Prilosec if you're feeling any issues with acid. You should also be taking sublingual B12. I didn't think the B12 was all that important and I was pretty hit or miss on taking mine. I had a panel done and I was really deficient in B12 and Iron. Now that I'm on B12 shots and taking a new iron supplement I'm not tired, cranky, forgetful and I even sleep better. After just a few weeks of shots I feel so much better it's unbelievable. So please make sure you get the B12 or you'll feel even worse. It's very inexpensive and you can buy it just about anywhere. Hormonal ups and downs are not uncommon as we start to shed the weight. Get some help for these rough Patches. A lot of us find ourselves floundering when our old coping mechanisms involving food are gone and we're forced to deal with things we used to bury with food. ~Cheri

Not only money. Experience and quality of care! I could have chosen any doctor and did research three from the outset - two stateside and Dr. Aceves in Mexico. After contacting each office and having several interactions with each, Dr. Aceves won HANDS DOWN. Yes, he was cheaper but only by a few thousand - not enough for me to make my decision solely based on money. I got 4 days in the hospital instead of being sent home 23 hours later with drains in my body. I got to see my doctor and his assistant several times a day every day I was there. I had top notch care from one of the best sleeve surgeons out there. Dr. Aceves has done well over a thousand sleeves by now and still has a record of zero leaks. Oh, and at nearly two years out I still hear from the office occasionally asking how I'm doing! And to continue on an only loosely related note, I've lived overseas for most of the last ten years and I will tell you that in my experience a lot of Americans have this idea that health care is somehow lacking in other countries simply because they aren't as developed as the US. Now, granted, in some places this is absolutely true (Dushanbe, for instance!) but in other places the care can be superior (at least as far as personable doctors and staff go) and equal to the care in the states - at a FRACTION of the cost. Case in point: I just had twelve tests done to figure out if I have a problem with my hormones. I had my labs sent to Almaty, Kazakhstan and I had my ultrasounds (three of them) performed here in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Total cost for nine blood tests and three ultrasounds, all performed on the same day I made the appointment with results in my hand within 24 hours? Less than 3,000 som...or roughly $65! All in safe, sanitary and totally up to US standard conditions. I also had IVF w/ICSI performed in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2007 for a fifth of what I was quoted stateside and again, great conditions and successful results. So sometimes people choose to go elsewhere because they can. Because the medical care in the US is completely F'd up and it's almost impossible to get good quality care at a reasonable price. Okay, I'm done! This is clearly a peeve of mine, sorry to completely go off. I see this same question posted over and over again and it never fails to annoy me that some people think that going anywhere but the US is automatically based upon money and is always going to be a less safe option. ~Cheri

I go up and down with my capacity as my time of the month nears, too. I swear that darn sleeve relaxes when I have PMS!! Look - half a sandwich and a hard boiled egg is NOTHING compared to what you would have eaten a year ago. I'm going to say something you might not like but I really want to help you. I think you're scared that you don't have the self control to eat "normally" and that you want the sleeve to do it all for you. On one hand, you're in luck. That sleeve might expand enough to fit a whole sandwich (sans crust, of course) but it's not going to fit a whole pizza or a value meal from McDonald's again. It's unlikely you're going to expand much at all from this point onward. Part of this process is learning to eat normally. We need to view food as vital, as nourishing and as energy instead of as a source of comfort or something to feel guilty about. Around 18 months out I noticed an increased capacity (FINALLY!) and did the same thing - I freaked a little bit. But what was I freaked about? I was finally able to eat TWO eggs scrambled with cheese instead of only one. Big whoop! You are not losing control. You are in control. There will come a point when you need to eat more in order to maintain your energy and your goal weight. Slowly learning how to do it without scaring yourself, losing control or seeing a gain on the scale is an important part of the process. This is what nobody talks about when they talk about surgery! Dealing with the mental aspect of the surgery is the most important thing you can do for yourself. Your stomach didn't make you overweight - something in your head did. Figure it out. Limiting yourself too severely because you're afraid eating will cause a gain is an eating disorder just as surely as overeating in the past was a disorder. If you aren't already, track your calories. Sometimes I get a lot of comfort from seeing numbers in the same ballpark each day and knowing that I'm eating the right amount of food even when I feel like I'm overdoing things. Good luck, ~Cheri

Yes, it's hard but you're doing the VERY best thing you can do for yourself post-op. You're fixing the heart of the problem and learning what made you overweight in the first place. This is the hardest part of the entire thing, in my opinion. Losing the weight was pretty easy even though it happened more slowly than I wanted. Actually fixing ME was harder but so very worth the effort. Keep it up! This is what it's about - not just getting a healthier body but a healthier mind and outlook, too. ~Cheri