I’m just wondering is there anyone out there that never watches what they eat since they have had the sleeve, and their weight loss is more than a friend or family member that may be working out? Is there anyone who is losing more weight than someone that really does watch what they eat and their calories intake? I’m just wondering because like many I’m waiting on my body to let go of this fat I have been storing up (back on the weight stall). I see a lot of people that work out and they look great, and I see others that have just not had any results that they are proud of. So is there anyone out there that just doesn’t care how they eat, or drink and you are losing weight more than someone who does? Anything is possible. Let me know just be honest .

I am 6 months out and I haven't changed what I eat. I make sure that I get my protein in first then I feel I am free to eat what I want. I do not have hunger so if I got all my protein in by my afternoon snack and still have 500-600 calories left (I shoot for 1200 but some days that is difficult to reach) I will have a handful of chips, a cookie or two or an ice cream. I still make the same dinners, only difference is i eat a half cup of food vs an entire heaping plate of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. For me, I didn't become over weight by the types of food I ate but by the quantity of food I ate. I now will have a handful of chips instead of the entire bag or a small slice of cake vs half of cake. I didn't have this surgery to be thin, I had it to get healthy. I have lost 85 lbs with 10-15 lbs left to loose, all in 6 months. I try to get in exercise but I am not consistent. I feel this surgery has worked for me because I am physically un-able to gorge.... my stomach let's me know when I am done and if I even try to sneak an extra bite in I am a lot of pain for about a half hour!!! Sooo not worth it to try one last bite!!!!

i am happy to see that you are honest in what you eat

I am 6 months out and I haven't changed what I eat. I make sure that I get my Protein in first then I feel I am free to eat what I want. I do not have hunger so if I got all my protein in by my afternoon snack and still have 500-600 calories left (I shoot for 1200 but some days that is difficult to reach) I will have a handful of chips, a cookie or two or an ice cream. I still make the same dinners, only difference is i eat a half cup of food vs an entire heaping plate of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. For me, I didn't become over weight by the types of food I ate but by the quantity of food I ate. I now will have a handful of chips instead of the entire bag or a small slice of cake vs half of cake. I didn't have this surgery to be thin, I had it to get healthy. I have lost 85 lbs with 10-15 lbs left to loose, all in 6 months. I try to get in exercise but I am not consistent. I feel this surgery has worked for me because I am physically un-able to gorge.... my stomach let's me know when I am done and if I even try to sneak an extra bite in I am a lot of pain for about a half hour!!! Sooo not worth it to try one last bite!!!!

Thanks , its good to hear that just being normal and not making drastic changes works as well. I think a lot of us stress over a bunch of various things. I know my wife eat slike you do not really strict on what she eats but monitors her portions. I found out last week how importantit is to listen to my body. I had to make myself vomit becaus eteh pain was so bad I felt liek crap. Felt better after my throat was clear. Anyone else care to share.

I'm five weeks out, but I'm taking an opposite approach from pammy. I'm still trying to be a fanatic about the program. I've lost a decent amount of weight since surgery (27 lbs), and I feel much better for it. My doctor said that you'll never get another chance like we have during the honeymoon phase, so make the most of it. That's what I'm trying to do. At the end of the day, you should do what works for you. My journey is different from pammy's and yours. I think the key is that we've all decided to take the first step on that journey, and in the end that's what really counts. Best of luck!

I’m just wondering is there anyone out there that never watches what they eat since they have had the sleeve' date=' and their weight loss is more than a friend or family member that may be working out? Is there anyone who is losing more weight than someone that really does watch what they eat and their calories intake? I’m just wondering because like many I’m waiting on my body to let go of this fat I have been storing up (back on the weight stall). I see a lot of people that work out and they look great, and I see others that have just not had any results that they are proud of. So is there anyone out there that just doesn’t care how they eat, or drink and you are losing weight more than someone who does? Anything is possible. Let me know just be honest . [/quote']

Thanks for asking this...I've been wondering the same thing

I have to watch what I eat. I'm 9 months out, and I know I could eat enough now to gain weight. I was fat due to bad habits like over eating and grazing. I can consume a lot of calories without realizing it, so for me, its a lifestyle change that requires calorie counting and tracking. Its WAY easier now that I'm not starved all the time.

What's the most likely way to be and stay successful? While some may argue for eating/drinking what you want, I doubt that that is the way to bet... but heck, good luck to us all!

I’m just wondering is there anyone out there that never watches what they eat since they have had the sleeve, and their weight loss is more than a friend or family member that may be working out? Is there anyone who is losing more weight than someone that really does watch what they eat and their calories intake? I’m just wondering because like many I’m waiting on my body to let go of this fat I have been storing up (back on the weight stall). I see a lot of people that work out and they look great, and I see others that have just not had any results that they are proud of. So is there anyone out there that just doesn’t care how they eat, or drink and you are losing weight more than someone who does? Anything is possible. Let me know just be honest .

Let me ask YOU a question. Did you have this surgery to get thin or to get healthy? Be honest! Some people want to lose weight for looks and there is nothing wrong with that. Other people lose weight to be healthy. For me, looking great is a huge motivating factor and one that I am enjoying immensely, but I had this surgery to get to a healthy weight/fitness level and to maintain the great health I already had with no co-morbidities and no aches and pains or various other issues.

I didn't get fat because I only ate junk, I got fat because I ate in volume. Yes, I did make bad choices and splurged, but I was almost always "on a diet", so the majority of the time the food I ate was reasonably healthy. I was a grazer, too. When I was logging food, I ate my three meals a day or four mini meals. When I wasn't logging, I made "healthy choices" allllllll dayyyyyyy looooooooooonnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.

I have this healing time to relearn new habits about logging, eating small portions, eating only at meal time and sticking to my new nutritional guidelines. I know I feel better when I eat my Protein and less carbs. I am fuller longer when I avoid junky stuff. I think about food less when I have a plan and I stick to it.

I didn't have this surgery to eat whatever whenever, that's what got me here in the first place. I put my family through a lot with this surgery and I don't regret it, nor do they. I want to be able to say the same in five years, not to have chalked up another (costly, messy, painful) diet fail with really nothing more that I could do to fix it.

So to answer your question. I am sure there are people out there that get to goal eating whatever they want, whenever they want without moving much, just kind of doing their daily thing. Maybe it's possible that I could be successful that way, maybe it's not. I don't want to find out that I am NOT the one that could. Totally not worth it.

If you set unrealistic goal and go down way below of what you are supposed to be, of course it will be constant calorie count etc but if you let your body decide, trust me you won't need to worry over your weight, but just eat to satisfy your hunger. After 2 years, I am proof of that. I eat whatever I want, work out 3x weekly and don't need to count calorie. When I did go down to 140, constant struggle. At 146-150, easy peasy. I am loving it! Good luck

I'm half and half. For the most part, I try to eat a balanced diet. I still will eat pizza, chips, ice cream, etc but don't make it an everyday thing. I've lost 100 pounds in 10 months without being obsessive about eating healthy. It's something I can do forever and with great results so far. I am active though. Not an exercise fanatic,but I park in the back of the parking lot, take the stairs, do a work out 3-4 times a week, etc.

If you set unrealistic goal and go down way below of what you are supposed to be' date=' of course it will be constant calorie count etc but if you let your body decide, trust me you won't need to worry over your weight, but just eat to satisfy your hunger. After 2 years, I am proof of that. I eat whatever I want, work out 3x weekly and don't need to count calorie. When I did go down to 140, constant struggle. At 146-150, easy peasy. I am loving it! Good luck[/quote']

I like your point about letting your body select its natural weight point. I arbitrarily selected a goal weight but I have no idea what my body will choose. I liked hearing about yours choosing one and letting you stay there relatively easily as long as you don't misbehave.

I think in the beginning it's easy for us to tell ourselves that we can still eat what we want and not exercise, because the honeymoon phase is REAL, trust me. Once that ends and you can eat more, watch out..... That is when you have to fall back on the good habits that you should of established in the beginning. I'm 8 months out, and I have to make a conscious effort each day to not do things that will make me gain weight.

i am happy to see that you are honest in what you eat

I believe being honest in what you eat and holding yourself accountable is a huge factor in success of this surgery. I didn't cut out 85% of my stomach to count and stress over calories for the rest of my life and continue to diet forever. I had to learn portion control and that it is OK to have a treat when I want one. Struggling in your mind is what gets most of us!! In addition to learning to eat properly you need to mentally make changes. Just my thoughts....

I’m just wondering is there anyone out there that never watches what they eat since they have had the sleeve, and their weight loss is more than a friend or family member that may be working out? Is there anyone who is losing more weight than someone that really does watch what they eat and their calories intake? I’m just wondering because like many I’m waiting on my body to let go of this fat I have been storing up (back on the weight stall). I see a lot of people that work out and they look great, and I see others that have just not had any results that they are proud of. So is there anyone out there that just doesn’t care how they eat, or drink and you are losing weight more than someone who does? Anything is possible. Let me know just be honest .

I'm all about being honest: Since we're traveling in a different state right now, in the past week I've eaten:

*a cheeseburger from In and out Burger (took me all day to nibble on 1)

* a fish taco (1) from Del Taco

*Homemade beef stroganoff

*Chili cheese fries from Carls Jr (about 1/5th - can't reheat fries so the rest went in the trash)

*a homemade grilled cheese sandwich

* a chicken buritto bowl from Chipotle (still eating the leftovers 3 days later)

Tonite I'm actually having grilled tilapia and fresh asparagus. Gotta have a healthy meal in there somewhere. I'm of the school of thought that I can eat whatever I want just in really small portions. It worked with my lapband (lost 104 lbs) till it slipped. I'm losing slowly (20 lbs in 8 weeks) and I could be losing faster but hey, I fit into Old Navy size 6 skinny jeans last week and if I want a Del Taco fish taco then by God I'm gunna have 1. Just 1.

Just being honest...

(which I doubt all posters on this board all the time are..I mean we had surgery on our stomachs, not our heads)

Wow, thanks for the responses. Lipstick Lady to answer your question I had this surgery to be healthier, to look good, and to limit my food intake because of emotional eating,and years of being an expert dieter. I know know that the right tools are in my hands and its going to take my motivation to ensure that I'm eating the right foods to ensure a successful healthy lifestyle. To be honest I'm still having days were I'm waiting to wake up and feel like ok this is not working no matter what I do, so where do I go from here? I do want to enjoy the foods I want, and not worry that I 'm going to always over do it or have to limit myself to just one type of food(s). I know to be successful I still have to have those days were I eat a normal portion of something I absolutely love. I don't have any cravings right now but I'm 6 weeks out (its still early) . I'm very fearful of my long journey because I see several people that I personally know that have had the sleeve and all are gaining weight back after their 2 year mark. I don't want this to be me. I don't want to go anywhere near 300 lbs again. I do want to be fit looking and healthy. Overall I do not want to live a life in fear of the scale or food,lets face it that's why a lot of us have become overweight in the first place. I constantly see people looking at me now that are always checking me out every time they see me to say nice things,and I know some may be looking and waiting until I come back and all that weight comes with me, just so they can say negative things about what I have done. I realize the last comment may be a bit much , but a lot of people just wait to say negative things when your heading down.

I just had to ask this question because food should not be a stand off,instead in fact it shouldn't even be this hard but it is. I'm going to do my best not to let me down. I struggle to keep my head in the game of just being happy and avoid old habits.