I'm curious to know if veterans still follow the "rules". Like a certain amount of Protein per day, no soda, no alcohol, no rice/pasta or heavy carbs in general, etc.... ?

I spent last weekend with a cousin who had the surgery a year ago. I was shocked when I saw him eat a burger and had a sprite, later on, he had a rich haggendaz milkshake, then at dinner, a cheese and bacon sandwich with the thickest bread there was in the house, and he ate it all. He does exercise. But it seem to be the only rule he still follows. I couldn't believe everything he ate.

So how about everyone else? Veterans? What's life like now?

If you do well in the first 6 months, that is pretty much the indication of your success afterwards (from my surgeon's patient stats). I was probably 95% good during my first 6-7 months, then the weight loss slowed down a lot. I had a long stall of no weight loss for almost 12 weeks, so I shook some things up and lost another 10 lbs. Then I stalled again for about 3 months, then I changed a few things up, stalling again for another 2-3 months. I issued a weight loss challenge at work to help me get motivated to get to goal, and in the last 3 weeks have lost around 8 lbs. I have less than 3 lbs to goal and still another 2 weeks to lose them to rank top in the weight loss challenge.

This is probably going to sound terrible, but it isn't what it might seem from a glance.

I DO

drink coffee, beer, and wine whenever I like

eat candy, Cookies, cake, chips, ice cream, pie, and other sweets

travel a lot and eat out around 14+ meals a week

(I pre-screen menu items so am familiar with nutritional contents most of the time)

eat salads with no dressing, cooked and raw vegetables with no oil or fat

eat plain chicken, steak, salmon, lighter soups, fresh fruit, raisins, raw spinach

get a monthly b12 shot, take prescription Iron, take a ppi 2x daily, take something to be "regular"

drink a lot of Poweraide Zero (not the greatest, but a no cal indulgence)

still eat sugar free popsicles

use only coconut or first press olive oil when cooking

add in cheese and nuts in moderation

use mustard varieties and mayonnaise made with olive oil (sparingly)

recognize that "crunchy" is craved because it is a release of stress, which can build up in your jaw and facial muscles, so try to crunch on things that aren't unhealthy

practice "self care" choices, especially if I'm feeling down or vulnerable (pedicure, massage, a movie night, a new cosmetic item, haircut, a walk, a focused moment of appreciation/thankfulness

I DON'T

count calories or Protein

drink protein shakes or eat meal bars

drink soda at all (maybe 3-4 in the last 17 months)

exercise (I've been hibernating all winter), but have plans to up my activity when the weather warms up

eat fried foods

eat cream based Pasta sauces or soups

eat much pasta, bread, or rice (use it as a condiment, not a side)

always eat breakfast (I do when I'm in a hotel), sometimes I don't eat anything until afternoon if my body doesn't tell me it is hungry

drink X ounces of Water daily

freak out when the scale goes up. I've tracked daily weight for so many months that I understand it looks more like a horizontal zig-zag than a smooth decline or flat line over time

listen to negative internal dialogue, complain, make excuses, whine, pity party (or put mental/emotional work into keeping it at a minimum)

I could probably add a lot more, but I'm sure many of you have other Dos and Don'ts that help you to be more successful than not.

Thank you for sharing! I always love to hear what fellow sleevers do and don't.

I am almost 3.5 years post op and still could not eat as much as your cousin ate. I actually feel a little sorry for him as he is on the fast track to weight gain and obviously did not take this surgery as seriously as it needs to be taken. This surgery is a chance to make changes and start over again.

I agree. I feel the same. I felt sad for him. I probably should have mentioned that he is 17. He was "prepped" for this surgery for one year. I had a talk with him and he said he's still losing. But I told him that from what I hear, it's not gonna stay that way if he continues like that. Anyway, I can only hope that as he grows, he realizes that he needs to change behaviors...

Oh, he has his whole life in front of him, I hope for his sake that he can turn it around. It is not until 2 plus years out I would say that bad habits really start to rear their ugly head in weight gain. I didn't even realize they would do the surgery so young.

I do follow the rules. I find them empowering and give me guidance.

I track in MFP

I exercise 4 days per week

I drink 64 ounces of Water per day (2 cups being coffee with my Protein powder in the morning)

I eat protein first, veggie second and if I have a starch it is about 1/4 cup.

I don't eat much bread, potato, Pasta. (I use low carb alternatives for bread to make wraps, pizza, et cetera)

No soda

I do eat some sweets (I need a piece of chocolate every few days)

I love Quest Protein Bars and have one every day!

For me I don't feel tracking is a chore but is actually a reward for me and helps me stay on track. I hope to continue doing it long term. Exercise has become a challenge that I enjoy and relieves stress and makes me feel powerful and strong - I hope it will continue that way for the rest of my life.

Now I'm very curious about your cousin. There is a massive physical development (growth spurt) around age 17. (That includes brain development.) Most boys eat nonstop during this time. I wonder how his biology is supposed to manage that....I'm curious if this is what's going on for him. That and being a teen. They just have a hard time seeing the future.

I still somewhat follow the rules as well.

I exercise some, I don't eat heavy carbs often, junk food is a no no, and I've always drank alcohol since 5-8 weeks out so I still drink.

I'm maintaining just fine, but I would never test the waters and push the envelope with a whole milkshake and bread and burgers. I'm not that daring.

Now I'm very curious about your cousin. There is a massive physical development (growth spurt) around age 17. (That includes brain development.) Most boys eat nonstop during this time. I wonder how his biology is supposed to manage that....I'm curious if this is what's going on for him. That and being a teen. They just have a hard time seeing the future.

I'm curious too... It's hard for me (still not being able to eat more than 4oz of food) to understand that he could eat like that... I asked him if he felt fine and not indisposed, he said he was fine.

I'm curious to know if veterans still follow the "rules". Like a certain amount of Protein per day, no soda, no alcohol, no rice/pasta or heavy carbs in general, etc.... ?

I spent last weekend with a cousin who had the surgery a year ago. I was shocked when I saw him eat a burger and had a sprite, later on, he had a rich haggendaz milkshake, then at dinner, a cheese and bacon sandwich with the thickest bread there was in the house, and he ate it all. He does exercise. But it seem to be the only rule he still follows. I couldn't believe everything he ate.

So how about everyone else? Veterans? What's life like now?

Hi Earthy, I am going to move this great question to a non vets only forum, vets will still be able to answer, but the vets forum is for Vets over 12 months only to post on, Thanks!

I'm curious to know if veterans still follow the "rules". Like a certain amount of Protein per day, no soda, no alcohol, no rice/pasta or heavy carbs in general, etc.... ?

I spent last weekend with a cousin who had the surgery a year ago. I was shocked when I saw him eat a burger and had a sprite, later on, he had a rich haggendaz milkshake, then at dinner, a cheese and bacon sandwich with the thickest bread there was in the house, and he ate it all. He does exercise. But it seem to be the only rule he still follows. I couldn't believe everything he ate.

So how about everyone else? Veterans? What's life like now?

Hi Earthy, I am going to move this great question to a non vets only forum, vets will still be able to answer, but the vets forum is for Vets over 12 months only to post on, Thanks!

Hi Earthy, I am going to move this great question to a non vets only forum, vets will still be able to answer, but the vets forum is for Vets over 12 months only to post on, Thanks!

Great idea! Thanks!