Recidivist

The reality is that the more you stray from the program set by your doctor and nutritionist, the less successful you will be in losing weight quickly. Drinking during the first year is a choice that will make it harder to lose weight, just like choices others make to eat sugar, carbs or fat. I'm not trying to reprimand anyone about their choices, but you need to bear in mind that they come with consequences. Personally, I think it's very important to maximize weight loss during the honeymoon period, when it is easier than it will ever be again. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

I'm also male. I was 59 when I had the surgery and had a BMI of about 37.5. I'm now 14 months out and in maintenance. I had more saggy skin than I had anticipated when I reached my goal weight after about eight months. Everything was droopy--upper arms, thighs, butt and chest. I was particularly bothered by my turkey neck and the folds on my stomach. I feel like my stomach has gotten a bit better in the last six months, but I would still be embarrassed to go out without a shirt. And the turkey neck is as bad as ever. Would I do it again knowing about the sagging skin? In a heartbeat! I did this for my health and to improve the quality of my life. The skin issues are secondary and are all about vanity, not health--although i do look infinitely better in clothes than I have in decades.

I still feel restriction at the 14-month mark. I can definitely eat more now than I could during the first six months or so, but not nearly as much as I could before surgery. I occasionally eat to the point of discomfort at this point.

I'm also in Australia (Canberra)! I've posted this before, but isolation has made it possible for me to plan and monitor my eating more carefully than when I'm working, so I've managed it quite well. I've actually lost a few pounds in the last couple of weeks. (And yes, I try to go for a walk every morning, which is still allowed here.)

Totally agree--and I'm still not eating bread, pasta or rice more than a year out!

Amazing difference--you look great! Once you start to see the results it becomes easier to stay motivated and on track. It's really critical to follow the plan during the "honeymoon" phase when it's relatively easy to lose weight. Congratulations!

I have had the same issue, although not as severely as you describe. I think to a certain extent it's one of the side effects we have to live with after surgery--and I'm okay with that to be as healthy as I am. However, I have found that limiting carbs as much as possible really reduces the smells.

Thanks so much for posting! You are an inspiration to those of us who wonder what things will be like several years out.

I was denied the first time as well, although not for psych reasons. My surgeon recommended that she contact the insurance on my behalf. She did so and answered their questions, and I was approved shortly thereafter.

I have actually found it easier to structure and plan my eating throughout the day when I'm home. When I was at work, I would unfortunately sometimes grab things i shouldn't really be eating. I've lost a few pounds since we began isolating, in spite of getting no exercise. Otherwise, all good! I'm lucky to have a wonderful partner for company, and the down time to catch up on reading and emails has been wonderful!

Hi, Matt. I had surgery about 13 months ago. I am male, 5'8" and weighed 150 at my highest. When I had my initial consultation with the surgeon, I was 137 and had a BMI of about 35.5. I had all the same questions as you have. I thought I was not overweight enough for surgery, even though I had yo-yo dieted for most of my adult life and was never able to keep weight off long-term. I was honestly a little embarrassed to be thinking about surgery compared to some of the other people I met who had 200+ pounds to lose. The only reason I was approved with a 35.5 BMI is because I had co-morbidities (sleep apnea, high BP, pre-diabetes.) RnY seemed really drastic and I couldn't imagine never eating the foods I loved again. Maybe if I just tried to diet one more time.... Fast-forward 13 months. I'm down to 140 pounds and a BMI of 21. Having the surgery was the best decision of my life, and my only regret is that I didn't do it years earlier. (I was 59 at the time of my surgery.) I feel wonderful and have so much energy. I'm off my BP and cholesterol meds, my sleep apnea is gone, and no more pre-diabetes. I can eat anything I want, but in much smaller amounts. However, my cravings for unhealthy foods--especially sugar--have disappeared. I won't lie to you: the first several months are really hard and you'll wonder what the hell you have done. By the maintenance phase, however, it becomes pretty easy when your life returns to a new normal. Good luck, and keep us posted!

I'm just over a year out from surgery, and I have never forgotten. I actually think that's a good thing, because it means I think about everything I put in my mouth.

I've always eaten more quickly that I was supposed to. 30 minutes to eat a tiny meal always struck me as a bit ridiculous. I concentrate on taking very small bites and chewing very thoroughly. Between those two things, I've managed to avoid making myself uncomfortable when I eat (most of the time).

I have found the opposite. I'm able to have a much more structured eating plan when I'm at home, more so than at work. I can eat when I need to and I always have the right foods available at home. At work, my eating schedule is erratic, and I will admit that I occasionally grab things on the run that I really shouldn't be eating. I've actually lost a few pounds since isolation began.

Congratulations, Marine--and nice to hear from you again. The most important thing is that you are healthy ad feeling good. Regardless of where you end up, you are way better off than where you started!

Thanks for posting this. there are very few people on this board so long after their surgeries, and many of us wonder what it will be like in the long term. Your post is a valuable reminder that this is a lifetime change in our lifestyle and relationship with food.

My original goal weight was arbitrary, since I hadn't been anywhere near that weight in more than 30 years. Once I got to my original goal weight, I decided to lose ten more pounds based primarily on a gut reaction (how I looked and felt). That turned out to be my ideal weight--but I kept losing after I reached it and had to try to gain eight pounds (which was such a strange concept). Since then, it has been a process of trial and error to find the find the right number of calories and types of foods that will keep me there, and I'm still tinkering with it.

Hi, all. I haven't posted in a while! My last post related to losing too much and going my best to gain weight. After a low of 132, I got up to 140, which seemed ideal for me. Over the course of about two months my weight has crept up slowly to about 146. I know that's not exactly a major fail, but enough to be concerning and not a path I wanted to continue. I made a very conscious effort to avoid carbs for about three weeks, and that did the trick. I'm now back down to 141. Still trying to find that perfect balance! Happy isolation to all!

Hey, Marine--nice to hear from you, and happy one-year anniversary (more or less). My surgeon and nutritionist both said alcohol is fine one year out. However, it always going to be calculation as to whether it's worth the (empty) calories vs. the the benefit. Becoming a teetotaler isn't realistic for everyone, but drinking of course needs to be done in moderation. This will be a lifelong balancing act that does't end just because we are in the maintenance phase. I hope you are doing well!

I'm a year out, and I definitely bruise more easily. Perhaps it's because there's not as much padding to protect us from occasional bumps!

I'm in Australia as well (Canberra). Where are you going for your surgery?

I agree. We all need to make our own choices based on weighing the risks and benefits. Personally, I would not hesitate to go ahead with surgery in the current environment.

I think you can be confident that the hospital is going to be taking all possible measures to ensure that the risk of infection is close to zero. They definitely know how to disinfect and take other necessary precautions.

I did bypass, but it's probably similar in terms of recovery. I initially took two weeks off and went back to work on Monday of the third week. I was so exhausted by noon that I went home and took another week off. I was okay for my desk job by week four.

I was just the opposite. I never drank coffee before surgery but find that I now really enjoy it and now have 2-3 cups a day. I take it with skim milk and artificial sweetener. I didn't start drinking coffee until about seven months after surgery.