SW: 300 / CW: 169.8

I’m down only about 8lbs from my last surgiversary but that’s ok I never thought I’d hit onederland, much less maintain 165-170lbs at 5’11” for a year!

The past two years haven’t been exactly what I’ve expected—for example, I’m not suddenly in love with what I see in the mirror, still have a long way to go mentally—but this surgery gave me my life back. I was one of the luckier ones who went into this with no comorbidities so my health is about the same as it was but my quality of life is so vastly improved.

Next stop: hopefully getting some of this skin removed

I haven’t been super active during maintenance but I just wanted to say thank you to everyone here who’s offered support and advice!

Edited August 2, 20188 yr by elliekay

Congrats on your inspirational success! Thank you for sharing!

Congrats, like to see those who succeed over the long haul.

Pics please!!! Congrats on year 2!!!

Thanks for reminding us it's not always the pouds lost so much as the health and self-respect regained.

Congrats on losing and maintaining.

Bravo!

My two-year was yesterday. I've not lost any weight in almost a year, but I also have not gained any; can't remember the last time that happened! Overall I am pleased; I know I could lose that last 20 pounds (for MY goal, not my surgeons- I hit that within 6 months) if I'd get back into the gym, cut back on the carbs, cut out the beer. All in all I am happy, though. I had no co-morbidities going in, but now my knees and back feel so much better, my blood pressure is down, my blood sugar is great! I am living my life again, enjoying food but in SUCH moderation, hanging out with friends, and just enjoying my life! Best of all, I can look in the mirror and smile; I often think I look cute, or good... nothing that has ever happened in my adult life before having this surgery!

1 hour ago, leebick said:

My two-year was yesterday. I've not lost any weight in almost a year, but I also have not gained any; can't remember the last time that happened! Overall I am pleased; I know I could lose that last 20 pounds (for MY goal, not my surgeons- I hit that within 6 months) if I'd get back into the gym, cut back on the carbs, cut out the beer. All in all I am happy, though. I had no co-morbidities going in, but now my knees and back feel so much better, my blood pressure is down, my blood sugar is great! I am living my life again, enjoying food but in SUCH moderation, hanging out with friends, and just enjoying my life! Best of all, I can look in the mirror and smile; I often think I look cute, or good... nothing that has ever happened in my adult life before having this surgery!

Oh my! What a dream you have described!!! That is what we all hope and pray for! You have found that holy grail of Maintenance and a good happy life. Do tell what surgery you had and how much you lost. We would love to hear your details and a HUGE congratulations!!!

1 hour ago, ellie123 said:

Oh my! What a dream you have described!!! That is what we all hope and pray for! You have found that holy grail of Maintenance and a good happy life. Do tell what surgery you had and how much you lost. We would love to hear your details and a HUGE congratulations!!!

I had VGS surgery on 9/15/16; this was almost 18 months from my introductory class for the program. I put off the decision to have surgery almost 6 months, and then due to scheduling issues rescheduled a couple of times before finally having the surgery. My high weight once I decided to start the program was 287- so I have lost 104 pounds as of this morning. I was pretty dutiful in following the eating plan, both pre- and post- surgery until I was about 9 months post-op. By that time, I'd bypassed my surgeon's weight goal for me by about 7 pounds. At that point, I did some serious thinking about what I wanted out of this surgery, and made the following decisions:

First, I didn't have this surgery, this elective mutilation, to NOT be successful. There is no way on this Earth that I am going to backslide and let my weight creep up.

Second, I also decided that I don't want to be "on a diet" for the rest of my life. I have ALWAYS been on a diet, for as long as I can remember. I didn't have this surgery so I'd have to continue to always be on a diet.

Third, I have to be happy with my life.

SO... I decided that I was going to have to balance these things, figure out how to make eating "normal" food work without gaining weight. I've tested things out, learned my limits, learned how to eat and drink that work with my insides and my head. OCCASIONALLY I will eat pizza, nachos, drink beer, have ice cream or pie, etc., but NOT all the time, and NOT in large quantity. Fortunately my sleeve restriction is still snug; I can eat about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food at a sitting, depending on the food. What does this mean for something like pizza? I take one piece, I eat a couple of bites of the edge and also the toppings. I don't eat any of the crust, except those 2 bites of the edge. Believe me, it's enough for me, and if it's not, I"ll eat the topping only from part of another piece. I've tested out all my favorite foods, and yes, sadly, there are some things that I just don't eat because I can't, because they make me feel gross (haven't given up on 'good' bread yet, but rice and pasta are things of my past). I've learned that some things go down way too easily, and so I know where to be careful, what to avoid. I've also learned (take a deep breath, hard to admit) that I'm probably never going to weigh 135 pounds again, and that, regardless of my weight, I'll always feel like I need to lose 10 or 20 pounds. I don't think that's the after effect of being fat... I think it's the association of being a woman in the USA. It's OK... I can accept these things, because I have come so far and been so successful- in my doctor's eyes, in my husband's and daughter's eyes, and mostly, IN MY OWN OPINION.

There are still things I can't do (eat and drink at the same time) or things I forget to do (eat slowly/chew lots) and I pay the price. HOWEVER... It's all been worth it. I am HAPPY. I don't wake up in the morning and hate myself for being weak, for being fat, for eating and drinking when I swore I wasn't going to. I went to Disney World with my daughter this summer and for the first time EVER (we've been going annually for 20 years), I happily posed for photos. She and I haven't had a photo in front of the castle since she was 6 (and she'll be 25 next week). I don't hate shopping for clothes anymore. I went to the pool in a bathing suit IN PUBLIC this summer and wasn't embarrassed. Most importantly, I look in the mirror and LIKE what I see there. Sometimes I even think, "Wow, you look cute!" I realize how much of my life I let go by because I felt fat, miserable, unsuccessful, unlovable, and I wish I'd done this surgery 10 years ago. I don't hate myself and my life anymore, and that is worth SO MUCH MORE than anything I could ever eat, in any quantity, at any restaurant. You know how they say, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels?" That's sort-of true, but being skinny (and I'm not) doesn't hold a candle to not hating yourself all the time. I am just so damned happy now!

@leebick thank you for writing this. This, THIS, is Exactly what I am hoping for out of this surgery. Congratulations on all of your success ?

@leebick may I ask what foods you know "go down way too easily"? I want to get a feel of things I want to start letting go now while I'm in the "pre-op" phase. Thanks

11 minutes ago, Jobber said:

@leebick may I ask what foods you know "go down way too easily"? I want to get a feel of things I want to start letting go now while I'm in the "pre-op" phase. Thanks

Oh, mostly bad foods. Popcorn, ice cream, potato chips, mashed potatoes (especially with pan juices/sauce), beer, cookies, pie... all things that aren't part of a healthy lifestyle, but are a part of life. I have learned to dish out a very small portion and then put the rest away before I ever start eating. That way, I don't mindlessly keep noshing on something. As I said, I didn't have this surgery to be on a strict diet for the rest of my life, so I don't have a problem with having these treats occasionally- operative word being OCCASIONALLY. Rare treats, serious portion control, eating slowly and chewing completely (mindful eating), getting temptation out of the way are all practices I am still trying to make into habits for all my eating, but they are seriously important when it comes to the "easy" foods. "Easy" foods get ugly, too, because not only are they mostly empty calories, but by the time they flip my switch and I realize I'm done, I'm actually WAY done, WAY too over-full, and then I'm in for some ugly hours. Mostly I can keep this under control, but sometimes it gets out of hand, like when we are at the movies and my husband buys the popcorn and it's just there, I'm paying attention to the show and not to my hand going into the bag, into my mouth, into the bag... Even at two years post-surgery, even with the successes I've had, I STILL have to pay attention to this new eating style!

1 hour ago, leebick said:

Oh, mostly bad foods. popcorn, ice cream, potato chips, mashed potatoes (especially with pan juices/sauce), beer, Cookies, pie... all things that aren't part of a healthy lifestyle, but are a part of life. I have learned to dish out a very small portion and then put the rest away before I ever start eating. That way, I don't mindlessly keep noshing on something. As I said, I didn't have this surgery to be on a strict diet for the rest of my life, so I don't have a problem with having these treats occasionally- operative word being OCCASIONALLY. Rare treats, serious Portion Control, eating slowly and chewing completely (mindful eating), getting temptation out of the way are all practices I am still trying to make into habits for all my eating, but they are seriously important when it comes to the "easy" foods. "Easy" foods get ugly, too, because not only are they mostly empty calories, but by the time they flip my switch and I realize I'm done, I'm actually WAY done, WAY too over-full, and then I'm in for some ugly hours. Mostly I can keep this under control, but sometimes it gets out of hand, like when we are at the movies and my husband buys the popcorn and it's just there, I'm paying attention to the show and not to my hand going into the bag, into my mouth, into the bag... Even at two years post-surgery, even with the successes I've had, I STILL have to pay attention to this new eating style!

My main nemesis is cheese, glorious cheese. I have a love/hate relationship with it and it's mostly why I've gotten to the point I am at now. I'm hoping this surgery is going to help me with this obsession.

Thanks for sharing, I'm learning a lot about WLS from this site, much more than in the classes and Dr visits.

1 hour ago, Jobber said:

My main nemesis is cheese, glorious cheese. I have a love/hate relationship with it and it's mostly why I've gotten to the point I am at now. I'm hoping this surgery is going to help me with this obsession.

Thanks for sharing, I'm learning a lot about WLS from this site, much more than in the classes and Dr visits.

I actually eat quite a bit of cheese. I have problems with many meats, especially beef. Just doesn't sit well. I eat it, but BOY do I miss a good steak! My protein staples are fish, eggs, cheese, chicken, cottage cheese. I don't do the low fat cheese, either, but I can get a full lunch out of a Babybel cheese!