BarrySue

Y'all are amazing and you can totally do it! Almost four years out from surgery now and I'm still going strong, don't let anyone tell you 300+ pounders will always fail/regain.

Y'all are amazing and you can totally do it! Almost four years out from surgery now and I'm still going strong, don't let anyone tell you 300+ pounders will always fail/regain.

Y'all are amazing and you can totally do it! Almost four years out from surgery now and I'm still going strong, don't let anyone tell you 300+ pounders will always fail/regain.

Y'all are amazing and you can totally do it! Almost four years out from surgery now and I'm still going strong, don't let anyone tell you 300+ pounders will always fail/regain.

For me it was more than my resting metabolic rate and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) . The calories/macros are not a one size fits all. Body physiology, medical issues, age, hormones and medications can change your weight loss/maintaining calories and macros. It took me some trial and error to dial in what works for me.
I had to go by the calories recommended and then dial them back by 100cals to see where my body starts losing weight. Dial them up again to see where I maintain.
TDEE was way off. It set my maintenance calories to 1,925 Weight loss calories 1,426

Water-weight fluctuates wildly, and the scale is not a good indicator of the complex changes taking place on a metabolic and physical level in your body. Yes, you will lose weight because your muscle mass as a man allows for more rapid energy consumption. Yes, there will be peaks and valleys where you lose huge amounts, and lose nothing. It is fine, it is normal, and unless you are experiencing debilitating symptoms or your doctor is concerned, trust the process.
Our bodies aren't typically the problem. Our lack of knowledge in regard to how weight loss and our anatomy actually work are typically the problem, because we have fundamental misunderstandings about how everything works.

I had a resting metabolic rate test done, as well as other assessments/bloodwork/etc. Similar testing on metabolic output has been done on the previous contestants of Biggest Loser, and it's pretty much universal for those who go through extreme, rapid weight loss. It's a huge part of why regain happens. My body has changed significantly in that I am constantly cold, and my thyroid function has diminished (not to levels where I need supplements, but the low range of normal).

Short answer: It depends.
In extreme weight loss, your metabolism will likely function at a diminished level for the rest of your life. As in, eating 2000 calories a day may without regain may never be an option. There have been extensive studies on this, and you can actually work with your doc to gauge your nutritional needs as you progress. Nearly four years out, my metabolism simply doesn't operate the same, having spent my life over 300 lbs. If I eat more than 1200 calories a day, I will begin to regain. My needs are different now, and that's that.

It sucks. It sucks and it's terrible. It sucks, it's terrible, and some of us get these awful complications. I was miserable and ill for months after my sleeve, far worse than most people.
Three years out, every single minute of pain was worth it.
Time makes it better. The pain of surgery and the initial recovery grow more distant every day, and a healthy future gets closer AND longer.
Hang in there.
**Edit: I was completely unable to eat or drink at one point. The creative solution was Peanut Butter crackers, because I loved them, and I had so psyched myself out about vomiting that I threw everything else up except this snack I'd always loved. They used it to get me to tolerate food again. After that, I lived on fat free fairlife milk (they filter out the lactose and sugar, fortify with extra Protein and calcium) since NOT ONE Protein Shake worked for me. I mixed my milk with sugar free strawberry Syrup, diet hot cocoa mix, or PB2, that sugar free peanut butter stuff that I blended with fairlife milk and ice cubes to make peanut butter ice cream. For Water, I added sugar free hawaiin punch, and I'm still drinking it three years later.

It sucks. It sucks and it's terrible. It sucks, it's terrible, and some of us get these awful complications. I was miserable and ill for months after my sleeve, far worse than most people.
Three years out, every single minute of pain was worth it.
Time makes it better. The pain of surgery and the initial recovery grow more distant every day, and a healthy future gets closer AND longer.
Hang in there.
**Edit: I was completely unable to eat or drink at one point. The creative solution was Peanut Butter crackers, because I loved them, and I had so psyched myself out about vomiting that I threw everything else up except this snack I'd always loved. They used it to get me to tolerate food again. After that, I lived on fat free fairlife milk (they filter out the lactose and sugar, fortify with extra Protein and calcium) since NOT ONE Protein Shake worked for me. I mixed my milk with sugar free strawberry Syrup, diet hot cocoa mix, or PB2, that sugar free peanut butter stuff that I blended with fairlife milk and ice cubes to make peanut butter ice cream. For Water, I added sugar free hawaiin punch, and I'm still drinking it three years later.

It sucks. It sucks and it's terrible. It sucks, it's terrible, and some of us get these awful complications. I was miserable and ill for months after my sleeve, far worse than most people.
Three years out, every single minute of pain was worth it.
Time makes it better. The pain of surgery and the initial recovery grow more distant every day, and a healthy future gets closer AND longer.
Hang in there.
**Edit: I was completely unable to eat or drink at one point. The creative solution was Peanut Butter crackers, because I loved them, and I had so psyched myself out about vomiting that I threw everything else up except this snack I'd always loved. They used it to get me to tolerate food again. After that, I lived on fat free fairlife milk (they filter out the lactose and sugar, fortify with extra Protein and calcium) since NOT ONE Protein Shake worked for me. I mixed my milk with sugar free strawberry Syrup, diet hot cocoa mix, or PB2, that sugar free peanut butter stuff that I blended with fairlife milk and ice cubes to make peanut butter ice cream. For Water, I added sugar free hawaiin punch, and I'm still drinking it three years later.

It sucks. It sucks and it's terrible. It sucks, it's terrible, and some of us get these awful complications. I was miserable and ill for months after my sleeve, far worse than most people.
Three years out, every single minute of pain was worth it.
Time makes it better. The pain of surgery and the initial recovery grow more distant every day, and a healthy future gets closer AND longer.
Hang in there.
**Edit: I was completely unable to eat or drink at one point. The creative solution was Peanut Butter crackers, because I loved them, and I had so psyched myself out about vomiting that I threw everything else up except this snack I'd always loved. They used it to get me to tolerate food again. After that, I lived on fat free fairlife milk (they filter out the lactose and sugar, fortify with extra Protein and calcium) since NOT ONE Protein Shake worked for me. I mixed my milk with sugar free strawberry Syrup, diet hot cocoa mix, or PB2, that sugar free peanut butter stuff that I blended with fairlife milk and ice cubes to make peanut butter ice cream. For Water, I added sugar free hawaiin punch, and I'm still drinking it three years later.

It sucks. It sucks and it's terrible. It sucks, it's terrible, and some of us get these awful complications. I was miserable and ill for months after my sleeve, far worse than most people.
Three years out, every single minute of pain was worth it.
Time makes it better. The pain of surgery and the initial recovery grow more distant every day, and a healthy future gets closer AND longer.
Hang in there.
**Edit: I was completely unable to eat or drink at one point. The creative solution was Peanut Butter crackers, because I loved them, and I had so psyched myself out about vomiting that I threw everything else up except this snack I'd always loved. They used it to get me to tolerate food again. After that, I lived on fat free fairlife milk (they filter out the lactose and sugar, fortify with extra Protein and calcium) since NOT ONE Protein Shake worked for me. I mixed my milk with sugar free strawberry Syrup, diet hot cocoa mix, or PB2, that sugar free peanut butter stuff that I blended with fairlife milk and ice cubes to make peanut butter ice cream. For Water, I added sugar free hawaiin punch, and I'm still drinking it three years later.

It sucks. It sucks and it's terrible. It sucks, it's terrible, and some of us get these awful complications. I was miserable and ill for months after my sleeve, far worse than most people.
Three years out, every single minute of pain was worth it.
Time makes it better. The pain of surgery and the initial recovery grow more distant every day, and a healthy future gets closer AND longer.
Hang in there.
**Edit: I was completely unable to eat or drink at one point. The creative solution was Peanut Butter crackers, because I loved them, and I had so psyched myself out about vomiting that I threw everything else up except this snack I'd always loved. They used it to get me to tolerate food again. After that, I lived on fat free fairlife milk (they filter out the lactose and sugar, fortify with extra Protein and calcium) since NOT ONE Protein Shake worked for me. I mixed my milk with sugar free strawberry Syrup, diet hot cocoa mix, or PB2, that sugar free peanut butter stuff that I blended with fairlife milk and ice cubes to make peanut butter ice cream. For Water, I added sugar free hawaiin punch, and I'm still drinking it three years later.

In the Japanese culture when a woman gets an abortion, other women send her flowers and are kind to her. She is thought to have made a responsible kind choice that will spare the baby hardship. There are public memorials for aborted children and even ceremonies where the woman says something along the lines of "Dear little spirit, please go in peace and find a home that is ready for you, and if you can, wait for me and come back when I am ready for you"
I have tremendous respect for the kindness and compassion shown women facing this difficult painful choice in the Japanese culture.
it's fascinating to me how different cultures cope with different moral dilemmas.

I HATED Protein Shakes. They all had this whey flavor that made me extremely ill. I tried everything, and it simply didn't work. But what I did finally end up not only tolerating, but actually enjoying, was fairlife milk. It is filtered to remove much of the sugar and lactose, and fortified with extra Protein and Calcium. So, I could drink the fat free fairlife milk with either sugar free strawberry Syrup, or heat it up and put sugar free hot chocolate mix or sugar free hershey syrup in it, or blend it with some PB2 or other fun things. It was how I survived for a few months!

It took you a lifetime to put the weight on. It's a long journey to get it off you. Also, the scale never, ever tells you the entire story. I promise, you are not broken. Your body is not going to defy physics. Your metabolism may be different, but it does not run on anxiety and air -- eventually, expending more energy than you consume will take off the pounds. Hang in there.

Love this topic! Started at 353 in July 2015, lost my first 100 lbs in six months, got down to around 185 in a year and just sort of went back to eating junk. I really liked how I looked and carried my weight well, but the pounds began to creep back on. In May, I found myself back at 215 and VERY unhappy about it. Been back on the high protein/low carb/no sugar thing since then, and now I'm actually lower than when I originally stopped losing! Only 29 lbs to go until I'm in the healthy BMI range, but I've got hips/thighs/boobs and wear a size 8/10, so I feel pretty good. Go on 12 mile hikes every weekend, currently training for 5k. It's so weird considering I've been above the 300 lb mark my entire adult life!
Just make sure you connect with people who live a healthy life or do activities with you! The hardest thing was having to distance myself from people who constantly pushed food/alcohol/unhealthy stuff despite my protests, and folks who ONLY wanted to hang out when food was involved. Get you some fitness buddies and you'll be good!

Love this topic! Started at 353 in July 2015, lost my first 100 lbs in six months, got down to around 185 in a year and just sort of went back to eating junk. I really liked how I looked and carried my weight well, but the pounds began to creep back on. In May, I found myself back at 215 and VERY unhappy about it. Been back on the high protein/low carb/no sugar thing since then, and now I'm actually lower than when I originally stopped losing! Only 29 lbs to go until I'm in the healthy BMI range, but I've got hips/thighs/boobs and wear a size 8/10, so I feel pretty good. Go on 12 mile hikes every weekend, currently training for 5k. It's so weird considering I've been above the 300 lb mark my entire adult life!
Just make sure you connect with people who live a healthy life or do activities with you! The hardest thing was having to distance myself from people who constantly pushed food/alcohol/unhealthy stuff despite my protests, and folks who ONLY wanted to hang out when food was involved. Get you some fitness buddies and you'll be good!

Between 10-18 weeks, I started having severe pain, vomiting everything up, and stopped being able to eat entirely. They suspected a stricture, but they also felt like I had such deep anxiety and food issues that I was psyching myself out and vomiting as a reaction to severe stress. I couldn't keep anything down, and Protein drinks were useless. I ended up hospitalized and they couldn't release me until I could eat. So, they gave me Peanut Butter (the regular sugary kind) and crackers, because it was a snack I loved as a child, and they hoped the familiar/nostalgic taste would trigger good feelings and prevent me from throwing up and relearn how to eat without panicking. For awhile, I was told to eat ANYTHING so long as I could keep it down. Priorities at that point became survival, not weight loss.
Also switched to fat free fairlife milk with sugar free strawberry Syrup or heated up with diet cocoa mix. That was how I got my protein for a long, long time until I was able to start eating regularly again. But my nutritional path was different from others, and that's okay.
Just do you, follow your docs, listen to your body, and take a deep breath. Your journey is your own individual thing and that's okay, the destination is still the same as the rest of us. You'll get thee.

Love this topic! Started at 353 in July 2015, lost my first 100 lbs in six months, got down to around 185 in a year and just sort of went back to eating junk. I really liked how I looked and carried my weight well, but the pounds began to creep back on. In May, I found myself back at 215 and VERY unhappy about it. Been back on the high protein/low carb/no sugar thing since then, and now I'm actually lower than when I originally stopped losing! Only 29 lbs to go until I'm in the healthy BMI range, but I've got hips/thighs/boobs and wear a size 8/10, so I feel pretty good. Go on 12 mile hikes every weekend, currently training for 5k. It's so weird considering I've been above the 300 lb mark my entire adult life!
Just make sure you connect with people who live a healthy life or do activities with you! The hardest thing was having to distance myself from people who constantly pushed food/alcohol/unhealthy stuff despite my protests, and folks who ONLY wanted to hang out when food was involved. Get you some fitness buddies and you'll be good!

Love this topic! Started at 353 in July 2015, lost my first 100 lbs in six months, got down to around 185 in a year and just sort of went back to eating junk. I really liked how I looked and carried my weight well, but the pounds began to creep back on. In May, I found myself back at 215 and VERY unhappy about it. Been back on the high protein/low carb/no sugar thing since then, and now I'm actually lower than when I originally stopped losing! Only 29 lbs to go until I'm in the healthy BMI range, but I've got hips/thighs/boobs and wear a size 8/10, so I feel pretty good. Go on 12 mile hikes every weekend, currently training for 5k. It's so weird considering I've been above the 300 lb mark my entire adult life!
Just make sure you connect with people who live a healthy life or do activities with you! The hardest thing was having to distance myself from people who constantly pushed food/alcohol/unhealthy stuff despite my protests, and folks who ONLY wanted to hang out when food was involved. Get you some fitness buddies and you'll be good!

Love this topic! Started at 353 in July 2015, lost my first 100 lbs in six months, got down to around 185 in a year and just sort of went back to eating junk. I really liked how I looked and carried my weight well, but the pounds began to creep back on. In May, I found myself back at 215 and VERY unhappy about it. Been back on the high protein/low carb/no sugar thing since then, and now I'm actually lower than when I originally stopped losing! Only 29 lbs to go until I'm in the healthy BMI range, but I've got hips/thighs/boobs and wear a size 8/10, so I feel pretty good. Go on 12 mile hikes every weekend, currently training for 5k. It's so weird considering I've been above the 300 lb mark my entire adult life!
Just make sure you connect with people who live a healthy life or do activities with you! The hardest thing was having to distance myself from people who constantly pushed food/alcohol/unhealthy stuff despite my protests, and folks who ONLY wanted to hang out when food was involved. Get you some fitness buddies and you'll be good!

Love this topic! Started at 353 in July 2015, lost my first 100 lbs in six months, got down to around 185 in a year and just sort of went back to eating junk. I really liked how I looked and carried my weight well, but the pounds began to creep back on. In May, I found myself back at 215 and VERY unhappy about it. Been back on the high protein/low carb/no sugar thing since then, and now I'm actually lower than when I originally stopped losing! Only 29 lbs to go until I'm in the healthy BMI range, but I've got hips/thighs/boobs and wear a size 8/10, so I feel pretty good. Go on 12 mile hikes every weekend, currently training for 5k. It's so weird considering I've been above the 300 lb mark my entire adult life!
Just make sure you connect with people who live a healthy life or do activities with you! The hardest thing was having to distance myself from people who constantly pushed food/alcohol/unhealthy stuff despite my protests, and folks who ONLY wanted to hang out when food was involved. Get you some fitness buddies and you'll be good!

Love this topic! Started at 353 in July 2015, lost my first 100 lbs in six months, got down to around 185 in a year and just sort of went back to eating junk. I really liked how I looked and carried my weight well, but the pounds began to creep back on. In May, I found myself back at 215 and VERY unhappy about it. Been back on the high protein/low carb/no sugar thing since then, and now I'm actually lower than when I originally stopped losing! Only 29 lbs to go until I'm in the healthy BMI range, but I've got hips/thighs/boobs and wear a size 8/10, so I feel pretty good. Go on 12 mile hikes every weekend, currently training for 5k. It's so weird considering I've been above the 300 lb mark my entire adult life!
Just make sure you connect with people who live a healthy life or do activities with you! The hardest thing was having to distance myself from people who constantly pushed food/alcohol/unhealthy stuff despite my protests, and folks who ONLY wanted to hang out when food was involved. Get you some fitness buddies and you'll be good!