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Any long time sleevers out there?



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I'm new here. I haven't had surgery but have started the process and already met with some nutritionist. I've been reading a lot about sleevers who have needed resetting and get back on track. I'm wondering if they're any seasoned sleevers out there who have kept the weight off for years.

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I'm new here. I haven't had surgery but have started the process and already met with some nutritionist. I've been reading a lot about sleevers who have needed resetting and get back on track. I'm wondering if they're any seasoned sleevers out there who have kept the weight off for years.

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I am excited for you as you start your journey. I had gastric sleeve in October 2014. I reached my wight goal in May 2015 and I am still at my goal weight.

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That's wonderful! :)

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Thank you! I'm gonna be honest, it was hard! Hardest thing I have ever done. Don't let people tell you that having surgery is "taking the easy way out." This is probably the hardest way to loose weight. But I lost 150lbs and have maintained it. I still struggle every day.

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I've certainly heard that before; easy way out. It's so annoying and frustrating!

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I'm not too long term, but a little over 2 years out. I've been maintaining under my goal weight for a little over a year. There's quite a few on here who are 3-6 years out who have kept most of their weight off that I'm sure will chime in :)

It's just like with any diet. You gotta stay on top of things and always be vigilant about making sure you're moving more and following the "rules" of WLS 90% of the time, and you'll keep the weight off. As time goes on, it's less about the surgery and more about how compliant we are.

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I'm not too long term, but a little over 2 years out. I've been maintaining under my goal weight for a little over a year. There's quite a few on here who are 3-6 years out who have kept most of their weight off that I'm sure will chime in :)

It's just like with any diet. You gotta stay on top of things and always be vigilant about making sure you're moving more and following the "rules" of WLS 90% of the time, and you'll keep the weight off. As time goes on, it's less about the surgery and more about how compliant we are.

Thank you! I plan on being diligent for life.

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March 15, 2017 I will be 5 years out. I lost 113 lbs. In the past year I have gained about 20 lbs but much of it is due to inactivity from health problems. I am attempting to lose that weight now. It's a lot harder once your stomach stretches a bit and it will. I did not deviate one single bite for 2 years then had an occasional bite of this or that with no issue. I tracked my calories, fat, carbs etc on a program called Fat Secret and found that I just could not consume more than 1100 calories even with lots of bicycling and swimming. I usually bike 5 miles in 30 min or less and swim laps for 30 min at 3 times a week. Since I have had a plethora of health problems this year I have been unable to do much more than sit for the last 8 months. However I am 64 years old and have stage 3 liver disease as well so don't judge yourself by my successes and failures. Good luck, stick to your plan and in a year you won't be the same person. It's so much fun!

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Congratulations to you all. This site still gives me inspiration.

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March 15, 2017 I will be 5 years out. I lost 113 lbs. In the past year I have gained about 20 lbs but much of it is due to inactivity from health problems. I am attempting to lose that weight now. It's a lot harder once your stomach stretches a bit and it will. I did not deviate one single bite for 2 years then had an occasional bite of this or that with no issue. I tracked my calories, fat, carbs etc on a program called Fat Secret and found that I just could not consume more than 1100 calories even with lots of bicycling and swimming. I usually bike 5 miles in 30 min or less and swim laps for 30 min at 3 times a week. Since I have had a plethora of health problems this year I have been unable to do much more than sit for the last 8 months. However I am 64 years old and have stage 3 liver disease as well so don't judge yourself by my successes and failures. Good luck, stick to your plan and in a year you won't be the same person. It's so much fun!

You are inspirational. Good luck to you.

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I lost 160 pounds over 18 months. I'm six years out and have maintained within 5 pounds of my low weight. I credit my surgeon and sleeve for helping me lose the weight, but it's my therapist and the mental changes I've made that's helped me keep it off.

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I lost 160 pounds over 18 months. I'm six years out and have maintained within 5 pounds of my low weight. I credit my surgeon and sleeve for helping me lose the weight, but it's my therapist and the mental changes I've made that's helped me keep it off.

Was the therapist something you started doing during the pre-open phase?

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I lost 160 pounds over 18 months. I'm six years out and have maintained within 5 pounds of my low weight. I credit my surgeon and sleeve for helping me lose the weight, but it's my therapist and the mental changes I've made that's helped me keep it off.

Was the therapist something you started doing during the pre-open phase?
No. I went to Mexico for surgery, so didn't do any of the "usual" preop stuff, including a psych evaluation. After my initial healing period and food transitions, I started attending a local bariatric support group. I wasn't having any problems following my plan at that point, I was just looking for comraderie. It was there that I saw the struggles that so many patients were having with head games and how easy it was to eat around any of the surgeries if you really wanted to.

I decided to make a preemptive strike and find a good therapist before I had a chance to start slipping back into the behaviors that got me fat in the first place. Took three tries before I found one I clicked with, but it was worth it. I was more than prepared with the tools I needed to conquer the mental struggles that I have encountered along the way.

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There are many reasons people gain weight back. Try not to foucus on other peoples weight gain or weight loss. Concetrate on your own sucess and goals for surgery. The goal is healthy. ; I'm two and a half years out. I maintain in the 130's. I weigh myself every morning. If I see a weight gain I adjust my food and workout. So far so good.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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