Greensleevie

Take it from me, you need to learn to delay gratification if you want to be successful with this surgery. After all, wasn't our problem before giving into every temptation? Work on changing the way you look at food, because you've only got one chance at this whIle you're in the all important honeymoon period. Don't squander it!

Also, right now you're on a prescription diet, per doctors orders. You run the risk of a leak if you stray from the prescribed diet. Call your surgeon first of you want to progress your diet. A forum is no place to ask that type of question.

Also, it's physically impossible for your stomach to be back to its original size. It definitely is bigger than when you first had surgery, but can never go back to what it was.

It's the natural progression of things to be able to eat more as time goes on, and 5 years post op is usually the max capacity you'll be, and when the benefits of the surgery pretty much run out. Watch Dr Matthew Weiners YouTube videos about it.

Unfortunately, no amount of revisions will work if your head isn't in the game. You'll just end up in the same place. Have you thought about the reasons WHY you sabotage yourself to not become successful? Would counseling help? I wouldn't consider a revision to bypass until you feel you're emotionally ready to change your lifestyle to ensure that this surgery is successful. Otherwise, I think a revision to bypass would be a good option for you. The sleeve isn't for everyone, and some people need the additional help the malabsorbtion offers with the bypass.

Also, take anyone's advice who chimes in that hasn't had regain with a grain of salt. They don't understand the struggle of being several years out and trying to get back on track and go back to basics. They all think the weight loss comes as easy as it did during the honeymoon period, and I'm here to say it absolutely doesn't. It's a whole different animal several years out. Our metabolisms, appetites, and capacity changes, making going back much harder. It can be done, but you're talking pre surgery effort at that point.

This is a perfect example of over reliance on the tool itself, and why doing so is the reason people end up regaining. Two bites of fried chicken? No problem! A whole peice of fried chicken and a few bites of mashed potatoes and gravy? Regain city. A whole piece of grilled chicken breast and a few bites of veggies? You're more likely to keep the weight off.

Let's be real here. This is why WLS is really only temporary. Our good habits are what should be permanent.

Google the "3 week stall". It's normal.

Although we are permanently altered, the actual effects of the surgery are really only temporary. I noticed an increase in hunger and less restriction at about 2 years post op. Luckily, I wasn't over dependent on the tool itself and continued to exercise as that happened, and kept my regain at around 10 pounds. I have since buckled down and lost most of that, but it takes MUCH longer now to lose. I would say I can now eat what servings are SUPPOSED to be for regular people. I also get hungrier faster after I eat. chicken seems to be the one thing that gives me great restriction still, but I can still eat 4-5 oz of it.

I still have the tool, and I am still in compete control of how I use it. You will be, too.

1 hour ago, Deactivatedfatgal said:

Did it stretch back to what it was before? Please keep us updates

I honestly don't know how that is physically possible. But her fundus wasn't removed, so it probably stretched some I suppose.

A correctly done VSG should not really stretch. Heal up and the piloric valve relaxes, sure. But stretching back to original size? Impossible.

I had no idea re sleeving was even possible!

Sounds to me like it was done incorrectly the first time, as usually the fundus is removed during a correctly done VSG.

So, did they take 80-85% of your stomach the first time? So now they are cutting even more? This is fascinating to me!

Over 3 years out and I feel completely normal. Just some restriction when I eat, but these days that subsides fairly fast, almost as fast as it did pre op. Wish I still had that great restriction like I did the first year or so.

As time goes on and things continue to heal and relax, you will be able to eat more. Enjoy this time while you can. At over 3 years out, I can now eat the recommended portions for people who have not had bariatric surgery, which means what I put in my mouth counts even more at this point because there's more of it.

Although I'm altered permanently, the effects of the surgery are really short term in the grand scheme of things. It's on us after that.

Someone posted this article in another forum, and it's an absolute must read, no matter what stage you're in.

http://www.bariatriceating.com/2013/03/bariatric-surgery-only-makes-your-stomach-smaller-otherwise-youre-exactly-the-same/

20 hours ago, HeatherS. said:

It's not really a "fact" even if it is fun, though, and even if exercise is a very good idea (I'm pro-exercise, really!). Granted, you probably won't keep it ALL off without changing your lifestyle to involve more physical activity, but you will probably keep the large majority of it off.

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Studies DO agree that exercise is necessary to keep weight off in non-surgical weight loss and to avoid regaining everything. It also results in about 4kg extra weight loss over sedentary in post-bariatric surgery weight loss. (Pub Med PMID 22038571)

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A study this year also found that exercise intervention in sedentary post-op bariatric patients between 12-24 months post-op resulted in a 5.6kg difference in weight between sedentary control and an intervention group who did 60 min of relatively low intensity aerobic workout and resistance exercises 3x/wk for 12 weeks. (Break it down, and that's far from cross-fit, or the amount OP's psych is talking about. (Pub med 28262676) In most of the studies I looked at, the mean regain we're talking about is around 5-15%. It's not ideal, but it's also not a return to pre-surgery days.

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In fact, studies are showing that diet QUALITY along with post-op time are the most (some studies: ONLY) correlated with weight regain after the honeymoon stage following surgery. (27544005) . Interestingly, there's a high correlation between having plastic surgery and keeping the weight off, too. (PMID 24076675)

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What is a fact is that exercise helps you lose a bit more, makes it easier to keep all of the weight off, and, most importantly, improves your cardiovascular health and helps you overcome the "obesity paradox" where your likelihood of surviving a heart attack DEcreases with weight loss.

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Hopefully the extra info helps clear things up. It really comes down to: eat nutritiously, take your Vitamins, don't spend all day inactive, and remember to avoid the kind of eating that got you to the point of surgery in the first place.

So.....your chances of keeping the weight off is better with regular movement/exercise.

Yeah, that's what I said.

Fun fact:

You can lose weight without regular exercise, but you most certainly won't keep it off.

The number may be a bit arbitrary, but they are correct in trying to have some kind of movement part of your daily routine. It's all part of the complete lifestyle change that's required to make this surgery successful. And when I say "successful" I don't mean losing the weight, I mean keeping the weight lost off. People seem to forget about that part.

Going against your post surgery prescription diet is not only dangerous, but ignorant and foolish.

Because of your relatively small amount you need to lose, it may take a little longer than most. Just follow the rules and try not to stress about how long it takes. There's no end game, really. The changes should be for life.

That being said, I had 95 pounds to lose initially, and that took me a solid year. I was on the slower side due to age, gender (men lose faster), and my relatively low starting BMI.

It is normal and natural over time to be able to hold more in the sleeve as things heal and relax. As far as being terrified, it's all on you, so no need to be. Don't over rely on the tool, or that will get you into trouble. Use what you've learned to make good food choices 90% of the time, stick with the rules of WLS, and find a way to stay active and you'll do fine.

As someone who just hit 3 years out, I empathize. It is natural to be able to eat more as the years pass, and to basically eat around the sleeve. I'm at a cup of food capacity now, and am hungry literally minutes after I eat. I, too have some regain, but have kept it to a minimum because I exercise. I'm at the stage where I just have to white knuckle it and use good old fashioned will power. It stinks, lol.

What newer post ops don't understand is that is the natural progression of things for everyone. It's not as easy as getting back to basics and knuckling down. That's why it's better to seek advice from people who have been though it. Most in this forum haven't. Find a Facebook group of vets who regained. They're out there.

The poster above was absolutely right, though when they said you may want to seek help with a therapist to find the reasons why you may want to sabotage yourself from becoming successful with this surgery. Maybe a combo of therapy and pursuing a bypass may be a good option for you? The sleeve isn't for everyone, and sometimes people need the additional help the bypass can offer.

But yes, no revision will work unless you understand that this is a change for the rest of your life, and are willing and able to implement them. Good luck to you! I'm rooting for you!

2 hours ago, MBird said:

What does it matter if I've had the surgery or not, if I'm pre op or not?! As if I've never dieted in my entire life????? As if I've never had health issues due to my weight? As if I can't read online or in books what to expect and use critical thinking?

I'm fine with discussion until it gets personal. I expressed an opinion not directed at post ops in general or any one person but based off something I observed in the forums. I'm sorry that rubs you wrong. I'm still entitled to expressing a very real feeling. This forum is for everybody to open and invite discussion. Sadly a lot of people lack the skills to think critically and not make it about them.

If you can't handle it, I suggest you don't read my thread. Honestly, you're incredibly rude, as are many of the people who have replied to my thread. The rudeness doesn't just extend to myself but others who replied as well.

I'm fine with opposing views but not when they fly from the fingers of big babies who can't handle an opposing or different opinion than their own.

You're incredibly rude.

My apologies to anybody who has been attacked on here, my intent was to open a discussion, not invite stupidity and hatred. Or take the discussion off topic.

I don't pretend to know about driving race cars because I've never driven a race car.

I don't claim to be an expert on skydiving because although I can research anything and everything about skydiving to my hearts content, I still haven't EXPERIENCED skydiving, so I'm more apt to take the advice and expertise from someone who has.

That's all I'm saying.

It's really quite arrogant to come into these threads and pretend to know it all when you haven't even EXPERIENCED the actual event yet. Therefore, people should take anything you say with a grain of salt.

6 hours ago, BestDayEver said:

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I'm not a fan of "intuitive eating." I WANT to eat chocolate candy, cake, brownies. I love sweets and eating a high carb diet got me to obesity. I didn't even realize it until I started eating low carb. I'm two years out and to maintain I have to eat mainly veggies, meat and fruit. I eat limited dairy (Greek yogurt or cheese), and grains. I gave up rice, Pasta and potatoes and don't miss them. I still track daily and have to exercise. I'm post menopause and hypothyroid. I can't afford to eat intuitively.

I never had an eating disorder or needed therapy but understand that others do struggle and encourage those who need help to get it! My morbid obesity was caused primarily by poor food choices, genetics and lack of exercise. The surgery was a godsend for me and I'm grateful every day for this wonderful tool.

To the newbies I say: beware of anyone who tells you can eat anything you want, anytime you want. That's a bullshit lie if you want to succeed at losing and then maintaining your weight loss.

Amen!

This thread is the exact reason why most vets have left. A PRE OP letting everyone know how much of an expert they are.

Get back to us when you've actually experienced losing the weight and then have successfully maintained it for a while. Otherwise, keep your "help" to moral support, hmmmmm?

That approach wouldn't work for me. There are foods I have to stay away from, or I get cravings and binge. Abstinence from certain foods and eating clean, nutritious foods is my maintenence approach. We all find what works for us!

5 hours ago, summerset said:

Seems like we have at least something in common, huh?

LOL. Stop being ridiculous, please. My "honeymoon period" was over like 15 years ago.

I never said I had it all figured out. Quite the opposite, actually. I just think you're being ridiculous thinking you know all about maintenence when you haven't even started yet. How do you know how hard or easy something is if you haven't even experienced it yet?

Quite presumptuous of you.

It's not just me. Ask any vet here over 3 years out (if there are even any left on this ridiculous forum full of newbies) and they'll tell you maintenence is MUCH harder than losing the weight. Or do you just enjoy being contrary?

I'm done with you now.

So many short sighted people. It's not all about losing it, folks. Losing it with WLS is easy, and dare I say even...fun. But that's just a sliver of the pie of the rest of our lives. A blip on the radar. Then the hard work REALLY starts.

The day will come in the not too distant future where you can eat normal portions (yes normal, as in what portions adults are SUPPOSED to be eating according to nutrition professionals) and your hunger returns, and then what? If there's too much over reliance on the tool, and then suddenly the tool isn't as reliable as it used to be, what do you think is going to happen if you're not properly educated and prepared? Maybe ask almost 50% of people who gain some or all of their weight back?

Now who can argue that a very well prepared patient can combat that situation better than one who isn't? Learning about proper nutrition, macros, proper portion sizes, and how to battle emotional or boredom eating before surgery wouldn't be beneficial to them?

23 hours ago, summerset said:

BTW, when reading some of the posts in these thread I wonder why some people on here needed WLS in the first place. They were obviously so good at implementing all these changes and new habits before surgery happened... it should have made that sideshow thing WLS unnecessary. Maybe with a longer waiting period all that excess weight would have been gone without surgery after all.

Because maybe the issue wasn't losing the weight, but KEEPING it off? That's the hard part, you know.

At 3 weeks out you're still healing. This isn't about "cheating", it's about safety. There's a chance you can damage something and give yourself a life threatening leak if you eat something off plan too soon. Just keep that in mind.