ChunkyChicTrying

This right here is exactly what you need to remember.

This right here is exactly what you need to remember.

This right here is exactly what you need to remember.

That's awesome. I actually am 3 weeks. I thought I was 1 month and got my dates wrong. 1 month is next week.
Thank you, this will help me judge where to be. I only walk and not too fast yet. But I'm looking into doing more. Feeling better doesn't always mean we should do more... Really appreciate it.

Woke up ready to make a drink that required Torani sugar free Syrup , don't know why but I remembered it having sucralose. wrong. Acesulfame potassium. tossed it. Chose Starbucks Sugar Free Syrup instead which does have sucralose, but then started to wonder about all artificial sweeteners, again. Sigh.
Slippery slope. Tossing them all.
Just a small amount of info below (a video that references research and journals, and a journal reviewing research) for anyone who would like it and if you conduct any research, please add it for others to see. And by all means add info to the contrary if you find that also.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3772345/?source=purehealth

I cannot stress enough what Matt Z. posted is spot on - there is no *TRICK* or MAGICAL thing to do but hard work! Even being so new out from surgery it is sort of clear you have not yet addressed your emotional issue-connection to eating with ie. stress and life. DO NOT THINK YOUR ALONE! I am 4 yrs out from surgery and regained due to a year of over stress and horrible things happening but I recently took self stock and got myself into psychotherapy to address what I was doing to myself both mentally and physically. Nothing is wrong with you, and nothing is wrong in asking for help! Call your surgeon/weight loss team! Tell them what your going through, ASK FOR THERAPY! Not just group therapy most ALL insurance converse some form of mental health. Get what you need and DESERVE! You deserve to be healthy, you deserve peace of mind, but remember our sleeves are TOOLS, they are NOT THE SOLE ANSWER., It is work, dedication and perseverance that will get you to the finish line. We all need to remember if we were food addicts prior to surgery we will ALWAYS BE A RECOVERING FOOD ADDICT. We need to keep ourselves in check, and it is the hardest fight one can endure! Alcoholics can stay away from places that serve or sell alcohol, same with a drug addict, but we as food addict must eat to live, and it will always be a trigger struggle. So long as you truly admit that to yourself and self check and correct and get help when you spiral, you WILL BE OK!
~ChunkyChicTrying

Ok, so show of hands please. Let's talk dense Protein.
Can you comfortably consume 4oz after cooking (by weight, not volume) of dense, dry protein (not talking chili here folks--talkin' grilled chicken breast, grilled hamburger/steaks, pork chops, dense white fish, fatty salmon, etc)--after your surgery? (I'm talking following the rules of protein first, no eating/drinking before/after etc, no combining with "meat lubes" like sauces/gravies/ketchup/mayo.) If you can, when were you able to eat this amount--how many months out did you notice you routinely have this capacity? How far out from surgery are you now? Do you feel restriction after the 4oz? How much "other food component(s)" do you eat following your meat (by weight, not volume)? (i.e. Low glycemic/non-starchy veggies, salad, berries/fruit, starchy veg, beans/legumes, grains, processed carby food) Ok, thanks for playing y'all!!! Can't wait to see some of the answers from everyone--all surgery types allowed to play!!!!

Most likely those that have dental issues post WLS are due to not enough Vitamins, Calcium, minerals and the fact our pH changes in our saliva. The most important thing to do is continue with your good dental hygiene regimen and never stop taking your vitamins and calcium.

I'm sorry, but the Bypass **IS** reversible. It doesn't happen often, but it certainly does happen. There has been, at least 1 member here in the last, month or so that was approved for RNY reversal.

And to be clear, I am fully aware of the process for revisions. I'm specifically stating, that the bypass *CAN* be reversed, under special circumstances, that *HAVE* happened to at least 1 member of this site within the last month or so, whereas the sleeve *CANNOT* be reversed, under any circumstances.

And a quick google for "RNY Reversal"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4196428/

https://www.soard.org/article/S1550-7289(14)00472-9/abstract

Conclusions
Reversal of RYGB to normal anatomy is reasonable in patients with severe or refractory complications.

I'm going to back @GreenTealael on this one, if you've got even the slightest GERD now... the sleeve will more than likely make it worse. Side note that people seem to get wrong (not that you stated this either way, just some information that most folks don't have correct) is that the sleeve is non-reversible under ANY circumstances, You can be revised from Sleeve to RNY, but you cannot be reversed from the sleeve. The bypass... is reversible, it is risky, and it doesn't happen too often, but it DOES happen. Something to think about. Sleeve, 90% of your stomach ends up in the medical waste bin... Bypass, everything is still in there, the stomach is split but just the connections have been adjusted, nothing is actually removed.

Walter, First I applaud you for your self courage to recognize you lost steps with your WLS team and the steps they gave you to lose the weight. I too stand where you are but further down the path. I am 3 years out lost 132 and have put back on almost 60! PLEASE, PLEASE listen to FLUFFYChix advice and start back on your path to doing what you know is RIGHT! You can do it! I am currently in the process of doing it too and a few weeks into reconnecting with MYSELF I can say its going well! The first few days SUCKED but you know what, I rather a few days of GROUCHY ME than 3-4 more lbs!!! My only add of advice is call your WLS team (yes I know that one is a obscenely bitter dose of reality to swallow to do, but DO IT FOR YOU!) get back in there let them help you figure it out and most importantly I found out you need get hooked back up with someone for some weight loss psychotherapy! ADDRESSING what is going on mentally will greatly help you in all sides of life not just losing the weight! Hugs my fellow sleever! You CAN DO THIS, you can overcome the small bump in the road!

Walter, First I applaud you for your self courage to recognize you lost steps with your WLS team and the steps they gave you to lose the weight. I too stand where you are but further down the path. I am 3 years out lost 132 and have put back on almost 60! PLEASE, PLEASE listen to FLUFFYChix advice and start back on your path to doing what you know is RIGHT! You can do it! I am currently in the process of doing it too and a few weeks into reconnecting with MYSELF I can say its going well! The first few days SUCKED but you know what, I rather a few days of GROUCHY ME than 3-4 more lbs!!! My only add of advice is call your WLS team (yes I know that one is a obscenely bitter dose of reality to swallow to do, but DO IT FOR YOU!) get back in there let them help you figure it out and most importantly I found out you need get hooked back up with someone for some weight loss psychotherapy! ADDRESSING what is going on mentally will greatly help you in all sides of life not just losing the weight! Hugs my fellow sleever! You CAN DO THIS, you can overcome the small bump in the road!

Walter, First I applaud you for your self courage to recognize you lost steps with your WLS team and the steps they gave you to lose the weight. I too stand where you are but further down the path. I am 3 years out lost 132 and have put back on almost 60! PLEASE, PLEASE listen to FLUFFYChix advice and start back on your path to doing what you know is RIGHT! You can do it! I am currently in the process of doing it too and a few weeks into reconnecting with MYSELF I can say its going well! The first few days SUCKED but you know what, I rather a few days of GROUCHY ME than 3-4 more lbs!!! My only add of advice is call your WLS team (yes I know that one is a obscenely bitter dose of reality to swallow to do, but DO IT FOR YOU!) get back in there let them help you figure it out and most importantly I found out you need get hooked back up with someone for some weight loss psychotherapy! ADDRESSING what is going on mentally will greatly help you in all sides of life not just losing the weight! Hugs my fellow sleever! You CAN DO THIS, you can overcome the small bump in the road!

Walter, First I applaud you for your self courage to recognize you lost steps with your WLS team and the steps they gave you to lose the weight. I too stand where you are but further down the path. I am 3 years out lost 132 and have put back on almost 60! PLEASE, PLEASE listen to FLUFFYChix advice and start back on your path to doing what you know is RIGHT! You can do it! I am currently in the process of doing it too and a few weeks into reconnecting with MYSELF I can say its going well! The first few days SUCKED but you know what, I rather a few days of GROUCHY ME than 3-4 more lbs!!! My only add of advice is call your WLS team (yes I know that one is a obscenely bitter dose of reality to swallow to do, but DO IT FOR YOU!) get back in there let them help you figure it out and most importantly I found out you need get hooked back up with someone for some weight loss psychotherapy! ADDRESSING what is going on mentally will greatly help you in all sides of life not just losing the weight! Hugs my fellow sleever! You CAN DO THIS, you can overcome the small bump in the road!

Walter, First I applaud you for your self courage to recognize you lost steps with your WLS team and the steps they gave you to lose the weight. I too stand where you are but further down the path. I am 3 years out lost 132 and have put back on almost 60! PLEASE, PLEASE listen to FLUFFYChix advice and start back on your path to doing what you know is RIGHT! You can do it! I am currently in the process of doing it too and a few weeks into reconnecting with MYSELF I can say its going well! The first few days SUCKED but you know what, I rather a few days of GROUCHY ME than 3-4 more lbs!!! My only add of advice is call your WLS team (yes I know that one is a obscenely bitter dose of reality to swallow to do, but DO IT FOR YOU!) get back in there let them help you figure it out and most importantly I found out you need get hooked back up with someone for some weight loss psychotherapy! ADDRESSING what is going on mentally will greatly help you in all sides of life not just losing the weight! Hugs my fellow sleever! You CAN DO THIS, you can overcome the small bump in the road!

Hello fellow sleevers. I have been on this site very little in the past couple of years but have logged in today to respond to a question. Since I'm here, I feel obligated to tell you all the things I've learned after 5 years.
1. The people that told me my approach to living life with the sleeve was all wrong and that I would fail, gain weight in a few years, stretch my sleeve, and regret my actions are mostly gone now. I have seen a couple of them around but the most are long gone. Do not pay much attention to the know-it-alls. They know no more than anyone else and are just as likely to fail.
2. Obviously you want to follow your Dr's instructions but don't get too hung up on strict rules and diets. If you make reasonable decisions and balance your good and bad food choices, your sleeve will do most of the work for you. I have eaten anything I wanted since day one. I try to pay attention to Protein etc., but I do not deny myself anything. You have the sleeve for a reason. Let it do it's job. Don't force it to hold more than it can and do not deny yourself the things that make you happy. Balance - just do it.
3. WLS is much more than losing weight. It is getting to the bottom of the issues that cause us to compensate with food in the first place. Pay more attention to your mental well being than the numbers on the scale. Your long term success depends on it.
4. Know that even after you reach your goal weight you will still be the same person with the same insecurities. Being thin changes nothing. If you did it for health reasons then hopefully those will no longer be an issue, but the person you are and how you feel inside doesn't change from losing weight. That has to change on the inside. No way around it.
5. Know that once you have made the necessary changes inside and out there will be some people that don't relate to you the same or just plain don't like you anymore. Also know that what they think is completely irrelevant . Physical and mental changes for the better intimidate those with small minds. Don't give them a second thought.
Thanks for reading.

Some people post surgery experience varying dental problems. I personally have not had too much an issue but a friend of mine has had TONS of issues! Multiple cavities, cracked teeth and bridges later! I would ask my surgeon then Follow what your surgeon recommends and honestly I would call your dentist office and ask to speak with your dentist when he is free! He knows your mouth (ie from dental records, xrays or any dental work he has done and his hygienist will have notes in your file about levels of plaque build up and your current oral care habits from a cleaning perspective) I would explain what your doing VSG surgery and what would he recommend so your pearly whites stay just like they are!

Walter, First I applaud you for your self courage to recognize you lost steps with your WLS team and the steps they gave you to lose the weight. I too stand where you are but further down the path. I am 3 years out lost 132 and have put back on almost 60! PLEASE, PLEASE listen to FLUFFYChix advice and start back on your path to doing what you know is RIGHT! You can do it! I am currently in the process of doing it too and a few weeks into reconnecting with MYSELF I can say its going well! The first few days SUCKED but you know what, I rather a few days of GROUCHY ME than 3-4 more lbs!!! My only add of advice is call your WLS team (yes I know that one is a obscenely bitter dose of reality to swallow to do, but DO IT FOR YOU!) get back in there let them help you figure it out and most importantly I found out you need get hooked back up with someone for some weight loss psychotherapy! ADDRESSING what is going on mentally will greatly help you in all sides of life not just losing the weight! Hugs my fellow sleever! You CAN DO THIS, you can overcome the small bump in the road!

Walter, First I applaud you for your self courage to recognize you lost steps with your WLS team and the steps they gave you to lose the weight. I too stand where you are but further down the path. I am 3 years out lost 132 and have put back on almost 60! PLEASE, PLEASE listen to FLUFFYChix advice and start back on your path to doing what you know is RIGHT! You can do it! I am currently in the process of doing it too and a few weeks into reconnecting with MYSELF I can say its going well! The first few days SUCKED but you know what, I rather a few days of GROUCHY ME than 3-4 more lbs!!! My only add of advice is call your WLS team (yes I know that one is a obscenely bitter dose of reality to swallow to do, but DO IT FOR YOU!) get back in there let them help you figure it out and most importantly I found out you need get hooked back up with someone for some weight loss psychotherapy! ADDRESSING what is going on mentally will greatly help you in all sides of life not just losing the weight! Hugs my fellow sleever! You CAN DO THIS, you can overcome the small bump in the road!

Walter, jump on it now. And get er done! It would be a few short weeks of relative misery losing 15 pounds compaired to 7-8 months for more!!! Welcome back!

Hey ChicTrying. Don’t despair. The best advice I can give is start with 3 simple rules. 64 ounces of calorie free liquids per day, 60 grams of Protein and following the 30/30 rule. Practice them for 30 days until they become a habit. It sounds like grazing is an issue for you. Having three meals and 2-3 healthy Snacks a day may reverse the grazing trend. Best wishes, and so glad you are seeking psychological help!

So glad to have read this thread. So grateful for your candid heartfelt posting Birdie. My take away from this is yes, I’ve had the surgery (Aug 23 2018) and I’m hearing that I need counselling and a support group. I will see what is available here in Calgary.

Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated this thread. I got VSG in 2012, and like others, the weight FLEW off. I quickly lost about 50 lbs and in the 6(!?!?) years since, have gained 35 of it back. I never addressed the mental issues enough, similar to a few posters on this thread. I didn't mentally address why I turn to food for comfort, stress, you name it, and after you're able to eat more after year 1 or 2, the habits just crept back and here we are.
The post-surgery glow of physically not being able to eat as much quickly goes away, and I'm so determined to redo this.
Would love to support you and anyone else who has also regained to be in it, and accountable, together.

I want to take a moment and thank everyone who replied to my post!
First let me start with I have been so far in my head even my surgery date was off!! Its 2015 not 2014 and i am only 3 yrs out on the 15th! That being said.....
I ordered a bunch of Protein items and shakes I love, completely cut out all the CRAP that even remotely was touching my day to day routine both food and person wise - toxic people can be huge triggers!
I am proud to say I am 100% back on track with eating and getting my mind right! 5 days and made it through the headaches from the detox off any remaining small amounts of caffeine and am eating 1200 or less cals a day typically about 950-1000 and over 120 grams of protein~ Not hungry had a couple cravings but had good planning and healthier choices on hand which I know is key!
I have been walking a lot more and using my arc trainer and though I shouldn't have I did for haha's jump on the scale today and I am down over 6 lbs. I will stay off the scale except for 1 time a month and if I have a MD appointment I must we weighed at tell them I don't want the results told to me.
Most importantly hopefully very soon I will be back with a psychotherapist to further rectify my issues with eating! We all can do this and we all are important, and though the mental game we can play on ourselves is ROUGH, no one is a failure, as my grandma would have said when she was alive, *I haven't failed, I only found a way that isn't, wasn't, or didn't work for me! Now I must find a new way to have it happen the w2ay I want!* So these words have become a mini mantra for me!
I will find the way that works - so long as there is air in my lungs I will fight the best fight forward I can, and thank God for the humility to know when i have fallen and need some help I just might not be able to give myself at that time!
I will keep you all posted on my progress - If you private me I can provide you my FitBit name or My Fitness Pal link so we can encourage and help each other out! We all empower each other in our own ways, and some of us may take something from all anyone on this thread has said with out responding.
~Chunky