Macsgrandma03

Exercise, exercise and more exercise. There are lots of contributing factors with excess skin - age, how long you've been overweight, genetics, etc. I have sagging skin and I think of it as a tax I have to pay for allowing my life to get out of control.
I found that once I started yoga, the sagging in my arms wasn't as bad (the bat wings) and my legs had more definition as opposed to sagging skin at the knees. I am starting weights again now and I can see better definition in my arms.

I was told there'd be no math....
No, seriously. I hate math. And if I need to use it for maintenance I'm seriously screwed.

VSGAnn2014, first of all, congratulations on hitting your one-year surgiversary, and on getting there with flying colors! You are a model patient, and your doctor must love seeing and talking to you because you’re so successful and because she knows you’ll follow her advice!
Wow, thanks for much for all of this insight! You got a lot of good news, which you deserve. Great news about the continued low ghrelin levels. I’ve seen some varied information from different studies – some with good news and some with predictions that it might rise again – but your doctor should know best!
I’m not surprised, but I am glad, to hear that your metabolism should stay consistent. That makes sense, as long as your body and activity stay consistent.
So it sounds like now, “all” you need to worry about is the rest of your life. Welcome to maintenance! As I am sure you already know, the biggest thing (at least for me and many others) is staying motivated and focused when the scale isn’t going down all the time. But you can do it!

I had VSG surgery on August 18, 2014 -- one year and two weeks ago. Today I met with my bariatric P.A. for my one-year post-op review. She's extremely sharp and keeps up to date on bariatric surgery post-treatments, nutrition, behavioral issues and emerging news. She attends bariatric conferences often and reads all the new studies.
She was the one who encouraged me at four months post-op to move from 800 calories/day to 1,000 calories by Month Six and to 1,200 calories by Month Eight. She said that would help me to prevent my metabolism from accustoming itself to the very low calorie post-op menus we are restricted to with tiny, swollen stomachs.
Apparently, it worked: I am maintaining a 143 pound weight and eating 1,700 calories a day.
I've had an exceptional Year One. I've reached my weight loss goal and am 7 pounds lower than that. I feel great. My blood panel test results are 100% great. No shortages at all. In my opinion I've done everything right. I eat 3 meals and 2 Snacks. I don't graze. I eat nutritious food. Most days my Protein grams hit or exceed 100. I typically eat 5 healthy vegetables and fruits each day and eat at least 21 grams of Fiber (the daily requirement for women). My muscle mass is exceptional for my age (I'm almost 70). I no longer need knee replacement surgery. I walk most days, do yoga and strength training.
So today what I really wanted to know and what I asked her were these questions, along with her answers:
1. What should I expect during Year Two?
You've done really well with weight loss surgery. You've already been maintaining your weight for the last 4 months. In Year Two you can expect more of the very same challenges you've already been dealing with since you reached goal -- planning and eating nutritious meals, focusing on regular exercise, not overeating, and staying focused and motivated. It's important to stay connected to us if you have any questions or changes in how you feel or your health. Staying connected to us is one of the best things you can do. All the research shows that you're much more likely to be successful long-term if you don't "fade" away and try to deal with all the challenges you're having by yourself.
(That made me feel pretty good. )
2. During Year Two, will my body start to produce and release more ghrelin and will my pre-op hunger levels return?
No, the ghrelin doesn't come back. Yes, I know that myth is out there and considered to be true. But it's not true. Yes, you may experience "head hunger" or boredom that could lead you to start eating food full of empty calories that don't help you achieve satiety. And eating those empty "slider" calories will make you want more of them. That's the same "head hunger" challenge you've always had to contend with. Again, no, the ghrelin doesn't "grow back."
(Needless to say, her predictions about ghrelin not coming back just thrilled the hell out of me!)
3. Will my metabolism lower for any reasons, requiring me to eat less?
Not unless you stop exercising or your muscle mass goes down significantly. Also, you're already eating "good" foods, not high-sugar, high-carb foods. The nutritious foods you're eating (protein, veggies, fibrous fruits, whole grain foods) require your body to work harder to digest them. A diet high in slider foods (chips, Cookies, candy, ice cream, sugary drinks) wouldn't make those digestive and metabolic demands of your body. Just keep doing what you're doing now, and your metabolism should remain the same.
(Whew!)
I know that only time will tell how I do. But I now feel like I have a very good chance of keeping my weight down and remaining slim and healthy going forward. BTW, she told me about patients of hers who are 5 and 6 years out who are as slim now as they were when they first reached their weight goals.
So take that, b*****s!
:)

I am 16 months out. I never made goal I still need to lose 40 pounds . My lowest weight was 173 in August. I had gained weight and was at 187 at my dr. Visit last week. Needless to say my surgeon challenged me to lose 10 pounds in two months. Told him I thouj my sleeve was broken. Turns out I have been grazing. I kept saying few snack won't hurt me. They have killed me and Im so mad at myself. I'm going to Paris in June and want to look fab.
This week went back to basics and have lost 6 pounds since monday. I have gone back to basics as everyone on here suggested and it works. 1 Protein shake in morning , greek yogurt for lunch. Lean Protein for snack when get home from work. Additional lean protein around 7 pm. Also have gotten in all my Water something I never did before. Keeping my carbs at 20 grams and my protein at 90. I am so grateful. That I have this forum to see that I'm not alone on this journey

To try and figure this out will absolutely drive one crazy. I know because I've been trying to figure this whole thing out since I hit goal about 4 months ago. I'm consistantly losing about 1lbs a week, with increasing my calories to 1200 per day. I went and saw my surgeon last week and told him I didn't want to continue losing so he brought out this cool machine that subtracted the weight of your clothes, factured your age and helight and then you step on the built-in scale. It said for me to maintain the weight I'm at right now my basal caloric intake needs to be 1338. So I'm going with this for the next 6 weeks to see what happens.
It's all just about finding that balance, everyone is different and there are so many factors involved it's definitely a trial and error period but we'll get there. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming:-)

Anything with low nutritional value that "slides" down easily and does not contribute to long term satiety. chips, Cookies, ice cream, coffee Creamer, etc. I haven't "sworn off" these, but find ways to have them in a portion controlled manner working them into my nutritional plan for the day. I never eat chips or crackers out of the bag\box and will do Weight Watchers ice cream bars since they are single packaged, counting them into my daily totals AFTER I've met my Protein requirements.

Sounds to me like you aren't getting enough calories.

Venti Iced Passion Tea for me! Takes a long time to drink, no caffeine and counts towards my Water - AND is super flavorful. Tell them no Syrup (sweetener) or to add a packet of your choice. I bring my own stevia usually, or ask for Equal if i forget.

So why are you limiting your calories to such a low level? You are what, 7 weeks out, so you should be at least on soft foods. Just eat balance meals...protein first, plus veggies and healthy carbs, plenty of Water and get in your Vitamins. If you are dizzy and lightheaded you are starving your body or at least depriving your body of something it needs.
Oh, and I've never counted calories. I just eat when I'm hungry, make good choices and always get in plenty of Protein and Water.< /p>

Tomorrow I'll be four weeks post op, and I couldn't be happier with how things are going! I'm down 30 lbs (including pre op week) and am really starting to see a difference in my body! I'm back to work tomorrow, which is kind of a bummer, but I'm looking forward to getting back to a routine! Hope everyone is doing well!!!
HW - 262
SW - 249 (7/28/24)
CW - 231.2 (8/24/14)

Had a hellish summer that is ending much better than it began. My divorce is in progress and I'm putting one foot in front of the other. Tomorrow my girls return to college and although we've been cramped where we're currently living, I will miss them terribly. Scared of what the next few months will bring. I won't eat over this. I won't! I'm telling everyone here, right now, that I'm focusing on taking good care of myself and will continue to make progress in my weight loss while I face these scary challenges. That is all.
I don't know if that's a rant or a rave but I needed to say it!

I'm three months out and I haven't had trouble eating anything (though I haven't tried anything "bad"). I can and do eat salad. I absolutely looove salad, but since I'm looking for nutritional density, I don't often do lettuce based salads. I can eat a fair amount at once, but lettuce just takes up too much room to be worth it nutritionally. So, nice crunchy salads with chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, chickpeas, etc are a great summer choice for me!

Continuing my crusade to take the fear and anxiety out of The Dreaded Week-3 Stall, I refer you to this link in another forum. It explains that no, we're not crazy, and our doctor didn't screw up our surgery. The stall has a biological explanation that goes back to our caveman beginnings. Check it out and feel better! http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.php

I don't think "horror stories" are bull. At all. Who would make that stuff up? I just think some people have a hard time with recovery.
Others have an easier time, but don't post as much about their journey because they're out looking for a gym, mowing the yard, planting the back forty.
That's why I love this particular thread. It balances out the reporting.

@@Melanieada I was sleeved on July 29th and have felt great since the day after surgery. I have not had any complications, there have been times when I either ate too much or didn't chew thoroughly enough and my sleeve definitely let me know. I have been astounded by just how well I feel. Just remember our sleeve is a tool and we have to make good choices. Wishing you continued success!

It's not PMS. They are getting on your nerves. You are being asked to survive on liquids. Hang in there girl.

Everyone will be different, but so far I've lost 26.6 lbs. I'm three weeks post op, and that loss includes my pre op diet week weight loss. Post surgery is 13.6 lbs. I'm averaging 4.5 lbs per week post op, and I think that's awesome!!! . I'm 35 years old, 5'5", and my starting weight before preop diet was 262.

First week on liquids I lost 15. Total after 5 weeks is 28lbs. (Only counting from surgery--not counting pre surgery weight loss)

I'm 4 months out and it takes some getting used to. I don't get hunger pains and/or the signals of 'hunger' like I did pre-op but I have learned to listen to my body now. First I always try and eat on a schedule (3 meals/day plus 1 small morning snack) but on days when I get too busy and forget and/or I am expending a lot more energy it will catch up to me. Typically I will catch myself getting super irritated, catch myself yawning a lot (even though I'm not tired) or I just don't feel right (woozy, grumpy etc) and I KNOW I need to eat something or in some cases drink some Water.
Just pay attention to your body, it will tell you what it wants/needs and don't skip meals

I've noticed everyone is different in how their tummy's let them know when they are full. I get a funny sensation across the top of my tummy that lets me know it's full. It's kind of a heavy feeling. If I ignore this sensation & take another bite or two then I am miserable for an hour or two. So not worth it!!

I needed to share this with people who would appreciate it. I just tried on and fit into AND BOUGHT SIZE 10 jeans!!!!!! Size 10!!! I dont EVER remember being a size 10! YAHOO!!
Ok, thanks for listening!

LOL. You almost caused a campus-wide lockdown, girl!

@@katonaboat
that is funny
sadly,. this day and age, everything out of the norm has to be questioned
i'm sure you know that too (thats why you posted this as being funny )
did they throw the book at you by telling you that you MUST drink Protein drinks for the next year?
Oh no
that is a punishment worse than death
kathy

This is one of the funniest and most accurate descriptions I've read here. Thanks for sharing!