MichiganChic

I also think it depends on the person, but most literature would support that it's mostly diet. I think for me, exercise accounts for about 5-10%. I exercised the first year, and then quit. Now I don't exercise regularly, and I'm maintaining. I was also told that people who exercise lost 10% more of excess weight, and that's about what I haven't lost. I keep thinking that the last few pounds might come off if I did. I do think that moderate exercise can help with eating, though. The OP called it an appetite suppressant, but what I find is that it decreases my stress level and therefore I'm less inclined to graze as a response to stress. Plus, the time I spend exercising keeps my mind off food and my body away from it. No matter what, it's a good idea!!

How far post op are you? I'm 2 and half years post op, and I can tell you, it is mentally draining some days. I didn't feel that way so much the first year. I couldn't imagine how anyone would ever feel that way after WLS, and was sure I had seen the light. I never expected to feel hunger, or think I'd have the desire to eat too much for any reason. I felt cured. I was naïve. Just because it is work and draining doesn't mean you need therapy, lol. While I agree there are many reasons people should seek therapy, it is not the cure for everything. It may not be an issue that requires intervention. Sometimes it's just that people are tired.

@@BethinPA well, what the word? All healed?

@@mistysj I sure hope this fixes things for you. I remember I had diarrhea for the first 5-6 weeks after surgery, and I was panicked it would be that way for the rest of my life. It felt like it lasted forever, and it wasn't pleasant. No one ever said it was a possibility, and I was shocked by it. I hope it can be over for you, too!

@@mistysj glad you are doing well. How is the reflux?

169.2

LOL,No Susan. It's @Stephh who does this now.

I totally understand about needing a mental break from the effort it takes to stay on track. I also try not make my life about food, but I find it exhausting to stick to my "new" way of living. Old habits die hard, and I'm used to eating what I want, when I want, and in any quantity I want. I can't imagine ever not fighting that battle. Having to fight my natural tendency wears me out some days, and other times, not so much. That's why they say it's hard work. Once in a while, I take a little break - for a day or two. But I still track everything I put in my mouth and stay on the scale. The break I'm giving myself is to allow a little grazing, and eat whatever I want, and just know that it's temporary. Then I don't like the way I feel physically, and am happy to go back to the restricted, careful eating plan that is now my life. I guess this my new way - always track, mostly make good choices, and allow myself some flexibility when I need it. So I understand what you mean and what you are suggesting, but it is a slippery slope. I worry about two weeks - I'd be off the rails if I did that. What about a meal or day or special event?

You didn't provide much information, but I would say take a look at your diet. Go back basics, and weigh, measure and track your intake. Evaluate your exercise program. What are your stats? Starting weight, current weight, height, etc.

I did that! Well, I didn't move, but I did change jobs about 9 months post op. I was about 50 pounds heavier than I am now, but the last 50 came off slowly and those people never knew me as morbidly obese. I do just blend in and I love it! It's just normal.

You need an application. I used Instacollage on my phone.

Just because I choose to keep my private medical information private, that does not make me a liar. It's your medical history. If you had herpes, HIV, colon cancer, or any other medical condition, would you feel obligated to disclose it?

I have a love-hate affair with my scale. I am a daily weigher. I just am, and I feel it contributes to my success. Other people can do without it, and it's a personal choice. I just wanted to say that I feel your pain, and it's normal. Soon this will be a distant memory. To this day, I will still flip off and curse at the inanimate object, lol. So, yell at the thing, move on, and keep doing what you know you need to do.

Congratulations! My advice is get the drugs, lol! My doc gave me an abdominal binder, and that was all I needed for compression. Your doc will prescribe what they want you to have. You'll likely have drains, so wearing a dress or robe is easier than trying to deal with pants. Be prepared for swelling, maybe for months! Don't worry if you gain weight at first, and look thicker. I was prepared for pain but it hurt worse than I anticipated. Maybe it was just me. I felt better once the drains were out, but I was in pain with movement for two weeks, and sore for months. Having said that, it was totally worth it! Good luck!

I used a very reputable American surgeon, and I had abdominoplasty and butt lift with auto fat flap, and brachioplasty in one surgery. They flipped me part way through. It was six hours, which was the longest time she is willing to do surgery (due to anesthesia risks). I had general anesthesia, and I'm certain I needed it. My second procedure was breast lift/augmentation and thigh lift, and it lasted 6 hours, but I had a lighter anesthesia. So, while I didn't go to Mexico, my experience does describe what I think is typical with American physicians, as a point of reference.

I hated the short/cap sleeves on t-shirts. Ugh. I hated short shorts. The bust on most shirts was too big. Always had to buy bigger to get things to fit arms. Always had to buy bigger to fit thighs. The one pair of jeans that fit well wore out quickly due to the chub rub. So glad those days are behind me. When I read all of these things it reminds me how glad I am to be in a size 8/10 from a 24W. Now my worst problem is fitting my new boobs into my size medium shirt Trust me, it gets better.

@@tebowfan no, it's not a revision. It's an additional procedure, and come complete with all the associated charges. I'm not sure if that's right or not, but since I didn't have any to start with, I figured it's a new procedure and cost. If I had paid for lipo with the thigh lift, then I would consider it a revision.

I was up to 171.6 this morning! Back from vacation and back on track today!

I'm in! Thanks for doing this CW: 166 GW: 159

I mostly agreed with this, too. I don't think the first 100 pounds is just the surgery, though. I do think you could, and people have, sabotaged that wonderful gift of great restriction we get early on. I strongly agree that people don't want to hear those things. It drives me nuts when people say they are "not on a diet" and won't be ever again. Um, yes we are. And it's forever if we want to maintain our loss. More power to the people who can change their behavior so much that it's just natural for them, but I think the vast majority have to work to maintain. Having said that, I agree, the surgery set me up for success. It has been and continues to be much easier with the sleeve than without it. In fact, it has been the ONLY way I've been able to lose more than 20 pounds in the last 15 years. I work every day at maintaining my loss, largely by following the rules of bariatric surgery, as the article suggests is the key to success.

I'd say pick a number that you like for now, and be prepared to be flexible with it. You have a lot of work ahead of you, and the weight you reach after morbid obesity may not look the same on you as someone who was never obese, or even on you, if you weren't always heavy. As you get closer to goal, you'll have a much better idea about what is actually possible, and what is the right number for you. I would have not chosen 165 as my goal, but it turns out my body really likes it here, I can maintain it with reasonable effort, and I'm a size 8, and people who never knew me as obese think I'm tiny. So, in some respects, my body chose this weight.

I just turned 53 this week, and I had the sleeve when I was 50. Gotta say I feel much younger now than I did then, or even in my late 30s and throughout my 40s. Really, it's the fountain of youth

My advice is don't go, lol. Not that it's good advice, I know you have to or you wouldn't be. I was in the same situation, and I had 2 weeks off, worked from home for about a week and a half, then went back full days. I think half days is good. You don't say what type of work you do, but my advice is to keep your feet up at your desk (if it's a desk job) and get up and walk a little every hour or so. We are at greatest risk for blood clots the first 90 days post op, so that will help. Just try to take it easy physically, and rest when you are home. Interestingly, my surgery was last August and my lower abdomen still feels tight, and my muscles are still a little sore many days. Good luck! Let us know how it went.

I'm two and a half years post op, lost more than 140 pounds in 14 months, and have kept it off since. I watch what eat every day, all day. I can eat a lot more than I could in the beginning, and more than I wish I could. I don't think I did anything to stretch my sleeve, but I do think it's bigger than lots of people's. I know that I could easily gain every pound back, and it would not be hard to do. I can eat a lot of calories without realizing it by grazing and making high caloric choices. I could easily drink 3-4 thousand calories a day. It would be easy. When I first had the surgery, I thought I was cured. I was elated at how little I could eat, how little I felt like eating, and at the lack of hunger. Now I know that was temporary. Hunger gradually returned, and so did the desire to eat. It's nothing like pre-op even now, but it's enough that if I don't watch it, I gain. I always say I'm one cookie away from 300 pounds - in other words - I can never let my guard down.

I think I got what I expected, or maybe a little better. I lost more than 140 pounds,or 95% of my excess weight, (and 100% if I call this weight good ) in about 14 months. I've kept it off over a year. It's hard work but so much easier than before surgery. I could have never lost 10 pounds a month on any diet because I just couldn't get to and sustain the needed caloric deficit to do that. Sometimes I think if I would have had the bypass I'd have lost more, but I'm still happy with my decision to have the sleeve. Not sure that last 5-10 pounds lost would add any value to my life. Looking back, I remember feeling like it was not coming off fast enough. I worried that every pound I lost would be my last. I understand the fear that somehow, something isn't right. I know you see posts "I lost 100 pounds in 6 months!" but that's not the norm. Most people lose 8-10 pounds a month. This is a time for learning new habits. Contrary to what they say, it takes way longer than a few months to learn new eating habits, and it's way easier to slip back into old ones. At 2.5 years out, I'm still learning.