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Some of it has already gone in the garbage. The problem is we live 5 hours away from each other. My parents have been here for 4 days now, and when we go there it is a minimum of 3 days. If it was just a short social function/evening, it would be a lot easier. But when we are there, the food literally sits out on the counter for the entire visit. I am not asking my mom to change what she does with herself, I just don't want her really bringing it all to me. I am hoping it gets better as time goes on. I think next year I am going to have a no candy policy and see how that goes over!

OK, I just need to rant a little because I am feeling frustrated. I am almost 2.5 years post op and have been pretty much maintaining for the last year. But I have to watch what I eat all the time. If I start to slip, I start to gain. I keep the junk out of the house, and my immediate family is either on board/ don't know any different (I have young children). Where I am struggling is my Mom. Now, don't get me wrong, she was one of my biggest supports when it came to getting the surgery. That being said, she always has food around. I have asked her nicely, begged, and have broken down crying, just trying to reason with her that not everything has to revolve around food. So with this Easter, we did not buy our children many treats, just a couple of chocolate eggs that I knew I wouldn't eat and got them present instead. My mom asked if she could get them some treats. I told her a little bit. Then they show up, and she has bags of candies and chocolates, along with the bag of chocolates and candies that my Grandma gives and refuses not too. Now I am good at limiting how much my children eat. But me, I am a food addict. I admit it. If it is sitting there in front of me, I cannot resist it. That is why I do not keep anything that I like in my home. I am trying to convey to her how hard it is for me to have all that food around, and she is getting better. But I just can't seem to get it across. I saw one person that they did a coin hunt instead of an Easter Egg hunt, maybe I will have to try that instead. I am not anti-treat. I made a homemade pumpkin pie and enjoyed a piece. I am anti-15 lbs of chocolate for everyone! Love to hear others experiences and how you have dealt with them.

First of all congratulations on your success! You should be so proud! When before would you have lost 115 lbs in 1 year! Second, I totally agree with CowgirlJane. It took me 18 months to reach my goal and studies are showing that sleeve patients can continue to lose for the first 2 years and even beyond!

I think sometimes we really have to sit down and be realistic with ourselves. You said it in your post. You have had 3 children, 3 sections, and you are not in college anymore. Your body has changed so much in the years, being what you weighed in college just might not happen. I don't want to sound negative, but so many people set goals that are very difficult to reach, let alone maintain. You only set yourself up for failure and disappointment by setting a very specific goal number in your head. Ask yourself, do you want to work harder and be stressed all the time trying to reach a number that you might never get to, or might have to be a slave to diet and exercise to maintain. Or are you happy where you are, maintaining easily, feeling good in your clothes, and healthy. It is not an easy thing to accept, I know. I set my goal at the highest end of normal BMI, and I have reached it, but there are days that I keep thinking it is not enough. But really, it is all in my head, and I know it is something I have to work on.

That would be so frustrating. Do they think it is related to the weight loss?? I can't say that health wise anything has changed for me. I had no health problems when I had the surgery (which was a big reason I wanted to have it done since there are many in my family). My brother has epilepsy and seems to develop tolerances to certain medications, and then has to switch new ones. Good luck with journey at trying to find something that works.

Greek yogurt is my go to food. I buy it plain and sweeten it with flavored stevia. I also will add some almonds and a few chocolate chips. Nuts are a great source of protein and healthy fats and are very filling. You could try roasted chickpeas...satisfies that crunch, high in fiber and protein and very filling. I find fruit very filling. I do not watch carbs in the sense of cutting out healthy carbs. For me, a banana or an apple really fill me up and keep me full for a long time. You could also use chia seeds or hemp hearts. Both are very high in protein and filling. I will add them to my yogurt or I have also made chia seed pudding. If all else fails, a protein shake is very filling and lasts me a long time!

Thank you for sharing your story. I know I have posted about this before as well, and I feel very similar to you. I really struggle seeing myself the way I am and I am not happy with my body. I never dreamed I would reach my goal. Then, when I did, I was so happy for the fist few months. Then, I started to feel like I should lose more. I keep thinking, if I could only lose another 10 lbs or so, then I would be happy. This was actually one of my fears going into it, even something I discussed with my therapist and my husband...would it never be enough for me. Now I keep feeling if only I can get plastic surgery, then I will be happy. Not sure if it will happen. So just know, you are not alone. I think many people struggle with this idea. You look beautiful and I know you hear it a lot and, like me, don't believe it, but you look amazing the way you are!

I agree with the other 2 posters above. You can't expect that having this surgery done will be the answer to your weight loss. It will help you, but you still have to eat a healthy diet and have a healthy lifestyle. Like someone else said, you might feel like you don't like anything in the beginning, but you mostly likely will later on. Everything that used to taste good to me still tastes good to me. And everything that tastes good is usually a "slider" food. That means you can eat a lot of it despite having the sleeve. Things that are simple carbs (crackers and chips), and liquids can be consumed in large amounts. If you are drinking sugary drinks all day, don't expect to keep your weight off. Too many come into this surgery thinking that they will still be able to eat whatever they want, lose all the weight, and maintain forever. And it is just not that simple.

I posted a long post under the emotional side of being skinny about this almost exactly. And I am where you are at. When I was about 15lbs heavier, I actually felt skinnier than I do now. I am just within a normal BMI (upper end), have been maintaining for almost a year, and truthfully, I would not really want to look any thinner. But the numbers on the scale drive me crazy some days and most days I feel so unhappy with my body. I have a lot of skin hanging and want to get it fixed, but I just don't have the resources right now to pay for it. One person in my last support group had a good analogy...it was like looking at the same "shape" but just smaller. I have rolls when I sit too, and it is all skin, but it still makes a person feel fat. And I don't like pictures of myself either, I usually find something wrong with them. And many people have said things to me....making sure I don't want to lose more weight, telling me how good I look. I have people that don't really know me from before ask me how I stay so thin, etc. But in my brain, I always tell myself they are just being nice. Or they need to get their eyes checked! One thing I am trying to do, but not guaranteeing it will work, is trying to Celebrate how far I have really come. I have pictures from my heaviest and I am using Picisto to make side by sides of me now. And I did keep one pair of my biggest pants, so once in a while, I will put them on. I don't have any answers either, but hoping to feel "normal" one day....

You are an inspiration and those that choose not to listen to your advice are foolish. It is those who can persevere through adversity that come out stronger and wiser on the other side. You could have thrown in the towel and given up because you have not met your goal YET (big yet, not never), but you have continued on. That takes way more strength than the person that loses it all in 6 months. If that happens, great. But it does not mean that they did anymore than you did. And, I think you look gorgeous!

I struggled with depression after I had my children and never sought the help I needed until after my surgery and it has been a really uphill battle. I am not sure if my feelings about surgery and my body are related to depression or vice-versa. I am now trying my 4th medication, hoping it will bring me some balance. I had some of the same expectations that you do. Even writing this, I know I am not happy where I am at and read yours and think, "I wish I could have a BMI of 20". I had set my goal weight originally, and was so excited when I reached it. Logically I know that I really do not need to lose anymore weight, yet I never feel happy with where I am at. My head has not caught up. And I also had some of the same expectations that you did. I am married, and have been for almost 10 years. Although we have a great relationship, the romantic side sometimes is a struggle, especially with young children. I thought that my husband would be more attracted to me, that I would feel more attractive about myself. Instead, he loves me the same (which is good, but has done nothing for our love life), and I find myself just as anxious about being out in public, feeling like people are still judging me like I judge myself, and still comparing myself to everyone. I have worked with a counselor for years, but I can't seem to get my head to catch up. I am working on trying to treat myself kinder, celebrating how far I have come, and accepting me for me. I also agree with Lynda. There are some days that I miss certain foods that I have mostly cut out of my diet, and, even though I knew the sleeve wasn't a magic cure, some days I get tired of being almost obsessive about the things I eat. I know that if I am not, I will gain. I have managed to over come the guilt with eating things that aren't "healthy" because I only have them once in a while. Thank you for posting this. That is what I like about this forum that has drawn me back into VST. These are the struggles that can appear long after the initial operation that people do not think about.

Oh, and this forum did start as a forum about "What is a Vet", but sometimes, discussions turn because of something someone is feeling at that time. The whole subject of throwing up and over-eating when you are a vet is a great subject and could even start its own thread. And I agree, it should remain open for everyone to read. How else are new people suppose to learn if vet's aren't there to help them.

My restriction is still great and I pretty much know at this point how much I can eat just by looking at it (almost 2.5 years). I would say a big part of it is being in a normal place. Sometimes you almost forget that you were sleeved until you eat just a little too much, and then you are quickly reminded. Sometimes I am honestly just enjoying what I am eating and think, awe, I won't get sick. Ha, wrong! It still is a mental battle for me too, head hunger, stress eating and hormonal cravings wreak havoc with me.

Thank you Dean! And I will be the first to admit that I make mistakes, and will likely continue to make them. Honestly, I think it is human nature to want to indulge. There are days that I either miss eating certain foods, or wish I could take one more bite. Sometimes I do take that extra bite or 2 and then I run into trouble. I know I should know better, but I do it anyways. But that being said, it is something that I am working on all the time. And thanks to my sleeve, a slip-up is not the end, and does not mean I start gaining all the weight back. As for this being a Vet Forum, so far, people have been very respectful. Sometimes people have questions about what the future might hold, so joining a conversation is not the end of the world. Now, I will be truthful and I think there is a lot of wisdom 1 year, 2 years, 3 years+ post op that someone 6 months out might not have, but that also doesn't mean I can't learn something from someone 6 months post op. Everything is evolving, including the surgery, and many new insights might come from everyone sharing.

I was like you, throwing up when I woke up from surgery for a few hours. It did not feel good. Then, I was almost 6 months post op before it ever happened again...I was very diligent about how much I ate and what I ate. It is not like I set out to get sick and throw up. It is not enjoyable. It happens when I eat mindlessly. Trust me, when you start getting a few years out, it is easy to do. I try to eat a balanced diet and don't restrict myself, but I still have to be diligent and I still make mistakes.

If I do drink, I usually stick to something called a ceasar (I live in Canada)...closest thing would probably be a bloody mary. Anything with juice, you should be OK (vodka and orange). I can not drink anything that has a lot of carbonation. I have to odd sip of pop here and there, but pop like root beer, I have 2 sips and my stomach feels like it is going to explode. I imagine most beer, especially right out of the bottle, would be similar. You could let it flatten out, but, not being a beer drinker myself, I have no idea how that would taste. If you have something with pop, add lots of ice and let it flatten out a bit before you try it. And like others said, go slow. If you haven't drank yet, you will be surprised how quickly it hits you!

I think you look pretty damn good! I am 34 and I have a bit of a turkey neck from losing weight...as well as turkey breasts, turkey thighs, turkey wings....you get the picture, or maybe you might not have wanted it!!HA!

Thank you for your honesty OregonDaisy. In honesty, yes I have done this as well. Almost 2.5 years out (I see you 4 year anniversary is coming up, Congratulations!), and I still make mistakes! It is usually under the same type of circumstances, mindless eating. That, or if I am really hungry (I do get hungry), and I eat really fast because I am starving. Then there is so much pain, sometimes I would rather throw up than deal with how much it hurts. It is not something that happens all the time, but let's face it, before the sleeve some of us did the same thing (think Christmas supper!). Sometimes it is a little scarey and I do worry about bulimia. The fear of regaining, the guilt over eating something "bad" for you, it could be dangerous. I was just at a support group meeting, and they were talking about this exact thing. They have studied bulimics, and from all the binging and then throwing up, they can actually distend the lower part of their esophagus enabling them to eat more. That thought alone should be enough to stop someone in their tracks. PS, would you mind sharing the name of the recipe group. Is it a closed group, or can anyone see that I am on it? I love recipe ideas, sometimes the same old gets boring.

Ok, well those BMI charts are whack then! If you are 6'3", I cannot possibly fathom how being 227lbs is overweight. I hate that chart, should be burned!

I am almost 2.5 yrs post op and can eat about that amount, a small chicken breast and some veggies. I am not sure how tall you are, but you look great in your profile picture. I am beginning to learn that numbers are relative. Someone can wear the exact same size and there can be a 15-20 lb weight difference. I still also follow the same post op rules....no drinking with meals, protein first. It might seem like you are eating a lot, but I doubt you are actually are, and I personally thinking 20-25% of what sleevers used to eat seems low. You have done amazing, congratualtions!

I am happy to see people realizing that everyone is different. When I went for my surgery, I was pretty sure I would be a slow loser. In the past I was a slow loser, no matter how hard I worked at losing weight, it always took me 2+ years of grueling workouts and strict diets. When I got the sleeve, I decided to make it a lifelong, manageable change. Did that affect how fast I lost...perhaps. But I knew that I could not endure crazy work outs and super strict diets anymore. And I did compare in the beginning. And where did it get me? No where. I still didn't lose any faster and I only made myself miserable. I love that Cheri started this thread to encourage everyone. Of course the people that get to goal super fast are the ones that are going to post and those that are slower are going to shy away. We should all be here to encourage one another, not to judge. I have seen people that do not change anything in their diet get to goal in 6 months...problem is, when the honeymoon phase is over, they start gaining because they never had to make changes. You have your whole life ahead of you, so don't worry if you don't reach goal in 6 months. And I would also like to give a big shout out to Coops. She is a great example of positivity! I also personally know others that never reached their "goal", but they are living happy, healthy lives. And really, is that not what this is all about. It is those that persevere that will have the long term success.

Fluctuations in weight are completely normal. No one has a completely straight line down when it comes to weight loss, even with the sleeve. And how much you lose in the first few months also depends on how much you need to lose. I had 80 lbs to lose and it took be 18 months to lose it all. I check my log, and at 4 months out, I had lost 45 lbs, so not much more than you. Plus, a woman's hormones can also wreak havoc on the scale. I can have weight fluctuations of up to 5-6 lbs throughout a month. From what you write, you are doing what you should be doing. Try not to be a slave to scale, it will drive you insane. The weight will come off. Some of us are just slower losers than others!

I have been trying different things with my greek yogurt and came up with this! My husband even loves it, and every time I make myself a bowl, he is always commenting on how good it smells...maybe I will share one day....maybe... plain greek yogurt a few drops of lemon stevia liquid (I use Lemon Twist liquid stevia by Now foods) raspberries a few slivered almonds or granola a packet of French Vanilla powdered Stevia (I use Now brand) Mix the lemon stevia into the yogurt and blend well. Throw in your almonds. Wash your raspberries, place on top and then sprinkle with the French Vanilla Stevia (I do this because raspberries can be tart...sweetens everything up!) So delicious. I have also tried with strawberries. Good too! Any berry would probably work.

Me too. I just want to say...I wasn't born this way, I had surgery and have had to work hard. I want to help you, I want to tell you about my surgery. But I am the same, I wouldn't dare because I know what I would have felt like if someone came up to me and told me that. I knew I was fat, but I had always hoped that no one else noticed...as if they didn't!

I do agree that setting a limit such as 100 post should not be a requirement of the VET forum and people come here should not use that as a deterrent. I think being a Vet has way more to do with how long you have had the surgery and your life experiences with it. When I first read it, I thought "6 months is a Vet??" At 6 months I was still really getting the handle on things. I have been sleeved for close to 2.5 years, and it has been probably the last year that I have learned more than ever, and more changes happen, not so much in weight loss, but it what you can eat, how much, etc. I actually wasn't on here very much in the beginning. I have a local support group and was attending it regularly and had a great support system. But I have not been able to attend them in a long time because of work and family, so I decided to turn to here for support. My issues now are not the issues that someone early out would face. And a lot of what is posted now in the Vet forum is much more interesting to me than the newbie stuff. I agree with Cheri, it gets so repetitive to see the same stuff come up again and again. I, personally, am very much into doing my own research, so I am sometimes blown away by what people keep asking when a simple google search or search on here would bring up thousands of answers. And I do wish people would be more respectful when considering our answers or anyone's answer to that matter. I see so many people who think they know it all come on, throw around information and insults, and they are not sleeved at all, or have only been sleeved a few months. Come back when you have been sleeved for a year, 2 years, 3 years, then your tune might change. The first 6 months-year is the easy part in my eyes, it is the rest of your life that is the hard part. So enough about my rant...I think if someone has been sleeved for more than a year, even if they have not been actively posting on here, I would consider them a Vet. They have experiences that might help some of us even if they are a new VST member.