thesuse2000

2 months post op and 45lbs gone !

Surgery date 9/25/13, height 5'1, Weight 238lbs

After: 130lbs

Best decision I ever made!

I'm about 7 months out, so in a different place for sure. But in the last couple months I'm finding I'm much hungrier than I was early on. What helps me feel more in control is keeping as low carb as I can. The more carbs I eat the hungrier I am the rest of the day. And eating more veggies helps of course to keep overall calories down at each meal.
Not everyone likes to track, but I just can't lose without doing it. It helps me stay honest with myself and think before putting things in my mouth.
Great you're catching this now! You can absolutely take control again.

Sounds like a rough road! Great that you're finally getting the care and treatment you need! Wishing you the best with the second part of your journey!

I don't know about you, but I've lost and gained weight in my long life more times than I could count right now.
The behaviors that accompanied my earlier weight gains include:
* "Celebrating" after losing weight
* NOT having a weight maintenance plan. AT ALL!
* NEVER weighing myself
* Eating LOTS of sweets and carbs
* NOT tracking / recording / being mindful of how much I'm eating
* NOT exercising
* Feeling like a regain 5-10 pounds is so awful I can't deal with it. Ha!
Needless to say, I didn't have the benefit of a smaller tummy's restriction during all those prior times. But I also am no longer counting on that saving me this time. My long-term success is going to have to rely on ALL the tools I'm building now.
Everyone's entitled to their own personal version of weight loss salvation. I currently belong to the Church of Righteous Daily food Tracking and Weighing.
P.S. I shouldn't even be posting on this thread; I'm not even 5-1/2 months post-op. Sorry.

Awesome!! Thanks sooooo much. It's so nice to know that I'm not alone. I was really feeling discouraged and feeling like I'm failing or doing something wrong. I will definitely check it out.

Was down to 171, but back to 172 today. Alas...

I agree with everyone else. Don't let anyone else make this decision for you. People think this a cosmetic procedure. They also erroneously think that diets work. Neither is true! Over 90% of peope who lose weight on diets gain it back, and usually end up heavier than before they started.
I have so much more energy already. I'm loving working out. I find myself running to get places when I'm not even in that much of a hurry! I've just got energy and am enjoying the freedom I now have to break into a run anytime. I'm certainly much less concerned about an early death due to an obesity-related illness. This surgery is truly life-changing.
Yes, there are risks. But the benefits outweigh the risks by miles.

I agree with everyone else. Don't let anyone else make this decision for you. People think this a cosmetic procedure. They also erroneously think that diets work. Neither is true! Over 90% of peope who lose weight on diets gain it back, and usually end up heavier than before they started.
I have so much more energy already. I'm loving working out. I find myself running to get places when I'm not even in that much of a hurry! I've just got energy and am enjoying the freedom I now have to break into a run anytime. I'm certainly much less concerned about an early death due to an obesity-related illness. This surgery is truly life-changing.
Yes, there are risks. But the benefits outweigh the risks by miles.

Sometimes it's good to remind myself that even if I'm not exactly where I want to be, I will never go back.
I thought that reminder might be helped by trying on the 1 pair of pants I kept....a size 20, down to a 4.
So here's a visual of what it looks like to be literally less than half of yourself, given that I've lost more weight than I actually weigh now.
I have to say I quite enjoyed the reminder :-)  

I agree with everyone else. Don't let anyone else make this decision for you. People think this a cosmetic procedure. They also erroneously think that diets work. Neither is true! Over 90% of peope who lose weight on diets gain it back, and usually end up heavier than before they started.
I have so much more energy already. I'm loving working out. I find myself running to get places when I'm not even in that much of a hurry! I've just got energy and am enjoying the freedom I now have to break into a run anytime. I'm certainly much less concerned about an early death due to an obesity-related illness. This surgery is truly life-changing.
Yes, there are risks. But the benefits outweigh the risks by miles.

Personally I think with all the enhanced food and all the preservatives and all the processing and all the glues and what they are feeding the animals and so on and so on and so on. I personally feel that if I add fake butter to it and artificial sweeteners and so on then I may surely get sick...
I was told by my nut that I can eat real food without anything doctored in it and it would be okay. I would lose my weight and attain my goal.
Now if I ate sugary foods and fatty foods as my main diet I would gain for sure. Even if I was not grazing it would happen. Our bodies are conditioned to store calories. And it will if allowed to do so.
I try and mostly succeed at eating Protein first, then veggies, and a carb. In between meals I try to eat some fruit. I have tried to eat just Protein at a meal and it would not stay down. Waited and tried a few weeks later. Same results....So for me real food at meals no fake stuff that I know of and so far so good!
I will tell you I do eat the odd sweet. Sugar is my trigger food. Love me some skinny popcorn as a snack as well.
So for me no diet food!

@erp- It's a sort of hand in hand thing. I have a sweet tooth. Always have. I could probably eat a baby if it was dipped in chocolate and I'm a vegetarian! I don't limit or use sparingly. I have it when I want. However what has changed is my desire for them. This morning I had a mug of coffee, I put a good half tbsp of raw honey in it because I like it sweet. However other than some fruit I doubt I'll have more sugar today.
Unless you actually eat this way it's hard to explain, but the less artificial sweeteners and additives I have in my diet, the less I want them. However I am completely satisfied and do not feel deprived.

I'm 4 years 7 months out. I'd be lying if I said I eat correctly all the time. I regained about 27 pounds somewhere around end of year three. Lost all my regain using 5:2 Intermittent Fasting. In the last 8 months, I've allowed myself to add back about 15 pounds so tightening up and gaining control and utilizing 5:2 again. With that said, you just have to keep in mind that this is a TOOL not a easy fix. Like it was said, sliders ALWAYS slide and ANYBODY gains weight eating junk!

ALMOST 5 YEARS OUT!!
Long story short. Sleeved April 2010 went from 230s to 108 at my lowest. Stayed steady from year 2-3. After 3 years out stayed steady at 118 for another year. Now year 4-5 I am 128. Now take into account I workout at least 4-5 days a week including weight training & running 7-10 miles a week. I do believe some of the weight gain is muscle. I went from a 0/2 to a 6/8 now. I used to drop pounds just breathing. Now I have to work really hard. Bottom line eating better & working out is the only key. I vowed to never return to my previous weight. Ever. Stay strong everyone!!
Btw: I am 4'11 & 37 years old. With 2 children. I also wanted to add that the number on the scale isn't what I fully look at. Yes I may have been 108 lbs at one point but I looked like skin hanging on bones. Now I am happy looking healthy & strong. I have worked through many aches & pains working out & running. From ankles, knees & hips.

Love this thread! I'm with you all. I don't eat diet food either. I eat foods that are yummy and enjoyable. I think that's critical to my long-term success. I do track my foods and make sure to meet Protein goals, keep carbs low, and avoid too many sweets. But yes to healthy fats! Veggies sautéed with olive oil and garlic, fatty delicious salmon, etc. One of my faves, especially after a workout is rotisserie chicken - and yes I eat the skin!
Also - while I track my eating, I don't deny myself a little extra if I'm hungry. I want to maintain a healthy relationship with food, and for me that means not depriving myself.

Hi - I did great with the band at first, but then had a slip, and a revision surgery (just readjusted the band) and still had major issues after the revision and couldn't tolerate a fill. Gained all the weight back. Revised to sleeve in June and am down almost 90 pounds! About 10 less than the lowest I reached with band so far. Hoping to lose some more. My recovery from sleeve surgery wasn't much different from my two prior surgeries. Good luck

Hi - I did great with the band at first, but then had a slip, and a revision surgery (just readjusted the band) and still had major issues after the revision and couldn't tolerate a fill. Gained all the weight back. Revised to sleeve in June and am down almost 90 pounds! About 10 less than the lowest I reached with band so far. Hoping to lose some more. My recovery from sleeve surgery wasn't much different from my two prior surgeries. Good luck

I'm 5 months post-op. I adore my surgeon and his team. They are GREAT. However, like Kindle, I assume responsibility for my own WLS success.
I've also found tremendous value in many experiences and advice expressed here and other online forums.
So I welcome everyone's views. But any insinuation that people should muzzle their experiences, opinions or even their instincts here is silly.
BP is a message board. It's social media. It's not a source of medical advice. No one here is responsible for what others do or don't do in response to their comments here.
As everyone here surely realizes, we are just regular Joes typing on the internet, expressing ourselves.

Exactly! I feel it is our responsibility to be a part of our own health care and to work WITH our doctors, not simply accept their advice as infallible. Luckily I have a great doctor who feels the same way and his ego does not get in the way when I ask questions or make suggestions based on what I know about my own body and what I've discovered in my research. He also doesn't hesitate to consult with other specialists concerning my health so that he can provide the best care for me.
I am, in fact, responsible for my own post WLS plan. No one held my hand or told me what I can and can't do. I took bits and pieces from my surgeon's recommendations, my PCP, medical journals, nutritional research and from veterans on here and did what was best for ME.
Like it's been said before, there is not one right way to do this. No medical degree in the world makes someone an absolute expert. Everyone should own their own journey and be informed beyond the confines of their medical team.

HI Folks,
As an old RN for the past 33 years, I can guarantee you that there is a great variance of opinion and knowledge among health care providers. It is not a good idea to blindly accept and/or follow anybody, including your health care team. That being said, I have the utmost respect for my surgeon and the team I worked with. I also know that I have to live with any health care decision that is made, so it is in my best interest and the entire team's best interest if I have the best information possible to make health care and lifestyle choices. A good health care team will not be upset or threatened by an informed, questioning patient.

I appreciate you playing devil's advocate, Steve. I agree, nobody should be ignoring their weight loss team, but I do feel it's important to question authority if what they're asking you to do just doesn't feel right. In my case I've got a not-so-helpful NUT.
I'm so glad to have everybody's input here (59 reponses!); I got some great information, most especially the referral to Dr. Matthew Weiner's website and all this videos. Another doctor; director of the bariatric program at his hospital and author of "A Pound of Cure".
Because I realize I am by no means an expert, I ran Dr. Weiner's ideas by the director of the bariatric program at my hospital.
This is his response: "My opinion has always been that there is no one "right" way to do things. I am certain there are patients out there who are miserable on Dr. Weiner's diet! Having said that, as long as you are meeting the macronutrient requirements I am fine with you getting your Protein mainly from plant sources. You know your body better than anyone and listening to your body is the best guide."
Of course I'll have to focus on Protein first these first few months as my stomach heals, since I can't possibly eat the volume I'd need for that from plant sources. But I am encouraged that I can safely start replacing my Protein shakes with better, healthier options, and begin eating more veggie and fruits. Dr. Weiner invests a lot into your post-operative and long term diet and has a ton of helpful videos on his site. I have the feeling this is the direction that future post operative diets will be taking. And as my contact says (as does Dr. Weiner): "listening to your body is your best guide."
But listening to people who have been there done that provides a wealth of information to help you make wiser choices. So again everybody, thank you for your input.

Congrats! What a difference already!

From left to right: 3 months pre-op, at my highest weight; 1 month post-op; 2 month post-op

Love this thread! I'm with you all. I don't eat diet food either. I eat foods that are yummy and enjoyable. I think that's critical to my long-term success. I do track my foods and make sure to meet Protein goals, keep carbs low, and avoid too many sweets. But yes to healthy fats! Veggies sautéed with olive oil and garlic, fatty delicious salmon, etc. One of my faves, especially after a workout is rotisserie chicken - and yes I eat the skin!
Also - while I track my eating, I don't deny myself a little extra if I'm hungry. I want to maintain a healthy relationship with food, and for me that means not depriving myself.