Later this week It will be three years since my sleeve surgery and this is what I've learned. The surgery gave me hope and a jump start to rapid weight loss and better health. That's it. Nothing magical to it, you lose a good portion of your stomach therefore you eat less and you lose weight. I learned that without any work on my part the weight came off rapidly and in eight months I was at my goal weight. Now, here is the most important lesson out of this whole process, ( need to capitalize this) THE HARD WORK IS MAINTAINING THE WEIGHT LOSS. Since April of 2018 I have been struggling daily to maintain that weight loss and to stay at my goal weight. For those of you who have had long term success you are truly the best and you should be proud of your accomplishment. Early July I saw that I had a weight gain of eight pounds. I redoubled my efforts and was able to lose 4 1/2 pounds in three weeks. I am still struggling to lose the other 4 1/2 lbs. So, to date I am 4 1/2 lbs above my goal weight. I don't consider that a good thing. For the first time since my surgery three years ago I am forced to work twice as hard to lose weight rather and to maintain my goal weight . I'm still ahead of the game being so much healthier.

To those who have recently experienced the euphoria of weight loss and better health after surgery. Enjoy it, embrace it and most of all keep in mind that it can be lost if you are not vigilant in your maintenance. I wish everyone the best of health and the best of success in your weight loss journey.

Thank you for the reminder Danny Paul - I am still new on this journey (like VERY new) and definitely in the honeymoon phase. Hearing stories like yours always helps to remind me there will come a time when my food choices REALLY matter and I need to take this time to retrain my mind and body.

Best of luck to you with those last 4.5 pounds! It sure seems like you have the right mindset and will kick ass!

9 hours ago, Danny Paul said:

THE HARD WORK IS MAINTAINING THE WEIGHT LOSS.

The hard work? I think maintaining is the boring work.

yes - you're right. The majority of people seem to experience regain in year 3, and it's an enormous challenge to lose again or even maintain. I gained 20 lbs - 10 of which I was not sad about because I'd gotten too thin - but I did NOT want to gain the second 10. It's taken me since March of this year to lose three of the ten - and it's been a BEAR. In retrospect, I should have clamped down right away and not have let that gain happen. I've learned that you really have to stay on top of this for the rest of your life. A "bad" day here and there will happen and can be dealt with, but I know I have to diet and exercise for the rest of my life, or my weight is going to start heading up. It's been so hard to lose three lbs that I can't even fathom having to lose 50 or 60. Yikes!

10 hours ago, Danny Paul said:

HE HARD WORK IS MAINTAINING THE WEIGHT LOSS.

Fully agree this is the hard part but worth the effort.

11 hours ago, Danny Paul said:

To those who have recently experienced the euphoria of weight loss and better health after surgery. Enjoy it, embrace it and most of all keep in mind that it can be lost if you are not vigilant in your maintenance. I wish everyone the best of health and the best of success in your weight loss journey.

I agree with remaining vigilant.

Congratulations on your success!