Lately I've seen a TON of posts about lucky sleevers that drop 100 pounds in six months.

Congrats to them and to their loss. And I would never, ever begrudge anyone the right to crow about a fantastic success. It's part of why we're all here, to share the ups and downs of this surgery!

But frequently, these posts are followed by folks that feel frustrated because they aren't losing at the same pace. All too often, we forget that everyone loses at a different pace. It's easy to lose sight of the real goal (long term maintenance) in the face of the scale goals we set for ourselves. And it's also easy to forget that this isn't a race and that there's no special prize waiting at the end for reaching goal more quickly.

I would like to contribute my loss pattern so that people can see that there is more than one way to achieve a goal. Being successful is about reaching your personal goals, overcoming your personal food demons and maintaining your weight loss for life. It's not about hitting goal in nine months.

I encourage everyone else with a slow loss story to contribute their successes here as well. It's hard to research this surgery and find only the stories about extremes - people completely thrilled with surgery or people that regret every minute of life post op. The same goes for loss. When people search out stories on this, it's too easy to only find rapid loss or stall posts but nothing showing the more realistic and moderate journey many of us take. The sleeve is a permanent tool that does not have a special window of easy weight loss. There is no reason to feel discouraged when you haven't reached goal at one year out, or even two. There is nothing preventing you (short of your own body's natural stopping point) from achieving or re-achieving goal at any point post op.

I lost 60 pounds in the first five months after my surgery.

And I slowly lost 32 pounds over the next seven months.

It took me another five months to shed the final 15 pounds to my goal.

I lost 107 pounds over the course of 17 months. I stalled twice for nine weeks each time. I had months where I only lost one pound. I regularly experienced a gain of three pounds around my cycle, and often only lost weight in the last week to ten days of the month, after sitting at the same weight for nearly three weeks.

I am a success, and at 2.5 years out (and currently pregnant) I still have good, healthy eating habits and maintained my weight loss quite easily. Even 30 weeks pregnant, I am still wearing a size 6/small (in maternity clothes, of course) regardless of how I feel about my expanding body!

I learned what was important on this journey and am in better health today (not just physically, but mentally and emotionally), than I have ever experienced as an adult.

Good luck to those currently on their journey, and I encourage everyone to share their stories here so that newly sleeved folks can see that slow vs. fast loss doesn't really matter in the end.

~Cheri

My surgeon said today slow and steady wins the race

I'm glad I found this topic. I am 1 month post op and lost 20.2 lbs total. Most of that was the first 2 weeks. The last 2 weeks I've only lost 2.2 lbs. What??? I did this to my body and spent this money to maybe lose 4 lbs a month? I am counting every calorie - staying around 500 per day. I walk, at least a few times a week. I'm exhausted! I have always had a difficult time losing weight and I wasn't a huge eater. My Dr. once told me I'm wired for survival. I'm wired to hang on to weight. Silly me thought that this would help it go faster - a re-wiring. As of right now, if someone asked me I 'd tell them it isn't worth it...

Jlangen, don't panic yet. It's VERY common to stall around the third week post-op, and then begin dropping again. Especially with such a huge drop the first couple of weeks, I'm not surprised your body is taking a pause. You'll be seeing happier numbers on the scale soon!

Thank you Escape Pod

I know I need to relax and I have nothing but time because it's not like I can change anything!

Awesome woman! It doesn't matter how we get there or how long it takes, as long as we feel good about the journey and are our healthiest selves!! Feel good about what you've accomplished. There are tons of people out there with this same journey and they need to know we all have different journeys and each one is a change for the better! I had my surgery dec 9, 2013 and lost 30lbs month 1. It's been much slower since then. I have lost a total of 66lbs and am now almost 5 months out. I have approx 50 lbs until goal. Working on exercising more (it's been a struggle) and that always kicks up my loss. I think about this as a lifestyle and am ok with slow loss. Congrats on all you've achieved!

I am only 1 1/2 weeks out and I have lost over 20 pounds!!!

I am 7 months post op and have lost just under 60lbs. I havent lost anything in a month and a half. I am so worried that I will never lose another pound and that I am done forever. help!

Wow even those complaining about their slow losses are doing great compared to me iv yet to see any post from ppl who have lost as little as me six months out 30 lbs down

I'm 7 wks out and down 35 lbs total including pre-op. I had a major stall at week 3 and didn't lost anything for about 12 days and then took off again nicely.

Saw my surgeon early last week for follow up and he was thrilled with my progress. Since i'm all cleared now for activity, he encouraged me to join a gym...

I will likely lose a little slower but i'm super happy with results so far and feeling INCREDIBLE. i have more energy than i have in over a decade!