Neversaynever

At first, I couldn't see the changes when looking in the mirror but after finding this old picture of me at my very heaviest, I can definitely see a change!

I know this is an old post, but I wanted to thank you for sharing. I really REALLY needed to hear this right now in my journey. I was sleeved almost exactly 3 years ago. Everything was awesome for the first 18 months. I felt amazing, I got within 9 lbs of my goal weight by 12 months out. I was training for a 10K... then a lot of major life changes, as well. I'm a single mom. Have been for 11 years, so that part wasn't new, but I had my heart broken again in early 2017 (devastated, really), 2 changes of job/career in less than 10 months following that, problems with my teenagers, and a pretty major depression brought on by another heartbreak that I fought for the better part of 6 months recently. I turned to alcohol to numb myself since I couldn't turn to food and, as you can imagine, that did not go well for me. Tons of empty liquid calories and no motivation to exercise or eat right... when I did eat, it was small portions but I was losing the battle to get enough Protein and Water.
I don't list this as excuses, because I know I need to own my poor choices. And I want to start over.
I initially lost over 115 lbs and maintained in that range for nearly a year before it fell apart. I've gained back about 85 now.
I have been beating myself over it and hoping that its not too late to turn the ship around. I still have the tools... Thank you for letting me know its not out of my reach.
I'm trying to get back to basics this week with protein and water... and also am 1 day alcohol free (which doesn't sound like much yet, but I'm motivated to keep going)

Everyone is different. I'm on the flip side of the approach. I do not weigh or log my food because for me it brings more focus on food, and focus on restriction. I do not weigh myself because it is just a number and my head goes a little crazy over the numbers.
That being said, I do focus on trying to get 60 g of Protein a day and to avoid snacking. I avoid calorie beverages. I do exercise. I'm basically wearing the same size clothes. Oh sometimes things are little looser or a bit tighter, but my "normal" weight friends go through the same thing.
The difference is I am not the biggest person in the room. If I'm getting stared at it's because I am looking good not huge. I fit wherever I need to go.
In short, I'm focusing on LIFE not weight. I find joy in many things and not just food. I'm four years out. It works.

I'm 7 years out. I'm 116 pounds. My body picked my goal weight for me and really likes it here, so maintaining is easier than it could be. But I do have rules I live by.

I weigh at least weekly. I do not worry about tiny fluctuations but nip anything out of my maintenance window immediately. Complacency leads to larger regain. I don't avoid food groups, but I do put Protein first. I will usually choose a protein snack. I indulge when I want, because I believe forbidden foods lead to binges. I don't want the yo-yo. It works for me. I never graze. I either portion food out and eat it, or I don't, but no mindless or emotional eating.

I still have a ton of restriction, so maybe that's made my journey easier. And my tastes changed a lot. I don't care for potatoes, or sweets. I can't have milk or eat ice cream due to lactose intolerance. But just being mindful is what keeps me successful. I think before I eat. I don't have to track anymore, it's just second nature. The scale is my tracker. And it hardly moves.

I think this is the ideal. I'm happy, can't complain.

Cheri

I don't consider myself a long term success case. Like OutsideMatchInside, I was sleeved a little more than two years ago. But since this forum considers people who are at least one year out 'veterans,' I'll respond.
I maintain a somewhat low body weight of 118 to 120 pounds by incorporating flexibility into my food choices and lifestyle. I "never say never" because that rigid line of thinking got me into trouble prior to WLS.
I don't deprive myself. I consume in the 2000 to 2300 calorie-per-day range in maintenance. I run 20+ miles per week, lift heavy weights 3 times weekly, and cross-train with other aerobic exercises such as the stationary bike, elliptical machine and stair mill at the gym.
I don't avoid entire food categories such as carbs and fat. Since my activity levels are high, I tolerate carbs well. When I lived a more sedentary lifestyle, my carb tolerance was piss-poor.
An astute doctor who specializes in obesity medicine said, "If you didn't like the way you lost your weight, you won't like the way you'll need to maintain your weight, so you'll regain."
Essentially, the good doctor is saying that the habits we adopted to lose weight will mostly be the ones we use to maintain our weight loss. If we did unlikable, unsustainable things to lose weight (e.g. cabbage Soup diet, 2 hours of daily exercise, constant deprivation, HCG shots, expensive foods, NutriSystem, very low calorie plans), we tend to abandon these ventures after a while and the weight often returns.
In essence, I currently enjoy the foods I eat to maintain my weight. I currently enjoy the 60 minutes of daily exercise I obtain to maintain my weight. Since I liked what I did to lose the weight this time around, I am now liking the daily tasks needed to maintain my weight loss.
I don't know what life will look like for me at 10 years out. However, I am both cautious and optimistic about the future. I live and learn from those who succumbed to pitfalls that led to regain.
Good luck to everyone.

I don't know if this is right for you but I was told that I wasn't eating enough calories and my body was holding onto the fat as it was in starvation mode. I was on about 700 calories a day at that point so I upped it to 900 - 1000 and it broke the stall. In fact I lost 5lbs a few days after, you could try it and see what happens?

I was attending one of my group sessions last week and a person who had had a gastric sleeve two years ago spoke at the meeting. The person said the first nine months were a dream come true with a weight loss of 125 lbs and reaching goal. This person went on to state that taking the weight off went pretty much to the surgeons plan. At first, this person measured and weighed all foods, made sure to eat Proteins first and did not mix Water with food and did moderate exercise such as parking the car away from the building and walking the stairs. By the one year mark old habits started to creep back. The need to eat processed foods and Snacks came back. Why? Because goal weight was met and because it was so easy to lose the weight. This person thought that snacking and eating off plan would be counterbalanced by more rapid weight loss. Well, as the pounds crept back getting them off wasn't as easy as it was in those first nine months. With that came a feeling of hopelessness and the cycle that made this person obese to begin with started all over again. By this persons two year anniversary 85lbs was regained. This person was brave to tell us this story and to warn us that WLS is not the end of our obesity. In fact, it should be a wake up for us that our success at a healthy life is a struggle each day.
This person is looking into a revision to gastric by pass but one wonders if long term success will be maintained or is this person doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past? For those of you with long term success you truly are remarkable, dedicated and an inspiration and I hope to learn from you and your successes as I read about them here on these forums.

Success can be many things. We all have our own goals and walk with surgery. My advice is to follow your plan. Repeat until this lifestyle becomes habit and feels normal. Be your own amazing. The first few months is your best surgery restriction and weight loss. Take advantage of it. As you progress out you will notice that your restriction is less and weight loss slows down. Keep your food within your calories and macros even when your surgery restriction becomes less.
Comparing weight loss stats will make you crazy. Habits and behavior changes will make a difference in your weightloss outcome and long term success.
My surgery was June of 2014 - HW 254 - SW 234 - GW 140 in six months. I maintain in the 130's I had a sixteen pound gain in my third year. I worked it back to my maintenance weight.
What did you do for food?
Nothing magic. I followed my plan. logged my food, stayed hydrated, and exercised to goal.
What's a sample of your diet like today?
Maintaining weight looks different for each of us. What works for me and my choices may not work for anyone else.
Did you do low-carb or follow everything in moderation?
You will make choices that will affect your long term weight loss success. I am carb sensitive pre surgery and post surgery. Low carb works well with my body physiology. I eat things in moderation now that I'm in maintenance mode. Everything moderation in weight loss mode depends on the person. For me, It's a slippery slope. Sugars carbs can slow/stop my weight loss.
What were your portions like ~3 months out, 6 months out, 1 year..etc?
Portions and calorie intake will increase with time. Keep things within your calories and macros to stay in weight loss mode. My maintenance does not look like others. I would hate for anyone in weight loss mode read my food log and think they are going to lose weight. My diet changes during racing season. (carb loading) When I choose to indulge and gain, I go back into weight loss mode to keep my weight in range.
What about exercise, when did you start it (if you did), and what kind did you do?
Started the day after surgery walking. Helps with the healing process. Your surgeon's office will give you a release to exercise more. Give them a call. I walked, did elliptical a bit of lifting for the majority of my weight loss. My choice to become athletic after weight loss is not for everyone. I lift and distance run. I'm a bad @ss grandma. *laughing*

At first, I couldn't see the changes when looking in the mirror but after finding this old picture of me at my very heaviest, I can definitely see a change!

At first, I couldn't see the changes when looking in the mirror but after finding this old picture of me at my very heaviest, I can definitely see a change!

At first, I couldn't see the changes when looking in the mirror but after finding this old picture of me at my very heaviest, I can definitely see a change!

At first, I couldn't see the changes when looking in the mirror but after finding this old picture of me at my very heaviest, I can definitely see a change!

At first, I couldn't see the changes when looking in the mirror but after finding this old picture of me at my very heaviest, I can definitely see a change!

Pre-op to 11 months post-op. Best thing I ever did for myself!!!!

Honestly, it was bad, but not that bad. Look at my pictures above, I still have hair!

I am very fortunate to have a supportive husband but I have kept this surgery a secret as far as friends and family goes because I know a lot of people who absolutely would not be supportive.
People are under the mistaken impression that surgery is the easy way out. It is NOT EASY. 6 months of appointments, liquid diets, surgical pain, gas pain, loose skin, Hair loss, and a slew of other problems are not easy. It isn't easier, it is simply more effective for some people, particularly long-term.
People who don't struggle with food are often extremely judgemental of those that do. I've known very few people that don't struggle with something: drinking, smoking, drugs, gambling, shopping, hoarding, etc. The obese wear their addiction on the outside, people know the second they look at you, and for some reason, even though this is a far more common problem than other addictions, the world looks at us with more disdain and disgust.
I hope that if you think it will help you that you will have the surgery as scheduled, with or without his support. No, it won't fix emotional eating, but it will give you a weapon to fight it and increase your odds of fighting the battle.

Owhee you hit a Sore sore spot with me. I was married to one of those type for 44 long years. A good reason why I just went through an RnY at 72, if you want the whole story PM me, I would take up Much Space telling it all. Suffice it to say, my generation was told, your goal in life is to find a man, marry and if things are not dreamlike Suck it Up Baby, suck it up! I lost so much in the deal especially self-respect but Frustr8 survived and has made her way to strength, bruises, scars, and a spiritual limp here and there, but you know I am really a kool and witty individual and nobody's shadow anymore!😝👍

You know how much tortue it is Looking at all your diet pictures here and over on food before and After and still,on my Stage 2A diet, all liquids in perpetuity. Makes me feel like the cold starving Match 👧 morning,in the Warm Toy Store Window! Now down to 281 from a High Weight of 355 but I have been in 🔥of 👺Hades,to earn MY PLACE, but I am not leaving the W,L, battle until I am a WINNER ALSO!

Riding on an airplane soon and not taking an extender. Wish me luck (and closure!). 😂😂😂

Honestly, it was bad, but not that bad. Look at my pictures above, I still have hair!

At first, I couldn't see the changes when looking in the mirror but after finding this old picture of me at my very heaviest, I can definitely see a change!

Well at this point I myself am not Fishing for Compliments, merely Hunting for Hope. Fix my stomal stricture, open operation if necessary, just repair me so I can be like other RnY veterans, brighten up my days and I will renew my Compliment Fishing License for the rest of my lifetime, And that is an iron-clad promise!**!

Wow! You look 10 years younger!

You look amazing!