I'm so thrilled to have found this site! The information is great, and greater because it comes from real patient experience and not surgeon hype.

Clearly, everyone loses weight after getting sleeved. However, most of the posts I've seen have been from people who appear to be within the first few months of their surgery.

I am much more concerned about keeping the weight off long-term than in losing it. I've lost 100+ pounds three times in my life, and kept it off for several years each time, However, within 5 years of each big loss, I was back up to my top weight again. I'm unwilling to go through all of the traumas related to the sleeve only to be back here again in 5 years. I know it is possible to stretch out the stomach after a bypass - the same must also be true of the sleeve. What is the prognosis?

I know the sleeve has a shorter history than the bypass, but there must be some people who are several years post op. How are the maintenence wars going for you guys?

Hi Kat and welcome!! I've been at "maintenance" since August of 2011. I've either been losing weight or since last month I've finally not lost nor gained any weight. It was weird staying the same. I was sleeved in Sept of 2010.

Its not been difficult for me at all to keep the weight off really. In fact I've gone back to some bad habits recently but I'm stopping all that right now. I'm drinking an powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken Soup as we speak. I'm probably going to start losing weight again because my eating will get back to right and I'm going to be toning back up. Anyhow, I just wanted to give you some hope that maintenance is possible!!

Here is a good thread you might find useful in reading: http://www.verticals...sleeve-surgery/

Good luck on your journey!!

I'm now two years out and have lost 100 lbs. While I don't think the stomach stretches much this long after surgery, I do think we are able to eat more than the first year. But I believe part of that is that we know our limits much better now. In the beginning we are afraid to push it, so we stop at the first sign of fullness. At two years out, I know when I can handle a few more bites.

As far as maintenance, that is one of the joys of this surgery. While we can certainly gain weight if we eat all the wrong foods, if we eat sensibly, the weight is not coming back. You just can't eat that big plate of Pasta or 5 slices of pizza anymore. But you can eat M&M's and ice cream to your heart's content, and that's how to put weight back on. So it's an awesome tool that I wish I got 20 years ago. DO NOT hesitate to get this surgery, but be prepared for your new life of eating. Make sure you are ready to still diet, eat Protein first, and it's not a magic fix. It still takes effort, but it makes it sooooo much easier. Most days I forget that I had it because life is just so normal now. Good luck!

1.5 years out, have been around the same weight for a year now. Like LilMissDiva mentioned above, you'll have your "bad" days occasionally, and the possibility of regaining 2-3 lbs is always there, but it's easy to stop. I can't vouch for what things will be like 3.5 years down the road, but just taking things a year at a time, I don't see myself gaining any significant weight a year from now. To gain weight with the sleeve, you really have to eat a LOT of junk food - you won't be able to consume large enough amounts of normal foods to cause weight gain. I've had a few periods of 2-3 days of non-stop chocolate consumption, but I don't find it too hard to get back on the wagon. I always make sure I hit the gym hard at least twice a week no matter how busy I am, even during weeks when I work 80 hours. Most weeks I work out 3-4 times/week. If I notice I've put on a pound or two, I just rein myself in a bit - I go back to drinking water with my meals instead of alcohol when I go out, get a medium latte instead of a large in the morning, etc. All those "sensible choices" that women's magazines always harp on about are an awful lot easier to make once you've had the sleeve.