MichiganChic

Great job ladies! For all my whining and complaining this week, I didn't do that bad. Never really had a fast day at 500 calories, but overall, did much better about not grazing, and keeping calories around 900. As we all know, the weekend starts on Friday night after work - so that's usually when the food struggle starts for me. I am happy to report that yesterday was less of a struggle than it is at other times, and I was around 900 calories. So nice when that happens. Georgia - good luck to this weekend fighting that fight, too! FYE - you're doing great! And you are so right, any loss is far superior to a gain. It's our lot in life. So glad to have all of you to share it with!

She gave me Lasix 10 mg for 10 days. I'm down 4 pounds from three days ago, and 15 from when I first posted this. Strangely, or maybe sadly, after all is said and done, she removed about 12 pounds of fat and skin, but my weight is the same as it was before the first surgery, now that most of the swelling is gone. I had a couple of wounds that were slow to heal with the lower body lift, so I had to increase my calories for about 3 months, and then again for about 3 weeks after the December surgery. I can only surmise that I gained 10 pounds somewhere.....but my clothes are looser and really don't see it. I'm anxious to lose that last 10 pounds!

How many calories are you eating per day? Are you weighing and measuring? and are you eating between meals? As for the hair loss, I had it really bad until 12 months. at 24 months it was much better and most of my hair has grown back, though not all of it. I think it continues to better.

I don't eat any slower than I ever did. I know should, but it's just not something I ever mastered. I used to really work at, but not so much anymore. I have never thrown up and I lost 140 pounds, so I think it's ok.

I just had an old fashioned abdominal binder that I wore around the house, and spanx when I went out. I didn't wear anything on my arms. My doc said there is new evidence that for to arms compression isn't helpful and may cause issues. For my thighs, I used spanx, but honestly, there was nothing that that was all the helpful - except diuretics! I'll put some pics up pretty soon. Far from perfect, but much improved!

@@HumanMerelyBeing yeah, I've been pretty pouty about the whole thing this week, lol. I vacillate between being kind to myself and kicking my own rear end. I also just really worry about my ability to maintain for the long term. I think much differently now than the first year. I knew it was a lifestyle change and would always be work, but I also couldn't fathom how things would change over time. I thought the physical changes from the surgery would be more permanent than they actually are. So I now know there is more to come. More changes that I don't see coming, and not sure that I'll be equipped to deal with. Surgery was totally worth it to me, and I'd do it again, but it really is unchartered Water for each of us. I always try to remember it's a lot more fun being thin and hungry than fat and hungry from the perpetual failed diet. That usually perks me up.

OK, all you 5:2 friends - how is it going? I have not had one successful 500 calorie day this week. I have been below 900 3 days, and yesterday was 1100, so I am not surprised that I am still maintaining. I am still not cleared for exercise, though that will be soon. It's been super stressful at work, so I feel like I did a pretty good job keeping things in control this week. Typically, I will find myself grazing during times of extreme stress, and I was able to avoid that. Doesn't sound like much, but it is to me. So now the weekend is upon us again. I am hosting a family party for my dad's birthday Saturday. I know that I'm going to indulge a little- so that means next week I will need to cut back even more!

@@Oregondaisy so sorry to hear this! Right now focus on protein and adequate nutrition. Such a bummer that this didn't go smoothly for you. You can always deal with the weight once you are healed. You probably need somewhere between 500-1000 extra calories a day for post-operative healing, depending on who you talk to. It's a catch 22 for us - we will certainly gain like that, but we won't heal without it either. I will look for your story on the other thread when I get a chance this weekend.

I am always shocked by this crap...but seriously, you can't make that shitt up. I don't know what is wrong with some people! Clearly, it's their issue and not yours. I'm reasonably certain there is nothing you can say to stop them.

All true. I think we know all of that. There is a difference between knowing it and being at peace with it ALL the time. The first year is easy. Settling in to maintenance is a little different. Motivation has to come from a different place, other than the instant and constant gratification of weight loss. I've found that my sleeve has changed over time, and hunger has returned to some degree. A 1 year sleeve is different than a 2 year sleeve, and I'm certain it continues to change for some time. That's probably why statistically, regain happens around that time. I think it's normal to get a little despondent at times at the thought of the tremendous amount of effort and focus it's going to take to stay at this place we all love - normal! Good for you if it's as simple as facing and understanding the facts about what it takes to lose and maintain, but I find it to be much more complex than that. I find that sometimes its easier, sometimes its harder. Some days it's easy to revel in the joy of what I've accomplished and it's enough to keep me going. Other times, not so much. I'm human. I just do the best I can, but I'm under no illusion that accepting the known facts safeguard me against regain. All of those same things were true before WLS, too.....yet here we all are.

The swelling does get better, but I think it varies from one person to the next on how long it lasts. I was still swollen a little from my LBL and arms that I had in August. Not terrible, but up and down. When I had the thigh lift and breast lift, not only was the new surgical site swollen, including my lower legs, but my back, abdomen and arms swelled back up too! It is getting better, but it is slow going. Sometimes I feel like my skin is too small. I saw my dr yesterday, and she prescribed a low dose of Lasix for a few days. It's a temporary fix at best, but I'll take it! I'm anxious to see just how much Water weight I'm hanging on to. I'll let you know!

Welcome back. Forgive yourself and move on. Its all we can do. I know that scenario you are describing. Every day is "the day" but at the end of the day, it wasn't. And you watch on horror as the pounds pile on. The difference now is that you still have your sleeve, and you know what it takes to lose weight. And 20 pounds is way easier to lose than 100! Take it day, meal, or hour at a time. Good for your recommitment to the lifestyle change it takes to get to where you want to be. You can do it

Unfortunately, everyone has an opinion about weight, and more unfortunately, some people feel free to comment. This might be out of nosiness or out of general concern. I would just smile and answer, "no, I'm fine and I feel great" and change the subject.

You are in a tough spot. Unfortunately, that's the painful truth for many of us. It's not uncommon to have regain around years 2 and 3 I suspect you know HOW to lose the weight. Most of us were expert dieters before the sleeve. It's a matter of getting our minds right....and taking advantage of the restriction offered from the sleeve. You don't say what or how much you are eating, but you should probably start by taking an inventory of that. Log your food, eat Protein first, and do what you did to lose at first. Don't graze. Start moving more. Start small. It's not too late.

*sigh* All true, and well said, @@CowgirlJane . That post is right about where I am, right now. I have a lot of will power, and I can pretty much do most things I put my mind to. I'm not one who even worries about difficulty, short term pain, or is short sighted when it comes to long term gain. The realization is really settling in for me that this is my life. Forever. I will go to my grave trying to keep from gaining weight by eating very little, and I'll be discouraged every time I eat a little more and gain. I have also had to wonder if it's worth it. I'm trying to get to goal, which you know has been elusive for me. I'm struggling with a lot of stress in my life right now, and it's all I can do to maintain some days, let alone eat the 500-800 calories required for weight loss. In the grand scheme of things. it is absolutely worth it to maintain this weight, but I'm not sure getting to 140 pounds is worth the effort. I'm not ready to quit trying just yet, but I think it is a valid question. What am I really trying to accomplish? So, for me, I pick the lesser of the evils. I REALLY don't want to gain any of that weight back, so I just keep doing the best I can....and not spend too much time thinking like this! I have to be Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind and just think about it another day

When I was about 2-3 weeks out, I wouldn't say regretted it (that's not in my nature) but I really did wonder if I made a mistake sometimes. I was worn out and just felt lack-luster for about 6-7 weeks. I remember a time when eating was such a chore, it wasn't worth the effort. The longer time went on, the better it got. Now at 2 years out, I have no regrets at all. It a lot to adjust to, and we all have to figure out how to do that in order to succeed. You should do a search on this topic. It comes up more often than you'd think, and people get pretty passionate about it for some reason. There are a few people who never make peace with it, but I think most do. I hope you can! For me, the outcome was well worth the difficult early days....and even the difficult days you have when you are further out and can eat more than you want to be able to.

@@windycitymom Your stats look great, congrats. I often think that if I worked from home I'd be 300 pounds again. Having easy access to food all day would be too great a challenge for me, I fear. It's one of the reason I struggle on weekends. I agree that moving your office should help. I also tend to eat when I'm tired. It's like a switch that goes on at 9 pm. I'll get a sudden urge to eat and then realize it's about 9. I always say nothing good happens after 9 pm, lol! I seriously go to bed every day right around then. It makes me a little sad to know that after 2 years and massive weight loss, I still struggle like that. Still lose control sometimes - and I absolutely pay the price on the scale when I do. I had hoped that by now, new, better habits would be stronger than the old, bad ones. Anyway, I had a bit of a rough weekend, and both days I came in between 1500-2000 calories. I'm paying, because I'm up 3 pounds. I was going to fast yesterday, but didn't make it - came in at 850. So, that's more in line with a normal day in weight loss mode, so I'll try to hit 500 today. I'm just pissed at myself because while I didn't go crazy, it doesn't take long to hit 1500 calories, and I know what will happen when I do. OK, I'm going to shut up and move on. I know what to do. Hope everyone else is doing better than me!

You look great. I had lower body lift and brachioplasty in August and was off about 3 weeks. I have a desk job, but I am a nurse, too. If I had a traditional floor position I think 6 weeks would have been needed. I just had a leg lift and breast lift/augmentation 5 weeks ago. I went back at about 3 weeks, but I'm still uncomfortable lifting. It feels strange to lift, push down or apply pressure when opening jars, and I can just now comfortably bend over and pick things up from the floor. I would suggest plan for 6 weeks and you can always go back early if you're up to it.

@@MiTurner247 I am also 5'4", and can't seem to get below 160. My body likes to hang at 165, and I have to fight to get below it. I've been at this weight for a year. I've tried eating less, exercising, but so far this seems to be where I'm stuck. I try not to just think about that elusive number on the scale, but it's hard not to! I do think that if I would stay below 900 calories indefinitely and exercise daily it would probably go lower...but life gets in the way. I think you look great, and from that picture, you don't look overweight at all! I go round and round with myself (and I'm sorry, but I subject my family and BP friends to the crazy loop playing in my head). Right now I'm trying the 5:2 to see if that will make a difference. If not....I am going to try to be happy where I am and work to become stronger and more fit, and focus on mainlining the loss. We know how easy it would be to go back up! Congratulations on your success!

Congratulations! So happy your recovery hasn't been too difficult. I know what mean about being boxy. I was pretty concerned right after surgery. Before, I had a small waist and was pretty flat from the side view, especially above the waist. For the first couple of weeks I was also boxy and looked like a barrel. It's been 5 months now, and that's subsided. I was much better after a month, but the rest of the improvement has been gradual. The skin removal improvement was immediate, but the shape was more gradual. For the most part, I was given my pre-obese shape back. My clothes are looser, but I still haven't bought anything new. I had a second round of plastics December 12, (thigh lift and breast lift/augmentation) and so now all that swelling has returned, so I am waiting for that to subside. I think things continue to shift and improve for up to a couple of years.

1. I would absolutely do this again. I'm two years out and could have never lost and kept this weight off. 2. I was surprised at how difficult the recovery was for me. I had a mild post op infection and I never got a quick increase in energy. It was very gradual and took months. The most shocking thing for me was how little I need to eat to lose and maintain my weight loss. I need less than 900 to lose. I was also pleasantly surprised that the sleeve makes that possible with a reasonable amount of effort.

I refuse to eat anything I don't like. I eat full fat cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream, butter, and salad dressing, if I'm going to have it. I don't eat all of those things all the time, and when I do, it's a small, measured amount. I work it into my calories for the day. I rarely drink milk, but if I do, it's whole milk. I don't eat much bread, rice, or Pasta, but I do on occasion. I also take advantage of some "diet" foods like Quest bars. One fat free thing I do eat is Fage 0 fat greek yogurt - because I like it.

I have weighed every day since surgery. I don't flip out if it's up a pound or two, but I do cut back. I track and trend it weekly. Now that I'm maintaining, I take an average monthly.

Yes....there is nothing like knowing you can shop anywhere BUT stores that cater to 14+ sizes. I still remember my first purchase. Way too big now, but such a sense of freedom and success! Honestly, it's one of the major things that motivate me now. I used to send my thin young daughter into those stores in the mall to check the sizes to see if they went up to a 14 when I was losing. I felt like I was a fraud trying to shop there, and didn't want to go in only to discover nothing would fit. And here's another thing - once you get to goal, you can amass a wardrobe in one size and wear till worn out or out of style. You don't have to keep shopping because you need the next size up! It can be economical to be thin....or not, because shopping is so fun!

I think that's pretty common. The closer to goal, the harder it is to lose. I've been struggling with the last 10 pounds for a year. My dietician says that most people end up in the 26-27 range, and they think that is quite successful. I'm 52, so a BMI of 27 is actually considered normal for my age by some calculators. But it is frustrating, I'd like to see a BMI of 25 just to see how it looks and feels, even though even if I never lose another pound, I'm definitely way better off. I'm normal and probably smaller than most of the female population my age.