I had the gastric sleeve done March 2011 and had great success with it. But for the past five months I've put on about 12 pounds. I have increased my work out routine and changed my eating habits. I previously had no trouble maintaining now it appears as though I cant even lose five pounds. I would always go up and down between 1-5lbs and have never been at a rate that I am now. I blame it on my eating habits. I'm constantly snacking and seems as though I'm always hungry so I'm stuffing my face every two hours. I still can't eat much. Don't know what my caloric intake is never really measured it.

I need help what would other veterans do?

I just had my two year check up - I've gained 17 pounds.

Doc said to integrate shakes back in - this really does help my urge to snack. The thought of going back on shakes bummed me out, but when I saw how they helped, I'm back on board.

She also put me on appetite suppressants to try to help me get back on track - they have helped. I want that to be a short term solution to give me that jump start.

Lastly, make sure you focus on Water - this helps with appetite as well.

I'm only 28 months out so not as far as you, but what works for me to stay at maintenance weight is to weigh myself every single morning and to log everything into MyFItnessPal. The scale keeps me accountable because I know if I eat too much the day before I am going to hate having to weigh myself in the morning. I yo-yo'd a lot in the past and the times I gained weight were the times I stopped weighing myself. The scale is an unpleasant morning ritual, but it is a daily reminder that actions have consequences. Also, I use MyFitnessPal because by the end of the day sometimes I'm like..oh crap, I wonder how many calories I had today, and then I can just go look. Also, I started gaining a little weight after the summer and now I'm on something like 95 days of not missing any days in MyFitnessPal, so while right this second I'm back where I want to be on the scale I still use it because I like having all of the information and like seeing how many days I can go before I screw up and forget to log something, lol.

I had the gastric sleeve done March 2011 and had great success with it. But for the past five months I've put on about 12 pounds. I have increased my work out routine and changed my eating habits. I previously had no trouble maintaining now it appears as though I cant even lose five pounds. I would always go up and down between 1-5lbs and have never been at a rate that I am now. I blame it on my eating habits. I'm constantly snacking and seems as though I'm always hungry so I'm stuffing my face every two hours. I still can't eat much. Don't know what my caloric intake is never really measured it.

I need help what would other veterans do?

I am not a veteran or at maintenance, but it looks like your answer is in your post.

Track your food!

How do you expect to know whether or not you are meeting your nutritional objectives if you don't track your food? Especially your Protein intake.

I would also suggest you make an appointment with your NUT to talk about your goals.

In the meantime, go back to basics.

Follow your program. Make sure you are getting in all of your protein and Water. Take your Vitamins and supplements as directed. Exercise reasonably. Talk to your NUT to make sure your nutrition can support your exercise (this is another reason why tracking your food is important).

You have already had a great deal of success. You can do this!

I am 4 years out and definitely have to manage hunger! Here is the key for ME...go low carb and eat at least 100 g of protein. I don't know about you but"meat" and low carbohydrate protein drinks do NOT trigger the urge to snack or overeat. If I start snacking on sweets, bread etc...I get hungry and have more cravings.

im 4 months post op lost 60# so far talked to my nut im always hungry she said its head hunger and suggested doing something like take a walk or do a hobby get your mind off of food i also went back to a shake in the am and a protein bar mid afternoon that helps