Rogofulm

Ohhhhh... That's different. Never mind! -Emily Litella- (P.S. I take probiotics too; billions of them – literally!)

Lots of Protein and fluids, very low carbs, and don't worry about calories and fat has been my mantra throughout the 18-month "honeymoon period". And it worked! I got to goal weight in 10 months, and have kept it off for 10 months. BUT... In the past two months I've had to start working harder at maintaining. I've been eating tons of nuts as my go-to snack, but then a few pounds started to creep back on. I also tend to eat more cheese than I probably should. So maybe once our bodies settle-in for the long haul, calories start to matter again. Now I'm trying to cut back, and get my exercise levels back up to where they were when I was losing quickly. It seems to be working somewhat, but it's harder and slower than it used to be. So the lesson is this: the honeymoon period doesn't last forever, and we need to do everything we can to maximize our weight loss during that 12 to 18-month window!

Okay, a friend who had bariatric surgery two years ago was told by her doctor that studies show long-term use of Protonix, or other PPIs can leach calcium from your system, possibly leading to more brittle bones - especially in women. I haven't verified this, but it may be something to talk to our doctors about. [Dang, I love my PPIs!]

???????

This thread made me go back and find my Easy Way Out post from a few months back. It reminds me that anyone who would say that has no freakin' idea. A message from someone who had gastric sleeve surgery, lost 120 pounds, and is now living below goal weight..... Is this the "easy way out"? Well, yes and no. Yes, it's easi–er because the smaller stomach helps me control my appetite and the amount of food I can take in. Initially (but not forever), calories are greatly restricted because of the lesser volume consumed, but good choices still have to be made every single time I put something in my mouth. and... No, it's not easy, because since making this decision I have: Taken nutritional counseling classes Attended bariatric support group meetings Been evaluated by a psychologist Been evaluated by a cardiologist Been evaluated by a pulmonologist Had an upper GI evaluation Had a complete physical by my primary care physician Gone through a two-week pre-operative liquid diet Gone through and recovered from a major surgery that removed 80% of my stomach Gone through a two-week post operative liquid diet Gone through a two-week soft food diet Eaten zero starches (bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes, pizza, etc.) Eaten zero sugary Desserts (cake, pie, pudding, ice cream, candy, etc.) Eaten very few fruits Had zero fruit juices Had zero sodas Had zero alcoholic beverages Completely avoided the Snacks and treats people bring to work every day to share Eaten 80–100 grams of Protein every single day Not had anything to drink for 30-45 minutes before eating Not had anything to drink with meals Not had anything to drink for 30-45 minutes after eating But still managed to drink 64–120 ounces of fluids every single day Taken a handful of Vitamins and supplements every single day Planned what I will eat every single time I leave the house for more than an hour so as not to get caught without something appropriate to eat and drink Made sure that acceptable food and drink will be available every day at work Always eaten protein first Always eaten non-starchy vegetables second (and there's never room for anything else) Exercised 5-6 times a week Logged everything I ate or drank for several months, and again whenever my weight loss slowed And through it all, I've watched my friends and family eat and drink whatever they want at restaurants, birthdays, dinner parties, sporting events, New Year's, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and so on.... Now, does that sound like "the easy way"? Not by a long shot! (Just compare the Yes and No sections above.) But weight loss surgery is a tool that makes the likelihood of long-term success much better than it would be without it. And now that I'm in maintenance, I have to eat, drink, exercise, and live in such a way as to not regain the weight I've lost – for the rest of my life! My "Honeymoon Period" is over now. I get hungrier than before, so I have to stay extra vigilant not to eat too much. And if a few pounds creep in, I have to muscle them back down before they find friends. The easy way? Yeah, right!

Those are excellent points,@VSGAnn2014. And while I do emphasize high protein/low carb, I also eat veggies. I just don't often have room for them after eating my protein. But perhaps one way to do this is to use the veggies as between-meal Snacks. But simple carbs? [Gasp!] Thanks for the support! You rock!!!

18 months out from surgery; down 120 pounds; and bouncing up or down 3-4 pounds from goal weight for 10 months.... and I'm hungry all the time. I do everything we're supposed to do – every single day, but still... I drink at least 120 ounces of fluids and eat at least 100 grams of Protein every day, but still... I try to walk 2 miles or more 3-4 times a week, but still... So what's the answer? I'm coming to believe that my issue is "boredom eating", which needs a better name because it doesn't accurately describe the situation. When surfing the web, I'm not bored. When watching TV, I'm not bored. When doing mundane tasks, I'm not bored. but when I'm not actively engaged in something, either physical or mental, I find myself hungry all the time. But when I get busy with something, I can go hours without eating. So the better term would be "idle eating" or "mindless eating". Actually, I prefer "mindless eating" because it's the opposite of "mindful eating", which is what we should all practice. And surfing, TV watching, and mundane tasks are all somewhat mindless activities. So what should we do during down time that will keep our minds off of hunger? Any ideas?

Yep, me too... A warm cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa usually helps, plus a space heater. I used to tell my wife I could never retire down South because of the heat and humidity. Now it's the opposite, and I guess I can't retire North!

Okay, here goes.... 120 pounds down -- and trying to hang on for dear life!

My daughter is a Girl Scout and my wife is the "Cookie Mom" so we have cases of Cookies all over our house and garage. I even help my daughter deliver the orders. But I'm afraid of them, so I won't touch them. I feel like one cookie will lead to a sleeve (pun intended)! Actually, I'm pretty sure it won't, but that's what I tell myself to stay honest. Also, in maintenance I have to stay vigilant all the time, because when I let my guard down the weight starts creeping up. And then I have to work even harder to get it back down -- which is what I'm doing now, even without cookies. I'm battling a five pound gain back down to my comfort zone. Almost halfway there...

It's a mini-restart program for those who may have strayed from the path. You shouldn't need to think about it for at least 12-18 months, if at all.... hopefully!

Yeah, the "natural way" is for us to all grow or hunt our own food, build huts, walk everywhere, bathe in the river, not get immunizations or prescriptions, and die in our 30s. Everything else involves tools. Bariatric surgery is a tool. End of story.

Abuse is abuse and shouldn't be tolerated. As for relationships and WLS... Even strong relationships can be tested by the changes that come from major weight loss. Formerly comfortable spouses/partners may feel threatened by their newly trim SOs who have more self-confidence and feel more appealing than before. Those of us who have lost weight, need to recognize the pressure this can put on them, and make sure we keep reassuring them that we love and value them and have no interest in moving on from the relationship, no matter how much flattering attention and how many compliments we may receive. It can be really hard on our spouses/partners as we transition into "someone new" and they may fear that we will change in other ways, including how we feel about them. If we want to maintain our relationships, we need to make sure they know that we still find them attractive and that we love them unconditionally (assuming that's true). This is a bigger deal than most of us realized when we decided to have WLS. My wife suggests that bariatric doctors should provide information about the strain it can put on marriages and relationships as part of the pre-surgery education process.

If your book has a typo, have you checked the web site to see if it's correct there? Try here...

Yeah, nuts seem to be a problem for me. While not technically "sliders", they are a quick what to get in a whole lot of calories, and they're readily available 1/2 hour later for another handful. I've gotta lay off 'em. Thanks, @@CowgirlJane for confirming my suspicion!

Seriously? 8.5 weeks out and you're thinking about having pizza? [sorry, the judgmental me kicked in there.] Okay, here are some thoughts to consider.... Re-read the material your doctor and nutritionist gave you about what to eat and what not to eat. What does it say about carbs, especially starches? Understand that making those types of choices can slow down your weight loss dramatically. Is that something that you can tolerate emotionally? Is it worth slowing down your progress for pizza? You have a 12-18 month "honeymoon period" to lose as much as you can and to learn good eating habits. Then it gets harder. The longer you stay away from trigger foods, the less power they will have over you. If you absolutely, positively, cannot live without pizza, do as others have suggested and just have the toppings but no crust. If you stay away from starches and sugars completely, calories and fat don't have as big an impact on your progress, at least during the first year or so. Not a sermon, just some thoughts.... Good luck and be strong!

I eat nothing BUT protein, pretty much. I just seem to need to feel full all the time. I remember this from the bad old days, so it concerns me somewhat. But it usually happens when I'm not very busy or watching TV, so it may be a boredom eating thing.

Yup, hair loss happens because a higher percentage of your follicles go dormant during extreme weight loss. The good news is that after a while they wake back up. As @@Katnroyal said, eat your Protein, drink tons of fluids, take Biotin, and wait it out. It should only be a temporary problem. Don't let it deter you from your goal!

For the past 6 months I've been fighting a 4-pound battle. It goes up for a while, then I knock it back down, then it goes up again. And I'm really not doing much different, EXCEPT.... It seems to go up whenever I get less rigorous about the not eating and drinking rule. When I eat almonds and drink Crystal Light too close together, the fullness goes away and I'm hungry again almost immediately. So I reach for another handful. The last time it stayed up for a while, dry-roasted peanuts were involved, so I probably need to take a break from the nuts! I also fall into the trap of wanting to feel full all the time. Does anyone else have that issue? Just got to stay mindful and vigilant at all times and realize that this is what we signed up for. I'd sure rather battle 4 pounds than 120!!!

I agree with @Sajijoma. Although I don't eat any of the the crap I loved and craved before WLS, I don't feel like I'm on a diet. In fact, post-surgery it never felt like a diet. It's just a new and healthier way of eating. Surprisingly, choosing not to be tempted by those old foods is pretty liberating. Go figure...

Yeah, if you want to call it "obsessing". I still think about what I'm going to eat all the time. But from a much better perspective. I've kind of gotten to the "eat to live" part of the journey. Don't get me wrong, I still have to make good choices every time, and I struggle with wanting to feel full all day long, but I try to manage it with healthy choices. My family will tell you that I obsess about THEIR eating habits more than my own. The hardest part is trying not to be critical of their food choices. And I often fail at this. My wife and daughter call me "Mr. No Fun" when it comes to food. I can live with that, but I need to get better about not imposing my lifestyle on them.

Congrats on your continued success after 4 years!!! Your before and after pix show what a total body transformation you have made! Like you, I've settled into a routine that keeps me comfortable and satisfied. Whenever my weight creeps up by 2-3 pounds, I jump on it and push it back down. At 18 months, so far so good. But the road ahead is long.....

I echo all the good advice you have already received from your BP friends! Here's my formula: Get back on the scale regularly. Knock off the carbs and the sugar. No liquid empty calories (fruit juices, sugary drinks, ice cream, etc.) Go easy on the booze (or none at all). It's empty calories that can lead to bad choices. Separate eating and drinking by 1/2 hour. Get 64-128 oz of Fluid in every day. Get 80-100 grams of Protein in every day. Get some exercise at least 3-4 times per week. Drink a Protein shake before an event to control your hunger. Plan, plan, plan, so you never get caught off-guard without a food/drink safety net You know this drill because you've been through it before. And if... IF, you cheat, get back on your program immediately! Not tomorrow, and definitely not next Monday -- that's the kind of thinking that got us here. Do the 5-day Pouch Test to jump start your program again. Basically, it runs you through the post-surgery stages in five days and brings back the restriction and feeling of fullness. It also detoxes you from the less-than-optimal foods you have been eating so you don't crave them as much. I tried it a couple of months ago and it worked! Good luck! You got this!!! [fist bump]