Sleeved in January 2011. Lost 87 lbs the first 11 mos. My weight at the beginning was 349, so I am still morbidly obese at 262. Yes, I'm thinner, yes I'm healthier, yes, I'm happier, but NO, I'm not satisified. My husband also had the sleeve in the same month, he's lost 130lbs. He is still morbidly obese at 280. He is ok with where he is at. Would like to lose more but he is happy with where he is at, he thinks it was a success. I want at least 63 more pounds off in order for it to be a success for me.

We both eat about 1800 calories a day, sometimes 2000, sometimes 1500. We both bike and walk. I guess the real secret is eating 1000 calories a day and to be honest, neither of us can do it. We are hungry. Not starving, but not full enough to live on 1000 calories.

Hindsight....I would have done it one step further and gotten the BPD, too. We were cash pay and as it's so expensive we chose this thinking it would be the answer. Unfortunately, it did not get us to our goals. I am working with a psychologist now and she is trying some methods that may help me eat less. My hands are up in the air in frustration as this point so I hope she can help.

This is not meant to discourage anybody considering this, just a piece of advice. If you are way overweight as we were, you might need more than just the sleeve.

Actually you might look in to a DS, that's most common after VSG if you have not lost enough weight. Thanks for posting! this is good to know!!

Thank you everyone for all the terrific replies. Best thread ever for response.

I am not sad that I've lost 87 lbs...I am thankful. I do want to lose 60 more so a little disappointed that I didn't closer. I have so many obstacles in my way, that I just keep knocking down and fighting to beat. I don't know that I'll make it to those 60 lbs w/out more help but I am trying the best that I can to get there. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to respond. XOXOX

Ok pardon moi, but what's DS?

Ok pardon moi' date=' but what's DS?[/quote']

duodenal switch

It's in addition to the sleeve, it's a rerouting of your intestine that causes mal absorbsion. A bit on the invasive side for me. But still not quite as much as a full bypass

DS is duodenal switch. I'm not sure what's involved mechanically inside our bodies, but that's what it's called. It's the worst, from my reading, in terms of malabsorption issues with Vitamins and Proteins. It's also JUST another tool. If you want to beat it, you can beat it, just like you can defeat a lap band, a sleeve, or a gastric bypass. The DS and the GB both cause dumping issues for many patients, which I'm scared of having. My sister in law has had a GB, two revisions and a DS...and she's till over 100 pounds from goal because she defeats her tool daily.

I think the OP and her hubby have done a tremendous job of working their sleeves! Their calorie intake is a little high, IMO, but it can and does happen to many sleevers. I'd recommend cutting back the calories, or at least making sure they raise their Protein intake, and then adding in (more?) exercise to help them get to their goals. I'm only 9 months out, though, so my advice may be out of line for their personal situations.

Good luck! The first step to dealing with a problem is admitting that there is a problem.

What "clk" said!!!! 2,000 or 1800 is way too high for a sleever to loose. We who have yo-yoed or have become obese do not have the same calorie deficit formula.

The sleeve cannot stretch all that much so you must be eating a lot of slider foods. It doesn't take much: a little Peanut Butter there, some mayo here, a few crackers there.

I suggest using My Fitness Pal and documenting everything you put into your mouth. Eat dense, lean Protein first and then some good veggies if there is room. Cut the carbs way back. I don't eat over 40 grams a day.

Go to The World According to Eggface for some great recipes. Substitute Greek yogurt for mayo and sour cream. You can add anything to flavor unflavored Greek yogurt (blue cheese, caramelized onions, spices, horseradish, a little avocado, SF Torani syrups, etc.)

There are all kinds of tricks. Most important: Cut out the simple sugar. If you cannot limit yourself to tiny amounts of dark chocolate (and I mean tiny), do not touch it. If you cannot limit the crackers, get rid of them and substitute cucumber slices. We are like alcoholics in some ways and sometimes total abstinence is the only way to cope.

You have the tool. All you need to do is pick it up and use it. I like the idea of going back to like you've just had surgery and doing the Protein shake thing. Again, go to Eggface. I learned how to make protein shake from her and they are so good that I actually look forward to them When I occasionally have one.

You both do look pretty darn good! I see a thinner person in there too and there is no reason why you cannot reach your goal.

I agree whole heartedly with Catracks, I'm much younger in my journey - still pre-op but I'm 650+ pounds and only eating 800 calories, so if you're 1/4th my size, and can't do it -its because of the choices you're making -- ie carbs.. carbs are poison, and I think you may be rationalizing things - I know I do that, and my wife does that she doesn't yet realize how bad carbs are for the body ESPECIALLY sugar/flour/processed stuff.

I feel healthier already - go back to your pre/post-op diet for a month, two months, or 3 if it takes that -- your stomach will shrink, and you will be more motivated to keep going.

Also be sure to get to the gym and do cardio AND strength 3x a week. You could eat 400 cals a day but without muscle you wouldn't lose an ounce - that's just a fact you CANNOT lose weight on dieting alone - at least not really substantial amounts.. I mean there could be some exceptions here..again I'm not an expert but I am an obsessive maniac about this stuff i have read every diet/fitness guide and been to a number of communities.. I've even lost 150 pounds on my own before.. uh.. I gained it back.. but I lost it so I know HOW to do it...

I'm doing the sleeve as a way to not only do it again - but ensure it stays done lol.

I really wish you the best of success I know you can do it- throw away all junk food in your house if others in your house don't like it, well tough they can learn to like veggies, and Protein - or go eat without you somewhere else and get fat on their own. You're better than that...

*Struggles climbing down off the high horse...another reason I can't wait for surgery lol*

Thanks guys... sorry I didn't know what DS was. Heck took me a minute to figure out IMO lol! So what's the difference b/w gastric bypass and duodeonal switch? I am sure I read on it, but my alzheimers kicked in. I'm going googling in b/w con calls now on it....

Here's what I've found:

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/procedure/ds_vs__rny/ds_vs__rny.html

What "clk" said!!!! 2,000 or 1800 is way too high for a sleever to loose. We who have yo-yoed or have become obese do not have the same calorie deficit formula.

The sleeve cannot stretch all that much so you must be eating a lot of slider foods. It doesn't take much: a little Peanut Butter there, some mayo here, a few crackers there.

I suggest using My Fitness Pal and documenting everything you put into your mouth. Eat dense, lean Protein first and then some good veggies if there is room. Cut the carbs way back. I don't eat over 40 grams a day.

Go to The World According to Eggface for some great recipes. Substitute Greek yogurt for mayo and sour cream. You can add anything to flavor unflavored Greek yogurt (blue cheese, caramelized onions, spices, horseradish, a little avocado, SF Torani syrups, etc.)

There are all kinds of tricks. Most important: Cut out the simple sugar. If you cannot limit yourself to tiny amounts of dark chocolate (and I mean tiny), do not touch it. If you cannot limit the crackers, get rid of them and substitute cucumber slices. We are like alcoholics in some ways and sometimes total abstinence is the only way to cope.

You have the tool. All you need to do is pick it up and use it. I like the idea of going back to like you've just had surgery and doing the protein shake thing. Again, go to Eggface. I learned how to make protein shake from her and they are so good that I actually look forward to them When I occasionally have one.

You both do look pretty darn good! I see a thinner person in there too and there is no reason why you cannot reach your goal.

I made goal (actually I am 3lbs below it now) eating 1400-2000 calories a day since 2.5 months out.

I made goal (actually I am 3lbs below it now) eating 1400-2000 calories a day since 2.5 months out.

Ok, MOST sleevers that I have seen here so far. The calorie load obviously is not working for the OP. I'm almost 5 months out and could not eat that much unless I was eating spoonfuls of Peanut Butter or a slider food. It just would not fit in my sleeve. I do not have room for more that 3 oz. of dense Protein at a time. 800 calories a day feels like splurging these days. Sometimes I pack more food than I can handle. 2000 calories would cause me to gain.

Thanks guys... sorry I didn't know what DS was. Heck took me a minute to figure out IMO lol! So what's the difference b/w gastric bypass and duodeonal switch? I am sure I read on it' date=' but my alzheimers kicked in. I'm going googling in b/w con calls now on it....

Here's what I've found:

http://www.duodenalswitch.com/procedure/ds_vs__rny/ds_vs__rny.html

DS is used with a sleeve. A full bypass(RNY) the remove your entire stomach& create a 2oz+- pouch then remove 5-8' of intestine, then they reattach the pouch to you're shortened intestine & esophogus..... You also lose a valve in there somewhere. I'm sure someone can fill in that part.

I made goal (actually I am 3lbs below it now) eating 1400-2000 calories a day since 2.5 months out.

I'm betting you are a very active person. And don't get much of those calories out of bread and white rice and such.

I agree with the post earlier saying the sleeve is the first step in helping 300+ lb people in becoming a healthy weight. As a matter of fact, this was a topic at one of the seminars I attended because there was a gentleman there that was 480lbs. The doc recommended doing the sleeve and then the BP or DS after 18 months to keep the weight loss maintained and on track. In researching the sleeve, I like most of us on this forum, read that the sleeve was initially the first step in the BP surgery but after it was so successful on it's own they decided to do the research and get it approved as a stand alone surgery. Some, although not all, patients didn't have to continue on with the GB because they lost enough of the weight with just the sleeve.

I think there are 2 questions you need to ask yourself...

1) Do I think I can lose the rest of this excess weight on my own without having another surgery? Obviously you have some doubt to this. If so, and you don't choose to have the addtl surgery done, will you look back in 2 years and wish you had? This is the recurring question I have because I kept putting it off and putting it off because I was so hard on myself for not just being able to lose it! Like, what is wrong with me?!? I can only imagine how strong that is with already having one surgery done and having to comtemplate another one.

and 2) Do you have any comorbities that are being affected by you still being overweight? HTN, High blood pressure, hx of heart problems etc? If so, in my humble opinion, you should do whatever is right for you to continue to lose weight and KEEP it off. Be that cutting back on calories, excersing more, or having the BP or DS surgery. Remember, this is all about being and staying healthy not just being thin.

We, as the forum, can encourage and give opinions all day and tell you we support you in every way possible, and we will with either decision!! You can bet on that!!! However, the decision to lose, in what ever manner you choose, is completely up to you and only you. You have to live with the decision, we do not. So know that everyone in the forum is either praying for you or has their fingers crossed for good luck for you!

Thanks for sharing your journey!!

It just goes to show you that there is no one right answer. The right answer is the one that works for each of us. Just have to keep trying things and mixing it up.

I agree with the other folks who say you guys are looking great! I know your frustration because I am 17 months out and still have about 25 lbs to lose. I continue to lose, just very slowly, and I suggest that as your goal. Don't be discouraged, but do continue with your healthy habits so that you lose a few lbs a month. It will add up eventually!