BINABINA25

Hey all! I’m 15 months post op vsg. Starting weight was 248 (5’4” 29 yr old female) and current weight is 175. I’m still working SO HARD to get to goal (155) but I’m SO STUCK.
I religiously track and weigh my food. Literally have tracked it for 552 days in a row. I drink at LEAST 64 oz of Water every day. Exercise 3-5 days a week for at least 30 mins.
WHY have I been teetering up and down the same 5 pounds for months?! I realize my “honeymoon” phase is over.. but I’m determined to hit goal. What can I do?! 20 pounds seems SO easy but my body is NOT cooperating. I do suffer from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis— but my numbers are all “in range”. I’m not giving up.. but dear lord! Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks! — Mollie

So do think its better to try to eat higher calories in a shower time window nd then fast the rest of the time? How far out were you when you tried IF AZhiker.

At least 6 months out, because the focus initally has to be on getting the nutrition in. By 6 months, I was very close to goal, but just couldn't budge the last 10-15 pounds. I think your volume capacity will determine what kind of eating window to use. If you can only eat a small amount at a time, you will not be able to get all your calories into a small window. From what I've read, for the greatest effect, the fasting period needs to be at LEAST 12 hours. 8 hours is better. Some people only eat one meal per day, which is fine if you can consume that much food all at once.

The best thing you can do is to start logging your food again. It's amazing how many calories slip by with just a nibble here or there. Also, get rid of any high-calorie drinks if they've made their way back into your diet. Eat your Protein first to fill you up before you add veggies or carbs. No drinking 30 minutes after meals.
But the most important is logging that food. Until you know exactly what's causing your regain, it will be hard to address the issue. Good luck!

Hi guys, it’s been a while since I used this app but now at the pint in red help, support, advice.

In short I had gastric sleeve surgery in January 2017 and the weight just fell off particularly in the first year - 18 months.

At the point of surgery I was told there would be some things I would be able to eat but I haven’t had any issues like that at all and can eat pretty much whatever I want.

Now it’s got to the point that I am defiantly regaining weight and it’s seems like it is coming back on quite quickly.

I noticing it most with some people mentioning they have noticed it, defiantly feel it and see it in the way my clothes are fitting me etc .

Has anyone been through the same and can anyone advise the best way of getting back on track with weight loss?

Hi Angelina718,
I completely understand how you feel. Ive been at 174 forever. Surgery 1/19/18.......... SW 244 CW 174..I'm trying to get to 170 it was 165 but aye 170 is tough enough. I messed up alot over the holidays but I'm on it again. I'm exercising again slowly but its coming along. I'm going to do a reset by starting over from the beginning with the liquids. I gave myself a reality check..I'm making sure I dont go over 1000 calories and dropping some old habits I gradually picked back up. But you got this....check into diet plans and see what works for you...BE VERY HUMBLY PROUD 60 pounds is still great but I do understand again that last 10 pounds. I pray we both can get those last few pounds out the way...IM PUSHING FOR YA....."I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME"

Any update pictures JANUARY 2018 sleevers!
BEFORE & AFTER or just updated progress pics!

Hi Angelina718,
I completely understand how you feel. Ive been at 174 forever. Surgery 1/19/18.......... SW 244 CW 174..I'm trying to get to 170 it was 165 but aye 170 is tough enough. I messed up alot over the holidays but I'm on it again. I'm exercising again slowly but its coming along. I'm going to do a reset by starting over from the beginning with the liquids. I gave myself a reality check..I'm making sure I dont go over 1000 calories and dropping some old habits I gradually picked back up. But you got this....check into diet plans and see what works for you...BE VERY HUMBLY PROUD 60 pounds is still great but I do understand again that last 10 pounds. I pray we both can get those last few pounds out the way...IM PUSHING FOR YA....."I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME"

Hello January 2018 sleevers...I was sleeved on the 18th. Starting weight 244 now 174. I have been on a stall for 2 months now. My goal weight is 165 and seems like I can't get there. It's been such a challenge, I have been messing up slowly but surely...eating chips dips cookies😭😭i know i know..but i still work out 3 days week to help me at least not gain. Had anyone else appetite picked up because mine has DEFINITELY increased I'm always feeling hungry.

Also Water intake and bowel movements matter big time!

I am so speechless at this picture. My work had an event at a Disney Hotel on Saturday night! When i saw this PIC.. I look totally like a different person.. Besides being dressed up
LOL! The first one is me before surgery, and the second is Sat night! My first post op pic share!
 

Had surgery August 23 2017. Never thought I would of hit goal so fast. I mentally prepared for at least a year. I know that 70 pounds might not be much to some, but I too struggle and am an emotional eater. its been a whirlwind of fun and crazy emotions. I have decided to just tell people how I lost it, cause it has become so apparent and happened quickly and people were concerned I was sick. So far everyone has been positive ( at least to my face) and Its such a great feeling. I have been diligent on keeping to my diet. Mostly Protein, No sugar or Carbs. I take my supplements daily but struggle to remember the last Calcium of the night. Ive recently had my blood work done. waiting to hear. Hopefully everything is normal. ( keep fingers crossed) But I can say I haven't exercised at all! EEEK. it's been a mental thing. I HATE working out and I know that it needs to happen. my muscle mass is suffering and my skin is not pretty. i'm trying to jump start it. the weather hasn't helped. cold and raining and I'm freezing ( no body fat). I'm not perfect... I have had sips of soda here and there. I ate a couple chips on Super Bowl. I'm human and my problems aren't solved. I take it day by day and miss so many foods. This is all a learning curve and I'm happy to ride this journey.

💜CONGRATS to everyone who has celebrated a SURGIVERSARY💜
If you are interested in refocusing or recapturing a goal, consider joining us for a challenge

Before and After

I'm sorry you are struggling and happy you've had an "Aha moment" and posted about it.
I've been saying this from the beginning of my personal WLS journey. If we don't get right in the head, the surgery--which face it, it's not magic bean surgery--is not gonna do all the heavy lifting. We are such crafty, smart, surviving specie(s) haha, that we WILL figure out a way to outsmart our surgery.
What I still hear however is more magical thinking coming out of your mouth. Tomorrow, nothing will be different. You will wake up, resolve to mystically "do better"/"be better" etc, but guaranteed by 3-5pm, you will break and go for the fix. There is NO magic in this process. No WISHFUL thinking.
Unless/until you accept that your success depends on being accountable for your actions, and decide that will make concrete changes that are actionable, you will continue to despair and the beatings will continue until morale improves.
Honestly, the ONLY way to confront this issue we ALL face is to have a great plan. In your case (and in many of our cases, the key to the plan needs to include strategic partners: surgical team (who needs to know you're struggling and doing things you aren't supposed to do, bariatric counselor/therapist, RD), reading books on ending these self-defeating behaviors whatever they may be, making a concrete check list you USE and follow faithfully each day, decide on zero tolerance of going off-your checklisted plan, and being content that it takes time to correct behavior and weight. It also takes a physical plan for exercise.
Then you have to DO YOUR PART. You must log. You must weight foods. You must PLAN. You should maybe think about weighing daily, measuring monthly. Check things off your list.
I doubt seriously that you've stretched your pouch. Most likely, what has happened is that your pouch has matured which carries with it a natural "opening" or relaxing of your tum, which means you "CAN" eat more. It doesn't mean you "SHOULD" eat more. If you go back to your rules and follow them, you should begin to feel your restriction again.
Set your rules!
1. No more than 1 cup of food at a meal by volume.
2. Eat dense, dry, lean Protein first (60-80g per day).
3. Eat al dente or raw veggies.
4. No meat lube, sauce, compound meals that are highly caloric. Keep your food separate! It will hang in your pouch better and provide nutrition without a bunch of added calories you don't need.
5. Cut your carbs to 20-30net carbs (carbs - fiber) per day.
6. Aim for almost zero sugar.
7. Drink your Water (100+ ounces per day.
8. Don't drink your food! No liquid calories.
9. No eating/drinking 15 mins before and 1 hour after
10. Exercise daily. Try for 10K steps each day.
11. Take your supplements.
12. Get a real life support group and attend regularly.
13. Come here and get involved and on the BP Facebook group.
14. Above all--see your doc, RD to get a plan for success. AND get a referral to a bariatric counselor.
15. Consider joining OA.
I wish you success, health, and a good life. I don't mean to beat you while you're down. I'm trying to make sure you don't waste any more of your honeymoon period spinning your wheels and participating in a giant fantasy.

Thank you so much for this post. It's important and relevant for all of us to see/hear that it still takes real and constant effort to maximize the benefit we can realize from this tool. Too many of us have thought the surgery would make it easier, if not effortless. Totally not true! You can DO this thing.

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I can relate. Why do we do this to ourselves?

@bajansleeve yes let's both fight, together!

hopefully we can all encourage each other to break out of our lagging and bad habits. The battle is mainly in our mind.
you: 'I'm fighting the downward spiral of not being happy with myself.'. I can relate. For me this means that I am not happy with myself BECAUSE I am not doing what I should do and I have no good reason not to. So I am disappointed in myself more so than not happy with myself. Again, this is a battle of the mind. But not loving yourself goes deeper and VSG is not the issue in that regard. I pray your love for yourself will grow because it has started by your stepping out to try to change your life and get healthier. That is actually a courageous step. I did this to try to reverse diabetes and get HEALTHY. Honestly, and I mean it, my main goal is not to be skinny but to be HEALTHY so I am not dependant on insulin. And weight/obesity ties me to diabetes so I hope to loose enough weight so that I don't have to take it anymore.
How about we both FIGHT!?? Starts in our mind...……..we decide to fight

I just wanted to say thank you for sharing.
I hope your next update finds you more at peace with yourself and perhaps ready to make further changes to change your health towards the better. Obesity is a difficult disease to treat.

I'm sorry you're struggling. I can only empathize but I have no words of wisdom because I too, am having a hard time at 5 mos post surgery. I don't feel I've fully embraced a healthier lifestyle and made it part of my routine like I expect I should have by now. I'm fighting the downward spiral of not being happy with myself. Good luck to you. I hope you find a way to turn things around.

You nailed it. It's not as simple as "Just do it "no matter if you feel like it or not. It may mean digging deep and finding what got you to your height weight and confronting behaviors that are holding you back. May be time to find a counselor/therapist to get you over this hurdle. Get help even if it's hard..Even if you don't feel like it. Overcoming the mental battles can be the best gift out of this surgery.
Keep us updated. This is not the end of your story. It's the beginning.


SIDE NOTE:
Your post is very important for people making the choice to have sleeve surgery. Many of your points are not stressed enough by surgeons. Yes, you will still have an appetite and will be able to consume more food month's/years out.

you are 100% correct. The sleeve is just a tool. We have to work it, but dont beat yourself up. Change your behaviors. FInda therapist that can help you get to the root of the food issues. It will help. Also find an accountability buddy. One that is local to you and that can help keep you accountable and not enable you. RId your home of the foods you should not be eating. Start with a clean slate. You can do this! you have the knowledge of what to do, now just implement it. Make yourself incentive boards.. WAY TO GO Boards, motivational boards..
Good Luck

Perhaps this post will help someone who is seeking to do VSG or some form of WLS because I will be honest with you about my journey. It has been 8 months since I had VSG surgery and I have lost only 44 lbs. Up to a month ago I had lost 55 lbs but I have since gained 10 lbs. There are a couple reasons for my weight loss failure and I am just putting them down in writing not so much so that folks can be critical, but more for the folks out there considering this surgery or might just have had it.
I have not been committed to the process of changing bad habits or incorporating exercise into my lifestyle. I must have thought that having VSG was going to magically take away my appetite and food cravings for bad food. Guess what? I was starving the day after surgery! My appetite really never left. So if I did not CHOOSE what to eat and what not to eat, you could pack in tons of calories even in small portions. To cut to the chase, VSG does not work if you are not disciplined with your food choices. That shouldn't be a huge revelation but I actually had a mindset that my stomach would be gone and I would not even want to eat anymore so all the weight would just melt away. It does not happen that way!
I did not follow the instructions and guidelines post surgery about not eating and drinking at the same time. I had been told not to do it, I read that it would stretch your stomach pouch, but I still went ahead and did it. Guess what? My stomach has stretched and I can basically eat a small 'normal' size meal at only 7 months out when it should not be like that this early. Again, not being committed to the process
I am a type II diabetic. The catch 22 is that taking insulin makes you GAIN weight. That is just the nature of insulin and the more insulin you have to take, the more you gain weight. The first 4 months after surgery I was taking hardly any insulin at all but as my stomach expanded and I was able to eat more I had to increase insulin intake. So as a diabetic I'm really supposed to be exercising to compensate for that but cant seem to get this life style discipline into my life. I have a tread mill in the spare room - what is wrong with me!!!!
I am hoping that I can gather the motivation, the inspiration that inner push that I need to develop discipline in my life. i'm almost 50 years old and its really hard changing the way you have lived for so long but there are no short cuts, not even VSG 'saved' me. Sometimes I think the biggest problem and hinderance is just me because discipline does not depend on emotions - discipline is 'just do it' no matter if you 'feel' it or not...………..I NEED this, I need to get this translated from my head knowledge into practical living...….I'm rambling now
I'm hoping my update in the next 3 months will be a very different one in a more successful direction

Doreen0716, I completely understand. I will be a year out on the 19th of this month and I've been at a stall for 3 months as well. I try not to let it get the better of me because praise God we've come a long way from where we were. I'm down 70 pounds trying to loose the last 10 but it's a serious challenge. I workout and I try not to consume over 1000 calories. I'm going to try to reset my sleeve/body by starting over on the liquid diet and go from there. So maybe that could be a start for you also. I see alot people are doing the Keto diet that had the sleeve, so maybe try a diet plan that's fit for you. But whatever the case dont get frustrated re evaluate and keep pressing. I think the process has just slowed for us all after so many months, to me it seems like when i hit the 9 month mark it slowed big time. But keep us posted on your progress.