IcanMakeit

Starting weight: 244 (BMI 43.2) Surgery weight (5/12/14): 202 Current weight: 110 (BMI 19.5)

Make it myself? That's crazy talk! Actually that is what my husband and I concluded during the meal. We have a really good wok. What's stopping us from using it, other than inertia?

@@lclemur Do your son's future wife a favor and explain to him that there are a few things that it's never ok to say.

I am 13 months out from my vertical sleeve surgery and my surgeon recently commented that I have lost over 120% of my excess weight (from 244 down to 110). I think the statistics that lead surgeons to believe that the gastric bypass was more efficacious than the sleeve were from studies that looked at one year to 18 months results. At two years, the stats for both surgeries are about the same. Don't make your decision based on estimates of possible weight loss. Either WLS can be successful if you follow your surgeon's instructions and either can fail due to noncompliance with the bariatric program. If you decide that you are willing to make the lifelong changes that WLS requires, choose the type of surgery based on the one you believe will do the most to improve your long term health and the least to harm it. For me, that was VSG. For someone else, it might be GB.

@@lclemur I have had the same thought. My weight loss was pretty steady and I exercised very moderately (and sporadically). I know exercise is important for health, but maybe there's such a thing as too much exercise?

I used to get frightened stares from small children, like they thought I got so big by eating kids. I don't miss that.

Yeah, I regretted the surgery for about a month after I admitted to myself that WLS was not magic that would cause me to lose weight without effort. When I truly accepted that I would have to make real changes in my lifestyle in order to be successful, I was as petulant as a thwarted 2 year old. But now I actually like my new way of eating. I now tend to make healthy food choices as a matter of habit, with no thought or effort required. I am so glad I decided to have the VSG. It has given me back my health.

For me, the best way to avoid inadvertent overeating when eating out is to portion out the proper amount at the beginning of the meal before you start eating. You can then ask for a to go box and pack up the rest while it's still appetizing and undisturbed and take it home for another couple of meals. This tends to help me slow down as well. I'm distracted from my hunger while I'm taking care of this small chore. In fancy, gourmet restaurants, I just separate my food on the same plate and then remind myself that the second portion is not to be eaten yet. I know that some people think it's gauche to ask for a doggy bag, but I don't feel embarrassed at all.

I'm sorry you had to deal with a clueless jerk. While it is not ok to return rudeness with rudeness, you are not obligated to continue an uncomfortable conversation. Next time this happens, change the subject -- Clueless Jerk: "Wow, I'll bet you lost more than 100 lbs, right?" You: "How are things with you?" Clueless Jerk: "No really, how much weight have you lost?" You: "My family is doing well. Oh, there's Mary. I'd better go say hello."

I had my one year post-surgical follow up appointment today. My surgeon was very pleased with my lab results and confirmed that I am now healthy. His only caution was that he wants my weight to stabilize, since I lost a few more pounds since my 9-month checkup. It would not be healthy to lose anymore. This is not news to me. I don't want to fade away -- I want to stay healthy and vital. But I am worried about adding calories to stop the weight loss. In the past, when I loosened the reins on my self control, I lost it and slipped back into my old eating patterns. Have I really learned anything this past year or am I still the same person? I will keep checking in here and updating my food/exercise log on MFP. These are new behaviors that I hope will reinforce my determination not to backslide.

I didn't have popcorn at the movies yesterday. I want my first popcorn post surgery (I'm just over one year out) to taste good and be relatively healthy. That means homemade, and not microwave. I'm definitely going to have it in the next couple of weeks. The popcorn odor at the theatre has awoken my popcorn awareness. I just hope I can eat it responsibly now. In the past I used to over indulge.

I'm down to 110. I guess I'll have to start working on building more muscle. All I do is cardio.

Although you love him, and worry about him, he has to make his own choices about his health and the food he eats. Your suggestions are probably counterproductive. He resents your interference so he doesn't really get anything positive out of your advice. The best thing you can do is back off from trying to make him see things your way and hope that your example convinces him down the road.

When I used to diet, I found it helpful to start with a "cleanse." Making a drastic change in my eating habits for a few days did seem to help me take my diet seriously. For a while. But now I'm leaving the diet mentality behind. Now I'm concentrating on nutrition and controlling recreational eating for the long term.

The goal of 135 lbs. was set by my surgeon as a weight that I could definitely achieve. It was not my personal goal. I remembered that I was a bit chubby at 135. My original goal was 125. That was what I weighed when I was taking tons of dance classes in college. But when I hit 125, I still had back fat and love handles, so I understood that I must have a lot less muscle now than I did when I was dancing, and should either weigh less or build up more muscle. But now at 110, most of my remaining fat is concentrated in my abdomen and arms. I have a LOT of loose skin in both places, accompanied by residual fat. I don't know my body fat percentage. My guess is that it is not too low. Although my legs look toned and my ribs show, the rest of me is still pretty soft.

Although I started this process to improve my health and longevity, I am really enjoying my new thinness. I have never been this thin before, not even in high school or college. This is a novelty that I admit to getting a real kick out of. But, even though I think I am still fine, I'm aware that my BMI is approaching the "underweight" level. Although I love fitting into size 4's, improving my health is still my goal. Being underweight at my age is not advantageous. What I really want is to maintain at my current weight, or maybe a pound or two higher. I really don't want to get on the regain express. My sister listened to all of the critics who said she was too thin after her RNY, and ended up gaining 30 unwanted pounds on top of the few that she intended. Now she struggles to lose and then regains again, never reaching the healthy BMI level again. Her weight is less than it was pre-surgery, but she is overweight again and her previous health problems are returning. This is what I want to avoid. I have already added calories and fruit carbs into my diet. But I feel it is important to continue to implement the way of eating that I used to lose weight, with modifications to stop the weight loss. It's not that I cannot ever enjoy ice cream for dessert. It's that I have to remain judicious in my indulgences. No matter how thin I am now, if I go back to my old habits, I will definitely go back to my old weight and comorbidities. So I'm not listening to people to who tell me to gain weight. They won't have to deal with the repercussions if I gain back too much. Losing more than 130 pounds was not easy, even with the VSG. I'm in no hurry to gain weight and have to try to do it again.

I'm so envious. You look great. You are very fortunate to have great insurance. My loose skin is much worse than yours was, but my insurance turned me down for just the panni. It's crazy how our health decisions are so controlled by insurance company caprice.

I am happy to hear that so far chemotherapy is tolerable and that Dave is doing well. But it really steams me that you have to waste your energy battling with your insurance company at this time. Those people have no shame. I also want to say that your wisdom and positivity is inspirational. I don't think many people could handle what you are going through with such grace.

I've lost another pound over the past few weeks. I increased my calories by about 150 and loosened the reins on my carbs, but I also started walking daily at around the same time. I guess that canceled out my extra calories. I don't want to lose anymore, but I don't want to start gaining, either. I know that for me, gaining weight would be automatic, if I go back to my old ways. But on the other hand, it's not good to be underweight when you're over 60. I need to get to the right balance. It's a learning process.

@@gowalking, we have similar stats and I have the same, exact worries that you expressed. I plan to continue to check in here every day. I believe it helps me to stay focused on my health when otherwise life and other concerns would crowd out my efforts to stay slim, and after a few months, I could find myself slipping back into old habits.

I am late finding this great post. Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishment. You have, with the help of your lapband, turned your health around. Your story was one that I found most inspirational when I was new to BP. Have a fabulous trip. I have been to London several times, but I would love to go back now that I am so much more fit. I would love, love, love a bike tour of Hyde Park.

My VSG was in May 2014 and I have lost all of my excess weight. The VSG worked for me because I followed my surgeon's program as closely as I could. From my observations, that is the most important factor determining success or failure. The people who seriously follow the guidelines almost always lose most of their excess weight. It is a wonderful tool. The VSG gives you some months (it varies) when you are more in control of your food intake because your hunger is greatly diminished, but it doesn't make your food choices for you. Most VSG patients can eat most things (although in smaller quantities) once their stomachs have healed. You are wise to question yourself and learn about the successes and failures of others before committing yourself to surgery. When your surgery date finally comes, you will feel informed and confident. Good luck.

Now I wish I had waited a bit for a few more responses, but I ordered the Fitbit Charge HR. I wanted to receive it in time for my anniversary tomorrow so I jumped on the first few recommendations. I'm excited about getting a new toy!

I only weighed myself once a week during the weight loss phase. Weight fluctuates so much from day to day that you will drive yourself nuts if you weigh daily while trying to lose weight. But now that I'm in maintenance, I do weigh every day. I want to be able to spot and deal with any problems as early as possible. I make sure I weigh in, wearing nothing, first thing in the morning before my first glass of water every time.

I'm glad your outcome was so positive, and it's great that you really appreciate what you have accomplished. Brava! I am looking forward to having abdominoplasty next year. Your post makes me regret even more that I had to put mine off for so long.