Lolo 2020

I went to dr Shillingford in December 2018 and it was the best thing I’ve ever done . $10k all in , surgery went perfect and I am down 60lbs . He is the best !

Surgery is just a tool. I'm a chocoholic and could still go the rest of my life with only eating chocolate and Cookies and never any food but I know it's not healthy for me and I refuse to do it. Thank goodness the WLS made my stomach so small that I can no longer sit down and eat a box of cookies in one sitting. Grazing is a problem and I have to be mindful every single day not to do it. So I don't buy any sweets or let them in the house. I have sugar-free and carb-free chocolate "treats" to satisfy my sweet tooth. Whenever i have a craving, I take a drink of a chocolate Protein Shake.

Hello,
I had my surgery in October 2014. I went from a 14/16 plus size and 244lbs at 5’5.5” to a size 6 170lbs. In 2015 I became disabled and depressed. I lost my career and independence, social life... I was put on many medications that caused me to gain 60lbs in two months. After 1 and A half years I weighed over 300 pounds. I was disgusted. The medications were damaging my liver so my husband suggested to go vegan. Three years Later I’m a size 8 and I weigh 169 pounds. I don’t even know how I did it but I did and I wanted to share it with you all. Because you can do it to! Just never give up and make small changes and soon the small changes will become your new habits. I was only vegan for one year. Then I started ensure plus and cooked a healthy dinner. My health problems do interfere with my appetite so I guess that helps a little. But I have my restriction back and my latest report from the doctor was that all my labs are normal including my liver. The picture shows me in July 2017 and me in December 2020. I’d like to stay in touch with the others who are striving to maintain your health. I’m looking for a support system because I don’t have anyone else who’s been through what I’ve been through but I know you’re out there.

I've actually been thinking of joining WW just for the accountability itself. My problem is I love sweets and have fallen into such a bad habit of snacking (cookies, donuts, crackers, chips, etc). I think I need to start monitoring and keeping track of what I'm putting into my mouth with a tracker. Thank you for your support and information!

I'm almost 13 years out and have faced my fair share of regains (including 2 pregnancies along the way) but have managed to nip them in the bud in the 10-15 lb range. I honestly think regains are just part of the process and we all face them to some extent and i'm sure i'll face them again in the future, so this post is a good reminder for me as well! So here are my go to moves to get rid of regain:
My go-to moves are:
Eat Meals (don't graze) - don't skip Breakfast, even if it's small Eat Real food, not processed slider foods like chips and sweets Stop eating after dinner - get away from the kitchen after dinner. Evenings have always been my toughest time and so i make myself a cup of Decaf coffee, take it upstairs with me, and don't go back to the kitchen under any circumstances. Focus on the food, not exercise - 80%+ of weight loss comes down to food Move for Mental Health - aiming for 10K steps works for me and calms my urge to stress eat Talk to someone about mental health - overeating for me is a sure sign that's i'm heading on a downward spiral and the weigh gain and guilt and shame associated just makes it worse...see a doctor, find a medication that works for you, find your way back to a good mental health state Things i that haven't worked for me:
liquids / Protein Shakes - it's not sustainable (and really hard for even a few days...how did we do it pre- and post-op?), it makes me unbearably grouchy, and the minute i stop the weight comes back on Counting Calories - that is a trigger for me after a LIFETIME of dieting and i don't want to go there! Excessive exercise - it's too hard to outrun a bad diet with exercise and getting hurt would be a sure way to halt my progress. One more change that has truly been life altering for me is something i did after my last regain in 2018. My weight creeped up to 161lbs. That was 20lbs over my usual set point of 140lbs, which i had maintained for 10 years post-op (i'm 5'2" and started my journey at 200 lbs). It was starting to scare me and i knew i needed to do something.
I went back to all the things I listed above but i also did something i never had done before, i started eating plants for Protein. I cut out the meat first and then the dairy (which seemed overwhelming until i found all my own plant based substitutions), and i started focusing on vegetables! I didn't think about portions (after all, i'm a WLS patient, how much could i really eat) and i found myself shedding weight effortlessly!
Not only did i lose the 20 lbs i had gained, but for the first time in 12+ years post-op, i hit a new set point of about 122lbs which i've been maintaining with ease for the past year! I didn't start a diet, i didn't ever go off a diet. I just focus on plants and i feel great and have never been lighter! And i know what you're thinking...where do you get your protein??? But there is more than enough protein in plants for anyone who's at least 6 months post op! The funny thing is, i eat more than i have in years, but i finally feel like i'm living the healthy life i wanted and it's easier than i ever though it would be.
Anyway, sorry for the long post, i'm just so happy with how this has been working and i know it can work for others too! Feel free to message me if you have questions. Keep fighting the good fight!!

I can totally relate. I'm 2 years post sleeve and gained 10 lbs back with COVID and am working now on getting it back off. It's working! I can tell you that it's possible. I am eating like I did at the beginning with focus on Protein of 60 g or more per day, getting in my 8-10 glasses of Water a day, limiting carbs to fewer than 10 g per day. I haven't exercised yet. I've been back on the "reboot" for 2 weeks and lost 4 lbs so that's encouraging. My stomach hasn't stretched because I can still eat very little during a meal, so that's good news. My downfall was eating sweets all the time. I'm not doing that now. I think you can do it if you just remember why you had WLS in the first place and focus on the basics. Good luck!

I can't believe I'm in this place again! I was sleeved in December 2014 and lost 101 pounds. I was thrilled and kept the weight off for 5 years. Then slowly but surely I began to gain... I have been eating whatever I want, not exercising, and basically just being a slug. I finally got the courage up to weigh myself and see the damage, and I've gained 40 pounds!! I have tried to return to the basics but feel constant hunger. I am depressed and pretty hard on myself. I don't like the way I look and I feel like a loser (not a weight loss loser either). I guess I'm just looking for advice, encouragement, and tips to get this weight back off. Thanks community

Omg, yes ! So stressful and my go to food habits have definitely kicked in 😭. And I can’t go to the gym to deal with stress , miss spin so much but not sure I want to but a peloton . Am walking but not the same and work busy so sitting .. it’s all hard !😫 besides the whole thing being scary !😱

With all this Covid19 going on is anyone else find they are having to fight off the temptation to want to eat more? I am doing my best to fight it and continue on my journey of loss but it sure calls my name. LOL! Hope you all are doing well?

LoLo!! How's it going dear! I had my sleeve 12/20/2018, and I reached a total loss of 107lbs, but I am back to about a 101 weight loss but, I want to loose another 30-35lbs, (I Think) YOU LOOK AMAZING 🥰

Sent from my SM-S506DL using BariatricPal mobile app

Sophie u look amazing !! Congrats ! We did it !

Everyone is doing great... Congratulations! Five pounds to my final goal. Wow. What a difference a year makes.

Size 8 dress, too. Yay for us! Send us a snap shot of the new you...

Well done !

Mine was December 18th last year . I lost 50lbs in 3 months and 75 lbs and was at goal weight within 6 month. I am wearing a size 8 and Fee amazing - best thing I ever did !! Get excited !

Happy Thanksgiving December 2018 sleever's. Hope everyone is well and happy. I'm feeling grateful with the results this thankful season!

💃💃mine was done dec 18,2018 and I am down 78lbs and reached my goal weight last month . Life is so much better than I had ever hoped for . I wish u the same success

💃💃mine was done dec 18,2018 and I am down 78lbs and reached my goal weight last month . Life is so much better than I had ever hoped for . I wish u the same success

Can I just say those Protein bars are crap and why not just eat a snickers bar ? If it am on the run I go for a muscle milk drink in the airport ornideally I have pure Protein Drink in the car . I too carry cheese sticks or a wedge of laughing cow light Swiss cheese and celery sticks . The light and fit yogurts are great and pack 12 g ofnprotein for 80 calories . Even a banana is better than that processed garbage . Think about nutrition , liquid and more veggies and lean protein . I wanted something sweet on a cold night and could have done sugar free hot cocoa for 90 calories but no nutritional value or heated up my chocolate protein drink . I did the latter and my surgeon said “right choice “ feed your body and focus on health . Good luck and congratulations on your loss ! U got this !💪

I lost a 10 year old , basically ! Down 70 lbs and 3 lbs from goal . Life is really good - before and after below

I lost a 10 year old , basically ! Down 70 lbs and 3 lbs from goal . Life is really good - before and after below

I am at goal , 170lbs and lost 75lbs since 12/18/18 surgery . Don’t really count calories , still focus more on my 60g of Protein , per my surgeon. I estimate I eat around 1200-1400 calories a day . Still drink a Protein Drink in the am and use inspire protein Cookies and crunchers as Snacks and have continued to lose 1-2 lbs a month , but really don’t want to go lower . Spin and walk every day . Still focus on Water .

Congratulations!!🎉 I also just got to goal and fee like the albatross around my neck has been lifted !

Very very slowly , but yes still losing weight . I have lost 10lbs since May