As I go into my 4th year of the sleeve I have recognized an evolution of my sleeve. Year One is weird, surreal, tiring, I didn't like food much, wondered if I would ever be able to drink coffee and wine again, as well as rice, Pasta, bread, etc. But it was also SO exciting....like WOOHOO!!!!!! Look at me!!!!! I'm losing so much weight. And the compliments were fast and furious. So it was these two ends of a continuum; one not so great the other thrilling! Shopping and sex was so much fun again! It was a true honeymoon!

Year 2 was also great and although I was at the top end of my goal, I thought for sure I would drop 5-10 more lbs that year because I was moving so much more! I had a whole new wardrobe and I never felt deprived or that I was on a diet. But I never lost any more weight.

Year 3 has been humbling. Still at the top end of my goal but nothing is coming off. In all fairness I won't say I am struggling to stay here, I eat what I want including wine and Cookies almost every day, but I am still around the 1000-1200 calorie mark each day. And when I have tried to cut back and lose, the scale is not budging.

I am writing my blog again and coming back here daily for inspiration and support.

And, I feel fat at 139 lbs!!! So what's up with that???? How are the rest of you veterans doing?

@@Queen of Crop - Thank you for starting this topic. It has proved to be very interesting and informative reading. I appreciate all posts from everyone and their candor about their individual journeys. I want to be successful in my journey and knowing about others' struggles and successes helps keep me motivated (although still being a newbie, my motivational level is still high, but I have discovered that it is a challenge to not let old habits creep back in). Thank you!

@@VSGAnn2014

@@Rogofulm

@@CowgirlJane

I just finished reading this article which might be of some encouragement to others:

http://www.bariatricpal.com/page/articles.html/_/plateaus-and-regain/you-gained-some-weight-four-simple-ways-to-get-back-on-track-r502

Edited May 27, 201511 yr by MrsSugarbabe

Really down to earth advice and over view.

This is so interesting to me be cuz this is exactly what I'm going through I feel like I've wasted my sleeve this year. I've gained 20lbs above my goal weight smh I feel so stupid becuz I risked my life to get this surgery and this weight off and now I'm slowly creeping back up there

This is so interesting to me be cuz this is exactly what I'm going through I feel like I've wasted my sleeve this year. I've gained 20lbs above my goal weight smh I feel so stupid becuz I risked my life to get this surgery and this weight off and now I'm slowly creeping back up there

Get back on the wagon. Don't give up. This is a lifetime project.

I agree it is a lifetime project, but I would also like to point out that for many normal weight people it is also a life time project....people who have NEVER had weight problems also gain weight, they notice it, they cut back, they get to the gym, they pay attention to how their clothes fit, they take care of that 2 or 3 or 5 lb weight gain that happens when you live your life! They may not have had to lose 50-100 or more lbs like we all did, but the fact is, WE DID and we are right there with them now because this surgery gave us that opportunity. So now, with the support of everyone here, we can say, OK then....I'm up a few lbs and I have lots of choices of how to get rid of those (5:2, th3 5 Day Pouch Test, more exercise, cutting out eating at night for a week or so, fill in the blank for the right choice for YOU. And remind yourself that what ever you decide to do, it isn't for a full month, or a full year, that finally this is NOT overwhelming and at least for me, before this surgery, whatever the diet choice of the month was, I just knew I would fail....now I know I won't!!!! I also have old habits creep in, so you know what? I indulge them, but in small amounts and I also do the 5:2. And when I'm not perfect on the 5:2, I at least always have two days a week that are NO WINE/NO COOKIE days...(because those are my two downfalls). And at 3.5 years post of and 61 years old, I am at goal and I feel great. Just say NO to pity parties because we have all come way too far and we are closer to our healthier selves than we are to our old selves....