I was sleeved November 2014, just about a year and a half ago. I have lost a little over 100lbs since surgery. Oh, i had the sleeve. My recovery was a little rough, with dehydration problems and the inability to keep literally anything down, but after 3 months i was well on my way to a "full" recovery.

Okay, more stats:

Im 25 (23 at time of surgery)

5'4" tall

Biggest 330lbs for several years

Advrage pre-surgery 260-280lbs

Day of surgery 275lbs

Goal weight 125-135lbs (healthy bmi range)

Current weight for the last... 6+ months 160-168lbs

I have never once made exercise a priority or even a habit. (Although i am a active laborer working on construction sites) i never logged a meal for more than a couple days. I absolutely eat sweets (far more often then im willing to admit). The most I do in terms of dieting (outside of the healing process after surgery) is I always eat chicken and other Proteins before anything else, and I don't drink liquids after a meal. Outside of that, I know that im eating like a skinny girl. You know what im talking about. I eat like i have never once had a weight problem. I eat whatever i want. Just much less of it.

Im worried that now that i have stayed the same weight for so long, in combination with my current lifestyle that the next step is gaining weight.

I have started to do very basic body weight strength training exercises, nothing that gets my heart rate going though. I can come up with every excuse in the book as to why i am not doing better.

When i talk to people about it i play down my habits as if they are not as bad as they really are. In other words I don't tell the whole truth. My boyfriend knows, but I don't think he understands the full "weight " of my habits. We started dating after my surgery so he doesn't really understand it all, in his mind I already am eating somewhat healthy.

While most days i wont admit it, i know that the #1 top thing i need to absolutely change is my sugar intake. I eat so many sweets all the time (in comparison to how much i can eat).

Ugh. I feel so stupid because i KNOW im smarter than this. I know all the things im doing are wrong and the exact opposite of what i was told to do at the beginning. I even watched the warning signs fly past as I continued to eat whenever i was hungry.

I don't really know what else to say. This was mostly me venting, but also part fishing for others willing to admit they are as stupid as me, and of course advice or what you did to kick the bad habits.

Also, I should mention that i know how to break habits. I can stop doing something all day long. Its the starting that i have the issue with.

I should also mention that i am actively looking into plastic surgery options. I have quite a bit of skin on my belly and thighs even a bit on my arms. I know the photos don't show all that much extra skin, but as any originally morbid obese person can tell you, im a master of disguise.

Thanks.

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I agree with everyone that you look great. You are smart to recognize your habits could cause regain and for wanting to address it before it does. You may be getting in enough exercise because of your active job. Try wearing a Fitbit or other step counter. Are you getting 10,000 steps. Losing or maintaining weight is 90% food. Exercise is great for relieving stress etc. Dr, Matthew Weiner has written a great book and has lots of great videos for wls patients and he explains how it all works. You are correct at identifying sugar as a problem. You can quit the sugar. I'm pretty sure you did it post op. You can do it again.

@@DylanRae so to say what everyone else said... You look great.

I didn't have the sleeve i had the LB done 7 years ago. The first part of correcting the problem behavior is admitting that it's a problem (or can be). The good thing is you seem to know exactly what your doing. This means you can also fix what your doing.... I still have cravings... WLS didn't stop those for me... only helped my consumption of a lot of bad things. The thing i still do... drink Mt Dew. I love it... i have never been able to put it down. I also never logged a single thing. But i weighed myself everyday (obsessed) if i didn't lose for maybe gained a few Oz... i would think back on the day before and remember what i ate... normally it was something i should not have and set my mind to not eat it again (if possible).... When i do get a craving, i will go to the store, buy that one thing in the smallest package possible and eat a couple and throw the rest away. I'm always impressed and amazed at the people here that have givin up sugar. I just couldn't... so i embrace all the changes i made and try and do my best with the rest.

Up the cardio.... when i did that, that's when the weight reallyyyyyy started to come off. Maybe get with a Personal trailer. I couldn't due to finances... but if you can, do so.

Do what you can to the very best of your ability and work on the rest...

came across this in an old post when I was having a bad day and one of my dear friends wrote this too me.... So im sending to you :

we all have bad days. I have some really awful days where I couldn't eat healthily if you paid me to. Sometimes this lasts for a week or more.

I think banders do each other a disservice if we pretend none of us have days where we fall off the wagon. Hell, even the thinnest people eat crap sometimes - you read my FB, you KNOW I eat chocolate, drink wine, eat badly sometimes if I have a stressful day.

The difference though is not letting your bad day defeat you, so that one day becomes a bad week, and then that bad week becomes a bad year, and that bad year becomes your new lifestyle.

It's ok to fall off the program sometimes, we're all human after all. As long as you don't give up trying to get back on program. So instead of being ashamed that you stopped, be proud that you're starting again!

Exercise can be as simple as walking. Try logging what you Eat. I do every day on My Fitness Pal. It helps me stay honest, although I slip up every now and then . Although I'm two and a half years out and the most I've gained from my lowest weight is five pounds and then I lose it again. That said I'm twenty pounds over my idea of ideal weight.

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This is not about being smart. This is about being human. What you have accomplished already, is amazing! Not only are you beautiful, but despite what charts and graphs may say, it might be possible that this is the weight your body needs and wants to be until further notice. Is this such a bad thing?

I am not saying that you couldn't scrape a couple more pounds off if you worked harder and gave up your sweet so whatever you feel is holding you back, but my point is not whether there is more weight that can be lost or should be, but considering the possibility that you are actually in maintenance already.

When all is said and done, only you need to live with what you choose. Personally I find you very inspiring. You look stunning!

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