So today is exactly 2.5 years since I was sleeved on October 22, 2010. It's hard to believe that 2.5 years have passed.

I used to have a ticker but since they took away external tickers I've been too lazy to go and make a new one here. I originally lost -100lbs at the 18 month mark, (all since surgery, I wasn't required to lose weight before surgery) and then I spent about 9 months regaining about 15-20lbs.

In January of this year I rededicated myself to this journey and now have lost -9lbs of my regain. Hoping to lose the next -10-12lbs and then keep going towards goal (when all is said and done I would like to lose another -20lbs from where I am right now.)

Not much to say, except this is the best thing I have ever done for myself and my health. My husband is also sleeved and is just a little over 2 years post-op. He has lost around 65-70lbs and has maintained that weight for over a year now.

We work out, we eat right (most of the time) and yep we work at it. Not a free ride, not the "easy way out" but a chance for us to have a do-over. We make daily choices to keep, maintain, or improve our health.

Here is my story in photos.

WAY TO GO!!!!! BOTH OF YOU!! CONGRATS!!! not an easy task at all.

Congratulations on 2.5 years! I love how your poses got more sassy as time progressed.

And the smile got bigger and bigger!

glad you posted.. my hubby and I both have had the sleeve in dec a week apart.. we have both lost 82lbs..and I still have 60 to go to hit my goal wt.. and he has like 25. But we have wondered about long term success stories..so Im glad to see it works.. we work very hard at this and we know its going to be life long..and we are ready for that.. following all the drs rules and regulations..and go to all our follow ups and labs.. its very nice to see someone who has succeeded long term.. ive heard so many storys of those who feel out and have gained the wt back.. we wont let that happen to us.. we traveled this road so far and are not going to turn back.. best of luck to you

M2G!

My sleeve sister... Where has the time gone! It's been a long road travelled, and so glad that we've been together throughout this journey!

You have made such a dramatic difference to, not only yourself, but your whole family! You simply look amazing and you're an inspiration to me and many others here.

Thank you for your honest post; this isn't about a quick fix or the easy way out... It is about changing how we deal with food for life!

Congratulations on taking control...

Hugs from across the pond x

Congratulations on 2.5 years! I love how your poses got more sassy as time progressed.

And the smile got bigger and bigger!

Ha ha both the sassy pose and the bigger smile are due to my 10 year old daughter taking the picture. "C'mon mom, give me more sass!!!" which in turn made me smile.

But truly I didn't look very happy in the before did I? lol

WAY TO GO!!!!! BOTH OF YOU!! CONGRATS!!! not an easy task at all.

Thanks Diane...The farther out you get from surgery, the harder it is to stay the course. But we both knew this would take a life long commitment and we are in it for the long haul. The goal = being healthier.

glad you posted.. my hubby and I both have had the sleeve in dec a week apart.. we have both lost 82lbs..and I still have 60 to go to hit my goal wt.. and he has like 25. But we have wondered about long term success stories..so Im glad to see it works.. we work very hard at this and we know its going to be life long..and we are ready for that.. following all the drs rules and regulations..and go to all our follow ups and labs.. its very nice to see someone who has succeeded long term.. ive heard so many storys of those who feel out and have gained the wt back.. we wont let that happen to us.. we traveled this road so far and are not going to turn back.. best of luck to you

Congrats to you both. WOW you guys are brave being a week apart and that is awesome that you guys have come so far in such a short amount of time. We are each other's biggest supporters, can't imagine doing this any other way!

M2G!

My sleeve sister... Where has the time gone! It's been a long road travelled, and so glad that we've been together throughout this journey!

You have made such a dramatic difference to, not only yourself, but your whole family! You simply look amazing and you're an inspiration to me and many others here.

Thank you for your honest post; this isn't about a quick fix or the easy way out... It is about changing how we deal with food for life!

Congratulations on taking control...

Hugs from across the pond x

Ah, thanks my wonderful friend! We both have come such a long way and I treasure our friendship so much because you have always been there for me! I truly appreciate it!! Hugs back atcha...

How do you feel your sleeve is performing now that you are 2 and a half years out? Does it feel like you can eat like you did before your surgery, or do you still have some restriction?

Great job! Glad to hear from a vet. Nice to know that if u slack, u can always jump back into making good choices.

Congrats and Happy Surgiversary! I love having fellow vets on the board. So good to have others at the same point in the journey.

Lynda

How do you feel your sleeve is performing now that you are 2 and a half years out? Does it feel like you can eat like you did before your surgery' date=' or do you still have some restriction?[/quote']

Love this question!

Thanks Diane...The farther out you get from surgery' date=' the harder it is to stay the course. But we both knew this would take a life long commitment and we are in it for the long haul. The goal = being healthier. [/quote']

I just got sleeved April 3rd I didn't know the further out the harder it gets can u eat more now or ur just eating some of the wrong things also have u had any complications

How do you feel your sleeve is performing now that you are 2 and a half years out? Does it feel like you can eat like you did before your surgery, or do you still have some restriction?

Olivia23 - great question. I absolutely STILL have restriction when it comes to dense Protein (chicken, especially, but beef, pork, salmon, even meatless protein, like veggie/soy burgers/sausage, etc.) I have never been one to "test" my limits when it comes to post-sleeve eating. I have an *almost* un-natural fear of throwing up and I can say that in the last 2.5 years I have NOT thrown up. Not even once. Not even in the post-anethesia fog that sometimes can make people regurg. So I'm in the camp that tends to underfill my sleeve. When it comes to meals I generally do NOT eat any more than 3-4 oz of meat. I don't care what kind of meat it is (4oz of meat is my high limit.) If it is a meal (vs. a snack) I will include an oz of veggies and maybe an oz or less of carbs (I try to choose whole grain, brown rice, sweet potato, etc.) but overall I do restrict most carbs from my daily diet. If I'm really trying to lose I need >30g carbs, and if I'm "generous" with my carbs I will average >100g daily. So a typical meal for me never more than 5-6 oz of food TOTAL.

I eat about 1,200 calories a day. I definitely find that I have to MEASURE and ACCOUNT for my calories or it's incredibly easy to EAT MORE than what I need. I didn't go and have 80% of my stomach removed so that I could end up eating the same amount of food that I did BEFORE surgery, so I have to remember that, otherwise yes, it would be easy to eat more. You can out-eat any WLS any day any time. Sure, probably not in the first few months after surgery when your stomach is swollen, pissed off and you are terrified of a leak, but after you heal, you could graze your way through the day and eat probably every 20 minutes or so and get in enough calories to equal a pretty big eating day.

I have to say that for the most part I feel so lucky to eat small amounts of food. I do not feel like I'm starving all the time or that I NEED to eat more. I sometimes sit around and get angry that I can't eat more than 1,200-1,400 calories a day WITHOUT gaining, but then again this was the trade off for having surgery. Learning to live with less was an ultimate goal. So then I realize that I'm doing just fine and get over it and move on.

I hope that answers your question and if not please holler!