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I just had my two year check up. I'm down about 125 lbs. I have gained about 5 lbs in the last 6 months but they wanted me to. My BMI is 21.5 so I'm very happy. My labs were all normal and my relationship with food is healthier. I'm scheduled for abdominoplasty in 3 weeks. Best decision I've ever made.

Has anyone noticed that Greek yogurts just got smaller. They used to be 6oz with about 140 calories and 14 gm of Protein. Just bought more since it is my go to Breakfast. They are now 5.3oz and only 11 or 12 gm of protein. But of course the price didn't shrink any. Now I have to update myfitnesspal to reflect the change. Ugh.

I still have a lot of restriction too. Still can't really tolerate bread. If I eat too much, I can't drink anything for hours. Sometimes eating is a chore

I'm 15 months out and still can't eat bread. I have lunch on toasted sandwich thins but can't eat real bread without it filling me for hours. Potatoes, rice, and Pasta are all eaten in limited quantities for the same reason. I think everyone is different, but for me, bread is a thing of the past.

MsCali Glad to know someone else is going through the same thing. Sometimes I don't want to share on this forum because there are others struggling to lose. But, continuing to lose and almost having an aversion to eating at times is a different kind of struggle.

I find the people on this form are understanding - even if their experience is different and can't offer advice - at minimum they will offer encouragement. :-)

I'm still losing steady about a pound a week. But my journey I must say wasn't the norm. Went from IV bags for about three months feeding me to soft foods. Was hoping after 15 months my restriction would be a little less - but it's okay.

Had a good talk with my dr... He agrees that I need to stop losing. Step one to do so, is to add a meal a day. Step two, add a Protein drink. Step three is to interfere medically (stretching the sleeve). But we both agree - that is at a last resort - only should I become under weight. So far now I've been adding a delicious Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich at 2 am when I can't sleep. Yummy!!

When I was on soft foods I liked refried Beans with melted shredded cheese, a little salsa and a little sour cream all mixed up.

I'm 13 months out and my favorite dinner is chicken fajitas

Struggling with Vitamins too and thinking of maybe switching to regular Vitamins so I at least want to take it. The bariatric ones taste gross, chalky and take forever to dissolve. I've started dreading having these pills in my mouth for up to an hour before dissolving

My surgeon and nutritionist have always said that two Flintstone's chewable vitamins are just fine. At least you don't have to wait for them to dissolve and they taste OK.

I take 1 Flintstone's Complete per day. Make sure you get the Complete version in the purple bottle. They include minerals.

MsCali

Glad to know someone else is going through the same thing. Sometimes I don't want to share on this forum because there are others struggling to lose. But, continuing to lose and almost having an aversion to eating at times is a different kind of struggle.

I feel better after looking at the low BMI charts. It would be another 23 lbs for me so that would take like 6 months. I hope I can figure it out or ask the nutritionist before that happens.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that still has a lot of restriction. I still occasionally get a spasm when eating bread. It is like a cork and I can't eat anything else for awhile.

Hello my fellow December 2012 sleevers...<br><br> Quick question... Are any of you still losing weight? If not, at what month did your body stop?<br><br> The reason I ask is because I'm still losing around around 3-5 pounds a month. My BMI is still in normal range (low side of normal).

Yes I am still losing and trying not to worry yet. At my annual in December the nutritionist told me to stop losing. She wants me to eat 1400 to 1600 calories per day (up from 1200). I've been eating 1400 but just don't have room for 1600. I still can't do bread, potatoes, or Pasta.

I was at a conference last week for work. I went to the hotel gym 3 times in an 8 day period fit 30 to 40 min on elliptical so not excessive exercise. I ate ice cream and candy. Bag lunch was provided with sandwich, chips , and cookie. I didn't eat bread but ate the rest. I thought I would get on the scale when I got back to see if I had 3 to 5 lbs to lose. I had lost a lb. I've lost 4 to 5 lbs in the last month.

I may have to call the doctor soon. My BMI is now 22 and I really can't eat more.

So my sig tells my story pretty well. 8 steady months of losses and I've been playing with the same 5 pounds for the last 5 months. People that hadn't seen me in a year were like "wow" but inside I'm so discouraged and consider myself a failure. I still have so far to go and the sleeve has stopped working for me. The restriction is still there and feels like it did at 6-8 months but I don't think it's enough or something. I'm about to go back to basics of low carbing and counting calories but my body seems to have settled into a 36 BMI comfort zone, WITH the sleeve and I'm really not satisfied with that when I had hoped for so much better.

I agree with undercoverbariatricgirl. The analogy I make is to school.

Suppose you sign up for a class. You check the syllabus and know what the rules are, what the homework is, and when the tests are. Half way through the class, you have a C average. Some of your classmates are getting an A and you wonder what the difference is. Are you going to class everyday? Are you studying every night? Do you do all the homework? Do you take advantage of the teacher's office hours?

So, the sleeve is a tool. You signed up for it. Now you need to take full advantage of all it can teach you. Your sleeve gets bigger with time, but hopefully we will be retrained to eat appropriately.

I'm a rule follower and these are my rules.

1) Protein first. At least 70 gm per day. (Usually more like 80 to 90)

2) 64 oz of Water per day. For me, no caffeine or pop. Diet coke is a gateway food for me. Haven't even had a sip since before surgery.

3) Fat less than 45 gm. (Sometimes I get up to 50 but I try to keep the weekly average good)

4) Carbs less than protein. So if I eat 95 gm protein, my carbs are usually 70 to 90

5) No bread, no Pasta, no potatoes, no rice. This is my rule, not my nutritionist. Again, another gateway food group. I did have some mashed potatoes with gravy over the holidays but it made me crave more. The only "bread" I eat is lunch on a sandwich thin- whole grain of course.

6) weigh yourself once weekly

7) record your food diary daily. I use myfitnesspal. I don't beat myself up over a bad day because I can look at my weekly average and see that I did okay.

8) my doctor's office wants me to contact them if I gain 5 lbs. They don't want us to wait until it is 10 or 20.

9) Exercise 3 hours per week.

10) Take my supplements. Calcium and Iron need to be separated by 2 hours.

So, take advantage of all your resources and if it still isn't working, call your doctor or see a nutritionist.

Sandisleeve

I'm 5'5". My original goal was 150 but the weight still came off at a 1/2 to 1 lb per week. I've been stable for about a month and this weight feels good.

My doctor said that most lose 60 to 80% of their excess weight. I'm one if the few that has lost it all.

I was a slow but consistent loser. I lost 2 lbs per week for the first 9 months without really stalling. Sometimes it was frustrating to see others losing more quickly. So try to make it your own journey.

I'm a good rule follower and am blessed with a small sleeve. The keys for me are:

Eat 70 to 100 grams of Protein per day

Drink 64 oz

Less than 50 grams of fat

Carbs less than Protein. Almost no bread, potatoes or Pasta. I use sandwhich thins for lunch.

I still use myfitnesspal daily.

Good luck.

I'm looking forward to the holidays this year. Sleeved 12/17/12

Highest weight 254

Pre-op surgery diet weight 244

Surgery weight 233

Today's weight 138

Went from 2x, size 24 to size medium, size 8

Best decision ever! My nutritionist doesn't want me to lose any more weight. She says I can have 1400-1500 calories per day. I was at 1200. Not sure how I can fit more food in. I still have a lot of restriction.

Water Nazi" data-cite="Water Nazi">

<p>Sorry, I worded my question wrong. Let's take the ghrelin issue off the table.</p> <p>Wondering how the vets have done long term?</p> <p>As an aside: Today I visited a forum called proboards</p> <p>They seem to be anti VSG pro DS. Now I'm questioning my sleeve decision. Back to the research. I still have time.</p>

I have a medical background and did not want a surgery that changed my anatomy so drastically. The sleeve maintains normal anatomy including important valves (pyloric valve) of your stomach. My surgeon found that some of his bypass patients were able to force food past the small pouch and into the small intestine because there is no functional valve anymore.

I would recommend the sleeve and consider a revision if you don't lose all you want. But some of us reach goal and beyond. (I weigh 12 lbs less than my original goal)

I am having surgery in December. I am very scared of the malnutrition part of it. I am a nurse and probably just paranoid. I have read a lot of post. Wondering about the stomach spasms I read about. How long they last and how painful they are? I also wondered about if anyone having problems getting to thin and cant keep there weight stable. Is the restriction hard to get use to ? Really nervous. Please respond if you have insight to these questions. Thanks

There is always the risk of complication but for me this has been the best decision. I'm 5'5" and 140 lbs currently. I thought I would be happy at 150 and could maintain that without much deprivation. The weight still is coming off at a 1/4 to 1/2 lb a week. I'm not really trying to lose but joined a gym last month and have lost a size just from toning. I go for my annual visit next week. A year ago I was 104 lbs heavier. My nutritionist has me taking two flintstone chewables, Calcium, Vitamin D, b-12. That is routine for all patients. I'm also on b complex and just added Vitamin A because bloodwork demonstrated deficiency.

I'd rather be on supplements than morbidly obese.

Stomach spasms for me lasted about a month. I had a sublingual medicine for it that helped and I would walk laps inside my house and that helped.

The restriction is a learning curve. I still have a lot. I can't drink for an hour or so after eating still. My limit is a 6 oz yogurt or equivalent volume of solids. I still don't eat bread, Pasta, etc. I have a "tell" that I'm full. My nose runs and I sneeze. Some people hiccup. The few times I didn't listen to my "tell", I proceeded to vomit. Eat slowly and listen to your body.

I wish you the best of luck. The first two months are rough but it gets better everyday after that.

I'm 10 months out now. So just something to look forward to when popcorn is allowed....I love Skinny Pop popcorn. It has 39 calories per cup. It is just popcorn, sunflower oil, and salt but it tastes like movie theater popcorn. Be sure to ask when you are allowed popcorn. For me it was 4 months post op

I weigh only a couple of pounds more than on my wedding day and I'm sure those couple of pounds are now excess skin.

I also recently tried on my 16 yr old daughter's jeans and they fit!

So. One week of no myfitnesspal and I lost a pound. I'm using it this week to see how I do back on. I'm also going to work with a personal trainer this month to work on some strength training. I get enough aerobic exercise but I don't like strength training unless someone makes me do it.

So. I'm trying something new this week. I have been using my fitness pal daily since June 2012. My original goal was 150. I'm at 145 now so I decided to see how I do without the crutch of mfp for a week.

My nutritionist said that those that continue to chart their food do better in the long term. I'm not giving it up for good but want to feel like I can survive without it for short periods of time.

Hey everyone just checking in on my fellow December Sleevers... I'm wondering how everyone is feeling knowing we all about to hit a year.... I don't know about you guys but I still feel a whole lot of restriction I spoke to a friend of mines that is a few years out and she says she can get in about 12 ounces at this time.. I'm still very stuffed at 5-6 ounces depending on what I'm eating. with meats 3 Oz stuffs me but with yogurt I can get in 5.3 with slight discomfort and 6 ounces is pushing it. I still dont drink and eat together... I still stay away from bad carbs.. What are you all doing almost a year out?

I still have a lot if restriction too. A 6 oz Greek yogurt is my limit. I don't have room to drink for at least an hour to 1 1/2 hours after eating. I'm supposed to snack to get all my Protein and calories in but then I have trouble getting all my liquids in.

Just when I think I can eat more, I get a reminder that I can't. My nose runs when I reach my limit. Anyone else have a "tell" that they are close to full?

I worried Im gonna get to thin too

Glad I'm not the only one. I lost another 1.5 lbs this week and I'm trying to eat more.

Like I said, I'm just barely a normal BMI so I'm not really worried yet. I'll see what they say at my annual visit in December. Just glad to know I'm not alone.

Just an update. Sleeved 12/17/12

Highest weight 254

Preop weight 243

Day of surgery 233

Today: 148

My original goal was 150 but a "normal" BMI for me would be 147, so almost there. I was a slow but steady loser of 1.5 to 2 lbs per week without any significant stalls.

I'm happy and energetic. I'm "blessed" with a small sleeve and really couldn't eat more than I currently do. Now I'm kind of worried that I might lose too much weight. I'm not concerned yet since I don't even have a normal BMI, but when should I be concerned?

I eat 1000 to 1200 calories per day and walking is my only exercise -about 2 1/2 hours per week.

I checked with my nutritionist and she suggested adding a Protein Shake in the evening. She said we could make adjustments at my annual visit in 10 weeks. But that could be another 10 lbs from now and that might worry me.

Anyone else have these concerns or am I just being irrational?

Tomorrow will be 9 months since surgery.

Highest weight 254 (May 2012)

Pre-op diet 243.4

Day of surgery 233.1

Today 152

Weight loss has been slow and steady. My only exercise has been walking. I plan to join a gym with a friend in a couple of weeks.

My goal was 150 but I think I will keep going. I'm afraid of regaining 10 lbs from my lowest that people have talked about.

I'm 5'5" and currently wearing medium shirts and size 10/12 pants.

I went shopping with my 16 year old daughters and they want to share some of the tops I bought. That was really fun and a far cry from the size 24 or 2xl I used to wear.

I had to share...I hit 100 pounds today from my pre-band weight. I'm down 78 from my sleeve on 12/17/13. For those of you whose doctors say revisions don't do as well as "virgin" sleevers...I say' date=' heck NO! I still have a ways to go, but I'm still losing it![/quote']

I was sleeved on the same day and am 79 lbs from day of surgery but 100 lbs from my highest weight May 2012! Nice to see someone with similar stats.

I'm 5 to 10 lbs from goal now and it is going slowly lately but I am happy with how my clothes fit and energy. I'm never hungry and that is a blessing. I still enjoy baking and have little tastes of what I'm making. I know I'm not going to eat a half pan of brownies anymore so I'm not afraid to make them anymore. But I really don't crave the sweets as much anymore anyway. I'm blessed with a small sleeve.

Well done danal.

I just wanted some advise i am nearly 8 months out weighing 76.6kg and wearing top size 16 and size 18 for jeans. Is this normal clothes sizing for the weight?

If you could give ur clothes size and weight that would help.

Hope to here from you soon

Start weight 110.3kg

Current weight 76.6kg

Date of surgery 21.12.12

Good job on the weight loss!

Size also depends how tall you are.

I am currently 159 lbs (72.3 kg) and I am 5' 5" (165 cm)

I am wearing size 12 to 14 depending on the brand and medium to large shirts and large pants.

Does that help?

I'm 7 1/2 months out and still can't eat bread. I have 1/2 a sandwich thin toasted that I put canned chicken and mayo on for lunch but I can't seem to eat a whole one yet. Everyone is different though and since I'm a carb addict I think it's a good thing that bread doesn't sit we'll for me.