naturegirl

The sleeve would work perfectly if I didn't like to snack! OMG, it's tough. I am at my heaviest since surgery :-( I am thinking of doing a re-set of such even though it's a "fad" but sometimes you need to try whatever you think might work for you. I kept my weight off for the most part with a ten pound leeway for 5 years. I recently had to return to the bakery which my husband and I own and the snacking seems to be a little out of control (as I am sure many of you can imagine!) As I have said before, be strong if you would like to snack - that is what has sabotaged me. I think I can still go down to maybe 160/165, but aren't we all just tired of diets? The whole point to this surgery for me. But we can do it!

Go back to eating your Protein first. If you do that, there is no room to drink or eat too much of anything else.
The July 4th weekend was full of wonderful food and I found myself putting too much on my plate. I then slipped on the eat protein first rule and ate too much of the side dishes before finishing my protein. So the new rule for me at party like events will be to get the protein first and eat it, then go back for the side dishes.

I really wish that initial restriction could last forever! I can't eat as much as before surgery obviously, but I think I can overeat by a little bit if I don't stop myself.

I'm just shy of being two years out. I do not have diarrhea or any other complications, but occasionally do experience nausea when I eat too fast, foods that are too heavy, or too many carbs. I did manage to get down to 145 pounds, but felt unhealthy. My sweet spot is 152 (150 was pushing it). I'm hoovering 156-58 right now and need to lose and stabilize again as I can see bad habits creeping back in.
As for regain, that will depend on your habits; what you're eating, how much, and exercise. My husband was sleeved a month before me and was doing great the first 6 months. He was physically active riding his bike and watching what he ate. Then he accepted a new job and we moved out of state. He became less active and his new employer provided a buffet style lunch daily. This did him in. He had put back on 60+ pounds of the 100 pounds lost in 1.5 years.
For a long time he blamed it primarily on what I cooked for dinner (the meal we eat together), as I haven;t changed all of our eating habits. But has instead come to realize that he eats too much socially at lunch because he has everything available to him. He doesn't bring his lunch like I do. Plus portion sizes are too big, as opposed to my dessert plate with tiny portions. He's also less physically active due to a longer commute among other reasons.
Now he has always been able to consume everything and anything since starting on solids. We joked then that he had the sleeve of steel, where nothing bothered him. His doctor did comment at one point that his sleeve is larger than some of the others, meaning he removed less stomach; but I'm not sure if that's true. He is currently looking at a revision to his sleeve as his is considered to have been a failure.

I'm trying to focus on a few things, 1) eat slower so that I do not need to feel like I need to consume more, 2) less mindless snacking; is it hunger or head hunger, and 3) be purposeful in what I eat.
I knew that today at work my schedule would be tight and I wasn't sure if I would be able to actually have lunch as meetings were taking place before, during, and after my normal lunch hour. So I stopped at Kroger and picked up deviled eggs. More fat that I should probably have, but carbs are low and Protein decent. I needed something that would not make me feel guilty like a carb laden food. Plus it was something that I could eat during a short break that required no heating.

I work a desk job and was back at 1.5 weeks. No issues to be concerned about at all. I just made sure to keep hydrated.

Thanks for the responses! She called me today and I believe some of the things I said are sinking in, plus her ins requires a 6 month diet. She mentioned that having surgery a few weeks before a company party that involves travel & centers around food/drinking would be difficult. It brought me back to the days of scouring a restaurants menu online to determine what I would order.

If your friend isn't smart enough to know the Dr is trying to sell her something you can't really help her.
If she was really your friend she would know you have her best interests at heart.
Also this Dr is slick as he'll. He left out the reason that most people don't have excess skin is they never lose to a healthy weight. If people hit the average WLS success of 50% of excess weight they won't have loose skin.
It sucks someone is out here setting unrealistic expectations like that but from reading forums it seems more typical than we want to believe.
Just be kind and helpful where you can and let her draw her conclusions.

Unfortunately, the only way some individuals learn is by putting their hands into the fire and being burned. Some would say that the best way to learn is through experience.
The informal schools such as 'Baptism by Fire' and 'The School of Hard Knocks' are the some of the most effective educational institutions for the more stubborn people among us.
In other words, she'll learn the hard way. I wouldn't expend any further time and energy advising someone who thinks she knows it all and won't seriously consider the advice.

I haven;t used anything on my scars and they have faded considerably after two years. Honestly, these scars are better than the stretch marks that I have in terms of fading

One of my favorite grab and go lunches might be the healthiest, but I like it. I purchased a bag of frozen meatballs at Coscto, carbs are very low and Protein high. The serving size is 5, but I only eat 3-4 and am full. Season with salt/pepper. I snack on cheese during the day too.

Welcome! So happy you are here. We are all in this together and here to help support one another. It sounds like you have a great insight on what you should do and what you need to cut back on. Stair breaks are awesome, keep those up for sure! As far as snacks, I wouldn't be the best one to ask about that since I try my hardest to avoid them. Rooting for you!!

This is a normal reaction. We get concerned that once we start eating again the weight will return rather than continue to be lost. The concern continues as we hit plateaus in our journey. Do not let these feelings control you. Your weight will ebb and flow as you progress in your journey. Rest in knowing that your body is reacting to new foods or new portion sizes and will adjust accordingly. As long as you follow your guidelines including portion size and foods to eat/avoid you should be fine and these concerns non-existent.

Well, if it is insurance paying for this, then I can totally see why they are doing this. Some insurance carriers make you jump through tons of hoops to get approved. Very aggravating I agree.

My surgery date is the 18th... I can only do shakes and 2 yogurts... no Jello, no nothing : (

Thanks for the encouragement!! I can already see the agitation soon to set in

My observation is that there are a couple of different approaches. There are those who have to cut everything cold turkey so that they won't be on a slippery slope back to where they were, and there are those who need to feel like they have wiggle room. I think this is a personality issue rather than a success issue, too.
I don't do well with mega-restrictions. I personally don't feel that there is anything that is off limits, but there are plenty of things that are poor choices. So I have a commitment to tracking everything and making good choices 90% of the time.

We have "nicer" fast food places that have a lot of choices here, like Patio and Portillos, and if we do fast food, that's where we tend to go. It's really rare that I will order a burger these days but if I do I like to order a better one than a McD's and eat half of it or less.

You can't make someone want to do it. You can suggest it, but ultimately they have to be 100% on board with it. This is especially true if your insurance is paying for it and requires a psych evaluation to be completed prior to surgery approval.

You can't make someone want to do it. You can suggest it, but ultimately they have to be 100% on board with it. This is especially true if your insurance is paying for it and requires a psych evaluation to be completed prior to surgery approval.

I'm so glad that I found this thread. Since March/April I have regained 10 pounds. Carbs are my weakness- breads, crackers, Cookies. I know that I'm eating bad things and really need to be mindful to not consume it. I did great last night and only had two spoonfuls of ice cream. It helps that ice cream and I don;t get along too well since surgery. I have also started social drinking more that I need to cut back on. I don't drink soda as 1) it doesn't sit well with me, and 2) I never really cared for it (except Mtn Dew and Root Beer. So this helps keep calories in check there. I am a snacker and Ritz are my bff that I need to cut back on. I also don;t drink Protein Shakes anymore. I just couldn't tolerate it any longer. The only flavor I could stand was vanilla and it got old. I need to retart this too.
On the plus side I enjoy running, just need to increase my frequency again. sleeping in before getting ready for work needs to stop, lol. I also take the stairs in my new (desk) job, so I plan to add in "stair breaks" a few times a day to ensure that I'm up and moving again.
My question- what are your go to Snacks these days? I'm a picky eater which is terrible I know. But I need some ideas that will hopefully break/reduce the Ritz habit.

Running didn't change my shape, either. It simply caused me to lose stubborn fat.
I've always held much of my weight in my lower body parts such as the hips, thighs and calves. Even though I've lost 100 pounds, I still have flared hips, thick thighs and prominent calves.
An obese apple-shaped runner will soon become a normal-weight apple-shaped runner. An obese pear-shaped runner will soon become a normal-weight pear-shaped runner. And an obese runner with proportional dimensions will soon become a normal-weight proportional runner.
My point is that our shapes do not dramatically change with running. We lose fat, but we don't lose the general shape we were born with. No amount of running will make Beyonce's body (extremely curvy) more like Kate Moss (extremely boyish); the underlying shape will always be there.

If I dropped something on the floor the first week it stayed there until someone else picked it up. Bending over hurt. Grabbers would've been handy.

Everyone is different so take it for what it is...
SF popsicles, because there will be times when you don;t want to drink or eat but you need to remain hydrated.
Protein Drinks, but don;t overstock as your flavor preferences can change.
SF jello- see the note about the popsicles.
broth of some sort to satisfy your need to feed your body and maintain hydrated.

Welcome! Snacks.. yogurt/ baby carrots (10only)/ turkey slices from the deli (prepackaged ones got to salty for me) and popcorn (100 cal pack) I know the popcorn isn't the best but it helped me get away from chips

Hello all,
I haven't been on BP often in the past few months but I decided to check in tonight & I saw this thread-fate.
I've regained 13# (I think). I have to get on the scale tomorrow to confirm but I'm joining too! I need the group support.
I used to to work out 4 days a week but now I work out only two days. bread and Cookies have crept back in. Portions have also increased. At my lowest I wore a size 10 and now I'm a 14 (I hate writing that number down but It's my reality).
My ultimate goal is to be a size 10 again. My short term goal is a size 12. Menopause, genes and age will make it difficult for me to maintain anything smaller and I've decided I don't want to-I like how I looked when I was a size 10.
Good luck to us all!

Hello All,
Glad I found this thread. I have also gain a little weight back and scared that I'm going to regain all my weight back. I have gain 10 pounds because of careless eating; I am a known stress eater. I know if I do not take control now, my regain will only get worse. I recently gave up chewing gum and notice that I have been substituting my gum chewing for carbs. I will try my hardest to start on Tuesday; it's going to be hard because we are having chips and all kinds of dips at work. I recently bought a treadmill and did great for about 2 weeks . I think having a support group that knows what I am going through would benefit me in my new start.
Thanks in advance!