Miriam

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

In many ways I was a lot like you a few months ago (I'm now four and a half months post-op): I vomitted a LOT (there were days when I literally got in no food or drink because it all came up and I realized that I'd better stop eating and drinking till the morning) and this was with prilosec, could not get in my protein (the difference is that my NUT, strange but true, does not feel that it's so important to get in the full amounts of protein at this stage), had no energy, couldn't get down Vitamins, etc., etc. And yes, it was very hard for me to cope with not being able to eat - I LOVE food (yes, even now, but in much smaller portions), and as much as I had tried to prepare myself for the change in eating habits, it's impossible to understand what it's like until you're actually going through it.
BUT things did improve - and improve a lot. At around week six post-op, my energy returned. That was already a huge relief. At around the four-month mark, my vomiting decreased from an average of ten times a week to almost zero. (I did make a conscious effort to slow down my eating and be careful of overeating, but it also helped that my capacity for food got slightly bigger at that point.) I can usually get down vitamins without a problem (but I'll admit that I'm not 100% with that yet - that's just my own issue with pills stemming from a long-ago bout with cancer when I had to swallow so many pills that the very sight of pills psyches me out). And since I can eat a little more, and pretty much eat any food I want (other than hot cheese) as long as I'm careful not to eat too fast, I don't really mourn the loss of food. In short, it really, really, really does get better for most if not all.
So I do understand where you're coming from - at four weeks out, I was happy that I had done it because my weight was such a big issue for me, but I was definitely struggling on a lot of fronts. Now, at four plus months out, it's so much easier. Take heart - it will get better!
P.S. I'm also 33 :-)

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

It was definitely hard and at eight months post-op, I still don't feel that I'm quite there. At first, it was trying to get my brain wrapped around the fact that two or three small bites equaled fullness and any more would make me totally sick. At this point, I'm much better (not perfect) with the Portion Control, but then again I can get down somewhat larger portions than I could before, so that helps. But I did think that I had nailed what types of food to eat and what foods to avoid - unfortunately, I've recently discovered that the "food monster" aka "carb monster" still lurks inside me and that I've got to work hard to keep it under control. Since I can get down WAY more carbs than Protein (alas, I've discovered that there are quite a number of sliders down there) and I do have an increased appetite and capacity as compared to the first few months after surgery, I really have to work hard to keep that monster under control and show him who's the boss. In short, changing eating habits is not quite as simple as it might seem in the first few months after surgery, but certainly easier than pre-op. The most important thing is to be aware of everything you put in your mouth and cut your losses as quickly as possible when you do lapse into old habits. And NOT spend too much time dwelling on mistakes - just reaffirming goals and moving back to the right path.

So women are out there really pursuing chubby men? *running to chain down my husband*

Favorite thing about WLS:
Going from "ugggghh, what am I going to wear today..." to "Oh boy, what am I going to WEAR today??!!" I hope that feeling never gets old....
Also, the little discoveries along the way like suddenly realizing that it is no longer uncomfortable (or impossible) to cross your legs! Wrapping a regular size towel around you after the shower, and it is closer and closer to actually closing each week!
My least favorite thing:
food is still a bit of a chore. I am struggling to find variety and things I actually want to eat. I was never a huge fan of Protein, but really favored carbs. (I know, strange huh? Why did I ever get fat with that outlook on food? ) It is getting better though. The good news is that I no longer view food the same way. When we go out to eat or a party, my focus is no longer on food, but rather on the pleasure of socializing with my family and friends. I love that!

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

That's what I've done. I don't think anyone's figured it out, but more than a few people have commented on how fast my weight loss has been (well yes, it has) and I'm pretty sure that a couple of my colleagues are afraid that I'm anorexic! (Part of that was my mistake - I sat in the cafeteria one day and ate lunch there - ooops, forgot that it's not normal to eat about 3 tablespoons of scrambled eggs and be full...) If they figure it out, nothing I can do about it, but I've decided that it's not something I want to share with the world. The only time I felt really bad is when one of my colleagues, who is probably at least as heavy as I was post-op, started sincerely complimenting me on my weight loss and asking me how I did it. I would have loved to share with her because who knows? She might decide that this is something for her as well (I know that she's also struggled with weight loss for many years) and it was only because someone told us about his bariatric surgery that I started looking into it. Maybe at some point I will speak to her privately and tell her.

I have the same issue with my back - instead, I do isometrics, and specifically callanetics and the Bar method (just started the Bar method and LOVE it) - if you like slow, controlled movements, these are fantastic and can really sculpt your muscles. Highly recommended!

www.VST.com
Oh my Gawd! I'm obsessed with this place! When I wake up, I'M HERE. When I should be emptying the dishwasher, I'M HERE. When I should be trying to read my Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies book, I'M HERE. When I should be doing paperwork, I'M HERE. When I should be sleeping, I'M HERE. When I'm out with friends, I'm thinking about being HERE. When I'm out having dinner with my husband, I'm thinking, soon I will not be able to eat this, uh oh-lets get home so I can be HERE.....and on and on.....
I'm thinking VST will play a large part in my journey.... LOL

Paid $4500 plus air fare to get this done at jh in Mexico! And it is the best money I've spent ever! There has been ups an downs, stalls and illness! But in 3 months I've lost 32 kg!! Over 60 pounds! I feel better and able to keep up to my kids! I would recommend this to anyone!!!

OA can really help a lot of people. There's a great book, a very short read, about overeating called "Hungry" by Allen Zadoff. He's not a surgery advocate and didn't have surgery, but it does address his journey with overeating and how he overcame it.
The sleeve WILL prevent you from eating massive amounts of food and it will do it from day one for the rest of your life. Eating enough to stretch it even the small amount it will give will cause you pain and you will simply toss the extra bites of food back up. This is not a pouch that will slowly give way to overeating. It will never stretch out to anything remotely like a preop stomach.
That said, it's possible to eat just about any food with the sleeve, and we have no malabsorption. So if you make the choice to eat massive amounts of, say, ice cream or pudding, there is nothing to stop you. Nothing in the sleeve forces you to eat less calories, at least once you're healed. If you make the same poor choices after surgery, you will not succeed in reaching your goal. Sure, you can't eat a whole pizza, an order of wings and drink two liters of soda. But you could easily consume over 2,000 calories a day if you made them slider foods.
I've seen very few people post about regains on here. I've seen a small number of people come back here because they've only managed to lose a third of their excess weight and need help getting back on track. There could be a larger number of people struggling and they're simply not admitting it out in a public forum. There's no way to know.
Just like any WLS, the sleeve can only take you so far. I think the most important part of reaching and maintaining goal is working on the emotional/mental issues that make us fat in the first place. Beyond that, the sleeve really is only a tool that gives us the restriction we need to feel satisfied with less food.
Don't hold me to it, but I'm pretty sure that every single time someone has posted on here with real issues losing, they admit to not really following a good diet. I know that every regain post I've seen has had to do with people not working on their issues prior to goal and being unprepared for life in maintenance. You would have to WORK at eating the wrong things to fail at the sleeve. But the most important thing any of us can do to ensure a fully healthy body and mind after surgery (and for the rest of our lives) is working through the baggage, not just aiming for a number on the scale. So OA, counseling, coming here - whatever it is that you need to do to work on things - you have to do it. If you don't, you'll get to goal and have learned nothing more than how to lose weight restricting calories and you won't have the tools you need or the healthy outlook to easily maintain.
I, personally, LOVE my sleeve. It got me to goal. It took away my hunger and let me stick to the restrictive diet I needed for the 17 months it took me to hit goal. It gave me the time I needed to work on my emotional eating and overeating issues, which was much easier to do when food wasn't as appealing and it was difficult to eat much. I'm maintaining pretty easily and I now eat pretty much whatever I want but I do it in moderation. I'm normal, and I couldn't have done it without my sleeve.
~Cheri

Thanks so much for this, Suzanne. I'm almost 6 months post-op, and it's so good to hear the perspective of an "old-timer."

I'm 5'2" but with very light bones (as is my mother) so as low as my goal weight might seem, I'm pretty sure that's the right (albeit slightly optimistic) weight for my body. Highest weight (which is pretty much what it was the day of surgery): 225 lbs. Goal weight: 105 lbs. Am around 2/3 of the way there, but still have lots of negative thoughts as to whether I will make it and be able to maintain it or not.