I have said it before and i will say it again, where this sleeve is concerned i feel like such an idiot. I read how everyone listens to the body and i really dont have a clue!! Can someone tell me when they know that the body is finishing loosing weight? I dont want to be skinny just comfortable....i guess it also goes for maintaining how does one manage thaf???

If you're following the program but not losing any more weight then you probably reached the maximum weight loss you can get with your sleeve. Of course if you aren't happy with that weight you can still push your body more by increasing your exercise. Your nut will help you with maintenance. If you don't start eating sugar and alcohol again you shouldn't have a problem with it

I think that's a good question....and there isn't a concrete answer to it. Also, my body is a liar and unreliable. If I listen to my body, I will weigh 300 pounds, because my body likes to be fat. So, I have to use a combination of science and realism. I look at BMI, weight, clothing size, how I look, and how feel, as far as ability to move and go through my day. I've been stuck at this weight for months, and I probably could go lower, but I'd have to eat 900 calories and exercise like a mad woman. That's not something I am willing to do right now, so I'm in maintenance. I wear a sm/med and size 10. Like you, I don't mind if I'm not skinny, I just want to be comfortable. It does bother me that my BMI says I'm overweight, though. As for maintenance, you will figure that out. Just gradually add a few calories in, and see how your weight responds. It just sort of evolved naturally for me. I eat a lot less than I would have thought to maintain this weight, though!

I've always just followed the program....

1) minimum 64oz Water. (I usually get more like 70-80oz.);

2) eat when I'm hungry and just until satisfied, not full (this has become even more important the farther out I get because I can eat a lot more than before and if I tried to eat to fullness, I would probably stop losing and /or gain)

3) 60-70g protein/day (I can only do this with a 30-40g Protein smoothie in addition to regular food)

4) Snacks and meals are always protein first, then veggies, fruit and whole grains ( a balanced diet is important for proper nutrition and a healthy body)

5) whole food based Multivitamins and whatever additional supplements your bloodwork indicates you may need (I still take Extra Vitamin D and B12 sublingual, but discontinued Iron and Calcium after labs showed those levels were high)

6) stay active (I don't have a regular exercise routine, but my job and recreational activities are very physical)

7) don't obsess over the scale. (NSV's like how I feel, how I can move, How my clothes fit, how my knees and ankles don't ache everyday, and how my blood pressure is back to normal are all more important to me)

At this point I consider myself in maintenance. I guess if I set my goals a lot lower, I might be frustrated, so you may want to readjust your expectations if this is happening to you. Since I was already eating healthy and as much as I want, I haven't changed a lot. I added more fruit and higher fat food options to try and slow my weight loss, but that was 17 pounds ago. I haven't lost anything in about 3 weeks, so I don't know if this is a stall or if I'm done. No way to know and no sense fretting over it. And yes, I do indulge in Desserts, breads, alcohol, and other "no-no's" but always in moderation and completely guilt free.

I second everything kindle said.

I lost 168# - but it didn't happen in a linear fashion. I actually stabilized after losing 150# and considered that goal. Since then I have been maintaining but able to lose a bit more. My initial goal had me just over a normal BMI - now at about 23 BMI. That is astounding to me as a lifetime overweight/obese person - never expected this.

Why is your screen name unhappysleever? Since i can't see your stats I don't know your details?

I've always just followed the program....

1) minimum 64oz Water. (I usually get more like 70-80oz.);

2) eat when I'm hungry and just until satisfied, not full (this has become even more important the farther out I get because I can eat a lot more than before and if I tried to eat to fullness, I would probably stop losing and /or gain)

3) 60-70g protein/day (I can only do this with a 30-40g Protein smoothie in addition to regular food)

4) Snacks and meals are always protein first, then veggies, fruit and whole grains ( a balanced diet is important for proper nutrition and a healthy body)

5) whole food based multivitamins and whatever additional supplements your bloodwork indicates you may need (I still take Extra Vitamin D and B12 sublingual, but discontinued Iron and calcium after labs showed those levels were high)

6) stay active (I don't have a regular exercise routine, but my job and recreational activities are very physical)

7) don't obsess over the scale. (NSV's like how I feel, how I can move, How my clothes fit, how my knees and ankles don't ache everyday, and how my blood pressure is back to normal are all more important to me)

At this point I consider myself in maintenance. I guess if I set my goals a lot lower, I might be frustrated, so you may want to readjust your expectations if this is happening to you. Since I was already eating healthy and as much as I want, I haven't changed a lot. I added more fruit and higher fat food options to try and slow my weight loss, but that was 17 pounds ago. I haven't lost anything in about 3 weeks, so I don't know if this is a stall or if I'm done. No way to know and no sense fretting over it. And yes, I do indulge in desserts, breads, alcohol, and other "no-no's" but always in moderation and completely guilt free.

Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy reading your posts. Hopefully this will work for me as well.

Thanks all for the replies

@@CowgirlJane, Unhappysleever = regret for having the sleeve. For the first 5 mths I just had one complication after another, kidney failure first then constant nausea 24/7 and really bad reflux which I never had before it was like why did I do this when apart from being overweight had no other health issues, have to say when I got to about the 6 mth mark things improved - I still have some regret but have learned it was my decision just live with it and move on...

These are my stats although guess they could be better but we are all different

SW 309 CW 214 WL 95 - I am 1 week short of being 8 mths...

I think your stats look just fine especially considering what your poor body has had to endure for so long. In fact, you've lost the same as I had at 8 months. At this point you should concentrate on eating as healthy as you can and letting your body heal. If you you stick with the basic plan you will definitely keep losing. It may take a year or two before your body hits it's new normal. But that sure beats remaining obese or years of more yo yo dieting.

Just concentrate on the things you can control....water, Vitamins, what and how much you eat, and exercise. Focus on the positive and set NSV goals. Don't obsess over the things you can't control because there is no way to know how much or how fast you will lose.

Good luck and here's hoping for a happysleever!

@@Kindle, thank you soooo much for your thoughtful and uplifting post...

I think your stats are really good too! It is rugged having so many complications - I am lucky I did not. It hasn't been easy even with NO complications so I really empathize. I do think now is the time to Celebrate the victories and start enjoying the results too!