If you are like me before surgery, you are searching the internet like crazy to see if this sleeve thing works. I also hate lengthly stories that make me skim and scan for relevant info through wordy explanations. So.... here are my main points of what I have learned about living with sleeve surgery in almost two years.

1. My "honeymoon" was only six months (that's it). The scale hasn't budged after the first six months post surgery. So use your honeymoon wisely. This really bugged me for awhile until I read about how our bodies respond to the extreme restriction of calories. Your metabolism will slow to a halt eventually and even though I can not eat a lot now, If I eat the wrong things, my body holds onto the calories and Water weight (see point 4).

2. I truly needed to change my relationship with food. My relationship now:

• Most days that are your typical go to work etc. routine days, I have roughly the same thing to eat: A premier Protein shake for Breakfast, Starkist Thai tunafish pouch, Justin's almond butter and raw veggies for lunch and bone broth with chicken and veggies for dinner.
• Holidays, birthdays, etc. I eat whatever I like (it has been two weeks of feasting). I might actually overdo it (grazing) but I make sure I continue to work out. So I have maintained my weight over the holidays.

3. I work out for my overall health not to lose weight. I go to Orange Theory 2-3 times per week and pilates 3-5 times per week. Expensive? Yes, but I do not have a car payment and choose to drive a 10 year old car so I can workout.

4. I rarely, if ever, get on a scale. I bought a fat and BMI measurement device ($19.00 on Amazon) and I use this to keep track. I learned this when my weight fluctuated as much as 7 pounds from water weight and my mood would change based on these numbers. Nope, not going to do it.

5. Fat is good. I try to follow a Paleo diet as much as possible and the major premise is good fats are good for you! I try to avoid carbs and sugar.

So to sum it up... best decision I have made for my health. Do I worry about gaining weight back? Not as much as I did a year ago. I have found a system that works for me. Advice...find what works for you after the honeymoon phase is over and real life food comes back into play. I HIGHLY recommend an exercise program. It really is the only way I can have my relaxed eating phases.

How are you getting in enough calories for orange fitness? It looks like you are barely breaking 800 calories a day.

I do eat more on OT days ( a banana or avocado) but not much more.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks for your advice!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you so much for this post! I am almost a year out, have arguably lost almost all the weight I should (I think I set my goal weight unrealistically low and my doc said I should consider myself at goal, even though I really want to lose a bit more fat off the old belly) BUT what I'm noticing most now that I'm getting a good sense of my weight loss and health maintenance rhythm is this: I get discouraged VERY easily and it affects my ability to keep on fighting the good fight for a while until I get it back. And I think that might be because of that damn number on the scale! So I'm totally copying your #4 tip and swapping to body fat measuring, not worrying about the lbs (as much) and I hope this will help me have a better gauge of how I'm doing from week to week.
Thank you!

4. I rarely, if ever, get on a scale. I bought a fat and BMI measurement device ($19.00 on Amazon) and I use this to keep track. I learned this when my weight fluctuated as much as 7 pounds from Water weight and my mood would change based on these numbers. Nope, not going to do it.