Search the Community

Timely seeing this thread topic. Hair loss concerns here as well. Not simply from weight loss, but from getting older and fighting the DNA that threatens to thin my hair severely. I tried the head shaving thing a few years ago and it wasn’t for me. Got outa the shower looking like I had been in a cage match. Bleeding from some new cut all the time. Some dudes rock the bald look. I will do it if forced to, but in the meantime I am gonna throw money at it and hope for the best. Currently taking daily vitamins, iron, fish oil, potassium and started the collagen caplets this morning. Protein intake is good. Drink BCAA’s daily, too. I really noticed it when getting a haircut recently. The gal cutting it was cracking jokes about trying to work with my Donald. I was laughing, too….but geesh. Dis getting ta be serious bidness.

There are calculators that will help you ballpark estimated weight loss. I loved doing that before my sleeve. They're based on large numbers of people who have the various surgeries, but they are just averages. So some people will lose tons more and some tons less, for various reasons. Based on those my average predicted end point (based on thousands of people with the same starting BMI/weight but with a multiplicity of different variables, as Spartanmaker says) was around 200lbs (I started at 276 and would have honestly been thrilled with that). In the end I bottomed out at 138 and have maintained for a couple of years at 6-14lbs above that (albeit with a degree of effort because I like this weight and have invested a lot of money in a wardrobe that I just don't want to replace one size up, LOL). Sounds like you're already doing amazingly with your pre-surgery loss and that's all weight you won't need to use your sleeve to lose so you're ahead of the curve. The exercise you're doing sounds great too. I think you've got this. Can't wait to hear how well you do!

A few new wins! I just bought a size 8 🤣🤣. Like WTF I was not a 8 even at my smallest. Also I have been able to jog 3 to 4 miles without stopping. It took me a year but I finally unlocked that power and I credit strength training/weight lifting it helped me with endurance and strength to run long distance! Major wins !

Your worry is going to give you a stroke or higher blood pressure if you are not careful. I'm concerned about that so here are my thoughts. At 61, I finally had the RNY. Initially I wanted the GSleeve, but was educated by my surgeon about RNY and that made the most sense, it is well researched, it is done laparoscopicly and if you need the other part of the stomach removed, you can ask your surgeon to do that. The Y portion of the RNY might need to be attached somewhere else. I'm not sure. I had no pain and have been able to tolerate all of my walking and light housework during my 2 weeks off work. I tolerated the clear liquids and the full liquids well and now I am on solid foods and doing well. With RNY you tend to lose more, but it is dependent on you and what you eat. With RNY, I was taken off more than half of the medications I was on, and taking none of my diabetes meds and insulin. Having a fear of the GERD with GSleeve, I also opted for RNY. Because you are already on pantoprazole and still have issues, I would suggest the RNY because there is a higher risk for those who already have indigestion issues or suffer from too much stomach acids. RNY you can't have NSAIDS, but with my arthritis, I am allowed to take it only as needed, and I take a capsule of Celeobrex, and it works fine for my painful arthritis. Just talk to your surgeon about that. Being down 40 pounds already with the GLP1 medication is good, and it will reduce fat on your liver as a side effect. I too have renal problems, stage 3, but was encouraged by my kidney doctor to have the RNY, and yes, the kidney doc also doesn't want me on NSAIDS, but allows me to do so. I need to get down in weight so I can have a hip replacement. Then, I might not need NSIADs any more. I hope I have been able to give you some information and encouragement to re-look at the different surgeries. RNY is just one step further than the sleeve, and with the history of your family, I'm sure the surgeon will be able to compromise and do a revision to the typical RNY as needed. Having stomach cancer history in your family would be one reason to just take the stomach out that is cut off, like in the sleeve and attach the Y end of RNY elsewhere. A modification should be easy to contemplate and do. Just another thought, your surgeon may want to meet with you because the ulcer in your stomach is evident on the series of pictures taken, and wants to move quickly to get that part of the stomach taken out? It is possible? Already having an ulcer starting may also be the reason they postpone the surgery and put you on healing meds, and get you to "calm down" because worry makes ulcers worse too. There are all kinds of reasons and things to factor in, but I would say you definitely need to find out what the surgeon wants to talk about, and go in with some knowledge. I suggest you take a look at some of the YouTube videos by BariNation. You may find out that they help you. I wish you the best, keep us posted after you talk to your surgeon.

The doctor responded to my question in writing a few weeks ago that there is no good answer because there is no way to know, but saw the value of having access to my stomach to monitor, i don't think she had a chance then to review the EGD pathology report and now suddenly I have a meeting with her. The program coordinator couldn't explain to me why it was so early. 15 years ago I had a bladder cancer scare, and the urologist reacted the same way after they got a pathology report. In that instance they had access to my bladder and did a scope and did not find anything really abnormal. I know the risk is rare, and I look forward to learning about the alternative ways to monitor. And I hope you're correct. RYGB in general would be something I'll have to warm up to because of the increased complications associated with it. The great news is there is a lot of data on it, and surgeons are very familiar. Sinceit's not novel, and if I move I will surely find a doctor familiar with it vs SADI-S or even BPD/DS. For example in my area very few surgeons do either of those two. My insurance doesn't cover SADI-S or OAGB. My preferred surgery is SG. If I'm not a good candidate for it, then I'm glad I'm waiting because I need to do some deep thinking. Dumping sounds terrible. Arthritis runs in my family, and at time even at my age my knuckles and joint hurt. Nevertheless the nephrologist advises against NSAID but they are not off limits with RYGB they would be mostly off limits. I'm not SG or bust really, but I just had a relative share they have precancerous cells in their stomach. That two of my father's siblings with either stomach cancer or precancerous cells. It is a little too close to home. I may be, however, more at risk of dying by slipping in the bath tub, or driving on the highway than getting stomach cancer in my remnant stomach. So I have to be realistic. If I do nothing and get kicked off of Zepbound my weight will return, and my heart will enlarge, and I could die of heart failure or a stroke (in the last 5 years 3 close family members had strokes, and my grandfather die of a stroke years ago). Those are conditions I have now. The enlarging heart may not get worse, but it likely will. My cardiologist is why I aggressively started losing weight to lose 40 lbs since my bariatric first appointment weight-in in February. I've now been taken off one of my four hypertension meds, but I'm still on three. My other concern about RYGB is how will it impact my ability to take sustained released meds. all this I'll talk to my surgeon about in my meeting Tuesday. I've been considering bariatric surgery since 2018, and i put it off. 2022 after a few health scares and being diagnosed with mild but concerning LVH I started seeing a dietician and working out. Later I battled shame to start Wegovy in 2023 and worked with an obesity specialist's practice. In 2005 due to insurance I switched to Zepbound. After my cardiology follow up in January I went for my first bariatric consult. I briefly considered ESG, but after researching decided against it and insurance doesn't cover it. I witched Weightloss clinics and aggressively started tracking and living in a calorie deficit. I'm under no illusions about being able to keep this weight off w/o surgery long term. I don't know if the co pays next year will be even higher already $500 $360 with a coupon, or if my financial situation will change. ifI do nothing, the I'm not sure if I'll make it to my mid sixties if I go back to 315-320. So I have to do something, the question is what.

My purpose of doing this surgery so late in life (I'm 46) is to be healthier. I have multiple co-morbidities including hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, sleep apnea, CKD 2, and hyperlipidemia. There is a family history of stroke and cancer, including colon a stomach cancer. I meet with my surgeon for the second time Tuesday. The staff said the surgeon wanted to meet with me because had questions, but that did't make sense because they've responded to my questions. The only new information was from my EGD pathology report. My EGD found asymptomatic HP negative gastritis. The GI Doc didn't know what may cause it but tossed PPIs at me and I will learned Tuesday if I need another EGD or what. If I have contra-indicators for Sleeve Gastrectomy I'm considering backing out of surgery because that means my only option, anywhere would be RYGB. I'm afraid of having a remnant stomach that could continue down the path of inflammation. Apparently I was on the path to stomach ulcers. Maybe I'm being unreasonable, I'm just afraid of my remnant stomach being a time bomb. I'm also concerned about dumping, not being able to take NSAIDs, and perhaps having to change my other medications. I've committed to having a procedure including buying vitamins, typing protein shakes, losing weight in advance, learning more and more about the procedures, my relationship with food, and continuing to exercise with my personal trainer, and attending support groups. But I have this fear of RYGB and maybe it's silly. I know people, good friends, with RYGB. I get the sense they like the results, but not the down sides. One even told me they are surprised hospitals still perform RYGB because of the issues they had. I don't really know what I'm walking into on Tuesday and I am nervous. I've been taking 80 mg or pantoprazole daily. I learned my insurance company will only pay for 90 pills, so my refill was tricky. I don't know how longer I will have to take it or what that all means, and i don't know what impact all this will have on the surgery (if any). I'm terrified of having come this far, made peace with the decision to have surgery, over come the shame, had to deal with the doubts and fears of other people including my own spouse to find myself with the possibility that it's all a no-go. I won't have surgery until the fall, and normally the second appointment with the surgeon is closer to the the surgery point. Even the program staff weren't sure why it was being scheduled. My RD follow up, last week as also much sooner than it should have been, and after the meeting the RD said it wasn't the actual required follow up. I'm left scratching my head, being coming anxious, and I feel some slight indigestion which is wild since I've been on the PPI since early last month. I doubt my experience is unique so I open to learning from others. I'm currently on Zepbound and losing weight, but it's expensive with insurance and the insurance could decide to not cover even with the insurance and a coupon it's about the amount of a car note every month. So that's not sustainable for the rest of my life. Ia also need to lose more than the 20% max it would get me to. So if surgery is a bust, I I don't know. The gastritis is a contra-indicator for Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty and it's not covered by insurance anyway. Thinking about all of this makes me kinda nauseated.

Not the same starting weight, but have been obese all my life and this has been the best decision of my life, other than the man I married. He loves me no matter what I look like. But, I did this for health reasons and not to be skinny. I feel healthier, and my diabetes medications are no longer. I had the bypass, because I didn't want to deal with the possibility of GERD. I had some issues with it, but not any more, and mostly because I'm eating the right food. I wish you well.

if you lose a ton of weight, you're likely to have some loose skin. I had a ton of it (I had mine surgically removed three years after my bypass). No one but me (and my husband and doctor) knew it was there, though - it was pretty easy to hide in clothes. Even if it didn't have it removed, though, I still would have taken loose skin any day of the week over weighing 373 lbs (and yep - we had the same starting weight).

After the initial giant weight loss, your individual blood tests dictate what you actually need.

Men’s and women’s bodies are different, but for reference—I started at 297 lbs and am now between 165–170 lbs. I went from a size 20 to a size 4 in pants and from a 3X top to an XS–S. I do have loose skin, but it’s not as bad as it could’ve been because I started strength training about 3 months post-op and never stopped. I’ve always made cardio a priority too. Here’s what my weekly workout routine looks like: 2 upper body days 2 lower body days 1 full-body HIIT (with weights) 1 cardio-only day Even on my lifting days, I still include some form of cardio—walking, Stairmaster, biking, or whatever I’m in the mood for that day. It keeps things balanced and helps me stay consistent in my fitness journey. My biggest advice is really take that time to get your relationship with food in check, even though I'm in maintenance mode, I still have issues sometimes with binging- just being truthful- but I am able to control it and get myself in check the next day. Pre-op I would've just given up and kept the binge fest going. Stick to foods that you know you enjoy but also fuel your body. Track! I know its not for everyone but it sure helps me stay accountable. No diet is perfect, its not a thing- the main thing is if you fall off track dust yourself off and get back at it!

My number one piece of advice would be not to compare yourself to others. I get it, it's comforting to know someone else went through the same thing as you, but when you factor in genetics, epigenetic, diet, exercise, starting weight, % lean mass, etc. any comparisons will fall short. This will become even more important after surgery when the process becomes really hard and you feel like it's not working like it should. We see multiple posts a month from people who are losing weight, but it's coming off slower than they expected and they want to know why. The response is always the same. Trust the process, we're all different and how we lose weight is going to be different. I think it's fantastic that you're losing so well right now. Keep in mind that the rate of loss WILL slow down some as you lose more. That's perfectly normal, so don't let that discourage you from continuing to eat well and exercising. I would caution you about fasting. There's no scientific evidence that it works any better than any other method of calorie restriction. Normally I'd say do what works for you, but fasting is not something you'll be able to do post-WLS (at least early on), so it might not be the best thing for you right now. Especially since your real goal at this point is to learn how to eat better, I'm not sure fasting is the best plan currently. I also think you need to include more cardio into your exercise routine. I love resistance training for lots of reasons, but cardiovascular endurance is the number one predictor of all cause mortality, so please don't skip it, even if you don't like it as much.

Hey guys, brand new here. Halfway through my bariatrics process, and just a general question, hopefully from people who are around my same size? Started this process at 373 pounds. Goal weight to achieve was 345.6 pounds. Im currently at 337 pounds and still dropping, as I cut everything out of my diet first day after consult. Started fasting, portion control, intake control with what I was choosing to eat, and hitting the gym 5 days a week for resistance training. I am 6ft tall. Mainly posting to see what process yall went through in how much expected weight loss. I know all bodies are different, but trying to get a better idea to compensate for loose skin. Still have 3 months to go until im scheduled for surgery due to insurance requirements, and im not stopping now. Im ready for the better side of me I can find. Any information is greatly appreciated! Currently looking at getting the gastric sleeve done.

Probably a good idea to postpone your appointment. I'm skeptical as well based on the study on the web site. I would focus on your personal health and wellness and less on the physical look of your body. Your body will end up being what it is when you finally meet your goal, which you have met from your scale. Body sculpting or plastic surgery is probably the next thing you should look into but it is not necessary for a healthy and well body. Remember that it takes more than just physical beauty or thinness, it also takes a mental health well being too, so focus on your mind and realize how much you have lost, if you are healthy now and can move like never before. Obesity is a disease that never goes away with the loss of weight until you deal with the loss in your mind, and look in the mirror and see someone who is healthy. This is just my personal point of view, but then again I don't care what others think about my body, it is my mind and quick wit that people enjoy about me. I didn't lose me, I only lost weight and don't care that I have some sagging skin or dimples here and there. My beauty is on the inside, right? You might also have a body image issue and might need to talk to someone about it. Having Lymph edema is different than lipo edema, one has compression to assist with the circulation of the body, the other is fat fat cells. You are saying you have fat fat cells, but you have compression devices, which is confusing. Which do you have? Problems with your lymph in your lower legs, or fat cells that have swelling?

Weight will fluctuate but should not be that big of a difference, I would toss the scale you have and try another one. But then again, I don't weigh myself very often, I wait for my post-op weigh-ins because it is the same scale, same place, same lack of dust, etc. If your scale is on wood one day and carpet on another day you will see a different weight too. On the first floor or the 7th floor, it can make a difference, and don't forget with vs. without clothes. These are typical differences. My scale is about 10 pounds off from my doctors office. Remember that there are NSV (non-scale victories) that you should be focused on too, like the size of your clothes, how well you walk now than before, if you measured your waist, thighs, arms and the rest, are they going down in numbers? Celebrate the 43 pounds that you did lose and look for your win that you did have. You should remember that your body is different than others, and your wins will be different than others as well. I know you have other wins you can share from this last week post surgery. Mind work is just as important as physical work.

I had been part time following the pre ops diet and cutting down on my food sizes a few weeks before I got news of my operation date : may 26, the same date 5 years ago I knew I was going to gain weight because of pregnancy complications. So the first two and the half weeks I just did more pre- ops eating (modifast in 4 different flavors) . They are quite tolerable. I usually had a normal (small sizemeal) in the evening with the kids. Now starting last Sunday, (18 may) I am on a full water fast for 5 days. Meaning my fast ends today at 19:20. I have my modifast oatmeal ready should I really need to eat something at that hour. Tomorrow Saturday I shall be on liquid pre ops meals as prescribed. Sunday will be another day on liquid only in preparation for my operation on Monday. I tell you what this is my body and I am determined to get it back. The operation is not a magic pill. It is just a tool in my toolbox. The way I think about food and how and why and when I ingest it- that to me is the magic. I am focusing very much in discovering my cues and knowing what triggers my eating habits. I am learning to say no all together when I am invited to that snack moment at work to eat what so ever what when I truly know I do not need it. - I am learning to say ’No’ and knowing it will be okay. I take it a minute at a time. We shall get through this and we will not turn back. I want to be able to jump into every photo without cringing I want to feel good and run about with my kids without feeling pain, exhausted and above all guilty. I am doing this for my boys and then for myself. We will be alright guys. We got this.

I feel like you may be overthinking the malabsorption component of RNYGB? Yes, this does elevate the risk of nutritional deficiencies for some vitamins & minerals since absorption sites are somewhat bypassed. You've got to keep in mind though that ALL bariatric surgery patients are going to be nutritionally deficient, at least during the weight loss phase when you'll be eating a very low calorie diet. Very low calorie also means very low amounts of most vitamins and minerals. Even if your diet were perfect (virtually no one has a perfect diet), you just can't consume sufficient food to make up for your nutritional needs. Yes, you'll eventually get back to eating more normal amounts, but until then, bariatric multivitamins have been formulated to make sure you don't suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Keep in mind too that the supplementation recommendations are all based on averages and in reality very few of us are average. The volume of food and the nutritional quality of said food, as well as genetic and epigenetic factors all influence what you'll be able to get from diet alone, as well as how well supplementation works for you. As a result, ALL supplementation recommendations are set up to ensure ~95% of patients will have no nutritional issues. Bariatric multivitamin manufacturers also tend to over-rotate on anything that does not have an established upper limit since they know that their consumers will be having frequent labs done. If someone were to be deficient in a particular vitamin, then they're likely to seek out a different product. You can see this pretty clearly by simply looking at something like the ASMBS recommendations vs the massive amounts of many vitamins found in bariatric multivitamins. Know too that it's entirely likely your bariatric team will have you adjust your supplementation after your labs are done post operatively. Many will want to do labs around 90 days, 180 days, then annually thereafter to monitor for nutritional deficiencies (or sometimes even excesses). I for example had to modify what multivitamin I took because my B12 level was sky high. I get the cost concern, and you may be fine with just a regular multivitamin, but keep in mind your overall food bill should drop since you'll be eating so little. This should more than cover the cost difference, so personally I'd err on the side of caution and take a bariatric specific multivitamin at least while you're in the fat loss stage. Once you're in maintenance, you might be able to adjust that (with your doctor's blessing).

We started off about the same weight, and at month 4 (I just checked my spreadsheet), I'd lost 52 lbs, so not much more than you. It seems to be pretty common to lose about 10 lbs a month for the first few months (although some people have a big drop the first month (I did not), which is likely a lot of water weight - before settling in at a slower rate of loss). After the first six months or so, I dropped down to maybe five lbs a month - and after I passed the year mark, there were some months when I only lost about two lbs. It took me about two years to reach goal. If you stick to your plan, the weight will come off, whether fast or slow. There are so many factors that influence your rate of loss - age, gender, body build, how muscular you are, your metabolic rate, how active you are, whether or not you lost weight before surgery, starting BMI, etc. The only things you really have any control over are how closely you stick to your food plan and how active you are, so if you do well with those two things, the weight WILL come off. I ended up losing over 200 lbs, so definitely don't lose hope! P.S. of course, if your scale actually weighs differently than the one at the doctor's office, well then there's that, too...

Yes, I have type III lipoedema as diagnosed by two GP and a specialist consultant plus confirmed by my bariatric team and a cosmetic surgeon and in addition other female family members have the same condition. Before my sleeve I was at stage 3 but now I am, thankfully, closer to a stage 2 appearance wise. I have been prescribed compression clothing in the past but it just helped ease the pain/heaviness, I did not see any physical improvement. I have prescriptions for drainage massage which does help a bit. It is on each leg but not as pronounced in the upper area now that I have lost weight and is not an issue for me the way the lower part is, from just above my knees to my feet. I just did not see the need to go into all of this personal information to ask the question I did above. About the machines I am having my doubts as the more I read about it, people have to keep going to maintain the losses they may be achieving which then means it is not sustainable as far as I can tell and becomes a money pit. I will be postponing my appointment this weekend, for other reasons, and unless I come across some startling new information I will probably not reschedule.

Aaah scales. They have the power to make or ruin your day just by standing on them. Did you weigh more at your doctor’s than at home initially? I weigh differently at my GP, my follow up doctor, the hospital & at home. So they keep their records and I keep my mine. The actually weight loss is the same just the numbers are different on the scale. Check your batteries. How old are your scales? As my old scales were failing my weight was erratic until they finally read I weighed like 100kgs more than I was. They went in the bin & I bought new ones that day. Remember you have lost 43lbs in 4 months so averaging 10lbs a month. That’s fantastic.

I'll be honest. I'm skeptical of this, but before we get into that, I think you may need to clarify something? You stated that you have: This would be highly unusual, since lipoedema is normally seen over the entirety of the legs, but is typically most pronounced in the buttocks & thigh area. Have you actually been diagnosed by a physician? If it's just your calves, it would be a lot more likely for this to actually be muscle, not fat. It's extremely common for formerly obese people to have larger than normal calf muscles. This is so because basically you've spent your life doing heavy calf exercises daily just by walking around with all that extra weight. If this is the issue, your options may be somewhat limited. Eventually, with targeted diet and exercise, your calves may shrink, but it won't happen quickly. Another fairly common cause would be another type of edema such as lymphedema. Edema is common in obese people, but lymphedema specifically often goes undiagnosed. Unfortunately for some people, losing weight may not fix the problem. Bottom line, if you have not already done so, I would strongly encourage you to talk with a doctor about your concerns so you can get an accurate diagnosis. Now for my thoughts on hypoxi and the reasons I'm concerned: The basic principle here goes against our current understanding of how fat loss works. The only study linked on their website doesn't actually show ANY increase in fat loss. All it shows is a reduction in size of the "treated" area. This is a HUGE red flag. If the subjects didn't lose additional weight, even in the main study they link on the site, then what caused the size reductions? The most plausible answer is that this was simply fluid loss and thus extremely temporary. The study linked does not appear to have ever been published in a peer reviewed journal of any kind. This is another huge red flag. The fact that no one else has made similar devices seems odd? If the science were sound and the results reasonable, then copycats should be everywhere. Quality medical devices simply don't exist in a vacuum. It's also a bit sketchy to me that these devices can only be found in their "studios" and nowhere else. They seem to want to tightly control things, which seems odd if this really works as well as they claim? Why not sell them to health clubs, rehab facilities, etc? Best of luck whatever you decide.

HOLY ISH! A year already?! Time has flown! I still remember the beginning of your journey and those first posts—wow, you've come so far and done so incredibly well! I'm seriously so proud of you!! I totally agree with @SpartanMaker—maintenance is no joke, and exercise really does make all the difference. Weight lifting has been key for me too. It helps so much with maintaining, even more than cardio sometimes. Build that muscle and you're burning calories just by existing. Cardio is still super important,! I’m still figuring out maintenance myself, but my workouts have been consistent and even through my 2month spat of not being able to get my nutrition in control, making sure I kept up with exercise has been key I have been consistently doing this and its been great: 35–45 minutes of strength training, 5 days a week, At least 30 minutes of cardio daily (treadmill, dog walks, biking—whatever tickles my fancy), 2 lower body days, 2 upper body, 1 full body and one day a week my doggy and I do a 5-mile walk (she gets a walk every day, but that’s our long one). You’ve been so fabulous through this whole process, and I can’t wait to hear about your continued journey!

I am doing a trial session of hypoxi (https://www.hypoxi.com/en/) on Saturday as I am hoping it will help with the bad lipoedema in my calves and ankles which I feel kind of takes away from all the weight loss and how well I have done over the last almost two years as I still can't wear anything that does not cover it all up as I am so self conscious about and it depresses me a bit as I can't see that I will ever reach my dream of being able to wear calf high boots. I haven't been given a price list yet, as Saturday is a trial, but I am sure it will be very costly so don't want to get sucked into a gimmick and I was wondering if anyone else has done sessions to help with toning (not necessarily lipoedema related) and if you have any feedback? The one immediate good thing I can see from what I have read is that I won't have a problem following their nutrition guidelines which is not to have high fat or high carb foods a couple of hours before a session and or for a few hours after a session.

Today's win ? Returned to weight lifting after what seems like a 200 year hiatus. 🤣 Nothing extreme or crazy....very light weights with lots of reps. Injury avoidance is key concern. Other win is the overall feeling like I have things dialed in and the cruise control is activated. The positive feels from this are so welcome. The last 6 years or more have been chaotic and hellish at times. Things are slowing down and falling into place. Sure the scale is giving lower numbers every week, but the real improvement has been with the pure simplicity of returning to the initial advisements of the professionals at my bariatric center.

I was recently told that I have PCOS. My husband and I are currently trying to conceive, and have been for over a year. I get very frustrated and critical of myself because I keep hearing “you might have better luck if you lose more weight”. I’m so proud of where I am, though. I’m 7 years post-GBS, and I’ve kept all the weight off (125 pounds). But it always feels like it’s never good enough. Any tips or advice? Thanks! -Sarah

I realize this is an older thread...but it is still near the top of page and I suppose the "most recent" of it's type ? A pile of stuff has occurred in my life since I was active here on B,Pals. My 10th year sleeve anniversary is coming up later this year. Lost a ton of unwanted weight as a result of the sleeve. Daily trips to gym were the norm. no longer drank beer, but found that sugar free mixers and high grade tequilas and vodkas made for some FUN fuel for many adventures. Storm clouds loomed heavily over my marriage. Some unresolved issues resurfaced in a big ugly way. It appeared divorce was most probable. The storm finally broke....my ship hadn't crashed on the rocks... my wife still my first mate, ally, friend and lover....marriage was stronger than ever. 6 years ago she received a diagnosis for stage 4 breast cancer. Immediately stopped drinking when that diagnosis was delivered. 4 years ago she succumbed to the evil hell of cancer. She fought it with superhuman strength and courage. I will live the rest of my years in awe of her bravery and grit. It has been an incredibly tough go of it since. Her unshakable faith stoked my own faith. That is what I leaned on heavily....and will continue to do so. Early last month, the anniversary of her death was approaching. I was filled with this feeling of guilt in addition to the ever present loss & grief. The guilt was spurned by the realization that I had taken zero steps towards what she had told me to do...afterwards. She was clear that she wanted me to live. I was going to work every day and that was the extent of it. I'd maintained zero friendships and seldom contact my family, other than our son. The hurricane damage had been repaired on the house, yet I'd done nothing towards moving stuff back into the rooms that were repaired. Was living off take out and drive through garbage because I couldn't bring myself to cook...painful memories of meals made & shared together. ENOUGH. That was the word that hung heavy in the air. I could almost hear it as if she'd spoken it loudly. ENOUGH, GREG...IT IS TIME TO MAN-UP I began taking inventory right then. I vowed to not let another year go by with me still living in a bubble...not treading water, but sinking. I have remained alcohol free since quitting those six years. Clear headed and no monsters to address there. Good. Doctors appointment for annual checkup had revealed several things....top of which was my blood panel looked like trash...precisely because that is what my diet consisted of....pure trash. There had been some weight regain...but nothing that I felt like would be too difficult to lose....if I would get my arse in gear and make the lifestyle changes needed. Things were going okay on my job, simply because I'd let it be my focus...the only thing I rallied for. Spent way too much time there. Immediately scheduled some vacation time off and road tripped to visit family Visited my wife's grave....our gravesite and did so with a different feel....loss and missing her....but, feeling more stable for the first time since losing her. She'd forced me to sit down, months before passing, and listen to her on a certain subject matter that I was avoiding. told me to live...how to live....wanted me to continue on with all aspects of life and was very descriptive. She would make ongoing instruction in the months ahead. I couldn't speak in reply...just nod that I understood. She was so brave that she could accept things and love me enough to coach me how to live....afterwards. I was too much of a coward to discuss it....just sat there and listened and acknowledged. She would KICK my arse if she saw the state of low I'd been to. One day, perhaps, I will be able to show her that I heard her and rallied. That time will be at the end of my days, however. Until then, there is much life to live. RESETTING THE SLEEVE WAS EASY: I simply swapped over to strict keto. After two weeks I felt much better....after a month I no longer wanted the crap foods and I no longer wanted big meals. The smaller meals reset things for me. There is a noticeable restriction and feeling of full that occurs now. I haven't finished a meal in a month...unless it was a 1/2 sized meal. Sipping water all day...cutting off prior to meals and 30 mins after. Zero sugar intake an damn few non-fiber carbs. Supplementing with vitamins, iron, potassium and calcium. Moving more....but still not ready for the gym and all the people. Slowly feeling emotionally more "awake". Keto, with an eye on the overall daily calorie intake is how I live now. I don't see changing that. By the time that 10th surgery anniversary arrives, I suspect I will be at my all time lowest weight since college. The sleeve is still there. It just needed me to treat it right and not override it with trash food.