MichiganChic

It's not abnormal to find that you can eat more the longer you go. I noticed at around 6 or 7 months, too, and at 16 months, I can eat more than I could at 7 months. We always need to be mindful and control portion sizes. Try to measure your food to avoid too much at once, and as for the hunger, I find drinking really does help. I drink coffee, hot or cold tea, and sometimes if I am really hungry, I'll have a smoothie. Seems frozen drinks really fill me up. I weigh, measure, and count calories. Just the restriction of the sleeve alone is not enough to keep me from gaining weight, but having it does help keep things in control.

Any chance you have thrush? White tongue?

Depends on the person, age, genetics, years of obesity, and other factors. Bottom line is that you can hide a lot with clothes and shapewear.

@@Chelenka, I feel the same way in so many respects! We are about the same time frame out, and I just want to be DONE! I know that maintenance is forever, so I don't mean done with program, just reach my goal so I can check the box. I weigh every day, and I plan to continue to do so. It works for me. I'd be twice as crazy not knowing, or thinking I was losing when in fact, I was not. I've also read studies that show people who weigh daily manage their weight better. At the end of the day, that's a personal choice, and not one size fits all. You asked if it's because you " ...must keep up this constant vigilance over what I'm eating and what I weigh". Yes, that's me too. I can't let my guard down for one minute, or I'll backslide. Some days are easier than others, for sure. It's exhausting on the days it more difficult. When I think about that, I get a little panicked that I won't be able to keep up this state of hyper-vigilance forever. Regarding my weight - I've been stuck here for a couple of months. I fear I may never lose any more weight. Realistically, I think I look pretty good. I wear a size 10. People say I'm not fat. The dietitian at my docs office said I'm good to go, and that most people land at a BMI of around 28. I told her I felt like having a BMI that high was a failure, and she said that I look great and can be in maintenance. Yet......in the back of my mind, I'm feeling exactly like I did at 306 pounds - a fat failure. That's shocking to me, because I know it's not true. Before surgery I would have given my eye teeth to be a size 10 and laughed at the absurdity of what I'm saying here. I just wanted to be one of those people who reach my goal of a normal BMI, and I'm a little pissed that it's elusive, frankly. Then I remember I can only do what I can. I struggle with fear of being unable to maintain this, as you mentioned. It's because I do get hungry (not as bad as before) and I can eat a lot. I wish that were not true, but it just is.(I don't do it very often, but I have over eaten). I am a grazer by nature, (not that I do that often, either, I just want to) and then I could consume a lot of calories - hence the need for hyper-vigilance. I have learned new habits, made changes to what I eat, when I eat, how I eat.....but the old habits are much stronger. So, my friend, not to hi-jack your thread with my own tales of woe, but to empathize with you. You aren't alone, and my guess is that there's more than just 2 of us. But my advice to you is to take one day, or one minute if needed, at a time. Plan things as best you can, and cut yourself some slack. You are a huge success with losing 150 pounds! That's a whole person. That is something to be proud of you. Your picture is beautiful, and you can hold your head up high. I hate the cliche "it's a journey" but the fact is, that's what it is. It what we do over the long haul that will define our success. A short deviation off the path doesn't mean we are lost forever - we just can't stray too far or too long.

My dietitian also told me that studies have shown that people who take probiotics lose about 10% more weight. That's about what I have left, so I've started taking them. Thinking it can't hurt....

My advice is to see your surgeon. At 16 months out, I can eat small but normal sized portions. One thing I've noticed is that no 2 sleeves are alike, and we can all eat way different amounts, and the restriction is different for all of us. In your case,the fact that you can eat less than you could before is a clear indicator that it's time to seek medical expertise. Probably something rectified with a minor procedure, or maybe nothing at all, but you'll feel better if you know what's going on. Let us know how you are.

I have to agree, though I can't say I always did. I used to think it was a risk not worth taking, but now that I'm on the other side and fighting with 10 pounds, I see it. I spent most of my adult life being obese and not fully enjoying my life. I missed out on so much of kids childhood because of it....we all have our own struggles and journeys. So, if I could have done this with a BMI of 35 instead of 52, I think that would have been WAY better!

That's so great! Congrats on a wonderful accomplishment!

Good for you! It's what we do over the long haul, day in, day out, that matters. It's a battle most of us will fight for the rest of our lives, we each just have to figure out what our personal battle is. So glad you recovered so quickly!

I'm in the same boat, except I'm not losing any more. I've not been as strict as I need to be. I know that to lose I have to eat around 800 calories a day, and that's getting harder to do. I have to agree, it's still way better than before surgery! I lost easily for the first 10 months, then it slowed for the next 6, and now it has stopped. I'm so close to goal...just not sure I'll ever actually make it! On one hand I think "it's just a number" and then I remember so was 306 - it's a number I hated!

Yay for you! !!

Nice work! I lost like that, though maybe not quite as fast. I agree, you can probably get down lower, though the closer you get to goal, the harder it becomes. I thought I was going to slide into goal the way I was losing, but I've been stuck at this weight for over 3 months. Just keep what you are doing until it doesn't work any more - though you could be one of the lucky ones who just slide on in! You look great, and congrats on an amazing success!

My surgeon won't even do the DS, believing RNY or VSG are effective, and the risk/side effects from DS are not worth it. That's just his opinion, but I tend to agree. The foul stools and gas just wouldn't be worth it to me. Having said that - it's certainly effective at keeping weight off. I imagine a surgeon will help you make that decision based on your personal situation.

I also had an infection, and it took about 7 weeks to heal properly. I closed a couple of times, and I had to have it reopened so it could heal from the inside out. Now, 15 months later, it's a distant memory, and I'm so thankful I had the surgery. Hang on, it does get better

Mine got narrower, and I went down about a half to a whole size. Went from a tight 10W to about a 9 regular width.

It's a personal choice, and one that should be made by knowing all the facts, and also what your risk tolerance is. Each surgery comes with it's own set of risks, and different levels of statistical efficacy. Some people succeed with each of them, and some fail. Statistically, the RNY has the most long term success and most scientific research, and is still the gold standard in WLS. I had the sleeve, and I'm glad I did, but it was the right choice for me. My surgeon told me I could have either the RNY or the sleeve, but would likely lose more weight with RNY. Only you can decide what is right for you. Good luck!

I never quit....

This is how we learn. We make mistakes, we own up to them, we make a decision to do better, then we DO better. Tracking is an excellent way to force yourself to acknowledge what you are doing. I've learned over time that tracking will keep me from derailing too far. By the time I eat something I shouldn't, and then log it, the desire to continue down that path usually subsides. Seeing it in print is usually enough to remind me to stop! Cut yourself some slack for having done that, and pat yourself on the back for making a decision to do better.

Strictures can be stretched using bougies in surgery. You may or may not have one. One thing that's likely, the longer times goes on, the more likely you will be able to hold more.

I also have this issue. I hate it, too. At 15 months out, I think it is better than it was at 7 months. It's surprising to me that my skin seems to be catching up - a little. I've gotten wraps, use firming cream, but I think it will never be firm unless I have plastics on it. I'm 51, so I'm sure that contributes to it. I've also heard of "face lift facials" but not sure how well that would work either. The aesthetician did show me how to work the muscles of my neck....I figure it's worth a try! If it get's a little bit better, I think it might be tolerable. Now my arms....that's another story!

I would do it again, no question about it. I didn't always say that - I was guarded the first few weeks. At 15 months out, the quality of my life has improved immensely. I am 51, and have as much energy as I did in my 20s (and that's a lot!), and I look and feel so much better. I love being of a normal size, and not having the continuous worry if I'll physically fit in places, chairs, etc. I am liberated! Obesity took more of a toll on me than I ever realized. As for complications, I would say 3+ physically. I had a post op incisional infection that took about 6-7 weeks to heal, and I felt pretty wiped out the first month or so. I'm sure it was made worse by that infection. Mentally, I'd say 0 complications. I think I've adjusted well and pretty easily to the life changes I needed to make. Of course the frustration of having a hard time getting the last few pounds off is irritating, but honestly, even if I never get there, I consider the surgery an overwhelming success.

I also have a 36 bougie, and I've lost 140 pounds. I can also eat a much larger volume now. However - there are no two ways about it, my overall calorie consumption is much less than before surgery. I think the restriction has to play a part, but I'm sure that's not all it is, since I couldn't seem to lose on a restricted diet before surgery. I just always thought I didn't stick with it long enough, but now I'm not so sure.

Sometimes I am aggravated that I want something and if I eat it I'm too full, but mostly I'm elated that I can't eat more. Then I'm aggravated that I actually attempted to eat more than I should, just because I wanted it. I make good choice most of the time, and I don't do that very often, but once in a while, I just want what I want, lol. I do think it's normal.

I mostly eat the same things every day for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is usually meat and a vegetable, though I do occasionally have a casserole of some sort. I answered that I plan the night before, which is true, but I also plan at a much higher level. One of the major changes I made since surgery is to not bring things into the house that I can't/shouldn't eat. So it starts at the grocery store every weekend, making sure I have the right things to choose from, making the daily planning much easier and more successful. There is nothing "off limits" to me, but for the most part, I try to keep it routine and simple. I don't want to spend my energy focused on food - I want to spend it enjoying the results of my new, thin self, and all the energy I now have!

I wish I had known I would feel pretty rough for about 4-5 weeks after surgery, and that it was normal. I was tired all the time, and just had no stamina. I also wish I had known that everything I ate during that time would run right through me - also normal. I spent the first month or so thinking that something was really wrong because I felt so bad, because I read so much on here about how great people felt right away. It's true for some, but not for all. I gradually felt better over time, but it took a while, and now I feel great.