NJSleeveboy

Bear in mind, that as ur stomach heals, you'll be able to eat A LOT more. A LOT!! So, the key, as you mentioned, is the healthy choices. Not nuts, but healthy and just hold back on portions and wait to see if hungry later. Much easier to do than without the sleeve and doesn't work on normal diet. I eat great and eat a lot more than 2 years ago. I try to keep calories to 1800. Some days 2000+, but the reality was on bad days in my old life I was at 3-4,000 calories and , frankly 1800 a day or more with workout will keep me at 180 lbs.. Enjoy!!

I had zero food hardships. Def takes a while in the beginning for stomach to heal, but I had no intolerance to any of my fave food, or anything for that matter. I had the stalls you read about, but overall, it's quite the journey, and I recall being in your shoes, looking at folks a few years out and just hoping.. So, time flies! Good luck, my friend! Enjoy the ride!

AMAZING!!!!!!!!

When I like a post like yours, I know there will be a lot of dissenters, so I have learned to go straight to posting because I want to let you know I totally agree with you. I am happiest to see my 6'2" 320 lb. husband go to 220, from 3X to XL. He loves smoked salmon and beef Jerky (jerky was his dinner last night). If we never lose another pound this ride has been incredible.

@LindafromFlorida Wow, so you both did this together?? Not to shabby urself!!! Yes, that's an amazing move.. 220 on his frame is great shape and other than the sodium (but my new very low blood pressure allows me to eat it now), Jerky is an awesome snack or meal replacement!!!!!!!

Congrats! My two year is on sept 18th. I have lost 151 pounds but have been at a stall for their last 3 montyhs . today I'm going to try and jump start it with a 7 day liquid diet. Any ideas would be great!

@katybradley I don't think u've updated ur profile. So you are already below your target and just want to lose even more? Can you clarify? that is AMAZING! For me, I stalled at 200 lbs, but was my goal, but decided I missed the exciting weekly weigh ins.. So, no choices, other than increase workouts or eat less. I did both after a cruise early in the year.. and like magic, the weight came off and another 20 lbs. WE now now stalls happen all the time, so I don't care, as long as I know I'm doing the right things, good old MR scale will end up doing right by you. Also, it's how the close fit if u are working out! I lost nothing my first months of heavy working out, but i was getting so fit and more muscular and my sizes were shrinking so all good. Regardless, 151 lbs is absurdly amazing and was only a dream for you 2 years ago. keep that in perspective :-)

• @*Lexie* lol. it kind of is, but truly mostly an inspiration and I agree with the dissenters also early on. Everyone needs to know themselves. I was certain that licking a dorrito for me was insane and I could have 6. I KNEW i would do what it took and wanted to be able to do this forever. I had fans and dissenters and all had good points. Those who feel I do and can gain from it and know you will hit your goal, then bravo. Those who want an easy out and not follow the rules because I wrote this, will regret it. We're all different. As an aside, going from XXL to Medium shirts remains surreal!

I decided early on that the 1200+ per day wasn't going to work with me and that i wasn't interested in a quick loss that wasn't sustainable. So, that if I was in it and committed for the long run, i was happy to slow down the pace. My nut agreed, although explained that it's best to lose as much as you can because your body does adapt.. But, I wouldn't change a thing. I ear super healthily. watch my Protein. limit just plain bread and opt for other things. Rarely eat Pasta or the foods that just make you hungry 2 hours later. That said, I eat pizza (a slice or two for a meal), a great sandwich now and then and plenty of cottage cheese and greek yogurt and beef Jerky.. chicken, etc. The early instructions helped break the carb habit, although I don't watch my carbs other than being smart. I am now going to be going on year 3 and really feel like i can keep this up for the rest of my life. I just make smarter choices and never ever neglect anything i want. I'll have a full sushi roll with white rice even but then mix in sashimi.. I'll avoid the fried chinese items, but will add a piece or two to my chicken and broccoli. I eat baked chips, but eat some when I crave. I no longer track my calories in an app, but do keep them in my head. If i drink 600 calories in alcohol, i make sure , other than the planned munchies, that I eat mostly Protein or less calories that day (or take a long walk after my workout).. I absolutely get full MUCH faster still and that's the key. It's just an amazing tool and so many of the veterans used that word and now I get it.. Nothing comes easy, but this def makes it way easier and cannot be happier.

Just a follow up, as I was challenged to post my results when I wasn't a newbie anymore. All rocking!!!!

Happy anniversary everyone!!!!! WOW. I am on a high knowing this was 2 years ago!

Just checking in. It's been 2 years since my gastric sleeve! My before and after pix are loaded as of today vs 2 years ago. I completely forgot what I was and had become. It has been an amazing journey! I almost went for the lap band and THANK GOODNESS someone talked me out of it! The sleeve has been a dream come true!!!!! I started as a 5'11 male (still 5'11 lol), 260 lbs. I am now 179/180 and lightest I have been since a shorter child. I have exceeded all expectations. My medical goal was 200 and i beat that by 20 lbs. I won't lie. It was easy in the beginning and then I started working out. Without the extra work, I was stable at 200 or so. Not too shabby. I work out 5 days a week now via running and pushups and that has kept me around 180. I'm sure I would be around 200 without it.. That said, I did have a bad 6 month 18 months ago when I had reached by goal weight of 198 (200 was goal) and then got back up to 215. I was drinking a little each day and then the munchies. I decided i wouldn't do all of this work just to go back, so limited my drinks to my dates and nights out (and I drink plenty). I drink when I eat, although not suggesting anyone else do that until you know what you can do).. The workouts have been key and thus, I give myself a lot of credit for the discipline and hard work. I also recognize that I would not have come close to doing this but for the magic sleeve.

sleep apnea-GONE

Diabets-Gone

resting heart rate of almost 100 then down to 60

Cholesterol borderline high to low

blood pressure to borderline high to low end of normal

Before 265 lbs. 42 inch waist

After 180 lbs 34 inch waist

height 5'11

Anyone new out there, enjoy the ride and work hard!! Life changes completely!

I think the fighting stopped 6 months ago :-)

It really doesn't have to be all or nothing. I mean every now and then I have a slice of pizza or half a cheeseburger. That's not going to make me fat again. What would make me fat is if I ate a whole pizza and a whole cheeseburger with fries and coke regularly. But that isn't going to happen because my stomach does not have enough capacity for that. Everyone should lighten up on themselves and on others.

I would personally HATE all or nothing, but I am now getting how some need it. NOT I!!! FOR SURE! I was just at a big party in South Beach , Miami. I didn't use the calorie count for the weekend as it was WAY too hard! it was a super high end party!!! So, I was good, and made the best choices I could, but also enjoyed myself. .I had 6 pieces of sushi with rice and not the normal 18, lol.. I passed on most absurd choices, but had the great steak slices and a delicious Fried Oyster slider.. I would have had 3 or 4 in my old days. I lived it up with ONE! I did salads with low fat dressing at the pool and avoided more drinks during the day.. My point is, I didn't gain a pound and SOOO was not black or white! I enjoyed tasting most of the great items and even the Desserts and this is working just great!

This, exactly. If we all followed the rules in the first place we wouldn't be here, but we chose to NOT FOLLOW the rules and ended up where we had to have a surgery to save our lives.

I think this is true, but since I posted originally here, I must add that I think it's a lot like ethics. If you THINK something is unethical, then IT IS!!!! If you THINK you need to follow 100% of the rules, then YOU DO!! I knew I could have discipline with logic, but I sure get that many should indeed not vary!! I was never one of those. To each their own, for sure!!!

@butter, u may have been lol. All good points :-)

Starting In december i would work out around 5 days a week. 30 min of cardio or 3 mile run and light weights...also would add a 2-3 mile walk a few times a week. I did that religiously until I got runners knee and have done nothing but a few walks a week for the past month. Ironcially, that's when I dropped my last 10 pls and of course, one can't lose 10 pls of muscle from not running in only a few weeks. Again, the body does like things to confuse it, I think. Yes, there was much controversy many months back

I am on month 7 tomorrow!!! I had a dreaded and crazy ass stall at 210 lbs (started at 260, with goal of 200), for almost 10 weeks. I eat more than many on here and work out a ton.... so, thought i was done.. However, out of the blue, 10 pounds just melted away over the past few weeks and I am right at my medical goal weight. The body is an amazing thing. It does have a set point and I believe if you keep letting it know that you aren't giving up, it will readjust and accept the "new you" a little bit at a time. Rock on!

Well, here I am, the OP, and I am now at the 7 month mark. I have hit my medical goal loss, even though I had a dreadful 2.5 month stall. Then, amazingly, just dropped 10 lbs being even less vigilant. I will say that I absolutely stand by my original post and it has worked great for ME! I emphasize me, as I also understand where the contrarians were coming from! MANY folk on here, got here in the first place due to a food addiction and crazy unhealthy habits. I was never that bad. Just became fat and lazy.. I knew with the surgery tool that I could adopt a new lifestyle (and at 7 months, I still have years left to prove if that is true, I know).... My NUT was right in that it, of course, gets much harder over time for you to both mentally stay on any diet and also harder for your body to keep losing that weight..... So, my not being on liquid for any period of time but for the pre-diet and then eating mostly anything in small portions but smart choices after 1 week has worked. I still make great choices and cheat when I feel like it. I just track my calories and try to make up for it with some more activity or less food the next choice or day.. I have eaten far more calories than most... THe last 2 months, I am 1700-2000 day and still lost that last 10 pounds. Again, be careful. No yourself and obsession can never be good, regardless, IMO

308 beginning, goal is 170 (5'10")

excess weight was 138, have lost 74lbs, % lost of excess is 53%

Howdy, DianaE Great stuff! Again, u are confusing goal and excess weight.. Ur ideal at your height is 150 lbs. Thus, your excess weight was 158 lbs. You have lost almost 47% of your excess weight.. Your doc, by giving you a goal of 170, meant they wanted you to lose 138 pounds or thus 87% of excess weight

I have lost 101% of my excess weight, yahoo!

@Amazon, u have done a great job!! NOTE, though, that you have lost 101% of your goal pounds! NOT of your excess. You lost 83.5% of your excess. Great job!

Per your profile, you are a 5'10 woman, thus IDEAL weight per most calculators puts it at 150 lbs. You started at 320 pounds, meaning, you started with excess weight of 170 lbs. If you are at 178 lbs now (WOW again), you are thus down a total of 148 lbs... The doc put you at a loss 140 lbs and u beat that!! So, doc set your goal of 140/170 or 82% goal and your actual do date is 83.5%.. 5 feet, 10 inches Surgery Status Post Surgery Starting Weight 320 lbs First Dr. Visit n/a Current Weight 178 lbs Surgery Date Sep, 10 2012 Goal Weight 180 lbs Hospital Stay 2 Days Weight Lost 142 lbs

My answer: 52%. Surgery date Sep 18, 2012" How about you?

As I recently posted in another thread, we can't all compare pounds lost. These are not apples to apples. Per my doc, the best (still not ideal, since all people are different, of course), is to compare the percentage of EXCESS weight that you have lost! That would be where you are today vs your ideal weight from those crazy charts..

For example, as a 5'11" Male, at 260 pounds the day of surgery, i was 100 pounds over my "ideal" weight of 160 lbs (lol at that being ideal for anyone).... So, i was overweight by 100 lbs from surgery to ideal.. That puts me down 52 lbs out of 100 in an ideal world, or down 52%.. I did start at around 265, so consider myself down closer to 60%, but you get the gist.

So, my answer is "52%. Surgery date Sep 18, 2012".. You?

If it makes some feel better, I, too, am in quite the stall. I was 210.5 on Jan 8 and am 208.5 here on March 8. A whopping 2 pounds in two months! So, join the club, lol. No, not uncommon.. You should know, that my NUT and doc remind me to share with my groups that weight loss numbers are irrelevant to compare. They said that we should, if anything, compare the percentage of excess weight lost and not actual lbs. For example, My IDEAL for a male 5 '11 is 160 lbs (absurd, of course). I weighed 260 at surgery. Thus my excess weight was 100 lbs. They put me at a target goal of 200 lbs, which would be 60% weight loss. I am at 52% now..... Not bad at all, they remind me!!

In fact, early on, losing weight was just darned fun for all of us and relatively easy. I recall on my 2nd or 3rd month checkup telling them how I would stop around 190 or 195, as I don't want to get too thin. They all chuckled and told me "if only your body worked that way".. In other words, what is easy now will become hard. Your body fights tooth and nail to get you to a normal weight. It does not like rapid weight loss and will always way slow it down...

Think of it this way.. why do they estimate 50-80% weight loss after 6 months to a year My target was 60%, which they would be happy with and which I will hit! If it was that easy, the stats would show 80-100%. IT's not for most people being lazy that they don't hit their numbers!

So, I wish it came off like before.. I also eat plenty of calories (those of you starving yourselves, read about the 1200 minimum calories pages all over the web to see why you have stopped losing weight); I work out like an FN machine now, lol. Sure, some of my weight is muscle. I feel and look great. Like a million bucks, so feel good that I'm not the only one... But at getting close to 60% of my excess weight gone, i'm way happy!

I only did 2,000 3 times in the past month or two. I am averaging (and track it on myfitnesspal) 1600/day gross and net around 1200. I don't focus on net.. I just want to keep the gross around 1600. Yes, the stall is annoying.. I do work out and feel great and am off all meds but for the ursodiol (for possible weight loss induced gall stones).. so, curious as to any guys out there who have had the same, etc..

I asked this in another forum, but really mostly curious about my September co sleevers here. I def need to lower my calories. I am averaging around 1600 per day and in a 2 month stall. My nut isn't concerned, as i am only 8 lbs from my goal weight and she would rather i go slower. I started at 265. 260 at surgery and 208 today with goal of 200.. I did have three 2,000 calorie days in the past month. I am a man, lol. To point out, I read about most folk on here under 1,000 calories. Anyone else on here similar to me? I am torn, as I don't want to get stretchy skin.. I also burn 400 calories a day working out and don't want my body to get used to really low calories nor lower my metabolism I am only torn, as I wished I was at my 200 lg goal already (my personal goal was 185++, but that aint happening).. So, I'm curious. Do tell!?

I was sleeved September 2012. I have kept pretty close to my Nut suggestions for daily calories. However, since I do drink occasionally and also have had some "off" days, I have had a few days where I have eaten 2,000 calories. I was curious who else has strayed into the 2,000 area or even beyond. I can't be the only one! :-) For what it's worth, my NUT put me on 1,600 a day as of Jan 2013, up from 1200-1300. I also workout 5 days a week. Anyone else feel guilty at 2,000? Funny in that this would have been a good day in my old days lol

Yeah. Tiny tiny part of me is frustrated that the addictive days of losing a pound a day are gone :-(. THEN I remember that I/we am/are down FIFTY FRIGGIN POUNDS in less than 4 months LOL. I wake up sometimes that it was all a dream. So I put it into perspective :-). Similarly, if I recall the past few January/new years, I do believe I wouldn't go NEAR a scale for fear of the obvious bad news. Soooo WE ROCK!!!