ausmith

Wow I can’t believe the lack of Vet topics we have in this part of the forum. My Husband and I will be 4years VSG next weekend. When I first started researching VSG for us this was my bible. The amount of Vets that had so much good advice and were willing to share it freely. I know we all get on with our lives but I also know that we each have our own struggles and concerns.
Let’s try to be there for each other and make sure those that do pop in or comeback know that we want to help and that we appreciate them sharing their experiences.

Wow I can’t believe the lack of Vet topics we have in this part of the forum. My Husband and I will be 4years VSG next weekend. When I first started researching VSG for us this was my bible. The amount of Vets that had so much good advice and were willing to share it freely. I know we all get on with our lives but I also know that we each have our own struggles and concerns.
Let’s try to be there for each other and make sure those that do pop in or comeback know that we want to help and that we appreciate them sharing their experiences.

I'm 3.5 years out and feeling the same way. I surpassed goal and got to my maybe maybe target of 132 from 254 and I go up and down within 5. My exercise has only ever been walk in the morning and walk at night total walking probably 90min.
My Husband got in a rut and I keep encouraging him who is also met his goal but is about 12 up at the moment. Truth is I am bored with all of it food walking the lot. I feel heavy and it's a chore. I will be watching to see what you come up with because I know how easy it is for it all to fall down if we don't stay on track. Good Luck

What’s your diet and exercise like now, has it varied that much from when your weight was stable ? It’s funny how our bodies play games with us. I remember you going through a stage when you were struggling to eat.
Your right about how we feel after plastics, it was like having weight belts on. Then you wake up after surgery and all that skin around your middle is gone.
I also had a lot of feedback about not getting it done all at once but decided to get it all over and done with. I started with the Circumference body lift and bra lift. Then 10 days latter had a breast reduction, breast lift and my arms done . Painful and hardwork but it was definitely worth it. I only had one small complication and that was one of the stitches became infected on my arm. A quick visit to a doctor where he scraped it and removed a couple other stitches to prevent the problem happening again. 15 months latter and I forget what it was like carrying all that excess skin around.
Your truly a success story but like all of us we will always have to be on our game to keep the weight off. Good Luck

What’s your diet and exercise like now, has it varied that much from when your weight was stable ? It’s funny how our bodies play games with us. I remember you going through a stage when you were struggling to eat.
Your right about how we feel after plastics, it was like having weight belts on. Then you wake up after surgery and all that skin around your middle is gone.
I also had a lot of feedback about not getting it done all at once but decided to get it all over and done with. I started with the Circumference body lift and bra lift. Then 10 days latter had a breast reduction, breast lift and my arms done . Painful and hardwork but it was definitely worth it. I only had one small complication and that was one of the stitches became infected on my arm. A quick visit to a doctor where he scraped it and removed a couple other stitches to prevent the problem happening again. 15 months latter and I forget what it was like carrying all that excess skin around.
Your truly a success story but like all of us we will always have to be on our game to keep the weight off. Good Luck

Ok so just weighed in after a week of 2 shakes 1 high Protein meal and lots of Water and I’m down to 138. So the scale is moving in the right direction. The plan is to stick to this for another week and see where I’m at.

Two and a half years out and really struggling with food choices. I mean it does get sooooo boring thinking about meals every day, but if I don’t, well the pounds pile on. Then I have to work hard and I do lose it... then I get bored and .. well enough said. I have had a lot of health issues in the past 10 months but don’t want to use that as an excuse.
Feel like I’m on a hamster wheel at times trying to catch my tail.

I'm 3.5 years out and feeling the same way. I surpassed goal and got to my maybe maybe target of 132 from 254 and I go up and down within 5. My exercise has only ever been walk in the morning and walk at night total walking probably 90min.
My Husband got in a rut and I keep encouraging him who is also met his goal but is about 12 up at the moment. Truth is I am bored with all of it food walking the lot. I feel heavy and it's a chore. I will be watching to see what you come up with because I know how easy it is for it all to fall down if we don't stay on track. Good Luck

What’s your diet and exercise like now, has it varied that much from when your weight was stable ? It’s funny how our bodies play games with us. I remember you going through a stage when you were struggling to eat.
Your right about how we feel after plastics, it was like having weight belts on. Then you wake up after surgery and all that skin around your middle is gone.
I also had a lot of feedback about not getting it done all at once but decided to get it all over and done with. I started with the Circumference body lift and bra lift. Then 10 days latter had a breast reduction, breast lift and my arms done . Painful and hardwork but it was definitely worth it. I only had one small complication and that was one of the stitches became infected on my arm. A quick visit to a doctor where he scraped it and removed a couple other stitches to prevent the problem happening again. 15 months latter and I forget what it was like carrying all that excess skin around.
Your truly a success story but like all of us we will always have to be on our game to keep the weight off. Good Luck

What’s your diet and exercise like now, has it varied that much from when your weight was stable ? It’s funny how our bodies play games with us. I remember you going through a stage when you were struggling to eat.
Your right about how we feel after plastics, it was like having weight belts on. Then you wake up after surgery and all that skin around your middle is gone.
I also had a lot of feedback about not getting it done all at once but decided to get it all over and done with. I started with the Circumference body lift and bra lift. Then 10 days latter had a breast reduction, breast lift and my arms done . Painful and hardwork but it was definitely worth it. I only had one small complication and that was one of the stitches became infected on my arm. A quick visit to a doctor where he scraped it and removed a couple other stitches to prevent the problem happening again. 15 months latter and I forget what it was like carrying all that excess skin around.
Your truly a success story but like all of us we will always have to be on our game to keep the weight off. Good Luck

Maintenance is way harder!! In the beginning, if I gained something, all I had to do was eat the right way and it came off. Now, if I eat wrong, I gain about 3 lbs and no matter what I do such as Protein Shakes all day, with a high Protein small dinner and the scale doesn't move . It sure moves up if I eat wrong though.
I am 8 years post sleeve. I am considering doing a complete fast.
Oh and the other vets are on Lipstick Lady's page on OH

Nice to hear from you Kathy - maybe we need a virtual celebration/party in December!

I guess the reality of it is that I expect t have to battle with weight issues forever. I am about 30# over my fine skinny self and am currently engaged in working it back off.... I don't consider it a struggle or failure - hell, I used to be 150# overweight so this is just ongoing maintenance/reset that I will need to do.
Even obese people assume that all obese people got fat by stuffing the face with candy - well, in my case, overeating just a little bit continiously allows me to slowly let the weight creep back on. It is clear that I just don't need as much!
Anyway, I completely dislike OH - not crazy about Facebook for support, but due to circumstances around here - doesn't feel like a great fit either. The disappointment is that this place was such a source of inspiration and knowledge for me before, and I just don't see where to get that from over the longer haul. I don't take it personally, but all this talk about how rude and mean veterans is offputting to me. I personally would be quite happy with a veterans forum and I can avoid responding to non vet posts if that is what people really want. I frankly don't really get it, but okay.


Wow - you have done great. Plastics (especially going out of country for it!) was for me scary, but life changing. I feel more beautiful now in my 50s then I ever remember feeling in the past. Plastics didn't make me feel beautiful, but it was like trading in the 3X pair of sweatpants for a more flattering, fitted look! I am so glad I was able to share my story that helped you create a wonderful success story you too can share!
I am working off a small regain right now - and I have tried and failed at this a few times this year. I am trying something quite different now - I think I will wait to see how successful I am at it before reporting out on it. Maintenance, for me, got much harder at the 3-4 year post op mark BUT I am still a normal sized woman, in good health - and THAT is my victory at the end of the day.

Wow I can’t believe the lack of Vet topics we have in this part of the forum. My Husband and I will be 4years VSG next weekend. When I first started researching VSG for us this was my bible. The amount of Vets that had so much good advice and were willing to share it freely. I know we all get on with our lives but I also know that we each have our own struggles and concerns.
Let’s try to be there for each other and make sure those that do pop in or comeback know that we want to help and that we appreciate them sharing their experiences.

I got converted from band to MGB. Helped my volume reflux issues a good deal but I wasn't able to cut the PPI out completely. There was a 20% chance that I wouldn't be able to cut them out and unfortunately I'm in the 20% crowd.
So it helped but not as much as I hoped it would.

Nice to see some friendly veterans around. I cannot answer more questions about stalls or Constipation and you guys never ask those!!
Life goes on. I'm a bit on the higher side than where I like to be. But very healthy and exercising and trying

So Glad you posted I used yourself and many others on so many occasions pre sleeve and after I had my sleeve for advice. Then I went back and read as much as possible about your plastics. I had plastics about 14 months ago but researched for a year prior to that. I also went overseas to have it done but went to Bangkok. Yourself and many others are surely missed. Your right we do get on with our lives but sometimes maintenance can be a b***h and unfortunately we are now in a position where there are only a small handful of people to get meaningful advice from. It’s a shame because by the time I went to see my Bariatric team pre-sleeve I was so so prepared because of everything that I had read and learned from here. I really hope I can find somewhere that will offer the same this far out in maintenance.

Hi I’m 4 years out and I agree it’s just as hard as the losing phase. This year seems to be the hardest for me. I’m sitting at 143 but really feel at my best at 132.
So much so that yesterday was my 4 year anniversary and today I decided to go back to 2 shakes and 1 high Protein meal for dinner. I’m very scared that I’m slipping into some bad habits so I figure I’m going to hate the shakes so I’ll think twice before letting the weight creep up again.
Great to know that it’s not just me and my Husband that think this way. Welcome back

How are you going with it

Oh and I believe in the set point theory too. It's definitely been my experience. My body decided where it wanted to be and I'd have to fight to go either way. My WL surgeon believes in it so much he doesn't set goal weight with his patients instead telling them, a 10% loss has these positive effects, a 20% loss has these, etx

Thank you so much. I'm going to try to go back to the basicsof for 10 days, then weigh in hoping to lose the 15 pounds in 10 days afterwards back to protein and veggies

Sent from my P00I using BariatricPal mobile app

Just to get back where I'm comfortable.

Hi I’m 4 years out and I agree it’s just as hard as the losing phase. This year seems to be the hardest for me. I’m sitting at 143 but really feel at my best at 132.
So much so that yesterday was my 4 year anniversary and today I decided to go back to 2 shakes and 1 high Protein meal for dinner. I’m very scared that I’m slipping into some bad habits so I figure I’m going to hate the shakes so I’ll think twice before letting the weight creep up again.
Great to know that it’s not just me and my Husband that think this way. Welcome back

Thanks for your comments I for one do miss the opportunity to speak with someone about where I’m at and how others coped with it or are coping with it. I know for a fact when I went to have my operation I went in with a wealth of knowledge that I got from this site. I don’t always agree with everything that was said but if I didn’t, I moved onto another thread. One that I did agree with or that gave me answers or something to think about.
Loosing the Long term Vets will never be a great thing.

I’m the same 4 years yesterday. I haven’t had to many nasty encounters but if I do I just move on. Like you I’m not on here often but I do like to hear about any changes anyone’s experiencing. I’m one of those people that likes to be pre-warned as to what’s coming and what others have done in the same situation. I’m about 11 over where I like to be. So for the next 2 weeks are going to be all about getting rid of anything that I shouldn’t be eating and back on a relatively clean eating plan. My exercise which consists of walking hasn’t changed in 4 years so I probably should start including some extra exercise but I’m not excited about that so I’ll see how I go after cleaning up my eating plan.

Hi I’m 4 years out and I agree it’s just as hard as the losing phase. This year seems to be the hardest for me. I’m sitting at 143 but really feel at my best at 132.
So much so that yesterday was my 4 year anniversary and today I decided to go back to 2 shakes and 1 high Protein meal for dinner. I’m very scared that I’m slipping into some bad habits so I figure I’m going to hate the shakes so I’ll think twice before letting the weight creep up again.
Great to know that it’s not just me and my Husband that think this way. Welcome back