bengaldude

Dude, I'm right at 2 years post surgery. I know that's not several as you mentioned but it has been a while. There have been a lot of ups and downs during that time. I actually blew right through my goal weight set by my surgical team. The goal was 175 from 252, and this morning I was at 157. My new approach to eating has become my new normal and my family has adjusted to it. It has been hardest on my wife because so much of our identity as a couple was wrapped up in food. Date nights at nice restaurants, that sort of thing. I never really adopted the eat slow thing and it always bothered my wife that I would be done eating 10 minutes with two thirds of a plate of food and it was kinda awkward while I sat there watching her eat. In addition, I've lost so much weight that she puts too much pressure on herself. Having said that, we have pretty much adjusted. I no longer track my food intake. I pretty much eat what I want because I am vigilant about getting my protein still. I still do protein first and I believe that naturally limits how much I can consume. I also keep bread to a very minimum. I never eat hamburger buns anymore, and generally just have a few bites of a roll or whatever. I enjoy the taste but I have limited space for food and don't want to fill up in bread. I also don't try to push it. However, when we go out to eat now, I eat till I'm full, we chat and stuff for a while, and after some time passes I eat some more. In normal terms I still don't eat that much, maybe a third to at the most half of a meal out. It seems like so much to me given how little I used to eat, but she reminds me that there is another meal sitting there on my plate for me to eat later. I don't stress about my weight but I am vigilant. I weight myself several times a week still. If I've dropped more than I want I eat pasta or whatever to get it back up a pound or two. If I'm a bit high I focus on protein or reducing carbs to drop it back a couple pounds. I figure I will be vigilant the rest of my life but I don't dwell or focus on it. I see myself as a fat person in a skinny person's body and I don't want the fat suit back. To me, the vigilance is the key. I know it is sacrilege for many, but I really do eat what I want. If I want spaghetti I eat spaghetti. I eat more sauce perhaps for the protein, but I eat what I want when I want it. Even with that I am more more apt to lose weight than gain weight. I still have a hard time getting enough calories. Even eating what I want I am generally in the 1500-1800 calorie range. My unscientific opinion is that you are more likely to gain weight if you graze than eating whatever you want. Again, sacrilege I know, but I just can't eat that much. The sleeve works for me. Regarding the transition to maintenance, it is scary. I was terrified when I was ready to stop losing weight. My entire focus up to that point was losing, and the notion of maintenance was unsettling. I was used to exercising all the time, counting calories, etc, and for a while in maintenance I totally stressed about my food intake and all that. However, as time passes, your new reality takes shape and you stop stressing about it so much. Constant vigilance, but not stress and worry. You didn't mention it but regarding drinking, I have had some challenges. For a while, I drank more than I should. I also couldn't really drink beer for a long time so I drank the hard stuff. Trouble is, with the sleeve liquor hits me like a hammer. And oh yeah, I've lost more than a third of my body weight, so I'm a cheap date. I've had more than my share of blackouts in the last year, which terrified me. I have since stopped drinking the hard stuff. I have developed an affinity for craft beer and enjoy a couple of those. Stouts and porters tend to have less carbonation and I have found that I enjoy drinking those. I also ensure that I don't drink on an empty stomach. It just hits me too hard. The advice I would offer is to listen to the advice you read and ignore the nazis. Live your life. If you are vigilant (yeah I know I keep using that word), you will find your new normal and roll with it. This may be a bit rambling as my coffee hasn't kicked in yet, but I hope it helps!!

I started at 252 with a BMI of 39.5 (much shorter than you). I'm about 19 months post-op, and I guess what I say is don't sweat it. I was at goal at 15 months and 10 pounds under a bit after that. Been maintaining for a good four months now. I can pretty much eat what I want but I avoid bread as much as possible (and still focus on Protein first). You totally obsess the first year (at least I did and many of the people that post here did as well), but if you are smart it comes off. I hit a rough patch between months 9-12 but easily got back on track. It is really becoming the new normal, but I still can struggle if I get stressed because my good buddy food can't ease me through it like it used to be able to.

19 months out. First 6 months were awesome. Then the next 3 months I started drinking and stopped paying attention to what I was doing. Didn't lose any weight and got chewed out by my team. Started focusing again and hit goal 3 months later, losing 90% or so of excess weight. I've maintained for 7 months now. I weigh 2x a week and if I swing more than 3 pounds either way I course correct for a few days. I don't count or weigh, and I do drink liquor, but I still focus on protein first which leaves little room for junk. Example, had an 8oz filet on Saturday. Ate it first. Then 2 small bites of baked potato and 2 small bites of bread and I was done. My surgeon says my stomach is at its normal size going forward unless I consistently over eat, which I don't do. If this is my steady state and I remain vigilant I have the tool I need for long term success, which as a couple other posts said is why I also did it in the first place. I freaked out early on that I wasn't losing enough and all that, but looking back, except for when I screwed up, it melted off.

Yup. Unfortunately I wasn't able to give up the CPAP, had to get it adjusted down though.

My sleep pattern changed as well. I had to have my cpap adjusted. Losing weight meant I needed less pressure.

Dr. Trace Curry in Cincinnati

Too many calories. I was almost a year out before consistently going over 1000 calories. My target for the longest was 500-800

Sore backside- I actually have a tailbone now. And tummy issue #2, and heartburn. Used to never get heartburn

Since my surgery a year ago I get heartburn if I drink water. I drink mainly crystal light lemonade and KROGER brand vitamin water 0 calorie. Really like the orange and the lemonade favors. I have found I spend more on drinks now than I used to pre-op because of my issue with water.

Since my surgery a year ago I get heartburn if I drink water. I drink mainly crystal light lemonade and KROGER brand vitamin water 0 calorie. Really like the orange and the lemonade favors. I have found I spend more on drinks now than I used to pre-op because of my issue with water.

I hate too baggy clothes. I went from a 40 to a loose 32 and xxl shirt to medium in 10 months. I bought 36" and a lot of 34". My old "skinny" size was 34 and I didn't really expect to go lower. I'm carrying weight differently though and am now in a loose 32."

It's kinda weird seeing June sleevers start to join together... June 2016 that is. I think June sleevers I think 2015, not 2016. Hard to believe it has almost been a year. A lot has changed.

I mixed grape juice and water 50/50 for the first few weeks. Helped me out.

I started taking it about 4 months ago on the recommendation of my WLS surgeon. Couldn't seem to shake the depression/mood swings/anger that started a couple weeks after surgery ( I am now 10 months post op). Took a bit more than a month for it to do its thing. It really doesn't make me feel different at all, other than I feel on a more even keel. My anger is manageable now, but I don't really feel different, which I see as a positive. It helps my mood without zonking me out, cranking me up, or giving me side effects that are no fun like I got on Lexapro several years ago. My wife was very leery of me starting it but she has believes it has been positive thus far.